Day 85

Selfie


Okay, I'm cheating a little bit today...this was actually taken yesterday. Aside from doing this 365 project I'm also embarking on a selfie project...Self portraits, done almost exclusively with my ipod...shot and edited.

Why? Why not? As a person who's always behind the camera I've had to master the art of the selfie as to not be left out of all photo memories like my dad was. Plus the idea appealed to my vanity...although I'm not looking forward to capturing some of the darker emotions.

Day 84

Icy

Day 83

The First Sign of Spring



Around here the first sign of spring is the sight of landscaping stone...I actually giggled when I came home and saw that the snow had melted.

Day 82

Festival Residue



One of thing I look forward to with spring is the melting of the Festival snow sculptures. They transform from pristine & picture perfect to twisted and sickly. In this case though I'm never sure if I'm being flipped off or if it's just plain dirty.

Day 81

A slow spring melt

The thing about the spring melt this year is the ice. All of the snow in my front yard has this icy, crystal like quality to it making it looks hard and unforgiving. When the sun comes out though it's like my whole front yard sparkles.

Day 80

Hug me round n' round


I think one of things I love about Boo is that she's forever seeking out that which to me looks most uncomfortable, but to her is a dream come true. I dug this cat bed out of storage for my sick princess and she's been in it ever since.

I love how it looks like a big giant hug.

Day 79

Morning Snuggles


I know the quality of this pic isn't the best...it's with my Ipod. Here's the thing though, I love the feel that it has...it captures exactly how it felt that morning...normal and warm.

You see the day before on a semi-routine visit to the vet my baby Boo was given an initial diagnosis of Cancer. It's a rapid growing mouth cancer. It's been biopsied and were waiting the requisite 2 weeks for the results, however the vet doesn't seem to think she'll last long enough to get the results.

As one might imagine there was a lot of crying, denial and heartbreak. So to have that glimpse of normalcy was something I treasured.

So heads up people...I have a feeling Boo will be my subject a lot over these next couple of weeks. My princess.

Day 78

Boo's Sunrise

Day 77

Day 76

Day 75

Day 74

Day 73

Day 72

A foggy Spring Morning

Day 71

Sunshine

Day 70

Spring


I couldn't help myself...today while out and about I picked up this simple bouquet. I think it had something to do with the fact that It's gorgeous outside and the need for flowers and buds is almost overwhelming.

These day's my computer/device time is limited to almost nothing as the tendon damage in my right arm is getting progressively worse...and I'm getting progressively bitchier.

Enter the need for happy flowers. I think they'll be my subject for the next few days...I don't know that I'll be posting pictures everyday for the next bit. It's hard enough to pick up the camera to take them, never mind posting them...

Day 69

Vine


I think that part of the reason I'll buy tomatoes on the vine in winter is for the smell that transfers from the vines to my hands. Even once the fruit is gone I'll keep the vine for a bit, just to inhale a whiff of summer.

I can't help myself... it smells so clean, so fresh. It's the smell I associate with tomato's, yet ironically not the smell of an actual tomato.

Stop. Breathe. Enjoy.

Day 68

Grocery Day

Day 67

Luke

Day 66

Day 65

Scruffy

Day 64

Mesmerizing

Day 63

Kol-Ut-Shan




Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations


I'm expressing my inner geek today...and loving every second of it. This challenge of finding the beauty in normal everyday objects is proving to be more fun that I had originally anticipated.

The one thing that I have learned though is that getting up close and personal would be so much easier with a lens intended for such. I'll add it to the never ending list/ ;)

Day 62

Dirty...Straight up...with a twist

Day 61

Gem

Day 60

Peacock

Day 59

Windchimes

Day 58

Pudding Cake

Day 57

Treats

Day 56

Hardware




One year ago today I first set foot to pavement...the goal was to attempt a half marathon for my dad. I had a deal with myself; the second the 1/2 marathon was done I would never have to run again.

You see I hated running. Every step was agony, every breath burned and when I finished every muscle screamed in pain...and that was after running 1 block. That was how far I managed to run 1 year ago today...I walked out the remaining 3.75 km.

I was determined that if my Dad could fight to try and stay with us I could suck it up and learn how to run. No matter how bad I felt I always knew he'd felt worse and that gave me strength I never knew I had.

There were days that my feet screamed in agony and I thought I couldn't make it another step but then one of my feathered friends would show up and lead me down the street...a sign to keep on going...a sign from my angel.

A funny thing happened while I embarked on this journey. I started to like who I was. I saw the inadvertent changes to my body that running would have; I realized that running gave me and outlet for my grief & anger.

As the MB 1/2 approached I realized that I'd fallen in love with running...and I'll admit I liked the looks i would get from friends when I finally told them I was going to run a 1/2 marathon. The "YOU??? You're running a 1/2 marathon???? You're NUTS!!" looks.

I still get those looks but I think that the people in my life have learned to just accept that they don't see the appeal in running. You can't argue with success. Running has changed my life in a way I never thought possible. I look in the mirror these days and I don't recognize myself...and I don't mean the weight loss.

Never in a million years did I see myself at a place where I would be looking for a 1/2 to run when I'm on a road trip. If you'd told me I would have spent my 36th birthday doing a 17km trail ride I would have laughed in your face. And if you'd told me I would decide to challenge my self with a half marathon in February I would have called a doctor for you, since CLEARLY you'd lost your mind.

That's what the above picture is of...a medal from the Hypothermic Half that I ran this past Sunday (my 3rd 1/2). It was the hardest thing I've ever done and it took me 45 minutes longer than the one that I ran in the fall. I ran for almost 4 hours and it nearly killed me, I wanted to quit 3 miles in, and by mile 6 I thought I would be found by the 3rd wave frozen in a snowbank. Then shortly after Mile 10 I hit the hill from hell that made me realize the Bishop Grandin overpass had been a cakewalk.

That being said I loved the experience and to those curious, I would definitely do it again. Truth be told I'm itching to get out and run today...you see I can see pavement...there's melting going on and after spending the winter running on snow and ice the thought of being able to feel that asphalt beneath my feet again excites me.

I'm going to have to settle for the crossramp though...I have to take the week off from running after the 1/2. On deck? The Winnipeg Police Half May 1st!

Day 55

Grocery Landslide




An impromptu run to the grocery store for "a few" things turned into a major run giving toby little room which turned into no room when they all came a tumbling down.