A New Year

I always get excited before a new year. It's a wonderful chance for renewal and setting new goals. It's a year of "unknowns" that I can't wait to see unfold. Here are my highlights from 2006 (in no particular order): Sundance Film Festival, Maui, New Orleans, running my first half marathon, buying my first home, having all family & friends healthy, weekend getaways at Whistler & Boyer, finding out my brother & Shannon are going to have a baby, taking photography & creative writing classes, seeing Martin Sexton live in Utah, having my good friends bounce back wonderfully after starting the year in heartbreak.

We're entering the year of '007 - the year of Bond. It's time to toss back a few martinis (shaken, not stirred), drive our cars like they're Aston Martins, and show the world that we've got balls!
Here are my resolutions for 2007 - I thought if I posted them, I'd be on the hook to stick to them.

-build confidence & push through fears (2007 will have big news)
-get something published
-maintain good health - eat right/get rest/exercise frequently
-run in more races
-volunteer
-go on an adventurous vacation
-learn guitar
-go on a canoeing/camping trip
-do 3 paintings that are frame-worthy
-read a book a month (minimum)
-and finally, keep maintaining my blog - it's my favourite creative outlet- the art of mixing writing with photography taps into my true self.

Here's to 2007, Cheers!

Good News!!

While celebrating my mom's birthday, my brother and his lovely wife Shannon passed my mom a gift to open - inside was an adorable baby t-shirt with "happy birthday grandma" written on the front. I burst into tears and hugged them - so excited that my baby brother is going to be a dad. It's hard to believe this is the same guy that used to give me face washes or hold my head under water in the tub. I know they are going to be amazing parents. Needless to say, it was a hard act to follow. Watching my mom open the earrings I bought her after she got her "grandma" baby-t was quite funny. I was trying to hype up my gift, "hey mom, did you know the earrings are from France!" I can't wait to meet Greg & Shannon's baby in August. We're all going to spoil him or her with love. I've got my fingers crossed that the baby has Shannon's smile and Greg's white man's 'fro.

Gumption: Courage, spunk and guts. That's what Kitty has in spades. Not only have I been impressed by her resounding resilience over the last challenging year she's faced - I have found her to be one of my most inspiring friends. I couldn't be more proud to find out that she's been promoted to day trader in our glamourous energy biz! She downplays her successes but I am so proud of her. I have witnessed her intellect and resourcefulness first-hand whether it's at work, at home or getting us into Sundance closing parties! Way to go Kitty! We'll definitely plan a night out with Ker and Forbes and treat you to a celebratory dinner

Happy Birthday Ker!

I can't walk past the Hamilton Street Grill without thinking of Ker. So, it was only fitting that we all gathered there to celebrate the birthday girl's new year. I knew Ker was a big fan of HSG's warm bread pudding, but it was so cute to actually see her applauding and grinning from ear to ear when it arrived at our table. Her inner little birthday girl was shining through. During our night out, Pepper was keeping the bed warm for Ker & The P back at the hotel's "family suite". I just giggle thinking of Pepper sprawled out on a queen sized bed ordering steak tar tar to the room on the P's credit card.
Kitty and I assumed our usual role of "paparazzi extraordinaire" from our end of the table. Only this time we had a new partner in crime - Dante - Kitty's new charismatic and engaging friend from San Fran. I swear between the three of us there couldn't have been a moment during that night that wasn't captured on film. Brad and Jenn were left in more peace than our poor friends were that evening. Our lenses definitely captured the warm and fuzzy glances taking place between ker & the P.....and Forbes and JT.....and Forbes and Kitty (just kidding). It was a wonderful evening of great food, absolut-ly fabulous drinks, and hilarious conversation - burgers vs the buns! Ker looked radiant and I hope she enjoyed her special night. Here's hoping 2007 brings a bundle of great things her way!
More Pix From Ker's Bday

Famous Amos

I was introduced to the sweet and smooth stylings of Amos Lee last night at the Commodore Ballroom thanks to a birthday ticket from Nic. I love being in the presence of genuine talent. He is one of those singers that has a fluid soulful vibe who seems to sing effortlessly. We had the amazing good luck of standing right by the front and center of the stage. Despite McDrunky and McRacist on either side of us, it was easy to lose ourselves in the songs. I love the fact that Amos Lee used to be an elementary school teacher and then found his voice. I would have purposely failed grade 2 if this guy had been my teacher. I have to give a shout out to Nic, Pat, Kitty and Kurt for the great concert and introducing me to such a fabulous singer. You can click on the link below if you'd like to see more concert photos. Amos Lee

New Christmas Present....

This year I received my first Digital Camera. I am so excited to have my gift a little early to document the Christmas holidays. Thank you Smiley! There sure is something to be said about feeling like a kid when you get a new toy. I'm downright giddy knowing that I have a few days off to play with my new little camera. I've always had a film camera and have been one of those geeks who develops all their holiday photos the first day back from a trip, simply because I cannot wait to see how they turn out. Okay, that may not be the only reason I'm a geek. I just know I'm going to drive my friends nuts with this. They are going to feel like they're hanging with the paparazzi. The dog and cat are already letting out big sighs when they see my lunging for my camera. Check back in a week and I'll post my week in images. Say Cheese(ball)!

Book Recommendation

I just finished reading a novel that I highly recommend: The Memory Keeper's Daughter by first time novelist Kim Edwards. The story grabs hold of you from the beginning - when a doctor helps deliver his wife's twins - a son and a daughter- during a snowstorm. Upon realizing that their newborn daughter has Down's Syndrome, he insists the nurse take her away to an institution and tells his wife that their daughter died during childbirth. The story is so deeply moving, about a family torn apart by secrets and longing. It was the best page-turner I've read in years. The relationships among the characters were so beautiful in their complexity and so remarkably true to life. I hope the next book I read can captivate me from start to finish as this one did. I hope you enjoy it.

Habitat for Humanity

I can honestly say my adventure in New Orleans was a trip of a lifetime. If you want to skip my write up, you can view my photo album here: New Orleans Pix.
I was nervous when the plane touched down in New Orleans. I had no idea who I would be living with and what the work week would entail. Luckily enough my trip started with ample comic relief to ease any lingering nervousness. Ray (our fearless team leader) greeted Trevor, Zane and I at the airport. We all burst out laughing when Ray popped the trunk of his Toyota Echo. Not to bash the Echo, because I know they are great little cars for gas mileage, but the trunk space pretty much fits one suitcase comfortably. Correction, it fits one carry-on bag comfortably. We stacked all of our luggage on our laps, and looked like a carload of floating heads. We had to keep pushing bags out of our faces to talk to one another. We had a great laugh, it was a terrific ice breaker. We drove out to Thibodaux, about an hour's drive west of New Orleans to meet the rest of our team in our Habitat For Humanity volunteer headquarters.

My teammates: Pat (a retired nurse who dedicated her career working in the Children's Hospital in Toronto and mother of two sons), Leona (Pat's older sister, a retired teacher from Haliburton -Ontario's beautiful cottage region), Don (An engineer from London Ontario who runs his own company and competes in Masters Race Walking, father of a son and daughter), Aggie (Don's wife, a retired school teacher and Master Race Walker), Trevor (an archeologist from Winnipeg), Nora Mclellan(a theatre actress from Niagara On the Lake, you can google her bio, it's impressive), Winnie (an engineer from Toronto), Sara (a dairy farmer from Cape Breton), Zane (runs maintenance for the legislative buildings in Edmonton, father of two daughters), and Ray, our fearless leader from London Ontario who has built over 15 houses for Habitat since 1998.

Our living quarters: We split our team into two homes, one for the men and one for the women. The houses for the volunteers to sleep in were extremely bare, simply because they would be finished and donated to families at a later date, once the Habitat subdivision neared completion. We had mats on the floor for our sleeping bags, and the kitchen was simply equipped with a refrigerator and microwaves (no sink or stove). At first glance we all thought our kitchen had a television, but it was just an ancient microwave that we all stood a safe distance from when it was in operation. I was thrilled that Pat packed a tin of Tim Horton's coffee, it brought that little piece of Canadiana into our home. It was also funny that Don and Aggie kept to the arrangement and slept in separate houses during their week's stay. Every night they'd kiss in the driveway like a couple of teenagers. It was so funny at the end of the week, we were all staying up late chatting in the kitchen and then Aggie said, "Ok troops, I think I'm going to change into my pj's and turn in." And without a moment's hesitation, Don said "Can I watch?" I think the separate housing situation put a new spark in their marriage. :)

Our daily routine: We'd get up at 6 a.m. and the men and women would congregate in the women's kitchen where we'd all jockey for position to have breakfast. At 7 a.m., we'd meet up with the rest of the volunteers at the Habitat pavillion to go over the day's work duties and do a group cheer. We would fill our tool belts at the shed with what we would need for the day ahead, load ladders and power tools on the truck to be dropped off at the job site and put in a workday from 7-3. At noon we'd all gather at the little mess hall for a free lunch (usually meat and a rice dish, so for me, usually a rice dish). In the evening, the 10 Canadians would drive into Houma or Thibodaux for dinner (the dinners out were included in our initial Habitat fee). It became part of our routine to also get lost everytime we drove off the Habitat site. A some point during every evening out, we'd end up in a parking lot looking at maps or asking for directions. It definitely offered up a lot of comic relief. The funniest evening of all is when the team decided to go to a lecture on coastal erosion .(I can't think of a better way to top off a long day of construction work in 80 degree heat, can you?) Our driver was going down the highway, making turns, driving through subdivisions and then he eventually pulled over and said, " so, where exactly is this place the lecture is at?" Nobody had any idea. No one brought the address or directions. 10 people and no one had the foresight to bring the brochure. I was pretty thrilled that we didn't find the lecture and went out instead for a fabulous meal of pasta and vino. After our meals in town, we'd usually all congregate in the kitchen of the women's house for tea/wine and great conversation.

The Habitat project: Families who lost their homes during Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita could apply to Habitat for one of the new homes on the Bayou. As part of the application process, potential partner families have to be gainfully employed to make the mortgage payments and they have to be willing to donate 350 volunteer hours before receiving their homes. For me, perhaps the most inspiring moment of my week came from meeting the partner families. Often family members would assist us on our worksites as they fulfilled their volunteer hours. Their stories were remarkable. So many of them lost everything. I remember one woman telling me she had been separated from her children for 5 weeks during Katrina's aftermath, and she had no idea if they were alive or dead during that time. The families would hug us and thank us for donating our time to help them. I have honestly never felt so fulfilled. It made me single handedly feel like I was making someone else's life better. I was so angered by the US government's slow reaction to help these families that I worked extra hard to push myself during my visit and make every moment count. I painted 20 shutters, installed three porch posts, put soffits up on two houses and installed F and J stripping on two homes. I conquered my fear of heights by spending the majority of the week on top of a ladder. I felt so empowered walking around the job sites with my tool belt on - it definitely put an extra swagger in my step. I also found it exhilarating using power tools. Even though I had on goofy safety goggles most of the week, with a power drill or hammer in hand, I felt right sexy! I will surely be a Home Depot junkie after this experience.

Highlights:
We took a tour of New Orleans and got to see the true scope of Katrina's devastation. Our tour started in the beautiful French Quarter, which was virtually untouched by Katrina. The wrought iron designs and architecture were simply stunning. We learned about the fascinating history of the old Creole City. But it was the drive through the St. Bernard Parish and the 9th Ward that left me speechless. It's been over one year since Hurricane Katrina struck, and the regions surrounding the Industrial Canal, where the largest levee breached, still feel like a ghost town. Tens of thousands of homes remain boarded up, with spray painted statistics on their front doors, indicating if bodies or pets were found inside during initial inspections. It's so hard to believe that so many families are still living in tiny FEMA trailers in their front yards, still trying to piece their lives back together. It was alarming to see the water lines on the houses and to see the holes in the rooftops where families had to gather and await rescue. I found it especially frustraing to see the city rebuild the same levee structures that failed them before. They haven't learned from this devastation. It was an eye opener but well worth seeing to feel the full impact of what these people went through and continue to endure. It definitely made me feel the urgency of my volunteer work and the necessity of it. All of the volunteers had a wonderful sendoff with a barbeque dinner. I was a little surprised when I arrived to find the barbeque consisted of three kinds of meatballs. It was another rice dinner for me! But we had a great time sitting around the campfire, sipping wine out of plastic cups. We looked at the constellations, made smores and chatted about the week we all had together. We played cards in the men's kitchen and honestly laughed so hard we had tears streaming down our cheeks. I am so thrilled that the Habitat project coincided with my week off of work. Meeting new friends, lending a helping hand, learning about construction, indulging in travel photography, and feeling fulfilled - not bad for a week's holidays. :)

Bon Voyage!

Tomorrow at the crack of dawn, I'm flying to New Orleans to help with the Louisiana rebuild project. I know it's only a week, but I'm hoping it will be a life changing experience. I can't wait to meet my fellow Canadian teammates, learn some skills and get my hands dirty. I just wanted to write this little note to thank all of my friends and family for their calls and messages of support. I will take a tonne of photos, journal the experience and try to write to you from the road if there's an opportunity. Life is all about new experiences and pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. I've never travelled on my own before and can't wait to see how the adventure unfolds. There's a little expression I like: Know your limits, not so you can honor them, but so you can smash them to pieces and reach for magnificence. Have a wonderful week and I'll post some entries about the experience when I return. Peace & Love.

Sex&The City

When the Kitty, Ker, Forbes and I get together, it reminds me of Sex & The City - except that we all pretty much turn into Samantha after a few martinis. The girls surprised me with an evening out on the town for my 34th birthday. We kicked off the night at Sanafir, a funky tapas spot on Granville. Nic, Pat and JT joined in on the fun as we sampled prawn, chicken and beef trio dishes and knocked back Kama Sutra cocktails. Ker and I brilliantly concluded that the drinks needed an extra shot of vodka, which may or may not be directly linked to our new-found interest in smoking Nic's cigarettes after dinner. That's right, we laugh in the faces of those who say you get wiser as you get older. After sufficiently horrifying the staff with our saucy photo sessions, we all weaved through the halloween-costumed crowds on the city streets and headed into the Republic because hey, we needed more cocktails and more photo ops! It was another funky venue, complete with high ceilings and cascading chandeliers. Strangely enough though, the DJ ignored the club's modern stylings and served up bad vintage like Bob Segar and Guns and Roses. I think Pat summed it up best - old W music. We still managed to dance up a storm -inspired by just being together and perhaps, the steady stream of cosmopolitans pumping through us. I giggle when I think of the table of baby boomers seated next to us in the club. They looked dumbfounded by our creative use of Kitty's digi-cam. Later, when Ker, Nic and I were huddled outside of the club, protecting our cigarettes from the rain, a girl approached us wondering if we knew where she could get cocaine. I had to giggle thinking, oh good, this is the vibe we're giving off now. Perhaps she thought I was on something because I was (very awkwardly) smoking in the October rain wearing a tank top. I like how Nic answered her by saying, "Cocaine? No, sorry, not around here." As if had she asked us maybe a few blocks away, we could have been of more assistance. We waded back through the rain to Forbes' pad and the girls surprised me with a set of luggage for my upcoming trip to New Orleans. I was so overwhelmed by the entire evening's generosity. From start to finish, the company and the night's energy were infectious. I think we're all a little thankful Kitty's camera battery died by the end of the night, or there could have been some embarassing moments captured! Shivering under a thin blanket on Forbes' couch I looked over at Ker- I had to laugh because her air mattress was really just for show- it was completely deflated and she pretty much slept on the hardwood floor all night, suffering from the (deflated) bed spins. So, although at that moment we didn't look as glamorous as we had felt throughout the evening, it was a fabulous night! I am definitely one of the lucky ones. My wealth is the people in my life and Kitty, Ker, Forbes, JT, Nic & Pat made me feel like a million bucks that night and I can't thank them enough.

Llama in need of a dentist......

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of this buck-toothed beauty when Janet and I took Cody to the pumpkin patch in Richmond this week. I like to think of this as the Austin Powers of the Llama kingdom -who could resist a face like this?

Got the call

New Orleans, here i come! I got the phone call this morning from Habitat For Humanity that my application was accepted for the Louisiana Rebuild project. I couldn't be happier. I've always wanted to do more than simply cut a cheque for charity. I've always wanted to feel like I'm directly making a difference. We will be building a home in Thibodaux, Louisiana, less than an hour's drive from New Orleans in an area that lost 16,000 homes to Hurricane Katrina. I signed up for this project for three reasons: to help others, to see first-hand the devastation of America's costliest natural disaster and to travel to a place on my own where I don't know anyone. I can't wait to meet my fellow Canadians that make up my team and to photograph what I can only anticipate as being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A surprise package for my birthday......

When I got home from work tonight, there was a mysterious package at my front door. It had no return address on it, just my name and address scrawled on an envelope taped on top. I immediately suspected my friend Kitty - it would be just like her to go out of her way and do something incredibly thoughtful on my birthday. I peeked in the envelope but it was empty inside. My mind was racing. I didn't even want to take the time to travel five steps to the kitchen to get the scissors to rip through the package's tape. I decided to use my teeth instead. Ripping through the tape I found inside......drum roll.....my purse that I lost Oct. 6th!! Someone had dropped it in the mailbox and the kind people at Canada Post sent it my way. Every piece of ID and my credit cards were inside! And, my prized possession, a smooth black stone that I have been carrying around since I was a little girl, is now safely back in my hands. I am so happy that this package arrived on my birthday. I feel like I got my identity back. I am taking this is a great sign of the year ahead. xoxo

Goodbye 33!

There's nothing like travelling 80 km, 250 feet up in the air, soaring above the autumn-coloured treeline, suspended from a cable. And when you're scared of heights, the first step off the platform can turn you whiter than, well, me. But once you let go of the reigns and absorb how high you really are, you can't help but scream with child-like enthusiasm. 33 wrapped up with a wonderful send-off.
Smiley booked us into Whistler's newest hotel: the adara - I fell in love with its modern stylings. Our room had an orange chaise, an Ipod docking station, a "floating" fireplace and a sheepskin rug-covered chair to name but a few cool touches. It even had a noise machine so you could fall asleep to 1 of 20 soothing sounds - with everything ranging from the gentle lapping sound of the surf to the quiet thumping of the human heartbeat. Let's just say after a few pints at the Irish Pub on Friday night, I had to crank up the sounds of the "everglades" to drown out Smiley's snoring. Whether we were strolling through the village shops, sipping martinis at the Mix, breathing in the fresh mountain air, clinking wine glasses in front of our fireplace or flying through the air on cablelines, Whistler didn't disappoint.
I can't believe it's the last day of being 33.....I still feel 24, with so much to learn. But it was definitely a year full of highlights: Sundance Film Fest (travelling with great friends, watching original films, playing in the snow, spotting celebrities and getting goosebumps listening to Martin Sexton's soulful voice); Maui(playing in the surf, watching the sunrise from a volcanic vantage point, standing in a bamboo forest, swimming with reef sharks, snorkelling around a sunken crater, lying under the stars during the Maui Film Fest); buying our first home and doing our own renovations; running my first half marathon; developing my own black and white photographs; Pender Island (travelling with dear friends and seeing orcas for the first time in the wild); Harrison Hot Springs, Bowyer Island, Seattle bitchfests, Chilliwack Lake camping getaways - and another year of healthy friends and family -I'm so excited to see what 34 brings.

maui sunset

Boston Baby!

I am a proud sista! We just got the news that my beautiful and amazingly athletic sister-in-law just qualified for the Boston Maraton this weekend!Clocking in at 3:45:30 during the Okanagan International Marathon, Karen completely shattered her Vancouver Marathon time of 4:26:09 from earlier this year. To shave off so much time in such a short period is almost unheard of. I talked to Karen on Friday night, before Sunday's run - she was coughing up a lung - sounding more like her nose should be running, not her feet.

I know how gruelling it was just doing a half marathon - we trained for months and pushed our bodies to the limit. I have tremendous respect for those who condition their minds and bodies to go the distance -especially those who attempt marathons. Karen has found her passion and is proving to be extremely talented at it. We're so proud of you Karen! xoxo

Thanksgiving

It's time to be thankful. Today I want to celebrate Smiley. I am thankful for this beautiful man's generosity of spirit. On Friday, in a moment of sheer absent-mindedness, I lost my purse (see the entry below). We didn't notice that I was sans purse until we got home. Smiley, being Smiley, told me to go inside, relax over a glass of wine and that he would drive back downtown to look around the area. I told him to just come inside and to consider that purse a token of generosity to a homeless person. But, he didn't want to leave a stone unturned. So, in rush-hour traffic, he drove an hour downtown, asked store clerks in the surrounds about my lost purse and drove back home. After working an eleven hour day, he didn't pull into the driveway until 9:00 p.m.

It's amazing gestures like these that make me look up to him (literally and figuratively). I am thankful that my best friend has such an abundance of character. When I grow up, I want to be just like him. He always says he's just doing what anyone else would do, but I know he's a standout in the crowd.

Lesson Learned

This is a note for all the women who carry purses or the metrosexuals who carry "man-bags" often passed off as "totes" - beware of the contents you pack around.

Tonight I had to report my purse as "lost" to the police - but that is simply because they didn't have a "forgot-in-a-moment-of-complete-and-utter-idiocy" phone number. Caught up in my uber-enthusiasm to present Smiley with a gift I got him after work, I saw him pull up and I leapt into the car. It didn't even occur to me that my purse wasn't among the bags I had in hand. It didn't occur to me until we got home, one hour later. That's when I did the crazy search of the car. I checked under the seat, under the floor mats, in the glove box, in the trunk (as if I had hopped in the car and somehow placed my purse simultaneously in the trunk.) I miss her already. My purse has only been gone for two hours and I'm already personifying it. But, I have to just laugh at my utter dorkiness and hope that some hobo is having the Friday night of his life. The hobo will be particularly delighted to discover that I was proactive enough to fill my purse with extra cash for the weekend ahead. Good times! I carry a tiny ounce of hope that a good samaritan will find my purse and call me with the wonderful news. But then I wake up and realize that a purse left on a park bench is pretty much equivalent to a guy shouting, "who wants some free money? anyone? hellooo....free money, over here!"

So, long story short, here's some tips the cops gave me: Do not carry anything in your purse other than ID and an interact card or credit card (if you're one of those like me who carry it for emergency purposes only-wink wink). Do not carry your keys in your purse - if someone steals your purse, then they have your ID and have access to your home/car. Do not carry your SIN card/Birth certificate/Passport, etc in your purse - these cards are not necessary for you to tote around on a daily basis. I wish I didn't have to lose my purse to write this up......but I'm hoping to help someone else out with this lesson learned. Just payin' it forward people!

The best gift I ever received......

One year I gave my grandma a blank journal and asked her to write about what it was like growing up through the depression and war. I wanted to know about life on the prairies and what it felt like to grow up with so many siblings. I just finished reading the last pages of her book and know that in my hands I hold a treasure. It is without a doubt the greatest gift I have ever received. She took the time to write her history for me. Tears rolled down my cheeks as she talked about falling in love with my grandpa and raising the joy of her life - my mom. I was so excited to read about her personal accounts of what life was like in the depression and how they lived off the land through unforgiving prairie winters. They never complained. They always took stock in what they had - each other. Even when they were all piled into a two bedroom home with no bathroom to speak of, they worked hard as a team. Her life was summarized by the people she met and the fun adventures they endured together. In modern society, too much time is spent commuting, punching the clock, rushing around to nowhere in particular. But in fact, when we look back, it's the time we spend with friends and family that matters the most. I can't wait to have tea with her today. She's my hero. She lives on her own, is 95 and totally self sufficient. Maybe all those survival skills from her younger years have made her the strong woman she is today.
So lesson learned from all of this - slow down, make time for those you love.....and savor every delicious moment of it.
xoxo

I Like You

I re-discovered a little children's book written by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. The simple messages in "I Like You" transcend all ages. Here are a few of my favourite quotes:

I like you because you are a good person to like

When I think something is important you think it is important too

If you go away then I go away too
Or if I stay home you send me a postcard
If I get lost then you are the one that is yelling for me

If you find two four-leaf clovers you give me one
If I find four, I give you two
If we find three, we keep looking

I like you because everything that happens is nicer with you

Pender Pix

Pender Island Pix

Farmer's market, Al Fresco dining at its best, Poet's Cove Resort.

Paradise Found

You know you've found paradise when you're all huddled around a table, brainstorming on ways to make a living on Pender Island. We arrived at Pender on Friday night after two ferry stops and hours of great conversation. Winding our way through Pender's hilly streets, I had to laugh as Tam's natural reaction to being tail-gated was to drive faster and faster. She squealed her tires around a hairpin turn, kicked up some gravel and for a moment I thought we were all in the General Lee - yeehaw! We arrived at Uncle Ian & Aunt Murley's gorgeous new waterfront home, claimed our beds and cracked open the wine before our coats were even off. Murley had left us a little list of things we should know about the house. Two words stood out: Heat - none. Caroline kept re-reading it, "what does this mean?!?" We contemplated calling Italy to get to the bottom of things. Did they really mean there would be no heat for us? We literally could feel the temperature drop as we read the note. We threw on slippers and bundled up in a panic- heat: none!
We made Caroline an organic chocolate birthday cake - I helped in as much as I licked a lot of spoons. We sat around enjoying music, wine, cake and each other's company. We toasted one another and said what we think each person's best qualities are - I don't know if it was the compliments or the vino, but we felt warm and fuzzy.

Saturday: Caroline & Jay's Saturday morning facial appointments at the spa in Poet's Cove were bumped until Sunday thanks to some large gang of middle-aged women that had overtaken the island. (No, not us.) We went to the local farmer's market and looked at the display tables full of eggs, baked goods, soaps, cheeses and strangely enough, books on communism. It's like someone cued up that Seseme Street song, "which one of these doesn't belong?"
We explored the island and popped into the Hope Bay Cafe for lunch. When I think about our server, the Madonna lyrics "time goes by, so slowly" come to mind. Tammy and Jay ordered grilled panini's and Caroline and I went with the seafood chowder. We could see their sandwiches on the counter beside us, and so could our waiter. He kept walking by them, looking at the paninis, looking at us, then carrying on with his walk. One time he even walked up to the sandwiches, lifted the plates, and put them back down. It was as if he was terrified of the paninis. More importantly, our soup was no where to be seen. Come on people, it's soup!
But we were in holiday mode, so the service became more of a running joke than a nuisance.
We found a nice trail walk and meandered down to Welcome Bay where Caroline, Jay and I, in true Darwin Award fashion, scaled steep rocks to see what was around the corner. Around the bend were............more steep rocks. All of our climbing around in the sun made us thirsty, so naturally we sped off to the winery. Morning Bay wines are found in some of Vancouver's finest restaurants like West, Vij's and Gothams. We sampled Rieslings, Pinot Noirs, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, oh my! We bought a 2004 Riesling and the 2003 Reserve Merlot and patted the resident dog Benny before heading back to our waterfront haven. We dined in "town" at the french restaurant Pistou Grill. The food was mouthwatering -the Ahi Tuna special seemed tailor made for Care's birthday. Uncle Ian surprised us all and treated us to the amazing feast - as if staying at his beautiful home wasn't a gift in itself. We played games late into the night and surprisingly our team got worse and worse in direct proportion to our wine consumption.

Sunday: I had a life-list moment. Relaxing having our morning coffees, Caroline started leaping up and down, "whales! whales!" I frantically ran through the house to get my camera - I literally shoved past Tam in the doorway. Oops! Caroline ran to grab Jay and left chocolate stained fingerprints on Jay's sweater. I guess we know who having birthday cake for breakfast. Then we heard them. Darth Vadar-like breathing echoed across the water as a pod of Orcas swam by the deck. We were pinching ourselves. We were awestruck. We wandered back inside and then Janet started screaming again, "there's more!" We looked up and could see the giant fins rounding the Marina's corner, making their way towards us. We counted at least 20 pass by. The last Orca to pass us flipped on his back and smacked his tail against the water as if to say, "show's over folks!"
We dropped Jay off at the spa for her facial and headed to Higgs Point for some beachcombing. Tam had her zen moment on the rocks while Care and I ran around like kids on the beach, amazed by all the giant purple jellyfish washed ashore. Care and I met up with Jay at the spa and used the facilities. We all went into the steam cave and the outdoor "legionnaires" hot tub. Tam, Jay and I met up at the Poet's Cove pub patio and had lunch while Care had her facial. Seaplanes flew into the marina as we sat in the sun - it was such a gorgeous setting. When Care's appointment was over, we headed to Hope Bay so she could have a quick bite to eat. We laughed when we got the same incredibly slow server as the day before. My favourite moment was when he refilled Care's coffee. Tam and I leaned apart so the waiter could fit inbetween us and refill our mugs, but he just walked on by. The afternoon was topped off with more island exploring with pitstops at Port Washington and Boater's nook.
I am so excited for Uncle Ian and Aunt Murley's new adventure in island living. I am so thankful we all got to share in it. I can't wait to go back.

Bitchfest

Eager to visit the shorter half of our gang, Forbes and I hit the road for a much needed bitchfest in Seattle. In our usual fashion, I grabbed the wheel while Forbes kicked back for a titch of a kipper while we headed down the highway(looking for adventure). I teased her on the drive down with her frequency of "I miss you, do you miss me?" phone calls to J. But, seeing someone you care about giggle and smile so much in the throws of new-found love is a wonderful thing. I am thankful to Starbucks, the makers of doubleshot espresso for getting me to Seattle with energy to spare. Shortly after arriving, Forbes and I ran through the streets of Kirkland for a "light jog" that quickly turned into the hill training of our lives. At one point we were running on our tippie toes up a street that became our personal Mt. Everest. I scanned the surrounds for a sherpa to carry me up. We laughed as we got to the top of the hill, only to be greeted by a series of uphill climbs. I think our route should have been called, "so you think you can jog."

After ordering in some tasty grits, Ker, Barb, Kim, Becky, Kitty, Forbes and I climbed into two cars and headed into town for the "So You Think You Can Dance" live show. Mental note: next time Kitty is not allowed to play India Arie before an outing. Aside from the throngs of screaming tweens and row "Z" seats, I thoroughly enjoyed the show and was thrilled to share my passion of dance with my dear friends. I am blown away and inspired by the talent of these incredible dancers. I am sure at some points Forbes was waiting for the puck to drop, but I am glad that these good sports came to the show with me.

Kitty and I chatted into the wee hours of the night - I always welcome her advice, and happily found out it all starts with a good pair of jeans. In a dead slumber, we were awoken in the morning by a well-rested Forbes who decided to swan-dive onto the bed inbetween us, knocking the bed off it's hinges. I think my old ticker almost stopped for a moment.

Ker surprised us with an impromptu tour of the puget trade floor, with Forbes and I looking our best - I am sure David Mills was impressed by my grease-slicked hair and Forbes' third day of unwashed "tousled" locks. He must wonder if Vancouverites ever shower.
My favourite part of the visit would have to be when the four of us are just sitting on the floor of Kitty's room, catching up. My spirit is always rejuvenated after a quick bitchfest - I equate it to how I feel after a hike in the great outdoors: inspired, centered and taken aback by the beauty of it all.

My Hairy Little Family

Whether we're squeezed into 500 square feet of city living, or cozy together in our new little house in the burbs, home to me is wherever these three roam. This is my heart in images.

The Launch

There's something so exciting about starting something new. Whether it's a new season, a new place to see, a new friend or a new project -I definitely get energized by new experiences . Inpired after seeing my friend Kitty's blog, I decided to launch one of my own. Any creative project that combines my passion for photography and writing is definitely up my alley (or down my alley?) - something involving my alley. One thing I know for sure is that life is a big unpredictable adventure. With this blog, I hope to capture the funny little moments that happen along the road. More importantly, I want to showcase all the wonderful people that I meet along the way.