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...