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Well, it's time I got around to writing a little more about myself. You can't tell much from a few sentences, and a zillion photographs. So here goes...
 

I was born in Chapleau,  a small railroad town with a population of about 3,000 people.  I lived there right up until I was 8 (I still spend my weekends in the summer at the cottage in Chapleau though), when I moved to Timmins, where I still live.  Throughout my life I've always strived to be a little different then everyone, to do things that most people have never tried.  I've participated in teams such as gymnastics, swimming,  and cross-country running.  I tend to have an addiction to music, I've taken lessons in keyboard, piano, clarinet, and voice.  When I was 11 I won first place (with a score of 88%) at the Porcupine Music Festival for a solo I sang (in french, at that). But don't expect my voice to be any good now, it's been a long time since I've taken lessons.  While watching the local cable channel (Cable 12, now The Box) when I was in grade 7 (age 13) I had the crazy idea that they needed a news show about teens in the area.  I phoned the station, and within a month they had phoned me back asking if I would like to produce and host it. I accepted (as if I'd turn that down), got a few friends together, and we made our first (and last) show.  Even working with a post producer from the station, it took us about 2 months to organize and record 22 minutes of tape to air.  Everyone agreed that although it was a great experience, there was just too much time involved with it.  So thus ended my short-lived television career.  That brings us to grade 8, where a friend and I decided to create a web page for a project at school (and there were no fancy editors back then, just text).  Seeing as most people at the time still didn't know what the internet was, let alone a web page, people just dismissed it as a new fad that would die out sooner or later (including the teacher, but I'm not going to mention any names.)  So we all know who got the last laugh there. Since then, most of my "new & exciting" experiences have come from travel (Cruises to the caribbean, Hawaiian island trips, and so forth.)  In grade 10  I had a chance to apply for an exchange program (CEEF), and got accepted. My exchange student (Pauline) arrived in August '97 and stayed until mid November. This gave me the opportunity to watch her grow from my exchange partner to one of my good friends. I left on February 16 1998 to join her in Hyeres, France for three months. Pictures from that trip can be found here.  As for my plans for the future, they tend to change fairly often, so nothings written in stone yet.  But I think I'd like to go to the University of Guelph, get my Bachelor of Science, and then start working on a cruise ship for a bit.  It's hard work (6 month contracts, with no days off), but I'm always up to a new challenge. Also, I'd like volunteer for the Red Cross (or something like it) where I can help people in other countries. Currently I'm in grade 12 at T.H.&V.S., and as for you non Ontario residents, that doesn't mean I'm graduating this year, I still have OAC (Grade 13) to look forward to.  In my spare time I like to spend time with my friends, travel, mess around with my web page, watch old movies, and most of all, spend money.  During the summer I work full time at the Regional Assessment Office for the Ministry of Finance. My "job" title there is Assistant Jr. Evaluation Officer. That's a fancy word that means I basically put papers in binders all day long, for good money.

So that's  little old me, Megan Ritchie.  Always willing to try new things, and learning from past experiences.
Good, that means I've done all the writing I have to, now you can go look at all the pictures. :)