dreaming over the ocean

there is something about having people you love, meet people that you love. Christmas was amazing, and relaxing, and so lovely. Santa brought me running stuff, and lots of chocolate, and a hand died scarf from Laos. Christmas has brought me laughs and good people and good food. it has brought me a time that i am very happy to be having. and, yesterday, the holiday brought me back to Whistler-Blackcomb to use up my last day on my "Edge card." I am quite sad that I am not able to be riding more out here, but alas, Quebec calls. And, i can't ride Whistler, if I live in QC. but, I *can* use my card for a discount at tremblant, which is nice. Today was so different than my two days of riding prior to christmas. There has been so much snow in the last few days (200+ cm), and it is those days between christmas and new years where everyone and their grandma decide to come up and ski. The lines going up the gondola were insanity. On whistler it was quite awful, and if it...

And yesterday I didn't write thrive thursday, but, I have been thinking about it. So, Here it goes. But, first, hit the play button on the video to have a christmas song playing while you read! This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on Christmas. Christmas to me has been a time of year which is generally not very consistent. the only consistency is that I know that I am able to spend time with people that I love. and, to me, that is one of the most important things about this time of year. spending it with people you love. so, let me reflect back on the christmases past: 2010: Victoria with the Birch Family. 2009: Missisauga with the Patterson Family 2008: Road Trip with Anya to Georgia and Florida. 2007: Whistler with Christina, Zach, and Ben 2006: Down to Tacoma with my Dad....

So, i understand that i am a bit of a tom-boy. I always have been, and I'm okay with that. But, i am becoming more and more in love with wearing dresses... especially when riding bikes, or running! doing a sport in a dress/skirt makes me feel incredibly feminine and it's fun :) There are so many dresses out there that suit my personality, and such. but, dress shopping has always been difficult for me. I am not little, I am athletic, and often, I don't have a super great idea of if it actually looks good or not. i have a general idea, but I always appreciate a 2nd opinion. However, today, i decided to take a litt le stroll up Main Street where there is a lot of great little shops that carry mostly local and mostly sustainable clothing. And, you KNOW how much local and sustainable makes me happy. which reminds me... this past weekend snowboarding, i have lost one of my most FAVOURITE articles of clothing (though, I should really call the youth hostel). In 2007, I ...

so, i wish i had a few photos to post from the last two days, because it was fab. as soon as I get my friend to send them my way, you will see the delight. one of the great things about vancouver is the proximity to the mountains. And really, to me, that is one of the best things about the city... it is just so dang easy to take off to the mountains, for a snowshoe, a snowboard, or just a little hike hike. and, as you know from the large sporting event that recently took place in the city, last feburary, the other close attraction is Whistler-Blackcomb. You may remember that a few years ago, I spent christmas up there with some of the people I love the most in this world. it may actually might have been the best christmas I have ever had. Now, I have not been able to spend much time snowboarding at whistler in my life, just because it is expensive. but, I LOVE snowboarding. so, friday morning, I hopped on the greyhound and got myself up to the mountain. It was a bright clear, ...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on how feeling like you are home can make you thrive. i know, i know. it has been a while. I have been EXCEPTIONALLY busy, as you have probably gathered from my lack of posting. I left Montreal last friday, still with two papers to hand in (for monday). It was kinda nice to be leaving, but sucked knowing that I had to hermit myself until I would be done my papers. I spent saturday-monday at coffee shops full time. from open to close, with a little break for a dinner with friend on saturday, church on sunday. and sleep. of course sleep. I wanted to get off to the mountains on tuesday, but, alas. I was not yet done. At 4 pm on tuesday afternoon, I handed in my last paper for the semester. It was about a "caring theory." it may p...

so, i have one more exam tomorrow (STATS... ugh! but, i only have to get 12/100 to pass the course. however, i would like to do better than just pass...) and two more papers due on monday (group research proposal and 15 page "analytical note" for nursing seminar class). I am off to Vancouver on Friday afternoon, which i am so anxious for. I haven't been there for a good period of time since fall 2009, and i miss being there. I miss running on the sea wall. I miss my friends. i miss the mountains and the ocean. i miss my home church in skid row. I miss my favourite restaurants and coffee shops. i miss the green, and the cherry blossoms in the spring. but, i will get 10 days, and I am very happy about that. this week, the bible verse that has been circulating my head is "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us." i wonder if that was written for students in exam time. HA! cause it cert...

So, I ran my icey, and windy 5km this morning. It was not fast. and, my intestines did not like me eating a bowl of oats and greek yougurt (i didn't have any bagels, which is my regular pre-race breakfast) less than 2 hrs in advance. (this is the second time that eating oats has made me want to chuck while on a run... mental note. no oats pre-run). Anyway, after riding up to the race with my friend Ben (and, i mean UP! the "camillien houde" road up the mountain is rough), we were definitely warmed up. So, we shuffled ourselves away, in the opposite direction from last year. so, the uphill part of the race (About 3km) was more broken up this year. not sure if i prefer it or not. It was quite icey, since we have not had any real snow yet this year, but plenty of cold rain. stomach was in knots about 3km in. but, stuck at it, and at the turn around, realized i was in #1, but with #2 girl (a former rower of mine) right on my heels. She is 130lbs, so up the final h...

so, it has been a very stressy and long week. i have been a study hermit. I have had at least two days where I got back to my house at 2:30 am. and, that always sucks when it was not due to being out with friends. but, classes are done, and at this time next week, i will be in lovely vancouver. between now and then, i have 3 exams. after those 3 exams, i have 2 papers to finish. so, still lots of work to do, but things are getting picked away at. tomorrow, i will race a 5km santa shuffle. It is not feeling very christmasy around here. TOday i commuted on my bike, in a skirt. I love riding bikes in dresses, but who would ever think i would be able to do that on the 3rd of december!??! something is not quite right with that. I have never tapered for a 5km before. but, unintentionally, i have this week. just too much work, that pretty much, i have not exercised for 3.5 days straight. at 1:30 am yesterday, i was also forced to eat vending machine food. i hate what the end of semest...

total time training: swim: 1hr 45min, 4500m Bike: 4hrs on trainer Run: 1hr 45 min (missed 1hr run today, doing it tomorrow morning!) cross training and strength: 2hrs total: 8hrs 30 compared to... total time doing school work: 168 (total hours in week/hrs spent being anti-social) - 8.5 (hours training) - 49 hrs (approx 7hrs/night sleeping) - 10hrs (commuting) - 15hrs (procrastinating) - 7hrs (morning stuff, evening stuff) -7hrs (other stuff) approximently 71.5hrs. which, to me, is way too much. especially when 12 of those hours were pretty much in one room, doing one group project. bah. on tap for this week: lighter training week, due to 3 assignments, 3 final exams and 2 class presentations which all happen in the next 2 weeks. 5km santa shuffle on sunday morning. more weight to lose (i am down at least 4lbs since starting this whole "healthy eating challenge" 3 weeks ago)

so, after having a stupid training ride this morning, due to the fact that I can't sit on my cerveloon the trainer for longer than 30 minutes without my saddle causing my crotch to have excessive pain, i have now spent 12 hours in the library, doing consistant work on a group research proposal project. this saturday sucks. i wish i could go play in the snow.

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on how Thanks can make you thrive. Even though, today in canada is a day like any other, I have a lot of american friends. And so, this is a shout out to them, who are taking a day to pause, and to remember to think about the things that they are thankful for. If there is one thing that Americans do better than Canadians, it is certainly thanksgiving. Ours passes pretty quickly, early in the fall. Many (not all) of us have a quick meal with family, are thankful for the 3 da y weekend, and move on. From my experience, that it not the same in the States. Food is incredible (especially in the south, where I have spent at least 3 American Thanksgvings), you have the whole friday thing, and travel across the states is the busiest for the entire ye...

Today, I am skipping morning class to sit and have a relaxed morning. I might even skip afternoon class. Cause sometimes, at least once a semester, you need to do so. Things on the schedule this morning. Morning watch of the New Dexter Episode. Morning coffee by the computer. No riding in the nasty rain until this afternoon (you're right Annie... What did happen to HTFU? ! (caution, that link is a little "unsafe for children" ... HTFU is scheduled for later!) Now I am a route to get a good lot of homework done. breakfast today: 2 eggs. Strawberry Greek Yogurt. Banana. Coffee with vanilla almond milk. but first, a great video, seen on SW's BLog. So... why do I blog?!! first off... do you like the new blog layout?!?! it took me a bit to figure out the html script, but, i like the way it is looking now, just after a few wee changes! i almost look important with a professional website! anyway, i think I started my "xanga" blog spring of 2004 (if you...

as is the common theme recently, this is going to be short and sweet. I have to explain some stats in a presentation during my first class, so, I need to do some last minute reviewing! Last night, a friend of mine asked me why i blog. It was a good question, and good conversation. so, I throw it back to you (my creepy internet friends)... why do you blog? I will post my answers and thoughts tomorrow. for now, just a few points. 1) I love making food with friends . Last night, my friend Ben and I ( same ben that I rode with to ottawa last spring, and danced in spandex to raise money for the L&L society ) made some delicious food! and, he was even good to me with keeping in my tight eating. we made: delicious pumpkin chili. a salad with apples and peanuts and carrots and onions. some roasted cauliflower. and, then his roommates offered a piece of apple pie. i took one, but it was small! 2) this week in numbers. swim: 2hrs, 4500m bike: 2.5hrs run: 1hr 45min. strength + cro...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I am writing on the joy that comes with Live Music Performances! Last week, I had the chance to go to see Michael Franci and Spearhead play at the metropolis here in montreal. I went with three girls from nursing (who are not direct entry students... Look ma, I am making new friends!), who branched out on a limb, because they had never heard of him. I have been a “late arriver” on the Michael Franci scene amongst my friends, but here I am. And, I like it. We danced, we laughed, we jumped, and we sang along. He is a great performer, who seems genuinely thankful for the progress that he has made in musical career, and for his fans. It interacts amazingly, and he has great rapport with the people watching. And, it got me thinking. I love music. Even m...

So, two things I have been gearing up for this week. 1) my healthy eating challenge with boy i like (BIL? HA!). 2) winter commuting on my bike. therefore, I will comment on them both. and, i write first to say. don't. judge. (yes, leanna, I am looking at you ;) ) I may be a little strange. I may be a little obsessive. I may be a little off the rocker. But, I am what I am. And, there are always reasons for what I do. so, don't. judge. That is my soap box for the day. healthy eating challenge. as we all can agree on, the things we put into our bodies are what make us able to function day to day. we love food. Sometimes I talk a lot about it, other times i don't. One thing, though, for me, which is certain, is I react to the food I eat. Unfortunently, much like many other girls, if i eat to much crap, I feel guilty about it. And, when i feel like crap, sometimes I default to eating crap. for me, it is *Easy* to eat like crap. but, on the other hand: i LOVE healt...

Got through it. Almost with all my stuff done on time. let's put it like this, because I haven't done something like this for a while. Let's do a low and high list. i always do lows first, so i can end with a positive note! lows. coaching dramas with rowing. too much work. having someone die while on a shift at the ICU (not my patient. but, a first none-the-less.) leaving victoria. not getting all my workouts in. slicing open a finger on a beer bottle that broke in transit in my bag on the way back from victoria. a nasty sinus infection. missing the boy i like. crying at the rowing gala due to pure overwhelmedness of the season. first indoor training ride. not getting out to go to church. having a nurse give me test results and subsequently say "Oh, i have no idea what that means. there is just a circle around it. i am just supposed to tell you to make sure you get a followup appointment in december." highs. crying at the rowing gala due to how proud i am of ...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I am writing about the topic of not procrastinating. Yup, this week, I have Loads of work to do. and, as a student, I feel like I am thriving, when I get it done on time, and when I get it done well. So, I am currently going to sign off, and go do that work which is starin g at me in the face. So that come next week, I can feel like i am thriving :)

so, made it back from Victoria, walking into my house at about 9 pm. Then proceeded to have a 2.5 hr phone conversation. Definently really didn't get much work done last night, but did appreciate the conversation with that boy I like, because i know that it might be tight to have many more this week... Got some (but not as much) done this past weekend while away. but, this is my week. and my list of things to do. Not including group meeting for my research methods class. But, oh la la. lots to do. It is weeks like this that make me a little crazy, because there is never really any down time. Sure, my fun is scheduled in this week. But mostly it is work. and that thing called training, which is now being integrated (not so well last week, when I was away) into my day to day plan (and... HEALTHY LIVING!) and, i tend to think that it is going to be very similar to this right up to the end of school. Which... is also really soon. I just came back from the west coast, but, ...

currently in Victoria, BC, for the Canadian University rowing championships, Coaching two lightweight men athletes from University of Montreal. The west coast brings joy and refreshment to my soul, and I am so happy to be here. Very quick post. My friend sam sent me this video, saying: "Super cool video. All bike loves and all Earth Lovers will enjoy." I happen to agree. Enjoy.

AHHHH, it is a day late. yesterday had a morning run, and clinical, and then a flight to victoria. And, i thus, forgot to post thrive thursday! sorry about that... This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, the contributor is Sean Birch. Someone I like quite a bit. He may have had a mention on this blog once or twice before. His Photo Website can be found here: Flickr ! What helps me thrive in my environment? Especially when right now, my environment is dark and cold for more than half of the day? Taking photos after dark. I wouldn't have thought about this a few weeks or months ago, but winter in Canada (and Edmonton more than some other places) means getting used to living in the dark. This is a different country in the dark than it is in the light, and there's no better way to see it than thro...

very quick post!! if anyone sees a pair of red Vancouver 2010 Mittens lying around, somewhere between the YMCA on Parc Ave , and St Denis @ beaubien, they are mine. please return. I love them. and, i lost them today. So, tomorrow I will head west for the Canadian University Rowing Championships. Should be pretty good. I am not rowing, I am coaching two of the guys who will rowing lightweight singles. But, beyond that... It has been 10 years since I have rowed at Elk Lake, in Victoria. (um. wow?) I feel, like in a sense, it will be kinda like a home coming. great venue. great location. great sport. it should be a great weekend. Esp. if Sylvain and Ariel do well!!! so, row hard boys. on another note. Coach Mary , and Turbo Curbeau are at IM florida this weekend. Let's Go Train-this! swim bike run like it is your business. (oh wait. it is.) yesterday, I did something (I am not telling you what, because it is really embarrassing/shameful) that I was not proud of, ...

yes, it's true. Once upon a time, I rowed. For essentially 7-8 years. That is a big chunk of my 27 year life. ANd, now, I have spent close to two years coaching. I love. Love. LOVE. rowing. When i was a wee one, I swam. For a lot of years. and, I loved it. But, it wasn't that sport that I really chose. I just did it. I liked it. And, i did fairly well at it. not like rowing. I quit swimming to go to a school that would give me a chance to row, because people told me "you have the perfect rower's body." I have story an experience from rowing from everything. from having teammates tell me that I am not pulling hard, to getting silver at San Diego Crew Classic, and the Head of the Charles. Everything from swearing at my coxie while getting off an erg, to learning how to master that wreatced machine. From barely making petite finals ("I am not a petite girl! I shouldn't be rowing in petite finals") and gotten silver at the canadian hig...

Today is day one of training for 2011. I don't have solid goals set up yet. I know it will be something very similar to this past year. I am waiting to find out about some items with school, and with some things that I have applied for, that will help dictate my schedule. one thing is for sure though. about 2 weeks ago, I was not sure if i was going to be ready to start training again. I have enjoyed the off season. But, something has gone wrong. And, I will tell you what it was. My health (as you know) really has plummeted in the past 2 weeks, or so. to the point that I thought I had hypothyroidism, or anemia, or something. and, that, to me, was surprizing. I have been staying active (until, at least up to 10 days ago, when my body just screamed at me one day during yoga by being weak, and shaky, and stupidly sweaty), but just not in the same way. Now, I know that exercise and diet make all the difference in the world for health. To stay healthy, you have to exercise...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on the joy of a commute Today, it is simple. I wasn't sure what to write. i certainly have not felt like I have been thriving as of late. but, on my way back from work at the hospital today, I realized for the first time in quite a while, something that I have not talked about for a long time. Mostly because, to me, it is so simple. it is something that I love. Something that sustains me. Something that makes me thrive. I remember what it felt like to get back on my bike, way back in 2007, after I had spent the summer recovering from a crash that broke both my arms. It was my new baby blue brodie, I was scared, but, it felt like freedom. biking around the city, too and from work, too and from school, felt like freedom. Commuting by bike al...

So, once again, I am sitting in a waiting room, to see a health professional. This is getting a little ridiculous, I say. I am in off season. I am not meant to be feeling so crappy, for so long. I am not stressing my body on a daily basis, and I am sleeping lots. Lots and lots. i do not want them to tell me that all my indistinct signs and symptoms add up to nothing. Because that just means I am a hypochondriac. UGH! Thanks, everyone, for the nice words, and people checking in, and for caring. caring is really appreciated. Sean was here this past weekend. And, it was delightful. he arrived on saturday morning, and i surprised him out at the airport. After a slightly terrifying drive into the city (can I say... never been to this city?! "Look at that building! it's made of brick!" "No Sean, LOOK AT THE ROAD! AHH! red light!" ), we met a few friends for a delicious morning breakfast at Faberge, then took off for the eastern townships. We made stops...

...you have a bad day. I know that my post from wednesday was apparently upsetting to some people. I had a huge # of hits on my site, people phoning me out of the blue (like my mother!), and sending me emails saying super nice things like "hang in there" and "you will get through this." and "why didn't you tell me you were in the ER?" and, that is somewhat the reason why I hesitate in writing things like that. Not because i don't appreciate what people have to say, or that I dislike the encouraging words. in fact, they are amazing. you, my friends, are amazing. but, i just don't like it when people over react. people have bad days. they have bad weeks, bad months, and bad years. and, sometimes, a vent just needs to happen. It doesn't mean that something drastic is going to happen, or that the person thinks that the world is going to collapse, or that they are not going to make it through. it just means they need a vent. and, as l...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, the topic is, once again, words.... but, with a different spin. The contributor today is Megan O., who is a life-long friend of mine, from West Virginia University, who lives (and writes) in DC. Her (hilarious) blog can be found here: http://morsini.blogspot.com/ She states that she was at work, when she sent this email. Thus, the photo is a little out of focus. When Amo asked me to do this, I thought, “Yes! Writing! That is a thing that I can do! I am in school for that!” But as I thought about it I realized….this is a really difficult question. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve gone through a few things that I thought make me thrive, but nothing really clicked. Sure, for the moment that I was experiencing a particular thing it made me feel alive. But o...