Work It

Mistaya and her friend Maddi--dressing 1980's aerobics.

A beautiful day today, although I feel a little yuck. A nasty head ache and stomach cramps/nausea. I think it is actually the same bug Tabs has although she has a sore throat and stuffy nose with it. Peter has had it as well and the Mist too. The headache is the worst of it.

At least it is not the swine flu. Epidemics are horrible. 

After reading "omnivore's Dilemma" it is no surprise that human/pig/bird viruses will start combining often. Feedlots and industrial barns create toxic environments. The animals are pumped full of hormones and antibiotics just to keep them standing long enough in such crowded, poor-feed conditions before they're slaughtered. And the drugs pumped into them find their way in ground water, streams and oceans. Yes, I knew reading this book would create a lot more work for me--no more buying any meat at the supermarket. Also, I only buy dairy that is pure milk or cream:

"modified milk ingredients and "milk ingredients" on the label means the product comes from powdered American milk which contains hormones that are illegal in Canada. And let me tell you--the ONLY real ice cream out there is very pricey indeed!

My new class isn't my favorite. I find the professor old style/ego maniac. Doesn't want class discussions, isn't interested in any one else's ideas. He is master. Collective Intelligence doesn't interest him. I wonder if he's even heard of the term!

With this headache--I won't be trying on any major hikes today. I'd like a country picnic tonight, after family photo's at the park.

Rather stressed over future travel. With Pip now 3, we need to book 2 hotel rooms. No one will allow us 5 to a room. This makes our Fairmont stays tres expensive. What shall we do? We must travel, we are a family of five--man life is expensive! 

Pete's PhD convocation is coming up at UBC in Vancouver. His mom, sister Grace and brother Rob are meeting us in Van for the event. And then in June, the five of us will spend 4 nights in Vancouver. The girl's and I will relax and play and Peter has meetings. 

I have soooo much reading to do in the next month. Book after book. I love to read, but making notes takes the fun out of it!

Evening Stroll by the shores of Okanagan Lake

Back at Okanagan life. These pics were from last evening. Tabs and Pip wore their PJ's.

 Mistaya is busy each evening with drama practice. They perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the end of the month.

Tabitha is enjoying her new found freedom of being old enough to walk (or bike) to her friend's houses for play dates. 

Pip is having bad dreams. She told Tabitha this morning that she dreamed her "Littlest Pet Shop" pets were farting and then exploding and were soon all gone!

I will meet a prospective supervisor this afternoon to discuss my thesis project. The only draw back with this supervisor is that she is going on a sabbatical next year. But it is slim pickings at UBC for supervisors.

I am thinking of creating my own yoga routine to do each evening just before I meditate. It may be a solution until I have time to fit in a professional class into my life style. I am getting a little bored of my routine though. Will put some thought into this area of my life. 

Enjoying "Omnivore's Dilemma"--the politics behind agriculture! I had no idea that the invention of chemical fertilizer changed our world forever. Finding the book completely American though, it doesn't address what is going on in any other country currently. Well, at least not yet--I must read on.

Happy Birthday to my sister Miranda!

Tabitha's Magic Garden

I picked this little kit up at a toy store in China Town. Tabitha built the set by folding the paper included, then she poured the liquid into the bottom of the tray and viola: over night a crystal garden grew. It is lovely, teasing little fingers to touch the fluffy, billowing pink trees. But, alas, the fluff disappears into nothing when touched. The crystals are delicate.

I miss San Francisco--the city. I long to put Pip into her stroller this morning and head straight down Powell Street for an early morning Starbucks fix. I wonder if I would ever get sick of the city? Maybe the winters would be cloudy and cool? For me to pop Pip in her stroller and walk to the nearest coffee shop from my home, would take me a minimum of 1 1/2 hours each way, and that would be running it!

Reading "Omnivore's Dilemma" for a class critique. Making notes while I read sure takes the fun out of reading. A lot of reading and presentations for this new class.

I would like to take yoga once a week for my flexibility, but it is so difficult to fit it in. I must workout by 6 AM weekdays. All my mornings are filled with other sports and actually I cannot find a yoga class in this city that starts before 9 AM. I am wondering if I should leave it until my life style allows for such a class? IE: When Pip is older and in school? Or I am finished with my graduate studies? Or would that be horrible for my body? Should I make time now, no matter what because flexibility is so important to one's health? In addition it is pricey, approximately $20/ 1h class. And each studio is at least a 15 min drive from my home. These are my obstacles: time, childcare, money and distance. What should I do? How should I rethink this? Is yoga a priority now for me? Yes, I am not as flexible as I usually am. I do need it physically to loosen my spine up again. What to do....any suggestions at looking at this in a fresh light?

A beautiful morning in Kelowna today. I purposely missed Spin class and slept in until 7 am as I was so not getting over my jet lag from San Fran. One needs to have one morning a week that one doesn't rise at 5:30 am, just to get caught up on the weeks stresses.

So, to recreate the blissful mornings I experienced in San Fran, I have decided to take Pip down to the water front for a morning walk and then pop into the down town Starbucks and then take her to a park. This afternoon I shall read more of that frighteningly tragic book "Omnivore's Dilemma"--so I can feel like I am feeding my family SHITE and ruining the world in doing so....