A long way to a happy ending!

Over all _____Time____Bib____Name
7934*______1:45:58__ 10564__ Kaylee Duckmanton
7935*______1:45:58__ 10939__ Sarah Duckmanton


Above are Kaylee and My times for the 2008 TC 10K, they are a little longer than our goal but still I am so proud of both of us, Kaylee was a great partner to have with me on the 10K, we push each other enough to keep going and reach for the stars but know when its really time to slow down. I never would have made it past the 5K wall with out her. We are looking forward to beating this years time at the next TC 10K. in the mean time we are going to be working on our mad running skill's at this years 24 hour relay and The run for the Cure. I will be sure to fill you in on all our success over the next year and hopefully will have some pictures to share with you also.

*there were a total of 8'817 runner and we came is 1hour and 9minuets before that last runner and 1 hour after the first non-elite runner crossed the Finnish line, not bad!

A week of photos...

This past week was a roller coaster, so rather than trying to write you a small novel I thought I would share some photos I have taken over the past week, all of them have meaning in some small way as photography is a sort of therapy for me.

This photo I called "funny" and really its kind of the way I see life, I found this odd little painting hanging in the the forest on a walk with the dogs, in the middle of all the bland colours of the forest it really popped out, just like the way life seems to go along, same old same old and then something different happens, those are the colourful parts of life.
My two beautiful girls on top of the world!
A day in the country! On one of my days off I spent some time tootling around the farms in central Saanich, I love being out there and feeling so far away form the city, its so calm and clean, this day there was a light rain and almost no one around.
This is my dear old Nash, who suddenly died, in my arms, on the way to the Vet. He was so very sick, despite all I did to save him, he snuggled into me and finally let go.
A very cool old water tower I found, I have lived in Saanich my whole life and never knew it was there! I love finding new things, such a feeling of accomplishment.
A day at the dog park in Duncan. Our Monday usual


Below are a few more photos from the farmlands of Saanich.

And last but not least....

My little angel girl, i would be in a mental hospital with out her!

Well, these are the things I have seen and done over the last week, not includeing work of couse but photos of that would be just plain dall. I have many more days off to come and plan on shooting billions of more photos for your enjoyment.

Take care.

Another day another dollar!

It seems as though time is flying, it feels like just yesterday it Christmas and now here we are half way through march, I cant say that I am enjoying the fact that time is going by so quickly, though I can hardly wait for the warmth of summer! Alot has happened in the few short weeks that have passed since my last visit hear.

I have tried to buy a condo, that did not go so well but I still hold out hope and believe that this just was not the one for me.

I have lost a dear co-worker, he passed unexpectedly(I don't think its really even sunk in yet) and we are all still trying to deal with the loss of such a funny, stubborn and loving man, he is deeply missed.

I have also started to grow apart from my computer (the one I am using now is my work computer, that I am stuck at for 10hrs a day) but my home computer is starting to collect dust. One reason being that I have found the things that I though would make me happy (facebook, MSN, Myspace and so on) are the things that are really pulling me down, and make me very very unhappy, though I do still check them from time to time when I walk away I find myself feeling defeated and low, yesterday I finally put my finger on why I was feeling that way. While clicking around on other peoples facebook pages I would read all the comments people had made and look through there photo albums at the things they are doing, all the while comparing myself to them and becoming bitter and unhappy, in that moment I though " I don't need to feel this way, I am much happier with out this crap" and decided to step away, and I have to admit its been great. I spend more time doing "stuff" and getting out and about, even if its by my self, its still a good time!

On another note, I become another year older today, I am now the ripe old age of 26, yup, I said it 26! I am truly starting to feel old, mostly because I don't feel like I have anything to show for the last 26 years of my life. I have seen many places and things and have made great memory's and I guess that's really what counts but I cant do nothing for ever, so I guess the next step is to figure out what to do with whats left of my life, and I will be sure to let you know what I come up with, for now I just have to decide between doing something that I like and something that will make me money(so I can do the things I like) I guess you could say this is a new chapter I am about to begin, so happy reading!

Until next time....ME:)

KAYLEES BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

Well I am sad that its over but we had the most fab. time in Vancouver for Kaylee's 15th birthday! we did so much I just dont have time to fill you in on it all right now, so I will leave you with a photo of us with Leon, Joey and Paul. Kaylee did not know they were going to be in town while we were there!! It was great!!!

Food 4 Thought

Came accross this today and loved it, its somthing I have seen before but today seemed to hit a little deeper than before. read and enjoy!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us ... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same ...

– Marianne Williamson

I'm Back...with a few scatterd thoughts !

Well It has been a very long time since I have updated anything. and really, allot has changed! Were to begin....

Well I have a new job, I no longer go home at the end on the day feeling like crap, looking worse and smelling like a rancid coffee bean, yes my days at Starbucks are over. I now work for the Island owned Columbia Fuels, and I have to say its a joy, far better that bucks anyway. No only am I making mo' money, I am working better hours and I get 3 days off a week!

I have been doing much reflecting over the past while and have just stepped onto a very new and great path, one of hope, love, grace, peace and oh so much more. there are many bumps on this road but I know each one will make me stronger. I have also learned the real meaning of friendship. I real true friend is VERY hard to find, one who loves you no matter what, and is willing to help you no matter what. I have to say, I did not always know what a true friend was, but now I do and am glad to say the lord has placed an AMAZING and True friend in my life. I have always wanted lots of friends, not that I still don't, but I have come to realize that quality is much better than quantity.

I have an appointment this coming week to see about purchasing my first home, I am a little scared about this, but it will be worth it to go and see what they say. The condo is part of the new Dockside Green, and I would be getting a 1 bedroom, but as much as that excites me, I also want to travel and see the world, so I don't know that I am ready to be locked into something so big just yet, oh well, we will see!

I have also been changing my focus over the last while, trying to stay away from earthly things, and focus on time. Time spent with people and doing things that count. spending time with the lord and my family and friends. I have come to a place were I know that it feels good to have 'things' but it is much nicer to spend time and build memory's that will last. To put a smile on someones face by surprising them with lunch one day or going for a walk in the rain, it all means so much more than buying them a new shirt or a candle and lasts longer than a new pair of shoes. Its not always easy, buts its something I'm working on.

It the past I have been very negative to words myself, and have really been trying to change that, one thing I have started and hope I will one day have a chance to use, is a wedding book, I have been buying up wedding mags like crazy and cutting out all the best stuff and putting it in a scrap book, so one day, everything I need will be at my fingertips :) now if I could just find a husband, it would probably help, I even have my perfect man outlined in my book, now its not one of those shallow tall dark and handsome things, its more like Serves the lord,tall, Italian, funny, sweet, outgoing, can cook with fashion sense and a passion for travel. Now that's not to much to ask, is it? OK I can be flexible on the whole Italian thing, but thats been my dream since I was little, I have always wanted (and still do) to marry an Italian and travel to Italy, in no particular order.

Anyway, this past fall my family had there photos taken by a good friend of myen who also is a photographer, so I have added some of the photos to this post so you can see my beautiful family. My mom, dad, little sister and my dog dayzee! are we a great looking bunch or what!

I have a feeling 2008 is going to be a very good year, I have high hopes, and allot of good plans and I will write about them all as they unfold!

Odd is an understatment !

Well I have now been tagged 2 times for the same thing so I guess I better get going on my list of 6 things about myself that are a little odd and you may not already know...so hear it gose

1) I constantly worry all day long that I may not smell as good as I could, I love to smell wonderful , anything less is just not good enough.
2) I am fobic of phoning people, I get all nervous its crazy! paola knows all about that!
3) I am oddly inlove with my puppy, she is like my own kid...only no dippers and no crying and I can leave her home alone:)
4) I can not swallow sea weed, it really is tragic becouse I can eat anything with sea weed in it or I choke, it really is quite sad!
5) I like to turn on music and sing and dance in my living room, mostly 80's classic's and some times oprah, neather of witch I am very good at but its relaxing. I know alot of people do this but most people know me as quiet and with drawn, and really I am quite spunky when Im in my element [livingroom:)]
6) I do a killer impretion of an east indean, I only do it for my family, cuz I am not proud of it but it is pritty darn funny when I do!

well there you go, maybe you learnd somthing new maybe you dident, but now its your turn.....
Crystal
Megs
Lindsee
Shanie
Jean
Richard
cant wait to hear all the fun little odd things you have to share with us!