Happy 1 Year Anniversary

It has been exactly a year since my last post, but today, for some reason, a blogger stumbled on my site. He added it to his blogroll and I was instantly panic-stricken knowing I hadn't posted in a year.

I have lots to say, but life is busy. Maybe this was the little kick in the pants I needed.

I don't know if I can commit to regular posts with all the things I have going on. For those outside of Fort McMurray, you may have heard stories of there being nothing to do in this town. My weekly schedule will tell you the real truth.

On Monday nights I teach a course to a group of 24 students. On Tuesdays I play competitive women's volleyball at the Sport and Wellness Centre. One Wednesday a month I have volunteer meetings for KidSport Wood Buffalo where I volunteer as the communications representative. Thursdays I curl either at 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. Fridays and the weekends are usually filled with tournaments or catching up on other work that falls to the wayside during the week. And of course, I have my full-time job to keep me extra busy during the daytime.

For those who have known me since I was 12 years old, you'll know this is exactly the way I like my life. Busy. I recently stumbled across a calendar I'd been saving from my grade 11 year. Some months, I had every single day filled with some kind of activity. On every day I didn't have volleyball after school, I worked at my part-time job. In grade 12 I was on a million school councils, played fastball in another town and volunteered for a crisis line.

It is, as I said, just the way I like it.

I guess some things never change.

Lanette

January update

I have been giving a half-hearted effort to completing all the things on my 30 x 30 list. This, in itself, stresses me out. Now I see why people recommend not making these kinds of lists.

I did read one book in January and have started a second (and a third). I also did my best to spend one day totally relaxing by booking a manicure/pedicure and dinner with my bff, Erin. Unfortunately, a snow storm, bald-tired rental car and an 8 a.m.-Saturday-morning-downtown hair appointment did affect the "total relaxation" effect I was going for, but I won't complain. Not only did I get to spend some much needed time with one bff, but I also got to spend time with another girlfriend who is pregnant with her first baby. All of these ladies made the day worthwhile!

Erin and I also decided on the destination for our 30th birthday girls trip: San Diego. Originally we were thinking San Francisco, but when we got together last weekend, having both watched the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines, we both said San Diego was the place for us. Once we settle on the dates for our trip (tentatively scheduled for mid-September) we'll make plans to book a tee time at Torrey Pines since it's a municipal course that's open for public play.

Now that we have a location picked out, it's time to start saving! I can't wait to take this trip.

Lanette

Crossfit? Sure. Whatever works.

I like a good challenge as much as the next gal and when that next gal is your sister, a healthy dose of sibling rivalry makes the challenge even better.

Kelsey and I have recently embarked on a little fitness adventure known as Crossfit. We joined a Facebook group, Crossfit Villa, which is lead by a hometown friend, Lars and are starting to get our booties moving.

It may not be pretty now, but come summer, I hope it looks a whole lot better! So far, we have one WOD (workout of the day) complete and another day of cardio in the books.

Wish us both luck as we trim fat, strengthen our muscles and feel like we've never felt before, all while hurling harmless curse words in Lars' direction.

Forget resolutions, bring on the 30-list!

Since I had a hard time coming up with a good new year's resolution* earlier in December, I decided to try something new. You see, in October I will celebrate my 30th birthday. That's right, the big 3-0. I'm not really scared, per se, but thought this would be the perfect time to challenge myself to a bit of a contest. I call it the 30 x 30 list. And, here it is. This blog is where you will see my progress between today and October 11, 2011. Hey, I like the sound of that.

1. Read 15 books
2. Lose 30 pounds
3. Save an extra $3,000
4. Play 30 rounds of golf
5. Write (and send) 30 cards/notes (thank yous, hellos, etc.)
6. Meet 15 new people
7. Learn a new skill
8. Go on a 30th birthday trip (I have my eyes on Boston, but may settle for golf in Cali)
9. Restart my money blog and gain 30 subscribers
10. Reduce the burden of our house in Calgary (long story...)
11. Start and finish a significant project at work
12. Exercise every day for 30 days
13. See the mine
14. Break my low golf score of 94
15. Do one thing I've never done before
16. Call my parents more often
17. Golf at five new courses
18. Make a five-year plan
19. Make a vision board
20. Buy a postsecret book (check it: postsecret.com)
21. Spend one day a month doing something relaxing
22. Splurge on something luxurious, but not essential
23. Take golf lessons
24. Go camping
25. Do something unpredictable
26. Organize my office
27. Volunteer a minimum of 30 hours
28. Reconnect with girlfriends from years gone by
29. Be the best girlfriend I can be
30. Make this year my best year yet. Bad news, tragedy, anger and pain need not enter.

*I actually did come up with a new year's resolution after a particularly forgetful holiday season. In 2011, in addition to working off the items on the list above, I resolve to lose fewer things!

Happy new year everyone.

Somethin' to talk about

Ladies and gentleman, please mark this date on your calendars. I finally have something to blog about.

Today, on hole #9 at the Fort McMurray Golf Club, yours truly got an ace! Not just any ace, but an albatross!

That's right...a hole in one on a par 4. Wooo hooooooooo!

Here's how it went down:

1. Boys tee off at white tee box

2. Boys accompany Lanette to red tee box.

3. Lanette tees up, smacks ball, watches it approach green.

4. Ball bounces up to the green, boing boing, rolls, and disappears.

5. Lanette's heart stops because she thinks it may have just gone in. But, boys aren't saying anything, so doesn't open her mouth for fear of the ball actually being 10 feet away from the hole.

6. Boys, thinking the ball was just a straight drive, have dropped heads and are moving toward their own balls.

7. Rossy realizes Lanette's ball is not on green where he expected and asks if it should be on there.

8. Lanette tells him yes.

9. Rossy walks up ahead and confirms: BALL. IN. HOLE.

Sweet jesus baby, that's a hole in one.

Here are the details:

Course: Fort McMurray Golf Club

Hole: #9

Distance: 200 - 225 (scorecard says 277, but I think that's from an old tee box location).Ball - Club: Driver

Ball: Precept Lady iq180 (my favourite...well my favourite ball I can afford to buy and lose. My ultimate favourites are the pricey ones that cost $6 each).