dreaming over the ocean

The new year is here, and I haven't written my "100 best things of 2016" post yet.  I promise I will write it before the end of the month!  If you got our Christmas newsletter, you will know that 2016 wasn't always a walk in the park. It was not bad, it just was not always easy.  Honestly, I don't know that 2017 will be any easier, but I certainly know that I have many things I am already looking forward too. Of course, one might ask if I have New Years resolutions.  I didn't have any, until today.  One of them is blogging more... sitting at my computer, and writing out my thoughts.  I have used this blog over the years for many reasons, but this year, I don't want to write about the things I have written about before.  Of course, posts might contain thoughts on racing, adventure, dogs, work, etc... cause, that's me!  But I want to get back to writing for the therapeutic aspect of it. I am going to write about being in the wife of someone who li...

Giving kindergarten students immunizations Speaking French at work Kayaking at cape Maclear Eating baobab fruit Sorting bottle caps with Malawian kids Being inspired by teammates at Calgary 70.3 Jamjar food sponsorship Dave watt's magic fingers Boardgames in tofino Selling my rowing shell Chambar anniversary dinner Pic's of Nicole's baby girl The water hose while climbing up the hill in penticton GranFondo Watching my dog trying to lift her feet off of the hot concrete in penticton The generosity of stu and Marianne Salmon buying in Richmond Floor neighbours Community coming together to help an injured dog Meeting nurses in Malawi "Marmalade! Marmalade" I forgot marmalade! Sasamat canada day swim followed by berry picking with Celine Watching Sean rock the triple crown on a hybrid Tash and Antony's tree trimming 2nd line parade in NOLA Whole food discounts with Donna Dancing with Ed at...

I can't remember exactly what motivated it back in 2004, but all I remember is that fall I wanted to be a better person.  I wanted to be a better rower~ so I started riding a road bike.  I wanted to be a better student~ so i set apart a dedicated study time.  I wanted to build my faith~ so i dedicated to a quiet time.  I wanted to deal with a broken relationship~ so I sought counselling. I remember my senior year at WVU as being a year that I grew a lot.  Let's do a throw back to that year: New years 2005 in Key Largo with some of the most quality people in the world. The reason why i mention this, is somehow this fall, I am feeling that motivation again~  it's building in the past few weeks.  The motivation to be a better person.  Maybe it comes as part of my off season from Triathlon, and I have more time on my hands... maybe it comes out of a trip to visit my brother and his family.  Maybe it comes with the autumn season, where the...

it is pretty rare that you want to post a school assignment on your blog.  However, I thought this was pretty applicable.  I am taking a "professional issues in nursing" class, in which we are examining everything from leadership, to power differentials, to unions, to.... you name it, it's there.  At the start of the semester, we were coming up with the class outline, and one of the aspects that we added to the class outline was a personal change initiative. it is not a "super serious" assignment, but one which is good to reflect on.   I always laugh about the aspect of "reflective practice" that occurs in nursing.  just sit, and think about what you did, and what could've been different.   :) anyway, this is how the assignment was described: " Leaders must embrace change and model change in order to encourage others to do so.   Learners will submit a 3-page, double spaced, 12 font description of a personal change initiative ...

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 ...

so, I am staring Montreal again in the face. After a wonderful two week holiday here in Mississauga, I am headed back tomorrow morning. It has been a great, and relaxing couple of weeks. it has gone exceptionally fast, considering that there has been a whole lot of nothing planned. but, pretty much the best part of the whole thing was catching up with my family and getting to know them better. *Awesome* It is funny, I sit here, and I am really thinking about what I can write right now. maybe about how christmas is really good at making my muscles slowly fade away. or how i find it hilarious that sometimes "we" are so committed to what we do that i love the fact that riding a bike on a indoor trainer in a garage while watching it snow outside is my idea of a great new year's day afternoon. or how on runs, i seem to have very intense thoughts and dreams and conversations with god. or how i wish i am going to start a 3 day veggie cleanse on monday. more so for a psychol...