Work is Good

Work is good for the soul - but only if it's work you love.

I wonder what drives people to take jobs they don't like - and then to keep them year after year. Given that we spend such a huge chunk of our lives working, this doesn't make sense. Work has to be a pleasure. At the very least, it has to bring satisfaction - a sense of contribution. At the very, very least, it should not be a source of stress.

When I began my career many years ago, I could not have articulated any sort of work "philosophy" but I knew what I liked and what I did not like. I had a few jobs - more like gigs really because they didn't last long - that I enjoyed. I had one job that lasted maybe two-and-a-half days: a coding clerk at an insurance company. Yup - you can see why it didn't last.

I never troubled myself with money or benefits. I was after something that would make me want to get up in the morning. I found it in the film industry when I was nineteen years old. Lucky me!

It wasn't all bread and roses all those years. But boy, it was exciting! I have stories to last a long while - alas, no grandchildren to tell them to. I'll never forget the thrill of editing my first TV commercial! Heck, I'll never forget the thrill of getting thousands of feet of film from a location shoot in Hawaii that was synch sound. My job, as an assistant editor, was to synch the rushes - no big deal. Except that the Hawaiian sound man had not used a clapperboard and the sound speed did not match the film speed. On top of that, the sound I needed to synch was a bunch of Hawaiian cowboys singing a Hawaiian song.

I worked through the night - in fact, through more than one night, trying to make sense of it all. The fact that I eventually did is beyond miraculous.

Fast forward to today - still working but not very much. Still doing what I love to do - tell stories. At it's best, my work is telling stories that inspire and that touch people's hearts. Now I do it mainly through words on paper (or a screen) rather than with pictures. But it's all the same. I can't imagine the day when I ever actually stop. Why would I? Do writers stop writing? Do film people stop filming? Do artists retire from painting?

I'm so lucky to have followed my bliss and found work that never ends.

No one should settle for anything less.

Being Vegan

Interesting conversation this morning about what we eat.

I wish I could say that I have every reason to be "holier than thou" because I'm vegan. No animals killed or mistreated on my behalf. Unfortunately that's not true. I have a dog and therefore animals are killed. My dog eats beef, chicken, buffalo and turkey - as well as eggs, sardines and my leftover organic vegetables.

I feel I have to feed my dog what is biologically appropriate for her and if I was a really "good" person, I wouldn't own a pet - at least not an omnivorous pet.

But I love dogs and so I make a compromise. At least I don't feed her processed foods. She gets meat raw and fresh and when I can get it, straight from a local farm. She also gets free range eggs from a local farm. I do my best. It's not perfect.

Getting back to human diets, I won't preach (well, not too much) about what people should and should not eat but I think it's obvious to almost everyone that we consume too much meat and not enough fresh fruit and vegetables. Imagine what a difference we could make on this planet if we had just two meatless days a week. Such a simple change.

Hiking Trails

The theme for today is "trails".

First, a meeting this morning with an RDN rep and others to discuss a TCT into Cedar. It looks like we mapped out a very nice trail coming down from Spruston Road and all the way into the Cedar Village Centre - then on to Jack Point, Duke Point and around the estuary to Living Forest.

Naturally, there's some work to be done but we have a plan. This is good. Included in the plan are connections to other existing parks, trails and sites like Hemer Park, Boat Harbour and the Morden Colliery Mine site.

Next: in the afternoon I did my first Harewood Plains trail exploration. I see some very nice possibilities - some beautiful spots here but it needs more investigation - which I will do. I cut the initial trip short because I had to go to Chapters to restock - "Had to" is a relative phrase of course but when I get down to only two or three unread books bedside, it's definitely time to restock.

Maple Mountain

I do believe that Maple Mountain is the best hiking spot in the mid-Island. It/s only a 40 minute drive south of Nanaimo and the views and meadows are spectacular. It also offers a choice of trails that can give you a long or a very long route. We probably did the longest today - 7 hours - well worth it.

We took the yellow route that hugs the water.

And really hugs it.

Then wound our way through a grove of giant arbutus to the pink trail. This trail is steep and climbs for 30 - 40 minutes to the top of the mountain with beautiful views all along the way.

From the top we came back down the blue trail all the way back to our parking spot.

We were tired - the dogs were tired - everyone was happy. Abby was especially pleased. At the beginning of the trail we picked up a border collie named Rufus who invited himself to join us. He fell in love with Abby and she with him. So - a good time was had by all.

Either snowshoeing tomorrow or Hugo - at the moment I am opting for Hugo.

Thinking

I've spent the last few minutes staring out the window thinking, "blog - must write my blog."

Then I spent a further few minutes thinking "what on earth to write about - nothing seems to happen in my life."

And then I thought, 'well - nothing happening is not such a bad thing...."

I have a friend who celebrates the fact that she has a boring life. Maybe we should all aim for "boring" lives - lives in which every day hums along with happiness, acceptance, a nice dollop of love and joy, good food at predictable mealtimes etc. This is really the life of the dog, isn't it? And how many people have said that they would love to come back in another life as their dog - predictable lives - lives of comfort, ease and affection.

Of course there's always that exciting part in a dog's life when a visitor arrives or they meet a new dog or when it's time for a long hike! I admit I still feel moderately excited at the prospect of hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, going to the book store. So I guess I am living the life of my dog. It's not a bad life.

Sometimes I think change would be good. I'm one of those people who embrace change - love it! Given that change is constant (oh delicious irony!) it's just as well to embrace it.

Travel - love travel. Want to do more of it. Will do more of it - most of it with my dog. Still living a dog's life.

American Idol

I can't help it - really, I can't. I love American Idol. I love it as much as I love X Factor. And - my gosh - this year I am actually beginning to like Stephen Tyler and Jennifer Lopez.

I watch it on YouTube. In fact, I am itching to get at the Aspen Colorado auditions right now.... (which would explain a very short post.)

What I like about these shows? I like the happiness. I rarely watch the awful performances. I don't enjoy seeing delusional people get their comeuppance. I like the triumphs - the joy - the elation. I swear I can almost feel what it's like to hear them yelling, "You're going to Hollywood!" I want to shriek along with the contestants, to jump up and down and hug everyone in sight. As often as not, that kind of joy brings tears to me eyes.

I love to see people succeed.

And it's happy news - there's little enough of that around these days.

So - that's it. I'm off to YouTube!

The Big City

I didn't actually see all that much of the big city yesterday. Had a very bumpy and windy crossing and then a bus ride from Horseshoe Bay to downtown. A quick walk of about five blocks to C's condo in the heart of downtown. What a view! And what a fabulous reno she and her guy have done. Best of all, what a fabulous puppy she has. I am such a sucker for an affectionate dog and Maple is a total love bug.

Then an exciting ride from downtown to Dunbar in rush hour traffic! Now I know why I don't live in the city. It's dangerous, darn it! And I'm not talking about the Lower East Side.

At any rate, we picked up a huge amount of excellent sushi (which we demolished with great dispatch) and we talked and laughed and hugged and it was such a great evening.

The ride back was uneventful. I just wish I was able to sleep on the ferry. I got home at 1.15 to Abby greeting me with a nice welcome but not frantically. Clearly she has no abandonment issues. She was having a nice snooze when I woke her up. I think I turned off the bedroom light at about 1.45 and got up this morning at about 7.30.

I have a confession to make. I just can't do the late nights any more. Well, yes I can - technically - I mean, I just did. But really, I am not at my best today. Ever since I put the garbage out (8.30) I've been counting off the minutes until I can legitimately take my afternoon nap.

It was worth it though. And there seems a very very strong possibility of a trip to Chile in about 12 months time. Exciting!

Vancouver

Well no - I'm not there yet. This photo is from 2010 - I don't think I've been there since.

And even today, Vancouver itself will be peripheral. I'm going to hang out with my best friends for the evening - my fellow witches. It happens pretty rarely now. It used to be once a month when we all lived in the same city. Now we're scattered  - as far away as California. But we still manage to get together for good food and even better conversation. And laughs.

There's something amazing about the love and support of people who really know you inside and out - people you can trust with your heart - people you care about - people who are not afraid to hand out tough love when that is the support that is required.

So - I am off to the big city and I'm keeping an eye on the ferry system - no sailing cancellations allowed.

Senior Advantages

Oh yes - there are advantages to being a "senior citizen."

Tomorrow I am going to walk on the ferry to Vancouver for FREE!!!!

And I will come back for free too. Yippee!

I think there are also senior rates at movie theatres. Note to self - explore all senior advantages in city.

So that's just one thing to be excited about today. Also - the sun is shining and we are going snowshoeing at Forbidden Plateau this weekend! Double Yippee!!!!

Other items worth considering for senior rates:

gas - how about a 10 percent discount? I mean, we're all little old ladies who only drive to church on Sundays, right?

Prunes - seniors eat a lot of them....

All outdoor activity clothing - need to keep encouraging us to get and stay fit....

Online dating sites - does this one really need an explanation?

weather

It's a sad day indeed when I am driven to write about the weather.

However, I'll make an exception - mainly because I am so impressed that I spent three hours out in it and will go out once again with the dog this afternoon.

It goes without saying that J and I were the only ones at Cable Bay this morning. Not one other car in the parking lot - and we actually hiked in this stuff for three hours! See, I think that's more impressive than saying - "Hey - I made it to base camp on Everest!"

Everest may have the winds but rain this epic? I doubt it.

The up side of this weather is that once my final walk with Abby is done, I get to huddle inside - hot bubble bath, warm leftover veggie stew and a really good book (The Language of Flowers).

Every cloud - even a mile thick slate grey rain cloud - as a silver lining.

banks

I think that most of us have some big gripes with banks.

Here's a small one. Some months ago I decided to move my money out of CIBC to my local credit union. When I tried to move my RRSPs I was told that it would cost me $100 to move each one. Seeing as I contribute every year, this could add up. Why does it cost so much to punch a couple of buttons? Why do you charge so much? I asked. To paraphrase the answer - "because we can."

Ok fine. The bank drone then showed me on his computer a simple statement  when each RRSP comes due. So now when each one comes due, I roll it into a holding account until (in 2013) I can transfer the whole lot in one lump.

Here's my gripe. Instead of a nice, simple statement (like the one on the drone's computer) I get my four page statement and it's completely unreadable. Do they do this on purpose? Do they want the consumers to just throw up their hands in despair and let things roll over so they don't have to deal with it?

I'll bet a lot of people do. I've been guilty of that. No more. On Monday I am going to phone telephone banking and keep them on the phone until I understand every line of my statement and until I know for certain that they are going to do what I want them to do.

Whew!

And hey - did you notice that the snow has melted? Hurrah!

Conquering Cancer?

A word about the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. If you are planning on taking part in this event, please don't.

If they called it the Imperial Tobacco Ride to Conquer Cancer, would you participate?

Enbridge is big oil - just as heinous a sponsor as big tobacco. Yes, certain oil products like benzene cause cancer but even if they did not, do you really want to give a wash to big oil? Do you want to support Enbridge that is desperate to destroy the Great Bear Rain Forest for the sake of more dirty profits?

Think about Enbridge. And now, let's think about "conquering cancer." Really? How come the more money we pour into the effort, the more cancer there is in the world? We will never "conquer" by giving more and more billions to big drug companies like Pfizer. They don't want a nice, cheap universal cure. They want to make profits - that's it - bottom line. The cancer industry is huge. Shut it down? Are you kidding?

Let's talk about really stopping it. That entails focusing not on cancer, but on health.

I remember when Mother Theresa, years ago, was asked to support an anti-war protest. She refused. But she said she would be pleased to support a pro-peace group. She was right, of course. What we focus on persists. It doesn't matter if we focus on "not war" - we still get war. Focus on peace and you get peace.

So how about a focus on health. Eating good, healthy foods - a plant based diet - organic and local. Exercise. Alleviate stress. Stop taking drugs. We know what produces good health. We have to choose it.

How about the ride to promote health - no sponsor?

Still Snow etc.

Yes, there is still snow on the ground. The good news is that it seems to be going away - slowly, mind you. but still - any centimetre less is cause to celebrate.

In fact, I was brave enough to go out in my car this morning (collective gasp) to do the grocery shopping. I bought a lot of stuff - enough to keep Abby and I in steak and cabbage respectively in case we get another big dump. But I think not. I survived the roads (yay!). Bless those snow tires!

So, being inside with nothing on my mind but whether I should watch Ides of March today and how warmly I should dress to take Abby to the park, I got to thinking. I thought about the Keystone Pipeline (one for our side until the next round - and there will be a next round), SOPA and PIPA (another one for our side) and other things we are protesting. I thought about Occupy. I have come to the conclusion that these protests are important. We must make our voices heard. We may not have the money of the multi national corporations but we vote.

One of the secrets of creating a democracy (and we do have to create it - what we live in now is facism) is that we must vote. When you sit at home and say, "What's the use - they're all corrupt anyway" you give your power away. Each individual is incredibly powerful. We must not lose sight of that. And we have to take it one step farther. We actually have to run for office and practice what we speak about.

I had a few other thoughts this morning - but I can always save those for another time. I love the life I live. I really do.

Snow

Here we are - the first snow of the year. And I love the snow as long as I don't have to drive in it. Happily, I've managed to arrange my life that I don't. My friend has a four-wheel drive so when I run out of groceries, that's where I can turn.

There's something wonderful about the muffled peace of the world the morning after a snowfall. Even the birds are hushed. I go out with Abby and break a trail - softly leaving footsteps in the drifts.

And now, after coming in and happily unbundling, warm from the exertion, it's lovely to simply be here in the warmth of the house, knowing I can hibernate until tomorrow morning. How absolutely cozy!

It isn't very exciting or stimulating - but it's a life I adore.

Trans Canada Trail yet again

Everything else has been preliminary. Today I feel that we really took the first steps to making a TCT trail connection through Cedar a reality.

I called Levi Sampson, head of Harmac (he was in Italy - oh well), and told him we wanted to use his right of way. Good news - no negative reaction whatsoever. We are going to sit down next week with a map and talk about it.

Next - the estuary. I talked to Sandra at the Snuneymuxw First Nation and followed up on her suggestion to shoot off an email to the chief. That's done.

If he's open to the idea, I hope to arrange a meeting with him. If these two pieces fall into place, I think we'll have ourselves a trail.

It's Cold!

It's cold out there today!

And that makes it ever so much harder to get out there and do my 60 - 90 minute afternoon walk. On the other hand, this is where having a dog comes in handy. You have to get out - period!

I wrote two stories this morning, which means that it was a productive time. Now I don't want to do a thing other than lounge in a hot bath or crawl under an eiderdown. I also want to get to the Steve Jobs biography - I'm about halfway through.

What I find interesting is my own reaction to the book - which is very well researched and written, by the way. My friend who lent it to me told me, as he was going through it, the Jobs was crazy and not a very nice man. I suspect J was right but I find as I am reading it that everything he does and says are things that I find frighteningly "normal." It is people just like Steve Jobs that I worked with and for in the film and advertising industry for so many years. Do these types of industries simply attract eccentrics (or boors if you will)? Or do these industries actually nurture and reward bad behaviours.

Perhaps a little bit of both.

I wonder how different my career/life might have been if I had had the presence of mind to stand up to and not tolerate unacceptable behaviour by my superiors.

66 Mile Trestle

The truth is that I thoroughly enjoyed our day hiking - but I should also note that the experience also needs to be described using that dread word - "interesting."

Let me pose this question for the umpteenth time: why is the Trans Canada trail so poorly marked as to be totally misleading?

Okay - now I got that off my chest. Let me explain. Two weeks ago we drove to the Kinsol trestle and then hiked about 15 kilometres west along the (as marked) Cowichan Valley Trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail.

Terrific. This week we drove to Skutz Falls but as we were heading down the road to the park we crossed the TC trail - the same trail - but farther west by a wee bit - as the one we had been on. Whoa, said I. Let's park right here - this is where we want to be. And so we did and we started to walk. About 6 or so kilometres into our hike we were puzzled that we had not yet come across a trestle. We found a couple hiking toward us and asked them.

Oh no, they explained, you have to drive three more kilometres from where you are parked to Skutz Falls and that's where you pick up the Trans Canada Trail.

So (get this) there are apparently two Trans Canada Trails that run parallel - huh???

Sigh

So we trudged back, drove to Skutz falls and hiked east from there to the trestle (very impressive). What's also very cool is the trail system in the area that we just began to explore - needs a lot more looking into. Beautiful trails hanging over the edge of the canyon - and the canyon is very impressive.

We'll be back - but not before I thoroughly study the trail system - particularly the dual TC trails. Fool that I am I'm going to try to make some sense of it all.

Trans Canada Trail Revisited

I spent an interested morning exploring the possible routing of the Trans Canada Trail through Cedar. After much slogging, slipping and sliding (it was frosty) I have come to the conclusion that the only really feasible route is along the Harmac pipeline. And for the most part, that will actually provide a really attractive route. (see photo above.)

But there is a "but". Like every other possibility it involves crossing a river - in this case a small tributary of the Nanaimo River, not the large main river itself. The other "but" is that Harmac appears to not want people on it's right of way. See photo below.

Beyond the gate, if you can read it, are strongly worded "no trespassing" signs.

If we can use the pipeline, we have a nice route all the way from the bridge on the highway at Nanaimo River Crossing almost as far as the Duke Point Ferry Terminal.

So - I propose that Harmac, in a gesture of goodwill and general neighbourliness, build a bridge for us across the river and open it's right of way to us. How could they possibly object?

Triskaidekaphobia

The number 13? Not me. Although this year can give superstitious folks serious pause. Not only are there three Friday the 13th's in 2012 but they happen to come exactly 13 weeks apart. How cool is that?

As for me, I love this day. Today has been particularly splendid. (don't you love that word?) Had lovely assignments come in, did a story I liked, got a cheque in the mail, had a lovely walk with Abby and all my work almost done.

I love daydreaming when I go for my long walks with Abby. In fact, those dreams sometimes get so deep I have to wake myself up quite rudely to keep myself on track. Today I was dreaming about coming into $250,000 (a nice, tidy sum) and booking a trip to Europe for two months. I figured I'd splurge and fly Business Class. Then I mapped out my route on a Eurailpass, knowing  I would revisit favourite places as well as tour areas I have not yet been. What a lovely dream!

I also understand how much I like working. I don't think I would ever do very well in fully retired mode - although, knowing me, I would always find something interesting to do. But truly, I think most of us in today's society, are past the point of getting a "golden handshake" with a gold watch to go along with it and then quietly putting our feet up and mouldering away until we expire.

We still want to contribute and do something useful and something creative and something challenging. I want all of it. So far, so good.

Thursdays

I love Thursdays.

Thursday mornings - that's when I do my grocery shopping, my banking, my London Drugs shopping and my stopping off at any place where I need to stop - my accountant's office, for instance. Maybe it's just that I don't get out much (inevitable condition of being a freelance writer) but I get pretty excited about the weekly chores when I go downtown and meet actual, real live people!

On another note, I started a writing project yesterday that I feel pretty excited about - more on that when it's come along a bit farther.

And on yet another note, after due consideration I think the only logical route for the Cedar end of the TC trail is the Harmac Pipeline. I'm going to walk it tomorrow or the day after - but as I see it, the existing TC has to route down Spruston Road, take the underpass at the Nanaimo River to the south side of the river (near the Nanaimo Hatchery) and then follow the pipeline as far as possible to hook up with the start of the Jack Point trail. Then - and this is ambitious - a boardwalk through the estuary to Haliburton Street - over to the harbourfront walkway and on to the ferries at Departure Bay.

Power House

I finally had lunch at Power House Living Foods in Nanaimo. I've been dying to try out this place that's been getting so much buzz - and for several reasons.

1. I'm vegan and it's vegan - nuff said.

2. I'd been hearing rave reviews even from confirmed meat eaters and even from kids who tend to be suspicious of all food that's "different"

3. I've been hearing about raw food for a year now - and my curiosity is huge.

So - here I am at Power House and I really want to give them a big message. Two words: "More Seating!!!"

Okay - that's my only criticism. I ordered lunch for both of us: Italian pizza for me and pesto pizza for Jim - method in my madness - we share the orders.

Presentation: perfect 10. It looks beautiful - all red and green with flecks of white on a shiny white plate. The crust - my gosh, what's in this crust? Jim nails it down when he says the flavour is reminiscent of falafel - so yes, falafel married to pumpernickel. Magnificent. On top are cherry tomatoes and the freshest, prettiest spinach leaves I have ever seen. I still have no idea what the sauce is - certainly delicious pesto on one - tomatoes on the other but there's more - something that tastes vaguely like humus but more "cheesy." I suspect almond cream or something like that. Fabulous.

When we are done the restaurant has emptied and we have time to talk to Toni - the owner. She offers us some kale chips, which I have heard so much about and have been dying to try. Well - they are everything they have been advertised to be and more: crisp, yummy and imbued with nuts, nutritional yeast and other goodies. Warning - these are addictive.

We chat with Toni for a while. She is a living, breathing advertisement for the health and energy benefits of raw food. And I haven't even tried one of their drinks yet. (but I will - oh yes, I will.)

I think Power House is taking Nanaimo by storm - and rightly so. I can hardly wait to go back.

Happy Trails

Any trail is a happy trail in my book. I love exploring new trails -  waiting for the surprise that lurks around the corner - and discovering new beauty. Nature never ceases to astonish me!

To that end, I am meeting this afternoon with some TCT folks and some Regional District people to look at routing the TC trail through Cedar. I've had this on my mind quite a bit lately - looking for the best route. In my mind, the "best" route is certainly not the fastest - it's the most scenic and the one that will keep users off the roads. On Vancouver Island far too much of the trail is routed along the shoulders of roads - even the highway! That's not a trail!

The major obstacle to completing the trail on this part of the island has always been the Nanaimo River. I think I have found a solution that doesn't require a crossing and so - no expensive bridge. We'll see how it flies. I welcome suggestions on routes from others as well.

And what a grand day for searching out routes - have you seen that sunshine? Yup - walking trails is a fine activity for a sunny January day.

It's the Little Things

I have not yet given up news - not completely. Although I am lingering longer on good things and skimming headlines on bad things - in other words, I am skimming a lot.

What gets me and keeps me on an even keel are the small things. The older I get the more I take pleasure in the little, ordinary things in life.

Great pleasure: lunch - tomato and avocado on dark toasted rye while I read the daily paper (starting with the bridge column and the comics)

Another pleasure: a nap after lunch followed by lunch desert - an ounce of organic, fair trade dark chocolate. Discovered a new brand this week that has become my favourite: Camino.

Great pleasure: Sprawling on the couch after work (or after what might have been a work day) with a good book. Current excellent read - Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.

Pleasure: Time spent with Abby, particularly time spent hiking with her.

Great pleasure: all-day hikes, especially when they include J and her dog.

Pleasure: home cooked dinner (or home picked from the garden) while playing online duplicate bridge.

Pleasure: folding clean laundry and putting it away.

The list could go on - but these pleasures form the frame of my life - and I am grateful that they do.

Quiet Day

It's a quiet, contemplative kind of day - with weather to fit the mood. Darkness is settling in early while raindrops drum on the roof. All colour is lost in the closing mist.

This morning we hiked in the Linley Valley. I came home to the news that Angus died this morning at 6 a.m.

His wife is teaching me about love and grace - about compassion and bigness of heart. She is amazing. Such love they had and still have.

I don't know what I believe about life after death. I know that we do go on - we are more than bones and skin and blood. We are hearts and souls - and what form that takes once we leave our bodies - I have no idea.

I know what I hope for - that I will recognize the ones I loved when I leave this earth and that includes my dogs - who, in some cases, I loved more honestly and truly than any people.

I hope for a bliss of forgiveness and understanding.

Until then, all I can do is my best to live this life as though it were the next.

The TC Trail

One of my new volunteer efforts is helping to route the TC trail through Cedar - creating a circle route through the area that then leads back to Nanaimo with a spur ending at the Duke Point Ferry Terminal. I know the trails of the area as well as anyone so it's a good fit.

I had a very soggy walk at the Nanaimo River Park this morning, which led to lengthy Google-earthing (is that a verb?) to determine the best routes. One of the problems with the TC trail on Vancouver Island thus far is its propensity to be routed on the shoulders of roads and the highway. Highways and roads are not trails, so I really want to avoid this.

It seems to me that the trail heading north from Ladysmith runs into a serious problem when it hits the Nanaimo River - no bridge. But it's fine up to Spruston Road. So - take the trail down Spruston and across the highway to the parking area just north of the rest stop. There the TC can pick up the trail that leads into the Nanaimo River Park and from there connect (via rural roads or?) to Morden Colliery. That trail then needs a bridge across the river and then a connection to the continuation of the MC trail.

The idea then is for the trail to skirt York Lake (a whimsical name for the swamp behind the 49th Parallel) and hook up with the Harmac Pipeline trail to go out to Duke Point - although I also think the trail can hook up on the west side of the highway with the Jack Point trail.

As far as going back to Nanaimo, I think the trail probably has to follow the land between Cedar Road and the Duke Point Highway.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Friday

I love Fridays. Even thought they "should" no longer be special (my being sort of retired and all) they still are. I rather hope they always will be. There's something delicious about closing off a work week and having the weekend ahead - full of possibilities.

It's almost the same feeling I get when I go on vacation. I love that feeling of absolute freedom when I pull out of the driveway and the open road lies ahead. What will happen next? What great adventure awaits?

A weekend means indulgence - not caring one whit about work in any way, shape or form. That's why I do the laundry and clean the house on Friday - no "have-tos" on the weekend. Oh sure, I have to walk Abby but that's not a chore - that's a bit of love for us both. Hiking or snowshoeing or (soon) cross country skiing is the same idea - it's all about doing what you love - what Abby and I love.

It's only just past eleven a.m. and I'm done for the day. Oh sure, there's still laundry to fold, but I love folding laundry. I adore having clean clothes in the my drawers and closet and fresh sheets on the bed. Yes - I agree - I'm odd. And even odder when you consider how I fold and place my laundered clothing and linens - but that's fodder for another day.

Excitement

The most exciting thing that has happened to me today? A trip to the dump - yup, I'm talking about the Cedar Landfill, which is on my way home from shopping at Thrifty Foods, so you'd think that stopping by wouldn't be such a big deal.

Well - here's the thing. I went to the dump to pick up a new yellow recycling bag because my last one magically disappeared. Do you have any idea how gorgeous those bags are when they're new? They're smooth and shiny and sparkling clean and non of the lettering has worn off and they even smell good!

Pretty exciting, right?

I know - I have to get a life.

Power Out

The question, of course, is what do you do when the power goes out? On a workday no less?

At about 8.50 a.m. the lights went pffft and my battery backup started to beep. Enough time to complete and send my email and to shut down the computer. Then what?

I have an ordinary phone for just such occasions so I was able to do my interview. Then what? I'll tell you what - then I discover how dependent I am on electricity.

I took Abby for a walk - nothing but foot power involved.

Came back home and read - finished a History of Canada (excellent) and now am reading a bit of fluff (not so excellent) Had to sit close to the window to get enough light.

Lunch time came - plugged in the toaster. Oh wait! That isn't going to work. Stuck bread into gas oven - it didn't get toasty but at least it was warm. Ate and read the paper by candle light. Am now missing my tunes and Facebook updates. After lunch - a nap. Wake up - power is on! Whew!

First things first - switch on computer. Check email, Twitter and Facebook.

At least now I know my priorities.

Not Back to Work

While the rest of the world is back to work, I am not. At this point I think I should say something like "Nyah, nyah, nyah."

Consider it said.

After yesterday's fierce hike, I am spending this day relaxing - and wondering how I can keep my dog out of the compost pile - today she scored a rotten tomato. Sigh

She's out on the deck now, enjoying a nice, big raw marrow bone - good for her teeth. I'm doing laundry. More accurately my washer and dryer are doing laundry. I am contemplating doing some writing but suspect I shall finish my History of Canada instead - fascinating book. But other than a long walk with Abby this afternoon I really do intend to be very lazy. Tomorrow I have a story lined up so that will be my official back to work day.

Ah - retirement bliss!

Dog in the Hen House

Well, we did it! An all day hike across the Kinsol Trestle and then heading about 15 kilometres toward Lake Cowichan before turning back.

All went very well. While not challenging, the hike was fun - well more for Abby than for me. About three hours into the hike we crossed a road and Abby's nose went into the air. Her tail began to flail in that way it does when she smells something on the air - something I probably wish she didn't.

The last time her tail wagged that rapidly was New Year's Even day when P had put a bowl of red Jello on the patio to cool and set. Abby picked up the entire bowl and tore off with it across the lawn - me in hot pursuit. By the time I caught up with her she had the plastic wrap of it and her muzzle deep in cherry pudding. When I bore down on her, she hastily swallowed the plastic wrap and tried to make a getaway - spilling Jello all over the lawn - and herself.

By the time I wrestled the bowl from her, there was jello everywhere but in said bowl.

Today her nose led her and her quivering tail to the fence surrounding a farmyard. Before I could grab her, she slipped through the fence and found - yup - the chicken coop - with the door propped open. And no, it's now what you think, She wasn't even remotely interested in chickens - what she dived for were the bread crusts and vegetable scraps scattered on the ground.

I opened the front gate of the farmyard, tore past the house (ducking below the windows) and rushed into the coop. The only time the hens got alarmed was when I showed up. They seemed to think Abby was fine (which thankfully she was). It took some smart moves on my part to finally corner her and grab her by the collar. By then she'd gone through a goodly portion of hen food.

I then dashed back past the house (doubled over) and back out through the gate. I'm sure that when the farmers eventually go into the coop again they'll think, "My - those hens must have been really hungry - they devoured the scraps today!"

The rest of the hike was uneventful in comparison - and very pleasant.

more photos:

Happy New Year part 2

A serendipitous change of plan this morning. Since J is free to hike all day tomorrow, I put off the Kinsol trestle until then. Decided instead to do something new in the New Year - explored - thoroughly explored - the Linely Valley.

Believe it or not, it took three hours and there's a lot of discovery yet to be made. I didn't even think about connecting to or from Lost Lake! At any rate, it's all rather exciting because it's a beautiful wilderness and it's right here in the middle of the city. I know that a huge section of the valley is still up for grabs and if the city has any smarts at all, it will be the one to do the grabbing.

The terrain is varied and the topography is beautiful. Abby and I had a super time in both the developed and undeveloped areas - so much still to see here. Must do the circuit around Cottle Lake. Perhaps next time we will start at Lost Lake and work our way down and around. Still so many ridges to explore as well. But after today I at least have an very good lay of the land.

Tomorrow a hike that will be at least twice as long.

Life is very good.