FIVE THINGS

I never thought I'd be doing this on my computer over the internet.

1. I love mountain biking - that's me on the left and the cliff behind us...

2. I am a Level I English horseback riding instructor. I attained my certification over twenty years ago, but I am sure the same principles apply now - "keep a leg on each side and your mind in the middle"...



3. I am a natural blonde, but I do admit to helping it along over the past couple of years!



4. I do not consider myself particularly religious, but I am very spiritual.







5. Although last on this list, MY FAMILY COMES FIRST before anything else!
I am so lucky to have wonderful parents, a loving husband and three beautiful children!

MY THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Behind Blue Eyes...

THURSDAY

"Top of the World" is a great run off the front side of the summit!

I have found it all the more challenging by hanging a left into "Tree Time", snaking in and out between the trees, then turning back into the open and onto the steeper pitch below.

I do not have to work today and this afternoon I was scheduled to go to my ski programme, Chicks on Sticks, but I will be staying home with my son. He has been sick since yesterday with the flu, poor little fellow. He has a very high fever with a headache and a bad cough.

I am sorry to miss Chicks, but I am more than happy to remain here with my son to care for him and spoil him rotten!

MEMORIES OF FIJI

This is the tiny resort island where my family and I spent one glorious week last summer.

It is the Island of Toberua, just off the coast of the southern island of Fiji, not far from the capital city of Suva.
My Mum and Dad have visited there several times and enjoy the island's friendly and exotic atmosphere.

Last year was my parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary and they decided to plan something special for that occasion...

We all met down in Fiji for a one week family reunion!
How nice is that?

The reunion included my entire immediate family and our children.
There were my Mum and Dad (of course), my next younger brother with his two sons (thirteen and eleven), my younger sister, my youngest brother with his wife, son and daughter (ages nine and seven respectively), and my own family, including my husband, three children (fifteen, nine and eight) and me!

There were fourteen of us in all and we occupied five of the fourteen bures that, built in the traditional Fijian fashion, were our luxurious accommodation on the island.

It was wonderful seeing everyone again!
Not to mention being in Fiji!

My Mum and Dad live in Quebec, as does my brother and his boys.
My sister lives in Toronto and my other brother lives in Australia with his family - we had not yet met his daughter before the holiday.
My family and I live in the Rockies of western Canada.

So, a reunion with our family was a rare treat, indeed!

RETURN TO LIFE

I went back to work yesterday.
It seems that I am on the mend and feeling better!

My energy level is rising and hopefully it will be back to what it usually is.
I often suffer from too much energy!

Thanks to all who sent their get well wishes!

Apparently, those wishes are working!

I AM MISSING THIS TODAY

This is Taynton Bowl.

It is off the back side of the summit of our ski hill.
All the runs are at least double black diamond, meaning they are long, steep, deep, and very difficult. But fun!!
My eight year old daughter was skiing back in there last Sunday...

This particular photo, taken just the other day, was shot from the heli-skiing helicopter.
I have never had the pleasure of going skiing via any mode of air transport, but some day I'd love to give it a go!

I am resting at home today, recovering from my mysterious illness, so I can save my energy for work tomorrow.

GOODY BAGS!

I just spent the last two hours filling candy bags!

My eight year old daughter is entered into "The Helen Bavin Memorial" ski race next Sunday.

My official volunteer position is "Chief of Candy".
Translated, that means I stuffed one hundred baggies with assorted candies, all tied with pretty red and white ribbons, to be handed out at the finish line.

It is excellent incentive for the young athletes to complete the course!
Not necessarily quickly, but to simply make it through the finish gate...

PERPETUALLY PETE...

I posted this pic of Pete precisely for pleasure and posterity!

Phew...

POOT DEE LAHM IN DEE COCONUT...

I SAID, "DOCTAH..."

He prodded, poked, pushed and pondered.

"Hmmmm...", said he.
"Take this lab referral to the hospital."


So, off I went...
To the establishment where my children were born.

I found myself in the lab - with Dracula hovering.
Apparently, I have lovely veins...
Did you know that Dracula is female?

She drew four - I said FOUR! - vile viles of blood from my arm.

When all was said and done, no one offered me a cookie or a glass of juice.

Don't they do that any more for people who donate blood...?

QUIET

Another day sick at home.

It has to be the flu...

I will be missing "Chicks" this afternoon - boohoo.

Kids are all off to school and hubby gone to work. Just me with the animals for company.

Hugs to all.

SMART KID!

My fifteen year old daughter is going snowboarding with her high school class today.
I saw her off to the school bus this morning - there she was, bent beneath the weight of her school books, snowboard, snowboard boots, helmet and goggles, but happy...

As for myself, I am at home today, still not feeling well, but I had some banking to do on the Internet.
We have dial-up, so the telephone will go directly to our voice mail when the computer is in use.
When my banking was done, I checked my blog and I noticed there was a new comment.
I checked it, and saw that it was from a blogger unknown to me, except that I did notice part of the blog name included the name of my daughter.

Well, lo and behold, it was from her!
There was an urgent message to me...
"Mum, I forgot my boarding gloves! Will you bring them into town to school for me? Pleeeeease..."

She had gained access to a computer at school, set up her own blog and, knowing that I would not receive a phone call, sent me a message on my blog!
My smart girl took the (good) chance that I would check my blog at some time - hopefully before they set off for the ski hill.

It worked!
I immediately posted a message in her comment section notifying her that I'd bring her gloves to her right away.

I met my daughter at her classroom, gave her the gloves, and praised her for her brilliance and ingenuity!

ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER!

I AM RICH BECAUSE...

I have:

Naming rights - first, middle and last!
Glimpses of God every day.
Giggles under the covers every night.
More love than I think my heart can hold.
Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds and warm cookies.
A hand to hold, usually covered with jam or chocolate.
A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles and skipping down the path in the pouring rain.
Someone to laugh myself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how the stocks performed that day.

I get to:

Finger paint.
Carve pumpkins.
Play hide-and-seek.
Catch fireflies.
Believe in Santa Claus.

I have an excuse to:

Keep reading the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Watch Saturday morning cartoons.
Go to Disney movies.
Wish on stars.

I can:

Frame rainbows, hearts, dragons and dinosaurs with refridgerator magnets.
Collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas.

I receive:

Hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day.
Cards with backwards lettering for Father's Day.

I get to be a hero for:

Retrieving a frisbee out of a tree.
Taking the training wheels off a bike.
Removing a splinter.
Filling a wading pool.
Coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs.
Kissing boo-boos well again.

I have a front row seat to history witnessing:

First step.
First word.
First bra.
First date.
First time behind the wheel.

I get:

To be immortal by adding another branch to the family tree.
An education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communication and human sexuality that no university can match.
To rank directly under God in the eyes of my children.

Have the power:

To heal scrapes & sniffles.
To scare away the monsters under the bed.
To patch a broken heart.
To police a slumber party.
To ground them.

To Love My Children Forever Without Limits...


I adapted the above from an e-mail that my Mum sent to me this morning.

I am feeling better...

MELANCHOLY

I am feeling sad today.

It's not because I am still feeling under the weather.

It's not because I spent last evening in hospital with my friend who broke her leg skiing yesterday.

It's not because I yelled at my dear, sweet children this morning.


I think it's just because...

FOR PETE'S SAKE!

The above photo is my thought for the day...

I will spend my day on the ski hill with my family and this image in my head. Hope I don't get too distracted. I'd rather not take a tumble in the snow!

LIFEHOUSE...THEN LIFE!

...to quote my comment on Pete's blog regarding his novella, "The Boy Who Heard Music"...

I just printed out the most recent chapter, and will sit down to read it before the fireplace this lovely winter morning.

This view is from the deck of The Heliplex restaurant at the ski hill. It is the headquarters for R.K. Heli Ski. The name should be explanation enough...

There is a helicopter pad right there. The heli skiing outfit takes clients on flights into the backcountry, drops them off at the top of a mountain, where they ski down through the magnificent powder and are picked up again at the bottom by the helicopter - only to do it over and over, several times, throughout the course of the day!

This photo was taken yesterday afternoon. It snowed all night, so there will be much more snow accumulated by the time we head up to the ski hill.

We will not be taking a helicopter...

By the way, the ski hill is in the background, obliterated by the falling snow...

ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER...

But not today...

Halleluia!

It's snowing like crazy.

Or, as my husband so eloquently put it -

"It's puking snow up here!"

CHICKS!

THE SKIING IS AMAZING, FOLKS!

Lots of fresh powder and more in the forecast!
I went to Chicks on Sticks yesterday.
We skied the steep and the deep.
Just a bunch of chicks following Will's tracks...

I'm going up after work with the kids today.

YAHOO!!!

EDITH CAVELL

Edith Cavell (1865-1915) was a matron nurse of the Belgium Red Cross in Brussels. Her heroic deeds of aiding 200 or more allied soldiers to escape from behind enemy lines in Germany into freedom in Holland, via the underground railroad, are never to be forgotten with the tribute to her patriotism in the naming of this mountain. Her capture led to her execution by firing squad.This majestic mountain has a glacial lake and the most famous Angel Glacier which its whiteness spreading out angel wings protecting just as Edith, the soldier's angel, once did.
The following poem was penned by Lawrence Binyon about Edith Cavell:

She was binding the wounds of her enemies when they came --
The lint in her hand unrolled.
They battered the door with their rifle-butts, crashed it in:
She faced them gentle and bold.

They hailed her before the judges where they sat
In their places, helmet on head.
With question and menace the judges assailed her,
"Yes, I have broken your law," she said.

"I have tended the hurt and hidden the hunted, have done
As a sister does to a brother,
Because of a law that is greater than you have made,
Because I could do no other."
Deal as you will with me. This is my choice to the end,
To live in the life I vowed."
"She is self-confessed," they cried; "she is self-condemned.

She shall die, that the rest may be cowed."
In the terrible hour of the dawn, when the veins are cold,
They led her forth to the wall.
"I have loved my land," she said, "but it is not enough:
Love requires of me all.
"I will empty my heart of bitterness, hating none."
And sweetness filled her brave
With a vision of understanding beyond the hour
That knelled to the waiting grave.

They bound her eyes, but she stood as if she shone.
The rifles it was that shook
When the hoarse command rang out. They could not endure
That last, that defenseless look.

And the officer strode and pistolled her surely, ashamed
That men, seasoned in blood,
Should quail at a woman, only a woman, --
As a flower stamped in the mud.

And now that the deed was securely done, in the night
When none had known her fate,
They answered those that had striven for her, day by day:
"It is over, you come too late."

And with many words and sorrowful-phrased excuse
Argued their German right
To kill, most legally; hard though the duty be,
The law must assert its might.

Only a woman! yet she had pity on them,
The victim offered slain
To the gods of fear that they worship. Leave them there,
Red hands, to clutch their gain.

She bewailed not herself, and we will bewail her not,
But with tears of pride rejoice
That an English soul was found so crystal-clear
To be the triumphant voice

Of the human heart that dares adventure all
But live to itself untrue,
And beyond all laws sees love as the light in the night,
As the star it must answer to.

The hurts she healed, the thousands comforted -- these
Make a fragrance of her fame.
But because she stept to her star right on through death
It is Victory speaks her name.

This is a photo of a mountain sheep in Jasper National Park. I know I said that Mount Assiniboine is my favourite mountain, but I have to admit, Mount Edith Cavell tops Assiniboine in my books. It is the striated mountain in the background. This mountain was named after a nurse who was in WWI, but I'm not quite sure of the rest of the story. It is a wild and wonderful place.

My computer was down for a week or so and I was unable to post. I snuck a comment or two on Rachel's blog from work, but I had very little time. I am happy to be back in blogland!

I also have an odd sort of illness. It has manifested itself in some strange symptoms, that all add up to what I call a "body flu". Last week I had a cold along with a headache that I attributed to a sinus infection. The cold has since run its course and has disappeared completely, but the headache is there. I am also experiencing a low grade fever, skin that is sore to the touch, aching joints and muscles and stiffness in my arms and knuckles and down my back. I am still able to function, at least, but I sure do wish this headache would go away! Hopefully time, a good diet and plenty of fluids will win out. I visited the doctor and he was unable to put a finger on it. He said to treat it symptomatically, which is all that I can do at this point, so it's Tylenol and Ibuprophen for me for the next while.

Believe it or not, I chose not to go skiing on the weekend! My husband took the rest of the family to the hill and I stayed home. I did manage to get the Christmas tree and decorations down, so it was not a total loss. It has been warm and the snow skied off over the holidays, so I wasn't missing much good skiing. Now, if it had snowed a foot...

It is dumping right now! My husband is working at the ski hill building a house and it has snowed twelve inches there over the past couple of days! The "eight inch rule" is now in effect and his whole crew is going skiing this morning! What a life...

I am going skiing tomorrow, sick or not! I am doing "Chicks on Sticks" again this year. "Chicks" is a fun ski lesson program for women over nineteen. The cost is minimal and the training is excellent. It is held every Thursday afternoon with a different social event afterwards for five weeks. It is so much fun and it's nice to socialise with everyone. The participants range in age from nineteen into the late sixties and abilities from one (beginner) to eight (where I'm at-brag brag). They are a great bunch of girls!

I am looking forward to the snowy day today!

HAPPY AT WORK

There was supposed to be a photo with this post.
I uploaded it two times and it appeared to do so with no errors. It just hasn't shown up. I wonder where it went...
Maybe it's on Rachel's blog. Ha Ha!

I woke up this morning with a cold, a headache and a lovely sinus infection. I have to go to work today, as it is not only month-end, but year-end, as well.

This is in response to Rachel's post the other day.

I am one of those who do love my work. It is a simple accounting position, but a thorough knowledge of automotive parts and repair is a definite prerequisite.
I love the flexibility of the job and the people I work with are like family.
I have been employed at my job for twelve years now, so I rather think I am like a fixture there.
My "bosses" are understanding and they all know well the pressures of raising a family. If there is ever a need for time off to take care of matters of the home, they are very willing to accommodate.
We all get along well and if there is ever any need to resolve a problem, everyone works together.
As well, my hours may change at a moments notice, but that is just another facet of the job that I like. My life is a busy one, so that flexibility fits in nicely.
I always know that I am appreciated at work and that is a very important thing to know in order to keep doing a good job!

Thanks, Guys!

I love this image! The credit for this photo goes to Jane Loughney.

It is late (for me) so I will leave you with this picture. It is a photo of a valley located about two hours away from where we live.

My internet was down for a day or so and I was not able to make my regular post, although I did a bit of "blog surfing" during a break at work today.

I am still keeping my fingers crossed for more snow! We had a thaw over the holidays and the snow down here in the valley has almost melted. It has remained at higher altitudes, but the ski hill could use a really big dump of the white stuff.

I will include the Skier's Prayer with my regular Thank You's tonight.