Itsy, Bitsy Spider

It's been a couple months since our last post. A lot has been happening, and we intend to write about as much as we can recollect. As there's no place better to start than the beginning, we'll start there:

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. In the days leading up to Halloween, Steph got the scare of a lifetime. She was at school, leaning against her classroom door while her students worked diligently on their assignments. She was on her way to deliver the attendence to the office (hub) when something caught her eye. A Huntsman spider was slowly crawling along the door frame toward her elbow. Upon spotting this hairy monster she went into a slight state of shock. She did not scream, cry or run away. Terror stricken, she calmly and quietly stepped backward and sat on the hallway floor staring in awe at the largest spider she had ever seen. If she was alone, who knows how long she would have sat there staring silently? Luckily a fellow science teacher, unphased by giant spiders, came to her rescue.

Camping in the Outback?

The primary function of a tent is to shelter a camper from nature's hasher elements. Among other qualities, tents usually need to be compact and lightweight, so they can be easily transported under human power. As such, Typically tents are made of nylon or polyester; a durable, lightweight material. One thing a tent is not is soundproof - it doesn't even muffle the sound. But time and time again, this make-shift home fools us into believing that whatever is inside is completely cut-off from whatever is outside.

Wicked!

Growing up near the Stratford festival, I have had plenty of opportunities to attend many theatrical performances of all varieties during my childhood. Some I enjoyed, others I did not. Although, in my opinion, musicals rarely disappoint. The costumes, the singing, and the dancing just scream pure entertainment. In the fall of 2010, Steph and I had scheduled a trip to Stratford to watch a play. Because of the exceptional reviews, we went with my family to watch Peter Pan. This was not a musical performance, and it did not meet expectations. I can remember turning to Steph during the intermission and half-heartedly saying, "It's not bad, eh?" Although I couldn't even convince myself that I was enjoying it much and quickly broke into laughter.

From the Archives

The other day I came across a draft of a blog that I had meant to finish and post. It was about a weekend trip to Albany that Steph and I had taken in early June. We felt it was still worth sharing and have done our best to recollect those early days of June in order to polish the draft version. So with no further ado, please sit back and relax as we take you on a journey into the past...

Would You Rather...

Would you rather be lost in the wilderness alone, or lost in a sea of people on a busy city sidewalk when nature calls? I would prefer to sort things out in the wilderness. Searching for that perfectly fallen tree and fresh leaves is a much more appealing scenario then using a seldom cleaned public restroom. At least in the bush there is never any worry of running out of leaves, and if the worst were to happen, there are no human witnesses. Being caught on a busy city sidewalk is an entirely different matter.

Nippy Weather

On Saturday mornings, Steph and I have gotten into the habit of exercising at Fitness First, followed by a visit to the Subiaco Market for fresh fruits, vegetables, and breads. Often times, I prefer to extend the length of my workout routine to the point at which Steph no longer finds exercising enjoyable. In those instances, Steph scoots over to the market while I finish my workout. I later meet her outside of the market to help her carry our fresh produce and loaves of bead home. On our most recent visit, I had a most unpleasant encounter with a mannequin.

Owling is a 'Hoot'!

The transformation of our apartment into a poorly maintained menagerie could certainly be cause for complaint. However, we've managed to stay upbeat and positive. Following my sister's (Caleigh) blog has helped put things in perspective. She has spent her summer travelling with MedOutreach through Tanzania, Africa. The group is comprised of four doctors, two dentists, and two nurses (Caleigh is one of the nurses) all of whom are students from the University of Western Ontario. For many people living in Tanzania a few critters or a leaky faucet would be the least of their worries. It's been very inspiring to read of her humanitarian efforts. In addition to lending a helping hand to the Tanzanians, she has been able to partake in some tourist activities too. She ran (and completed) her first marathon at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and later has plans to return and climb the mountain. Just recently, she sent a message via Facebook to Steph describing her upcoming plans. The highlight of the message is what she has in store once she reaches the summit. She is going to plank on Mt. Kilimanjaro's peak!