Hail, Holy Queen

Of all the prayers you go through when praying the rosary, Hail, Holy Queen is my favourite one. That's why I look forward to that final bead of the rosary, not because it signifies the end of the final decade (of 5), but because I get to complete my prayers with the one that speaks to me the most. (It's funny how I first struggled to remember the last two lines of this prayer when vowing to pray the rosary every day for Lent. That quickly changed)

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this exile show unto us

the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Today I completed my 40 days of praying the rosary. It's a couple of days early as Lent really actually becomes a 45 day season, due to all the Sundays, which apparently meant that each week one could take a one day break from the Lenten sacrifices? I'd never heard of this before, and will just go on as if I hadn't. I feel like taking a break defeats the purpose of the personal challenge. But I suppose that even when you go on some diets, there are some days of grace.

Overall, it's been a success. I know now that praying the rosary is not something you can just rush through, and can easily become monotonous and lose its meaning if you break your focus, which is why each daily mystery should not be ignored.

There were times over the last few weeks when I replaced my rosary prayer with my before-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep prayer, and would doze off or completely fall asleep, so I learned to create a better environment for my mind as well.

I get to hang up my rosary now, but it is not in the corner of my closet with my necklaces, it's on my cork board where I can see it, because I feel comfortable taking it with me now and finding time for it when I or somebody may need some prayers.

As for my other two challenges:

-I commented on my consumerism the other day and am continuing to break out of the mold. Again, I think I am becoming closer to developing better habits.

-Swearing. I certainly do think the words and sometimes they do slip. But they are not directed at others anymore. And when I hear others swearing, my heart drops to the floor and I have to cast down my eyes. It's a shame that it can define how others are, but I can't change everyone - the challenge was first to change myself, and I feel like a more dignified individual.

I read all of Shane Koyczan's poems in his book "Visiting Hours" yesterday. It's true that he has the capacity to break your heart and then mend it. Make you laugh and make you cry. I will not post the words of them here, because it is important to experience his words by hearing them as well.

So go to

www.houseofparlance.com/VisitingHours/

and listen to one today.

If you only have time for one (prepare to want to listen to them all), then let the one be: Visiting Hours

Earthly Hour

I was not able to fully participate in Earth Hour last night as I was in a theatre watching the 3D Alice in Wonderland (with my free movie ticket, as apparently I had enough Scene points!). The theatre was great in that it took certain measures to participate in the hour as much as it could - turning off certain screens in the lobby, etc. Yet, I found an opportunity to do it on my own today.
Day 38 of praying my rosary for Lent. This time, by candlelight. Why I haven't done it by candlelight before, I'm not sure. But it is more effective than just lying in bed with the lights off, as I have tended to lose track of thought or simply just fall asleep on other days.
This small practice was so easy, so simple, and created a really relaxing, tranquil atmosphere. Ate Laura's right. Why can't we have earth hour every day? Reading by candlelight. Dinner by candlelight. Blogging by candlelight. I think I am still legitimately being earthly right now as my laptop is NOT plugged in and running under it's ecoMode of battery power.

I think I am coming close to reducing my consumerism. I did only what I came to do in Vancouver this weekend. No window shopping (as it can lead to actual shopping) along my travels. No purchasing of food on the ferry if I was not actually hungry. Nothing unecessary. My only two purchases were well thought out.

The first, Shane Koyczan's poetry book "Visiting Hours." If you don't know him, all you need to do is YouTube his name and you'll realize that he was that poet from the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics. I discovered him at Hillside Festival last summer, when I was introduced to slam poetry. This was the first book signing I have ever attended. Rather low-key, as this was a private event for volunteers. It was really nice to be honored in this way for work that they say we do not get recognized enough for. I have never felt more gratitude and thanks than from the co-ordinators and actual people I have served here in my volunteer placements in B.C.

I found a place for my Thank You card (made by a B.C. student) and (empty, because I ate the chocolate wrapped in gold foil) medal, right along my window ledge between the framed pictures of me and my favourite peoples.

The second purchase, the Vancouver Art Gallery's catalogue of Leonardo daVinci's manuscripts of the human body. Such intricate work of the muscles, bones, and nerves. Science is art, and this man proved that. I'm proud of what is now replacing my anatomy textbook. I would like to propose that introductory anatomy courses be taught with da Vinci's drawings as the material we study from. I question why it hasn't been taught this way from the beginning.

Consumerism. It will always exist as we need it even for the bare necessities of life. But it can be optimized through making it local, and finding ways to parallel demands with needing less, but actually receiving more. The challenge for me, and a serious one, is being able to focus it fully on needs only. It will be more about sticking to living simply than living on a tight budget for me right now.

I have moved on to a new story to captivate me and that has already been bringing me to tears in its first chapter: "Stones Into Schools" by Greg Mortensen. A continuation of "Three Cups of Tea" and developing Pakistan and now Afghanistan through educating their children. Stories like this are really becoming a focus for me, and will likely remain one as I continue with work that is trying to create solidarity with the people struggling with poverty and employment - those deeply lacking the freedom to practice their human rights. I'm being called to think more globally now - these are really new beginnings for me.

Just a thought, something to try. I hadn't done this in a while and wanted to see how the results would differ. Maybe you will think I am a nerd, or loser, or both. And if so, well, we all are, aren't we?

Today, I googled my name. And the results were indeed different in that there were a considerable amount more of them, and that they were dominated by rowing links. And they were all the real me, not some other Katrina out there with the same last name.

Blessed

Blessed: A positive adjective for the events of today.

Slept in until 5a.m. (see previous post to see why this would be considered a sleep-in for me), because I put my phone on vibrate. I value those nights (when you can afford then the next morning) when you are able to just go to bed and wake up when your body is ready. This is how I know that 6 hours of sleep is adequate for me at this stage of my life.

Blessed because I have access to the necessities in life to make this okay for me.

The sleep-in meant a late gym arrival allowing a 20 minute workout prior to my shift. It can be done:

2 min. warm-up skip

Intervals (3 sets of)

-8 burpees (modified so that your feet are on the Bosu when you go into the plank position), followed by

-kneeling to standing on the Bosu (one foot up, other foot up, one knee down, other knee down) 10 starting on each knee, followed by

-1 minute of mountain climbers

Cool down stretch behind the desk.

Blessed because with conviction one can accomplish all that is important to them in each day. (It's not about finding the time, it's about making the time)

Also during shift-time completed reading Paul Hawken's "Blessed Unrest," an excellent eye-opener and introduction to me of the social movement that exists worldwide and that we all have a duty to be a part of. I say duty because there is a need to restore the conditions of the world we live in (environmental, political, economical....) - this earth that has ownership over us as the substance that makes us here has been cycled through it and comes from it.

I do feel that I "rescued" this book as the original hardcover release had been reduced to a mere 7.99 at Chapters.

How do you not act upon an opportunity like that?

And it is even more appropriate at this time, now that I am preparing for my Solidarity Trip. This is bound to be unlike any volunteer experience I have ever had before. It will be about creating direct relations with the people of the Philippines as they communicate to us the reality of their poverty. And the responsibility is then for us to bring their realities home to Canada, to call our communities to action:

http://youth.devp.org/just-youth/solidarity-trips/

Images of B.C. whilst on the ferry. Spring really is here as the decks were lined with British Columbians enjoying the fresh air and cool breeze.

Blessed because I live in a country that gives me the freedom of mobility, to choose my destination and arrive there safely.

4 a.m.

Except for today (7a.m., I decided ONE day could be a sleep-in) and Monday (3a.m. due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances), I have developed the habits of a senior person.
Why? My academic career depends on me completing all my readings and assignments for these 6 courses I have accrued.
I still set unrealistic goals for what I try to get done each day. Every line is filled in my agenda book, with added bullets notifying me of what I still need to complete, and arrows redirecting some of my tasks. It's always been this way with me. And the works always gets done in good time.
But this 4a.m. wake-up that is unrelated to rowing, coaching, or personal training work, is very, very new.

I won't be watching very much T.V. now as I won't have knitting to support the sedentary feel of it. I am a single project at a time knitter, and after completing my first armwarmers, cannot afford more yarn at this time.
Perhaps I will substitute the knitting for exercising and/or stretching during the watching of T.V. - it's really only Ugly Betty I look forward to these days, and Ellen, of course.

These armwarmers will also be a gift for an unnamed individual.

I'll be playing Easter Bunny today on campus (which is very appropriate for our campus, considering we actually have bunnies everywhere - the babies are appearing again). My banana bread with chocolate chips and blueberries, as promised for my faith study group. They have probably forgotten that I would make it for one of our sessions, and now that today is the last session, I should definitely own up.



I have been waiting rather unpatiently for my package of goodness to complement my love for eating! Mother knows exactly how to take care of me.
Apparently it actually arrived two days ago, I just didn't notice the notice until yesterday. Thus, I had to walk all the way up the hill, a quick 2 min. bus ride to the post office, at which the lady announced, whoa, this one's heavy!, from the back. Which made me feel a little nauseated considering I had to get back the way I came.
Maybe she's a little weak? Maybe I still am a tank? It was definitely less than 20 lbs.
The trip back was easy compared to most grocery runs.

This is the second time I have received a package from my mother with an excessive amount of stamps and taping. I don't think the stamps was the post office's doing, but I don't want to make any unsupported accusations here. But I do suspect my mother had something to do with it. If so, she spend far too much extra time and money pasting 33 stamps on there. I love it though. So unique.
And finally, I found a perpetual calendar to place all those birthdays so I never forget. The good finds are always when you're not actually seeking them out. They tend to find you, in my experiences.


When I finally opened the package, check it out:
Pocky, dried mangoes, maple syrup, stew mix, sunflower seeds, brittle, fudge, polvoron.
Half for me, half for Ate Anna.
But I can't indulge. I have to make it last, and surprisingly so far I have only eaten a corner of fudge and one Pocky. For me, that's rather impressive.

My latest meal venture: pilaf (made of orzo, rice, onions, and garlic), with my touch of protein (pork loin cubes and mushrooms). The butter (2 tablespoons worth, which is not bad as this fed me for a good 4 days) made all the difference.

And finally, acceptance. The sweet relief of a rewarded effort, but the true rewards are yet to come.

I have been accepted as 1 of 10 young Canadians (although I'll be the second oldests at 22 when we depart) travelling to the Philippines (the mother country of the parents) in August as a Solidarity Trip participant for Development and Peace ( www.devp.org ). More info. to come.

Spring Forward to April Showers

The rain is relentless right now. Came just in time as I was arriving home for the day, and has not stopped since.

I've been doing a lot of business communications this weekend over renting out our entire, humongous, lovely house to 4 new lucky tenants. The emails and phone calls are constant, and we had a bit of an open house today. I've never considered read estate before. And still don't really.

But I do know that I am becoming my mother's daughter. Why? Because the notion of having visitors this weekend made me feel like welcoming my guests with food. So I baked my now perfected banana bread, as muffins (minus the blueberries, keep the chocolate chips). And they liked them very much, thank you.

I also mastered another meal this weekend. Salmon burger topped with marble cheese, fried onions, mushrooms, and red pepper. On a whole wheat bun of course.

And, another accomplishment as a reward for doing a fantastic job on my business assignments this week. I finished the shawl. Originally intended for me because the colour choice is very me, but I feel really good about giving it away to someone (it's a surprise, so no naming names at this point).

I Like Cats, But I'm Definitely a Dog Person

Before Reading Break, I almost owned a cat named Brooklyn. That did not work out because pets are not allowed in my current living arragements.
In t-1 month, I would have been living with awesome new housemates with the softest prettiest cat named...(I forget, but I know it starts with a J and is a boys name for a girl). That will not work out because I cannot move out in April.
All reasons set aside, it must truly be because I am a dog person. I love Golden Retrievers. And unless I train Guide Dogs first, I intend to own one myself. Ever since Mama Nor and Papa Boss had Daisy, and now Kayla, I have been hit with the disease.
So... I present to you Ginger, the newest addition to the Bittle family, and my new cousin.

I am lucky enough to live on the island, and have been on along the way on my cousin's drive to see their Ginger. Ginger is a red retriever and her daddy is a gorgeous red one too - so we hope she will grow up to be daddy's girl.
There were 5 other little puppies, I wanted one for myself! Especially the one that was reaching out for me....aww. But I don't have the resources at this time - it's not the right time in my life as a not-so-starving (because I can cook and prepare food now!) student.



Me and my new cousin Ginger. See how tiny they are?



My organic spaghetti pasta smothered in organic fettucini sauce (courtesy of Planet Organic by my house - I'm not actually a huge organic nut - when the price is right, I'm so there) and mushrooms, onions, black pepper, and garlic salt.
I'm proud of my creations and creativity (although it's my fancy way of saying resourcefulness) because they are actually starting to taste good (in terms of texture) and right (in terms of flavourful).
Plus, I don't feel like I have to drag myself to cook anymore out of it 'wasting time.' I want to feel like I actually eat meals and not just snacks.