Happy 2010 and stuff, dear readers. I trust everyone rung in the new year with bubbly champagne, good friends, and lots of breaded shrimp. I decided to keep it low-key this year, as usually my New Years Eve celebrations are epic failures of broken cameras and lots of tears.
As the rest of the world is doing, I feel I should pay homage to the incredible year that was 2009.
-I officially began creating my Internet footprint. I had been writing in my (now dead) blog since 2007, but did not start sharing it until about May. I remember the occasion perfectly: drunk on wine and bored off my ass in my France flat, I commented on a girl’s blog. I was shocked to find she loved my angry redheadedness, and now she’s a dear friend.
–I travelled: France, Mexico and Ottawa, Ontario
–I made some incredible new friends, offline and online. Some lead me down a respectable path of travel writing, others carried my shoes while I walked home barefoot from George Street.
-I completed MatadorU, and then joined the Matador Network team as an associate editor.
-I had one of the best summers of my life. Nothing can replace the warm fuzzies I have when thinking about barbecues on the patio, random excursions for drinks at The Duke of Duckworth, and being able to wear a skirt to work.
-I launched this blog!
Having done all that, I was actually dreading 2010. The date was looming and I was ill-prepared. I decided not to make any resolutions, as 2009 was just so perfectly wonderful.
But today I woke up at 3 p.m. in a disgusting hungover stupor to find my roommate and her boyfriend cooking a delicious turkey dinner, and found myself unbelievably excited for the new year.
So here are some tentative travel plans for 2010, provided I don’t go bankrupt, can still save for Greece, can buy a bottle of Dior “Poison” perfume, and don’t break any bones.
St. Alban’s Come Home Year, 2010 – I think this might just be a Newfoundland thing, but every five years, small communities which lose some/most of its citizens who move away looking for work/education have a huge celebration inviting everyone back for two weeks. Essentially it’s a large family reunion where you reconnect with old classmates, friends and family in pure inebriation. I can’t freaking wait.
I’m also inviting my roommates to join me for some true “bay” experience, mostly involving fried bologna and blood pudding. I’ve already spoken to an old friend about the possibility of him taking us out around the bay for a few nights of camping.
Halifax, Nova Scotia – My best friend lives in Halifax, so I intend to take a long-weekend to see her. Unfortunately I doubt this trip will involve much cultural exploration, as I hear the Halifax Dome has something like 1001 bars in one building? And oh, the shopping! The shopping! My best friend has long been my fashion consultant, so we’ll link arms and exploit our Mastercards.
Edmonton, Alberta – I have a few friends who live in the Edmonton area, not to mention a dozen or more in Fort McMurray. I have a lot of research to do regarding these destinations but I’m sure it will be a fantastic combination of sightseeing, boozing, hitting on strangers and brandishing my Newfie accent whenever possible (note: according to my friends, the previous video I posted is in no way a reflection of the real me).
My friend also wants to take me on a quick tour of Jasper and Banff. I’ve wanted to see Lake Louise ever since I was a kid browsing through my parents’ photo albums.
New York City, TBEX – Maybe? I was surprised to discover I have enough Airmiles to cover my trip, I’m just unsure if I can balance it all with my income. But my obsession with NYC is at in all-time high. I eat, sleep and dream NYC. Plus I want to meet all my fantastic followers and co-workers.
So that’s it. I’m not really doing the world just yet, but I’m at least going to do Canada. Oh yes, Canada has no idea what it’s in for.
My first forays into doing Canada.
