trail river run success

This proves I finished. The camera was in my backpack with all my gear. I wanted photos of the start/finish line, but alas the batteries crapped out on me and there are no photos of the day's event itself.

how the race went

I biked to the Poco start line, about a 15 minute bike ride. I changed in the community center's changeroom and did my usual nervous tying and untying of the shoes, pulling my hair back (ponytail or pigtails?), sipping my water, re-adjusting my bib number and so it goes. It seems absurd that I should be nervous at all, but that's just the way it is I guess.

The morning was clear and cool so I took some time to warm up on the "track" across the street. The track is a fine pebbled surface, nothing fancy. There were other runners of all shapes and sizes, paces and fitness levels warming up too. Then one by one we gathered around the start line. I stood in my usual mid-pack spot. Since the 10 k runners were starting at the same time I thought I should let those Speedy Gonzales' take the front of the line. I didn't recognize anybody except for the woman who has the dog Taz that I encountered a couple of weeks ago. Later in the race I would see a woman from the Running Room that is very nice and knowledgeable.

An informal countdown was done and we were off. I was off faster than I wanted to be, but I didn't stress because I knew I'd ease up on the more open part of the trail since it's flat and pebbly. Of course I needed the porto-potty after 2k and stopped at the first one. It was occupied. I realized after over a minute of waiting that they may not come out right away. I tried not to panic because I thought well I won't take any walk breaks and I started out too fast anyway. Then when I saw the pack thinning I got going and with the hope that I could make a quick stop later.

I picked up my pace and checked my time at 4 k and I was already 3 minutes off my pace of where I wanted to be! On top of this I was a little unsure of how to pace myself for a half. I've been training with the full distance on the brain that I couldn't figure out if I was going too fast, but I didn't want to slow down too much since I felt I was already too far behind. I managed a quick porto-potty stop at the next one and then kept going full steam ahead.

The first turnaround was a 7 k mark. There we were to run back to the main road and then turn onto another section of the trail on the whoville side of the slough that leads to the Pitt River. A turn around is cool because you get to see other runners in the race coming along the trail towards you. Just about everyone said encouraging words. At 7 k I was close to where I wanted to be, near 40 minutes. I wanted to hit my 8 k mark at 45 which was the goal.

I hydrated and took a gel and it all moved along like most races. I pushed myself because I knew I still had to make up time. At this point most of the runners were well spaced apart. There wasn't a lot of us so it was nice to have some room to focus. I decided that I would just have to "pick off" runners. I looked down the trail and sussed out the distance of the woman ahead of me and how she was moving and went for it. I passed her sooner than anticipated. From that point on I just did the same and kept passing runners. No one was passing me after the 10 k mark.

About 300 m ahead of me was a pair of women who were dressed the same and looking pretty fit and I thought if I could keep them in sight I'd cross the finish around the 2 hour mark. I never thought I'd catch them, but just to keep them in sight felt like an achievable goal.

I'd never run on that side of the slough. The mountains were so close and there's some lovely farmland between the trail and the mountains. I could see some workers out amongst the shrubs (grapes? fruit of some kind?). The second turn around seemed like the end of the road although I'm sure it is, but I felt a bit alone out there. A fifty-something guy with his SUV parked on the side was playing some tunes and standing holding the paper cup of water out for me to grab. He was our water station. It looked so...unofficial. What are we crazy runners doing out here? I thanked him, opened another gel and took a few seconds to walk while I finished my water. The two women had just finished the turn around. I had to keep pace behind them so I got going.

I passed others heading towards the turn around and just waved this time. I had to focus. There was a cyclist (afterall this isn't a closed route and many people use the trail on the weekend) dismounted and looking towards a stand of trees. As I ran by I asked her, "what do you see?" She said, "I just saw a bear in that tree." I missed it! My bear sighting chance was just that close. I had dodged enough bear scat on the trail to make me believe she had just seen one. You gotta watch that on the trail and I did notice one or two runners pointing to it as a caution for the runner behind them.

Anywho...(or is it anypoo now?)
I crossed the road towards the home stretch. There's a little foot bridge to cross before heading into the more heavily wooded area and those two women were just meters ahead of me now. I now believed it possible to catch them. Despite the exhaustion I was feeling, I tapped into my inner strength and asked it to help me. A little technique I've been using lately is tapping into the spirit of Ndereba (she's the Kenyan marathon runner who is unbelievable). Recently I watched her complete the marathon at the worlds and win it with so much strength and determination that whenever I need help I think of her running that race. The next thing I know I was passing those two women and I felt like I was floating, like I wasn't even touching the ground. I've never experienced that before. Is this what they mean by a "runner's high?" In the moment I wondered if this would be the the way I'd feel before I collapsed, but I felt good. I floated for about 1.5 k until I saw the next person ahead and I could see the opening in the trees with the sunlight coming through, which is where the finish line was. I tried to find another gear and did which made the floaty feeling go away. Back was the tired feeling, but I was too close now. I passed the next runner and then there was no one ahead of me. I saw the finish and crossed in 1:59:20. that's a personal best!

I was on my own with no one to celebrate with, but I felt great. I couldn't wait to see db and see how he'd done.

I biked home (well...not all the way home. The steep hill up to the house is a struggle on a good day never mind after running for 2 hours). db was home. He did the 18 k! He took his time and finished 18 no problem. When I left him earlier in the morning his attitude was to just go out and see how it felt, see if he could run any distance. Lo and behold he finished his whole run. It's unbelievable how far he's come so quickly. Without a doubt he's ready for Kelowna.


***

In other news...
On Tuesday I took this picture (or was it Wednesday?) of the toad lily coming along nicely.
Overall, the entire garden is looking great with only patches starting to fade or look ready for a winter rest. I do have a bit of clean-up to do this week.
My work-pal who has been bringing me cranesbills and lilies and other little snippets from her treasured garden tells me she has more for me! I still have four pots yet to transplant that she gave me two weeks ago. These include a golden heuchera, a mystery clematis, another lily and...I can't remember the other one just now.

Then Friday I discovered this:

What a treat! The toad lily that I brought home in May with so much hope and watched it as it grew and stretched up and outward has finally bloomed right on schedule. Sigh.








I may be crazy. I may be lily crazy. Again a nod to my sis for introducing this spectacular tiny flower to me. It also has a delicate fragrance if you get close enough to sniff that is as subtle as the flower itself.

It's tempting to cut it and bring it inside to enjoy it all the time, but it should be in the garden. And doesn't it look lovely in the late afternoon sun?

After our Sunday running related achievements we thought we'd enjoy the late afternoon sunshine with a little beer under the canopy in the backyard. I sat so I could just view the lily from my chair. It's a bit far away since the flower is one of the features as you walk up the stone steps to the garden's upper level where we sit.

Now I look at all we achieved in the garden as well and see where there's room to move things around and give the perennials more or less light and a better placement to offer the best view in different stages of blooming.

Ideally I would like to move the lilac from the front to the back. You can't even see it in the front and there is so much room in the back. The soil is a bit of an issue where the grass is because it is very packed and more like clay than anywhere else in the garden. The japanese maple seems to like the back corner I wonder if there's a spot for a lilac over there?

fuelled up and ready to go

I've never biked to an event before. This should be a good warm up. I've had my toast, my oatmeal and my coffee. That should get me through the first hour okay.
db has a tough run this morning that he will be running elsewhere around the same time so I hope that goes well. I'll try and encourage him from where I am since I know he'll be doing the same.
The weather is good and I think the sun should be out by the 9 am start time. The sky has already broken up quite a bit.
I'm off.

Run Vegan Run

It feels like the running season could keep going with the gorgeous weather we're having, but I know it's winding down and I'll be taking my break after Kelowna.

This Sunday I'm running the Trail River Run. It's a 10k and half marathon distance so I signed up for the half since it works well with my training schedule. I have run most of the trail although not all at once, but I think I know it pretty well. It's pretty flat and well maintained, nothing that would truly require trail shoes. I'll be fine in my running shoes. It's a fairly small event so there won't be a lot of us but there will be runners and there's nothing more fun than running an event with a bunch of other runners (really, it's true).

I'm still working out fueling myself beyond basic water. I can't figure out what really works for me. I'm so hesitant to take any gels again and yet I took one gel this past weekend and felt fine. Tomorrow? Who knows? All I do know is that I need to figure something out fast before I run Kelowna because it's a long, long distance. I'll probably risk the gels, going with the ones that have had the most mild effect on me in the past, and perhaps carry some pretzels for the midway point.

Today I had a good run up the hill and then down to the park where I did some laps around the park and played around doing fartleks (fun to do and to say). Just in case you don't remember me talking about "fartleks" (I think it's a Swedish term) I'll define. It's a way to train where you run as fast as you can for a certain distance and then jog for a bit before going full out again. It's fun because I just look down the road or trail and pick my mark and run as fast as I can to get there. I almost certainly did that when I was a kid just for fun so it's no surprise that I enjoy it now. Today I noticed the importance of my core strength to maintain my speed. Maybe this could be a fun way to strengthen my core without doing tedious ab exercises?

After my laps around the park I picked up my pace for the last few k just to push myself out of my comfort zone. I haven't said it before but I'd really like to finish Kelowna in 4 hours and 20 minutes. That would be 10 minutes off my Tofino time which seems completely illogical and improbable. I'm hoping that those tough hills of Ucluelet really made the difference in slowing me down for the last 8 k and that Kelowna will be flatter and more forgiving and I'll find a way to get to the finish in 4:20. Two weeks ago I thought I'd give up and just told myself that I only wanted to finish, but I always want more. If I didn't I wouldn't be able to go out and train on those days I really don't want to.

So let's all think 4:20 together and get me to that finish line.

first review for the Fall Reading Challenge

I've posted my review of My Sister, My Self.

What book title?

I guess I don't know myself as well as I thought. Like Wandering Coyote perhaps I should give this a read as well...

You're Love in the Time of Cholera!

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Like Odysseus in a work of Homer, you demonstrate undying loyalty by
sleeping with as many people as you possibly can. But in your heart you never give
consent! This creates a strange quandary of what love really means to you. On the
one hand, you've loved the same person your whole life, but on the other, your actions
barely speak to this fact. Whatever you do, stick to bottled water. The other stuff
could get you killed.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Is bottled water any safer than tap water?

Do you drink bottled or tap, or both? Do you have a Brita or another filtered system?

We use to have PUR filter on our water tap and did so for many years, but since moving west we never bothered installing it again. We found the filters not only expensive, but it made me crazy to have these huge pieces of plastic that we're expected to turf once they're used up.

Bottled water is tap water so why not drink straight from the tap and that's what we've been doing ever since we decided not to put another filter on our tap. I admit that I do occasionally buy bottled water when I've forgotten or have been too lazy to carry my own, but I'm now making more of an effort to stop buying water bottles that contribute to landfill and carry my own water on a regular basis. After all I never go out the door for a run without carrying my water so why shouldn't I do this every time I go out the door?

Some things to think about:
- most water bottles end up in landfill
- bottled water is tap water.
- bottling water for sale (for profit) creates us to think of water as a privilege and not a basic human need for survival.
- the environmental impact of producing the plastics to contain the water and then ship the water to be sold. Think about who does this really benefit?

You can read more here and you can check out Co-op America's site via my sidebar and search the water debate there.

food glorious food

Saturday it was db's birthday. db was undecided when I asked him what he wanted for dinner. Then it came to me: Ravioli and db's eyes lit. He suggsted we stuff them with squash and chanterelle mushrooms (no, we didn't actually pick them even though they are in season right now). We planned it out for Sunday night since we both had to work on db's actual birthday.

Sunday we managed to time everything beautifully. Both of us had our long run in the afternoon (the morning was too wet). While I ran my 32 k, db completed his 12 k and then went to pick up an organic squash for the filling. He baked the spaghetti squash and was just taking it out of the oven as I finished my post run stretching. He started the tomato sauce (yes, I know it's his birthday and I should probably do all the cooking, but let's be realistic here, db is the superior cook between us and his tomato sauce is perfection). db pulled out a rather dusty bottle of red wine from his collection, a Southern Italian wine and I started the pasta and uh-oh, no semolina flour. Yes, we could have just made pasta with regular flour, but I really prefer to work with a semolina blended dough that is a bit stronger and the flavour is preferable as well.

Okay plan B. Russet potatoes on hand. I put them into bake and decided to make potato gnocchi. Whew. The birthday dinner was saved. We stored the squash and pre-cooked chanterelles with plans to make ravioli on Monday.

Dinner was delicious. Fluffy pillows of gnocchi in a simple tomato sauce. Mmm. And with a weighty 1998 red wine (D'Angelo Canneto made with Aglianico grapes -- you were right on that one db). We had tomatoes from the garden in our salad and I made a creamy cashew dressing that went well with the greens.

Earlier in the day while waiting for the rain to let up so I could go running, I made a vegan cheesecake as per requested by db. Naturally I made a blackberry topping for the cake since we still have blackberries left over from when we made jam. The whole meal was a nice way to toast db's birthday and a good reward for both of us after two tough runs that afternoon.
The cheesecake recipe is from my sis and is flavoured with lemon zest and limoncello. It's so delicious. The first time sis made this cake I couldn't believe it's similarity in taste to the real-deal. Even the texture bakes up similar. Those who've eaten it and are cheese-eaters are always astounded that there is no cheese in it. It's so delicious and so easy to make I'm surprised I don't do it more often (that' s probably a good thing though).

I was a bit concerned since I have pretty much tried to eliminate soy from my diet and this cake is all about soy with tofutti cream cheese (the non-hydrogenated one) and silken tofu. I seemed to be fine the next day. So I'm not sure what's upsetting my stomach. I'm not diving back into the soy again that's for sure, but I have been eating a little here and there and for the most part I seem to be okay. I'm still watching what I eat to try and find a connection.

Monday we made the ravioli as planned. The two of us pretty much have the pasta making production perfected. db makes the filling, I make the dough and db rolls the dough through the machine while I stuff the pasta with the ravioli filling. It really doesn't take long at all and I really enjoy it. It's nice to work in the kitchen together. Both of us still had tired legs from Sunday's run, so it also helped that we made dinner together.
The ravioli was a success as well. Two nights in a row. I hope we celebrate his birthday this well every year. db extracted another (not as dusty) bottle from the collection and we toasted to his birthday again. Why not eh?

I guess we'll be fasting for a couple of days now.

* * *

I mentioned the package that we received in the mail from my sis. I took some photos of the jewelry she sent. The note has a little "Handmade By" stamp and she signed it. I love it. The piece is actually made of glass. My photography doesn't do it justice though. The piece is quite exquisite.




Sis also included a new bell for my bike with my favorite heroine on it. Actually, I'm going to call her a hero because she is in the traditional sense. WW was never a heroine in the classic sense since heroines in film are the ones who usually need to be saved. WW only saved everyone else. She was a much needed role model on tv for me growing up. I might actually put the bell on the front door somehow.

Sis's beau thinks that these old style bells remind people too much of ice cream trucks and therefore don't take them seriously when you use them. He uses a whistle. I actually find I rarely have to use my bell here. I'm not in the city so encounters with the parked car and its door opening are less frequent than when I lived in whoville city.

Nice Matters

Well I'm quite flattered. Karen, captain of the HMS Swiftsure, passed on the award. Much thanks and right back at you Karen.

Apparently, I am to award 7 bloggers that make blogging nice, to people who are "encouraging, inspiring and kind." We may all be awarding each other at this point, so I don't know if I can award anyone again. So instead of risking being redundant I give awards to all of you who have commented on my blog or emailed me personally with your words of support and kindness. So thanks to all of your blogs (you know who you are) for your own intelligent, entertaining and thoughtful blogs.

encounters this past week

Time flies when you're doing what you love. I had two days away from LV which was great and I spent my first day off working which was also great because I was doing what I love, and doing what I've wanted to be doing since I left school. It's nice to actually work for yourself. I hope I can keep it up and that this job leads to more.

Because I had met up with a friend from university who I hadn't seen in a couple of years I was able to meet up with this director she's worked with and she put the two of us in touch. The next thing you know he's got some story editing work for me. Like I said, I loved doing it.

I didn't have much time for the garden or really much else, but that's okay. I checked on the toad lily to make sure it wasn't starting to bloom without me noticing. The garden changes daily and I hate to miss it, but one of the nice things about getting to work at home was that I could take my work outside for a bit of a break from the computer and sit in the backyard and continue working there. It was idyllic really.

* * *

On Sunday I ran 30 k. I had intended to run 32 but there just wasn't enough in the tank. I was ill prepared, feeling kind of crappy when I went out, and it got pretty hot as the day started to get going. On one of the trails I did keep meeting up with another woman runner with her dog (Taz) who was having to stop every now and then because Taz had to stop and sniff or run into the water or check out another dog. Anyway we did pace each other for a bit which was encouraging. I even got to run just behind Taz for a little bit which was fun. I could tell the woman was a distance runner by her form, her stash of water bottles she had with her and just the shape she was in.
The night before I had told db that I was a bit nervous having never done a 32 k run on my own since he use to cycle with me or I'm usually in a race when I go that distance so I'm never really on my own, there's motivators around and I'm use to that. So this encounter with this woman and her dog (Taz) was a welcome distraction from the road and trail ahead. While I didn't have a great run this past Sunday, I've got a second chance at the 32 k distance for this coming Sunday and I'm already feeling more positive. I'm taking an extra water bottle and more fuel to get me the distance. Maybe I'll even see Taz again.

* * *

db's birthday is tomorrow, but he's been showered with gifts already. I got him a bread book that he had on his wish list. It arrived just in time. The book was shipped to his work address so he got it at work this morning with the card and was completely surprised. I love surprises. Then when I got home a package from my sister was waiting at the door. She filled a box with gifts for the two of us. db got some very nice running socks. Sis made some beautiful jewelry for me. I'll have to get photos of the jewelry and post.
Also in the package was a cd with photos my mom took when we all went to Tofino together so I had to add in these pictures of sis and I on our big run. I love the one of us on the road. She had finished her race and I was still working on mine so she ran a bit with me. It was such an amazing moment.
This is us on the dock in Ucluelet doing some post race stretching. We all took a bit of a break down on the dock and watched some of the seals and eagles in the area. That was truly an amazing day to have the whole family together and to be in such a gorgeous part of the country together, each of us having new experiences individually and together. Very memorable.

I've been reading My Sister My Self for the Fall Reading Challenge so when I saw the photos of the two of us I couldn't help but think about what a special relationship we have and how lucky I feel to have a sister and to be a sister. It really is a unique bond.

This last photo was taken on the ferry home from Tofino and the beautiful sunset we encountered. The sky was stunning that evening. Mom took this picture of db and I walking on the deck.

on the gray whale and more

Well, my interest in the posted story below continues. The only updated news I've heard so far is that the Makah tribal leaders intend to prosecute the men who brutally slaughtered the gray whale. I read an update here.

I also came across an article about the gray whale population and that perhaps it is not as healthy as initially thought.

All of this is coming on the heels of reading the book "The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and What We Eat." While the book was focused on human consumption it could not help but discuss how overfishing affects other species that also rely on that same diet. Whales come to mind don't they?

One chapter in the book looked at tuna catches and the subsequent by-catches that are part of any fishing. Here is an excerpt from that chapter:
"...the most comprehensive and eye-opening answer to the question of what gets killed alongside the skipjack tuna that ends up in you pantry (...) was an unpublished paper by two scientists from 1998-99 when the thre European organizations of frozen tuna producers delcared moratoria on fishing in certain areas close to the African coast because of the number of (endangered) juvenile bigeye tuna they had been catching.
(...) I looked up the common names for these species with growing disbelief. It amounted to almost the entire cast list of Finding Nemo. Let's start with the turtles, as these are the most endangered. There was a full house of the ocean going turtles, loggerhead, green sea turtle, leatherback, hawksbill, and gulf Ridley. (...) Then there were the whales (remember the Indian Ocean is supposed to be a whale sanctuary): minke, humpback , and one the observer could not identify (pigmy blue is possible in those waters, but it could have been anything. After that we come to the fish. There was quite a list, topped by the great white shark, which is now officially recognized (...) as vulnerable. (...) On the bright side, they didn't catch any dolphins."

I suppose what I am trying to connect here is our disregard for the oceanic environment and the species that live there. Our consumption once again comes at a great cost to other living creatures.

garden update

We just came in from watering and I thought i should get one shot of the garden anyway so you can see how it has progressed. M. finished the retaining wall, but he still has to finish the front with some rockface he's mentioned so we'll wait and see if that happens.
It is starting to fill in quite well. I've got fucshia's on either side of the wall and they have been blooming since I brought them home in April.
This is what I'm really excited about though...the toad lily! Here it is just getting started. It's the only lily I know of that blooms in the fall. My sister introduced it to me last year and I couldn't believe what a unique plant it turned out to be. We moved last year just as it was starting to take off. I was so happy to find one here and I've been watching it closely to make sure it has all the right conditions. It seems happy doesn't it?

There will be more photos of this to come.

whale slaughter

This story is one I will be following closely. The knowledge that it took 10 hours for the whale to die is enough information for me. I'm appalled and I want to know exactly what happened and why.

For a complete story on the Makah's tradition of returning to whaling you can read more here.

whoville cats

I thought a few cat photos were overdue. Gigi and Prima are the stars of whoville.

office space

Now that life is back to some normalcy after the panic of thinking I had to move, I've started thinking about tidying up the office area and making it more...inviting to work in. Mostly it's the Gigi lounge since Gigi spends a lot of time in there just lying about. She's got her own little play and sleep area with a nice long window to lie in front of and watch the world go by.

The room looks fairly unfinished and I do have to wait until the window finishing is complete before doing too much. However, I am going to start with paint. I've been searching for a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or even better a no VOC paint which is easier to find than I thought.

Why no VOC? Well, I'm very concerned with the quality of my indoor air just as I am concerned about the quality of my outdoor air. Paints can continue to release toxins into the air years after they've been applied. Yes, I know it's a "small" amount, but it's still a quantity and if I have an option to not contribute to that then I opt for a no VOC paint.

With that out of the way, now I can think of colour.

the last few days

This is what I wrote Monday night after reading the lease renewal for our suite:

"We only just realized that after another year in our place, we have to move. I didn’t think it would bother me, but it does. Maybe it bothers me because I didn’t want to live here initially but gave it my best to make it home and now it’s grown on me. Feeling more comfortable here and loving the area and all it has to offer, it really has become home.

I wish we could live here longer now, but for how long?

Knowing we made a decision, set a goal for our own house and would rent until then, I guess I just didn't want to move much. It will be tough. We’ll have to find a new place, plan our move, change our address, hire movers, unsettle the cats, do a new damage deposit, a new pet deposit, and then all the little things that you don’t think about. I wish we could buy next year, but it’s just not possible. I’d have to land some friggin’ fantastic job to make that happen. db would have to become captain of the Saeco machine to get a pay raise as well.

Not everything works out the way you want it to."

My thoughts seem to convey that we got our lease renewal and it reads in one section:
"(...)at the end of this fixed length of time:
a). the tenancy may continue on a month to month basis or for a fixed length of time
b). the tenancy ends and the tenant must move out of the residential unit"

Our homeowner checked option "b". We were so upset. I assumed that they needed the space with the new baby and all.

So this is how it played out today...

I called Deb (homeowner) just to discuss the flexibility of moving earlier or later from the planned date. We had this whole conversation about moving and making it work for both of us and then she said "we wish you guys could stay" (or something to that effect) and then it dawned on me. She had checked the wrong box on the lease and we were having a conversation we didn't need to. Deb and I had a laugh over this and started over. We signed the lease with the option to renew next year.

Phew! Panic is over. I know we were working with a year before we had to move, but still after having just moved last year I really didn't want to do it again for a while longer.

Kentucky Fried Cruelty

Nothing makes me angrier than this horrific fast food nightmare. Okay, anytime animals suffer for human greed makes me angry. Okay, anytime animals suffer makes me angry. Anywho...I've always hated "dirty bird" as we call it and when one was planning to open up, coupled with Taco Hell, next to my supermarket I was livid. It happened. Taco Hell and Kentucky Fried Cruelty opened. That whole area stinks now like death. I'm always astounded when I hear people say "that smells so good." Huh? I guess I've been so far removed from the fast food scene that all I smell is burning fat and oil and all I think about is tortured animals.

Yesterday's Sun made me very happy when I saw this story. PETA is launching a tv add in Vancouver to boycott KFC in Canada. Woohoo! I tried showing the article to someone at work and she said "I can't read that I don't want to know." There's the problem right there. People have an idea that something awful is going on but refuse to look and see what exactly is happening to animals. Just go to PETA's website or Farm Sanctuary's website to find out a little truth.

back to fluville

Yuck, I'm not feeling so great. I left work yesterday feeling woozy and chilled. The signs were there and I gave into them by the time I finished work. I couldn't wait to get home and go to bed. It was a bit of a rough night, but I'm feeling better today. I just have very little energy.

Of course I run through the list of possibly life threatening illnesses I might have even though I know it's the flu. Is it West Nile? Avian flu? Norwalk? Is it a new kind of SARS, something that has yet to be named? Is it a sign that I've got something worse like a failing kidney or some other organ (it doesn't matter I always imagine some worse case scenario)? None of these options seem to have come true so I'm just sick with a regular ol' 24 hour flu.

Prima loves it because I'm not moving much and she can sleep next to me or on me whenever she pleases. I've never met such a needy cat. It's very sweet really.

My plans to run 30 k this morning are delayed, so I'm going to try tomorrow. It's been a fairly nice day today so hopefully we'll get a window of no rain tomorrow and hopefully it will be while I'm on the run.

***

Oh yes the windows. Did I mention that already? The new windows are in and we've got extra light in the living room and now that window opens to let in some air. Finally. Once the finishing work is done I can set up the cat post near the living room window so the girls can have easy access to the ledge.

5 AM!

Did you know it's dark at 5 am these days? Did you know there is an astounding amount of people (including runners) up in the dark hours of the morning?

The only reason I got up at 5 am was because I knew I wouldn't be able to find time in the day to get out and run. Getting up at 5 am to be out the door by 5:30 am is old hat now for db, but it is still startling to me. Last time we did this together it was light out, now it is not. Honestly, I have to say that I thought once the mornings get dark db will be sleeping in and making time somewhere else in his day to run. I was wrong. db is an unbelievable runner. He's a natural and seems to run with such ease and focus. I have a lot to learn from him.

I got up and I followed his pace. This was a good plan since I was intending to do pace work today. I couldn't keep up with him. Once I stopped to re-tie my shoe it was too much time to catch him again. I tried, but I couldn't. It was the fastest 4 k I've ever run.


***

Now the window installers are finally here. They seem to be very efficient. I'm tucked away in the bedroom with the cats who have finally calmed down and settled into their naps. Gigi was quite worked up this morning and seemed very confused about being locked in the bedroom. She's finally settled in her basket and only wakes now and then to see what I'm up to.

I am a bit afraid of going into the living room and seeing a big hole in our wall where they are cutting to extend our living room windows so we have more light and windows that open in that room. How civilized it will be.

The end result will mean more painting. So I'm thinking about fixing up my office space to be a little more like an office and a little less like a cat flop lounge. At least we can divide the space up into the two. I know, I know the cat flop lounge will win in the end. C'est la vie.

Kelowna here we come

I just registered for my second full marathon in the Okanagan in October. This is very exciting. There seems to be less doubt this time around.

What's also exciting is the news that db has registered for the half marathon. I'm still astounded that he's running, but have no question whatsoever that he can go the distance.

We have the same start times so after he finishes his race he can catch up with me somewhere along the route or maybe at the finish for those photos. Unfortunately, I won't be able to watch him run his first race. It's a bit like not being able to see my sis's first race. I won't be there to cheer him on or take the sideline photos, but he'll know I'll be thinking about him. Of course the thought of running the half distance together did occur to us, but we have such different paces and I'm pacing myself a little differently for a longer distance and I know he's going for something a little faster.

There is chance that my stepdad, P, will be joining us, but he's got a lot going on and might be too busy to get away so we'll have to wait and see.

Anywho....
I'm so excited.

Blackberries

I had the weekend off. db was off too . We've been talking about the blackberries everywhere and wanting to get out there and pick some (or at least I've been talking about it. Here's the result of all that talk.
Sunday turned into a beautiful day by the time I finished my run. We headed down to the power crunch (that's the pathway that runs up the side of the ridge that is park and owned by BC hydro so there are power lines all along as well -- it's not as bad as it sounds though, really) and spent about an hour to collect these. My fingers were purple. db wisely wore his garden gloves, but I prefer the hands on touch. Ouch! You've got to watch those thorns they are fierce.

Now what do I do with them? I made a cobbler last week with a smaller batch we picked at a friends house, but we are definitely into jam territory now. I'm not really in the mood for a pie and I've got another cobbler on the go made with Okanagan organic peaches so I think we need to make jam. I've frozen some for the winter to throw into whatever when I need them so I think we're good.

Hurry up and wait

Our homeowners planned to get new windows installed for their home. The plan is to put new windows in our spare room (the office/cat lounge) and they are going to cut new windows into the wall for our living room. The house is built on a slope so the office/cat lounge is above ground while the living room is below ground. Therefore, the extra windows in the living room would really brighten up the space and for the first time we'll have living room windows that open. Hurrah.

Okay not so fast. Time passes. Someone comes in and assesses the job. We plan and it's early June. More time passes. Actually a month passes. We're down to any day now. So a couple of weeks pass and finally we get word that yes the installers will be arriving tomorrow (which is today) and will start early at 7ish. Great.

Last night M & Deb. came down to install a plastic zip wall that will cover the area where the installers will be cutting out the new window. Our living room is cut in half, but it's a big room so I don't mind. We move the furniture, cover it in plastic as well. I plan to put the cats in the bedroom for the day and as luck would have it I happen to be off so great I can hang out with the cats in the bedroom, keep them calm and feeling loved, while the windows go in.

Up at 6:15 this morning (same time db returns from his run?! Still hard to believe for me. He's doing great) and I go about setting up the cat camp out room. It looks pretty cozy and fun for them. 7 am passes. 8 am rolls around. I'm not surprised. I watched sis deal with contractors back on Margueretta so all of this seems very likely.

8:30 Deb calls. The installers are running late and will arrive around 9.

Gigi is settling into her usual morning nap location in the cat lounge so I decide to set up the kitties in the bedroom. So they're set up before 9.

Then, 9:30 rolls around. I know the installers have arrived, but why haven't they come down to start yet? Deb calls. These are new installers and not the original guy who came to see the house and mapped out a plan for the work. These new installers apparently had no idea the house was built on a slope and they aren't prepared properly for the cut out, nor do they have the right scaffolding for the job (whatever that means). Furthermore, contractor informs M & Deb that the original guy no longer works for him. So there will be no work today.

I let the cats out of the bedroom.

10:30 M calls and offers to take down the zip wall. He says he'll know more tomorrow once the contractor has fixed the problem (yeah, we'll see). He's very apologetic, but really it's not his fault and I tell him not to worry about the wall it's not a big inconvenience for us so we'll leave it up until we know what's going on for sure.

It was too good to be true. So now we wait and wait. This seems all too common in the contractor business. What the hell is going on?

Bad Cop Good Cop

The cover story of the "westcoast" section of today's Sun reported on a family of 6 in North Van who had been victims of a robbery. The same front page included an update story on the man gunned down by police this past week, who as it turns out was bipolar and "going through a manic episode" when police shot him.

I continue reading a few pages in. Each story is continued on a separate page. On the right side is Story 1 ("Mother had a feeling 'something unsettled') which turns out to be a detailed account of the events on the night the family was robbed and once they realized that someone was in the house they called police just as the robber was driving away in their vehicle. The story then details the movements of the RCMP, municpal police and the coastguard all working together to comfort the family, catch the thief, thus displaying their ability to communicate efficiently and effectively to react to a situation promptly and professionally.

The left page has the rest of Story 2 ("Animator shot dead by police suffered bipolar disorder") which says that the man may have viewed the police as "part of the conspiracy" and also quotes someone who says that the police are trained to deal with "people with mental illness because they deal with them all the time." I understand this to mean that I'm being set up to be later told that this was purely an accident because after all the police deal with this type of thing "all the time" and therefore it could only be a grave misunderstanding that would cause the police to shoot. The rest of the story is really about the man killed and that he was no threat to anyone but himself.

While I'm completely saddened by the story of this man and the loss for the family, I can't help but wonder about these two stories coupled together. My inclination was to read the headlining story, but I wanted an update of the police shooting and read the left hand story when I opened the paper. By the time I get to the end of the "Mother had a feeling" report I am reassured that the police are an efficient force that deals with problems quickly and professionally. I can't help but think that there is no coincidence in the pairing of these two stories.

10 things

Karen tagged me to write 10 things about myself to share in blogland. Part of tag is tagging someone else, but I suspect I would tag some of those that Karen has tagged as well. So to my core whoville visitors out there and I know there are at least ten of you I tag you all. To write 10 things about yourself to share on my blog.

So here goes 10 things to share with the blog world that are...um....unique I suppose.


1. I eat the same thing for breakfast every day: toast with almond butter and a coffee. Occasionally I have something different on the weekend or am forced to when I travel, but it's always the same. I often think about making something different in the morning, but I enjoy toast and almond butter so much I can't change now.

2. (this one is for db): I say that I don't like rice or soy ice cream, but I have been known to eat it.

3. Vegan guilt. I have a lot of guilt for the dairy I've eaten in the past and also for the fish I ate when I called myself vegetarian. However, I don't have any guilt for the meat I ate as a kid. I suppose it's because it was before I knew there was a choice. I thought a lot of meat was gross especially liver, but then what kid didn't think liver was gross. My grandmother use to make roast beef every Sunday we visited and it was really weird looking to me and I would smother it in gravy so I didn't have to look at it. A born veg? Maybe or maybe I was just a picky kid.

4. Whenever I'm at work (no matter what kind of work I'm in) I feel like it's a performance and I find this exhausting. A co-worker (who is an actor) once told me I should be an actor. That will never happen since we already have an actor in the family and nothing would terrify me more than to be the center of attention or have people gawk at me while I'm performing. I guess at work it's more of a mask.

5. Being the center of attention is one of the reasons db and I eloped when we got married. We told our families about a week after the fact.

6. I have a bumper sticker that reads: "The more people I meet the more I like my cat" (I don't own a car). There is some truth to this for me.

7. Some kids play "house" when they're little, I played "librarian." I was born a nerd. I would check books out to my stuffed animals (Agatha and Bunny).

8. I still have Agatha (my stuffed blue bear) that I named after Agatha Christie because those were the books my mom was reading at the time and I liked the name.

9. I have no tattoos or piercings other than my ears. I once pierced my nose myself way way back in high school, but I let it heal over after a year. No, it didn't hurt when I did it because I froze my nostril with an ice-cube. It did take a long time to do though because I was nervous and realized it was harder to get that needle through than I though. I was staying at my aunt and uncle's house when I did it. They were out for the day with their kids. My aunt still talks about it today and it's more than 20 years ago now!

10. I like most plants and flowers, but I really dislike begonias, petunias, impatients, daisies and marigolds. I use to like juniper until I moved to the land of juniper. Now I think it's a weed. this is not earth-shattering info about me, but it feels liberating to say it. I've been plant shopping with people and they'v ooohed and aaahed over these stupid plants and I've said some nice things about the plants and have even tried to find their potential, but I have to say they muck up the garden. I've seen too many poorly planned gardens with the border of begonias and petunias along a grass edging. Yuck.

after I came down the mountain...

I got it. Tough runs help build my mental toughness.

I had a great run, mixing hills with pace. It turned out to be hotter than I expected, but it wasn't unbearable. I can't believe I ran up the mountain. It's so worth it because there is less traffic so I can run on the pavement more (pavement is preferable over concrete always), I could just listen to the sound of my feet striding along and look at the incredible view from Panorama Drive.

Also, I'm trying out a new sports drink because I can't seem to drink most, they upset my stomach. I've also become intolerant to the gels so I'm in trouble and need to come up with a new plan for eating on the run (so to speak). Now that db is running I don't have him cycling alongside for those long runs with stores of food on hand in case I need to eat. I'll have to come up with some creative solution.

"the hills are alive..."

...with the sound of running.
The hills are calling me again. I'm about to head out for a run and I want nothing more than to run up the hill to start my run and keep going up. There must be something wrong with me. I've never wanted to run hills in my life.
I was planning on a trip to the gym, but the t.v. treadmill scenario gets a little boring, plus I find they've put the t.v. screen too high on the treadmills which means you need to be 5'9" or taller to be able to watch anything. I would say that most women at my gym are at least 5'5" on average. I've mentioned the t.v. screen heights as a problem, but they just nod and say "oh yeah I guess they are" but nothing has changed. Is it just me or are all gyms the same. I feel like I could be at the Duff mall in the ol' Fitness One bargain basement gym. I kind of miss it actually. At least it made fitness affordable for women. It was a better deal than the YMCA's low income membership that you had to apply for and jump through all sorts of hoops just to be approved to join the "stinky Y" as we called it. That Y was too small for the size of its membership.

My hand is still aching from the sprain so strength training is out. So what's the point of going to the gym? Yoga isn't an option either. Oh well, onward and upward.

It's cooled off today and there are a few clouds so I think hills will be just fine. I can do some strength work without putting weight on my hand using my exercise ball and band. Exciting life isn't it?

***

The Okanagan marathon seems just around the corner now. I haven't registered yet, but I know I will because I just put in my request for the time off from work for that weekend in October.

db and I thought (and perhaps my step-dad, P. will be coming. I'm not sure yet) we might check out some of the wine country while we are there. Since I'm running the marathon I guess I'll do the driving so db can do the sampling.

One of the best times db and I had in Italy was when we rented a car and drove through wine country in Italy's Piemonte region. We collected a few bottles on the way and met some nice people. We picked up some fresh food on the way and had a picnic on the roadside overlooking the rows and rows of vines. We were "off season" for travelling to wine country so it seemed like we were the only people around. It was incredible.

Anywho...I digress. I do feel a little undertrained, but then I felt that way before right? All the physical training is good and I can always look for new ways to mix up the training schedule and add new methods to keep it interesting, but mentally I feel like I need an edge. I seem to keep coming up against the same mental blocks that slow me down. I need to figure out a way to train the thoughts as well. Time to research. I'll just make sure I research after I've done the more important tasks of the day.

Did I mention that i'm searching for new work? I am. Since the office job didn't pan out at LV, I think I need to find some new challenge so I've been just starting to push myself to come up with something else that will pay the bills. I'll find something soon I hope.

Sierra Leone bans Chimpanzee Trade

With the decline of the Chimpanzee population in the wild, this is very positive news.
Read the story here.

Rise and Shine Vegan

It's dark out when I wake up. Gigi wakes me up purring and walking on my pillow. Sometimes she's very aloof and then she has moments like these when she feels a little friendly and needs some petting. Then, the alarm went off and db got up. I stayed in bed. Gigi was alert, but also stayed in bed.

It's still dark out when db returns to the bedroom to get dressed and I realize I have to get up too. It's not easy fumbling with contacts when your eyes can barely open, but I manage. db is already dressed and ready to go by the time I'm just blinking my contacts into place. He's got his running gear on. That's right you heard me, db has running clothes on. The man who hates running has convinced me that a run in the morning is better than in the evening.

We head out the door with just enough light in the sky to call it morning. Despite my grumblings and calling db crazy, I do love the view of the mountains in the distance with the sun coming up behind them. The sky is pink and mountains purple. It's cool but I can tell already that the day is going to be very warm.

I follow db on his 5k route through the neighbourhood. By the time we reach the bottom of the hill again it's much brighter now and there is considerably more traffic. Amazing what a half hour difference makes in the morning.

db has been testing out running to see if he likes it and wants to continue. He's doing amazingly well. His form looks like a pro and he took off this morning at a blazing pace that got my ol' heart rate up in no time. It's definitely motivation for me and it sure is nice to run with someone in the morning.

No Limits

If you want to read about an incredible ultrarunner you should read No Limits about ultrarunner Barbara Friedman. She's my mum's friend who I always looked up to (along with my sis) when I started running. She too came to running later in her life and I always thought it is never to late to start something new in your life.
I just finished reading about her 100 miler north of San Francisco in the Marin Headlands. It is truly inspiring.

"nothing up my sleeve..."

You can shuffle the cabinet all you like in an effort to sway public support, but it's still the same government isn't it? Harper's cabinet shuffle might try to breathe some new life into his minority government, but it's the same old policies.

Remember the enthusiasm when Rona Ambrose was replaced by Baird as Minister of the Environment? There was some initial excitement that something might actually get done and information would be conveyed clearly etc etc et-rhetoric, et-rhetoric and then...disappointment.

And why do I always get the feeling that his government is hiding something from the rest of us. He's a magician who is trying to keep his secrets, but he's not a very good magician and I suspect that once we see what's up his sleeve I think we'll all move on.

trip to the island

On Friday, db and I went to Vancouver Island to see my dear friend, her husband and their little boy who are visiting from Turkey. They're spending the summer in Toronto and since moving out here I thought I wouldn't get to see them. However, she has family on Pender island and a friend in Victoria that she was staying with so off we went to see them.
Being back in Victoria after 8 years was a little odd. I expected to see a lot of changes, but it was exactly the same. There is definitely a lot more traffic and there seems to be the usual condo building going on in the downtown area (like most cities), but we went to the Parsonage cafe where I use to be a regular and it hadn't changed one bit. Even the menu was eerily quite similar right down to the blueberry crumble and the granola and fruit with yogurt. I felt like I could pick right up where I left off 8 years ago as if nothing had changed.

We were delayed going to lunch and I didn't really want to leave G & O. and their little boy, but we had to drive up island. So we said our farewells and then db and I took a quick drive around the city just to see my old haunts and again all the places I remembered were still there. Small businesses survive in Victoria. It was quite nice to see.

The above picture is the scenic viewpoint on the Malahat where I always stop when driving up island. It was such a beautiful day and well worth the stop.

Of course P. is in Nanaimo so we thought we'd get a visit in with him as well. He had a very sick little kitty (Chat-Chat) Wednesday night and wasn't sure she'd make it through the night. After seeing the vet next day, she was sent home with some antibiotics and no one is really sure what exactly was wrong with her. She's probably 19. She's a street cat so her age is uncertain, but I'm guessing she's around 19. P. was a bit of a wreck after all that so it was a good thing we were going on Friday to see him.

The images of the garden are from P's place. He has an amazing garden and we picked beans, basil, tarragon, a few tomatoes and he had some massive zucchini for us to bring home. We've got veggies everywhere now.

This is Chat-Chat in her yard and a little perturbed that we brought her outside from her bed.


This is Velcro (or Cro for short) lying in his yard with his favorite blanket. He was quite social with us while we were there. He can often be shy so this was a nice surprise.



P. took us to the waterfront to walk along the Nanaimo seawall which was really lovely. It meanders along the water and through the marina. there are several little restaurants that look very inviting and of course buskers along the way. We had to stop for the accordion players and I had to take this photo of what seemed to be a father and son duo. I knew mister anchovy would appreciate the photo .
We listened for a little bit and then continued along the seawall. The evening was really lovely.

As we drove back to P's place he toured us around through other Nanaimo neighbourhoods. We saw a deer and two fawns and then another deer just standing in someone's front yard while these two guys stood talking like this was no big deal and the deer was part of the conversation. P. told us that deer really are very common in that area.

We were both so exhausted by the time we got on the last ferry that we both fell asleep on board. I rarely fall asleep traveling anywhere so I was astounded when I awoke to the announcement that we were approaching Horseshoe Bay. I love when you travel and can fall asleep so that it seems like you've spent no time traveling at all. You wake up and you're there.

The Grinches of whoville strike.

A whole beautiful section of trees that was about a third of a block long and a quarter of a block wide is gone. These large (probably second generation) old growth trees are simply cut and left to be cleared. It looks like Stanley Park after the storm. Some Grinch run construction company has made a stupid decision. It's a mess and I can't believe that someone in whoville thought this was a good choice. Apparently everyone is thinking "green" and going "green" and yet...

So now condos will go up next to the big stinkin' mall and I know they will landscape the front of this towering monstrosity with spindly trees surrounded by mulch. Everything will look the same and one of the natural wonders (big trees) that makes BC special is gone.

A work moment

On the wall behind the LV counter is an oversized world map that is a colourful puzzle made out of a dense foam for children to piece together. The idea is they can put it on the floor and lie on it while putting the pieces of the world together. People always comment on the map and what fun it looks to be. It's got flags from all the countries and animals on the map etc etc.

My encounter with one woman after she's been looking at it for a bit.

woman: What a great map!

Me: Isn't it? Everyone seems to like it.

woman: Canada looks biggest.

Me: I'm not sure it is geographically.

woman: Oh, it is.

Me: Well, it's a flat map so it's not exactly correct since a globe shape is more accurate.

She looks at me like I'm nuts.

woman (more to her friend): It's a nice map, but it's too bad they didn't put the Canadian provinces in or American states.

Me: Well then they'd have to put all the provinces and states in all the other countries. I think it might get very busy. It's much simpler like this.

woman: They did it for Africa.

Me (after a bit of a pause): those are countries.

woman (not really comprehending) : well...still...the provinces....

She walked away with her friend.

What? Another injury?

I have no idea how I sprained my hand. It's a minor sprain, but it is still damn inconvenient to do any little task. My middle finger started to ache around the knuckle yesterday while I was at work. I thought it was odd, but it didn't seem to be serious. By the time I left for the day I couldn't use my hand much at all. There didn't seem to be any swelling, but I could no longer close my hand nor open it completely flat (so much for yoga this week).

Now it's swollen around the knuckle and I have limited movement. For example, typing is a little challenging as I can only use my index finger and thumb on my right hand.

The good news is I don't see this keeping me from running so I'll be heading out for a run today after work.

Buntzen Lake

Buntzen lake is only a 15-20 minute bus ride away in Port Who-dy. There are several trails to hike for every type of hiker no matter how much or little you are experienced. db wanted to do one of the more challenging hikes up to another section of smaller lakes, but I cautioned him that yes we are fit for running or cycling, but we're not hiking fit. The day before I had run 19 k so I was feeling like straight up a mountain wasn't a great option and I would probably not get very far. So we opted for the trail that goes around the lake and it was just right for us.

The trail was quite busy on the east side of the lake as people walked to and from the south and north beaches. The south beach was full of holiday picnickers and as we walked along the lake toward the trail, I feared that we wouldn't get any peace or solitude. Once on the trail we did find a little more quiet. We hiked to the north beach, stopping along the way to check out trees and some of the views of the lake. The north beach was much quieter. It seemed like most people had paddled across the lake to the smaller, quieter beach. We rested a bit, had a sandwich (db's sandwiches are the best!) and headed out.

There's a little suspension bridge to cross the narrowest part of the lake and that's where I took the photo of the lake. The weather was perfect .

The west side of the trail was a little more challenging as it twisted more and rolled up and down carving along the rock and up into the woods. It was lovely in the woods and as we moved further from the lake and it was fairly peaceful. Even though the creeks were stone dry, the rocks marking the creekbeds were a nice pastel contrast compared to the dark earthy browns and deep greens of the forest.

We finally came full circle, crossed another small floating bridge through shallow swampy waters and then went back to busy beach for a break before heading home. It had quieted down a bit, but there seemed to be a shift change as the daytripper families were leaving and the smaller evening crowd were arriving. db napped on the beach in a shady spot while I took in a little sun before finally deciding to dive into the lake. I had spent the day viewing it and now I really wanted to be in it. It was cold and dropped off quickly, but it felt fabulous. Floating on my back looking up at the blue sky and the mountains surrounding the lake, I knew I was exactly where I wanted to be.

A shared garden

I work with this amazing gardener (TP). I've yet to see her garden, but the variety of plants that she has in her garden suggests to me that it is something to behold.

This lily (Tom Pouce) was given to me from her. She is planning to sell her house in the near future and since making that decision has been dividing her garden, bringing me much of her favorite plants that she wants to share with others.
The Tom Pouce Oriental lily was a complete surprise for me when it opened up into these luscious blooms. Many flowers have attempted to rival my passion for lilies but then I discover another wondrous lily and nothing can come close for me.

One of the perennials that TP has been bringing in for me to transplant are pelargoniums. I've always loved the delicate look of these plants since discovering them as a new gardener and have always tried to include them when I can. They seem to be used quite a bit in gardens here, but one variety has dominated the market (Johnson's blue). Thanks to TP I've now started a collection of pelargoniums (in pink, white, violet and blue) that will fill in to line the steps up to the upper level of the yard. Only one or two have really bloomed since some of the divisions she's given me are quite small, but I expect next spring and summer will bring endless blooms to that will brighten that side of the garden. I can't wait.

fade in

Have you ever dreamt an idea and thought I'd better write that down or sketch it out? Two nights ago I dreamt a story, whole and complete, and sort of became conscious of it and sort of woke up and thought "wow there are four stories there that relate and that would make a good screenplay. I better write this down."

pause

Then the other thoughts started. These are the sleepy, don't want to get out of bed thoughts.
"Will I forget it if I don't write it down?"
"I'd better just make a few notes."
"It's so vivid though. I know these characters."
"I don't have to write out the whole storylines, just a few images will help me recall in the morning and then I'll write more detailed notes."
"If I turn on the light I might not get back to sleep."
"I'll just run the stories over in my head and then I'll remember."
"If I..."
Snore.

Fade to black

The next morning...

"Oh I just remembered I dreamt a whole story idea and I think it was good. What was it?"

I couldn't remember a thing. I thought about that Seinfeld episode where Jerry wakes up laughing and jots the joke down on a piece of paper and then falls back asleep still laughing to himself. Of course the next day he can't make out the joke and can't remember it either.

I suspect that like Jerry I would not be able to make heads-nor-tails of it either. Lesson learned? I need to wake up and write it down? Maybe, but maybe the stories rise to the surface anyway and I suppose I believe that if I keep tapping into that unconscious side of myself the story (whether it is the one I dreamt or not) will start to emerge.