Rock Climbing and Gay Pride

It's been a pretty slow week. Aside from the obligate work hours, I've been too exhausted to do too much during my days off. I'm hoping it's just the heat and that this is a passing trend.

On one of the days that I have been able to get out with friends, I took the chance to visit Ground Zero, Halifax's (I think) only indoor rock gym. If you haven't went and you enjoy using your body, I would totally recommend it. Especially those of you who are big yoga enthusiasts! It's definitely one of the only things that the flexibility of yoga is well suited for --second only to what I assume is pretty limber sex. Namaste.

Also, with all the chalk, it leaves you with a feeling that you've done a full day of manual labor.

This guy is definitely a hard worker.

In addition to that, I was able to check out the Gay Pride Parade this year. It's my first time to actually see a GPP as I often work during the weekends. Oddly enough, I consistently work on the date of the World Naked Bike Ride. You'd think I'd be all down for that, eh? In any case, the Parade was a lot of fun. I thought it would be a little over the top --think ass-less chaps, speedos or even those new European lop-sided guy speedos-- but 99% of it was totally plain granola. 

I was particularly stoked to see a Storm Trooper and a rather flamboyant Vader in the parade. Quick side note: proper Star Wars fans will get the pun in that last sentence.

Back in the saddle

It's been a remarkably long time since I've last hit this blog. I've probably forgotten and remembered and subsequently forgotten it again several times in the past... two years? Holy shit... it really has been that long since the last post, eh?

I'm not sure anyone really cares though. A whopping three official followers, and I'm sure two of them don't exist anymore. Knowing the third in real life, I recently learned I had slighted her by ignoring her for about a year or so. Overall, I don't think many people are miffed or clamouring to their internets at the end of the day to see if this blog has updated lately. 

You

In any case, not too much has happened on this end for the past couple years. Work has continued to dominate my life, imbued with the typical healthcare lifestyle stresses --poor sleep patterns, not much time for proper exercise, no time to go on dates or meet anyone in any inkling of a romantic fashion, etc. I've been taxed by the absolutely abysmal management behaviours of the 'leaders' of our healthcare system --write-ups, suspensions, absolutely zero official recognition for the multiple patients and family that seek me out upon their discharge to share how much my effort meant to them. This is sadly an experience many nurses worldwide face on a pretty consistent basis, leading me to give you the following instructions if you're ever encouraged, inspired, or generally impressed by the effort of anyone in the healthcare system:

It's not enough to tell them that they are doing a great job. Tell unit managers, service directors, VPs or CEOs!

Seriously. The person you are most impressed with is probably being reamed by management because they fight for improvements in their workplace, identify safety issues on their unit, or try to initiate change in the healthcare system as a whole. There's an unfortunate saying shared in the realm of nursing: the nail that sticks out in gets hammered down.

But I digress...

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In this same timeframe, I gained about 40-50 lbs. over two years. It wasn't a good scene. I lost touch with the saddle (cycling) in anything other than a commuting capacity. I didn't realize how much divorcing myself away from the bike reduced my horizons. After turning 30 this year and receiving a great blog about hitting your 30s from my good friend Jabes, I realized I needed a bit of a re-adjustment. I would totally suggest the blog to anyone entering their dirty-30s!

In March I started running again with some help from the always stellar Zombies, Run! app. In April I had enough saved up to buy a brand new Giant Defy 2 in order to get back on the saddle and re-discover what I'd been missing from riding over the past two years. 

Ain't she a Beaut!!

It's been wonderful: feeling the power slowly returning to the legs, the wind whipping against my face when blasting down a curving stretch of road on my way out to Sambro, or feeling the accomplishment of climbing one of the tougher hills during the Cow Bay Loop. The crush of traffic at your heels. Even points of exhaustion have been enjoyable. Feeling the strain in my quads, the sweat sticking to my back, sun pounding and stinging any exposed skin. Thinking I'm totally spent, but reaching down and finding some modicum of energy to climb off the saddle to power out the last section of rolling hills after a 50 km ride. 

Halifax itself has improved slightly in the world of cycling. We have at least one bike lane that makes a degree of sense which runs down Windsor St. (you're welcome). Drivers are getting more experienced in sharing the roads with cyclists and the NS Motor Vehicle Act now requires a metre of space between cars and bikes. Of course the rule is broken constantly, but at least there is more of just a shrug from police and a "get over it" mentality when accidents happen. Personally however, I don't really mind being close-cut by traffic. I think that comfort comes to almost everyone on a bike in time. Also, I've never been in an accident. That may also have something to do with it. 

In any case, I'll leave you with some photos as this entry is getting a little long. Hope to see more of yous out there!