2017: The Year in Review

So how did my year of restoration go?

My position at the Court of Appeal was extended for an additional eight months to cover most of a second maternity leave. During this time, I worked for three different judges who kept me very busy and at times absolutely swamped!

Knowing my time in this job was short prompted a lot of soul-searching about what I should do with my life. Do I go back to my business full time? Do I look for another job? Do I go back to school? What would I take? Do I stay in Regina? In Saskatchewan? Is it time to spread my wings and fly? So many options...

Well, I chose to continue working full-time. At the end of July, I left the Court of Appeal and started a full-time permanent position with the Saskatchewan Municipal Board. And, my commute got shorter – now I only have to walk one block to work!

In November, I took TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training through Oxford Seminars. I have wanted to do this for years, and it finally seemed to be the right time. The options are endless for tutoring or volunteering opportunities – or even teaching English overseas at some point!

Looking back, I can see that restoration took place with my job - going back to a full-time permanent position - and with a long-held desire to take the TESOL training. A long-time dream is to live overseas and perhaps this is the way I can do that!

What will the coming year bring?

It's 12/12/17 - the 5th anniversary of my blog!

Happy 5th Anniversary to 40 Here, 40 There, 40, 40 Everywhere!

This year, I've decided to take a look back at some of those things that have been dreams since I was a child or teenager. I think it's high time some of these long-held dreams made their way on to my list of '40 Things & More!'

The '40 Things & More' List!

1. Go snowshoeing.
2. Serve a meal in a soup kitchen.
3. Eat something I've never tried before.
4. Visit a town in Saskatchewan that I've never been to before.
5. Plan my dream 40th birthday trip.
6. Start running again.
7. Visit a US state I haven't been to before.
8. Read a classic novel.
9. Create and complete a scrapbook for one of the trips I've taken in my 30s.
10. Do up a will.
11. Complete one of my cross-stitch projects.
12. Go kayaking.
13. Get my website business off the ground.
14. Take a self-defense class/course.
15. Go horseback riding.
16. Visit a museum or historic site in Saskatchewan that I haven't been to before.
17. Give blood regularly.
18. Attend a Victorian Tea.
19. Ride my bike in the city.
20. Stop and smell the flowers at a garden I haven't been to before.
21. Try an activity that's new to me.
22. Walk a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that I haven't been on before.
23. Learn more about my family history.
24. Visit a park in Regina I haven't been to before.
25. Participate in a fundraiser that involves a physical activity.
26. Simplify some area of my life that needs simplifying.
27. Learn how to change a tire on a vehicle.
28. Explore Regina's backyard - see what's just outside the city limits.
29. Learn more about Canadian history.
30. Visit a natural site in Saskatchewan I haven't been to before.
31. Learn to play the guitar.
32. Visit a Canadian National Park I haven't been to before.
33. Climb Wascana Hill in Douglas Park and watch a sunset.
34. Visit the observatory at the Science Centre.
35. Attend Mosaic - a multicultural festival held annually.
36. Play my first solo concert on the bells.
37. Attend an outdoor movie event.
38. Go fly a kite!
39. Play a mini golf course I haven't been on before.
40. Go on dream 40th birthday trip!
41. Attend a Regina Red Sox baseball game.
42. Visit Saskatchewan's only lighthouse.
43. Run a 5K.
44. Visit the Great Sandhills in Saskatchewan.
45. Visit a Canadian province or territory I haven't been to before.
46. Attend the annual kite festival in Swift Current.
47. Visit a major US city I haven't been to before.
48. Watch a sunrise.
49. Try another activity that's new to me.
50. It's a surprise (even to me!) - I'll know it when the opportunity presents itself.
51. Take a ballroom dancing class.
52. Watch an old black & white movie I haven't seen before.
53. Experience a WARM birthday!
54. Experience a WARM Christmas! (not necessarily in the same year as the previous item)
55. Attend the annual Dickens' Village Festival in Carlyle.
56. See the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
57. Visit the east coast of Canada.
58. Jump out of an airplane! (in tandem, of course!)
59. Experience a 4th of July in the United States.
60. Visit a US National Park I haven't been to before.
61. Write a book.
62. Watch the Rose Bowl Parade in person.
63. Attend a spring training baseball game.
64. Buy something at an auction.
65. Drive part of Route 66.
66. Attend the tulip festival in Ottawa.
67. See the Great Wall of China.
68. Visit Disneyland or Disney World.
69. See a lavender field in bloom.
70. Attend a ballet.
71. Live overseas!
72. Visit Laycock, England.
73. Get published (e.g. magazine article).
74. Attend a Remembrance Day service/ceremony.
75. Visit the Grand Canyon.
76. Learn Spanish.
77. Take a river cruise on the Rhine River and see castles along the way.
78. Learn Latin.
79. Visit an orphanage.
80. Learn to play handbells/play in a handbell choir.