The Holiday Season with SiR

There are those that know that the two previous times SiR and I dated, we broke up between Christmas and New Years. Needless to say, this means that this time, I've been feeling particularly paranoid about this time of year. I figured that if we were to survive, we'd have to get through the holiday season - in tact.

Well, having worked in politics a million years ago, I decided to throw a "test balloon" out there earlier this month. I sent SiR an e-mail asking about whether or not he'd be interested in joining my family at my sister-in-law's Mom's house on Christmas Eve. When he didn't respond right away, I figured that this year would be a repeat of the previous ones... where we wouldn't even spend Christmas together - despite buying gifts for each other.

Then, when SiR was sick the first week of December, I drove from small town Alberta to his Mom's place (where he was staying) to offer some TLC. On that weekend, I mentioned a party at one of my BFF's place... Once again no response. I wasn't sure what to make of it, so I figured I'd just continue with my plans, and not worry about his intentions.

After SiR felt better, he gave me a call and asked about how we were going to sort through Christmas. I know... Huh? Very different from previous holiday seasons together.

We actually ended up spending Christmas Eve at his Mom's, then at his good friend's, my sister-in-law's Mom's. We exchanged gifts at his place on Christmas morning. I was so excited that he bought me cookware - including a Paderno chafing dish. And, then he handed over a box and a card. The card was sweet, and he signed it with "Love". I would have been happy with that, but when I opened the box, I realised that it wasn't what it seemed. He had put Styrofoam and nails in the box to create a rattle. But the main gift was inside a Spence Diamond bag.... It was a diamond pendant necklace. I couldn't believe it. He even picked one that was white gold - my strong favourite! I was in shock. What an amazing gift! Other than to sleep, I haven't taken it off yet.

On Christmas day, he went to his Dad's (I was also supposed to go, but we had our times mixed up), then hung out at my Mom's. And, Boxing Day (after getting in some shopping), my Mom and I went to his Mom's for dinner. (BTW, his family kept calling me his girlfriend, and knew about the necklace in advance...).

And, this Friday, we went to my BFF's place for a party... So we've spent much of the holidays together. Tonight, we'll be off to see an old friend of mine, then to the Hungarian Hall for New Years. I hope that 2007 is filled with lots more happy times and romance with SiR!

Reflections on 2006

This past year has been memorable - to say the least.

2006 seems to have been a whirlwind. Someone once said that the older you are, the shorter years seem. There's wisdom in that. I can't believe how quickly time has past.

Between taking trips, working too hard, having my wisdom teeth yanked, living with someone then breaking up with him, then dating again, reaching my goal weight, then growing a bit, it's been busy.

In 2007, I'll be 37... Yipes. I'm very lucky - I have a wonderful family and friends, and the best godchildren anyone can ask for. I'm a homeowner, with a challenging and rewarding career. Still single, but having fun... Lots of fun with SiR (more on that in another blog entry).

I'm not sure what 2007 will bring... But I can tell you, it will mean a lot more work - professionally. Lots more media calls, two product launches, and a network/equipment replacement.

I'd like to say that there will be more opportunities to actually spend time with my family and friends. I'll have to make that happen.

I'd also like to spend more time enjoying life, and less time flitting about. More time in the mountains, and relaxing on beaches. Spa time... Time writing... These are things I'd like out of life.

And, I hope that SiR and I will continue to grow closer. He's been an amazing gift, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be with him again.

Happy 2007 Everyone! All the best!

So Tired...

I am so tired... I've eaten too much, and I haven't had enough sleep... I hope to go to sleep soon. Way too much stuff, not enough time.

Dad's Birthday Today

Today is my Dad's birthday. He would have been 68 today.

I miss him very much. He was one of my best friends, and we shared many happy adventures together. I loved him - like I love my Mom - more than anything in the world. So, his loss continues to be a bit devastating.

Whenever something really good happens or really strange, or even everyday things, I wish he was here to share things with. He'd laugh at the silliness of things and give me me much needed perspective on things.

I was very lucky. I knew my Dad - not just as a child knows their father, but as an adult relates to other adults. We shared a special relationship, and I treasure all the times we shared.

Thanks Dad for the sign today... I appreciate you taking care of me from above.

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you and miss you!

Begining to Feel Like Christmas...

There are only a few days left until Christmas, and I think I'm starting to get into the spirit of things.

Most, if not all, of my gifts have been purchased, and I've been busy wrapping. I still have a bit of baking to do... Okay a lot of baking and treat making... and my house is very messy. But things are progressing.

I can hardly wait!

Staff Christmas Party

I am the best date for Christmas parties. I mingle, have fun and make my date look good. But when it comes to my own? I'm content to be a wallflower - hiding somewhere in the back.

To give you context, I don't normally go to these events. I always feel awkward and like I don't fit in. It's not that I don't fit in at work, but these social situations are intimidating. Believe it or not (and those of you who know me know this is true) - I'm actually very shy and somewhat socially retarded in these environments.

Even though I've worked for this organization for nine years, I've only been to three of the Christmas parties. Once by choice, once because a snow storm prevented me from getting back home, then this time.

My Mom and sister accompanied me, which made me feel much better. And, I guess the party was okay. The pre-party at the VP's house was lots of fun, but only thing fun about the play we attended was making fun of it.

I've attached a couple of pictures from the event. One of me and a co-worker, the other of my Mom sister and me.

Some food for thought...

While working on my company’s internal newsletter, I stumbled on some quotes I thought I’d share with you.

Here are some New Year’s resolution ideas from the late advice columnist, Ann Landers:

• Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t find the time for.
• Try to understand a point of view that is different from your own. Few things are 100 percent one way or another.
• Lighten up. When you feel like blowing your top, ask yourself, “Will this matter a week from today?”

Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile initially scared me to death

- Betty Bender

The key to change is to let go of fear.

- Rosanne Cash

A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.

- Michel de Montaigne

Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

- Norman Vincent Peale

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.

- Chinese Proverb

Thousands of years ago, cats were worshiped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.

- Anonymous

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles.

- Anonymous

An Interesting List

I stole this from the Blissful Loser. I thought it was cool. I'd like to do a lot of the things on this list before I die.

If you'd like to add this to your blog, just copy, bold the things you’ve done, and post.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried "one"/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

A Weekend with SiR

I had the most amazing, spontaneous weekend with SiR.

I called home to let him, one of my best friends and my sister know that I was feeling queasy, and that I wasn't sure if I'd be heading home right away.

After I started to feel better, I decided to call home, starting with SiR, to say I was going to come home afterall. SiR said not to come home - that he was on his way to visit me in small town Alberta.

Thank goodness that I had an urge to clean my house up a bit before I went to work on Friday, so my place was not disgustingly messy.

Before he got here, I had a chance to take a bath and feel better.

We kissed passionately when he came to the door. I love his kisses!

On Saturday, we slept in until 11:30 and decided to go to Edmonton after brunch. We spent the rest of the day enjoying each other's company and being silly. We talked about the past, the present and some of the things that we've learned about dating and life since we've been apart.

He said that when we first dated, he didn't like the fact that I wasn't assertive enough. Hmm. Now I think that I might be a bit too assertive with my opinions. I think we've both changed for the better.

On the drive back to small town Alberta, we sang along to a Christmas CD I picked up at Starbucks. It was a lot of fun.

Sunday morning was a lazy morning. We made breakfast and took a nap on the couch. Unfortunately, he had to go home (he had work to do on Saturday, so he actually left about 24 hours later than he should have... oops!).

It was so sad after he left. I know I shouldn't be so silly. It's just that we had such a terrific time that I wished it could go on forever. I know... I am a child in a grown-up's body.

You know, life is short, and I'm grateful to have experienced such a happy and wonderful weekend.

When I think of SiR, I try not to think too far into the future - just the present. And, this weekend was truly a gift.

Surviving the Holiday Season

"Holidays are an expensive trial of strength. The only satisfaction comes from survival."

Jonathan Miller

Christmas is certainly coming... We're only 21 days away from Christmas! Yipes! I have more of my shopping done. Steven, my brother, is definitely finished. But, I still have a bit more to go.

Although I've made my Christmas card lists, I haven't started to write any yet. I'm pretty good at the last-minute card writing, and cards generally arrive a few days after Christmas. I promise I'll try harder this year.

Of course, like every year, I have plans to bake cookies with my God-children. In fact, they planned our treats months ago. I'm looking forward to getting exhausted baking cookies and cleaning up. But afterwards, I get to be their Mom's date to her corporate Christmas party! It should be lots of fun.