An Island Day

So many islands to discover, so little time...... and we sure did discover this one! Drove from one end to the other three times in fact (just about anyways). We are dedicated cave searchers.

A self-designated enforcer of the law followed us until we sped through a school zone (which is easy to do when there doesn't appear to be a school or school signs nearby) and set us straight right off the bat. Phew. Who knows what other trouble we'd cause on the island!

We had an absolutely scrumptious lunch at the Hummingbird Pub... this was definitely the place to be a few hours after we left- they were hosting the Gulf Island Idol!

Beautiful day for a cave search. However, no caves were found due to high tide. Just lots of ocean, warm rocks, driftwood, beach houses, and docks. I don't think we did too bad after all...

AND we were able to take a scenic detour on our way back to Swartz Bay. The detour stopped at Mayne Island and Pender before taking us home. This allowed for alot of much-needed card playing time.

"Highest caliber of humour there is."

I would like to repeat a witty remark I heard this week.

Try it out, but there are a number of requirements you must meet for your performance to be believable and accurate.

First, you must be very stylish.

Second, you must be wearing a jacket/sweater that is very stylish and hip.

Thirdly, you must have a sharp zipper on said jacket/sweater.

Fourth, you must put a bandaid on your finger.

Now, you’re set.

When someone asks you what happened to your finger (the bandaid might need to be really colourful and gawdy just to make sure people notice it) tell them that you injured it on the

“cutting edge of fashion”.

:) Smile. or Grimace. I can't decide which to do.

So the last few weeks I have had a little problem. It’s called sleeping in. It isn’t too serious yet because I have still managed to get to my morning classes, but definitely NOT with time to spare.

The issue is, I am still fast asleep when I “wake up” to my alarm clock, and swiftly press the off button, instead of snooze.

When that is just what I need, a few more snoozes.

Today I miraculously got ready and out the door in 25 minutes, and I was showered, dressed, teeth brushed, books in bag, full of breakfast and debatably in a decent mood.

I think I will make myself a teaching plan. We have to make these in school. But of course, you first have to recognize the patient/client/person’s readiness to learn. I think I’m ready to enjoy a full night of ZZZZ’s again.

Goal: To avoid mayhem in the wee hours of the morning

Strategies: Do not stay awake past my bedtime (it's a real toughie...)
No delightful daytime naps
Put alarm clock WAY on the other side of the room
Make sure I can hear alarm clock when it is WAY on the other side of the room

How will I know I have achieved this goal: I will notice that my morning routine has become slightly less frenzied. Fairly obvious really. (These teaching plans tend to be that way).

Wish me luck and remember to get some quality ZZZ's too!

cakewrecks.com

Baking a cake can be a very difficult feat, and unfortunately it's the ones that completely go haywire that gain popularity at www.cakewrecks.com. The masterpiece pictured above is an animal. As for the type, no one is quite sure. I call it the bagel-faced creature.

I think I am going to put myself to the test. Here I am judging someone else's cake, before I attempt to make my own, which is just not fair. Within the next few weeks I will try my hand at cake decorating. Most likely my sister will give me a hand, she's great at this type of thing.

(forget about midterms...)

I thought school just started, but apparently not because MIDTERMS are coming up! Good grief. Yesterday and today I dragged my sleepy self into clinical at 7am. Needless to say, I feel sorry for myself and think I deserve some quality Onion News Time.

Go here:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/shell_executives_accuse_oil

Ps. Not so innocent, are they?!

Pancakes

Around the town- Part One. Part Two coming soon. We spent a day touring around and ducking under cover whenever a rain cloud passed by.

De Dutch Pannekoek House, Johnson St. Victoria- Likely the best and the BIGGEST pancakes I've ever tasted. Unfortunately we forgot to snap a photo or two of the food... so this one will have to do.

Summer blooms still out:)

We never did figure out what these entertainers were doing. Entertaining, I guess?? They had black cloths over their faces and red ribbons on their arms and legs.

Just a (beautiful) pile of stone.

This haunted house was scary... I didn't feel too upset when someone apologized that there wouldn't be real live actors until closer to Halloween.

Our tramping adventure!

Monica, Sterling, Willow, Cory, Brodie, and I tackled 37 kms of the Juan de fuca trail, just north of Sooke, BC.

Something I learned from this experience: ALWAYS bring duct tape with you, it is very useful for many things, including blisters!





The van packed to the brim.
Our last night we had a campfire, it was raining so we had our trusty ponchos on...

There must be a delicious dinner being made in this photo... anything tasted really good after eating mushed granola bars all day!

What a nice frontyard:)

Some of the hike was right along the beach so we took advantage of that and got barefoot and walked right in the water.

Monica and Willow doing dishes. Who needs soap when you've got dirt?

The campfire burning away.

Bridge to nowhere.


Ah, here's some better quality photos!

We either misread or ignored the tide tables so at one point we were forced to climb up the mountain instead of walking horizontally along the beach.

Just gorgeous.

We saw a humpback whale! He's not in this picture, but it was in this spot!

Another Summer in the Corn

Because I had such a great time there last year, and met people I can't go another year without seeing... I'm headed back to Iowa to detassel corn!

To make a very long, complicated explanation short, the job involves walking up and down corn rows and pulling off "tassels" so that the corn plants pollinate properly. Sunburns from hot hot hot days in the sun, (or rain if we are extremely unlucky), sore feet, aching backs, seeing tassels when we close our eyes, Ipods running out of charge halfway down a row... and the list goes on..

Nonetheless it's all kinda fun. Especially the days we visit "Big Blue" (a lake nearby) or when we decide to play a prank on the guy's house and it SUCCEEDS! or when there is a particularly thrilling ping pong game going on. But my favourite part... the LIGHTENING BUGS! If only I could take a few home.

Excited? YES! ... Packed? Not even close:S

Snipper Happy

Woohoo! I'm now a real driver.

At long last, I have said goodbye to a green sidekick who has been with me at all times over the last few years, whether I liked it or not. He made me nervous when I was breaking the rules, and was constantly disappearing and making me late because I had to look for him. He also had a habit of jumping off the back of my car and running away with people who wanted a green sidekick of their own. Not very loyal.

RIP Mr. Green.

What a discovery!

So I discovered this photo today and couldn't help posting it. Too bad this little munchkin lives on the other side of the planet. I wouldn't mind seeing this mischevious grin EVERY day!

Vegas Baby...

Las Vegas! What a place. They call it Sin City, but it's also a city of LOVE!

Congrats again K&K.

Inspired by a ride on the city bus.

It's odd how ideas come to mind and they don't leave until they are safely written down. This is one of those things. Today I had a a LOT of time either on the bus or at a bus stop. See, when I happen to be drinking tea instead of watching for the bus... I miss it! Therefore, I wait.



Two tall, charming boys.
Both 19, with their whole lives ahead of them.
One wants to be a banker, the other, a carpenter.
One grew up in a close-knit family of 4, the other, a sprawling family of 7.
One enjoys the thrill of driving, while the other prefers to be the passenger.
On a sunny July 1st, both boys walked in the glow of the sun and the bustle of the city’s festivities.

Passing on the boardwalk, the mob stares at each other: curious, but kind. This comfortable rhythm is broken as one of the boys passes through in a deserted path through a critical crowd.
Stop. Silence. Expressionless. “It feels like night already”, the boy thinks.

Three year old Casey Jenkins is bundled up in his mother’s arms, smiling over her shoulder at a tall, charming boy. He is colour blind.

He can’t tell the colour of a smile.

My new baby: Sal AKA Nikon D60

Here I am, sitting inside on a beautifully sunny afternoon. I don't feel too guilty though because I was just out taking photos with my NEW camera! My little silver 2mp Canon just can't compete with the new technology these days. I went to a park near home with lots and lots of trees. Soon the flowers will come up, so I'll have to remember to go back then. The store also gave me a "digital imaging interactive learning suite" to keep me occupied. So far it has taught me a lot about colour. Looking back, it probably wasn't the best idea to buy a camera right before midterms, because who has time to study when there is a camera to figure out and photos to take? Maybe I'll buckle down... tomorrow:) If I can figure out how... I just may try to post some of them...

A new page.

This weekend I spent time with some wonderful people who... I don't know if it should be considered an honourable feat or what... but introduced me to the world of blogging. And apparently I have one now, and am super exited about it!

Thankyou Joni, Quinn, Zoe, and Ronan.