here's to 2006

well, as we sit on the threshold of 2007, taking a moment to remember 2006 is almost inevitable. i think it was actually a really good year. there wasn't much for extreme ups or downs - some new experiences and trials but what's life without those? so here's my moment of reflection of 2006...

i went from a crap nissan car to a old 1989 pontiac bonnyville. her name is ele and she definitely acts her age. but it's a car...4 wheels, engine, and all. she gets me from a to b and i will never complain about that...not to mention she only cost me $1.

jamaica. awesome experience. it was a little bit of a trying experience in that i have not spent that much time (19 days) with my dad since grade 5 and i have never spent that much time with my step-mom. overall it was good. there were definitely some speed bumps and times when i know that i am a different person than i used to be (aren't we all) but it was good to get to know them better and be able to work with them in something. the mission itself and the country served to provide an experience that i will not soon forget. as long as we get the dentists that we need, i will be returning to jamaica in february of this year.

summer. hmmmm. it was...good. we have a fantastic, young staff. i think the average age was 18. scary to think about that right now but it was a solid summer. again, there were speed bumps. i was thrown back into the program director (but not officially the "director") role in mid june and had to whip up a summer program plus a staff leadership week program in two weeks. i can honestly say that there was definitely mental chaos happening inside my cranium. then summer started and we (jenni, vicky, and i) changed our program...drastically. it was a little hairy to begin with because we were changing the very core of what we all knew to be program at camp evergreen...dating back to garth epps (the great program king). but it works...with some squeeks and creaks but it worked. and by the end of the summer we liked what we saw. there are always changes to be made but the mold was broken and there's a world of places we can go from here. we've reworked all of our camps and hopefully evergreen will change for the better.

september...gah! well, summer ends and guest groups start...no breathing inbetween. but before i get back into that...let's talk about something more...violent! i, courtney armstrong, after a 2.5 year hiatus returned to the rugby pitch. let me tell you, my first game almost made me puke (and not just because i was out of shape)...i was afraid that i had forgotten what it takes to place this rugball game. well - as it turns out - rugby is like riding a bike. you never forget how to ride...but wiping out still hurts. rugby - you never forget how to play...but the game still hurts. it was fantastic to get back on the pitch and be the wrecking crew that i used to be. except i got better at something...well a couple things...dump tackling. i would make my token one or two d.tackles a game back in university but this last summer...i was making like 5 towards the end of the summer. FANTASTIC. so much fun. the other thing i did this summer was i caught a kick from my own team off our own kick off. smashing great! i had never done that before and i did it twice in the same game. God willing i will return to the pitch next year.

september...well - busy in a word. officially program director in three words. it's funny because i've essentially been doing this job for 2 years and it was a snap - i was just the nice person who made sure that everything got done but i didn't have the pressure of owning the responsibility. now i've got the job, the pressure, and the responsibility. but i love it and i'm happy to be where i am.

coaching. well i coaching JV basketball in sundre last year and i'm doing it again this year. and i coached rugby for the first time in the spring. i will find myself back with the same group of girls this next spring and i'm looking forward to passing on my wrecking crew habits to keen high school girls.

it's now december, christmas is over and i'm pretty content...other than my singleton. i'd like to fix that one up ... i'd make it a resolution but i don't think it would help as most people never follow through on them anyways. but i will bid everyone adieu and a happy new year. all my best in 2007 and i hope that 2006 was a great year for you too.

peace out

cort