Canada Trip

Photos: My June

chantelle — Mon, 7 Jun 2010 11:53:00 GMT

June

Dear Mother Nature

chantelle — Mon, 7 Jun 2010 11:13:00 GMT

What I wouldn't give for our weather to turn, not sit on the fence like it has for the last 6-8 weeks! one day its sunny then for the rest of the week its RAIN! and not like just a bit here and there, its like full on raining! well there is my rant out of the way, onto the good stuff! :P
Actually, there is not a lot to put in this one... the last month has been all about living off the minimum amount of money I can... I have done pretty well I think... $60 for the shopping for the food, trying my hardest not to go out :) and just going to physio... minimalistic living... good times.
I went to Vancouver for the weekend down there, I did a trade show, as the people I work for *on the side* are bringing a product called "Hydralyte" up from Australia, its pretty cool I worked with it the entire time I was in Pharmacy, it is exciting, the product itself had SOOO much interest it is going to explode up here soon. The rest of my time I was in Vancouver, I got to hang out with Dave and Marina, which is cool, we went and saw Iron Man 2, good movie that one. Dave and I got to hang out and play hacky sack for a while, and kick the ball around, I love times where we can just hang out, bring on summer I say.
Well dare I mention the unmentionable!?! lol... sorry in advance for making you so jealous beyond you liking me anymore... I am heading to California for a week and a half to spend some time with my Dad! I cant wait to see him! I cant wait to cruise around with him! We have a list of things "to do"
Universal Studios
DisneyLand
SanDiego Zoo
Golden Gate Bridge
Alcatraz
thats just a handful of what we are going to get up to! wow I say, these are things dreams are made of! I on top of all of that, am beyond excitement to see Dad, I miss him! by the time July comes around will be almost 11 months since I seen him.
Come August I am looking at going to a place called Tofino, which is a surfing town on the east coast of Vancouver Island, and then to Victoria, which is the major city of BC believe it or not Vancouver is just another big city... Victoria is where all the parliament houses are and the mint and stuff like that is, its all on "the island" as the locals call it. Will prolly hang out there for a week or 2 not in a huge hurry to be in Whistler... it will be DEAD season by the time August is here.
I am still deciding where I will be come winter this year, I dont know... Squamish is appealing... very appealing, but so is Revelstoke, Banff, Salmon Arm, and places over in that area... they are all in the Rocky Mountains. They have better snow there, and its not Whistler, but I want to hit up Vancouver sometime in the winter for Grouse/Cypress NIGHT snowboarding, I think that would be awesome.
Well I best be heading off, dinner time, steak sandwich for dinner tonight. YUM!
Luv to all xo
Chantelle

Photos: My May

chantelle — Thu, 6 May 2010 22:44:00 GMT

May 2010

The Life Hangover

chantelle — Sun, 2 May 2010 19:59:00 GMT

It kinda is what it is... a hangover from the Olympics, Paralympics, and Telus World Cup. the snow is melting, there is big gaps of green amongst the white on the hills I imagine that you have to pick your path through the snow pretty carefully when up there now. I haven't been up there now for a couple weeks, and in fact I have put my board away for the summer and pulled out my bike... yes my bike!
I am sorry I haven't written in here for a while. I just have not been able to sit down and concentrate... has been a bit of a weird last month or so... I was busy in some ways but not in others.
The Paralympics, now that was amazing, people everywhere but not as tight on security, it was cool cos the athletes were about all the time and you could talk to them :) I managed to get to a medals ceremony one night. but that was it, work was still busy and I was tired from the 2 and half weeks of Olympic stuff... along with the whole of Whistler I guess.
Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival was awesome, it came and went pretty quick the shows that were on were awesome, the entertainment along the village stroll was cool too. I got to see a show called 3 Point 0 and it was about presentations done on the computer, it was pretty cool what people did with photography, music, movies, and anamation.
I took David and Marina up the hill snowboarding, which was awesome... I think I kinda got them hooked LOL they bought snowboards when they got home and are sayin they are gonna go do a lot more next winter and spend some more time with me! woot! we had a blast, my snowboarding has come together nicely and I am cruising now down green runs and I am also game to hit up a blue run too here and there as long as there is someone with me... yeah my head is still freaking out a bit when it comes to speed and what not I dont wanna break myself again this winter!
Well, the last couple weeks has been pretty cruisy, I got the bike out last week and have been riding everywhere since, has been good times. I ride to and from work, I ride around the village, and I get sore legs lol! but they are starting to get used to it hehe.
I guess you guys want to know about my elbow hey.... I am doing physio twice a week now and think that given another 4-6 weeks I will be fine with out the physio... it has been taking a while as I have problems with the ligaments in there arent healing very well. I get the odd sore day, and I just try to take it easy with it.. but on the positive side, I can bend it and almost get it straight! woot... but I cant play volleyball or netball this summer! :( so I been relegated to riding, swimming, running, and floating around on a boat in a lake... it cant all be bad eh? lol
work is slow... everyone is leaving... going home, traveling the world, or just going elsewhere.. its kinda sad really, we make friends but they all leave within a few months.. its hard to keep making new friends all the time...
I have made the decision of going to California for the summer, well 2 weeks of it anyways... gonna go do San Francisco, Las Angeles, and San Diego... cant wait! will be so good to explore it all. check out Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, Golden Gate Bridge, Universal Studios :) I promise to take photos :)
Hopefully after that I will get excited about Whistler again... has been a bit boring and stuff lately! nothing is happening anymore we have our little town back, where nothing is happening!
I still haven't decided what Im going to do next winter, I have to just chill I think I might get excited again about the snow when it comes back in October/November. I still got a lot to do here up this end of the world before I go home with out any regrets! I got things keeping me here too...
Well enough ramblings from me for now, Love to all.

Photos: My April

chantelle — Sat, 1 May 2010 12:36:00 GMT

My April

Photos: March 2010

chantelle — Mon, 1 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

My March

As the Sun Sets on Feb 28th 2010

chantelle — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:45:00 GMT

As the sun sets on Feb 28th 2010, so it does on the Winter Olympic Games, as it also marks 6 months away from Australia.. I have learnt a lot in the last 6 months of my life, feeling like I am a wiser and stronger person and knowing that my limits are not my limits anymore.
I got to experience something that not many Australians can say they did, I went to 2 Olympic Events, I went to 8 of the free concerts in the Village, I even managed to get on TV back home not once but twice! I saw countless Athletes, today met the new Olympic Luge Champion, from Germany, amazing stuff hey! I am feeling a little on the tired side now, time to rest up a bit in time for the Paralympics and Telus World cup.. oh yeah the Winter Olympics is not all! there is still 3 more events to come, Winter Pride starts next week... NO rest for the wicked so they say.
I kinda feel like at the moment... "where to now?" its almost a feeling of being lost.. direction is not the easiest thing to find.. I need to work now to save some money, to I think head off to the east side, possibly... might go back country... bah ramblings are bad! lol
But what I have discovered is that there is not much point really me hanging around here in what turns into a down hill bike riding place, when I cant ride a bike downhill *elbow issues* I think I will give it a go to see if I get pain or anything but if it hurts then there isnt any point pushing it.
I will have to wait n see what happens to decide... its all a bit of wait n see at the moment. kinda sucks, I need to focus on getting better but I want to focus on what to do... its a bit of a mind game.
I spent my last weekend (21st-23rd Feb) in Squamish, with a friend who showed me around the place, we went to the *beach* which was really nice, I had to refrain from taking my shoes off and running madly thru the sand, we saw the Cruise ship "The Mona Lisa" docked about 300m away, it was there to house the security for the Winter Olympics... we went to a place called Shannon Falls, magical big waterfall just out of Squamish. We had Sushi for dinner (YES- Chantelle had Sushi, there is always a first for everything) we saw the movie "Avatar" Spectacular, completely not what we expected... played PS3, and also managed a heap of chill out time too... was good to get away for a little bit and see the inside of a different town...
I am thinking I might move there come summer, its cheaper and might be able to save some more for the next life chapter *what ever that may be*
Well enough of my ramblings. I need to have some dinner and chill out. :)

Photos: February 2010

chantelle — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Photos: Olympic Stuff

chantelle — Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:41:00 GMT

Photos: Straya-day

chantelle — Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:01:00 GMT

They're Coming

chantelle — Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:30:00 GMT

Ok, so I'm sitting here again... same spot as before, and same thoughts as last time- how do I start this.
I guess you are all a little curious about my fractured elbow... right?? ok the news is... I am doing fine, I dont need to have surgery and I am staying here. I have a bionic arm and will do for at least 4 more weeks... I had Xrays done this morning and they are showing up all good news. I am moving it and using it a bit. The only thing that has the doc worried is the tendons running down the inside of my elbow, they are not healing properly yet, but she said she will see whats going on in 4 weeks time, and go from there if they havent got any better.
We now have a lot of what I call them hanging around... they are "smurfs" blue coated black pants Olympic Volunteers, good people but in a group yeah they look funny. I know with out them the Olympics would struggle... but they look soooo funny, when I see them next will take a pic and you can see what I mean.
House... is full. But full with a good bunch of people I have Linda as a roomie, she is ok, never shared a room I guess, but she will soon learn that organisation is key... the house has a good crew this time, no immature little teenagers hanging around... the place is clean and the older group is chilled out with everyone.
The Village has changed a lot in set up for the Olympics which is LESS than 2 weeks away, it looks good, but it is very confusing... trying to get about the place with out walking into cut off zones. Then you got all the military aircraft and helicoptors flying about for security and stuff, so so much is going on now. Its exciting! and IM HERE :)
Well tonight I am going out with some mates to watch the hockey and play some pool, I might even shout a drink to the mates that I wouldnt change for the world, they really are awesome.
It has been warm here of late, when I say warm... I mean its been in the positive numbers lol but we got some light snow overnight so the place is looking all whits and pretty... we are at +4 degrees and here I am in my hoodie and a tshirt lol about to put my hockey jersey on and go out lol :) but im so sure we will hit a bout of the biterly cold again soon, the -10 to -20 degrees, I been told to look out for the cold snap.
I have been working 4 hour shifts this week I go to 6 hours next week and will stay at 6 hours till the arm brace comes off and I do some physio so prolly another 6 weeks till im back full time, but the patience is now key, I really dont want to mess up my elbow for life.
I won tickets to local Ice Hockey today from the local radio station which is pretty sweeet, I go pick them up on monday :) excited much! only the second time I won something off the radio station! but cool!!
Well im gonna go, I will take some pics of the village over the next few days and put them up. show this place off so you can all see the little awesome place that I live in which is about to burst with excitment.
XX Chantelle

Fractured Times Ahead

chantelle — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:45:00 GMT

Well, for those who dont have facebook wont know about my awesome fall whilst snowboarding on Tuesday and my very frustrating times since and still to come.
I was coming to a stop after coming down a slope, leaning back to dig my board edge in I leant too far back, so I put my arms out to break my fall in doing so, my right arm hyper extended and dislocated, I immediatly bent my arm putting it back in place, but was still in A LOT of pain... the mountain paramedics were there within like 30 seconds and next thing I remember is getting out of the patrol truck at the hospital... went for xrays and they showed up with 3 fractures in my elbow.... fun fun, I had a CT scan to make sure that one of the fractures will heal with out surgery, in which I find out the results of Tuesday *Aussie day*
so now im just resting it up with hope that it doesnt need the surgery... and then I can get back to working with really awesome people.
PS I will be sure to keep everyone updated.

Photos: New Years Eve

chantelle — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:01:00 GMT

as it says

Amused by the Excitment

chantelle — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:01:00 GMT

Well, I sit here the usual spot I sit to write these stories, and listen to one of the 10,000 songs on my portable hard drive... thinking to myself how to start this one off. All I can say is... its getting closer and I am very excited about being amongst it all :)
I had a few minutes the other day to ponder what Im going to do at the end of this winter season... and came to the conclusion I will decide when it comes what I am going to do... cos all that popped into my head after deciding that was how awesome it is going to be in the powder snow up the top of Whistler tomorrow.
Work is busy, and it is only going to get busier from here on in till the end of the Paraolympics in March. In a way I cant wait for it all to be over, but in other ways I cant wait for it to start cos its part of the reason why I came up here right?
I have been cruising at the moment, trying not to spend much cash as I want to make it last come time to either move on or go see the rest of Canada... I enjoy seeing the hills with the snow the interestingly large snowflakes when they fall and the amazing patterns in them, the way they fall and the way I always seem to get them in my eyes and down the back of my neck and how they are so fragile.
I have been missing home a bit, and the people there, but I am always reassured I will see them again soon... Having said that, I do just have to look outside and realise my dreams are right here, my life is here my work is here I have loads of friends here too so its not bad :)
It has been snowing here every few days, but has been nice and warm aswell, well when I say warm, I mean like 2 or 3 degrees, which is nice enough to leave the big coat at home and head out in my hoodie and a jacket.
Jan has been a quiet month for me, as I have been sick for the first 2 weeks of it, I am however mostly better now with just a cough which is diminishing by the day and a bit of an excess runny nose as much as it doesnt sound good, it really isnt that bad now. I hope that the rest of the month and the whole of Feb will be exciting times, I cant wait bring it on :)
Next week is Australia day, and I have the day off, looks like at this stage we might have a BBQ and some drinks at Scrumpys and Kyms place down in Creekside, which will be nice :) I might head up snowboarding in the morning, what a way to spend Australia day!
New Years was massive, out in the village with friends and then there was a house party here with about 50 people, most from work and we didnt get to sleep till about 430am- awesome night :)
Well, no news is good news I guess, nothing more is on my plate right now... might be some soon, but will keep everyone posted...

Merry Christmas

chantelle — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:18:00 GMT

Merry Christmas Everyone!!
After spending today at work I am tired, was a lot busier than I expected... I didnt think there could be so many unorganized people around town... funny but there is.
I have spent the last few weeks having a good time with some new friends... they are a bad influence at times but all the same so much fun...
I went to Vancouver to spend some time with David and Marina before Christmas, which was awesome. we went out for dinner to a sweet place called the "Cactus Club" I highly recommend them if you are ever in Vancouver ;-) We went to a Christmas lights display called VanDusen, which is a botanic garden, but FULL of lights, it absolutely blew my mind away. There was a musical lights display gingerbread men display... some awesome trees and I spotted Santa out early to say hi.
I went up the hill on sunday and monday last week, Sunday I did a Blue run, which if you arent familiar with the snow terms there is 4 levels, Green, Blue, Black and Daimond... I didnt know it was a blue run till we were almost at the bottom... which was a good thing... I did spend some of the time sliding on my ass but ahaha all good... I slid down about 100m at one point... LOL I did a pretty cool Faceplant too.... kinda hurt my neck a bit but eh, kept going. I did a green run come monday, cos my neck was pretty sore from sundays effort... but I did ok... so there is progress I dont look like so much of a learner.... mind you everyone has got to learn.
I went to Squamish with one of my mates last weekend who hadnt been to Wal*Mart, which I ofcourse was a Pro at! we wandered around and got a few things... played what the assistant called "the walmart game" which is the self serve checkout... went to Wendys and got a hamburger called the "Baconator" and it is how the name suggests, full of bacon, we then realised we didnt get what we went to Walmart for, so we went back to Walmart and played the Walmart game a second time... LOL and the assistant had a real laugh at us...
This week has been so hectic its not funny, work has been so busy I dont get much of a rest, and when I do im half asleep... lol but seriously I survived Christmas, now for the Olympics to come and get BUSY again. The whole village is busier now. its cool but a bit annoying, as I cant walk around and not focus anymore.
Well the next few weeks are gonna be just as busy as the last, then before I know it, it will be Australia day *woot* and then the Olympics, and Para Olympics, Telus world Cup and well its gonna be busy... but I think now, I survived Christmas, so the rest cant be as hard. TRUST me Christmas eve was sooo soooo busy at work.
Well its bed time, work tomorrow...
Happy New Year, I hope to leave another message early in the New Year.
Chantelle xxx