A Red Letter Day

Ruby Laden Down With Groceries and Such...

Today was an exhilarating day!

I've spent several of the past years housebound a lot of the time and very dependent on others whenever I've needed things from the 'outside world'.

When it became very difficult to climb the stairs leading out of our previous apartment, the world became a much smaller place.

Recently we moved to a suite without stairs and it has become possible for me to take my motorized scooter, Ruby, outside. Today was the first time I ventured out on my own to the small shopping centre a few blocks away.

It probably sounds like a small accomplishment for someone in their early 30's who has already lived a full life! I'll try to explain a bit why it is a huge step for me...

You know how in some suspenseful movies there are scenes at amusement parks or parades where the director is trying to convey confusion, huge crowds are shown and everything is really noisy? There are usually lots of lights - some bright some dimmed - and usually things are filmed sort of Topsy-turvily.

Since I've been having neurological issues, that is sort of how my brain feels all of the time. I think that is why I I find it less tiring to communicate by email than on the phone. So, to drive alongside the noisy traffic on the very busy road we live on was an intimidating prospect. Even watching for cars along the driveways and street corners takes a lot of extra concentration for me.

I had the rubber grips from Ruby's handles imprinted on my palms when I finally arrived...I had been holding on to her for dear life! People in vehicles are in such a hurry, they seem loathe to wait the time it takes for me to cross the street, so I have to be very attentive.

But, it was so worth it! The feel of the warm sun on my face, and the breeze in my hair! Getting to leisurely peruse everything in the grocery store... Finding a darling little neighborhood bakery with home-made curry chicken pasties someone brings in, fresh-made pizza dough and chocolate eclairs!

I am so thankful for Ruby. The streets are quite hilly and some spots are under construction so they are horribly rocky. Even though she isn't meant for much outdoor riding, she has handled beautifully. When we got back home I felt as if I should give her some carrots or sugar cubes as a reward, but sadly I know such things mean nothing to her. I guess I will just recharge her batteries.

I had my camera with me to take some pics of neat things I saw along the way, but I ended up deciding I had better pay attention to the traffic. I will take pictures of the surroundings another time for another post...

I'm thankful to R and F2 for walking with me to the mall when they were here as that made it a little less scary today. Now I am excited to get out again and have more independence during these beautiful summer days!

Have you done anything lately that scared you?

Delayed Expectations

Anyone from Winnipeg will immediately recognize the above decor as belonging to Baked Expectations in Osborne Village. I am going through my biannual Baked Ex cravings.

Every spring since I have moved away from Winnipeg, I have an incredible desire for their Cinnamon Torte. In winter I long for a slice of the Bavarian cheesecake.

Now the thing is...I am not a sweets person at all. I know for sure that I could count on both hands the number of times I have ordered dessert after a meal. Perhaps just five fingers might be sufficient.

Before discovering Baked Expectations I would never go to a restaurant to order a piece of cake. I'd bake something at home if I needed a taste of something sweet. This snazzy black, red and white delight changed all that.

I should mention they make excellent sandwiches etc. too but that isn't what is on our agenda today is it? Emphatically no! It is the Cinnamon Torte that keeps intruding on my thoughts and even making sweet, brief appearances in my dreams.

I have tried Cinnamon cakes in other bakeries but they are all trying too hard to be supermodels with flashy animal prints and trashy stilettos. Too much spice. The Baked Ex Torte is shyly sweet and steals your heart with it's subtleness.

Next time I go to Winnipeg I am buying a cake and bringing some home for my freezer...

Cube It

Has anyone seen a store like this before? While we were in Aberdeen Mall last weekend, we saw one for the first time.



F2 said that she had seen stores like this in when she was in Taiwan. It is a very interesting concept!



The entire store is comprised of little cubes which are for rent. Businesses or private individuals who have goods or services to sell can then rent the cubes to show their goods. Not all of the cubes were full, but a good percentage of them were.



They were filled with everything you could imagine. One girl was advertising cute home-knit mittens and little pedicure kits. There were other cubes offering food, vacations, cell phones, jewellery and memorabilia.



I couldn't help but wonder if anyone has ever rented one to do a marriage proposal in? I'm sure it has been done...

Early Days Of May

Ruby Being Loaded On the Plane

Kitchen in Hotel Room

Pool and Hot Tub

Tennis Courts and BBQ

We are going back in time for today's post (insert cheesy "Lost in Space" music and sound effects here). As many of you know I went back to Calgary at the beginning of May. I was missing my family so much and the trip back to see them turned out to be exactly what I needed.

I ended up staying at a place called Lakeview Resorts. I wish that every city had one of these hotels or at least one based on this concept because then I would always know exactly where to stay. The studio suite I stayed in was designed like a small apartment.

It was perfectly flat and spacious which made it easy for me to get around and to use Ruby (my motorized scooter for those not 'in the know'). It had all the conveniences of home like a dishwasher, in-room icemaker, DVD and CD players etc... It also had a sofabed so that friends and family could stay over with me and visit. Plus, it was economical with breakfast and night-time snacks thrown in to boot. Another great find thanks to tripadvisor.com!

I was a bit nervous about doing the whole airplane thing all by myself but Westjet is so great with people who have extra concerns. As the first picture shows, I actually was able to see Ruby being loaded onto the plane and saw the great care they took with her.

Vancouver airport is a dream in how it handles people in wheelchairs. Calgary airport isn't unkind, but they would do well to talk to some people with disabilities to see how they could better handle their needs when going through the security process!

I hope everyone is having a refreshing weekend!

Communication Experimentation

My Brother and His Wife

More on that later...

I've been thinking about this for a while...so many of the people that I love live in places far away from me. My dislike for phone-talking coupled with the hours I spend emailing everyone individually is what got me pondering blogging in the first place.

If I turn out to be fond of posting then I likely will send out emails less often. The trade-off is that ideally I will let you in on more of what takes place in and around our house on a more regular basis.

I have chosen to make this a "private blog" and because I am limited to a certain amount of readers am choosing to invite friends myself. If you think someone would really like to read my blog, please send me their address and I will invite them as well.

Even though this is a private blog, for security sake I am going to be careful with names. I will likely just use initials or codes instead of full names.

I'm sure this new application will be a learning experience for me (I've learnt more about my laptop in the last couple of hours than in the entire time I've had it) but I know I will get the hang of it!

My brother R and his wife, F2 just left after visiting us for the long weekend. We had such an amazing time with them, I was sad to see them go. F2 has a killer sense of humor that kept Mr. O'M and I cracking up and she cooks a mean breakfast.

As a big sister, it was really heart-warming to see how important F2's happiness was to R. I also never expected the little boy with Lego pieces strewn everywhere, to turn out to be the most amazingly considerate and tidy houseguest. Mr. O'M and I hope you come back soon!

While they were here we went to the Vancouver aquarium. I will leave you with videos we took there, of a baby Beluga and his Mom and the famous sea otter Milo. Enjoy!