dreaming over the ocean

 I was on Facebook this morning (yeah yeah, i'm a millenial), and one of the best things about Facebook is the "memories" tab.  I clicked it this morning, and it had a link to this blog I used to write.   It came up with an excellent post about all the things we work hard at in our day to day life. Isn't it true.  We all just wake up, every day, wanting to do our best and work hard at things. The last time I wrote, i was done my first maternity leave.  Turns out that I am way past that point in my life, and even had another mat leave. I still give my day to days a solid effort.  I was reminiscing last night about 2014, and how I thought I was busy then.  Still a fairly new nurse, a new wife, training for triathlon like crazy.  But I had no idea.  No idea how busy life can be.  Maybe I will write here a little more, because I think that self reflection is good. Journalling is good.  I certainly don't have the patience to physic...

Today, my daughter is 11 months old!  And, there is less than 60 days until 2020.  Thats nutsbar (i recognize that is probably not a word, but that's cool).  Fall is my fave part of the year, and this week is stunning. It feels like in a blink of an eye, I will be going back to work.  And no, I don't have childcare arranged.  However, I am hopeful. And yes, I am sticking with my old job, even though there is lots of other opportunities out there.  I thin there is something to be said about returning to familiarity.  I will start there, and move forward. Today, I woke up feeling a little guilty... for lack of a better word.  Haines and I had a great trip last week to Edmonton, where I was helping my mum with quite a bit of stuff around her house.  I also was able to spend time with quite a few people, mostly over shared meals.  So, it was good stuff.  It was really nice to have my mum spend an extended period with Haines ...

Oh boy!  I cannot believe how quickly this spring had passed by.  Seriously, it is summer already, and Ironman Whistler is just around the corner.   These last couple months, particularly April, have been super hectic.  At the end of March, I had a couple weeks of feeling like I was never feeling healthy.  So much so, that around Easter, I was so sick that I was (well... Still am) convinced that I had mono.  I've never had it before in my life, and my symptoms were right on.  It wasn't strep, which was my other likely.   At that same time, we had a wedding on Vancouver Island, so my mum came to visit.  On her first day here, she slipped and broke her arm.  She stayed for 3ish weeks.   Around that time, sean and I travelled to California (it was awesome!), and I had one of my slowest 1/2 Iron distance races ever.  It hurt SO bad.  I learnt a very basic message:  you can't race fast and efficiently if you don't t...

September, for the rest of my life, will always bring joy and sorrow.  At the most joy, it is my wedding anniversary  (wowza!  we were just saying that with the approach of two years, we are no longer "newly weds.  Where did the time fly!?) In addition, it brings melancholy, and grief, as I remember the life of my sister Shaunnie Rebecca, who passed away on the 23rd of Sept, 2012. As you may know, Rebecca passed away at the Alberta Hospital, while under care for her schizo-affective disorder.  She passed away in the early morning, after not fully awakening for breakfast.  It was found that she had a toxic level of an anti-psychotic medication, Clozapine, in her blood serum.  From there, it is unknown as to what caused her death.   Our family called for a public inquiry by the province of Alberta.  Public Inquiries are not to find fault, but rather to make recommendations so that things like this don't happen again.  Public i...

Its quite amazing... No matter how often you travel, you still are at risk for "rookie mistakes."  In this trip's case, I think it means one of two things:  a) it has been far to long since I have done international travel, or b) I have been so busy at home, that I haven't been paying attention to details.  This trip has so far had three mistakes: 1) when initially booking my trip, I was still debating if I would bring my niece with me.  Eventually i decided 'yes,' but I watched the flight prices go up and up at up.  At the end of the day, I had to cancel and rebook.  2) after that rebooking, I re looked at my rental van situation.  I discovered the company only had poor reviews on travel sites, and also discovered that with the new flight times, I wouldn't be able to drop the van at the depot, as it would be open to close to my return flight time, they are closed the day prior to my departure (it's a public holiday), and they don't allow after hou...

All of a sudden, I am racing a 1/2 ironman on saturday.  Not going to lie, it has kinda crept up on me, and as always, i have NO IDEA how I am going to do. I've already had my little freak out to Sean, where I complain that I haven't trained enough, and how it is going to be hot, and at elevation, and how there are more than 130 women in my age group.  that new, fast, age group   YOu know the one... those women who have been doing the sport long enough to be experienced, but not so long that their body is rebelling? WElcome to age group 30-34.  Welcome to St George, Utah. It's going to be hot . In more ways than one! meanwhile, I am doing things like this, to get me race ready... i went to physio today, and he did acupuncture.  If you remember, in 2007, I had a bike crash that caused me to break both my arms.  It left me with one joint that was "good."  I.e.  never been fractured. But, since my arms are pretty much ...

Well!  it finally seems like life, with all of its ups and downs is going to settle down a bit.  The last couple months have really been on "full go."  I have really realised though, how you think that like might be "slower..."  and it never really gets that way.  Sometimes, we have to make a concerted effort to do that.  but, these past couple months/weeks have NOT been slow, and that. is. okay.  However, I am looking forward to being able to say that I have a realm of routine again. sometimes I feel like having a routine can also be translated to  "boring."  I know that there might be some of my friends out there that ask what is the next big adventure that is planned for me... what am i training for, where am I travelling too?   well, lets just say... marriage and the adventure of growing roots somewhere.  That is the adventure I am on for the next little while.   and, it is official:  here is the pap...

It has obviously been quite quiet in the blog-o-sphere around here recently.  And, I'm ok with that.  But, I do love blogging.  I just think that the blog has become a little different for me in the past 6 months.  I think that in school, my blog tends to be a time that I can get away from the stress, vent a bit, reflect a bit, and keep people updated.  Now that i am not in school, the stress of academia has decreased, and I find that blogging about things like... my triathlon training... can be a bit bland.  so, let's talk about the major amazing lovely love fest that happened a few weeks ago. getting married is awesome. what a week of crazy emotions.   I felt the saddest that I have maybe ever experienced, with the loss of my sister.  I'm still very sad about that, and I know that I will never stop missing her.  here are some photos of her and i together, then some shots of her a few years ago, while working at Pioneer camps. ...

My dear friends and family, As you know Tom and I have been looking forward to being parents of the bride for our youngest daughter, Amelia, 29, as she weds her chosen Sean this coming Friday night in Vancouver. With this joyous news, we also must share some very sad news with the sudden passing of our oldest daughter, Shaunnie Rebecca, 31, on Sunday morning in her sleep. Amelia's note below says it very well. Only 25 months apart, Amelia and Rebecca were as younger siblings, each others constant companions, sometimes best buds and other times not. Both pursued sports ( one year between bingos and driving for soccer, swimming and downhill ski racing we were very busy!!) and university. Rebecca was very talented in fashion design, in Human Ecology, & on her own, putting on a  modelling show several years ago at the Edmonton Armoury and when about 8  made Amelia lie down on brown paper to trace an outline for sewing a princess dress. Pioneer Ranch Camps has also played an...

  I am about to do a shameless plug, for a GREAT cause.  Two years ago, I joined my uncle (and two cousins) on a day during his ride from Victoria to Thunder Bay to raise money for YMCA Strongkids Campaign.  here we are eating doughnut's at Tim Hortons.   Here we are, working the doughnuts off. My uncle don is our family's athletic inspiration.  He did Ironman Canada in the 80's, and has been racing triathlon ever since.  He generally enters, sometimes doesn't run (as his knees are a bit worn out now...), and had fun the whole way.  He goes to the YMCA at least 2x a day, and Tim Hortons at least once.  He is a lawyer in Mississauga, ON.  His 3 kids have done triathlons, I do triathlon, my neice used to go out and visit him every summer, and he made her do triathlons, and he has inspired my cousin Rob (the younger fellow in these photos) to do Ironman Canada this year. And he believes in the fight against childhood obesity. ...

It's been a while since posting~  as I would say, because there is nothing going on.  But, truely, there have been great things happening.  Shortly after arriving back in Canada, from New Orleans,  I went right out to Tofino , for a short 3-day holiday with the Birch's.  The Birch Parent's were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, so everyone came together for a beautiful weekend! Staying at Middle Beach Lodge , we had plenty of time to sit and relax, walk on beaches, and eat nice west coast food!  I've been to Tofino once before , with my beautiful niece.  This was definitely a different trip, but, it is really nice to just be able to get out and relax.  I do think, however, that the next time that I am out there, I want to engage in a bit more "water sports."  Either do some surfing, or some kayaking, or something... one of the great things about being on the coast, is that there is so much ocean to take advantage of! As always,...

HURRAH!  IT IS 2012! I celebrated the new year by taking a ferry on New Year's eve, from Victoria to Vancouver (i know, amazing, right?  but... it was only 5% full, which is shocking...).  I have been in Van-city since then, and will be returning to montreal on Friday.   Coming back to canada has been better than I thought it would go.  Only about 2 break-down-and-cry moments.  I think, that the reason why it has been easier than planned is that I have been able to spend time with my beloved, and also his family~  his parents live part time in Laos, which makes talking about international-work & living & differences in cultural aspects very easy.  nice to transition with.  also, it has been filled with fun things.  Like going to the Kinsol Trestle.    and going on my first bike ride since august 20th (um... can we say sore butt and legs and back and hands?).  and drinking good coffee and ...

it is 3:25 am.  I went to bed at 10.  5hrs sleep is not enough. unfortunately, it is 7:35 in edmonton, which... is not sleeping time. ugh. so, i will write a quick update, hopefully to put myself back to sleep.  I guess I can start by saying that this blog is going to take vast turn in subject matter.  For, over the next 4 months, i will probably barely touch anything triathlon related. Oh sure, i brought my (now very old/used) running shoes.  I have my bathing suit, swim cap and goggles.  but.  as if i am going to get the chance to do anything close to training. for I have arrived.

This weekend, I am racing a MSC Canada event: the lake Chapparal Olympic, in Calgary. I am pretty sure that it is going to be a strong race for me. I am currently feeling quite strong. I am definitely noticing the increasing in hours for training times throughout the week, and definitely noticing that I am on a building period right now. It is interesting though, because coach and I have (for reasons unbeknownst to either of us) missing eachother on the "being good at connecting on skype." thing. why is this interesting?! well, because i just feel like i am going to be racing this race without overly thinking about it as being a race week. just go into it feeling a little tired. is this good? well, it's not bad. why? well, because we are building for an A race in the fall. i will be racing Syracuse 70.3 on sept 19th. and, that is soon. that is just over a month away. yipes! Anyway, for lake chapparal, the top 3 times for women, last year were: 2:19, 2:28 and 2:29. i am...

so, I love pink. i like the new layout. still going to be working on it, though. Off to Fernie for the weekend. Boy and brother are racing in a silly, ridiculous mountain bike race, called the "Lost Boys Lungbuster." People think I am strange for doing long races that involve 3 sports in one. Try climbing up a ski hill on a Mountain bike. Now that is strange. i will take the chair lift up, and meet them at the top. :) a [not.very.quality] photo from yesterday's ride with my two cousins and uncle (who is taking the photos) through the central alberta roads. Beautiful day, slight tail wind, draft line, and 90km at 30+ Km/hr at a percieved exhertion of probably around 4/10. Beautiful, if I do say so myself. Love the grain elevator. Such a typical alberta scene. More photos to come, when i get my hands on them. I may have sounded a little cynical of Edmonton, in my last post. For those of you who are not really familiar with Canada geography, the province ...

SO, i laughed at my mum when she said she wanted to take pictures of herself in the hospital. but, everyone knows well, that when you are injured, you want to chronicle it. remember this? that time where i broke both my arms, and they took some hip bone and put it in my wrist bone? 'cause I do. 3 years ago on Canada day. anyway, mum is getting better every day. We are aiming for a discharge date on the 1st of may, b/c I have a very small window in which I can get her back to edmonton. not a long post today, but just to upload some photos.