dreaming over the ocean

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. Today, the post is written by Annie, a friend of mine here in Montreal, who loves to help other people! She hails from the south shore, and is in the middle of exploring different areas where she is able to engage her interests in helping people, here in the city. This is her response to my query! What helps me thrive? What helps me wanting to keep growing? Two main things: Faith and people. Faith is the basis for my growth. Faith that I am on earth to learn, to improve, to grow. Faith that every pain I feel is there for a reason, that every failure is a chance for a new opportunity, that every time I experience something new I learn new lessons, that every decision I make will be what’s best for me. Faith that I will always get what I need to keep learning and growing....

So, with my new membership to the YMCA, I have discovered that they offer Wednesday evening african dance classes. Now, if you know me, you know that I am NOT a dancer. I am 6ft tall. and, i am certainly not light on my feet. But, if there is one kind of dance that i like to do... it is african dance. My close friend Kevin Shon introduced me to it, at West Virginia. I only did it for one semester there, but, I. loved. it. But, I will tell you it is some fricken hard work. You sweat so good. Some photos from that semester. I then did both african drum and dance while in vancouver, off and on for the 3 years that I was there. And, it is amazing~ i have found, that it is only in small african dance classes, that i have come close to meeting people who understand what makes a heart beat with the sounds of africa. The "talking drum." I took my lessons as Masabo, which is now Ammara , and taught drums by Fana Soro (the Ivorian in the following video). i am happy, to be a...

1) getting wet. i am getting increasingly annoyed with being caught in spontaneous downpours while on my bike. I have had 2 in as many weeks. Luckily, this one was on the way home, and I could get dry, last time, I was not so lucky, and had to go to class soaking wet. this is me, post bixi ride. 2) babies. in the last month, 3 of my close friends have had babies. apparently, people were getting busy at the beginning of the winter last year. so, let me introduce them!!! Coming into the world on August 19th, to Mike and Cara Roemmich, was Sebastian Patrick at 8 pounds, 19 inches Coming into the world on August 21st, to Christina and Dave Swartz, was Baby Luke Jonathan at 6lbs, 15 oz and 20 Inches long. Finally, we welcome the newest arrival, on September 25th (about 10 days late..), to Ryan and Sydney Lemphers, Elyse Finch came in at 8.9lbs and 21 inches. 3) post-season thoughts so, i have started going to the Y, for my first major movement sessions since the
race last sunday~ get...

so, on my bike ride home today at lunch (the great shocker for today was that my afternoon class was cancelled! wooo!!! time to catch up, *and* to watch the season premiere of Grey's anatomy! HA, i know. pathetic addiction.), i got thinking a bit. I know, these days, it is all the rage to have a day a week where you have a themed post. well, ok. so, maybe there is only one person I know who is doing this... but, really, it is a great idea. I was also thinking today, about how in nursing, we talk a lot about walking alongside with patients and families as they cope with life changes. As they cope both in health, and in illness. but, it got me thinking... What if we went for more than coping? More than "just getting by." What if we went for walking beside people as they learn to thrive in their environment. as they learn to thrive in life? And, i know that there is a popular diet (which i quite like the majority of) out there with this same name... but, if you...

so, in the past few days, I have had more hits on this blog, than i *ever* have had before. we are talking 70 on monday, up from my average of about 20. yipes! and, i know that it is purely due to the fact that on facebook, my race report was linked to on the train-this page. that Kelly linked me on one of her blog posts. THanks all, for the kind comments on my race. I am still on a high from the day. but in the days later, you are able to re-assess. You can look at the things you did well, and the things that you need to work on. The things that were amazing, and the things that hurt. Let's have a look at the stats, of the top 10. swim div place: 12. bike div place: 10. run division place... errr... 20th. you will notice that the next slowest girl in the top 10 is a full 4 minutes faster than me, and 7 div places. My run has drastically improved. in fact, i am running off the bike, almost as fast as I am running in a stand alone 1/2. as always, there has got to be a...

so, let's just start with a comment that I think this sport is hilarious . the things we do (and, read on, you will get some in this report) are ridiculous. Not only because we think that waking up at 4:30 am to go and get your exercise on for 5+ hours straight is fun, but we do things that in normal society would be considered completely inappropriate and people would wonder if you need a psych consult. i find it hilarious the pre-race rituals we have. the need to wear a "i've done an ironman" shirt to race check-in, rather than normal street clothes. the carting around of a gallon water bottle day before a race. the food we eat, and the abnormal sleep schedules we keep. hilarious. pre-race prep was pretty normal. I got to syracuse at about 6pm on friday, and meet Kelly Covert , her husband (also kelly covert!) and boys Noah and Ryan. It was a fantastic place to stay, and we indeed, talked! it was great :) after a solid sleep on friday night, I was able t...

cross your fingers, and send fast vibes! because this girl is at the races! After skipping my afternoon class, a rapid toss of everything into a rental car (yay! a matrix. you may remember, that my first real car was a matrix. i sold maggie almost 3 years ago ), a pick up of a craigslist ride-sharer, a beautiful drive down to NY state... i have arrived in syracuse!!! tomorrow, race prep is happening: the carb loading will occur. the team schmoozing will be fun. the rest and relaxation will be nice. bike will be rechecked. packet will be picked up. on sunday morning, i will be starting at 7:48, wearing a pink cap, with a bib #1054. Use ironmanlive.com to do some athlete tracking!

So, getting pretty excited for this weekend. I had a super duper swim today. One where I just counted my laps, for 30 mins straight in a 30 minute steady swim. 1700m later, i was pretty happy (these are some photos... taken from a video... during the summer, when swimming in a glorious outdoor pool in edmonton) I am a little cautious about approaching my swim this weekend. I know that during my last race, I was not happy. I am a fairly quick swimmer, but, sometimes I over estimate myself (i think). I need to make sure that this swim is steady. That I keep my head in the game, and not worry about where other people are... just swim. And, that is what I have appreciated about my last 4 swims. They have all been 30 minutes continuous. And, that is good for my head space... 30 minutes continuous forces me to get into a head space where i am just finding consistancy: with my stroke, with my thoughts, with me. And, as I am getting ready for the race, the inspirational videos come...

so, today, during my swim, i thought about a few things. syracuse will be the first tri that I have ever gone to, where I don't have a spectathlete . no one to make sure my stuff gets to the finish line. No one to give me a sweater when I am cold at the finish. it seems a little strange to be traveling to a race, with no one at my side. At least, I get to meet my teammates who are there! but, mostly, i just wanted to tell you that it is not your fault ... if, this week, i act a little strange. ... if i don't respond to non-urgent emails. ... if i don't care for much conversation outside of class time, or meeting time, or whatever time. ... if i am insistent on going to sleep at 10. ... if i don't want to answer questions about "how I am feeling" or "What i am thinking." ... if i ask you to be dropped off here or there, because i am choosing not to commute on my bike this week. ... if i spend a good amount of my free time, inside my room with my...

Not much to say today. except... HURRAY for taper week! one week to go before the big race :) got to watch the Grand Prix Cycliste Protour today, riding around our city. Not great quality photos, (mmm, yep cell phone photos aren't great..) but amazing to know that some of the top riders in the world were flying by me. "Home town hero" Ryder Hesjedal was 3rd.

so i just want to write a little follow up, not long, about this admission to the global health stream. I know, I know, that I am happy with the re-consideration of my application, and that I was re-admitted. But, I also know, that this is not all about me. Sure, I followed up on why i was originally rejected. Yes, I talked to them about feedback, and I wrote an email exploring different options, and asking questions. I followed up on something i believe in. But, this morning, I was thinking during my run at 4:45 am. Thanks to an email from my dad, that prompted me along this line of thought... i also know, that in life, we are not too often offered a second chance. sure... there were things that i did. But, most times, we can do things, and we still get the same result. it is about knowing what to do, with the things we are given. To accept, with grace and understanding, that sometimes things work out the way we want, and sometimes they don't. My placement, can be anywh...

so, when i was a rower, new running shoe day was an occurrence that happened about once every 1.5 years. and it cost me about 90$. 120$ tops. Just shows how much running you do when you are an athlete that sits on their butt, moving backwards (such a great way to teach people how to succeed, right!?!?). i mean, you think you run. but, running 1x every week at a strength and conditioning session... well. let's just say its not all that much. don't get me wrong. I too, thought that i ran a good amount. but... comparatively? when all I did was 10km or 1/2 marathon runn ing, they would last me 6 months. now, new running shoe day comes minimum every 4-5 months. and, 5 months is really dragging it on. the only time a shoe will last me 6 months is during the winter. maybe. now, i have a love-hate relationship with new running shoe day. the love part of this relationship is how after this day, i feel like i am running on clouds. like my legs can go for another 700km wit...

so, today is labour day. ahhhh, labour day. For a student, it normally means that business is about to get started. And, i am a lucky girl today, for I have had an amazing day. the last couple weeks have been incredibly filled with stuff, but also incredibly relaxing. it has kinda gotten the fall rolling in a slow, controlled manner, that makes me feel ready for the craziness that is going to happen. today, I woke up at 5am to get down to the olympic bassin for rowing practice. As you may, or may not know, I am a coach for "the first francophone rowing team in north america." Funny, cause I am an anglophone. but, I love it. The rowers at Universite de Montreal are fun, and are happy to be there. And I am happy to coach. Here is a photo of some of the girls, holding up their coach, from last fall. went from there, to toi, moi et cafe for a little breakfast with a friend of mine who was in my nursing program. breakfast is, by far, my favourite meal of the day. and...