Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wrestling
Erik and I had an impromptu trip to the lower mainland for a wrestling tournament that he participated in. We heard about it on Friday night and drove down on Friday for the "weigh in" and a practice. Then Erik had some matches on Saturday morning. He hasn't wrestled competitively since high school and is quite out of shape. He did well though. Won the first match by pinning the guy in the first round. I was impressed! More to come later.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
My Shoes
Erik hates my shoes. When I say "hate" I mean he loathes them. He is always asking me to buy new ones. I admit, my shoes aren't too pretty, but who cares? The ones I have function quite well.
First, there's this little number. These are old faithful. Lindsey gave them to me just before I graduated from high school after she'd warn them for a couple years. They are my everyday shoes. Nothing special, but well loved.
Mom got me this next pair from the dollar store three years ago. I LOVE them! Yes, they are bright yellow and hideous, but they are COMFORTABLE! I worked at MCC Thrift store two summers ago and if I wasn't wearing these babies I would come home with sore feet, knees and back. They are wonderful! I do wear them more often then I should, but they work in all environments! They are great for running errands, or running out of the house when you are going to miss your bus, or even just for a nice walk around the neighborhood.
Speaking of the thrift store. I pick up these next two pairs while I worked there. I don't know why Erik doesn't like either of them. I thought he would love the red ones because they're his favorite color. Oh well, my brother-in-law likes them so that's good enough for me (this is the same BIL who told me I should go shopping for jeans with my sister because mine don't quite fit).
Come on Erik! These are Hi-Tec!!! And they say SQUASH!!! It doesn't get better than this.
These next two are the main culprits. Erik would love to see them burned. He would burn them too if he knew I wouldn't flip. He has dubbed this first pair "The Torpedoes". I understand they are hideous, but I got them for $2 when I was in Grand Cache once in high school and they still function rather well. I wear them to the hospital. I don't want nice shoes for that. They are strictly for clinical, but he doesn't even like seeing them in our closet.
And these beauties are lovingly called "the Belugas". Erik even has sound effects for them when I wear them. And then we do the beluga foot dance... which is rather embarrassing when I think about it. They are so nice and easy to slip into. They also date back to high school, but I find them tolerable. They're ROXY! Doesn't that make me hip? They are undoubtedly comfortable. I think they will turn into hospital shoes when I lay the torpedoes to rest. I'll have to tie them up properly though.
But this pair... Erik loves the Dexters. They are his favorite. Notice that they are size 7... I'm size 8-8.5. I saw them when I worked at MCC as well and I could not pass them up. Who doesn't want bowling shoes. They are not comfortable, but they actually fit quite tolerably. I can wear them all day long without complaining so they can't be that small (unlike the cleats I once wore for ultimate Frisbee that left all my toes bruised... those were terrible).
This is my lovely shoe repertoire. I'm not planning on making any changes, much to Erik's dismay. I can't wait till I can wear flip flips all summer long so we can avoid this whole argument.
First, there's this little number. These are old faithful. Lindsey gave them to me just before I graduated from high school after she'd warn them for a couple years. They are my everyday shoes. Nothing special, but well loved.
Mom got me this next pair from the dollar store three years ago. I LOVE them! Yes, they are bright yellow and hideous, but they are COMFORTABLE! I worked at MCC Thrift store two summers ago and if I wasn't wearing these babies I would come home with sore feet, knees and back. They are wonderful! I do wear them more often then I should, but they work in all environments! They are great for running errands, or running out of the house when you are going to miss your bus, or even just for a nice walk around the neighborhood.
Speaking of the thrift store. I pick up these next two pairs while I worked there. I don't know why Erik doesn't like either of them. I thought he would love the red ones because they're his favorite color. Oh well, my brother-in-law likes them so that's good enough for me (this is the same BIL who told me I should go shopping for jeans with my sister because mine don't quite fit).
Come on Erik! These are Hi-Tec!!! And they say SQUASH!!! It doesn't get better than this.
These next two are the main culprits. Erik would love to see them burned. He would burn them too if he knew I wouldn't flip. He has dubbed this first pair "The Torpedoes". I understand they are hideous, but I got them for $2 when I was in Grand Cache once in high school and they still function rather well. I wear them to the hospital. I don't want nice shoes for that. They are strictly for clinical, but he doesn't even like seeing them in our closet.
And these beauties are lovingly called "the Belugas". Erik even has sound effects for them when I wear them. And then we do the beluga foot dance... which is rather embarrassing when I think about it. They are so nice and easy to slip into. They also date back to high school, but I find them tolerable. They're ROXY! Doesn't that make me hip? They are undoubtedly comfortable. I think they will turn into hospital shoes when I lay the torpedoes to rest. I'll have to tie them up properly though.
But this pair... Erik loves the Dexters. They are his favorite. Notice that they are size 7... I'm size 8-8.5. I saw them when I worked at MCC as well and I could not pass them up. Who doesn't want bowling shoes. They are not comfortable, but they actually fit quite tolerably. I can wear them all day long without complaining so they can't be that small (unlike the cleats I once wore for ultimate Frisbee that left all my toes bruised... those were terrible).
This is my lovely shoe repertoire. I'm not planning on making any changes, much to Erik's dismay. I can't wait till I can wear flip flips all summer long so we can avoid this whole argument.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Writing Week
Well I am half-way through reading week and only half-way through the paper I have been trying to write. That's just the first draft. I still have the endless amount of editing to do! I hate needing to be productive on reading week, but every year I have exams or papers due the following week (except when I went to CBC... which is why CBC is the best). I have worked on this stinkin paper every day and have been making minimal progress each day. This could be due to the fact that:
a. It's reading week and I want to go play
b. I am awful at articulating myself in writing
c. I just don't want to do it
It really is a painful process, but I am persevering... and so is Erik. Let me tell you, it's probably just as painful for him.
In other news: we got free tickets to the Rockets game tonight. So that's where we are heading after dinner. Haystacks. Mmmm.
a. It's reading week and I want to go play
b. I am awful at articulating myself in writing
c. I just don't want to do it
It really is a painful process, but I am persevering... and so is Erik. Let me tell you, it's probably just as painful for him.
In other news: we got free tickets to the Rockets game tonight. So that's where we are heading after dinner. Haystacks. Mmmm.
Monday, February 16, 2009
You Keep Us
You keep us waiting,
You, the God of all time,
want us to wait for the right time in which to discover
who we are, where we must go,
who will be with us, and what we must do,
So thank you... for the waiting time.
You keep us looking,
You, the God of all space,
want us to look in the right and wrong places
for signs of hope,
for people who are hopeless,
for visions of a beeter world that will appear
among the disappointments of the world we know,
So thank you... for the looking time.
You keep us loving,
You, the God whose name is love,
want us to be like you -
to love the loveless and the unlovely and the unloveable;
to love without jealousy or design or threat;
and most difficult of all, to love ourselves.
So thank you... for the loving time.
And in all this you keep us,
through hard questions with no easy answers;
through failing where we hoped to succeed
and making an impact when we felt we were useless;
through the patience and the dreams and the love of others;
and through Jesus Christ and his Spirit,
you keep us.
So thank you... for the keeping time,
and for now, and for ever. Amen.
Iona Community, Scotland
A Home
Lately I have been craving a home. I mean I have a place to live, but I want a home. I haven't felt at home since before I left for college; I have felt like a transient the four years since. I miss the enveloping peace that comes from feeling at home. The comfort that drains you of energy, but makes you blissfully happy.
My dream home:
- a couple acres
- little fixer-upper house
- couple cows, chickens, goats
- a relatively large garden
- a wood fireplace
My dream home:
- a couple acres
- little fixer-upper house
- couple cows, chickens, goats
- a relatively large garden
- a wood fireplace
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Weather
I hate the winter weather in Kelowna. I love the spring, summer and fall, but the winter is just dreadful. It's just blah. It will snow a little here and there, but nothing substantial. Then it will stay foggy for a couple weeks. Then maybe snow a little more. Then be just freezing, then sunny and warm and then snow again... but not enough to go out and play in.
I miss the rain.
I miss the rain.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Some of the fam
I have been meaning to post these since Christmas. I know that was almost two months ago, but I just love some of these.
This is Jon after digging Zachary's truck out of the snow.
Christopher made a Christmas card for his parents. Cute.
The boys while we were snowboarding behind the truck. I use the term "we" loosely, I didn't even make an attempt.
Leah Joy and me at a family shindig.
Christopher proud of his loose tooth.
Mom and Erik.
Some of the cousins with Oma and Opa. We went out for breakfast on boxing day.
Mom and Auntie Ange.
Sharlene and Courtney.
Jon took a picture of himself.
Christopher showing us his flexibility.
Laughing during one of the many games we played.
Erik almost looks like he's crying, but I assure you he was giggling.
My nieces (Kaitlyn and Jessica) and cousins (Dineke and Sarah).
This is Jon after digging Zachary's truck out of the snow. 
Christopher made a Christmas card for his parents. Cute. 
The boys while we were snowboarding behind the truck. I use the term "we" loosely, I didn't even make an attempt. 
Leah Joy and me at a family shindig. 
Christopher proud of his loose tooth. 
Mom and Erik.
Some of the cousins with Oma and Opa. We went out for breakfast on boxing day. 
Mom and Auntie Ange. 
Sharlene and Courtney.
Jon took a picture of himself. 
Christopher showing us his flexibility. 
Laughing during one of the many games we played. 
Erik almost looks like he's crying, but I assure you he was giggling.
My nieces (Kaitlyn and Jessica) and cousins (Dineke and Sarah).
Thursday, February 12, 2009
the SILs
I acquired two sister-in-laws when I married Erik. I think they are both nuts... but I love them dearly. I found this gem on my computer just today. What beauties.
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Saturday, February 07, 2009
Car Troubles
Our car wouldn't start last night. We had it towed to the dealership today (thank you BCAA). It's going to cost upwards of $1000 to fix.
Shit.
Shit.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Random Things About Me.
*Warning: Long Post
I am inspired by Facebook, but don't have the heart to write this on there. I will not conform!!! Erik, must be rubbing off on me. It was kind of fun to think of things about myself. I have been leaving random notes around the house so that I had enough to write here... but I ended up with way more than the allotted 25. The beautiful thing is, this isn't Facebook. There are no rules. And I can have as many as I want.
1. I love lists. I sometimes make them just so I can cross things off. It makes me feel productive and motivates me to do more.
2. I hate cotton balls. Even thinking about them makes me shiver. I would dread Sunday School when we had to make sheep out of cotton balls. They made us pull them apart and spread them out. I still have nightmares.
3. I am jealous of anyone who travels. Genuinely jealous. I sometimes get mad about it. I guess that makes Lynn my worst enemy. I need to get out there.
4. I am really quite selfish when it comes to food. I will let Erik share off my plate, but I will get upset if he takes the "best" piece. I always save the best bite for last!
5. I love to read, but wish I could do it more. I miss reading for pleasure. I read 9 novels in 2 weeks over Christmas holidays and it was DELIGHTFUL.
6. When I am reading a great book, nothing else matters. Nothing.
7. I am obsessed with photography. OBSESSED! Ask Erik. Ask anyone. I would love to be a GREAT photographer. It is one of my goals. I would love to document everything in photos. If I don't have pictures of something it's like it never happened. I am most interested in taking pictures of life. Just life. Mainly strangers... but I don't because I feel... rude? I'm not a good photographer yet, but I will be. I also want to learn how to edit photos.
8. I can't fall asleep in my own bed unless Erik is home. That isn't good when he works until 12am and I have to be up at 5. I have no trouble falling asleep at other people's houses without him there though.
9. I did not sleep through the night in our first three months of being married. I would wake up every time Erik moved or I moved and accidentally touched him. It was frustrating. I enjoy the extra warmth now.
10. I love writing letters. I think they are much more intimate. Snail mail is wonderful.
11. I was a First Year/Freshman in college three years in a row at three different schools in three different cities. Man it feels good to be a second year (although I would rather be graduating).
12. I love human biology. Mainly anatomy and physiology. Grade 12 Bio was a great course, as was my anatomy and physiology course last year.
13. I love Disney movies. LOVE THEM!
14. I wish I could play the piano. My sister Sharlene and my niece Jessica are both amazing and I could sit and listen to them for hours. Jessica played for my wedding and her playing alone brought tears to my eyes.
15. I walked down the aisle to Glasgow Love Theme from the movie Love Actually.
16. My sister Lindsey picked it out. She wanted to walk down the aisle to it, but got married in Costa Rica so that didn't quite work out for her.
17. I love people watching.
18. I can cry at the drop of a hat. I cry in movies, commercials, books, from hearing a story or listening to music. I cry in anticipation for something tragic or wonderful in a movie that I have already seen. I even cried in the Little Mermaid last summer.
19. My favorite part of a bag of crackers is the very end. I love the salt and the crumbs at the bottom. I also love the brown side of the Stone Wheat Thins.
20. My mom buys books for us at Christmas. She always has. It has always been what I most look forward to. She has given us books that we read as kids over the years... and we all get the same ones. It is quite fun.
21. I'm pretty last minute. My mom made my grad dress the day before grad... without a pattern.
22. I am forever calling people (usually at the last minute) asking to borrow clothes when I need to dress up. I usually rope whoever it is into doing my hair and make-up for me before I head out.
23. I have only put mascara on myself (I finally bought some for my wedding). If I need more than that I recruit someone else.
24. I have never owned a brush. Or a blow-dryer.
25. I cut my hair off for Locks of Love two years ago and never once regretted it.
26. Erik loved my long hair.
27. I have played every position in a college volleyball game, except libero. I have started a game as a setter, right-side, power and middle.
28. That being said, I don't excel at any of those positions. I'm just an all-around kinda player.
29. I love laughter that brings tears to my eyes.
30. I love fresh sheets.
31. I baked my first loaf of bread from scratch and by hand last week. It was whole wheat, pumpkin seed, flax bread. Keeps you regular.
32. I have had all my thank-you cards completed since before Christmas but haven't sent out any. All the addresses are on my computer that pooped out on me.
33. Both college volleyball teams I played for won the Team Academic Awards. We were pretty smart.
34. I have been riding the bus for months now and I'm still nervous navigating them. I am especially afraid of the doors not opening when I want to get off. Some you have to push, some just open, some you aren't supposed to touch at all. I always sit behind them so that I can see what other people do. I have even missed my stop intentionally because I didn't want to look silly... thankfully someone got off at the next stop so I didn't have to walk too far.
35. I am addicted to cards. Buying them, sending them, collecting them. I have tons from when I worked at the thrift store. That was a rockin' job.
36. My all-time favorite job was working at Schneider's. I packaged smokies for two summers. It was awesome. I still dream about it and i get excited when talking about it!
37.I put hours into teaching myself to crack my knuckles. My friend, Rachael, did it and I loved the sound. It was a painful process, but I can now crack all of my knuckles.
38. I had one day to pick out my wedding dress.
39. I hate taking showers because I hate being cold when I come out of them.
40. I hate drying off with a damp towel. Same reason.
41. I used to use Q-tips infrequently just so I could have a lot of gunk on them when I did use them. That was a while ago. I promise.
42. I wish I was more resourceful and creative.
43. I aspire to be like my sister-in-law Shawna. I don't feel I'm ready to commit to living that much "greener" though. She recommends all these great books, but I feel as though I would be momentarily enthused and then forget all about it. I'm hoping to do some canning etc in the summer. I need to take baby steps. We recycle.
44. I have always dreamed of living in Africa for a while. Now I'm up for anywhere...
45. Transitioning into married life was more natural than I thought it would be. I love it.
46. I am addicted to the game Bohnanza. I make Erik play it with me all the time.
This is Joey. I like to call him Joseph... or stinky.
I am inspired by Facebook, but don't have the heart to write this on there. I will not conform!!! Erik, must be rubbing off on me. It was kind of fun to think of things about myself. I have been leaving random notes around the house so that I had enough to write here... but I ended up with way more than the allotted 25. The beautiful thing is, this isn't Facebook. There are no rules. And I can have as many as I want.
1. I love lists. I sometimes make them just so I can cross things off. It makes me feel productive and motivates me to do more.
2. I hate cotton balls. Even thinking about them makes me shiver. I would dread Sunday School when we had to make sheep out of cotton balls. They made us pull them apart and spread them out. I still have nightmares.
3. I am jealous of anyone who travels. Genuinely jealous. I sometimes get mad about it. I guess that makes Lynn my worst enemy. I need to get out there.
4. I am really quite selfish when it comes to food. I will let Erik share off my plate, but I will get upset if he takes the "best" piece. I always save the best bite for last!
5. I love to read, but wish I could do it more. I miss reading for pleasure. I read 9 novels in 2 weeks over Christmas holidays and it was DELIGHTFUL.
6. When I am reading a great book, nothing else matters. Nothing.
7. I am obsessed with photography. OBSESSED! Ask Erik. Ask anyone. I would love to be a GREAT photographer. It is one of my goals. I would love to document everything in photos. If I don't have pictures of something it's like it never happened. I am most interested in taking pictures of life. Just life. Mainly strangers... but I don't because I feel... rude? I'm not a good photographer yet, but I will be. I also want to learn how to edit photos.
8. I can't fall asleep in my own bed unless Erik is home. That isn't good when he works until 12am and I have to be up at 5. I have no trouble falling asleep at other people's houses without him there though.
9. I did not sleep through the night in our first three months of being married. I would wake up every time Erik moved or I moved and accidentally touched him. It was frustrating. I enjoy the extra warmth now.
10. I love writing letters. I think they are much more intimate. Snail mail is wonderful.
11. I was a First Year/Freshman in college three years in a row at three different schools in three different cities. Man it feels good to be a second year (although I would rather be graduating).
12. I love human biology. Mainly anatomy and physiology. Grade 12 Bio was a great course, as was my anatomy and physiology course last year.
13. I love Disney movies. LOVE THEM!
14. I wish I could play the piano. My sister Sharlene and my niece Jessica are both amazing and I could sit and listen to them for hours. Jessica played for my wedding and her playing alone brought tears to my eyes.
15. I walked down the aisle to Glasgow Love Theme from the movie Love Actually.
16. My sister Lindsey picked it out. She wanted to walk down the aisle to it, but got married in Costa Rica so that didn't quite work out for her.
17. I love people watching.
18. I can cry at the drop of a hat. I cry in movies, commercials, books, from hearing a story or listening to music. I cry in anticipation for something tragic or wonderful in a movie that I have already seen. I even cried in the Little Mermaid last summer.
19. My favorite part of a bag of crackers is the very end. I love the salt and the crumbs at the bottom. I also love the brown side of the Stone Wheat Thins.
20. My mom buys books for us at Christmas. She always has. It has always been what I most look forward to. She has given us books that we read as kids over the years... and we all get the same ones. It is quite fun.
21. I'm pretty last minute. My mom made my grad dress the day before grad... without a pattern.
22. I am forever calling people (usually at the last minute) asking to borrow clothes when I need to dress up. I usually rope whoever it is into doing my hair and make-up for me before I head out.
23. I have only put mascara on myself (I finally bought some for my wedding). If I need more than that I recruit someone else.
24. I have never owned a brush. Or a blow-dryer.
25. I cut my hair off for Locks of Love two years ago and never once regretted it.
26. Erik loved my long hair.
27. I have played every position in a college volleyball game, except libero. I have started a game as a setter, right-side, power and middle.
28. That being said, I don't excel at any of those positions. I'm just an all-around kinda player.
29. I love laughter that brings tears to my eyes.
30. I love fresh sheets.
31. I baked my first loaf of bread from scratch and by hand last week. It was whole wheat, pumpkin seed, flax bread. Keeps you regular.
32. I have had all my thank-you cards completed since before Christmas but haven't sent out any. All the addresses are on my computer that pooped out on me.
33. Both college volleyball teams I played for won the Team Academic Awards. We were pretty smart.
34. I have been riding the bus for months now and I'm still nervous navigating them. I am especially afraid of the doors not opening when I want to get off. Some you have to push, some just open, some you aren't supposed to touch at all. I always sit behind them so that I can see what other people do. I have even missed my stop intentionally because I didn't want to look silly... thankfully someone got off at the next stop so I didn't have to walk too far.
35. I am addicted to cards. Buying them, sending them, collecting them. I have tons from when I worked at the thrift store. That was a rockin' job.
36. My all-time favorite job was working at Schneider's. I packaged smokies for two summers. It was awesome. I still dream about it and i get excited when talking about it!
37.I put hours into teaching myself to crack my knuckles. My friend, Rachael, did it and I loved the sound. It was a painful process, but I can now crack all of my knuckles.
38. I had one day to pick out my wedding dress.
39. I hate taking showers because I hate being cold when I come out of them.
40. I hate drying off with a damp towel. Same reason.
41. I used to use Q-tips infrequently just so I could have a lot of gunk on them when I did use them. That was a while ago. I promise.
42. I wish I was more resourceful and creative.
43. I aspire to be like my sister-in-law Shawna. I don't feel I'm ready to commit to living that much "greener" though. She recommends all these great books, but I feel as though I would be momentarily enthused and then forget all about it. I'm hoping to do some canning etc in the summer. I need to take baby steps. We recycle.
44. I have always dreamed of living in Africa for a while. Now I'm up for anywhere...
45. Transitioning into married life was more natural than I thought it would be. I love it.
46. I am addicted to the game Bohnanza. I make Erik play it with me all the time.
This is Joey. I like to call him Joseph... or stinky.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Apache Blessing
This has been on my sister's fridge since we moved here and I never actually read it until today. I kind of like it. I've always liked blessings.
may the sun
bring you new energy by day,
may the moon
softly restore you by night,
may the rain
wash away your worries,
may the breeze
blow new strength into your being.
may you walk
gently through the world and know
its beauty all the days of your life.
may the sun
bring you new energy by day,
may the moon
softly restore you by night,
may the rain
wash away your worries,
may the breeze
blow new strength into your being.
may you walk
gently through the world and know
its beauty all the days of your life.
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