Tag Archives: victoria

New Classmates, Dentists, and Sunshine

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What do the above have in common?

Nothing, actually, that I know of. I just encountered all today, in reverse order of the title.

The day began with a trip to the dentist. It was time for my annual check-up and I made sure the hygienist was aware of the molestation my gums have received in past visits. Result: I left without sore or bleeding gums, plus a new toothbrush and floss. She was new, which may account for her being a little easier on me, but apparently whatever I am doing is working because I got high praise all around and even managed to get in a plug for my favourite, natural toothpaste (no more chemicals for me, thanks, especially after reading stuff here.)

Then, it was coffee down near Cadboro Bay with a friend. The sun was shining, it was warm hot, and we sat outside. I only just managed to wait the requisite 30-45 minutes after fluoride for eating/drinking.

After a couple hours in the sunshine, it was a short bike ride to meet a new classmate. A girl in Victoria (who is friends with some friends of mine – small world!) just started my program, so we had tea and chatted about our backgrounds, what we want to do with our degrees, challenges of the program, and random other psych-geek stuff. It was pretty great.

Now, I’m at home. I’ve been at home for a few hours. I have not accomplished any homework. But, the sun is shining, the Habs are still in the playoffs, I’m going to Vancouver tomorrow for a birthday party, and I just drank a fruit smoothie: all is right with the world.

Dawning of a Brand New Year

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Christmas, New Westminster

So what if it is January 3 and it has taken me this long to write anything about the new year. Aside from a New Years Eve party that continued until 2am, it feels like the new year has entered with more of a fizzle than a pop; it seems no different than last week.

If anything, I’m more stressed than I was last week.

The next course starts tomorrow and I’ve already been doing readings in preparation for it. Gone are the days when I bought the text book a week or two into the course and read it the day before the final exam. I seem to be working more this week than I have in previous weeks and I have meetings. With the busy advent season over (does anyone else find it ironic that our two church seasons of slowing down and contemplation – advent and lent – seem to the be the busiest time in the church calendar?) meetings that were put on hold are starting up once again. Now is when I discover just how busy I will be with various committees and commitments.

Is it more helpful to look ahead or to dwell in the moment? Some would remind that looking ahead prepares one for what is to come. It can also cause undue anxiety. Others suggest that to dwell in the moment and live each day for what it offers without looking too far ahead (consider the lilies of the field…?) is the supreme way to live ones life. I find that a good balance of the two works well… usually…

What, then, am I looking forward to this year?

  • By this time next year, I will be more than two-thirds of the way through my degree (I think, if I’ve calculated it correctly).
  • My cousin is getting married in the spring. I get to go to Montreal.
  • Ten year high school reunion (holy cow!).
  • Work, work, work.
  • Hosting a conference with Brian McLaren and Steve Bell
  • A possible road trip around BC and Alberta.
  • Sailing.
  • Visiting our Anglican friends in Burma.
  • Having a full summer in Victoria for the first time in… ever?
  • Spending time with family and friends.

Coming Soon…

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Real post coming soon (I swear!). The last couple of weeks have been a flurry of activity with me trying to write 2 papers (10 pages and 20 pages), complete 2 assignments, and get all the reading done before the end of my course for Christmas (done today!).

I’ve also managed to get myself onto about half of the committees at church, well, just 2 but it seems like a lot! I also ended up being in the Sunday School Christmas pageant this past Sunday. It was great fun, not having been in a pageant since I was somewhere around the age of 12 (@ St Thomas’). Between all of that and Advent service prep, its been busy.

One of the committees I’ve managed to get on is the Adult Faith and Development Committee. That’s a long, fancy way of saying that they plan Bible/book studies for the church and plan a (biannual?) conference. This conference is the reason I’ve been asked to join the committee. It seems I’m one of the only ones who is very familiar with the work of our two guests and they thought I should be involved. Given the guests, I am very happy to be involved!

Who are these people, you ask? The sessions will be led and facilitated by Brian McLaren with music by Steve Bell. The conference will be the last weekend in May, 2010 (May 28-29), hosted at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria. It isn’t meant to be a closed, cathedral-only conference though. Anyone who wants to come can attend.

For more info, you can check out our website – it will be updated with registration info and tickets info for the Steve Bell concert as it becomes available.

Spring!

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It feels like spring. Yesterday, Matthew and I had coffee before his class and then I walked home from the University. As I passed through the pathway that takes me from one major road to the residential area where I live, I noticed the sound of water dripping off of the trees and bushes, the birds were chirping and I could hear insects buzzing around the flowers. Spring! What a nice break in the midst of the grey and rain we’ve been having.

Oh, there have been small breaks: a bit of blue sky here and a peek of the sun there. But yesterday was a whole day of glorious blue sky and sunshine; today is shaping up to be more of the same.

I’ve dusted off the bicycle and I’m heading out to enjoy the beauty of Victoria.

Date with Royalty

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Charles and Camilla, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, have arrived in Victoria. I missed out on the welcome at the Legislature this afternoon, though it was raining so I’m not sure it was worth getting soaking wet to say hi: I’ll see them later.

When, you ask? I’ll see them at church on Sunday. That’s right, Charles and Camilla will be attending my church on Sunday. They (or their people) sent word weeks ago that they would be coming to town and coming to the Cathedral, but we haven’t been able to say anything until about a week and a half ago when everything was confirmed.

I haven’t been a part of the planning process but it seems to have been a royal hubbub… Our regular Sunday consists of an 8am spoken Eucharist, 915 contemporary Eucharist, 1100 traditional Eucharist, and 430 Evensong. With the Royal visit, we are closing the church down after the 8am service for a RCMP sweep with sniffer dogs and issuing (free) tickets for one service of Morning Prayer. I have a ticket. I’ll be sitting with the rest of the 915 choir, close to the front (I think) and hopefully with a good view of the Royals. I even have a quasi-hat selected to wear so Camilla won’t be the only one.

As a part of security, streets around the Cathedral are closed and we all have to be seated by a certain time. Once we sit down, there is no getting up, even to use the washroom. No coffee for me that morning! I can’t even bring in my camera or cell phone, so there won’t be any photos for you to look at afterwards. Oh well, it will be an experience to remember as it is not every day one is able to go to church with royalty.

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Still here.
Dunno where the last week has gone, it isn’t like I’ve been busy out of my mind or anything. I have been tired though, and so have been trying to be very good about getting enough sleep so that I don’t come down with the dreaded H1N1 or anything. (Promise, that will be the first, last, and only time you’ll find me talking about H1N1 on here. Unless it is a rant about government incompetence.)

Until I get my act together and make a proper posting, you can have this to look at. Its off the waterfront last Saturday, a gorgeous day. I love autumn in Victoria!

Long Weekend

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I like long weekends. Especially ones where 2 out of 3 of the days are pretty nice. Today it is pouring, at least it was dry for the parade this morning. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Friday after work, I biked down to Cadboro Bay to walk a bit and enjoy the beach. I also managed to bike all the way up Sinclair Hill without stopping.


On Saturday I undertook an epic walk downtown via Mayfair Mall and Beacon Hill Park/Cook St Village/Fairfield. I actually fell asleep on the beach halfway through because I was a little tired. It was a beautiful sunny day and there were lots of kites and boats out along the waterfront at Dallas Road. Then I called up a friend and we met for dinner which turned into dinner, tea and desert and a 3 hour chat.


Sunday was a great morning at the Cathedral with a fantastic message by the Dean (newly minted Dr. Dean). I walked most of the way home, via Ross Bay Cemetery – the oldest in the city where everyone who was anyone is buried including a few former governors and Emily Carr.


In the afternoon I again biked down to Cadboro Bay and read on the beach for a couple hours, watching all the people down there enjoying the sun and all the boaters out on the water. I did not manage to make it all the way up Sinclair Hill this time. It pains me to admit that.

Currently, it is raining something fierce but that didn’t stop a group of us from enjoying the parade this morning. I foolishly wore shorts, thinking it would be as nice as it was yesterday. It wasn’t. We stood in the middle of View St for about 4 hours watching the most random parade I have ever seen. We enjoyed the marching bands the most, though we also enjoyed making fun of some of the more random floats/groups participating.

Now I’m relaxing and enjoying the rest of the weekend before back to work with a vengance tomorrow.

Thoughts about riding the bus

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Love:

  • Not having to drive anywhere
  • Staying dry in the rain
  • The view of the Olympics from the top floor of a double-decker as we go down Richmond
  • That there are 3 bus routes to downtown leaving within 2 blocks of my house
  • Express buses (when I can catch them)

Hate:

  • The guy two rows in front who’s iPod is on full volume and drowns out the sound coming from mine
  • The bus driver calling out every stop on the PA
  • The preteens who cluster together around the door preventing anyone from leaving and who are completely oblivious to this
  • People who talk in full volume on their cell phone