Thanksgiving!

So I made turkey dinner for the first time yesterday! Okay so I've made a turkey before, just not by myself and not alone. (They're not the same thing, by the way). I got my mom to email me directions on how she makes turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce. I followed it pretty much to the T....except that I added my own personality to the stuffing. I made it with whole wheat buns (that's right! Booya for whole wheat!) and added fresh cranberries, chopped pecans, and apples. It was rather more separate and a little drier than Mom's usually is, but it tasted good. My gravy was too thin; I didn't have any corn starch so I used a flour roux (or however you spell it)...but it didn't turn out thick enough. But again, it tasted nice. It was more of a glaze than a gravy. Oh well. I burnt my cranberry sauce though. I burnt it good. I couldn't even salvage it, so I just chucked it. So unfortunately we had to use canned stuff. But again, it was still good. And I also made lemon cake with peaches (again, something I learned from Mom) with Cool Whip. Yummy... Oh yeah. And I brought a handful (armful) of oversized zucchini from the garden back home, so I split one in half and baked it with butter, fresh garlic, and oregano. Kari told me about that one. (She also told me about the brown sugar soy garlic spread to bake salmon fillets with. She knows, that one. She knows).

It was really great to have people come over and have Thanksgiving with me. During college, I was always fortunate enough to live in close proximity to my family, so I always went home for the holidays. But now I can't....so I'm especially thankful this time around for people to share holidays like this with. Thank God for church families. It was fun too!

We then watched a movie called Flywheel. It was quite a great story - so inspirational. I totally recommend it. Quality of cinematography is not that great, and acting is okay, but story is awesome. Totally encouraged me.

Red Mittens Inspired.

Ok Dad. Your blog did the trick. I officially want a pair of those Red Olympic Mittens. They look so warm and soft and Olympic-ish. I also wouldn't mind a Miga plushy. But if given the choice, I'll take the mittens. They're warmer.

I actually do support the Olympics. No, I don't like Vanoc's mismanagement of money or the gaudy construction on the banks of False Creek or any number of negative implications of Vancouver hosting the 2010 winter games. But I do like rallying behind young people who have worked extremely hard to do something that they love (or, in some cases, something that they are good at but have a more business-like approach to it) and supporting them as they represent me and my country.

Some people complain that the Olympics are all about money-grubbing and politics and that it's about the Big Man stepping on the little man, etc. But that's a negative implication that is caused by the money grubbers and the politicians (appointed or not...people can be political without being a part of the government, if you understand my use of the word)...not the athletes. Yes I know, athletes can be money grubbers and politicians themselves....but hear what I am saying. At the core of it, the Olympics are designed to celebrate the efforts of young people dedicated to excelling at the sport(s) they are in, by way of international competition. It is a chance to celebrate other countries' ethnicity and culture.

Look at the Beijing Olympics last summer. I was blown away by the performances put on, both by their athletes, and by their Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Being able to wake up to a call from my father, in Beijing, as he sat in the Opening Ceremonies, listening to the incredible drum beats pouring in through my cell phone, was an experience I'll never forget. Yes, the Closing Ceremony was extravagant by anyone's definition, but it was incredible to watch and exclaim over. Ok, so the money spent could be used to feed a small country. You're right. But the price we spend on our lattes every day could feed a child too. That's not my point. My point is that for what the Olympics are designed for - championing young people as they champion us, and celebrating the chance to connect with other nations and cultures - is independent of what people choose to do and how they want to misuse and abuse the Olympics. For myself, I want to support the efforts of young people and of my fellow Canadians, and celebrate in not only other nationalities and cultures, but my own, too. I love Canada, I really do. I don't love some things that the Canadian government does, or some things that my fellow Canadians do...but that doesn't mean I don't love my country. I simply refuse to be jaded by people's actions, so that I don't support all the hard work that these young people...and the work all the rest of those involved...have done and are doing.

So for me, I say, Go Canada!

And I really do want a pair of those mittens.

Land legs

I am incredibly grumpy. I don't really know why. Maybe because these past couple weeks have been emotionally exhausting. Finding out that my aunt had sudden, terminal cancer...sucked. Calling my mom every day or two to find out how my aunt was doing...and how the rest of my family was doing...it sucked. Flying down to the mainland to spend 5 days with my grieving family, and going to the internment and memorial, dealing with family stuff and heightened emotions and stresses...it all sucked. Knowing that I'm never going to see her again in this life, not until I get to go to heaven...that sucked. Big time.

I didn't actually get it - the grief, the loss, the realization that this is real, my aunt really did pass away...until I saw the pictures of her at the memorial. The beautiful smile, remembering her laugh, watching a video of her dancing...that was hard. Seeing my family grieve for not only a lovely sister but a great, true friend...that was hard.

There were some "blue sky" moments though. Having my friends and colleagues here rally around me and support me and pray for me and my family...getting to spend a week with my cousin and his family from Saskatchewan and having a great visit, even though the circumstances were not the best...seeing my family (and my dog)...seeing my extended family and having brief but cherished visits...hearing stories of my aunt's courage and faithfulness to Jesus right to the end...hearing from both of her daughters that my aunt loved me very much and had a special place in her heart for me and talked often about me. Blue sky.

Well I am not as grouchy as I was. I guess it's a little bit of a shift to get my mind wrapped around life in Port Hardy again. I'm still reeling a bit - getting my land legs again, I guess.