and, exhale...

It's been overcast and rainy like biblical times for the last 2 weeks in Montreal. Last weekend I skipped away to Toronto for a long mother's day break. This weekend - in lieu of a washed out river-running trip, much to my dismay - I went on several hard-core escapades with my dear friend Janius. We:
* got massages at a spa up north,
* stayed at the perfect country hostel,
* cooked & laughed lots,
* [Sunday] ran 13k in the rain like maniacs
* took a long sauna,
* taught janius how to drive standard, and
* [Monday] did super-intense yoga and
* climbing indoors
AND I cleaned my apartment (mostly). A super-productive long weekend.
My body feels like it's been through boot camp, and I love the feeling.

So this evening provided a welcome antidote. I ended up hanging out with my neighbour Terrence, who taught me in the course of a few hours:
* how to replace my front door lock
* how to play the drums
* how to roll a joint
And then he told me the secret that all women should know about men, how to pick guys up, and the key to happy co-existence between the sexes. I'm serious.

mayday post

Today is the first of May. It is a most beautiful day. I feel splendid. A few reasons why:
* the weather is beautiful. jaw dropping.
* I have done my taxes like an adult for the first time in history. well, almost like an adult.
* I had a great weekend. friends, food, climbing, sun, steak, cheetos.
* I got 26 hours of sleep in 2 days (2 nights). Shocking, eh? I'm not fully rested, but I'm getting there. I've been so damn tired for a while)
and...
* I have a new guy. yay! It's complicated, on the DL, and it's been going on for a while, and it's good, very very good.
* I realized a little while ago that I have been in consistently good shape for over a year now. hurrah. I'm loving it.

What I've been doing:
* relationship stuff, work stuff
* concerts! lots of concerts:
** Wolf Parade (SUCH a good show)
** Toots and the Maytals (reggae!)
** Varttina (Finnish folk rock, SO cool!!)
** Stereolab (back in March)
* dinners! lots of yummy expensive dinners
* barbecues! yay barbecues, which feel like extreme sports in april
* hiking in the White Mtns in New Hampshire over Easter. very fun, but reminded me of why i have a slow simmering hate for hiking. 4500 ft ascent over 5 miles, phew.
* canoeing in the Adirondacks (NY) last Sunday. We did some flatwater canoeing, and then played around in some rapids and... dumped. Very fun, very cold. Some locals got a thrill watching 3 20-something girls do a complete quickchange of clothing, a little early in the season.

What I'm reading:
* Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl, if you can believe it (it's a loan from a friend, i swear)

What I'm listening to:
* Mobile
* Chicane
* O Brother, where are thou soundtrack
* Mickey 3d

Where I'm planning to travel to next:
* rapids near montreal (more paddling!)
* maybe Europe? some of it?

It's funny how integrating someone else into your life brings into higher relief just what it is you find essential in your life, and what you were subconsciously working on (that you now need to make more of a conscious effort to take the time to work on).