I sat down at my computer this evening thinking that I was going to do a year in review post. Then it dawned on me -- that is what my archives are for!! So I ventured back and re-read my posts for the past year and was entertained for the better part of an hour. Feel free to go have a laugh at my expense. I am a moody beast.

So much has happened this year! However, the one event that defines this year in my head is the "BIG MOVE". We moved from the West Coast (Vancouver) to the Centre of the Universe (Toronto). This move has caused much upheaval and distress. It meant going from employed to unemployed to employed (Neil) /sort of employed (Special K). It meant being thrust from routine and familiarity to the unknown. As with any big change it meant making adjustments, growing, learning and all that crap.

As always, I remind myself that our experiences are ours and ours alone. Not everyone gets the chance to see this great country, let alone live all over it. Our road may not be the most conventional but it has been one hell of a ride. One that I am sure will only continue to scare the hell out me and test my patience -- but hopefully make both of us better, stronger and more worldly people.

Other great moments of this year include:

• January - our trip down to Seattle.
• May/June - The Oilers coming oh so close to Lord Stanley's Cup
• June/July - the drive across Canada -- BC, AB, SK, MB, ONT -- this is one beautiful country!
• August - turning 30 -- I embrace my old age; also both sides of the family visit and we get to take in the touristy sites around TO
• September - TOM PETTY! Neil and I see a music GOD and it was great!
• November - Ashley Bailey Underwood -- born on November 7, 2006 -- Super aunt and uncle have another charge to spoil rotten and to teach to burp and fart at inappropriate times!
• December - the first Christmas in the history of Neil and K "going-home Christmasses" that Neil has not completely regretted going home for Christmas. And he claims to have gotten his mojo back having had a "winning" holiday season on the card circuit (Canasta and Poker).

I look forward to what the next year will bring. Will it bring me a real job?? Fingers crossed. Will it bring forth a wedding or two?? So we've been told. Will it bring forth a baby?? Only time will tell -- though seriously, I know I've turned 30 and my biological clock is ticking -- but that hasn't changed my opinion that childbirth will suck ass! ... and adopting Thai babies takes time, y'all know! Will we travel?? Of course! We hope to see Europe this year and we are starting the year off with a trip -- we head to New York City for 4 days next Friday!!

Have a great 2007 everyone!

Without further adieu... here is some amusing footage from Christmas!

The holidays are funny things... you are excited and can't wait for them to arrive, then they arrive and you are overwhelmed with many emotions: joy, pain, excitement, frustration, etc... And after three days crammed with visiting, eating, drinking and no sleep, you realize that the one thing you want most is for the holidays to be over so you can sleep in, stay in your pajamas and avoid every other human being on earth at all costs.

This Christmas has been interesting, so far I have:

• been called a "hairy man beast" by my mother -- apparently I have really hairy arms...
• seen a Christmas yard display that in place of a manger had a teepee, complete with native baby Jesus in its front yard (only in Regina -- and yes, I plan on getting a picture)
• Attended Joey's Christmas concert -- remind me again, why do people like these concerts??
• won twice at Canasta and was robbed once... totally robbed.
• got the best xmas present ever -- a talking Cartman doll -- AO and UB -- you will both keel over with laughter when I bring him home! "You guys are hella stupid!" "Screw you guys, I am going home"
• lost at Settlers of Cattan -- but boy, the memories... this will be a completely separate post later. As usual, hilarity ensued as my family is retarded.

So much more but that will have to wait as it is super late and I am tired! Until I post again, I have started uploading my Christmas pictures into flickr... click HERE to see them.

Stay tuned for more... the holidays always bring out some of my most absurd material!

I was in desperate need of some holiday spirit so Neil and I decided to venture out on foot to check out the sites and lights of Christmas in Toronto.

This is the 50 foot tree put up in Nathan Phillips Square. It was beautiful!

Here is Neil and I in front of this massive tree!

You could even rent skates and go figure skating! I don't even think Toronto denies wanting to be the NYC of this country.
Here is a video of the tree...

Inside the Eaton Centre, there was a tree completely decorated with Swarkovski crystals. It was so beautiful!! Click here for a close up.

We also ventured across Yonge Street to Dundas Square and there was a pretty neat LED tree. Neil posed in front of it.

All in all, it was nice to get out and take in some festive sites with no rushing around or holiday shopping to be done...

Here's an update about the situation with my 'sort of' job. I call it a 'sort of' job because by the explanation I received today -- I will not get to work a single day for at least 12-16 weeks.

Apparently teachers here need to get both a criminal records check and a vulnerable sector search. As far as I can tell, a vulnerable sector search is rather invasive so in order to have one performed, your employer must register with the various law enforcement agencies as an agency "worthy" of requiring this sort of check be completed.

The only police department that will perform any kind of records check for you is the department in the city in which you live.

I live in Toronto, thus I require this be performed by the Toronto Police.

My potential job is in Simcoe County -- 1 hour north of Toronto. The Simcoe County School District is not registered with the Toronto Police -- thus they will not perform the Vulnerable Sectors check for me.

Enter today:
A rep from the school board called me to inform me that they are in the process of "registering" with the Toronto Police. This process will take 6-8 weeks. I have two options:

1) Call every other law enforcement agency in Southern Ontario in the hopes of finding one that is lax in the rule of "I must live within their jurisdiction."

or

2) Phone the school board back in 6-8 weeks to find out if their registration went through and then go to the TO Police and have my check done which will take another 6-8 weeks.

Having called 4-5 other Police Departments, it has become apparent to me that I will not work for another 12-16 weeks (unless I get another job).

So in conclusion: I was informed of this job at the beginning of November and will start working at the start of May. Anyone who thinks Ontario is a great and efficient place to live should be shot. I hate that I am so bitter. I hate the kind of negative & cynical person I have become --- but COME ON... how much shit is one person supposed to endure?