Day Two
February 7th

Ontario time it is 9:20, but here time it is 6:20. Andris is out in the hot tub, and I by the fire. I suggested that for Valentine’s and Easter combined, I would get him a massage here (outlined in their linked website, and I think that a hot stone massage is something he’ll go for. Huh! The man who said that he wasn’t really into hot tubs and massages...!

Now it`s evening and a bit of a filler. After me lazing about and Andris already having walked about, together we walked to the main building to use the phone. In a miscommunication between Andris and myself, we think Anne our neighbour didn’t know we had gone... and so cats may NOT have been fed for a few days! We managed to wake Nathalie up (it would have been at least 11) and she said she’d go over. BTW - I hope that Vaira has survived! (only half kidding, ie that without their own food, the other cats could have, eaten hers, and sh'd be the one without anything....)

After the calls also to home and work and Velta, we took a stroll to the beach... well, probably more aptly, the shore. Wonderful pieces of tree and roots washed on shore, with the high water mark way above the point to where we had gone down. And crashing waves....

An hour or so later we drove to Sooke, via the Spa and arranged for us to have treatments on Wednesday. Thank goodness for MasterCard (even if I have yet to be charged). In Sooke we had lunch at The Lazy Gekko, a fairly new Mexican restaurant that was given raves by all the patrons – many in because someone else said that it was good! A few more stops – and a return to the crashing waves. My job was organizing pictures, and then later... a few more hot tub soaks, which Andris has termed KFC-like”... ie you don’t do it often, it may not be healthy, but you enjoy it while you can.
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Last night I wrote that the wind was howling. That really wasn’t doing justice to the sound!!! Environment Canada had a “wind warning” for the Juan de Fuca Straits. They weren’t kidding! The winds continued this morning, and really only abated after 5pm. Before that, at least for a while, Andris figured out that standing on our deck in the wind was a good way to dry off. Who needs a towel! Today we were also treated to a sunset; even if this is the only day it is sunny at that time, we have had a glorious view.

Right now, both Andris and I are writing on our lap tops and apparently both are or about to be on the topic of waves. I have decided that the waves we have encountered, partly due to those winds, and also tides, can be compared to ages and stages of human growth. This morning the waves came crashing to shore in short spurts all over, like a petulant child stomping his or her feet – it knows that it can grab attention, has power, but somehow isn’t “all together”. When we came back from Sooke, the waves were longer parallel to the coast line – still “acting out”, but in the James Dean circa “Rebel without a Cause”, tee-shirt with cigarettes in under the sleeve. There is more sophistication than the petulant child but the energy of a late teen. By late afternoon, the waves were still long, but more steady and calm – an adult with the self confidence of experience that only age can provide. A bit later, the waves seemed to quiet even more, as the energy of youth has been spent and is no longer needed for “show”. Now, at close to 8pm, although I cannot see the waves in the darkness below, the waves are crashing once more – but perhaps with a sense of thrashing, railing against the night and a final sleep.

Ok – so that last line is a bit much.... but the rest I like. Mind you, I have yet to hear what Andris has written. When I do, I may need to revise my prose; he has a talent that I admire in putting word to paper.

Day One

February 6th, 2011


It is a miserable grey afternoon with the sound of rain pellets hammering against the windows and roof. I am sitting by the unlit fire, staring out at the whitecaps growing in size and number, as the wind buffets the lichen and moss covered trees, and echoes in the one room cabin. And – I couldn’t be happier!



That almost sounds like “it was a dark and stormy night”.... Andris was resting on the bed, and I decided to try and be poetic. Of course, what it came out like was a poorly crafted romance novel. Oh well.



We are at Point No Point Resort about 15-20 kms outside Sooke, in the direction of Point Renfrew, in cabin #14. It is a one room bedroom kitchen living room, with bathroom on roadside, but windows onto the Juan de Fuca Straight. More than likely we face a US coastline, but in the fog and rain I can imagine “the next country” is China, across the wide Pacific. The cabins are on cliffs above the water and you can hear the waves crashing to the shore. Although there a number of cabins in the resort, they are mostly placed in such a manner that you don’t see them if you are looking “straight out” ahead, and we only see one cabin’s side in one direction, though there is actually a cabin closer to the other side.



There is no TV, I am not yet sure about a radio in the clock – but certainly no cell service. Technically my Bell Stick has been “searching for network” over half an hour (I had expected to simply say “no service”). The one chest of drawers includes a couple of board games and at least one puzzle. Andris and I have varied books and other reading materials, and I have paper, crayons and paint.



Day One of a 5 day retreat. And, except for already missing our “children”, for now I really couldn’t be happier.



Day One evening – We have made use of the hot tub.... both late afternoon and now after 7pm – in the pitch black of night. The first time was spitting rain and mist, the second started as no rain , but the rain came on. The first we watched from a distance “two ships passing in the night” – ok it wasn’t night – and at night, just listened to the wind blustering through the trees, happy that the house was protection from the winds for us going to and from the hot tub.



Knowing that we are in a fire warmed (with electricity back-up ;-) ) cabin listening to the howling winds outside is a true blessing!

Question

Is there such a thing as bi-polar "light"?

Writing for one's self

"Viola"'s " i'm like a dragonfly" blog has a wonderful quote from Cyril Connolloy

"Better to write for yourself and have no public
than to write for the public and have no self".

Given that Viola and Andris are my only followers, I am likely happily writing for myself. And I felt I needed to admit somethings somewhere...

Today is a funny day. Yesterday at church someone asked me if I was OK; I said I just don't deal with heat well. Is that it? Today is hotter and I am even less "here". As I am writ ting for myself, I'll admit that I have done very little today but get up, feed cats, walk Barney just to the landing (he didn't want to go further) then sleeping again until noon. I worked a bit on the computer, watched Dr Phil and Oprah ... and only watched those shows because what I really wanted to do was go back to bed.... That is not good. In a few days I should be going back to work.

Oprah asked Simon Cowel (sp?) about his moodiness - and he admitted to black moods. She asked why is he depressed, since he seems to have it all - and he said he can't explain it, just knows it is so. He also said that if he is not feeling up, he thinks that it is worse to paint a fake smile on his face rather if he is sad, be depressed - eventually it'll pass.

Well - that is where I am now. And yet I feel incredibly guilty. There is sooooooooooooooooo much to do around the inside and outside of the house. Usually when Andris is away, this is the time I do this sort of stuff. And yet - after watching 2hrs of TV, I am back at the computer, not doing house stuff. And not moving... I could go back to sleep again.....

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And if this were to be my last day (no worry - I'm not suicidal - I just mean some unforeseen accident) what would I have to say for my life?

Being with a group of people last night celebrating someone's birthday, as well as going to a funeral home earlier in the day for someone who died from cancer, but apparently was at great peace, gave me the opportunity to hear about people who others see as great role models, inspirations. Andris was also mentioned as being someone to emulate for his joy and sense of gratitude - and I agree. But can I express that or do it?

No.

Twins???

Does anyone see a sign of long lost twins, or is it just me,...

Still Alive

Just checking in.
End of June
much stuff at work
Sr Nancy's farewell
Prince and the Prior
Sunday Stretch
Andris' birthday present!

July
prepare animal stuff to be gone
2 weeks of SIPL
reading, writing and... HEAT / HUMIDITY
graduation
recooperation
taste of the valley
garden stuff begun
house cleaning begun
some church stuff
contemplative mass picnic
mammograms and ultra sounds
don't deal well with humidity
lots of hip,knee,shin,plantar fasciatis pain
dig out septic tank holes
Andris' birthday present!!

so far in August
continue with house
begin office cleanup
almost finish recovering septic tank holes
so far ignore garden
kapu svetki
go into work office
begin to see work piling up
getting ready to write essay
Andris' birthday present has to get finished and ordered!!!

Where am I?

A friend just asked if I had fallen off the world since she hadn't seen me in months. I have fallen off - but it is just life and life issues taking their toll on time.

And yet I have heard so much in the past few days about the suprizing, harrowing and emotionally draining turns the lives of some people have taken, that although I may be off the grid - I am soooooooo blessed for what I have and that I have Andris with whom I can share it all. Blessings beyond due.