Integrity of Word

As the year closes, I find myself looking back and thinking about what matters. One thing that is important to me is my integrity of word. 

This is why I am challenged by the lack of this amongst my community. Maybe it's due to being on "island time" over the last few months, but when I say I am going to be some where at some specific time, I mean it. Here in the city, people's plans change on a dime. Everything appears to be "penciled in" unless confirmed once and even twice, no plan is set in stone. 

Three times now I have made plans and due to my communication challenges of late, I have shown up on time only to be stood up. I have learned there is a silent understanding amongst my friends that you need to double check that you are a priority. Is this a sign of the times? Are we no longer expected to be dependable? Reliable? Responsible? Hmm... that would be troubling if that were true. So I choose not to believe it. Maybe we just need a reminder every now and again to be considerate and do what we say, when we say it.  

Not to preach - I will begin with myself... My word to you for the upcoming year is to be in integrity and by example I hope to spread the "word" ;P

We start young... I LOVE this clip!

Movie Quote of the Month...

Tis the season I guess... It appears that a lot of friends and acquaintances are going to have babies in the upcoming year. This quote always makes me smile:

Senior Ed Bloom: You are in for a surprise.

Will Bloom: Am I?

Senior Ed Bloom: Havin' a kid changes everything. There's burping, the midnight feeding, and the changing. 

Will Bloom: You do any of that?

Senior Ed Bloom: No But I hear it's terrible. Then you spend years trying to corrupt and mislead this child, fill his head with nonsense, and still it turns out perfectly fine.

Will Bloom: You think I'm up for it?

Senior Ed Bloom: You learned from the best.

From Big Fish (2003) Directed by Tim Burton and Written by Daniel Wallace & John August
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One Million Acts of GREEN! I Challenge you...

I know of late, I have been dissing Vancouver due to being homesick for Kauai and all, but this is one of the things I actually MISS about Canada... The social consciousness regarding the Green Movement. You can't open your mail, listen to the radio, turn on the TV, take a bus, a taxi, the skytrain or drive down the street in your car and not see this messaging - in products, in businesses, in schools and in communities. LOVE, Love, love that! Well Done Canada... Keep it coming! xo P.
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WHISTLER BLACKCOMB'S Peak to Peak GONDOLA Grand Opening!!!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12TH 10:30AM - LET'S MAKE HISTORY...

Come on out and celebrate. If you can't make it, tune in at 10:30am PST to watch the LIVE WEBCAST on whistlerblackcomb.com!

PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Launch Schedule – December 12, 2008:

7:30am - Fresh Tracks Breakfast presented by Nature's Path

8:30am - Mountains open for skiing and riding

10:30am – Official Opening Ceremony gets underway at the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola terminals on both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains

11:00am – Official Ribbon cutting at the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola terminals on both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, and the first rides begin. And get ready for the ultimate thrill, as Red Bull drops in and gives wings to the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Launch.

First Cabin from Blackcomb to Whistler – "Ride of Their Life" contest winners; 22 locals nominated as those who most deserve to be on the first ride;

First Cabin from Whistler to Blackcomb – Auction winners who bid for the seats in the first cabin with proceeds going to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, supporting community organizations throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor.

11:30am to 1:30pm – Open House in the Roundhouse Lodge featuring an Artist Gallery, a Technology Zone, and a Kids' Corner.

3pm to 5:30pm – Grand Après celebrations take place in Skiers Plaza including the Sugga DJ and video screens courtesy of Red Bull, a live art showcase, plus a kid-friendly performance by well known entertainer Norman Foote from 3:15pm to 4:15pm.

3pm to late – The ultimate après locations – Merlins, Dusty's and the Garibaldi Lift Company – will celebrate the launch well into the night!

COME PLAY... ;P

What's the difference? Why do I FEEL...

...SO much better in Kauai than Vancouver? 

I've been back (notice I don't write "home") for a few days now and I have been thinking a lot about that question. The word "feel" can be broken down to how I feel physically vs. how I feel emotionally.

Physically here in Canada I'm a bit of a mess! I rarely go to sleep before midnight, staying up surfing the late night talk shows. I have decided this is due to a lack of stimulus - I am not tired at the end of a day here, more drained. In the morning, I wake up seriously dehydrated with nose bleeds, chapped lips and dry skin. I sit up only to feel crunchy... my bones ache. I feel like a pretzel and require coffee to get a jump start, because quite frankly I could stay in bed ALL day - I'm cold and I crave sleep. Sleep and hot oatmeal under the covers... with lots of Maple Syrup and Heavy Cream of course! When I do get up I begin the layering process... moisturizer, leggings, socks, jeans, turtle necks, hoodies, puffy vests, gloves and hats. Now I realize it's December but I had the exact same experience being here last Spring! 

In Kauai, I fall asleep - often before 9pm exhausted, with windows open to the sound of crickets (even in December) and ceiling fans circling the smell of night jasmine throughout my room. In the morning I wake up at sunrise with the distant crowing of roosters and I can't wait to get out of bed! I have my first of a dozen glasses of water that day (straight from the tap) and head out for a run, walk, bike or swim whatever inspires me that morning. I come home and either have a tropical fruit salad with mangos, papayas and guava or granola with macadamia nuts on top of Haupia (Coconut) Yogurt and local apple-bananas. I thank God for the day and the senses to experience it! I put on a bikini instead of underwear which reminds me of my childhood, not only is this comfortable, I am prepared at any given moment to jump into the ocean - LOVE that!

I don't know about you but the differences between these two realities completely affects me emotionally... I find that in Kauai I spend hours looking at the planet - here in Canada, I spend hours looking at my skin! 

So... What am I going to do about this? Complain, count the days until leave, spreading my dissatisfaction? I am here till the New Year, so rather than give into my old bad habits, which I now take responsibility for, rather than blaming my environment, I CHOOSE to eat light and exercise daily, which makes me crave healthy food like salads, vegetables and fish. Get back into Bikram's Yoga to sweat out my toxins, keeping my immune system from crashing! Oh and I should probably up my vitamin intake - especially vitamin D to supplement the lack of natural sunlight I was experiencing daily so I don't suffer from the ever popular Pacific North West - Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) or "winter blues". 

Here's to FEELING good, great even, where ever I am! xo P.

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