Well the 30 day thing is done. Mmm hmm. Had some espresso to start my day and a beer to end it. I'm sure I could write an 8 page entry about the ordeal (1 for every year I've gone without taking a break like this) but that wouldn't be very interesting to all but a few individuals, and besides, it's bit more personal than public bloggery. Long story short, I feel better in general although I'm a bit more cranky on average. It was good to come up for air, or recharge or whatever (without doing anything too drastic) and have such noticeable and positive effects. I get the feeling Nicole got the same thing out of this ;) a definite "what she said" going on here.
Last night Nicole and I learned how to ride the velo. Took about 1 lap around the 48 degree bank for me to be sold. And even in the infant stages of slowly turning left in a noob like manner, it has kick-started the part of my brain that loves to compete and kick the crap out of myself physically. Got racing on the brain for sure! Going back for lesson 2 & 3 as well as a racing clinic. I think I just need the distraction of potentially competing to add the missing link in maintaining the effort made in the last month. Something to fill that idle time normally spent boozing.
We'll see how it goes, but I expect I'll be my detox in a more ironic manner in the near future!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Purification Complete!
HAY! We're all done!
Some personal detox realizations from the past 31 days:
- We > me
- I am way too good to be a smoker
- People who don't drink aren't necessarily pretentious
- However, they can't help judging your idiotic behaviour
- Soy hot chocolates are way under-rated
- Getting hot and sweaty makes me wet
- Indulgences deserve respect and full appreciation
- There is such a thing as too much chocolate
- No one uses the gym in our building before 11am
- I have graciously declined every substance I've ever abused
- I never really needed any of it, and eventually, I'll leave it all behind
- BUT WHILE I'M YOUNG, YES, I'M GONNA HAVE SOME FUN
For the record, I do feel damn good now. My eyes are bright. My mind may be in overdrive, but it's clear. I have energy throughout the day and am usually ready for sleep by the end. I wake up in the morning at an appropriate hour, even if I don't get to sleep when I'd like. (Actually a huge deal!) I could probably attribute a lot of this to my increased activity and improved nutrition, but I think that started instigated more easily as a result of this 30 day experiment.
Sorry for being a super dork by bragging and gushing but I'm really happy right now and want to encourage everyone around me. Oh yes, it's time for a celebration, bitches. Who knows when. Maybe we'll be able to have a little toast at a potluck picnic dinner this Sunday. Join us at Jericho if you're good company!
In addition, I think the fact that I have spent 30 consecutive sober days with Lenny speaks volumes about how great I must think he is. I have always reveled in my time alone. Usually pushing people away if I'm not able to escape, if only to my own world of an altered state of mind. We seem to be constantly developing our understanding of each other without much explanation or effort. That and I still think he's stupid hot when I'm not intoxicated. Gush, gush, mmmmush, siiiigh.
What else is new? WELL...
We rode out to the velo again last night for our first Learn to Ride session. I got to ride a sweet track bike for the first time. Oh man. Shorty be flyyyy...
Lucky #7!
Lenny's way too fast for me to catch.
I resorted to bullying and drafting whenever I could.
I cannot explain how riding in circles is so much fun!
Also playing cat and mouse with the instructor on the ride home. Weeee!
We've previously failed to mention that we've started French classes at Langara. We like listening to Yelle and counting it as studying. I still get off on this video after almost a year.
Lenny and I have now perfected these moves for a duet.
See you on the dancefloor!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
yesterday was the most beeeee you tea fulllll day but we didn't take a single picture. for shame. thankfully flickr can help me give you the gist...
we skimmed at spanish west with bradley the amazing
soaked up some more hot sun, read on sunset beach
for dinner we strolled down to foundation cuz the buy low closes early on weekends. after we turned around and went up to 20th or something seeking out something to satisfy lenny's sweet tooth. we gave up and he settled for leftover chocolate mousse... again.
we capped the night off with i am legend.
i think my tolerance for violent imagery must be getting lower. ugh, this movie stressed me the f out. that means it was good, but shit messes with my energies. couldn't fall asleep til 4am. thankfully when you finally meet a character who isn't will smith (or some vampire-on-meth-x-10 who's trying to eat his face off) she kneads out some of the tightness in your chest. i rate this movie 8.5/10. lenny has yet to rate this film.
i'm reading this right now. i really like it because this book does an incredible job of being positive. the authors continuously look at the climate and energy crises as opportunities for social, political but primarily economic gains. i may do a summary when i finish but i highly recommend it.
the hardest thing i'm coming to terms with right now is the contradictory information overload. it's sooo confusing and difficult to determine what "the right thing" is to do or what you "should do." no wonder people just throw their hands up in the air.
before the chapter i read yesterday, i always tended toward metal products over plastic. this is because metal is not made from petroleum, it's more likely to be used as a recycled product (as opposed to down-cycled "recyclable" plastics) and generally i guessed it would last longer just because plastic has that stigma associated to it. now i have been reminded to consider the energy required to produce the metals, where the materials come from, how much they travel throughout the production process, the number of parts being produced/used, and thus the likeliness to cease to function and be discarded sooner than a plastic alternative.
ugh, so what's the "right" answer?
seems it is abolishing the product as much as possible. sharing something you use seldom with a large number of others. renting it as a service. designing it for disassembly and making the manufacturer accountable for collection it after customer use.
in a world with depleting natural resources and abundant population, whole new systems of service can replace our present model of exchange and consumption. the idea of ownership has always been problematic with me and when we realize that we're all one... everything, all of us... we'll discover that working as such will benefit all.
we skimmed at spanish west with bradley the amazing
soaked up some more hot sun, read on sunset beach
for dinner we strolled down to foundation cuz the buy low closes early on weekends. after we turned around and went up to 20th or something seeking out something to satisfy lenny's sweet tooth. we gave up and he settled for leftover chocolate mousse... again.
we capped the night off with i am legend.
i think my tolerance for violent imagery must be getting lower. ugh, this movie stressed me the f out. that means it was good, but shit messes with my energies. couldn't fall asleep til 4am. thankfully when you finally meet a character who isn't will smith (or some vampire-on-meth-x-10 who's trying to eat his face off) she kneads out some of the tightness in your chest. i rate this movie 8.5/10. lenny has yet to rate this film.
i'm reading this right now. i really like it because this book does an incredible job of being positive. the authors continuously look at the climate and energy crises as opportunities for social, political but primarily economic gains. i may do a summary when i finish but i highly recommend it.
the hardest thing i'm coming to terms with right now is the contradictory information overload. it's sooo confusing and difficult to determine what "the right thing" is to do or what you "should do." no wonder people just throw their hands up in the air.
before the chapter i read yesterday, i always tended toward metal products over plastic. this is because metal is not made from petroleum, it's more likely to be used as a recycled product (as opposed to down-cycled "recyclable" plastics) and generally i guessed it would last longer just because plastic has that stigma associated to it. now i have been reminded to consider the energy required to produce the metals, where the materials come from, how much they travel throughout the production process, the number of parts being produced/used, and thus the likeliness to cease to function and be discarded sooner than a plastic alternative.
ugh, so what's the "right" answer?
seems it is abolishing the product as much as possible. sharing something you use seldom with a large number of others. renting it as a service. designing it for disassembly and making the manufacturer accountable for collection it after customer use.
in a world with depleting natural resources and abundant population, whole new systems of service can replace our present model of exchange and consumption. the idea of ownership has always been problematic with me and when we realize that we're all one... everything, all of us... we'll discover that working as such will benefit all.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
I have been avoiding blogging because I didn't want to share the fact that I'm busy job hunting...
I'm coming out of my cave a little because I've got an architectural illustration gig and I will be working for Red Flag Design part-time by the end of the month.
Hmm, too much effort to steal images from their flash site... def check it out yourself.
Here are a couple images google came up with. Bloggers especially love these guys.
They use all local, re purposed materials, which aligns beautifully with my ethos in comparison to my previous job. Barnaby and Stuart seem like exceptionally cool dudes. I'm really looking forward to having fun while working with them.
I'm also hoping to land a research volunteer position with Light House. Thanks to Matt and his lady for linking me to that great organization. I can't believe Lenny and I were situated so close to them for so long without wandering in on our own.
I'm most excited about a position with MEC coordinating their partnership with The Big Wild. It's an online network aiming to protect Canada's wildlife, while users share their experiences with nature. Great for virtual exploration, planning future excursions, getting in touch with like-minded individuals and joining a booming voice which demands preservation of our precious land. Cross your fingers for me!
Hmm, this post is already kinda long. It might be wise to get up to stretch your legs.
* I N T E R M I S S I O N *
Damn. T-minus one week til Dr. Pepper is fair game again.
Alright. How about just some random photos (with random commentary) from the past lil while. Don't forget to leave us your comments on your way out.
The flash, Avana.
Noooo. Turn it OFF.
With love, here you go. I 100% disapprove.
Dave's head is soooo heavy.
More torture.
Yeah, I'm knockin on the door of ya hummer hummer.
Cha cha cha!
Lenny eats street meat, whilst I focus on my feet.
Free haircut when you buy me a delicious lunch.
We rode to the velodrome. 15k is our new 5k. We get there to discover zero bike racks.
Grrr. Someone give me a cliff barrr.
HAHAHHH! What is happening to me? Sup guy!? Nice shorts. Those shades, whew. Hot fire!
How do I admire someone in yellow spandex, at any level? HOW?!
Rave beats really enhanced the experience.
Just the photos are making me nauseous. Dudes are fast, yo!
Girls too! They raced with the boys. RAWR.
Lenny failed to rep this in the photos. I think. In his defense, twas often hard to tell.
Oh yah, we're going back to "Learn to Race" next week.
Pfft. I'm not scared of 45 degrees in the corner.
Do you know how heartbreaking it is to sit in a beer garden and not drink beer?
Jenna and Curtis were entertained.
They're visiting on an epic cross-country adventure from Toronto.
Keirin style.
Pretty sure that here Lenny is contemplating the consequences of stealing this bike and riding it around the track. Just once!
Madison races. Slingshot superfuntimes.
Wholesome fun. Wholesome.
Mama's Day. Lenny had all kinds of tricks up his sleeve... including a dining table!
The mouse took the entire evening to prepare w/out an electric mixer. I chopped 5 boxes of baker's chocolate.
This task provided the majority of the entertainment for the evening. Tragic. Comedy.
Except our messy battle ended with my dark knight and his massive pipes saving the day!
I got the recipe online. It fails to mention it serves 20 - 25. That bowl already had 4 huge servings taken from it.
Come over and eat some. I'm serious. It's going to be taunt us in the fridge for a long time before it's all gone.
K, see ya next time!
I'm coming out of my cave a little because I've got an architectural illustration gig and I will be working for Red Flag Design part-time by the end of the month.
Hmm, too much effort to steal images from their flash site... def check it out yourself.
Here are a couple images google came up with. Bloggers especially love these guys.
They use all local, re purposed materials, which aligns beautifully with my ethos in comparison to my previous job. Barnaby and Stuart seem like exceptionally cool dudes. I'm really looking forward to having fun while working with them.
I'm also hoping to land a research volunteer position with Light House. Thanks to Matt and his lady for linking me to that great organization. I can't believe Lenny and I were situated so close to them for so long without wandering in on our own.
I'm most excited about a position with MEC coordinating their partnership with The Big Wild. It's an online network aiming to protect Canada's wildlife, while users share their experiences with nature. Great for virtual exploration, planning future excursions, getting in touch with like-minded individuals and joining a booming voice which demands preservation of our precious land. Cross your fingers for me!
Hmm, this post is already kinda long. It might be wise to get up to stretch your legs.
* I N T E R M I S S I O N *
Damn. T-minus one week til Dr. Pepper is fair game again.
Alright. How about just some random photos (with random commentary) from the past lil while. Don't forget to leave us your comments on your way out.
The flash, Avana.
Noooo. Turn it OFF.
With love, here you go. I 100% disapprove.
Dave's head is soooo heavy.
More torture.
Yeah, I'm knockin on the door of ya hummer hummer.
Cha cha cha!
Lenny eats street meat, whilst I focus on my feet.
Free haircut when you buy me a delicious lunch.
We rode to the velodrome. 15k is our new 5k. We get there to discover zero bike racks.
Grrr. Someone give me a cliff barrr.
HAHAHHH! What is happening to me? Sup guy!? Nice shorts. Those shades, whew. Hot fire!
How do I admire someone in yellow spandex, at any level? HOW?!
Rave beats really enhanced the experience.
Just the photos are making me nauseous. Dudes are fast, yo!
Girls too! They raced with the boys. RAWR.
Lenny failed to rep this in the photos. I think. In his defense, twas often hard to tell.
Oh yah, we're going back to "Learn to Race" next week.
Pfft. I'm not scared of 45 degrees in the corner.
Do you know how heartbreaking it is to sit in a beer garden and not drink beer?
Jenna and Curtis were entertained.
They're visiting on an epic cross-country adventure from Toronto.
Keirin style.
Pretty sure that here Lenny is contemplating the consequences of stealing this bike and riding it around the track. Just once!
Madison races. Slingshot superfuntimes.
Wholesome fun. Wholesome.
Mama's Day. Lenny had all kinds of tricks up his sleeve... including a dining table!
The mouse took the entire evening to prepare w/out an electric mixer. I chopped 5 boxes of baker's chocolate.
This task provided the majority of the entertainment for the evening. Tragic. Comedy.
Except our messy battle ended with my dark knight and his massive pipes saving the day!
I got the recipe online. It fails to mention it serves 20 - 25. That bowl already had 4 huge servings taken from it.
Come over and eat some. I'm serious. It's going to be taunt us in the fridge for a long time before it's all gone.
K, see ya next time!
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