cheers to the new year

So, here's to a fresh start. I'm at a new job, I'm in ballet lessons again, I'm moving in June, and I pretty much just love life right now. Last night, I started (and almost finished) this uberlong post about how last year went, and then in a really unfortunate computer glitch, it was banished into the wide world of webbernetland. I was sad and pissed about it, but I'm over it now, and I'm going to re-start that beast, only because it was too good to allow complete disappearance into oblivion. So, here goes. My last year, divided into jobs, not months...

New Year's Eve: Spent the New Year in a church, hating life. Watched a baptism and then 'prayed in the new year' with a bunch of people I didn't (and still don't) know. Regret every minute of it. Resolved to make my own decisions in the new year. Starting with leaving camp for good.

Jan: Was still at camp, hating life. Was on an enforced month-long hiatus, and did daily Bible studies and took frequent walks around camp property. Learned to hate God, Rick and hate Rick more for loving someone/thing that's never been there for me. Was only allowed to work a half-day at a time, max, and learned to take full advantage of it, and helped Ken a lot more than I did in the past. Left camp for good, and moved back to mom's place in Red Deer. Before even unpacking (or washing the contents of) my suitcases from moving home, mom dragged me off to a hole-in-the-wall place up near Edmonton for a "fun weekend away from the city." Hated it until mom ditched and took her own class (they taught skills during your stay. Best bed and breakfast idea ever) and I was launched into a photography class with some old guy. Met the two people who lived in the house, and quickly became friends with them. One was my age, really hot and had just bought a house by himself (and paid for it by himself, too); the other was a couple years older, worked as a lab assistant and she was super cool, too. Watched Indiana Jones for the first time, and learned to love Pepsi and Amaretto mixed together (which, oddly enough, tastes exactly like Dr. Pepper, the one soft drink that I hate with a burning passion).

Feb-Mar: Had the perfect job fall into my lap one day. 'Twas a temp job in the Transport and Engineering Dept in the Provincial sector of the government. Was paid $12.75/hr to sit at a vacant desk, check my e-mail and occasionally re-organize filing cabinets around the office. Made some new friends who threw me a mini-party for my birthday. Loved it completely, except for the days that I did absolutely nothing. And the day I felt the sting of bureaucracies and was 'let go' without prior notice. Yeah, I cried. Was unemployed until Montana's. Moved away from home again. This time to Lethbridge, and in with Gerry, Rodger, Bryan and Aileen. Best choice ever. Loved it totally.

Apr-Jun: After moving to Lethbridge, got the infamous Montana's job. Made me hate life with a passion, but in a totally new and different way than I did at camp. What a joy, eh? Made some new "friends" and learned how to set the kitchen on fire my second, and first 8-hour, day. Hated my job so much that I gave my two-weeks' notice, two weeks into my employment. Got a raise in exchange for my soul. Got drunk for the first time, and regret every minute of it. Still do to this day. Stupidly agreed to go back to camp for the summer. Was actually really excited about it, too. Royally pissed off my boss by telling him I was going back to camp for the summer. Moved back to Evergreen; this time as the Assistant Cook. Moved into a duplex with Aileen. Bad move, Lacey.

Jul-Aug: Spent my summer working 16-hour days and getting less than 24 hours off on 'weekends.' Taught Drama with one of the coolest guys I've ever met. Miss him like crazy. Bonded with really random people like Jasper, Ben and Nick. Made some really interesting and lasting friendships. Cut my hair pretty short compared to my habitual less-than-one-centimeter-off idea of what a "haircut" was. Learned to actually make my own decisions for once. Learned that I don't work well with Ken for more than a week at a time. Learned that ever time I take over the Evergreen kitchen, something disastrous happens to a meal or me, or both. Learned I'm never, ever wasting another summer out there. Regretted not going back to Kinasao. Met Karena, one of the coolest and shortest people I've ever known. Miss her dearly. Learned that Bri was moving to Lethbridge, too. Applied for University on a sheer whim. Mostly because Bri was going. Best decision ever made, right there. Thanks Bri! Got my cat. Best thing to ever happen to me. George will always be with me. I may not be able to make him love me, but I can make him live with me, and that's good enough for now. We'll see about the love part later.

Sept-Dec: "You're back?!"-- one of the first things I heard from one of my co-workers (who apparently lost a bet that said I wouldn't return after the summer was over). Haha. Made actual away-from-work friends with people from work. Gave away my dance floor virginity on Halloween night. Absolutely do not regret that at all. Still love the guy dearly. Miss working with him quite a bit, actually. Moved back into the duplex with Aileen and Steph. Worst mistake ever. Learned never to do that again. I hope there's still a friendship after this. Sometimes. Made a dream come true on a whim. Best thing to ever happen to me. Hands down.

Dec: And then, just to cap off a royally intense year, returned to retail for the Christmas season. Sears wasn't ready for me, obviously, but I waltzed in, guns blazing and ready to take on the crowd. Ended up mostly training people who'd been there for months already, and I hadn't been there in two years, and could still do the job better than they could. It was scary, but I think I'll do it again next year, just for shits and giggles. Who knows, I might meet another really hot Irish guy while I'm working in Men's Wear...

New Years Eve: Holy wow. First drunken New Years ever. Totally regret the whole getting drunk part, but loved the rest of it so much. Spent time with some friends and some strangers. Still have yet to be kissed at midnight (or ever), but hey, there's always next year, right?

New Years Resolutions:

-Learn to not doubt myself so much.
-Learn to not be such a smart-ass. Sometimes.
-Not be such a bitch. Again, sometimes.
-Appreciate what I have. Actually appreciate it and not just say I do.
-Move into my own place, away from destructive friendships.
-Maybe travel?
-Not complain so much. Or at all.
-Get back into ballet, full tilt.
-Start singing again.
-Perhaps start an apprenticeship...?