UBC

Food: What can we do?

Farmers' Market, Uncategorized

I don’t know why I didn’t put up my hand. I don’t know why I didn’t ask the question filling my brain the entire time she was talking. I’ve rarely been one to shy from asking questions. I’ve got journalism in my blood for goodness sake; I should have asked the question. This week I attended the latest installment of the UBC Reads Sustainability series, a program that brings well-known authors to campus to discuss issues of sustainability. It was the first I’d heard of the program, and was intrigued for a few reasons: 1) The speaker, Simran Sethi, is a journalist (see blood above) and her book is called Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love. For those of you who’ve been long-time readers, you already know, but for those of you new to the PoP ways, chocolate might as well BE my blood. 2) I […]

Food: What can we do? Read More »

Strategic disengagement

Uncategorized

Today I quit. It’s not a territory I am all that familiar with. Sure, a couple years ago I quit a career, but that was with a new one in the foreground. A few years ago I quit a race, but that was the act of Dear Diabetes, completely out of my control. Speaking of Dear Diabetes, I quit her once too, but my brain wasn’t fully developed so I can’t really be blamed for that. I’ve had thoughts of quitting other things: my first marathon I had visions of running in front of the tram; my first time up the Grouse Grind, I had urges to hurl myself over the side of the cliff. Chemistry, I thought for sure I’d blow up the lab and be done with it. But never, never, never was there the option of stopping and turning around. Today I stopped. But I didn’t turn

Strategic disengagement Read More »

Tales of a lonely runner

Diabetes, Running

It’s been more than two years since I last had a running partner; it’s been a hard two years. Er, wait, let me rephrase that, it’s been a hard year. (One of the aforementioned years, I was preggers and a new mom, and wasn’t running much.) When Big Ring and I decided to make our family three, I knew there would be changes. I knew it wouldn’t be as easy for me to drive 45 minutes to run with my favourites, if even possible at all anymore. And I knew it would be difficult, but I thought eventually I’d find a new group of running gals to keep me company, keep my long runs not feeling so long, keep me motivated, competitive, excited to run. But, to date, there has been no one. These are the woes of a lonely runner… And it’s not for lack of trying – this

Tales of a lonely runner Read More »

For the love of bling

Pregnancy in Diabetes, Races, Running, Uncategorized

It wasn’t Tiffany’s, but it was bling. As I stood in the cool Juneuary air with my moms, my favourite running chick and Miss Speedy next to me, a smile washed across my face while listening to the event organizer talk of the reasons why we had all congregated at Thunderbird Stadium that morning: “We wanted to stay fit, keep active, bond with other women,” she said. But my favourite running chick, she knew we were there for other reasons. She leaned over towards me, soft giggles exiting her mouth as she whispered, “I’m here for the bling!” Indeed. Saturday morning my moms and I walked the 5 km Starbucks Run for Women, while my favourites ran the 10k. Favourite Running Chick and Miss Speedy. It’s always a risk signing up for first-time events, knowing that they can’t possibly live up to the glory of well-established runs, but hoping they

For the love of bling Read More »

One-fingered salute

Diabetes, Training

It is truly amazing how unfocused or just plain ignorant drivers, cyclists and walkers can be. Mario and I went out for a bike ride around UBC, Stanley Park and Spanish Banks yesterday, which proved to be a rather busy, traffic-congested day. Wasn’t really much of a surprise given  that it was the unofficial second last day of summer. Not only were there eager students moving into residence, there were tons of families, couples and singles crowding the areas, wanting to get as much beach and sight-seeing time in as they possibly could before school starts up again. We were keen to catch the last rays of summer too. Mario and I were on high alert. Had we not been, had we been riding in la-la-land like so many of the other leisurely cyclists and others on the road, we more than likely would have been ending the ride on

One-fingered salute Read More »

Start typing and press enter to search