To the Dogs

Even though I grew up with cats (at times, many cats-- enough to qualify me as a cat lady, even-- except I wasn't a lady yet), I have developed a strong fondness for dogs. Big dogs, especially. And one big dog in particular:


Our part time dog, Robertina. Our current apartment building does not allow dogs (especially large, excited, always-so-happy-to-see-us ones like her), but it's OK: we get to take Robertine on a walk every single weekend, and we're loving it. She waits for us patiently until we come pick her up, she's into our new van as much as we are (points!), and she has so much fun on the walks, it would be impossible for it not to rub off on us, too.

Bounding down Lone Tree Hill!

It's a win-win-win situation for everybody involved: her owner has chronic fatigue and likes to know that her dog is taken care of while she catches up on rest, we get to explore our beautiful surroundings with our FAVOURITE DOG EVER, and of course, Robertine gets to run free, scramble over mossy rocks, chase squirrels, and hang out with her boyfriend:

Putting the moves on Marty-- I'd say 'back off, bitch!' in a horrible pun, but the truth is Robertina and I have made an agreement: she can be the girlfriend as long as I still get to be the wife. Besides, Robertine is the only one I know who loves Marty as much as I do, so I'm cool with that. We relate.

Apparently, I Never Learn

I mentioned a few posts ago that I have been a bad blogger and knitter as of late, due to an unfortunate case of bilateral tendonitis. It seems that everything I really enjoy doing involves repetitive movements of my hands, arms, and wrists, and geez-- even if I can't get enough knitting, my body sure can. Well, I've been remedying the situation by seeing an excellent acupuncturist. After 3 measly (and intensely relaxing) sessions, I was able to resume many of the activities I missed doing-- knitting being the most important one.

Well, seeing as I regained the use of my arms so easily and holistically, I decided that it was high time for me to undertake a project I've wanted to knit for a very long time: an entire damn knitted blanket! The original pattern is for a baby blanket in an "Underwater" colour theme, but with some fudged mathematical equations (i.e.: Baby blanket x 3ish for length x 3ish for width= Big Blanket), and a fancy for the shades of autumn leaves, I am adapting the project to be big enough for Marty and I.

Well, I have made it through the first strip of the pattern and part of the second one (photos to be added later-- Marty must have taken the camera on his bike ride this morning). Already, it has become apparent that I am a complete and utter fool. The nagging soreness in my arms has returned, and if my poor wrists could talk, they would strongly tsk-tsk me, I'm sure of it. Their lecture would be something along the lines of: "I know that you're excited to start knitting again, but really-- would it maybe be sufficient to knit a pair of mittens instead of knitting 500 rows of blanket and weaving in the ends all in one sitting??" Heh. When you put it that way...

I will have to return to my sweet (and hopefully understanding) acupuncturist this Friday to start the healing process all over again. It's OK, though-- I completely enjoy the feeling of the needles in my forearms (and sometimes my feet and ears!), and it's even better when she does some roving cupping on my back and shoulder muscles-- I don't even mind the resulting (huge, dark, questionable-looking) hickeys that linger for nearly a week afterward...

I [heart] Depeche Mode!

Just recently, I stumbled into an intense, all-consuming obsession (the good way) with Depeche Mode. I can't say why or how this happened, exactly, but I can tell you that I haven't been this enthralled with a band since junior high, when I was outrageously in love with U2 and even nicknamed myself Bono while playing computer games (I know-- terribly cool, right?). We watched their live DVD "Touring the Angel" the other night, and I was positively blown away-- so much so, in fact, that I watched it AGAIN the very next night. Now, of course, I must. see. Depeche. live. in concert. I must.

I am now the unofficial President of the Teenage Depeche Mode Fanclub. Sure, I'm about 15 years late jumping on this bandwagon, but better late than never, right?

"Never Let Me Down" Live: I appreciate the jazz hands action of 80,000 fans, though it's not captured nearly as good in this video as it was in the official DVD.

So far, 2008 is PERFECT!

Well, we are back from a quick jaunt into the temperate rainforests to ring in the new year. We spent a night camping at the illustrious French Beach, and for probably the first time in west coast history, it did not rain AT ALL on the 31st or the 1st! There's one for the record books!

It's amazing how different camping and hiking are here, compared to Kananaskis and Banff National Park, where we are used to spending time outdoors. In Alberta, there are plenty of things to be worried about when camping: bears, cougars, freezing to death, avalanches, falling through ice, getting caught in snowdrifts up to your head, etc., etc. Here, you still have to worry about bears and cougars, but most people say this tongue and cheek like there is only one Ogopogo-like bear that only the craziest people have actually ever "seen". Overall, though, for some reason, camping here never feels as dangerous-- it's like a gorgeous and inspiring Camping Lite.

This past holiday, we did discover something that you must absolutely fear here that you wouldn't even think about back in Alberta (aside from the tide coming in and swallowing your tent on the beach): FALLING TREES. Wind storms on the west coast, especially in winter, are commonplace and intense. Hence, we strategically put our tent in the mossy depths near a giant cedar tree and hoped to hell that it would shelter us in the event of a wind storm. Luckily, it did.

Unfortunately, the starfish weren't as lucky as we were in the overnight winds. We saw nearly 10 of these guys washed up on the shore, most of them already dead.

New Year's Day was spent hiking a mere 2 km on the epic 47 km Juan de Fuca Marine Coast Trail. What a beautiful hike!

Cozying up on Mystic Beach

Those measly 2 km (and back) made us hunger for more rainforest hiking, so hopefully I can book some time off of work STAT and make plans to do the whole thing-- finally!

I hope you have all enjoyed the 2 days of the new year as much as we have!

2007: Year in Review by Dana L.

If 2006 was a year of endings, then 2007 will be remembered as a year of rebuilding. Marty and I slowly but surely transported our possessions from the "prairies" (ha- because Calgary is so prairie like!) to the beautiful island, and we also spent time building up our livelihoods in a brand new place. Marty went from a few alarmingly dry months of art sales here to having his best year ever, and I progressed from spending time at agonizingly horrible jobs to rekindling my interest and experience in the non-profit world.

One of the many trips back and forth in our Nomad to bring all of our stuff here to Victoria.

2007 feels like a cusp or a turning point, though-- not something complete or finite in and of itself. I have a clear sense that 2008 will be a whooshing journey into something completely different but completely incredible. As audible as a clock's ticking, I hear the countdown inside of me. This ticking, I'm relieved to tell you, is not coming from my biological clock (if I even have such a thing), but rather from my certainty that this, too, shall pass. I'm sure Marty's sales will increasingly come from people all over the world, and I'm hoping that 2008 will be the year when I finally begin to understand the direction my own career/life is heading.

My resolutions for 2008 are not resolutions in the traditional sense; rather, they are plans that I'm putting down on a makeshift 'To Do' List:

1. I'd like to read more books. I am only now just coming out of my academia-induced reading coma, wherein reading was no longer fun but required. In 2008, I'd like to read books that are not published by a university publishing house or other recognized scholarly printing press. Among the books that I'd like to (finally!) start are the Harry Potter series. (I wanted to wait until ALL the books were finished before I started the first one. Now I can go ahead and delve into a 4900-page odyssey!) Perhaps I shall even read some trash! Hooray for trash!

2. I would like to visit some of the Southern Gulf Islands. It's been over a year on this main island already, and yet I've never ventured onto one of the smaller islands. In 2008, Salt Spring-- here I come!

This little guy was spotted on our hike yesterday... along with over 30 of its kind! I had never seen so many jellyfish before, and they were all just relaxin' in the inlet.

3. I will take a vacation. God knows I need one. I don't even care where or how long-- I'm a little burnt out now and would love a few weeks to rejuvenate. (Of course, my mind's eye has already planned out elaborate trips to Peru, Scandinavia, Mongolia, and Mother Ukraine, but I'd be happy even spending a week on a lawnchair up island.)

And on that note, Marty and I will be spending New Year's Eve at the lovely (if not stormy) French Beach. We have welcomed a new addition into our family, and it's high time we start spending a little more time together.

Our SUPER FANTASTIC new Mitsubishi Delica van!! Straight from Japan! 4 wheel drive! Right hand drive! FOG LAMPS!!!!

See you all in the New Year!