~A Chapter In The Making~

a dip in the pool of words

2008-03-03T18:14:00.000-08:00

I feel like those network writers, having been on a self proclaimed writer's strike myself for what? the last 10 months or so?

hmmmm - should I delve into psychoanalysis to ponder why such a thing happened? nah.......I'll spare ya and more importantly - I'll spare myself the unwanted musing.

This will be short & sweet - just an attempt to ease myself back into the blogging world - not unlike getting into a pool that is a bit on the cool side - don't want to shock my system or something! :)

So get ready!

just breathe......

2007-04-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

All I can say is VANCOUVER CANUCKS baby!!! :) ha, ha - yes, I'm still just reveling in the recent victory of the Canucks over the Stars to advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

For the last 5 minutes of the game I could barely breathe - but hey, that's what makes it exciting, right?

So for now I adjourn, til Wednesday night anyway.........

for the love of ice-cream

2007-04-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

I was looking through old discs of pictures & came across these few videos. Hilarious - it's my nephew Erik really sleepily eating ice-cream....gotta love it :)

a savory post

2007-01-27T16:45:00.000-08:00

Well I just got back from a little shopping excursion.......to Walmart.....emphasis should perhaps be on little, not due to the amount of purchases but when I reread my opening, 'excursion' conjures up images of a day spent shopping @ a mall.....I wish.........what is a mall? Ok, so there are a few stores in the so-called "mall" here.........but ya.

& for those of you turned off by the use of the word 'Walmart'....well I try to not really drain my cash in that store, honestly.....but sometimes, maybe more so for the small town folk - like myself - who don't have a lot of other stores to choose from......well has anyone heard of the word "monopoly"? Ahhhh, you get my point....

But that is so NOT the point of this post.........mostly I suppose I'm just saying hello to y'all out there - but in doing so, I like having a reason to write.........more than just rambling (like I might be doing now eh?)

After my forced shopping @ the above mentioned store - I thought I'd stop by the grocery store - my only item to get was water. But you have to know, 1 item on a list @ a grocery store is what - how can I describe it? Not really sacrilige.....but more like - well I can't think of the word - maybe it's an impossibility - @ least from my vast experience.

For one, they have a Starbucks in there - so the grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte trumped the water. Then onto the strategically positioned bakery......but no, not for the sweet confections like you may have assumed. I was feeling European today - ha, ha - as if I even know what that "feels like"! But it has a nice sound to it.

I spied a beautiful loaf - Vienna Rye bread. & what goes nicely with bread? CHEESE!! & not just any cheese........but a cheese that can hold it's own, paired with the rye. My pick - Gjetost. A marvelous Norwegian goat cheese, which incidentally is the same price as a flight to Norway! But sometimes you just gotta splurge. It is one of my most favorite cheeses - if you really want to savor a piece that is. & by the looks of my pics, I want to savor a few pieces! :)

As I was cutting my bread & cheese I almost felt like I should be having this on a certain sailboat, maybe add in a few grapes (for throwing @ your fellow sailing companions) - but it reminded me of days gone by.....

Here from the frozen flatlands of Alberta, with my gjetost & rye in hand (& mouth - mmmm) - far from Europe, far from sailing, far from some really great friends.............& yet for some odd reason, the world feels a wee bit smaller.

w e a t h e r

2007-01-03T21:14:00.000-08:00

you seen one forecast, you seen 'em all - right? Oh contraire.......this one I'm sure makes my Papa proud! :)

2007-01-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

thank you's...

2007-01-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

well ok, I'm just learning the way of Youtube....so forgive me actually not posting the video & only posting a link to where you can watch it......was having trouble with HTML on it.....hmmmmmm

so here is specific thank you's to some peoples :) partly it's me just wanting to play around with uploading video's & such :)

1st Thank You

2nd Thank You

anywho - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Here's to all the good & God things for 2007!!

the recipe

2006-11-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

Chai Tea

3 – 4 cups of water
3 cinnamon sticks
20 whole cloves
30 whole cardamom
1 1/2 tsp – powdered ginger
Black pepper to taste
2 Tetley (or orange pekoe) tea bags

Combine all ingredients in a pot
and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Simmer for 10 minutes to combine flavours.

Strain to remove spices and then
add 2 – 3 cups of milk
(depending how strong you want it).
Also add honey & sweeten to taste.

a good stiff drink

2006-11-03T22:40:00.000-08:00

well maybe that title got your attention! :) But let me say - you can have a good "stiff drink" without necessarily using the cliche shot of some sort of alcohol.......

take for instance this homemade Chai tea I have been making lately. Ok - lately it hasn't been too "stiff" but the 1st time I made it, I put wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much pepper in and I'm like - hello, didn't know chai tea can slap you in the face like that?! :) ha, ha

So ya........it seems a wintery type drink to me. Course I would & do drink it year round, but those clove type smells, cinnamon, it's almost Chirstmasy I'd say. Funny how certain smells do that.

I was thinking the other day how growing up I always had this idea in my head that Eggnog was Swedish! Ok, so if you haven't gathered yet - my background is rooted - on my Papa's side, in the good old Scandinavian land of Sweden. There were other traditional type Swedish things we had at Christmas - lefse, lutefisk (ok so I didn't have the fish.....) and I guess I just figured all the other things that only came out at Christmas were "Swedish" too.........

Needless to say that misconception has been cleared up........and where ever it came from, I love it!

pish posh

2006-10-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Little UKish type sayings are still randomly flying out of my mouth - as my dear friend Norrain has just departed from her 9 day vacation with moi in good ol' Alberta :)

I always hate to say goodbye, not that I tend to get overly emotional at the time but it's still that letdown sorta feeling you get eh? (oh, seems I still have my Canadian connection afterall :)) Today at the aiport though I decided at the end of a vacation, it's better to be the one flying home than the one dropping someone off at the airport. Not sure completely why I think/feel that. It just seems to me like you still have a bit of some excitement that way???

Anywho.........we had a grand time this past week. We drove up to Grande Prairie for Canadian Thanksgiving (for all my international friends out there :)) . I had to work for one day after Thanksgiving but other than that had the rest of the time off. We were discussing what to do for the remaining days, whether to hit West Ed, go south or what - when I 1/2 jokingly said we could go back to GP.

We both had a great time on the 1st round so we decided - hey, why not?! :)

So off we went for round 2. I also decided on the 1st round, that I'm more of a road trip driver! Ok, nevermind that I actually don't own a car - minor details (that I pray change SOON!) but I just really enjoy being on the open road, pedal to the metal............um, Dad you're not reading this, right?! hee, hee

Seriously though, I really enjoyed it. Norrain did too cause she ended up seeing a moose on the 2nd trip, which was a very "Northern Exposure" moment for her.

& here's a bit of news.........I splurged on a guitar at last..................was that wise??? :) Well I've been wanting one for a while now and so went for it. So callused fingers, here I come!

It is so awesome to have friends, to have family.............perhaps it's a bit sad now that my English, wanna-be-Scottish, but living in Belfast friend is gone........but I'm so grateful to have had her friendship close by for a time again.

Sadly as well today I found out another very good friend of mine, her mother passed away. So there's a lot of emotion today.......so yet another "goodbye" for a time...........she's the one getting to fly to a much better place, & the ones left standing at the proverbial airport have that ache in their heart.

I'm so thankful for each moment with the ones I love, life is so precious and it's days like these you see (& feel) it more & more.

my "relational" quandary - well sorta :)

2006-09-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

You've heard of eHarmony, right? Well for those who haven't - it's this relationship site online. Probably just one of many.

So the story goes that years ago...............no really, it must have been like 2002 or something I signed into it. Some well meaning married co-worker(s) were suggesting to a few of us single ones that we should try this. Great...........just what I was looking for - sarcasm intended! :)

But to humor her I went online to check it out and.... what's that? - they're offering a free personality test?! Well if you don't know anything about me - just know this - I love anything to do w/personality tests!!! & it also seems I don't discriminate these tests based on their scientific analysis, or lack of, either - as evidenced by my earlier post of "what kind of coffee I am"! ha, ha

Anyway - so as the story goes.........recently I logged into my account there. I was actually looking to see if I could re-take the test and get a more current result (you're starting to realize that I really just can't help myself eh?! :))

In the process I discover it is with the mere click of my trusty mouse that I can suddenly be inundated daily by potential "matches" - oooo la, la!

Well don't get too excited. I've never been much into that whole thing - but I found it slightly amusing to read the profiles sent to me. I felt like I was spying or something...........or a teacher grading some exam to say if they pass or fail.

It didn't really occur to me that other guys were doing the same to me until from one I got a "closed communication" message from someone and I hadn't even got around to seeing that he was on my list in the 1st place!?! I think based on statements I made in my profile he decided I wasn't the one for him................ha, ha I find that so funny. I suppose there are lots of times/places in life that we make quick instant decisions like that, based on very limited information - which isn't necessarily bad, just in this instance I found it interesting.

So still, up to this point I hadn't done the so-called "communication" thang.....til this one guy was requesting communication with me. Still a bit hesitant as to whether I really wanted to or not, finally I was like - well why not? & then I found out "why not"? They (eHarmony) want my money! for me to communicate with anyone. It's not like I'm extremely surprised by that - but you see, paying money for all that - well that's a whole other "ball game" that at the moment this chica just doesn't relish.....

So hopefully the love of my life isn't waiting around online somewhere for me :)

Which leads me to say - that is why I really like that movie, Sliding Doors. You see her live her life, as well as the proverbial "what if" life............& she meets the guy in both.............but in the real world - she gets him & lives!

All I can say to that now is...................Amen!

this prairie road

2006-08-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hey my vast readers out there - hee, hee - I fool no one but myself to say that - ok not really :)

Apologies for the seeming absence - though I was with "you" in spirit. I'm back online - connected once again to the lovely World Wide Web from my little corner of Alberta, where the grains grow tall, the milk flow "free" - but the oil definitely doesn't! (flow "free" that is, uh... I won't touch that subject!)

So in the space of a month, I have secured myself a total of 3 jobs! Nevermind I'm quitting one but ya - it's all good. As my friend so genuinely congratulated me back to the Canadian workforce - I'm thinking it'll be nice to finely have an influx of cash (on a somewhat regular basis).

In other news - well the social life still has MUCH to be desired.........sigh........but it's coming (I speak prophetically :) ) I've been to a couple churches in town............one in particular..........how do I describe? The last time I was there I felt like it was a breath of fresh air - something I've needed after many months.

I'm setting out to force myself into social situations :) I always find it funny when some people get to know me, then I mention that I tend to be the "shy type" & I always get reactions of disbelief. I suppose I'm comfortable enough in a group of friends whom most, if not all, that I know fairly well - but set me in a room where I don't know people & I'm thinking - ok, how do I make small talk again?

For goodness sake - when I trekked across to Toronto many moons ago - it didn't seem to be too much of an issue. But then again - everyone else was sorta in the same boat too, being that we all came from our corners of the world to live in that warehouse! ha, ha - a fact I still find hilariously funny. Definitely stories for the grandkids (again I am speaking prophetically - ha, ha)

One day I suppose I'll wake up, social life in high gear & wonder what the heck this blog was all about but for now it serves its purpose.

This is going out to all those who've traversed the road of transition...........or you who will as well. May it be somewhat about finding you & all about finding God!

2006-07-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Canada Day!!!

It seems that slowly I am making my way through Canada to live in each province........ok maybe not. But for real - I am now going to be calling Alberta my new home province. I'll find my niche yet..... :)

I was out at the farm last night - the farm where my Dad grew up. It's so strange cause I've always heard the stories of milking cows, shelling peas & who can forget - PICKING ROCKS!?! But I've never seen - or at least not too often - that side of him. It's interesting the places we come from, the experiences we have in life......... They play a part in who we become I suppose but still I think there's deeper deposits of "stuff" - for lack of a better descriptive word :) - that define who we're created to be.

& man - the experiences I've had in just a year! Last year on this day - I was sailing w/my friends on Lake Ontario. It was an amazing day - but for the announcement of 2 moving south! Which seemed to start the ball rolling in other people moving out too :)

& speaking of moving out.............l8r!

it's in the beans...

2006-06-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

who knew how much they could tell about you by answering questions about coffee.............."they're" so insightful!

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated
You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys
Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites.
And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

can't resist these tests!

2006-06-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

You Are a Light Pink Rose

You represent sweetness and grace.

Your vibe: Kind and gentle

Falling in love with you: is like falling in love with a best friend

What Color Rose Are You?

Alive

2006-05-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

man it feels awesome to be alive! I don't know if it's just the spring/summer weather........ok well maybe I do know...........

Let's give credit where credit is due eh? This has been one of the most, uh, trudging seasons, of my life? You know what I mean by that? Trudging to me conjures up pictures of walking through mud basically......... I almost feel bad to say that - cause then I start thinking of all the people that have things in their lives that are a lot more serious issues than what I have contended with. Still though, just being honest.

Whatever the case, I am grateful cause it feels like spring to me.............not only literally outside but within too. It feels like a season when things that lived before, grew before, are now awakening again......

Actually when I was journalling last night - that was one of the words that came to me. Awakening.......that & Rebirth.

Crazy - they are loaded with meaning & significance - & I think I'm only grasping just a small portion of it.

What does that look like in & for me?

The best picture I can think to describe that is a caterpillar that goes into a cocoon.........& transforms & breaks out as a butterfly........

Fly

oh Happy Day

2006-05-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

Today I propose a toast....

I'm priviledged to be counted among the friends (peeps even) of Steph. Off and on over the years we've hung out at various functions & things going on around us, even worked together for a while.....but it wasn't until the fall of 2004 that it changed - & I'd say for the better. :)

Maciek thinks it was the magic combination of the "4 original peeps" - to which I scoff...........but for whatever reason, we found ourselves in at least somewhat similar places of life........leading us to re-connect.....

It has to be bigger than so-called "coincidence" to end up having a friend(s) like this and I have been blessed time & again.

Recently I travelled to the south - mmmmmmmm - on a surprise trip. What a gift - as we both LOVE surprises & LOVE our friends...........so that was/is just awesome. & such a picture of the days/weeks/months that lie ahead I say. Here & now we live our lives, make our plans......we dream our dreams.........& He can & does orchestrate it with such brilliance........it's beyond me.

So a toast I said eh? Yup............to my wonderful friend Stephanie.......who's shared her life with me (& many) these past few years, which I celebrate but really..........here's to what is to come!!!

walkin' on the "wild" side

2006-04-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today I read a friend's blog & they talked about someone having died & wrote about what life is about, taking each moment..........really living it.

I was inspired by it...........but not in a melancholy sort of way........I just feel so blessed. For the past 14 days I've been here in North Carolina, on this "surprise" trip, surrounded by beautious nature & amazing friends.

In a previous post, I mentioned about the spontaneous-ness of this trip. It was one of those "carpe diem" moments....where you take a risk, throw caution (money ha, ha) to the wind & jump!

You never know which of life's risky ventures will "pay off" but maybe that's not the point even. It's all about learning to trust, learning to love, learning to LIVE! Here's to the journey as He continues to make it!

even better than the real thing

2006-04-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

Am I allowed to brag about certain things in my "unofficial" area of expertise???

I made the BEST cheesecake to date in my repetoire of desserts & cheesecake making. Following is a visual display, though of course tasting it would be the most adequate method of "judging".

Typically I have stuck to the traditional New York Cheesecake......always topping with a plethora of berries to conceal the cracks beneath - tsk, tsk. This one, still had some minor crackage issues - gotta have some thorn in the "flesh" eh? (keep me humble).......but seriously smooth texture, melt in your mouth & stick to your hips! Amazing!

Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake.........my tastebuds still water.......

Roll Up The Rim

2006-04-10T23:50:00.000-07:00

I WON!

ha, ha

Biscuits, gravy, grits....

2006-04-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

I am still in a bit of shock as to the days events............it's starting to sink in, I think.... :)

It seemed to be every bit a normal day.......but somewhere along the way I booked a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina to go visit some pretty amazing Peeps! I had not been thinking about this at all so it's definitely something born of pure spontaneity - & how I'm loving it, well the thought of it so far :)

Had to laugh when I looked @ my previous post & thought about that movie quote & then all this happening?! Tres cool indeed.......

So I'm practicing up on my southern drawl so I fit in - ha ha jk :)

Stay tuned for stories of the south.

a toast

2006-04-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

"who knows what the tide will bring" - this being a quote from one of my favourite movies.

Here's to hope, love & Him who gives us reason for this & much much more!

Cheers :)

Thinking

2006-04-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

well, I'm just looking through an old disc I have w/various burned humorous stuffs.........I have always loved this one & so for old time's sake I post it :)

THINKING

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now andthen to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to another, andsoon I was more than just a social thinker.I began to think alone - "to relax," I told myself - but I knew itwasn't true.

Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I wasthinking all the time. I began to think on the job. I knew thatthinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself.

I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau andKafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking,"What is it exactly we are doing here?"

Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I hadturned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. Shespent that night at her mother's.

I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss calledme in. He said, "I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but yourthinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on thejob, you'll have to find another job."

This gave me a lot to think about.

I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," Iconfessed, "I've been thinking..."

"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"

"But Honey, surely it's not that serious."

"It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver.

"You think as much as college professors, and college professors don'tmake any money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any money!"

"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to cry.I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stompedout the door. I headed for the library, in the mood for someNietzsche. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glassdoors... they didn't open. The library was closed. As I sank to theground clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, aposter caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?"it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from thestandard Thinkers Anonymous poster.

Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss aTA meeting.

At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was"Porky's."

Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the lastmeeting. I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home.Life just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.

write or wrong?!

2006-03-30T22:14:00.000-08:00

Isn't it great to know that these "geniuses" came up with such a simple test to define the writing careers of the world at large?!

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind.
You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life.
Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling.
And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

I wanna soak this in

2006-03-30T19:44:00.001-08:00

last year, a great friend of mine was reciting to me the lyrics of the following song. I had never really heard it, or really payed attention to what it said but I went home & listened to it over & over. Since then I hadn't really listened to it much............til just now. Gotta love Winamp as it randomly selects songs & more than that, I love the message of this song & needed to be reminded of it........

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance (Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance (Rolling us along)
I hope you dance (Tell me who)
I hope you dance (Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

Top 4...

2006-03-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

Well not like I needed the excuse to do this – but I have one – Lindsay tagged me. It’s all her fault – blame her! :) I can’t resist these things, whether they come in the form of e-mail or on blogger or whatever………so here goes:

4 Jobs I've had:
1. do volunteer jobs count? If so, I cleaned toilets for 2 weeks short of a year @ TACF, believe it or not.
2. & before that I volunteered @ the Community Policing Access Centre – serving minor subpoenas to people – but made me feel important anyway :)
3. then there was the time I worked @ Cancer Care Ontario – just data entry on a temp job I was told would be for 1 month & ended up lasting about 1 year & 1 month
4. lastly, there was a short time that I did work as a dental assistant – that seems so long ago now………sigh………..

4 Shows I've been addicted to:
1. is this in the past? Ok ok…….I love Prison Break
2. Amazing Race most religiously
3. Law & Order: SVU (or SUV for the vehically inclined – ha, ha)
4. Deal or No Deal – I know it’s a bit cheesey but I still like it

4 Movies I would watch over and over:
1. A Beautiful Mind
2. It’s A Wonderful Life
3. Shrek (1 & 2)
4. Maverick

4 Places I’ve lived:
1. Port Alberni
2. Cranbrook
3. Quesnel
4. Toronto

4 Places I’ve been on vacation:
1. Hendersonville, NC – amen!
2. Milton, VT – even if it was only for 1 weekend! :) My life was forever changed that weekend!
3. Wetaskiwin, AB
4. Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state! I was probably about 4 but it was a memorable trip

4 Places I'd like to visit:
1. Sweden
2. New Zealand
3. Norway
4. ahhh, well just about anywhere in Europe actually

4 Cars I’ve had:
1. Wish
2. I
3. Had
4. 1!

4 Favorite foods:
1. Thai
2. Gyoza & Bulgogi
3. Cheesecake
4. Dark Chocolate & Red Wine

4 Things I’d like to be doing right now:
1. Hanging out w/the peeps, or Mafree, Norrain, Jen, Kell, well you get the point eh?
2. Being in one of the 4 places I’d like to visit
3. Buying my first of the 4 cars I couldn’t name
4. Having number 4 on the fave food list & being with number 3 from the things to do before I die list – amen :)

4 Things I'd like to do before I die:
1. Learn swing dancing
2. Write something – probably along the line of memoirs or something like that….
3. Get married, have kids – white picket fence – hee, hee jk
4. Learn to do mosaics & stained glass!

4 People I tag:
1. hmmmmm, Kelley – if she hasn’t done it already
2. Steph
3. Jen – if she would even consider such things – ha, ha
4. Anyone who feels so inclined to amuse themselves w/such things

Wszystkiego Najlepszego

2006-03-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

1972 may be remembered by some as the year Electronic mail was introduced (thank God! :) ), or Apollo XVII, the last manned moon landing to date, returned to Earth. & just because I am Canadian - how could I fail to mention the Canada vs. Russia hockey series with the infamous goal by Paul Henderson....

Whatever memories or stories may be associated with the year...........I write because of an altogether different reason.

Back in 1999 my expanding friendship circle grew to include a certain Polak.

Actually come to think of it, that's not quite right. I did make his acquaintance, yes, but as to friendship... You see, for whatever reason, I had the distinct feeling (vibe as I referred to it) that he didn't like me. Thinking of it now, it seems absurd. There were no major altercations or confrontations, in fact I had very little contact with him then, so why I felt like that???

That long ago "vibe" is what is now a source of mild hilarity to me :) being that he is now counted among my closest friends - unfortunately not geographically speaking, minor details! :)

How the heck did that happen?! I have no clue - still! We are total opposites in MANY ways.

Man, I love life, I love the weirdness of it all - I love how when you scrutinize it all up close, it's so utterly mysterious - & then, by grace, you get a glimpse of a bigger picture.

Closely analyzing that we're friends does hold a bit of mystery :) but stepping back I see glimpses of a bigger picture. How narrow my world would've been had it not come to connect with this mover/risk-taker.

He's encouraged me many times to push the limits, sometimes more than I wanted! :) Definitely not one to let grass grow under his feet. I should hate to play chess with him, as I fear he'd have me @ checkmate before I could think which pawn to move....sigh...

If nothing else my friend, you've made your mark with me........but knowing you, you're already 10 steps ahead, grabbing life by the horns & making it yours.

Here's to you & all this year holds - may it be yours & more!

Happy 34th!

C'est Moi...or is it?

2006-03-02T00:25:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knew me as a child, actually anyone who has known me - perhaps discounting the past 2 years (?) - would know my aversion for fish, or anything really that lived in the water!

Not to see or touch - more on the tasting side of things was where the issues "surfaced" (going along with the water theme :) ). It's funny now to look back at those childhood days when my parents would try (in vain) to get me to eat fish. There were the dinner meals when you couldn't leave the table unless you ate it.....which inevitably lead to me learning to eat it, without really having to taste it.

Just cut it small enough so you can pop it in your mouth & swallow it whole with some sort of beverage. But the trick was to cut it big enough so you're not sitting there all night swallowing little "fish pills" & getting bloated with all the liquid! ha, ha

Then who could forget the times when they would "parentally encourage" me to eat it stating that, "Jesus ate it". What good Christian girl wouldn't eat fish?! I would promptly tell them that "He can have this too then!" Ahhh, I laugh now even writing this......

Funny after those long ago struggles, more so given the fact that now I actually like fish (some). It was quite an ordeal to me even when a few years ago I discovered I like & could eat shrimp. Maybe it was the great BBQing skills with which it was prepared? Whatever. It didn't stop there.

One day I bravely purchased a can of tuna & thought, ok, I can do this! I don't know how long I psyched myself up for it but upon tasting it, I wondered, did I buy the wrong can?! Did I, in err, actually buy chicken?! No, it says tuna.....no wonder it's referred to as the 'chicken of the sea!'

& lest you think these "days of discovery" are from years gone by - only the other day I tried a bite of salmon - fearing to take the whole thing & waste it if I didn't like it. Again to my surprise, I liked it!

What happened to the little girl, that with no amount of cajoling, could be convinced to partake of such fishy "delights"??? Well quite obviously, given time, my tastebuds have changed.

& herein lies my purpose in sharing this story, the fact being that, people can change. Oh I know, it sounds so simple & anti-climactic. But that's just it. We live our lives, first off being shaped by our parents (or guardians of some sort) & the shaping of who we are continues as our world expands. The experiences we have, whether good or bad, play their role in our lives.

Of course we have certain dispositions & personalities to begin with but when the years have gone by & we look in the mirror, who do we see? Sometimes we look in the mirror & see the inconsistencies, the flaws, & don't look past the image (of our lives). Getting stuck on thinking, 'well this is just who I am, it will always be this way'.

Many times I have thought - or still think that very thing - but when I have a sane moment :) the realization comes. To a certain extent - we are shaped by the events of life - yes. But when the cards have all been dealt, we are the ones who choose which cards to play.

Our past may shout from the mirror, 'this is who you are!', only it's slighty askew. This is who you were..............you then get to choose who you ARE!

& now and again - beyond ourselves - we catch a glimpse of a someone. We scratch our head in wonder as we continue to gaze, til suddenly we see.....

That's me?!

Chawklet, Chawklet

2006-03-01T00:10:00.000-08:00

1st "Dutch guy" - now PEI Guy! My other brother Greg's birthday is today so this is me making it official in the blogging world.........

Greg, if you're reading this - whether by your WONDERFUL wife's prodding, my insisting or even of your own accord (nah :))

H A P P Y

B I R T H D A Y

Here's a "taste"

2006-02-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

You know how you have things, dreams in your heart, yet to be discovered? Well I, as I'm sure you, have such things which @ times I almost want to burst for want of accomplishing (some of) them....

Basically I wanted to share one of my dreams - as it were - to speak it out. Of course I want it to be more than words but this is the place I have in part, designated for this dream to be fostered.

So the dream, in it's simplicity is - go to Sweden! That is the place of part of my heritage & I have always wanted to go.

Recently I e-mailed family members to see if anyone else felt such a "stirring" - as it occured to me how cool it would be to plan a family trip to Sweden.

It was amazing & cool to get responses back from certain ones that have thought about it before & would be (are) interested. I was and am super encouraged by that. Funny as it's not like anything has been set it stone......but still I'm excited.

The dream is on the table - so to speak - so whomever wishes to partake are free to indulge.

Yesterday I was feeding the excitement of that dream - online, gazing @ pics of Sweden - & then Norway. I so love beautiful, scenic places & can't wait to go.....

The feeling I get when I think about it all happening is likened to - if you think of a pickle & you get that sort of tingling sensation in your mouth even before you have it....like you can taste it in a way.....

It's gonna be good................

a 35 year old story

2006-02-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a crazy, zany guy who came upon a faraway land. "What are the chances?", he said to himself as he pondered whether such a place could be "home".
In no time he set to work - performing death defying stunts, which he was well known for, wowing this new land with his acts.

The "Dutch guy" - as they called him - seemed to fit nicely into the niche he had carved out for himself among the people of this land.

From time to time however, for a spell he would jet off to the homeland...

& all would wonder & talk amongst themselves as to when he might return. It was never a question of "if" - just WHEN?!

As expected, when he did reappear - his social contingent rejoiced....

& today his "social contingent" celebrates the dawning of another year for the Dutch Guy.

~ Happy 35th Birthday ~

& this is definitely not..........The End!

Gotta Add This To My Resume

2006-02-13T19:23:00.000-08:00

You just never know what is gonna happen. I know it's a pretty broad statement........so let me be specific. Saturday I turned model for a day!!! I say it with such emphasis you would think I won some big contest or something of the sort....

Well the story goes that one of my best friends was getting married down in Michigan recently, so I had this dress made for it. When I picked it up from the seamstress - she mentioned that there was a bridal show on Feb 11th and asked if I could model my dress for it.

hmmmmmmmm - me? Let's see - how many episodes of America's Next Top Model will I have to watch before I can even think to pull off being a model?! Nevertheless - I said Yes - much to my own surprise.

It's not like the event was such a huge one with much exposure - that's not really the point.

It's just that I would never have imagined ever doing such a thing - that I would ever AGREE to it :) Yet there I was, smile plastered on my face as I walked the small town "catwalk" :)

As I started out - you just never know what is gonna happen in life. You think you have it figured out, be it your situation or yourself - but then there's always some sort of curve balls thrown your way & you're like "what do I do w/this?"

I know, I turn a simple situation into this profound experience :) but c'est moi.....the "model"!

January 1, 2006

2006-01-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

...the New Year is upon us and with it we embrace what comes...

But what do you do if the happenings of life don’t all add up? Or I guess they do – but not arriving at the answer you expected. What happens when you have dreams that are so real, almost tangible & seemingly in an instant you’re shaken awake from that? What happens when the answer you’ve been “given” contradicts what you believe?

Our life is but a breath…

I don’t say that with a hopelessness.....it’s truth. I say it because with that knowledge, with that revelation, I examine my life and all that I have to show for it. Where do I come out on the score card?

I want this year to be different, to be amazing, to go beyond Laurie’s expression of living – what she knows thus far and reach out for what You would bring...

“He is not safe, but he is Good” – This was a line from the Chronicles of Narnia.....just hearing/reading it again stirs something of a response in me. I know I’ve definitely settled too often for the safety.....too often clung to the ordinary....

My hope/prayer for 2006 (& beyond) is to let go of the ordinary, the safety, to experience the extraordinary, the Good!

Our life is but a breath...

WE MEAT AGAIN :)

2005-11-27T18:29:00.000-08:00

So I've been back home for a total of 10 days now. I'm not really sure how one judges if they're settling in well to a new place, making the necessary changes/adjustments with relative ease. That said, there are definitely things that capture my attention in the adapting phase.....every now and again something will happen to further make me aware of my departure from Toronto.

Take for instance....today I was at Tim Horton's. That wasn't the different part cause you know I visited many a Tim's out east :) It was seeing some antlers sticking out of a truck parked in the parking lot. Some proud fellow come back from a recent hunt with their prize carcass strewn in the back of the vehicle. I wished I had a camera so I could pictorially display this site. Not to gross out the visual among us but to contrast the differences in culture between the city & small town BC. I think the only carcass laying in anyone's vehicle in Toronto is the 1/2 eaten remains of a Big Mac - or is there even meat in that?!

MEMORIES OF THE SOUTH

2005-11-21T20:26:00.000-08:00

Tsk, tsk - I'm back in BC now and the update about my NC trip that I meant to post sooner is only now just materializing....hmmmm. Still though - I wanted to share some of my experiences and pics from what was a GREAT vacation.

I loved everything about the south. It was funny cause everything that was remotely different from Toronto, or Canada - I would promptly proclaim it's because we're in the south! :) Some of it I believe was at least in part true - like having grits for breakfast. Just today I delved into my rationed bit of grits I had brought back :)

Here are my top 10 favourite memories from my NC trip are:

10. Wine tasting @ the Biltmore Winery
9. Tasting for multiple "1st times" - the key lime dip for the pretzels
8. The extremely gruelling & intense hike up the Devil's Courthouse & watching the sunset (see attached pics)
7. Morningstar & the Mexican restaurant after with an infusion of Colonel Sanders :)
6. Cookies w/Andes chocolate, cookies w/white chocolate, cookies w/Heath bar in the mix, cookies w/marachino cherries on top......
5. Going to town!
4. Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper
3. "Lloyd" - the friendly cricket of the sink
2. Tanning & more importantly - Swimming in November
1. My 3 amigos - w/o them the other things on this list would've been very bland.....

2005-11-05T17:53:00.000-08:00

My 1st post and I'm happy to be writing from the good ol' southern hills of North Carolina. I left Toronto Oct 28th on my way to Charlotte. On the way I had a stopover in New York - that in itself was an adventure for this mostly inexperienced traveller....(hoping that changes)....

I decided I needed as much time as possible in New York - no, not to explore the city - but rather so I wouldn't stress in finding my gate to board the next plane. However those fears were completely unfounded as I was shuttled directly to my gate and for most of the 2 hours I sat there reading and wondering why I thought it would be so scary.

I suppose that is common for those that choose the safe road. You get to your destination - be it literal or proverbial - but you could've had an adventure along the way, been there quicker or just tried something new. Why am I saying "you"?! Let's make it more personal - it's about me anyway :)

Very often I am inspired by the speeches of "going for it", "just take a risk", "step out of the mold"....in what way though am I taking that inspiration and making it more apart of my life?

There has been things I have stepped up to this year. Some challenges & fears I've faced - and oddly enough, underneath some of them were little pieces of desire for the very thing I feared. Desire I guess to not hold back, to not let the conception of who I think I am, entirely define me. I get pretty set in some ways and it's easy to just think, "that's me".........but is it really?

Not long from now and I will be moving across the country - away from the familiarities of the last 7 1/2 years - be it places, but for me mostly people....friends. Sometimes I think about what's ahead and get unnerved by the "not knowing". But who of us knows - even when we think we do at times? I want to be able to look back on this (& for everything) and say I "went for it", "took a risk", "stepped out of the mold".

So what exactly will that look like, or rather what will I look like? Who will I become (am already becoming)? I can't wait to find out......