Hindsight

They say that hindsight is 20/20. And I think that they are right. As I look back on the year 2007, there are somethings I am not proud of. Things I don't like to even admit to myself. However there are good things too. This was a year of 2 steps forward and 1 step back.




I finally found that job I've been questing after to 3 years, only to be bored and frustrated by it at the moment (or maybe a little less the job and more the people, yeah its the people). It's also frustrating that said dream job does not quite pay a wage that would let me live in my own place own my car and from time to time go out for fun. So I am living in my childhood bedroom, in the town I worked so hard to get out of. More frustrating is that while my 2 of my good friends did move back to Canada one is in Calgary, and the other is in Toronto (who I can luckily usually see at least once a month), but my friends here in town, have suddenly it seems become grown-ups. All are married or engaged, and all have small children or have recently announced pregnancies. And all seem to forget that I have moved back to town regardless of the fact that I have been here for 8 months now. They throw dinner parties. And I can't help but wonder if I wouldn't be so easily forgotten if I was part of a couple.




Its a weird time of life to suddenly look around and notice I am the last single person I know. No more nights out with the girls, on the prowl for the next hot guy in your life. They've all found theirs. And now I have no wing-woman. I also live in Bala a lovely town of 500 where I've either known every guy here since we were two, or already dated them, or have dated their best friends. One of my resolutions is to start dating again...somehow. I may be enticed to try the whole internet dating thing. I know it seems desperate, but I know two couples who hooked up that way. But then again, while the thought of a serious relationship seems comforting one minute, makes me feel absolutely claustrophobic the next.




Maybe that's why relationships are things you enter into gradually. Well most people do...are at least I do. I like my independence. I like it a lot. I hate having to ask people for help. Hate Hate Hate. It might be more that I'm afraid of asking and getting 'No' for an answer. But I suppose, in the past, that was me asking the wrong person.




This year in 2008, many of my resolutions are repeats of last year (The one step back). And some are more forward thinking, like taking this job and making it work for me, so I can get THE job that allows me an appartment, my car, some savings and a little fun money - a single girl always deserves her fun money!

Forever Young

I have found the secret to looking young forever!

Seeing as we are just entering the stage where you notice that you might, just might be getting older - but still far far away from old. I bet you want to know so you can rush out and get it right away.

Think Again.

Braces.

EE. That close up makes them look worse then they actually are.

There. That's not SO bad. But still, braces at 26.... Twenty-Six.

And its not like I didn't have them before, and I'm getting them now because I can finally afford it, and have always wanted them. Nope. I didn't wear my retainer long enough. 6 years apparently is NOT long enough....they actually mean forever.

Do they really expect you to wear them out of you teens. I already wear glasses, and if slipping into something more comfortable was glasses and a retainer...well lets just say I would likely remain single for a looong time.

Let all the children know the horror of getting braces re-cemented on you precious pearly-whites in your *gasp* late twenties.

Aside from the pain. And oh yes did they ever hurt, more this time then last I swear. No solid food for at least a week a month. Not to mention the fact that there's rough metal "bracelets" glued to the outside of your teeth, to say my lips/cheeks were irritated, would be a huge understatement. I didn't go anywhere without my trusty relief wax. (As if working in a science lab, being in 2 books clubs didn't qualify me as a geek already)

Until now, I've always liked looking younger then I am. But now the difference is a little too pronounced. I stay away from dating at the moment. I mean, I look like jail bait to the guys my age, and seriously, I didn't kiss boys the first time I had braces, so do I really want to see how that works out now?

Great White Winter

I thought I'd remind you what winter in Muskoka really means:

I set my alarm 1/2 and hour early so I can look outside and decide exactly when I have to get up in order to have enough time to clean my car off and get to work. (That's 5:30am, and today, I should have gotten up then....). But I didn't. It didn't look so bad out, just about 10cms of snow...and whats 10cms of snow to a True Muskoka Girl? I go about my morning routine and get out to my car just almost 10mins early.

Plenty of time to clean the car off and get to the first stop on the car pool chain.

Nope.

Under that 10cms of snow was a good 1/2cm of ice. Strong thick ICE. The drivers door wouldn't open, so I had to crawl in from the back. Oh I was graceful, with my purse, my lunch, my travelling tea, and my by rapidly cooling toast with peanut butter.

I got my car turned on with the heat and rear defrost blasting, grabbed my snow brush and got ready to buckle down. Try as I might, I could not scrap that ice. The plastic edge of the scaper would bump along the ice, moving nothing. I figure I'm a strong Muskoka girl, this won't stop me, and I put a little muscle into it.

Mistake.

I may be strong, but my ice scraper is not. It broke. Useless piece of crap.

I run back into the house to get my Mom's key's to use her scraper. This time I know better then to break out SuperGirl. Luckily its been almost 10 mins and the heat from the inside is starting to work. After after about 10 more minutes, I feel like victory is mine. I can see out the front and back! I run my Mom's keys back into the house. Head back to the car only to realize...I hadn't scraped the side windows. After a valiant attempt, I clear the front windows, but give the rears up as a lost cause.

This is when my Dad shows up, scraps the passenger rear, and declares my car road worthy, but please he says, go the long way down the road so you don't have to make the illegal left, over a snow bank.

Fair Enough. Or so I thought.

My road was not yet plowed. And that baby hill just past my house, proved to be too much for my poor little Civic.

I was stuck.

Back and forth I rocked trying to get up that god damn hill. Each time a little closer. But never enough. Finally a snow plow coming the other way clears a one way path.

With some slipping and sliding I make may my way to the cleared road.

Finally, I'm on the highway, which was in surprisingly good shape, and I'm only about 20-25mins behind.

I'm quite tired of the snow already. It could stop snowing now. I'd be happy. But it is still snowing now. And it will still be snowing tonight and tomorrow, and what seems like til the end of time.

So now the Big question is: How much longer til spring?

This is when my Dad shows up, scraps the passenger rear, and declares my car road worthy, but please he says, go the long way down the road so you don't have to make the illegal left, over a snow bank.

Fair Enough. Or so I thought.

My road was not yet plowed. And that baby hill just past my house, proved to be too much for my poor little Civic.

I was stuck.

Back and forth I rocked trying to get up that god damn hill. Each time a little closer. But never enough. Finally a snow plow coming the other way clears a one way path.

With some slipping and sliding I make may my way to the cleared road.

Finally, I'm on the highway, which was in surprisingly good shape, and I'm only about 20-25mins behind.

Only.

So. I'm quite tired of the snow already. It could stop snowing now. I'd be happy. But it is still snowing now. And it will still be snowing tonight and tomorrow, and what seems like til the end of time.

So now the Big question is: How much longer til spring?