I'm always playing catch-up these days. And it's too bad because the day to day is the whole point of a journal.

So the summer has officially started, the weather was fantastic for our home regatta and db festival. Love the home regatta because it's a chance to catch up with everyone after a long winter. Plus, the distance is limited so races are a low-stress 180m or so. No one gets freaked out about this event. Well, no one but the starter apparently.

From all reports, she was an absolute cow - you probably know her, name rhymes with Dandy Hell, did db in the past and mom of a girl who used to kayak at our club. If you've figured out who it is, I know you're shaking your head thinking, "That figures. Why did they let her become an official?"

All of us accept bitchiness from a starter if conditions suck and the regatta's running way behind schedule but there was none of that on this day. In fact I think they were a few minutes ahead. But for whatever reason, many paddlers found themselves watching their race start without them - either as they paddled to the line or just as they turned to line up.
I was talking to a friend the next day - kayaker - and she told me that as she paddled up to the line in a K-4 with 3 midgets, she yelled, "we're coming, we were waiting for one of the kids to finish their last race." and Dandy Hell snarled back, "You're too late" and started the race. My (very vocal) friend who insists they were actually on time, yelled, "What are you doing? Do you think this is the fucking Olympics?" She cursed under her breath all the way back to the dock with the silent, quivering midgets. As they were getting out of the boat, she heard "Would the head coach of (rhymes with) Quest Mouge please report to the judge's station." over the speaker system.

They just gave them a warning but you can't help but marvel at how adults (especially a couple of alpha-females) can really mess up a good time for kids.

Other than that, it was a great regatta. The sun shone all day. I left early to go to see Jenn but you can see photos from the early part of the day here.
(sorry for all the pseudonyms, just don't want to expose my blog to random googlers)

The db festival was actually more fun and laid-back. I rode my bike over later in the day and wandered around socializing and taking photos.

I love this line from the Metronews Halifax article about Adam's injured ankle,

"Although van Koeverden won’t be available for the trials, Lake Banook will be crawling with Olympians on Saturday and Sunday..."

get the lowdown on what happened from the man himself at http://www.vankayak.com/

Michael Jackson in a coma in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering from cardiac arrest.

"Pop star Michael Jackson is in a coma after being rushed by ambulance to a Los Angeles-area hospital Thursday afternoon after suffering from cardiac arrest, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Capt. Steve Ruda, an official with the Los Angeles Fire Department, told the Times that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m.
The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper."

So, obviously when I posted that he was already dead. It was so shocking at first and then I thought, "What, did you think he'd live forever?" Really though, it's because we're the same age. And don't judge, I bet every one of you knows a celebrity who has the same zodiac sign or birth year as you. I'm about the same age as Madonna adn Michael Jackson. Imagine aspiring (or expiring) to those benchmarks!
Anyway, tonight at practice there were only 5 paddlers from Unbwogable so we decided to go to the bar. They figured the other paddlers didn't show up because;

A: in mourning for MJ
B: random thunderstorms across the GTA (but strangely, blue sky at Sunnyside)
C: they just couldn't be bothered. The 5 are convinced it's the end of Unbwogable.

We had a couple of drinks at Sunnyside, then I headed over to Marisha's (very, very late) and we immediately booted over to Hollywood on Queensway for Cori's "gatehouse" fundraiser. I bought the first round by way of apology.

Every year when school ends, there's a massive party at the end of my street in Rattray Marsh. It's held in this big clearing the kids call "The Cathedral". Generally, I don't hear any noise from the party, I just know it's happening because of the increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic on my dead-end street as soon as it gets dark. The police just busted up this year's bash and there are hundreds of teenagers crowding up my street. It's like a concert just let out!

Can't wait! Sam Roberts is playing at the waterfront festival. I'm just going to grab a burrito for dinner and stay at the club after my paddle. Also playing this weekend are 54-40 and Bruce Cockburn.
I have to go to Toronto Island this weekend (coaching a crew) but should be home by around noon on Saturday. Lots of time to wander around Port Credit and enjoy one of our biggest parties of the summer!

Danielle was out in the coach boat tonight and when the bantam K-4 tipped, she couldn't get there fast enough because the motorboat was filling up with water. They pulled it out onto the trailer where you could see that someone had punched a hole in the side, near the back. Kyle pointed out that it looks like an ice pick or awl and I have to agree. They'd taken shots all along the side of the boat - only punctured it through in one spot though. Maybe it's the same person who trashed my boat last year!? I'd love it if they figured out who that was.

blog-neglect.
Here's a quick overview of the past weekend (with photos pilfered from other people).

Jenn was home for a super-quick visit and wedding spa/tea/lounge party. I didn't realize how much I've missed her until I heard her voice! Why did we ever let her leave Toronto? I actually encouraged her! I think they should just skip Deline and move back to Toronto. At least I'll be in Halifax to see her and Trent get married!
(I'm hiding in the back of this pic because I was heading to the soccer game and had already changed out of my party clothes, into jeans and TFC t-shirt. It offended my sense of photo-symmetry - until I saw this. It's like the crazy lady next door stuck her face in at the last minute).


A new puppy has taken on the job of training Larry. Meet Finley: 14 weeks and very laid back by all reports. I'm envious but not enough to go out and get a dog.

Louise and Jonathon are returning to America. They'll be here for a visit during July. In these photos, they're taking a break from packing...remind me why you're leaving Repulse Bay? I know this is right outside your front door!

I've secured my tickets for the Real Madrid game here in Toronto in August.

Excellent.

Step one of plan to seduce Cristiano Rinaldo initiated.

Thanks for the comments and support from my last post. I know you completely understand what it's about.

I'm trying out all kinds of new things. Nothing has really clicked the way paddling did but it's an interesting social experiment. There's an unexpected negative side to being single past a certain age. I love the tennis and salsa lessons but there comes a time when it's difficult to progress without a regular partner. Rock climbing is also on the agenda but once I get past the initial instruction, I can't just show up at Rattlesnake Point with my gear and a warm smile... that would have worked 15 years ago but not anymore.

Okay, now I'm just making excuses. There are all kinds of groups looking for people to join them on excursions - rock-climbing, cycling, running, adventure racing. The irony is, I'm too busy at the moment to take up anything new. That'll all change in the next month as my language & dance classes plus one of my coaching commitments end.

Urgh...in terms of motivation and self-regard, I've hit, if not the bottom, the shelf before the bottom. The garden is all weedy, the garage and basement are stacked with furniture waiting to be put on Craigslist, car needs service, the showers in 2 bathrooms spray water everywhere because I never get around to replacing the washers, piles of laundry to fold... The doctor called, my last set of tests showed 'something' but I have put off making an appointment to run the tests again. okay, obviously those are all symptoms and not the real issue.
Anyway, tonight I have the flu so after an indifferent paddle, I skipped my Spanish class. I put on some sweats from 2001 (that barely fit anymore) and was pulling a Homer in front of the tv when I remembered that my car has been threatening to throw a rod for the past 1000km. If I don't put some oil in it, you're going to see me standing on the side of the highway with black smoke pouring out of the engine.
I pulled on a hoody, my black Canada one from 2004. Yep, I've resorted to wearing old, oversized sports clothes. And worse, it was black on black. The dreaded (almost) matching sweatsuit. Might as well just book my ride to Casino Rama now. I pulled my greasy hair into a ponytail and drove to the PetroCan in Clarkson. Tugging the hood up over my head, I pumped some gas before grabbing 3 quarts of 10w-30 from the rack. I tossed in a Reeses Peanut butter cup as I cashed out. What the hell? How is that going to help?
When I got home, I tried to figure out where the self-sabotage is coming from. The only conclusion is that my life has stagnated. I've got lots going on but at the end of the day it's just treading water. It's like I just left this room that was my life of training and racing and everything that entails and now I'm standing in the corridor - do I go forward, or back into that room. Neither option is completely heinous but I've become far too comfortable in the hallway... decision time... re-decorate or find a new room.

World Cup 3
200m & 500m finals

The K1 500m results haven't been posted so someone must be disputing them. They've even taken down the start list so I can't see who was in lane 4. They've forgotten to take down the finish line photo thogh and I can see why lane 4 might dispute this - it's really close. If you click on this for the bigger image, it still looks like Adam took silver though.

postscript note: Adam claimed silver




One report indicates that strong headwinds added about 10 seconds to everyone's times (which I haven't takent the time to post here - maybe later).

K1 200m
5th Richard Dober

W K1 200m
3rd Karen Furneaux

K2 200m
3rd Andrew Willows & Richard Dober

C2 200m
4th Paul Bryant & Pierre-luc Laliberte

K4 200m
7th Lyall, Connor, Shaun & Corey
8th Brady, Rhys, Angus & Chris

W K4 200m
3rd Kristin, Mylanie, Genny & Emilie
4th Trisa, Jillian, Una & Kia

C4 200m
3rd Gab, Andrew, Mark & Mark

C1 500m
1st Attila Vajda
6th Mark

C2 500m
2nd Gab & Andrew

W K4 500m
2nd Kristin, Genny, Emilie & Kia

A Finals

Women's K4 500m
Silver Kristen, Genny, Emilie & Kia

K1 1000m
1st SWE Anders
2nd AUS Ken
3rd ITA Max
4th CAN Adam

C1 1000m
1st HUN Attila
2nd UZB Vadim
3rd ROM Florin
4th CAN Mark
5th CAN Tom

C2 1000m
9th CAN Andrew & Gab

World cup # 3 Szeged, Hungary
Adam was sick earlier in this series and is now having some issues with his ribs.


In the heats, Adam was 1st (1000m, 500m) , Angus 1st (500m), Karen 1st (200m) & 5th (500m), Mark 4th (1000m) & 3rd (500m), Tom Hall 3rd (1000m) & 4th (500m) and, look at that, Duke was 3rd (1000m) & 5th (500m).

K1 200m Shaun 4th (heat 1)
Richard 3rd (heat 2)

K2 1000m Conor and Lyall 4th

K2 200m Andrew & Richard 1st

K4 1000m Rhys, Chris, Angus & Brady 3rd

K4 200m Brady, Rhys, Angus & Chris 5th (heat 1)
Lyall, Connor, Shaun & Corey 4th (heat 2)

K1 200m Una 6th
K1 500m Emilie 4th

K2 Tory & Trista 4th

K2 (200m) Tory & Emily 5th

K4 500m, both boats (Mylanie, Jill, Una and Emily) (heat 1)
(Kristin, Genny, Emilie & Kia) were 4th (heat 2)

C2 200m Paul and Pierre-Luc