2008 In Review
I'm not keen on making New Years resolutions. I'll set goals, but for the most part, resolutions just seem too...insubstantial. Before I do that though, I think I need a quick review first.
So...2008 in a nutshell.
- In January, I went through my "break-in" period with short, quick client engagements at the new job. They were mostly in Toronto and served as a good introduction to the business
- February brought a family trip to Florida and a welcome break. It also meant a return to dancing at the very end of the month, after a four month break and beginning work with the sadistic trainer.
- March was a continuation of the same, along with the addition of classes at the National Ballet of Canada with their evening Danceteq program. It was fantastic, but short-lived.
- April was Crystal Leaf, where I proved that I can still win competition heats, even if I'm not really pleased with my performance. Six weeks is not enough preparation time for a competition and it has just reaffirmed that I'm not content just getting by. It was also the transition from Toronto to a Guelph engagement.
- Upheaval and opportunity came around in May. I got to see my baby sister graduate from University. I also finished up in Guelph and was immediately placed on the engagement in Connecticut, which is easily the biggest of my career.
- June saw the beginning of summer insanity. After an unfortunate turn of events for one of our DJs, I ended up with the most insane schedule -- 22 weddings in one summer -- so I got used to flying home on weekends to work weddings, then fly back to CT. Can we say insane? Yeah, I thought so.
- July of 2008 brought about the first Canada Day that I missed. It was also the beginning of the realization that my manager hated me. On the upside though, I found my boys in New York City and started my training again. They made the weeks worthwhile, even though they made my body hurt in fantastic ways for days afterward.
- In August, I finally got some time off. I had a week to drop off of the face of the earth up at the cottage. It was fantastic and came at a really good time. I also managed to find time to start touring around New York City with my camera. I even got to DJ a deaf wedding.
- September brought wedding season and "the summer that wasn't" to a close. It also brought my sister down to NYC for a weekend. It was a fantastic, insane time and I know that it meant as much to her as it did to me: her Christmas present to me was a multi-part frame with pictures from our trip!
- Autumn came to fruition with spectacular colour in October. I got to go home for Thanksgiving and I also had an opportunity to road trip through CT, VT, MA, RI and NH all in one weekend. Stayed the night in Stowe and woke up to my first frost of the season. That prompted a conversation which led to my inclusion in Stonehenge.
- November was the ramp back up to insanity. I started it off with a half and half weekend: performed in Stamford on the Friday, flew home Saturday and competed in Toronto Sunday. I also got to go to the Ohio Star Ball, which was one heck of a competition - the largest in North America. I got to watch and cheer on friends, but it was fantastic. I also purchased my first real ballroom gowns. Now I just need an excuse to use them. :) Oh! I also started mixed martial arts classes and gave my instructor a concussion on my first lesson.
- Then it all unraveled in December. My contract was terminated, my company screwed up my expenses to the point where I'm now in a lot of financial trouble and I got pulled out of a life that I hadn't realized I was building for myself until I had to leave it. However, I did get home for Christmas - four days, the longest period of time I had been home since the spring. I also got to close out the year in a quiet condo on a mountain in a quiet resort with friends.
Now, I need to regroup and figure out what to do with my 2009 and where I want to be.
More on that later though...
So...2008 in a nutshell.
- In January, I went through my "break-in" period with short, quick client engagements at the new job. They were mostly in Toronto and served as a good introduction to the business
- February brought a family trip to Florida and a welcome break. It also meant a return to dancing at the very end of the month, after a four month break and beginning work with the sadistic trainer.
- March was a continuation of the same, along with the addition of classes at the National Ballet of Canada with their evening Danceteq program. It was fantastic, but short-lived.
- April was Crystal Leaf, where I proved that I can still win competition heats, even if I'm not really pleased with my performance. Six weeks is not enough preparation time for a competition and it has just reaffirmed that I'm not content just getting by. It was also the transition from Toronto to a Guelph engagement.
- Upheaval and opportunity came around in May. I got to see my baby sister graduate from University. I also finished up in Guelph and was immediately placed on the engagement in Connecticut, which is easily the biggest of my career.
- June saw the beginning of summer insanity. After an unfortunate turn of events for one of our DJs, I ended up with the most insane schedule -- 22 weddings in one summer -- so I got used to flying home on weekends to work weddings, then fly back to CT. Can we say insane? Yeah, I thought so.
- July of 2008 brought about the first Canada Day that I missed. It was also the beginning of the realization that my manager hated me. On the upside though, I found my boys in New York City and started my training again. They made the weeks worthwhile, even though they made my body hurt in fantastic ways for days afterward.
- In August, I finally got some time off. I had a week to drop off of the face of the earth up at the cottage. It was fantastic and came at a really good time. I also managed to find time to start touring around New York City with my camera. I even got to DJ a deaf wedding.
- September brought wedding season and "the summer that wasn't" to a close. It also brought my sister down to NYC for a weekend. It was a fantastic, insane time and I know that it meant as much to her as it did to me: her Christmas present to me was a multi-part frame with pictures from our trip!
- Autumn came to fruition with spectacular colour in October. I got to go home for Thanksgiving and I also had an opportunity to road trip through CT, VT, MA, RI and NH all in one weekend. Stayed the night in Stowe and woke up to my first frost of the season. That prompted a conversation which led to my inclusion in Stonehenge.
- November was the ramp back up to insanity. I started it off with a half and half weekend: performed in Stamford on the Friday, flew home Saturday and competed in Toronto Sunday. I also got to go to the Ohio Star Ball, which was one heck of a competition - the largest in North America. I got to watch and cheer on friends, but it was fantastic. I also purchased my first real ballroom gowns. Now I just need an excuse to use them. :) Oh! I also started mixed martial arts classes and gave my instructor a concussion on my first lesson.
- Then it all unraveled in December. My contract was terminated, my company screwed up my expenses to the point where I'm now in a lot of financial trouble and I got pulled out of a life that I hadn't realized I was building for myself until I had to leave it. However, I did get home for Christmas - four days, the longest period of time I had been home since the spring. I also got to close out the year in a quiet condo on a mountain in a quiet resort with friends.
Now, I need to regroup and figure out what to do with my 2009 and where I want to be.
More on that later though...