In Training

Well, the kitchen renos continue - no longer all that smoothly, I might add - today we've encountered problems with the plumbing, countertops and the microwave/range-hood installation. By now I've learned that best way to deal with problems is to run away from them, so that's what we're doing.

Running, with good reason, that is. This weekend I will forget all my other troubles, because I have been selected as a torchbearer for the Olympic flame! That's right: The flame began it's Canadian journey today in Victoria, and I'll be carrying it on Sunday for 300 metres as it approaches Tofino BC, a few steps closer to it's ultimate destination of the opening ceremonies in Vancouver in February 2010.

I am beyond excited, and incredibly honoured to be part of such an amazing journey. For months now I've been spouting off the trivia and statistics of the flame - did you know the relay will cover 45,000km? There will be 12,000 torchbearers? That the torch was built by Bombardier, and can stay lit with winds up to 60km/hour? I love this stuff.

The real meaning for me, though, is how many individuals will be touched by this, involved in this, as the flame travels from coast to coast.

There will be millions - of people, moments, stories, dreams - millions of public and private memories created from this. And I will have some, too.

If you haven't seen this video yet, then it's most definitely time to turn down the lights, crank up the music and watch it... hopefully you'll be as inspired as I am. (This is the video that made me burst into messy tears at a business meeting. Embarrassing.)

Meanwhile, I have my uniform (tracksuit, toque and mitts) packed and ready to go. Tofino, here we come!

DIY

These are the dark, dark days of the reno when it feels like we've been living in chaos forever and will be, forever. However, I can hardly complain as progress continues, relatively smoothly.

This weekend signals the first and only "do-it-yourself" portion of this project. Early on, Scott and I agreed that we were (1) largely inept in construction skills, (2) impatient and unwilling to learn, and (3) likely to divorce if we tried to build something together.

The one place we do have a little bit of experience is installing flooring (from GFP02, the great Galiano Flooring Project of 2002). Coincidentally, the one job that seemed more complicated to hire someone was to put in the cork floors that we'd chosen. So here we are.

I'll say up front that I'm staying out of it. Scott and his brother, Dave, have gamely taken on the work. This was Scott and Dave an hour ago:


Alas, there's been a hiccup which means they're now wandering the depths of Dave's basement or the aisles of Home Depot looking for the right tool to help with the job. As for me, I think I'll stay far, far away from this particular problem: my marriage depends on it.

Early this week our kitchen was demolished and carted away, leaving nothing but an empty room. Aaagh!


But before panic really set in, the new cabinets were quickly installed and the room started to look like a kitchen once more:


There's still a ways to go - floors, countertop, lighting, plumbing, backsplash, appliances and a few dozen other odds and ends - but we're on our way.

This is our kitchen.

Tonight, boxes of yet-to-be-constructed cabinets are stacked high in our apartment as we pack up our dishes. Tomorrow, we embark upon that life-defining journey that supersedes all others: that known as the 'Kitchen Renovation'. Wars have been won and lost as a result of a job poorly done, and lesser men have succumbed to the chaos never to been seen again.

It's a journey that we hope will take us no more than 3 - 4 weeks. We've prepared for this period by soliciting dinner invitations from everyone we know (still accepting offers!) and stocking the liquor cabinet very, very well.

We'll keep you posted on the journey and our sanity - wish us luck! First up on Tuesday morning: demolition...

Endless Summer

It's October and yet the sun continues to shine: this week is a steady procession of clear, crisp days. Tonight some wispy cloud caught the sunset's light over our place for this beautiful pink glow.