Decade in Review

In addition to the traditional 'Year in Review' post, I've seen some people doing 'Decade in Review' lists, just short point forms of memories that you have of that year, big or small. Here's my spin on things:

2000 – high school ends, head out to 1^st year of university at Brock U. Am absolutely miserable, lonely & homesick (but am glad to have had experience of living away from home). Apply for transfer to U of T (best decision ever)

2001 – Am accepted to U of T, Victoria, move into Annesley Hall – realized how much fun university could be, what it was supposed to be like! I got so lucky, got to meet so many fabulous ladies.

2002 – Summer of the incredible collapsing lung, and the Grand Tour of Hospitals. Yuck. Followed by heartbreak – evidently, not a good year for my chest!

2003 – University. Can't think of anything else at the moment...

2004 - Move into Spadina House - good times (mostly - and we were there for each other in the bad). Thomas is cute.

2005 – Graduate university, travel to NYC for the first time (I heart NY!). Begin graduate program in Library Science because I don't know what else to do, realize quickly that it is really not my thing, and withdraw 2 months in. Glad that I gave it a shot, and met some great friends in the process though.

2006 – Job search, job search. Finally am successful at the end of March, and begin working at Eng. in April. Live downtown for the summer in a sweet condo by the SkyDome, enjoy a summer fling. Fun times!

2007 – Family cruise in February. Live w/ Leslie & Molly for the summer before Leslie's wedding in the West End. Meet Ian in the Fall.

2008 – Travel abroad for the first time, sister's wedding in the fall. New job, which turns out to be not so fun, but stick with it until something better comes along. Move in with Ian.

2009 - (see below for more details) Took some small trips, begin planning for next big one (cruise? Italy? pending...). Gramma passes away. Do pilates on a semi-regular basis, join gym, am more active overall. New job, which is happier making. Considering getting a dog .... :)

Staying Connected 2009 - Year in Review

Here we are, at the end of another year already. And a decade since the ‘Millenium’ New Year’s Eve, which at the time was a REALLY BIG deal. Where were you on December 31, 1999? I was at a fancy ‘masquerade ball’ at the Oakville Yacht Club, with the person I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. This years was spent at home, doing nothing in particular, with the person that I know I’ll spend the rest of my life with. (No, no rings yet. No rush…)

I’ve had a good year overall, with things definitely taking a turn for the better in the later part of the year. While I was frustrated with my job situation for the majority of the year, in late October I interviewed for a position within the University, and by the end of November I was starting my new job! I was only there for a month before the Christmas break, and I’m not sure what to expect when I return on Monday, but overall I am much happier, and enjoying the new department and purpose behind my job so much more (although I do miss my former colleagues, but at least they are still close by, so it has been easy to stay in touch).

I didn’t do any major trips this year, although Ian & I did manage a few small ones – nearly a week in NYC in May/June (Ian’s first trip to the Big Apple!), and a long weekend in Thunder Bay in July.

My Gramma passed away in June, after slowly being worn down by age and various minor illnesses that never really went away. She was 92, and had a good, long life – 7 children, 12 grandchilden, 5 great-grandchildren. While it was hard watching her slowly get worse, in the end she passed peacefully, and the days of the wake and funereal provided a chance for the entire family and many friends to gather together to remember her. As we had previously always had a family gathering on the Labour Day weekend to celebrate her birthday, my cousins in the St. Catharine’s area kept up the tradition, and the whole family traveled out to their homes, instead of them having to trek out to the GTA in mid-August.

In terms of getting more active, I have made progress in that – started to run a bit in the summer, did get a new bike, joined the gym, and have fallen in love with the Pilates Reformer (*waves to Saf*).

I ended the year off by becoming a MAC user - woo! Still learning the tricks of the trade (and pondering what to name my beauty - the iPhone tends to be referred to as 'the precious', a la 'Lord of the Rings', the Mini is still nameless), but enjoying them immensely.

I also started a photoblog this year - so far I have been slow in getting it going, and am still tweaking, but take a peek and let me know what you think.

Here's to 2010 being another good year - and that we manage to squeeze in a reunion or two before this time next year!

Love, C