Akemashite omedetou! Happy New Year!
A new year dawns, complete with the promise of new blog entries, full of apologies about not writing ^_^
In looking back over the past year, I'm pretty grateful for all my experiences. It wasn't the worst year ever, it wasn't the best year ever, but everything I experienced has put me on the path to becoming a more awesome person.
I'm thankful for coming to terms with my depression. When I think of how many years I have been wandering around in a fog, I'm amazed that I made it out of bed every morning. Since beginning treatment in September, I have made great strides toward becoming a fully functioning member of society ^_^ Okay, maybe not great strides, but some little baby strides.
I'm glad I took Aki in. He's a handful, and when he destroys things I often wonder if he's worth it, but when he leans in so I can skritch his chest and lets out a big sigh, I know I did the right thing. Also, he gets me out walking, which helps with the whole "too depressed to exercise" thing.
I sold some quilts! Quilting has been a hobby for me for many years now, but it's never been something I thought I was good enough at to make any money. I love doing it, and am happiest when my quilts find a home where they are enjoyed, but to think that I can earn some of the material cost back is pretty awesome.
I have a great network of family and friends. My parents and sisters are awesomesauce, and I am looking forward to seeing them all in June for Hezz's wedding. My friends in Faro who look after me, my friends back in Ontario who remind me of my roots, and my friends overseas who remind me of who I have been and will be again...I wouldn't be myself without them.
But, this wouldn't be a proper New Year's Day post without some goals for 2012, so here they are:
1. Be furiously happy. I discovered this concept earlier this year via The Bloggess's presentation at Ignite Evo - this video right here. If this means taping pictures of velociraptors all over town, gluing rhinestones to my truck, or taking a half-day every Wednesday to play with the dog, I want to do it. My parking spot is marked with a "Beware of Velociraptor" sign, and it makes me smile every morning. Do ridiculously silly, stupid things.
2. Work harder at failing. This is self-explanatory to me - as much as I want to just be automatically good at new things, statistics show that there is a correlation between practice and perfection. Note - I am not interested in perfection, per se, but in proficiency. I know that I need to fail at things in order to become any good at them. (Right now, I'm thinking about the free-motion quilting aspects of my life, but I'm also signed up for archery at the Rec Centre on Thursday nights, and I'm just letting my fellow students know in advance - y'all should probably be standing behind me when I let the arrows loose - just sayin'...)
3. Forgive more. I know that I am carrying around baggage from years ago. Sometimes, it feels like I've been carrying things around for centuries. This year, I want to release more of those suitcases of guilt and anger and hurt feelings and hopelessness. I don't want to be bent under the weight of things I haven't faced and haven't forgiven. (This may require some wine, though. And chocolate. And Kleenex.)
4. Leave my main bad habits behind. This one doesn't need to be expanded on in public ^_^
5. [REDACTED] Sorry, this one is personal, too.
So, that's what 2012 had better shape up to be - furiously happy, full of failures, and free of past hurts. Woooo!
Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Holidays are Near...
Less than 3 weeks until I get a whole week of vacation! I wake up every morning almost delirious at the thought of time off.
You see, except for a couple of trips to WH for groceries/shopping, and the three days I took off over my birthday, I haven't had a significant vacation since...well, last Christmas. And I am tired.
I'm trying to work some heavy-duty house-cleaning in over the next couple of weeks, so that by the time 12:00pm December 23 rolls around, I won't have to do anything but play with the dog, work on some quilts, and eat stuffing constantly. (I'm going to stock up.)
So ridiculously excited!
You see, except for a couple of trips to WH for groceries/shopping, and the three days I took off over my birthday, I haven't had a significant vacation since...well, last Christmas. And I am tired.
I'm trying to work some heavy-duty house-cleaning in over the next couple of weeks, so that by the time 12:00pm December 23 rolls around, I won't have to do anything but play with the dog, work on some quilts, and eat stuffing constantly. (I'm going to stock up.)
So ridiculously excited!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
"My friends call me...Ahkbar."
No, they don't, but I watched Romeo Must Die again last night, and that's all that came to mind.
I'm heading out of Faro today, on my way to the Association of Yukon Communities Annual General Meeting in Haines Junction. (That's a mouthful, ain't it?) I'm still not 100% sure why I am going, but I will try to take advantage of the opportunity to see another community, network with folk from the various communities, and really try to wind myself down after the Crane & Sheep Festival.
That last one is proving difficult. But hey, at least I haven't turned to the bottle ^_^
I'm really hoping to sit down and write a proper entry about the C&S, both for this page and for the Town's official (but as of yet, unwritten to) blog. Michael of Michael's Meanderings has some great posts about his family's trip up here this weekend, with great photos! I only got a few photos, because I was running around so much (Anxcitement!) so it's nice to see what other people saw.
In other news, instead of going to bed at a decent hour, like a normal person, last night I stayed up to make a new quilt top. I'm hoping to have enough time before I leave for WH to piece together the backing, and then to take it with me to work on during the brief times when I am not required in meetings. I need to start selling some quilts!
I'm heading out of Faro today, on my way to the Association of Yukon Communities Annual General Meeting in Haines Junction. (That's a mouthful, ain't it?) I'm still not 100% sure why I am going, but I will try to take advantage of the opportunity to see another community, network with folk from the various communities, and really try to wind myself down after the Crane & Sheep Festival.
That last one is proving difficult. But hey, at least I haven't turned to the bottle ^_^
I'm really hoping to sit down and write a proper entry about the C&S, both for this page and for the Town's official (but as of yet, unwritten to) blog. Michael of Michael's Meanderings has some great posts about his family's trip up here this weekend, with great photos! I only got a few photos, because I was running around so much (Anxcitement!) so it's nice to see what other people saw.
In other news, instead of going to bed at a decent hour, like a normal person, last night I stayed up to make a new quilt top. I'm hoping to have enough time before I leave for WH to piece together the backing, and then to take it with me to work on during the brief times when I am not required in meetings. I need to start selling some quilts!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Where have I been?
Quilting.
I spent the last week rushing through a project with a very tight deadline. Self-imposed project/deadline, for sure, but still...
You see, the Youth Group here in Faro is going to Ottawa over March Break to attend a conference (either TYPS or BYTE, I can't remember - too many acronyms!), and they have been doing a lot of fundraising. They had a pancake breakfast on Saturday, and a skate-a-thon that same morning. Based on the donations they had received from around town, they collectively had to skate 1,157 laps. I'm not sure if they made it, as I was only there for a fifteen minute cram pancakes down gullet break in my quilting.
At the community potluck that night, there was going to be a silent auction. A week before this, I had the brilliant idea to throw together a small lap-quilt/wall-hanging to offer as a donation. It was a fantastic idea...but it meant that I spent every waking hour working. Barely time to sleep, barely time to eat - I was a quilting machine.*
I finished the quilting portion of the project about an hour before the potluck, but I still had to attach the binding. I had to try the new-to-me technique of machine-binding both sides of the binding strip. Luckily, I did not mess it up the way I half expected I would. I finished binding it ten minutes before the potluck.
But I still had to wash it! And dry it! If I brought it in as it was, it would have looked awful, all covered with white marker and cat hair. So I wound up half an hour late to dinner, and not as many people got the chance to look at it. And I completely forgot to take any photos.
But Tina was the one who won it in the auction, and she is bringing it back to me so I can add a hanging sleeve to the back, so there will be photos in the near future. And hopefully this means a vacation from quilting until midnight every night ^_^
*Lord, I wish I had a quilting machine.
I spent the last week rushing through a project with a very tight deadline. Self-imposed project/deadline, for sure, but still...
You see, the Youth Group here in Faro is going to Ottawa over March Break to attend a conference (either TYPS or BYTE, I can't remember - too many acronyms!), and they have been doing a lot of fundraising. They had a pancake breakfast on Saturday, and a skate-a-thon that same morning. Based on the donations they had received from around town, they collectively had to skate 1,157 laps. I'm not sure if they made it, as I was only there for a fifteen minute cram pancakes down gullet break in my quilting.
At the community potluck that night, there was going to be a silent auction. A week before this, I had the brilliant idea to throw together a small lap-quilt/wall-hanging to offer as a donation. It was a fantastic idea...but it meant that I spent every waking hour working. Barely time to sleep, barely time to eat - I was a quilting machine.*
I finished the quilting portion of the project about an hour before the potluck, but I still had to attach the binding. I had to try the new-to-me technique of machine-binding both sides of the binding strip. Luckily, I did not mess it up the way I half expected I would. I finished binding it ten minutes before the potluck.
But I still had to wash it! And dry it! If I brought it in as it was, it would have looked awful, all covered with white marker and cat hair. So I wound up half an hour late to dinner, and not as many people got the chance to look at it. And I completely forgot to take any photos.
But Tina was the one who won it in the auction, and she is bringing it back to me so I can add a hanging sleeve to the back, so there will be photos in the near future. And hopefully this means a vacation from quilting until midnight every night ^_^
*Lord, I wish I had a quilting machine.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
In Which Our Heroine Lets Down the Internet
Hello, Internet.
It's been a while. I know, I know, I haven't exactly been keeping up my end of our bargain - namely, that you provide me with trivia about background extras on TV shows, information about funding services, and M*A*S*H quotes, and in return I give you more than a crummy little update saying that I'm not frozen. Sorry, Internet.
It's just that I don't think you want to hear about my struggle with the cycle of dirty/clean dishes (How do I create so many dishes when Kara cooks dinner for me 5 nights a week?), why I let my laundry pile up until I am wearing heavy wool socks with a tweed skirt, or how I haven't had anyone in to fix the upstairs toilet even though I've been in my current house since September. I want to be interesting, Internet. I know you understand.
Be honest, Internet - would you still respect me if I told you that I watched 2.5 seasons of NCIS in one weekend while quilting? That the only times I got off the couch were to feed the woodstove or get another cup of tea? Because I've done that. (Sometimes the DVDs are different, but you get the drift.)
I did do one interesting thing in the last little while, though. I did an interview for Sharing Travel Experiences. Poor Andy - he sent me the questions in December, and it took me just short of forever to get them back to him. You know how I get, with the need for everything to be just so. The questions were easily answered, but I got hung up on the photos, and the longer I debated about the photos, the more embarrassed I was at how long it was taking. It was like a shame spiral.
But it's done, it's up, and I've had a number of people tell me they liked it, so I'm happy. And I was ordered by someone who is in the office frequently to get busy and update my blog, so this one's for you, Harold ^_^
It's been a while. I know, I know, I haven't exactly been keeping up my end of our bargain - namely, that you provide me with trivia about background extras on TV shows, information about funding services, and M*A*S*H quotes, and in return I give you more than a crummy little update saying that I'm not frozen. Sorry, Internet.
It's just that I don't think you want to hear about my struggle with the cycle of dirty/clean dishes (How do I create so many dishes when Kara cooks dinner for me 5 nights a week?), why I let my laundry pile up until I am wearing heavy wool socks with a tweed skirt, or how I haven't had anyone in to fix the upstairs toilet even though I've been in my current house since September. I want to be interesting, Internet. I know you understand.
Be honest, Internet - would you still respect me if I told you that I watched 2.5 seasons of NCIS in one weekend while quilting? That the only times I got off the couch were to feed the woodstove or get another cup of tea? Because I've done that. (Sometimes the DVDs are different, but you get the drift.)
I did do one interesting thing in the last little while, though. I did an interview for Sharing Travel Experiences. Poor Andy - he sent me the questions in December, and it took me just short of forever to get them back to him. You know how I get, with the need for everything to be just so. The questions were easily answered, but I got hung up on the photos, and the longer I debated about the photos, the more embarrassed I was at how long it was taking. It was like a shame spiral.
But it's done, it's up, and I've had a number of people tell me they liked it, so I'm happy. And I was ordered by someone who is in the office frequently to get busy and update my blog, so this one's for you, Harold ^_^
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Time doth fly
Goodness, is it Tuesday already? Where did the weekend go? Where did the time go?
My parents will be arriving in Whitehorse tomorrow. Tonight is a Council Meeting (hurray, hurray), so I will not have much time in the evening for doing the remainder of my cleaning. I have Kara's vacuum, so I guess that's what I'll be doing at lunch.
I'm excited for M&D to get here, and for my fuzzy mens (Rodney and Pakuchi) to finally be here. I'm excited about time off, although I think I will be coming to work on Friday anyway because of meetings (if so, I am taking a day in lieu after my parents go).
I need to chop more firewood at lunch. That'll be pretty - me in a sundress and Sketchers, wielding my trusty axe. Too bad no one will be around with a camera ^_^
The other reason I'm excited is that I enrolled in the Social Media course over at Tourism Currents to help me figure out how to use social media to help promote the town. I'm paying for it out of my own pocket, because I don't want to sit through endless meetings trying to explain why I think it's important.
The ladies who run the site are amazing - I was having trouble registering myself after I had paid, so I dropped an email off to their admin address. Within ten minutes, they had contacted me, fixed the problem, and thanked me for helping them fix the bug in their system. One of them even gave me her cell number in case there was a problem and I couldn't contact them by email. That, my friends, is a class act.
So, in the near future, I may be able to promote Faro to the max with mad social media skillz. Look out, Internetz!
My parents will be arriving in Whitehorse tomorrow. Tonight is a Council Meeting (hurray, hurray), so I will not have much time in the evening for doing the remainder of my cleaning. I have Kara's vacuum, so I guess that's what I'll be doing at lunch.
I'm excited for M&D to get here, and for my fuzzy mens (Rodney and Pakuchi) to finally be here. I'm excited about time off, although I think I will be coming to work on Friday anyway because of meetings (if so, I am taking a day in lieu after my parents go).
I need to chop more firewood at lunch. That'll be pretty - me in a sundress and Sketchers, wielding my trusty axe. Too bad no one will be around with a camera ^_^
The other reason I'm excited is that I enrolled in the Social Media course over at Tourism Currents to help me figure out how to use social media to help promote the town. I'm paying for it out of my own pocket, because I don't want to sit through endless meetings trying to explain why I think it's important.
The ladies who run the site are amazing - I was having trouble registering myself after I had paid, so I dropped an email off to their admin address. Within ten minutes, they had contacted me, fixed the problem, and thanked me for helping them fix the bug in their system. One of them even gave me her cell number in case there was a problem and I couldn't contact them by email. That, my friends, is a class act.
So, in the near future, I may be able to promote Faro to the max with mad social media skillz. Look out, Internetz!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Busy day
After spending Thursday night in a cooler-fuzzed haze of Ashes to Ashes and a blazing fire, and spending Friday regretting the amount of alcohol consumed Thursday night but still drinking a bunch at Matt and Kara's that night, I woke up early this morning.
We were heading out to Little Salmon Lake, where a lady named Bernice was having a yard sale - I was told her husband passed away, and she has sold their house to a couple from Dawson City, and she was getting rid of a ton of stuff. The Went crew picked me up and we drove 45 minutes out to LSL. The sale officially started at 10, according to the ad in the local paper, but people obviously had been there longer than that.
We poked and puttered around - I really wanted an axe or hatchet, so I could chop up some wood and ensure I have kindling, but alas, there was none. I did pick up a couple of jerry cans which is awesome because I have set the wheels in motion for me to pick up a truck in Whitehorse next weekend.
The real find was in the basement, though - I picked up some power tools - namely a Ryobi starter kit containing a drill, a saw, and some batteries. I threw in a box of drill/screw bits, a ratchet set (an old-time favourite, dating back to my time in Ottawa), and a hammer, and I felt ready to conquer the world. (Or at least ready to build my own coffee table.)
When we got back in to Faro, I called up this girl who has a trailer for sale in town and asked if I could come over and see it at some point. Michel had suggested it as an option, and told me to keep an open mind. I borrowed Matt as my "honourary manfolk," and we went over there after a delicious Easter dinner (thanks, Kara!).
I kept my mind open, but have ultimately decided that I'm going to stick with my original plan of moving back to the hotel for the winter. The trailer would require more work than I have time to put into it, and more money than I have to throw around. There is someone else interested in it, and I am going to call the girl up tomorrow and let her know that she can go ahead and tell him OK. I'm going back to the hotel where I can have my own furniture and the satellite TV is included ^_^
All in all, a very good day.
We were heading out to Little Salmon Lake, where a lady named Bernice was having a yard sale - I was told her husband passed away, and she has sold their house to a couple from Dawson City, and she was getting rid of a ton of stuff. The Went crew picked me up and we drove 45 minutes out to LSL. The sale officially started at 10, according to the ad in the local paper, but people obviously had been there longer than that.
We poked and puttered around - I really wanted an axe or hatchet, so I could chop up some wood and ensure I have kindling, but alas, there was none. I did pick up a couple of jerry cans which is awesome because I have set the wheels in motion for me to pick up a truck in Whitehorse next weekend.
The real find was in the basement, though - I picked up some power tools - namely a Ryobi starter kit containing a drill, a saw, and some batteries. I threw in a box of drill/screw bits, a ratchet set (an old-time favourite, dating back to my time in Ottawa), and a hammer, and I felt ready to conquer the world. (Or at least ready to build my own coffee table.)
When we got back in to Faro, I called up this girl who has a trailer for sale in town and asked if I could come over and see it at some point. Michel had suggested it as an option, and told me to keep an open mind. I borrowed Matt as my "honourary manfolk," and we went over there after a delicious Easter dinner (thanks, Kara!).
I kept my mind open, but have ultimately decided that I'm going to stick with my original plan of moving back to the hotel for the winter. The trailer would require more work than I have time to put into it, and more money than I have to throw around. There is someone else interested in it, and I am going to call the girl up tomorrow and let her know that she can go ahead and tell him OK. I'm going back to the hotel where I can have my own furniture and the satellite TV is included ^_^
All in all, a very good day.
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