Life can be lovely.

As I type, a cat just crashed into the window trying to attack some pretty yellow birds on the other side. Funny. Scared the crap out of everyone. Sleeping critters no longer! I don’t think he realized rocking chairs aren’t the best foundations for leaping and landing properly. Who ever said cats always land on their feet wasn’t giving us the whole story.

OK. So I’ve been terrible at this on-line “journaling” thing. Frankly, I’ve quite enjoyed the privacy and break from it. But, that being said, I’m a writer at the heart of who I am and I do miss it, if I’m not getting it in other areas of my life. I suppose today, I need a writing fix. So, here I am. I’ve not been on here much at all. As soon as I logged in, I grinned, as I saw my header photo. Wow, it amazes me that it’s a picture I actually took myself in Kenya. I find it had to believe that I was actually there. It was this time last year and things have been different ever since.

What to say… where to start…

Loads of gorgeous lilies blooming outside. My favourites. Have been doing a lot of photography with my new Nikon, my new baby. I LOVE the land of SLR cameras, but will never get rid of my old Pentax either. I’ve always thought it would be cool to have my own darkroom. I think I might take a photography course this fall for something extracurricular. I got some instruction when I did Journalism, but brushing up with like-minded individuals could be a lot of fun. I’ve got hummingbirds by the dozens and have taken some great shots from the front window of several at my feeders at one time. I get more birds every year and the cats and I appreciate their visits.

I decided to put off leasing a horse until the spring. I’m having so much fun with riding and learning the ropes all over again. When I was little, I was jumping barrel-sized jumps and now I’m pretty much jumping over poles sitting on the ground. Hee hee. It’s all coming back to me and I think I want to learn a bit more before I do the leasing thing. Plus, I’m riding a new horse that is also new to my instructor and I’m in love with him! Truly! By Spring, the two of us will be perfectly ready for a lot of time on our own. He’s part Belgian, part Quarter horse, so he’s HUGE. Big horses are my favourites and they run and jump so smoothly. This guy is a big baby and likes to cuddle and give kisses. Or, is that me? Either way, I’m in love and find my weekly fixes crucial for my sanity.

My solo trip to Montreal was fantastic. I LOVED it. It reminded me how much I love to travel by myself and meet all kinds of new people in the process. It’s exhilirating. Osheaga Music and Arts Festival was BRILLIANT. I had the best time!!! There were about 30,000  people there during the festival and on day 1, I was in the front row. I planted myself directly in the front at about 1:30 in the afternoon and didn’t move until after 11 p.m., when the Killers were finished. It was SO FREAKING AWESOME and I can’t wait to do it again! I know many people can’t handle those kinds of crowds, but I seem to come alive and thrive. A good thing to know about myself I think. I really enjoyed exploring Montreal, especially Old Montreal. I always travel with a Lonely Planet guide, this trip being no exception. I used their map of Old Montreal to explore and found it very helpful. Thanks Lonely Planet for all you’ve done for me over the years. ;-D

I also went rappelling at Cape Enrage in New Brunswick. Oh my, what fun. I can honestly say that I was TERRIFIED beyond words about stepping backwards off a 150-foot cliff, but after my first descent, I couldn’t wait to do it again. By my third,  I was asking them to teach me how to bounce down. Hee hee. It was really fun and empowering, too. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to do it again next summer. This time, I believe I have some others who are willing to try it with me.

At home, I’ve been purging and purging and purging. I’m still dealing with the aftermath of last summer’s trip to Africa (that inspired me to rappel this summer!) and the amount of “stuff” we have here in our western culture. I still deal with a lot of guilt and find it hard to put it in perspective sometimes. Sometimes, I can. I think I’m entering a new chapter in my life and have been for a while. I’m predicting big changes in the next year… you’ll have to stay tuned for that.

Oh - hee hee - I ordered my Christmas cards yesterday! HA HA! Do you hate me???

Adventure = Empowerment

I can be a bit of a chicken. Yep. Perhaps an ostrich is a better choice. They bury their heads in the sand. I do that sometimes. Soooo many people are under the illusion that I’m adventurous and I’m really trying my best to live up to that.

So - to impress myself (and prove that I can live up to what I’m hearing inwardly and outwardly), my Montreal vacay has started and my rappelling is booked for next week. I’m tickled and already feeling the empowerment that challenging oneself can deliver.

Pictures to come next week when I’m back on my fair isle. For now, it’s back to the vino and great friends. It’s nice to have friends to love and be loved by them. It’s true and it’s real.

 

Happy Saturday. Focus on the positive. That’s what I’m doing. The world is a bit scary today and there’s been a lot to process. Focus on the POSITIVE. Laugh with those you love. Have a really great hug. The best medicine. And - it might spread to someone else !!

Osheaga ~ I’ll be there!

I’m beyond excited. CAN’T FREAKIN’ WAIT!!!

You can see some footage from last year… here.

E-mails from strangers

An interesting story to share… at least, I think it’s interesting.

Over the years, I’ve gotten e-mails consistently from three people I’ve never met, who think I’m someone else. Perhaps I should explain.

Number One. Apparently, I’m a medical student in London, England, who doesn’t always pass her papers in on time and has had some issues with course choice over the years. I’ve emailed the school back a couple of times, to let them know I’m not the girl they’re looking for. I eventually gave up, as the e-mails still came. They’ve entertained me from time to time.

Number Two. George Heindle. I’ve no idea who he is. He sends me forwards CONSTANTLY and they go to my junkmail folder. I’d e-mailed him to let him know I’m not who he thinks I am, but that didn’t help. They still come in abundance. Whatever. They go to my junkmail, as I said, and sometimes I even open them. (I loathe forwards and mostly I don’t even open them when they come from friends, so what does this tell ya!)

Number Three. Ken Parker. He’s the reason I’m talking about this today. I’ve gotten e-mails from him for YEARS. It seems like forever. Most often, they have been forwards, but sometimes they are real e-mails. I’d let him know years ago that I was not who he thought I was, yet again, the e-mails kept coming and I got used to them, and you guessed it, they went directly to myjunk mail. Last year, I started getting e-mails with health updates. Apparently, Ken was living in the US. He had been confined to a wheelchair. I felt bad for him, yet I didn’t know him. He’s become a staple in my e-mail life. A few months ago, I stopped getting e-mails, but I didn’t take any notice until about two weeks, when there was an e-mail from him in my junk mail folder. It was actually from his son, saying he was really sorry to tell everyone that his dad had passed away. Wow. What a strange experience, as I found myself mourning a man I’d never met and didn’t know. A very, very strange thing to process. I’m still processing it. It’s weird.

Anyway, entirely off topic. Next week, Montreal. The week after that, rappelling. I’m terrified of the latter, but am going for it anyway. Yikes.

Must jet.

Beauty

Just outside my backdoor… not even a five minute walk away… THIS exists. How lucky am I?

(Oban, my gorgeous pooch, appears in one shot… can you spot her?)

Always growing

Good “wonderful” day…

My yard is growing like crazy… I LOVE IT!!! Had to share some pictures… I will be adding to it all the time.

Must jet - dog at the door who wants to go out - perhaps I shall join her.

One more thing - looking into leasing a horse !!! AHHH!!!!! VERY exciting. VERY, VERY exciting. I came back from riding earlier this week with some new plans for the fall. I shall keep you posted.

Lazy, hazy days of summer

Too busy for the lazy. Definitely hazy.

I’ve been off for about three days. I’ve got just over 50 left until I start work again. This is the first time in my latest career choice where I’m returning to the same room. Kind of a cool feeling. I didn’t have to move out, just clean and pack up. Nice. Also the first time I’m going to be working at a 100% contract (starting in September). My student loan collectors will be thrilled, but not as thrilled as I am!

So… why am I on here after so long an absence… hmm… I did say I’d be back some time in the summer, when things were quieter.

I’m thrilled to be sharing my refueling time with family and friends. I finished a few days ago and I’m already feeling a tad refuelled. I’ve never felt more like I’ve needed a break. I’ve not been home much and am hoping to get MUCH done over the next few weeks. I’ve had barbecues, gatherings, visits with friends and relatives, and it’s all been great. It’s great to know that I’ve also got a few days grace before the next function. I need a few days to myself. My alone time is crucial. I’ve got almost 2 acres of lawn to mow, a porch to paint, a basement to purge, a fence to build, veggies and herbs to plant, trees to protect, among other things - I love it all, mostly because I can do it ALL BY MYSELF! It’s very empowering. I do have people popping in the day after tomorrow and need to make mowing the lawn a priority. Definitely. I’ve got tons of lillies close to blooming. It’s amazing to me how they’ve quadrupuled in the few years I’ve lived here. Stunning. Note to self: figure out how to put pictures on here again. I live in the middle of nowhere and still don’t have access to high-speed Internet. I am not lying people. (Reminds me - last month my community celebrated getting CBC radio access for the first time EVER in this little remote part of the Canadian world. Wild, eh? Hard to believe in this day and age, but that’s the truth about where I exist. It’s kind of nice, in a weird sort of way.)

What I am most excited about right now, is that today I bought tickets to see The Killers later this summer. I’m ELATED!!! They have been my favourite band for the past few years and I’d made it a “life goal” to see them live. Perhaps that may seem strange to some, in the big scheme of things, however - I’m all about living life and doing what we can while we can!! YAH! Life is just too bloody short and I waste too much time making excuses for myself, putting things off, or just not doing it at all. I LOVE that I’ve spent the past few days going full tilt, doing tons with my precious friends and family. I LOVE that I’ve got a day to myself tomorrow. I LOVE that I’ve got a trip to Montreal later this summer to look forward to. I LOVE that I’m going rappelling later this summer with some of my favourite people. Mostly, I LOVE that I can make these choices, DREAM my DREAMS and have the ability to put them forward as reality. LIVE LIVE LIVE. (I’ve done a ton of inspirational presentations in recent months and think I’ve found a potential new 2nd career… I ADORE IT.)

There, I’m done.

A good friend is studying with the Dalai Lama this summer. How cool is that?

OK - off to do something… not sure what… but something. ;-D

Holy Moses, smell the roses.

I was at this concert. I had a “gold” seat near the front. Oh my. Just let me tell you. Or rather, you can read for yourself.

To quote the elderly gentleman sitting beside, who I kept threatening to hit in excitement (he thanked me later for not doing that): “Not only is he still a sex symbol, he’s got stamina!” I can only say WOW. He’s 73 and sexy. (I never thought I’d hear myself say that!) He played for three hours and several encores, never looking tired. We gave him a standing ovation after every song. The energy in the room was so very infectious.  

WOW.

I left the show almost wanting his children. Those who know me, know that’s HUGE, as I’ve no desire to procreate.  I was deeply moved. A brilliant man and an absolutely admirable writer. The sexiest words I’ve ever heard.

Phew.

I feel I was a part of something HUGE. I’m sure that sounds silly to many. But, you Leonard fans out there - you get it.

Had to share.

Off to see the Killers and Jack Johnson this summer. Can’t wait.

I miss you.

This is just a quick check-in, with a little update.

First, I have to say that I have missed this blogging outlet for all that is going on around me. I’d said I was taking a year’s hiatus, but I may be back earlier… we shall see. Right now, I’m sort of planning for a summer return. I’ve had people asking.

Despite the tough winter (my dad’s cancer had returned, he had major surgery with scary setbacks and is now going through chemo and radiation again, but all tests show cancer-free at present. Phew). Those who know him, know he’s Mr. Positive, so we’re very much focused on what matters most, that being LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE.

Life has been happier than ever when it comes right down to it. I have the best family, the best friends and the best times. I’ve got loads of new laugh lines, I’m sure. I say, bring them on! LIFE IS FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC!!! For the most part, negative energy that tries to sometimes invade my life, bounces right off. I’m completely armoured.

 I guess I should mention, while I’m here, that everything changed when Phil sent me on a top secret (at the time) trip to Africa back in September. Since then, everything has been different in every single way. I visited a great friend in Ontario in November and we took Niagara Falls by storm. I’d not been there before, and it was a hoot! I’ve finally gotten into public speaking (motivational in many ways) and have done a few presentations, with a few requests for more. I LOVE IT!!!! Sharing inner happiness and knowledge fuels me to no end. It’s the most powerful feeling I’ve ever had. WOW. I’m organizing a fundraising event for May that will hopefully bring MUCH publicity, fundraising and fun times. I’m delighted to be getting a new digital SLR camera in the next few weeks. Friends have asked me to be the photographer at their wedding in a couple of months and I’m over the moon excited about that! It’s a great excuse to get a new camera. There’s so much to tell. Too much just yet.

 I shall return in the summer, when I devote my time off to full-time writing. I’m beyond excited about getting to do that. There are several books spilling from my brain, and I’m thrilled to be devoting time to that. Until then, I’m planning a few adventures… a close friend just got back from sky-diving in NZ and I almost feel as though I did it, too. I’m anxious to see if I can try that. I’ve got a rapelling and spelunking adventure on the horizon with some friends, as well as a few other adventures brewing. I’m starting to save for my Russia and Scandinavian trip. I’m dying to explore that part of my heritage. I’ve looked into getting my pilot’s license, after getting the chance to fly a plane (for a few seconds) over the Savannah in Africa. It was AMAZING. I’ve discovered it costs thousands to get your own license, but it’s certainly on my list of dreams I may chase at some point. Chasing them is just as much fun as living them, don’t you think?

My house is still red, white, purple and pinkish on the inside. I recently added a green and white striped wall. I do love colour! I’m jumping in to wallpapering my ceiling shortly… yep! How cool is that? Perhaps by summer, I will have some new photos to share. I will update my blogroll sometime soon, too. There are a lot of cool people out there.

Check back in late June or early July and you might find me here! Until then, stay happy. Do what brings you the most joy - jump in with both feet and see if you can tear that smile off your face. I promise you, you’ll find it permanently glued on. It will help you through the tough spots and give you even more happy times. Yay!

LIVE LIVE LIVE!!!

See you in the summer!

(The header photo is a cheetah I met on the savanna. Very, very cool.)

On hiatus

Come back in a year or two.