Projects

Planning to move to Canmore in the fall of this year has spawned a number of major projects that will make 2012 a very busy and exciting year from the get-go:

1. Preparing the house for sale - We want to get the most possible for our house here in Ajax.  So we have some winter-time wallpaper stripping and painting to do, a few other minor improvements to make along with the regular spring maintenance jobs of painting the deck, re-sealing the driveway, and gardening. 
2. Downsizing - We will be moving into a smaller living space - a condo.  So much has to go.  When you have been in a house for 24 years, you accumulate a lot of stuff.  It will be a challenge.  This will be an ongoing project that will gain momentum as the year progresses.  One sub-project is to scan to my computer 12 slide carousels full of slides!  I have been meaning to do this for a few years but never managed to find the time.  I started yesterday and I will keep working away at it.  Just think - all those slides will fit on a small external hard drive!  Anyone know what I can do with those empty slide trays?
3. Travel plans for 2012 - we want to finish our exploration of the east coast of Canada before we head west.  We are planning to go to PEI/Cape Breton/Newfoundland this summer.  That will also complete my geocaching map.  I will have found geocaches in all 10 provinces.  That will leave just the territories.  I am also planning to finish my Ontario county geocaching map.  That will lead to a spring-time trip to Moosonee on the Polar Bear Express.
4. Finishing my certificate in adult education - I have done 5 of 6 courses towards this certification, with one elective left to complete.  Starting "Performance Consulting" at George Brown College this evening.
5. Selling our house - Planned for the spring, when the garden is in full bloom.
6. Purchasing our new home in Canmore - The real exciting part!!  That will probably happen in late spring.
7. Training Mum to play Scrabble on the computer.  This is the one thing Mum and I have in common.  Mum is upset about our planned relocation and she is going to miss me a lot and miss our regular Scrabble Games.   I hope to get her comfortable with using a mouse and playing Scrabble on one of the computers in the library at her new Amica home, so that once we have moved, we can continue to play on a regular basis over the internet.  There is hope, as she has just become a huge fan of Wi bowling.  In addition to that, I will make plans for Mum to visit soon after we have moved and again around Christmas time.  I had planned to bring her out with me last fall, just a few weeks after her heart attack.  She was approved to fly on West Jet with a personal assistant (like my sister) who would qualify for a free ticket.
8. Losing it - I have decided to work harder than ever at the annual weight loss project.  Goal:  3 pounds per month x 9 months = 27 lbs.  Every year I worry that when I come to go skiing, my ski pants will not fit.  Well they do, but just barely.  They are so tight that when I bend over to do up my ski boots, I just about pass out!  I refuse to buy bigger ones.  I have drawn a line I do not want to cross.  I am so looking forward to the next ski season and my pants fitting comfortably.  Stay tuned!  After one month, I am on track ......... minus three.  But I no it will get really, really tough.