Merry Christmas!

2007 in review via photo-collage - enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

A drawing by my daughter Chelsea capturing the Nativity story, pretty brilliant from my perspective!

Seven Great Medical Myths

I came across this article that exposed some common medical myths, I have to admit that the turkey one I'm still suspicious about.

Drink at least eight glasses of water a day

This advice derives from a 1945 recommendation that adults should consume 2.5 litres of the stuff daily, or one milliliter for every calorie consumed. The crucial part of the recommendation – "most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods" – is often ignored. Drinking too much water can be dangerous.

Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

It causes eye strain, difficulty in focusing and dries the eyes because of reduced blinking while squinting but there is no evidence it causes lasting damage.

We only use 10 per cent of our brains

Studies of patients with brain damage suggest damage to any area of the brain has lasting effects. Brain imaging studies have shown no area of the brain is completely inactive and despite "detailed probing" the non-functioning 90 per cent has not been located.

Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

They don't. It is an illusion caused by the dehydration of the body which results in the skin retracting. This gives the appearance of increased length to the hair and nails – actual growth requires hormonal regulation which is not sustained after death.

Shaving causes hair to grow back faster or coarser

Shaved hair lacks the finer taper seen at the end of unshaved hair. It has also not been lightened by the sun, so it appears darker.

Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals

Many hospitals still ban them, despite the lack of evidence that they interfere with electronic equipment, except in rare instances and at close quarters. Technological improvements have reduced the risk further.

Eating turkey makes people drowsy

This myth is based on the assertion that turkey contains high amounts of tryptophan, an amino acid involved in sleep. But turkey contains no more than chicken or beef. Its sleep-inducing effects are due to the quantities eaten.

The Final Countdown

Cello trio Melo-M and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra (of Latvia) perform Europe’s The Final Countdown. I thought it appropriate to post this considering it is the final week of college (final exams) this year for my students...Pretty amazing piece of music and yes it was written in 1986!

America's 10 Best Outdoor Towns

MSN has released this list of “America’s 10 Best Outdoor Towns.” Featured on the list is New York’s ski haven Lake Placid, Oregon’s Hood River and the mountain biking hub Boone, N.C. Of the towns listed I've only been to Lake Placid which is known for its' skiing, and interestingly I spent time iceclimbing in the area. But just a beautiful but quaint Olympic village feel to Lake Placid. I'm wondering what towns in Canada would be our 10 Best Outdoor Towns?

Time-lapse photography at Vikings-Packers game

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=684920

Atlanta Musings 11.18,07

+

=

So here's a few clues that involved my last evening in Atlanta...and oh it rocked! Okay so I succumbed to going to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of seeing The Police on their potentially only reunion tour.

The Police got me through part of the 80s...and it was a great show! Oh and they opened the show with one of my favorites -Message in a Bottle! A great last night in Atlanta!

Melancholy Meanderings in Atlanta

I have had another interesting day out here in Atlanta - it's been good and refreshing but also tiring if it can be both? I have gone through the spectrum of emotions and thoughts, explored new ideas and revisited old ones, and I am realizing that although I love what I do, I have so much more to explore in this world.

It has been a full day of seminars, hearing bands, and hearing some excellent communicators but I'm missing my family and wonder if I am where I should be right now. Somethings seem so complicated when it should be much more simple.

Listening. Breathing. Loving. Playing. Exploring. I don't use enough one word sentences in my life apparently. I need more time to pause, more time to reflect, more time to process where I'm going, how I'm getting there, and who I'm taking with on this journey.

I've always thought in pictures and when I hear people speak I often hear songs along with the images. I've gone through the gamut of song triggers today as well...Death Cab's I will Follow You In The Dark, Smashing Pumpkins' Rat in a Cage, U2's I Will Follow & 40, The Police's Message in a Bottle - I don't even need my iPod apparently - my playlist kicks in without any play button. Ironic because I have no idea where I lost my Shuffle. Oh here's another song: Stepping Deeper Into Mystery - Closer to the Light by Bruce Cockburn.

Hmm...are my musings wandering enough?

Atlanta Musings 11.15.07

Well, I'm in Starbuck's using their wifi and exhausted. It's been a long day of traveling from Winnipeg to Toronto to Atlanta to the hotel to the conference to the CNN food court and back to the hotel. Amazing views of the countryside as we flew in - autumn's leaves are in full colour and we saw them at ground level while walking through the Olympic Park. Lots of deep reds, purples, oranges & browns. Not nearly the same yellows as back home but our fall lasts for maybe a month and then the leaves all blow away.

Kent & I met up with some other youth pastors we know from MB and perused through a plethora of book distributor's booths and picked up a view bargains but it really is the seminars and sessions that I'm looking forward to. I also connected with my friend Jodie (from Medeba days) who's employed by a college who decided to do some recruiting out here. Well - I'm ready for some zzz-time. More adventures in Atlanta to come.

Gotta Love My Packers

I personally love this time of year...there is something in the air - that's right crisp cool air & football! My Green Bay Packers are playing unbelievable with a 8-1 record. So here's a pic of me and my boy Zach watching the Packer's blow away the Vikings 34-0! Today was a good day - the Bombers won their playoff game too!

Bad Day At The Office

What makes this clip is actually the song...enjoy!

Gotta Love Football

Trick or Treat!

I just made it back from a few days of teaching outdoor education at Red Rock in time for our annual trick or treating on Halloween. I still have fond memories of being a kid growing up in Riverside and biking around wearing army fatigues & facepaint in my efforts to collect candy with my buddy Grant. I think one year we actually did a couple rounds in different outfits. I also seem to recall getting Easter eggs at one house...old candy! The other gross-out was getting homemade toffee popcorn or a healthy snack like apples.

Zachary - our sleeping dragon!

My princesses getting candy from Mrs. N. across the street from us!

Another brave visit to a neighbour's house to get some sweets.

My camera lens is a little fogged up for this shot after coming in from the cold.Wendy's annual tradition is to carve pumpkins and she goes full-on with it: here's this year's theme Super Mario! I guess the Wii influence is strong in our house these days.

Musings of a Busy Man

Life whirls on...like tin can being pushed end over end by a gust of wind. Sometimes it all gets to be too much doesn't it? We want the busyness to relinquish its grip on our lives. We feel like we can't keep going, we can't hold on, we need to let go. It is not that we should play or work or spend time doing what we are called to do but sometimes, we simply are doing too much! So how do we find that balance of rest & work & play? How do I find the time to unwind and still spend time with family and still get that pile of work done?

The Sabbath was a day we once set aside. For merchants it seemed a waste to not be open when we could be making more money. The city I live in is rare in its decision to keep the majority of businesses from being open but I'm grateful. The Sabbath is a day created not for God but for us to enjoy. For us to rest, to worship our Creator, to enjoy His Creation. And so we pray & we play on Sundays. It is good.

But we're not so good at that resting part, and quite frankly, it takes a good 24 hours of not doing anything for us to even enjoy it. We often need a holiday after having a holiday just to adapt to it all.

Change is good thing, and if anything, the change from working to not working is a life-giver all on its own. This next week is our fall break in our college year but I'm taking advantage of the "free time" to take my students to camp for my outdoor education class. Okay so I'm still working but in part it will be play and definitely a change from the classroom - so I'm hoping I'll find some rest there. We'll see!

Moonlit Mtn Bike Ride!

Wow! Simply one of the best rides of the year - 15kms of Sandilands bliss! Myself, Pat, Jason & Gord enjoyed an amazingly perfect ride with 10 degree temps and a gorgeous full-moon. The winding singletrack was lit up by helmet mounted lights and handlebar lights but once we got into some clearcut forested areas we turned our lights out and just used the full moon. We all agreed that it was one of the best rides we've had as the Body-Driven Team. I personally had a great ride and led the first half of the ride and managed to keep up with my racing buddies for the latter half. I am so stoked but definitely tired!

Lost Cities

Ten Most Amazing Lost Cities:

I've always wanted to explore Machu Picchu - even it has become a little too trendy. Oddee has a neat article titled "10 Most Amazing Lost Cities." Machu Picchu, which translates to "Old Peak," a pre-Colombian Inca city built almost 600 years ago and abandoned shortly afterwards:

Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It is often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas". The site was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as "an absolute masterpiece of architecture and a unique testimony to the Inca civilization".

So check out the link for some fascinating stories of lost cities!

Scary Mary

Mary Poppins re-imagined as a thriller - tis the season?

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Album

I'm not going to even bother reviewing this album - it is 5 stars and will sweep up Grammy's this year. Download it from I-Tunes asap and feel free to post your thoughts...I'll maybe review it later but I listened to one sample earlier today and boom I was downloading the whole album. Perfectly matched vocals and yes one of my favorite producers T-Bone Burnett graced the production of this album. Enjoy!

Outdoor Education

One of the courses I get to teach in college is outdoor education and admittedly it is one of my favorites as it allows me and my students to escape outside. We did exactly that this past Friday for an overnight camp out in some potentially cold conditions. Four of my students wanted to try out a survival shelter for night constructed of sticks & a tarp, the rest put up tents, and they all survived the experience. Next week we head off to Red Rock for three days of skills training and some other cool activities are planned including meeting some local trappers.

I also managed to escape with JP & Pat for a mtn bike run Sunday from the Sandilands ranger station, red trail, suicide trail and back - I'm guessing we put on about 14kms but my odometer & speedometer stopped working again. Weather is looking good this week and so I'm hoping for more riding but I'm also not wanting to get too busy after last week's insanity.

Night Riders

Pat & I escaped Wednesday night for a short but intense night ride on the Sandilands race track - the conditions were crisp & cool, trail was actually quite puddly from the rains we've had this week but all in all pretty sweet. Climbing worked fairly well for me even in the dark - thanks to a helmet 10W LED light and and a nice 20W Halogen on the handlebars. About 9kms so definitely not a long ride but there is merit to going for a short one every now and then.

Bats and other freaky animals

This past Sunday, the usher at our church greeted us with gesture to look at a bat that was clinging to the brick wall of our entrance. My girls were obviously enthralled and by the time the morning service was done, the bat ended up in a nearby tree for further inspection. Bats are one of those creatures that just are mysterious eh? I once caught one in a net at Red Rock down by the beach - it was perched upside down beneath the eaves of my lifeguarding beach house. They aren't the prettiest animal out there when you see them in daylight. In fact, they look pretty menacing up close - which why I suppose the comic hero Batman is the Dark Knight!

The Sucker-Footed Bat - you'd think it'd be unique enough with the radar headgear - but no this little guy was created with suction cups!!!

So to make an interesting random musing yet more unique, I came across the following freaky animal pictures on another site and I figured why not post some of them here and tie them to wikipedia for further inspection? This blog has been a bit stale as of late, so maybe this will give some inspiration to any other writers or readers that lurk in this part of the world wide web!

The Axolotl - strangely happy & friendly looking with just a touch of creepyness?

The Aye Aye - personally I think just some rat that had a really rough night!

Don't you just wanna give this thing (Star-Nosed Mole) a big smooch - NOT!

The Saki Monkey so should have been in the Planet of the Apes Movie.

The Blob Fish - quite possibly the ugliest living thing ever! Remember the cartoon Ziggy? Well it kind of looks like a Ziggy left out in the sun too long...!

The appropriately named Yeti Crab - yep it's a furry crab - who wouldn't wanna cuddle with that bad boy!

The Tarsier - gotta love those alien-like eyes!

Another October Ride

I love fall-riding, the cool crisp air, the crunch of leaves beneath the spinning rubber tread, the smell of decaying vegetation is strangely enticing. I ride faster in the autumn, perhaps more in shape or the simple fact I can actually see my way through the forest more effectively. Eventually the frost will begin to set and the ground will have even more traction resulting in yet more speed.
So I escaped a second time this past week with my good friend Doug from college days. He did well in keeping up and we had a great day for a spin to Suicide Hill and back. It was good to catch up & reminisce about college days. Chalk up another 11kms and another great October ride!

Blog Lull

Hmm...it seems I haven't posted in awhile. I'm just not in a blogworthy place right now - too much busyness and no time for reflection or even posting recent photos of the family or outdoors photography. I hope to get back into it in a bit. I'm looking forward to my trip to Atlanta in November and some of my outdoor education outings in the next three weeks. Much to do though and a pile of marking this weekend. We met up with my sister Angela & my niece Ariana at the airport yesterday - good to see them even if it was just brief. She's out for my cousin Patricia's wedding next week - it will be a bit of a whirlwind for her though. Our family is doing well, Zachary continues to grow, Chelsea is loving kindergarten and excitedly exclaims the names of her new friends she makes weekly, and Aimee is enjoying preschool as well. We had a brief escape from it all with a trip to Fargo last weekend and now apparently it is Thanksgiving weekend. It seems a blur but we are surviving.

Another Spin in the Sandilands

Amazing weather & riding conditions - gotta love it! Did the halfway starting point on the Beaver dam/Suicide trail and went in both directions - rode with Paul R. and managed to entertain down one of the steep runs on Suicide Hill - veered off the trail into the bush & took a tumble. 11 or so kms but my odometer wasn't started initially - great ride though!

Fall Riding is Here!

13kms of singletrack sweetness (red trail & beaver dam trail) and a broken seatpost clamp and night-riding = some intense riding! Okay so the broken seatpost clamp made the riding a little challenging as I needed to ride standing up or sitting way down low but the guys will back me up and say I still had an amazing ride. Also had a bit of tumble over an obstacle which resulted in an endo and a cloud of dust lit up by my lights. Gotta love it!

Renovation of our Landscape

We're in the process of making some changes to our property and instead of doing it on our own we've hired a local landscaping company - it's costing us some but it is looking great already. In a sense, my role as a professor is similar to landscaping only my focus is life renovation - I assist students with providing shaped information that helps them better understand their world, themselves, and their role in the world. It is a very rewarding job but tough work - working with people always is challenging. Thankfully, I feel that I'm better equipped at teaching than landscaping - but there is something invigorating about being creative in whatever we do! I've always admired people who work the land and have enjoyed my moments of helping on the farm - although it seems a long time ago already. It's a tradition that goes back to the beginning of time - working the land to produce fruit for the harvest, for survival, for advancement. So here I am in the midst of yet another new college year, renovating the landscape of freshmen - exploring new ways of learning, of growing, of exploring!

Some Helpful Information

Every now and then I come across something that makes me chuckle in a way that only the Far Side can. Which is why I own the entire collection hardbound. However, this is not Far Side but with such wit that I take pleasure in sharing the following and I believe helpful information concerning the preparation of kiwis.

Sunday Football & Cycling

So good to relax on the couch and watch my Packers back in action. Good to get a win out of it too - even if it was a bit of a rough start to the season. Also managed to escape for a nice short but intense road ride for 20kms. I love this time of year with the crisp cool air! Lots of great mountain biking ahead!

Sept Long Weekend Cycling

Life continues on and we decided to take a break from cottaging it and stay home for a change. It's a little chaotic packing for our family it seems - it almost be nice to just have a set of stuff always packed to make traveling anywhere easier. I did manage to escape a bit though - a 40km Giroux loop with road bikes - complete some significant winds that allowed us to hit & maintain 50kms/hour going north and unfortunately has the opposite effect when going south - around 26km/hour. Jason & I enjoyed the ride though! We had some friends over for a bbq on Sunday and it was good just to chill out in the amazing weather.

The aim for certain members of Team Bodydriven was to mtn bike the classic Ingolf route but a 40 percent chance of rain ended up coming true at about 9am - and it poured. The thing about Ingolf is that it is amazing riding when dry, with some super technical stuff - but when wet it is absolutely treacherous - sort of like riding on ice! The rolling granite (complete with obscene sections of boulders or split rocks & little drop-offs (a few big ones too) can get a little slick and if you don't trust the rubber on your wheels it can get a little dicey.

Thankfully we avoided any downpour for most of our ride (about 10 minutes of rain in the epic 2 hours) but we did our share of close-calls and minor wipeouts. No bleeding though. A total of 16kms may not sound like lots but it is all rough riding and my hands are still sore from clenching the handlebars. Tomorrow it's back to college - registering a whack of new & returning students - and I teach my first class on Thursday - communications, Friday - outdoor ed, and next Tuesday - interpersonal processes - wooh!

Calm Before the Storm

The last week of August is approaching and I have to admit being somewhat apprehensive. I'm looking forward to teaching in September but there is a ALOT of prep still be done for this year to run smoothly. I have three syllabi to tweak further and an e-blast to send regarding a youth event, my travel plans semi-confirmed to a conference later in November, my outdoor education out-trips planned out & confirmed, etc. Hopefully will find some shalom in this all, some calm in the chaos.

Pinawa Retreat

I enjoyed a faculty retreat at Pinawa's Wilderness Edge for a couple days this past week and managed to do some escaping on my mountain bike with a good friend from Red Rock days and his son. We managed to squeeze in almost 29kms on some good trails & a long road that led to the old Pinawa town site and dam. Really neat construction & remains at the other end. It was slow going on the way back due to their dog being a little out of shape but we enjoyed some wild plums during our rest stops. Next day our recreation consisted of a float down the Pinawa channel in an inflatable raft and tubes - ended up swimming in a tube for about a good third of the river. I was hoping to try out some rowing with a former student of mine but it unfortunately didn't work out - maybe next time I'm in Pinawa? All in all - a good escape but now I have lots to do before the college year begins. Hopefully - a few more times at Star Lake though before things kick into gear!

Some August Holiday Pics

This month has blown by and is practically over. I thought it was wise to post some pictures before I'm in the midst of teaching this September.

Aimee's third birthday with a cake decorated by yes - candy! Her request!

Aimee opening gifts with her aunt kiki & grandpa observing her enthusiasm. We had both sides of the family over for her party and she is still talking about it.

Zach chillin' on the living room floor..he's growing & talking more and more!

Aims & Chels enjoying some swimming at the pool
My two princesses - love dressing up (& dancing) when ever they can!

Chelsea stepping back in time and posing in front of "The Heartbreaker"


Chelsea loves dressing up with some of the costumes that her Grandma has stored away in their Riverside home.My dad "gobbling" up the oats - both my girls loved their time on the field. The hours are crazy for farmers this time of year but there is something special about working the land. Gotta love the green - it's in my blood apparently - John Deere!

Uncle Blaine, Chelsea & her dad on the combine.

The reason why my allergies are acting up as I load these pics up and why I'm not a farmer!

When the wind is blowing the same direction as the combine driving it turns the sky dark with dust & straw...makes for some neat pictures but I can't imagine being outside the cab.Gotta love the golden color of this oat field in the midst of harvest.

Summer Music Review

Throughout the summer I make mixes of the latest music I'm into for those road trips to the cottage or Grand Forks. I sprinkle both old & new tunes on these play-lists and by the end of summer I probably have at least a dozen different mix CDs that make their way through my vehicles stereo, along with pure albums from the past or present. Radio for me is ancient history other than the occasional talk radio or weather updates. IPod is the other medium but I still prefer hearing music rather than having it injected into my ears.

So what have I been listening to? I'll warn you it is all over the map eclectic. Here's a sample playlist that may give some idea:

1. Change of Seasons - Sweet Thing EP - Sweet Thing 2006
2. Clocks - Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba - Coldplay 2006
3. Get Your Way - Catching Tales - Jamie Cullum 2007
4. Grow Old With Me - Instant Karma - Postal Service 2007
5. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba - U2/Coco Freeman 2006
6. Instant Karma - Instant Karma - U2 2007
7. Let Me Give The World To You - Machina II - Smashing Pumpkins 2000
8. Perfect World - Alligator - Guards of Metropolis 2007
9. Possession - I-Tunes Originals - Sarah McLachlan 2005
10. The Promise - Cities - Anberlin 2007
11. Real Gone - Cars Soundtrack - Sheryl Crow 2006
12. Something To Believe In - Memory Man - Aqualung 2007
13. Tarantula - Zeitgeist - Smashing Pumpkins 2007
14. Too Much Too Hide - Nuclear Daydream - Joseph Arthur 2006
15. Violetlight - Codes & Secret Longings - Raised By Swans 2005
16. Watching The Wheels - Instant Karma - Matisyahu 2007
17. The Way We Get By - Stranger Than Fiction - Spoon 2006
18. Whispering Pines - Endless Highway - Jakob Dylan 2007
19. Whole Wide World - Stranger Than Fiction - Wreckless Eric 2006
20. Winter Night - Sweet Thing EP - Sweet Thing 2006

ALBUM REVIEWS:

The Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist - 4 out of 5 Stars. I personally love this album and although it's not their best album it really drives well & lyrically in a whole new direction. 4 stars. Favorite songs - Zeitgeist, Bring The Light, Tarantula, & Doomsday Clock - lots of rhythm, lots of angst - meant to be played loud!

Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur - 4 stars for tracks downloaded. I bought a few songs from this album from I-Tunes that I highly recommend: U2's version of Instant Karma (strangely doesn't sound like them - hard to explain but great song), Matisyahu's Watching The Wheel's - reggae but still true to the original, Postal Service's Grow Old With Me - I could hear John Lennon in his vocals, & Imagine by Jack Johnson.

Travis - The Boy Without A Name - 4 stars. A great album that is worth the purchase or download. For fans of Radiohead, Coldplay or U2. Favorite tracks: Closer (5 star - powerful), Sailing Away (laid back & wandering), & Under The Moonlight.

Northern Room - Only Seconds EP & Last Embrace EP - 5 Stars. I love these guys, great soaring melodies, good drive with bass & drums, Coldplayish but have their own sound. Up and coming. Favorite tracks: Galaxy, Last Embrace, We're On Fire, Waiting. Both EPs are worth purchasing.

Spoon - GaGaGaGa & Spoon songs from the soundtrack for Stranger Than Fiction - 3 stars & 5 stars. I don't know why I haven't been exposed to these songs before watching Stranger Than Fiction because they have been around for awhile but for some reason that movie got me hooked into their melodic, trippy version of music. It is hook-laden and moving. Their latest album from my perspective is good but not as significant as the tracks they provided for the movie but it seems to be one of those albums that takes time to simmer before you fall in love with it. So it could very well become a 4 star one for me yet. Favorite songs from GaGaGaGa: Don't Make Me a Target, Finer Feelings, & Black Like Me. Favorite songs from Stranger: The Way I Get By & My Mathematical Mind.

The Album Leaf - Green Tour EP- 5 stars. If you like Sigur Ros or Explosions in the Sky, the Album Leaf is for you. Instrumental heaven with waves of emotion & musical electronic genius. Favorite songs: We Need Your Help & San Simeon.

Eisley - Combinations - 3 stars. They remind me of Sixpence None The Richer but with a more folky influence. Great vocals but like Tegan & Sara they suffer from sounding very similar from track to track. Favorite tracks include: Go Away, Invasion & Taking Control.

Beduin Soundclash - Street Gospels - 3 1/2 stars if you like Reggae Folk. A Canadian band that embraces a reggae style that grooves but still very emotive & moving. His vocal has a roughness that grows on you but still melodic enough that it doesn't distract. Favorite tracks: Walls Fall Down & Until We Burn In The Sun (I hear a little INXS here meets Bob Marley).

Silverchair - Young Modern - 3? Stars. I don't know where to go with this review as I've just sampled it really and not sure. I really love Straight Lines but it doesn't sound like Silverchair, in fact I give that song at least 4 stars - building but powerful once it starts going. The rest of the album I'm just not sure. Okay maybe I need to wait for a month before I review this album, but it isn't Silverchair.

Sweet Thing - Sweet Thing EP - 4 stars. A great little EP. First two tracks are amazing but the album slips a little after that but I'm guessing this is just a taste of what the band has to offer in the future. Great drive, melodies, lyrics, nice vocals, and over-all feel. Has a emo-influence but rock enough for it to get airplay hopefully. Favorite tracks: Winter Night & Change of Seasons (great intro to this song!).

More reviews to come this fall!

Another Team Body-Driven Ride

A good escape to the Sandilands with Pat & Ed - with my commute to Pat's & then ride in the hills I ended up with 14kms - not bad! Nice and fast spin at the end. Hope to do some riding in Pinawa next week on our faculty retreat.

Monday's Windy Ride

With winds around 30kms I wasn't sure how I'd do today but it turned out to be an excellent ride. 40kms and quite a fast pace again considering the wind. Paul & Pat joined me on yet another road ride with those skinny tires - hopefully get a good fat tire ride on the mtn bike this week too!

20 Km Sprint

Sprint & 20 kms normally don't go together when I ride mtn bike but I took the road bike for a spin just to keep the muscles going and I cranked it through some pretty big winds. Not a big workout but fun.

7:30am Sandilands Escape

Another early morning mountain bike escape to the Sandilands - no wind today, cool temps of around 15 degrees celsius, riding partners: Jason & Nolan, and nice quick 14kms. No yogis today just a puzzled buck staring at us loading our bikes up on the way out.

Another 16kms in the Sandilands

An early morning spin in the Sandilands is what the professor ordered and all was good. Had a decent spill after getting launched over a protruding but hidden stump. The trail was on the dry and dusty side with some sandy patches that give the area its name but thankfully most of the valleys were hard-packed, tight & windy. Started out at the St. Labre put-in and rode out to the Beaver dam hill section and back. Pat & Jason kept me spinning hard and it was just great to be out there again. Hoping for another ride on Monday.

July Holiday Images

The summer has been a good and for me with the beginning of prep now for college it means I won't be escaping as much with the family out on outings (at least during the weekdays). But I wanted to display some of the images of our summer. I actually posted the shots of Tinkertown & Grand Forks tonight but changed the dates to when they were actually taken. The cottage & home shots in this portfolio are mainly from July. SO here they are!

Our three kids: Chelsea, Aimee, & Zachary!

Zachary - the target of many, many photographs.Zachary & his lovely mom!

Aimee with her pooh bear towel after a run through the sprinklers.

July means long hot days and weekend at Star Lake as much as possible. Here are a couple shots from the Whiteshell park: Gotta love them sunsets!

Fireworks from the dock on July 1st - tradition rules at the Friesen cottage!

Sprinklers are a great way of entertaining kids and they actually keep the grass green!

Zachary can be quite the charmer with his smiles and coos!

Another grin from the Z-man!

My precious Aimee!

The girls love our play structure and are quite proficient in their swinging acrobatic routines already!

Kyle & Laura brought a couple kittens to the cottage last weekend and Chelsea enjoyed playing with them - she's got a soft spot for animals (once she gets over her initial fear).

Zach again all-smiles!

My free spirit dancing daughter complete with her gypsy wear!

More shots of my wandering Chelsea!

Roasting marshmallows at Star Lake.

Aimee exploring the shoreline at Star Lake.

Chelsea enjoying the view of some nearby ducks.

Aimee & her mom enjoying the play structure at the lake.

Chelsea sliding...

Aimee swinging...

Another close-up of Chels

And more swinging at Star Lake...