The whole day yesterday was so soft, spring-like and lovely, but the evening was pure airy magic. Shawn had just left for work when I looked outside (saw pale blue sky of pre-dusk through trees) and decided I had to go out in it, so I got dressed (I was in yoga clothes) and pulled on my boots and stepped outside with a sigh of relief.
The world was deeply still, but warm light was still touching the tops of the trees. It was as if they were standing drenched and revelling in the day that'd just been. some young kids were playing with a ball in the park. It smelt so good, like spring: dead leaves and silken brown, tightly-curled ferns and freshly cut grass - all having soaked up the sun all day, and now releasing their warm scents. whiffs of cedar and pine and the faintest, sweet smell of early blossoms mingled. It was high and clear and sweet. I took HUGE breaths through my nose (Egg would have been quite affronted by my flared and quivering nostrils).
Also yesterday, Shawn and I were on a cleaning streak, and Shawn finally cleaned up all his tools and mess on our back patio. It's now completely clear, with a striped rug, and even a hammock! our patio looks awesome. He also snipped all the dead fern and stalks around the yard. Then he lay and swung in the hammock reading harry potter, while I sat on the couch inside and drew my vision of what I want our patio to look like, with potted plants and perhaps a portable bamboo fence. We had the sliding glass door open so we could talk, and music was playing. When the music stopped you heard a very far off chainsaw (so far off it was a peaceful buzz, like a bumblebee), soft voices carried over on the breeze, a crow or two, and (what sounded like) hundreds of tiny birds hidden away. twittering, chirping, screeching with joy. I like to stop and see the day through a song bird's eyes. they are obviously over-joyed about spring being here. they sing as happily on a grey day as a sunny one...when I look at the day through the sounds of their singing, it becomes huge and sacred.
I take any excuse to go outside these days. sometimes Shawn joins me, sometimes he doesn't. He doesn't have all day to be idle, like I do. But the other day he did join me when I walked to Tonquin. It was a most lovely day, soft and warm and alive with birds and busy little insects. Shawn and I took deep, deep breaths as we walked, and stopped often to look at the view. We chose to go down the steps to the beach, where the tide was out, exposing smoothed and rippled rock dimpled with tidal pools, encrusted with barnacles and slick shining colonies of mussels, with streaks of deep wine red from the algae. I enjoy going exploring among the exposed rock - it always feels to me like I'm walking through secret underwater passageways and rooms usually used by creatures of the sea. I love how the rocks get twisted and smoothed and shaped. The beach at low tide just fires my imagination right up!
Shawn is home - he got a new job! we are celebratory just now!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Since Sarah's left, I've been doing t-tapp almost every day. It's so easy to do, and makes me feel so good. the blood pumping vigorously through my veins invigorates my whole life! For example, usually I don't bother cooking myself anything special if there's no one but myself to cook for. But this morning, after my work out, I made myself crispy hash browns and a fried egg with rosemary, cumin, salt and pepper, and sat down and ate it with ketchup n' hot sauce with a relish. Even though Shawn was long gone on a surf! woo hoooo!
I like to make hash browns now that I have finally learned the secret of the crisp. Many times I've tried different things, and ended up with something either grainy, mushy, or burnt - so now, to bite into a crispy, yet melt-in-your-mouth, perfectly browned hash brown cube - made through my efforts - is definitely a triumph. I am of the school of thought that ranks all triumphs as cause for celebration.
After breakfast I sat down and made a list with two columns (as per Abraham-Hicks) and wrote in one the things I intend to take care of today, and in the other, the things that overwhelm me - for God/Universe to handle. Somewhere along the lines I started thinking about all the things I've wanted that have come to me recently, and suddenly I was inspired to write out a list of manifestations and to put it on the fridge. Which I did. Beside each thing I wrote "received" - I think that's a trick my brain pulled out from reading "the secret" a year or so ago. But it was pretty neat. nearly everything I've really desired has come to me. I'm going to keep noticing and adding to the list when I remember more.
The sun's playing hide and seek with the clouds and light is dappling across the backyard. It smells fresh, cold, and pure when I step outside, and I can hear a raven's throaty call, a dove coo-ing somewhere, and underlying all the faint twittering of countless little birds, seeming to mimic the glimmerings and flashings of light playing through the tree branches.
at one point this morning I played some flow-y music and cleared a space on the floor, and danced around the living room with abandon. Spring's in me same as it's in the singing lil birds!
I like to make hash browns now that I have finally learned the secret of the crisp. Many times I've tried different things, and ended up with something either grainy, mushy, or burnt - so now, to bite into a crispy, yet melt-in-your-mouth, perfectly browned hash brown cube - made through my efforts - is definitely a triumph. I am of the school of thought that ranks all triumphs as cause for celebration.
After breakfast I sat down and made a list with two columns (as per Abraham-Hicks) and wrote in one the things I intend to take care of today, and in the other, the things that overwhelm me - for God/Universe to handle. Somewhere along the lines I started thinking about all the things I've wanted that have come to me recently, and suddenly I was inspired to write out a list of manifestations and to put it on the fridge. Which I did. Beside each thing I wrote "received" - I think that's a trick my brain pulled out from reading "the secret" a year or so ago. But it was pretty neat. nearly everything I've really desired has come to me. I'm going to keep noticing and adding to the list when I remember more.
The sun's playing hide and seek with the clouds and light is dappling across the backyard. It smells fresh, cold, and pure when I step outside, and I can hear a raven's throaty call, a dove coo-ing somewhere, and underlying all the faint twittering of countless little birds, seeming to mimic the glimmerings and flashings of light playing through the tree branches.
at one point this morning I played some flow-y music and cleared a space on the floor, and danced around the living room with abandon. Spring's in me same as it's in the singing lil birds!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Yesterday Shawn came into the apartment one time with a book he'd found in the hallway. People leave things they want to get rid of there sometimes. It's called "journey to the river sea" by Eva Ibbotson, and yesterday I swallowed it in one gulp. The girl in it, who's archaeologist parents died in a train crash while she was at boarding school, was sent to live with relatives on the Amazon - and the adventure she got into woke up all sorts of dreams in me. The bliss of waking up on the water, to see herons diving for fish, and all sorts of wildlife, birds singing, otters playing. to live a life immersed in freedom and beauty. I want to live completely outside of the prison-like grid of society. Sigh. those who escape it are the lucky ones. Funnily enough before I got hold of and read that book, I'd just finished re-reading "the secret garden". It's been awhile since I've read it, and I was amazed at the deep wisdom in that book! It's an amazing book. I cried and cried while I read it, and afterwards was so deeply inspired by the magic of the living earth, it's perhaps what attracted this other book to me. I have a longing to live somewhere with a beautiful park and gardens that I could go out into every day. The spaciousness and poetry of the moor that is eloquently talked of in "the secret garden" makes me long to go THERE, or somewhere equally wild and seemingly lonely, but full of life, like the desert in New Mexico.
I don't want to be alone, though. In these stories, there are always other people involved and strong bonds are always forged. I'm a very warm and social person. I couldn't live cut off from people....no, just society :D. There, see - I know I've often compared myself to a crazy cat lady, but I'm not actually a bit like one. I love my one furry friend, my familiar, if you will - but I've realized I couldn't enjoy having two cats as much as I enjoy having one. That's a big strike against being a cat lady. Also, I don't like them more than humans - definitely not cat ladyish. Cats are great though. They teach us to be soft and gentle and to take care of ourselves, to always pay attention, and to relax. They are symbols of self-healing. Sometimes when Eastre comes and cuddles her round form up against me, I feel like Shasta all alone in the desert at night, sitting against the tombstones and afraid of the calls of wild animals all around him, when a fat housecat comes and sits against him and purrs. Then he later finds out it was Aslan. That may be a dramatic example, and I am tending towards the dramatic right now, it being my joyful time of PMS (the storm before the storm...), but sometimes I do have very spiritual moments with my cat. Where I feel as if she's just another way for God's love to show Itself. It makes me feel very warm and squishy inside to think of things that way.
PMS I think is a very spiritual time, too. Along with the anger and resentment that comes up (I notice it now pretty clearly - every time I'm PMSing, Shawn annoys me much easier - but it's not just annoyance, it's resentment and it goes deep - and then it magically melts away until next PMS. I've learned not to take my anger literally at this time, and to not blame Shawn, because it's been the same with every boy I've been with. obviously it's me) - that was a long bracket - anyway, along with that anger comes all these flashes of insight. It seems you take life deeper all of a sudden. I know we've all felt how it becomes impossible to ignore even the cheesiest stab at emotion in commercials and movies and books. If something is the least bit touching, it touches you! am I right?! anyway, maybe I'm feeling this way in particular right now because my period is perfectly corresponding with the full moon, which is known for it's illuminating and drawing-out power.
Last night I was lying in bed, vaguely letting my mind run over the issue of what to do with my life - how the way my life was flowing wasn't in accord with certain things I had beliefs about - when all of a sudden a strong thought jumped in! It basically said, you are in charge of your own beliefs about your own life, you are the only one who can create harmony between the two - you can decide what is all right for you...it's hard to describe the full meaning of this flash of inspiration and insight, but in a nutshell it gave me a rush of inspiration and a thrilling shiver as I thought of myself at the helm of my own ship, steering my own course in freedom. So that is at least one thing they mean about being comfy in your own skin..!!
I don't want to be alone, though. In these stories, there are always other people involved and strong bonds are always forged. I'm a very warm and social person. I couldn't live cut off from people....no, just society :D. There, see - I know I've often compared myself to a crazy cat lady, but I'm not actually a bit like one. I love my one furry friend, my familiar, if you will - but I've realized I couldn't enjoy having two cats as much as I enjoy having one. That's a big strike against being a cat lady. Also, I don't like them more than humans - definitely not cat ladyish. Cats are great though. They teach us to be soft and gentle and to take care of ourselves, to always pay attention, and to relax. They are symbols of self-healing. Sometimes when Eastre comes and cuddles her round form up against me, I feel like Shasta all alone in the desert at night, sitting against the tombstones and afraid of the calls of wild animals all around him, when a fat housecat comes and sits against him and purrs. Then he later finds out it was Aslan. That may be a dramatic example, and I am tending towards the dramatic right now, it being my joyful time of PMS (the storm before the storm...), but sometimes I do have very spiritual moments with my cat. Where I feel as if she's just another way for God's love to show Itself. It makes me feel very warm and squishy inside to think of things that way.
PMS I think is a very spiritual time, too. Along with the anger and resentment that comes up (I notice it now pretty clearly - every time I'm PMSing, Shawn annoys me much easier - but it's not just annoyance, it's resentment and it goes deep - and then it magically melts away until next PMS. I've learned not to take my anger literally at this time, and to not blame Shawn, because it's been the same with every boy I've been with. obviously it's me) - that was a long bracket - anyway, along with that anger comes all these flashes of insight. It seems you take life deeper all of a sudden. I know we've all felt how it becomes impossible to ignore even the cheesiest stab at emotion in commercials and movies and books. If something is the least bit touching, it touches you! am I right?! anyway, maybe I'm feeling this way in particular right now because my period is perfectly corresponding with the full moon, which is known for it's illuminating and drawing-out power.
Last night I was lying in bed, vaguely letting my mind run over the issue of what to do with my life - how the way my life was flowing wasn't in accord with certain things I had beliefs about - when all of a sudden a strong thought jumped in! It basically said, you are in charge of your own beliefs about your own life, you are the only one who can create harmony between the two - you can decide what is all right for you...it's hard to describe the full meaning of this flash of inspiration and insight, but in a nutshell it gave me a rush of inspiration and a thrilling shiver as I thought of myself at the helm of my own ship, steering my own course in freedom. So that is at least one thing they mean about being comfy in your own skin..!!
Monday, March 18, 2013
A Stott Embarks on a Journey Away from her Stottsman and Stottboys to visit a far-away 'fub
Just now, the apartment is feeling a little dark and forlorn. A Stott is no longer here. So suddenly, an apartment is empty of Stott! what is one to do?! At first I sank onto the couch, curled into a ball, and mourned to a sympathetic fubman. But enough of sadness. The visit was so much fun and I want to recount it while it's still fresh in my memory. a note though...we did so many things you see. I'm afraid the days and activities kind of jumbled together in my memory. I remember everything we did, but you'll just to bear with me on exact timing.
Stott's station was the living room, and accordingly spots were sanctioned for the purpose of containing various Stott containers. The futon was bolstered up with some books to help with the sag. Fubman had to work that first night, so Stott and I set off by ourselves to collect supplies for dinner. We decided on smoked salmon potato cakes, so we bought the stuff for that (as well as a healthy-sized bag of chocolate mini eggs spotted by Sarah, rittersports, and popcorn. one must be prepared for a good snack). However, I forgot about the breading for the cakes, so they ended up being croquettes, as Stott pointed out. But they were still good with the lemon-dill aioli, and we had a nice salad with apple cider vinegar dressing made by Stott. After dinner we did some stories - quite frankly I wish we'd done more of them, because we did get off to a rather genius start. But we just did the two. some good chats were had, and I got Sarah to watch "pitch perfect", which I'd been dying to share with someone since I'd first seen it.
Anyway, our first full day we had rather a late breakfast, which fubman made - raspberry smoothies, as Stott and I were planning to go for a run afterwards. It was grey and cloudy, but dry, and we ran through the village on the back roads to the multi-use path (MUP, as it is dubbed) and ran all the way to mackenzie beach before turning back around. I tell you, it was a lot more than I was used to pushing myself, and I had to stop and walk soon after we had turned around because I was feeling sick. But I kept running when I recovered, although it was hard for me to keep it up and soon Stott, bouncing away energetically, had disappeared over a hill and around a bend, not to be seen again until she'd finished and waited for me. I was jogging down gibson, a potholed gravel road that never seems to have it's potholes fixed, and there was Stott standing at the end. We walked the rest of the way back to the apartment. Stott's face had a healthy pink glow, while mine, I discovered later in the mirror, was more of a blackberry stain.
After Sarah had had a shower, we beautified ourselves. Actually, first I think we went out to eat at wildside. It took us a while to decide between sushi (not sure if it was yet open...), tacofino, and Wildside. We decided Tacofino because it had just re-opened and I was really excited about it, and a Stott was an obliging Stott. But Tacofino ended up being closed! So, since wildside is fortunately right there, we went for that - which actually isn't a disappointment, wildside is always delicious, it's just that it's open for more of the year than sushi or tacofino is. (my grammar is crumbling, and I apologize to those of you who still abide by it - that last sentence was extremely grammatically confusing to me...) But I was very content to share it with someone that had never experienced it before, that always makes things feel new again. I got the buffalo chicken burger special, and Sarah got the spicy chicken tacos and we halved them. Soooo good. Sarah agreed, as would any sane person, that wildside fries are of an amazing quality. It is true...they're so crispy, yet melt in your mouth! Everything is always fresh there. It's what makes it good every time. Anyway, somewhere around the food eating, we did beautify ourselves. Sarah flat iron-curled my hair, and the result was so lovely it made me suddenly re-think my hair-cutting plan. But, upon reflection, I mean....obviously I can't make my hair look like that my SELF. I've tried the flat-iron curl, and I do not end up with curls. So the hair cutting plan was stuck to. We must've gone to the grocery store again after that, because one of the cashiers, who has seen me often enough with a raggedy anne braid, made a point of complimenting my hair. He was quite flirty actually...(not to me exactly). Laura will remember him from the time we bought vermouth for our risotto. The guy at the grocery store who made a comment about us going out on the town, after spotting that vermouth? Same guy. Somehow, he is always kind of flirty when I bring a sister to the store. When it's just me, he pretty much completely ignores me. Sarah won't believe he was flirty because of her, but them's the facts. I'm sticking to 'em.
That night, full from the wildside, we napped, and snacked on popcorn and chocolate rather than have an actual dinner. We watched Step it Up - it's always enjoyable to watch a big, muscular man like Channing wriggle and gyrate. Sarah and I agreed that it adds a definite strong current of attraction to a man. But there's something about Channing also that is very masculine...he makes other boys look pretty and feminine in comparison. I like a masculine manly man with a sensitive side. I mean...who doesn't? It's kind of irresistable...anyways - tangent. When Shawn got back from work that night, we all played rock band for awhile. I wanted to do more stories, but somehow it just never happened. But Stott and I had some good chats. I always love to have a sister around to chat with.
Quite frankly, I can't remember which night we made babka - I think it was the next night, on Tuesday. yes. That day, we bought the supplies for tie-dying, also, and got started on our turkey feast. You see, Shawn had received a turkey as part of a christmas bonus from his boss, and we'd long ago planned to save it for when Sarah came. Sarah brought with her the fortunate knowledge of a bacon covered, maple-glazed roasted turkey recipe...with cornbread sausage stuffing...so that day in preparation, I made some cornbread while Stott made the aforementioned magical creation, called BABKA. We'd talked about it earlier and decided to add nutella to the middle - and it was not a mistake, let me tell you. That night we snacked on hummus with chips, and warm babka dipped in melted nutella and cream cheese glaze, as well as an obligatory ode to dinner - cornbread grilled cheese. I believe that night also that we watched "the backup plan" with J-Lo, which I discovered had to be watched with a sister to be fully appreciated...there were some scenes - the birthing one for example, that almost made me hysterical.
I didn't mention it, but soon after that first morning run it had started to rain, and didn't cease the entire time Sarah was here. so Wednesday morning found Tofino in quite the wet state. Since we hadn't been to the beach at all yet though, we decided to tough it out for our run, and ended up at Chesterman's. Not only was a steady drench falling from the sky, but also a steady freezing wind. We both had trouble keeping our immediately sodden hoods on our sodden heads (in order to protect sensitive ears). Stott resorted to pulling on one of her boy's (Sloane's?) brown flappy toques, which had a large light brown drippy stain on one side. The ear flaps flapped merrily in the wind until she had the thought to pull her hood over the toque, and the bulkiness did an alright job of keeping the hood up after that. We ran down the length of lynn road, cut onto the the southern end of south chestermans, and ran the entire length of the beach plus a little loop. Afterwards there was not a dry speck on either of us. I felt pretty good because I didn't start feeling sick until the very end. Before we made our way home, Sarah treated us both to a cup of chocolate elixir from Chocolate Tofino, which we happily dipped leftover babka into when we got back to the apartment.
This was the day appointed to tye-dying and turkey feasting. First though I forgot to mention that the day before, Sarah kindly gave Shawn a really cute hair cut before he set off for a job interview (ended up being a dud, but the hair cut was NOT). She also cut MY hair. I love it, and so does my hair. My curls have come back with a vengeance. I've noticed quite a few people in town look at me and not recognize me since, too, which is kind of funny.
For the purpose of tie-dying, I rummaged around and managed to procure a white bruhwiler's surf T for Stott, and a tank for myself. These were our originals. we painstakingly mixed to get the correct shade of green and blue - those were the colours we used, and set about following the directions on the site we'd found and the dye packets. for testing we used an old white sock and raggedy tank of fubman's. The best part was taking off the elastics and unraveling the shirt to see what had been done...and then there was the fun of scrunching it back up and dunking it in a different colour. After those first ones, our thirst was not at ALL abated and we decided to set off for the thrift shop, Castaways, to see if we could find anything else to transform. the tiny shop ended up yielding to us but one offering...a soft white cardigan, which I urged Stott to take, since I'd just remember some other white shirts of mine I could use. so back at the apartment, Sarah set to work on her cardigan and I on two other shirts I'd found. we used a sage green, violet, pale teal, and yellow. It's definitely addicting...I'm already planning tie-dye parties in my head! So much fun - and then you have a cute something to wear at the end!
After the tie-dye fun Stott and I set about dutifully preparing the turkey feast. spicey italian sausage sizzled on the pan, Stott prepared buns, the turkey was rinsed, dried, covered in bacon and finally stuffed with the prepared stuffing, glazed with maple syrup and stuck in the oven. Basically, Stott and I were crazy busy with all the different preparations, and we'd only lightly snacked all day on babka and hummus and the like. There WAS a short nap time in between...every day we managed time for a nap...it must be said. By the time everything was ready, the smells had been enticingly wafting about for hours, and I was ravenous and drained. The feasting felt quite short in comparison to the preparations, but it was all delicious. Stott and I felt rather proud of ourselves. We hung out lazily for a bit after dinner, and then watched "family man".
Thursday we kept the turkey leftovers within reach. Delightful bunwiches stuffed with the leftovers were had. Stott and I did t-tapp. Soon after breakfast, we ventured out on the drenched town to take a look at Covet. As always that took awhile, because that store is so filled with cute things. Sarah tried on some clothes and various hats. She ended up with a cute round black one (hat). I bought Stott a Danica make-up case covered in peacock-coloured owls, as a gift for cutting my hair. It was still less than I'd have spent on a hair cut anywhere else - Stott spoils us all, does she not?! After a good long peruse in Covet, there was a quick stop by the health food store, and then we went back to the apartment.
At some point during this day, Shawn approached Stott - and this is the exchange they had.
Shawn: so, you're a Stott right?
Stott: Yes
Shawn: does that make Kyle your Stottsman?
At this time I was changing in the bedroom - all I knew was that Sarah's voice was suddenly coming through the crack in the door. "Amy! I have a Stottsman!" she was saying, with the voice of one who has just made a delightful discovery. The discovery was duly appreciated, and fubman too for discovering it. What can I say - my fubman is a genius! I mean it was also he that came up with Une Fubbitte.
If you've made it this far, I congratulate you! I'm not exactly sure, on reflection, what made me feel as though I needed point out each exact movie. I think (upon FURTHER reflection) it's because I don't want to lose a single moment of the visit. Thursday being the last night, we watched two movies. "silver lining playbook" and "life as we know it".
The next morning Sarah left at 11 and a sad 'fub was I. It's now a few days later as you can see. After family leaves, the empty apartment hits me like a slap! But I am so glad she came. We had so much fun. And Stott, it's up to you to add anything I forgot to mention...
And now, as promised.
I think this would be a good anti-bullying pic. this is how me and Sarah feel about bullies.
Stott's station was the living room, and accordingly spots were sanctioned for the purpose of containing various Stott containers. The futon was bolstered up with some books to help with the sag. Fubman had to work that first night, so Stott and I set off by ourselves to collect supplies for dinner. We decided on smoked salmon potato cakes, so we bought the stuff for that (as well as a healthy-sized bag of chocolate mini eggs spotted by Sarah, rittersports, and popcorn. one must be prepared for a good snack). However, I forgot about the breading for the cakes, so they ended up being croquettes, as Stott pointed out. But they were still good with the lemon-dill aioli, and we had a nice salad with apple cider vinegar dressing made by Stott. After dinner we did some stories - quite frankly I wish we'd done more of them, because we did get off to a rather genius start. But we just did the two. some good chats were had, and I got Sarah to watch "pitch perfect", which I'd been dying to share with someone since I'd first seen it.
Anyway, our first full day we had rather a late breakfast, which fubman made - raspberry smoothies, as Stott and I were planning to go for a run afterwards. It was grey and cloudy, but dry, and we ran through the village on the back roads to the multi-use path (MUP, as it is dubbed) and ran all the way to mackenzie beach before turning back around. I tell you, it was a lot more than I was used to pushing myself, and I had to stop and walk soon after we had turned around because I was feeling sick. But I kept running when I recovered, although it was hard for me to keep it up and soon Stott, bouncing away energetically, had disappeared over a hill and around a bend, not to be seen again until she'd finished and waited for me. I was jogging down gibson, a potholed gravel road that never seems to have it's potholes fixed, and there was Stott standing at the end. We walked the rest of the way back to the apartment. Stott's face had a healthy pink glow, while mine, I discovered later in the mirror, was more of a blackberry stain.
After Sarah had had a shower, we beautified ourselves. Actually, first I think we went out to eat at wildside. It took us a while to decide between sushi (not sure if it was yet open...), tacofino, and Wildside. We decided Tacofino because it had just re-opened and I was really excited about it, and a Stott was an obliging Stott. But Tacofino ended up being closed! So, since wildside is fortunately right there, we went for that - which actually isn't a disappointment, wildside is always delicious, it's just that it's open for more of the year than sushi or tacofino is. (my grammar is crumbling, and I apologize to those of you who still abide by it - that last sentence was extremely grammatically confusing to me...) But I was very content to share it with someone that had never experienced it before, that always makes things feel new again. I got the buffalo chicken burger special, and Sarah got the spicy chicken tacos and we halved them. Soooo good. Sarah agreed, as would any sane person, that wildside fries are of an amazing quality. It is true...they're so crispy, yet melt in your mouth! Everything is always fresh there. It's what makes it good every time. Anyway, somewhere around the food eating, we did beautify ourselves. Sarah flat iron-curled my hair, and the result was so lovely it made me suddenly re-think my hair-cutting plan. But, upon reflection, I mean....obviously I can't make my hair look like that my SELF. I've tried the flat-iron curl, and I do not end up with curls. So the hair cutting plan was stuck to. We must've gone to the grocery store again after that, because one of the cashiers, who has seen me often enough with a raggedy anne braid, made a point of complimenting my hair. He was quite flirty actually...(not to me exactly). Laura will remember him from the time we bought vermouth for our risotto. The guy at the grocery store who made a comment about us going out on the town, after spotting that vermouth? Same guy. Somehow, he is always kind of flirty when I bring a sister to the store. When it's just me, he pretty much completely ignores me. Sarah won't believe he was flirty because of her, but them's the facts. I'm sticking to 'em.
That night, full from the wildside, we napped, and snacked on popcorn and chocolate rather than have an actual dinner. We watched Step it Up - it's always enjoyable to watch a big, muscular man like Channing wriggle and gyrate. Sarah and I agreed that it adds a definite strong current of attraction to a man. But there's something about Channing also that is very masculine...he makes other boys look pretty and feminine in comparison. I like a masculine manly man with a sensitive side. I mean...who doesn't? It's kind of irresistable...anyways - tangent. When Shawn got back from work that night, we all played rock band for awhile. I wanted to do more stories, but somehow it just never happened. But Stott and I had some good chats. I always love to have a sister around to chat with.
Quite frankly, I can't remember which night we made babka - I think it was the next night, on Tuesday. yes. That day, we bought the supplies for tie-dying, also, and got started on our turkey feast. You see, Shawn had received a turkey as part of a christmas bonus from his boss, and we'd long ago planned to save it for when Sarah came. Sarah brought with her the fortunate knowledge of a bacon covered, maple-glazed roasted turkey recipe...with cornbread sausage stuffing...so that day in preparation, I made some cornbread while Stott made the aforementioned magical creation, called BABKA. We'd talked about it earlier and decided to add nutella to the middle - and it was not a mistake, let me tell you. That night we snacked on hummus with chips, and warm babka dipped in melted nutella and cream cheese glaze, as well as an obligatory ode to dinner - cornbread grilled cheese. I believe that night also that we watched "the backup plan" with J-Lo, which I discovered had to be watched with a sister to be fully appreciated...there were some scenes - the birthing one for example, that almost made me hysterical.
I didn't mention it, but soon after that first morning run it had started to rain, and didn't cease the entire time Sarah was here. so Wednesday morning found Tofino in quite the wet state. Since we hadn't been to the beach at all yet though, we decided to tough it out for our run, and ended up at Chesterman's. Not only was a steady drench falling from the sky, but also a steady freezing wind. We both had trouble keeping our immediately sodden hoods on our sodden heads (in order to protect sensitive ears). Stott resorted to pulling on one of her boy's (Sloane's?) brown flappy toques, which had a large light brown drippy stain on one side. The ear flaps flapped merrily in the wind until she had the thought to pull her hood over the toque, and the bulkiness did an alright job of keeping the hood up after that. We ran down the length of lynn road, cut onto the the southern end of south chestermans, and ran the entire length of the beach plus a little loop. Afterwards there was not a dry speck on either of us. I felt pretty good because I didn't start feeling sick until the very end. Before we made our way home, Sarah treated us both to a cup of chocolate elixir from Chocolate Tofino, which we happily dipped leftover babka into when we got back to the apartment.
This was the day appointed to tye-dying and turkey feasting. First though I forgot to mention that the day before, Sarah kindly gave Shawn a really cute hair cut before he set off for a job interview (ended up being a dud, but the hair cut was NOT). She also cut MY hair. I love it, and so does my hair. My curls have come back with a vengeance. I've noticed quite a few people in town look at me and not recognize me since, too, which is kind of funny.
For the purpose of tie-dying, I rummaged around and managed to procure a white bruhwiler's surf T for Stott, and a tank for myself. These were our originals. we painstakingly mixed to get the correct shade of green and blue - those were the colours we used, and set about following the directions on the site we'd found and the dye packets. for testing we used an old white sock and raggedy tank of fubman's. The best part was taking off the elastics and unraveling the shirt to see what had been done...and then there was the fun of scrunching it back up and dunking it in a different colour. After those first ones, our thirst was not at ALL abated and we decided to set off for the thrift shop, Castaways, to see if we could find anything else to transform. the tiny shop ended up yielding to us but one offering...a soft white cardigan, which I urged Stott to take, since I'd just remember some other white shirts of mine I could use. so back at the apartment, Sarah set to work on her cardigan and I on two other shirts I'd found. we used a sage green, violet, pale teal, and yellow. It's definitely addicting...I'm already planning tie-dye parties in my head! So much fun - and then you have a cute something to wear at the end!
After the tie-dye fun Stott and I set about dutifully preparing the turkey feast. spicey italian sausage sizzled on the pan, Stott prepared buns, the turkey was rinsed, dried, covered in bacon and finally stuffed with the prepared stuffing, glazed with maple syrup and stuck in the oven. Basically, Stott and I were crazy busy with all the different preparations, and we'd only lightly snacked all day on babka and hummus and the like. There WAS a short nap time in between...every day we managed time for a nap...it must be said. By the time everything was ready, the smells had been enticingly wafting about for hours, and I was ravenous and drained. The feasting felt quite short in comparison to the preparations, but it was all delicious. Stott and I felt rather proud of ourselves. We hung out lazily for a bit after dinner, and then watched "family man".
Thursday we kept the turkey leftovers within reach. Delightful bunwiches stuffed with the leftovers were had. Stott and I did t-tapp. Soon after breakfast, we ventured out on the drenched town to take a look at Covet. As always that took awhile, because that store is so filled with cute things. Sarah tried on some clothes and various hats. She ended up with a cute round black one (hat). I bought Stott a Danica make-up case covered in peacock-coloured owls, as a gift for cutting my hair. It was still less than I'd have spent on a hair cut anywhere else - Stott spoils us all, does she not?! After a good long peruse in Covet, there was a quick stop by the health food store, and then we went back to the apartment.
At some point during this day, Shawn approached Stott - and this is the exchange they had.
Shawn: so, you're a Stott right?
Stott: Yes
Shawn: does that make Kyle your Stottsman?
At this time I was changing in the bedroom - all I knew was that Sarah's voice was suddenly coming through the crack in the door. "Amy! I have a Stottsman!" she was saying, with the voice of one who has just made a delightful discovery. The discovery was duly appreciated, and fubman too for discovering it. What can I say - my fubman is a genius! I mean it was also he that came up with Une Fubbitte.
If you've made it this far, I congratulate you! I'm not exactly sure, on reflection, what made me feel as though I needed point out each exact movie. I think (upon FURTHER reflection) it's because I don't want to lose a single moment of the visit. Thursday being the last night, we watched two movies. "silver lining playbook" and "life as we know it".
The next morning Sarah left at 11 and a sad 'fub was I. It's now a few days later as you can see. After family leaves, the empty apartment hits me like a slap! But I am so glad she came. We had so much fun. And Stott, it's up to you to add anything I forgot to mention...
And now, as promised.
I think this would be a good anti-bullying pic. this is how me and Sarah feel about bullies.
two excited girls
the Slug
haha, Stott...!!!
the excitement is now barely contained...
sisters of the long chin and lip
sisters to strike terror...
Also, as Labee pointed out, her and I took a few of these when she was over. I will be obliging and add them (they need to be shared anyway):
hi.
phhht...hehe
BLAUGHEIWOAPWRIGH
mom always said we were cute girls
this one...speaks for itself
mom also taught us to be kind and thoughful girls
Oh...oh my!
rawr
evil plot faces
haha, poor labee has no idea, in her joy, that I am about to deliver a left hook to her chin
hilarity
...followed by great fear...
the end!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
A day of window washing
An opportunity recently came up for me to wash some windows for cash. One of Shawn's clients who takes care of a huge vacation rental at the end of the hospital road. They've got to have one of the best views in Tofino - totally open to a view of a tiny private bay carved into rock, with open ocean and Felice island (I heart Felice) off to the side. When the sun comes out, it shines full force on the back deck, which has TWO hot tubs. One per side. you can sit in a hot tub and watch the sun go down over the bay, which is beautiful because from up above where the house is, you can see the shallow rim around the bay which is light turquoise, contrasted with the dark, deep blue of the deeper water. Sigh. So beautiful. Anyway, I thought to myself that window washing isn't so bad, and extra money would be nice, so I agreed to take on the job. After eating some breakfast and tying my hair back yesterday, I made the two minute walk down the road to the job site. Shawn was already there, working on pruning some invading trees back from the fence. It was soft and mild out, with a milky cloud cover obscuring the sun, but as I started to work on the first deck (I was to wash all the bottom floor windows as well as the upper deck, and the glass fence also that surrounds the three back decks, which are separate) sunlight suddenly brushed over the scene, and stayed most of the day. I was there from 10 - 5, working. Every time I soaped up a batch of windows, I had to run down to the hose to turn it on, and then back to turn it off. Much running up and down stairs and up and around boulders occurred. By the time I was finishing up at 5, the light was the warm yet brilliant tone of late afternoon. The bay was breathtakingly gorgeous. The windows I'd done were sparkling, and I felt soaked, dirty, exhausted, starving, and very euphoric (the last few runs to and from the hose tap had been getting noticeably less bouncy). The lady who'd sub-contracted me was thrilled and promptly wrote out my check for $125. $125 for a day's work! I was stoked. She'd insisted on lending me a hoodie of hers and a snowboarding jacket in an attempt to keep me dry during the day (when my own hoodie became soaked after rinsing the first window, which had a large ledge from which water cascaded in torrents right onto my face). No matter, I promptly got her offerings soaked as well, there was nothing for it. Every time I raised the hose to rinse a high window, for example, water would stream in rivers down my arms. She gave me a ride home, and wouldn't take no for an answer.
At home I found myself shaking with cold, and so exhausted I could hardly move. My muscles were already beginning to feel stiff - everywhere. I am not used to manual labour, I guess that much is abundantly clear. I ran myself a hot bath and read harry potter and crashed until about 10pm. When I woke up, my muscles were complaining more than ever. Worst were my ribs and my whole back, but my hamstrings were putting up a good fit too. And today...I feel as though I just ran a marathon with no training. It's brilliantly sunny outside, but I don't feel like moving much. I hope the weather stays like this for when Stott comes in a few days!
I've been attracting Anne of green gables books. Yes, seriously, over the winter I really missed them. They're like warm beef stew. Comfort books. Also, they inspire me. I've really been kind of keeping an eye out for them for years, but they never showed up, it was very frustrating. So this winter I decided to deliberately try and attract them. The first one showed up the next weekend, at S.O.S. in parksville. We were looking for a different book though, so I didn't get it - and now I wish I had because it was the FIRST one, and just today I ran into the second at the bank, and picked it up. neet! and...uh, yeah - that's all...
At home I found myself shaking with cold, and so exhausted I could hardly move. My muscles were already beginning to feel stiff - everywhere. I am not used to manual labour, I guess that much is abundantly clear. I ran myself a hot bath and read harry potter and crashed until about 10pm. When I woke up, my muscles were complaining more than ever. Worst were my ribs and my whole back, but my hamstrings were putting up a good fit too. And today...I feel as though I just ran a marathon with no training. It's brilliantly sunny outside, but I don't feel like moving much. I hope the weather stays like this for when Stott comes in a few days!
I've been attracting Anne of green gables books. Yes, seriously, over the winter I really missed them. They're like warm beef stew. Comfort books. Also, they inspire me. I've really been kind of keeping an eye out for them for years, but they never showed up, it was very frustrating. So this winter I decided to deliberately try and attract them. The first one showed up the next weekend, at S.O.S. in parksville. We were looking for a different book though, so I didn't get it - and now I wish I had because it was the FIRST one, and just today I ran into the second at the bank, and picked it up. neet! and...uh, yeah - that's all...
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
gardening in the sun
Today after eating breakfast - actually, I must stop for a moment here at breakfast, because it was so amazing. Raspberry smoothies. The flavour was so intense, perfectly sweet and tangy...ahhh. I wish I could have them every day for breakfast, but frozen fruit is very expensive here. Anyways, after breakfast and coffee, Shawn and I went down the road to one of his gardening clients and I helped him work for a bit. The client was gone, so it was just us, and it was peaceful to be quietly working in the mellow sun. I was hoeing weeds along the front garden path. Damp, clay-like mud squished up my fingernails as I worked and dug my hands into the ground. There was a soft hum of birdsong in the background, mingled with voices lightly floating on the warm breeze. Up close to the garden, my face was tickled by leaves and fronds and insects. I moved on to deadheading and pruning some hydrangeas, which was very satisfying. We worked for only about an hour, and then we were done. Just as we were finishing, I stood up and then stopped mid-stoop, noting some weeds I'd missed, and staying in my half-stooped position (in my hurry) I pulled them out - only to pinch a nerve in my lower back. So now here I am waiting for that to fade. It's mostly gone now.
I'm playing with garageband. Quite frankly, I was inspired by the movie "pitch perfect", and now I want to learn a lot more about mixing and re-mixing tracks, so that I can actually produce something album-worthy. I just find it extremely enjoyable, stimulating, satisfying, and zen. Garageband is limited though. My dream is to get my hands on a real DJ program. I'm not worried or thinking about where it will take me money-wise, I just really want to pursue this thing I love, and live more IN it. I'd like to purchase a laptop so I can go outside when I mix tracks and completely trance out.
I'll leave you with some photos of Tonquin.
I'm playing with garageband. Quite frankly, I was inspired by the movie "pitch perfect", and now I want to learn a lot more about mixing and re-mixing tracks, so that I can actually produce something album-worthy. I just find it extremely enjoyable, stimulating, satisfying, and zen. Garageband is limited though. My dream is to get my hands on a real DJ program. I'm not worried or thinking about where it will take me money-wise, I just really want to pursue this thing I love, and live more IN it. I'd like to purchase a laptop so I can go outside when I mix tracks and completely trance out.
I'll leave you with some photos of Tonquin.
Monday, March 4, 2013
clear-cut brilliance
Yesterday I bundled myself up against the icy cold, and went running. It was so bright and vivid, everything was sharp-edged, clear-cut, and vibrant. Clumps of snowdrop and crocus edging the road and gardens were opening their petals wide, embracing the sun. Running along I soon warmed up and was pushing the sleeves of my hoodie up to my elbows. The cold air flowed along my skin like water, unlike the soft brush and kiss of a milder wind. I noticed things as I ran by. The patch of ocean visible as you pass the children's centre is something I never miss. It's just a corner of ocean, but so often when I see it, it's catching the light with such shimmering, glorious heavenliness - and there sits Felice island, and the light and air is of such a quality here that you can see clearly the trees, individually edged in gold light, sculpted trunks leaning towards the water, branches draped in offerings of pale green old man's beard. A haze of gold light. That haze makes this place seem like a fairy tale land at times.
Other things I noted. A slim young alder, nakedly graceful, limbs flung out in such a way as made it clear the tree was dancing. I noted fat red buds everywhere. Daffodils nodding their yellow noses. Despite the wind, I felt the sun kissing the top of my head and gently embracing me. The world was brilliant and I was held in the brilliance. I moved through it with my strong legs, my strong lungs. What beautiful instruments we are, so finely-tuned and specially made to feel and experience joy. The air going in and out of my lungs is the very epitome of love, peace and security. My heart pumps with steady assurance. The cells of my body do not have to be told to do their job perfectly every time. My mind...ah, my mind. So powerful is it, that it often overpowers and overtakes me. I often find myself merely a passenger riding along it's strong current. But when put to conscious use, the power of my mind astounds me. Just it's potential. The second I give it a command, it will already have answered. I can point my senses and attention anywhere using my mind. "Listen" I command through it, and immediately my ears are picking up sounds I'd before been completely unaware of. "compassion", I think, and immediately my body responds. Where can't your mind go? There's nowhere it's can't go. Your mind can go anywhere you ask. If it comes across an unknown, your imagination can easily supply you. Limitless. Your mind is limitless. Thus, so are we. I think unconsciously this scares us, and that's one reason we put up limits and walls within our own minds (which makes sense..with such a powerful tool one must be properly prepared before leaping right in). I know there's a field of fear for me to cross soon. Every time for years when I've thought about stepping out of who I'm acting like to who I am, I sense what seems like bottomless fear, and it's stopped me. Now I understand that it's merely a step. An illusion, that once I face, will lose it's power. Like many things in my life thus far that seemed terrifying until I grew up a little, and all of a sudden with my new perspective I couldn't understand how I'd ever been so fooled by that fear. I'm getting a dawning understanding that all fear is like that. We're always safe, and letting yourself get fooled by fear will in retrospect, with that understanding, feel like a waste of energy.
Other things I noted. A slim young alder, nakedly graceful, limbs flung out in such a way as made it clear the tree was dancing. I noted fat red buds everywhere. Daffodils nodding their yellow noses. Despite the wind, I felt the sun kissing the top of my head and gently embracing me. The world was brilliant and I was held in the brilliance. I moved through it with my strong legs, my strong lungs. What beautiful instruments we are, so finely-tuned and specially made to feel and experience joy. The air going in and out of my lungs is the very epitome of love, peace and security. My heart pumps with steady assurance. The cells of my body do not have to be told to do their job perfectly every time. My mind...ah, my mind. So powerful is it, that it often overpowers and overtakes me. I often find myself merely a passenger riding along it's strong current. But when put to conscious use, the power of my mind astounds me. Just it's potential. The second I give it a command, it will already have answered. I can point my senses and attention anywhere using my mind. "Listen" I command through it, and immediately my ears are picking up sounds I'd before been completely unaware of. "compassion", I think, and immediately my body responds. Where can't your mind go? There's nowhere it's can't go. Your mind can go anywhere you ask. If it comes across an unknown, your imagination can easily supply you. Limitless. Your mind is limitless. Thus, so are we. I think unconsciously this scares us, and that's one reason we put up limits and walls within our own minds (which makes sense..with such a powerful tool one must be properly prepared before leaping right in). I know there's a field of fear for me to cross soon. Every time for years when I've thought about stepping out of who I'm acting like to who I am, I sense what seems like bottomless fear, and it's stopped me. Now I understand that it's merely a step. An illusion, that once I face, will lose it's power. Like many things in my life thus far that seemed terrifying until I grew up a little, and all of a sudden with my new perspective I couldn't understand how I'd ever been so fooled by that fear. I'm getting a dawning understanding that all fear is like that. We're always safe, and letting yourself get fooled by fear will in retrospect, with that understanding, feel like a waste of energy.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
crystals
While Shawn and I were in Parksville, the rain came down relentlessly born on a strong, icy, Northwest wind. There wasn't much to do in the grey gloominess. However, I took the opportunity of being there to visit Infinity gifts, where I'd spotted (during Christmas shopping) a large collection of crystals. I'd been meaning to collect some for myself for my chakra studies and meditations for a while, but of course there's no place to purchase them in Tofino. It was exciting and difficult to choose as I pondered over the displays of tumbled stones. I knew I wanted one for my root chakra, but I was also wanting a few others for pure interests' sake. I ended up in the end with a very pretty little glowing rose quartz (heart), a smokey quartz (root), a citrine(solar plexus), a smooth and pleasing blue lace agate(throat), and a bloodstone (root/heart).
A simple explanation of the usefulness of crystals is this. They vibrate at very high frequencies, and having those vibrations around affects you in various positive ways. The same way the vibration frequencies from your computer and other appliances harm you. Each different type of crystal vibrates at it's own unique frequency, the same way every live thing does - each has a flavour. I just wanted to explain the simple science behind it so it cannot be said using crystals is hokey-pokey floofy magic.
I'll share an experience. In Parksville I kept the rose quartz in the room we were sleeping. Shawn and I had a little tiff. We don't fight nearly as often as the early days, but there is still the rare, tired occasion. Anyway, words were said and huffs were had - I was alone for a little bit in the room. Normally at this point I'd vacillate in between trying to reason with myself and distance myself from the emotion, and unconsciously giving in and fuelling the anger when my thoughts slip, but this time I felt so markedly different that I immediately noticed it. As soon as I'd been left alone, an understanding had crept over me, or surfaced - I don't know, it was very gentle, but I found myself in a state of very clear thought. I could not stay mad at Shawn for whatever reason, because I could clearly see the emptiness of it, the reasons and vulnerability behind it, and also I could not deny that I knew he loved me, and whatever our fight was about it was a case of mistaken fear. Oh, and also I could whole-y conceive of and visualize the way we actually felt about each other, which is love. We made up right after that, and it was easy. Later as we were falling asleep, my thoughts wondered over to the subject of forgiveness, and I stumbled onto self forgiveness. I thought of what had happened, how easy it had been to forgive Shawn, and then decided to apply that same compassion to myself. I'd literally never done that before. But it worked: I felt myself set free from it. At that point, I didn't know that rose quartz encourages one towards self forgiveness. All I'd read at that point was that it was a love stone, opening you up to love on all levels, and that it was especially healing to the lungs and heart. I just read the self-forgiveness thing today and it immediately made me think of that process I spontaneously went through in Parksville as I fell asleep.
Enehway, I watched a really good movie last night. Pitch Perfect. Solid a capella songs. After I watched it I felt inspired and empowered for some reason. If you haven't yet seen, I HIGHLY recommend. I don't care what kinda movies you're into!
A simple explanation of the usefulness of crystals is this. They vibrate at very high frequencies, and having those vibrations around affects you in various positive ways. The same way the vibration frequencies from your computer and other appliances harm you. Each different type of crystal vibrates at it's own unique frequency, the same way every live thing does - each has a flavour. I just wanted to explain the simple science behind it so it cannot be said using crystals is hokey-pokey floofy magic.
I'll share an experience. In Parksville I kept the rose quartz in the room we were sleeping. Shawn and I had a little tiff. We don't fight nearly as often as the early days, but there is still the rare, tired occasion. Anyway, words were said and huffs were had - I was alone for a little bit in the room. Normally at this point I'd vacillate in between trying to reason with myself and distance myself from the emotion, and unconsciously giving in and fuelling the anger when my thoughts slip, but this time I felt so markedly different that I immediately noticed it. As soon as I'd been left alone, an understanding had crept over me, or surfaced - I don't know, it was very gentle, but I found myself in a state of very clear thought. I could not stay mad at Shawn for whatever reason, because I could clearly see the emptiness of it, the reasons and vulnerability behind it, and also I could not deny that I knew he loved me, and whatever our fight was about it was a case of mistaken fear. Oh, and also I could whole-y conceive of and visualize the way we actually felt about each other, which is love. We made up right after that, and it was easy. Later as we were falling asleep, my thoughts wondered over to the subject of forgiveness, and I stumbled onto self forgiveness. I thought of what had happened, how easy it had been to forgive Shawn, and then decided to apply that same compassion to myself. I'd literally never done that before. But it worked: I felt myself set free from it. At that point, I didn't know that rose quartz encourages one towards self forgiveness. All I'd read at that point was that it was a love stone, opening you up to love on all levels, and that it was especially healing to the lungs and heart. I just read the self-forgiveness thing today and it immediately made me think of that process I spontaneously went through in Parksville as I fell asleep.
Enehway, I watched a really good movie last night. Pitch Perfect. Solid a capella songs. After I watched it I felt inspired and empowered for some reason. If you haven't yet seen, I HIGHLY recommend. I don't care what kinda movies you're into!
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