So it not being sailing season I have taken to reading about it instead. That and learning celestial navigation. Sextants are sexy. I have just ordered another three books about circum-nav-ing from Amazon. A friend of mine has gotten me totally hooked on a blog at www.bumfuzzel.com. I admit that it was the name that first hooked me. How awesome is bumfuzzel!?! Then it was the pictures of their catameran hovering on a pale blue surface in the bahamas. Then it was the very read-able journaling of their four year adventure sailing around the world.

I want to do that. Badly. Soon.

Soon enough to make me worry about making rash decisions. It is a good thing I didn't win Wed's lottery!

I am also picking up as many extra dispatching shifts as I can with the intention of paying for my advanced cruising course and open water cruising course this summer. That course is 14 days long circum-nav-ing Vancouver island; it heads away from land on the west side to let you experience sailing free of any sight of land. I can't wait.

This summer flew by between sailing, photography, hiking with Buddy da' dog. Before I knew it October had arrived and with it a fantastic visit by giftedspirit and another trip to BC (the interior this time). I barely had time to decorate for Halloween before it too came and went.

I feel like I am needing to catch my breath from life. There are just so many cool things to do and so little time in each day!

Renovations are moving forward as always at my place. I am painting the kitchen archway finally and have a tile sample I think I am happy with for the floor. My brother has agreed to take the light table (he has always wanted it for his graphic design business) and that will make tiling the floor MUCH easier. That table is a beast!

The unhappy kitty inspired basement reno's are waiting for an influx of money. The problem with much living is that it usually involves much money... but oh so worth it!

Work rocks, as always. I totally have the Willie Wonka golden ticket of jobs. The mountains are beautiful. We have a wide range of calls now that we are Alberta Health Services (govm't owned and operated) and are going onto the Nakoda Nation reservation with sufficent regularity. The ski hill may actually open Dec. 1. They are currently madly making snow nearly 24 hrs a day. Its not quite the Oct 15th opening they dreamed of.

With Christmas just around the corner I have put the halloween decorations away and pulled out the next set of tote boxes. I offically have more Halloween decorations than Christmas decorations, and that is saying something!

Christmas is snow and snow is snowboarding, cross country skiing! I can't wait. :D

I am going back to the gym at work again. It feels so good to get back to pumping iron and even the cardio feels good. Gym time is totally zen time for me and I had not realized how much I was missing it.

So all in all I am still around, busy (as always). I'm making the best out of what I have been delt. And really, it's pretty damn good considering.

Bob, you rock. You are awesome and I love you to bits. Thank you for that call.

There is not a chicken costume sitting in the back of my car. Instead there is a cow costume. Complete with cow head and bell and udder. Today is the Kananaskis charity golf game and my team decided to go as farmville. I am so excited. I really wanted a chicken costume. But the one they had was mangey and to be honest would probably give me nightmares. It was truly scary as in horror movie scary with its rubber chicken face....

So I'm a cow.

I don't really play golf. I own a set of clubs because I am too cheap to rent a set for the 2 or 3 times a year I go. I mostly swing at the ball, and drink beer and enjoy the fine day. So that is what I intend to do today. It is a best ball tourney so thankfully the team will not really be hampered by my lack of skill.

I seem to be failing at most every aspect of my life right now. Time to step back and re-evaluate.

The other day I got promoted at work to senior fire fighter. Apparently this has nothing to do with my impending birthday and more to do with the fact that I have stuck around this long so they may as well award me with something! I suppose it also means I know more than the probies, but really that is not hard. Either way it gives me a pay raise, which is not really that important to me. The fire fighting is a part time gig to help them out and to get some cool points. Honestly my true love will always EMS, but fire is a wickedly fun diversion once and a while.
I spent the day sailing with a couple of my friends. It was a perfect day for it. Dark clouds came rolling in across the Glenmore Resevoir around 3pm and the winds picked up to a pleasant 4 or so knots and sailed us back perfectly to the marina. All the rain missed us. Given the weather patterns I think I will try to go sailing in the late afternoon next time, the winds seem to pick up then.
I really need to get motivated to finish my costal navigation course. I will need it done by the time I head out with my dad, brother and co-worker to take our intermediate cruising course in Vancouver in Sept. Time is ticking by quickly.
Divorce is a funny thing. Some days it seems like I have always been seperated, like I can barely remember what the 16 years were like, and other times it is like it happened yesterday.
I have tried to sign up for Greek language lessons. There is only one place in Calgary that gives it and naturally it is way the hell and gone from my house, but I am more than willing to drive that for classes. However, they need to actually be there when they say they will so I can register and pay! So frusterating! And through rush hour traffic to boot. (grumble grumble grumble).
A couple of weeks ago I took my motorbike out with a new friend Darren to Moraine Lake in the Lake Louise area. It is a fantasticly beautiful lake, and the color of blue that is truly stunning. I can see why it attracts the HORDES of people that it does. It was an awesome ride filled with winding roads of fresh black top and a bear added for some nice viewing.
Renos are progressing as always. The upstairs bed room has had the drywall replaced, repainted, re-carpeted and now needs base boards and a few other touch ups. At some point there will be furniture in there too. It is a "japanese" spare room at the moment (aka futon on the floor).
My sleep schedule is completly messed up. Hence the 1255 am post. If only bylaw would allow the use of power tools after 9pm. If so I would be finishing cutting down a spruce tree in my yard. Thereby successfully avoiding my costal navigation course! lol

for those that don't read, or have not read fb:

Consider this your pre-alert, mark it down on your calender, new date for the fun in the sun par-tay notice.

July 3, 2010 is the date for the annual Joel and Ronya summer BBQ.

As usual bring your bathing suit, booze and meaty bits to char. It will be starting at 3pm and going until .... :D

Feel free to invite people if you think someone would like to come, or if there was someone we missed (sadly, it happens sometimes).

Consider yourselves pre-alerted.

I am a couple of days back in Alberta after having spent five days in the gulf islands getting my basic cruising certificate. My father, brother, sister-in-law and myself signed up for this course back in Jan when we attended the Calgary Boat show. It is something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

The first two days it was rainy and the winds were listed as gale force (25-30 knots) so we stayed safe in the harbor and listened to the winds whistle through all the masts and halyards. Instead of sailing we did all the 'classroom' didactic. After two days of that all of us were itching to get out on the water. And the weather agreed.

On day three we left False Creek (Granville Island) and headed across the Georgia straight. The winds were moderate at 5 - 10 knots and we were practicing our tacking and humming along on mostly a beam reach at 5 knots/hr. aka: Great sailing. We harbored that night at Silva bay on Gabriola island. I had the honor of backing our 35' Jeanneau Sun Odyssey into the dock and nailed it on the first try using a prop walk technique we learned from Mike our instructor.

Day four was practicing gybing, man overboard drills under sail, anchor practice in the Pylades straight. The weather again was fantastic. Sunny with 10-15 knot winds which were perfect! We got our hull singing when we hit our ideal speed of 7.6 knots. We had water to the rails sailing close hulled and it was awesome! I was mucking about with the traveler trying to eek out every degree closer to the wind that I could go. We lunched in a tiny little bay near Pirates cove where we were entertained by WWR (Wild Wrestling Racoons) a beautiful Heron, bald eagle, seal, and a fantastic walk on the beach. After lunch we sailed back to Silva. In the channel we encountered five boats all merging in on the same point. We hurriedly figured out which ones had right on way and who had to turn off. It was odd - a whole ocean of water and five boats intersect at the same time in the same area. :D We celebrated a great day of sailing with a few pints and some yam fries at the pub. It is nice to see that my whole family is as much of a booze lightweight as I am.

Day five we left Silva for a calm relaxing day drifting back across the Georgia Straight and into Howe Sound to dock for the night in Snug cove. The sailing was lazy and easy. We had the auto pilot on for most of it and soaked up the sun. Snug cove is beautiful! Thick lush grass, the azaleas and Magnolias and tulips were all in full bloom. The historic buildings are all really well kept up. The nachos and Guiness at the pub rocked. Not to mention they had the finest bathrooms we had seen yet in a harbor. There was also a leather couch with a flat screen tv! So we watch survivor. :) I got to paddle around the marina in our little zodiac dingy and watch the sun set over the mountains. Perfection.

Our final day was motoring out of Howe Sound and sailing back to False creek. The winds were about 10 - 13 knots and we hit a top speed (for about a minute) of 6 knots, while maintaining and average of 5. It was a really nice way to end the week. We sailed between five massive moored barges from places like Greece, and Korea. My dad brought us back into dock expertly, and we all pitched in to clean up and scrub down the ship. Then off to Sammy J Peppers for some fantastic food and good bye hugs to Mike. I highly recommend that restaurant if you are ever in BC. We did a bit more shopping in Granville before heading back to Hope BC to get a motel for the night.

It was such a memorable trip. I think I love sailing as much as I love EMS. I have totally caught the bug again too. After we got home my brother and I have already signed up to take a coastal navigation course. Between the basic cruising and the coastal navigation we will be allowed to charter boats anywhere in the world! :D Come this fall I am intending to take the intermediate cruise and learn certificate and hope that my work partner will join me like he says he means to (after all he is the one that got me thinking of sailing again). I am pretty sure my brother will also be there. Hopefully my mom sister in law and dad will be interested too. It was so much fun hanging out with them all for the week.

I am seriously considering getting my instructors license for cruising too. :) So many options and all of them are exciting.

I completely loved the movie "How to train a dragon". It was the perfect mix of child humor and stuff just for the adults to get. I found myself utterly engaged by the CGI of the hair. I couldn't stop staring at their rendering of fur, beards and hair. The water and fire was amazing too!

This movie, in my humble opinion, is well worth the 3D Imax prices. :D

The Ox of Chinese Astrology is no bull in a china shop. Steadfast and solid, this powerful Sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. Oxen tend to be plodding and methodical; they approach projects in the step-by-step manner that serves them best, and they never lose sight of their goal. They are tireless workers who are detail-oriented and believe in doing things right the first time. The world may perceive Oxen as being far too serious or incapable of loosening up. This sturdy sort is less than social by nature and tends to become introverted in a crowd. To make things worse, they can't be bothered with what other people think and prefer to do what makes them feel best. Behind that calm facade, though, lives an Ox who can feel hurt, lonely and unable to connect with others. Friends and family are a great source of comfort to this beast, even if they don't always understand what makes the Ox tick. As a lover, friend, family member or housemate, the Ox makes a wonderfully strong, tender and affectionate companion who is protective and always reliable. Out in the world, though, Oxen tend to be stubborn, dogmatic, my-way-or-the-highway kind of people who have no concept of when to back down. Oxen don't care to be pushed, especially since they think they're the good guys of the Chinese Zodiac. There is some truth to that theory, since the Ox is smart, trustworthy, caring and honorable. If you need honest, steady and unbiased advice, call on the Ox. A good lesson for mighty Oxen is to strive to overcome a judgmental nature that keeps them from getting close to others. If they can learn to value their own good qualities, they'll have more room in their hearts to invite others in.

~well that is quite complementry to me.

It seems this next month is 'catching up with old friends' month. Which I am very much looking forward to.

I seem to be socially A.D.D. There is a lot of "ooh, shiney" in my world. So I very much appreicate it when my friends occasionally poke me and remind me we have not seen each other in a bit. I actually feel quite guilty that I am so ... distracted.

I blame the world for having so much cool stuff in it to see and do. :D

Speaking of cool things to do... I am currently studying my basic cruising text book for a week long cruise and learn that myself, brother, sister in law and father are doing in May in the gulf islands. I am super stoked about getting back on a boat.
I have a 9' day sailing craft that boogies like no ones business on the lake, but what I REALLY love is sailing large yachts on the ocean. THAT rocks! It looks like we will be set up with a captain / instructor on a 36 foot Catalina leaving out of Granville Vancouver. I can't wait. Meanwhile I am trying to learn all the nautical names and jargon for all the stuff I just know how to do but have never realized there was a specific name for it. ie, you just reef the main. I had no idea there was specific names for each little doo dad on the mainsail that allows you to reef it. You just do it. The really hard part about studying sailing is that usually about a page into studying my brain wanders off to the sweet memories of the warm winds blowing across the bow as I watched the dolphins play in our wake the last time I was out there. sigh... oh ya, gotta study.

Work is winding down for the ski season. Soon it will be our lull season between the skiing and the camping. That is a painful time to be out here working. Luckily I have some studying to do to keep me occupied!

My puppy dog seems to love the water, up to the point where it gets up to his chest, then it is far enough. I hope to get out to a lake or two this summer and teach him he can swim. I so love hanging out with Buddy. He rocks! I have a dog back pack on order at the pet store for him. I fully intend on taking him back country camping with me this summer, but he can carry his own food, water and bed. I have also been eyeing doggy life jackets so I can take him sailing too. Even if it is just on my 9' day sailer.

I have been dying to get in my garden. I am not a patient woman. The snow is not melting fast enough!!!
I have managed to start up my motor bike for the season even though I didn't get out riding this past tour off. Maybe this weekend. :) I need a side car for Buddy though, and some cool doggie glasses! Yes I am THAT owner. lol

That is the brief super abridged version of my life lately. :)

I have been given two tiny packages over the past few days and inside was a small sparkling dot of inspiration in each. The timing was impeccable, having found myself drifting from sun rise to set oblivious of the beauty that is constantly surrounding me and the joy of life that rides the wind.

I found myself busily looking outside of me to justify my emotions. I had been regarding the actions or in-actions of others as belonging to who I am.

I will try, with these two tiny packages which were given most innocently, to use the glow to find the stairs up and out of this oubliette that I currently find myself.

Its a long way up, but luckily I'm stubborn.