1001 Days in the life...: January 2011

And I mean it quite literally. Sleep has managed to evade me the past few nights. I'm not sure why but the tossing and turning is starting to take effect. I feel tired and kind of like I'm loosing my marbles.

It may not be helping that I've been getting to bed late, but when I get there, as tired as I feel I'm suddenly wide awake. And then my brain kicks in. I don't even know what I am thinking about. I have not had this many sleepless nights in a long time. Usually I can pin point the problem but at the moment I am clueless. Something is keeping my mind so occupied it won't stop perhaps? Or is it just an off week?

As this post today is brought to you by my lack of sleep, I'm going to share the random thoughts that have made up my morning so far. Oh what gems!

Cold days like this make me wish I could be somewhere warm with a surfboard beneath me, paddling out and catching a wave. I had a really hard time knowing how to spot a good wave without Doug giving me the heads up to start paddling hard. Brad was a natural and Steph knew what she was doing, and they were also great motivators. NC still stands out as one of my favourite weeks ever.

Also, maybe not even catching a wave, just lying on the board and listening to the ocean and the sky. That is the mood I am in today. Mmmm, warm, sun, beach, board and the smell of coconut sunscreen - those are what sweet dreams are made of.

Going for coffee after work today is a brilliant plan, just what I need to get me through the rest of the day. That is exactly what I was thinking about 30 minutes ago. And I will be in good company which gives me that much more to look forward to. However...now that I think about it, as I have already had two cups today and possibly another on its way not before too long.... will coffee be the demise of what I was hoping would be my first night of a good night's sleep??? Maybe hot chocolate would be the wisest choice here. Yes. hot cocoa, that'll do :)

I'm so tired that I forgot my work pass, and my office key that is attached to it, along with proper shoes. Thankfully I had a pair stashed at my workspace in Marketing. Its days like this I'm thankful that my unorganized ways, as well as two workspaces, worked out well for me. I was not looking forward to wearing boots all day.

I'm getting stoked for Tremblant. Michelle and I leave in just over a week's time :) I really only have one big hope for the weekend.... and that is that I doesn't land me in the emergency room again. Especially being so far from home. I was very thankful fort that, Dan's smooth driving back from Wakefield that night all the way to the Civic in Ottawa while I cradled my arm in the makeshift splint and sling, and for my dad and his comforting manner that got me through the 3 hours that followed. Other things I look forward to are possibly ticking off some list items...not sure what off the top of my head, but i'm positive there are at least 1 or 2 that could be accomplished while away and have the days free to do whatever I please.

Alright, I think this is a good place to end my sleep deprived mumblings -

Outer Banks, NC

The one and only surf shot of the surf trip

Last day in Wilmington, NC

Fractured wrist on 1st day and 2nd run of the season :(
(I look fine here but I was not so happy sitting in the ER)

My lovely cast tattoos :)

Happier days! Monte Ste Marie. (The year before I fracture the wrist)

Cruising with Steph and B-Rad towards the Outer Banks. I am so happy and calm here. Blissed out on sun, sand and love :)

Whenever I talk about my past year, I tend to often sum it up as not a great year, mostly in part to the rocky start it had 2 months in. This, however, really isn't a fair assessment. I can hardly base an entire year on a rough patch. As profoundly as it affected me it is also what I think in turn made 2010 what it was for me. When I really look at it I can honestly say I had a pretty damn awesome 2010! Good times with friends and family and oooh the parties, and the campouts, star gazing, amazing live music, amaaaaazing food, engagements, babies, milestones, and oh my it's been a busy year!

So I don't usually make resolutions, but if i did, one of them would definitely have to be to keep up my blog as I have been sooo very bad at doing. I haven't crossed many other tasks off my projectzero list since the fall. Over the next week I want to look at my list and start pick a few things. On the top at the moment, is to take an art class. I thought maybe painting at first but now I think it's going to be drawing. It's what I've always loved best. Drawing in my sketchbook for the Art House Co-cop Sketchbook Project has shown me my skills are VERY rusty. Speaking of which...that book which is also very empty...considering i need to mail it by January 14th. *eeep*. As long as I can get some time in I will fill out the pages with views from my window and maybe a spot along the canal (or at least in my head cause it might get hella cold between now and next week!). Wow that's so soon. Way to drop the ball again Jamie Elaine.

So the past few months have been peppered with great memories :) Birthdays and dinners and fun activities. Highlights include a fall bbq at Jay's one night as well as pre-drinks there another night followed by wine at BDT and then beers at Le Troquet in Hull to celebrate his, Laura and Tanya's birthdays in October. Great friends make the best memories :) Birthday fun, dinner drinks and dancing at The Velvet Room for Jossie's 26th, and snuggly, comfy and snack filled movie night for Tor's birthday. Um and gingerbread house making, as per the tradition :) Cooking and baking for friends, working my tail off at the Gallery and Jacob (sigh) but knowing this will help make 2011 a better year because there will be a nice big chunk out of that debt! Not to mention, I love the girls I work with at the store. They are all so lovely and funny. The Gallery is also going well, it's been one hell of a year that's for sure. Ups and downs but wow have we got sooo much going on now. It makes for days that fly by. I particularly like to think back about the many coffee dates with coworkers, cause sometimes you just need to get that little break and just go look at pretty things in windows while sipping our Starbucks' to break up the day :)

And reflecting back, as the start of the year often conjures up all of these recent things, I can definitely say that 2010 was not just a good year, or a great year, it was a year of growth for me. In small steps, but growth none the less. I can only hope to keep going forward in this way :) I've come a long way from where I was last March. I know many of us go through it in some way and its usually unexpected, as mine was, but once you've healed enough to poke your head out of the sand, there's still a little ways to go. I was lucky to have friends who just kept pushing me on. By summer time, i was back to my old self, or rather, a new happy self. Oh this summer was amazing. As was the fall.

Things I'm really looking forward to so far for 2011 are fast approaching - Michelle and I are heading to Tremblant for a week. I've never been and I'm very stoked for this mini-holiday. I'm also a little anxious, have not been on my board very often since I fracture my wrist two years ago. And my sister's own accident last year definitely had me less enthused about hitting the slopes again. I made a trek up to the hills last year with Grant and while it was accident free this time, the wipe outs were not encouraging, but he was. Oh yes and then there was the deer that nearly took us off the road on the drive home. Poor car, not like it didn't already take enough beatings! So me + snowboarding in 2011 = it's going to happen! I enjoy it so much but just need to get the bad experience out of my head. Tremblant here I come {please be kind!}.

And so much more. Kate and Derek have a wedding to plan now, and I cannot wait :) I couldn't be more excited for these two. And maybe this year I'll get to go surfing again. It's been nearly 2 years but that experience has left me ready and waiting for my next chance, so why not this year ? And off, striking more things of my 101 things to do in 1001 days list. Art classes, as i mentioned will hopefully be in the works starting this month. Maybe I'll get to fly somewhere.

Tonight however, will find me tackling the ever elusive fitness goals. Michelle and I are hitting the gym for what I can only expect will be an exhausting test of my endurance. An hour of Body Combat and then an hour of stretching in Body Flow. Yes, we will be braving it along with everyone else jumping back on their fitness resolutions, so i'm expecting a jam packed class tonight at the gym.

Update: yep, so...body combat is crazy and insane...but also amazing. I definitely got my butt kicked in those 60 minutes...too dead to stay for body flow. I'm so ready to go back next week. Here's to hoping I can walk tomorrow :)