Hello 2010, and welcome! Like many others I’m feeling rather obligated at the moment to write up my own rendition of 2009: A Year in Review, or even A Decade in Review. So much has happened really. I blitzed through high school, then post-secondary education, and now here I am.

Graduation

I graduated from my four year program with a Bachelor of Design degree. The four year long process was both exhilarating and draining. Truth be told, I felt a little bit like an impostor while attending ACAD. Why? Well I’ve always been a person with varied interests (Biology, History and English to name my top three subjects with a smattering of computer programming). As such, I had never really dedicated myself to art. In fact, when I graduated from high school I didn’t even know that there was even such thing as a Bachelor of Design. I was oblivious and misinformed. Coming out of high school I thought that if I wanted to pursue any sort of  career in the Arts field, that it would have to be Fine Arts (and of course everyone has heard of that tired starving artist line). Imagine my surprise when I found out about the Visual Communications Design program. It was pretty much everything that I imagined it to be. I only felt a little awkward when people would be going on about their favourite artists and idols… and I would have no idea who they were. I’ve never really idolized anything.

Still, I had a fine time while I was there and I met some really fantastic people (and it is only they who can really related to my pain/pleasure of school). The only thing I think that really could have benefited the course more would have been some more business oriented programs that circulated around marketing yourself. Creating a portfolio and a resume/CV really wasn’t enough. I’m grateful however to the teachers that answered all of my questions about the business aspect of things. It’s amazing how much stuff is overlooked, and it really comes to no surprise that so many students each year are taken advantage of. It’s not their fault – they just don’t know any better.

Family

What can I say? My family has alway been fantastic. Thanks for supporting me while I was in school, and really, thanks for everything. I wouldn’t be the kind of person that I am now if it wasn’t for them. My siblings better be coming out to visit me this summer! Do you hear me Jamie and Steve? I’ll get the two of you here if I have to drag you across the country myself. It was really fun seeing everyone at Christmas. Here’s to random car dancing and loud music. ^_^

Moving

I’m a hard person to keep track of. I have moved every year for the past five years. Good news is that my android phone has GPS and my phone number has only changed once over the past ten years.

Heartbreak

I’ve had my heart broken not once, not twice, but four times. The last time it happened I think something inside of me snapped. I didn’t get angry. I was upset, sure. Of course, when you’ve invested in someone for two and a half years you’re not really expecting them to turn on you randomly one day and plainly state that they’re not “in love” with you anymore. You can’t really plan for these things though. What really struck me were a selection of his words. He said that he pitied me. Brother, I’m the last person in the world that needs your pity. I have always been my own person with my own ambitions and goals. It takes a really self-righteous and selfish guy not to see that.  In the end though, none of it was my fault and he was the one making the mistake. I mean, who in their right mind would throw away a girl like me? :)

It’s all good though. I wish I could explain it exactly, but ever since that day I’ve felt invincible. No person, and specially no dude, is going to stand in my way. Sucks to your ass-mar. I’m not the one that fucked up.

Music and Entertainment

I finally got around to seeing Edmonton. The red (Sky Screamer) and purple (Nessie’s Revenge) water slides at the West Edmonton Mall are scary. Mostly because they hurt. The red one was almost a straight vertical drop that resulted in a painful wedgie and the purple one threw me up and then slammed me down so hard multiple times that it felt like I was being slapped (it is very aptly named). I couldn’t really breathe all that well after doing the two of those. I sort of regret doing them first because they made the rest of the water park seem like nothing in comparison.

Aside from that, just this past year alone I’ve really upped my entertainment intake. I guess this is the sort of thing that happens when you stop being a student and actually become a consumer. I went to the Calgary Stampede for the first time, saw Evil Dead: The Musical (so much blood and awesome), went to see DragonForce in concert, saw the Blue Man Group, went to Video Games Live (sweeeeet!), attended the Lindy Hop Exchange in Calgary and saw the Polyjesters, and then some!

I’ve also been playing a few more video games as of late. My Steam ID and PSN ID are both “Jaceen”. Feel free to add me.

Aron

He gets his own heading because he’s awesome like that. The title of this post is dedicated to him too. Bwa… hahaha… ha ha… yarr…

Business

I started my own business! It’s not too much of a surprise since this sort of thing runs in my family. Well, one side of my family anyway. I’m working as a media and design consultant with an emphasis on web development, interactive design, and improving user experience. I’ve you’re looking to hire me though, I’m solidly booked until at least June 2010. My large projects have been keeping me busy (and happily fed! No starving here). I still haven’t decided on an official name for my company yet though. I’m sure once I do though, it’ll be great.

Kitty!

I’m looking into adopting/buying a cat. So if you know of a particular fuzz-butt that is in need of a home where he/she will be pampered all 12-25 years of its life until death, let me know!

Here’s looking forward to 2010 being even better than 2009. So far, so good (albeit a little on the sleep deprived side… my brain nearly exploded yesterday).

Screw new year resolutions. Just focus on being as bloody awesome as you can.