It was a year of ups and downs that is for certain. I struggled with my weight and maintained, I started forging a plan to either rent or buy a townhouse. I bought some furniture for this future home. I did a bit of self discovery. I made some changes in how I treat people and who I have in my life. I learned the value of family, even when they drive you crazy. I have my Nan with me for another year. She beat cancer!

2012

This year has started off better than the years before it. There are some personal things going on that are simply wonderful. I know there will be challenges along the way, but I couldn’t have asked for more. Like a good friend I am going to make some commitments to myself this year.

The year I turn 34…

I will blog at LEAST once a week.

I will maintain my weight, if not lose a bit more, reaching one small weight goal at a time.

I will stay in touch with my friends far away, and build on the new friendships I have made.

I will give my all in March for CAINE 2012, and be thankful for everyone’s efforts, big or small.

I endeavor to treat others as I would like to be treated no matter how much it pains me to do so. This is a learning experience.

I will continue to write, and this year I will work on publishing my works on their own website.

I will cook from my Mastering the Art of French Cooking Cookbook at least twice a month.

All in all, not a bad list.

I look forward to my birthday this year, and spending it with friends and loved ones. I look forward to March and seeing friends who I haven’t seen in a year or more.

I look forward to traveling to Ottawa in April and St. Louis in the summer.

Bring it on 2012.

I’m ready for you.

X’s and O’s

~Squigzella

This week at work is likely to be busy the first few days. My boss was away and while he was most of his clients called me. It left me very little time to focus on my tasks, so this week will be filled with me playing catch up after his vacation. How ironic is that? Oh well, I am thankful I have a job to go to everyday, and it is one that even though it may have drama, I love.

I am thinking a bit about next year, and what I want to do with my vacation time. I really would like to go away, to somewhere I’ve never been. I’d also like to catch a Dave concert and/or a Bruins game. I’ll have to put some more thought into it as the summer progresses.

On to game topic, I have the plot kit for Requiem…It works well with what we are doing with the game’s restart after three years of “The long Silence” as Chris Wilson calls it.

I think the players will enjoy it. I think I am going to enjoy running it for them.

I’m debating closing down my twitter, I’m finding it interesting 10% of the time…it was cool at first when the whole world wasn’t on it, now it’s just a huge media outlet.

Alright, I am off to continue my Sunday. Where ever you are, I hope yours is sunny and warm.

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This is the first time using the album feature in Live Writer so I hope it works properly. I thought I’d also take a chance to post old photos from Caines of the past. I only have access to the ones from Freddy. The others are on a disk some where.

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Enjoy!

I find myself very thoughtful since returning from Toronto. I think I got some closure in regards to some personal matters, which makes me feel a bit lighter. I also feel very good about things coming up in the future. So now I just have to make them happen!

I checked out Chris’s pics from the trip. They are located here. Feel free to check them out. I am still waiting for Hil to post hers. Wish I had taken more, but I was just having too much fun.

Tonight I plan on doing some source material reading. Going to brush up on my knowledge of the New World of Darkness. Some exciting things to come!

I’m thankful for all the good times that were had last weekend. I look forward to the many more to come.

“Coming Home” was so worth it.

The train ride was long, and honestly if I have to travel further than a 8 hour drive, I’m flying. Period. I know it will be the weekend before my body forgives me for 20 hours on a train both ways.

The social aspect of things was awesome. We did get out to see the CN Tower and did go all the way up to the Skypod. We also took in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I took selected photos of my favorite jerseys and such. Poor Chris spent most of the day sick, but he was a trooper and held on as long as he could before admitting defeat and we got a cab back to the hotel. We had actually taken public transit downtown, which was fairly simple. I was not intimidated by it at all once we got going. On Saturday we spent the morning going for Dim Sum and exploring Chinatown. Chris had never eaten with chopsticks or experienced Dim Sum, so this was an experience for him, and how the Dim Sum was served was an experience for me. I was used to a checklist and a lazy susan in the middle of the table. Not carts circling your table constantly like sharks with tasty dumplings, noodles and the sort begging to be eaten! Anyhow, the Dim Sum was great, as was Kensington Market. I felt so town over so many pairs of cats eye glasses and antique rings I thought I just might die. In the end I didn’t buy any of them… I came home pretty much empty handed…

Well almost. I bought some bracelets in Chinatown from a vendor. I also came home with a wealth of knowledge on Port! I had never tried it in my life and an old friend of Chris’s, new friend of mine Bill let us sample his and I swear it was like drinking honey… it’s the only way I can describe it! So I thank Bill for the education on Port. It shall be added to our list of options.

So now I am home…I feel a longing to create, a longing to build and foster our Camarilla Domain anew. It will take a great deal of hard work from those who have the same vision, but I think with our experiences as a guide, and the needs and wants of members we will be off to a good start.

I had more to write here tonight, but I am exhausted, I have 61 work emails I would like to put a dent in before tomorrow morning and I have episodes of Bones and Dollhouse waiting for me.

So on that note, to new beginnings, old friends and new friends.

Toronto was just as I said to Jody, coming home.

X’s and O’s

~Squigzella

Cookies were made the other night, they are packed, as are Phil’s comics that were left here ages ago. I am very excited to see everyone. I think that at least a quarter of the train ride will be spent in sheer excitement to get there (when we first leave, when we transfer trains and when we arrive in Toronto)

I am thankful that everything planned for Thursday night is low key so that if a restful sleep isn’t had on the train, then it won’t be unbearable.

So I’m hoping my cat doesn’t disown me while I’m gone, and I hope that work survives without me. I think I left them amply prepared for anything that might arise.

So the next post you see from me will likely be from TO, on Hil’s laptop. Safe travels to all those heading to Toronto this weekend, see you there!

X’s and O’s from my travelling pants,

~Squigzella

I have been meaning to post for a bit now, but I have had absolutely no time. I lie, I meant to do it last night but I got sidetracked on packing.

Just about to eat my  breakfast and head to work. Working two days then I am off. I really can’t wait to go to Toronto. It will be nice to see everyone let alone anything else.

I spent this past Saturday at IR. It was fun to catch up with some people I haven’t seen in awhile, watch the guys play some Warhammer. Jay Miller asked me to join in on Star Wars but I just wasn’t in the mood to be more than a spectator sadly.

Saturday night Chris and I went out to Hil’s and assisted with a pre-trip ritual… it involved wax and torture! LOL But we had some laughs and that’s what counts.

I work Monday and Tuesday this week. I anticipate putting in some extra hours either tonight or tomorrow night to make sure everything is in order. I don’t mind that so much. Steve was super awesome to give me the time off!

We leave on Wednesday and get to Toronto at 3:15 on Thursday. Should be a fun filled weekend. I’ll be sure to post pics. I am taking the camera, so I promise some fun shots for sure. I don’t know if we should expect to sleep on the train or just to stay up all night catching up with Jared and telling stories. Either way, the last time we took this trip, I drove for 16 hours, so it will be nice to just sit, and chill.

Brekkie is ready so I gotta run. I’ll try to update again before I go.

X’s and O’s

~Squigzella