The dream

Base of the Grand Wall amongst the boulders, Squamish, B.C.

Travel light

Live light

Spread the light

Be the light

*****************

I don't know much about "Swine Flu" nor do I know much about "Spring Fever." I think I have caught the latter. All I can think about is everything I want to do and everything else that I have no interest in being a part of. I am actually at peace with it for the first time in a while. I am okay with this uncertainty and indecisiveness.

It comes down to making sure I am living the life I want to live and ,y partner is doing the same. Am I being the light I want to spread. Right now it is questionable. I feel that because of "this economic situation" I am constrained to current situation. I am blessed to have a job and a house, but now that I have these things I start to question if this is what I really want. Yes this might be Spring Fever creeping under my skin, telling us to pack up our belongings at get the heck out of town, I don't think that this is a fleeting moment. I know there is more to life than this job, I know there is more to life than this American Dream. I am not going to swallow the little pill that is labeled consumerism, idleness, and compliance. I know there is more and I know I can live on less.

There is change coming in our lives. We are going to create it. It is only a matter of time and timing.

I want to be the positive light and I want to live the dream. The dream is not the American Dream that is for sure!

A piece of Paradise

I have found it, my little slice of heaven right in my back yard. I hate to just come right out and advertise the best place in the Pacific Northwest but I have found it nestled away on the Canadian coast.


I have been traveling the 2 hour drive north for over 5 years now and loving it more and more even tough it is becoming more crowded, more houses, a Wal-Mart, and traffic. The parks department (BC Parks?) has done an incredible job planning and accommodating the increased traffic and hoards of people amassing on Squamish. New trails, more camp sites, cleaning out old crags, and implementing a strict dog policy. Kudos to Squamish and all the parties involved who are going to keep Squamish beautiful for the years to come. The area seems to be getting "better" with time.


This last weekend John, Bryan, Jess and myself ventured to the play land in celebration of Bryan's 34Th birthday and the promise of good weather.

We hiked to the top of the Chief, breaking a sweat, letting the sun warm up the air, and for the sake of doing something new. It ended up being a great little adventure!

I don't know how John can make this move. He has the campasing moves stored in his back pocket at all times. It is called "Cutting Edge" (rightfully so), a beautiful and proud boulder. We have been frequenting this patch of boulders as I insist on being in the sun and not going into the forest to the Grand Wall Boulders.

"A bad day outside beats a good day in the office." I am sure John will have this problem the next couple of goes.

Saturday night, with a few hours of day light left we harnessed up and hit the Malamute. What a perfect day!

Index

Oh please don't let it be true! PLEASE! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

It really couldn't happen,

Ozomatli!

The Nightlight Lounge has came back from the depths of financial ruin and being the victim of the city of subdued excitement. It is back in the form of a "cash only" bar, trying to make a go of it a second time. I guess if they can keep the money out of their nose they really can make a go of it here in Bellingham. They have the ability to bring in some bigger acts and generate a crowd and keep in business, and their 80's night draws a line out the door and around the corner. So please, all you Hamsters, get your booty out there and support the venue, I need music!

Last night Ozomatli rolled through town and put of a fun show. Their energy is hard to match and even challenging to keep up with. Their pr essence filled the stage and sprayed into the crowd. The Nightlight was of course hotter than Bikram Yoga and packed to the gills with sweaty inebriated bodies but we got by. Horns, drums, great lyrics and big smiles made the night worth the while. If they roll through your town, don't sit this one out, they are sure to please!

Squamish or bust

"I can't wait to see what happens next!"
This was scribbled on a shop chalkboard the other day. I love it, I think it sums up my feelings toward my life right now, or at least the feeling I strive for these days. The possibilities are endless. I think I might be intoxicated from the first glimpse of sun and a bit of warmth that the Pacific Northwest experienced for the first time. I think the city of subdued excitement is coming out of hibernation. People are out on the streets again, I am not the only one on the trails, there is smell of cut grass, there is color to the tress, flowers are popping out of the ground..... We made it through another dark, cold, stormy winter... we made it, now comes the fun part, the part that makes us stay here through those dark months....


This last weekend we packed the van for the first time in months, we gathered Natasha, our bikes, shoes and a crash pad to boulder and drove north to Squamish. We tested the mountain bike trails for the first time, was it ever worth it! The trails (once we found them) were incredible. We only rode in a couple of different places, we ran into snow, ice, confusion, tired legs, all the usual.... but left with smiles on our faces. What a relief, camping, biking, bouldering, friends, Squamish... spring is here (or at least peeking its head in every couple of days) and I am ready to play outside!

I have always threatened to move to Squamish, the climbing is just that good. Being there this weekend confirmed my love for this town, nestled in the mountains, perched near the bay, filled with endless recreation opportunities. We rode great trail and then on the way out stopped at the "Clean Boulders" and bouldered for two hours on some of the best boulders around (really, world class!). I cannot imagine the endless possibilities that would be a stone throw from our house, ** oh** the possibilities! I feel so fortunate to live just an hour and a half drive away. Moving north wouldn't do a single thing for this winter blah that plagues us.....

Beating the blah

I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.
- Rita Mae Brown

**Sam and I a couple of years ago exploring the boulders in Squamish. (Saggy butt jeans and all)**

John and are headed out for the weekend. **thank god** I haven't been able to get in the groove and get motivated to do all the activities that I usually love. We are going to hit Squamish for the short weekend. The weather is suposed to be nice so we decided to break the routine and meet some friends up north. We were going to head east to Vantage for some sun and a bit warmer/drier climate, but Squamish is just that much closer, the rock is that much better and there will be friends.

The thought of getting out gets me excited, this office nonsence is just not that stimulating nor remotley rewarding. There is nothing like a little adrelane and fear pumping through my veins to bring my mood back and desire for physical activity around.

What we work for

Everyone has a reason why they get up and go to work almost everyday. What is it that has most of us on such a ball and chain that we spend a considerable amount of our life with people often other than our close loved ones and twiddle away the hours working. It is what it is. Most of us are in a situation that we must work full time jobs. What is the pay off? Will there ever be a light at the end of the tunnel? These are serious questions that we must ask ourselves before giving up all of our precious time in a job.

I think that my parents have found the light at the end of their tunnel. All their penny pinching has paid off. The years of hard work, my mom's endless scheming has came to fruition (well, technically in a matter of days, once all the paperwork is free and clear). I can see the happiness in her eyes, in her step and the way in which she carries herself. She did it, she found something that meant enough to her that she was willing to work to have this house on the beach. It brings me some ease to hear this come from her or anyone for that matter. To find something that you love enough to go ahead and sacrifice in order to obtain it.

It goes through my mind constantly, what are we doing this for? Why aren't we out there climbing, eating pb&j, living the life. Right now, we have a fleet of bikes, eat out, have a house and life is comfortable. This is working for.

Shoulder Season

Please help, I am being sucked in to the abyss of early spring. I know, early spring, what is more promising than early spring. Early spring does not have much to offer me. I am over winter, I am ready for spring and even more ready for summer. I am constantly cold, wet and muddy.

John told me I am suffering from the "shoulder season." I am caught in limbo. I want to go out and ride my bike everyday, run a lot of trail, play in the garden, and just be outside. It is just a tad bit too cold for me to really enjoy all these pleasures. I am going to rely on yoga to work through the shoulder season and come into spring and summer strong and fit as can be.

Take that Pacific Northwest weather, I will not be brought down!

(The view from my parents new casa.. right on the beach!)

A taste of freedom

We introduced the little ladies to the vast wilderness of our "front" yard. As soon as they discovered the treats in the soil they picked at the dirt for hours. I tried to work in the garden but was too entertained by their curiosity of the soil. John came home and did the honors of introducing Natasha. He Got her on a leash and she was inched in to them. Sniff. sniff. grunt. grunt. Next thing we know there are birds going ape shit and Natasha has one in her mouth. John got it out before we had a limp chick. Natasha got a taste of dirt and John's wrath. All is well.

Speaking of Natasha, John was telling me about the first time that she saw cows at the Stiles Ranch. I guess she took off and chased them with all her might. The next thing they knew there were cattle tangled up in barb wire and Natasha looking innocent. Oh Natasha!

The view from the living room

The weekend is here... ***AAAHHHHHHH****Sigh****

Some weeks it takes an act of great will to get through the week. This was one of those weeks.

I had a couple code amendments that I presented to Planning Commission on Thursday (mind you a room full of men... all men commissioners and audience, I think it was myself and Becky). I left questioning what the heck I was doing at my job, little, anxious, and glad that I had to pedal home 9 miles to get all this nasty experience out of my system.

I came home to flowers. Oh, did I mention I came home to daffodils...

My appetite finally backed off from the post race recovery. My legs are well, my endurance is there. I got a massage Monday. I went in with sore legs and the next day they were loose and limber. I am going to make a habit of getting massages after any big effort. I felt so much better. I managed not to run all week as well, I think I am recovered now!

Heather and Darrin had their first baby boy. They are the first ones of "my generation" to have a baby. I am so excited for them. I am going to go see him today for the first time! Yeah! What a joyous feeling they must have right now. I can hardly imagine. I wish them only the best.

Friday was a good day. I planted what I could in my garden. Peas, early beets, onions, leeks, and parsley. I have learned from John to not create too much work for myself, I can't help but plant a garden. There is something I love about it. It will take a lot of work, I will have to compromise the valuable time I have, but well worth it. It is going to be the best garden yet.

Saturday..... it is early in the morning still. I want to go ride my bike with John so bad. It is grey and looks like the skies are going to open at any second. The view from the living room is nice. It is going to be hard to get out. Oh the Northwest weather. After 25 years, I would like to just have some sun. I need some blue sky... today!

Happy weekend everyone!

Spring Chickens

Please meet and welcome the newest members of our family! I have wanted chickens since we moved into our new house and I finally made it happen. We now have six little baby chicks all huddled up under a heat lamp at our house. They are as cute as ever! They have grown significantly in just a week. I have a hard time imagining what it might be like to have children, if I feel this sentimental about chickens, I don't know if I could handle this experience with kids!

I am pretty excited to create a happy little domain for these little ladies ( I am only keeping the females!). I want them to run around in the yard, and we will need to create a little fenced off area so all the predators that want to eat them as a snack are kept at bay.

I am getting pretty excited to be able to feed these guys all our kitchen scraps, get wonderful eggs, be just a tad bit more self-sufficient, and have them run around the yard.

Baby time!

Not us... sorry... not yet....

I get to have a baby vicariously through Heather!

She had her baby last night... Ascher (I'm not 100% on the spelling yet!)



I am going to stop by the hospital and get the details and snap a few pictures.



I am so happy for you two!



You will be fantastic parents!



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