Happy Holidays!: THE BIG UPDATE!

Since Christmas I've been meaning to send out a holiday email about the past year, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

So 2008... I don't think that there's anything negative that I can really say about it. Sure, there were the natural lows that can be expected from any year, but this past year certainly contained more really good things. I feel like I finally made it in 2008. All of the different aspects of my life have fallen into place, and I just feel very comfortable and happy. It seems that the days of volatile situations may be a thing of the past. Even right now, I'm lounging on the couch in my apartment, and I feel a sense of accomplishment - I've done this all for myself and by myself. Having been through these challenges, I'm beginning to feel more prepared to move on from them, and I know that whatever good things come my way will truly be deserved.

I've lived in my apartment for over a year now, and I can't say enough about how much I've enjoyed it. While I believe that living with roommates is an important part of being a young adult, it sure feels wonderful to get to the point where you can manage to be all on your own. My apartment is more than just where I live, it's an expression of who I am. When someone comes into my home, I want them to ultimately be seeing who I am as a person, and I believe that I have done that. I sure couldn't call any other place "home!"

I also got a brand new car in '08! After an unfortunate rear-ending (I was totally fine) in the summer, my "old" 2005 Wave got written off. It was a huge hassle, but in the end I ended up with a new 2008 Wave that is MUCH nicer than my old one. I really did love my car though, and had no desire to get something different! The nicest part about it, is that this is the first time that I've been approved to buy a car with no co-signer! Just me! So that felt really good. (I'm onto my third new car now...)

Work has been a dream come true as well. Of course I'm still working at SONiC 102.9 as the Admin Assistant, and it's coming up to two years now that I've been there. I'm really not sure that there could be a more perfect job out there for me, and having enjoyed being involved in the music industry has made me realize how much I would hate to ever leave it! Especially for someone who enjoys *going to as many shows as I do... What I'm doing right now is so ideal. For the first time in my life, I feel like my career and personal life are very much hand-in-hand - I couldn't have one without the other!

FOR SURE one of the biggest highlights of 2008 for me was going to the Universal Records Juno after-party in Calgary. By far. I'll just never forget it. I was able to go because thanks to my job, I know the Universal Rep for Edmonton, and he invited me to come with a guest - Tim, of course. It was everything that I dreamed a red carpet celebrity party would be... An open bar... A FANCY buffet... Dancing... Everyone in amazing clothes... CELEBRITIES... And even Rock Band!! (Yep, I played Rock Band with Dion Phaneuf from the Calgary Flames. In fact, he was drunk and hitting on me and I told him to "get out of my personal space." HA HA! This was pre-Elisha, by the way.) I'm just glad that I got to experience something like that, so at least I can always say that I did!

I also took on a "second job" with VUE Weekly (a local independent culture magazine) as a freelance writer, and it has been nothing but rewarding so far. I've always liked to write (have you seen how often I blog?) so it's really cool to get to do it legit-style and even get a paycheck. I've had two articles published so far, and am going to begin work on a third. On top of that I also had a story published in an actual book in 2008 as well, for sale in any Chapters or other book store. It makes me laugh though, because it's like I woke up one morning and said "I think I'm going to be a writer now" and then just DID IT.

I got to go to some fun places this year in my travels, including Whistler, BC with my girlfriends for our annual trip (3rd year!) to the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival in April. Montreal, QC in May with my family to visit my parents' homeland. Pemberton, BC in July with a group of friends to take part in the 1st annual Pemberton Festival. And Vancouver, BC in August with Tim for an amazing trip to see Radiohead. And of course a lot of smaller little trips in between.

In June I had the honour of being a bridesmaid in one of my best friends' wedding! Amy and Ray got married, and I was so happy to share in every minute of it!

Two of my friends had babies in 2008 - Jaelyn now has a daughter named Kaylee and Brett also has a daughter named Leanna - congrats to you both, and I was happy to get to meet both of them over the holidays!

And sadly, as years tend to go, there were also some losses. My last living grandparent, my Grandma on my Mom's side, passed away in April. I'm glad that she lived to the ripe old age of 93 though! She is sadly missed. Another loss that is still so fresh and painful to talk about is the passing of Tim's best friend, Aaron on the day of Christmas Eve. I feel so fortunate to have gotten to know him and spend some fun times with him.

If there's one thing I've learned to take away from these experiences, it's that we all really must live our lives to the fullest - and I really do feel like I'm doing that now.

I've managed to LOWER my cholesterol in 2008, which I had been told was getting too high, and I really do enjoy eating healthier now that I'm used to it! I have vowed NEVER to eat at McDonald's again in my life! And as usual, with the holidays comes my birthday right to follow... 27. I joke that my age bothers me, but truthfully, I enjoy where I'm at right now. While I cherish my past, I'm very excited to see what the future has in store for me.

For 2008 I made these resolutions: Get back in yoga. Buy a new bed. TRAVEL MORE. Save some money. LEARN TO SNOWBOARD. **DO NOT DATE ANY LOSERS!**

I think I managed to do them all except for buying a new bed! (Which I still badly need...) As for 2009... I haven't really thought about it much. I need to get back in yoga AGAIN. Probably take care of that bed thing. Go somewhere tropical. Save MORE money. BUY A CONDO.

And last but certainly not least... The best part of my 2008 was meeting Tim Golem. I just don't know what I'd do without him! He's the love of my life. We've been together almost a year now, and I can safely say that I've never come across anyone as special as him before. He's the cherry on top of my whole-life sundae.

We're planning to buy a condo together in the spring, and I just can't wait to move my life into it's next phase!

And THAT, my friends, is everything that I can tell you about my life and what 2008 was to me!

I want to wish everyone all the best in 2009. Make the year whatever you WANT it to be. It's up to us all to do that.

Love always, Erika

*This year I saw: Hedley X 4, The Rebellion, Social Code, Radioforhelp, Ill Scarlett X 3, Faber Drive X 5, The Flaming Lips X 2, Stone Temple Pilots, Stars, Matthew Good, The New Pornographers, Joel Plaskett, Nine Inch Nails, Coldplay, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jay-Z, The Tragically Hip, Death Cab for Cutie, Sam Roberts Band, Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, Matt Costa, Oasis, Sloan, Ten Second Epic X 2, Feist, Bob Dylan, New Kids On The Block.