lists and lessons

And the big things are crossed off of the to-do list, months and months and months later. At practice the other day, I told the girls that they had a 70% greater chance of achieving their goals if they wrote them down; the number, I made up. BUT... I've heard that stat before and though there may not have been a number attached to it, the deal is this: if you write down your goals, you have a much better chance of reaching the finish line. And though I didn't make it a goal to get a new cell phone or a new pair of shoes, I have been writing these to-do things down for the past hmmmm... year? six months? There is no parameter on this write down and you will achieve soupcon of advice. So yes, I finally have an Ottawa cell number, and I have new runners! The ladies I ran with in Tokyo know that I was talking about getting new kicks since I started running with them, and finally, it's a fait accompli! They are nice and new and comfy and cute and I love them. The cell phone isn't bad either; I decided to go with Wind Mobile, and bought a new phone for $70 and didn't have to sign a contract or anything. I also don't have to pay for incoming calls, voicemail, caller ID or any of those other things that the gouger cell phone companies in Canada make you pay for. I'm still a bit sceptical - maybe there are hidden fees and charges for ? who knows what... we'll see.

And we have visitors coming this weekend! Marg and Bob and Erin and Fred are heading here later today for the weekend. Steve trains tomorrow and then has Sat and Sun off, and I have my last practice of the week tonight... SO! We'll have to make some plans and get out and do some fun stuff. Coaching has been good - a bit busy, but good. I came home feeling a bit bleh last night, after a mixed bag practice. The first half was great, and the second half was, well, not so good. The side that I was coaching was slacking, so I made them run; and then I made them run again because people were cutting corners and not touching lines... and still not touching lines. To me, again, this is all about attitude - I just don't get how individuals can slough off accountability, knowing that it will adversely affect their team. Is this a difficult to teach/difficult to learn life lesson? Or just one of the many wonderful challenges of team sport...

A lesson via Bill Neville, a great coach and fabulous mentor, written on the back of one of his coach's manuals:

Nevillizms, Inc.
LEARNING HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR BEST IN VOLLEYBALL

Lakota Wisdom

An old Lakota-Sioux is teaching his grandson about life.
"A fight is going on inside me, " he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil. He is anger, envy, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, quitting, cheating and ego.

The other is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, commitment, and discipline.

The same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute, and then asked his grandfather,

"Which wolf will win?"

The old man replied simply,

"The one you feed."

a relaxing weekend!

22 weeks!

What a relaxing weeekend! I don't feel like I did much to deserve it... but whatever. I left the house but once on Friday - wait, no, twice - and spent most of it lounging, reading, scrapbooking, organizing, and really just being lazy. The order of business for Saturday was to finally tackle the to-do list that has been around for weeks and get my haircut and get an Ottawa cell number. I had success with the first, but not with the second. Because we're so in and out and all over the place, I'm trying to find a provider that I don't have to sign a contract with, and the the best deal I've found so far is with newcomer Wind Mobile. However, my old phone won't work with their new network - on one hand, this is welcome news; my current phone is a total piecer... but, on the other hand, I'm not super enthused about paying $450 for a new, fancy, smartphone. Cell phone schmell phone... I'll figure it out.

Yesterday morning may have been the culmination of the relaxing weekend - we went to Le Spa Nordik, and spent almost three hours bathing, lounging, chatting and relaxing. I am a bit limited in my prego-state and can't go in all of the hot pools and steam and sauna rooms, but managed in the one warm jet-tubby pool and by the fire and in the lounge chairs out in the sun just fine. And then, after a quick round of Ikea, we went to my aunt Zella's (no pics there, wooooops) for a BBQ dinner. She made an amazing couscous salad (recipe below), and we brought some deli sausages and chicken for the grill. It all came together perfectly, and after a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie from Costco, we waddled out to the car and home.

There isn't much news on the prego-front, but the little guy - is it from the food or the lounging? - has been moving around quite a bit these last few days, and it's sooooo amazing. With the bigger kicks and elbows and moving parts I can sometimes see and not just feel the poke out, and yup, that's pretty amazing too. I had a doctor's appointment last week, and everything is so far so good, so hopefully things will continue that way. We were looking at baby things at Ikea yesterday, and are starting to think about what we need for the room, and about tackling that to-do list. Where the baby will sleep is also the second bedroom and the office, and home to some uggggggly curtains... so some changes need to be made. Okay, and with that I'd better go and get something done - I leave for practice soon and... there's always a list. I leave you with a recipe and some links!

Couscous Salad

2/3 cup dried currants/cranberries (soak in hot water for 15 minutes, drain)
3 tbsp butter
1/8 tsp powdered saffron (not sure if that was included)
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups couscous
1 1/2 cups celery, finely diced
1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted lightly
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
Dressing:
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper

Melt butter with saffron, stirring constantly; add stock, bring to a boil. Add couscous - once cooked and fluffed, transfer to a big bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Dress, salt and pepper and enjoy!

The images above and below are from a project called Unlimited Urban Woods, a public art project in Holland... the view below can be seen in the box above - check out the article here...


I want to live in a bookshelf! A bookshelf apartment? Okay, it's just an art exhibit... but I like the idea...

Thursday again, already!?

And another week has flown by. Is this a summer thing, the speedy speedy time? Hmmm... maybe, maybe not. We're often so busy in June, July and August, being home and back in Canada, doing volleyball things and coaching things that before we know it, it's time to head back to a faraway land. But then again, it doesn't seem like NINE years ago that Steve and I started dating. Now that seems like a long time ago... nine years? Eeeeek.

Region Six at the RTTC last week

So, life has been good. I've been a little tired lately, but I can't say if it's from the 8 hour (plus) days in the gym or the pregnancy... maybe both? The team that I'm coaching (Region Six vball, bound for the Ontario Summer Games in a few weeks) spent four days at Humber College last week, immersed in gym and volleyland. It may have been a bit tiring for the coaches (I'm hoping it wasn't just me) and the girls, but it was a great learning experience for all. The team is now back in Ottawa and practicing Monday through Thursday, with two sessions almost every day. And it's so far so good - everyone seems to be enjoying themselves and getting better, so we're on the right track (I think). Even though it was a long time ago, I remember being where they are now - U15/U16 and training with a new group in a new place at a new level - and I remember loving it. There are two things that I remember most about that summer, training and playing at the 1992 BC Summer Games. The first is meeting my best friend, Lindsay - Lindsay Boyonnaise. Linds was named the team's alternate, and our coach decided that even though we were allowed just 12 players at the tournament, she'd bring her anyways. At accreditation, it was clear that we had too many; 13? No, 12 per team. On the spot, Nora gave her a new last name (Boyonnaise - !?) and announced that she was our team physiotherapist... and that was that, she was in. The other thing that stands out is what I learned from our assistant coach, John McGowan. Looking back, I don't think he was the most amazing technical coach, but the lessons that I learned from him about attitude were huge. And it's funny, now, being on the coaching side of things, and thinking about lessons like the ones I learned from him. There are lots of girls with talent on this team, but the right attitude is missing in many; the will to work, the look that says I want to get better I will get better... isn't always there. But, it's a great group of girls, and there's a lot of potential; like everything else, attitude is something that can always be worked on, and that's what the coaches are there for - to work and facilitate, and help athletes improve.

At last! Bump pics (or pic). We've been a bit busy, so I haven't been logging the growing bump as much as I would have liked. I'm 21 weeks and four days today, so there's still some time for bump logging and prego-blogging. However, I must be aware - time will be up before we know it!

At 21 weeks

a quick one!

playing washers... in style

Eeeeep, this blog has been through the desert - a week sans blog? That's a dry spell. This has to be short and sweet though... I have 10 minutes! I have to start with this past weekend because it was soooo so so amazing, and I promise to post pics as soon as I get some from Marg and Pam - we neglected to bring a camera to the family weekend get-together at the cottage on the Crowe. Steve and I left Ottawa on Thursday night and joined Bob and Marg, Aunt and Unc, Paul and Steph, and Colleen, Rod, Kai and Nyla at the Brinkman/Tukker place on the meandering and warm watered Crowe River. We swam, relaxed, played games, did puzzles, read, swam, relaxed, ATE, roasted s'mores, and on Saturday, ooooooh, there was a campfire, a coup (Pam Crocker for president!) and a fabulous fireworks show put on by Bob Crocker. It was a weekend of perfection. The water was sooo warm, the weather was great, and the meals, as always, were amazing (egg mcmuffins, waffles, pancakes, fruit, yogurt, cereal for breakfast, baked goods - brownies, cookies, cakes, shortbread - throughout the day, BBQ, perogies and a Greek feast for dinner... and more...). We watched soccer on Sunday, and even though we wore orange and drank Heineken and ate croquettes, the Dutchies couldn't pull it off. The mood was downer for maybe four minutes, and then the whole lot of us decided to pile into the river with jumps, cannonballs (from the men) and twists and twirls (from Nyla). The Tukkers organized a small Happy Retirement party for Bob, complete with sparkly sign, balloons, decorations, a gift basket, and an almost life-sized cutout of Austin Powers... yeah! So it was a great weekend. We were back to Ottawa on Monday, and I started practice (as a coach, with a regional team) later that day. All is well so far, and I'm at Humber College with the team until Saturday. SO! That's it for now - my time is up, the bell is ringing and I must go - forgive any spelling mistakes... and pics are soon to come!

Kai and Nyla, with birthday goodies (tutu and soccer ball)... so cute!

this looks like mid-twirl - nice moves Nyla!

around the campfire, roasting s'mores ... yum!

some serious Dutch soccer fans!

Steph, Pam, Steve and I on the porch

breakfast time and everyone in the kitchen!

news!

There has been so much going on in these past few days, and all of it has been good good good! The list: Steve came home from Australia, we celebrated our first anniversary, (with cake (very, very yummy cake) and beautiful flowers - they arrived before my hubby did, on Sunday afternoon!), Steve's sister and her husband celebrated their second anniversary, Steve's dad had his last day of work on Monday and is now retired (!!), and... we had our fourth ultrasound, the big-news, 20-week deal. It was amazing, so so so amazing, to see everything in such detail: the four chambers of the heart, the hands and feet and fingers and toes, the spine and the facial features... we were completely and totally captivated. Of course, the best part was hearing that everything looked as it should, and that the little one is healthy. The second best part happened at the very end, after the technician had switched off the machine; we both asked, expectantly, "aaaaand, is it a boy or a girl?" She turned the machine back on and showed us... and it's a boy! We're having a boy!! Eeeeee so exciting. I immediately teared up with happiness... SO! That's the biggest news of all, at least for us. We don't have names, and when we do come up with some potentials, we're not going to share; we're not going to do the pre-naming thing but instead, wait and see. So... yup. Big news!

19 weeks... the belly is beginning!

the little guy! so amazing...

It has been ridiculously hot here... too hot. I think today's temp is something like 34, but with the humidity it feels like 44? No more outside workouts for me... ugh. I went for a walk on Monday morning and thought my sunglasses were going to melt - I was actually tempted to call Steve and have him pick me up half way. I didn't, but downed every drop of water that I had and vowed to never exercise-walk again in such heat, especially while pregnant. I'll stick to the pool, the gym and our apartment thank you very much. Ummmm, okay. The recipe for the cake, which is delicious...

2/3 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk

I baked it up in two 9-inch round pans - 350 degrees for approx. 40 minutes. My mom makes this recipe as Raspberry Cake: bake half of the recipe with a layer of raspberries on top... when it comes out of the oven, drizzle with a thin layer of runny icing - it will melt into the berries and cake... mmmmm, also super delicious!

happy first anniversary! after a yummy lunch on July 5th.....

yummy cake, at last!

a year ago today...

A year ago today was the best part of the best week of my life... the day I married the love of my life... amazing! Since Tuesday, I've been thinking about what we were doing at this time last year; seeing people, picking up friends, the fabulous meals, the weather, the parties - at Overbury and at my parents' place, and more and more. It was such a perfect week, and I love that it was a week, not just one day or even two - things got going on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meals at the pub, on the deck (fitting 15 people? or more? around my dad's enormous table was a highlight for all who were there), quiet coffee in the morning, loud drinks at night, seeing people from near and far... it was all just so perfect, and I love that I have these memories and that we had that time with the important people in our lives. And then the day, the dress, the ceremony... and the photos, food and fete; was this pure happiness? I think so, I think maybe. It was amazing... and it brings such a huge smile to my face. So, thank you to all who came, to all who shared, to all who made it happen, and of course, to Steve for making that day and the past year truly the best!

o canada...

Canada! What a birthday. I made my way up to Parliament Hill (along with the rest of Ottawa) to see and experience the festivities. I've been there before on July 1st, but never, of course, when the Queen has also been atop the mount, and it was crrrrazy! As the clock neared noon, more and more people packed the streets, and it was a bit of a challenge finding a spot that allowed for two ounces of personal space and an inch of a view; there were a few jumbo screens way up at the stage, but even with those, I'm not sure how people under six feet tall saw anything at all. Kids perched atop shoulders and people stood on benches and flower pots to get a better look at the Mounties and the marching band and the bagpipers that preceded the Queen's carriage. And then there she was, in her red outfit and white hat, being helped down from her seat in front of a tightly-packed, enthusiastic and reverent crowd. She made her way up the red carpet to the stage area and then the entertainment began. I was planning on staying around to hear her speak, but, by band #5, couldn't take it anymore. It was hot, my knees were sore AND the music was getting baaaaad.... in-yo-face french rap? Um, no thanks. It was a bit of a challenge getting out of there, but with time and patience, I managed. The rest of the day was good - I hung out with my aunt and then we had dinner at a neighbor's house - a neighbor of my Grandma and Grandpa's, that is; they've passed on, but Joyce still lives next door. However, the house that once was is no longer (the house that belonged to my grandparents). It's sad, especially because the monstrosity that has replaced their charming home is ugly, enormous and completely out of synch with the feel of the neighborhood. I will take pictures, and post the before and after. It's horrible.

Anyways, onwards. My bump is growing! I don't notice anything day to day really, but the clothes are starting to fit a little differently and maybe soon it will be obvious. Steve gets back on Sunday night (our anniversary!), and then on Monday we go together for the 20-week ultrasound... exciting! Fingers crossed that all is well. I still haven't felt any movement that I can clearly distinguish as baby-movement, but I know that it's coming soon. The self-portraits just aren't working right now, so I'll get Steve to take some pics when he's back... can't wait!