I got a new phone!

My husband has been bugging me to get a new wireless phone - this week Rogers started bugging me too, with a special deal in the mail (it looks like they're really trying to upgrade everyone to GSM rather than TDMA. So, now I have a Motorola v551 - I didn't really need a video phone, but I wanted Bluetooth (so I can connect from my PDA), and the phone ended up being free with a 3 year plan.

And just to bug my husband, I put a photo of Robbie McEwen as my wallpaper.

Amusing perspective on the Tour de France

... from one of the cyclists, Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen in a column for the BBC.

World Masters Games right here in Edmonton - and Triathlon World Cup.

I've spent a lot of my weekend at the opening ceremonies and my husband's volleyball games at the 2005 World Masters Games, currently taking place here in Edmonton. It was really a neat experience seeing so many people coming here to participate. I had seriously contemplated entering the sprint triathlon, but in the end was reluctant to have my first open-water swim in Hawrelak Park's lake/pond and at such a large event. In the end, it was so windy yesterday for the triathlon I was glad I was only a spectator for the Masters Games.

I did go down to watch the World Cup triathlons, as last year we were gypped out of a men's triathlon by the freak hailstorm and flooding (last year it took several hours to get home from Hawrelak Park on our bikes, mostly had to walk through knee or even thigh-deep hail while pushing/carrying the bikes). My favourites did pretty good overall:
Emma Snowsill (AUS)- 1st in the women's
Laura Bennett (USA) - 4th
Sam McGlone (CAN) - caught Morrison for 6th on the run

Greg Bennett (AUS) - 4th in the men's
Simon Whitfield (CAN) - 2nd best run for 9th overall

Tour de France

Well, the Tour de France is over for another year, Lance Armstrong has won his 7th and is now retired - unlike many who only seem to know Lance, over the last few years I've become hooked on the strategies and the multiple "races within a race". So, two of my favorites now among cyclists are on the Davitamon-Lotto Cycling Team: Robbie McEwen, a sprinter who won 3 stages this year; and Cadel Evans , who came 8th overall in his 1st Tour de France. (Interesting that they are both Australian - maybe I'm in the wrong country given that another favourite sport of mine, triathlon, seems to be dominated by the Aussies ... and I really don't actually care that the NHL/NHLPA strike was settled).

My Next Goal

I've just signed up to do a 5-day backpacking trip at the end of August on the Chilkoot Trail, in between Skagway, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon. Seeing as I'm always much more motivated to exercise when I have a particular goal in mind (e.g., a triathlon or a running race), this should keep me going for a while.

(US National Park Service Site about the same trail)

As always, Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) has good checklists and articles about preparing for such a trip, plus I found a good Backcountry Trip Planning form at the BC Provincial Emergency Program website.

Date with an Astronaut - for Brunei Darussalam Guides

The Guides of Brunei Darussalam recently had the opportunity
to meet with an American female astronaut.

Girl Guides of Canada Investigation of Rafting Incident in May

The report from the Guiding investigation into a sad rafting incident in May is available on the national GGC website.

HIV testing urged for all pregnant women (by US Task Force)

Hmm, this is something we've done in Alberta for years.

Why I'm a Star Wars fan, part 2 ...

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Jedi sex symbol - MSNBC.com

My Favourite Summer "Reality TV"

Guess I'll be watching this every day for the next 3 weeks, it's addictive (especially to one who watches/does triathlons - I wish I could ride that well).

NAMI StigmaBusters Alert - Tom Cruise again

As sent to me by my dad, the organization NAMI in part tries to fight stigmatization of mental illness, and sends out e-mail alerts to members/supporters about items in the popular media that are inaccurate and/or even hurtful to those with mental illness. This is the most recent alert :

"Along with the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and National Mental Health Association (NMHA), NAMI condemned Cruise's remarks in a formal statement released to the news media. He is entitled to his personal point of view, but not false facts -- particularly when they perpetuate stigma around the nature of mental illness and treatment."

Why I'm a Star Wars fan, part 1...

USATODAY.com - 'Star Wars' heroes slay stereotypes

girls worldwide say

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has a new tagline, "girls worldwide say":

"The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has a new image. With 10 million members around the world, we are the global voice for girls and young women. We are the leading organization helping millions of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to discover their potential. Our new image is strong, modern and inspirational. Together Girl Guides and Girl Scouts can grow the Movement and build a better world."

No Time - an interesting book

Here is an article from the Edmonton Journal (originally from the Ottawa Citizen) about a book that I recently read, No Time: Stress and the Crisis of Modern Life, by Heather Menzies, a professor at Carleton University. This article focusses mostly on the aspect of how technology has affected our lives. I found this book to be very interesting, because it had relevance both to my work, and also to my volunteer experience in Guiding. I hope that in the next week or so I will be able to post a mini-book-review here of my thoughts about this book (but for now, here's the article).

Another interesting book I've read was Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell - again, there were sections that I found very relevant to Guiding and to medicine, so I hope soon to post some of my observations here.

Updating is completed ...

I just finished going through the blog to update (mainly removing/replacing dead links, also renaming it to reflect the new broader focus - not just Guiding anymore). So, from now on I plan to use this blog more creatively (and regularly), I hope.

Recent Event photos

Both my husband and I were busy lately with a few interesting events - I did the Coronation Triathlon on May 29, and he did the Bell City Chase in both Edmonton and Calgary. You can see some photos here.

War of Words - Brooke Shields vs. Tom Cruise

Thanks to Brooke Shields for speaking out in the New York Times against Cruise's recent comments about depression and psychiatry. What might work for Tom doesn't necessarily work for everyone, and I think it's highly irresponsible (and frankly stupid) for him to use his influence to potentially harm people by discouraging them to get help for their mental health problems.

(saved article when above link becomes outdated)