// May 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // life
I’m in Warsaw, Poland for a week, attending and presenting at the Input conference. I’ve been to Europe before (see my travel page) but never to this country. I’m enjoying it very much so far.
One day one, I did a sightseeing tour of the city. Click here to see my Warsaw photos.
Okay out to explore the city and eat perogies (what else?)
// February 25th, 2009 // 4 Comments » // life
Since my friend Derek demands it 
Alright so I haven’t blogged since November. Can you blame a girl? Yes. Yes you can. A lot has happened since my last blog, so this may be a lengthy post.
I normally do an end of year post reflecting on what happened the previous year. So why don’t I start there?
2008 was an absolute banner year for me. It was one of the best of my life. How could it not be? I got married to my soul mate Allen after almost 13 years together. But let me back up and start reviewing from earlier in the year.
The first great event was a road trip up to my hometown of Dryden in Northwestern Ontario for my dad’s 80th birthday. My dad is 80! He’s still smart as a whip (I wish I were as smart) and in good health. My mom organized a public tea for people to drop in a wish him a happy birthday and the place where it was held never had a bigger turnout for a birthday party. My dad is well traveled, but he’s lived in that same town his whole life and almost everybody there knows him. He was smiling a toothless ear to ear grin the whole time. Here he is cutting his birthday cake:
Allen and I were so happy we were able to be there. Making it a road trip was nice also. The drive between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior is the most beautiful part of Ontario. It’s a long drive though, you don’t want to do it often. 
Spending time with my family is what I value most, so it was great when we got to see my niece Stephanie even if it was just for an evening when she was down in Toronto. We took her out to the MMVAs where she got to see the celebrities walk the red carpet. She loved it and we loved that we got to provide her with one of the best parts of her trip.
July was the best month of course because that’s when Allen and I got married! My parents were in Toronto for 16 days visiting during this time and my sister Shelby, Aunt and Uncle from Dryden and cousins from out of town all made the trip. Thank you to you all for being there with us that day. We were married in Niagara-on-the-Lake on July 5th, one day before my mom’s birthday. Here’s myself and Allen on the big day:
The next day we spent with my parents, Allen’s parents and my sister. We also took my mom to Niagara Falls for her 73rd birthday. My only wish was that my brothers were able to attend. But, at least I got to see them the following month!
In August, I headed back to Dryden for a quick visit because some family from England were going up to visit and I wanted to see them as well. Here’s a photo of my three older brothers with my cousin Gawain. Gawain is 3rd from the left and the shortest at a mere 6′2″.
Gawain is currently serving in Afghanistan and I wish him a speedy return home to England soon.
Also when I was up north in August, I got to fly my cousin Joel’s plane! Proof:
Too much fun! The August trip was a short, but fun visit.
In late August, effects of the recession hit us and the company that Allen worked for closed, laying everybody off. It came as a complete surprise and Allen who loved his job and co-workers was sad that it ended. He worked very successfully at freelance for a few months and is now back in the corporate world bringing home the bacon.
In September we attended our friends Brian and Melissa’s wedding. It was a huge event! Very different from our low key ceremony earlier this summer, but I love weddings of every kind, they’re all so much fun and getting to watch our two friends get married was awesome.
In October, Allen and I went back to the small town where we got married and stayed a weekend at a fancy hotel (thanks to some free gift certificates). We’ll always have fond memories of Niagara-on-the-Lake and think we’ll make a tradition of going back there once a year.
In November, a new family member arrived. Blaire Danielle Ava Woodworth is our 3rd great niece. I got to see her when I went up north to visit again at Christmas, but you can see a picture of her on the day she was born here.
In December I went back to Dryden to visit my family for Christmas. I spent tons of quality time with all my family, but my parents especially. I did tons of snowkiting with my brother Brad and sister-in-law Margot and rang in the new year at my brother Alan’s bonfire — the same bonfire celebration that Allen proposed to me at two years ago. Do not confuse my brother Alan with my husband Allen. 
The bonfire is always a great New Year’s Eve party.
Also in 2008, Allen and I did tons of kiteboarding. He finally picked up the sport after I got him lessons in the spring and really enjoys it, so that’s one more activity we can do together.
Throughout the year, I also spent a lot of time participating in events in the interactive industry that I work in. I attended Podcamp, Third Tuesdays, the ICE conference, a Geek Girl Dinner and even spoke at the Mesh Conference which was an awesome experience. My day job was really fulfilling as well. I got to work on some really interesting projects and feel grateful that I have a job I enjoy going to each day.
Anyway, thank you 2008. I hope to have many more years like you.
So now it’s 2009. Here’s what’s been going on.
Our nephew Josh came back with me after Christmas break and he’s staying with us in Toronto for a while. It’s always nice to have more family around. And speaking of more family, we also got a new nephew in January named Armand. Take a look:
He’s got black spikey hair like Josh did when he was a baby. Daw!
Also in January, my sister-in-law Margot passed through Toronto on her way back from Germany, so we got to visit for a night before she went back up north.
Last week our nephew Cary Jr. had reading week so he spent the week here visiting too. He played on our volleyball team one night and helped lead us to some solid wins.
My life in 2009 has been very scheduled. There’s work, studying and the gym. I’m writing my GMAT in mid-March, so I’m studying hard for it. My free time is small, so I’ve been doing much more microblogging on Twitter and Facebook and less long form blogging here as a result. I promise to pick it up more after my test.
What’s coming next? Well unfortunately my work has basically announced that layoffs are coming, which isn’t a surprise since all broadcasters have been hit hard financially. I’m pretty upset about that because I like my job and the projects I get to work on. I really hope it doesn’t end soon for me.
I do have stuff to look forward to though. Another visit back home at the end of March, my niece Amanda’s wedding this June and my friend Brian’s wedding in September.
Alright, that should do it for now! I’m going to go hit the books some more. Thanks for reading.
// April 14th, 2008 // 4 Comments » // life
Allen and I are back from our week long vacation, which included 4 days of driving and 4 days of visiting family & friends in my hometown of Dryden, Ontario.
We left last Sunday and drove to Terrace Bay where we spent the night at a motel. On the way, we stopped to take in some sights, including a walk on the frozen beach of Lake Superior. Allen snapped this beautiful photo showing the icy shore and open water.
The drive from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay is the most beautiful stretch on Ontario. If you’ve never driven it, take a day (a long day) and do it.
Day 1 of driving, the conditions were beautiful. It was +10 and we were out in t-shirts. When we woke up the next morning in Terrace Bay though, it was snowing and there was ice on the car. We hit a major snow storm at Thunder Bay which lasted until about 40 km past Ignace. The snow piled up so quickly that it was hard to tell where the middle of the road was. Here’s a photo of the Trans-Canada Highway during the storm.
Shortly after traveling through that, they closed the highway behind us.
Once we were in Dryden, we struggled with having limited time to visit everyone we wanted to visit and do everything we wanted to do. We managed to watch a game of hockey that my nephew Jeremy was playing in. Here’s a photo of him on the ice.
And we spent hours & hours kiting with 4 others on a perfect day on Wabigoon Lake. Allen snowkited for his first time. He’s flown the kite plenty before, but had never strapped his snowboard on and got going. He finally did and he was a natural.
Friday was the big day of our vacation. It was my dad’s 80th birthday and the reason we made the trip. He had two parties: a daytime tea that saw about 60 people come & celebrate and an evening dinner with the family. The Lodge where the event was hosted told us that it was the largest birthday party they’d ever hosted. My dad was delighted at all the people who came to wish him a happy birthday. The family dinner was a much smaller event at only 20 people or so. Here’s a photo of my mom & dad just after dad blew out the candles on his 80th birthday cake.
We had an amazing time.
