Keep Focused when Sailing

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The hardest part of sailing is being the person who steers.

Sailing is so peaceful and serene that sometimes I forget that I'm not just there to relax.

I often mind doze, which leads to instructors saying, "Watch Your Angles."

The sound of the waves, the rocking of the boat...

It's all so magical.

Living Life Through Research

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The best thing my bachelor's degree taught me was, 'how to live life, via research.'

I've purchased 6 sailing books, 2 survival books, and googled the bejesus out of sailing before I stared my lessons... 

I'm an academic at heart and can't get away from research no matter what I do.

Oh the life of a graduated History in Art Major :)

No one can ever say, I don't use the skills I learned in the process of acquiring my degree...


p.s. My new thing is weaving. I've been researching and pinning on Pinterest for over a year, but still don't feel I have enough research to start ;)

Directionally Challenged...

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I think one of my best qualities is my love of getting lost. 

The best adventures come from wrong turns!

You think you are going the right way for a long time.

Then you finally look at a road sign 

and realize you are on the road to Whistler

when you were supposed to be headed to East Vancouver...

Other people don't always find it as exciting as I do.

This is why I always give a disclaimer when getting into my car:

I'll try my best to get us where we need to be,

however you must be up for an adventure should we get lost 

and never end at our intended destination.

Should you not accept the terms, please exit the vehicle to your right :)

This lovely trait of mine, unfortunately, is not conducive to Sailing.

In Sailing, you have to know where things are...

Direction of the wind...

Land marks...

North, East, South, and West...

You know, normal stuff, normal people know ;)

So... This Happened One Day:

One day I was out on the water with my Sailing Instructor. It was getting late so he wanted us me to steer us back to Kit Yacht Club. I of course obliged... and pointed us into the direction of Kits...

I was minding my own business... sailing us back to our dock, but the Sailing Instructor kept on saying, "Head Up". In this case, it meant steer closer to the left. 

He said this about 6-10 times, and every time I would adjust the boat. However, after about a minute it didn't seem like we were going in the right direction to head to Kits, so I would altimately steer back to my original posisiton. 

I guess the Sailing Instructor was getting really confused as to why I kept steering us back to my original state even though he was telling me to keep more left... Finally he ask, "Where are you going?" 

I was like, "To Kits, over there..." And I pointed to Kits.

He then had an ahh-haa moment and said, "That's not Kits, it's Jericho! Kits is to the left of that, over there." And proceeded to point to the Real Kits...

I started to laugh, "No wonder you kept telling me to 'head up'. I was thinking you were crazy because you kept pointing me away from kits, and you were thinking I was crazy because I kept on steering us to Jericho!" 

The Pressure of Doing Well

I always endeavour to be honest, so here goes.


I can't wait until school is over because the pressure I put on myself and the pressure put upon me by others will cease. It's debilitating sometimes to have the pressure of past well performances looming over you. It's like a benchmark of my life that I'm not allowed to go below.

People around me always dismiss my feeling when I'm in a moment of self doubt. Sometimes a strong person needs someone to listen. School is tough, and sometimes in moments of stress I doubt that I'll be able to pass a course.

I've been known to do well, but that isn't always a benchmark for the future. Let me fail. Let me not be perfect at school. Lend me your ear in moments of stress and self doubt. Please don't dismiss my feeling because I've done well in the past.

My past performance is not a benchmark for the future. Every situation or course is new for me and self doubt is natural in new situations/courses.

An empathetic ear is always better than dismissiveness and advice giving.

Relaxation Music

For the past week I've been studying or procrastinating. Final exam time can be so stressful!

Here are the youtube video I listen to, to relax :)

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do:

p.s. wish me luck on my exam tonight :D

Helpful Memory Trick

True story:

Once upon a time, there lived a DapperGentleman. He was a forgetful fellow. Every morning as he walked down the hall to the elevator he would forget if he had locked the front door.

DapperGentleman: Did I lock the door?

LovelyLady: I'm not sure, I was waiting for the elevator...

Several Years Later...

DapperGentleman: Shoot, Did I lock the door?

LovelyLady: Every morning you ask me this.... Every morning... You know what would be fun and helpful at the same time? If you sang a song. That way when you locked the door you would sing the song on the way to the elevator. Then at the elevator you would know that you locked the door because you would be singing the song... You could sing: Lock the Door, Lock the Door, I'm so good, I Locked the Door.

The Very Next Day:

As the DapperGentleman locked the front door he sang:

Lock the door, Look the door, One potato, two potato, Lock the Door. 

LovelyLady Narrating to Audience: It has been 3 weeks since I suggested the song, and instead of annoyance at the same question every morning, I am greeted with a lovely song at the elevator. I must admit, I am one cleaver lady ;)

Best Part of Binge Watching TV

Gilmore Girls is on Netflix! Gilmore Girls is on Netflix!

I have all the DVD and watch them at least 3 times a year, 

but now everyone who has Netflix has access too!!!!

My most favourite part of binge watching TV is singing along with the theme songs.

Here's Gilmore Girls, with Lyrics ;)

Sometimes learning the lyrics is challenging like with this one:

It took me almost until the last season to get it right. 

Once I did, it was pure magic.

If you are one of my neighbours and are reading this....

Sorry for singing so loudly, but feel free to sing along.

"Where you lead... I will follow... "

P.S. TheDapperGentleman sings along too

Nom Nom Nom...

The yummiest apple babies I've ever had ;)

It still surprises me that growing your own food tastes so good.

These apple babies were delicious!

Sweeter than normal apples, and amazing :)

Grumpy Cat has a Movie

Grumpy cat has a movie!!!!!

Here'e the trailer:

It looks like one of those classic awful movies.

Fortunately, I am a lover of bad movies.

I believe that someone somewhere but their heart and soul into the film.

Even though it's a terrible film, it deserves to be watched by at least one person ;)

Mark your calendars: Saturday November 28th

Amalie-ing my neighbours

Have you ever watched the film Amalie? It's actually one of my all time favourite films. The best thing I learned from this film is to build relationships with your neighbours.

In the past I did this though saying hi, then noticing things about my neighbours and creating wild stories to explain their habits and behaviours.

When I heard odd noises I start to imagine living beside serial murders who burry their victims in the walls... Then I'd start to keep an eye on the shared walls to see if there is any buckling over time.

One time I noticed that my neighbour kept odd hours, and I started to imagine that she was a call girl. Not just a street corner call girl, but a high priced one because she was so sweet!

As time progresses, I got to know everyone more and more, and these stories shattered. It's okay because new people move in all the time :)