It’s Been a Wild Ride!

Tags

anniversaries, blogging, grattitude

This post is dedicated to you, my wonderful readers; without you and your reads, comments and shares, this blog would just be like spitting into the wind. I’d be nowhere without you – your support, encouragement, constructive criticism,and your discussion.

Two years ago, I started this blog with the unlikely first post entitled “Welcome to Blogville.” I had no idea of the readership this blog has received – more than friends and family, or friends and family OF friends and family… but from all over the world. People who can see, people who can’t, and everything in between. People with disabilities, people without, people whose kids have disabilities… You have read and shared posts like this or this or that over and over. I’ve written posts like these ones that had you either cheering in agreement or vehemently disagreeing with me – but you’ve always been generally respectful, even if you think I’m wrong, too harsh, or otherwise out to lunch.

My readers have joined me on a trip to New York city, been along for the bumpy ride of unemployment, and even had a little bit of fun with me. You’ve been interviewed for my Empowered series, discussed books I’ve written about, and encouraged me, my writing and my blog in a million other ways.

A thank you is not nearly enough for all this, but it’s what I can give, so a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU! It’s been a wild ride. Whether you’ve been with me since the beginning (like Meagan who encouraged me to do this in the first place) or are reading this as one of your introductory posts, please keep joining me on this journey called life. It’s constantly changing, almost never boring. It’s painful and wonderful and exciting, and while this life – my circumstance, decisions, viewpoint – is my own, it’s all the richer for having you in it.

The Liebster Award

Tags

About Me, blogging, Fun Facts, Liebster Award

I’ve seen the Liebster Award on several blogs over the past few months, and I actually got nominated this go-round! Thanks, Glen, for giving me the push and encouraging me to have a little fun on the blog. Below, here are my answers to a few questions, and I’ll ask those I nominate a few questions as well.

 

1If you were to win the lottery, what would you buy first?

Confession: I’d pay off my house, and then spend a year traveling the world. 🙂 The order is significant to me because I hate the idea of debt hanging over my head… so a lottery win would immediately go to getting rid of the stress of a mortgage, THEN I could truly relax and have a blast exploring new and interesting places.

 

2What is your favourite dessert?

I have to pick just one? I love anything that puts fruit and chocolate together; if I can’t have that, I’ll take ’em separately. No custards or whipped cream, though…

 

3If you could have 3 celebrities over for a dinner party, who would you invite and why?

I’d want a cool celebrity jam session with Elton John, Garth Brooks and Adele (don’t ask, it would work!) Elton and Adele would probably call my upright piano “charming”, right? This is hypothetical, right?

 

4Who are your favourite bands/artists?

Pink Martini, Over the Rhine, Sara Groves and Flyleaf… for a wide variety of different reasons. It depends on the headspace I’m in at the moment.

5What are your favourite TV shows?

The original Law and Order (the spinoffs never did it for me), Corner Gas, and Air Farce. A piece of me feels like I’m 50 years old, lamenting the “good old days” of TV…

 

6If you could go back in time and give your teenage self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Nothing is permanent unless you make it so. What you decide today CAN effect your future, but you can always make other choices… so use your head and your heart, jointly, to forge your own path.

7Which is your favourite social media site?

I use Facebook and Twitter for different reasons entirely. I’d have to say I think I prefer Twitter, if I had to choose…

 

8Do you have any favourite jokes?

Not really. People who know me well will tell you… I cannot tell a joke, at all… My humor tends to be rather dry, occasionally witty or punny…

 

9Do you enjoy playing or watching any sports?

I used to play goalball, and this year I’ve seriously taken up running. As for watching sports, I enjoy hockey, though I’m not as into the game as many I know.

 

10Who would play you in a film of your life?

My life is waaaaay too boring to be made into a movie! And you’d think, being married to a movie buff, that I’d have tons of actresses to list off in response to this question. Nope! Sorry! 🙂

 

11What would be your dream job?

I’ve had a couple of jobs that might fit as  my “dream job” over the years. But while I’m on the job hunt, I think of this often. Where do I go from here?

I’d want a job where my role is important, that it makes a difference in workplace culture and dynamics. I’d like to build on my pre-existing skills and learn new ones along the way. It would be great if it had a combination of people-time and alone-time, as I find the balance works well for me. The actual job title and duties are still up for debate, but so long as they’re legal and ethical and don’t bore me to death, any job can be a dream job…

 

I Nominate…

I’ve got a few questions for some awesome bloggers. I have linked to some before, and some have linked to me… Let’s get to know them better as well!

I am asking Meagan at “Where’s your Dog?“, Beth at “Safe and Sound Blog” and Steph of “Bold Blind Beauty”:

1. If you could go anywhere in the world for a month, where would you go?
2. What’s the most unusual food you’ve ever eaten? Did you like it?
3. Did you have any childhood heroes? If so, who were they?
4. Do you still have a favoured childhood item such as a toy or blanket? Where do you keep it? Any stories about it?
5. Do you have a favourite time of year or holiday? What is it and why?
6. What is a quirk of yours that some have found endearing?
7. What’s your “guilty pleasure”?
8. What do you do on a gloomy, rainy day?
9. What relaxes you when you’re stressed?
10. What would a party at your house look like?

Looking forward to seeing some fun answers! 🙂

Welcome to Blogville

Tags

blogging, guide dogs, introduction

Since my friend Meagan told me to write a blog -apparently my life is interesting, quirky, funny, or informative enough to hold someone’s attention for longer than two seconds – I have decided to bow to the peer pressure and write!

 

For those who know me, you can skip this part; for those who don’t, strangers are friends I haven’t met yet.  I am 30 years old this year, married, and live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with my husband, three cats and a guide dog named Jenny.  I work in customer relations, and have many varied interests – from baking to making music, from playing sports to reading.  My husband tells me I drink too much coffee and eat too much chocolate, and I know that on many subjects I can be like a dog with a bone – determined and persistent.  My opinions can be strong, but I love intelligent discussions that make me think.

 

I hope this blog will give you a chance to get to know me and what it can be like to be visually impaired in the 2000s – at least in my little corner of the world.  Perhaps I will talk a lot – or too much – about Jenny and the ups and downs of working a guide dog, but there are many other topics that will be covered on this blog, primarily traveling both locally and abroad.

 

Thanks for reading!