Friendship......

I had the absolute pleasure of spending time with my friends this weekend, some I have not seen for over 6 months. Yet within moments I felt at home, at ease with each of them, comfortable with myself and our relationships. I started thinking, what creates friendship? What sustains it? Can a friendship last forever? I am sure that I cannot and will not give this subject the depth that it deserves however I reserve the right to write about it again!

Most people would not know this about me, and when I say it the response I get is often disbelief....but I don’t make friends easily.  I tend to manage acquaintances well, and often have a lot of them, but friends.....friends are difficult to me because I need to commit. What I mean by that is when I get close to people I need to commit myself to them and that takes a leap of faith, a leap that if taken too often can lead to disappointment, so I choose to slowly and cautiously commit myself to people.  But when I do its extremely rewarding for me, you see I need friends, need the wonderful energy that they unselfishly provide, need the understanding they naturally give, and need the support that they offer. 

So what creates friendship, I think connections are different for everyone. Deep connections, ones that create trust, respect, interest and love are the connections the bloom into friendships. Have you ever met someone and almost instantly said to yourself, I would like to get to know this person....not because they have an interesting life or they seem eccentric, but there is just something that you feel......something that seems familiar to you,  a deep understanding.  

Once we make this connection, can we keep it forever? My answer is yes, I think we can. It’s not easy, it takes work but I think it is something that can be done. I personally believe that a key to real friendship is to not to be judgmental. Your friends will make decisions that you may or may not agree with, or make choices that you would not make. Some of these choices may even draw them away from you but it’s you that can choose acceptance rather than rejection.  Personal paths can move in different directions but how we move along and who we move along with is our choice. 

I have a friend in Ottawa that we send the Christmas cards to, exchange emails with, and have only seen once since we moved to BC, but I truly feel my connection with this person is as deep and meaningful as it was 10 years ago.  I guess it’s also your commitment to the connections you have built and the commitment from the other side of the relationship as well.  Some friendships will come and go but for me once I am in.....I am in 100% and no matter what the risk is I think it’s worth it.................

So this weekend was wonderfully uplifting for me, I gained back some liveliness, some love, and a reminder that I have people in my life that are good and soulful. So thank you to all, I hope to visit often and take advantage of all of the gifts of friendship that you provide...............

I have included some photo’s and I do respect that fact that you may not what your pretty face published on the internet...if your image is here and you would like me to take it off please just send me a note and I will do so immediately!!

Till next time, happy chatting.

The Language of Motivation

 Do you find either of these quotes from Tomas Edison moving? Inspirational? Do they strike a key with you and how you see the world?

 "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." ~Thomas Edison 

You can't realize your dreams unless you have one to begin with. 

Motivation is something that we all seek personally and as a leader something I am always trying to discover for the people that work for me.  Its an interesting question "What motivates you? we ask it and hear it all the time but do we really know how to answer it? If we could really tell someone exactly how to motivate us would it be a good thing? Or would you prefer to be influenced and not know that your motivation was coming from an external source?

Personally I hate asking that question, you inevitably get more of what people think you want to hear versus true insights. So how do we handle this problem.....if we can use language to articulate how we feel, what we think, and what we want, then why can't we use language effectively to translate what gets us going? 

I must warn you I am on a bit of a language kick, more words actually. Meaning that I am absolutely fascinated by how words, the right ones, can inspire positive action. I picked up a book that has been a delight to read, Great Speeches of the 20th Century. Teddy Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, and Martin Luther King are all in there....and all of them used words to move people for better or worse.

"Every life is determined and evaluated by the interior form of love. Tell me what you love, and I will tell you who you are." Pope John Paul II June 18th 1983

What if I knew what motivated you and could use words to not only help me move you, but through the words you use help me understand what I should be saying? That's a field called neuro-linguistic programing, it started in the 70's and has had a variety of uses. While the original goals of neuro-linguistic programming were therapeutic, the patterns have also been adapted for use outside psychotherapy for interpersonal communications and interpersonal influence, used for coaching, team building, public speaking, negotiation, and communication. I prefer its application in the context of using language framing to influence and motivate. 

Let me try to explain.......

We all see the world through the filters of our lives. Our experiences to date make us who we are and influence our interpretation of what what we see and choose to do. These filters can sometimes be seen in the language we use. The easiest example to use is how we explain what is important to us, using the answers we can determine what or how we can be motivated.

Follow this conversation..........................

 

Why do you want to change your job? 

Because I would get more personal satisfaction,  make more more and spend more time with my family.

versus 

Why do you want to change your job?

Because I would get away from all of this boring work, all the deadlines and my boss who keeps looking over my shoulder. 

The first answer is someone who thinks in terms of what there is to be achieved, they are motivated to have, get, attain and so on...in essence they the are motivated toward something. The second is someone who thinks in terms of what should be avoided, gotten rid of or moving away from something. One is not better than the other, what appears to be a less positive behavior in the away approach can actually be a benefit in certain circumstances. These people have a tendency to be very good at solving problems and can be very valuable during projects as they can often see what can go wrong. By contrast we can all appreciate the toward type individual and their ability to drive until the goal is in sight........the message simply is that we could all use a little of both.

Knowing this simple idea that people come to the same thing from different points of view, how they see the situation differently can allow us to use the appropriate language to motivate. Sports is a field where this in its simplest form can be seen, and one that some of my readers will associate with! 

If I ask you "Why do you want to do this race?" And you answer "Because I have always wanted to finish in the top ten of my age group" you are more than likely are someone that is motivated by moving toward a goal. So what language would work the next time I am trying to move you to do something..........I might say something like......"if you commit yourself to the workout you will see an improvement and stand on the podium the next time you race."

If I ask the same question "Why do you want to do this race?" and you answer "Because I do not want to be unfit all of my life". You are more than likely motivated by words that support an away type of behavior and i would say "if you commit yourself to the workout you will be well on your way to never being unfit again!"

This may help explain why we sometimes seem to be talking and some people just don't hear us......

Clear as mud right? Well, it does take some time.....time to listen, time ask and time to get to know who you are dealing with. I do believe that we can inspire positive action through language, my goal is to move through the next months practicing this belief....with my "towards" people I will strive to use words like attain, have, get, achieve, enable you, and here's what you can accomplish! For my "away" folks I will endeavor to motivate with words that they hear like prevent, fix, not have to deal with, lets find out whats wrong, and their be no problems..........in the end its moving people, creating success and helping people become what they want to be....not what I think they should be. If that means understand and trying different ways to influence then I am all for it.........especially if its using words to do it!

So I leave you with a story, not meant to motivate but to cause reflection, just another incredibly powerful use of words and how they can impact our lives. Choose yours wisely, don't waste them, or think them frivolous, you have the power to motivate, educate, build confidence and destroy it, all with words.........the ones we pick can and have changed lives.

The Story of Two Wolves.........

One day an old Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson. He said, "There are two wolves fighting inside all of us - the wolf of fear and hate, and the wolf of love and peace."
The grandson listened, then looked up at his grandfather and asked, "Which one will win?"
The grandfather replied, "The one we feed."


Till next time...happy chatting...........

Traveling...love going....but getting there is work.........

Transporters, that's what I want.....just like in StarTrek, you punch the in the proverbial coordinates and 30 seconds later you are there. The thought of being broken down into molecules and reassembled is more than a little terrifying but sometimes I think its worth it. Beam me up Scottie!

So why all of a sudden write about traveling? Well I am actually on a little trip right now, no nothing exotic. Just a trip for work, heading to Toronto for the week so I thought I would reflect a little on the experiences I have when I travel. 

Let's start with Airports, I actually like airports. They are usually bustling and the variety of people to watch go to and fro is incredible. You, like everyone else are there for a reason; to go somewhere. Some people are getting ready for their next meeting while others are already dressed in their shorts and beach wear prepared to step off the plane in some tropical place. There are backpackers traveling alone, families, and businessmen and groups of tourists. Airports are truly a master of organization, between serving hundreds of thousands of people, the safety that has to be considered and the fact they are open 24/7 is beyond imagination. A fun place to be an observer..............

Then there are the people, like any service industry traveling seems to bring out the worst in people. Its not good enough that we are defying gravity and flying thousands of miles but we expect that its going to happen without one glitch, one little hick-up....your dreaming!

 

So back to my little trip, all went as expected this morning, I did a web check in yesterday and got a bulkhead seat...yeah, more leg room. Being a well behaved traveler I arrived at the airport 1 hour before my flight, but volume was light so no waiting. Went though security in a breeze, I usually do.....if you have ever seen that move “Up in the Air” there is a lot of truth to the suggestions he makes....I have a few rules that I always follow and they seem to help...a lot!

1. Never wear a lot of jewelry, keep it to little earrings and nothing else if you can help it.
2. Belts, avoid them unless you feel you may make a scene showing off your lacy underwear!
3. Shoes, easy on, easy off, AVOID laces..........!
4. Be efficient, what ever might draw attention in your bags – take it out!
5. Wait your turn, being rushed and looking irritated (even if you are) will only make things worse!
6. And most importantly...flash that wonderful smile and say thank you lots!

So now that we are through security I would like to go back to the attitude thing, why is it when people are travelling they seem to get all , well the best way I can put it is.......”its all about me!” Take the gentleman sitting behind me......right now. When I sat down in my window seat I did what I always do...empty my bag so I can put it away. This is a 5 hour flight so I want to have all of my gear at the ready. Laptop, glasses, headphones....water. Then I take my near empty bag and do what I am told “please place all of your bags under the seat....well that's what I tried to do....but nope! Two very large feet are wedged underneath my seat....they come so far forward that they almost touch my calf's. I mean I am not even getting a piece of paper under there. And when I give a subtle little nudge I get a NOT so subtle nudge back! When I turn all I see is a middle aged man staring at me like I have done something wrong.....but I say to myself....just because you are miserable doesn't mean I have to be to....so I settle my bag in a comfy place....after all I am at a bulk head seat...LOTS of room, unlike my new friend crammed in behind me!

So lets talk about seats........window or isle are both good for me, when I travel alone I prefer the window so I can star out every now and then. Near the front, easier out! And of course...first class whenever I can get it!

It has always amazed me how that middle arm rest always seem to be taken by someone else........you know, shouldn't you be able to say....you take it for the first half of the flight and I will take it for the second half? The man beside me now has been ruffling though papers and doing a move that mimics an eagle in flight with his arms.....I swear if he hits me again I am going to push back! But no, no Ann....remember your emotional intelligence – you choose what emotional reaction you are going to have....like getting really pissed off ....big deep yoga breaths!

So right now I have to move my legs, really....so I have a couple choices...get up and walk to the washroom or just rearrange in my seat. I really just want to rearrange but you remember Mr Eagle beside me, well he is not going anywhere soon and I am not sure I can do it without clipping one of his wings! Here goes!

Well that was not so bad....he even moved his feathers for me! 

So the rest of the flight unfolded without incident, a little blogging and 1 ½ movies later (I hate it when that happens) I landed comfortably at Pearson International Airport. A balmy -10 degrees (-21 with the windchill I am told) I quickly jumped into a limo...well they call them limo's but they are really town cars! I have traveled quite a bit through out my career, sometimes to nice places and sometimes not. I have developed a bit of a routine, which I am sure most people do.

First thing first, check in and ask all of the most important questions.....

1. What floor is the health club on?
2. Where is the best place to get a cup of coffee in the morning?
3. How long will it take to get to my destination the next morning?
4. Where can I get a reasonable dinner, both financially and quality?

With my answers in hand I head up to my room. Today I go to the 17^th floor....the top, nice, something about me asking for foam pillows?......I am staying at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto and its a wonderful old hotel. Grand entrances and lobbies, wonderful woodwork and of course they make you feel great!

A quick review of the room, yep its nice, test the bed, comfy, the TV works, bathroom is good......time to settle in. I change and head down to the gym, Toronto is three hours ahead of Vancouver and its already dark...people are eating and drinking already because its 7pm! I know its important to get into the rhythm of the city but I HAVE to do something to feel better and a quick run on the treadmill will do the trick.

I journey down to the recommended eatery, a pub called Piper's....I think to myself I have to go there at least once.....that's the name of my niece: Piper-Jane! And so that's where you find me now while I am waiting on dinner, mussels and a pint of beer. I look around and see more tourists, lots of business people, maybe one bar fly but I am not going to get close enough to ask. The room is dark, aren't they all...they have a hockey game and a basketball game on the televisions. But its the music that is really catching my attention, old stuff....I am so bad at this game....if Dwight was here he would name that band in an instant, me...... not so much. So the song, well the chorus is “Ricky don't loose that number”? Thoughts anyone....yeah yeah I know...but I just don't remember...I know all of the lyrics if that's any consolation. Next on the play list, OH – I know this one......this is Santana....OK so some artists I just LOVE enough to remember all of their songs!

What interests me about the music is its different than the pubs in Vancouver, I cant say that I have heard this type of continuous classic rock played at a pub since I moved to Vancouver. Odd, it has never crossed my mind before but now that I am here I notice it. The music in the pubs out west is new music, you know the stuff that people my age go....”who is that singing”, and still don't recognize the name when you hear it” There is not one song that has been played here that I don't know.....interesting......is it the pub or the city?

On a side note, I think I have to say to anyone from BC reading.......the service we get there is really, really good.....I mean really.......good.

So I transition for a night cap upstairs in the Fairmont's Library Lounge, its a different world up here.......lots of suits,the bartender is definitely cuter, there are twice as many women in the room (interesting), they free pour their wine....and attention, attention attention.....did I mention they paid attention to you.........? I know what you are saying.....that's because you are paying tons of money for your drinks or dinner there...well actually I'm not. Granted I have only stopped for a glass of wine but its actually cheaper than I would pay in Vancouver...weird.

It's that attention that makes you feel special, and try to deny it all you want but we all want to feel special, be treated with respect and admiration.....some people thrive on it more than others that's a given, that's why we have Hollywood. But for regular folks like us, I think we want more than just fitting in, we want exclusivity, whether its the attention you get at a fancy hotel or being part of a team that everyone else wants to be a part of, we all want that feeling that we are part of something that is extraordinary. Well that is my rant for the evening.....some guy just sat beside me and has the stench of cigarettes oozing off of him ruining my entire vibe....sometimes public places can do that to you.......no matter how exclusive they are...........!

Tune in later in the week and I will be finishing up my trip with another post, hopefully you take a look.....

Till next time happy chatting..............

Weekends

I thought I would take you on a little trip with this post, a little because I have been making the same short excursion for the past four weekends, and a little because on the drive I started thinking about weekends.......how we cherish them, how we wait for them to come, and how we use them. So this is a story of what I did this weekend........a few people might care, some might not, but either way there are a couple of nice pictures....enjoy.

I usually start the weekends with a later wake up time than my normal 6 am, then take it nice and easy with a great cup of coffee and a read of the weekend paper. This weekend was not much different, its quiet in the mornings and  I am usually alone for the first couple of hours, I settle into my comfy chair and look out the window thinking about the day. Thinking, do I want to do what I planned or is there something else on my mind that feels better, feels right, feels like it should happen today. Nope...the plan stays as is, a short trip up to the Callaghan Valley and some skate skiing.....my chosen choice for exercise on the weekends now.

Today is going to be sunny and clear and I cant wait to see how beautiful it is up in the mountains........preparing for skate skiing is much easier than downhill skiing. The most significant difference is the weight of all of the equipment! Doesn't sound like much of a revelation but believe me when you are lugging all of the stuff through snow while generously overheating it makes a big difference!

So its a quick trip downstairs into the car and we are off to our destination.........the Callaghan valley, home of the Whistler Olympic Park and some best Nordic terrain in BC. Check it out.........http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/           

The trip will take about a hour and a half and the drive is beautiful...............

As we transition from the city and the greenery of the North Shore mountains we start seeing more and more snow, its truly a wonderful experience, to watch the natural beauty of BC move from one season to another, it never gets boring, never.

So what do you do when you get there, well after a quick stop at the day lodge its off to the warm up/practice area. Practice area you say? Why would you want to do that........? Well I have come to realize that this new sport is much more difficult when you are not warmed up, and its ALL technique, well maybe not ALL but mostly...because I have muscled my way through many a sport and survived, albeit barely with some. But this one, wow.....you get it for a few slides and then its gone. You go from the iconic image of the skier gliding from side to side with ease to a cross between a dog scampering up a frozen cliff and a old man walking with a cane to go up stairs..........and it all happens in an instant!

But each time I go out I get a little better, and it happens a little more often so I guess there is hope. I have been out every weekend for the past four weeks and must admit that I really do enjoy it. I think there is a trait I have that is helping a little, you see I inherited a stubborn streak. One that has proved to be a good thing to have given the athletic choices I have made, and one that has contributed to more than a few injuries! That being said, this time around I am trying to use it for good......to push me to continue to try my best but not "push" through pain....yeah , yeah, sounds simple I know...but it has taken me two Ironman's and a ton of advice from a great coach to realize it! Thanks Mike...........

So lets talk a little about why I have to be so stubborn to learn this sport....one of the first times I did this I was dumbfounded by the amount of balance that you need. I do various types yoga three times a week and had thought that my center of gravity was rather well known to me. Not the case, its a little different when you are sliding forward at the same time you are trying to stand still! Then as you are gliding you point your ski out to the side and push off, like skating, kind of. You see when you skate you have a short, and sharp, edge to use. In this sport there is no sharp edge and the skis are twenty times longer, allowing for many of opportunities to cross them, flip them, and other physical mishaps to occur. So how many mishaps did I have, well I can say proudly only one.....which was two less than my counterpart on the same day! 

Mishaps and all , its a fantastic exercise! Your heart rate gets so high you think you are going to pass out, but when you crest the hill and look back you feel so fantastic about where you have come its overwhelming. My arms, specifically my triceps were so sore the first time we went out even sleeping was hurting them, not to mention my yoga class the next day when I went to an arm balance and collapsed onto my face, yes it was as graceful as it sounds! Then there is that little muscle that I used to watch contract on the professional triathletes as the ran or cycled by, you know the one, high on the hip, (I know it sounds a little perverted but I point it out only for descriptive purposes) its likely used  to make them fast which is evident by me not having one........or at least I didn't think I did. Turns out I do, but it doesn't work!

When you go downhill with these skis you are taught to snowplow to slow yourself down, and even stop. The difference that I want to point out again is that these skis do not have any metal edges, just a little plastic lip, one that requires what feels like an Herculean amount of force to be applied to slow down even just a little. And yes, you guessed it, that little muscle high up on your hip is the one that engages when do this. And mine started screaming, not in the "hey I am that muscle that's going to get a little work now" no, no, its more like "I am the muscle you didn't think existed and if you don't stop doing this right now I am going spasm so bad you will never walk again". So needless to say the communication was one way, drawing on that stubborn streak of mine I ignored the chatter and kept going.

With the tenacity of a cat on catnip I continued and it's paid off, I now can say honestly that I go downhill now with out the need to have odd internal conversations and even rather enjoy the rush of the decent on those skinny little planks.

We wrapped up the day with a light snack at the day lodge and then started home, the beauty of being so close to this wonderful area is that we can do a trip and it really does not take your whole day. The trip back was uneventful however after a few of these excursions I have learned a few things that I thought I would share.

1. Mini Van's are by far the most dangerous vehicle on the roads. 
2. After the age of 40, an hour and a half is a long time to wait to go to the washroom.
3. There are more Audi station wagons on the road with ski racks than I thought there could be. 
4. Police officers driving in the right lane make everyone miserable.
5. Skis should be securlely afixed to one's ski rack. 
6. There must be at least twelve different sports you can do from here to Whistler.
7. Voices on the radio sound the same no matter what station you listen to. 
8. Depending on the song, silence is golden! 

Driving back to the city I thought I would snap a few closing shots of the final approach to our downtown abode. Passing the hottest sport in town right now, then traveling down the avenue to home.......... 

So that's was my weekend, well not all of it of course....what did I leave out? Well an absolutely fantastic dinner at a french restaurant that is participating in the Dine around Town. Wow is all I can say....a wonderful dinner with a wonderful bottle of wine..........a great trail run in Pacific Spirit park, a walk downtown for a little shopping and finished up tonight watching the NFL Pro Bowl where my friends Luke and Kevin are watching in Hawaii (I am so jealous!) and then a little dip in the hot tub downstairs before bed..............All in all , a great weekend.......I certainly can't complain!

Till next time.............

Moments

A women was walking alone along a tree lined trail one morning, the sun was shinning brightly, you could hear the fresh snow crunching under foot. It was winter and the opportunity to spend some time in the woods with herself could not be passed up. As she walked she came upon an old man wrapped in a blanket sitting on the side of the trail. Concerned she asked if there was anything she could do to assist, the answer that came was simply a "no". Curious as to what the old man could possibly be doing she asked "why are you sitting here? What are you looking at? the old man answered, "I am looking at the trees". The women turned around and looked in the direction the man was staring, there were snow covered tree's, a blue sky, both which stood out against the fresh fallen white snow. She said to the old man, "it is rather beautiful but I am sure there are trees you can look at where you could be more comfortable" The old man replied "but not those trees, not in this moment". Feeling that the old man wanted to be left alone she started to walk away, but after a few steps, her curiosity driving her, she turned and asked "but why those tree's, why that moment?" But the old man was gone.............

Time goes by quickly......but moments will last forever, choose them and cherish them often.................

Till next time................

Yoko Ono, yes...

Most people that know me know that I love to try new things, some I am not bad at, some I am terrible at and others....well lets just say those experiences are ones that you should keep to yourself.

Experiential learning is the name of the game when it come to me...the thrill of not knowing what is going to happen next, the pride you have when you master something you have never been able to do, or even just the feeling of knowing you have done something you wanted to, ticking it off the list shall we say. Ah if we only had time to just do............

Recently I have had the opportunity to take on a new sport.....mostly by necessity for a race I signed up for with a great team of friends, cross country skiing, not the classical variety but skate skiing. Some people were advising me that its a very difficult thing to do and that its really really hard....well so far I have found that it is.....BUT that's what I love...... we shall see what category this new experience fits into!

That brings me to the title of this blog, and the name of our team that is entered into this great race, Team Yoko Ono......

You see Yoko Ono no matter what you think about her and how responsible she was for breaking up the Beatles, she was willing to try and do just about anything! Take her singing...some say she was being artistic...personally I think that should have been one of the experiences she should have chosen not to share....and what about her “protests”? The “bed in” John and Yoko stayed under the covers for days on end at hotels in Amsterdam, Holland, and Montreal, Canada in 1969 to promote their campaign for world harmony and the end of the Vietnam war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeDocgPpGd4

This was obviously a much more serious topic to tackle but in essence its really was another experience, although I think a few of us could honestly say that staying in bed for days at end would be a welcome experience!

And then there is her poetry, some rather strange but some touching....

CLEANING PIECE III

Try to say nothing negative about anybody.
a) for three days
b) for forty-five days
c) for three months

See what happens to your life.

And her art.....there is a story of how John Lennon and Yoko Ono met, the story goes that he visited a preview of an exhibition of Ono's at a gallery in London on November 9, 1966. Lennon's first personal encounter with Ono involved her passing him a card that read simply "Breathe". However, the Ono work which Lennon saw at the gallery show that awakened him to her was "Ceiling Painting," described as follows: "The viewer is invited to climb a white ladder, where at the top a magnifying glass, attached by a chain, hangs from a frame on the ceiling. The viewer uses the reading glass to discover a block letter "instruction" beneath the framed sheet of glass – it says "Y E S." 

Another display was a white board with nails in it with a sign inviting visitors to hammer a nail into its surface. Since the show was not beginning until the following day, Ono refused to allow Lennon to hammer in a nail. The gallery owner whisked her away, saying, "Don't you know who that is? He's a millionaire!" Upon returning to John, she said he could hammer in a nail for five shillings. Lennon replied, "I'll give you an imaginary five shillings if you let me hammer in an imaginary nail". And the rest is history!

Now don't get me wrong, I can honestly say I have never really been a big fan of Yoko Ono and I am not trying to draw any relationship between my choices and her's. What I have always appreciated about what she does is her ability to put her fears aside and do what she wants to do, to experience what she wants to experience. Whether she is good at it or not.........

Fear drive us away from trying new things, fear or what other might think, fear of not being the best, fear of failure, they all keep us from experiences....and experiences are what make us who we are. They give us a perspective about the world that we might not have had before.

Experiences open us to ourselves and our fears, once we have seen our fears we know what we are facing, only then can we overcome them.

Like Yoko Ono said:

All my concerts had no sounds in them; they were completely silent. People had to make up their own music in their minds!
Yoko Ono

What?

Well, actually.....never mind............Go Team Yoko Ono!

Till next time...............

It's been so long.......but its a new year so lets try again!

Well that's an understatement......Its been about 6 months since my last post and I am amazed at how fast the time goes by. Without sounding like everyone else that to do these things I am resisting the urge to promise posts every week! However that being said with work now settling down and my life feeling a little more in order I am convinced that I should be able to post on a "regular" basis!

So what have I been up to? Well lots of working....and then working some more. That's what happens when you get a new job. Other than that there have been many a dinners at great restaurants, great excursions to Seattle, Whistler,  and back to the Island, oh yeah...and a little trip to Hawaii!

Vancouver has proved to be a good move for me, we are definitely in a smaller place but we are right in the heart of downtown. Yaletown offers everything we want and in 20mins we can be in the North Shore mountains where we have gone running, skiing, and just being. Grouse mountain is a great little ski hill and Cypress offers some of the best Nordic skiing around, both of which we have been doing.

Speaking of skiing, we have not really skied since we moved out to Vancouver and this weekend was our first venture back into the sport. Interesting to say the least...you know that feeling when you think you know how to do something but when you go to do it your body just doesn't want to remember! First on the list was downhill skiing, fearing the worst we walk over to a green run at Grouse mountain and with apprehension I flung myself down the hill and while I was whizzing down I thought to myself  "is this a good idea for someone who was told by their neurosurgeon not to fall down again?" But that was quickly replaced with "this is a blast" so there you have it...I am skiing again, not hitting any hard stuff....yet!

Day two....cross country skiing. My motivation for trying this sport is a little race we have agreed to participate in....Snow to surf in May 2011, and I really wanted to do something new, something I have not down before.....cross country skiing. With that in mind we headed up to Cypress just yesterday, rented equipment and headed out. We started with the classic variety and Dwight instructed on technique, now I have to tell you that this little sport is much harder than it looks! In classic Nordic skiing you ski in these tracks that are laid out through the trails. The idea is to use a running motion and glide on your skies....what I was doing I would not call gliding! I would have called it a crude sliding and not at all graceful.......

After falling down numerous times and not really being able to get the hang of it I decided to ask Dwight calmly if we could go back tot the rental hut and try to Skate Skiing technique....OK so it was not so calmly asked and maybe it was not even an ask.....more like a if you don't get me off these things life is going to get miserable! So we headed back and to my delight when we clicked into the skate skies and started on our way I was much happier. I am not exactly sure all of the technical reasons but I very much enjoyed this type of cross country skiing. There is a lot more control and I don't feel restricted to the ruts that are created, although you can use them if you want to.  It is difficult however, don't get me wrong I have not had that kind of cardio workout since Mike introduced us to hill training at Rainbow park! I did teally enjoy it and hopefully we can get out on the weekends so I can enjoy it even more.

This weekend reminded me again however lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world.....to be running in the sun along the ocean one moment to skiing in 300cm of snow the next. Truly a blessing.........

Hopefully I have not lost too many of my fans and that you enjoy the posts to come........looking forward to chatting.........

Talk soon, Anna