A Year in Review
So every year, I do my annual entry of my Year in Review. 2005 could not have been more different than 2004. This was one of the best years ever.
JANUARY: I kicked off the year, with some of my dearest friends at Chad's New Year's party. I don't remember a lot of the night but for some reason, BUTT CHARADES keeps popping into my mind. I turned two decades old this year. Although many people say that 19 is not that different than 20, I'd have to say that my 19 year old self was quite different from my 20 year old self. I celebrated my birthday with my family, my ASL friends, my musician friends, my Burnett friends and had a wonnnnderful birthday.
FEBRUARY: The most memorable part of February for me, was the One Tree Hill Concert Tour. Although I was not a huge fan of the show, I went for the sole purpose of seeing, hearing and meeting...Gavin DeGraw. All three of my wishes came true. Stacey, Jeni and I went to the Vogue Theatre after school to line up for the concert, and after Michelle Branch, Tyler Hilton, Jessica Harp and Bethany Joy Lenz performed......Gavin came out. He was brilliant of course, and after the concert, the three of us went over to the Roxy for drinks. 20 minutes later, enter Gavin. After a whole lot of wasted time mumbling "I can't do it, I'm too shy", I finally went up to him, spoke with him, got my picture with him and.....got pinched by him. In other news, Nicole turned 19 this year! Woo. Legal age!
MARCH: In March, my mom turned ?? (haha not telling in respect to her), and for her birthday, instead of the usual dinner out, my dad and I took her to see the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. They were absolutely AMAZING and I have never quite seen anything quite as amazing as what those performers could do. Quite literally, a breath-taking performance and I applaud them *applauds*. I also went on my first trip solo. Okay well it was only to Victoria, but I'm still proud that I went by myself because I usually hate travelling solo. Yumi is 19!
APRIL: April was one of my favourite months this year. Nicole and I went to see Metric at the Commodore Ballroom, which was really awesome. I dislike Lime margaritas. After about 3 years of agony, I finally got to go see WEEEEEEZZZERRRR with Val, Jenn, Jesse, Scott and Kevin. Val and I started out the concert at the back and wormed our way up to the barrier, which was awesome. Being short has its perks....on occasion. Nearing the end of the month, I went on the Victoria trip with Alana and Monica for a day of shopping. We cleaned out Sirens pretty well. "IT WAS A SPONTANEOUS REACTION!" The Cocktail Party was the day after. Balderdash, coronas and strawberry daiquiris with a side of formal wear, cracked chocolate cake, and pasta were present at the time. For April birthdays, we had....Jesse & Vik (both 20) and my dad who turned...older.
MAY: May consisted of the big event at VCC that was hugely successful....Deaf Deaf World. It was such a cool experience and I thank Monica for attending. We also had our ASL Pub Night at the Stone Temple Night Club which was....a night to remember for many different reasons. Nin and Naha turned 20. Erin turned 23, Stacey turned 21.
JUNE: June was a great month because I graduated the American Sign Language and Deaf Studies program at VCC with my certificate! I also had my grad boat cruise, which was a lot of fun. The day after that, my family went to Prague and London for a week. Although I was sick for most of Prague, London was still a lot of fun and I got to catch up with my cousin, Amy, who lives there. I also started learning the drums this month. Monica, Tim, Scott and Joe turned 20.
JULY: I spent most of July with Jesse, Val, Jenn, Scott and Joe. It was a great a month. I think my favourite part of July was going to Jesse's granddad's house before the fireworks. Such a beautiful place! I still am in awe that he built it himself. The VSO concert in the park was a lot of fun too and the PNE was fun....Super Dogs and crepes and the seahorse tattoo and the 8 1/2 lb *cough* then crashing at Jesse's. The Wednesday nights in July were also tonnes of fun, usually after ballroom dancing.
AUGUST: The long-awaited Tea Party/Val's Going Away party! The girls debuted. I kicked my fear of singing in public and although it sucked, I was still proud that we did it and nobody chickened out at the last moment. Thursday Brit Rock night at the Cellar, and going to the Media Club. Last day of summer, kid-ing around at the park at night. Kimi turned 22, Nitz is 29, Shannon is 20.
SEPTEMBER: I start my new program at Douglas College. My parents celebrate their 25th Silver wedding anniversary by having the family reunite in Kalamazoo. Went to Epic Bistro for fancy dinner and had Kimi show us around. Alana and I go see Apocalyptica at Richards on Richards. I finally get to see Jimmy Eat World and Green Day in concert at GM Place with Scott and Jesse. What's a year without something sad? Val leaves for Scotland :( Jenn turns 20, Sophia turns 19, Jeni turns 21.
OCTOBER: Halloween- went to Rocky Horror Picture Show with Jen D, Jeni, Stacey and Sara G. That was pretty cool although shocking if you don't know what to expect. I didn't. Thanksgiving at Jesse's with the baco, pie, nesquik, creme de menthe and soy milk. Birthdays for Alana (20), Kiko (20), Erin T (24).
NOVEMBER: After several months of job-hunting, I got hired at the Buck & Ear Pub. That was awesome. I seem to recall a lot of Black Jack/drizzunk nights in November as well.
DECEMBER: Holiday Hootenanny on the 15th. Balderdash again. Mini-keg. Toned down but still fun. Finish of term 1! I start playing music again on and off with Jellyfi. Christmas with the family. First time playing the slots at the River Rock Casino. Won $11 :) Birthdays for Val (20), Rayna (21), Colin (18), Jen (20).
Terminology for 2005: flacky, hamper, drizzunk, beer socks, tractatrix, IHOP, orgymadotic, puer.
Re-occuring Themes for 2005: Approving and Disapproving, Actioning, not Doing, pluralizing using "i" (ex. restaurant called Denny's...changes to Denni. ex. jellyfish...changes to jellyfi)
A few significant things that also happened this year, I would like to mention: For most of 2005, I was on pretty bad terms with some people. They were people that I honestly did not know if I would ever speak to again. After reading Tuesdays With Morrie, I realized that holding grudges will not solve anything and that life is precious. I need to be really living it and not "sweating the small stuff" as my mom would say. Morrie really saved me this year and I think that is what has made 20 such a significant differance from 19. Without his words, I probably would not be the person I am now and I am most grateful that this book (or bible I call it) has fallen into my path of life, right when I needed it most.
Also, there were several people who I became a lot closer to this year and I could not imagine my life without them. We never know how much time we have left on this Earth and I feel that I should express my deepest and most heartfelt thanks to the friends who made my 2005 the amazing year it was.
"For a brief moment, a glimpse of the past/We always knew it wasn't to last/Treasured memories of the good and the bad/Many make us smile, many make us sad"
I do not know if it is at all possible for 2006 to top my 2005 but I can damn well try to make it so! Best of luck to everyone in the new year!