1/ Fancy double date with our BFFs ; a Sourdough hobby that was exquisite and short
2/ Lush walks on Thormanby island ; Obsession with our godson
3/ School wife ; 3rd anniversary dinner in fancy duds
4/ xoxo X 1 million ; Joffre Lake
5/ Saturna: time standing still on ferry ; 3 generations of Green men
6/ Ucluelet getaway : walks in pouring rain ; fish tacos
7/ Ucluelet getaway II : outdoors cures all things
Of late...
I last wrote on June 28th and now it is November.
If I was feeling dramatic, I would say: that's nearly half a year without writing to you!
But: I am mostly feeling sleepy, and a bit behind on other things I have to do, so instead I say: that will do little lamb, that will do. Good for you for starting again.
It's always nice to come back to this space.
July and August were//
A study in how one can wake up at 6am every day to go to school, and maintain a semblance (and many times actual state) of calm and joy. Quite remarkably, this Eeyore body--with its propensity for hitting snooze three times in a half hour span-- would be standing on a crowded bus by 7am, heading to class with a thought out ensemble and not too many crinkles on her brow. You get used to the things you must do, and this was the summer I fit in all the classes I needed to get out of the way by Fall.
Less carefree nights, whimsical "What should I do today?" musings, and jaunts overseas to Europe,
but . . . you know. Everything has its season.
What Did You Love?//
♥ The presence that Rowan is in our lives. The way he squeaks and smiles and how we're fortunate to be his chosen family and to watch him grow up. This most recent visit, he was the biggest boy who loved chilling with his Gigi and Bry Pops (still working on our nicknames.)
♥ The magic that is Buccaneer Bay / Thormanby island, and the beautiful cabin that Cousin designed. Despite mosquitos and the roughest waters I've ever been on, it was so lovely to be on their land with sea and sand spotted from every window.
♥ The glorious Sunday morning I attempted making sourdough pancakes topped with greek yoghurt, mango slices and coconut flakes. The sourdough hobby has since died, but that breakfast was accccce.
♥ Dancing my butt off to Spice Girls and JLo and other 90's Gods with my schoolwife, and getting out unspent energy in a sweaty, dark club.
♥ Meeting our nephew Luke for the first time. That long, smiley, calm hearted bug. xo
♥ Conquering two goals: putting my bike on the bus (a long held irrational fear) and biking all the way from East Van to UBC. THAT HILL AT THE END, THOUGH. Yeesh.
On turning Three//
Around our anniversary, I wanted to write a specific post celebrating our marriage and how it felt to be turning three years old with my husband. I have wanted to write a post on our anniversary every year, one where he participates and shares his own voice and his writer's talent, and it just never happens.
The day came and went; I wore pink heels while eating pasta and squeezing his hand. We marvelled that a year ago, we were celebrating 2 years with wind-slapped cheeks in Iceland-- and a year before that, we were feeling distant from one another and unsettled from our big move to Vancouver. Our 1 year felt sort of sad, like we had failed an important quiz, despite studying hard for it.
Three years in, we remain each others' greatest ally and soccer-mom-cheerleader. We continue to ask for what we need from the other, while being aware of our own baggage and hidden landmines we each bring to the table. We host imaginary talk shows in our living room, with only ourselves as the audience, and laugh all the time. Sometimes I cry too, or his heart feels sad, and both those things are OK because we never feel the need to hide either.
Maybe next year we'll write that special post together, but for now, I am quite content that there exists a man in this world who has a giant lemon pie tattooed on his hip for me.
Ucluelet!//
Remember how I get sort of weird and squirrelly around my birthday? This year I did the best thing. I celebrated earlier in the month with my best friends at my favourite restaurant at a long table, and then a couple weeks later when the real deal was happening, Bry and I just skipped town.
Ucluelet had biblical amounts of rain the ENTIRE time we were there, but my god were we happy. I am at my very best when it is just me and him and nature, and that's what it was like for four days. We stopped to hug Red Cedars and Douglas Firs, traipsed around wet forests getting drenched, stuffed our gills with mac n' cheese hot dogs, gazed into a horizon of nothingness and endless Pacific ocean, and watched epic amounts of TV at night. Literally, my favourite.
And, in an epic Herculean feat of our marriage, B convinced me to try surfing. In the rain. In an ocean. (Have I told you yet of my fear of open water and lack of swimming capabilities?)
He was such a good, patient teacher, and I was such a willing and excited student. In my diary on August 30th I wrote: I LEARNED TO SURF IN THE RAIN! I am a powerful goddess!!!!!! :D
If you know me, this is proof that anything is possible, and that magic exists in the universe.
I'm 32!
Things I Ate That Were Good//
- Hank's BBQ in Ukee
- Zoe's Bakery in Ukee
- Fish tacos from the place in Ukee that isn't Tacofino
- Lamb gnocci and green tomato salad from Savio Volpe
- Chicken banh mi from Ba Le
- Sausage rolls from that guy at the Trout Lake farmer's market
- The most amazing fermented cinnamon sticky roll from @annabellechoistudio
- Wolf and Fog in Tofino (sorry)
- Maenam in Kitsilano (sorry X 2)
A bummer//
That time my bike got stolen from the side of my house. I think I am still mostly in denial about it. I don't go to the scene of the crime very often, and I'm back to mainly walking around.
Go straight to hell, bike thieves.
Oh, okay. Well. Here's a dorky picture of me and my surfboard!
Upcoming//
I start Year 2 (and hopefully the last year, fingers crossed) of grad school. I write to tell you all about it.
I get back into the rhythm of packing lunches and going to bed by 10pm.
I see real clients for the first time, and feel so nervousexcited that I have to lie down.
I try to decide whether to abandon my last and final post of the euromoon, because at this point, it's been a million years since. But it's London! So.. we'll see.
All this and more . . . coming soon!
Absence or not from this place, you are often fondly in my thoughts. I hope the world has been real, real sweet to you lately.
With all my love,
Your pen pal
