dreaming over the ocean

So, I am in atlanta, bringing in the new year :) I have been on holiday's in the florida keys, and therefore, MIA. but, have been loving it. Will update soon, with photos as well! I hope all of you had a great holiday season!

so, starting to think of events for 2009. these are a few of them. it will continue to be added too, me thinks. Vancouver 1st half. Sunday, Febuary 15th. entry is full, but i have heard that people sell their entry slots. will try to get one. if not, then i will default to the historic 1/2 in Langley , on the same day. UBC Triathlon, Olympic Distance. March 8th. New Orleans 70.3 . April 5th. WOOOOOOTTTTT! Vancouver Sun Run. April 19th. 10km :) Ride to conquer Cancer . June 19th-21st, Vancouver to Seattle. Ragbrai 2009. July 19th-21st. Iowa. maybe? it might be a good chance for me to get out there this year!

so, on saturday night, i went to our christmas party for work. try putting fitness professionals into high heels, on a boat through false creek, wearing dresses. add snow and wine and too much food. this is what you get. me and my roommate, erika. the mandatory by the christmas wreath photo! me and hot mama, joanna, and her baby in her belly.... The girls from the front desk, and their favourite trainer! This was the first time that carolyn (in the middle) has ever seen snow. she is from Perth. and, i made her walk outside in tiny little heels. can't forget riding african style with too many people in a car! joanna drove. we made the pregnant lady drive in the snow. safety first ;) and, two photos from being up all night long in seattle, with Sam and Gretchen. I was pretty stoked to see them, and am more impressed that after only getting about 5 hours sleep in the 48 hrs previous to this, we do not look so bad! friends, let's do that again sometime :)

so, reasons i am happy today: t here is snow on the north shore mountains. finally!!!! a client gave me 10 pounds of frozen blueberries. i have a fancy boat party tonight, courtesy of body and soul. and, i have a smokin' hot dress. there are so many people out there right now driving around with christmas trees on the tops of their cars. I almost bought one today, and biked with it attached to my backpack. but, i wasn't sure that would be safe. i got amazing christmas cards in the mail yesterday to send out to friends. Petara Panabaker has amazing art. i highly suggest you order some. i got, from my aunt, a recipe for my granny's shortbread cookies. I don't think that i have had some of those since before she died, about 5 years ago. they are amazing!!! :) 1 pound butter 1/2 cup white suger (berry sugar is you have it), 1/2 cup brown sugar, well packed 4 cups of flour pinch of salt roll out, cut, cook 20 minutes @ 300 degrees F.

that was today. my day, thus far: wake up 6:30. school work and breakfast. depart 8:15, on bike, with "sports rain jacket" (from my WVU rowing days), and one pair of long spandex underneath capri-length cannondale cycling bib short things, wool socks, wool short sleeve, polyester long sleeve, and "waterproof" cycling gloves. go to a doctor's appt, 8:45. go to coffee with erik, 9:15. gracefully accept a pair of cycling booties. go on bike ride, 10:30ish. return home, 11:45, and run into shower. eat lunch. do school work (or, blog!). now, here in vancouver, we get rain in the winter . and, when i say rain, i mean that a low pressure front places itself directly above the city, and remains there until about april or may. however, luckly enough though, we have not had a lot of rain this fall. there have been damp rides, but not soaking rides. today, though, i was reminded of what it is going to be to train through the winter. Today, i thought "hmmmm, m...

our canadian politics :) Dear neighbour, about what's going on in Canada as well, i would like to introduce you to the personality in the world that has the ability to stop all people, dead in their tracks. for real. no one will move, no one will approach. i know this, because, i encountered it tonight [ which is not the first time i have encountered one recently ]. i was not attacked. but, that is because i did not approach. can't they just migrate, or hibernate or something? beware .

So, my church (which is conveniently situated in the downtown eastside) is putting together christmas boxes for residents of the community/our neighbours. I am hoping to get together a few (and, when i say a few, i mean lots) of boxes to donate to this drive. As you know, i love the downtown eastside, and think that there are phenomenal people there, many of whom need our help. So, here are a few of the items that are suggested for the shoeboxes... pack of cigarettes with a lighter scotch-taped ot it= nirvana! two ensure (or other brand) of protein/meal replacement shakes Gift card (10$) including places like: Tim HOrtons (the favourite!) McDonalds 7/11 stores Starbucks A&W Army and Navy Phone Cards (10$) for family calls Two granola bars (favourite is Nature Valley Sweet and Salty bars) a new paperback novel thermal gloves (avail at Army and Navy). Cost about 5$ but are very warm: they look small, but expand to fit most hands socks wollen hats. please no products like mouth...

Today, i wrote a facebook message to someone who i have not spoken to in 5 Years. wasn't sure if it was going to be welcome... probably will not be. but, anyhow. it said this: I know that this message will probably be unexpected, and a bit of a surprise... and, i don't really know how it will be taken. Nevertheless, I'm not so much in the business these days wanting to do something, then overanalyzing what will come of it, and therefore, not doing it. so, facebook message it is. I hope that you and (.insert name here.) are doing fantastic... that life, marriage and adventures are treating you well. The other day i realized that i remember that your birthday is coming up in the beginning of December, so i looked you up on facebook. I don't actually remember when it is (or even what you are turning... 23, 24?!?!)... but *Happy Birthday!* May you continue to find your trail, with growth and abundant blessings in this next year. :Cheers: PAX, Amelia and, in all honesty ...

so, i have been sleeping kinda funny recently. sometimes, i experience "restless leg syndrome," or, at least that is what i think it is. It has not happened for about 4 months or so, but in the last couple nights, it has happened again. i hate it. it keeps me awake when i want to sleep... you would think that since my legs are moving enough during the day, that they would want to stop moving for the 8 hours that i am in bed... sigh. so, goal #1 for this week: make sure that I am in bed by 10:15 every night, and closing my eyes by 10:30. I have been eating more and more "primal" recently, and I feel great. I love it, and i feel healthy, and am getting leaner (this weekend, i noticed nice little dimples on my stomach. not fat dimples, but definition dimples... wooT!). however, i have found (especially in this last week), that i am prone to (for lack of a better word) binge eating. thursday was ridiculous. it consisted of thinking about ice cream all day long, ...

and there's so much i want to say..." but maybe not the right words to express. funny how that works, hey? (ps, i love that song. maybe one of the best lyrics ever exist in it: "it feels like lightning running through my veins, every time i look at you..." today is thanksgiving. not for me. nor for many of the people around me. but for "all y'all" down there, i hope you had a fantastic day. Today was the first day since the year 2000 that I have not celebrated with you. so, it has indeed made me miss it a bit. a few things i thankful for: i am thankful for my friends. both ones who are close, and ones who are far. i am thankful for goals. they get me to wake up in the morning. i am thankful that i live in a country that i do not feel like i am going to wake up one day, and be bombed. and, for people who may live in countries like that, i hope that the world changes so that you do not ever have to feel that. and, for those of you who are scar...

so, half marathoning has come, and gone. I raced this morning, and, i am not going to lie. it was fantastic. tremendous. just challenging enough, but not wrecking. fresh. filled with good solid energy. great food at the end. a great way to realize the fall goal of "not hating running" was achieved. fun. (i would like to make note that i have never done a 70.3 triathlon. this shirt is a bit of a lie. i did the relay on this one. so, i got a shirt, cause we paid the entry fee ;) ) i think the text message that i sent to my friends this morning to have them send me good leg energy helped. :) long and strong. long and strong. we used to say that with rowing, and yet it is so applicable with running as well. keep those legs moving long and strong. as well, in rowing, during my last year, our coxswain (Laura) gave each of us in the V8+ a specific word that she would say to us. mine was "relentless." i have kept that little piece of paper stuck on my tack boa...

So, all of a sudden it has creeped up on me... (is creeped a word!?!?) that, on sunday, I am running a 1/2 marathon. it will be the second time that I have done a 1/2 in my life. the first one, was a mostly downhill run from the valley above the dead sea, to the lowest place on earth, for the Dead Sea Marathon in April 2007. Yeppers, the feet were burning by the end, and there were camels on the side of the road. yes, indeed, i travelled to Jordan (with one of my best friends, Zach), and ran a 1/2 marathon. It was amazing. this is at the carb loading party, and then at the pool post race :) I went for a (approx 10km) run today.  I think the wind was blowing about 10 million km an hour, and it felt impossible to run. but, not only that, but my legs felt like bricks (the first 3km, my feet couldn't stop clumping on the pavement), and  they are sore (from what?!).  so ,the run turned into a walk-run.  mentally, that helped.  but strange.  i don't quite understand how one day,...

so, i was in edmonton this past weekend.  and, as much as it was a fantastic weekend, it feels good to be home.  I got back into vancouver yesterday at about 4:45, and went directly to my friend Audrey's, where i then went out for an hour run, and then finished the night with a potluck dinner...  it was pouring rain.  i got soaking wet.  but, there was a strange feeling of being "home."  so, here comes the rain again.  and, i guess it is not going anywhere until at least march.  ;) hopefully though, on sunday for the 1/2 marathon, the sun will come out for at least a while.  some photos from the weekend.  briefly, i got to edmonton, drove directly to Calgary, slept over night, and then went caving the next day in Canmore.  not going to lie.  I am more of an "above ground" adventurer, but the girls (my niece Makayla, and her "foster sister" [for lack of a better word]) had a great time, experiencing things that totally expanded comfort levels.  Then, ev...

and, it made me want to throw up last night.... i entered two races in the span of two days.   a 1/2 marathon on the 16th. and, this one.   that is the one that makes me puke.   don't ask me what inspired it, but at least the entry fee will keep me committed to it.   i could barely sleep last night.  and, i couldn't quite determine if it was excitement, nervousness, or complete fear and questioning if i have gone nuts. ahhh! :) 

so, yesterday, i did this run in the dark. and, it was fantastic. the funniest bit about it was when i was in stanley park, approaching lost lagoon, and all of a sudden, i see some white stripes coming towards me. alas, it was not the somewhat well known band, but rather a multitude of skunks. and, im saying, not one or two. i think i spotted at least 6 of the critters. let's just say that my pace picked up a bit at that point. 'cause, i wouldn't have been able to go home on the bus. and, if i even made it home, i doubt Erika (my roommate) would have let me in the house. that is right. i would have had to sleep in the garage, or in the jeep that is not being used. i would have been homeless. the run was serene. the run contained vancouver night time lights of downtown, and a slit of a moon over the water. the run went by swans on lost lagoon. the run felt strong. the run was not mentally exhausting. the run went by lovers in the park, reminding me of how wonde...

first off.  not sure if i like the new way the blog title is set up with the photo... what do you think?  so, i got this off of a prodigal's musings . great quote from CS Lewis. “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.” i have thought that it was quite applicable to everyone's life.  and, it hit my life, today.  love that ...

so, this past sunday was fantastic. i love the fall. and, what a perfect thing to do, other than spend time with friends, and do fall activities like "Apple festivals"? these are some photos from the event, which i went to with my friend and co-worker, Joanna. She is 6 months preggers, and her baby is due at the beginning of Feb, right on her own birthday! Hot mama! yay! however, by the time i got there, the 10 million pounds of apples were all sold out, but i was able to do such things like: pose by nice fall scenes with water and trees, and  of course, apples! jumping into random john deere like tractors:  competing in apple peeling contests:  overall, joanna's was longer than mine, by about 1 cm or so... and eating things with apples in them.  like pies.  and hot apple ciders. and taking pictures of the leaves, and the water droplets. TERRIFIC!  (thank you joanna for the photos!)

So, this video is pretty neat.  I watched it on Simon Whitfield's blog.  i love reading other athlete's blogs.  cause, it is soooo inspirational.  it is neat to read about people doing the things that they love to do.  but, winning the ironman world championships?!!?  now that  is a great feat.  and, i love how he sounds so non-chalant about it.   for the last couple days, i have had a hard time getting out of bed, and to make myself have a productive day. all i want to do is lay under the covers all day long.   something is just wearing a little thin on me these days.  my motivation. inspiration. drive . is at quite a low right now.   i want to run this 1/2 marathon.  not for any reason, but to give myself a sense of accomplishment this fall.  running is so hard for me.  out of the three bits of a tri, it is the one i enjoy the least.  i just think that when you have to carry 174 lbs of weight by yourself, it is hard.  and, for some reason, i find it more boring than the othe...

it shocked me today, that it is Oct 15th.  what does that mean?  i will tell you what it means.  in two short months, it will pretty much be christmas.  and, in a blink of an eye after that, it will be new years.  and, so, while recently reading an old journal entry of mine, i realized that it is time to re-look at my new years resolutions from this past january, to have a check, to see if i have accomplished them.   so, it was on this post that i told you about my desires for the new year, and the amazing christmas break i had.  let us evaluate.  Get back to personal journalling again. to find the extraordinary in the mundane. not so bad.  not great, either though.  as of late, I have had more of a ambition to journal privately.  especially since i have had so many personal changes going on in my life.  so, this is not a fail.  but, not a total pass, either.   Get a better grip on my finances; pay off my bicycle, and my credit card. check.  done and done.  WOOT! Travel to the eastern ...

but, it was election day yesterday.  I got up bright and early to go to the polling station down the block, right when it opened, at 7am.  'x'd my little circle, and proceeded on my way.  then, waited.   and, since i am not super savvy on politics, and i do not choose to create conflict via a blog, i will stick to a few minor points that made me interested in an election that there was not anything to be excited about.  and, also, i would like to highlight the note that I am a 25 year old, attempting to live as greenly as possible, student, who is passionate about underpriviledged populations.  so, it is not all that hard to determine where my political spectrum lies, and how my vote is cast.   First, why the heck did stephen harper even call an election? i think it was early.  and, the fact that we still have a minority conservative government proves to me that not much has changed over the last 2.5 years.   having been away from Canada during the last 2 federal elections, I f...

i love love love thanksgiving.  and, it is tomorrow.  I celebrated last night, with friends of mine, both known and [previously] unknown, by a potluck thanksgiving dinner.  it was amazing, and so much fun.  good food, good laughs, good wine, good dessert, good people.   and, tomorrow, I will run the Turkey trot   Gotta love throwing in a 10km race on thanksgiving morning, just for the fun of it.  and, at least there will be a man dressed up in a turkey costume.  in fact, that might be the highlight of the day.  the 13 degree, rainy forecast will definitely not be the highlight.   but, nevertheless, I am excited :) 10k's are so much fun! so, race was great.  it was pretty funny, it reminded me of swimming in a triathlon, where aroud the corners, it get so tight, and on the straights, you try to find a line, or someone to stick behind in order not to get trampled down...  Try putting about 1700 people on a 20ft wide path, around winding corners, with small pilons in the way, and tell...

this is in West Virginia. the place that was created for autumn. Not my picture though. Someone once told me that God created seasons to remind us of life. and, to remind us that in order for new life to occur, death must happen. and, as awful as that sounds, it rang true to me today. I rode my bike through the roads of Vancouver, and noticed how much the season is changing. the air is cold. the trees are yellow and red and purple. it is raining more often. and, it is dark early. and, often, people get sad when the fall comes, because it means that the grey winter is on its way. but, i thought about the leaves, and how they have to die, in order for the new life to happen in the spring. those days when the trees turn pink with cherry blossoms, and then green. and, i gotta admit. i like the fall. i like how it is so crisp, and fresh. but, a different fresh than spring. i think that my life is finally feeling.... well. i am not 100% sure of how to explain it. maybe finally i am startin...

so, this past week, my mum has been in town. The last time she came to Vancouver, it was on a trip with Makayla, out for thanksgiving, 2 years ago. Needless to say, lots has changed for me in this town since then. The occasion for this trip, was that her youngest (living) sister was getting married, out in nanaimo. So, she stayed on Thursday, Friday, and Monday nights. Time was passed with swimming, home cooked meals, meals eaten out, sushi, and movies. It was a great time to catch up, seeing that I have not seen her for about a year. Here are a few photos that she took with her camera. My Mum, Uncle Don, Auntie Kathleen, Auntie Maureen. i am always shocked at how similiar they all look to eachother. My Mum, Uncle Don, and Myself, at "The flying Beaver" for Lunch. i would like to mention, that Don has done 7 triathlons (sprint distance) this year.  to me, that is just shocking.  he also told me how he has a friend who just completed his 100th Ironman. This has been sin...

So, tomorrow night, there are 3 things that are occuring, simultaneously, that will have my attention drawn towards... 1) Canadian Party Leader debate 9pm, EST 2) Vice presidential debate, 8pm CDT 3) Grey's anatomy, episode2.  9pm PST. #1 is entertaining because it deals with my future.  #2 is entertaining because it will be about foreign policy, and that might be laughable.  i am curious about how Palin will perform.  #3 is entertaining, because it is entertaining.  and, patrick dempsey is a hot man. ;) today's outward bound quote of the day.  Not 100% sure that i agree with the first part, because we need to learn to believe in ourselves outside of other people's valuing us, but i still kinda like it.  especially the second bit... "We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us is something valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight o...

so, when i read stuff like this, about myself, it gives me the warm fuzzies. it is nice to know that people feel that I am solid enough of an individual that can write compliments like this about me (click on image to enlarge).