So - there's a new way to apply for your Canadian Passport. You can 'fast track' your application. This basically means you don't have to go through the whole process of getting documents signed by guarantors and such (which can be a pain in the butt sometimes).
Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Basically, as long as you have a passport that was issued after January 31st, 2002, you can apply with this fast track form.
Kicker?
My last passport was issued on January 27th, 2002.
Dag-nabbit.
I go for passport pictures this Saturday. :)
The VISA applications are to be submitted in January of 2008.
Plane ticket proof is required prior to VISA application - which means - the trip will be booked by end of year, 2007.
Amazing.
Looks like it's almost official.
On the down side. I busted my knee on Monday with a fall. There is inner swelling. It is sparking a whole new physiotherapy debate. Due to the lack of fluid and cartiledge in my knee joint (long story) - there is no protection for my knee. So after my fall, my joint swelled up internally. Not a fun feeling. :(
Let's pray that my knees are still good to go for the trip come the summer.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Sometime in July...
...of next year. I'll ACTUALLY BE ON A PLANE HEADING FOR NEW ZEALAND.
My heart aches for the departure date.
My film contract was extended until end of December. Praise God for financial provision. THANK YOU.
Leaving in January isn't the best idea for me - as my plan does not really allow for safe travels during the winter months for NZ. Most trails are closed from May through July due to winter conditions that are dangerous for trampers.
So I will be tramping through the North Island for the end of their winter, and by the time I hit the south island, all will be well.
I have a year to map out the journey and start saving for the next two expensive purchases - a PLB and a GPS unit (maybe).
By December, I will have the finances set aside 100% for this trip. I hope to find a temp film contract to get me through January through the end of May. Then I will spend the next month and a half storing, visiting, prepping and leaving. :)
Also in this time, i plan to investigate the condition of my knees a little bit further. I do have a really great set of walking poles with shock absorption, but none the less, good knee braces and proper physio (if that can truly exist at a cheaper price than 80$/hr 3-4 times a week) will do me wonders.
On a side health care note - i'd like to say how appauled I am that OHIP has removed physio as a covered medical treatment unless you spend a night in the hospital. No offense - but I didn't ask for my knees to be without fluid and grinding themselves to oblivion with apparently no real solution until basically the bones destroy one another. To me - that's a condition that I didn't really ask for - and it probably should be covered by OHIP in some way.
Dang it.
Oh well - I'm still hoping that training will help develop more muscle protection/support for my knees. :(
My heart aches for the departure date.
My film contract was extended until end of December. Praise God for financial provision. THANK YOU.
Leaving in January isn't the best idea for me - as my plan does not really allow for safe travels during the winter months for NZ. Most trails are closed from May through July due to winter conditions that are dangerous for trampers.
So I will be tramping through the North Island for the end of their winter, and by the time I hit the south island, all will be well.
I have a year to map out the journey and start saving for the next two expensive purchases - a PLB and a GPS unit (maybe).
By December, I will have the finances set aside 100% for this trip. I hope to find a temp film contract to get me through January through the end of May. Then I will spend the next month and a half storing, visiting, prepping and leaving. :)
Also in this time, i plan to investigate the condition of my knees a little bit further. I do have a really great set of walking poles with shock absorption, but none the less, good knee braces and proper physio (if that can truly exist at a cheaper price than 80$/hr 3-4 times a week) will do me wonders.
On a side health care note - i'd like to say how appauled I am that OHIP has removed physio as a covered medical treatment unless you spend a night in the hospital. No offense - but I didn't ask for my knees to be without fluid and grinding themselves to oblivion with apparently no real solution until basically the bones destroy one another. To me - that's a condition that I didn't really ask for - and it probably should be covered by OHIP in some way.
Dang it.
Oh well - I'm still hoping that training will help develop more muscle protection/support for my knees. :(
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
The fate of my travels...
So everything is up in the air...again.
First - we have yet to confirm what the fate of our show is. We are confirmed for 13 more episodes. They are trying for more. If there are only 13, I am done working at the end of August - and I am good to go. If there are more - who knows. If I am working straight until December, I am better off to wait until the end of the following July to leave for NZ (as backpacking is highly un-recommended in June/July due to snow/weather conditions).
Second - to make my heart a little happier (the travelling bug is frowning on the inside), I've decided to go on a trip for my work hiatus in June. Thinking San Francisco or Vancouver. Sad news is that we just had a very strange inquiry from our head office - and their request most likely will render my hiatus extinct due to post requirements that they will need adhered to.
Now I am back to square one. My heart is very somber today - and I don't know how to cheer it up. I have been immersing myself in travel websites for the west coast as I am so eager to begin an adventure.
Another sad note - i just did a check on my Cathay Pacific flight to Auckland for mid-September and the cost has jumped 1400$. :(
Maybe it won't be the same at Travel Cuts - but that hurt just a wee bit. Maybe i'll be blessed with a lottery win over the next few months and I won't have to worry about the finances.
I have been blessed with a wonderful job opportunity however - that has allowed me to save up once again for my travels. I am very grateful.
I am just so excited to go on that trip. The departure date keeps running away from me.
on a side - i need to post a collection of my travel gadgets. They're highly entertaining.
First - we have yet to confirm what the fate of our show is. We are confirmed for 13 more episodes. They are trying for more. If there are only 13, I am done working at the end of August - and I am good to go. If there are more - who knows. If I am working straight until December, I am better off to wait until the end of the following July to leave for NZ (as backpacking is highly un-recommended in June/July due to snow/weather conditions).
Second - to make my heart a little happier (the travelling bug is frowning on the inside), I've decided to go on a trip for my work hiatus in June. Thinking San Francisco or Vancouver. Sad news is that we just had a very strange inquiry from our head office - and their request most likely will render my hiatus extinct due to post requirements that they will need adhered to.
Now I am back to square one. My heart is very somber today - and I don't know how to cheer it up. I have been immersing myself in travel websites for the west coast as I am so eager to begin an adventure.
Another sad note - i just did a check on my Cathay Pacific flight to Auckland for mid-September and the cost has jumped 1400$. :(
Maybe it won't be the same at Travel Cuts - but that hurt just a wee bit. Maybe i'll be blessed with a lottery win over the next few months and I won't have to worry about the finances.
I have been blessed with a wonderful job opportunity however - that has allowed me to save up once again for my travels. I am very grateful.
I am just so excited to go on that trip. The departure date keeps running away from me.
on a side - i need to post a collection of my travel gadgets. They're highly entertaining.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Swimming Lesson #1
Brent and I finally made our way to the Eglinton Community Centre nearby.
Interesting first lesson.
So - i don't really know how to swim. I know how to enjoy water - I do love being in the water. I just have this phobia of drowning cause for some reason, I never really learned how to tread water. So patient Brent has agreed to teach me. :)
The first day (which was a few weeks ago now) was funny. I think we spent 50mins in the pool - but I would totally have stayed longer.
He patiently worked with me as I tried to get the motion of the egg beater just right. Not right enough, cause I was still drifting below the water's surface...but it was a valiant first attempt (if i do say so myself).
But the real kick in the face was when that four year old boy passed by with his father in tow cheering him on - as he demonstrated various swimming strokes. I think that's when i looked at brent and wanted to cry. Seriously? i'm excited cause i can almost coordinate my legs and arms at 26, and this kid is a swimming champion in the making at age 4?
Somewhere, 22 years ago, I missed the boat.
I failed yellow my first time in swimming lessons at age 8 because I didn't want to open my eyes under water in chlorine. Hmmmm. Why weren't goggles an option?
Oh - and Brent was a champion swimmer. I suggested we race back to the edge of the pool, because I'm so proud that i sort of know how to do a slew of swimming strokes, and because i totally forgot that he used to swim. He starts to break through the water - with like perfect form with his strokes.
Yeah - i tend to bite off more than i can chew...always. Needless to say, there was no way that I could win any swimming races with him.
Give me the summer - i'll be a pro by the end.
Interesting first lesson.
So - i don't really know how to swim. I know how to enjoy water - I do love being in the water. I just have this phobia of drowning cause for some reason, I never really learned how to tread water. So patient Brent has agreed to teach me. :)
The first day (which was a few weeks ago now) was funny. I think we spent 50mins in the pool - but I would totally have stayed longer.
He patiently worked with me as I tried to get the motion of the egg beater just right. Not right enough, cause I was still drifting below the water's surface...but it was a valiant first attempt (if i do say so myself).
But the real kick in the face was when that four year old boy passed by with his father in tow cheering him on - as he demonstrated various swimming strokes. I think that's when i looked at brent and wanted to cry. Seriously? i'm excited cause i can almost coordinate my legs and arms at 26, and this kid is a swimming champion in the making at age 4?
Somewhere, 22 years ago, I missed the boat.
I failed yellow my first time in swimming lessons at age 8 because I didn't want to open my eyes under water in chlorine. Hmmmm. Why weren't goggles an option?
Oh - and Brent was a champion swimmer. I suggested we race back to the edge of the pool, because I'm so proud that i sort of know how to do a slew of swimming strokes, and because i totally forgot that he used to swim. He starts to break through the water - with like perfect form with his strokes.
Yeah - i tend to bite off more than i can chew...always. Needless to say, there was no way that I could win any swimming races with him.
Give me the summer - i'll be a pro by the end.
Hike number 2 - inner city
Date: February 17th, 2007
Hiking Partners: Brent and Claude (he travelled in my waist belt the whole duration of the hike...he is seen in the picture giving you all the thumb's up -- he was comfortable)
Start time - can't remember - it was either 8.30am or sometime around 9.00am
End time - 3 hours 11mins and 31 seconds later
End time - 3 hours 11mins and 31 seconds later
Amount of hiking clocked - 3hours 11mins and 31secs
Distance - still unknown. Although, I bumped into Rob S on my way home from MEC (i was walking, and bumped into him 2/3rds of the way home) and he mentioned this website that might help me track down my distance for walks. I really have to check it out.
Timing method - cell phone stop watch. My real stop watch's battery died on me - oops. It's dumb though - cause you can't turn it off, so the moment the battery is connected, it doesn't stop until it's dead.
Shoes - nothing fancy. Just my thinsulate boots. I haven't bought my hiking boots yet. I will be testing out my KEEN sandals this summer though.
Pack contents - again, nothing impressive - just my fluffed up sleeping bag
Pack contents - again, nothing impressive - just my fluffed up sleeping bag
The Urban Hike
Not my favorite hike. Brent and I took Mt Pleasant from my house all the way down the Union Station (where he was meeting up with some friends to go to the auto show) and then I walked back home. On my way home, it was snowing a bit. Which was nice. Just fluffy snow - nothing challenging.
I don't recall having any knee problems from this hike...mind you it was over a month ago.
Hmmm - which makes this post far too outdated.
I really did put hiking on hold over the winter months. It's great to hike in the snow - as it is really challenging with trudging through snow drifts. I guess I just decided that since I won't be hiking in the winter months in NZ (due to safety concerns), i would just take it easy through to the spring. I think I'll start up after I get home from Easter. :)
I guess that's it.
PS - who's Claude?
I don't know if I ever mentioned him before - Claude is the beanie baby crab that belongs to my family. We have had him since the beginning of my mom's collection (i think i was in grade 10 or 11). He has become the travelling beanie baby. He goes on all the trips with whoever in the family. He's been to the arctic with my dad, Las Vegas with my parents, Montreal with me, all my road trips - he attends (sadly, he was even in my car accident when i ditched my car on the hwy driving home for Xmas), and he joined my father and I on our skydiving adventure last summer. He's been other places too - but i can't remember them. He lives with me most of the time - I think cause I've tried to claim him as my own. He will be going back to North Bay at Easter so that he can join my parents on their trip to Rome.
Friday, March 2, 2007
quite possibly six months and 4 days away...
update to come
- about alternate hikes through injuries and getting back on track.
- about my tramping* plans.
- about 'what's in my backpack'.
- about how i'm feeling about the trip.
- about the exact date - which depending on if our show runs another 13 episodes for this season, may have to be extended a few short weeks.
- about my hiking buddies.
- about my 'swimming lessons'.
- about vaccinations.
- about my financial goals.
- about my family and friends.
* tramping is the word used in NZ to describe 'backpacking/hiking' in the back country.
- about alternate hikes through injuries and getting back on track.
- about my tramping* plans.
- about 'what's in my backpack'.
- about how i'm feeling about the trip.
- about the exact date - which depending on if our show runs another 13 episodes for this season, may have to be extended a few short weeks.
- about my hiking buddies.
- about my 'swimming lessons'.
- about vaccinations.
- about my financial goals.
- about my family and friends.
* tramping is the word used in NZ to describe 'backpacking/hiking' in the back country.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Hobble, hobble
So, I have no idea what happened to my left heel?
The pain started yesterday early in the day, and got progressively worse throughout the day. Foiled hiking plans for earlier today - i'm hoping things clear up by tomorrow for an early morning stroll.
Last weekend, the cold snap and a warm bed deterred me from early morning hikes. Terrible. Even for me. I made up for it by walking home from work this week, amidst the cold. Good times.
To tomorrow.
The pain started yesterday early in the day, and got progressively worse throughout the day. Foiled hiking plans for earlier today - i'm hoping things clear up by tomorrow for an early morning stroll.
Last weekend, the cold snap and a warm bed deterred me from early morning hikes. Terrible. Even for me. I made up for it by walking home from work this week, amidst the cold. Good times.
To tomorrow.
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