The Good, The Bad and the Ugly .... The Year in Review

I can't believe its been a year already since I wrote a simlar message.

So much has happened this year. Some of the highlights, and lowlights follow ....

One of my best friends got married in May and I acted as her wedding planner for the wedding day. She was gorgeous he was very handsome the venue was fab and despite a few challenges (what wedding doesn't have them), it was a great day altho I haven't been that stressed out in a LONG time.  Then there was the househunting and moving and front garden. It didn't take much of my time but it was immediately after broski's wedding and our financial meltdown.  I'm just so glad we could help....

Late in 2009 my sister was encouraged by her doctor to have bariatric surgery. After much research and pondering she decided to take the leap. She had to have her gallbladder removed anyway so off she went to the hospital in June of this year. To date since the middle of June she's lost about 65 pounds. Only one downside ... its way harder to get in touch with her. I think I can deal with that if it means she's healthier, happier and has a life again. It hasn't cured her heart problems, but it makes life much easier.


Gardens ... My first Ajax in Blooms nomination. My neighbour nominated me. Of course the gardens weren't anywhere close to where I wanted them to be. On the agenda for 2011 - dig almost everything up from the front gardens and the garden and move things around. Ambitious? I dunno .. Crazy is more like it but I love the process. Then there were the neverending monstrous weeds. 2011 - MULCH!

Graduated to a blackberry. Yay! Its done me the world of good, got my life organized and if blogger would make their site more mobile friendly, I'd be able to keep up with you more regularly. But I draft my posts while travelling to work, then clean them up and post them from home.

G20...if the city never hosts THAT fiasco again it'll be too soon. I work just outside the secure zone. It turned everything upside down.  Our company mandated that everyone not required to be in the office was to work from home for 4 days.  That included in department.  My manager had an issue with that and consequently stressed our entire department out.

Steve - He was my manager for 13 years and a very good friend.  The same week that G20 and my sister's surgery occurred, Steve was leaving for Africa, Europe and beyond.  He wasn't sure how long he was going to be gone.  And I wigged out.  One thing ... even two things ... I could handle.  But all three at once?  It was more than I could handle.  I often don't see him for several months at a time ... we're friends, that's all.  But the timing couldn't have been worse....

Finances tanked.  Barry and I are both gainfully employed.  We have good jobs with a combined decent income.  But some bad decisions, and 2 years of no wage increases put us behind the eight ball.  To say that we were stressed out is putting it mildly.  I do the budgeting ... apparently not very well ... and I was beginning to wonder how I was going to cover all the bills.  Thankfully we were able to refinance and got things back on track.

Barry's brother's wedding.  We were all so ecstatic about the upcoming nuptials.  Bobbi (the bride) is an amazing woman and she and Steve (broski) are so head over heels about each other.   After 8 years of a bad relationship, he finally got out and met the woman of his dreams.  And while the festivities were fabulous, it happened at exactly the same time as the finances tanked.



Facebook ... We fought it until this summer and then finally caved. Hence my next problem ... Vince.  Although I must admit its been easier keeping up with what's happening with friends and family on FB than before.


Vince. I could write a book on this subject, but suffice it to say that I had a lapse in judgement. I met Vince when I was 14. I thought I said goodbye to him when I was 27. And then Facebook happened. I looked him up and contacted him. And for the next 2 weeks, my world got turned upside down. I'm not sure why I did it other than the fact that he had been on my mind ... A LOT. Long history ... I feel like I'm one of Pavlov's dogs. As usual, our "relationship" has always been intense and short lived. Barry knew about what was happening ... kind of. But he trusted me and gave me the space I needed to deal with a part of my life that has always been very complicated. I haven't heard from Vince lately. I suspect he's disappeared without a word ... as usual. C'est la vie.


Job.  Another long story.  Considering the turbulence of my life this year, together with a very turbulent year for the company I work for, things did not go well.  Suffice it to say that something happened which brought me to my senses and I have a renewed commitment to my job.  I've re-gained my focus and commitment and things have improved a lot in less than 2 months.  YAY

Deaths.  3 deaths in 5 weeks.  All men.  All in their 50's.  None of whom I was really close to but each one hit me.  First there was Brian.  We had worked together over 20 years ago.  Great guy.  Hadn't seen or heard from him in years.  5 weeks before his death, he popped into my head.  Wasn't quite 51.  He died of lymphona.  He went downhill in the last 5 weeks.  Then there was a friend's dad.  He was 55.  I had never met him but he died suddenly of a massive heart attack and our friend was so upset.  It  reminded me how short life is.  Then there was Ian.  Neighbour.  Late 50's.  Pluto's (fav neighbourhood dog) daddy.  Jacob's disease.  Was diagnosed about a month before his death.

Christmas.  On a happy note, this Christmas was wonderful.  Our annual Christmas party was a big success and everyone seemed to have a good time.  We always invite people to bring a non perishable food donation that we collect and then we delivered it to the local fire hall.  We had the best collection to date.  It filled a regular sized recycling bin completely.  I just love doing this.  It's not required, just appreciated.

Then for Christmas Day we had Barry's family here for dinner, everything turned out really well, everyone was here (except his 2 nephews) and there were lots of laughs.  It had been about 16 years since we were all together ... but Evan (Barry's sister's significant other) and Bobbi were not known at that time.  Dharram (Bobbi's brother) also joined us.  His kids were with his ex and he was going to be alone for Christmas dinner.  THAT simply would not do.

Weight loss.  It's been a good year.  Not great.  Not fantastic.  But good.  I've made more progress this year than I ever have in the past.  I've dealt with my relationship with food.  I still have my issues with food (ginger cookies ... OMG I can't put them down) but it's so much better than before.  I know how to control my hunger issues, to make better choices.  Of course December was horrible.  But things are going to change.

Going forward.  Saturday I am going to write out our meal plans for the upcoming week and do any food prep that's necessary.  I got back into working out this week.  I will hit it hard as of Sunday morning.  And I'm getting Barry started on his program then too.  Lofty goal for me... bikini shape by June 30, 2011.  I've got a long way to go and a short time to get there.  But I've made the commitment so I have to do this.  I've also made doing the CN Tower climb in the Fall of 2011 a goal.  

My blog.  This weekend I will be making some changes to this blog.  It might take a couple of days.  I need to shake things up.  I've been checking other blogs and I'm getting a good idea of how I want to organize things.  So stayed tuned.....
2011 is going to be about focus ... fitness ... family ... friends.  I have also made advancement at work a goal..  This time next year, I will be writing that I have been promoted to intermediate level.  These are the commitments I am making.

My commitment to you.  I will be here.  I will be in touch more. I will post more often.  I will encourage you.  I will offer my 2 cents when appropriate.

My wish for you...  Happiness.  Health.  Wealth.  Peace.  Joy.  Love.  Confidence. Longevity.

Happy 2011!