Nessie and such

Yes, this week has been a bit of an adventure with the Ma and Gma. We've done and seen quite a lot in only a short bit of time!

We've rented a car and seen quite a bit of northern Scotland and the Highlands. (The Mom drove; stick shift, left-aka "wrong"-side of the road, crazy curvy and narrow roads. Good job Mom.)

Seen some good views along the way.

We've certainly seen (and most defiantly heard) our fair share of bagpipers and their bagpipes.

 

 

 

We've seen the Loch Ness. 

AND we even saw Nessie!! (Just kidding. It's a hoax. Fooled you though didn't I? I thought so.)

Seen a few castles as well.

(We even experienced some classic British weather. Kinda ruined the view though....)

And we just had some overall good times.

Elderly are People too

This week I've been on a little holiday... with my Mother and Grandmother. (Enough said?) No, it's been great (truly!), just a bit different type of holiday! (I get a week holiday this summer and I decided to coincide it with my Mom and Grandma's trip up to Scotland and travel a bit around Scotland with them. It's been an adventure to say the least!)

Here is just a quick taste of what the trip has been like (more to come):

Neon Rainbow Dolphins

I freeking LOVE dolphins.

 

Now, I've been hesitant in the past to admit that I'm a fan of these ocean dwelling beauties because thanks to silly, blond, idiotic  girls who decided to get dolphins jumping over rainbows tattoos and declare that they are "just like so cute" dolphins unfortunately got a bit of a bad rep as being a tad lame. (At least in my mind. I think that my opinion on this subject may have been slightly influenced on my childhood collection of neon-rainbow Lisa Frank paraphernalia as well. Yes that's right- I just referenced Lisa Frank.If you never experienced/collected Lisa Frank as a little girl I'm sorry for your loss on missing out on a major life stage.) But anyways, I need to say that I'm getting over this stereotype  (Don't you DARE say that I fit the stereotype. Because I would be like so mad at you and you could like totally talk to the hand.) and am ready to declare that I love dolphins.

Lisa Frank dolphins...Oh Lisa Frank.

I think I've always had a bit of a soft spot for these marine marvels, but my love for them really began after I had the privilege of swimming with the dusky dolphins while I was in New Zealand. (Kaikoura to be exact) Gosh one of the greatest moments ever- I mean they looked into my eyes and it was like they were looking into my soul!! (I could go on about this for awhile- but I'll spare you. You're welcome.)

A fun fact I enjoy telling anybody and everyone who gets me started on the subject is that dolphins can sense vulnerability. That is, when a person with disabilities or a pregnant woman is in the water, dolphins begin to swim closer seemingly to protect the individual. HOW COOL IS THAT?! (I have a few other facts about dolphins to share- but again, I'll spare you. Especially cause one of the facts is not so fun as disturbing and the other one is just a little grim.)

So needless to say when we had  a few dolphins swimming in the Camas bay I was pretty happy. And then when I got to take a kayak out to sea to see them I was pretty excited. And then when they came within a few feet of my boat I just couldn't keep the grin off my face.

It was a good day. A freeking good day.

Melodies

It's been a pretty hectic last couple weeks here at the Camas Activity Centre.  The other week we had a group of students and teachers from a special needs college (the majority of the students have some form or level of Autism- the ratio of students to teachers was 1 to 1… so that may give you a slight indicator as to the level of challenge some of the students brought-needless to say it was an exciting week at Camas!) and this past we had a family week (we had about 25 parents and their children came out… and in a way that was completely different than the week before it, it was another interesting week at Camas)

As you can probably imagine, both groups brought different joys and challenges to us staff. But despite a few hectic and slightly stressful moments, it has been good. Really good.

A lot of those good moments for me had to do with music. Whether it was spending an evening listening  to people play favourite songs off their ipods;  or dancing and singing to ABBA while washing a massive pile of dishes; or listening to a young woman who speaks with a stutter, smoothly and sweetly sing "Let it Be"; or listen to any sort of musically talented person who is around me for that matter. 

Music is a pretty amazing thing. The power of it tends to blow my mind frequently.