Going through some photos this evening, I came across this gem.

L to R: Me, Mikey, Jamie

Those were some good times...good times indeed!

On that note, they do make footy pajamas for adults still.

John Denver and Robin

One of my favorite Christmas albums is John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together. Listening to these songs never fails to bring back sweet childhood Christmas memories. Things like dancing around the living room in my new footie bumble bee pajamas with Jamie (who also had new footie bumble bee pajams). Rushing to turn the tape over in the old cassette player and always getting a static-shock from the big round silver volume button. Singing at the top of my voice "Go tell it on the mountain" and pleading with mom for yet another Daffy cupcake. The deeply spiritual love present. So many memories. Wonderful, treasured memories.

Listening to my iTunes yesterday, lo and behold, but on should shuffle John Denver and Robin singing "When the River Meets the Sea". I have always appreciated this song; it has a hauntingly simple yet slow and beautiful melody which makes my ears tingle. Yesterday, I listened harder to the lyrics then I had previously. For your reference, I have included them below:

Robin: When the mountain touches the valley
All the clouds are taught to fly
As our souls will leave this land most peacefully
Though our minds be filled with questions
In our hearts we'll understand
When the river meets the sea

John Denver: Like a flower that has blossomed
In this dry and barren sand
We are born and born again most gracefully
Plus the winds of time will take us
With a sure and steady hand
When the river meets the sea

All: Patience my brothers
And patience my son
In that sweet and final hour
Truth and justice will be done

Robin: Like a baby when it is sleeping
In its mother's loving arms
What a newborn baby dreams is a mystery (a mystery)

John: But this life will find a purpose
And in time we'll understand
When the river meets the sea
When the river meets the almighty sea 

This has not been as easy two weeks at work. So often people will tell me "How wonderful for you to work in such a happy place" without realizing just how devastating it can be. Colleagues have told me that the saddest cases we ever receive always seem to happen at Christmas time, and I wonder why? Perhaps it is because at this time of year many of us seek to reconcile ourselves with a sense of a deeper meaning - be that faith or family - and God knows that with this connection, we will have the strength to carry on.


Though our minds be full of questions
In our hearts we'll understand
When the river meets the sea.


Until this day, I carry on and live for the moments of a vigorous cry, smacking lips, fulfilled birth plans and a new father's tears. My heart understands these. Thanks for reading: this writing has been cathartic.

Chai tea, snowflakes and cat purr.

I just got off a night shift. The first 11.75 hours of which was awesome, the last .25 hours of which were terrible. In my line of work it is always good to be reminded that no matter how uncomplicated things appear initially, I must always be on guard. Good to be reminded of, but never an easy lesson.

The love of my life was waiting for me this morning with a warm truck, a licky puppy and open arms. Smiling, I accepted the gifts of love and made it home to my warm bed and a good sleep. Upon awakening, dusk was beginning - but the sky was clear brilliant blue. Tonight I shall walk the aforementioned licky puppy under a canopy of twinkling stars while my boots and long-johns keep me toasty. Until that voyage, I type and reminisce while drinking hot chai and enjoy the hypnotic rhythm of a striped cat.

Thanks Be to God.

Bah-bah-dee-dah

Eric has been digging up some great tunes lately. One I have been particularly enjoying is a remix of a 1950's original "Pa-Pa Amerikano" performed by the artists Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP and renamed "We Speak No Americano". This little diddy makes me smile and is a great tune to cook supper too. Check out the YouTube video below.


My favorite part of this video is the chase sequence at the very end. Makes me think of the Ministry of Silly Walks...if we could only all be so awesome.

The 5 Browns - Rhapsody in Blue

A dear friend of mine recently recommended I should check out this group. They are five siblings, all trained at Juilliard and all playing Steinway pianos...it's absolutely mind blowing and ear tickling all at the same time. Turn up the volume and check out the video below - enjoy!

Snurgflorbakaflatz

Yes. That is what I said. Actually, that's what my sinuses just told the pain receptors in my head. I'm sick. And feel like complaining about it.

*mumble-grumble*

There. I have that out of my system for a while. In the meantime, this made me laugh, so I will share it with you.

Dancing in the rain.

Have you ever experienced a sun shower? That perfect moment on a summer's afternoon where you laughingly look up into the sky while warm raindrops shower your face and your senses are overpowered by the sweet smells and joyful sounds. Have you noticed that the birds do not stop their singing? They all join in this great chorus of excited chatter while raindrops drip from the eaves, pelt the ground and flip from the poplar leaves. Flowers nod their heads in time and the cat sits under the front porch, tail twitching, looking disgusted with the wet. You run for cover under the trees...or maybe you spread your arms and dance in crazy circles to nature's rhythm. 

This frosty fall evening I am listening to some music which Eric suggested I may enjoy. Which I do. Very much. The composer's name is Ludovico Einaudi, and the album is Divenire. The genre is minimalist contemporary classical (so Eric has explained) and it makes me think of sun showers. Any music which can transport my mind so completely to a blissful memory is worth recommending to others.

Don't forget to jump in a puddle every now and again.

Paradise and water under the bridge.

Epic. That's the only word which can really describe exactly how the past two days have been for Eric and I. Epic.

A few years ago Eric embarked on a quest to 4x4 to the closed down Paradise Mine, located behind and above the town of Invermere. After years, literally, of researching and planning - we finally did it! We toodled around for the better part of the morning, thinking the worst we were going to encounter was this:

Pheasant/Quail/Whatchamacallit birds like these were everywhere! And wanted to walk SLOWLY in front of the truck.

Soon though, we were on to things like this:

"I spy with my little eye, something that is green!"

And then this:

Eric walking the trail to ensure its Jeep worthiness

When we got here, we were pretty sure we weren't going to make it to the mine without first each getting a new pair of undergarments. This was a leeedle-bit intense...

"Umm honey, we are above the tree line. And there is snow."

So we decided to turn around, thinking that we weren't going to find the mine on this trip.

Before I continue with this tale, I want to make it clear to everyone reading that we were following a trail and were NOT driving off of it. We packed out all of our garbage and even left the trail in better shape then when we originally drove through. Tread Lightly!

On our way back down the mountain we decided, on a whim, to try one more road which appeared to be heading in the general direction of the mine. We found this:

Old log cabin which had a stove and bed still inside.

Then we stopped here and walked around for a while as we girded our loins to go even further.

 Finally! After risking both swing arm and human arm, CV boot and my boot - we made it!

There aren't very many structures left standing, most of them burned down about 10 years ago. Also, an outfit which rents ATVs in the area has unfortunately allowed their patrons to go mudding and discard all sorts of quad plastics, broken brake light covers and even a few sparkplugs (?!?). Eric and I parked the truck and walked around the old site on foot, taking lots of pictures, admiring the wild life and wondering if the miners called this place Paradise because of its overwhelming beauty or a tongue-in-cheek comment on the incredibly rough conditions they would have endured daily.

On the way back to the villa, we stopped and dipped our hot feet in the Kootenay. The Jeep told us it wanted to get wet too; so we promised it a nice truck-wash when we got back to Calgary. Good job Jeep-Jeep!

For those interested in EXACTLY where we were, Eric has kindly made a map.

Epic.

Today we went for 16km canoe trip from Invermere to Radium on the Columbia river. There is not much to explain. There was a boy - and a girl - and a little canoe... I nearly burst into song there. The water was wet, the sky was blue and the weather was amazing. Here are a few pictures of our journey.

Eric looking smashing in his new hat (yes, I forgot to pack hats too).

Look at the size of that bird foot print! Great Blue Heron?

Yup, mighty fine two days we have had. Interspersed with plenty of relaxing! But, the bacon'n'beans are done cooking now and Eric looks ready to eat the table leg. I'll provide another update as soon as I can. Until then, my tip of the day is this: NEVER underestimate how deep you can sink in river mud. It will surprise you.

This little piggy went to market...

...this little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
and this little piggy went 'wee-wee-wee' all the way...on HOLIDAYS!

It's weird being just the two of us. We haven't been just the two of us for months, in fact, years. The condo is perfect, third floor on the end overlooking the hoodoos! Coffee is brewed and cinnamon buns are awaiting consumption. Plan for today is to relax and at some point head into Invermere to purchase the things I forgot to pack. Things like: deoderant, hairbrush and eggs. But don't worry, I remembered the important stuff; we both have pants!

I'll try and blog more regularly to let you all know how we are doing, in the meantime, my tip for the day is: Always carry an extra pair of gloves because you never know when it will be YOU doing the delivering...

I can't decide.

I can't decide which emotion this 'thing' invokes. Part of me is terrified of it (I mean, look at it!), the part of me wants to laugh hysterically (again, LOOK at it!) and the final part of me is impressed that someone would actually create such a thing. It's an otamatone - and it's weird. Check out the youtube video. For more information, check out the manufacturer's website here.

Stay tuned for further meaningful blog posts as I get my ducks in a row, cats in a line and dog in the bath.

:)

Life is grand.

start.

I was there this week for three new beginnings. Wide open eyes, unfocused and searching. Arms reaching, hands grasping and legs flutter-kicking. Two people looking at each other over a squirming, crying, angry wet baby.

"There is no word to describe how awesome you are"

"He is so perfect!"

"I love you"

"You're finally here. We did it, I did it"

As quietly as we can, we move through the room; not daring to disturb this sacred moment. We use dad's unattended camera to take a few pictures. They will see them later. The first moments of a new beginning.

"She knows your voice, watch how she turns her head towards you."

"Really?"

"Really. She has been listening to the two of you for the last nine months"

I stand for 12 hours every shift, have used my shoulder to brace a woman's foot as she pushed for 3 hours, ran for countless towels, blankets, cool cloths and warm cloths. I have charted until I thought I would lose my mind...then tried to count a fetal heart rate during labour and I knew I lost my mind (you try counting 180 bpm between contractions!). I have knocked over a stand of birthing balls, been lost trying to find the staff lounge and nearly contaminated a sterile field (I've only been to the OR once before). Listening. Counting. Accel or Decel? ROA or shoulder dystocia? Dilation and effacement, SRM, SVB, PNOB, LSCS...Oh not another acronym please!

I get home and I have blood on my shoe, my ankles are swollen, my hands are dry and cracked, I haven't used the bathroom in 8 hours and I didn't eat supper. My shoulders are killing me and I don't know 1/10 of what I need to know yet...but all I can really think about are those beginnings and how this is SO worth it.