Ok you’ve probably already discerned I’m not much of a country cowgal. Stampede is not my favorite theme or time of year. True, I’ve lived in Calgary 39 years, you’d think I would have plenty of time to embrace our city’s claim to fame. And while it hasn’t been entirely detestable, it just hasn’t exactly taken root in my heart like…. say… Christmas.

As a kid I remember Calgary was always one of our stops on the way to the mountains since we had relatives living here. Most of my siblings and I would sleep in the car while travelling but we always knew the moment we had arrived in cowtown as we had to drive past the stockyards to get to my aunt and uncles place. Yes, stockyards right in the middle of town, Pyoo. The aroma woke us up immediately.

In regards to the greatest outdoor show on earth, my first beef (get it?) is the entire wearing of the hot sweaty tight blue jeans and cowboy boots, which inevitably means sox, if you don’t want blisters, and toes confined in 30 degree weather. Toes screaming out for sandals. Legs and arms screaming out for sundresses. As nature would have it the week of stampede is often the hottest weather we have all year. When I have held corporate jobs I’ve gone along with the whole cowboy thing in the spirit of team morale plus I was usually enjoying air conditioning which made the charade so much more plausible. I mean when in Rome…I even bit the proverbial bullet and bought myself black cowboy boots embellished with rhinestones, from Lammle’s no less. It’s right beside ZARA so it wasn’t that difficult to find. And somehow I have a pink felt cowboy hat, well I guess no boy would wear it, so cowgirl. I have pink feather earrings and several plaid scarves I can add to anything to give it that western flare. So even though it’s not my cup of tea or keg of beer, I can fake it pretty well.

My second issue is the music that grates on my nerves. Who am I kidding? That’s not music, it’s hard luck whining accompanied by a guitar. I realize this is just my opinion but as far as I’m aware I’m still entitled to one. Just in case you hadn’t heard, apparently when you play a country song backwards you get your house back, your wife back, your truck back and your dog back. I rest my case. Country music has improved with the rise to fame of Taylor swift, Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain and Vince Gil. But outside of that, dont quit your day job.

And what’s with those pancakes? I guess it was the cheapest way to feed millions of people. Haven’t they heard of the Jesus method of 5 loaves and 2 fish? I guess that was only 5000 people. I have to admit the pancake mix is getting better in recent years and some sponsors even add blueberries to their pancakes which is a nice touch. How about some croissants and scones?? Jam and Devonshire cream-now that’s a stampede breakfast I could sink my teeth into.

Let’s talk about that parade. Back in the old days when I used to watch the parade from my front row seat in the Bank of Montreal building on 7th ave, before the LRT line took over the street (maybe I’m just getting old), it was full of creative and entertaining floats. Now it seems to be a never ending line of marching bands and horses pooping all over the street and that doesn’t thrill me at all.

Getting stone drunk at Cowboys bar, the Ranchmans or Nashville North was never my groove either. In the unlikely event that I have a good time, I definitely want to remember it.

Back when oil was pouring out of the ground there were free BBQs on every corner. Between the pancake breakfasts and endless BBQs we challenged ourselves to eat free for an entire week and did. These days the oil isn’t the only thing that’s dried up.

However, over the years I have enjoyed the Grand stand show. I feign interest in the chuck wagon races because you have to watch those first, but I have been pretty impressed with the young Canadians, cirque de soliel and then of course those fireworks that conclude the show. Spectacular if your sitting right beneath them. The fireworks can make the whole experience for me. When they are over we usually wander over to the mini donuts stand and buy a bucket for the trip home. Greasy little tubes of sugar that melt in your mouth. Warning: next morning they rather taste like you left your MacDonald’s fries on the counter. Your mouth feels completely coated in wax so I suggest you eat the whole bucket before retiring for the evening.

Between the Drop of Doom, mini doughnuts, corn dogs and staying up until 2:00am, Lexie inevitably got sick by 3:00am and I was cleaning up barf for the rest of the night, or should I say morning?  I mean, what’s not to love?

The only cowboys I ever really liked were Hoss and little Joe out on the Ponderosa aka Bonanza. Robert Redford and Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid also wore me down. That was back when cowboys were good looking likable heroes.

But here I am, a citizen of Calgary, so I’ll don my cowgal duds and make the best of it. I may even have fun. It’s the most fun you can have with your boots on you know? Well that statement doesnt hold much truth for moi because I don’t have that much fun with my cowboy boots on. Thankfully that’s the only week of the year I wear them. How long til Christmas?

 

—
Sent from Gmail Mobile

I can’t believe this is my last day on the Whole 30. (I started this post on Friday, July 7th). Probably the most profound thing that the Whole 30 has taught me is how fast 30 days goes by. In the blink of an eye, it’s over, just like that. From the other end it feels like forever but those 30 days have slipped through my fingers just like a melting ice cream cone, which wasn’t compliant with Whole 30 by the way. This aspect of the experience just reminds me that if there is anything I want to accomplish or begin, START NOW because before you know it the days have gone by and you are at the other end. Better to have reached a goal and felt victory than live with the remorse and regret of another wasted month or year or life.

I have achieved a small victory. Maybe not so small. I stayed the course for 30 days and lost 7 lbs as of today (day 32). A small dent but you have to start somewhere and I was quickly losing faith in myself to attempt yet another lifestyle change that bombed. But more than that, I have proved to myself that I can do this thing. This thing that loomed monumental over for me for so long.  I have often read that there are no outward signs of weight loss to others until you have lost 20lbs so don’t feel the need to mention – it looks like I’ve lost weight. I don’t need that…. yet.

Another very important lesson was this: make a choice. Make a decision and follow it through. Be honest with yourself and trust yourself. Yes, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, but even that has to be believed and you have to start the actions.

I’m learning to cook with Whole foods and realizing how scrumptious and satisfying they really are. At no time during the Whole 30 was I hungry or overcome with cravings for food that doesn’t satisfy. I am as surprised about that as you. So I will continue with the Whole 30 with minor modifications because it really is changing my life just as the founders promised. Not an instant change but a slow deep and profound changing that will become more evident as I continue this journey.

I simply was not dying for it to be over so I could go back to my old habits. They weren’t working and they were making me sick and tired and miserable so …. good riddance. I’ve been empowered and feel ready to tackle other mountains that have nothing to do with food, health and weight. So it’s been a very good thing for me. I would highly recommend it.

i would also add that I started to power walk 4-5x a week for approx 6.5 kilometres – just to clear the brain and do something else healthy. More on that later.

Sometimes we have to say goodbye to the same old same old, especially if it isn’t working and embrace something new and even something challenging. It’s the challenge that provides the victory which provides the empowerment. Hello new healthy life.

BTW I took my blood pressure on one of those machines in Safeway the other night and it was 134/83 which is an all time low for me. I’m not on meds either. I was elated. The last couple of times I attempted that the cuff nearly severed my arm off and I had to hit the emergency stop button. Of course my blood pressure was high after that experience.

Feeling fine!

 

 

 

Driving through the majestic Rocky Mountains watching the teal green lakes blurr by and keeping track of the sparse cloud formations, adjusting and re-adjusting the air aaaconditioning because it’s hot and sunny out there…a truly glorious day that I get to enjoy from at the comfort of the passenger seat as I doze in and out of consciousness. When fully awake, I enjoy the music stylings of Michael Buble, Frank, Ella, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot and Kenny Gee. I read a book, look at magazines on my iPad and discuss current events and issues with Mike as Andrew dozes in the back with his earphones on.

Cruising across the azure blue water water in the intense heat and sun, zipping past all the other water taxis, leaving a wake behind us. We approach Granville island with all its shops, entertainment, every kind of food imaginable and flowers from heaven. And the marina….I want to just store a boat at the marina and live on it. My brother takes us onto the pier to show us the sailboat he is taking out the next day. After securing a snack of fish and chips we sit down to listen to the live music concert. A Frenchman playing the guitar and serenading us in his native tongue. It would have been so much more enjoyable had he not stopped singing and playing everytime someone produced a camera phone.

We followed this up with a visit to the shores of White Rock for the Canada day fireworks. A beautiful evening enhanced by mini lights and stars and throngs of people with a common purpose. It was magical. The following day we drove back to Calgary involving another exquisite day in the mountains.

At the beginning of May my sisters, my mom and my daughter and I all met up in Las Vegas for my moms 85th birthday. We had an amazing, fun and memorable week basking in the sun by the pool, eating out, going to shows, shopping, laughing…. I can’t remember having so inch fun in a very long time. This was followed up by Mothers Day, my birthday, Mikes birthday and Fathers Day. Celebrations all. My birthday was especially special since I was celebrating 60. Who knew 60 involved pink limosines? Life certainly is not boring.

I’ve had friends in for coffee and dinner and gone out and met friends at favorite venues in the city. I’ve seen most of the movies I want to see as we go almost every week. The stampede is now on in our western city and we attended the chinook pancake breakfast this morning. Then we came home and Mike took off to golf for the day and Lexie was in Banff setting up a wedding. Andrew was doing his own thing in the man cave which left me at loose ends. I just had this hankering to go do something exciting, as always. But I’ve run out of exciting. Maybe I’ve become addicted to exciting. Maybe this is a result of being unemployed?

It’s not like I have nothing to do at home. I need to bake for a friends birthday. I need to help Andrew unpack his belongings that we crated home last weekend. I need to write, read and journal. I need to clean my house before the city arrives to condemn it. I’ve got sewing to do and projects to make and social media intracies to learn, meals to prepare. I also happen to live in a beautiful well decorated home surrounded by a plethora of beautiful things. There is always purging and organizing to do which can be very satisfying and dare I say? exciting?

So I force myself to stay at home and engage in domestic duties, work on hobbies or just sit out on the deck and help Andrew make decisions. Life can’t be exciting every moment, every day or even every week. Much of life IS mundane. Mundane suggests there are no crisis’ going on, at least nothing that can’t be fixed or worked on. Stress is not an adjective of mundane. The definition of mundane is lacking excitement or dull.

Then it occurs to me that there are women that would find being in my home exciting. They would view my life as exciting for the most part and they would be correct. There is so much to do and see to stimulate the mind over here. They would view my lifestyle and opportunities as exciting. I overlook how blessed I am and start to feel restless and discontented instead. There’s nothing wrong with just being at home and minding my own business. Home sweet home as the saying goes. A steady diet of excitement wouldn’t be the answer either. Everything in moderation.

A person needs time to relax and let their hair down. At time to quiet their spirit and focus their mind to solve problems or not think at all. At time to change into your lounging rags and not care what you look like. Be ultimately comfortable. A person needs to turn off the world and formulate philosophies, belief systems, contingency plans. A time to pray and a time to listen for answers. A time to read and a time to study. A time for privacy. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun.

So I’m going to try to embrace mundane and see if I can’t find the excitement i crave in the mundane things of life. It’s all a matter of perspective anyway.

 

 

—
Sent from Gmail Mobile

So I guess I had a bit of a senior slip. Or maybe a menopause moment? Or possibly a blonde blunder? Or maybe too much yoga, emptying out a busy mind. I emptied it out all right and then spent last evening looking for the anniversary card I bought mike for today.

You should know this about me. I’m a card person. I mean, I’m totally about the cards. I love getting cards and I love giving cards. It’s a way to share your heart without actually speaking out loud. As an introvert this has been my medium over the years. I cherish receiving cards as well. What a card says to me is that the person was thinking about me. That the person took the time to select the exact right sentiments. I adore pretty cards and the women in my life certainly know how to choose them as they have given me cards that I wallpaper my studio with. I love reading the sentiments over and over and find encouragement and love there. People don’t usually give cards if they are mad at you, don’t like you or to express anger. People don’t give cards to someone who means nothing to them. Because cards are so special and important to me I am a voracious card giver. I’m prolific with my sentiments as well.

For years I have given Mike cards galore. Cards just because. Cards to express my feelings that day. On special occasions very often I give Mike several cards. Mike has never really been able to understand this as this is not his language of love. My language of love is words of affirmation, gifts and good surprises. So I’ve been trying to woo him in my love language or maybe just set an example? One Christmas a few years ago my dear husband did not give me a card and I pretty much let it ruin my day. He didn’t even know this was going on inside me. He actually made the statement ‘I never get you a Christmas card’  so I had to go dig up all the beautiful Christmas cards he had given me. Anyhow I had to give myself a lecture and remind myself this was not a slight, he simply forgot and was he not present and sharing Christmas with me? I’ve always told him ‘all I need for Christmas is you’.

As you can imagine, as a result of this fetish, I rather pride myself on my card giving and making abilities so I was extremely flustered when I could not find the anniversary card I bought Mike last night and it was too late to make one. I literally turned the house upside down after he went to bed, to no avail. I thought, I guess I’ll have to use my light box message board and proceeded to spell out Happy Anniversary Honey. Well the word anniversary was too long and there weren’t enough ‘y’s. So then Happy 36th Honey -not enough ‘h’s. So then Happy 36th Sweetheart but sweetheart was too long and again not enough ‘h’s. I had to settle for Happy 36th Sweet❤️.

When I awoke this morning, embarrassed not to have a card,  I went to Mikes desk to wish him a Happy Anniversary and sitting on the top of his shelf was the anniversary card I had been looking for. But I could see it had no envelope, no cellophane wrapping and there was writing in it. What? So I picked it up and realized it said Happy Fathers Day on it. Mikes birthday is June 6 and Fathers Day was June 18 and when I bought mikes birthday card I picked up a Fathers Day card as well and in my mind I thought I’d picked out an anniversary card. So I spent yesterday just lollygagging around because I thought I had all the bases covered. Not! In my mind this is a major faux pas.

I stopped and selected one on my way home from my walk this morning. Plus I save all the cards so I also dug out 36 years of anniversary cards to redeem myself. Now I am just reading through them and remembering the years. Truly a walk down memory lane. Silver linings.

Today marks the anniversary of the day I married my soulmate. Well he wasn’t my soulmate when I married him. But he’s become my soulmate over 36 years of better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health. I, personally, do not believe you find your soulmate, I believe you forge a soulmate, if there is such a thing. You have to do real life with someone to reach soulmate status. After 36 years we have definitely done real life. We have faced some of the most difficult scenarios that often separate couples but each of us has always had a propensity to serve the Lord and trust Him with our difficulties and He has held us together and brought us through everything and always restored and grown love where it may have been lacking or fading. I think we know and understand 1 Corinthians 13 love.

One thing I always prayed was that I would see Mike through Gods eyes. That I would see what God sees when He looks down on my husband with patience and love. And God has been faithful to answer that prayer. Even now when I see my husband across a crowded room or the church foyer or cutting the grass or fixing one of the kids cars my heart wells with love for this man and who he is and what we’ve shared. Even the difficult , or especially the difficult, has bonded us in a way nothing else could. I know Mike is a work in progress just as I am. I will confess, I have not always been the loving, respectful wife with a willingness to serve but God has loved me enough to correct me and guide me. He leads me in paths of righteousness.

Mike has his man cave and I have my basement studio and most often we are separated by two levels doing our own thing. But we are comfortable doing our own thing because we understand who we are and what we have at our foundation. When I hear of women dealing with life on their own and the struggles and stress that has now become their lives I thank the Lord for Mike. Every. Single. Day. I don’t have to do life alone and I know I am of all women, most blessed. I don’t have to parent alone and we enjoy beautiful rich relationships with other couples that enhance our lives and marriage.

I will always fight for Mike, cheer for Mike, pray for Mike, commit to Mike. I will laugh with Mike and share with Mike. I will be joyful in hope with Mike. Faithful in prayer with Mike. Patient in affliction with Mike. Two are better than one for if one falls down the other can help him up.

We are by no means the perfect romantic couple that never raises our voices or gets angry or makes mistakes or gets selfish or acts childish, for that matter, but we are committed to the long haul and we have made beautiful memories together and anticipate many more. We have grown into soulmates and for that I am grateful to God for sending Michael my way.

I read a book by Gary Thomas called Sacred Marriage and I’ve read many of his books. I love them. Sort of C.S. Lewis meets Gary Smalley and he suggests that marriage was not created to make us happy but rather it was created to make us holy. My prayer is for both.

Love you to Mars and back my Michael. (apparently Mars is farther than the moon so you get the picture).

 

Here I sit on a glorious July 1 long weekend Monday. How did it get to be July 3rd anyway? Sitting on my deck, just enjoying the quiet of my backyard. Listening to columnar aspens rustle in the wind (listening to the neighbors dog howl as another neighbors cigarette smoke wafts over the fence to assault my nostrils). Nothing’s perfect. The birds chirp happily as they feast on seeds from our bird feeder and pansies I didnt plant continue to grow in the back corner of the grass. I entertained the idea of going out and doing something exciting today but what’s left?

On Friday we had a beautiful drive through the mountains to Langley, BC to pack up Andrews treasures and bring them home to reside with him here for awhile. There is nothing that takes my breath away or conjures up happy memories for me like the mountains. Not even the Eiffel tower. Friday wound down with a delicious BBQ at my brothers place. July 1st – Canadas 150th birthday – was divided between a water ferry to Granville island for the afternoon and meeting friends at White Rock for the fireworks in the evening. Granville was its usual hum of activity with the luscious and colourful market, musicians, jugglers, sailboats and seagulls. Saturday evening we parked the car about 10 blocks above sea level and descended to the boardwalk in anticipation of the fireworks. Just a few million others had the same idea. Parallel to the boardwalk and the water are train tracks. We watched a father and his sons while away the time waiting for fireworks by placing coins on the tracks repeatedly and collecting them after the train had passed and flattened them out. (4 trains while we were there). And finally fireworks lit up the sky to oohs and awes. Sunday was another Rocky Mountain drive home in brilliant sunlight and warmth. Stopping in Kamloops to have coffee with my aunt and uncles who drove in from their cottage (which we will visit later in the summer). What’s left? I mean what could top those 3 days? I returned to my power walking this morning. Lexie is baking cookies for a baby shower. Andrew is engaged in one of his favorite pastimes – video games and Mike is out horseback riding with a friend. And I’m listening to Anastasia because Lexie can’t bake without watching a movie.

Yes there are others with more exciting and glamourous lives than we. Some people are out boating on a azzure waters today. Some are on vacation in Greece, some are swimming in the new pool in their backyard, some have climbed a high mountain and are enjoying the view, some are enjoying cottage life at the lake. Some are getting married today and some are on honeymoons. Some are attending their favorite concert. Somewhere, someone is falling in love. Some are having babies. Celebrities are out making headlines doing what ever it is celebrities do. But I’m at home, just sitting on my deck hoping Mike returns before the thunderstorm my weather network warned about hits. And that’s ok. I’ve been and am blessed. And I’m so grateful to have a home and a deck and my loved ones close by.

Ah… I can hear the thunder beginning to rumble and see the dark clouds start to gather overhead. The rain is here. I go in.