Looking forward....

One of those reflective posts again. I guess if you only write twice a year, that's all you can expect?

This year has been one of the busiest years I've ever had. I keep looking at the calendar and saying to myself 'after [insert event or weekend here], things will slow down'. Of course, that event happens, something else comes up, or something else needs to be done, then I repeat the exercise.

I started a new job in March. It's had a fair share of challenges, but I think I'm getting comfortable in it now. It was consuming alot of energy in the first 6 months, but I've established a balance and have been getting used to performing presentations again. I've made a transition from a technical job to a business based job and I'm really enjoying the business aspect and perspective, which I always held in the technical jobs, but now I have the power to really do things about them, and the skills to back it up.

Our yard is coming along at the house. This year, I was able to keep outdoor flowers alive! We laid sod in the backyard, as well as laid half the patio with patio stones. We planted some trees and bushes later in the year, I'm hoping they survive the winter, but if not, it was a super sale and all we wasted was an afternoon. Next year I hope that we get the driveway done, the other half of the fence and the front patio done. Then all we need to worry about is the one side of the house that's still mud, but it's coming. I can't wait to enjoy the patio and fire pit next year!

From Fall 2011

The animals have both been battling mites this year. I've been cleaning the house, and grooming them constantly. Hopefully when we're on vacation, they'll die out at the house. It seems I can get the animals mite free, but the house is another story.

From Christmas 2011

One of our revenue properties, my old condo, flooded in August. The toilet tank crack and the toilet ran for a few days destroying all the flooring in the unit, as well as some furniture and cabinetry. Since the insurance claims are all backed up due to SKs wacky weather this year, I've spent the last 5 months dealing with contractors and trying to get someone in there to fix it. It's been a very slow process and it's coming to an end. The unit has received a bit of a pro face lift and is pretty close to being a finished spare time project for me.

Speaking of spare time projects, the wedding planning has been a huge undertaking this year. We have all the big stuff booked and done, but there's still alot to do! For the most part it's been fun, I've had my fair share of 'freakouts' over silly stuff, but I suppose it comes with the territory. I can't wait till February, we have a lovely honeymoon booked in Thailand and Cambodia, and then we're off to Jamaica!

From Engagement Photos

And then what? I always have a list of goals that I'd like to strive for. I made a list a few years back of things I'd like to do before I was 32 when I had my 24 year old meltdown. I realized I had to make obtainable goals that didn't have outside interference in order to avoid a meltdown. Also, I couldn't treat my goals like a life plan. For example, you couldn't make a goal to get married, that depends too much on others, and could just make you unhappy, in order to make yourself meet it. There were things on there like 'Travel to Asia', 'Run my Own Business,' and lots of professional goals etc. I've met pretty much all those, with a few years to spare. Maybe I didn't aim high enough? Either way, it's time to take stock and make some new ones with a new deadline. Ryan and I have been discussing a few, one of our on-going goals is to take a large trip each year. We'd also like to be independently wealthy by age 40. <- who knows, it could happen, just need to make it a goal...

It's exciting times. We've accomplished so much and this is just the beginning. Dreaming up where you want to be by what age is just fun. If you get there, that's great! If you don't, you tried, and learned some things along the way. You've at least brought the idea to the forefront of your consciousness, where you can look out and make decisions based on it. So, what now?

From Engagement Photos

What's happening

Well, it's almost bday time. What do I have to say for myself for the past year? It's been absolutely crazy. Ryan and I got engaged over Christmas time. We're planning a wedding for February next year. All the big stuff is done, now it's just planning the little things and the honeymoon, we're slowly picking away at those. Time working in our favour.

I started a new job in March. It's had its fair share of challenges. It's more of a business position than what I've held previously. I enjoy learning new skills and meeting the new people and learning from new mentors. Being back in a big corporation, I think I'm more suited to own my own business. Once I pick up some more skills here, I think I'm in a good spot to venture out to my own business adventure. I have lots of ideas that would work and I think I have a good network of people to help me get there...it's an idea that seeming more and more attractive. And lets face it, I'm a restless person, the slow periods kill me. Let see where this idea takes me...

There hasn't been too much travel as of late. We were a little overwhelmed with the house and renting out the condos. We did spend Easter long at the Banff Springs Hotel. That was an experience I'll never forget. The architecture, the service, appetizers in the lounge at 4pm, the hiking, the spa, the food. A 5 star resort experience packed into 3 days. We're working with a travel agent to plan our honeymoon in February. South Asia is the general area we've picked, lets see what the agent can do. We're not picky, if it's in our budget we're going there :D We're also going to Montego Bay, Jamaica in March for friends' wedding. We've never been to Jamaica so it was a good fit.


It hasn't been the greatest year for the lakes this year. It's rained alot to get to Ryan's parent cabin and my family cottage has suffered from the flooding in the Qu'appelle lake system and the rain to boot. There's not alot to do until the lake goes down and the weather smartens up.


Plus I want to get into my backyard. It seems to all be conspiring against me right now, but I'll get there and build my Rancho Relaxo in the back, just you wait. I did fancy up the front yard a bit, I'm not completely happy with what's there yet but it's a start.

From Summer2011

Tartanya and Bunnyrat have kept me busy this spring too. They were diagnosed with mites a month ago. It's been cleaning and vacuuming and brushing for me almost everyday. Luckily they both look better now and we should be out of the active mite territory. I need to train Tartanya how to 'stay' and train her to come to me all the time when I ask, not when just she feels like listening. I think I've been treating her too much like a cat in that respect. She can do a pile of tricks that I've taught her, but generally she thinks I have food when I ask her to do those.

From Summer2011

The Big E

Well I finally have some time to myself to sit in front of the compy. Life changes are abundant right now.

In November we added a member to our family, little Tartanya, she's a 4 pound Black and Tan Pomeranian who just turned 4 years old.

From Fall 2010

She's been a handful to say the least. We've had to potty train her, (we're still in the process of this). I've trained her to sit, stay and shake a paw. She recently just had a surgery and had 11 teeth pulled and is now on anti-biotics, and right now she's in great need of a bath. She gets along with Bunnyrat really well and they play with eachother a bit.

Ryan started a new job at AMEC. They're an engineering consulting firm. He has more potential to move up in this company and has the chance to be mentored by experienced people. It's a great move for him and I'm very proud.

Christmas Vacation was very relaxing and much needed. I had all of our Christmas shopping done and wrapped in the first week of December. As of Dec 20th there were no gifts wrapped for me under the tree. I'm an avid present shaker, this was probably why. Ryan quickly wrapped up gifts before our first stop in Regina to visit my parents. To my dismay, neither of the presents were shakable. They had both been padded with something, my guess was laundry, since the laundry hamper was in the room Ryan wrapped the gifts in.

We went out with my friends from high school for our annual get together supper. It was great to see everyone. I only get to see most of these people once a year. We got back from this gathering quite late and it was then Christmas Eve. Ryan mentioned that it was Christmas Eve and since I didn't get to properly shake my gifts, I should open one now. Of course I knew what was up ;) He handed me one of the unshakable presents. Underneath a pile of sheets in this large box, was a ring box taped to the bottom of the box and a card. I opened the card and it was Christmas card with a rabbit on it and inside was printed, "I love you, will you marry me?" I looked at him and told him I would have to look at the ring first in order to answer. I opened the ring box and inside was the largest clearest diamond I have ever seen and held. It had a yellow gold band ( I love yellow gold for those of you who are crinkling your noses ), and a brilliant round solitaire diamond. I of course said yes.

So we're engaged! Christmas eve morning, I phoned around Regina to get the ring sized and hid it from my Dad and sis, I wanted to wait until my Mom got home from work to tell everyone all at once in person. My Mom got home before we were home from getting the ring sized and put together all the pieces. The empty box, the gift tag and the stray wrapping paper from an open gift and then scolding my Dad and sis for not noticing these things, ha, ha. We celebrated with them Christmas eve. We had a wonderful Christmas. I framed Ryan's Team Canada Softball Jersey from when he pitched on the team in 2001. He was surprised. Then we celebrated our engagement with Ryan's family on boxing day.

I'm so excited for planning a wedding and getting married. There were times when I thought that this wouldn't happen for me, but that was okay with me too. As long as you're happy, what does it matter? We're looking at wedding dates in early 2012, nothing set in stone yet.

So there's the update, there will be lots more to come soon if I can keep up. I'm missing a ton of things in here as it is!

I hope you all had a great holiday!