outdoors – The Daily EO

The Daily EO: May 19th – 22nd

It was my friend Lisa’s 40th birthday on May 21st and she asked me and some other friends to join her at Tigh-na-Mara in Parksville. Well, that is kinda true – she asked me what I thought – should we go to Montreal, Las Vegas, a West Coast spa or camping in Golden. I mean, really? What? One of things is not like the other ones! Golden is nice, yes, but camping? Camping is a pain – you have to haul in a whole bunch of stuff to try and make it feel more like home, get a lousy sleep because your poor hip doesn’t have the cushioning it needs on the hard ground, and stay dirty. Why would you do anything of these things?

Yes, I am not a camper. So, I was relieved when the consensus going to a spa resort for a couple of days. We started off well with a wonderful ferry ride up to Nanaimo from Horseshoe Bay. A peaceful crossing full of possibilities – so I know I am going somewhere. The four of us all met up around 5 pm at the resort and immediately the wine started flowing. The sun was dropping in the sky so a walk on the beach was in order.

I then invented a new photography technique that I call “blind photography”. I am sure many smart photo users have engaged in this activity unknowingly. It’s when you try to take pictures with your phone despite standing directly in sunlight. You have no idea what you’ve snapped – the horizon could be crooked, the focus out of whack – you just do not know. Here is one of my best:

The rest of the night is a little fuzzy.

The next morning, I got up and ran. Yes, despite the wine and the early morning wake-up from the skylight, I run through the trails of Parksville before breakfast and a spa day. I think it was to assuage the guilt I felt knowing I’d be missing work during a really busy phase. Directly after breakfast it was to the spa. At this spa, there is rules, you must where a robe at all times. I got a pedicure, Lisa got a facial and we met our friends for Endless Tapas. Endless Tapas? What is that? Well, you pay $50 and they bring you tapas until you cannot eat any longer. If you liked something particular, you order more – no charge. This is dangerous when all your tight-fitting clothing is in the locker downstairs and all you have a loose hide-it-away robe expanding with you.

There was no wine that night.

The next day we got more spa treatments and then combed the beaches. And I mean it, we combed the beaches. We were looking for glass rocks on 5 different beaches in Parksville. Frankly, I think Lisa thought the world owed her something for her birthday. So we searched and searched. But to no avail.

We made arrangements with the resort for a “fire kit” – which un-kittingly was one item – and marshmallow roasting sticks. When it got dark, a fire on the beach complete with s’mores was planned. We finally dragged our spa-ed bodies out the front door to find it was pouring rain. We wanted s’mores, but we were not that dedicated or skilled to be able to do it in the pouring rain. Fortunately, I knew an option. So munching on s’mores and watching So You Think You Can Dance, we wiled the rest of the night away.

May 19 -22, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: Time a way “on the island” with a friend who shared my formative years at university.

The Daily EO: May 4th, 2013

A gorgeous day and a forecast of more to come. I awoke determined to find both more items to throw out of my warehouse AND to get outside to run run run. I did the first while I waited for my running partner to get out of bed and get ready. Emile is good at being on time and reliable, but given a fluid schedule, he is the best futzer I have ever met. He could stretch anything into a 4 hour event. But nonetheless we finally got out of the house.

I should mention here that I changed my rules for my running month of May. I am not going to run every day – honestly Self! You are a Materials Manager you are busy – but instead run a cumulative amount for the month. This seems more realistic as I can definitely spend more time on weekends exercising then I can on my 12 hour days spent commuting and working. So, my goal for the month is 130 kms.

But back to Saturday. What a Day! Sunny. No Humidity.

But the Sea Wall was crowded. Really Crowded. I took a picture to show you:

Okay – that actually was a picture of my view at the Vancouver Sun Run, but you get my meaning. There were a whole bunch of people pouring of off the cruise ship and everyone was out enjoying the weather. It made it feel like a race picking your way around people. But I got in 9.2 kms.

Okay – that is another lie. I am a liar. I cannot claim 9.2 kms today. My shins. My poor poor shins. They hate me after pushing through the Sun Run and having recovered yet. So, I probably ran about 6. or 7 and then had to walk – at a lively pace – but walk nonetheless for the rest of the day. There comes a point that pushing yourself is stupid if it is going to result in injury or longer lasting pain.

But it was such a beautiful day that we decided to register for the BMO marathon on May 5th. Because we could. Because we were right there.

Okay – that is another lie. God – what is wrong with me?! There was never any intention of signing up for the marathon or the 1/2 marathon. Instead, we were going to do the 8k, but for some crazy reason whoever was in charge of the race – and it must not have been a sane person – scheduled it to start at 6:30 am. Wha?! The only thing I do at 6:30 is get out of bed into a hot shower. So sorry BMO – and all the charities that you fundraise for – forget it. I am keeping my shins in bed along with my 50 bucks. Because I always sleep with my shins and 50 bucks. Always.

But – the best part about not signing up for the BMO marathon was enjoying the “Expo” and getting free things like health bar samples, yogurt, weird BMO gloves that look like those gloves you buy for exfoliation in the shower rather than real gloves. I must say the Vega booth was pretty cheap on their samples though – you had to go up and request that they cut a little piece of a bar or give a little sip of a drink. If you are giving free samples – then don’t be cheap about it. That’s what I say! Put them out there – share your stuff. Don’t make them beg for it!

Any hoo, back home where somehow it was already 4:45 pm (I blame Emile with his futzing not my walking) to shower and eat healthy things like kale.

Another LIE! I am out of control! Instead, we used my hidden credit card and coupon to buy $2 sweet fries at A&W and since we were there you can’t not have a diet root beer or apple turnover while sitting in the sunshine. (not that I have a hidden credit card normally, it was just tucked away in my running shorts).

So, off we ran to see “The Manor” all the way across downtown as part of the Doxa film festival. It was good – but I found it hard to watch sometimes as I wonder how the director was able to show his family warts and all. (including his own warts). The filmmaker was there, and we joined in a lively discussion after the movie to learn more of his story, and went for drinks with the producers after the show.

Okay. Yep. That too is a lie. We left immediately afterwards – alone – and headed to Chill Winston’s (best location in Gastown), sat outside, had a beer and wine and shared a pizza and watched the world go by.

And that is no lie.

May 4th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: The best day of my life! Okay. No. Really, what I mean, is there are no regrets moving to Vancouver today. And Oh! That heat lamp at Chill Winston’s was pretty freaking awesome with the sun setting and the temperature dropping. And the wine was excellent.

Run Today: 6.5 kms
Cumulative Total: 16.3 kms

The Daily EO: April 30th, 2013

Today I am thinking about summer. It’s been so sunny – but cool – hints of what is to come. A summer of possibilities and reasons to go places. I’m looking forward to this summer, and the hope to see more, and promises of friends and family to visit.

I’m talking about possibilities a lot, I know. I’m getting into my grove finding my place, feeling better, getting to see the light often.

On the West Coast, Ferries represent freedom, isolation, destined to somewhere special. I love riding one, with the wind whipping at my hair, watching the kids walking against the wind. The seasoned travellers who have a routine. We’re all going some place together.

April 30th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: A ferry to any where is a good day. And I am going places.

The Daily EO: November 25th, 2012

The sun shone brightly and for those uninitiated, you would be led to believe that the day was warm and fair. It was not, but it was a beautiful day. And we live 3.5 kms from Stanley Park – Vancouver’s glorious 1000 acre park almost in the heart of the city.

I arose at 7:30, changed into weather thoughtful exercise clothes and waited impatiently for Emile to drag himself out of bed. At 10, I announced with a flourish it was time to go – outside and the sunshine awaited us. He too wore his warm clothes and we set-out. We stuck to the North sides of the street that seemed to have a little more sun and kept our pace quick and brisk.

I was excited to visit the park, though I haven’t been there in probably 20 years. But vague memories crept upon me as I viewed familiar landscapes and the totem poles. We walked quickly, and then as we got to the seawall in Stanley Park, we ran. And we talked and we ran some more. We caught about Emile’s work, and my worries about my department at work, and Christmas and our plans for December and our upcoming vacation.

It was only by noon that I told Emile I was at the hungry stage and moving towards starving that we decided to make our way home. Emile knows that this is where the danger zone begins.

Breakfast was at “The Chef and the Baker” just around the corner from our place – casual enough to accept unshowered people in workout gear, but also nice enough to serve loose chai tea.

Aaaah.

November 25th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary: A visit to Lord Stanley’s Park and a feeling of contentment and well being.

The Daily EO: May 27th, 2012

If you need the will to run (or to keep running), try running in May in Muskoka 8:30 pm at night on a rural road.

May 27th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary: Running the furthest and fastest I’ve ever done to save my blood for me instead of the blood suckers who live in the forest awaiting sundown.

Maintenance May Day 27:
Signed up for a CSA share even though I have no idea what or where will be happening this summer.