2006 - Staying Connected

As per Sappho's challenge:

Holiday Traditions/2006 Recap

Likes
Spending time with family and friends, the food (particularly desserts and candy), helping to decorate Christmas baking, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original), time off from work/school, Trans-Siberian Orchestra carols, jazzy renditions of carols

Traditions
We always have dinner Christmas day with my Dad’s side of the family (usually at least 20 or more people, only 18 this year). My Gramma (paternal – only living grandparent) comes up and spends Christmas Eve with us, and we go to her church downtown for an evening mass. The only time of year I go to church, really (keeps peace).

My mom makes cinnamon buns for breakfast, which often accompany gift opening as well. Gift opening has moved to the early afternoon now, as my middle sister and her boyfriend go up to his house (an hour away) after church on Christmas Eve, and spend Christmas morning with his family before coming back down to have dinner with us.

Food

• Turkey, mashed potatoes, turnip, stuffing (icky - I don't eat it), buns, cranberry sauce, carrots/mushrooms/ green beans/onions (all stir fried together, yummy).
  
• Sugar cookies (with icing and crushed candy canes on top), millionaire bars, chocolate clusters, cherry chocolates.
  

Another tradition – only my dad & youngest sister like the cherry chocolates, so several years ago my mom said that they would have to make them if they wanted them, so they did, and still do now every year.

Holiday Story
I love my Christmas stocking. Its red, with a white border at the top, and on the front has a green gift that opens and has a little teddy bear attached inside. The teddy bear would stay awake for me and watch for Santa on Christmas Eve.

One year, when someone was opening a gift certificate, my youngest cousin (maybe 8 or so at the time) asked was it was. Someone jokingly said ‘A puppy!’, and the name kind of stuck (there were a lot of puppies that year, lol). So now g/c’s are still often referred to as ‘puppies’.

Looking Back
Rather lost and without direction at the beginning of the year, having decided not to pursue further schooling, and not sure what to do workwise (or even how/where to find work). Still am somewhat, as I don’t really know what my ideal job would be … but have gained a bit more experience, and am working on it. And working, yay! And commuting, boo.

Did lots of brave new things this year, many relationship related (ended one, asked a boy out (he said no – oh well! At least I did it!), went on lots of first dates). I've learned how to knit, and now just need a project to work on (with someone who I can call on to help me when I get stuck with one, lol). I've become more assertive, and have made great progress in letting old hurts go, moving forward.

Favorite moments – living downtown in luxury condo suite for the summer. Oh yes. Trip to Vancouver (too short! Would love to go back…). My gramma's 90th birthday party. Cathy & Ron’s wedding.

Looking Forward
I hope to find a job that I love and is enjoyable and challenging. I have no idea what form it will come in, so I’m keeping an open mind… I also hope that said job will enable me to move back to the city, and regain some independence.

I would love to travel, and hope that I can make it happen (although with a job … not sure. So maybe hold off on the job for awhile? Not quite sure how to reconcile the two wants – job, independence, more security vs travel, new life/learning experiences, perhaps uncertainty).

I would like to take more photographs, I haven’t really for the last few months, and I miss it. Same thing for the trampoline - I'd like to take classes again. I do want to continue learning, just not in a formal academic setting at the moment.