"If only we could see ourselves as others see us."


And, if we look really hard, and try to see what they see, casting aside the self doubt, the criticism, what's reflected back -- well...

I stopped this week. I looked.

I hope that you will all do the same.


t.

What you don't ask...

I went to see my regular doctor today. I LOVE her. She gave me back control of my life and my health after getting sick. I can't express how grateful I am to her for that. Instead of just writing me a prescription and some brief "itis" diagnosis... She introduced herself by her first name and patiently sat and wrote down every single drug that my previous doctors had "tried out" (GRR - I felt like a walking pharmacy), listened to what my life was like, what I had next in my life and gave me a plan. A plan that for the first time allowed me some control of the stupid sickness that took over my body. A plan that not only allowed me to get on the right path to getting better but has since taught me how to take care of myself. So much so that she commented that she rarely sees me anymore.

Some lessons in life are harder to learn. So, I will share this... I cannot stress enough that the onus for good care is on the patient, is on us. We have a responsibility to take care of ourselves, to ask questions, to demand (if necessary) the care we deserve.


So, Wednesday, I went to the walk in clinic. And, the doctor there is pretty good -- personable, explains things well, nice guy... but after waiting for almost 2 hours sent me off with "get new shoes and try this exercise". I went to see my regular doctor today. Rather than sending me off to buy new shoes (which might be valid), she has a plan. She's told me what she thinks it is, and is sending me to physio to try and see what can be done about it. She's also explained why I'm in pain, and my options to deal with it. And, if all of that doesn't work, she has a plan c. So while it temporarily hurts, I feel better knowing that I have plan to get rid of the pain and back to aerobics.

Since I'm an accountant to put it simply:

good doctor + asking a lot more questions = better trina :) = better life



To good health and happy active lives,

t.

Well, I walked out of the office yesterday on the way to my doctor's appointment, only to find out that my car had been towed! "Too close to an intersection! Boo. $40 towing charge, $40 ticket. FYI, should have the unfortunate misfortune (is that a double negative? of having your car towed on a street in Vancouver, Busters is the towing company.

I ended up missing my doctor's appointment. :( I waited for 1.75 hours at the walk in clinic today. And well, the doctor told me pretty much told me what the ortho surgeon told me what I was younger. I'm going to see my regular doc on Friday so will see what she says.

On the upside, during the 1.75 hours I got to read one of the books that I ordered from chapters. The two books and Grey's Anatomy DVD came in the mail, as did one of my ebay winning bids!! :D

Weekly re-cap

Well, I'm sitting at home hurting... Last weekend, my pilates instructor (who has taught aerobics/yoga/pilates etc. for 25 years) mentioned after looking at my knees and how I stand that I probably shouldn't be running. She could tell right away that I was pigeon toed. And today, she noticed the arches in my feet aren't well arched. I should have listened. But stubborn and determined to learn to run heel toe, I still kept at it this past week. Added in, the amount of jumping etc. that I did when I tried a sports conditioning trainer -- more on that later. Needless to say it hurts. My ankles, shins, random parts that until I take my fitness course I don't um know the name of. (Chel, I'll ask you when you come home! ;))

I had decided that I wouldn't try running for at least two weeks but when I went to do cardio this morning and wanted to challenge myself a bit, I thought maybe just a couple of intervals wouldn't hurt. By the time I got to pilates/yoga... OUCH.

So, definitely no more running for now!! I know that there's other things that I can do and I don't have to run but I just want to be able to do it for a reasonable period of time. I am going to see my doctor and try to get a referral to physio to try to help whatever problem it is that's causing it to hurt. I was told when I was a teen that I might have this problem since my knees turn inwards but I have never really tried to run this regularly until now. Cardio wise, I'm not huffing and puffing but it hurts like... well it hurts. My pilates teacher is going to bring me some kanga boots to try out next week since it's supposed to help correct the pronation if I really really want to run. Boo.


Anyways...here's a weekly re-cap since I haven't done one in a while...


Monday ~ Midterm.

Tuesday ~ Happy <3 Day!

I decided to try out a new trainer, he focuses primarily on sports conditioning but I thought it might be fun to try. It was fun but too reminiscient of gym class. And well, during one of the exercises, the instructor said he thought I could jump higher. I asked him if I had mentioned that I used to cheerlead. He said "no, but the visual of that is nice." (EWW!)

The remainder of the evening was spent catching up with a friend. :) Laughter is truly an amazing thing.

VDay at work was nice. One of the partners brought in chocolates and one of the girls made cupcakes. Some thought I had made them since I made little halloween treat bags for everyone. Perhaps around Easter again. One of the girls got flowers from her boyfriend who is in the maritimes... so sweet (haha, yes, I'm a sucker for romantic stuff like this.)

Wednesday ~ I didn't make it home in time to go to bootcamp and it was probably better given that my knees were hurting... so I just spent the evening relaxing at home. Work has been super duper busy given the end of February filing deadline.

Thursday ~ pilates!! :) I have discovered that I'm ready for an intermediate level class. The instructor is going to give me modifications for the duration of the course which is really nice!! :)

Friday ~ Hmm...I'm trying to think of what I did after work. Oh, I went in search of the Grey's Anatomy Season 1 DVD. I couldn't find it but ended up ordering it online from chapters.indigo and some books (free shipping!). Then, went to the gym and went on a coffee run for some of my friends who were working late at the community centre.

Saturday ~ Went into work to try to get some of the files off my desk! I like working on Saturday because the office is quieter and I can wear sweats and socks! :) In the late afternoon, I tried out Kerrisdale Community Centre's gym. It's okay. I'm trying to find a gym closer to work but it's hard having been so spoiled with Richmond's awesome community facilities. We're pretty fortunate to have such great public gyms at inexpensive rates.

I was set up with remote desktop now meaning that I can dial my computer at work from my home computer. I tried it out last night, and it's SO cool!! :) Hehee.

Other than that, I won some of the ebay auctions for items that I was bidding on! ;)


So that's it for now. Oh, Grey's Anatomy is pretty great tonight!! Let me know how you are all doing. I'm in a sort of work, gym, school kind of routine right now.... A fellow CGA student said "CGA students must all be single." ;) Looking forward to Resonance this weekend -- an outing!! Oh, and I guess to the Orthodontist too... if that counts as an outing!

Less than a week till the end of February, it's going to be a long work week!!


t. :)

Last night while on the phone with Chelley in Sasky (I miss you!) I covered an entire piece of paper with flower doodles. Curious as to what this could mean, I looked it up...


Here's a link to deciphering your doodles.

My Saturday morning pilates class was cancelled. :( And I was totally looking forward to it because I heard the instructor is really good!

Ah well! That just means I get to go into work earlier on Saturdays!

Hope ya'll are enjoying are sunny and wintery weather. The sunny, so cold that your nose turns red and your ears are a wee frozen but the air is so crisp that it couldn't feel any fresher are my favourite.

Reason, Season and Lifetime

I think this fits today.

Reason, Season and Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or
a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you
know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is
usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or
inwardly. They have come to assist you through a
difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do
something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a
stand. What we must realize is that our need has been
met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The
prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now
time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is
because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.

They may bring you an experience of peace or make you
laugh. They may teach you something you have never
done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of
joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
those things you must build upon in order to have a
solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the
lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what
you have learned to use in all other relationships and
areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but
friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life...

PRAYER:

May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are
meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are
born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of
God.
Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow
your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in
the sun. It is there for each and every one of you.

Happy Valentine's Day!! <3

My godbro and his lil' sis. <3
New Year's Day 2006

Eyes

One of the things that I enjoy most is to sit outside on a sunny day during the ferry ride over to Victoria. The scenery and fresh air is unparalleled. One of the reasons why our licence plates say "Beautiful British Columbia.

I took this photo when Rachelle and I went to visit session in December. I've always had a fascination with what some call "God light". This photo, no exception, though I've never quite had this result. To me, it looks like there are two eyes in the photo. What do you see?

(AK, this photo is for you. ;) )

I'm going to plug the lil' fruit and veggie stand on the corner of Number 5 Road and Westminster Hwy. in Richmond.


Now ya'll know I'm a run with the lil' guy (mom and pop shops) kinda gal. My favourite florist (Say it With Flowers) is a wee lil' hole in the wall on West 57th and East Boulevard run by a father and son.... Their flowers are gorgeous and fresh, the prices are incredibly reasonable and well, you don't get service like that at the local supermarket, or even fancier florists. It's a treat just to get to go -- maybe that's why I give flowers more often now!


As for the fruit and veggie stand -- $1 per big plastic box of strawberries (double the size of those lil' green crates), 2 graperfruits for $1, 10 kiwis for $1 -- umm, will someone help me eat all of 'em? Green beans, papaya, canteloupe, cucumbers, baby carrots and grapes also made their way home with me. So for about $25, I had two big bags of veggies. I know from the gym that I can carry approximately 16 pounds in one hand comfortably and walk. (Carrying dumbells around the gym...) I couldn't carry both bags comfortably in one hand... What a deal! And fruits and veggies are good. 7-10 a day!!!


During lunch today, I took time to enjoy the sunshine and walked down to West 4th ( I work at West 12th so it isn't too far a walk, tho a mite hilly for a gal used to the flatness of Lulu) and bought my very own pilates mat!!! :) I start two of the classes this week, and then the third class starts on the 18th. There's still space in all three so if anyone would like to join, please do!

Thursdays 8:20pm-9:20pm pilates
Saturdays 9:30am - 10:30am pilates
Sundays 11:00am-12:00pm pilates/yoga combo

And then there's the Wednesday night drop in class that I do -- Thai Bo Boot Camp -- 90 minutes -- 10 minute or so warm up, 40 minutes Thai Bo, 40 minutes bootcamp (running, step aerobics, free weights, body bar, stability ball, pilates) It's super duper fun and I would especially like to see some guys come out!! Last Wednesday there were four guys at the start, by the end, only one remained.


Hmm, I'm not sure how my plug for the fruit stand turned into plugging group fitness classes but ah well.... I suppose the two go hand in hand...


Enjoy the sunshine!

t.

Well...I was supposed to clean and study today.... I woke up and decided not to go into work....

I cleaned, I went to the gym.... but didn't study. I did however watch movies!

Last night, I watched "In Her Shoes" (great movie!). This morning, "Lord of War" (good, in a different way, but violent so avoid should you not like violent films) And then on tv tonight "Down with Love"



Hehehee, so restful day with a long workout and some much needed laundry and tidying up. And tomorrow, I shall hit the books.


I still can't figure out why the formatting is off in internet explorer but seems to look okay in firefox!

i got business cards today from work.






hehehehee.



have a nice weekend all!

The 100th post.

"Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.

Look for God in others."

Sometimes, in the least expected of moments, in the least expected of places, in the simplest of actions by another, we find reasons to smile.... Reasons to smile when days seem to roll into the next, when the piles get so high the bottom is nowhere in sight.... but we are reminded.... reminded by the grace of another, by a caring thought, a gentle nudge, or warm presence that we are loved, cared for, remembered.

And because they are so unexpected, the moment is savoured, the pile gets shorter, the days no longer roll into one another, we breathe, refreshed, standing tall once again, sunshine warming our faces, breeze guiding us forward..... because of another's seemingly simple action....