CASTLE MOUNTAIN

This weekend was a lot of fun. My mom came down to see me. I finally was able to take her to one of the best Sushi places in Lethbridge, than we went to go see a friends musical concert (Which was amazing). She stayed the night, and then we met a friend, and her mom at Castle Mountain. Nadine and I participated in a ski camp, our moms joined us for the most part, but skied separately when we went on steeper terrain.

It was really great to catch up with a friend and do something that we can both do very well and have fun. The last time we skied together was at COP, and that is a hill, with very little to ski on.

Both days were beautiful, the sun shined all day, no wind, and the snow was PERFECT almost all day. I have skied at Castle for a few years now, but this was the first time I went to the top, of the mountain. It was breathtaking how beautiful it was. We didn't turn when were suppose to, so we almost made it down to the chutes, but we stopped and hiked back up.

We stayed in a hotel about a half hour from CASTLE. We had to grab some things at Walmart for the next day, but both of us were pretty tired and walking much slower. So we sat in the scooters and scooted around the whole store. It truly made shopping much faster.

The skiers and volunteers that came out made the camp more fantastic. Each camp, more and more students and volunteers come out.

Vancouver!

I few weeks ago I participated in the Rick Hansen Relay.  The experience was amazing. The positive energy and the excitement that surrounded the event was very high. In May, the medal will have traveled through 10 provinces, and three territories, and gone from one ocean to another. There is a final celebration in Vancouver with artists such as:

• Sarah McLachlan
• David Foster
• The Canadian Tenors
• Jann Arden
• Johnny Reid
• Marianas Trench
• Don Alder
• Shane Koyzcan.

I was telling my family about the final celebration, My mom called me today and told me that she bought tickets for Vancouver> we'll be there for a few days and are both very excited.

Disabled Etiquette

Etiquette is defined as the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of aparticular profession or group.


Children are very honest... "Do you have real legs...?" "Why do you use that thing for...?" I was skiing this past weekend and I child came up and asked me. So I answered and tried to explain it at her level so she might understand.


I would rather both children and adults question and approach me than staring awkwardly and walking away.


In addition, I would like to clarify that not all people with physical disabilities have mental disabilities, and not all people with mental disabilities have physical ones. Some times the co-occur, but please do not assume it.


I am in my third year of university, living away from home, driving  a car.... I can do things that I want to do, mostly. Therefore, I have gone to school, gotten decent grades and have the mental capacity to read, write, speak, and drive a car. (Ski, play sledge hockey... the list could go on.)


It amazes me how people today act around people with disabilities. I walk with a friend to our next class, and everyone will smile and nod at me and not her. I will smile back,  (I would rather people smile than other things) but are they smiling because they are uncomfortable, or because their not sure how to act.


One day a few of us were walking out one of the buildings, and there were  2 sliding doors that were sensored, they opened, and a lady that was walking in stops behind the door and stares at me (i'm thinking there is room for 3-4 people to walk through the door at the same time), watches me go through and then goes through.


More recently, one of our classes has two times to write a midterm. A group of us were waiting outside the room for the first group to end. There were many people that were closer to the door than the group and I that I was with. The prof  walks right past all of the students (that were waiting before me), and says 'why don't you get in there and start right now so you have enough time...' Ok. He could be nice, but he walked past 15 other people that could of gone in. Thank you, but they were here first. And I also finished in 30 minutes. 


Disabled parking. If you are not disabled, do not have a placard, do not part in the areas designated with a wheelchair, those spots are not for you. I do not care if you have to run in quickly to grab something, or wait for somebody who will be right out! If you have perfectly walking legs, that is great for you, so use them to get along, I assure you that you are faster than me at walking and can run if you need to. I can't, so if i'm late, well i'm late, and I can't go much faster. So, if you have good legs, use them. Thanks.


I also just want to thanks nat and britt for a good times and great laughs after class!

Day Light Savings...

This week was very busy, it involved some tough decisions and  had a neuro assignment and a presenting project on OCD for a psych class. I also went to the Paul Brandt concert with one of my best friends and met him! His concert was amazing!

I went skiing today at Castle mountain. It was a very warm ski day and the sun was shining all day! For me skiing is a way for me to relax, and in a way a stress reliever, I feel great after a good day of skiing. It was the last one with the program so we had a shorter day, because we had a barbecue  and a little party to end the season off. The group I was with still ended up powering through and did 8 runs, and no falls for any one of us :) I also had the opportunity to meet with another four-tracker, and showed/taught him how to improve his skiing. In the last 2 weeks, his speed has increased so much, I was so happy and proud of him.

Remember to forward your clock an hour.

This coming week is going to be busy and stressful. I have 2 tests on wednesday and a nuero one on friday.... AHHHH... I have no idea what is going on in that class. and a essay project that requires reading 6 research articles. AHHH. oh well...  I'll see you in a week!

Canadian Parlympic Committee Presentation and Road Trip

I was asked by the Paralympic committee to do a presentation about Paralympic/adaptive sport. I had to travel an 1hour and a half to get to this small, community school that was very welcoming. Brittany came with me to keep me company, make the ride more interesting and help me carry all my stuff. Thank you. It is greatly appreciated!!!!

I brought my sledge and sticks, that I use to play sledge hockey and my skis and outriggers!

They did not know, but this was my first presentation that I did by myself in front of 90 students plus faculty and staff. I feel that it went really well. My goal was to really get to one person. After the presentation the principal was thrilled and one of the teachers came and talked to me saying she has a little girl that has CP and thought it was great to see that things are possible.

When we walked into the gym the grade 3/4 class had drawn these posters for me and the Paralympics. They are such good artists and they let me take one home which I will be putting up on my wall.

One of the videos played was the following one, we are stoked for the paralympians to represent our country during the summer 2012  in London

On our way there we saw some unique southern alberta items.

Yes, these were potatoes that are welcoming us to the city.

Doesn't this grab your attention and make you want to go into Kirks!,

well it made us want to take a picture... All I can see is ATTRACTIVE!

We thought this looked like wally when we were driving...

A creepy motel...

This is for Brittany, a pigeon...

A corn stalk, welcoming us into the city

Ok...

We thought it was great, they are advertising Olympics, we are not sure what was in the building though.

Brittany also showed me how to use my cruise control... which I did think was broken and didn't work. The entire way after that, both to Hays and back to Lethbridge I used cruise and was thoroughly excited!

Rick Hansen Relay

More than 25 years ago, Rick Hansen injured his spinal cord in a car accident. 25 years ago he rolled through 34 countries, 4 continents, rolled for 792 days, 40,000 kilometers, had 126 flat tires and he covered the circumference of the earth. The 25^th anniversary Relay is a celebration of what has been accomplished since then. This includes the research that has been done to help people with spinal cord injury, make more accessible buildings, parks, restaurants, and services available for people with disabilities.

I was nominated by the Dr. Gordon Townsend School to walk and represent them, through my volunteering efforts and striving to challenge yourself no matter the obstacle that faces you.

Meeting Rick Hansen was an amazing opportunity; he is a humble man with inspiration that radiates from his body.

Being a difference maker and being one person of 7000 to help complete the medals journey is amazing. The feeling of excitement that comes from every step I took was out of this world.