Chouette

I haven't got much to say today. The 5 k on Friday went pretty well, considering the heat and the steep hill that made my knees sore for the way back. My friend Tracy organized the whole event and she did a fantastic job. Some friends from work ran it as well and others came to watch, then we hung out afterwards for a while before heading back to the city; the race was by the beach, out of town.

Saturday and Sunday I worked, and Sunday was especially busy. My coworker and I were on our feet the whole time, dashing about madly, then I had a soccer game in 40+ degree heat, with the humidex.

Yesterday evening, Liz and I attended a Downhere concert and Building 429. We both love downhere and have since we first heard their music in high school, but hadn't seen them in concert. I was sure they would be the main act but weren't, so we got there a bit late and missed a couple songs. Liz and I biked there with our friend Renée, which was a nice bike ride.

I had been to the optometrist earlier that evening to have my eyes dilated so my eyes were sore and I was a bit of a grouch (sorry, girls~). The concert was wonderful though, and I appreciated how real the guys were about life, about the struggles we all face, about how that doesn't change who God is or who he is in our lives. It gave me something to mull over in the times I'm not rushing around. I could sure use more of that kind of contemplative time.

Renee convinced me to get a photo with one of the singers of downhere on my cellphone, so I did- I felt like the cheesiest fan ever and also like I was about 10. Oh well, it was still fun to meet them even though I wish I'd had the guts to say hi to one of the other members beside him. I also completely forgot to mention that I went to bible college with the drummer's sister-in-law; that was my whole connection point I was going to bring up. I guess I got nervous like I do when the attention is on me. Great night all the same.

Tonight I'm set to run 20k (ugh), and I'm really hoping it's not too hot out by the time I go, but I have a feeling the humidity will still be pretty high. My race is now in 12 days- just realizing that makes me nervous! I'm going to tackle a big hill my boss told me about, so that should help with the terrain aspect since Quebec is supposed to be quite hilly. I suppose it is; I should know from being there, but never noticed I guess.

Have a great afternoon, everyone.

I wonder as I wander

*disclaimer* I love to write long sentences, and I hope it's not annoying to read; it's a vice I can't quite shake. Could be worse, right?

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted much lately. Mainly, this is because my mind has been lacking of topics of interest to a general audience, I think, but also because I have been reading the blogs of strangers. I can tell you it's been fascinating.

I've added a section of blogs I have been eyeballing recently, and they are diverse but all well-written and with excellent photographs. Some people just ooze talent, I'm telling you. Some are particularly poignant- you should take a look when you have some time.

Being that I love to read but am hesitant to pull out a book at my desk since there are so many interruptions not congruent to a seamless storyline, I've found the happy medium in reading other people's blogs. Today it's http://www.matthewlogelin.com/, a link from http://www.kdsthinkingoutloud.blogspot.com/, one of the blogs of note on blogspot. It's truly heartwrenching but so funny and poignant at the same time- I truly recommend it. What a strange universe, to connect with total strangers in their day-to-day lives without their even knowing about it. I can't quite get used to it.

Anyhow, it's pushed me through an emotional roller-coaster all morning as I read, and one thing it's leaving me with is wanting to take more pictures, and write about the things children do, haha, for some reason. I have none of my own, but was reminded of something my little brother said when he was in kindergarten- we were outside on the front lawn playing some kind of outdoor game, and he pointed up and said something about the "cloudiz." He had a funny period of saying "iz" for all his plurals for a little while there, which I think is hilarious.

Well, since I have no kids I'm forced to write about other people's children which is bordering on just weird at the moment. Oh well, at least they're in my family... (?)

Along those lines, I've noticed as of late that it's not the same anymore to exchange kid stories with people who actually have children. Such as, they say "my kid did this" and I say "oh yeah, my brother did this." People don't really care, for one thing (and I don't blame them), and it's true it's not the same. I have borrowed these scenarios from my siblings for years but now when my peers are having kids themselves, that no longer cuts it. Seems that happened overnight.

Tomorrow I'm running in a 5 km race that my friend has organized. When I heard how many have signed up, all hopes of qualifying in the top 3 for my age group evaporated, but I'm hoping to enjoy it. Then in 17 days it's my race in Quebec! I am getting pumped but nervous too. I've been wanting to do this race for a while, but I only wish Liz could participate with me. I wish she could be there with the rest of the family but she'll be off to some pretty crazy adventures I'm sure:)

So, in honour of Liz, here's a photo from last year since I don't have new ones at the moment.