Moving!!!!

Well, we've moved and I'm exhausted. I've started another sweater and I love it. I can't find my knitting kit, so I'm using bread tags as stitch markers. Today we had our first BALL games and they were so fun! We had to miss the BBQ after because we had so much to do, which was sad panda. I'm going to knit, have some tea, and go to bed. I was thinking about going for a run, BUT My feeling Exhausted kind of set in.

TBT 21-90

This morning Seth woke up at 7am, which was a little early considering I had a late night last night. But it was nice. I put breakfast for us together, got to get some blogging done for HOME SWEET HOME, got Seth and I dressed and by 9:30am we headed out to run around on some trails. I usually head up to Burde street but there was no one there. Since we're without a bigger dog, I like to know there's a few other people on the trails (re: cougars), so we headed over to Roger Creek Trail (my first time!) and it was awesome. We saw a few people, saw some cute dogs, and got to go for a short walk. Seth can only do 15-20 minutes, so I have to gauge how far we can go in and then back to the car. He only made me carry him (on my shoulders) for about 2-3 minutes. Next time I'll try to push it a bit further / go earlier so he has more energy.  I can't believe I've lived in this town for two years and am just now getting outside and enjoying the trails. I'm really happy I don't have to pack Seth around very often, that was probably what was inhibiting me before.

Yesterday when I was at my mom's house I weighed myself and I was at 276.5lbs. Down 5 from when I started the TBT and 30 from last summer.  YIP! I've been going strong on the diet (compared to just last week). I took my measurements too, and will get those up here soon. Tonight I go back to derby after my break. YIP! Looking forward to it. Lots of house chores to do today (still, dishes, FML) but I think right now I'm going to do some sun salutation rotations and then climb into bed and read myself into a nap.

What I Ate Today:
Toast, eggs, spinach, zucchini
1/2 a whole grain blueberry muffin (probably loaded with sugar and refined flour)
mint tea
tofu scramble wrap
leftover pancake with peanutbutter and jam
orange tea
whole wheat pasta w/ cabbage and deliciousness
vega sport drink
water water water

Exercise:
20 minute walk with seth
Sun Salutation x 2 per side (added positions)
2 hour derby practice - moderate to intense

A year in photos

Smash Patriarchy tattoo - January 2011

Foggy and Snowy on the Hump - February 2011

Katsudon, I die, best meal of the year, hands down - March 2011

Vegan transition, coconut yoghurt - April 2011

We've managed to have a baby for a year and not kill it ! ! - May 2011

Embracing summer, skirts, tights, toms - June 2011

The AVRG come out into public, exciting times - July 2011

My dream couch that I've been hunting for FREE on freecycle - August 2011

Cave Singers at Rifflandia IV, I had an incredibly amazing get away weekend with Stewart - September 2011

six min eggs and mizuna - October 2011

My betiko favourite knit of the year - November 2011

My Derby Wife and I making Ganache, so happy this lady came into my life this year - December 2011

the ukes!

tonight we went to the united church for a canada world youth community dinner/fundraiser for the Tsawalk Partnership/West Coast Aquatic. WCA works with/under Tsawalk to work in partnership with/as community to do research and grassroots mobilization around environmental and cultural stewardship and coastal waters. Very cool. The dinner was a Ukranian-themed dinner (apple pierogies, cabbage rolls, beet root salad, borscht, that kind of stuff) and the food was OK but it was nice to be around a couple hundred people and food (and friends!).

It got me briefly thinking about Canada World Youth and "culture" esp. because one of the speakers said something about how the dinner gets us to learn more about "other cultures" (um, when everyone i was with including myself has some sort of ukranian background?) and having CWY in our community also brings us exposure. It's cool that kids from other countries come to Port to volunteer and learn about our community and share with us their lives and experiences, etc. What I think is interesting about CWY is the construction of cultural identity for these teenagers. They wore "traditional" outfits and danced "traditional" songs and sang "traditional" songs (and some pop songs too), and made us "traditional food", but were wearing skinny jeans and had facial piercings. It was amazing. I'm curious to know how much of CWY "focusing" on their "ukranian" culture actually negates their own specific experiences of culture, the culture they create, etc. Kind of a cultural diaspora. HM.

Tomorrow farmer's market, arroxvale farm market, and seedy saturday. YIP!

i need a time machine.

tomorrow my gay husband is turning old. well, not old..but 33 me thinks. he says he never thought he'd make it to 33 so it's just fun! YAY! i ended up making him a hat out of angora (GUSH) and will take him for sushi etc. i'm not sure if he reads this (though i know he knows it exists) but i want everyone to know that he's amazing and that i love him and port alberni would not be the same without him. he has been the bestest friend to me and so supportive while i transition into being a mom person. he also has a sweet job and is good at it. so yay nick! you rock!

last night we were wondering the aisles of extra foods and i was exhausted and didn't know what i was doing or where i was going (and was pushing a sleepy baby in a shopping cart no less) and nick just berated me lovingly into the right direction. and bought us cheese sticks (which we dipped in sour cream) and shot the shit at home with me and stew later. it was great.

stewart and i held hands while walking last night for the first time in MONTHS. i didn't realize that a kid would take that away. it was really nice to hold hands again.

oh, check this out. I'M IN LOVE. though i'm not sure it's still around.

Oh port!

Tonight we went to an all ages show just literally the mailboxes, a school parking lot, a street to cross, and a house away. It was at this all ages venue here called The Academy. It was super cheap ($8) and we were definitely in the oldest crowd there...but just like PG, i guess: if you want live music in a small town, you can't be choosy. The main reason we went was b/c stewart's co-worker is in the band above, Magically Beautiful. They sounded like more Avey Tare-style Animal Collective mushed together with some Dan Deacon. But at the end of the day we could all agree they're probably just an Animal Collective rip off? Regardless we were impressed by the level of coolness this group of teenagers exudes! Us oldies are already so uncool.

There were two other bands, The Perfect Trend (LAME) and another Port band who sounded like Tad and old Tool. Not too impressive. But, Yukon Blonde closed and their live show eclipses their recording by far. I felt like I was watching a 60s/70s revival band. It was surreal.

So now, it's late, again. Why am I staying up so late all the time now? I need to get this eye liner off and hit the hay. xo

"you've been so far so long don't rush"

so, admittedly, i haven't really been *looking* for my camera charger. i've been pretty overwhelmed with looking for work and having kind of a poopy day today and yesterday, and continuously knitting orders for others that i just haven't made it a priority. but i need to find the charger because i have a huge shop update to do and a giveaway just in time for xmas. i also want to take pictures of my hair (i dyed it jet black) and of my trip next wednesday to prince george for my thesis defense.

my step dad is going to be here this weekend and i'll get him to set me up on our new webhost to upload pdfs of my thesis for pre-/free- reading for anyone that's coming to the defense or anyone that isn't but wants to read it anyway. i'm super nervous, but kind of excited! i'm going to read from a pre-written script AND use a powerpoint, both things i usually don't do, but i've been warned that it must be as formal as possible and as strong as possible. i figure i'll be winging questions from my ginormous committee and the gallery for at least an hour or more, so i can do something scripted and it won't be out of character. i'll put make up on and even deodorant: i'll be the perfect image of formality....or i'll try anyway. i already know that i'll be having minor revisions, too. so i don't have to stress about a clear pass.

in other news i went to errington for an appointment and to visit my aunt and uncle (dad's side) who live in errington on a cute farm (they have horses and chickens and live in a hexagonal house made from wood from their property..it's kind of sweet) and snapped this picture on my way home with my cell phone. the roads were a bit wet, but not slick, so it made the drive so fun! it's a pretty deadly stretch of highway but almost as fun as driving the nisga'a highway: almost.

"the only time i wish you were gone is once a day, everyday, all day long"

i'm pooped and so full from dinner. must find a way to make room for water to take my vitamins, and find the energy to brush my teeth and physically make it across the house to the bed. REGARDLESS, the craft fair was fucking amazing and it was only day one.

1. i already made $80! and i have another custom order to do that hasn't been paid yet. today i realized that i do rely on the sale for self confidence so here's hoping tomorrow = more sales!

2. port alberni is an amazing little town! today i met so many wonderful people (including my first new friend AND my new stitch n bitch ladies, though neither PG versions are replaceable!!!). one person even drew me a map of all the good thrift stores (the ones with the fabric, she said) and told me where to find jobs (casual ones that pay well).

3. Aboriginal ladies (young and old) were selling REAL cowichan sweaters (but more of a northern island style...) and they actually were charging their value (hundreds) and they were the most amazing sweaters i've ever seen in my life. i wish i had the $$..

4. UM, sitting at my table looking around the hall and see a sign that says "please return your laces inside the boots of your ROLLERSKATES". and then i look at the floor and it's the nicest polished concrete i've ever seen. i turned to the woman at the table next to me who grew up in port in the 60s and 70s and i say, "did people rollerskate in here". and she said, "heavens yes!" so i said in return, "that means we can play rollerderby!" then she got excited and sat down on my purse next to me and said, "let me tell you about the time rollerderby came to port alberni in the 70s and how hard it was to skate on banked track." OMFGG!!!! fuck yes.

pickle always avoids eye contact with the camera

pickle in the window

the last few days have been busy with crafting/knitting and today/tomorrow seem to be the same. i'm nursing a cup of now cold coffee and getting through my internets while i search through our boxes for craft stuff: fabric, zippers, thread, sewing machine, felt, etc. yikes! i have almost 5 pairs of mitts made!! wup! whatever doesn't sell this weekend will be uploaded to my shop. yes. other than crafting i've been hanging out with pickle and rupert, running errands (like new phone numbers, paying bills), and watching movies with stewart. there's a sweet video store near our house (Multi-Max Movie Store) with $3 new releases that are categorized by genre (no wading through shit when you know you want to watch a documentary, etc) and the catalogue is in storage with highlights out! ie. right now it's christmas movies! yay! it's such a tiny store, too, and they have the sweetest snacks and even edward cullen action figures! hahaha. we watched whatever works (new woody allen with larry david) and lyme life.

whatever works i slept through most of it. i get so annoyed and obviously tired of woody allen's penchance for young girls who throw themselves on old men movie shtick! evan rachel wood's character was all, "but i like you! blah blah blah" and completely justified the power dynamics that older men (sub)consciously take advantage of. is this your way mr allen of saying it's okay you married your daughter? weird!

and lyme life. i loved it. but then it skipped and froze a lot both on our playstation and on my mac book. so i'm going to get another copy today. i mean, i'd like to finish the film! the culkins are amazing in that movie. and the layers upon layers and the way that adults treat eachother is just deplorable. i know it's a young man coming of age story but at this point i feel it's a movie about adults who are assholes and liars and how it affects their kids and the way they treat eachother. regardless, a must see.

off to sew/knit/create! xo