Political Funeral

The leader of the Official Opposition in Canada passed away last week after a difficult battle with cancer.

I can't begin to explain how I felt when I heard the news. Utter shock and sadness would start, I suppose. I identified with Jack, not only over his sense of optimism and political policies but also because he suffered from cancer. In the last election, he did what many thought was unthinkable: he brought his party to Official Opposition status. During the election campaign, his true charisma and humbleness became present. I think that that's what attracted many people to vote the way they did.

He announced a second battle with cancer and stepped away from politics earlier in the summer. I thought he would fight this struggle valiantly and would come back after some time. I never imagined he would lose his struggle.

Today was his funeral. He was given a full state funeral. They even televised it for everyone to see. I watched this with great interest. Although it was supposed to be a celebration of life, I have to admit, I balled my eyes out. What a loving tribute to a great great man. I'm very fortunate to be able to have stayed at home while I watched it. I think, somehow, that Jack's legacy of hope, optimism and love of his country will live on.

Good bye Mr. Layton. May your pain and suffering cease and yet may the work you have started continue by the many millions of people your life touched.

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Logan Lake

I haven't been to Logan Lake for quite a while. I have only been there once before on our way to our favourite lake.

However, since the range is there, we decided to stop by in the town. It was there I saw this:

This was the town's visitors centre. It was the biggest pieces of equipment I have seen! It came from the local mine a while ago.

We stopped for a brief look around but had to get going so I didn't get to go inside. But how neat!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Dr. Pepper - Cherry

Just a quick mention... this is my 100th post! I can't believe I made it this far! I never thought I would get so much accomplished!
While out at the range today, it was dreadfully hot. When coming back into town we stopped at a corner store to get something to drink. This store, in a tiny little town, had Dr. Pepper Cherry!
Well, not having had this before, I had to try it. It was pretty good.

I'll have to see if the stores around here carry this!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Logan Lake Firing Range

I have never been to a firing range before. Although I had some major apprehensions about going, I went. My father in law and husband have ample experience with this and I thought I would just be able to sit back and watch their shots.

Such was not the case. They set up a competition and of course I had to participate. The good news is that it was a .22. The bad news was that other people were there shooting much bigger guns. The shots they took were so loud!
However, despite the fact that my husband is much more experienced than I am, I came in second in the competition. My father in law came first.
Here is my target:

I can't believe I beat my husband shooting.
The range was outside but had everything that was needed:

More good news is that my husband's guns are sighted in for the trip we are going to take in two weeks, which was the initial point in going in the first place.

Thanks for reading
Lynn

Monck Provincial Park

What another epic day today was! I'll blog about the day as it happened.

My husband wanted to go to a firing range in Logan Lake. Because I had never been there before and my father in law likes shooting we invited him along.
Well going out today, I found out my sister and brother in law were also out that way camping. So we decided to surprise them with a visit.
They were camping at Monck Provincial Park, which is past Merritt heading towards Kamloops. It was very warm, when we arrived just before 11. However, what a nice park to camp at. They had flush toilets, a sandy beach but not much shade.
I think perhaps next year Tyler and I will try camping there in the early spring.
Here are some pictures:

Thanks for reading!

Lynn

August 19th- Deer

After we got the car cleaned, we decided the car needed to dry off so we went to one of my favourite parks in Langley: Derby Reach for a walk.

The salmon are running now (sockeye, pinks) so we stopped to watch the river for a bit. We saw seals and the salmon jumping. It was quite a nice evening to watch all of this happening in our backyard!

While coming home tonight, we saw two black tailed deers:

My apologies, it looks like the cell phone does not take the closest shots. Here is an edited shot:

There were two black tailed deer. My husband stopped the car and I got the camera out. What a nice surprise this was!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

August 19th - Automatic Car wash

Again, no more pictures! Sorry!

I hate getting the car washed in one of those automatic car washers. I have heard so many horror stories of using those that I refuse to ever go in one by myself.

Tonight my husband decided that was the only way our car was going to get clean on the outside. So he wanted to take it through one of these car washes. I didn't want any part of this! However, my husband turned on the car radio and drove the car through himself.

That helped a little bit, but not much. I guess I just don't like the fact that the equipment moves so close to the car that I'm afraid it will get scratched or something! However, tonight it didn't get too close and the car looks much better.

I still don't think I'll ever do this by myself!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

August 19th - Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

There are no pictures of this, I'm sorry!

I took my husband to this park today. This was the park where I crossed the suspension bridge all by myself.

My husband and I stopped and did exactly what I had done last time. We visited the ecology centre, and we crossed the bridge. However, what a difference a few weeks makes. The last time I visited, there were not a lot of people around. This time however, there were so many people there it was jam packed!

When we went to go across the bridge, someone behind us started to jump up and down really hard and play with the suspension ropes. What a disaster that was! I hated going across this time. I didn't stop in the middle to look down.

When I managed to get across I stopped for a bit to talk to my husband and catch my breath. It turns out he didn't like that part either! I guess I'm not that much of a wimp after all.

My husband enjoyed the visit this time as did I!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

August 19th - Chiba Gardens

What a challenge this was! While doing my research, I came across a memorial garden in Waterfront Park named for North Vancouver's sister city: Chiba Japan.

It turns out the cities became sister's to each other in 1969. The local government at the time decided to honour this event by building a park.

While doing my research however, I came across very little information on where this park was located. So while at Lonsdale Quay today, I asked one of the people in the info centre if they could help me locate this. It turns out, even they couldn't help me! They had an idea that this park existed but no idea where it was! I stumped the tourist guides! I never thought that that was possible!

Armed with a sense of where I was going, my husband and I retraced our steps through Waterfront Park and found this little gem of a park:

Although this park is very small, it would have been a very peaceful park to sit and enjoy the water and the plants. However, if I were the city of North Vancouver, I would clean the park up a little bit. The beer cans and garbage cans that were tossed into the park made it a bit of a mess. I would also clean the trails up a little bit as the people of Chiba Japan may feel a bit disrespected if they ever come and see what has happened to their honour park!

Despite this, it was worth the visit!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

August 19th- North Vancouver Pier

On the other side of the Lonsdale Quay is a newer pier. It opened where shipyards used to be and is quite a walk:
Here's a look at how long the pier is:

While walking there, there's quite a few other artifacts:

Apparently these shipyards would go on and help build 100 victory ships for the Allies during WWII. The view from there was also great:

While out on the pier today, a guy stopped to show us a seal. It was playing in and around the harbour. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to take a picture of it. However, it was a neat thing to see!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

August 19th- Waterfront Park

I will start by saying that although today was very busy, by the time I am finished blogging, I will have blogged 6 things. That is the most blogs I will have ever completed in one day. That is a challenge unto itself!

Anyways, today a girlfriend of mine invited me for lunch in North Vancouver. It was also my husbands day off so we went together. Prior to going, I did a bunch of research into where I had never been before. I made my list and then we headed out.

First stop today: Waterfront Park. This is just steps away from where I always meet my girlfriend. However, I had no idea that that was a park!
It had a pier, some artwork and it ended up being a gorgeous day for a walk!
Here are some pictures of the park:

It also contained a milestone for the Trans Canada trail:

For it being such a small park, it also had a bit of a lookout as well.

I just can't believe I missed it when I have been there so many times!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Challenge Failed: Cooking Steak

While my husband was at work yesterday, I went to visit my family. While there, we decided to have a summer barbecue. Because my husband was working late, we decided to put his steak on a bit after everyone else's to keep it somewhat warm for when he was able to come.

I have never barbecued or cooked steak before. I'm not a fan of this type of meat. It has a lot to do with my childhood rather than the taste itself.

My husband likes his steak rare medium. I had no idea how long to put the steak on for. He also had special seasoning requirements as well: only salt and pepper. Well, I cooked the steak. However it was more to my liking (well done) than anyone elses.

He ended up not eating it but eating one that my stepmother cooked instead.

I will not be cooking steak again for a very long time.

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Jamaican Cuisine

I've wanted to try Jamaican cuisine for a while. I've never had it and there was a restaurant located close to my work. So tonight, I took my husband there for dinner.

I tried (didn't eat all of it, but had a few bites of everything):

-Ting (Jamaican soda, not overly sweet, not overly sour)
-Jamaican patties (patties that resemble pot pies, but different with a bit of spice. I tried both chicken and beef)
-Banana Sauce (this is spicy sweet sauce that looks like ketchup) that went perfectly with the patties
-Goat curry (goat was actually really tasty in this yellow curry sauce, served with rice, beans, potato and carrot)
-Chicken curry (chicken pieces in a yellow curry sauce, served with rice, beans, potato and carrot)

What a wonderful dinner. My husband ate the most goat and I got the chicken. It was so good, I asked where I could buy the banana sauce outside of the restaurant. I found out where and it's on our grocery list. I think it will be good for most of the times we eat ketchup.

My husband and I have decided we have to go back to the restaurant again. It was that good.

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Abbotsford Museum- The Reach

Another summer like day took me back out into the Fraser Valley. I really enjoy going to museums and I've been to almost every museum in Surrey and Langley, so I ventured out a bit further to Abbotsford today. I have never been to the Abbotsford museum and I think it's a relatively new idea.

 While doing my research on this location, I also saw they had a book advertising Abbotsford Walking tours.
When I arrived today, I picked up one of these. What a great book. I can't wait to try one of these walks and blog about that as well!

Entry into the museum was by donation. I have to say, the ladies at the front counter were truly fabulous. She took me right into the museum to show me this interactive display on the floor that discusses Abbotsford's history. It was great to watch the history from the ice ages to today. They also told me some more personal stories of some of the artifacts as well as a warning about a "nudy" picture I would encounter. I appreciated the heads up!

I had no idea Abbotsford and Matsqui amalgamated in 1995. Nor did I know there was a Sumas Lake that got filled in after a large flood in the 1920s. Apparently the mosquitos were a bit much. (hmm... sounds a lot like this summer!!)
The displays included clothing from the 1870's until the 1950's and included local photographs and pieces, (I had no idea purses used to be sewn into clothing) local artists and their displays (there were a few from Langley and Aldergrove as well and I had no idea this area of BC had such talent), as well as displays from the Group of Seven (on loan from the Vancouver Art Gallery).
It was really nice to see these two interests available for viewing in the same place for once.

The lady in the museum signed me up for a few emails (inviting me to the socials where I could actually meet the local artists) as well as become a volunteer there. While I am contemplating volunteering there, I will have to think long and hard about it. However, I do look forward to the invites to the socials.

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Minter Gardens

Today a girlfriend of mine and I went out to Chilliwack to visit Minter Gardens. I've never been there before. It was a good day to go. It was sunny, but there was a breeze and some clouds as well. It was absolutely beautiful. Here are some photographs I took:

I enjoyed the visit very much. I took so many photos the battery on my phone died! I would highly recommend the drive. Although the admission price is a little bit expensive, once you get inside, you quickly realize why.

I would like to return again, maybe when different flowers are blooming, to get a different perspective.

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Comparative Religion Seminar

I have been thinking for a little bit about returning to school. I haven't been in school for quite some time. So instead of jumping in over my head, I thought I would ease into it.

I found this website that offers college course dvd's that I can listen to while at home that are provided by college professors. There are no tests or assignments and I'm not being marked on anything.

However, there is 12 hours worth of lectures that are now coming my way. I would like to complete this "course" or at least finish the lectures within four months.

If I can do that, and survive, I think I'll be okay to proceed to the next step in my returning to school.

I picked Comparative religion as I have 3 college credits (1 course) on comparing religions already and found it interesting when I was taking it.

I will keep this blog open so that I can detail my progress.

Well, wish me luck.

Thanks for reading

Lynn

August 8th: The course arrived tonight. While I am excited about this challenge, I know this will prove rather interesting. I can already see how this may be a good cure for my insomnia. I'll keep you posted on how I am enjoying this course.

August 17th: I completed my first lecture tonight. I enjoyed it. I think the professor is interesting. He is a former baptist minister who continued to study different religions during his professional career. He also discussed personal biases which he said we should keep in mind. His examples are great and there are visuals of different philosophers who have tried to define religion. I never thought of it, but it is rather hard to define!

August 18th: I completed my second lecture tonight. It is interesting. However, tonight may not have been the best evening to work on it. I fell asleep during the last two minutes of the lecture. It's still interesting the links he makes to judaism, islam and christianity and buddhism and hinduism.

August 21st: I completed two lectures today. I also re-visited the tail end of the second lecture for anything I may have missed while I fell asleep. I fell asleep after my first lecture, but managed to finish it prior to that. I found the second lecture far more interesting. It was a lecture about space and sacred objects. I also learnt that I, a non muslim, will never be able to enter Mecca. The professor also changed clothes for the second lecture and was more intesting to look at. He had been wearing mostly brown clothes prior. However, this time he had a blue shirt and tie on, my favourite colour. Sometimes it's the small things that make you stay alert! PS- Tonight I finished two more lectures. My husband joined me for one of them but fell asleep shortly after settling in. The lectures tonight were about different religious people: saviours, sages, priests and other clergy people. The second lecture ended with a discussion surrounding women in the different religions and how in the last 50 years their roles within religions have expanded in some religions and in others they remain the same. There is also a discussion that Catholic priests and the vow of celibacy has only existed for approximately 1000 years. Very interesting!

August 28th: I just finished lecture 13. It has been a struggle to stay awake, I'll be honest. However, I keep going over what I miss. I am enjoying the lectures and am learning a lot. I am even learning more about Christianity and Luther. I am glad I picked this!

October 13th: It has been far too long since I have picked this up and worked on it. I enjoyed the lectures so much tonight, I stayed awake for two of them. I am now on lecture 16th. The last two seminars touched on the issue of sacrifices. I am looking forward to completing many more of these.

October 18th: I have just finished lecture 18. It is quite interesing. Example the religions Islam and Judaism do not share the Christian belief in Original Sin. I am quite enjoying it this time.

October 22nd: I finally completed this course today. I have enjoyed this and even learned a few things I didn't know before. I have also learnt that a full time academic course is not in the cards for me at this time. However, I would like to take another of these courses. I will look through the catalog and see if there is anything else I would consider taking.

Wading in the ocean

After work my husband and I went for a picnic dinner down to the beach. There's a special spot where we like to walk. Mind you, we haven't done it for a while. However, tonight was a good night to go. We went for our walk but then coming back to the car, we decided to go and wade into the ocean, just up to our knees though.

My husband has a fear of going any deeper in and I still had my work pants and shoes on. I haven't waded into the ocean since I was a kid. What a great way to cool off from the walk.

The water was a bit colder than I expected, but it was so nice to have the sand between my toes. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

It reminded me of being a kid again, which we all need to do sometimes.

Thanks for reading

Lynn

Food challenge: Pho for Two

My father's tastes in food are pretty simple. However, today he suggested we do lunch together: pho. Pho is vietnamese noodle soup. It's one of my favourite meals out. It's rather inexpensive and comes with a bunch of fresh herbs and veggies (cilantro, bean sprouts, jalapeno peppers, limes) and comes with a variety of meat choices. I usually take the rare sliced beef, but there are others: tripe, shank, beef and chicken balls. So I took him for his first experience with Pho.

He seemed to like it and even asked if we could go out again and try a different type. I started him with rare sliced beef because it's the most mild. My husband is invited next time as he can try some of the different meats.

I forgot he likes coffee, which he ordered. I never even thought they wouldn't have regular coffee. He gets a glass full of ice and a little pot full of coffee. He tries the pot and it's way too strong and undrinkable. As the waitress grabs his finished bowl, he asks if there's cream. The lady decides to help him fix his iced coffee drink. It was mixed with condensced milk and once it was mixed with the ice, it was much more tolerable. I don't think he'll order it again.

Thanks for reading

Lynn