My updated adventures..

so I've not updated this thing in a long time, mostly due to facebook taking over. I realize that my life has become a lot more adventurous lately so I figured it would be time to update those memories on here! I've been keeping a written journal but I want to put some of it on here, maybe add some pictures or two, a video here or there, you get the picture.

Here's what I've done since my Colorado trip:

1. I started a staff newsletter at my work.

2. Went snow shoeing at manning and cypress (saw the sunset over vancouver and look down on the moonlit ocean from up on the mountain.

3. Decided to quit my job and move to vancouver to work at VGH (I start Aug.10th). i get to live with my best friend and 4 other young women!

4. Went to LOts of concerts in Vancouver and did SO much driving back and forth from Chilliwack and Van (I was seeing a guy there plus i've been reconnecting with my twin sister and her husband and visiting my best friend.

5. I just celebrated my 30th birthday and went VEGAS this past weekend with my family and Melissa (my best friend).

Camping at Deer lake with friends







On one of my walks near my house, watching the ducks.

Boulder, Co day 2

Well i was pretty tired out while in Boulder as it took me 1 1/2 hrs of cycling to get into town- I took an old country road and then followed the Boulder river trail which led me to the University of Colorado campus. I then bike further into town to get some lunch at "the Laughing Goat"- as I walked in there were at least 5 ppl on their mac laptops on the left side of the cafe, with another 5 ppl on the right on their pc laptops. I took a lame pic of the mac side and sat in the middle. I saw so many university-type ppl with their books and computers and dressed in their eco-friendly emo-like decor. I felt like I wasn't the weird one anymore- maybe i fit in a little bit...(maybe it was like a transplant of ethical addictions abbotsford brought to colorado).
Next stop was Pearl st open air mall where you can walk down several blocks and there are no cars or buses allowed, just pedestrians. I walked and shopped a bit, picking up a few souvenirs. I got a short video clip of a guy playing on the piano in the center of it all with all the leaves falling around with the colors of autumn immersed everywhere. It was stunning. I met a guy named Jacob, a photographer and got him to take a pic of me with my camera in the square. We started chatting and walking and before I knew it he was snapping photos of me with his camera. I felt like a beautiful model/muse in the midst of a stunning atmosphere.

Next stop was the Dushanbee tea house- it was a sit down restaurant with good tea- I had the mint tea which I wish I had tried something different and new but hey I can't always be so adventurous I needed to taste something familiar.

Oh I forgot to mention the university student I met named Mike- when I told him I was from BC he promptly asked me if I wanted to "smoke up" with him and his roomate. I told him I didn't know what that meant, then when he told me I said I don't smoke marijuana- i don't need it I'm chill enough already- he seemed surprised. He thought everyone in BC smoked weed. I'm pretty sure our weed is better than his anyways....

I then got info and had a "self-guided" tour of Boulder Community hospital, a gorgeous facility I'd love to work in- it's independently-run- maybe the kind of hospital i hope to work at in the future after I moved to Colorado which I totally want to now!!

I took the bus back to Layfayette after I had a nap under a tree at Chautauqua- and area with hiking and grassy hills, lot of trees and some historic buildings. I'd spent most of the day on ingrid's bike so I was pretty tired, i went straight to meet her at the bank where she works and we went out for dinner with her co-workers. Another late night....

Colorado Springs- day 3

I was up at 530 am for this trek. Today I drove Joel's car so I was a little nervous but at the same time feeling free to go to some places I planned to see. After dropping Joel at work i headed south I-25 down to Colorado Springs - took me 1 hr and 45 mins to get to Garden of the gods.

GOTG- beautiful- tons of acres filled with the red-colored rock in huge mountains and small works of natural art- and it's not even man-made! There was lots of birds out, the parking lot had only 2 vehicles parked as it was 845 am when I arrived.

There were lots of pigeons that lives in these rock crevasses, they're the only bird of the recognized species that sticks around for the winter. Most ppl consider this a very common, nothing special kind of bird, however, it makes the most curious sounds that draws you to it. Ppl would stop in their tracks to find out where this sound was coming from, and when they discovered it was "just a pigeon" they were disappointed. One woman said "oh, that's too bad" on finding out it was a pigeon, not some exotic colorado bird....I am thinking this can apply to us as people how feel in God's presence, in His great expanse that we are simply a little pigeon that doesn't belong here (in God's presence), and we live like this rather than as sons and daughters of the Most High. Romans 8:14-17

Next stop was Mannitou springs, the visitor info guy loaded me up with pamphets and he wanted me to stay for a week- I told him I only had one day....Well I went to most of the springs and tasted the mountain mineral waters- they called "healing water" it's full of calcium, magnesium, lithium, ect and many other useful minerals. And drinking the water was free! I'd like to see a study of the people of Mannitou springs that daily consume this water to see if their healthier than most of us. I'd be curious to see if there was a difference. The water tasted like perrier water. I had some locally-made ice cream and then headed back to drive through old Colorado City.

From there I went to Cave of the winds, paid 19 dollars to have a tour of the underground caves, it was 45 mins, very entertaining and interested on the part of our tour guide. There was a couple of screaming toddlers (really who brings their little kids to caves- I'd have night mares for life!) I got my pic taken down there it's really cool.

Last stop was Focus on the Family headquarters- within 5 minutes I'd met Jim Daley, president of FOTF- and I had no clue who he was I was chatting with him cause he was doing a book signing and I had a lengthly conversation with him about chocolate and how I really feel about it...ahhhh I'm glad I had no idea who he was, it was better than way:) I had a tour of the facility and I was the only one on the tour but some ppl joined us later as Dr.James Dobson was in his studio broadcasting live- I took a pic and waved at him- just for you Mom and Dad...oh and the best part was seeing "Whit's end" full of these imagination rooms, one them was the lion, the witch and the wardrobe room complete with the wardrobe with a fur coat, leading into a little room representing Narnia- so magical as I sat and listened to the radio broadcast of the story by CS Lewis. Oh and I stopped by the soda shop too-
When I have kids I am bringing them here we could spend hours of fun here!

Denver- day 1

Parts of of it reminded me of Europe, like cherry creek that leads into the Plett river on my way to REI. I thought it was a fake creek though it was beautiful I could've sworn I smelt a hint of chlorine. My tour of the US mint was mostly lame/non-interesting other than the beautiful architecture and meeting a cool couple from Alberta while I was in line. I don't really care how pennies are made and I'm not a mad coin collector.

I met lots of wonderful, friendly people. Including the owner of "Triage" not a medical supply store as i thought- it sold high end men's suits and ties, ect. The owner, David was really nice and helpful. I bought a copy of the Denver Voice- a newspaper helping the homeless get off the stress by contributing stories and selling the paper themselves. I contributed $5 I had found earlier on the back of a toilet I used at the bus station. I called it my "toilet money" I didn't realize/know if that was the actual bill I gave the guy but it went to a good cause.

I loved the Denver Art Museum from the architecture to the modern sculpures and artwork, the paintings of Colorado were beautiful. Of course there was some shocking pieces, but isn't there always something shockworthy in art museums? sometimes I feel I am too numbed to the the truth of art.

i had a "cob" salad, really just a chef salad at quizno's - yum.

So many bicycles, runners and people who love nature- especially at REI as I sit writing this. i hear Colorado has 300 days of sunshine in a year- what am I doing in the west coast- I need to move here the weather is AMAZING! Maybe, I'll see what's in the future for me.

one more random story is the security guy at the us mint who told me I couldn't bring in my bag with me for the tour but that they couldn't store it for me and I had no options as I had no where to put it- then he winks as me and tells me "you know there are some REALLY good books on the 5th floor or the library, you should check it out......and I'm thinking why is this guy winking at me and talking about books when that doesn't solve my problem here!? Then after he repeated this over and over- I finally got it -- I went there to solve this "mystery" and found free lockers right there by the study carolls! he couldn't say anything b/c he was on camera and apparently not supposed to tell ppl about this "secret spot"... well I should be detective now- I picked up on his code.....

nect entry to comoe: Boulder (where I sit in a coffee shop here writing this...

My Latest adventures

it's been some time since I've posted on here. Here's what's new: I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing- yeah! I have been working full-time in palliative and acute medicine. That basically means I take care of people who are dying, along with people who are acutely ill, most of whom get better, some get worse. I love it, but it gets political sometimes and the work is physically and emotionally draining but it's rewarding because I didn't work my butt off in nursing school to do something I never liked anyways. I am learning to love and appreciate it with every set I work. I admire the folks I work with they do an amazing job and put up with a lot of crap and still show up.

I also have been enjoying seeing my bible study group grow every week- we have up to 7 of us right now. We are young women in our 20's who lead busy lives and we make an effort to get together once a week to study God's word, to encourage each other and lift each other up. We are getting to know each other so well we can challenge each other. I look forward to it- love you ladies! at my birthday party at the Vaut

celebrating our birthday together- jennica and I

My little sister is getting married sept 20th- so I get to be a bridesmaid along with Jennica:) My mom is making these fabulous chocolate brown satin dresses and we'll be outdoors in the Okanagan for it!

I moved into my own apartment and it's been fun- i do lots of cooking and entertaining. I am learning lots and I hope to get to know my neighbors soon as it's a brand new building and lots of young people moving in. I am thinking about hosting a little party. Here's some pics:

at my housewarming party
doing winery tours part of my 10 yr high school reunion


I have been getting more energy lately so I am wanting to do rock climbing again, and want to join a drop-in sport group like volleyball. I would like to try to start a women's drop-in floor hockey night at my church.
in victoria this summer

well that's all I have for now, hope everyone's having a great summer!

almost there....

at the top of windy joe

so my final day for nursing school is may 2nd 2008- that's soon! All I have to do is finish my last paper and continue to work 12 hour shifts full time for free (plus paying to work there- cause, hey, it's school). I got hired at the hospital I'm preceptoring at- so excited! Sounds like I will be working full-time (hopefully into a perm.. position right away). I will be looking to rent a place of my own- I've been living with friends of mine and their 2 little boys in a house with a nice yard and garden, the thought of moving to an apartment makes me a little sad cause I love living in a house, doing yard work, ect. Well, I will be helping out in the backyard at the house even after i move out cause i love it so much.

I have been trying to have somewhat of a life in between working full-time and writing papers and assignments. In the last 3 months I have been sick 3 times! I am currently getting over the flu (influenza- a bad combo for an asthmatic like me) despite having the flu shot :( Last month I had the stomach flu and then a cold.....and in jan I had a cold. I bought some vitamins to take but I hate taking pills- I really feel for patients a the hospital who have a hard time choking down those pills- especially those horse pill sized antibioitics and multvitamins- seriously can they BE any bigger.

I also joined the chilliwack hiking club and did a 5 1/2 hr snow shoe trek up windy joe in manning park. It was a beautiful day- sun shining, then showing, then sun, at the top it was foggy and snowing so not much of a view but an awesome accomplishment to have made it to the top- it was my first "hike" of the season. I'd like to do more tennis this spring and summer- last summer I couldn't do much with my foot surgery.

So- anyone have any ideas about how I celebrate finishing 4 yrs of nursing school?? My class is going out for dinner and dancing on may 2nd should be fun- I hope to bring my twin sis- Jennica, it's fun to play tricks on my class mates and have her pretend to be me- it gets most of them everytime!

I write my RN exam on june 4th in surrey, so do pray for me on that day- I will be prepared and do lots of studying but I don't feel too anxious at this point besides the fact it's an 8 hr exam (lunch break after 4 hrs) and it's all multiple choice.....good and bad but hey I'll take it. It the last hoop I'll have to jump through for now.

it's been awhile, I don't know if anyone even notice though...

I just wrote my last final for nursing this morning! who hooo! That's the last one I will write for the nursing program (except for the 8 hour RN exam in June that's province-wide). So, I am one exam away from being done this semester (I have a philosophy final tomorrow). I will be heading off on Friday to Regina to meet my family (by plane) where my younger sister will be graduating from RCMP Depot training. For some reason I am really excited to be in Regina, last I heard it was -11 Celcuis, no doubt they have snow~ I am also planning to donate blood my first morning there- it's blocks away from my hotel! I can't convince my twin sister to donate, apparently she gets queasy (sounds like some of my other friends....). There are in desperate need for blood donations especially during the christmas season. www.bloodservices.ca

oh and i will be preceptoring in palliative care (taking care of the dying) it's my final practicum where I have a preceptor/mento nurse I work with full time- 12 hour shifts for 16 weeks. All for free - as in I'm not getting paid.... I work my last few undergrad (paid) shifts this christmas break.

A funny note about this semester- so I taught about 70 grade 10 students (35 at a time) about sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDs and how to protect themselves, mostly scared them with my graphic pictures and shocking statistics and facts. I was teaching in a small auditorium! So- picture me teaching with these giant disgusting pictures on the projection screen! I had a box of 144 condoms and I handed out at least half of the box, now i had been storing them in my room, and put a bunch in these cute paper things that folded with the condom inside- it included some facts and pics of how to put on a condom. Well, over the last couple of weeks I keep finding condoms in weird places in my room! Under my bed, behind my dressser. I had my guy friend over and I think seeing all these condoms make him a little uncomfortable! So many condoms for someone who is definately NOT having sex ( I choose to be a virgin for now, I am waiting for the right one to marry...)

Other than that I plan to go snow shoeing at Manning park after christmas (before I start my preceptorship), and I hope to do something fun for New Years, so if anyone has a fabulous party to invite me to call me! or better yet- blog me!

I hope everyone has a wonderful christmas season spent with people you love. Be safe, be merry, and blessed!

Keegan

check this out!!

chillin after a day at school on the mountaintop

chillin after a day at school on the mountaintop, originally uploaded by KeeganS.

exciting things happening...

So my friend Melissa and her former roomate (Jesca) had a fundraiser dinner and dance on saturday night. It was so amazing to see people come together to raise money and support for 12 orphans in Uganda, Africa to feed and cloth them and send them to school. Melissa's roomate (Jesca) is from an area in Uganda called "Mukono" and her sister lives there- and her sister is a nurse who has taken these kids and fed and clothed them herself with the little that she has. Jesca went to visit her and saw this and told Melissa about it: in response to this Melissa said "how can we not do anything about this?" and from there the idea came alivefor the people of Chilliwack, Abbotsford----basically the Fraser Valley and the West coast (and even beyond) to respond by sharing our money and resources to see these kids, and future kids taken care of. The idea is to get the people in the village to be the ones to help build the orphanage (once we get 10,000 dollars- over 10 % of that was raised on saturday night alone!!). The plan is to set the local people up with a garden so they can grown their own food, and have chickens (and a chicken coop) so they can sell eggs to support themselves. The plan is to ensure these orphans, many of whose parents have died of AIDS ( a huge epidemic in Africa right now), the material things they need and a roof over their head, and education so they can be raised up to be successful and make their own impact in their community!

The neat thing about the dinnner and dance was how everyone rallied to support this cause; Melissa's dad's band played (they were awesome!), Jesca's family provided food for everyone (Ugandian food- yummy..) and both of their friends donated their services for the silent auction. Photographers taking pictures and offering portraits, drum lessons donated, handmade jewellry from Uganda, ect.

Another neat thing was when I left I ran into a couple of girls in the parking lot asking about what band was playing and what venue it was. I explained it to them and they got so excited because their church is doing something similar for an orphanage in Africa! So I invited them in and introduced them to Jesca and they got business cards. There is a website but I don't know what it's called yet. So for now there is an e-mail: mukonohome@hotmail.com and look on facebook for future events. If we had 9 more events like that we could have enough for the people of the village to build the orphanage!!!!

After the dinner- I had this sense that somehow I was making a difference in someone else's life, and I truly believe that we as people put in the work and effort and God will mutiply it and bless it! God loves children!

my summer....

Randy and I went for lunch at a winery in Naramata





so this summer has been a real change for me. I worked full time at the hospital for a couple of months, then had surgery on my foot, spending most of july recovering, then late july and early august I went to Creation fest (!!) and was a camp counsellor for a week on thetis island. I also caught up with some old friends, boyfriends, ect on the island and in the okanagan (where I grew up). I have spend most of august gardening and landscaping, which is hard work, but it keeps me active as I am not working till sept (can't work till 9 weeks post-op) so basically I've make no money for the last 2 months which is why I have all this free time and and I am not taking any extra trips :( too bad it's either time of money that seems to get in the way. So now I am going to catch up on some summer reading seeing as it's raining now, and do some pre-reading before school starts (if I can get my butt over to the school bookstore)...so the pace and flow has been nice, I've been able to help people out with babysitting and odd jobs, ect. I would like to go camping before school starts but I want to go with friends and they all seem too busy these days (unlike me) but starting sept that will change! yeah I am so excited to be graduated in june '08!
visiting Aaron on the island

so it's my birthday

sorry I haven't written on here for ages....blame it on facebook....

so I have been busy working ad an undergrad nurse- working 12 hour shifts (2 days, 2 nights, then 4 days off) since the beginning of May. I finish next week as I will be having foot surgery and off for 9 weeks:( so money making will be put off (maybe a little respite care to tide me over) and then it's time for Creation Fest at the end of July and before that visiting with my parents in Penticton. I hope to do a trip to victoria in august and even visit Thetis island again (maybe even volunteer at Pioneer pacific camp for a week if I can do office work).

So as the headline suggests I just turned 28 on June the 17th!! I don't celebrate until tonight though (monday ) I am going kayaking at Harrison lake with friends then coming back to the house for a desert party- I'm expecting around 16 people over. So I will be baking this morning (after I get my butt into bed it's 1 am...) and I am sooooo excited. I got off work at midnight (special request I made to my boss) and I went down to Emergency to see my friend Devin and her and some staff sang the birthday song to me!! I actually blushed (even though I pretty much asked them to sing it for me).

well I better hit the hay, but hey everyone hope all is well!

Goosespit Bay- Courntey, BC

Goosespit Bay, originally uploaded by KeeganS.

So I went to Courtney and Comox last weekend and i have the pictures to prove it! I was visiting my friend Pamela who has been working as an occupational therapist in town. It was a fun trip- perfect weather and company! Click here for more photos:

So I took a 6 day course called the Canadian Health Care system- it was dry, dull material but the instructor really tried to make it fun. Here are some pics of a skit some of us did- each of us represents different aspects of the health care system....

This was suzi- playing the part of "Needa system change". Can you tell she's quite the actress??!



This is Cindey (in the black hat), playing the part of Mrs HC (health care) she makes a great old lady!


I was Herb-E- Remedy (basically a pot-smoking hippy- I even rolled my own fake doobie out of a tea bag!)




Rosie in the lab coat waas "Coroner Millstone...

fun at the park

z and I at the park yesterday

yeah- school is over!!!...for the summer.

To celebrate I invited some friends over for some mexican lassagne! I decided to make it meatless (ground soy) instead of ground beef. We had some good food, wine, dancing and good entertainment by damien who did some magic tricks. Jacob was quite impressed with the magic. Living with a magician has it's benefits. Michele (damien's wife) is now officially on maternity leave so we celebrated this new transiton of getting ready for baby #2 in the next couple weeks. So- I toasted to that as well. Drew and Lisa came and did some swing dancing for us in the living room, and Devon did some "interpretive" dancing for us and brought some sweet tunes with him, and he helped me set up my speakers and subwoofer upstairs. Charlene spend the whole day with kids at the preschool, then came over before dinner and played with Zave and we picked tulips to decorate. Zave had the BEST time dancing with everyone, doing soumersaults and entertaining us all- I think he most enjoyed the desert! This house hasn't seen such action in a loooong time! It was a great end to a stressful semester and school, and the night ended with me feeling quite blessed to live with day and michele and zave, and I feel grateful for the amazing friends I've made in chilliwack.


on the couch l to ro: Devon, Damien and Michele. Sitting l to r: Jacob, me and Charlene.

horray! school is done!

I just wrote my last final this morning. I pretty much tried to study for it all day sunday- but really didn't accomplish much because I didn't feel I knew the material that well. So, I find out in the next day whether I passed...

so what is the first thing i did when I got home? I cleaned my bathroom and bedroom (hasn't been done in soooo long) and now I'm off to run some errands, hoping this dinner party I planned happens tonight cause my prego roomates is kinda sick....

ps facebook is like crack it's so addicting (not that I've tried crack before)....Bye!

So, life had been busy lately. I am just finishing up school with a 6 day course on the Cnd Health Care system. Dry, boring stuff but the instructor is interesting. Funny how the 2 male instructors I've had in the nursing program have been homosexual...not that I stereotype male RN's to have that sexual orientation, it's just a coincidence. I have met many male RN's that defy the typical stereotype of what a male nurse is like. Okay enough on that topic.

I have been pondering about life lately since my friend Kim passed away suddenly on April 2nd in an avalanche. When I found out I thought I was going to be sick. Now that I've had time to process it I have been thinking about what a wonderful, full live she lived, even though it was cut short. I have never lost someone close to me- though I didn't see Kim that often I thought of her many times when she was alive and even more since she's been gone. What I've taken away from the situation was that you have to pursue your dreams and not waste any time. Tell your family and friends you love them and show them love. Live life knowing what legacy you want to leave behind. Know that relationships are so important, especially one with God. There is more to it than this but I can't seem to even find the words......

I am going to be working as an undergrad nurse in palliative care (end of life care) and acute care. I am excited to be able to work on the skills I've learned so far in the program. I will be working full time- 12 hour shifts- 4 on 4 off....just like a real nurse!! whoo hooo- and getting paid!

so I will leave you with some pics taken from my Easter weekend with my family- in Milton, Wa and some were taken in Gig Harbour, Wa.

I love you all!

Riding the coin operated horse!!
In Gig Harbour wiht Jennica. Yup- it was slighly raining that day and i was wearing a sarong....


My cousin Callie on the left (short hair) and cousin Jake sitting next to me..along with my sisters and brother-in-law.

Sampling some beer from a microbrewery in Tacoma, Wa. Yup- I still don't like beer...