I'm baaaaaack!!

Oh hey there… (waving with shame for not blogging for 6 months. Sad panda. That’s almost grounds to have my BiSC badge taken away… except BiSCuits are so awesome and amazing and they would never do that. Right?) 

Anyhoo… yes! I’m still alive and although I contemplated deleting my blog a few months ago I remembered once again that the blog world is amazing and caring and full of love and wonderful people and something I want… nay, NEED to be part of. 

So let’s get some coffee and catch up shall we? 

First of all… I LIVE WITH A BOY!!! 

What the shit is that? Having sisters my whole life I’ve never lived with any other male besides my dad and my favorite childhood cat named Turbo. I miss that little tiger. But now there is this 6 foot 4 bearded man in my space. Taking up room in my closet. Leaving his underwear on the floor. Watching FOOTBALL? I no longer live in a girly home. It’s now a place where a couple reside. So weird. And this will probably result in many “Adventures of Living with a Man” blog posts. Stay tuned. 

Work is work. Bleh... 

Over the last year my best friend got married, my man-friend and I went on a romantic getaway to the mountains, I went dog sledding, I made some new friends, grew apart from other friends, had a few weeks where I was in and out of the hospital, and basically lived my life figuring out WHO MICH IS (see what i did there? I'm so witty). 

So lets get this blog back on the road and write! 

The One Where I Recap the Craziest Year of my Life.

I started WIM about 5 years ago now and every year I write a post in December recapping what came about in my life that year. 2011 by far was the craziest year with the most extreme highs and extreme lows I have ever gone through.

Lets recap shall we?

January

- Planned on starting 2011 fresh from all the craziness that happened in 2010 and spent most of my time going to the gym and I even started training again to do another triathlon.

- It didn't last long because...

February

- slipped on the ice on a random Monday, broke both bones in my lower left leg. Had to have emergency surgery and have a steel rod and screws put into my leg. Couldn't walk for the next 2 months.

- A week after breaking my leg, I was "let go" from my job. (illegally).

- Lost most of my independence (or at least it felt like I did), at 27 years old I had to have my mom help me in and out of the shower, and I even had to have my roommates help put my socks on for me when I was cold because I couldn't bend my knee. Having one leg broken, the other being used for balance and both arms and hands being used to hold yourself up on crutches is hard. its damn hard.

- Spent the rest of the month on my couch, pretty much depressed and feeling sorry for myself.

- A few weeks after breaking my leg the disastrous Tsunami in Japan happened. Since all I could do was sit at home anyways and watch TV, I watched A LOT of the news coverage. The very next day I got my sorry ass up off the couch and realized that I had only broken my leg. I was going to recover and everything would be fine eventually. I had no reason to be depressed. A million and one worse things could have happened to me. I could lost my entire world around me like the people in Japan. Or worse, my actual life. From that point on I wasn't going to feel sorry for myself and I was going to take advantage of every day.

March

- Spent most of the month recovering. Tried my best to get around on crutches. By the end of the month the doctor told me I could try to walk again.

- Attempted to apply for jobs but it was really hard to apply for jobs when i was having issues getting around and still couldn't drive either.

April

- Still limping around, I started working shifts at my part time job. It worked out well for me as they were short shifts and it made for an easy transition back to working.

- The opportunity to go to Bloggers in Sin City in May came about. I had tried to convince other blogger friends that I know to go with me but there were no takers, so I did what any unemployed smart person would do... I booked a flight and at the very last minute registered myself to go to Vegas with 67 strangers. I didn't know it at the time but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

May

- My best friend of 15 years got engaged and I was blessed enough to help her now-fiance plan a big surprise and pull off what was a romantic and extremely sweet proposal/engagement party. (read this for more details).

- A few weeks later I got on a plane, a little scared (okay... more than a little) and went to Vegas to meet some A-MAZING people!! I feel that that trip gave me my spark back. I felt like I had lost a little of myself over the last few years and doing something that spontaneous and kinda crazy gave me my zest for life back.

June

- One of my very close friends told me she decided to move back home to Ontario in a month. I didn't take it very well at first. And then...

- The very next day my other very close friend told me she was leaving her husband and going to move back home to Montreal, THAT DAY. I was torn because I knew she was unhappy here but I was devastated to learn that another person in my close support group was leaving.

July

- I finally got a full time job and things started to look like they were getting back to "normal" for me. Boy was I wrong...

August

- In one weekend, (yes... all in one weekend) a friend of mine who is married confessed that he was in love with me and told me that he wanted to leave his wife and that entire part of his life to be with me. Although I care deeply for this friend I would never do that. Ever. Then later on that exact same night I went out to celebrate a friends birthday and ended up meeting someone that would completely steal my heart.

- I spent the rest of the month falling head over heels for him.

- I also ended up going for coffee with my old roommate/ex-best friend who I really didn't want anything to do with BUT her and I are both in my best friends wedding party together and I needed to clear the air between us. I would say it was semi-successful. Things are civil now which is great but its not like we are friends again.

September

- This new guy who stole my heart... broke it. Then stole it again. Then broke it once more.

- I went to Las Vegas again with my family to celebrate my moms 50th birthday.

- I surprised my dear friend who lives all the way on the other side of the country by showing up for her bachelorette party weekend in Niagra Falls.

October

- I let myself to get over the heartbreak that took over my summer and ended up meeting someone new. Someone wonderful.

November

- Went to Toronto to attend the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen let alone could even imagine on my own.

- I reunited with 3 of the sweetest, most genuinely beautiful and kind souled women I have ever known. (3 lovely ladies that moved across the country from me over the last 2 years).

- Most importantly I learned that no matter the distance between you, true friendships will prevail.

December

- I turned 28 and was blessed by all the love that surrounded me.

- Had what was probably the best Christmas ever.

- Realized that the best part of my year was the last 2 months... and I'm hoping the magic continues on into 2012.

28.

Yesterday was my 28th birthday.



I’ve learned that by the age of 28 you know who is important in your life. They will be the ones to call you to wish you a Happy Birthday, even if it’s just a 30 second phone call from across the country. They know that hearing their voice for those 30 seconds will make your day. The people who care will send you a birthday card (an actual physical one you can hold in your hand and have for years). They will put in more effort than just a facebook wall post. That one phone call or one card is a million times better than 50 wall posts.

I’ve learned that age is nothing but a number… and although that number is getting higher, so is my count of amazing memories and times of laughter with the people I love.

I’ve learned that broken hearts heal. And that when you question, even for a second your importance on this earth God will send you a sign to remind you just how special and loved you truly are.

I’ve learned that you are going to have to deal with rude, stupid, ignorant people in your life but you have to do just that, deal with them and move on. It will make you stronger in the end.

I’ve learned that just because I have a blog doesn’t mean I have to post anything. It’s my own little corner of the internet and I can post whenever and whatever I want. On that note… I’ve also realized that this is my blog and I shouldn’t have to censor what I write incase certain people read it and they don’t want to be mentioned. Guess what… you are/were in my life and if you were part of something I feel like blogging about I am going to do it. Deal with it. If you don’t like what I have to say then stop reading.

I’ve learned that you can’t ever predict what life is going to throw your way so be prepared for curveballs. It’s what makes it all interesting.

I’ve learned that love can move mountains.

And most importantly I’ve learned that it will all be okay in the end. And if it’s not okay, its not the end.

What have you learned in your time?

The Online Dating Saga...

Say what? I have blog? Oh right!! I almost forgot. That's perfect because I have a few stories to share.

So remember those blog posts I wrote earlier this summer all about the fantastic guy I met and how I was so head over heels smitten for him? Well he broke my heart. Enough said. Moving on.

So i signed up for online dating. I have gone out with on dates with 3 guys so far.

Bachelor #1 - meh... thats all.

Bachelor #3 - (yes i skipped #2... we will get to him....) he's funny and sweet and has the same sense of humor as me and so far things are moving along just lovely. After the heartbreak this summer I am taking things slowly and as they come and so far things with Bachelor #3 are great. If things continue you will definitely be hearing more from him. (Quick note - I was his date to a halloween party and he went as Craig the Spartan Cheerleader - aka Will Ferrels the perfect cheer character from SNL - and did the cheers all night. How awesome is that, right?)

Bachelor #2 - We talked for about a week and then he asked me out. He got tickets to the football game and it was a great first date idea. I wasn't really feeling like I would date him again though but he was a really nice guy and i didn't want to write him off completely. I mean we have all heard of those couples that are married now who one of them wasn't into the other at first right? (cough, cough, Farah... ). Anyways we talked a lot by email. So Halloween weekend i was super busy. I went on 2 dates with Bachelor #3 including the Halloween party and then on the Sunday I was suffering from the worst hangover known to man-kind. Bachelor #2 had sent me a few texts over the weekend but I either didn't respond or said I was really busy.

Monday morning came around and I was alive again after surviving my jello shooter induced hangover and I sent him an email to see how his weekend went. No response. Didn't phase me one bit actually. Then Tuesday I go into work to an email basically saying how he was mad that I didn't respond to him all weekend and how he thought I was rude at the football game (????) and how he didn't want to talk to me anymore. Well I guess he stayed home sick on Monday and sent that email late Monday night, before he went into work on Tuesday and saw my email. As I was reading his harsh "break up" email another one from him came through apologizing profusely for his previous email and saying how now he DID want to talk to me blah blah freakin blah. And 5 minutes later another email came through... saying the same things all over again.

I was extremely busy at work and was in meetings all morning so when I came back to my desk 2 hours later to see 2 MORE emails from him I was beyond annoyed. I didn't even know what to say really. On my lunch break I started typing out a response and yet again... another email came through from him.

I guess he wasn't listening when I told him flat out prior to our date that I didn't want any pressure.

Moving on...

Its the little things...

It’s the little things that take your breath away. Like when you go to his house for the first time and there is a note posted on the fridge with your birthday that’s 5 months away on it and he says he thought it was important so he should write it down.

It’s the little things that warm your heart. Like when you tell him how someone stole the blueberries for your breakfast out of the fridge at work and when you get home from work that night there is a little bag with blueberries waiting at the door just for you.

It’s the little things that make you know he will protect you. Like when he holds your hand and watches your every step so you don’t fall when you are walking back down the mountain after a long hike up and your still healing broken leg is getting tired.

It’s the little things that make you realize how happy you are. Like when a coworker says you haven’t stopped smiling all day and that makes you smile even more.

It’s the little things that make you feel this is something special. Like when he always holds your hand when you are in the car.

It’s the little things that amaze you. Like when after only knowing him for 2 weeks he meets your parents. And you can already tell they love him. And when you guys leave he tells you how it wasn’t weird at all meeting them so soon.

It’s the little things that fill you with excitement. Like when you get lost in a gaze looking at him and wonder “where have you been my whole life?”

Unexplainable.

She walked into the bar.

Two friends at her side.

One of them celebrating his birthday.

The reason why they came to this bar in the first place.

He says someone he knows is also at the same bar.

The three of them walk around to find this person she has never met.

She spots a tall, handsome man across the room.

He is wearing a white collared shirt, jeans and dark framed glasses.

Something about him draws her in.

Her friend is still searching for the person he knows.

She prays he's at the same table as the guy in the glasses.

Her friend finally spots his friend...

Her heart skips a beat as he heads over in the direction of the man she's so curious about.

He's at the same table as the guy in glasses.

They get introduced and eyes lock immediately.

She is taken back by the instant attraction.

She puts her purse down on the table and pulls up a chair.

They strike up a conversation.

The rest of world fades away....

This & That Summer Recap (so far...)

Oh hey there...

I've been completely MIA from the blog world over the last 2 months because I have been insanely busy and more importantly soaking up as much summer fun I possibly can.

In short form:

- I finally got a new job and its fantastic!

- I get to walk home everyday from work for about an hour which makes me so ridiculously happy. I get to soak up the sun, I get to work on strengthening my leg (mostly my knee at this point), I get to de-stress and listen to my music in my own world after work everyday. Needless to say its brought my happiness levels up about 20 notches.

- Two of my dear friends moved away to the other side of the country. Two. With in a month. It sucks the big one because they are amazing, wonderful, loving friends and I will miss seeing them as much. But... Love Liberates so I will love them if they are here, or if they are on the other side of the world.



- I have been going to summer festivals, and swimming again, and running, and rafting, and hiking, and enjoying every possible outdoor/physical activity I can do at this point.

- I booked a few trips including one to Vegas with my family for my moms 50th bday next month.

- I fulfilled my teenage dreams but seeing NKOTBSB in concert and it was insanely fun. To the point where I lost my voice the next day from screaming of excitement.

- I've started helping my best friend plan her wedding.

- I have seen Horrible Bosses twice already... its epic. GO SEE IT NOW!!

- I have a million other things I want to blog about but I can't... some days (like today) I wish my blog was still anonymous so I could just spill it all. But in time I will...

- Also, I may have met the most special person I will ever meet in my life... more on that later...

Love is in the air...

So... remember last week when I posted about the "Dream Love List"? Well... when I posted that I knew a secret.

I knew that last night by best friends boyfriend was going to propose to her. And that he was going to do it at a restaurant. And that right after he caught her off guard and proposed to her, he would lead her blindfolded to a different room downstairs at the restaurant where 30 of their closest friends and family were waiting to surprise her and celebrate the magical moment.

It was spectacular. I talked to her this morning and she told me it was by far the greatest night of her life. That gives me chills. I was so beyond grateful to be able to help plan and pull off the big surprise.

I can't wait to help her plan her big day, the day we have talked/dreamed/planned about since we were 12.

I can't wait to see her marry the man of her dreams.

Love... is amazing.

The Dream Love List Continued

Yesterday I posted about "The Dream Love List" my best friend and I wrote when we were 17. I thought about it last night and bloggers share everything so.... here you go! The complete list:

1 - Have to be appealing

2 - Have to make you laugh

3 - Have a decent job

4 - Have to be able to dance

5 - Have a car

6 - Good family values

7 - Sense of style

8 - Act's the same around me and his friends

9 - Has an adventurous side

10 - Must be taller or as tall (my BFF is model-tall and always wanted someone taller then her)

11 - Like's to travel

12 - Is romantic

13 - Treats his lady like a princess

14 - Likes animals

15 - Listens when we talk

16 - Doesn't lie

17 - Doesn't cheat

18 - Shows his love for me in public

19 - Good kisser...

20 - Our parents approve

21 - Has his own dreams and goals

22 - Doesn't feel controlled by me

23 - Has other female friends that are just friends

24 - BIG HEART!

25 - Looks after himself and his belongings

26 - Not a perfectionist

27 - Has a good body

28 - Good hair

29 - Has his own interests too

30 - Has a life outside of me

31 - Respects everything about me

32 - Loves music

33 - Likes to have a good time (party)

34 - Security in his future

35 - Would like a family some day

36 - Creative

37 - Believes in and has his own traditions

38 - Likes quality time

39 - Doesn't mind shopping

40 - Is himself - doesn't put on an act

41 - Doesn't smoke

42 - Likes to try new things

43 - Isn't a player

44 - Has an education

45 - Should be around our age

46 - He knows when he is wrong and knows how to make up for it

47 - He is always intriguing

48 - Confident but not cocky

49 - Knows the value of a best friend

50 - Loves me for me!

Seriously... I think the list is great and the fact that we wrote it at 17 when all we cared about was boys and lipgloss just blows my mind. Now I just need to find someone who fits into it. What do you think about it?

The Dream Love List

A few years back... okay 10 years back (where does the time go??) my best friend and I created a "Dream Love List". It was a list of 50 things that we wanted in a perfect man. We were 17 when we wrote it so of course its written in blue marker and the pages are covered in glittery lips stickers. So. Freakin. Cool.

We made a pact (because thats what you do as best friends, pacts mean you're serious) that we wouldn't look at it until one of us got engaged or considered marrying someone. If they didn't fit the criteria, you couldn't marry them. Okay... maybe that seems a little harsh but we were 17, it was all or nothing.

The list got packed away with all the other old photos and everything else from our pre-adult years and we moved on with our lives.

Flash forward to a few weeks ago when I was going thru some of my things in my parents basement (actually, I was looking for my GOLD pants from an old disco costume to possibly wear to the Black/White/Gold party in Vegas... no luck in finding them though). But I did come across some papers folded together and tucked neatly in my yearbook. It was the Love List.

I had a little squeal of excitement and reminiscing and unfolded the papers. I instantly remembered what it was and knew I couldn't read the list with out my BFF there with me. So I took the list home and called her right away. She of course squealed in the same high pitched voice as me and said "DONT read it with out me!!". Thats why were BFF's, we get each other.

A few days later we were in the same place, at the same time, with THE list.

Now... although I am awesomely single, she is in a very long term relationship. Almost 8 years now. They are not married or engaged (yet...) but she knows for certain that she wants to and will marry him. We went thru the list with him in mind.

Shockingly he got 93%!!

It was like this list was written for him! We couldn't believe it! The things he didn't score full points on were sort of silly things like

- Treats me like a princess (he got 1/2 points because he doesn't quite do that ALL the time)

- Isn't a perfectionist (apparently we thought this was important at 17, i think one of us dated someone who was a bit OCD and we were hella-annoyed by it) (did i just say hella?? this flashback post is making me write like im 17 again too...)

But he got ALL the important ones right!

- Is close with his family

- Can dance (very important!)

- Is okay with acting silly sometimes

- Loves me for me

There are many more items on the list (44 more to be exact) and I am so happy for her that she has found what she has always wanted. It fills my heart with rainbows and unicorns and sugar plum fairies. I love her and it makes me so happy to see her happy.

It got me thinking... maybe I should bring the list with me everywhere I go and use it as an interviewing tool for potential boyfriends.

"So...Are you close with your family?

Yes? Okay good... lets see here...

In your opinion, what is the value of a best friend?

Hmmm.... Interesting...

Would you say you are the type of person who likes to try new things?

Yes? Please give an example of something new you have tried in the past month?

I see, I see.... what about dancing? Please provide a sample of your best dance moves.

That's enough, thank you. Please fill out your name and number on this form. Someone will be in contact you if we are interested in a second interview"

Its pretty much a flawless plan, don't you agree?

ATL... How does he do that?

Anyone remember ATL?

Well, last year he was sort of a big part of my life. He was my kryptonite and even though I knew that he was bad, BAD news I couldn't resist him.

Then his true asshole colors showed and I cut him out of my life. For months afterwards he would randomly text me from numbers I didn't know. Every time he did my heart jumped a little.

Then I met The Fisherman and I knew I had moved on.

Somehow after months and months of no contact he decided to text me a few weeks after The Fisherman and I broke up.

HOW did he know? Seriously how on earth did he just know that I was in a vulnerable state and that if he sent me a text with his BBM pin that I would add him. And how did he know that seeing his picture and talking with him after a year would make me question possibly seeing him again?

Well... I was weak for a bit but after a few days I gave my head a good shake and knew what I would have been getting myself into. So I deleted him and moved on again.

And THEN last weekend I went to my work Christmas party and a group of us decided to head to a bar near by for our own after party. Guess who of ALL people works at said bar. Yep... ATL. Damn it.

I try to break free and the universe starts dangling him in front of me again.

Although he is verrrrrrry tempting, I am staying strong. I don't need to go down roads I've already travelled.

Instead I am moving on to better new things. Like Mac.

(details on Mac coming soon)

Where have I been?

Ive been a little MIA from blog-land lately.


Why? Well my dear bloggy-friends, I have been busy living this summer to the fullest doing such things as:


Rafting on the Elbow River

Dancing
BBQ-ing
Reading in the sunshine
Wearing summer dresses and flip-flops
Drinking Slurpees
Playing tennis
Hugging Leah as much as humanly possible
Running
and...

falling in... like. Extreme like.

I hope your summer has been as wonderful as mine so far.

The universe is messing with me...

Anyone remember who ATL is? Anyone? Bueller? 

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time, ya know, before I decided to delete everything I had written for the last year as part of my own therapy, you will remember ATL as the guy who is basically my kryptonite. 

For those of you who are new around these parts, ATL was a bouncer I met last summer and fell completely head over high heels in lust for. Then he took my little fragile heart and shattered it into a million pieces. Typical. I know. 

So all that heart breaking happened around Christmas/New years last year and I haven't seen him or talked to him since the beginning of January. I moved on. Obvs. 

As of recently I have been seeing a lovely fellow (did I really just use those words?) by the name of "Jimmy". He's sweet, funny, genuine and a total gentleman. I get butterflies when I think about him and I am falling for him very quickly. I haven't mentioned too much about him on here yet because I don't want to jinx the great thing we have going right now. (But trust me, if it keeps going the way it is I won't be able to contain my excitement for long).

So things with Jimmy and I are floating along smoothly when all of a sudden BAM! Text msg from a random number on Friday at 2am. 

"What's up?" 

I wrote back in the morning because I was in the middle of catching up on my beauty sleep and say "who is this?"

His response - "ATL" 

(well not really because thats not really his name but you get the idea). 

My reaction?? I dropped the phone. Stood there for a minute in complete shock. Almost like I had seen a ghost. 

Seriously, the universe is messing with me. I have this great guy, one of those "nice guys" that we always look for but never actually find and the universe is saying to me "Hey Mich, remember THIS guy and how ridiculously hot you thought he was and how much he made your heart flutter and how he could make you completely melt with one touch? Well, how about I just dangle him in front of you for a little while and see if you still want your nice guy after that. It will be a fun little game for me" 

Well Mr. Universe, your game sucks and I don't want to play. I will stick to my nice guy thank you very much. You can take ATL back to wherever he's been hiding for the last 6 months (hopefully under a rock somewhere) and tell him I wont be falling for his little bag of tricks this time.