Vincent

Just received an email from my friend Brenda who is currently visiting Paris. She was telling me about all the art she is seeing and how fantastic everything is.

She also mentioned a Van Gogh self-portrait that made her emotional. Funny, that is exactly how I felt the first time I saw one at the WAG in 1999. I have always loved Van Gogh, but was never interested in the self-portraits. Then I stood in front of one. I was stunned. As someone who paints, I was blown away by the colour and lightness he created. The painting seemed to glow. That's the problem with prints, they just look so dull next to the real thing.

Here is the painting I saw, this is hardly how I remember it. It did not look this dark.

Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat

The final countdown

I cannot believe it's only a week until I leave for Europe!

I'm so excited to leave North America and take my first steps on a continent I have only dreamt about. To see places I've only read about or seen on TV. Go to the cities of Shakespeare, Rodin, Da Vinci, Michelangelo. Sweet.

My travel agent has put together a fabulous adventure. I have many planned outings, but I also have a lot of time to figure out what I want to do in each place too. How will I fit it all in? I won't. That's ok, it will just make me want to go back again and again.

Each day I think of another thing I will see. Today, I kept thinking about my visit to Monet's garden. Yeah, that's right, I'm going to see Monet's freaking lily ponds! Are you kidding me??? Ah, so awesome.

I'm not even nervous about doing this by myself. Kind of surprising, since every time I see my mom she tells me about all the bad stuff I have to be aware of. "Watch out for the gypsies Kirsten! They will throw their babies at you! Don't catch the baby, just hightail it out of there!" Okay mom, I will not catch the baby.

Hmmm, I'm sure the nerves will come upon me once I hit the airport, but until then, I will continue to live in excitement.

Hey look kids, it's Big Ben, Parliament building

Sunset in Assiniboine Park

Walking over the foot bridge on a Sunday evening.

iMight be a Mac

This is my first blog post using the iPad. I got it today and I'm trying to get comfortable with it. So far, it's a blast! And super easy to use.

The iPad might just be the ultimate travel companion. I can read books, listen to music, download photos, watch movies and hopefully access the internet wherever I am in Europe. Now if only it could teach me to speak French fluently before I embarrass myself in Paris.

My coworker, CJ, told me to not even attempt to speak French because my pronunciation is so horrific. Some offended local will most likely beat me with a baguette after hearing me butcher their language. Oh well, how badly does bread bruise anyways?

Enjoy your weekend, hopefully it's a lovely one.

I was on a boat

Yesterday, my cousins (the Birtwhistle boys) picked Chuck and me up in their speed boat and motored us off to a little private beach they discovered. We had a few beverages and cooled off in the water for a couple of hours.

Then it was off to my sisters for a BBQ, quad ride and bonfire (with jello shooters!) Now that is what you call a great summer day. Oh, and we were in the Gimli area for the entire weekend and didn't have to deal with the Islendingadagurinn crowds. Bonus.

Now maybe our boat ride wasn't exactly like the video below... For one thing, T-Pain didn't join us (boo) and for another, there was no helicopter. But boy, it sure felt this fun. Warning, the video has explicit language.

Ciao

Beach life

It's a beautiful Saturday at the end of July and I am sitting on the deck at my mom's place. I'm enjoying just sitting here and looking out at the water. There are pelicans and seagulls floating and sitting on rocks to the left of me. And people swimming and lounging to the right. What a relaxing scene.

Evening on Lake Winnipeg

Hello? Is anybody out there?

I’m definitely not following that “keep your web content fresh” rule to keep visitors coming back. I see the last time I posted something was in May. Oh wait, it was actually April! Now that’s just sad.

Well for anyone that might still visit this blog, here’s a little recap of what’s happened in my life over the last few months:

• Finalized my trip to Europe (yay)
• Did a stint as a juror (intense)
• Finished my bathroom (finally)
• Started playing tennis (poorly)
• Took a trip to Minneapolis with friends (went to my first Twins game too)
• Started talking basement reno (another yay)

And last, but definitely not least, started dating a really great guy. Aaaand, that’s all I’m gonna say about that. I don’t think this is the best place to discuss my love life. I kind of compare it to the people who get their partners name tattooed on them. Nothing good comes from that!

So today I think I will just talk about my European adventure because I’m so freakin excited about it! I’m spending the month of September in England, France and Italy. 28 days in total. My manager Joe hooked me up with a wonderful travel agent, Darlene, and she has planned the trip of a lifetime.

Darlene has me travelling to London and Paris for 7 days each, Venice and Florence for 4 days each, and ending my trip in Rome for 6 days. She picked out hotels that showcase each city’s culture and are in great locations:

• London: The Cadogan
• Paris: Hotel Pont Royale
• Venice: Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal
• Florence: Hotel Monna Lisa
• Rome: Rose Garden Palace

Don’t these places look wonderful?! I’ve been spending the last month devouring travel books and becoming best friends with Google Maps. (How did we ever survive without the Internet?) Google Maps has made some of my trip trepidation disappear since it gives me access to the areas I’m staying in. It’s been good to familiarize myself to these cities before I disembark.

Château de Chenonceau

One of the places I'm visiting in France.

I cannot believe it’s now only a month away. I’ve been waiting to do this for years and it’s finally going to happen. Holy smokes!

That’s it for today. If anyone is still reading this blog and has a “must see” or a “good eat” in one of these places, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.