voyage

Martin let me know that my blog was getting boring because I hadn't updated it in awhile. So although I don't care if anyone thinks it’s boring, I am updating it to say that I probably won't be updating for the next while. We are leaving today to the fine province of Småland, to visit Martin's family.

I am looking forward to the peace and quiet, and am excited to get to know Martin's family more. (And meet the many that I haven't met.) My parents are going as well, and Martin's parents are putting on a fine wedding celebration for us, including program planned by Martin's witty brother-in-laws, and a fantastic dinner cooked by Martin's uncle (yes, an actual Swedish chef).

What's not to anticipate? I am a little envious of my parents, who are also going to Denmark, but I will have ample opportunities in my lifetime, I am sure.

Martin and I will get to relive my last visit to Sweden - visiting the place where we got engaged, "Martin's" lake, the nearby ruins. We are actually so organized we've packed our wedding clothes so we can have "wedding" pictures taken in Sweden... I am starting to think I am a closet romantic. I believe my dear sweet husband has helped me come out of that particular closet. I even call him "honey", and worse, more sappy nicknames which I will not mention publicly.

Where was I going with this? Anyways… the photo is portrays the classic colors and architecture found around where Martin lives. If it looks to idyllic, too pastoral, too serene, to be real, that’s because it is. But it is a real place. (I can attest to it.) It’s one of the most fantastic, beautiful, well-tended, calming places in the world. (I even know someone who tells me this little spot in the world holds her heart - she calls it her Narnia.) I agree, although my heart is held by one of the sons of this ethereal place.

So, ciao!

first venture

On the Oregon Coast.









First gasp.









A look of delicious secrets.








The rolling northeast storm.








Regretful goodbye.

birthdays suck

It's been a long day, and I am feeling moody and excluded. It doesn't help that I am home alone, the heat oppressive, with woe-is-me jazz playing, and our fan making an irritating rattling noise as it oscillates. Martin is working graveyards at his new job at a local homeless shelter, so I won't be seeing him till after 8 a.m.



















I can empathize with this poor dead jelly fish I took a picture of. He was just floating along, all pretty and bright-blue, and then he dies a lonely death, washed up on the Oregon Coast. Well, not totally alone. There was thousands of his dead jellyfish buddies washed up along with him.

Am I really feeling that mopey that I can empathize with a dead jellyfish? Yes, yes I am. And I can hear his final farewell playing on CBC Radio.

Ha! Now I am being silly. But seriously, long day. Plus, tonight Street Church made it's usual loud appearance across the river. (I found a neighbourhood call to action taped to the apartment building door tonight - the 'hood is riled. They want Street Church to TURN IT DOWN.)

Now the Stampede fireworks have started and I am reminded that the blessed calm of Martin's village in Sweden will be a sweet haven for the last two weeks of July. The city is nice when you feel like it - when you want a little silence it can make you downright ornery.

Wow, I'm really a ray of sunshine. I think it's bedtime. How'd this all start? Oh yeah! Birthdays that suck. Well, I think I truly transitioned into adulthood. I admitted to myself, nay, recognized, that birthdays, beyond the age of 18, really do suck. I'll be honest, I looked forward to putting back a pint or two or six on my 18th birthday, and that anticipation was fulfilled, although not with good results. However, my point is that your birthday is way more important to you than it is to anyone else. And it never really fails: My birthday passes and I realize, man, that totally, undeniably sucked. (This is no reflection on certain persons by the name of Martin or Mom, by the way.) I think I was just a big kid, all like: Woohoo, my birthdays comin', I'm gonna have so much fun and everyone who loves me is going to make my day super awesome.

I guess I should be glad I have addressed my naivete, and now I can move on like the cynical soon-to-be-birthday person that I am. Maybe when the day comes I'll treat myself to a loaf of rye bread or something.

;-)

blaim someone else

Having spent the Canada-day long weekend in a remote area of the Rocky foothills, I failed to celebrate the maturing of my country by one more year. I think the subject came up once - "Hey, isn't it Canada Day today?" and was promptly forgotten.

Since I am so incredibly patriotic, I cannot let this dissing of my birth nation pass by unnoticed. Here is a list (in no particular order) of thoughts on Canada, Canadians and what we like to call our "culture":

1. Although the Canadian dollar is now over 90 cents US, no one seems to notice or care that much of our Canadian-US pricing is not reflecting our dollar's value. Take a look and see for yourself - we're getting ripped off.

2. We still are laid back - we're like, almost totally sleeping, eh? As long as it doesn't take too much effort or passion, we're cool with corrupt government bodies and pocket-lining old boys clubs, low voter turnout, flagrant market dishonesty and exploitation, poor health care, high education prices, and a flaccid justice system.

3. All that "I am/We are Canadian" stuff? The beer, the rant, the commercials, the Canuck mockery of the US, the impassioned national pride it inspired? Yeah, it was sold to an American company. One of the oldest Canadian "institutions", sold by a profiteering Molson son, to a US buyer. Quite amusing. Does it indicate a market trend? I hope not.

4. "Multiculturalism" as it is is fracturing our society. We are unintentionally segregating ourselves, and blocking the ability to really understand each other and what drives us. We are dissolving common identity and values and creating misunderstood factions.

5. We know lots of people and have very few real friends.

6. Born and raised Canadians are one of the most polite (sometimes painfully) people groups in the world and are extremely space-oriented. We like our personal space "bubbles", in everyday interaction we don't get too physically close, don't touch very often, and like our privacy.

7. Customs and Immigration Canada waivers between Totally Anal and Totally Nonsensical. Did you know if you are approved as a permanent resident of Canada you only have to live in Canada two of five years to be eligable for reapplication? Someone can be a card-carrying permanent resident and only have to physically be in Canada for 24 months in a period of five years.

9. We have lots and lots of mosquitos in Canada. I personally can count nearly 80 bites from one weekend of camping, and will enjoy killing any mosquito I see for the rest of the summer.

10. We are valued in the non-governmental agency world for our strong work ethic, intelligence, diplomacy, and ability to get alot of places others can't with our Canadian passports.

11. Finally, this would not be a good list about Canada without a disclaimer.
THE OPINIONS AND OBSERVATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS LIST ARE THAT OF THE BLOG OWNER AND DO NOT REFLECT THAT OF THE BLOG PUBLISHER, SERVER, INTERNET PROVIDER, OR ANYONE IN FACT RELATED OR MARRIED TO THE OWNER OF THIS BLOG. NO CONTENT IN THIS LIST IS MEANT TO DISPARAGE OR OFFEND ANYONE WHO MAY CALL HERSELF OR HIMSELF A CANADIAN BY HERITAGE OR BY LEGAL PROCESS. ANYONE WHO HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF FRIENDS CAN AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY THEMSELVES FROM ARTICLE #5. IF YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS AND WOULD LIKE TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT, SEE ARTICLE #5.