Post Trangst Angst

We're in Osoyoos this evening, staying in the fabulously expensive Nk'mip resort. We're in a 5 star room and just about to go for a 5 star dinner but before I do that there's a 6 star thunderstorm approaching very closely and I have to shut down.


(later)

We got soaked running over to the restaurant. Just as we left our room, the downpour started and just after we got into the restaurant, the hailstones began falling. These were quite large, about the size of Scotch mints and made a terrible rattling sound on the roof and windows. The hail lasted for about 5 minutes before giving way to more downpour. A poor couple was caught out on the patio by the storm, and had to be rushed inside to sit dripping while finishing their dinner. Jean ordered the roast chicken with Mediterranean style salad and I wanted the rib eye stake, but they were out so I had to suffer with rack of lamb on mashed potatos with asparagus. Darn, life's tough sometimes. We ate our dinner while watching the storm storm all over the place, then came back to the room to have some tea and write this up.

As we drove closer and closer to Osoyoos, we could see the lightning approaching from the West. Comong down the hill into town the car was being blown all over the road and we saw our first tumbleweed bush blowing across the road then we passed through a mass of blowing leaves and branches that smacked into the windshield, startling me. (It's interesting to note that we are in the extreme Northern tip of the Sonora desert here. Geographical trivia at its finest.)

This morning we left Cranbrook about 7:30 Mountain time and headed for Creston. Once there we turned North and headed up along Kootenay Lake to the ferry crossing on highway 3A. The ferry departed at 9:00 and I had a severe case of getthereitis because the next one wouldn't depart until almost 11:00. As it turns out, we just made it onto the ferry with a motorcycle and Honda Element pulling up at the last minute behind us. There was just enough time to grab a coffee and talk to a bunch of friendly dogs that 3 very scruffy-looking guys had let out of their car. As I was petting the dogs, one of them asked me “Excuse me, this is a bit of a personal question, you don't have to answer...” (Oh great, I thought, I'm getting clocked. I hope they don't kill me.) “...but are you a Nurse?” (Whew! Dodged that bullet, probably literally.)

Once off the ferry we made a side trip North to Kaslo to see the paddlewheel steamer Moyie, the oldest paddlewheel ship left in the world. The town has made a wonderful museum of the ship and its surroundings, showcasing the history of the town and the CP ships that served the interior BC lakes.

Then we came back South to Ainsworth hot springs because Jean wanted to soak. I was suffering from a severe case of body image because my leg hairs are growing back and looking ugly, and have caused a rash all over my legs. I really didn't want to get into my bathing suit that makes me look pregnant and display my red-spotted legs for all to see :( I waited in the restaurant while Jean had her soak.

Back on the road, we headed for Nelson (the city they filmed Roxane in; you can't escape the constant reminders). It's quite pretty and we each had a huge burger and chips (french fries for you folks who hail from down South). They kept us feeling stuffed all afternoon.

By the time we got to Christina Lake we were both parched so we stopped at the General Store and bought 2 litre bottles of water to drink in the shade. Sadly though, we couldn't find any shade so we just drank them while driving. As the afternoon wore on, I saw more and more towering Cumulus clouds, and kept expecting to encounter a thunderstorm. As noted above, the storms held off until we arrived here.

Now we're going to bed down in our 5 star beds and have a good long 5 star sleep. That is if the puppy next door stops barking and lets us.

I have met the sewing machine and have emerged victorious! I am the proud owner of a freshly modified bra, done all by myself : ) I'll have to reposition the straps because they keep falling off my shoulders but now that I know how to do that it'll be a piece of cake. I can start a bra-remodelling service for my trans friends who can't find bras that fit.

This morning we headed over to Mom and Dad's place. Dad didn't dodge the hug I gave him (although he did do a bit of the backslapping thing that guys do when they hug each other), only slipped on my name once and appologised for it right away. At the breakfast table the first thing he asked was "So, how is it being a girl?" I answered with "I can't begin to tell you how much better it is." and his response was "As long as you're happy, that's good." then we went on to other subjects. No interrogation, no third degree, no lecture, no barrage of questions.

Mom, Jean and I went into town to shop for a sewing machine and supplies for my bra-rebuilding project. Tomorrow we get lessons on the care and feeding of said machine, improvisational sewing, pattern cutting, skirt making and bra modification. It's fun doing the mother-daughter stuff I should have done so many years ago.

AS usual, they had a pile of stuff to give us set aside so we went through it this afternoon. There were some purses, jewellery, hair bows, scrunchies and other stuff. While I was looking through it, mom went over to one of the shelves and came back with a little plastic bag. It had my first pair of soft white leather baby shoes in it. I think I can vaguely remember them. They're soooo tiny and cute even if they are 45 years old.

Now it's late and the air is finally cooling off. It's going to be another scorching day tomorrow.

Elizabeth Lake Lodge is kind enough to provide wireless internet for their guests. We've arrived after 12 1/2 hours on the road (but not 12 1/2 hours of driving, we stopped here and there along the way). It was a roasty hot day and we drank lots of water. This meant lots of rest stops. Given that my plumbing is no longer well adapted for seeking out the nearest bush, I'm glad that the Highways Ministry provided proper plumbing at the rest stops along the way.

After a cooling shower, we'll seek out dinner somewhere. It should be fun.

Edit: Added hyperlink. The view on the first page is the view from our room : )

Mrs Bird laid another one today. We'll be away for a week starting tomorrow. It should give them plenty of undisturbed time together. I just hope the plants survive getting parched.

There are three eggs in the nest this evening : )
Poor Mrs Bird is wearing herself out laying them.

When I watered the hanging baskets last night, I carefully tipped the basket and looked into the nest. There are two little speckled eggs inside, each a little larger than a jelly bean. We're going to have babies soon!

From okoshun by way of lovecraftienne and tickly_girl comes this exercise in missing the blindingly obvious. Or is it a deliberate "mistake"? You be the judge. WARNING: Put down all beverages and move pets off your lap before clicking the link.

It's 4:59. Do you know where your Solstice is?

Mr and Mrs House Sparrow moved into one of our hanging baskets yesterday. As a result we're now waking up to delightful birdsong in the morning (as long as we don't think about the translation: "My basket! This is my balcony! Stay away from my basket!")

The birds are shuttling back and forth building the nest and defending it from interlopers. I think we've lost the use of our balcony for the duration, except for short excursions : )

I have to find the nest when they're finished to make certain I won't flood it when I water the plants.

She's surprised at her sentence?! Oh puhleaaaaaase!

Stephen Harper is following in the footsteps of his mentor again. Faced with another crisis, he's refusing to take part in the Parilamentary Committee looking into the Maxime Bernier affair. Neither Harper, Bernier nor Bernier's former girlfirend are willing to testify before the Commons Committee.

It's difficult to feel any kind of respect for politicians who so clearly show comtempt for the country they're supposed to be leading. It's past time for Haprer's hypocrites Conservatives to be tossed out on their collective ear.

I had my legs waxed today. It was memorable. The feel of the hot wax being spread on was quite enjoyable. The feel of the cloth being yanked brutally off was not. I was left with hundreds of angry little red spots all over my legs and lots of speckles of wax left on my legs to collect lint. By the time I got home my legs had grey fuzzies all over.

emilydm accompanied me for moral support. After the waxing we went downtown to look at Tall Girl's spring sale. I got 2 pairs of sandals and a pair of Mary Janes, all on sale, and a couple of light springlike tops. Then we went to White spot and had a burger for lunch (which was also my breakfast) then a quick prowl through Chapters before the parking meter ran out.

I spent too much today but I've got nice smooth legs and shoes to show for it.

Did you hear about this? Are you surprised that you didn't?

more cat pictures

For the past couple of days I've had the creeping awfuls. Yes, The Cold From Hell has decided to stop and pay me a visit. I've been achy, filled with phlegm and generally bleah. I can't concentrate for more than 5 minutes before feeling restless and uneasy, needing to do something, but not knowing what. Then I get distracted and forget what it was I needed to do. Then the cycle repeats itself. Last night I lay awake for hours, keyed up over a spat I got myself involved in on a forum that seems to be slowly turning for the worse. I need to learn to let go of petty little squabbles involving petty little issues.

Today I've been amusing my all-to-easily-amused self by trawling Google for links on hovercraft and Crottled Greeps. How's that for eclectic interests? While deeply involved in the more cobwebby parts of the web, I heard the unmistakable sound of round engines in the sky. I rushed outside to see a couple of Conair Firecats heading Westward over the North Shore. As I watched, a third flew directly overhead on the same generally Westward course. I wondered what was up. It's a little early in the year for serious fires to be happening.

I returned to my Google-trawling then this entry just had to be written right now. As I write, I can hear the Firecats returning Eastward towards their home base in Abbotsford . Perhaps there's a fire nearby? Perhaps they're getting in some local flying in preparation for the fire season? I t should take them about an hour to fly back to Abbotsford, reload and refuel and fly back. If they're fighting a fire somewhere West of here, they'll be back overhead within that hour and I'll know.

I really miss the DC-6s. There's nothing like the sound of 4 R-2800s flying in close formation.

Ford has a strange advertising campaign going on. At the dealership down at the bottom of the hill, there are strange pictures of a tortoise with a rabbit's head. I can't quite figure out what their advertising department was thinking. Perhaps Fords are for mutants?

In one very large poster hooked to the front gates, the Rabbitortoise has a thought bubble above its head with a peace symbol, the word 'of' and a brain. I'm guessing that they were trying to get across "peace of mind" but whenever I see it, I think "Piece of brain". I get it, Fords are for zombies!

This afternoon at our Annual General Meeting my resignation from TAS became official. I'm just too overwhelmed by life to be able to give so much of myself. I'm a bit emotional about it because I know intimately how much work needs to be done and how important it is, but I'm also mature and realistic enough to know that I cannot give that work the attention it deserves. I feel sure that my successor will give the same passion and drive that I did, and can continue to further the work I did.

Once I'm rested and able to give more energy I'll be back. I just need a break.

Just wow. I spent yesterday at the final day of the Transsomatechnics conference at the SFU Downtown campus in Harbour Centre.

( Busy day was busy )