Camping

Working on photos today. Kinda like this one from a camping trip at Cowichan Lake earlier this summer.

Word of the Day

From the Free Dictionary:

1.

gallivant - wander aimlessly in search of pleasure gad, jazz around rove, stray, roam, vagabond, wander, swan, ramble, range, drift, tramp, cast, roll - move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment.

But really, this is more than a word, is it not? It is an idea. A concept. A way of living. A path and a destination. An aspiration, perhaps? I kinda like it.

Everything You Need To Know

My younger son graduated from elementary school this year and part of the process was getting a published Yearbook. As I contributed photos to the yearbook (yay!) I was just as excited to flip through it as he was. But I have to admit, my favourite page is full of quotes from the Grade 5 class in response to "Any advice for next year's Grade 5's?"

In the spirit of Robert Fulgham, I thought you might enjoy reading their responses:

Listen in class.
Listen carefully and follow instructions.
Don't get stressed by homework, it'll only get you frustrated.
Bring your homework back to school.

Make good choices, use your manners, be awesome.
Be a role model.
Don't be a tattle tale.
Don't get into trouble.
All the kids look up to you so do good stuff and help when needed.

Stay on your toes.
Make memories, work hard, have fun.
Participate.
When in PE don't be afraid to go all out. Do your best!

Study.
Study Math.
Listen in Math.
Try to live through Math.

Don't be an idiot. Be Smart!
Be creative.
Believe in yourself.
Get some sleep. 

Hmmmm. Pretty good stuff. Pretty smart kids.

Summer

In the last 48 hours: ice cream, mini golf, ripe cherries, corn on the cob, bare feet, naps in the sun, reading a good book, hugs, sunshine, picking weeds from the garden, drawing cartoons, listening to gypsy music, bathing suits, bright towels, candles, sitting on the library floor flipping through books, making dinner together, playing the guitar, tea time, playing ping pong, movie night, playing cards after dinner, sleeping sans p.j.'s, bunnies and deer, drive down the country road,  good conversations, chocolate pudding, silly giggles, making travel plans, smiles.

Ah . . . good times.

Here and Now Quote

“Let this truth go as deep in you as possible: that life is already here, arrived. You are standing on the goal. Don’t ask about the path.”
- Osho, an Indian Philosopher.

I have been a very goal oriented person. While I was away this weekend I was guided away from my usual path of future goal setting to a spot of focusing on the here and now. I just saw this quote and needed to capture it for myself. Thought I would share it with you, too!

Man in Black Mini Concert

While exercising upstairs at the Commonwealth Community Centre yesterday, there was a water polo tournament going on in the pool below me. Headphones on, I was elliptical hiking (that's what I call it to make me feel better when I am inside the gym on a beautiful day) to the beat of  the Red Hot Chili Peppers trying my best to keep up with the game below.

The timer ticked down and the action stopped as the home team lost to the visitors. Both teams, one exuberant the other forlorn, exited the pool and toweled off as this Man in Black, head to toe, casually sauntered onto the pool deck with an electric guitar in hand.

He grabbed the microphone from the announcer, plugged into an amp and started to rock out, shuffling his feet with his moves like Jagger.

Lime green bikinis and fluorescent orange board shorts jumped from the diving boards behind him. Dads threw little boys into the air and let them splash back into the water. A family of folks were playing water volleyball in the shallow pool, oblivious to the concert just steps away. All the while this Man in Black kept rocking out, singing his heart out, strumming his guitar and shuffling away.

Now, I was listening to Californication, and there was a wall of glass and about a hundred feet between us, so I have no idea what he was playing, but I can only assume he was doing a good job as a few of the judges got up from their seats and started dancing, bumping hips and clapping hands and laughing between them.

There is truly nothing better in this world than watching people step out, and stand out, from the ordinary and do something extraordinary. Thank you Man in Black for the smiles you brought to all of us watching you.

Just thinking of trains going by

"Ever since childhood, when I lived within earshot of the Boston and Maine, I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it" - Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar