Grouse Mountain tips for weaksauce hikers

This weekend I tried to hike up Grouse Mountain for the first time in my life.

Success!

However things could have gone smoother.
Here are a few tips I can pass on to anyone out there
who might need a bit of guidance too.

Tip #1:
While other hikers provide a pace you can follow
and a bit of competitive motivation, it's not advisable
to be smug about passing others on the path.

Because there's only one pathway up...

and remember, you're weaksauce.




Tip #2
Your bug repellent probably doesn't work.

But use it to your advantage, it motivates you to keep moving.

Tip #3:
Try not to listen to the sounds that other hikers make.

There is nothing more demoralizing than laboured breathing,
and feet smacking hatefully against the ground.


Tip #4:
Do push yourself beyond what you think you can do.

It sure is unrewarding when you wake up the next day with no sore muscles.

another celebratory dance

My friend Jody and I moved into a studio workspace recently.

I'm sure that we make everything look easy, but I just wanted to dispel that myth.

Here's how it really went down:

(please click on the image if you would like to see it full sized)

It's My Party...

It was my birthday yesterday; birthdays make me stressed out.

I used to begin looking forward to my birthday once August appeared on the calendar. It would give me secret pleasure to think that it would be my birthday in five days! Then four!...three!...two!... And then with all the anticipation, and expectations of birthday happiness built up - I would crash on the actual day. It was my party, and I truly did exercise the right to cry.

For many years, I would put on an uncomfortable party dress and strut about, expecting people to celebrate and be grateful for my existence. I believed that a birthday was a special day, and that things would be as I wanted it to be. And it never was.

This year, I decided to let go of all my expectations and be happy with however the day turned out to be.

Event's of the day:

12:01 am - A bird defecates on my right thigh.

8:00 am - I discover bad news sitting in email inbox.

11:46 am - Awful, angry words are exchanged between me and beloved family members

12:45 pm - Mini crisis moment - I ask myself:

• What have I done with my life?
• What should I have accomplished by now?
• Am I ridiculous?"

1:30 pm - I treat myself to a tasty latte

1:35 pm - Sun shines liquid gold through the leaves of a willow tree, being freaking gorgeous.

8:30 pm - I eat a giant slice of a tiramisu birthday cake.

11:59 pm - I realize that the accomplishment of being able to accept exceptionally bad events as part of a lovely birthday is something to be very proud of.