Rad-Toberfest

 Last weekend, Mike and I headed to southern Ontario for a double-header of awesome. In fact, all that fun almost made up for the fact that it takes forever to get out of Sudbury and down to where the action is.

Saturday morning, we got up bright and early for the Colour Me Rad race. After Tough Mudder finished, I have been looking for fun and interesting things to keep me in a "Fitness is Awesome!" state of mind. This race seemed like a great match! 5km, they don't keep track of race times (they advertise "just finish before dark"), and volunteers throw bombs of brilliantly coloured corn starch at you every kilometer. A good time was had by all!

SO MUCH PINK!!

This is the moment Mike ripped open a bomb of powder with his teeth and instantly regretted it. I'm told its akin to the cinnamon challenge....

 But the best part of the race was that I did it with Mike. Yes, truly, as sappy as it sounds I'm most excited that we did it together because we've never done a race together. Mike remains so, so, so much faster than me, but when I started all of this fitness stuff the goal I had in mind was to be able to do more fun, awesome, active things as a team. So consider me ready for more!

After dusting off all that dye, we drove up to Hamilton where an amused hotel clerk checked us in. Later, our friends told us: "Yeah, the lady at the desk said that some people covered in paint were looking for you." Thankfully, it scrubbed off well* in a hot shower. I was definitely glad for that, because I ready to spiff up in the dirndl I'd sewn for the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany!

After some creative purchasing, we had our hands on tickets for our group to get into the hottest - sold out-  Bavarian club on the circuit - the Concordia Club.

Inside of the tent. This was early in the night and I'm sure there were a few hundred more people join us later.

 It was definitely an awesome place. I particularly liked the live Bavarian band, but there were also some very awesome appearanced by some local dancers. Let me paint a picture for you of one dance I liked best:

Imagine a strapping young man wearing lederhosen picks up his buddy by the ankles so their navals touch. (Upside down, facing together.) Now imagine that the upright young man walks around the circle of dancers, and those other dancers take turns drumming the upside-down lad on the bottom. BUT, not to be left out, the upside-down lad also has his face and shoulders between the upright young man's legs and is also drumming the upright young man's bottom. So much fun, ja!?

I could not make that up if I tried. This was an actual thing that happened during a dance routine.

Mike in a pirate hat that we don't know where came from...or went. Me in my dirndl! (hard to see but the skirt is black and quite full)

So, check that off of the bucket list! Been to Oktoberfest, brought home another lapel pin for the collection...



*Except that today - 5 days later- I still managed to find green paint in my ear.

Can You Spot Mike?

You'll have to look closely....

Autumnal Appreciation

Thanksgiving has wrapped up (Literally. There's about 40 lbs of food wrapped up in my fridge), and I have been granted an unexpected day off work to spend some time getting soul-satisfied. Actually, I thought I was supposed to work, but upon my arrival I realized I'd made an error on my schedule.

I am thankful for unanticipated time to myself.

Last night, I was finally able to have some friends over for a real dinner party on a real dining room table. It was f&%#ing rad. The whole meal was delicious and included some stellar dishes provided by my guests (including their homemade broccoli salad, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and caesar salad). I was especially happy with how my organic, 14lb turkey  and apple and blueberry pies turned out. It was exactly, perfectly right.

 I am thankful for the cornucopia of wonderful foods I have been able to try in my lifetime. Food! Glorious food!

And when I think about the last two years, I remember the adventures I've been on. Surfing and skiing and sunsets and museums and oceans and, and, and... When I talk to my colleagues at work, I hear that one is in the labout and delivery room (during my shift), waiting patiently for her adopted son to be born. This is as I hear another colleague is just divorced in the same year her brother and her father pass away. She tells me she's very interested to see how her "new" life unfolds, and hopes that she can move on in a positive frame.

 I am thankful for the gift of opportunity - opportunity to explore our world, to alter our lives when we want, and to beat our own trail when the usual one is blocked off.