Wheatgrass, draino and bike envy in New Brunswick

New Brunswick is not what one might expect.

I find it pretty amusing living here. I burst out in laughter often... I laughed out loud again while typing some of the stories below. This is just a small sampling... however, nearly every day something happens or someone does something that is so different or unexpected, yet totally delightful. I am surprised and amused on a fairly regular basis... I haven't literally burst out laughing full deep belly laughs till my eyes watered in years... and it happens a lot here. I am really learning to love this province. It's just so amusing! Utterly ridiculous and amusing. lol.

We got our wheatgrass kit in the mail and have started growing it. You'll see the photos on my multiply account. Our veggies have really started to grow too so I've repotted many in larger pots. Hence, we had to go out and get some topsoil and compost.

Now for those of you folk who are used to going to the nursery or mall or shop that sells plants, and grabbing a bag of soil... ha! Not here my friends! You get to "shovel your own!" I nearly burst out laughing in the store... I half expected to see chickens pecking the floor at that point.

Here are my two bags; one is topsoil the other manure.

I had looked everywhere for soil and compost, didn't find it so finally I went up to the cash and asked them where they kept it. The lady bent down and fumbled around for a bit, then got up and handed me the biggest shovel you ever saw! I WISH I had my camera! She then gave me two large, thick plastic bags and told me what route to take to the compost and soil pile "out back." .... I'll leave THAT description for another time. 

There were many hills, each at least 20 feet up in the air, of various natural fertilizer (dung...sheep, chicken etc.) about 5 types of compost piles, a couple of varieties of top soil and about 5 different types of mulches. Some gravel piles too. If I had known that I would be "shoveling my own" I would have brought a camera and came on a warmer day. It was below zero, snowing, very windy and everything was frozen. I had to hack away at the pits to get anything loose enough for me to put into the bag. Thank God I was wearing jeans and sneakers. And thankfully Debbie was there like a good friend holding the bags open for me to put the stuff into... but mostly just quietly and patiently waiting for me to regain some semblance of control after yet another fit of laughter got a hold of me....lol.... I kept hearing Denise's voice in my mind saying "this is ridiculous... this is ridiculous" and I found myself laughing out loud thinking how funny this was... it WAS ridiculous and that made it even funnier somehow. Can't wait to go back...with a camera next time!

"Blue sky scenes" from the trails.

My wonderful mom drove all the way from Toronto to visit me, spend Easter weekend and a few days with me AND very kindly HAUL all my books here. THANK YOU Anyu!! You are amazing!

This isn't even the half of it...

I had made an Easter basket and filled it with brightly painted eggs and a little Easter bag surprise for her to keep her going on her trip back. We walked about 7-10k every day at least once, usually twice... she went out on her own too. Except for one day it rained pretty consistently.. but that didn't stop us. We also went to St. John to pick up more book shelves and other necessities. On the way we stopped to see the Reversing Falls which was interesting. Two diverging currents flowing into each other. You would not want to fall into that part of the ocean I can tell you.

One of the trails we walked daily.

Crossing one of the bridges on the St. John river.

In front of the Reversing Falls in St. John.

When we returned she doled out the instructions; "Yvette, build the shelves, put the books away, clean up and then clean some more. I'm going out for a walk, have it done by the time I get back." "Yes mom." lol. You don't mess with the moms.

Building yet another shelf... sheesh... I seem to be spending a lot of time in this position lately - with hammer and screwdriver in hand. 

I did a little acupuncture for her while she was here as she managed to pull her right shoulder. That was good. It was healing pretty well by the time she left.


Being the efficient and fabulous mom that she is, she promptly got to work fixing all the mechanical issues we had in the house. The very day that she was to arrive, our bathroom sink clogged up. I mean, seriously clogged... we couldn't get any water to drain at all. We thought we had tried everything. Debbie even went out to grab some draino and we tried to manually clear out the pipes. Well, my mom came in, took one look, asked for the plunger and got to work. Within a few minutes she not only got it to work but to do so PERFECTLY. In fact, it ran better than before! I'm not surprised but definitely grateful. She then fixed the leak in the kitchen sink and a few other things.. but I'll stop there... you get the idea. Our house now runs even more smoothly and is more energy efficient since her visit. lol.

My mom fixing the leaky sinks in the house. 

Best of all though, it was really, really good to see her. We had a lot of good laughs, talked over family stuff, made some decisions about other things and made plans for her to visit in the fall during the Blues and Jazz Festival. Already looking forward to it.

Senan would be happy to see the bike mechanics tool he gave me all those years ago making yet another appearance. I've made several adjustments on the bike to make it more comfy for me. I love that little blue multi-use tool set. I still remember that one week I had 12 (TWELVE!!!) flat tires. Three times during which I got caught in one of Toronto's famous summer torrential downpours. All three happened while riding over the Viaduct. One of those times was on my way to work. I showed up looking like a drowned rat, completely and utterly soaked with not just rain, but mud too, luckily, my boss, being the awesome guy that he is stuck my clothes in the laundry and lent me clean, dry, comfy ones to wear while mine dried.

This is a GREAT tool to have in your knapsack. Keep it with you at ALL times when riding around.

Speaking of bikes, I had a bit of an "awkward" moment the other night. I had my brand new amazing bike in my bedroom and was sitting in the living room on my computer looking at other bikes. I was apparently looking very excited because my roomate asked what it was I was looking at. When I told her she said I was just like the stereotype of the guy who had a wonderful girlfriend waiting in the bedroom while he was out here on his computer looking at other girls. So... I guess I was guilty of "bike porn." I could see her point... and for a moment I actually did feel a bit badly. 

But not for long!!

Man oh man... that Norco Heart is soooo damn hot!!! You've got to see it! Any hotter and she'd be a motorcycle. I`ve got total bike envy... which started when Denise let me ride her bike once.... (this is all your fault Denise) - it's a DREAM bike.. wow... it's very nice.. what can I say.

So when I saw the Norco in the shop I spun right around and couldn't help but look her up and down. OMG that bike is hot! I had SUCH bike envy you wouldn't believe it. It's unusual for me because I don't normally feel attached to physical objects, but I will admit that in this case, I was hooked. I wanted one. I wanted one badly. Perhaps I'll buy one as a "guest bike" for when friends and family visit. Yeah.... a guest bike.... riiiighhttt. lol

Unfortunately though, it's not practical at all. It's a total vanity bike. I'll have to get gears on it and tires with treads. Otherwise it's pretty useless on the roads here. In the meantime, I really do like my Norco Vermont. It's a hybrid that rides smoothly both on and off trails. Still.... it's a good thing the Vermont is not the jealous type.... lol

"Green scenes" from the trails.

Bike locks are another matter entirely. If you want one... forget it. A decent one, anyhow. Can you believe no one sells proper bike locks here? I even looked at the motorcycle dealership but they didn't have anything that worked for a bicycle. No Kryptonites, no OnGuards, none of the usual steel cable etc. Just the usual Canadian tire 5 - 10$ locks. Even at the bike shop! I couldn't believe they didn't carry proper locks. I inquired and they said their locks were very good. I told them they weren't. My roomate Debbie got one of their locks and that very day it was snapped off and her bike stolen. She didn't have that bike for even one day. That was really too bad... it was an excellent mountain bike with great Shimano parts, shocks.. the works. Even though it's possible to twist through Kryptonites, it's still better to have a proper U lock and heavy cable. Even in the Maritimes bikes get stolen folks. Don't let the pretty smiles fool you. I've heard some say that my "uber careful/cynicalToronto ways" aren't needed here... ha!.... I beg to differ. At times. At least when it comes to bikes.


Effie and Denise you will no doubt be happy to hear that here it is illegal to ride a bike without a helmet, which is forcing me to finally do it. It's the first time in my life where I actually have to do it. I got one. I use it. Though EVERY time I go out I promptly forget it because I'm so unaccustomed to it. Probably by the third week of my having to go back to the house to get it (yet again) I'll start remembering to put it on before I leave with the bike. Yeah... that would help. lol I've noticed that everyone, and I mean everyone without fail always has a helmet. No exceptions. It's probably a good thing, but I have to say I don't really like it and wouldn't wear one unless I was going to get fined for not having it on.

...sigh... bells are not mandatory here but helmets are... I know it's for my own good, but honestly, I don't like it. For the same reason I always sparred without a helmet... just don't like the feeling.

Debbie and I are saving up for a sauna. We are getting a two person dry sauna. It will go in to the kitchen. The wheatgrass is in the kitchen too.

Wow! This place is really turning into a mini ashram or wholistic retreat centre! lol. I love it! Life is ridiculous so why not make it do the things that most delight you? And friends, I am delighted by this place over and over.

Last week I decided to try an experiment. Been wearing a watch on my left wrist since I was 13. I NEVER took it off except for when I was in the dojo or yoga studio. Then put it on promptly right after the class. When I`m at the ashram I`ve tried several times in the past to get away without having it... but to no avail.. within a couple of hours I was desperately searching for my watch. I don't want to be a slave to `time.` 

So I figured I`d do a one week experiment now that I feel so different and find myself in different circumstances. I am pleased to say that my addiction to needing to know down to the second where `I stood` in terms of time and using it as a main reference point is pretty much gone.

By day three I was confident I could live without it. So I gave it to Debbie who will use the stopwatch on it to time her workouts. I love a life where I really don`t NEED to know what time it is, in fact, we really don`t need to know what day it is either because they are the same. Of course we generally do anyhow.. but Ì have to say it`s been nice to not feel shackled to any type of daytimer. 

The first two days I did notice the usual lifting of my arm and twisting of my wrist forward to see what time it was... but then realized it was just a habit... I didn`t actually need to know the time... so I made a concerted effort to break that habit. I`m done my one week and will continue to refrain from wearing a watch. FREEDOM!! - from yet one more thing... oh soooo good!

Now I am looking closely at other habits I have created, indulged in or slipped back into and will work on abolishing the one`s which no longer serve me. Lot`s of constant self reminders and being stringent.. but with good results.

I came across this solitary feather during my morning walk... still fresh with the morning dew. Really liked the visual of it against the rocky beach.

 Attila is hanging with our cousin Agi in Germany. Lucky him. She is awesome! He's spending the weekend in Amsterdam, then next he goes to London, and then to Sweden where my uncle has some cash jobs lined up for him. Nice. Check out his blog... it`s pretty funny in places... especially the reference to Silence of the Lambs. http://canadianemuaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/

That kid has quite the sense of humour. We must be related.

New Toronto Graffiti books are finally printed!!! FINALLY! So, they should be in stores again next week. I have a feeling they will be sold out again very soon. Luckily, the online version will be available in the coming weeks so people will be able to purchase the book via the internet too. That will be awesome.

http://www.torontograffiti.ca/

Now, I did promise my mom I`d do my level best to `fatten up` so I am off to buy more durian! Yum! Looooove LOVE durian.

Happy vibes and light from the ocean and forests of the East Coast.