S is for GP"S"

 We have traveled the highway many times to get to the lake but now we had a new gadget and we wanted to see it in action. The gps was more for Grant's work, which takes him to all corners of the province. We typed in the address on our new GPS and it did it's calculations. 1 hour and 5 minutes it told us. In 1.5 kms turn right. We laughed at the voice. While Grant drove I played around with the gadget and discovered I could change the voice, I chose "Anna" with an australian accent. Our eyes kept moving from the road to the gps making sure it knew where it was taking us, watching the rolling ball move along the digital map.

Anna's voice tells us to turn right at .5kms. That can't be right. We have to stay on this road for another 30kms or so. But the gps is right. Right? So we follow the directions. We are talking to each other and to the gps, questioning the route that "Anna" has directed us to. 20 mins later we are in "Deliverance", I can hear the banjos playing now. I am telling Grant to turn back and take the highway, that this thing doesn't work. He is stubborn. We continue on in our little honda civic. The road is topsy turvy and I am getting edgy as I want to turn around and take the normal route. The safe route. And the the road ends. All that lies ahead is a dirt path. Looks like nothing more than all terrain vehicles have used this road, judging by the amount of mud on the trail. "Anna" is telling us to forge ahead. Worried our economy car will bottom out on the dirt road, I tell Grant to turn around. Telling turns to arguing, but now he is even more determined to see where this gadget is going to take.

This road has more bumps than a 10th graders pimply face, I wish I had not drank so much water. I look up and see a glimmer of hope. Could that be pavement up ahead? Are the trees clearing? I am trying not to feel too much relief as I still don't know where we are or how far before the nearest restroom is. "Turn left", Anna tells us.We finally pull out onto a normal road and I begin searching for a sign. Snyder Mountain 8kms, the gov't issued road sign said as we passed it. Okay, we know where we are. Only 25 kms away. We haven't stopped chatting about this stupid gadget. How we like, don't like it, it is too precise, not precise enough. The offroad directions added an extra 30mins of travel. I guess "Anna" assumed the route was paved, or that we wanted the "as the crows flies" directions.
Now I see why I don't always take the road less traveled. I like knowing where I am going, how long it will take me to get there. I like a smooth ride. Bumps in my day, I mean in the road, cause me tension and stress. If I know what is up ahead, I am better prepared for it. I have never liked surprises.I am a planner. I'm good with that.

Acceptance

Crouched behind the fallen tree we watched as the old man climbed down from the tree with the eggs. The mother watched from the limbs high above waiting cautiously. She has seen the old man before and each time he has been gentle. The mother trusted him but was watchful for any sign of peril to her babies.
He told us to be quiet. Do you know how hard it is to be quiet when tittering on dried leaves and broken twigs? The old man finally made his way over to the muddy truck. We were deep into the woods, watching life unfold before our eyes. But nothing prepared us for what we were about to see.
The old man set the eggs down on the back of the truck. One was already cracked and rolling around. Time stood still as the mother swooned down closer. The old man told us she would come right up to us if stay calm and quiet. The old man had found the eggs abandoned and took them to her nest hoping nature would takes its course.
Suddenly, one of the eggs began tipping and wobbling. We could hear the clucking sound of baby inside chipping away at the shell. And then it happened. Pieces of the shell fell around and the beak poked through. A wing awkwardly stretched out.

Our eyes grew and our mouths dropped. What was it?

This is in response to Sunday Scribblings prompt Dragon. This passed weekend my family had the pleasure of witnessing two baby Barred Owls be tagged and weighed a biologist/ natural habitat specialist.  The Owls were nested in a tall oak about 100 metres from our cottage. The babies looked like small dragons. At least that is what my imagination saw.

The Sun won’t rise the same

Before I opened the bra shop with Tammy, I used to work fulltime with my hubby, at our office in our home. I had to get an assistant to take my place so that I could focus more time on the shop. It has been an adjustment having a stranger in my home, at my desk, using my kitchen to make the office coffee.
Erni, our assistant, decided to take this week off so I am back at the helm while she is away. At the beginning of creating the bra shop, I felt a lot of stress and pressure from being divided between the two businesses and still be a mom, wife and find time for me. Tammy and I have a good handle on things with The Girls now, so I don’t feel that pressure going into this week at all. Maybe it is because I am well rested from the most amazing long weekend. I think that might have a bit to do with it. The beautiful weather and fresh air probably is helping too.
Today, I started off by enjoying the final chapter of my current read (“I Know This Much is True” by Wally Lamb) and a rich cup of Sumatra. Time to head to the office. I rearrange the desk to suit me~remove all extra pens and post it pads; move the tape dispenser to the left of the computer screen; adjust the chair for my 5’8” frame (Erni wouldn’t be more than 5’2”) and settle in. Grant (Big G) had already started some of the days work to make it a little easier for me. I smiled when I found out. He popped in every now and then to tell me this or that and then would head back to the lab. Later, Big G stepped out to drop off forgotten homework at little g’s school, he returned with takeout ceasar salads for both of us for lunch. We shared jokes and rants about the day, and I looked at my sweetheart and realized how much I love working by his side. To end my disneyesque day, I got an email telling me the proofs of our family photos are ready and a few are posted on Victoria West's blog. The last picture summed up the picture perfect day I spent with my love. Running through my head is Molly Johnson singing “If You Know Love” and I agree, if you know love like I know love, the sun won’t shine the same.

running

After a 2 week break from running and getting over a mild flu,I finally got back on the treadmill. I knew it was not going to be my best run but I was determined to get back at it none the less. While Tammy has been doing more of an endurance run, I prefer doing intervals. I started off with a 1/2 mile walk to warm up. I wanted to get a good warm up so I ramped up the incline to 6.5 and walked at a 3.5 mph. I usually run a 1/4 mile lap at 5 or 5.2 mph (running magazines would call that a light jog) but today I felt strong and wanted to push myself a little further so I pushed the buttons and ran at 6mph. It felt good but I was ready for a walk when I finished that 1/4 mile. I walked for 2 mins and pushed myself again and continued this interval training for the rest of my run. 28 min. later I finished my 2 miles. Not my best time but that didn’t matter. What mattered is that I pushed myself and did it.
Note to self: running gear is not as gimmicky as I once thought. Grabbing the first pair of track pants I saw I got dressed for my run. Cotton is not the best for running. Moisture wicking breathability is essential if you are planning on breaking a sweat. Half way through my run I was reminded of this. The cotton pants felt like 20 lb weights on my legs while my upper half was cool and comfortable. Thanks to my Freya Active sports bra.
I love this bra. It provides the lift and support my GG’s need without compression. The inner sling extends to the shoulder strap to enhance and reduce “bounce” when I run. The Cool Max Fabric does exactly what it claims to do, pull the moisture away. Cool Max Fabric dries five times faster than cotton. I have this bra in nude and red but I have to say I am partial to the red. Maybe it is because it could pass as a running top and I don’t really need another shirt over it or maybe because I love that a full bust girl like me can get something besides nude, even for when I am running.