The day was about as good as it gets on the fun department.

Started with a big important business meeting at a sweet place called Mazzis for coffee and sweets, after we took a walk in beautiful 22 C degree sunny weather and saw goats. A huge surprise was in store when we found Doris Day parking right in front of the greek restaurant for lunch, and my long time dear friend Darrlya was sitting at an out door table. What an wonderful surprise and reunion! After a long catch up chat and photos of her new grand baby (who is above average I might add)  Allyson and I met Erica in the city for a Korean scrub and soak, dinner in Japan town and then as if we needed desert – we topped off the day with Beach Blanket Babylon.

Now Beach Blanket Babylon is my kind of entertainment. Singing and dancing and costumes and humour; a sort of Broadway meets schtick. It was the best ab workout I’ve had in a long time with all the laughing.

Now to call it a good day and turn the light out.
Salute!

Every late January or early February I trek down to visit my friends in the Bay Area. I used to teach workshops there. It was a perfect time to get out of the rain and be able to enjoy an early hit of Spring. My friends Allyson and Leslie welcome me into their home and we’d play martial arts and eat chocolate.

Two years ago, when I was just beginning my sabbatical I went down to just play. On a nice walk around a golf course, Allyson and I started talking and Today’s Step was conceived. Last year at the this time, the project came to fruition and we launch the Today’s Step app for smart phones.

THIS year I am keeping all my big fat ideas to myself. This year we plan on nothing but having big fun. No making future plans, no big important meetings, and no talk of “wouldn’t it be great if…”

This annual trip will just be fun. A scrub at the Korean Spa, dinner at some fancy smancy place, and a show or two are on the agenda. I hear it is sunny and 60 degrees fahrenheit, and I am ready for for some good laughs with some good friends.

I’m putting some flowers in my hair as I head out to San Francisco today.

Dear diary-
I miss posting on my bloggy thing. I think about it all the time. I think of topics and clever sayings and funny phrases, but then to actually sit down to the practice… nothing.

Alas, I think the guys from Restoration Rock have taught me that saying I’ll do something and doing something is only as good as a promise.

Ken and I survived the plaque the early part of this month. It wasn’t pretty and no couple should ever get sick at the same time — it just isn’t right, but it sure is nice feeling strong again.

As soon as we were among the living — our hot water heater gave way. The Harry Potter room was flooded and a soggy mess was had. Lucky the apartment downstairs is not rented out right now. We were able to moved everything into that kitchen and moving stuff  gave us the kick we needed to fill the car with stuff for the Sally Anne rather than just promise to take it in someday.

A friend suggested we call the home insurance people to deal with the trouble. I have to say, it never even dawned on us to do so. Ken is such a fix it kinda guy and we tend to take on whatever trouble hits us. But after a lost nights sleep, we decided we’d rather throw money at the problem than add this project to Ken’s long “honey do” list. And after all, this is what home owners insurance is for.

So plumbers were called. I say plumbers because on Bowen it’s good to hedge your bets. Call all three of them and hope one of them calls you back. We got lucky — one not only promised to come out — he did! We had a nice hot shower in less than two days after the drama.

The insurance solution is another thing. Restoration Rock has great telephone manners and wow, can they make promises and they add, “yes, ma’am” to everything.

One young man has been out here twice so far. I am pretty sure he’s spent more time on the ferry than he has in our basement. His first trip out he was amazing and in 21/2 hours he rip the drywall apart, haul the carpet off, and set fans to dry out the room. Fantastic! Four days later, he came out and worked for another two hours, then he HAD to catch the noon boat back to the mainland. That was the last time we saw anyone.

Just like I think about this blog everyday, I think about calling the guys at Restoration Rock.

Promises, promises.

One reason I like quilts is that the many become one. Several pieces of fabric (sometimes hundreds) are cut into shapes, then sewn back together, creating one beautiful work of art.

The many become one.

My mom had a huge fabric stash when she died and over the years I have created several quilts from the many boxes of scraps I inherited.

Mom left me a lot of other stuff too. Besides the fabric stash there were a few collections, some nice and some silly. She also left some real crap as well as some pretty treasures.

I like shiny treasures. The problem is I don’t wear that many shiny baubles, and most of these are put away in boxes and drawers.

Then my friend, AnnMarie told me about the extremely creative Hélène Bourget. I gave her a call, then I gave her moms baubles. Like a quilter with gems, Hélène took the many and made one extraordinary work of art.

I am beyond thrilled.

I almost wrote something today, and I almost made it to the class in North Van.

Almost is close – but no cigar!

I might as well post something!

The sick has kicked my ass.

Today is the first day that I feel like I might actually survive it.

Last month I met a young couple who just moved to the island. We talked about the “things we do” and they said they both were learning how to knit. The next week I put together a bag of homespun for them and told them to enjoy. Then I forgot about it until I received a thank you phone call from the young woman. What I really enjoyed about the call was that she said she wanted to thank me the “old fashion way” hence the phone call!

This morning… I was the surprised and very happy recipient of a beautiful new hat! I could tell it was made with beginners joy. I was told it was the first hat she ever made and I believe I was thought of with each stitch! It’s real beauty.

I am in a super old fashion mood today as I plan to write and mail a thank you note!

I don’t pray — but I do understand that sometimes everyone could use a little directed, and focused attention drawn to them.
I also know that where the mind goes, the qi will follow.
Today, my thoughts are on Tess.
I’m just shouting out for a little extra attention on my friend.