Happy New Year to all!  I apologize for the lack of updates but I just haven't felt like writing in awhile.  I'm not sure how many people read this but I haven't received any angry e-mails requesting I post something so I'll assume everyone is okay with my absence.  Generally I don't care if anyone reads this or not; I know some of my family does as a means to find out what I'm really doing up here in Edmonton.  I also know most of my friends in Edmonton don't read this because I see them everyday, but I still like to think there's an extra something, a glimpse into my mind, only possible from reading one's blog....  well, maybe if they were reading a diary because I don't exactly pour out all my thoughts and feelings into this.  It may contain the occassional rant, poetry, or some other lame attempt at literary artistry but for the most part it's about my bland ol' life.    Perhaps I could make this a little more interesting if I knew my parents were not reading it *wink* *wink*.  Love you Mom and Dad.  Anyhow, time for another entry.

 

Christmas with the family was great if a little short this year.  Everything seemed a bit out of kilter this year as visitation rights with family were short and sporadic courtesy of work schedules of certain family members.  For instance, my sister had to work Christmas Day at the Hospital in Ontario and she didn't come down to Lethbridge until the 28th so I was only able to visit her for a few days.  In some ways I'm already beginning to see the strain my sister's career puts on her and the cohesiveness of our once close-knit family unit but I guess that's all part of growing up.  Still, I'm glad I was able to see her for a couple days.  I envy her ability to focus on her career and not lose sight of her goals; I wish I could say the same about my love/hate relationship with music but her and I are different people.  I think I've always been one to want more social contact than her.  She'd easily lock herself up in her room studying hard for her med school exams but I on the contrary could easily be swayed to take a break from studying or practicing if it meant hanging out with some friends I hadn't seen in awhile.

 

A's absence this Christmas reminded me how important it is to stay in touch with family, and how I look forward to Christmas every year as a time for bringing the family together, released from the stresses of work and life.  I am so thankful that I still get to see both grandparents and have dinner at their respective houses.  I always enjoy the conversations we have as a family, as if for once in our hectic lives we are able to sit down and communicate.  I already miss them all.....

 

For New Year's Eve a group of us went to Century Grill for some excellent Beef Tenderloin among other things.  It's always nice when you can manage to get a group of friends together and make reservations in time!  Unfortunately, a few of us were sick and made it an early night but some of us went to Churchill Square to take in the fireworks.

 

A few days after New Years I went to Montréal for a few days for lessons, visiting friends and some shopping.  The lessons were given by a teacher I enjoyed working with last summer at the Orford Music School.  Again, she reminded me how much I enjoyed working with her and as a result, I'm planning on moving to Montréal in the fall to pursue an artist's diploma.  It will be difficult to leave behind all the friends I have made in Edmonton in the short while I've been here but new opportunities await!  I'm also very lucky to have the encouragement from a number of close friends which helped me make this difficult decision.  Some days my resolve wavers and I find myself leaning toward staying here but opportunities like this can come and go so it's best to go while the door is still open.

 

That's about all I have to report for now.  This year promises to be just as busy and eventful as the last so I hope to see many of you over the course of the next few months!