Sometimes fun just happens…..

So no surprise that we took a little trip this weekend, we do have a tendency to go out and about on the weekends.. and this weekend was the new "family day" holiday in BC… so what did we do.. well we spent it with some family…… just not in BC :-)

A fun trip to Seattle, food, wine, a little shopping, and A LOT of laughing…… take a peek…..

Now with some music…… and a little video…..

till next time….. happy chatting…...

Sunshine!

You know when its nice here… its REALLY nice.. meaning when the sun comes out in the "winter" it reminds you how beautiful this area really is…. so we jumped in the car and went skate skiing…

Looking out the window you wouldn't think "skiing"!!!

Going up the mountain and still… looks more like a cycling day….

But then it starts…. from none….. to...

almost 400 cm!!!! 

Nice trails on Cypress Mountain.. 1/2 hour away from all that green!

First ski of the season… its always hard !

But fun! 

The nice thing is that tomorrow I can go skiing, skating, running, cycling, or even golfing…! And we wonder why so many people want to live here!!!!

Till next time, happy chatting…….

Good intentions...

So this time I have an excuse… seems that you can't post pictures with an iPad mini onto blogs.. well if you can I could not figure out HOW to make it happen.. so here we are, days after I promised some stories and pictures I have provided neither….so I will try to make up for it over the next couple of weeks…!

So lets start with my family Christmas; a real one with kids, a dog, food... And more food, presents and did I mention food? I can't tell you how much fun it was to see my brother and his wonderful family.

The "this is awesome" gift response

The "I don't know what it is but I can cut off my nose with it" response

And the "I love being a little girl" response

I am not sure I mentioned that my brother lives in Winnipeg, as most people know its rather cold there… how cold is it you ask? Well try -28 on for size and with the "wind chill" -34! Yes a tad different than my Vancouver days of +5 in the dead of winter…. I wish I could tell you that it was great, it was not that bad…. or even that I got used to it…. unfortunatley not!

Notice the facial covering…. exposed skin freezes quickly!

A leisurely walk… well a walk thats fast enough to keep you warm!

Vancouver Winter jacket versus a Winnipeg Winter jacket!

I poke fun but even though the weather was extremely cold… it wasVERY sunny everyday.. and most importantly I got to spend time with family………

it was very hard to leave…..

We then shifted gears and headed to Lake Louise in the Rockies for some relaxing and some skiing….the weather was perfect, sunny everyday, -10 average, snow was dry and there was lots of it….. did I mention we were staying at the Fairmont Chateau… yes it was that nice!

Night view from the lake after a nice night time skate!

View from the suite...

Grand staircases everywhere

A tribute to Charlie Brown… how awesome!

Did I mention the Ice bar…? 

Then we started skiing… one day on the skate skis and some awesome trails then three great days going up and down the mountain!

Views, views and more views

So all in all I think I can say this was one of the best Christmas's I have had…. I got to spend some wonderful time with my niece and nephew, went skiing in the Rockies, and came home all in one piece!!!

Till next time happy chatting…….

NO Excuses!

Ok, so I have none, not one excuse to give you for not posting sooner... I would say I am sorry.. but...

So now that's done, what's up... well in case you have not noticed its Christmas next week! Since moving into the condo in downtown Vancouver we have not celebrated Christmas to a great extent..just a ornament hanging from the TV takes up too much space.. so no decorating that's for sure. We did do some presents last year, not a lot.. and we did head out for a family Christmas dinner.

But this year is different... still no decorations in the tiny condo, and only one big gift for the both of us..A trip to Winnipeg! (yeah I did that on purpose!) And then to Lake Louise for some great skiing. Why Winnipeg.. ? well, there are childern there, not just any childern... my niece and nephew... and I can't wait to see them! and their parents of course :-)

A wonderful traditional family Christmas with childern, you can't get any better than that. Then off to 5 nights in Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for some wonderful skiing, eating and relaxing....

So if I have not lost of of my followers from by disappearance get ready for some updates, photo's and maybe even a video or two in the coming weeks............

Happy Holidays... and heck, lets be poticially incorrect and say Merry Christmas!!!!!

My new addition..

Don't say it, don't even think it…. the answer to your question is.. yes.. I needed a another bike! Well.. ok, so maybe not needed.. but certainly wanted..

So here is the big reveal, my Italian dream, my new love, and I have already spent more time with her this weekend than with Dwight :-) For the bike geeks out there….. full carbon, Shimano Di2 electronic shifting, weighs 15 lbs with my old heavy pedals, and most importantly… understated sexy!!!

A quote… Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. Exactly! Which is why I am so happy today, I bought a new bike under my own power.. and made myself soooo happy….. who said this.. the Dalai Lama, maybe not what he meant.. but hey, it works! 

Wonderful curves

Great legs

Lots of muscle

Her, and I in our natural habitat…….

And finally… the most wonderful day to be on the bike……………! 

Sorry.. that's all for now.. got to go… and I am sure you can guess where………! 

Till next time happy chatting…….

What I did last weekend…...

The same thing over six thousand other people did…..I participated in the…..

What the heck is that you ask? Its a cycling event….Gran Fondo translate to "Big Ride" in italian.. so I jumped into a pack of over 6000 riders and headed up to Whislter….. I was lucky for a couple of reasons… the first is that I had done this ride twice already this year.. by myself, so I was really looking forward to drafting… and two.. I had Mike, my coach, my friend. WIthout him the last 20km would have been like walking my bike… his support and enthusiasm was lifting.. and much needed!

 
I had a blast… the day was warm, some of the roads closed, and coming over the Lion's gate bridge at 7am with the sun rise was priceless….. a memory I will have forever…..and this one… because I must admit…. crossing this finish line was SO cool!

So again, thank you Mike for your unwavering support before, during, and after the race…… much appreciated!

Another next year… absolutely.. just have to pick which one!

Bike gear.. why oh why do I need more?

So most people know that I like to shop….but I self declare that I love to shop for new BIKE GEAR! Why? I wish I really new the answer… jersey's, kit's, helmets, god… even socks…..! I just can not get enough… but given my new space restrictions I am bound by the one in one out rule… and its sooooooo hard!

So here are the new purchases…..I just have to say.. super cool.. I am very happy with my recent mail order experience……!

The very swish.. continental tire bike kit! 

Super kool BBB bike helmut! 

Whatever your passion, I am sure you can find it on the internet! Of course I am speaking only shopping.. really how different is on line shopping to the whole Sears catalogue experience I grew up with?

Long ago.. well.. I am not going to tell you exactly how long ago, we used to wait for the Sears catalogue to show up at the door… man was that a day…. we would take turns leafing through the pages, picking out all the things we wanted…. cloths, bikes, baseball gloves… it seemed to have anything you wanted and you knew that all you had to do was pick up the phone and tell them you wanted it….. the difference now.. you just don't have to talk to anyone…and well I guess you could say there is a little more selection.

But the best time was when the Christmas wish catalogue came! OMG…! Toys, toys, and more toys…more toys than any of us could imagine. So in retrospect…its not even on par with what the online world has to offer…but then.. and remember we are not saying exactly "when", it was exactly the same.. it offered a world of possibility, of dreams, of new stuff… So is this my problem? Did I grow up with a propensity to "mail order"?

Well, I like to shop, I don't mind the convenience of on line shopping, I seem to have some good success, but can it replace the thrill of the moment when you find something you really want, you struggle with the thought.. should I? shouldn't I? Well…….I think its best to leave that for me to struggle with…..or not…its all how you look at it!

Needless to say… I will likely always have more bike gear than I really need.. but at least its not a car fetish…its hard to keep a hundred of those!

Till next time…. happy chatting……….