WhereSheGoes

Lets talk about the weather

It’s Thursday afternoon now and we are still experiencing scorching temperatures. Good thing we have a fan going in here or I would be cooking! I have the radio on in the background to catch any weather warnings that may develop. Usually we get a good thunderstorm when it’s hot like this. This has been a very active year for intense weather in Alberta. Severe storms causing extensive damage (including several fatalities) have dominated the news over the past few months.

Admittedly, I tend to get rather excited when Environment Canada issues a weather watch for my region. You will find me glued to the window of my 20th floor condo monitoring any systems coming in from the west. Talk of jet streams, barometric pressure, and dew points really do it for me. Yeah, I should have been a meteorologist.

The wind has picked up a bit but the sun is still turned on full blast. Mom is napping in the shade under the trees on my yoga mat. Dad will be back tomorrow to pick us up and haul us home. Then I have to begin packing.

Grateful for climate climaxes.

Everyone should have an EscapePod

The last time we came here a few weeks ago it was windy and a little too chilly for my taste. It was probably a good thing that the tent broke because then we were forced to look for a new one. We ended up spending a bit more and purchasing a little vintage 1979 Trillium trailer. Made of lightweight fiberglass, our 13 foot home away from home can even be towed by a car and is easy to manage. The previous owners took great pride in renovating the interior creating a charming and modern “escape pod” which can go pretty much anywhere.

I will admit that while it is much more convenient camping with electricity, I am not quite ready for the cumbersome responsibility and expense of a giant gas guzzling RV. But my Trillium is a happy compromise with a small fridge, stove, and sink proving that having a few creature comforts can up really boost the fun factor.

Even as a child, I have always liked cubbyholes. My mom would always find me hiding or sleeping in drawers, closets, under furniture, and even inside the clothes dryer. I gravitated towards small spaces so it makes senses that I would find one to travel around in.

We are using it for the first and last time this year before storing it away for the winter. As luck would have it, we have hit a three day 30 degree heat wave. Mom is having a nap before we embark on another hike aka. Project Saskatoon Collection.

Grateful for pod mobility.

Fruits of my Labour of Love

Truly, I am so blessed. There are so many people and moments in my life that I have to be grateful for. Right now, I am staying with my parents for a month before I embark on my next big trip. Every day I am reminded how fortunate I am to have them, even in all their eccentric ways.

The other day I woke up to find my mom already gone to work but a jug of fresh squeezed juice and just cut pineapple in the fridge for me. It was too good. I didn’t even let myself have it right away. I wanted to bask in the prospect. It has been a very long time since I have lived at home and felt Mom’s hospitality. More than half my life has passed since I moved out at 15. I forgot how it feels to be taken care of.

I wandered outside to discover what my Dad was up to and of course it was as I had expected. He was knee deep sorting his bottles, loading his truck with tools, and organizing his “stuff” empire which spans his huge garage, driveway and backyard. Dad has always been a serious putterer and now that he is officially retired from his career, I think I can safely call it his chosen profession. What I mean is that if Puttering was an Olympic sport, my Dad would not only take gold but he would swipe silver and bronze too. He’s that good.

I admired his focus for a while before spotting the billions of raspberry bushes sorely in need of a good picking. I rustled up a bucket and began my work. Many of the thorny branches were twisted into a gnarled mess keeping me from accessing the juiciest berries. I could see many a cluster of deep ruby plumpness caged in the prickly prison. They were screaming to be rescued. They were raging ripe. It was clear liberation could not wait even one more day or they would surely shrivel up and die. My frustration moved me towards the conclusion that I would have to sort this bush out if I wanted to do this properly.

I emerged from the mess and approached my Dad to ask for some rope to tie up the branches. I guess he is not used to having puttering partners because I scared the bejesus out of him. Literally. I promised after his retirement party last month, I wouldn’t “surprise” him anymore. I guess there is a difference between startle and surprise so it may be time to give the old guy a break. Note to self: Bear bells could be useful in keeping Pop’s blood pressure down.

After showing me the ropes, Dad tried to show me the “right” way to harvest the raspberries explaining the way they did it way back when this was a business for them. I thanked him kindly but told him I had my own style and was going to make an art of it. He shrugged indifferently scooping up a handful and popping the bunch into his mouth in one fell swoop as he turned to walk away. It was an impressive demonstration of seasoned skill. But I would be better, if not, at least more productive. I wouldn’t eat even just one.

I battled the red berry bushes for a good hour or two while August sun beat down on my neck. Something of a fruit picking fiend, I admit I became a bit obsessed with filling my bucket. Not even my arachnophobia would deter me. At first I tried to avoid the spiders, then I just ignored their beady little eyes taunting me from their razzy perch. But they had a knack for owning all the best looking berries. I had to face this fear if I wanted to be a player. Near the end of the patch, I knew I had arrived when without hesitation, I huffed and puffed and blew that daddy long legs right off one particularly perfect succulent scarlet fruit. Not this time Spidey…this one’s mine. Triumphantly, I strode into the house with the spoils of my decisive win.

I have to admit, when I finally did sit down to my breakfast of sweet pineapple spears and tangy orange-lemon kiwi juice, my drooling taste buds were just begging for it. Made specially with Mom love and it was the best I’d ever had.

Grateful for fruit.

Ferret the kids

I have been a little down lately but today was a turn around. I guess sometimes in life, it gets muggy and hot and things just feel tired. I guess it doesn`t help that the weather has been this way and I have been struggling with another bout of insomnia. I get this sometimes and it is awful when you have too much to think about. The “things” just run through your head over and over making you feel nuts. And there is nothing you can do but turn over. Again and again until hopefully, you pass out from exhaustion. Continue Reading…

Juggling

Now it is Thursday and I haven`t written in days. That`s what happens when life blows up and there is too much to do. Deadlines and last minute developments invaded leaving me a little over committed. Monday I tried to get all my work done so that Tuesday I`d be free to see my friend from Montreal. Though I stayed up all night, I got most of it done. I ended up going to the later yoga class on Tuesday and man it was hard. I hurried back home to have a few meetings before Martin came from the airport. Continue Reading…

Prepare for G(l)ory…and CG EyeCandy

Sunday was a lax morning and I decided to take the day off yoga giving my body a rest. It was Sebastian`s birthday so we went for Dim Sum and then for coffee. Next we did a little bit o`fishing before heading out to a movie he`s been wanting to see for a while. Continue Reading…

Chasing a flat balloon

I decided to take the day off yoga today as the smell of the beer from my pores did not sound appealing to me. I didn`t drink that much last night but it sure did hit me hard. Why is it that when I am in a good mental space, I can drink loads and not even get tipsy. But if I have alot on my mind, a couple beers can knock me over. Continue Reading…

Birthday Night (and the morning after)

I ended up just getting up and dressing for the night. I headed over to Jens new apartment for a dinner party. It was super fun times and we ate gourmet Indian fare compliments of David. We all pitched in but he was the mastermind behind the operation. After filling my tummy, I was off on the go again to the party. I stopped in at home to grab a few things and decided to try yet again to grab a 15 minute nap. How else would I make it through the night?!? Continue Reading…

Birthday Day - Whatever I want?

So my birthday was pretty fantastic. The night before I went to a wonderful “Dream Circle” which was not on inspiring but quite enlightening. And I thought I knew everything about my dreams? Apparent not! I have dreams I didn`t even know I had. Cool!

So I ended up having a sleepover at Chandras and we stayed up almost all night talking. I was woken by my sister and nephews singing me Happy Birthday on the phone! I could tell this was going to be a great day. Continue Reading…

My Shining Flower

When Flora got home, she relayed to me the horror that was on the streets. I guess traffic had come almost to a standstill throughout the city. I was pretty grateful that the restaurant that I wanted to take her to was just across the street. There would be no driving involved but even the 2 minute walk was almost unbearable. Let me tell you, minus thirty Celcius is nothing to joke about. With the windchill factor, temperatures felt more like forty-five below. Continue Reading…