Go Long---May Long!

I forgot about this picture. John and I ended up lost, wandering the streets of Geneva like a couple of oafs after a fabulous dinner at a restaurant Hank recommended. But before we ended up an hour and a half in the wrong direction from our hotel, we stumbled upon this park where many chess games were underfoot (literally) among an interesting cross section of Genevians (Genevioans?). There were toothless old dudes, hipsters, punks, yuppies, huppies, nerds, and goths all claiming their little piece of painted concrete.

I was entertained as we walked around and John shredded every players strategy, mumbled about their inferior chess playing abilities, scoffed at their moves, and guffawed about slow and painful endings to games that had such "obvious check mates". Thats my man. Chess snob number one.

Enter, Edmonton.

After our beautiful little Swiss getaway the reality of Edmonton hit like a ton of bricks. Or should I say, a ton of pavement?


Right now I am spending roughly 2-3h a day in traffic. Not just the 'getting from A to B is a long way off' kind of traffic, but the 'inching along in construction zones' kind. The worst kind. Also, the two main veins that empty into the heart of the university are under construction. So there is no way to avoid it. It is heinous. My calculations have shown roughly 30+ hours in the car in the past 2 weeks. Life is just too damn short for that kind of nonsense if you ask me. No wonder coronary artery disease is directly correlated to how far one has to commute!


So last weekend I got in the car again. But this time I drove to Red Deer. And got to see my beautiful little niece and nephews.

The reward was certainly worth the trip.

This is Rachel, she's 6 which means she still is young enough to think she has a cool auntie. I like hanging out with her, a lot.

This is my bro Shandy. He's pictured here, in his happy place, i.e his garage where he is assembling a replica AC Cobra.


His plan is to be finished by fall so he can drive Rachel to her first day of grade one in it.
I asked if he'd maybe make another one for me so I could have it for my first day of MD school, to which he made some smart-assed remark about "well...at the rate you're going...".

"Have I been looking at the directions upside down the whole time? Hmmmm


Speaking of boys and toys. Here is my brother in law's new toy. He's pretty pumped. Though I am sad he didn't get the insane zodiac with the roll bars. That boat looked waaaay more fun!



So Davey took us out for a day of fishing. We were absentmindedly enjoying our V8 juices and the sun when suddenly the weather turned on us and lightening started showing itself in the north. So we hot-footed it back to the trucks to wait for the storm to pass. Good thing, for as soon as we were ensconced in our vehicles a crazy hail storm decided to hit us full throttle.


In about 20 mins the wild storm had passed and we had bluebird sky again.


Here is 'Little Man' eying his catch with some trepidation. Who knew one could catch such brilliantly colored fish in the 7 foot depths of an Alberta lake?? Sorry Verena, no macros of that guy.



So now I am back in the big smoke. Doing my fair bit of couch surfing. It has been great catching up with some friends that I haven't seen in years. I am tired of living out of a duffel bag though. The past year in Kelowna with John and I having to go back and forth on weekends, trying to keep track of my coat/toothbrush/footwear was tiring and it just seems to continue. When I leave my moms place in the morning I have to make a couple of trips, my car is full of textbooks (in case I have a spare minute to MCAT cram), an emergency supply of powerbar meal replacement drinks, spare runners, running clothes, some cans of tuna, change of clothes and shoes in case I end up going out for dinner, breakfast/lunch/coffee/tea/snacks, computer, ipod, camera, and their various charging and downloading devices. Really, it's ridiculous. Last week I slept at four different locations. Turns out all I need to add to my Mary-Poppins-Bag of a car is my fan and a pillow and I am set.

I wrote the above posting a couple of weeks ago but due to some issues with my tags (?) it wouldn't publish. I have since started the next o chem class and my schedule looks like this now:

0600h: wake
0730h-1000h: meet tutor at university after eating breakfast in car
1000h-1230h: class
1230h-1330h: study for daily lab exam/eat lunch/finish lab write up/pre-lab
1330h-1630h: make like duck in lab for 3h (scrambling around but trying to look calm on the surface)
1630h-1830h: run, eat, start lab write up, pre-lab, stare at wall, drool, fantasize about being a kept woman/winning lottery
1830h-2030h: meet with tutor (again!)
2030h-0030h: study, study, study...
0030h-0040h: read
0040h-0600h: sleep

So please forgive the lag in postings until after this is all over.

Everything Turn Turn Turn

A few final shots from our Swiss trip. John and I biked up a very sketchy road to burn off some cheese. I couldn't decide, as we ascended the windy mountain road if I'd rather be hit by a car or go tumbling down the steep embankment. Luckily I never had to make the choice.
A couple of photos from our last night in town, where we took Hank out for dinner at a medieval castle.

This is our "band" shot. I don't think we look aloof enough.

Hanks town. Not bad eh?

John chowing on some Peter Rabbit with a large wooden spoon. Mmmmm...rabbit.

And now I am back in E-town. It's like groundhog year here. I am here for another round of organic chem. Yes, the very same from last year, well, with a twist. Last year the course was a first year organic class, now it is a second year course and the students are expected to have a year of inorganic under their belts. So it is a bit more challenging, but so far nothing compared to the Dr.N boot camp a la chemistry that I just finished at UBC. To the non-chem folks I know I am just rambling in a "wah wah wah wah" voice so I'll stop.

E-town is so weird. There are overpasses where there never used to be, the entire city seems to be under construction, and rush hour appears to be more like rush-12 hour. I went to the Sugar Bowl the other day to grab lunch. In the good old days I knew every server and half the clientèle. Now it is seems all the prototypes (the chain smoking post doc, the tortured photographer, the drummer from that band) are represented but they are all strangers.

My secret washroom in the Varscona Hotel (where one can go for a pee break when shopping) now has an electric lock on it for hotel guests--guess it wasn't so secret after all. The trick was to walk into the lobby like you owned the place, then no one questioned your intentions.

The only constant seems to be the homeless man with the stutter who sells "Our Voice" on the corner of 82 Ave and 104 St. I bought a paper from him. Relieved to finally see a familiar face, someone to orient myself with. Oh that and the uber trendy suspender and skinny-legged-jeans wearing staff at Gravity Pope where I, for traditions sake only, went and picked up a new pair of Fluevogs. Heck, they were on sale, and it was my early birthday present to self.

So UBC c'est fini. My marks proved to be pleasing. Managed to score honors for the year, which is sweet--is that the beckon of a medical school I hear in the distance? I hope so...I guess all those hours sitting in a plastic lawn chair for the past 8 months paid off. Now I just have to wail on the MCAT and these last two courses and...7-10 more years of school--here I come!!!

Life is good. I hate crawling along in traffic. It reminds me of why I live in a town where I can walk everywhere I could want to go in 45 mins or less.

Back to the books I go.

Sun Up My Nose

Have skis will travel.

We had a good chuckle over the fact that apparently the Swiss have figured out a way to get nature out of the gas pump!

Two days ago we were able to catch a ride with George and Andy to St.Bernard Pass for a nice day tour. The sun was unrelenting and there was quite a bit of activity all around us so we weren't able to ski the face that we had hoped.

It was a spectacular day, nonetheless.

John trying to pick his way through the crowds.

George ascending.

We stopped frequently to sunscreen up. Despite the fact that I put 30, 45, and 60 SPF all over myself several times, some was sweat off and in some places (like my armpits and inside my nose) I just didn't think to apply sunscreen. Yowza! I am paying the price. Yup, burned the inside of my nose and posterior axillae. Let me tell you how pleasant that is every time I blow my nose or put on a backpack/bra/shirt.

It really was this hot.

Not such a bad view for the lunch break.

Baggin' Peaks (almost) and Lunch in Italy

Today we rolled out of bed early in order to catch the 0700h train to Zurmatt.

Our plan was to attempt a summit called Breithorn (4164m). It was a wild morning as we took a giant gondola then regular sized lift to the highest point which was 3853m. Note sign at the top of the "Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Lift".

So we were prepared for our day of 'mountaineering light'.
Equipment we had:
2 sets of crampons
2 axes
our transceivers
rope
harnesses
extra clothes
water
skins
shovels
probes
food
compass
swiss army knife
helmet
ice screws
slings
beaners
maps

Equipment we used:
visa
Above is a shot of the peak we had hoped to do. However, when we got off the lift it was complete white out conditions and lovely winds whipping along. Quite desolate, barely anyone around, and only a narrow piste ahead. We had no idea where the cat track went, nor could we even see which direction the peak was. I was having palpitations at this point (from either too much coffee, fear, or from the 3000+ altitude gain I am not sure). John pointed out a 7 year old girl skiing by. I watched her hot pink poles disappear into the swirling snow. I was still unconvinced of our likelihood of survival if we went any further.
It was then that a 60 year old man with a neon green and pink one-piece whizzed by. I decided he was to be our beacon of safety. The guy's only gear was his pair of circa 1984 Ray Bans and his rear entry boots. He didn't look intent on bagging any peaks so we followed.
A short ride over the crest of the hill and we arrived here, the restaurant on the Italian side of the range.

"I love the Italian backcountry."
There I am enjoying a brie and proscuitto melt at 3700m. I had to resist the urge to splurge on a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Europeans are so civilized!
What, I ask you, is at the top of Sir Donald?
Well, I haven't been there but I doubt there is a hot Italian woman making delicious espresso at the summit.

It was interesting to note the physiological changes that occur at that elevation. John had had a few minutes of disorientation, and I noticed that even just sitting there drinking my espresso, I had to keep taking these large gulps of air. Crazy! I've never been up that high before. So we got within 300m of our intended summit. Lets not do the math at where the lift went to...

Voici John in front of the Matterhorn. Or as he puts it "doing the Matterhorn". Just after saying "I feel kind of lightheaded and dizzy but I don't think it is the altitude".

Here's your's truly, excited to see the Italian restaurant below. Enjoying the amazing vistas too!

The top of the line where we unloaded. Note hole in the mountain.

All in all we had a great day. Fun spring skiing, delicious food, and no death or dismemberment involved. More to follow tomorrow.

008-License To Poonce

We decided to take a break from skiing today and headed to the craggs for our first day of climbing this season. Basically it was a pooncey day all around. We all ended up having our asses handed to us by the rock. But as John says, even a bad day of climbing is a good day. And in that regard I have to agree with him.

How can you tell we're in Europe?

Here is a 5 year old girl climbing routes we were too poncey to try ourselves.

My first climb. I realized partway up that running is not how you get ready for climbing season...

It was a great spot, very family oriented. Almost all the other climbers had tots with them in various stages of development. Most of the kids were on the rocks too.

John's still got it...

Here is John and Henkka having a rock skipping contest. Still trying to determine who the alpha male is among the two of them.

Here's Hennka doing his first lead of the season. He rocked it.

To our delight, we discovered that we do have talent in one area. Eating lunch. Hennka packed a gourmet picnic which we enjoyed on the banks of the Rhone. Included were three kinds of cheese, two choices of mustard, two varieties of mayo, two types of meat, a baguette, pickled chanterelles, avocado, arugula, blood oranges, three kinds of chocolate, and of course, a bottle of wine.

Chamonix Me

Happy to be alive after the scary wind whipped decent.

Today several of us went to Chamonix, France to ski the Vallee Blanche and part of the Mer de Glace. The ascent was pretty easy as we took the large gondola which carries upwards of 40 people to the top, at 3800m. From there it is a sketchy descent to the area where we dropped in, so steep that I was hanging on to the ropes with all my might, hoping my skis wouldn't go flying down the backside of the mountain (or worse yet, I go backside down the backside of the mountain).
Henkka, Paive, Ilkka, and John

The area where everyone gets their gear on...note how harnesses, ropes, axes, helmets, are de rigeur.

If you enlarge this one you can see the floating gondolas which are in operation only in the summer. This is to keep the tourists to a minimum in the winter when the conditions are more dangerous and variable due to the hidden crevasses all along the glacier.

This peak reminded me a bit of Black Tusk in Whistler.

John and I were both pretty paranoid about the crevasses so we roped up for one section. It certainly was a new challenge skiing along towing John behind me. Our other party did have an incident with a crevasse but all turned out ok, Miku fell in but was able to get himself out with his crampons and ax.

This was were we stopped for lunch part one.

The vistas were spectacular but I have to say that being crammed in gondolas and trains at each section was tedious. Though I suppose that it affords some altitudes which would be challenging to achieve on one's own steam.

Miku and Henkka enjoying a well earned beer. John and I enjoying a beer our lazy-gondola -riding-no-couloir-skiing-asses didn't earn.

My first Swiss Fondue. Mmmmmm....yes that is a giant pot of cheese.