Sun, sun, sun

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Originally uploaded by Auntie Kangaroo.

But not run, run, run. Our now annual tradition came off today in glorious fashion. A beautiful day in Vancouver to walk 10km with just a few other people. Ok, there were 50,700 registered participants, and it looked like most showed up.

Kendra, Shannon, Amanda, and Nicole made up the rest of our little group, and we had a great time, hopping from Starbucks to Starbucks, picking up some bagels and fruit on the way, and enjoying being in the city on a day when this is truly the best place to live.

Or is it? We had a somewhat disturbing reminder that not all is well in Vancouver when a man, pushing a shopping cart, cut through the crowd in the opposite direction, shouting and cursing something about "running for heroin." Not really sure what he was trying to get across, but it's a sign once again that while the weather, the atmosphere, the apparent good mood of everyone there point to an idyllic setting, we cannot with all our goodwill create a city of perfection simply by willing it to be so. A rather deep thought for a sunny Sunday afternoon... Something to think about, though. Or at least to pray about while we walk down the beautiful tree-lined, sunny streets of a beautiful city.

I had a great time. Thanks to my walking companions for a truly enjoyable day. Now I'm going to sit back and let my sleeping kitties show me what it means to relax and rest (and then I ask myself, what have they done all day that they feel the need to sleep all evening?).

Sun Run, I will see you next year. I hope the sun will make another blazing appearance in 2007!

Off To Saskatchewan

Well, we made it there and back without driving over a single snowflake. I've posted some of the pictures from our trip here. Granny's 90th birthday was successfully celebrated, with friends and some family near. It was also a chance to marvel again at God's creation, and its incredible variety. From mountains to stubbly prairie, beauty was everywhere.

Stress? I don't think so!

I think it must be my genetic inheritance to add stress and worry to my life at the drop of a hat. But really, why should I? I am learning something that I expect every cat owner has also learned: there is nothing in this world that is so important it can't be helped by having a cat on my lap. Every evening my cats wait for me. They will follow me around the house, talk to me, or simply stare at me until I sit down somewhere for more than two minutes. Then they'll jump on my lap or simply lie down beside me on the couch and sleep. Watching them sleep makes me relax, and realize I need to take time every day to just enjoy the moment. A moment of peace, a break from cares, and a reminder that I need to rest to be able to cope better tomorrow. Stress? I don't think so...

Happy Birthdays!

My kittens officially came of age this week, reaching their one-year landmark. Happy Birthday! So now I'm expecting them to turn into more typical cats, sleeping away most of the day (oh yeah, they do that already), becoming fussier in what they eat, and generally being more dignified and aloof. In short, more adult. This doesn't seem very likely, however, as they chase each other up and down the length of my apartment and then beg me to play with them.

This got me thinking to our assumptions about age. Do we expect to become more dignified and aloof as we get older? Do we expect others to accept our eccentricities and selfish fussiness as we add years to our age? I think I'll try to hang on to more of the playful innocence and wonder of childhood (or kittenhood), the older I get. After all, the main result of having cats in my life is a constant reminder that I am not the most important person here, even if I am the only human. And that's not a bad thing.

Chocolate fest for 2

Kendra came over today to help me celebrate my birthday, and I took it as an excuse to confirm yet again that chocolate and raspberries and ice-cream (and a little cabernet) are a natural match. I felt the need to remember this and document it for posterity.

Tanti auguri a me, e la torta a noi!

Let's try this out...

Maybe I'm not immune to peer pressure, but all the cool kids are doing it! So here's my first attempt at joining the world of blogging.

I will add pictures with my next posting, since the debate is still open here on whether to post a picture of me or of my cats - they're more photogenic than I am.

For now I'll just get this out there, and get on with my tax return. It's amazing what I can come up with to delay doing my taxes!