Skating in ACC

Last weekend I went ice skating in the Air Canada Center, that's right the very same rink where the Toronto Maple Leafs play on. I know I know, they're not doing that great right now...blah blah blah stop giving me a hard time...I'm always going to cheer for the home team. Anyways Michelin originally told me that there will be some Leafs players there like they did the previous year. Unfortunately we realized, the day of, that they actually had a road game that afternoon. Back to back games, of all weekends...darn...

I was quite disappointed by the sudden news but it turned out to be quite fun and exciting. This was my first opportunity to ice skate this year. Here's a pic of us hanging out on center ice and one of me with Carlton the Bear. I wasn't leaving until I got a pic with someone/something on the Leafs team.

To go or not to go????

Lately the theme for me is "need or want". Do I need it or do I want it? This question works for almost everything these days. The question is: Should I go back to Australia and attend my graduation? It was easy for me to leave Perth because I truly thought that I was going back soon. Now I don't know anymore. I've been struggling with this for months now. It doesn't help that I've had a few persistent friends in Oz frequently emailing me to attend.

I do want to go back. This is an opportunity to see and catch up with my friends, former teammates and former physio evaluators. The way I see it, if I don't go back now there's going to be many people that I will probably not see again and would like one last opportunity to update them. I would also like to show my parents my life for the past 2.5 years.

On the other side, it's very hard for me to financially justify doing this. I'm just starting to work as a physio and that's all I want to do. I want the experience. It's been a long road to get to this point. Yes I will have the rest of my life working and in the very near future, the cost of the trip will not be a big deal. Getting the time off is not a big deal because my employer already thinks I'm going and physios are more contractors than employees so we can take the time off whenever we want.

I don't know what to do. I want to go but I also don't want to go. That's what I get for going so far away for school...

New Years Eve 2007

New years eve is a time for countdowns, reflections and celebration of new beginnings. I personally think it's overrated like many of the other 'big dates' and made into a big thing by marketers and the media.

Nevertheless this has been an incredible year, a year where it seemed like I could do no wrong. It seemed like a never ending stressful ride which caused a period of minor insomnia when the end was within grasp. This is saying a lot considering I am NOT a very stressful person, as most of you know. Fortunately everything I did I was blessed with success and whenever I had to wait for any kind of results or before a big day, I was afraid that my luck would run out. I often convinced myself that I was going to fail because I have been so blessed and it was just a matter of time when the life cycle comes back around. People around me were/are experiencing setbacks and I definitely did not deserve to go through this year as all of us had hoped/scripted. Who knows what this upcoming year will bring for me but I can't help but feel like a dark cloud will eventually arrive and it's just a matter of whether or not I'll be ready for it.

As I close the door on another year, I'm also ending a significant chapter of my life. This was a year that defined my future and helped me realize the things and people most important to me. I realized how much I have missed Canada, family, the friends who I grew up with and how much I love my Fastpitch team. Yay Waterloo Blue Sox! Not only did I complete my Physiotherapy program in Australia without any delays, I am now fully registered here in Canada. For a while, it looked like it wouldn't happen by the end of this year. What a dream end to a dream year.

I will be bringing in the New Year feeling like the luckiest person in the world and counting my blessings. Happy New Years everyone and I hope 2008 brings you as much success and joy as 2007 brought to me.

Cheerio!!!