Squamish Adventures

I love camping. I love it, I love it, I love it! On Friday, after a boring week of work, Karey and Sarita picked me up at home and that is when my weekend began. I was a thoughtful friend (kudo's to me) and bought a cinnamon bun for Sarita, Karey & laura. Unfortunately for me, I didn't get one for myself because I didn't feel like eating but I sorely regretted it later as I gave Laura hers, about an hour after I bought it and I realized I was soo hungry. Karey, Laura & I went to the RS Retreat out in Squamish and on the way we had some good times of just some good chit chat. We didn't get out to the campsite until about 8ish and before that we went to Subway in Brackendale because karey and I were soo hungry. I knew that there would be food at the retreat but I wanted something now! Anyway, we went to the campsite, Paradise Valley Campground, it is sooo cute and perfect. The drive out there is very beautiful, trees are on either side of the road and create an overhang, so it looks like you are driving through a tunnel. It reminds me of pictures I have seen of roads like this in New England. I took a picture of it and I want to go back and take a picture of the trees in fall, winter and spring. I know that those will make great pictures. For some reason, everytime I go camping, I think that a miracle will occur and somehow I will end up positioning my sleeping bag over the softest part of the ground and am a little disappointed when I lie down and realize it wasn't to be this time. I even had a camping pad and an extra sleeping bag to cushion me from the ground but it felt like I was sleeping on a cement floor. That night, after we set up our tent(s) (we had an extra for our change room...hehe so clever) we drove to the church for the activities and food. There were some ladies cleaning the kitchen and then we walk in and pull out the leftovers and start putting food on our plates..when they found out we hadn't eaten supper yet (well the retreat's supper) they couldn't stop trying to pile food onto our plates. Do you need this? do you want that? Oh you must have this...and on and on and on. One of the ladies, gave me a half of a baked potato even though i said I didn't want a potato but she gave it to me anyway. I ended up eating, the potato, two pieces of BBQ chicken breast and this yummy layered salad tat Sister Rolfson made. Then, Laura and I got some ice cream afterwards.
As I am reading this, I realized...not very interesting is it? But the most important parts is playing Rook by two lanterns and a flashlight with Chandra, Karey/Niki, and Laura. We ate cherries and had a great time just playing and chatting. There were some asian sisters that were up all night talking and guess who they parked their tent beside...that's right, us. I think they got only a couple of hours of sleep but whenever we passed by their tent...yak yak yak. Also, a couple of sisters had an inflatable mattress (queen size i think) and they were trying to push it into the door of a two-three person tent. A little later, I looked back at the tent and noticed that the mattress was inside but that's all that would fit inside. The tent conformed to the mattress shape it was so small compared to it. Amazing. Karey, Laura and i went to Shannon Falls and karey and I hiked up the creek a bit. We walked on the rocks..i love rock jumping, so fun, turns out Laura does not. Karey followed the rocks a little more up towards the falls but I didn't feel like it and it took me a while to find my way down without getting wet.
I'll edit this later and add in our Murrin Provincial park swim...fun

Moon Lika Pizza and the Ocean lika glass

On Friday night, Laura & I finally did the Full Moon Paddle. It was amazing. I wore my white zip up sweater so that I wouldn't freeze but it turned out to be such a beautiful day that I could have worn shorts & a t-shirt and had no problem. The water was so calm and the night was a perfect summer night, with no breeze, warm and you couldn't hear anything but the sound of the paddle breaking water. Paddling up the Indian Arm is so peaceful and I usually take time out to reflect on life. I always mean to paddle with Laura but I end up getting ahead of her and if possible, everyone and just think about life and also take in the view around me (I don't mean the million dollar homes).
That night Chris was bugging me saying that I'm going to meet someone out there and I just laughed. And then I get into my kayak and am getting prepared when this one guy gets into the kayak beside me and asks,"how do you put the skirt on?" He wasn't an experienced kayaker like myself and then he forgot his paddle and when he was asked if he wanted one, he said, "Well I've gone kayaking before but I have never used a paddle before." There were a couple of other guys on the other side of me (I chose the best kayak;) and they started making fun of him for that remark. This guy was not attractive to me but he was nice and after I told him and demonstrated how to put the "skirt" on the kayak he introduced himself. After that, he tried to paddle near me all the time, it was during one of those peaceful times that I was in the front by myself, way ahead of the lead guide, which, apparently was a no-no (see Laura's blog) when this guy glides into the right side of my kayak. I then told him to start using his rudder so he can steer better...I'm quite the charmer. He was saying how he was from California and him and his friends always choose to vacation at different places annually. He mentioned that he has gone to Utah and of course I mention that I love Utah and what did he do there. After telling me he goes skiing and hiking, etc., I start thinking...hmm, missionary moment and so I asked him if he ever gets to Salt Lake City but then we were interrupted by the guide saying, "We are coming up to Lone Rock!" and I piped in with "aka Danger Bay house" and then conversation went on about the Danger Bay tv show and how the house is so beautful and after that, he didn't really paddle near me again. I guess it wasn't his time to learn about the church. Haha. Okay but there this was this other guy that I was "rafted" up next to at the beginning and he was nice to look at. I forgot to smile with my teeth though and never had another opportunity to talk to him during the rest of the paddle...sad times.
We saw Biwwy, Mawge & Fwank...never together though...they will soon find each other though..I can feel it! Laura believed that this girl that was always paddling near us was competitive and really liked to paddle in the front at all times..well, I showed her...and always tried to paddle in front of her..so basically, I became that girl.
I felt so powerful that night because everyone was paddling so slowwww. I loved it, I felt that I could enter a race and win many many times. I don;t want that feeling to end but I know that the next we go to the Women on the Water (W.O.W) for short, I'll be back to beginner Barb:(
I love Kayaking!!! I love it I love it I love it. Anytime you want to come out with us..let us know, you'll love it too..guaranteed!

Happy Canada Day Eh

Yesterday was Canada Day and it was a pretty good fun fulfilled day. Nikki and I went to IHOP for, as she puts it, "Breeho" ....means breakfast in Nikki speak. Chris, Amy, Nick & Pete showed up there too but close to when were finished our "breeho". After that Nikki and I went home, Randy came over and they watched France beat Brazil at the World Cup Soccer. So France is moving on up. I did some laundry and was playing on me computer when I should have been cleaning me room. Anyone will support that statement. Chris & the gang, and us we all went to Cate's Park before the EQ BBQ for us RS @ Pat's house. I first went shopping to pick up a couple of sleeping bags for kaisha & I (2 for 40$) and then I bought two pairs for capris' and one pair of shorts. So, I arrived a little later than the rest. I was driving Nikki's car and I put in one of my old mixed CD's (made 2005) and oh my heck, that is one good CD. I put on all these songs that are great to sing to and just make you feel good when you listen to them. Not a church CD though. When I get to Cate's Park, I had to find the group and walked around for a bit and finally found them. What a beautiful day it was. We played some catch, 500 up and Rook. My softball was out on the beach and this german shephard sees the ball, picks it up and starts playing with it and the owner is trying to get it back from the dog but his dog would not give it up, so they starting playing fetch. He threw it in the water and the dog went after it. I told the owner he can just keep the ball it really didn't belong to me in the first place (Jay S. gave it to me after he lost my baseball and he found another one as a replacement under a bush). After a while, they just left leaving the ball in the sand...needless to say, I left it there for the next dog. It was my Canada Day present to them.
The EQ BBQ at Pat's was really well done. There was a white sheet strung up to make the giant screen and Mark C. was making the dinner. So delicious and the dessert was soo yummy, it was strawberries layered with whipped cream with pineapples. A group of us went to see the fireworks at Ambleside rather than watch the movie. The fireworks were good but we didn't have a great view so every once in a while, when they were high, we could ohh and ahh like everyone else. We tried to get a rendition of Oh Canada going but someone actually said no, when nikki said, let's sing o canada. haha.
Had a very full day up until midnight, needed to buy some more TP so we went to 7-11 by Pat's and it was 11:55. I had my purchases rung up and pd by 11:59. Nikki's was right @ midnight. Good Times!!

Ah, La Vita E Bella

Things are going really well in me life. At work, no more drama because I am no longer in training and also, after that "session" she has taken more time to listen to me when I ask a question and so therefore..no more frustration on my part. The work is pretty easy and I, of course, have some questions every now and then but all is good. I still miss my old work and my other co-workers sometimes. I was in the lunchroom and saw one of my old co-workers, Georgina, she is one of my closest friends there, and she told me...I miss you. It broke my heart because I miss her and my area so much, even though one of the co-workers there can't stand me. Personally, I think this one co-worker feels/felt threatened by me because I wouldn't believe everything she said to be right...which it wasn't, so I would question or find out the right answers. Anything I would say she would refute...like for example, a group of us were talking about grocery stores across the border in Blaine - now I know Blaine because I go there a lot- and she was trying to think of the name of the store in blaine and I said Cost Cutters. She said, "No. There isn't a cost cutters Blaine, I know because I go there all the time." I just left it because she would have kept refuting and giving me the "I know more than you" tone. Well, that weekend I happened to be going to visit Jenn in Blaine and what do you know...the store is called "Cost Cutters". So, what I think is that she just hates to find out when I am right and hates me for it. Ah well. such is life....but I would never once take a tone like that with her because it wasn't worth it. Other than that, life is good at work. I am pretty busy with the social committee and work...I love it!

The weather here is sooo beautiful and our home is perfect. If you have the windows open you get a cool cross breeze and because we are on the lower level/ground level, if you will, it is just cooler. Our old place....sooo hot! You would just want to live in the basement the whole summer. I would love to have more storage place like I did in the last place but I wouldn't change the look of this place at all. It is perfect. When I walk to & from work I am walking towards the sun, so I will be getting a great tan this summer on me face, without going to the beach.

Las Vegas is coming up pretty fast and I am getting more and more excited. I finished watching the last season's CSI: Las Vegas and the opening scene of the city is so wonderful! I always try to spot Mandalay Bay. Did you know that Bats come and fly in the Luxor beam of light every night? I used to think those were moths but this time I go down, I'm going to bring some binoculars and see for myself. How fun! I have a good shopping trip planned, I need to make a list of clothes first though, so that way I won't be wandering around aimlessly. I love the desert and I am so glad that we are going on a roadtrip to the Grand Canyon...it will be so beautiful. Even if it's rainy or cloudy, it will only enhance the red-orange beauty of the rock. I could live in a desert city/town for a long while, mainly Kanab, Utah. Who knows, when I sell my first book and am able to say that I am a published author...I may. (That is one way to live in the states is to be a published author, so that you can prove that you can make a living without their help).

I have a new laptop and Jacky gave me her old desk, basically, a little piece of heaven right here. I was able to make a birthday CD for my niece and send it off. I hope she loves it! I hope it makes her happy. I called it "Happy Tunes for Makayla". I love that girl. I love making short little statements. I was rereading this last paragraph and in three lines there are four sentences, I really need to work on my english & writing again. I mainly bought this patop for writing but the closest I have gotten to that is this blog. How am I supposed to realize my life dream if I don't start now? There will always be excuses but only one chance to live in today. So I best get started. Later.