Today I am a first time blood donor! They gave me a sticker that says so.

They also gave me a little key chain charm. Whoot.

I have to admit, I was a little nervous going in. I hadn't fully prepared - I only just found out I was doing it last night. See today is the year mark of the slaughter of 86 Muslims in Pahkistan. So we have a Muslims and Mormons blood drive. Apparently there was a party May 14 to get ready for it but that was the weekend Trent and I skipped town on a whim.

Talking to the Muslims today, apparently this specific denomination of Muslims are to Muslims as Mormons are to Christianity - the others don't think they're Muslim. So they were very persecuted in Pahkistan.

It was kinda cool, we all met at the Mosque and then car-pooled to the Blood Bank. As we drove up, there was a big sign that said thank you Muslims and Mormons for your donations! Kind of cool right?

Going into it, I didn't know what to expect - I've only heard stories. But my iron was totally fine (has to be at least 125 and I was at 148). It was kind of funny though, because the lady that was testing my blood was explaining that it had to be at least 125... with that "we'll see..." tone, and then when my 148 came up she was like, oh you're totally good to go! She was impressed, I could tell - why all the doubt blood clinic lady?

Here's where I admit that I'm actually still a failure though...

Once I'm in the chair and all hooked up and good to go - my blood won't flow. Like it's trickling. 3 nurses are trying to prop the lines, rig them just right to get more flow, they're checking my veins, getting me to keeping pumping a stress ball - nada. It took 15 min - the average time to get the full amount - to get probably half. I was sad. I told them I was more than willing to just keep sitting their, but they decided to pull the plug, er, needle. Sad day. I offered to run laps and try again but they just laughed at me - I was serious. But apparently what I did donate can still be separated and used for plasma and platelets so at least not all is lost.

I still feel like a champ though. I'll totally donate blood again - it really wasn't bad at all. And now I've got baby steps, half this time, ready for full next time.

Talons Rugby

That's right - Talons. Tough.
None of this Schooners or Yotes business. (love you)

These are my girls... minus a couple. But really only minus a couple.

Taken after our amazing game yesterday night. Boo ya.

This is more like all my girls. It's like where's waldo - so many little funny things if you look close.

Loves them.

Playoff Season

I know you're all dying to know how my rugby team has been doing...
Well we just played game one of city playoffs - AND KILLED IT! I honestly don't even know what the final score was... something like 40-10. And the second try the other team scored shouldn't have counted because the girl was CLEARLY playing the ball on the ground and failing to release. Oh well.

It was seriously SUCH a GREAT game though! These girls are 15 of the most athletic, smart, and coachable girls I have ever had the joy of working with. These girls have talent - and know it - and STILL listen and learn and get better. There's not a single attitude problem on the entire team. I yell, I watch them hear, respond, and internalize for next time. They're brilliant.

I really couldn't go on and on enough about how fantastic these girls are. But tonight they played their first playoff game and left it all on the field. They hit, they rucked, they ran, they supported, they passed, they won. Crazy good. So stoked.

I'm going to be really sad after this weekend is over and rugby is no more. Whatever will I do without teenage girls to yell at?

the day I rode a horse

It was a big day! Somehow I've made it 23 years of southern alberta raising, with zero horse riding. I've sat on one. I've ridden behind someone briefly. But I have never ridden a horse before. Shameful. Embarassing. Just plain pathetic.

I've had plenty of people in shock and horror upon finding out about my horseback virginity, offer to take me riding sometime. But sometime rarely results in any time. Thus my inexperience has perpetuated.

Until last weekend! Trent came home from his final exam Friday and said, pack a bag, let's go to southern AB now! So we jumped in the car. Upon arrival in Raymond we found out that his family was planning on going out to Trent's sister's fiance's place the next day to ride horses and quad and have a good ol' time. I was pumped. This is it! My chance!

So the next day, Colt pulled out this beauty for me:

Old pony. Good pony. Little pony. Perfect for me! Funny Colt.

Then the real fun began...

Ahahahahahaha

Okay, but seriously... I really did ride my first horse! Actually.

Trent was a nice husband and came with me for my very first ride.

Then he was a not nice husband and said you haven't ridden a horse until you've galloped and proceeded to encourage my horse to go faster and faster. Okay it was sweet, if not slightly unnerving and uncomfortable.

Colt says this horse is bomb proof. He trains horses for a living so I trust him. I would like to return and learn more on this bomb proof horse. I trust it much more than the skittish one that bucked Nikki Byam off in highschool, thus crushing my only other real opportunity to ride a horse.

I feel so accomplished now. There's something about horseback riding that says, "Accomplished." I want cowboy boots.

Good Karma

I love going to church.
I love paying tithing.
I love getting blessings for loving those things.

When Trent and I got moved in, we stacked two air mattresses on the floor to watch TV and ate our first meal on top of upside down cardboard boxes in front of us. Things were as they should be for a newly wed couple. It was perfect.

Then one of Trent's buddies came over and said, "Dude, you need furniture." He mentioned that his parents had furniture in storage just waiting for his sister to use when she moves out in a couple years. Badda boom, badda bing - we've got furniture. Nice furniture. We are so blessed.

Last week Trent got a facebook message from the daughter, "Hey... so I'm moving into my own place at the end of May..." Trent, "Are you actually asking for your own furniture back? Of course you can have it!" Goodbye beautiful furniture. It was good while it lasted.

No sooner, had I mentioned in passing conversation with a girl at work the whole furniture situation and my new kijiji couch hunt, did that girl come back to work the next day and say, "Hey, I was thinking about how you're looking for couches, and I have an extra couch and loveseat in my sun room that we don't need... if you want to use them?" Badda boom, badda bing - we spent one night sitting on the floor between take-out and pick-up.

I love blessings.