I’ve decided to build myself a new website. Actually two. One, personal (that will house this blog) and another, professional (that will be home to my professional endeavours).  After many months of contemplating this, I decided that the difference in websites is necessary. I wanted to make huge peppy mishmash of a website to save myself time and money. Never mind that web design isn't exactly an area of strength for me and the thought of having to make something like that happen sounds about as much fun as going to the dentist.

As such, I have been doing a tremendous amount of online research. Blogs, personal websites, professional, small business, feminine, masculine, bike-related, food-related, and everything in between. I have come up with a few ideas, but mostly I have just added to my already lengthy list of blogs I follow.

Two blogs especially stuck out. I enjoyed reading backwards a bit in both of these blogs and smiling alongside the writing, nodding my head in agreement or cocking my head in confusion. I added to my increasingly large book-marked collection of reading.

As this very busy week comes to a close and the door opens to a very busy weekend, I have started to look ahead to when I can wiggle myself some time off. But also I have been feeling reflective of what this past week and month have brought me.

Jordan. He got married last weekend in gorgeous Kelowna. I drove out Saturday, feeling quite far under the weather and bummed about my rainy journey. Despite the questionable Saturday and Sunday morning, the actual service couldn't have been more sunny and gorgeous. Jord's bride looked stunning, Jord pretty handsome himself, and the simple, concise, lovely ceremony complemented both of them perfectly. I enjoyed getting reacquainted with Jo, a girlfriend from University, and meeting her significant other. I had  a lovely dinner, enjoyed the slide show, the laughs, and mostly the most ridiculous (yet hilarious) speech I have maybe ever heard at a wedding delivered at the hands of Jordan's two younger brothers.

My only real regret from the weekend? That I didn't get a picture of Jordan and I. What was I thinking? Ten years of incredible friendship and it was a joy- a real joy- to watch him get married.

(I actually also regret not drinking, but I had consumed quite a sizeable amount of cough and cold medicine and didn't really want to play with that).

GioBean - I could probably also have titled this "Dorrie" because that was another part of the long weekend. Originally a friend of Jon's, now also a friend of mine, I was housed over the weekend by her. We had lengthy, deep "life is ____, ____ and ____" kinds of talks, and also discussions on why triathlon tops don't fit properly and why learning Italian is essential to the Italian travel experience. It felt so wonderful to let my hair down and share some of the girl-like things I can't here, and two trips to GioBean were a great part of our time together.

LasVegas- Oh My Goodness. I went here! I was the fastest trip I have ever had and as per usual could probably have been an entire blog on its own. However, I am going to restrict it to a few photos and the mental note to myself to expand on my love for this city on another blog at another time.

(actually- kidding about the photos because facebook won't let me copy any of Nicki's pictures. Ha! I picked out two really cute ones, but you'll have to use your imagination).

Tour De Victoria- mostly because I can't count how many times I have taken a cup of water from a volunteer at a road race. It's time to contribute to part of the karma-payment-program and be the one handing out liquid. The 140km road race tomorrow will find me at a tent starting at 7am, cutting bananas, handing out electrolyte, and generally being a helpful person. Currently I am feeling quite envious because I wish I was riding myself, but when I look inside myself and think of what it's like to hand me a paper cup at a race, sweating, drooling, without breath or words or any kind things to say, I know I need to be on the other side of this to appreciate the grace of these kind people.

New jobs- two. On top of the one consistent part time job. Well one that is paying, one I am hoping will turn into a paying gig after my month of volunteering for them is up. One that's serving (and humbling, and all the things that come with a minimum wage, labour style, customer service and alcohol-related kind of gig), one that is marketing, social media, writing, planning style. (I see, I know, the need to get myself a website. Noted.) As my weekly task list increases with three balls in the professional air, I am acutely aware of the need for down time and also my own space so my creativity keeps flowing, my health completely returns, and generally I can be that happy person I know I can be.

Well. Phew.

My website search, blog reading list, research - endless research- list has me stewing on the title of my most recently read. If I wasn't ( ) I'd still be a ( ). Funny enough, nothing came to mind immediately because where I am is exactly where I am supposed to be. That is what I came up with. Enjoy. Onward to June.

Last Sunday marked three months since my mountain bike accident. I had earmarked this date for two important reasons: I love celebrating little anniversaries (this would explain my penchant to half-birthdays, vialis 40mg work projects/classes ending, one-year-of-almost-anything, etc.) and three months marks a turning point in head injuries. If you’re not having problems with concussion symptoms at three months, the likelihood of a relapse in the upcoming months is very, very small. This is what my doctor and the internet tell me, and I place my trust in this special little date.
My elbow bends normally, I am slowly building back my upper body strength and my cardiovascular fitness, so I was feeling particularly joyous this past weekend and was in the mood to celebrate, break-out-the-bubbly style.
Saturday night I was treated to a pre-birthday celebration / early three month healthy anniversary style with a wonderful couple who organized the evening. I was sent a list of options for my celebration, the options including “Holly’s Birthday Red Mile Style” “Birthday in the ‘Burbs Classic” “Mission Mash-up” . We dined in style (I did have bubbly- to start), wandered west down the road for many rounds of cocktails and venue flipping. It was a spirit building evening, friendship shared, wine flowed, we reminisced, dreamt of future things, and enjoyed the evening sip by sip. A late night and a sleep disturbed by bizarre dreams and the constant need to get up and consume water didn’t even phase me, the celebration was worth it. My only regret of the evening is that I didn’t take even one photo.
Sunday I slowly pulled myself out of bed and dressed for a hike. I popped out to Lisa’s and after a caffeine stop we hit the 1X to the mountains. I fumbled with the Kananskis fold out map and we settled on Yamnuska for a hike. Up and off we went. Battling hangover, I climbed alongside Lisa up the mountain towards the summit. We shared conversation and I distracted my mind from nagging doubts on fitness and strength as we climbed. Up top we ate lunch, and I smiled into the wind. If I needed a symbolic representation of overcoming, I believe this was it.

Happy we who can bask in this warm September sun, which illumines all creatures, as well when they rest as when they toil, not without a feeling of gratitude; whose life is as blameless, how blameworthy soever it may be. -Henry David Thoreau