La La La Life is Wonderful

On my run this evening, the song Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz popped up on my iPod. I love the lyrics from this song and want to share my edited version with you...

It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes two floors to make a story
It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes a word to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to you yawn brother
It takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other

It takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some tears to make you trust
It takes some years to make it rust
It takes some dust to make it polished

It takes some silence to make sound
It takes a loss before you found it
It takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to know you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life is full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is oh love
Ah la la la la la la love is all sorts of
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life is full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is holla holla
Ah la la la la la la next up bushwalla-walla
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la

Crowning King's Throne

I set out with 4 friends to Haines Junction yesterday morning to hike King's Throne in Kluane National Park. I thought I knew what to expect but totally underestimated it. It turned out to be an AMAZING hike!!

Kluane's backcountry has some of the tallest mountains in North America surrounded by glaciers. It is glorious during the summer months. A gem in the family of Parks Canada's national treasures, Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada covers an area of 21,980 square kilometres.

The well groomed trail began through a forest of aspen, pine, and alder. We climed up past the tree line and into very rocky terrain. After about 3 hours of hiking we reached the throne. A small valley nestled in the center of the mountain, we were no way near reaching the top yet. The view overlooking Kathleen lake was spectacular. From that point on, the trail was more narrow and vertical. Shards of slate made our footing very unstable and heavy gusts of wind did not help either. It was no hike up Sugarloaf, but making it to the top was soooo worth it!

Kings Throne :: Kluane National Park

A Look Up At The Summit From The Throne

At The Top


“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes."
~ Marcel Proust

What The Bedazzle?!

I just had to share this great nostaligic photo --- I am going to have to guess circa 1992. We are standing the the Jessup's living room. Anne, myself and Sarah are in the back row...Allie and Emily in the front. Anne was a bonified Can-Can dancer back then. We all dressed up to go downtown during the Yukon Rendezvous festival held in February (many warm layers were put on to venture outside). Probably one of the first and last times you will ever see me wearing that many sequins. Ha.

Today Is A Gift

Good day.
Good thoughts.
Good night.

Gateway To The Klondike

Yukon/Alaska Border

My friend Andrew and I ventured to Skagway, Alaska on Sunday. Oh, how I love Skagway. Less than 2 hours away from Whitehorse, this small tourist town is a port for cruise ships and was the gateway to the goldrush back in the day (the VDub has been to Alaska!). Full of history and charm, Skagway is also rich with coastal vegetation and salty sea air. Home to the WhitePass Railway, plenty of Goldrush cemeteries, glacial-fed waterfalls, and the Chilkoot Trail...this was a fabulous way to conclude a weekend.

Skagway, AK

"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back."
~Arthur Rubinstein

Declaration of My Independence

July 4,2008 :: Chicago, Illinois

This time last year I was in Chi Town enjoying 4th of July fireworks at a farmhouse with good friends. While I won't be setting off any fireworks this year (it is still light outside), I celebrated in my own way.

There was something magical about my run this morning as my feet kicked along the trail through dew soaked Lupin leaves. I thought to myself as I inhaled the fresh morning air of how fortunate I am. How lucky we are to be a part of a democratic society. How lucky we are to be independent.

Happy Birthday America.

The Way I See it #26

"Failure's hard, but success is far more dangerous. 

If you're successful at the wrong thing, the mix of 

praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever."

Relax & Rekindle

I need to hit the sheets yet I am full of joy from such a wonderful day. At about 2 p.m. I headed into town to partake in Canada day festivities. I planned on venturing alone but met up with Lars Jessup and his GF Natasha. We enjoyed the beautiful day on the park lawn listening to music. Then Anne, Harvey and Allie Jessup and her BF Robbie and I took the boats up the Tahkini River and had a picnic supper. Here are some snapshots from my day...

I got a flag hey hey hey hey!

Live music at Shipyard Park

Tahkini River, YT

Roasting Marshmallows

"Opportunities don't often come along.
So, when they do, you have to grab them."
~ Audrey Hepburn

Happy Birthday Canada!

July 1 is Canada Day and I can't wait to get out there and wave my Flag. Here are some things I may do to feel extra patriotic:

- Go fishing
- Eat some Pouteen
- Squeeze in 'eh' at the end of one of my sentences
- Take a bath in maple syrup

"Nothing else matters much -- not wealth, nor learning, nor even health -- without this gift: the spiritual capacity to keep zest in living. This is the creed of creeds, the final deposit and distillation of all important faiths: that you should be able to believe in life."

~ Harry Emerson Fosdick