Last night's musical show, of Michelle Carter-Leis, was not bad. I didn't really want to go initially as it's been so busy this week and I need some rest. She really insisted earlier this week so I went to be a good guy and because it was for such a good cause, Cystic Fibrosis. Listening to her one-dimensional opinion of me late in the evening really calls to question what it means to be a friend. I honestly cannot understand how someone can claim to have such insight when they've only chatted with you casually whenever I stop into the restaurant to eat where she works. Well, enough about that - for now anyway, I have more to say about other things.

While out last night, I met a fellow from back east, another lover of Ottawa city. After her show he dashes across the street to another pub to close the joint and drags me along. Well, I'd had a few beer, not off my rocker as I do know my limit, but enough to sway my better judgement and along I went. Closing the joint, he's weaving, on foot, from sidewalk to street and back, so he comes and crashes on my couch. I climb into the sack and glance at the clock. Oh shit! It's 3:30am and this is not the lifestyle I want anymore. This is going to screw up my Friday I think as I drift off to sleep.

This morning, I'm awake at 7:00am, waking up the couch-crasher and I grab my bike and we head out. He heads home, I head for a ride. Needless to say, I didn't strain myself. I biked a comfortable clip and stopped in spots on a whim, following my gut, taking in the beauty of the park (you remember the pictures.) At the totem pole area I stopped and meditated for a while - almost puked the stomach acid (you really wanted to know ) - and then continued on again.

Around the northern shoreline of Stanley Park I spotted a sea-otter. This is a first for me. I had never seen a wild sea-otter in the area before and he was sitting atop a rock just off the shore happily munching on his breakfast. Once he was finished I carried on again. I began to notice the beautiful rays of the sun melting into my back soothing and warming. It was particularly quiet, with the exception of the occassional float-plane and helicopter, so spotting a clean park bench in the full sun I stopped and lay down for awhile. I have no idea how long I stayed there.

Lying on my back I'd gaze up skyward seeing the wispy trailing clouds against the dark green of the cedar towering overhead; a stunning view to be sure. Then I'd close my eyes and feel the breeze and warmth of the sun, noticing the orange-like glow of the inside of my right eyelid and little specks floating on the surface of my eye. Do you remember ever doing or noticing that? Then I'd gaze over to my side to see out across the water, watching the gentle rhythm of the ocean swelling and the current of the inlet rushing out to the ocean. It was magical and fully enjoyable but it was time to go.

Getting back on the bike I continued on around the park, slowly heading toward home. Rounding the western shoreline the sun was blocked by the cliff-face and high-trees in many places; chilling. Every chance I had I'd stop the bike in a sunny patch to soak up more heat and strength before continuing. At one of the beaches along the way, it appears the ocean floor drops away fairly quickly because the breaking waves were gorgeous. They weren't overly huge, just sudden two-foot-high waves that curled over and crashed into the sandy beach making the most luxuriously relaxing sound that totally captured my time and attention.

I sat there for some time, possibly 15 minutes or more, mostly with my eyes closed listening to the sound while the sun continued warming my body. It was magical and I observed the rhythm of the earth and wondered why the world rushes so quickly to its decay; ourselves included. Just writing about it, even with the incredible racket outside of construction jackhammers drilling into concrete virtually under my window, I can still transport myself into that moment at the beach and hear the ocean waves, feel the sun, and connect deeply to the calming force of nature. Ahhh...

That was the last major stop and I rode the bike the rest of the way home at a comfortable pace for a tired and abused body that had just found some peace. This reminded me of how as a kid, a teenager even, I would ride and there wasn't really any rush to go anywhere; it was just enjoying the ride. This jaunt out into the beauty took about two full hours and I have been blessed by every moment of the experience. This will prove invaluable today as you'll recall the jackhammers outside my window are incredibly loud. I'm amazed I could even think, feel and describe clearly my experiences on the ride this morning. All of this with only three or four hours sleep.

I figured there would be hell to pay with that poor judgement last night. So far, so good. One slip-up doesn't lead me down the slope to hell. It straightens my spine and greets the new day with a chance to learn, to know where I truly want to go, and most importantly, to know myself. Now I've got to hustle and get ready to see a potential client this morning in about an hour. Fingers crossed please.