Katmar Baby: may be the busiest month ever

I had so much to write about this month there actually 4 posts to get it all out of my head! (See the other posts about Trash Talk, my Tourism 'Challenge' and the Relay for Life) Now I will recap the rest of the crazy hectic, yet truly amazing times in the past month!

We've had a great dose of family in May. A visit from Joe (who were are lucky enough to see a few times a year) which always means a boys night of cards in our living room and lotsa laughs. Mark, Che, Thomas and David get together a fair bit (they're all within a few metres of each other makes it easy) This time the card nite was so big the boys had to borrow a table from the common room to play around. :)

Early in the month we enjoyed a sushi lunch, sunshine walk and cake at Tante Christa's place. Sasha was thrilled to have another chocolate cake for her bday and some quality time with her big cousin Cheyenne!

On Mother's Day (which Mark remembered this year) we had planned a family swim at Brit pool along with Keyan to splash along with us...only, when we got to the co-op car it wasn't there. In over three years this is only the 3rd time this has happened. Otherwise, as you likely know, we are very big fans of being co-op car members as it suits our lifestyle perfectly. A very big bummer to stand at the top of the hill with two car seats and bags full of swim gear and snacks... but Thomas & Kristina came and took away the stuff to carry, we explored and played with the kids for a couple of hours and it was still a fine morning. We did manage to get the swimming with Keyan in the following week, and came home to a potluck lunch in the common room of our co-op. :)

We love the beauty of our community: spontaneous rocket launch in the courtyard (Knock Knock! "Where's the boy? We're gonna laucnh a rocket!"...out in socks we all go) and multi-family yard sale finds like a big box of food stuff (just in time as Granma has found a kitchen for her room). Mark is learning from his position on our co-op board and I am looking forward to motivating members with Sarah and our green team, and with contributions to the newsletter.

Stroll to the park and around the neighbourhood. Sasha has a thing for closing gates...every time we pass one that is open she has to go and close it. One of many little obsessive compulsive needs of hers, hehe.

Mark and I attended an event called "The Great Turning: An Unconference to Be the Change" which was absolutely the best conference type of event I've ever been to. We had a great time, learned about many new resources and ways of thinking, and met some fabulous postive change agents from Vancouver and beyond. We also ate some of the best vegetarian fare I've ever had!

There were a few amazing key speakers (who were not allowed to use notes and they had to finish in 15 min) but primarily the whole day was full of circle talks - 30 topics to choose from and you only got to sign up for 1. A very tough choice! With the help of 2 dynamic emcees we flowed through the day, randomly ending up at one circle talk after another. Each circle had a speaker who provided the focus of the discussion and a facilitator who helped ensure everyone's voice was heard by guiding us through each dialogue. It was interesting to learn from each facilitators unique style, and every speaker was thoughtful and engaging. I participated in circle talks about better use for our public spaces, exploring spirituality and what motivates us, determining "What's Your Tree?" (a la Julia Butterfly Hill), using garbage as our gateway to action (which I had actually tried hard to avoid) and the Alchemy of Inspiration which was the circle talk I had chosen. Mark participated in a variety of different circle talks including one about sustainable food systems which has become a big focus for our family and the choices we make when shopping. I'm determined to find time to host a circle talk with the folks we met that day to try to ensure we stay connected...it was a very inspiring day and it would be great to keep that energy going.

After the Great Turning event I headed downtown to meet my friend Kristen for a ladies nite out. We enjoyed a sunset at Crab Park, a stroll through Gastown, and a pitcher and nachos at the Railway. Marvelous end to a day of great inspiration

Random pics on a nice walk home: my short cut through the CN rail tracks; really neat staircase a block from home; coming up the stairs of the green space next to our co-op.

The biggest change to our weekly routines this month is my new auxilary hat: I'm now working at the Museum of Vancouver! Another element of customer service in Vancouver for me, and as a tourist destination it has a different vibe than a community centre. I'll likely be there one or two days a week. My first shift I got a tour of the archives which I found very exciting. I look forward tot some artifact handling training and other unique learning oppotunities I'll have working here. And when we get our bikes I can start riding the seawall to the museum and show you even more beauty in my world...Vanier Park is a nice place to commute too ;)

So, I get to stay at Britannia where I love to be and help motivate the Brit Green Team's new Zero Waste Challenge for the Britannia community. And I get to try new things in another great workplace. Like working exhibit openings and taking on the Tourism Challenge. Plus, I'll still have a wee bit of spare time for getting the doc off the ground now that we finally have polished the story we want to engage everyone in...this update will have to wait for another post one day. Somebody pinch me! It's not 'stable' but it's darn near a perfect set up for me at this point in our life. As an auxilary worker I'm feeling an abundance of gratitude for my 3 hats to accumulate hours in.

Ever grateful for the Whittam clan, and especially when we get the whole bunch together. Brunch was a fabulous feast of flavours. yummmmmmmm. I was very happy to see Daniel for the first time in a while and Sasha is always keen to spend time with her big cousins...especially Sarah!

After the family gathering Mark, Sasha and I began the collection of stamps in my tourism passport. Then after my whirlwind day with Ali I picked up Sasha and had more fun on our walk home. So happy to spend a night with her after 3 nights in a row at work! (My fave element of the MOP garden; Sasha taking a break with teddy; rolling down the hill; and jumping down the stairs.)