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. 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...

warning. this is N.O.T a happy-go-lucky post. it may even be a bit depressing. but, i need a vent. and, i don't care what you think, and if you don't like my vent. so, I had mid-term exam yesterday. In a class called Clinical assessment and therapeutic nursing. or something like that. It is a under-grad nursing class about technical things: fluid balances, and electrolyte balances, and acid-base balances, and post-surgical care. Stuff that nurses need to know. Also stuff that we learn. in. clinical. and, really, it is the only mid-term exam that I have, so, I shouldn't be complaining. Some people have it much harder. I could've not taken my exam yesterday... I had a doctor's note. I was ill on Monday. I thought that there was something really wrong going on with me. so, i went to the ER. For the 2nd time in as many months. It has me feeling like at hypochondriac. and, each time, it has not been something serious, and has been something very treatab...

well, today started off with it being a hit or miss for weather. And, apparently, it is a hit. That being said, my body is apparently not working for me today, unlike the weather. I have now been in off season for 4 weeks. I have 2 to go, before training starts up again. and, what have I been doing? well, i have been doing yoga. i have been commuting on bike. I have been african dancing. I have been hiking. I have taken naps, and slept in during the mornings. I have been being a little more relaxed with eating, and just giving my body a chance to take a deep breath out. a deep sigh. i have been doing yoga on a fairly consistent basis over the past few weeks. and, i like yoga. i have done yoga on and off for about 4 years. I have had instructors comment on how they "can tell that i use my body a lot." i have had them comment that they like that i listen to my body, and meet it where it is at. i have had them "trick" me into taking hatha yoga, instead ...

So, i stayed home today. The headache stayed overnight, and the body not wanting to move, with a tinge of nausea did not make me want to go out to clinical this morning. Not to mention... wind gusts of 65km/hr, a temperature of 7 degrees, and rain amounting to 30mm... call me undisciplined. call me a faker. call me lazy. I don't care. there are trees falling out there, and I didn't feel 100% healthy today. So. i.didn't. go. to. clinical. instead, I choose to stay home, sleep in, not change out of my PJ's, drink warm drinks, clean my room, apply for a fellowship, watch a show or two on my computer, and catch up on school work, catch up on emails. i might not even go to yoga tonight. cause tonight, it feels like a really good day to keep doing what I have been doing all day long. besides, i am still in off season for another 2 weeks. i'm allowed to not work out every day. and, that is kinda nice.

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, life long friends are the topic of conversation. So, not feeling great today. Something is brewing in my body (migrane? stomach reacting to new dietary changes? fatigue? maybe all of the above?), and hopefully it will be gone for tomorrow for my friday hospital rotation, and certainly the weekend. But, today's post is not going to be super long. But, the past weekend got me thinking about this topic... we all have 'em. Those people who are "your people." the ones who get you through and through. It has been mentioned before, how great it is when a work friend, becomes an out-of-work friend. but, what of those friends who are life-long friends? to me, they are the best kind. a few years ago, after a random, hollywood-themed relationship, a wo...

This past weekend was Thanksgiving. Yes, we don't celebrate the pilgrims up here, but rather, the harvest. Now, i LOVE thanksgiving. I love the meal, i love the occasion to gather family, and I love that you just get to think about all the things you are thankful for. friends. food. family. laughter. athletics. school. opportunity. faith. skype. just to name a few. i have, in the past, had many a thanksgiving memory. Like this one, that occured during my senior year at WVU. Some of the people in that picture are university friends who have turned into life long friends. at least 3 of them. There is a zach . there is a k-shon . there is a KJ. When i lived in the states, I celebrated twice a year. I used to have the Varsity 8+ to my apartment for canadian thanksgiving. Then, (for many years) I celebrated American Thanksgiving, in Georgia. One year, I went back to edmonton, to get confirmed. But, with all that, I have good memories. This year was no exception. And, I...

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 strength of words. So, it is a little late at night, and I have waited to see if I was going to get the submission that I thought was coming~ it will just have to be another week. Not going to lie. This week has not been great. the beginning of the week was stressful (with two presentations, and one stats assignment) because i blew off the weekend to take photos and sleep in late, and pick apples. And, on the rowing team, we are going through some growing pains. I have felt defeated, and I have felt like I have been letting people down. That there are things that I want to do, but don't know how to do them. that there are things that i am doing, which I should not have to be doing them. and, yesterday, I was reminded of the powe...

You can tell by the wind By fresh cut wood All stacked to dry That autumn's here... I love the autumn. I love the crispyness of it. The cold air at night, and the warm air during the day. I love that in the East, the colours of the trees are unmatchable. I love winter vegetables like squash and beets. I love that death means that new life will come. I love thanksgiving (HURRAY for the upcoming long weekend !!!) and the memories that go with it. The only thing that I don't love is that it normally doesn't last that long. This past weekend, along with doing my photo session with Will, we also went apple picking. Apple picking, or, en Francais: "Cueillir Les Pommes," in Quebec is somewhat of a cult following. Almost as good as la cabane a sucre. I found us a Vergers biologiques. A organic Apple orchard. Despite the fact that it was at least an hour away, and .70$ more than the regular apples, I still insisted. I mean, comon... if you are going to spend ...

So, i have this friend. His name is Will Swanson, and he takes phenomenal photographs. Will is pretty much within the top 3 people I have here in Montreal, and is such a phenomenal friend. He has a heart of gold, a quarky personality, a history in movie making and social work. He is going to be a nurse. Last year, he told me that he would photograph me. This is a little intimidating to think about having a "professional" photo session.. mostly because I look at the photos he takes, and think "dang. there is no way I can look that good." and "i have NO idea how to pose." and... most of all "Wow. I had no idea how self-concious and critical I can be of myself." in addition, i was totally convinced that he is unable to take a good photo of me. and, i am in a post-season, out of shape state. However, on friday, he proved me wrong. We shot into the night, and I was stunned at watchinghim work, how much fun it was... and, mostly, what were some o...