I am currently typing with the fan pointed right at me. My condo has no AC and I am currently in the midst of Edmonton's heat wave. It's gotten to the point where I've been staying at work a bit longer because I enjoy the air-conditioned office so much!!
Despite the crazy temperatures, I managed to squeeze in Salsa in the Park this scorching weekend. Got a good tan, but ruined a pair of shades. Spinning = centrifugal force + shades + concrete. Note to self: never dance with sunglasses on:
This scorching weekend also allowed me to catch up on a lot of things that are currently on my plate, mainly having to do with groups I'm a part of. I've mentioned before that I need to value my rest, but I've also been squeezing in more into my life. Again. I can't seem to help pushing. I've become a tad more aggressive, and instead of being annoyed at the reluctance of others, I've found myself hearing Gandhi's "Be the change you want to see in the world" and then plunging into things. Hence the loaded plate. It doesn't help that I keep getting bombarded with inspiration!
Last month I went on a great work-related trip to Raleigh, NC. Another scorching place. Not only did I meet and enjoy some really intelligent, witty, driven and inspiring people, I also ate. A lot. Southern food is a larger portioned, sweeter and creamier version of its Northern counterparts. There was also an abundance of cheap beer.
I was actually full the entire week of training. No sensation of hunger ever touched me. Even during the training sessions, the hotel was sure to cart in a ton of delicious snacks in between breakfast and lunch and dinner. Dinners were spent out and about Raleigh, checking out good spots to eat. I am happy to say that there was a 24-hour gym at the hotel, so I was able to do some damage control :) Plus, I was jumping around with happiness in my hotel room due to my first unassisted pistol squat (see previous post).
A lot of work can pile up if you miss a week. Fortunately, the week of training filled me with an invigorating fresh type of ambition and drive in my career(s). There are some hard working, bright and well-rounded people out there and it is awesome to be surrounded by them not just on a local scale, but on a global scale too.
Speaking of energizing, I've been following Aaron Paquette's story about his wife Clarice, who was in a horrific accident involving two vehicles (she was jogging - one car hit her and the other one ran over her) near my parents' neighbourhood. His heartbreaking post against distracted driving went viral and his story has been inspiring thousands - maybe even millions. It's amazing. His wife's walking again and he's working on a book - I just pre-ordered :)
Mind Farts
-read that Gabriel Garcia Marquez is suffering from dementia :( tragic. i'm STILL reading his 700-page biography (got sidetracked by some pop erotica - a.k.a. 50 Shades trilogy ... do not read while sitting next to grandmother and 10 year old boy on plane)
-proof that i can be stuck almost anywhere with my Kobo: i was delayed for many hours trying to fly back to Edmonton. was i stressed? nope. too busy reading!
-i am on a fish taco mission. so far i've tried Tres Carnales, Earls and Joey's in town. i need to re-try Joey's to get frame of reference again
-Fort Edmonton Park is a lot more than i expected! it's huge and it was really interesting to learn about my good old Edmonton. you'd think i would've done this a long time ago
-Moonrise Kingdom. deliciously awkward
-Brave. loved it, even despite the tense parts
-Ted. i laughed, but i also wanted to barf at the cheesy parts
-Good Lord. Tutti Frutti IS RIDICULOUS. GUAVA FROZEN YOGURT? TARO FROZEN YOGURT? RED VELVET FROZEN YOGURT? WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS? aughghghghghhgh - it's the perfect place to go in this heat
