My mum was visiting just this past weekend, when I got the call to pick up my passport at the Tanzanian High Commission. So back downtown we went, on another beautiful Ottawa day and NOW FINALLY THE TRIP SEEMS TO BE WITHIN MY REACH.
Sorry for yelling.
After printing out and detailing my itinerary on maps of Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda for my mother- the trip and all the planning and everything seem so close (1 month and 1 day to be exact).
Reading over the plans and putting the city and place names on maps has definitely stirred my interest. The pesky matter of whether I got my last few shifts off while away will be cleared up shortly, with the new schedule and then it's just a matter of waiting (been doing that forever).
Mum had a nice visit, I had a great 3 days of Spin classes and not only have I passed my 50lbs goal, shall we say that I've now lost 52lbs?
Gubbs out.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Kenyan Visitor Visa- - - - Check!
This morning was again the last of my four days "on" at work which means I can now be "off" for five days of whatever, whenever and however. Today it was a chiropractic appointment to fix my eighty year old parts (thanks Mum, Dad). Slept for two hours and went to a Spin class. Without Spin class, I'm not exactly sure I'd have been able to shed the weight but nevertheless I was determined to do it one way or another. Today was a particularly tough class, regardless of my sleep quality (not quantity)....but I had requested a song and as the rules state "work out like crazy"......Hey, "I gotta feeling" by the Black Eyed Pea's is my song du jour. And work out like mad I did, I had a very vocal....but very motivational instructor making sure I a) worked hard b) rode safe and c) had fun. Throw in a couple (emotional) songs for me and it was a great way to wake up and get going....the songs today seemed to strike a bigger chord than usual, I guess I am that sensitive (or was it the two hours sleep?).
Five days off goes by quickly, or is it that the four days on seem to take forever?
Energy spent, lungs gasping (some muttered curse words for good measure), legs feeling like an overworked/overstretched rubber band and I leaned back in the bike....wiped my brow, drank some water only to hear I'd have to do it all over again. To round out the class, Wendy played "Man in Motion." I'm sure other people take and 'get' other things from the songs in Spin class but what motivates me most are the songs pulling me in "those" directions. Probably why I enjoy going to classes so much, especially Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
So it was on the bus, down to the Kenyan Embassy. Got my passport back and in it, the glossy new Visitor Visa for travel to Kenya. A beautiful walk down Range Rd., a street lined with Embassy's/High Commission's of Burkina Faso, Morrocco, Pakistan, Gabon, Egypt, Dem Rep of Congo.....all along the Ottawa River on a rare, bright sunny day. So on to the Tanzanian High Commission where I have to also apply for Visitor Visa status ($$$)....Hey, it'll be a nicely plaqued passport to rival my sisters. From there I brought Valerie a flower, rescued her from work for a nice 30 minute break laying in the grass along the canal. With a job like Val's, that ought to be one of the biggest perks.
My thoughts: People are always asking about how excited I am about the trip....? For all who know me, when I am excited I am 100% distracted, hyper& overzealous, everyday and everything is like laying in bed on Christmas Eve. I think for right now THE TRIP, feels still so far away....It's always been something that was so far off. Methodically, I've recovered from the excitement of actually booking EVERYTHING in March and I've accumulated most everything I need for the trip, not sparing any detail....
Right now, I'm living my life just trying to point myself in the right direction. Everything I've experienced and done has culminated in this TRIP. All I've experienced good, bad....and alot of great has pointed me in the direction of NOW. Where I am, at this moment.
Val reminds me to appreciate all the simple things because all things, regardless of their irrelevance, insignificance or inconsequence are there to be cherished.
I know that what I'm writing is probably "heavy" and "deep" by other people's standards. To them all I can say is this, "Hello, my name is George Gubb."
Five days off goes by quickly, or is it that the four days on seem to take forever?
Energy spent, lungs gasping (some muttered curse words for good measure), legs feeling like an overworked/overstretched rubber band and I leaned back in the bike....wiped my brow, drank some water only to hear I'd have to do it all over again. To round out the class, Wendy played "Man in Motion." I'm sure other people take and 'get' other things from the songs in Spin class but what motivates me most are the songs pulling me in "those" directions. Probably why I enjoy going to classes so much, especially Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
So it was on the bus, down to the Kenyan Embassy. Got my passport back and in it, the glossy new Visitor Visa for travel to Kenya. A beautiful walk down Range Rd., a street lined with Embassy's/High Commission's of Burkina Faso, Morrocco, Pakistan, Gabon, Egypt, Dem Rep of Congo.....all along the Ottawa River on a rare, bright sunny day. So on to the Tanzanian High Commission where I have to also apply for Visitor Visa status ($$$)....Hey, it'll be a nicely plaqued passport to rival my sisters. From there I brought Valerie a flower, rescued her from work for a nice 30 minute break laying in the grass along the canal. With a job like Val's, that ought to be one of the biggest perks.
My thoughts: People are always asking about how excited I am about the trip....? For all who know me, when I am excited I am 100% distracted, hyper& overzealous, everyday and everything is like laying in bed on Christmas Eve. I think for right now THE TRIP, feels still so far away....It's always been something that was so far off. Methodically, I've recovered from the excitement of actually booking EVERYTHING in March and I've accumulated most everything I need for the trip, not sparing any detail....
Right now, I'm living my life just trying to point myself in the right direction. Everything I've experienced and done has culminated in this TRIP. All I've experienced good, bad....and alot of great has pointed me in the direction of NOW. Where I am, at this moment.
Val reminds me to appreciate all the simple things because all things, regardless of their irrelevance, insignificance or inconsequence are there to be cherished.
I know that what I'm writing is probably "heavy" and "deep" by other people's standards. To them all I can say is this, "Hello, my name is George Gubb."
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