I love weekends. I love staying up late, sleeping in, and doing whatever I feel like doing whenever I feel like doing it.
Yesterday morning GC and I went cross-country skiing for an hour out at Shirley’s Bay. It was a cold, crisp, sunny morning at twenty below zero. We thought we might be too cold dressing in the recommended three light layers, so we both added a couple of items to the mix. An extra pair of long johns. A neck warmer.
We were still leery. I mean, it was cold out there. And we weren’t even wearing our winter jackets, just flimsy little windbreakers over top of fleece and undershirts.
However, within a few minutes on the trail I was sweating comfortably and feeling very happy to be doing exactly what I was doing. Swish swish swish, skis gliding through the tracks, legs and arms and lungs working together in rhythm. I alternated between focusing on my surroundings and becoming oblivious to them as my focus turned inwards in a meditative stream of consciousness.
I felt good. I felt virtuous. I felt Canadian.
The trail eventually looped back to the parking lot, shortly after I started wishing it would.
We got in the car, wiped the sweat from our faces, and headed off to Irene’s for breakfast.
All the art submitted to Everybody’s Art Show is hanging on the walls at Irene’s now, including two pieces made by GC and me. I think Irene’s is still accepting donations of art if you want to participate. The Silent Auction is on January 28th, and I’ve got my eye on a couple of pieces.
After breakfast we both returned to our respective homes to catch up on our respective outstanding stuff that needs doing. In my case, it was the ongoing saga of upgrading my blog. There have been a few issues cropping up. Scott and Debra continue to be extremely generous with their time and expertise, especially considering I don’t even know them.
GC and I reconnected in the evening and went to Raw Sugar to see Lisa Poushinsky and Brian Simms doing Tom Waits, complete with costume changes and umbrellas and pink elephants and everything. We ran into Hella Stella and her Better Half and Milan there. I believe Hella Stella and I made some kind of bet involving tofu. The loser has to post a video of herself and/or her pet doing somersaults or cartwheels. I really hope I win.
Today’s list of things to do includes perusing WordPress themes (mine has to go, although I will do everything in my power to save the sheep), seeing the Bernini exhibit at the National Gallery, partitioning the Mac and installing Windows on it (dual boot), installing some other software on it, paying my bills, grocery shopping and making a really good dinner. And then eating it.
Like I said, I love weekends.
Can’t wait to see your video! I never lose a tofu-related bet…
Bernini is excellent. You’ll love it.
“I felt good. I felt virtuous. I felt Canadian.” Perfect!
What a great weekend…remember when you were a house hermit and stayed in all weekend?
i agree this weekend was a nice one – perfect weather to get out and about. i think we deserved it after the week people in ottawa had…don’t ya think. can’t believe you did all that (the walk at shirly’s bay) all before breakfast !
I love weekends too. But I find they’re never long enough!
And now that I think about it, I haven’t been cross-country skiing in 20 years. Maybe that’s something I should think about trying again… one of these days.
However, within a few minutes on the trail I was sweating comfortably and feeling very happy to be doing exactly what I was doing.
I was never much for cross-country skiing, but loved alpine/downhill. A few times each winter I reminisce about past skiing adventures. I remember fairing the extreme cold standing in a parking lot awaiting the bus to the hills. As I’d ride on the bus I’d think to myself, am I crazy to be doing this, I hate the cold and even this bus ride is frigid. I’d enter the lodge, get all my gear on and venture out to the chairlift or T-bar (depending on what that year’s “experience level” was at). I’d feel the cold all the way to the top of the hill.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh – and all the cold from my body would disappear. It’s amazing how as soon as you exert a little energy and get to the enjoyable part all the negative aspects of winter activities are no longer. Of course, then there was the bus ride back, where you’re covered in sweat and the cold returns.
If it weren’t for the associated cost of equipment I’d likely still ski. Perhaps next year if the outlook is good for lots of snow I’ll make the investment in some used gear and get back into it. I no longer have the excuse of a cold bus ride. Calabogie is only 3 left turns away and Packenham (my favourite little hill) is even closer.
Cheers!
This new Spanish theme makes your blog look very strange.
It is also sans-sheep.
That was weird, eh? I’m pretty sure I didn’t do that on purpose.
As far as I know the .org and .com are similar in that any changes to the theme can be undone. Just keep in mind that changing themes doesn’t change the content, so if the theme’s width changes you may have to change the dimensions on your archived photos.
If you can’t find a new theme with a header image large enough for your sheep you can always put them into the sidebar… personally I think Cutline is the best theme WP has in the .com portfolio. I think I remember the .org version having two sidebars (left and right).