La Vie

I don't have any one coherent theme to write about, or one story to tell, but my fingers are itching to write (and a sub NY resolution I made to blog at least once a month is tickling at me!). Gotta keep the ol' finger muscles limber. And life has been anything but boring these days!

As many saw (and liked, and loved, and shared - so greatly appreciated) - my dad finished chemo treatments in January. I can't even tell you what sort of light that brought to our lives!! I was on a high for a good couple of weeks, just knowing this crappy chapter was behind us. He wants to live life now not thinking/stressing about cancer, and taking it as it comes - sounds good to me. My parents are off to Mexico for their "fresh start" vacation in Baja in a week - I'm so happy for them, and hope they have a blast - they deserve it after a very trying 9 months!

Post-gong ring with my parents - my mom says she's doing her best penguin impression

Jeff's been traveling to Chicago every Monday - Friday since early August, with the exception of about one week per month, and the entire lovely month of October. And after the pleasant surprise of him getting TWO whole weeks off from this madness in mid-Feb, we've found out that he's only 1-2 weeks away from being finished this madness for good! Woohoo! I've mostly been fine about him being away because I have major bouts of introversion, love being alone with myself, and struggle significantly with aspects of sharing a bed with another hot, breathy, space-taking human. Plus when he's not here, I subscribe to a philosophy of: if Kristyn eats yogurt and granola for dinner every night and no one's around to witness it, it does not make a crunching sound... All that being said, I miss my guy. I'm just generally much happier when he's around. My dinner date, my movie date, my daily debriefing on life date, my therapist, my sounding board. Life is much better with Jeff in it, that's for sure. And the burden of caring for a whole house basically by myself is not the best - there is no less dog hair accumulating when Jeff's away and Bailey is still refusing to learn how to work the vacuum cleaner. And there is no less snow/ice/salt/slush outside on those mandatory 2x/day winter dog walks (Bailey is a drill sergeant). So I'm definitely looking forward to life returning to normal. Even if it means escaping to the spare room a few nights a week for a precious uninterrupted 8 hours :)

My guy!

The update from my adventure in theater last month was that I did not get a part in I Hate Hamlet, but have become quite immersed in things over there ever since. I'm a box office volunteer, which meant learning a new tricky ticket-selling computer system, and dealing with hordes of people staring at me like it was my fault they arrived 5 minutes before showtime, whilst I fumbled with the cash drawer. It was fun though - I did about 6 shifts at the box office, including two on performance nights just to remind my heart that I am well and fully alive (i.e. terrified). I also took in the performance one night when I wasn't working, and really enjoyed the play. None of the 'cheese' of community theatre I was slightly expecting - it was professional, funny, entertaining and completely well done, start to finish, full of very talented actors. Jeff and I really enjoyed it and now I'm super excited for I Hate Hamlet, which, drumroll, I'm going to be assistant stage managing!! A role that mostly involves running around backstage wearing a headset and feeding actors their lines for the last month of rehearsals before production. And I get to learn how to work a smoke machine.. cool! Seems like a great group of folks working on the play, so this should be fun.. and busy!! With rehearsals at least 3x/week. And this play is genuinely funny, like I laughed out loud during AUDITIONS, so let me know if you're interested in coming out some night to check it out!! I'm also thinking of getting my Smart Serve license so I can volunteer at the bar, because that seemed somehow less intimidating than working in the box office - then again, people waiting on drinks might end up being more intense! All in all, I like being at the theatre - it's cool to immerse myself in a totally new experience, with totally new people, just when I was wondering a bit about the ability for an old dog to learn new tricks. ;)

Another FAVE activity from the past month or so has been TRIVIA NIGHT! I've been playing with a group of friends from the Guelph KW Childfree Meetup (I understand that the term "Childfree" can be confusing to some - to be clear, it's people who have made a conscious decision not to have children - not those who can't have them/don't happen to have them, and it doesn't refer to hanging out with other adults without kids around - although I guess that's par for the course since we don't have them, it's not the point). I developed a mild trivia obsession last fall when I subbed in on my parents team from time to time around my dad's chemo appointments. I am not good. I mean, I'm ok. If there's an obscure 90s rock song to identify, I'm your girl - when I know something, I KNOW IT. And if we're talking science, there's a good chance I've got your back. But history, a lot of geography and anything from pop culture before the 90s I am basically completely clueless about. Good news is when you put 6 heads together, including Greg, one of those people who just knows a lot of random stuff, you can actually do quite well. We haven't scored on the rock bottom of the teams pile yet, and will be at it again on Monday, hoping to lump ourselves in the top half - stay tuned! My competitive, trivia-obsessed self aside, it's been great getting to spend even more time with people from the group, and meeting new ones too. We've been getting together for about a year and a half total now, and it's been really awesome to chill with people who are living a life that looks a lot like yours does. It doesn't take away from any of my existing friendships (how could it; I have the BEST long-term/old-timey/from kindergarten/high school/university friends in the world!), but just as I recognize that friends with kids need to be with other parents who are living similar lives to them, the connections I'm making in this group feed my soul in a totally new, different and unanticipatedly awesome way. So glad we found each other, fellow CFers!!

Work has been utter bananas. I've been training a new direct report who works remotely, who mostly looks terrified about how complex a place NCC is to work, but she needs to give herself more credit, because she's rocking it! Still, it's taken a lot of energy and parts of my brain I haven't really activated in awhile (e.g. not speaking fully in acronyms). Then, I'm taking on a new territory and new Natural Area - the Happy Valley Forest in King City, ON, just north of TO. This area has a rich history - good, bad, ugly, beautiful trees, garlic mustard everywhere, you name it - which I'm now having to download from the brain of fellow program director Mark. It's meant a couple of gorgeous winter hikes, and also a lot of wide awake staring at the ceiling in the early morning hours, wondering just how much of my time/energy this place is going to take up. Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, I can promise you a beautiful and athletic hike anytime you want it. Message me for details on the Happy Valley Forest and how to access it :) I don't see the madness letting up anytime soon, but who am I kidding, I tend not to want it any other way!

After an athletic adventure through kame moraine forest on Thursday morning with fast-moving Parka Mark

The official handoff of Happy Valley Forest, trying to pretend we know how to be professional....

My step-grandma, (82, lives in Toronto) underwent surgery last month - it took us all by surprise, as she had learned in December that she had colon cancer. She didn't tell my family until my dad's chemo was over in mid-January because she didn't want to "burden us". Doreen!!!! Seriously. Luckily she came through surgery well - there have been a few complications that kept her in the hospital longer than anticipated, but she is home now and doing ok. Her spirits are high as ever, a Doreen trademark, and she makes a point to tell us just how well she is feeling and how fine she is going to be. When I called, devastated, to wish her luck before her surgery with 2 days notice, she ended up cheering me up because she was so damn positive. If there's anyone to aim to be like, it's Doreen. I yelled a few times "2017 was supposed to be a better year! NO CANCER!".. then realized how futile it is to think you have control over ANYTHING. All you can do is deal with the hand you're given. I'm so lucky to still have a grandparent in my life, I know. If people out there are still lucky enough to have grandparents, be sure to give them a great big hug, and give them a call from time to time. It's so easy to let busy life get in the way, but that was my 2016 lesson for sure - don't take anyone you love for granted, ever. You just never know.

Doreen and I at my wedding (FIVE years ago - time flies!)

And because Doreen is the patron saint of world travel, she would like this next update: to celebrate the end of Jeff's work travels, we booked a long weekend trip to Boston on May 2-4. The plan: get in our convertible, top down, driiiive, eat seafood, explore the city, eat more seafood, see more city, see some ocean, relax and enjoy spring in a place I've never been before (Jeff will be my tour guide; he's done a fair bit of major US city travel for work!). That got my travel bug all riled up, and since I realized we're only 7 months out from September, I booked our B.C. grizzly bear vacation too! I've always wanted to see the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest and I've, embarrassingly, never been further west than Winnipeg, so it's about time! The goal is simply 10 days exploring Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler, Williams Lake, Bella Coola and taking in the sights on an 18 hour ferry ride from Port Hardy up the coast and through countless channels and inlets. We cut it short from our typical 14 days so we could ensure Jeff had enough vacation time for Michelle and Matt's destination wedding in Costa Rica in December!!! I was just cruising accommodations sites last night, getting excited about the idea of sandals, tropical birds, monkeys, swimming and being "too hot" (according to many reviews) in December. HA! I'm so very cold. I'll take it! I've never been to a destination wedding before, and am basically completely obsessed with weddings, and love the beach, so I'm thinking this will be one awesome week. M&M have promised lots of fun excursions, so if there's an SUP in Costa Rica waiting for me, I'm going to be one happy clam.

This will be Jeff and I in Bella Coola!

Playa Langosta, 2015. Ready for a return trip in 2017, for sure!! Monkeys everywhere!!

Last bit of news: I built and ordered my CHEVY VOLT!!! That's right - taking the plunge, electric car!! The government rebate on this car just went up to $14,000, if anyone else is thinking of making this kind of move - it definitely helps with the sticker shock (for someone who's exclusively bought used cars for her whole life!). The gas savings should be significant - it can go 85k on a charge (and then a 200-300km range gas generator kicks in, on longer trips). So any in town stuff will be gas-free, including my daily commute (though I hope to do a lot more of that on bike or foot come spring/summer/fall!). Plus, it's a really bright shiny blue colour that just makes my day. Only 8 weeks until it's ready.. augggggh. Patience is not really my thing.. working on it. Thanks to my cousin Tyler for the sweet family/friends discount, too - if you're in the market for a GM, look up Tyler Ferguson at Strickland's in Brantford. :) Currently Jetta is struggling through warped brake rotors (third time in 4 months - obviously something bigger going on), an interior styled with a thick coat of dog hair that can't/won't be cleaned, a trunk that opens, but does not close especially in cold weather, a shorted out driver's heated seat that delivers either nothing (on Level 0), or scorching burning pain to your lower back (on Level 1), a useless after market bluetooth on which I sound like I'm 1000 miles away, permanently salt-stained floors, rust patches so intense they've rotted out full blown holes, a variety of fender-bender (none my fault, honestly!) scratches all over the back/back sides, a passenger door that requires ultimate strength to shove open and jam closed, and 233,000kms of fond, worn out memories. Thank you Jetta for your loyal 7 years of service. Your parts will make many other cars happy as Jeff tears you to pieces and sells you this spring!!

Goodbye Jetta (who does NOT look like this anymore.. neither does our street for that matter!! wow!)

Hello Volt

Closing remarks - I'm effing stoked about this long weekend. I took a vacation day yesterday after a 14 hour day of Happy Valley Forest meetings/tours on Thursday, which consisted of a lot of napping, reading, eating, dog-walking and relaxing. Then there's all this warm weather in the forecast this weekend. I'm trying not to think about what's behind it, but just recognizing it is what it is, and sunshine and warmth in February make my heart sing. I have a goal to get on my bike when I go to visit my dad in Niagara on the Lake tomorrow where they aren't sporting 5' snowbanks like Guelph - stay tuned!! I've also got ANOTHER Leafs game tonight at the ACC (it's Leafs week!) after their stunning 7-1 victory on Tuesday (thanks, my sweaty Valentines!), and trivia on Monday to look forward to. :):)

Hoping everyone else has a wonderful long weekend - wishing you happiness, warmth, sunshine, relaxation and all the rest of it!