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.

Wedding hoop-la

On Saturday, my good friend Nada got married! I've been consulting with her to give advice whenever she liked so it was so great to be a part of the wedding as a guest as well! I wish you could have seen it, the wedding reception was gorgeous and the dancing was great. I don't know how to do Arabic dancing but I enjoyed watching.

Last week, some girls from work had a bachelorette dinner for her, which was a lot of fun. Risqué, but fun:)





Oops, I didn't post one of Nada from the dinner, I'll have to add one!

Holly, me, and Nada- the three of us are close work friends (is that contradictory?) :)

Liz and I

Me and Holly

more work friends- we all sat together

*Sigh* it's so weird to think that now she is married. Her husband is great and I'm so happy for them- wait- I didn't get his picture on here either, haha- it was late last night when I was transferring them. Still, it will be different now. Holly and I are going to celebrate with Nada for her birthday after her honeymoon. It's pretty lonely where I sit at work without her but I'm sure she's having a blast, travelling about.

I'll get those missing photos up soon!

Ciao!

Flowers, on the verge of a storm

On Saturday, on the way home from work, I noticed these flowers along the side of a house and I couldn't resist coming back to snap some photos. I made it just before the rain came down! Only after did I discover my little camera can take manual focus photos! Oh well, I'm happy with how they turned out anyways, since I was just experimenting.

My favourite

Thanks to the Duecks and the Shumans for inspiring me with your flower photos- not sure if you read my blog since I don't actually know you (odd, I know), but thanks all the same:)

More to come...wedding stuff!

Down in the valley where the green grass grows...

I thought I was up-to-date on posting, but the way these days have been going, I'm missing a lot in a short time.

The weekend of my birthday, I went home to visit my family and to attend a family reunion. We sure packed a lot into a few days! We stayed up late on Friday night talking when I was so tired, but it was great to catch up and get into the discussions that always seem to end up happening:) Good ones, mostly, though!

Saturday, I awoke to thunder right overhead that was shaking the house, so all thoughts of sleep quickly vanished, but I hung out with my little brothers reading Astérix and Obélix comics with them and we had a hilarious time. I hung out with my little sister Ruth quite a bit, which was fun since we were the only two sisters home, not usual for when I'm visiting.

That afternoon was our family reunion- I'll post photos soon- that my cousin living out west organized. How great to see everyone again. I still feel like I'm a kid sometimes at those things, but this time felt like I was relating to my aunts and uncles and older cousins as an adult...about time, I know:) But it's like there's been a divide between my siblings and the older cousins, simply because we're in different places in life, but that gap is lessening as we get older. All in all, it was a delightful visit. I was so encouraged as well not to stress about career or life decisions- I guess I must have expressed those concerns to a few that were there, haha- oops! I hope it wasn't too much of a downer. Really, I have a cool family. Quirky and a little OCD at times, but fun all the same:)

My dad's retirement cake

Me and my cousin Julie

The next day, I got to see everyone at my parent's church- it's stranger and stranger every time I go home because there are more people cropping up that I've never met but apparently know who I am. Some little girl wished me a happy birthday because my mom must have mentioned it to her- I had no idea who she was at first:) I love seeing the ones I know, though, and got to visit with a few I really wanted to see.

That afternoon, my brother and I had a joint birthday celebration (since our birthdays fall in the same week). I don't think we've done that before and I really enjoyed sharing that with him. Mom made us mini fruit flans which we both were hoping for- it was so sweet of her.

Right after, I went to visit my friends Chantal and Nathalie, and it was great to see them. (I should say, it was great to see you, since you're mostly the ones who read this!) :) We'll have to visit longer next time! I'm glad I could stop by quickly though, and see Nicky too.

Unfortunately it was just a short visit as my parents were with me on the way to a 30th anniversary party for some friends I've known since birth, probably. What a reunion- I haven't seen some of those people for years, and it was great to spend some time on the Quebec side while at home and get back to those roots in a sense. It kind of felt like a homecoming, that whole afternoon.

Anouk, Amélie, me, and Marie-Michelle

Fanie and I

The next day I headed back on the Greyhound, but the trip was not so bad. I mostly slept and read and killed some time puttering around a few blocks away from depot in Toronto on my layover. All in all, a whirlwind weekend, but I had a great time reconnecting! Awkward at times, but wonderful too:)

Okay, I'll post photos soon, see ya's later, as we say in the Valley! :D

Bon Voyage, Jenny!

On Friday, Liz and I greyhounded it to Hamilton to meet up with Jenny. She had packed up everything for her trip, and it was sad to truck out all her boxes and leave her place so empty. Sigh. Another chapter, and all that comes with it, I suppose.

It was great to spend the weekend with her and her parents- the weather was great (although the bay was freezing!) and we swam and kayaked a bit. The sleeping-in part was wonderful. Georgian Bay is beautiful- I can see why her family settled there!

Sunset on Georgian Bay

Goodbye, Hamilton!

It seems so strange that Jenny, then Liz, are about to embark on this big adventure...now I'm the one to be left behind feeling out of sorts. We all take turns like that, it seems! I feel like sometimes Liz and Jenny have more in common; well, they do, it's not just a feeling; I mean, I feel like I don't contribute to our friendship in a meaningful way. I've learned so much from Jenny by living with her and I'm grateful she is persistent to keep in touch- it is so enriching and she has touched my life so much. Thanks, Jenny!

Me and Ashlee

On Monday, I took the day off as my friend Ashlee (and roomie from 4th year) flew to London for some training a day early so we could hang out. She had some issues with her plane not being able to land in London and had to spend the night in the airport in Toronto, poor girl. However, we still were able to meet up bright and early in the morning:) We spent some time being tourists in London, checking out the basilica downtown, and went out for lunch with one of her friends. It was so great to see her again- I would have loved to visit for longer, but it was great to catch up in the time we did have. Have a great trip, Ash! You know I'll be thinking of you & praying for you!

Some endings, some beginnings...ah, the passage of time...that just makes me feel old because my birthday is coming up, yikes. Oh well, can't be helped.

Bye for now!

Wedding showers and rain showers

Mandy and Sarah

Amber

This weekend, I got to meet up with Mandy and Sarah at our friend Amber's wedding shower (we all went to high school together). I was the lucky one to write in the cards what people gave, and I'm not even in the wedding party! Oh well, it was a bit awkward but fun to get together with the girls although it was just for the afternoon.

It was a bit crazy, as I was greeting at church, then stayed for a meeting and lunch, then headed to the shower. When Mandy and Sarah left, I did too, and had a soccer game afterwards, then a planning meeting barbecue for the young adults small group for the fall. Sunday was busy! I went straight to bed when I got home and slept almost 10 hours:) That never happens!

Mandy

How was everyone's Canada Day? Bonne fête, Canada! :D

The other day, I made Liz and I some sweet lattes, and she put the chocolate shavings on. Cute, eh?

Liz and I hung out at home, watched Rain Man and ate some junk food. I went for a run with my friend Mark who is joining the half-marathon clinic with me, and Liz went for a run too. In the evening, I got together with Sarah and we went out for supper at a cute new bistro, then went to the fireworks where Liz met up with us. It rained during most of it, but not too hard, thankfully. I'm disappointed they didn't sing Oh Canada though- what's fireworks on Canada Day without the anthem? Oh well...I recited the French one to myself in my head to make myself feel better:)

me and Sarah

This weekend, I'm heading north to Georgian Bay with Liz to visit Jenny before she is off on her globe-trotting! Liz will be joining her later on. Then, next weekend I'm heading home for a family reunion- still working out transportation but that should work out somehow! Some of my sibs will be away :( which is too bad since I may not be home again before Christmas.

I'm hoping to sign up for a race in Quebec city at the end of August instead of in Toronto in September. It would be a dream come true to race in Quebec- I've wanted to for years. I'm disappointed Liz won't be around, but I may try anyways. It's been too long since I saw my grandparents. I'm thinking of renting a car, and taking one of my sisters with me- that would be sweet, eh? We'll see if it works out, but it gives me something to plan/dream about:)

Have a good weekend, ciao for now!