Karen goes West

I started volunteering for this great organization on Vancouver Island called Loaves and Fishes. It is a food recovery program. Today I helped sort donations of milk products, fruit and vegetables for over 4 hours with about 12 others and we still weren't finished... More people replaced us for the afternoon shift. We had pallets of excellent quality food that is donated by the grocery stores a few days before their expiry date...and good quality produce and vegetables to go to weekly hampers for the people who are unable to afford to feed their families. There are truckloads donated every day and distribution centres all up the island. Added to the hampers are eggs, some meat and canned goods and bread products. What a great organization...and great people. I look forward to doing further work with them.

Good morning my Ontario friends. I've been up and wide awake since 4am. (7am In Ontario). It always takes a while to adjust to this time change. At least I get to see some beautiful sunrises.

I'm home!
30 degrees and no air conditioning....my apartment was pretty hot. It cooled off quick though with those big windows and sliding doors open. It's nice and shaded on the balcony at night. ( it's only 7:41pm here) sorry... I guess most of you have gone to bed. The view is still great!

Views from my balcony...I can't wait to get back.

I love all you guys in Ontario...and I'll miss you but I'm heading West again...so I have to say...

It was quite a bit cooler today... 15 degrees. I couldn't wait, I have the wood for the fireplace all stacked on the balcony. Fireplace was sitting there begging to be used... I gave in. I know... It's probably 25-30 where you are today. It was a great fire.

Wow... Sorry my friends... I just can't believe the weather here. Even the days that it rains all day it is still warm and the rain is so light, it is more like a mist.

Just finished my 1hour aquafit class - this complex is great-only 1 k from my place - they have classes every day only $4 for drop-in...and you can stay and swim as long as you like. I'll have to try this for a while since I overdid it walking and my foot is bothering me... Hopefully it heals quickly... I'm anxious to get back to walking in Mundy park, now I better get ready to catch the sky train...( it's so cool... I catch it only 5 minutes from here and it comes every 10 minutes... Don't even need a schedule... And only $10 to travel for the day on all transportation, anywhere. I'm heading to the down town East side (DTES) of Vancouver for an orientation at the First United Church on Hastings. Does it get any better...yep... Check the weather... sorry...to brag... They say that the rain is coming...I do miss you guys

Quite the lunch experience-popular place-lots of celebrities come here-none at the moment though but great food