Ambition

Today was my lone day off this week. But I don't mind. It means that I am going to enjoy a three+ day weekend without any guilt whatsoever that I should be working. The joys of scheduling one's one schedule... mmmm.

Today I enjoyed a cup of coffee in my french press. Reading some blogs online. Reading a book. Running in the crisp fall air. Having a friend over for lunch. Slow-cooker roast beef. Fresh rye bread with apple butter. Baking dark-chocolate-speckled (it's different than regular old chocolate chip) cookies. Oatmeal for breakfast with my husband. 'Twas good. And the best way to spend a day off. Even got a bit of journal writing in there.

Today as I was running I was thinking about the benefits of embracing a place for what it is. I have fought hard with St. John's at times. It's not an easy place to live. It's isolated from much of the rest of Canada. It's small, and quirky, and sometimes, a bit 'behind'. People here are fiercely proud of their provincial identity, far more so than their national one. Once a come-from-away, always- I will always be a mainlander. People will always be expecting me to leave here at some point. And the truth is, I most likely will. Brian and I will pack up sometime and move off this rugged rock.

But for now, I can say with a fair degree of confidence that this will be home for at least the next three years. Brian is beginning his doctorate... (that sounds even more impressive than PhD, I think). So we are here for a bit. I want to be supportive of him, following his dream and pursuing excellence in his field- because I know he really has the capacity to do so, and this is the place to do it for now.

I want to become rooted. Settled in this little one-room (almost) apartment. Invested in people here. Cultivating friendships (I've been making a fierce effort to do so and it has already paid off). Fighting the dark nights that sometimes drift over my mind.. you know, those days when you just feel kinda... sad. Finding hobbies and passions. For one, knitting. A friend is dropping off some knitting books tonight- I want to be able to create more than a simple scarf. Photography-- an SLR camera is in the work (oooh, the pics on the blog- I can just see it). Writing- just little things. Baking and cooking and running.

The one I love is home from work. Will write more later...

Honeymoon... some pictoral highlights

Love this one.. it's in downtown San Francisco. Our reflections, the tourists... someone rushing by with their suitcase, people chatting on the corner.

Content in Baysville, Muskoka

love canoeing!

Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, SF

Hardwood Hills Lookout, Algonquin Park

Our last campfire of the trip

Wide open spaces... central California

Headed towards Indian Springs in Castle Crags

Castle Crags State Park- I love these craggy rugged rocks. We climbed pretty high up them- I was actually scared... but it was a bit of a rush at the same time. I love mountains... love looking up at them and imagining what it would be like to stand at the very top, loving how they are so much bigger than they look even though they already look huge..

Lake of Two Rivers, Algonquin Park- It was really special to go to Northern Ontario with Brian. it's a place dear to my heart. I always wanted to go north when I was younger.. I love the rocks, the lakes, the big blue skies... it brings back memories of canoe trips and camping and so many fun times and so it was really special to go there with my new husband

This was on a beach in California. I just thought it was funny- big fluffy dog, concentrating really hard on digging a hole in the sand while his owner calmly looks on.

Along the Monterrey Coast... its almost Mediterranean looking. Very pretty.

The beach at Carmel by the Sea

Giant redwoods... so silent and majestic, just growing for hundreds and hundreds of years. Despite all that is going on around them, they keep on with their task... reaching for the sky

With my love on the beach at MacKerricher State Park, California coast

Driving up Hwy 1-- glorious west coast. I love the ocean. Atlantic, Pacific... there's just something about it.

fall days

It's a beautiful day. I got off night shift this morning and biked home in the crisp fall air. it was pretty chilly actually. But I liked it because it wasn't wet... we've had a lot of soggy weather here lately.

I am going to continue to try to avoid doing night shifts at all costs. It's one of the benefits of being casual at the hospital so I should embrace it, I think. I worked a night last night just to give it a try, cause I hadn't done one for so long... but I just feel so non-functioning at the hour of 2 am and beyond, and I don't think it's a good thing. I just like to work during the day and sleep at night. Maybe I am being too picky... but I also think it's good to try to fit work into your life and not your life into work. Priorities. Making the maximum possible amount of money by working every single shift that comes up isn't a priority for me... I'd rather work for the money we need/ to stay sane and then pursue other quality interests...

Such as baking! Right now I am baking blueberry muffins... with fresh picked blueberries from Pouch (pronounced Pooch, haha) Cove. There might be a couple leaves and sticks in there... it's all added fibre I suppose.

reflections

I've had a bit more time to think about things as the pace of life is just beginning to settle to a comfortable rhythm here in St. John's. I didn't want to start off too crazy or with too much working cause I am one of those people who needs to slow down and contemplate change (especially major life changes like marriage!).

Brian was back at school yesterday, and I did an short shift yesterday evening, so we both were back to our work. It's good to be back. I did feel a little rusty at work, but luckily I wasn't in the trauma rooms or anything so I didn't need to do anything drastic. It was good to see my coworkers, everyone was very congratulatory. It takes time to feel part of the social aspect of a new work environment I think. It's funny, we work such long shifts together but often don't talk about much besides what's happening right then and there depending on how busy it is. Overall it was good to be back in the classic franticness of the ER on a Monday afternoon (or the Tuesday after a long weekend).

We're nicely settled in at 6 Howley Ave. I was feeling really nesty on Monday and mopped the floors, unpacked all my stuff, organized in general- I feel pretty moved in now. It's got character, this house- built in 1903, probably half of the inside doors don't close properly because of uneven floors/ ceilings, and I wonder how much oil it will take to heat this winter. But it's cozy and cute and classic St John's and I love it. Also I have the best roommate ever. :)

Am also investigating several new fall pursuits- running with the running room, better photography and culinary skills (can't let my husband outshine me every time he cooks, just sometimes, haha). Should be good.

Will write about our Huntsville and California adventures sometime soon... with pics too. yaaay for pictures.

as long as we both shall live

august thirteenth, two thousand and ten.

such a glorious day.

There's so much to write about it, I don't even know where to start. And all of the events that have happened since then.

For now... just some pictures.. but some say that they speak a thousand words :)

Preparations

chats with Lindi on the deck
making place cards

the awesome aprons Aunt Donna made us out of some of the favourite oldies

only 6 days left!

It's been a whirlwind at home, but so good... was a bit overwhelmed when I first got here, but now I'm sitting contentedly- everything (seems) in order, Brian is coming today, I have a bridal shower with the girls this aft (can't wait to see them!) and fireworks at the park tonight.

Exciting times, and I know that they're pretty special, so I'm trying to soak it all in...

feels like home

sunrise from one of Mum and Dad's early walks..

Home in Grimsby.... travelled here from my home in St. John's-- I am blessed to have multiple homes.

Familiar crowded highways with oodles of traffic, everyone in Toronto headed to Niagara Falls on the long weekend. Oh house I grew up in, always evolving just a little bit, subtle changes here and there, little home improvements done by my now-empty-nester parents... but still and always, home. Catching up with mum and dad. Comfortable, quiet bed-- all's still in the house at night. Church on Sunday morning, still the same, classic hymns and newer songs- yet children older, hair a little grayer... faces I have known for most of my life saying hi and how are you and congratulations.

It's good, it's very good.

Looking forward to a reunion tonight with my Pink Flamingos.