Movie Madness

I mentioned in an earlier post that one of my goals for this summer is to see one movie a week. Likewise, back in (cough, cough) February, I issued an EA challenge for people to go see a movie that they wouldn't expect in advance they would like, because they might end up surprising themselves. So I figured I could mesh these two concepts together pretty easily, since most of the time there are hardly any movies playing that interest me.

Little did I know that this summer would turn out to have one of the best movie lineups I've seen in years!

Jay Stalking: Failing the Background Check

I was excited yesterday, because I saw a second male jay in the yard (word must be getting around about the treasure trove of peanuts to be found here! :). I even heard the two squawking at each other. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to get outside in time to try to get some pics of them together, but hopefully they'll both be back again. I only saw the one today, though, so we'll see...

In the meantime, here are some shots I captured over the last couple of days. This first one isn't in flight, but I think it could make a great textbook shot of the Western Scrub Jay. (You can click on the image to see a larger version.

And I got this rather cool shot of him with his beak open (sans peanut for a change!):

Jay Stalking

I have a male scrub jay hanging around my backyard, and one of my obsessions this summer will be to try to get a decent photo of him—in flight.

These are just gorgeous birds. I've had one visit in past years, but usually he would only make an appearance a couple of times over a couple of days, and then he'd be gone. But last year I learned they REALLY like peanuts, which I found out after I discovered one swooping in to steal them out of the food mix I would put out for the squirrels I'd released after rehabilitating them. So I think I'll be able to keep this guy around for a while and even have some control of where he arrives using strategic peanut placement. :)

Squirrel Watch: On the Move

Are you one of my squirrel fans? If so, you're in luck! I've created a brand new blog, Life in Squirreldom, where I plan to go into a lot more depth about my experiences with my little charges. I hope you'll come check it out!

Yes He Did!

Despite my very strong political opinions, I have no intention of making this blog political—there are plenty of those out there already! However, I couldn't let this historic day go by without notice.

I think it's pretty safe to say that anyone who runs for President of the United States has to have an adventurous spirit, which of course I admire. (Although why anyone would WANT the job is beyond me...). But throughout this campaign, as I watched Barack Obama work to arrive at this momentous occasion, I've also come to admire his grace and dignity under difficult circumstances, his respectful behaviour toward all his opponents, and—most of all—his ability to unite, inspire, and bring hope to millions of people across all divides: race, gender, age, economic status... why, he even has Rupert Murdoch lavishing praise on him!

So congratulations to Barack Obama, Democratic nominee for President of the United States!

And now, on to November...

Sweet Adventure

Last week, I did a blog swap with Charmian Christie, where she wrote an entry about having her play workshopped for Embrace Adventure, and I wrote one about my first attempt at developing my own recipe for her food blog, Christie's Corner.

This past weekend, I made the recipe again, tweaking a few things based on that first attempt, and now I'm ready to share it with you all!

Time Flies (When You're Blogging Every Day!)

And so we have come to the end of the “A Post a Day for the Month of May” blogathon.

I have to say, it was quite the challenge to write an entry every single day of the month, especially since I was travelling on vacation for a week and also working on the fundraiser for the Wildlife Center.

When we started this effort, I was worried that I'd end up posting a bunch of lame entries just to make my daily quota. I wasn't sure I'd be able to find that many interesting, new topics to write about. But overall, I'm pretty happy with what I came up with and I think the process will help me continue to post on a regular basis (though, probably not daily! :)

I want to thank my writing colleague, Michelle Rafter, who came up with the blogathon idea. Despite the stress it sometimes caused me, I definitely enjoyed the challenge.

It's All About the Animals

Tomorrow evening is Jewels in Flight, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley.

I've volunteered at a variety of events before, but this is the first time I've been part of the planning committee. It's been a lot of work, but I'm really pleased with the results. I'll write more about what all I did for it in a later post, when (hopefully) my brain will be working again! :)

I'm not going to be working at the event itself. I'm actually going as a “real person.” :) I'm really looking forward to it. Wish us luck!

Adventure in the News

For anyone that thinks adventure is purely about self-indulgence, this story tells an entirely different tale.

> A Life-Altering Adventure

Having an adventure + making a difference = one powerful combination.

Buddy, Can You Spare Some Marrow?

A writing colleague, Marijke Durning, blogged yesterday about registering to become a bone marrow donor. It's a very comprehensive post about how important it is and what's involved, so I'm not going to repeat all that information here. I urge you to check out the information on her blog.

I registered to be a donor about 15 years ago, after the husband of a friend of mine passed away from lymphoma at the much too early age of 31. He had received a marrow transplant, but unfortunately he developed an infection before his immune system had fully regained its strength.

The Play's the (Adventurous) Thing

Today's guest blogger: Charmian Christie

In my post from a few days ago, I selected Christie's Corner as my Blog of the Day. Today, the blog's author, Charmian Christie, and I are having a “blog swap,” where she's written an entry for my blog and vice versa. (So be sure to check out her site to read mine! :)

In addition to writing about food, travel, health, and more for magazines, Charmian is also a produced playwright. Recently she workshopped one of her plays and I'm thrilled that she's chosen Embrace Adventure to share her story!

Water, Water, Anywhere?

(Probably not surprisingly), I'm a huge supporter of the space program. Even when the money could be used for more immediate concerns right here on Earth, I believe that exploration is one of the most important—and defining—attributes of humanity.

And it's days like today that really drive the point home.

> NASA spacecraft successfully lands on Mars

I just LOVE the picture of the guys in the control room—I can't imagine how fantastic they must be feeling right now!

Ants. Why'd It Have To Be Ants?

I used to be a HUGE movieholic. When I was in my twenties, I went to the movies once or twice a week and knew the names of all the actors and most of the directors.

But the last time I saw one in an actual theater was sometime last year. I don't remember, exactly, but it was Knocked Up, which I think was one of last summer's big hits, so it would have been around then.

I've decided this summer to try to get back into the habit (if for no other reason than to get me out of the house once in a while...) My plan is to see one every weekend from now until Labor Day. And what better movie to start the summer season than the ultimate action adventure, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?

NOTE: There are no spoilers to come, so feel free to keep reading... :)

Taking "Leap of Faith" to a Whole New Level

I realize this is not the most important point in this story but, if you were going to parachute 40 kilometers to Earth, would you do it in Saskatchewan?

> Frenchman poised for ‘Great Leap,’ a 40-kilometer-
high adventure

The Big Green Huh?

One of the best ways to end a day of adventure is with a really great meal, and one of the best ways to prepare a really great meal is on the barbecue. And, according to one of my friends that I visited with on my recent trip home—and she's a fabulous cook, so I trust her opinion completely—THE best way to barbecue is with the Big Green Egg®!

Flying Not Quite So High

Over the last few years, I’ve come to loathe flying. From the inane taking-off-the-shoes at security and noisy, crowded airport lounges,to the dearth of fresh air in the cabin and overextended schedules that virtually guarantee you a delay on the tarmac while you wait for the previous plane to move away from your gate, the entire ordeal leaves me tired, grumpy, and—more often than not these days—feeling rather ill.

Obviously, this is a bit of a problem for someone who loves traveling.

What's Your Fantasy (Camp)?

This Forbes article points the way for people who want to live out their wildest dreams, from playing in a rock and roll band to playing basketball with Michael Jordan!

> Eight Places To Live Out Your Fantasies

Lifelong Learning

I had drinks tonight with one of my friends who has gone back to school this year to study environmental science. I'm always so impressed by people who continue to pursue their dreams throughout their lives.

We talked a lot about how different it is going to school as a “mature” student. (I did my MBA part-time a decade after I'd graduated the first time.) Our life experiences really change the attitude we bring to any new studies we undertake.

Making the Rounds

One thing about living 2,500 miles away from home is that I don't get to visit too often. Which means when I do, there are a LOT of people I want to see! Besides my parents, whom I staying with, I've already visited with my grandmother and gone out with three friends, and I have four more to see before I leave—all in less than a week. (And that's STILL leaving out lots of people...)

The great thing about these friends, though, is that we're so close that whenever we get together, it's as if we just saw each other last week. So the conversation is going full speed ahead in no time flat. :)

Today was especially nice. This is a long weekend in Canada to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday, and it's also the tail end of the Canadian Tulip Festival, one of Ottawa's most popular annual events (second in attendance only to Canada Day I believe). So my friend Kathy and I (we've known each other since Grade 11!) had a lovely Sunday brunch on a patio on the Byward Market, then wandered up to Major's Hill Park, behind the Parliament Buildings, to catch some of the festivities. That's where I took the photo above—you can't get much more iconic than that for Canada's capital!

Keeping Track(s)

The service I use to track visitors, StatCounter, has just added a new feature (in beta) that lets me see where my visitors go right after they leave my blog.

I figured this would be useful information, especially since I would be able to see when people clicked on a link I had posted to another site. I hadn't realized, though, that it might help me find sites of interest to me. But that's what happened a couple of days ago, when I discovered that someone who had visited my Travel archives page had then gone on to Natural Habitat Adventures, where I've discovered dozens of wildlife-related trips (that I can merely drool over right now, but someday...)

Even if you're not planning such a trip anytime soon (or ever), I recommend clicking through the pages just to see some of the shots of wildlife they're using to highlight each adventure. Gorgeous!