The end of a decade and a new one begins

It's hard to believe that a decade has gone by and it is 2010 already. I remember New Years Eve 1999 when the world was panicking about the year 2000 and all the problems it would cause. Nothing happened though, nothing to worry about.

In the year 2000 I finished grade 10 and moved on to grade 11 at Simonds High School. Grade ten was probably the best year in high school, my group of friends met new friends, but we stopped talking to a few, things changed, and we all moved on. Grade eleven was pretty cool, decent classes, lots of good times with friends.

In 2001, I said so long to grade eleven and entered the final year of high school. September 11th happened in the states which was the topic of conversation on TV for days, weeks, and months.

In 2002, and maybe late in 2001, I rekindled a friendship with someone that is still going strong today.. and we have known each other for more than 12 years. Sarah was and is one person I can always count on.. same goes for my other best friend Niki. In 2002, I graduated with honours from Simonds High in June, a lot of memories happened at that school and I wouldn't trade them for the world. In July, I started my first job at Sobeys Loch Lomond.. it has changed my life i can honestly say. I have many friends because of it. That August I got my drivers license. In September, Sarah and I began university life at UNBSJ.

2002-2006, Sarah and tried hard to have the same classes, and the majority of the time we did. We met interesting professors, some we won't ever forget, and some we would like to. We had some good times at the university. I had my first fender bender in one of the parking lots. In 2005, I bought my lovebird Ollie, whom I love and cherish. He is a smart little creature that is spoiled rotten. In June 2006 we both graduated from UNBSJ with Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Sociology. That summer I bought my car, which i still have, and it's my baby.

2007- Still working at Sobeys, procrastinating about getting another job... good times with friends. That June, I moved out of my parents house and in with Sarah in a basement apartment on Karen st, where I still reside.

2008- Still at Sobeys yada yada. Met Mai Ling that January. That October Sarah moves out of the apartment and Erica, a fellow co-worker moves in, with 2 kittens. Oh the joy. Royden, Sarah's cat, stayed with me, and we will forever share a bond. That November, the powers that be announced Sobeys Loch Lomond would close in Jan 2009. I've never cried so hard in my life. Needless to say, the next 2 months were spent not really caring about what we did. Also in November, my parents sold the house that I lived in for 23 years and moved up to our camp, where they eventually planned to retire. In early December, after attending the staff dinner at my new Sobeys store in Rothesay, I went into the ditch and had to get my radiator replaced in my car. That was fun. The first Christmas that wasn't in Willow Grove was weird, but it wasn't bad, we didn't have a tree, but that's ok.

2009- Jan 3rd, Sobeys Loch Lomond closed its doors forever. I met some fantastic people there and most of us still keep in touch. We partied at Doolys that night til the wee hours of the morning.

Jan 5th, new store, new faces.. don't regret it at all. Met some great people this year, ones that I hope will be my friends for a long time to come.

My parents starting building their new house this past summer, it would be done by Christmas.

My great nan died that fall, she was 98 years old, a wise woman who loved to garden and enjoyed baking, knitting, and writing cards.

Our beloved dog, Puckie, also passed away this fall, she was almost 13 years old. The greatest dog anyone could have ever asked for. I will never forget her. Forever in my heart, soul, and my memories. May she rest in peace. She never got to live in the new house, which we just had our first Christmas in. We will make new memories there, never forgetting the times we had at our old house and times we spent with Puckie.

Cheers to a new year, a new decade, and another chance for us to get it right. Have a rocking new year.

Summer comes to a close...

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and that includes summer. It just seemed like yesterday that there was 10 feet of snow out on the lawn, and pretty soon before we know it, that awful stuff will be back. But I don't really want to think about that. Autumn is almost as beautiful as spring, where every changing leaf is like a flower. The air is crisper, the days get shorter, Thanksgiving and Halloween approach. All of this means that retail stores start to get busy with the approaching Christmas season. I don't want to think about that either.

There were several things that depressed me this summer:

- work has been utterly unpleasant, renovations are horrid, and I wouldn't wish them upon anyone. The employees are bitter, and the customers are nasty. We work our asses off, but there's always a few customers who are unappreciative.

- the weather. 'Nuff said. Atlantic Canada + summer= FOG. There was more days of rain and fog this summer than I can count. Definitely affects a persons mood.

- no one wanted to do anything, or was too busy. Summer is all about bonfires, and camping, and staying up late looking at the stars. Having cold drinks with good friends and sharing good coversation, hell, even just their company is good enough. Didn't really have a lot of that this summer.

There were a couple fun times this summer. The Parkhill's Annual Luau was a success despite the crappy weather. And I had one of the best weekends at my parents all summer: boating, barbecue, and just relaxing. Away from the city. Beautiful weather too. Couldn't have asked for more.

So as summer 2009 draws to a close, we must remember that the cold weather can't last forever and summer will return to us next year. Until then, enjoy the final days.