It was a very active year for me.
My apologies to my family (mostly Kae and Cuz) for the hiatus - it has been 6 years since my last bio. Eeeek.
In 2010, I went back to interpreting full time after a solid 3-years off to relocate and conduct renovations at 119, the house that Page and I own in Victoria.
A relationship transition in 2009, and a life re organization, further prompted my return to working outside the home. Though it had been in the works for sometime, as there is far less work here on the island for interpreters than in the states. Relay interpreters are in demand and with the encouragement of my dear friends, Deb & Christy, I was one of the first interpreters to train in 2010 at our newly opened centre here in Victoria. I just celebrated my one-year anniversary, on February 16th. I’m happy to say that when I jumped back in, I didn't miss a beat. (:
At Sorenson Communication, I work as a relay interpreter. I spend my hours sitting in front of a television screen and a fancy webcam with a phone headset on (very Madonna like), interpreting pizza orders, appointment scheduling, clarifications with utility companies, and many times, conversations between Deaf and hearing family members.
More often than not, one or both parties are seemingly unappreciative of the service they are receiving. I don’t take it personally, as they are, after all, representatives of the population in general; ungrateful. Tis sad and true. Yet I’m relieved to say that once in a great while there is a call that can't help but lift my spirits.
Like a hearing mom who is aware enough to recognize that she has the opportunity in her native language (spoken English) to share with her Deaf daughter, (through an interpreter; Me) in her native language (American Sign Language), what having that connection means to her. In fact, because “the relay”, as we are often referred to, allows her the option to phone anytime she likes 24/7/365 and connect with her daughter, she can easily and expressively do so. Whether she wants to simply say hello, to ask how her day was, or to tell her she loves her, me and hundreds of other interpreters are sitting by waiting to make it happen.
Relay interpreting is, indeed, a grand departure from in person, face to face interpreting, which I am more accustomed to, and enjoy much more, it's true. Honestly, most days I’m tempted to prove that the cord to the phone headset is indeed strong enough to hold my swinging body weight while noosed from the rafter above my spacious cubicle, yet I refrain.
I don't know how other people do the "customer service" part of my job 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, month after month, year after year. I invite you to consider this the next time you call in to bitch at your big business cell phone company or gripe to your credit card monster, whether they are screwing you over or not - reconsider your approach. The person you are talking to has a lame-ass job because of how most people choose to approach their business, seriously. I have found that many of them will bend over backwards to do all they can, if I am clear and concise and nice. Start a trend of being pleasant, in this instance alone, it will get you so much farther than the alternative. Try it, you may keep someone from swinging from the rafters above their not so spacious cubicle. Or perhaps prevent them from contemplating it altogether.
It may not sound like it, though i am actually grateful for having returned to interpreting, as I have befriended a few of my co workers and they make the time fly by and we laugh uncontrollable at the littlest things. Thanks girls!
Anyway, onto more exciting activities of the year…
I started Golfing in April. It is high on the list of new favourite activities. (:
And Softball too (after a 20 year hiatus).
I tried my paddle at Dragonboating in June – our freshly formed team of mostly newbies medaled in both of our August festival events!
I started working out with a personal trainer. Interesting experience for me, having never worked out in a gym before. I was motivated to increase my leg strength and explosiveness for the upcoming football season. It worked! So i am still at it. Thanks j.
Made a couple of road trips to the the mainland, throughout the summer. I took Carla to the Brad Paisley concert in Vancouver.
I experienced adventures in Sturgeon Fishing, even reeled in a couple on my own. Thanks to Carla's dad, Grant, who owns and operates Aqua Ventures in Chilliwack, BC.
I’m still involved with Flag Football, in both the Spring and Fall seasons. As quarterback of a fairly new team, we continually improve our game and we finished the year with a winning record, an impressive feat for a young team.
In November, I started up a Dodgeball team with the new local sport and social club. We took the inaugural season by storm and finished as league champs!
Carla and I made our way to Whistler, for the first time, and snowboarded in December (ouch! been a while since I was on a board or fell down so often)=.
We finished off the year with two weeks of play in the sand and sun in Cancun. We hit the tennis courts, threw the football and softball, nearly everyday.
And one very long day on a bus to see Chichen Itza - a true wonder of the world.
I got a clear reminder of just how tall 6 foot really is, next to a Mayan womyn that is.
Needless to say, all of this physical activity has transformed my body in wondrous ways. I am physically stronger than I have ever been. And it feels good. Roar!
Amongst work and all these activities I still made time to visit family. Carla and I went to Tracy’s for a week in May/June. I took over running PoochPlay, while the Skylstad family headed to the Oregon Coast on holiday.
I enjoyed some sun in California at Tawnya’s in July and Martin came down and joined in the festivities.
I went back down to Tracy’s, and Dad’s too, in November.
I saw Sarah and the kids in her new home on that trip as well. And then on our return from Cancun, Carla and I popped in again to The Skylstad’s for New Year’s Eve and made our way to Toledo for Dad’s holiday gathering.
Away from work, home projects and sports, I needed more to do, obviously so…
In August, I applied for citizenship. There is a 12-19 month waiting period, they say, so this year I am studying and at some point I should be able to take my test. (=
I also, on a bit of a whim, enrolled in a 5 year Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, program at The Canadian College of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
It is a very highly respected program, recognized worldwide. I was accepted and started classes the day after I returned from Cancun. Welcome back Marcell. It is a full time program, and 7 of us, 6 classmates and myself, will be attending summer semester to “catch up” and re join the other 13 students in our class of 2015, that began back in the Fall of last year.
I have a full course load, 8 classes and I’m in lecture 6 hours nearly every day of the week. When I am not in class, I am home studying, or doing house projects or interpreting. Between that I am eating, sleeping, bathing, dodging dodgeballs, catching footballs, and whacking golf balls.
And for a brief close… 2010 Boo saw his 9th birthday AND his most costly year since his purchase in 2001. )= Happily he is finally running tip top shape, after a new head gasket, bearings, brakes and a recent detail – he looks and runs beautifully.
Smudge remains the man of my dreams, little furry love that he is. He is the best Cat/Dog ever. A real lifesaver.
Fiji is just plain knotty.
Though she did win a photo contest with this shot (and my help). Working Girl!
A move is on the horizon for me and Smudge, with the future sale of 119. I am welcoming, for us, a healthy, new and joyous affordable space in a wonderful and convenient location.
As the year has already seen its share of transitions, the hope is to finish up some much-needed projects and have a smooth, swift sale of 119.
That in mind, 2011 holds much in the way of balance and focus. The program will keep me very busy this year and in the years to come and provide me with the constant opportunity for personal growth that I enjoy. My focus is on healthy choices for myself and for those around me.
Be Well.
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