You know how some people do a year summary at the end of the year with lots of links to previous posts for reference? I can't do that because 2013 has pretty much been my worst blogging year since I commenced blogging in 2002.
Here we go: 2013 summarized.
January
I woke up hungover at 10:15, slightly convinced I could still make it downtown to participate in the Polar Bear Dip which started at 10:30. At 10:16, I fell back asleep. Ambition was not to be the theme of 2013.
That first day I scolded myself for drinking "too much" (I was still alive, hence the quotation marks) and told myself no more hangovers and now I'm slightly paranoid when I drink because, surprise, once you're thirty years old a serving of cough syrup is enough to give you a headache.
Most important part of January: began the process of deeply thinking about getting a cat. Also, looking after Boyfriend after knee surgery. Made him an omelette one day. Probably in the running for girlfriend of the year.
Tip of the Month: don't let a Frenchman pour your wine unless you are watching his serving size closely, drink water, and get up before 10:15 if you want to do the Polar Bear Dip.
February
I woke up hungover at 10:15, how I choose to start all my months.
Kidding! February 1st was a Friday, so I probably woke up and went to work, arriving fifteen minutes later than my goal. However, something pretty awesome happened that day: I called the Humane Society to inquire about Butterscotch, the soft looking ginger kitty on their website. Here comes a spoiler alert: cat was acquired, and was pretty much the highlight of 2013. If I had to make a top ten list of the year and then time travel back to the beginning of 2013 and was only allowed to have one of those happen, the acquisition of Michu Butterkins would be the one to stay. And I'm not just saying that because he's watching me type this.
Tip of the Month: meow! (contributed by Michu Butterkins)
March
Work contact ended. Got re-signed for one more month (note: this happened almost every month. Sometimes we would get extended for two months).
Went snowshoeing. Stuff like that. A friend known from Edinburgh but actually from Winnipeg came to visit, which was awesome as I (and others) hadn't seen her in too many years. I un-earned Girlfriend of the Year Award by borrowing Boyfriend's Ireland jersey thingie to wear to the bar on the eve of St. Patrick's Day. It was comfortable and brought of the colour of my eyes; I dare say I may borrow it again someday.
Tip of the Month: when drinking the shot "Sex on an Elephant" or "Elephant Fun" or something like that, make sure the liqueurs are poured in the right order so the amarula doesn't curdle, thus preventing the desperate tears of your taste buds.
April
Work contract ended. Got re-signed for one more month. Things didn't look good for an overly long extension so I "spent" 75,000 Aeroplan points on plane tickets. Also didn't have much to do at work, which usually means I wind up daydreaming and booking travel. Coworker did the same.
Boyfriend and I spent too much money on a pillow this month. That I did blog about.
Tip of the Month: don't spend a lot of money on a pillow.
May
Work contract ended. Got re-signed for TWO months. Start to think I might have to work over the summer and not live out my EI dream. (For the un-Canadian, Employment Insurance, i.e., the money the government gives you when you lose your job.) Frisbee started. Hosted a Grilled Cheese Social and it was delicious.
Tip of the Month: hosting a Grilled Cheese Social will require more cheese and ingredients than you expect.
June
Went to Washington, DC with Boyfriend! Super trip, which I started blogging about but never finished. Let's finish it now:
Good food, good drink, good public transit, good hotels, good attractions, good weather, good museums, most EXCELLENT company. First vacation with Boyfriend that didn't involve begging other people to let us sleep in their spare bedroom, bath tub, shed, etc.
Tip of the Month: Priceline for DC is superb! Perhaps for other cities too, but it's the only place I used it for anything other than an airport hotel.
July
Work contract ended, got another month. You know what makes an organization really inefficient? When your staff think they are constantly on the verge of getting their two-weeks notice and you can't really do anything because you think you might be closing up shop in a few days.
July is always good: generally *knock on wood* pleasant weather, visitors from away, bike rides, frisbees, beaches, etc.
Tip of the Month: July!! Woo! Also, always make sure to have extra staff onsite at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival because heat exhaustion/stroke is real.
August
Vacation! Again! To a wedding in North Carolina. If one travels that far for a wedding, obviously it must become an adventurous journey to the unknown. General route was everyone's favourite capital to start: Columbia, South Carolina (one night). Haven't heard of it? Neither had I until I couldn't get an Aeroplan flight into Charleston, SC. Then drove to Charleston (two nights), then to Atlanta (two nights) with a pit stop in Athens, Georgia. Left Atlanta, drove to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (three nights) with a stop at a random outlet mall and Chattanooga (bicycle rental!). The draw in Pigeon Forge? Smoky Mountains National Park, and... *drumroll* DOLLYWOOD. SO. GOOD. Piegon Forge was a hybrid of Cavendish (PEI), International Drive (Orlando), and Niagara Falls (Ontario/New York). I lapped it up like a thirsty puppy. After Tennessee, we drove to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the wedding. I was in the wedding (Bridesmaid of the Year? Probably), it was the most highest caliber of fun, and so worth the flying/driving. Much love to Sheena and Adam and Sheena's dress!
Worst part of the trip was when I convinced myself that 19 year old Friskey the Cat had died and my parents didn't tell me because they didn't want to ruin my trip. Spoiler: he's still alive.
Job was also extended until the end of August.
Tip of the Month: if you find yourself in Columbia, SC, go to Congaree National Park. You would be wise to wear bug spray. Also, Philadelphia Airport = one of my favourites.
September
Trip mentioned above extended into early September. Flew home from your favourite Virginian city: Roanoke. Also another place I hadn't heard of, but Aeroplan flights were a smidgen restrictive on Labour Day. While away, I learned my job had been extended for September.
Because I missed her, I booked a Thanksgiving weekend trip to visit lovely Charlene in Ottawa! Bonus: Brother also lives in Ottawa. He is lovely as well. I felt super guilty about leaving Boyfriend and Giant Kitty again so soon, but was convinced by Boyfriend that it would be okay.
I also did other stuff.
Tip of the Month: ride your bicycle lots, soon it will get dark early and the weather will be sad. Also, Mexican food in random highway exit town Roanoke is delicious.
October
Ottawa! Mini-Disney reunion! More Mexican food!
Twentieth birthday celebration for Friskey! Co-hosted a stag party!
Bought a bed and felt like a real live adult!
Held a baby! (Or maybe that was early November. Regardless, it had been years since I held a baby. Not much has changed about holding babies in the past decade except now I apparently pat babies on the head and call them "Kitty".)
Job extended for another month! Thank goodness that wasn't dragged out! (Note the sarcasm.)
Tip of the Month: Mexican food is one of the secrets to leading a happy, fulfilling life. And drink a spoonful of apple cider vinegar before you eat to help with digestive problems.
November
Oh, stuff. Celebrated Hallowe'en on November 1st. Tag teamed with Josh, cardboard Tom Selleck, and Cabbage Patch Kid to be "Three Men and a Baby".
Job got extended until *drumroll* next June. Whaaa? That was a weird, confusing moment.
Tip of the Month: maybe don't try to write a year summary in one sitting, your mind starts to stray and you lose focus towards the end of the year.
December
Birthday!
Ate too much and got sick! (It happens once every year. In 2012 it was on a cruise ship and my vomit clogged the sink in our cabin bathroom and I had to scoop it into the toilet with a crappy plastic cup. Sigh.)
Had a work related meeting in which we all introduced ourselves and I had to be careful not to introduce myself in an English accent because I kept thinking about this Friends scene and had to concentrate very hard to not burst out laughing. A very professional day indeed.
Christmas!
Everything!
Started watching Once Upon A Time! (So good.)
Tip of the Month: do everything possible over Christmas break! Except for one day. Take at least one day to do absolutely nothing and make no plans, no commitments. Also, someone remind me of this next year because I clearly forget it every year and go back to work in January exhausted.
Sort of Goals for 2014
Be a better conversationalist.
Blog more.
Get to work earlier. (So hard when it's cold.)
Make my pants fit again (preferably by becoming smaller, and not just by not doing up the top button).
Cook more. Not because I want to, but because I feel like I should.
Find a new job, or way to make money. Maybe I shouldn't blog that, but it's not really a secret.
Get used to sitting at parties. Sitting for long periods of time completely drains my energy and then I can't really focus on any topic of conversation unless it's travel or, like, Survivor related.
The end. (Worst conclusion ever, but I got tired and realized I should be on the verge of sleeping.)
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