Walk With Me

GET OUT NOW AND WALK FOR AUTISM!

Why should you walk? Autism is one of the most common developmental disorders in the North America affecting one in every 150 children born today. Maybe you know someone with Autism. Maybe someone you know will be diagnosed with autism. The cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined!

Why am I walking? I’m walking with “Team THX” for my nephew Markus and the thousands of other children and adults who fall on the autism spectrum. Markus is an incredibly endearing five year old who happens to have autism. He has the sensitivity and tender heart of an old soul. His laid back and easy going personality make him a joy to be around and his smile and laugh easily fill one’s heart with delight. One can’t help but to feel the love in his presence. He is an extremely intelligent, observant, and creative youngster. This combined with his amazing perseverance, focus and attention to detail will no doubt someday see him incredibly successful in some area of interest to him.

So what is Markus interested in? While Markus, like many children with autism can be fixated on a single object or subject, his interests are as varied as any other child. He especially likes the movie logos THX, 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks and enjoys singing along to these openings. He likes all Pixar movies, his favourite being WALL-E. He loves dogs, sea life and of course his pet fish Billy. Some of his favourite activities include going to the beach, bouncing on just about anything, singing and dancing and using Lego or Tinker Toys to create the THX logo. He’s also a whiz on the computer, finding his favourite videos on YouTube. Markus’ big dream is to one day visit the George Lucas Ranch.

Walk Now for Autism is a chance to make a difference in the autism community by raising money for autism research and heightening public awareness. I am asking everyone to please join me in supporting my nephew on September 26 at Nat Bailey Stadium by GETTING OUT AND WALKING NOW FOR AUTISM. Donating money to find a cure is important. However, for Team THX, what is even more important is raising awareness. How do we raise awareness? We GET OUT AND WALK. We make our voices heard. The more people who come together to raise their voices, the more awareness we can create. Please join me and Team THX and WALK WITH US on September 26. Help us be the LARGEST AND LOUDEST VOICE there!

For information on autism, how to donate, register to walk and join our team, please go to http://www.walknowforautism.org/ You can search for Team THX on the right side of the page under “Team Rank”.

Pass It On

I believe that our world would be a better place should we all take more time in our lives to perform random acts of kindness.

Finding a parking spot in Vancouver is like trying to find Waldo. Finding a FREE parking spot is akin to winning the lottery. What few free spots exist on the street are inevitably always taken. The rest of the streets are saved for permit holders only. What are left are parking lots. Pay parking lots. Want to park at the park? Please ensure you show your paid ticket stub on your dash. Want to park at the grocery store? Please pay. Want to park at the movie theatre? Don’t forget your stall number before going to the machine to pay. Want to park pretty much anywhere for any purpose for that matter? Feel free to park in the lots of all such places – just don’t forget to pay!

Okay, so you park and pay a ridiculous amount of money, usually for some ridiculous minimum amount of time that you will not use up. You go about your business and return to your car, ready to leave, still in possession of a paid spot or parking stub that’s good for a few more hours, maybe even the rest of the day. Before you drive off, take a moment to look around. Someone will be driving into that lot and a great opportunity for a random act of kindness presents itself. Pass on that parking stub. Or, in the case of the numbered parking spot/no dashboard ticket situation, have the person follow you to your spot.

This idea is not something I’ve just made up. This happens to Dave and I all the time! And it has become my most favourite random act of kindness. We have been both the recipient and contributor of the “parking pass-pass on” and every time it happens – whether someone gives us a free parking spot, or we give our paid spot to someone –I am totally struck by how great such a simple thing can make me feel. I just simply think this is one of the coolest ways to do something kind and selfless for a complete stranger. Especially because parking is such a bloody rip off!

Escape From Hostage Situation

Well, not sure if anyone is even bothering to check this anymore since it's been over two months since I've written anything. If you are reading this, well either thank you very much for your patience and continued support or perhaps you have too much time on your hands and should find something better to do than continually check my inactive blog! Okay, I don't mean that...please keep checking...we all know my ego needs to know someone, anyone is reading this!

I would like to report that my absence has been due to the fact that I've been too busy travelling the world and getting up to all kinds of fabulous and interesting adventures. Unfortunately, no such luck. It's the usual excuse - my brain and it's ability to be creative in any kind of way, has been held hostage drugs. The good news is I've made my escape from their clutches and I'm pretty sure they've lost my trail. And not to worry...I was treated fairly, there was no torture and I am in one piece. One skinny piece. They did deprive me of food, although I wasn't hungry anyways, so it didn't really bother me. Except now my clothes are all too big. Not really a problem when I was being held hostage, but now, this really poses a problem as I prepare for a trip to Vegas in a couple of weeks. I can't very well be hanging around Vegas in my baggy hostage clothes. After going through my summer clothes I was dismayed to find only two pairs of pants and one skirt that fit me. Okay, I do have some jeans as well (too big but they will do). And I guess enough shirts to make due. But I'm there for 5 days...and while Dave doesn't see the problem in only having a couple pairs of pants, (not to mention no shorts!) I feel that I can't very well wear the same things over and over. Not to mention we all know how messy I am...the likelihood of me not spilling stuff on myself is very low. And on top of that I have Dave, Mr. Fashionista, who has more clothes than most women I know. I don't want to look like a fashion mishap beside his hip fashion ensembles! Sigh. I will stop there as I imagine you all telling me to shut the F up and just start eating!

So now that I have escaped my captors, what are my plans? Well, I do indeed lead a charmed life. Having moved into an apartment with a million dollar view of the mountains and the ocean, I should be inspired to write more. I do have to go to Whistler for 3 nights next weekend...tough, but someone has to do it. Not having been able to ski too much this year I am stoked to end the ski season there. I will let you know how that Peak to Peak Gondola is. I will then return from Whistler, spend a week at home before heading to Las Vegas for 4 nights. Again, it's tough, but someone's got to take Westjet up on their killer deals! Hopefully I'll win a huge jackpot with which I can then outfit myself in a whole new small, hip wardrobe, which I could then wear on fabulous and interesting travels around the world. (Nice how that all ties in, isn't it.) :)