Well, as I'm sure most of you know from facebook, I got the job at Trilogy and I start sometime next week. It'll be a job I can keep all winter, too. I'm eager to like it and to fit in. I've been looking forward to finding a place for myself here. I don't know where I'll find it, but I know it's there already.

Speaking of which, Shawn and I were invited to his new work friend's girlfriend's house last night. I sat on the couch and observed and put in my two cents when I could. Two other girls dropped in while we were there, which made it difficult to get to know Bri, the girl's house we were at. But one of them was a girl I'd seen working at the health food store, and was almost 100% sure was a girl i'd gone to summer camp with twice (one year she was in Bethany's 'flight', and the other year when Bethany was at a different camp, she was in the same barracks as me). I remembered her because she's one of those people that stand out, like a sun. So warm, real, charismatic and confident - I remembered how she drew people of all ages to her like bees to honey. But I never felt she saw anything special in me. (maybe because on some inner level I was sending out defensive, jealous vibes?) We never connected as friends. Perhaps because we were never in the same flight, also. Anyway, I was never sure enough it was her to say anything. For one thing she's taller and thinner. But last night I couldn't help myself, and I told her she looked really familiar. And she was like, "I think we went to summer camp together...did you have a twin sister?" It WAS her! We had a little reunion, and when we left that night she gave me a big hug.  All the girls that were at the apartment last night were really nice, and into the same things as me. I felt among kindred spirits that didn't know I was one of them yet.

The day is soft today. As soon as I stepped out in it for a walk around town I felt it soften me. The bird's chirping seemed lazy and peaceful as opposed to the frenzied chorus of earlier spring. hardly anyone was out and about as I walked up 1st street into town. just that sound of wind blowing through fir and cedar and hemlock branches. And birds, and a distant car or two.

I made lasagna the other night and there is a tiny bit left. Ricotta spinach. My first attempt in years...and I forgot, after everything was prepared and ready to layer, that our one square glass baking dish had shattered the week before in an Unfortunate Incident I wish not to discuss. When I realized this, the Coop was closed for the day. The ONLY place to get a baking dish. so, what I ended up doing was layering it all up in one of my 9-inch round cake pans. It worked...it was delicious....and I am going to have some right now.

The weather's put a damper on mine and Shawn's camping plans today. It's pouring with an icy wind. We're just going with the flow and putting it off - and there's a chance because of Shawn's new connections at work (Marine supplies and fuelling station) that we can go somewhere even better than planned if we wait anyways. He's already been offered many boat rides through working there. And fishing trips. (!!) and - I got an interview at Trilogy Fish. For a front desk/cashier position. I hope I get it. I think I will. I have a feeling. I would love riding my bike/walking to and from work there. it's right down at the bottom of Marine West's steep driveway, full on in front of  Clay-o-quat Sound.

Shawn's present for me hasn't arrived in the mail yet. It might come today. The anticipation is exciting. I have a pretty good guess as to what it is, but I will not say. If it is what I think it is, well, YAY.

Shawn made me breakfast today and we had a cozy morning together waking up slow with an extra cup of coffee (enter vibrating 'fub).  He made french toast, with this amazing berry butter sauce. we ate them with that plus maple syrup - amazing. Later we're venturing out into town so I can use up my $30 freebie at Covet. I'm thinking a headband. Or some Tokyo Milk fragrance. something I wouldn't usually get.

I'm really excited about this new job. The way everything came together just in time and so easily for me too...I mean, I really only applied at the one place (!!)...it just confirms that what you affirm happens. I'm not saying I didn't feel a little stressed at times (the fact that this interview is a weight off my shoulders confirms that), but any time I caught myself I made a real effort to encourage myself that the "new job" I was seeking had already formed and was in place for me, and all I needed to do was stumble upon it - and I prayed and trusted that I'd be led to the place I'd enjoy the most.  So anyway, I know I don't technically have the job yet, so I'll stop talking...

Oh yeah, on my birthday I was even invited to a party....a beach fire. It seemed perfect to me, but Shawn was exhausted from his second early morning shift in a row so we didn't end up going. But we went out for sushi and sauntered into the sunset together. Yes we did.

Since I have no call-up friends in Tofino, I'll be spending most of the day alone, which makes it easy to please myself. I have already gone out for a walk in the sparkling blueness that is outside today. I stopped at common loaf and got an americano (while staring longingly at the moist-looking fat squares of lemon cranberry - alas I'd only brought enough cash for coffee...). The smells in there are enough to make anyone hungry. Yesterday I in fact gave in to the smells and indulged in a pesto chicken panini from there (made on freshly-baked-from-scratch, thick, soft, nutty bread) and ate it in the tower and people watched. I am much better at people-watching than I used to be. I've learned it's an acquired taste that one must put one's creativity towards.

anyway, I walked down to the steps beside Ocean Outfitters which lead down to the water and some docks used by a variety of businesses. I planted myself on the bottom step, drank my coffee, and meditated. The Sound in front of me was so beautiful and such a vibrant blue - the islands dotting it gave me pleasure like perfect bites of food. Yes. Food. Mouthfuls of joy.

Anytime I meditate I get streams of wisdom, and I've come to experience the truth, that the wisdom and joy are always around me, and I simply feel it when I slow down and open myself enough to. Other times I am living cut off in a world constructed by my mind, and everything becomes smaller, narrower, dirtier, etc. In this other, real world, the outside (the everything), the magic and mystery of life is very near the surface, and that is how I like life to be. I like it to feel as though it's bursting with magic that could happen at any moment - that IS happening every moment.

"Of course there is magic in everything", as Colin Creevy would say. "only, people don't know much about it or how to use it." and then he goes on to talk of the power of positive thinking. Seriously, that book knows it. I love how in the book Dickon's mom tells them that the joy and magic they were talking of was the same thing hymns were written for, and that it doesn't matter to what you direct your gratitude at, because it will all go to the same One.

anyway. The sun's shining on my thoughts today. And I'm 27! I'm happy to report that I do not in any way feel old. In fact, I still feel like a girl. a strange woman-girl combo.

I am 27 and a fubblin visit

Well, things have felt like a whirlwind to me since I got back from Williams Lake, but in actual fact for a normal person, I don't think they actually have been. I'm just not used to anything above a snail's pace. I've been job searching, but first I had to do a total overhaul on my resume. it's much more sophisticated now (I hope).

My fublin visit in Williams Lake was so much fun! I have to confess that I slumped a little after coming home, with finding a job to face and all, but what better to pull one out of a slump than a birth day?
Right now my tummy is comfortably embracing what had been an eggs benny. Shawn's at work, but it's an early day so he'll be off by 3 - at which point he has a surprise for me, and then we'll go out to dinner. On his two days off coming up on thurs. we're going camping. we have it all planned out.

Williams Lake:

Laura, as per usual (because she's a long time ferry pro) was waiting for me in prime wait parking at the ferry terminal. We went out for sushi that night and did some stories before I nodded off in order to get enough sleep for the early morning bus. Turns out I slept almost the entire bus ride, so there was no need to worry. I'd wake up when the bus jerked to a stop at the breaks, or lurched around a turn, and nod off again after catching a quick glimpse of  grey river valleys or the dark inside of a tunnel...and later, brown farms bordered by scraggle. Williams Lake always seems just a little bit further than I remembered. I arrived with a smattering of rain. I hadn't told them what time the bus would be there for sure, so first thing I called Ben on the pay phone, and then went to the bathroom to freshen up - and when I walked out, there was 'fub!

It was my first time in their new place, and immediately I was impressed with a cozy vibe. The kids playing quickly became background noise. Bethany and Ben gave me their whole room to myself, which felt luxurious. I had very cozy - yes, there is no other word - nights sleeping on their comfy bed.

We had so much fun. It was a perfect visit. We played some wii, 'fub and I did t-tapp together most days, and our last kid-responsibility-free day (Ben's last day off) we went to the gym and worked out together before going for a swim. It was a triumphant swim for 'fubs, as both of us hazarded the rope swing and were getting much more graceful towards the end of our swim. We were interrupted by school classes of kids taking over the main pool after a bit, so we swam in the lanes and tried to walk with each foot on a noodle- things like that. Some time was devoted to singing "gangsta's paradise" in the steam room. We had two hours to spend, so after we got super pruney, we sat on the bleachers and just hung out until we smoothen'd up before taking a last dip.

We went out and watched "The Host". All agreed it was awesome...

'fub made many yummy things. I have to say a highlight was the steak dinner...that and the pork spareribs - both things I never have opportunity to have, usually. I have a very vegetarian minded boyfriend, who is grossed out at the sight of bone. 'nuff said. Anyway, it was special. There was also a delicious night of slow-cooked shredded beef fajitas.

While I was there, I made copious amounts of tea and endlessly philosophized with 'fub. I do love to have another willing ear. ha! ha!
I played the piano. My fingers aren't as strong as their best days, and the sight-reading paths in my brain not so entrenched after years of hardly being able to play, but it was still a language as natural as English to me. That felt good. One time I attempted to sing some Saturday's Warrior, accompanied by 'fub, but it was first thing in the morning, and my voice has never stood up to much until around lunch time, as a rule. Not like Labee. I remember hearing her voice soar to the high notes confidently during many early family prayers and experiencing a stab of awe at the unnaturalness of it. Mmm hmm.

'fub and I practiced coordinated flailing with her wii dancing game. Sometimes, there really was NO other word for what I was doing, but flailing (coupled with vigorous pelvic thrusts...on this one song, anyway, they insisted on repeating the pelvic thrust almost the whole way through). It was soo much fun. worked a 'fub up into a good lather, too. We were very active, if I do say so.

We put coconut oil in our hair after our pool excursion, and this is where I made friends with 'gus-gus, with him pulling the grocery bag I had encircling my coconutty locks, over my face and then pushing it up again. I would have played with him longer, had he not chosen that moment in my arms to push out a stinky. (will that connotation EVER be out of my psyche? no.)

Owen took longer to get over his shyness with me, but after awhile he started asking me for things and even smiling at me, and repeating things I said.

Let me just regress to the coconut oil - it was a big success, as far as my hair is concerned. it's been noticeably softer and healthier-feeling since...and that's just after one time! You're supposed to do it once a week until your hair is healed, and then you only need to do it once a month.

'fub shared many good movies with me. we watched some new avatar. AND, we printed fumfer cat on on our shirts!! first of all, 'fub got me two lovely shirts for my birthday - a pleasing, long grey, and an equally pleasing long purple. The purple wasn't right for printing, but the grey was PERFECT. And there was fumfer cat - a print designed by Bethany. Fumfer cat is fluffy, with disproportionate breadth of head, and one eye bigger than the other. A suitably creepy creation. We took turns carving him out to a good size. I printed him on my shirt with purple, 'fub with a turquoise-green. There was a dilemma when I washed my shirt and we discovered that the acrylic we used had come out, so we had to re-print it. But we did a fine job, yes we did. Another printing experiment we did was to cut out the letters for fub, in tattoo lettering - 'fub did most of it while I watched August Rush for the first time, and she did a really good job and it seemed rather painstaking (took the entire movie) - and then when we went to print, we realized that we had completely forgotten to take into account mirror imaging. So it was backwards! We compensated by cutting out the individual letters, and arranging them vertically - we thought it looked more by design that way. Then we cut out a little heart and stamped it beside the backwards "fub". I did this on my cute little grey open-backed sweater in a blue-y green that was not quite teal, not quite turquoise. Quite pleasing, I thought. I even dig the backwards lettering (although it can't be denied that had we done it right, it would have been even more pleasing). But whateva. it's a style.

There was so much fun had, it felt like I was there for only 2 days rather than 7.

Strangely enough, the bus ride home, which I'd been dreading, was a beautiful experience. Maybe it's because the bus was wending it's way through the mountains while the sun was setting. The way the ponderosa pines were edged in gold set against a backdrop of blue and white mountain peaks. I was the only non-smoker to get off at each and every break, just to breath the air and experience the energy, especially up in the mountains. Lytton - always my favourite stop. Hope was drenched in a warm, honeye'd summer evening atmosphere. The closer I got to the coast, the sweeter the air smelt, with blossoms and rain-fresh farms...and finally, salty sea. After I boarded the ferry, I walked straight up to the top deck and leant over the rail, even though I was weak with hunger at that point, to be able to keep taking in deep breaths of that sea air. You never smell it quite the same as when you're just returning. the smell of ocean and fuel - the smell of coming home! I enjoy being romantic. That is how I enjoy to live life.

The beginning of my bus ride wasn't that fun though. my heart was broken, like always, and if it weren't for having such a good 'fubman to come home to, I'd probably have stayed that way for the entire trip. It was the kind of visit one doesn't say goodbye to easily.

Laura was there at the bus depot to pick me up and drive me to the last ferry. it had gotten dark around when the bus passed through Langley. Having Laura as a trip cushion this time felt like a luxury. I feel very lucky to have a sister in Van that can make some part of my trip stress-free and fun that otherwise wouldn't be. it makes such a huge difference. We didn't have any time to do anything though, other than sit in the car and visit until it was time for me to board the boat. But it was really nice.

I could write more, but I think this is long enough for now.

no noods

I didn't mention the secret of the crisp in my earlier post because I thought perhaps I was one of the only ignorant people in the world as to the simple secret. I thought it likely everyone else already knew...but since some comments implied otherwise, I'm suddenly in the happy position of having a useful trick to share! so I will share it. Like I said, it's simple (and anticlimactic after that intro). To get a good crisp, you only have to have the heat on med-high until the potatoes are blanched, ei. that thick white skin appears. and some will have started getting a little brown - then you turn the heat down to med or whatever is reasonable to YOU, and hey - Bob's your uncle! you only have to wait until the little nuggets have achieved the perfect state of browned-ness for you.

Shawn's new job is at Method Marine...I'm not quite sure what he'll be doing, it'll be all sorts of stuff. it's well-paying and there are benefits after a few months.

This is my last blog before I go and visit 'fub. I'll be leaving for Parksville early in the morning, and catching the ferry that same day to the mainland, where Laura will put me up for a night...and then I'll have to catch the bus at 7:45am the next morning. I'll be happy when I'm settled on the bus. I'm always like that before a trip where I have to catch something.

Today, was summer. It's a done deal fact. It was so warm jackets and hoodies were thrown away into the wind with disdain. Shawn saw some noodies at the beach, right by the public path. I spent a good portion of the day at Tonquin where it was glorious. There were no noods.