New Year's Eve

Spent New Year's Eve at the Waldorf and it turned out to be a really cool venue. There were a bunch of rooms, each with a different type of music. My favourite one was where they played some old school rock and roll (the kind of music my mother would have grown up with). The DJ actually dug through her cases of vinyl and physically changed records after every song. No laptops in this room!

Here's my 2011 in a nutshell:

I ate my way through Japan, survived a major earthquake, and made good use of my travel insurance. I threw away my contact lenses and got laser eye surgery. Bought a brand new car (I finally have air conditioning!). Freaked out about highway driving and my mortality after a young coworker's death. Got a sweet gig taking concert photos and have gone to 33 concerts this past year. Did the scariest thing I've ever done in my life by jumping off a bridge (it's worse than skydiving, believe me). Went ziplining as well, but that was a piece of cake compared to bungee jumping. 

I got into outdoor rock climbing and ended up spending more of my summer climbing outdoors than indoors.  Started hitting the gym and actually managed to end up going at least three times a week. Watched the Canucks play in the Stanley Cup finals and watched in horror as they lost the cup and the rioters destroyed the city. Went to Maui with the family for a little r&r. Turned 25 and started a little life project that I'm in the process of right now. Along the way, I've met a bunch of cool people, ate a lot of good food, and overall had a blast this year :)  

Here's to 2012. Happy New Year!

Those were the days...

I was doing a little reminiscing on what was probably the best month of my life - being abroad with my best friends with no cares in the world (it really is the best way to take your mind off the upcoming results of a licensing exam!). All I had to decide was, should I eat pizza or pasta for this meal? Should we have wine or water with our food? Should we all wear our white dresses today? How much sunblock should I apply? Those were the days...

94: A CEMETERY AND A FLASHBACK

I decided to go to the cemetery today. No real reason, just the fact that I have never been to the cemetery in Vancouver and I had some spare time with nothing to do. I had been thinking of going to Squamish for some climbing today, but last night decided not to go because of the forecast of rain. The others still went, and it ended up being a decent day, but it was good I didn't go because today ended up being the most productive day I have had in a long time! I slept in, went to the cemetery, went shopping (and bought everything I needed), had a hot dog from my favourite hot dog guy, went to the gym, cleaned the bathroom, sewed up some loose buttons, did my taxes...it was a wonderful Saturday to myself.

The plots with the daffodils were so lovely.

Last night, I had a pleasant surprise when Giosy, who is living la dolce vita in Florence right now, popped up online. I ended up chatting with her until the wee hours of the early morning, and it made me realize how much I miss her and all my other overseas friends. I started looking through all my old pictures, and I found this gem of a photo:

My first eurotrip, a year before graduation, with Giosy and Anna (we are the three girls in non-medieval clothing). We were in Milan, and Giosy's family friend had invited us to an after-exams party. We thought she meant a house party, but we were in for a shock because it turned out to be an outdoor medieval costume party! Good memories. Italia, mi manchi...I wish I could go back.