2018 Yearly Recap

This is my 11th yearly recap! So, here is what was up in 2018...

January - rain, rain, and more rain. Unlike this time last year (2017) when it was very snowy, this year (2018) was a lot milder. As a result, all that moisture fell as rain. We started putting all the Christmas decorations away, but slowly. It seemed to take just a bit more effort this year. Hubby quit smoking (again), I was dieting (again), and with all that rain, it was just a very "blah" month.

February - The rain slowly eased off, but then switched over to snow mid-month. And it got a lot colder than it was. But at least the sun came out a bit. The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics started, so we watched a lot more TV than normal. One of the girls at work was on holidays for 2 weeks, so I spent a lot of time filling in for her. And my Dad had a bit of a cancer scare when he went for a biopsy, but the tests came back as normal *yeah*! The rest of the month was focused on my upcoming trip to Louisiana. I spent a lot of time researching what to do and where to go.

March - This month started in Louisiana. A work trip had me leaving home on Feb 27th, and working at the Louisiana office until Friday. Then I took the first weekend in March and spent it in New Orleans with a couple of co-workers. When I got home, we changed the clocks back, and I just went through the normal day to day routine of work and home just catching up on things.

April - The other person in my department was on vacation for a month (again), so things were pretty quite at work. It was the wettest April on record, but I didn't mind (I love the rain). I signed up for a Tai Chi class after work on Wednesdays, and didn't realize how much I would enjoy it.

May - From all that rain in April, to only 2mm of rain for the entire month of May! It was so hot and dry! I took a week off work, and we planted most of the garden, cleaned out one corner of the backyard, bought new chairs for the backyard, and even got into the pool! But, my car broke down at the end of the month, so I spent some time looking around for a newer used car.

June - Back to normal temps, and somewhat normal rainfall. Although, cooler than May, it was still a little drier than normal. Meanwhile, I started a new program with my Chiropractor, and went twice a week for 4 weeks in an attempt to help with the migraines. Combined with the Tai Chi classes, I felt that I always had somewhere to stop after work, and never got to go home right away. Meanwhile, Budget season started at work again, and with 2 new Terminal Managers in the States, I kicked it off with a trip to Portland, OR.

July - Tai Chi ended, my chiropractor visits dropped back to more normal levels, so I wasn't feeling like I was always going somewhere after work. But, with Budget season in full swing, I ended up staying late at work a lot. I even had another 2 day trip down to the Portland area (for work). But, I did find time to buy hubby a new electric guitar for his birthday with all my overtime pay.

August - The dry weather continued, but near the end of the month, it cooled off quite a bit, and felt like fall was just around the corner. There were lots of wildfires in the interior this summer, and this month we got more than our fair share of the smoke from those fires. We had changes at work with our pension and benefits, as my budget season slowly wrapped up for the year. The one thing I noticed this year too, is the number of hummingbirds we had in the back yard.

September - This was the month we got our new freezer. I also had a quick work trip to Calgary among rumours that our company had been sold. The rumours proved to be incorrect, but they continued for the month. I also got to drive a Tesla Model X. I spent the rest of the month just getting back into life after a very busy budget season, and spent a lot of time in the garden and putting "summer away".

October - Hubby was off for a week at the beginning of the month, and I was off for 2 weeks at the end of the month. We both got new glasses! And then I threw my back out about 10 days before my vacation. But, I was still able to get a lot of little things accomplished while I was off, including getting new garage doors, and faster unlimited internet access.

November - The weather turned wet. Very wet. And the traffic turned bad. Very bad. I had more than a few 2 hours commutes either to work, or from work, this month. I don't recall the traffic ever being this bad before. We had internet issues for weeks, where we couldn't get an internet connection at home, and our On Demand stopped working too. After upgrading last month, I was ready to cancel our service all together.

December - A huge windstorm on Dec 20th knocked out power for us for about 30 hours and destroyed the White Rock Pier. The rest of the month was spent getting ready for the holidays, dealing with internet and cable issues (still), and gearing up for the holidays. I had 2 weeks off over the holidays, but I threw my back out just before Christmas, and then shortly after Christmas, came down with the flu.

Happy New Year!

2017 Yearly Recap

January - snow, snow and more snow. And cold. Definitely winter weather, and definitely one of the snowiest winters that I can remember. My great Uncle passed away. We finally got the trees in the front of the house trimmed (after being rescheduled so many times from all the snow). And basically just relaxed after Christmas, putting all the decorations away and organizing the house a bit.

February - Again with the snow. Off and on for most of the month. One of my favourite story tellers, Stuart McLean, passed away. Shortly after, I bought up as many of his audio and print books that I could find. I also spent the month enjoying my new essential oil diffuser and reading up on essential oils and which ones are good for which ailments, as I battled with high anxiety and high blood pressure. Also, on the last day of Feb, I left for a trip to Houston, and our plane got delayed leaving Vancouver because (you guessed it) it snowed.

March - And then even more snow. For those who thought winter was over, think again. I got back from Houston. Then (because my usual chiropractor is off sick) I actually tried a new chiropractor. It went better than I thought it would. Spring Break at the end of the month meant lighter than normal traffic, and fewer people in the office. Winter had one last blast of snow for us on the first day of Spring, and after that, I finally took the snow tires off of my car.

April - Spring finally sprung, and I spent some time in my garden. The rest of the month was spent doing taxes, dealing with migraines, and spending time with family over the Easter long weekend. At the end of the month, I hosted a few people from the Houston office who came up to do some training for us.

May - The month started with Hubby having the flu (but I didn't catch it!). We voted in the Provincial election, to see the Liberals form the first minority government in a very long time. And I took a week off of work, and spent a lot of time in my garden and outside. We came to find that a lot of our plants died over the brutal winter we had, so I had to replant a lot of them. Except the for the Japanese Maple tree in the back yard. We are still not sure what we are going to do to replace that. I started seeing a Naturopathic Doctor to try and get a handle on my migraines, and she suggested I try going dairy free for a month.

June - I struggled with my diet, and trying to be dairy free, and wondering if it's all really worth it or not. Weather started warming up, with a couple of mini heat waves. Budget season started in earnest at work, and I spent a couple of days in the Columbia River Region of Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA for budget meetings.

July - Budget season is up and running, and I spent a lot of time in meetings and working on budget files. I banked a lot of overtime to take off later in the year. Meanwhile, my migraines kicked into overtime too, but I had found that the rizatriptan pills that the doctor gave me were actually working. Meanwhile, summer had kicked in, and the weather was too hot, and way too dry! And the highlight of the month was that I got to drive a Tesla!

August - A solar eclipse, and more hot, dry weather dominated this month. Along with lots and lots of overtime for work. Budget meetings all week, and working all weekend, every weekend. It was a hard month to get through. We slept downstairs for the entire month because the weather was too hot. I don't remember ever having temps in the high 80s, or low 90s for so many days! With no rain! For 2 months!

September - a quick trip to Chicago for our big budget meeting (in the middle of yet another heat wave in Vancouver). When I returned, my father-in-law came to visit. I was grateful for all that overtime that I had booked in July and August, because I got to take a bunch of days off. And although I worked in Chicago and from home, I didn't actually go into the office for almost 2 weeks.

October - was a month to spend on myself. For the first half of the month, I visited my chiro, acupuncturist, dentist and doctor! I treated myself to little things, and got a lot of errands and little things done. The second half of the month, I took 2 weeks off. I got my passport and driver's license renewed, and spent a lot of time shopping, going out for lunch, reading, and generally taking care of myself. I even tried Yoga for the first time!

November - My vacation days came to an end, and I geared up to go back to work. I still had a lot of vacation time left, so I ended up booking every Monday off from Remembrance Day until New Years. Working only 4 days a week certainly agrees with me! I attended a funeral for an old co-worker, and met up with a lot of people I hadn't seen in a very long time. A girlfriend introduced me to the TV series "This is Us" and I ended up binge watching 2 seasons in 2 weeks.

December - I spent the first half of the month getting ready for Christmas. I seemed to have left a lot of the shopping this year until the last minute. So, having every Monday off of work, certainly helped. Although, the Boss was off work for the whole month to use up his vacation time, so work was challenging when I was there. Mom and Dad came to visit and spend the night with us. And the balance of the month was spent with family, gift giving, and relaxing. I worked through Christmas and New Years this year, but traffic was very light, and there was hardly anyone in the office, so it was peaceful and productive for me.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2016 Yearly Recap

January - I did the Polar Bear Swim on the first day of the year! I will remember it as being "I was 50 the first time I did the Polar Bear Swim". I was suffering from a lot of headaches in January. And I had another tooth abscess and root canal, which meant more antibiotics - again! But, the biggest change was that hubby quit smoking.

February - Hubby was still struggling with the side effects of quitting smoking. But, he stayed the course, despite not feeling well, and having issues at work. Meanwhile, we had our eyes tested, and he got new glasses. I spent most of the month trying different types of contact lenses, but hadn't decided on anything new by the end of the month. We had planned to take off to Victoria for a weekend, but in the end, we just took a few days off work, and spent a few days together at home relaxing. The weather was wet, but unseasonably warm for February, and all our flowers are blooming.

March - Hubby left his job. He did get another one, but didn't start that until April. So, he was off of work for most of the month. Meanwhile, I got the flu that lasted about 2 weeks. I was so sick! Spring Break meant everyone at work was on holidays, and traffic was really good. But, the weather was wet and warm. Lots of rain, and temps a lot warmer than normal. At the end of the month, I finally bought a new pair of glasses, but hadn't yet got a new pair of contacts that was working for me.

April - I was suffering from migraines and neck problems for most of the month again. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad left on their Australia adventure (fly to Sydney and cruise home - for a whole month!) And I got my hair colored for the first time EVER! Insanely hot and dry for April as well.

May - was unusually dry again this month, although not as hot as April was. A trip to the doctor freaked me out. I have a spot of skin cancer on my back, and very high blood pressure. So, I started on a "healthy" regime. Losing weight, getting more exercise and finding ways to relax and de-stress.

June - the health regime that I started last month was starting to pay off. My blood pressure was lower than it's been in a long time. I lost 10lbs. And acupuncture is making me feel less stressed, and much more relaxed. I started budget season at work, so I worked longer hours this month. Which was OK, because they've closed one of the bridges in the city to one lane each way for renovations, and traffic has been a nightmare ever since.

July - a few days off with hubby, celebrating his birthday. A follow up visit with my doctor proved that I'm on the right track. And we had a raccoon nesting in our deck that we had to deal with. In the meantime, an employee at work was acting up because our boss was on vacation. It made things challenging at work, and put a lot of strain on myself and others in the office.

August - Hot and dry weather meant that I was swimming a lot more than usual, and we moved into the basement bedroom where it is cooler. At the beginning of the month, I attended a funeral for my uncle, and got a chance to re-connect with some of my cousins. At the end of the month, hubby was involved in a rear end accident where someone hit him.

September - my budget deadline had come and gone, so I spent most of this month catching up on "life", doing all those little things that I don't get to when I'm working too much, and lying in the pool on my off time. Employee problems had me thinking about changing jobs. Hubby got his car fixed, and then (at the end of the month), we both took a couple of days off work, and went over to Victoria to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.

October - bad commutes, employee issues, and problems with management have me really considering leaving my job and trying to find something else. Instead, I took 2 weeks off to celebrate my birthday, and just get away from things for a while. We were supposed to have company from out of town at that time, but plans got changed. So, I spent my time doing little things around the house, relaxing, shopping, and visiting with friends and family. It rained so much in October, that I spent a lot of time at home.

November - Vacation time continued for the first week of November. And so did the rain, for the whole month. I can't believe how much it has rained. The rest of the month was filled with work, bad commutes, good neighbours moving away, and discovering the Vinyl Café series on audio CD. And, the US elected Donald Trump to be the next president.

December - The rain turned to snow. I got to take a few snow days and work from home. And it snowed on my four day weekend. And then the snow continued off and on all month! It snowed on Boxing Day. It snow on New Year's Eve. It was cold too! Sub zero temps which made all that snow just a big pile of ice. Christmas was really nice, but seemed to come so quickly this year. And we both worked between Christmas and New Years, so New Years really crept up on us too. Most people were saying that 2016 was a bad year, and couldn't wait for it to end. For us, it wasn't too bad, but it did seem challenging at times. So, I do hope 2017 is better.

Happy New Year's!!

Yearly Recap 2015

January - I took a trip to Houston for work, but at the end of the trip, I took a day off and went to the Houston Space Centre. I haven't done something like that in a long time, and it was fun.

February - I got sick with the flu. It was the first time since I had pneumonia last year. It wasn't fun, and I missed a few important meetings at work. Also, it was warmer than normal, and almost feels like Spring, not Winter.

March - Spring like temps continue. At work, a new finance employee started. I think we are going to get along great, and I'm so grateful I have someone to help me out now. But am struggling to get all the work done, and try to train at the same time.

April - Sick with a migraine which turned into the stomach flu and not really a migraine at all. Started watching Downton Abbey, and pretty much finished all 5 seasons by the end of the month. Worked through the Easter long weekend, but took time off later in the month. But, am having problems with the new employee at work. She is missing deadlines, and has a really bad attitude about things. Despite having such promise, I'm not sure she's going to work out now.

May - almost no rain all month, and really warm for May. 87% below seasonal rain fall. Mom and Dad went to Hawaii on a cruise. And we worked in the garden for a couple of weekends in a row to get things ready for the summer.

June - The new employee was let go at the beginning of the month. And it's been unbelievably hot and dry this month. Got up to 85 or 90 most days, for 2 weeks solid. Spent most of the month working, swimming after work, and finding ways to stay cool. Started watching Breaking Bad on Netflix. And took a small 2 day trip to Portland with one of the girls in the office.

July - finished the final season of Breaking Bad, and was kind of disappointed in the ending. Temps cooled off a bit, but then went back up again. And we are still really dry with very little to no rain. Hubby took 2 weeks off work, but I could only get one week off with him. Meanwhile he celebrated his 50th birthday this month.

August - Too hot and dry again this month. We've hit 90 degrees F at least once a week since the end of May. I don't recall it ever being this warm and dry ever. Meanwhile, I had a budget deadline at the end of the month, so I worked a lot of late nights and weekends.

September - A new girl started at work on Sept 1st to help me out. She is working out great, and I'm finally getting some support and will be able to take time off without worrying about work.

October - I spent most of the month getting geared up for my 2 1/2 weeks vacation time set for the last week of Oct, and first 1/2 of November. I ended up getting the flu during my vacation, but still managed to have a great time celebrating my 50th birthday!

November - started the month off on vacation. If retirement is anything like this, I am so ready to retire! When I finally did get back to work, winter traffic seemed to be worse than normal, and there were a lot of days stuck in dark rainy long commutes.

December - Just the usual Christmas festivities. I had a week off before Christmas, but had to work in between Christmas and New Years. Hubby had the opposite. He worked up until Christmas, and then was off until New Year's. We did the usual though - Christmas Eve at Mom's, Christmas day together, Christmas night with his family, and Boxing Day at our house. It was just a nice relaxing time this year.

Yearly Recap - 2014

Another year has come and gone... Here is a recap of my 2014 year.

January - I had pneumonia. It was not pretty. I spent the majority of the month sleeping, lying on the couch, feeling horrible, and learning how to spell pneumonia. I finally went back to work on the 23rd of the month.

February - Back at work this month, but still suffering the side effects of being so sick, which includes not remembering anything. Truly. The new Accounting Manager started at work, which will take some of the load off.

March - Work was busy, but I spent most of the month trying to get used to my new glasses! I haven't worn glasses for years and years, so this was a big change for me. Also found out that my husband's uncle had passed away, and that my brother-in-law and his wife were splitting up.

April - I spent a few days this month in the Portland area for work. Then took a few days off and spent some time helping Mom and Dad move.

May - A trip to Houston. Went swimming for the first time this season. And a glitch in my timesheets meant a small bonus payout of some unclaimed overtime.

June - I took a trip to Calgary and Edmonton for work. Then, I organized a large training session here in Vancouver for 15 staff members, all from out of town. From planning meals, to hotels, to training materials, it kept me very busy. But, it went off without a hitch, was incredibly productive, and was a bit hit with everyone.

July - Hot weather, lots of time in the pool, but the majority of my time spent at the office working on budgets.  I had a week booked off, but had to cancel it because of all the work that needed to be done. That was a really bad decision, as that week turned out to be the nicest week, albeit a little too hot for me.

August - Budget season. Our budget deadline was on the 19th, so I spent the first 1/2 of the month working a LOT. I kind of missed the summer this year, because I haven't had a day off since the beginning of July, I worked late every night, and worked most weekends. Combine that with some fridge issues, and Aug was not a good month for me.

September - The month without a fridge. We ordered a new one, but it won't come until October. So, we spent the month living out of a little bar fridge. The weather was surprisingly warm this month.

October - Our final budget meeting was held, and we are able to hire 2 new employees. Which means less overtime for me in the long run. And, FINALLY, I went on vacation. I took 2 weeks off, starting at the end of the month, so hubby took me over to the Empress in Victoria for a weekend getaway.

November - On vacation for the first 1/2 of the month. THE BEST thing I've done for myself in a long time... take 2 weeks off of work, and just chill out. I felt so relaxed and recharged. I spent the last half of the month dealing with a tooth abscess though. But, it wasn't as bad as the one I had a few years ago, so I managed okay.

December - And now into the Christmas season. I was completely into it this year. We got the house decorated in record time, I got most of my shopping and wrapping done early (most of it). But most of all, I relished in the fact that I have gone all year without being sick. Not one cough, cold, sniffle or sore throat to ruin my days.

Best Wishes for 2015!

Yearly Recap 2013

So, it’s 2014 now? Wow… just where does the time go? I've been sick since before New Year's, so my usual recap post is a little late this year. As it turns out, I've developed pneumonia. And I haven't been at work since Dec 27, 2013!

Speaking of 2013... here is the recap of the last year...

January – I went to Houston. I was supposed to go twice. Yup, twice. 2 weeks into the month, and then again 2 weeks later. But, the second trip got postponed until Spring. And, at the beginning of the month, I got the best present I could have ever got. My dryer quit on us, so we went out and bought a new washer and dryer set. I can’t believe what a difference it’s made. It’s been 12 months, and I still love them like they are brand new (ok… I know… I should get out more…)

February – So, remember back in Dec of 2012, I had a tooth abscess? Well, it turns out the antibiotics I was on gave me an intestinal infection, so I had to go on even more antibiotics. At the same time, I had started this “Best Body Challenge” with the gang at work. But, with the medical issues I was going through, I found it hard to stick to any particular diet plan. It’s hard to eat healthy when all your system can handle is rice, tea, and juice. Meanwhile, hubby bought a new truck. Or, more accurately, traded in his 4x4 truck for a smaller (more fun to drive) Mazda CX7 SUV (zoom zoom). He still loves that thing, about as much as I love my washer and dryer.

March – My medical woes continued. I got severe side effects from the antibiotics I was taking, so I ended up taking different ones. They weren’t as bad, but I still had major side effects. Then, to top it all off, my back went out, and bad! I was in bed for 3 days, and could barely walk.

April – Spring sprung, and I spent some time in the garden, spent time with family, read a lot of books, and just generally tried to relax and enjoy life. Except for the week that I had to go to Houston for work. That was a lot of work, and one very long late night coming home.

May – was a busy month. We signed up for Netflix, and ended up spending all our free time watching episode after episode of Mad Men. I took a week off of work, and bought myself my new laptop. I spent a lot of time in the garden, and even planted a fairy garden for the house. I painted the table for my craft room, and at the end of the month, I took my third trip to Houston (and, as it turns out, the final trip of the year). But all that was dampened when I found out a dear friend had passed away.

June – was the month I discovered how tasty a mojito can be on a long hot summer day! And that my hubby found just the perfect way to make them. So good! The temps heated up enough to start up the pool, and go swimming.

July – I took a week off work and we renovated the ensuite bathroom. We ran into a snag when the sink we had didn’t fit. But, overall, the project went well, and was somewhat within budget. I got a great deal on the flooring, and am in love with that vinyl floating floor… so much that I want to do the laundry room in it next year.

August – Work was insane with budget season well under way. So, I took pleasure in the little things we could do this month. Like go to Pirate Pack day at White Spot. And spend time in the pool. And spend the day at the PNE with my hubby.

September – The summer was coming to a close, and I only got to swim for the first week of Sept, before it got too cold. Hubby and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.

October – I got the flu really bad just before Thanksgiving. I developed a cough that lasted for weeks afterwards, and actually had me going to the doctor. But, I still had fun at Thanksgiving dinner at my brother-in-law’s. Who got me into my next obsessive TV Series - Game of Thrones. I also celebrated my birthday by taking a week off of work, and spent the day with my sister.

November – I got a big raise at work this month. While I still think I spend way too much time driving back and forth to work, and way too much time at work, I’m glad that I’m being compensated for it. It makes the decision to stay just a little bit easier. And, I was even allowed to leave early one day to go and meet Col. Chris Hadfield, who shook my hand, and signed my book. I was so happy!

December – I was so totally into Christmas this year. Work had slowed down somewhat to the point where I was actually getting home before the news ended at 7:00pm. So, I crafted, I sewed, I read, I ate, and I baked. And then (like we always do) spent a lot of time with family over the holidays. Unfortunately, the year ended with us both sicker than dogs, lying on the couch, listening to others ring in the New Year. He's better now, but I'm still fighting to get better. I only hope that 2014 brings nothing but health our way.

Yearly recap 2012

So, another year has come and gone. Here's a look back at what I did in 2012...

January - I took a trip to Louisiana for work. Went to a little town called Sorrento (just south of Baton Rouge) for training.

February - I spent a lot of time this month working on getting into a routine. I even tried going back to Weight Watchers, but had little success at that.

March - I spent a lot of time catching up on my reading this month (I read the whole Hunger Games series in less than 3 weeks). And, I booked myself into the spa to pamper myself with a massage! It's something I'm going to have to do more often for sure!

April - The first "Quarter End" I've done at work, and it was tough! I did a TON of overtime (I mean a TON). And when I visited my doctor, he prescribed blood pressure medication for me.

May - A month of going back and forth to the doctor because of complications from the medication. I also spent a lot of time at pharmacies trying different blood pressure machines. I finally bought one that goes around your wrist, and is surprisingly accurate. Turns out, I don't really have high blood pressure. I just happen to be overly stressed when I visited my doctor. I stopped taking the pills, and got myself back on track.

June - Houston, in June, is damn hot! But, a work trip to Houston gave me an opportunity to fly to Dallas on the way home, and spend the weekend with my girlfriend.

July - The "boss-man" was in Italy for the month, which left me responsible for a lot of what he does. It was a lot of hard work, and somewhat frustrating at times, but I learned a lot.

August - One of the driest months on record in Vancouver. Weather was sunny and warm. But my Grandma passed away on the 12th. I was really overwhelmed by her death. We had a memorial for her on the 18th. I'm really going to miss her!

September - It was a quiet month. The weather was very dry again, and really quite warm for September. I took a much needed week off of work, and was actually able to relax for a change. I spent a lot of time in my pool, and in my garden. And hubby and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.

October - I went to Houston at the beginning of the month, got the flu, got over the flu, had a romantic get-away weekend in Victoria with my husband, and celebrated my birthday with a few days off of work. It rained most of the month, but temps stayed in the 10 to 12 range most days. Typical fall Vancouver weather.  I love it!

November - One year after I started my new job, and things seem a lot calmer now. I'm finally getting used to the commute, and I'm not as stressed out about the job anymore. I also had the opportunity to touch base with an old friend of mine. We've known each other for about 20 years, but haven't been in contact for about 8 years now. It was nice reconnecting, and we hope to get together a lot in the new year.

December - The month started with me and a tooth abscess. One of the most painful things I have every gone through. I lost 2 weeks of my life just dealing with the pain, and the after-effects of all that pain medication and antibiotics. But, somehow I was ready for Christmas this year, and seemed to have everything together.

Happy New Year to everyone!

2011 yearly recap

Although I took a break from blogging for most of this year, I still kept a list of stuff that happened this year. So, here's a recap...

January - for whatever reason, I thought I could do a "Project 52" list. That's where you pick 52 things that you want to get accomplished in a year with the idea that you do one a week. I don't know what possessed me to think this was a good idea. But, I started the year off all gung-ho to get going on it. But by the end of the year, the only thing on the list that I was still actively pursuing, was reading. I wanted to read 20 books this year, but only managed to read 18. Mind you.. two of them were over 800 pages!

February - Trips to Victoria, problems at work, and being sick. Not a very "fun" month.

March - A large earthquake and tsunami in Japan dominated the news this month. And I did a training class for work, which meant yet another trip to Victoria.

April - problems with my boss started at the beginning of the year, but escalated this month. I did a lot a soul searching this month, to come to the conclusion that my so called dream job was anything but a dream. It was starting to be more like a nightmare. As a result, my creativity was challenged. I stopped blogging, writing, and crafting, as I faced the prospect of looking for another job.

May - Our company meeting was in Victoria this month, and the girls from Dallas came up on the weekend, so we could all go whale watching. It was a fun trip.

June - The Canucks skated their way to the Stanley Cup Final, only to lose in Game 7. Then a bunch of idiots decided to riot in downtown. Mom and Dad celebrated milestone birthdays, and we had a big BBQ for them.

July - A and I took a trip to the Island for his birthday. We had a wonderful time.

August - We had one of the coldest summer's ever. It never really got above 80 degrees at all. I spent some time in the pool, but not as much as other years. The weather just never seem to get warm enough. Although, it was perfect for me, working from home and all, because it wasn't too hot. Jack Layton died. And I decided to apply for another job... on the other side of the city.

September - I had a couple of interviews this month for new jobs, and spent a lot of time meeting with employment agents, and sending out resumes. At the end of the month, I was offered, and accepted, a new job. Which means I got to quit my current job! The timing could not have been better.

October - The second month, in which I did not blog at all. Not even one post. Steve Jobs passed away early in the month. And, because I quit my job, and didn't have to start the new one until November, I got 2 weeks off!! It was heaven. One of the most relaxing times I've ever had.

November - I started a new job on the first of the month. While the job is fairly easy, and the people I work with are really nice, the commute is something that I'm not actually liking too much. I'm pretty much "out of touch" from 7:00am until 6:00pm every work day now. I'm not used to being "unplugged" that much. It's been a challenge to get used to it. But, I still think I made the right move. Only time will tell.

December - Despite having been at my new job for only 8 weeks, I actually managed to take 10 days off over the Christmas holidays. A's father (my father-in-law) and his wife came to visit over the Christmas holidays. It was wonderful having family around, and we really enjoyed visiting with them.

As a side note: I read somewhere that the 3rd most stressful thing one person can go through, is changing their job. It's 3rd only to the death of a spouse, or a divorce. I never realized how taxing changing jobs could be, or what stress it does create. But, I did realize that when I'm that stressed out, my creativity vanishes. I hope next year I can find the time to get back into "blogging" on a regular basis, and get some crafting done too.

Best wishes to everyone for 2012.

2010 Recap

Another year, come and gone. Here's a recap of the months from Year 2010.

January -- With my hip and back still bothering me, I found myself going to chiropractor appointments, doctor visits, and acupuncture treatments for most of the month. Then, decided to try multi-focal contact lenses, so I had a few eye appointments too. It was also the warmest January on record!

February -- The month of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The torch relay came by my house. We watched countless hours of Opening Ceremonies, events, awards ceremonies, and news coverage. The weather was warm and rainy for the first part of the games, turned sunny and mild for the second part, then went back to warm and rainy. It felt more like the Spring Olympics than the Winter Olympics. And "Olympics" was all anyone could talk about!

March -- I spent a lot of time with Grandma this month. She was diagnosed with lung cancer, and with my Mom & Dad away for the month, and my Aunt living in the States, I stepped up and helped Grandma out with doctor's visits, tests, and shopping. It meant taking a few days off of work, and spending a lot of my spare time with her, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

April - I spent the month cleaning, purging, and organizing my house, and my life. When my purse was stolen on the 15th of the month, I ended up also purging, and organizing my financial life too.

May - At the beginning of the month, I had problems with my back again. As a result, I made a concerted effort to start to eat healthier and get more exercise. The weather was nice nearer the end of the month, so I planted the garden, and did a lot of work outside. Also, my neice's goldfish came to visit for a few months.

June - My boss called in sick for a couple of weeks, and then went on sick leave. I was asked to step in and act as Manager for the department for a time. This meant traveling to Victoria on a weekly basis. I felt like June was a complete loss, as I spent little time at home, and lots of time on ferries, and in hotel rooms. The good news though, I bought a new car!!!

July - A month of "finally's". We finally got some nice weather, which meant that I finally got to go swimming in our pool. I finally got to take a very much deserved week off of work. Work finally hired a temp replacement for the boss, and then when he left after a few weeks, hired another temp replacement. My brother and his family finally moved out of Mom & Dad's and into their new house. Hubby's Father (and his wife) finally came for a visit, after not having seem them for 4 years. And, I finally sold my old car!

August - the girls from Dallas came up for a visit, which meant another trip to Victoria. Horseback riding, and a sprained foot were the highlights of the trip.

September - Summer was over, and Fall arrived. I spent a lot of time in my garden, and even planted bulbs for the first time in my life. We'll see if they come up in the Spring when they are supposed to. Work was busy, and we spent a lot of time visiting with friends this month.

October - A co-worker from the 'old days' passed away... he was far too young, and it was a shock to a lot of us. But, the news made me reach out and reconnected with a lot of old friends this month. At the end of the month, I took a week off of work to celebrate my birthday, and decided to 'unplug' for 10 days (no Internet, no blogging, no computers, little to no T.V.) It was the most relaxing thing I've done in a long time.

November - Rainy days. Followed by record breaking cold. Followed by our first snow fall of the season. A little early for some folks, but I got new snow tires this year, so I was prepared. But, we weren't prepared for the news that my husband's Aunt had passed away. Her passing was sudden and unexpected, and took us by surprise.

December - The new boss started (finally!). Another trip to Victoria to meet him. And then I took my remaining vacation days, and prepared for the usual hustle and bustle of the holidays. We had a wonderful Christmas this year. I thoroughly enjoyed my time off, and all the dinners and family get togethers. Of course, my husband spoiled me this year, but I didn't mind too much!

recap of 2009

I can't believe another year has come and gone. Here's a recap of my year...

January - January started as snowy as December was when she left. Around the middle of the month, it stopped snowing, but was foggy for 2 weeks in a row. Our company meeting was held in Victoria. That meant that the girls came up from Dallas and stayed with me, and I got to see a lot of old friends, and meet a lot of new ones.

February - Back and forth. Working in both Finance and Support meant that I was travelling on the ferry way too much, and staying at the hotel way too much. Weather wise....it was still snowing (off and on), and a lot colder than normal.

March - a month of new stuff - technology wise...New bigscreen TV. New Digital TV. New camera. New high speed internet. New system at work.

April - Would anyone ever believe me if I told them it snowed on April 1st in Vancouver this year? And then, on April 29th, it was the sunniest, most beautiful day, and got up to 18 degrees! What a change! Also in April, I cross-stitched a lot, and successfully completed a large presentation at work.

May - A busy month at work. I celebrated my 1 year Blog-anniversary. We planted our flowers and the garden. And nephew #8 joined our clan at the end of the month.

June - This month started with beautiful sunshine, and a mini-heat wave...but it didn't last. The rest of the month was cooler (but still nice), with very little rain. We had our roof done. And, on June 25th, the world lost Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett...both on the same day!

July - On vacation for a week, which we spent 2 days in Victoria (of all places!). After all the back and forth to there at the beginning of the year, I thought that would be the last place I would want to be! "A" celebrated his birthday...and the last 2 weeks of July were the hottest on record! We broke heat records from 1960. July 29th and 30th were the hottest... we saw 96 in the house, 104 in the shade, and 120 out by the pool. I've never seen it that hot before! Extreme dry conditions meant lots of forest fires, parks closed, and campfire bans.

August - The beginning of the month brought a bit of relief from the heat. It cooled off, and then on August 10th, it rained!! The weather has been so dry, that we really needed the rain. I spent a week in Victoria for work learning a new module.

September -The world lost Patrick Swayze and my girlfriend lost her husband...both to cancer. The weather was cooler, but still extremely nice and sunny. A's truck broke down, but it turned out to just be the battery that needed replacing.

October - From record hot in the summer, to record cold in the fall. Again, the province broke all kinds of temperature records at the beginning of the month, this time for being so cold. Thanksgiving came and went, without so much as a turkey. I had the flu really bad (I'm now convinced I had H1N1) and threw my back out. But, things went a lot better at the end of the month. I had a week off, and had a lot of time to relax and enjoy life.

November - We had water problems with a plugged downspout, overflowing catch basin, and water in the basement. While the problems still persist, they are temporarily fixed, and will be dealt with permanently in the spring. The rest of the month was full of phone calls, quotes, permits, and contractors. We had a tree removed from the front yard, and our front deck fixed.

December - Back problems, and a pain in my hip had me sidelined for most of the month. Christmas came and went, but because of my problems, it was quiet and pretty laid-back. It was a nice change from the usual hustle and bustle of the holidays. And, I watched a lot of cheezy holiday movies and Christmas specials.

Best Wishes to everyone for a safe and Happy New Year!

Recap of 2008

I didn't start blogging until part way through 2008. So, here's a recap of the highlights of the year.

January -- I started the year with bronchitis, and was sick for over 3 weeks. I have never been so sick! It took a long time to get over that cold.

February -- I was only home for 11 days. Work had me travelling for most of the month. I started the month by going to Oslo, Norway. Home for a week. Then off to Victoria for a week. Then down to Milwaukee for another week. It was a long month. I saw more snow than I care to admit to. And experienced -22 degrees F weather in Milwaukee.

March -- I travelled to Victoria for a week, but most of the rest of the time was working from home, and enjoying the fact that I was at home.

April -- I had a problem with my gall bladder. Without going into the gory details, I ended up going to my doctor, had a few tests done, and went for an ultrasound. End result was that I was healthy and fine, and they still don't know what happened to me.

May -- Travelled to Dallas for work. Had a fantastic trip. Spent the week at my friend's house just outside of Dallas proper. We had to work during the day, but the evenings we kept busy shopping, eating out, and enjoying ourselves. The best was the dinner that we had at the Texas Roadhouse. Steak with sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes were served with "the works"...brown sugar, marshmallows, and caramel sauce...all I can say is "mmmmmmmmm"!!!

June -- I started Weight Watchers. I thought about it a lot when I was in Dallas, and when I stepped on the scale after my trip in May, I guess that gave me the incentive I needed to start something. Also, Keena came to stay with us.

July -- 2 weeks vacation. And we had the house painted.

August -- Keena left. I spent a week in Victoria with the girls from Dallas.

September -- I got a new boss at work. He is quite different than the old boss, so there were a few problems trying to adjust to the new expectations at work. A and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary.

October -- Work used to send me to Victoria 1 or 2 times a month. But, with the new boss, and the economic situation, they are cutting back. So, I spent a lot more time at home, and spent a lot of time scrapbooking and cross-stitching.

November -- I found out that neice/nephew #8 is on the way. He/she is due at the beginning of June 2009.

December -- Snow! and then more snow! Other than that, most of December was spent getting ready for, and enjoying the holidays!

Hope everyone has a great 2009!!