We had such big plans for walking on the Tuesday to start preparing for our tournament, but due to the rain and then humidity, we decided only to walk to and from lunch at a local sushi place. The sushi was good, but not as amazing as other sushi that I'd had before. After lunch, we headed to UBC via downtown, checked in and then went up to meet up with my friend Jethro and his fiance Lisa. After a nice dinner, we went back to the residence to watch the Olympics and wait for the rest of the team to arrive.
After an afternoon practice at UBC with the whole team, Geofford and I went to go meet up with my Uncle David, Aunt Ruby, Cousin Evelyn, and my Aunt's family. We went to Isami Sushi in Burnaby. This restaurant had some amazing sushi.
Nationals was again an amazing experience. We ended up 12th overall in the Mixed Division and I have posted on OCUA's website a description of our results. Here are the official results from the CUC website. I am super proud of the team and I hope all of them had an amazing experience.
The party on Saturday night was a lot of fun, but I guess the tournament really took a lot out of me as I couldn't party into the night as I normally do, which was a little disappointing. But, we ended up getting up early to go back to Coquitlam to meet Seryna and her boyfriend Shawn (or is it Sean or Shaun?) for brunch at the IHOP. After brunch we headed back to UBC to watch the Mixed Finals. Unfortunately Bombing Madd Fatties lost to Team Fisher Price, but it was fun watching your friends (and people you've played against) in the final. After the game Geofford and I drove around the English Bay, Stanley Park and headed over the Lion's Gate Bridge before heading to King's Chinese Restaurant for dinner with all of my relatives in Vancouver. It was a little banquet, with lots of food, and it was a little too loud to talk, but it was nice seeing everyone. We then headed to my cousin Tullia's house to stay for the night.
After dropping off the car, we went to Dim Sum with my Aunt Stella, Uncle Eric, Damian, and his girlfriend Melody. After Dum Sum we headed to the airport an hour early, but apparantly not early enough as we got rushed to a separate line. I guess because we checked in so late, we weren't able to get seats together, so Geoff and I sat apart, which was probably better for him because I sat at the back of the plane again, which meant no reclining seats. The plane on the way back was much newer and we even got a hot meal so that was nice.
My trip to Vancouver was a lot of fun, but it was really nice to come home and sleep in my own bed...
Monday, August 23, 2004
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Vancouver
Geofford and I have made it safe and sound to Vancouver. We arrived last Thursday in Vancouver after an extra-long flight - or so it felt because my earphones didn't work -> fortunately the nice man in front of me allowed me to use his sound so that I could watch the movie - 13 going on 30, which in the end wasn't that great of a movie, oh well. My Uncle William and Aunt Stella came to the airport to pick us up and we stayed with them night.
The next morning we went to pick up our car and I was a little disappointed when we had to drive a Corolla instead of the Civic that I asked for. In the end, the little car was good enough for us as it had air-conditioning - more on that later. After a little bit of shopping and breakfast, Geofford and I set off for Kelowna to meet his best friend Seryna. Since we were not in a rush we decided to take the Crow's Nest Highway instead of the Coquihalla (which was faster) - it was a beautiful, impressive drive through the mountains. I was only scared once when we were rounding a turn and we slowly started skidding into the other lane, but the little car held and we didn't hit anything (or as Geofford told Mehmet - it could have been a lot worse since we were skidding towards the cliff instead of off the cliff - with that perspective I guess it wasn't that bad). Other than the drive was quite pleasant - especially since we had a/c and the outside temperature according to the dash temperature gauge was holding steady between 34-36 degrees Celsius.
Once we reached Kelowna we met up with Geofford's best friend Seryna. She was super nice and was a lot of fun to hang out with. Since it was so hot (I think it got up to around 38 with the humidty) for most of the time we were there - we ate and sat around just hanging out. On Friday night we went to dinner at Kelly O'Brien's which was the irish pub - so lots of fun. After being terribly ambitious Saturday morning with a run and some plyometrics, we visited Summerhill Pyramid Winery - which was pretty fun.
On Sunday we returned to Vancouver - or more specifically Coquitlam via the Coquihalla Hwy, which was pretty fun - there was a lot of downhills, which I got to drive. I think there was this one stretch that was 8% for 17km. I think it would be more fun with a car that I knew better - I was a little worried about the brakes on the car, but we got to Coquitlam safe and sound. In Coquitlam, we stayed with my Uncle Sammy and Aunt Winnie (#10 on my mom's side) and they had a bbq for us and my Aunt Hannah and Uncle Thomas (#5) and my Aunt Betty (#3) also came over. As usual there was too much food, but we were able to run it off the next morning before we set off for Squamish on the Sea to Sky Hwy. That was another gorgeous drive - hopefully our pictures turned out.
Now I am beginning to get super excited about Nationals. I was a little disappointed when a few of our players were unable to come for various reasons - and then I found out on Friday that another of our players broke his arm at practice on Thursday. But hopefully everything will turn out and everyone will play their hearts out.
The next morning we went to pick up our car and I was a little disappointed when we had to drive a Corolla instead of the Civic that I asked for. In the end, the little car was good enough for us as it had air-conditioning - more on that later. After a little bit of shopping and breakfast, Geofford and I set off for Kelowna to meet his best friend Seryna. Since we were not in a rush we decided to take the Crow's Nest Highway instead of the Coquihalla (which was faster) - it was a beautiful, impressive drive through the mountains. I was only scared once when we were rounding a turn and we slowly started skidding into the other lane, but the little car held and we didn't hit anything (or as Geofford told Mehmet - it could have been a lot worse since we were skidding towards the cliff instead of off the cliff - with that perspective I guess it wasn't that bad). Other than the drive was quite pleasant - especially since we had a/c and the outside temperature according to the dash temperature gauge was holding steady between 34-36 degrees Celsius.
Once we reached Kelowna we met up with Geofford's best friend Seryna. She was super nice and was a lot of fun to hang out with. Since it was so hot (I think it got up to around 38 with the humidty) for most of the time we were there - we ate and sat around just hanging out. On Friday night we went to dinner at Kelly O'Brien's which was the irish pub - so lots of fun. After being terribly ambitious Saturday morning with a run and some plyometrics, we visited Summerhill Pyramid Winery - which was pretty fun.
On Sunday we returned to Vancouver - or more specifically Coquitlam via the Coquihalla Hwy, which was pretty fun - there was a lot of downhills, which I got to drive. I think there was this one stretch that was 8% for 17km. I think it would be more fun with a car that I knew better - I was a little worried about the brakes on the car, but we got to Coquitlam safe and sound. In Coquitlam, we stayed with my Uncle Sammy and Aunt Winnie (#10 on my mom's side) and they had a bbq for us and my Aunt Hannah and Uncle Thomas (#5) and my Aunt Betty (#3) also came over. As usual there was too much food, but we were able to run it off the next morning before we set off for Squamish on the Sea to Sky Hwy. That was another gorgeous drive - hopefully our pictures turned out.
Now I am beginning to get super excited about Nationals. I was a little disappointed when a few of our players were unable to come for various reasons - and then I found out on Friday that another of our players broke his arm at practice on Thursday. But hopefully everything will turn out and everyone will play their hearts out.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
First Real Post
Wow, I have been a big slacker over the past 8 months....But I guess, now that I have some more free time I will have some more time to post.
Let's see, I have been playing lots of ultimate, in March, Geofford and I with 7 other crazy people decided to go play at an outdoor tournament in Hamilton called Divine Nines. This tournament is 5-2 tournament, where you only bring 9 players. It was cold and rainy, but a lot of fun. Other than touring with Seven, Geofford and I also went to Parlee Beach, NB to play in the Parlee Beach Tournament. I could see how the tournament was fun despite getting kicked out of our campsite Saturday morning, the pouring rain, the cold, the lack of a party, the pouring rain, the cold, and the insanely long drive. BNG and the Swamp Donkeys was a fun, spirited team, and I hope they invite me back next year so at least I can experience the party that everyone has been telling me so much about.
Since April, I have been quite busy with Pat, and Steph planning and preparing for our new ultimate team Seven which is an OCUA sponsored Mixed (aka Coed) team. We have travelled to a few tournaments (TUT, Layout for Life, Gender Blender, Northern Flights, Comedy of Errors, Coed Jamboree) and are gearing up for Nationals in Vancouver. At all of the tournaments that we competed at so far, we have either kept our seed or beat it, so that is pretty good for a first year team.
Let's see, besides Ultimate, this summer has been mostly about weddings. I was invited to Sonia and Andy's wedding on June 19, but was unable to attend due to it being a tournament weekend. I was able to make the pre-wedding BBQ and Shawn's house where the boys roasted a lamb which was very tasty, and I was able to see the gang from Waterloo. I was a bridesmaid in Waleed and Kathy's wedding on July 3. There should be some pictures for the wedding on their website soon, otherwise you can see their lovely diving pictures. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding in Waleed's backyard followed by a chinese dinner downtown. I also attended John and Erin's beautiful outdoor wedding our her parent's farm near Tillsonburg. It was an amazing setting and it was really nice to see all of the Waterloo people.
I guess seeing all of my University friends really inspired me as I am returning to school, a different one though to study a different degree. I will be studying at Ottawa U for my Master's in Human Kinetics starting in September. This means that I will be ending my career here at Alcatel earlier than anticipated. It has been a fun three years here, and I have met a ton of awesome people - but I truely believe that this is the career path for me. So it will be a day of mixed emotions when I leave Alcatel on August 12 to begin a new chapter in my life.
Wish me luck at Nationals!
Let's see, I have been playing lots of ultimate, in March, Geofford and I with 7 other crazy people decided to go play at an outdoor tournament in Hamilton called Divine Nines. This tournament is 5-2 tournament, where you only bring 9 players. It was cold and rainy, but a lot of fun. Other than touring with Seven, Geofford and I also went to Parlee Beach, NB to play in the Parlee Beach Tournament. I could see how the tournament was fun despite getting kicked out of our campsite Saturday morning, the pouring rain, the cold, the lack of a party, the pouring rain, the cold, and the insanely long drive. BNG and the Swamp Donkeys was a fun, spirited team, and I hope they invite me back next year so at least I can experience the party that everyone has been telling me so much about.
Since April, I have been quite busy with Pat, and Steph planning and preparing for our new ultimate team Seven which is an OCUA sponsored Mixed (aka Coed) team. We have travelled to a few tournaments (TUT, Layout for Life, Gender Blender, Northern Flights, Comedy of Errors, Coed Jamboree) and are gearing up for Nationals in Vancouver. At all of the tournaments that we competed at so far, we have either kept our seed or beat it, so that is pretty good for a first year team.
Let's see, besides Ultimate, this summer has been mostly about weddings. I was invited to Sonia and Andy's wedding on June 19, but was unable to attend due to it being a tournament weekend. I was able to make the pre-wedding BBQ and Shawn's house where the boys roasted a lamb which was very tasty, and I was able to see the gang from Waterloo. I was a bridesmaid in Waleed and Kathy's wedding on July 3. There should be some pictures for the wedding on their website soon, otherwise you can see their lovely diving pictures. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding in Waleed's backyard followed by a chinese dinner downtown. I also attended John and Erin's beautiful outdoor wedding our her parent's farm near Tillsonburg. It was an amazing setting and it was really nice to see all of the Waterloo people.
I guess seeing all of my University friends really inspired me as I am returning to school, a different one though to study a different degree. I will be studying at Ottawa U for my Master's in Human Kinetics starting in September. This means that I will be ending my career here at Alcatel earlier than anticipated. It has been a fun three years here, and I have met a ton of awesome people - but I truely believe that this is the career path for me. So it will be a day of mixed emotions when I leave Alcatel on August 12 to begin a new chapter in my life.
Wish me luck at Nationals!
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