Throwback Thursday #1 – 2014 Edition “Grad ’93”

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Last week over the holiday break I was in hometown Alberta for Christmas Eve at mom and dad’s. Since my brother, sister in-law, nephew, niece and I took a drive past our high school (my brother’s and mine), I thought it was appropriate that my #tbt this week be a high school graduation day photo. That day was 20 (and a half) years ago…

Wait…

What?

Two decades? Seriously? Nooooo.

Sometimes high school doesn’t seem that long ago and other times it seems like a lifetime when I think about how our lives have all become so different.

Circa June 1993, my parents back yard

Circa June 1993, in my parents back yard (I’m in red)

The five of us were very close throughout high school and university however, our chosen paths eventually lead us all in our own directions. Although we parted physically, we are all from the same place – and have our cherished memories of each other.

Countless experiences and interactions with life in general have shaped our lives since then – careers, boyfriends, husbands, friends, kids, travel – but essentially I know inside we are still the same people. Although I am not as close to all of these wonderful ladies as I once was, I know that who we were then, is also who we are now: good old friends. Despite distance, time apart, or who our new friends are – my memories tell me that will remain.

(P.S. I did have a lunch date with Joc in green last week, and had a cocktail date with Alison in black but had to cancel due to feeling like crap! 😦 . Tanya in purple and I are in contact on FB, and Monica in blue and I email every once in a while to catch up).

Wordless Wednesday #1 – 2014 Edition

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Bye Bye 2013

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From my own stand point, I can not make a single valid complaint about the year I had. Yes I encountered some challenges and struggles, as we all do. But any complaint I can muster is really very insignificant.

So here’s to another year of travel experiences, good times, eating, and discovering with friends and family.

Cheers 🙂

Southern Wedding Y’all!

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Me… At a wedding… In Hickory… North Carolina…

I was invited to Candace and Brian’s wedding as my friend Alaa’s date, which was awesome because we always have a good time together. But… I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit into this equation… me at a southern wedding.

Wedding selfie

Pre-wedding selfie

First, I’m not a wedding-y person, but I knew that Brian and Candace were planning a wedding that was very characteristic of them, rather than a wedding that people have been to before.

One side of Warehouse 18

Ceremony side of Warehouse 18

Eeek!

Eeek!

And second, I may be from small town Alberta where the people have a different kind of accent, the weather is unsuitable for humans about 6 months of the year and people drink Molson, but I don’t have a southern accent, I don’t wear my hair in a bouffant and I don’t drink moonshine (yes, I know – huge stereotyping).

But I have to tell you – Candace and Brian put together such a comfortable and charming wedding.

They held it at a former textile warehouse in Candace’s hometown of Hickory. This warehouse was converted by a talented artist lady into an art/living space and event venue. I could try to describe the coolness and the eclectic nature of the space, but I can’t. It was that awesome.

On the living space/event venue of the warehouse. Love!

On the living space/event venue of the warehouse. Love!

Popcorn!

Popcorn!

HOPE

HOPE

After exploring the space and getting to know Candace and Brian’s families, I felt like I was hanging out with people I’d known for much longer than a few hours. It was great to meet people from different places and walks of life in this cozy and unique setting. Who wouldn’t bond in a candle-lit room with soft music playing or in a living room where there are giant tubs of popcorn where people you know are there to join together as a new family unit?

Small-town southern United States does have a homey feel, once you get to know it and you’re in the right space with the right people. So thank you Candace and Brian, for introducing me to the real south 🙂

Love this shot I got of the first dance.

First dance ❤

JJ’s Throwback Thursday #2 – Holiday Edition

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I would like to dedicate this Throwback to my brother and his family for the good time this week.

Me and my bro long ago (1976 and 1982-I think)

Me and my bro long ago (1976 and 1982-I think)

My Canadian Christmas 2013 was spent mostly with my mom, dad, brother, sister in-law, niece and nephew (Brett had to work this week so he stayed in NYC, and we will be meeting up with the kids in Phoenix soon). Although I did get to see Jill and her family and had lunch with Joc and her kids; a little more friend time was scheduled but had to cancel due to feeling under the weather.

Anyway… I could throw way back and dig up some crazy old memories from our childhood (stuffing dirty socks in my mouth or getting concussions, for example), but I can call yesterday’s firecracker debacle a “Throwback” memory.

December 25th rundown:

Mom, Dad and I drive from Wetaskiwin to Leduc yesterday morning for gift openings and a day of eating and relaxing.

Gift opening: Great! Lots of smiles and happy faces.

Relaxing: Awesome! From table to kitchen to couch and around again and again. A little nap for Trent and dad, a little run for me.

Eating: Delicious! Corn chowder for lunch. Steak, crab legs, smoked salmon, potato skins and more for dinner. Mmmm!

Games: Scrabble and Beat the Parents. A little thinking involved but successful.

Fireworks: First round – great! Second round – not so much. Run for cover – literally! After Trent set them up, they fell over and started shooting at us towards the house. Ty yells: “They fell over! Get in the house!” while herding us all like sheep toward the door. Trent dove into the snow and tried to take cover. Meanwhile, dad is standing at the end of the deck enjoying the show, no big deal. Keely’s camera records the Griswald type of event that is taking place. After a delayed reaction, we were all back inside. No injuries reported. Usually this type of thing happens at the Borneman family Christmas events… 🙂

After all calmed down and tried a third and final round of fireworks, all was good. And then ended the night ended with a regular Coors and the Griswald’s.

The few days of relaxing with the fam was needed and great. So thank you guys for your hospitality and the new throwbacks! ❤

Wordless Wednesday #2 – Holiday Edition

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Home for the Holidays

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Yesterday I flew from my new home (which will be +17C this weekend, sniff) back home-home (-28C) for part of the holiday break. For the next few days I will be spending my time with my family mostly, and a handful of friends.

My first few visits back to Edmonton after moving to New York were always really really busy. I wanted to see all the friends I left behind: catch up, go out for dinner, drinks or whatever.

However, my last two or three visits have been different. I am spending less time running around to see the most people I can see, and more time with less people making our time together more valuable. And I think the time here is better spent. I’m not saying I don’t want to see anyone else, because that would be great, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out – and that’s okay. We all find our ways of keeping in touch.

So, happy holidays and enjoy your time together. And now I need some coffee because it is way too early to be blogging!

Throwback Thursday on Jibber Jabber

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These words from a song on a record I had as a kid describe how I feel this week… Actually, I think the record is still at my mom’s. If so, I’ll take a pic when I’m there next week.

Sing along if you remember this tune… and you have to sing it in the same voice!

“Have patience, have patience,

Don’t be in such a hurry.

When you get

impatient,

You only start to worry.

Remember,

remember,

that (God) has patience too

And think of all the times when others had to wait for you!”

Have patience this season everyone. I’ve been struggling to maintain patience and sanity – this week especially, but then I remember the times when others “had to wait for me”. This is a reminder to calm down and find peace in knowing I won’t feel annoyed forever.

Legs + Cold = Heavy Brick Legs

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Ted Corbitt 15k in Central Park this am.

West side, looking at The San Remo, light flakes at this point

West side, looking at The San Remo, light flakes at this point (mile 1/5)

  • 6 train up to 103 Street – good.
  • Walked to 102 Street entrance of park – good.
  • Baggage line – no big deal.
  • Didn’t get my usual beginning of race instagram pic because I was waiting in the bag line – fine.
  • Entered the corral area and started right away – awesome.
  • Big flakes falling from the sky – pretty (and somewhat blinding).
  • Nice run until … legs and butt became cold heavy bricks with extremely tight hip flexors! – no bueno.
  • Slight struggle to physically push myself through this stiffness for about 3 miles (miles 3-6) – big thumbs down.
  • Passed the start/finish at mile 5, sounds of Adam Levine getting his moves on – muy bueno.
  • Music faded and kept trying to extend my legs back, kick my heels up and the like – not overly helpful.
  • Mind and body back in the race around mile 7 – good.
  • Wind started to pick up back on the east side miles 7/8 – thumbs down.
  • Finished in decent time despite the minor hang ups – excellent.
Thin blanket, leaving the finish area heading back to the east side.

Thin blanket, leaving the finish area heading back to the east side.