giant clam

giant clam
Originally uploaded by lindsayj.

Big Jim?

Big Jim?
Originally uploaded by lindsayj.

I havn'et processed or scaned any negatives recently, but I found some I took on James' camera... :) heh

North Van Sunlight

North Van Sunlight
Originally uploaded by lindsayj.

BIG powder...

(...why did I think that I could tele ski in that??)

well got back from our "back country" (read: front country cleverly disguised by the several feet of powder and no visibility) trip and we had a great time. Spent many hours "training", hiking and getting ready for our one big back country powder run so I was quite disappointed in myself that I pretty much slide down the slope and experienced several deep faceplants along the way - to my credit I had been convinced to borrow some extra long rental "real tele" skiis that were incredibly awkward to ski on (stupid nerdy non-tele skier rental guy). (sigh) oh well, live and learn eh?

Regardless of my backcountry failure run, and my subsequent frustration, I had such a great time and can't wait to give it a try again some time soon. I could be addicted...(now if only I could stay upright in powder).

back country tomorrow!

I'm so excited.
The views, no crowds, the fresh air, the exercise, the potential for powder tele skiing (!)...

Junky

Almost done this book. An incredibally realistic perspective on being a junky, and a great read- as someone who was taught in Psych 101 that the body is instantly addicted to heroin from the first hit, I was shocked to find out that Burroughs estimates that it takes at least a year before you ever expererience junk sickness.

Some words I've learned from Junky:

Sepulchral

1. Of or relating to a burial vault or a receptacle for sacred relics.
2. Suggestive of the grave; funereal.

Effeminate

1. Having qualities or characteristics more often associated with women than men. See synonyms at female.
2. Characterized by weakness and excessive refinement. (grrrr....)
   

Reticence

1. The state or quality of being reticent; reserve.
2. The state or quality of being reluctant; unwillingness.

Garrulous

1. Given to excessive and often trivial or rambling talk; tiresomely talkative.
2. Wordy and rambling: a garrulous speech.

I heart big dumps...

Just got back from Whistler- Blackcomb. Had good times, found some good powder runs, used my fantastic new telemark boots, and have sore legs. It feels good to be active in the outdoors again...

Thanks mel for having us! I've added another bunch of good stories to my collection -
including encounters with two hot tub visitors; 19 yearold drunk J-rock who feared Big Bunny (Jim) and Big "Median/Meridian" and brought me free beer, and chatty 13 year old "senior" boy scout Mark who had yet to learn sarcasm.

It was fun also to win the "word guessing" game with Miranda, Sparky, Devon and Heather. I like winning. Guess that means I'll never be a monk.

____________________

Holy how selfish do I feel. As the weather gets worse the chances grow slimmer of findding the lost person on Cyprus Mountain. Reports are saying that even the search team is coming back with hypothermia...

B'gwus

So, today I started reading a book, given to me by my Secret Santa, called Monkey Beach.
It was written by a First Nations lady from Kitamaat, where the story also takes place, and I love reading books about places I've been, as the images are that much more vivid and real in your mind - I'm enjoying this one already.

What's interesting is that already in the first few pages of the story, sasquatch legends and sightings have been mentioned and I get the feeling that this will be a reoccuring theme throughout the book. I've heard rumors that this part of BC was sasquatch territory but this book seeks to confirm it, Monkey Beach being a place where several sasquatch (b'gwus in Haisla) have occured.

In the past, I've been a sasquatch doubter but recently I've changed my tune. It could be because of loud arguements coming from Big Jim, or Jane Goodall's B'gwus belief, or the discovery of a new carnivore in Australia (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17485571%255E30417,00.html), or maybe it just stems from the fact I hadn't really given it too much thought until now, but either way I'm finding myself turning into a fence-sitter, unsure whether to join Owen Sound boys in their steadfast Bubbles 'Samsquench' faith and admit that there could be this beast that lurks in our deep forests that we haven't discovered, or to keep with my doubt, waiting for some sort of hard evidence of these mysterious beasts.

Thoughts?

Happy (ridiculously mild) Holidays!

Well, for the first time I find myself (sick) at work on Christmas Day.
Working today is actually not as big of a deal as I thought it would be and the extra ski money is definitely appreciated.

What DOES suck however is I am stuck with some sort of virus or bacteria that refuses to leave my system. At first it was the fever chills, then the headaches came, followed shortly by the bed-shaking coughs and free flowing snot, and now, today and yesterday, it is the loss of appetite - it feels like I have rotting guts and, very strange for me, I'm not the least bit interested in eating sweets. Dammit this is the wrong time of year to get this symptom. I started taking ColdFX however and am sort of sold on this product. I don't think it's curing the sickness, however it is holding the symptoms at bay, which in turn prevents me from curling up and hibernating for a week.

Tonight is Christmas dinner with my family and, another first for this season, we have 2 boyfriends joining us for Christmas dinner. I personally think it's better with the addition of other people (and a puppy) - the more the merrier. I also think my family argues less and acts less crazy when we have guests over. That being said, I did stress out last night worrying about how boring my parents can be. Some people wish their parents didn't get drunk or didn't fall off the roof, but me I wish my parents would do something exciting, drink a bunch, or even argue loudly about the colour of Santa's shoes. (sigh) The Christmas tree is always greener....

When I have my land and home and dog and family ALL will be invited. I consider friends as family so screw this blood relation thing and bring on the big Christmas gatherings!
Merry happy day of the seasons!! Enjoy your winter solstice however it be spent.

19th floor

The apartment that I've been housesitting (aka my boyfriends apartment that I sort of moved into for the week - somehow that sounds a lot worse though) is on the 19th floor. This presents many opportunities to ride the elevator with a variety of residents and it amazes me how awkard each ride with a new face is - unless of course I'm drunk and then I can't shut up. I feel snotty for not engaging in conversation, but I'm shy and my fellow elevator riders usually don't say anything anyways.

Purely by coincidence I was looking up 'funny things to do on an elevator' the other day and I thought I'd post a few amusing ones:

~ Tell people their clothes are stuck in the lift door and when they look around and see that it isn't, apologize, then 5 seconds later say it again in exactly the same tone of voice.

~ Pretend to be a flight attendant and instruct people on what to do in an emergency. Especially effective in costume.

~ Say that you have just won the lottery and you are on your way to collect your winnings. See how many people are listening to you.

~ When the elevator is silent, look around and ask "is that your beeper?"

~ Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.

~ When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open, then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.

~ When there is only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder and then pretend it wasn't you.

~ Push a button, pretend it gave you a shock. Smile and go back for more.

~ Ask the others in the elevator which floor they're going to, but push the wrong buttons.

{sigh}
I want to live on my own...

Travellers Itch

The last couple of days I've been housesitting for Jim - well he didn't excatly ask me to housesit, but I volunteered, worried that the rowdies here in North Van might burn down the place and shit.

Anyways, I don't own a TV, so while here I've been taking advantage of some fine CBC programming and Sunday afternoon was the best. First I watched the end of some tales of travellers who faced the desolate yet gorgous Dempster Highway. (I want to go North...)
Then I watched a special on a Newfie who claims to make the best snow shoes, possibly ever - he walked us through the process and I was convinced.
Now I've been thinking about travelling to Cornerbrook, Newfoundland in February/January with the sole mission to purchase and test out these amazing shoe shoes.

I like to have themes if I can when travelling - they don't need to be ridgid themes, but things that keep me focused, such as diving, or surfing, or photographing the "World's Biggest [fill in the blank] !". It keeps me amused.
Maybe snowshoeing could be a theme.

Heh, likely I'll be using the "saving money" theme yet again....maybe travel to Sooke or something wild like that :)

Inactive....

I heart dinosaur comics

...even when it's guest week.

Anyone know someone whose nickname applies to this comic?
Makes me feel a bit better about some of my nicknames...like Haenus Janes (spelled incorrectly on purpose).

http://www.qwantz.com/index.pl?comic=663

And (not) speaking about photography, my current photo class is conjuring up a strange mix of utter frusteration, excitement, and humbleness and I'm left wondering why I'm spending so much time and money on this hobby. I spent 5 hours in the darkroom yesterday and 3 hours tonight for (drum roll please) possibly a total of 6 good prints.
sigh.

Half ironman transition

half ironman transition2
Originally uploaded by lindsayj.

This my sister in the summer transitioning before her 22km run.
I'm so proud of her.

At the moment I'm taking a Black and White Photo course where I'm learning how to make prints. I can't talk enough about how fun it is.
Anyone think this photo is good for printing?

Another year older...

Well, my day of birth was great.
I figured I'd have been lost in reflection, feeling old and wondering where my mis-spent youth had gone but when the big day came there was no celebration formally planned but I had a perma-smile on my face from thoughts of all my good fortune in life - good friends, good family, good times, good job, and a sunny day.
(Thanks to all of you who made it special).

Oh yeah and yesterday I photographed Marcus Naslund while he and his family had a beluga encounter. He laughed at my wit. He also asked for my phone number but I told him I was taken. I'm what you call a loyal girlfriend.

It's raining again today.

What is the price of absent-mindedness?

$1

That's the cost of upgrading your expired bus ticket because you didn't pull the cord at the right time and you somehow ended up on the North side of the 2nd Narrows, several km's, many minutes and a bridge away from your home.

Tales from the Wet Coast

My adventure to Bamfield began with a bang - or should I say a gong(show) - when I awoke to find that I was missing one of my contacts. With no time to return to my home and get a new set before the 8:30am ferry, and no other option to see (I forgot to bring a back-up pair), I borrowed James's glasses. They didn't really fit my head, or my prescription, but beggars can't be choosers, so along they came. It was with these glasses that I noticed, while boarding the ferry, that there seemed to be a lot of people carrying sleeping bags and I was not one of them. Great...
After a long bus ride, courtesy of the slowest bus driver in the world - he came out of retirement just for this trip!! - we arrived at Bamfield and the rain followed shortly afterwards. Friday and Saturday were great days of beach wandering, boat touring, bird watching, plankton catching, Sea Lion viewing, and bunkbed napping and Saturday night was the big night of Bamfield's Halloween party. I had no idea how legendary this party was - it's bigger than Christmas with some people beginning their costume in August and others driving from all over the place just to return for this bash (Kate is now a returning regular)! My costume was the cameraman for the Crocodile Hunter, the Croc and the Croc Hunter's wife.
I began with evening with rye, moved quickly to wine but didn't really feel any effects until I arrived at the party...and then I was pissed. The details of the night are hazy but what I DO remember is amazing costumes (Frankenstein on stilts won the best costume), the many boys eager for some lady attention, dancing (sometimes moshing) the eve away, the slippery floor and my sneaky (read: not so sneaky) refills of red wine into my coffee mug. Apparently I was rowdy and I found a huge bruise on my hip this morning - a good evening all in all. The next day I woke up (still drunk) and begun the day with an oceanography cruise (groan) and then climbed up a 116 foot Red Cedar. Note to the wise: this is not the best hung-over activity. On the top, 4th, very slippery, platform you could feel the huge gusts of wind that were whipping through the canopy and I, scared shitless, I was literally a tree hugger. After these fun morning activities, we rushed around getting ready for the bus that was to meet us there at 1pm. At 1:15 were started to wonder. At 2pm we started to play cards. To make a long story short, the bus company got confused and thought they were picking us on Monday - finally they dispatched a bus to come to our rescue (luckily NOT our first driver) and at 5:20 pm he sped us to the ferries just in time to make the 9pm.
Whew...what a weekend.

Dreaming of the midnight sun...

There are strange things done 'neath the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold.
The arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold.
The northern lights have seen queer sights
But the queerest they ever did see,
Was that night on the marge of Lake LeBarge
When I cremated Sam McGee...

- Robert Service

another ordinary posting

It's been a while. And after this much time, the stress of what to write usually overcomes any desire to write. Again, stress of production has strangled creativity. Ugh.

Random updates:

Diving: Love drysuits. Don't know if I'm going to be able to go back to wet suits - I didn't get cold until I got out of the water. How great is that? Saw lots of cool critters at Whitecliff (a pretty cool, very busy local dive site) including thousands of brittle seastars. Overheard an amusing conversation from some male divers as they were floating in the water waiting for their dive buddies:
"...Yah she's nice, but just my luck all her friends are all hot so....She's ok but I'm looking around still for something better....I didn't say i love her so it's ok....".
Sound travels faster across water boys. I already have a tainted view on how guys REALLY feel, there's no need to cement these feeling any more.

Bamfield: Going there in a couple of weekends for the first time. I'm so excited, though I will be missing Mel's first western Halloween Social.

Hair cut: It's short. I like it. Sometimes makes me look like a triangle head. Vanity is weird.

Photo class: Art students can be so snobby. That being said the continuing studies group isn't that bad. Feel less like a photographer than I've ever felt in my life however - having a broken camera doesn't help. Where has my creativity gone...Perhaps it attached itself to my idealism?

Brazillian: Does not exist anymore. However, as promised the hair that has grown back is very soft. mmmm. I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and go bald again soon though.

Vacation: Thinking of taking one in January. Any ideas where? Anyone want to come?

ok all for now.

Call me crazy...

I love rain.
Correction: I love rain downpours (none of that woosy spit rain).
Correction: I love getting soaked and then coming in from the rain to a nice, dry home - preferably with a fireplace, hot tea, a good book and a roof that echoes the pounding rain.

This love for rain is likely a consequence of growing up on the wet (west) coast, Port Hardy being a very wet town with an average of up to 5m of rain a year.
Prince Rupert however, a great coastal town that I just recently visited for the first time, takes the cake - Rainiest city - 2468.50 mm in a year!
Its a wonder, with such claims to fame as "Least sunshine year-round", why anyone (other than aquaman) lives there. Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks gumboots are sexy...

http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/winners-e.html

--------------
In other news, I had a great time up at Shuswap Lake with BJ Boone - basking in the SUN, reading, more sunning, photographing...
Highlight of the trip? BJ's gas mileage.
just kidding.

Oh and I'm taking a photo class which is so exciting. Anyone else want to be my model?