I've been watching Sarah closely to make sure that she's coping ok with Sparkle's death. Up until today she seemed to be doing fine but now I am starting to worry. She has tucked herself into the corner with all the plants where Sparkle hung out her last few days. She's just kind of sitting there not doing much, just an occasional flutter of her fins. Ughh...I hope its just a bit of depression and nothing more serious (not to suggest that depression is not serious).


So I guess that leads to the question; should I start looking for a friend for her and if so, how long should I wait before introducing another fishy to our family?

It is with much sadness that I must post news of Sparkle's death. Just shy of three years, she led a remarkable life for a little goldfish who came home with me from Jackie and Blake's wedding three years ago November. With her best friend Sarah she embarked on a cross country adventure with Ciara and Jenn as they drove from Toronto to Vancouver via Salt Lake City, Utah; Mt. Shasta, California and Ashland, Oregon.

Sparkle will be laid to rest this evening at dog park beach, tucked gently into the sand near the long grass to remind her of the plants in her tank.

Here are some photos from the adventures we shared.

Sarah & Sparkle being introduced to their travel tank and then getting used to their new home before heading out on their cross Canada adventure



<- The girls visiting their Aunty Caron's family in Grosse Ile, MI and with their cousin Hannah ->

<- Sarah & Sparkle with Ciara in a small town in the mid West on route to Salt Lake City.

The girls with friends they met at Mt. Shasta. Sarah & Sparkle hung out with Keith for the morning while we boarded. ->






The girls with their friend Milo in Oregan

And finally Trent with the girls at Christmas time

You'll notice on the right that I have recently added a Christmas counter. It's the number of days until Trent and I meet in Toronto to begin our Cross Canada Christmas Tour (C3 Tour). From Toronto we plan to head right to Grosse Ile, MI to spend Christmas with my sister. We'll head back to TO Boxing day to see my Dad and brothers (and hopefully a few friends)for a day or two before continuing East to Halifax to spend New Year's with Trent's family. From there we head back across the country to Vancouver (I wasn't kidding when I said it was cross Canada). We'll get a few days together in Van before Trent has to head back up North.

I'm back from my first creative writing class. I'm not sure what I expected our instructor to be like but it wasn't the funny old bat with a walker I encountered when I entered the class room.

There are 12 women in the class plus our teacher. I think it should make for a safe, creative environment, all be it one lacking in male perspective. It was interesting to learn about each of the students and see what experiences we have that are unique and what are shared. One thing that quickly became apparent is the number of women who are struggling to deal with the loss of their mothers. I don't think any of us expected it to be such an emotional journey.

We were given an exercise where we had to use all of the senses to describe something. I choose to describe cool hands and used the memory of my mother's. While my piece missed a few of the senses (taste and smell) and was rough in style, I succeeded in conveying the deep sense of loss I feel over her death.

I'm looking forward to next week's class. I have a good idea what I am going to write about for my homework assignment and I can't wait to see what some of the others come up with.

If ever there was an incentive to get healthy and walking to/from work this morning was it. It was rainy and warm outside and the bus was so stuffy I thought I was going to pass out. I really don't think I can handle a winter of that..and I'm a lover of the public transportation!