Thompson River Valley, British Columbia

A picnic on the way to fossil hunting. Could there be a more beautiful view?

Good ideas are born from frustration. Case in point: IQuest--my gym. Again a sign on the door--open at 8:30. Again I had to drive home, missing my workout. I took Fernando on a run up the back of the mountain in the rain instead. However, Ground-Floor Fitness up the street has inspired me ( Miranda and John have a home gym they recently installed). I am seriously determined to outfit my retro rumpus room with gym equipment. I don't need much. I figure it will pay for itself in a year. That way, I can spend the extra time and money taking yoga and latin dance. I believe I will love to get my weight lifting done fast and conveniently in my home before I start my day. I love my current workout--it is killer and efficient. I'll need to go shopping for the equipment I'll need to best replicate my existing workout. I won't miss the gym socializing as my gym is always empty at 6 am when I go and there's never any eye-candy :P

Mist has Web training each morning--she applied to be a school leader this year and they're training them at the school this week before school officially starts next week.
I start my MFA classes next week too!

Peter and I took our darling poopsies to "Return of Nanny McPhee"last night. All was enjoyable except I left my purse at the theatre. After returning home, I realized it. Thank G the theatre kids are honest people. It was there, waiting in the office on my return.

Rain, rain go away...

Back on My Zen

My girls in my parent's back yard. Their property extends to the waterline of the Thompson River.

I have been flying by the seat of my pants all summer long---this is so unlike me. I am usually so organized, so schedule rigid, so driven. But chaos ensues this summer. Perhaps it is good to let everything go--to flow along with it--following my life, not leading it--once in awhile. I am ready to get back into the driver's seat though--perhaps it is impossible to keep a schedule for years and years without a fly-by-your-pants summer to break it up occasionally. Of course fear is what prevents me from embracing the fly-by-the-pants summer completely. Fear that I will accomplish squat and I will get out of shape. I think my mental balance needs structure to be free. Without structure, I actually feel much more trapped. I have tried mediating periodically and realize how scattered my mind is in this state. I cannot focus on any of my usual meditations long enough to complete them. So, in observation, I note that my life is more zen within my self-created mandala for my life path. If I let that go (as I have this summer) my mind becomes more chaotic, less zen.

Today Pip and I are making chocolate/pumpkin cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese icing because she tells me, "dey are my favowit!"

Went out for tapas at the Elderado deck last evening on the marina with Miranda and her visiting friend Jen from Guelph. Lightening and thunder chased us inside a few times.

The Mist is camping with friends at Bear Creek Provincial campground across the lake. I was worried for their safety during the storm.

Tabs is at swimming (Auntie took her) and then she will join her cousins and friends at Energiplex for indoor sliding fun.

Peter is on a special task force at UBC dealing with how to cope with the impending Swine-flu pandemic they predict this winter.

I am actually going to do a serious meditation tonight to get myself back on my Zen!