August, Australia and Dawson’s Creek

Here we are, just days away from August.

Summer starts every year.
And then you have a realization that it is running out.
That’s where I am now.

The season started with some ligaments gone awry. I hoped my ankle would be a quick fix but nearly six weeks later it’s still not close to soccer and volleyball-ready.

As you may have noticed below, we had a pretty spectacular trip to Newfoundland. And the travel doesn’t end there.

Every month of our relationship, Orgle and I have gone somewhere.

At the end of this month, we’re off to Australia.

The year in (200) photos

2011.

How about we recap the year in point form?
If it was down to one word, it would be “happy”.

Places I went:
Mexico: Barra de Potosi & Zihuatanejo
Vancouver Island: Victoria, Nanaimo & Tofino
Alberta: Canmore, Calgary & Edmonton
BC: Lower Mainland, Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Mayne Island, Harrison Hot Springs & Predator Ridge
Japan: Tokyo & Kyoto
US: Skykomish & Leavenworth, WA & Portland, OR

Life events:
Ended relationship
Started amazing relationship with Lefty the Australian
Won a broadcasting award
Turned 30
Moved from my Oak Street apartment
Moved in with Lefty the Australian
Got rid of my car
Changed role at radio station – now a reporter again

Seriously, it’s been an amazing year. Some hard decisions were made, but I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Lefty is the most wonderful man I’ve ever known and his presence has changed my life.

Can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store.

Past, present and future

I’m not sure what sparked it, but today I got to thinking about an ex-boyfriend.  He was the best of a friend a girl could hope for. I loved him in every way that I could, but it was never enough and eventually I pushed him to Korea and myself to Europe and Vancouver.  The failure of that relationship contributed directly to where I am now.  He was great.  I’m sure he is still great.  A part of me wishes he could still be in my life. But he’s gone.

30 things before I’m 30

It was recently my 28th birthday.  It has finally hit me that 30 is just around the corner.  While I have no idea where my career is going, I know it is headed in the right direction. But for once I don’t have a plan.  I just want my options to be open.  That’s not to say there aren’t things I am striving for, things I hope to accomplish and things that are so youthful that they should probably be done before I hit the big 3-0.

And that’s why I have a list.  I made the list this weekend.  I’m sure that 30 minutes of thinking of random stuff hasn’t captured the full essence of who I am and what I want, but it is a start.  I have 30 things to do before I’m 30.

(And I reserve the right to add, change, edit them, but if I want to put something on, I have to take something off…)

In alphabetical order:

(Edit: February 2010, starting to cross things off.)

(Edit: I’m now 30. How did I do?)

Bake my mom’s cheese scones
Brew my own beer, cider or wine
Cross an ocean
Develop my own photographs
Display my photos in a public setting
Do something worth recognition at work
Fall in love
Film a short and likely pointless movie
Find the right perfume
Finish writing the book
Get a facial
Get an iPhone
Go Hang-gliding (crossed out because I bought tickets to go and then someone died doing it at the same place)
Go canoeing or kayaking
Go for Dim Sum, again.
Host a theme party
Keep a plant alive for two years
Keep my weight under 160lbs, but enjoy eating junk food if I feel like it
Learn to play squash
Nap on a beach outside of Canada
Own a Betsey Johnson dress
Plan an awesome 30th birthday party
Read 10 books
Ride a crazy roller coaster
Save $5000
See someone compete in the Olympics
Spend a night sleeping outside
Start a new blog
Stay in bed all day
Visit my brother’s new house
Write my will

My life after broadcasting

I recently tried to make a list of all the different places I’ve been employed and despite being in the workforce for just longer than a decade, my resume contains two dozen different jobs.

And my current one, as a reporter, has outlasted them all – coming in at just under 20 months.

…And she’s back.

The Willamette River

I walked into work yesterday and was immediately approached by my boss and an older co-worker.  “So??”

Both had recommended I go to Portland.  Both thought it was my type of city, full of people who have a similar look and way that I do.   So, after my four nights in the Rose City, they were eagerly awaiting my judgment.

The Past

When I was on the bus yesterday I saw a guy that looked just like my ex-boyfriend.  I haven’t seen Danny since we moved out of that studio apartment in Edmonton and broke up.  That was before I went to Europe, before this particular blog existed. That was more than four years ago.

Things a psychic recently told me

In no particular order:

I will…
Live to be 100.
Get involved this year with a man who is over 6’1″, with brown hair and light eyes and who I possibly work with.
Stay in Vancouver, but travel a lot (and work while doing so).
Get married after 30.
Have two children in quick succession in my thirties.
Never have much money, as wealth is not a goal in my life, but the money I have I will use to see the world.
Return home several times this year for celebrations.
Quickly go from relationship to marriage when I do.
Need to be slow with any relationships, as they won’t blossom until June.
Go somewhere hot in November.

I am…
A very caring person who puts her heart on the line too often.
Coming from a strong supportive family.
Close with few people but have many friends.
Willing to push people from my life if they have not been a good friend.
Very connected to a new baby boy.
Going to be a god-mother.
Well liked by my superiors at work.
Connected to the colour aqua-marine.

(**adding more as I remember)