Feeling better and somewhat random

Thanks for all the well wishes and the suggestions for special home remedies. I found the combination of ibupropen, vodka, chocolate and Epsom salt baths very beneficial. I can recommend it highly!

Grant is off for the weekend for Calgary -- business, you know. We tried to find a flight that we could afford so I could accompany him, but...meh. Do you know I could fly to LA and visit Annika, Will and Sam for about the same amount of money that I need to spend to fly to Alberta? Honestly, like there would be any real decision there.

The upshot is that I am neither flying to Calgary or to Los Angeles. I am a single gal this merry weekend. I requested that Zip.ca send me Children of Paradise in order to while my time away, but I don't think it will get here on time. I really have to plan these weekends better.

Do you know that I have a rep at my school? I apparently do my job really well. I think that calls for another vodka martini.

And chocolate. Can't forget the chocolate.

Fall down, go boom!

I am in pain. Well, less pain than yesterday, but still...pain.

We were at one of our favourite places to dock this weekend--

But, Allison, you say, if you were docking somewhere, shouldn't you have Back of the Boat pictures to share with us? To that I reply: Sure. If I hadn't left the stupid camera at home both weekends, I would indeed have BotB pictures to share. But not only am I in pain, I am also forgetful.

--and I made one of my usual trips to the privy on the shore. The rain had come overnight and everything was slightly damp and slick--including the wooden platform said privy resided upon. Which meant that when my foot encountered the wet, fungus-green surface of the wood, it failed to find any traction whatsoever. Down I went, with the resounding thud of a totally unexpected fall. I didn't even have time to scream.

No bruises to speak of, but my entire body hurts with a dull ache. My shoulder hurts from the shock of trying to catch myself, my leg hurts from the slip and I feel vaguely lopsided. Thank heaven for extra-strength Motrin and vodka (as prescribed by Helene).

Oh, and ow.

Why I blog

I have been tagged by the lovely Meghan to give 5 reasons why I blog. My first reaction to this question was a simple "Hell if I know!", but in the last several days I have endeavoured to give it some actual thought and here is what I came up with:

The Remembering: I think the writing that I have been most proud of in this blog has been the memoir pieces. When a memory from my life pops its head up and demands to be shared, the words flow effortlessly. Well, almost effortlessly. But the pieces seem to write themselves and the memories come back to me so strongly that I feel like a time traveller. As I grow older, reflecting on who I am and what made me becomes more important. But, I have no children to tell my stories to. I guess this is one way to say "Hey! I was here."

The Sharing: Which brings me to the second reason: sharing bits of my life, important and mundane, with people who care. Moving 3,000 miles away from your friends and family is probably never easy; doing it after your 40th birthday means you leave behind the easy connections you have made over a lifetime. Making new friends at my age is not easy, but my creepy Internet friends make me feel a little less lonely.

The Writing: I hate to write. And yet...there are times when I just have to write. Writing has made me stop and notice more. I experience events differently, I read books differently. I appreciate language more. I admire the craft I see other people practicing. I begin to see my own style and form. I compare my own writing unfavourably sometimes, but the striving to be a better writer never goes away.

The Not-writing: I love that I write entries constantly in my head even if they never actually get written. Knowing that I have a place of my own to write my thoughts makes me reflect more about my life. I like having a life story always playing in my head.

The People: Bloggers are great people! Being a part of this community, even if I am only the most minor of players, makes me proud. I love reading your words and sharing mine.

The last part of this should be to tag other people, but since I am fairly late to this party, nearly all of the bloggers I stalk have already been tagged by someone else. Unless....

Has anyone tagged The Bears??

Out of the closet...into the closet

This last weekend I re-organized my closet. The winter clothes came out (with the exception of a few lightweight sweaters) and the spring/summer clothes came in. There is certain benefit to living in a climate with actual seasons; I rarely did the closet thing on a regular basis when I lived in SF.

I purged a few items, including a quilted cotton jacket that I used to adore but haven't worn for years. You know, that one item you keep insisting in your head that you will wear again but never do. The one that everyone commented on admiringly, but somehow doesn't fit in your life anymore. I finally realized that if I had loved it so very much--somewhere is another person who will also find joy in it. So into the bag it went. Bon Voyage, my Naif Naif jacket!

Now, my closet is organized; tops by fabric and by sleeve length, pants by style and length. Blazers are on one end, dresses on the others. I even organized my shoes...and my hats and purses! Hats are now neatly stacked on on side, while handbags are in a nifty basket. When I walk into my closet, I feel very happy. And I have found clothes that I kind of forgot I had. Plus I have worn several of my pretty sandals, both high heels and low. The point is: being able to find your pretty stuff is an elemental part of fashion. And if you have more space...you can buy more of that fashion stuff.

Also, I cleaned my car.

It's not easy being green

I am a very bad person. I am sitting in a house with all the doors open and the air conditioner running. I do have a reason, although it probably doesn't justify all the carbon-whatever I am putting into the air. It is sweltering upstairs and opening the windows doesn't cool off the bedroom enough for us to sleep. But I am downstairs and it is lovely (although a bit overcast) outside, and I refuse to breathe recycled air until I absolutely have to. I will turn the AC off in a few minutes, I promise.

Do I get any points because I remembered to use the sole canvas bag that I had in my car for my boatload of groceries? Not so much? Dang.

Almost that time again

The boat went into the water on Friday. We went up last night and spent the day cleaning and getting it ready for occupancy. Unfortunately, next weekend we have commitments that will keep us home for the weekend, but the following is the long weekend, baby!! And we are so THERE!

Then you can all expect additions to Off the Back of the Boat:

Or you could just come see it for yourselves!