Heli Ya!!!

So this past weekend I had my last JRB Big Country training weekend out in Boissevain, MB (our sweet t-shirt design above). We had been out here before (in previous post) so in typical stereotypical fashion I thought that we really couldn't see anything more exciting than the giant turtle and the wilderness inn but oh was I wrong! After a full Saturday of training we headed over to the house we were staying at (luckily/unfortunately we didn't stay at the wilderness inn haha) had some dinner than told we are being taken on a tour of the area. Again not trying to influence your thoughts about the prairies but it's usually far between 'tour land marks' - so this tour comment seemed questionable.
So we begin to drive through the town and we shortly arrive at a dirt path that has a cement pad and a shed ahead and thats it! Going through my mind at this point "Ok that was short but I'm sure there is something … " than I get distracted and begin to point out that "hey there is the town millionaire (I had been previously told about this guy) riding around in his helicopter - no big deal haha". As we stop in front of this cement pad the helicopter is flying right at us - "so cool" …. the light bulb went off - WE ARE GOING ON A HELICOPTER TOUR OF THE AREA!!! It was unreal and so cool to experience. I love the feeling of flying but this was a whole new level! You could see everything around you during flight it was unbelievable. Some pictures of the views and my excitement haha …







Again this weekend provided another example of how lucky I am to get to connect with amazing people who have provided me with these opportunities that just refresh my perspective, ignite my soul and remind me to be grateful everyday - oh and did I mention that I get to be around basketball while I'm at it?

"Who has more fun than us?" JD
Mich

"To Write Love On Her Arms"

Another cool find at Ron Jon's was a really interesting brand that was selling clothing, mostly graphic tee's, for a really cool cause. Check out the website and let me what you think, pretty interesting concept and thought it was a pretty inspiring idea.
Here is a video of one of their current campaigns.



"The vision is we actually believe what we are doing" JT
Mich

Riding on the Ocean ...

As previously mentioned I was able to get some solid shopping in when I was down in Florida. Little did I know heading into the trip, because my typical pre-trip research was not done due to exams, there was a hidden gem waiting down the road from my hotel. For anyone that knows anything about surfing - I didn't - the famous Ron Jon's Surf shop was waiting for me! The building alone blew my mind, than you walk in and see a massive amounts of skate and surf boards and all the fixings to go alone with it ... Awesome haha!!!


This is were I found my new baby - my longboard (I know what most of you are thinking, long boarding in Winnipeg is not possible due to lack of hills, which is partly true but I still have fun). I have been waiting awhile for this purchase and I couldn't have asked for a better deal, board, or memorable buy. I pretty much have not gone a day without going for a cruise so it was well worth the wait and the money! Here are some pics …

Needless to say after being in the costal Florida environment for a week, my care-free and adventurous side wanted to sign up for the 3 month long surf school and live on the beach … but as it turns out I returned to Winnipeg … for now …. haha.

"You can't stop the waves or wind but you can learn to roll with them"
Mich

Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust

Sorry for the delay in the "Wedding Post" I guess it has been a busier two weeks than anticipated ….
Fortunately for me I was able to get a week in between my last exam and the first day of summer session to have a nice trip down to Florida! The occasion was for my brother's wedding (yes my twin brother! - which was more official than my last birthday to confirm that I'm becoming an adult …….. maybe haha). My dad and I headed down early to help with any left over 'arrangements', which was basically our excuse for going for a full week :). My brother, Sean, now lives in Cocoa Beach Florida which is right by Port Canaveral and Orlando, not to mention with the Kennedy Space Center in the background. Needless to say he is not missing the snow in the winter and the mosquitoes in the summer, but I have to say (to make me feel better) he is having to 'adjust to the heat' - right?!? Anyways, the wedding was on the beach right outside our hotel which was a 5 minute walk from their house, so everything was in one spot. 'Our multi-nation living' family was able to be there for a full 4 days together which was one of the best parts, seeing how we haven't been together since last Christmas! And my Aunt, Uncle and Gran came down too, so it was a really fun time - not one cocktail hour was missed! haah . The wedding was right on the beach with a non-traditional ceremony that was very perfect for Sean's new family :) and everyone looked beautiful.





After all the wedding festivities I definitely made sure to get some solid beach and shopping time! ... no Disneyland or amusement park though :( .... All in all it was a great wedding and I'm so happy for my brother and the new journey he is starting with Suzanne - and Emma and Cassy.

"I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder" Ad
Mich

Wind-Up 2010 Trailer 2

Here you go ladies - editing is killing me - no need for ab workout this week haha. Sorry for those of you who can't fully understand the concept of this hilariousness but Whitney and Mubo are doing such a good job of capturing the essence of how our team shows love by making fun of everything you do and making sure you have only enough confidence to get by until you do something else to be made fun of. Let me know what you think ...

Wind-up 2010 Trailer 2 from Michele Hynes on Vimeo.

"Make sure life is worth smiling and laughing at when it flashes before your eyes" MH
Mich

This Is Where Amazing Happens!

How Steve Nash has the time to be this ridiculous on the road is beyond me but I love it haha ...

“I think it's important that people stand up for what they believe in. It's important that people discuss things.” SN #13

Hidden Beauty

I wrote this a week ago but didn't get time to post it before leaving ...

With exams finally over it seems the traditional celebration was lost on me this year. Or was it? As I drove to Virden Manitoba - half falling asleep in the car which turned to a full passed out state within 30 minutess - I couldn't help but think of all the things I could get done this weekend if I didn't have to come all the way out here - knowing that I had pretty big trip ahead of me the following week. Needless to say when we got there 3 hours later, me still half comatose, was just happy to be in a gym and not burning my eyes looking at paper and a computer screen to 'learn', otherwise known as cramming! After what left like an always productive practice session (not always stellar but productive) we headed out for a mini Manitoba prairie adventure. We were going to tour the farms that a couple of the girls that we coach live on …
Down the highway and 20 minutes later …. pure beauty. You know the feeling you get when you see something for the first time but it feels like it has made you happy your whole life or it was something that was right in front of you but you couldn't see? - well this was that. The landscape, the view, the culture, the happiness was a totally refreshing perspective for me. I'm sure they got a kick out my naivety to everything 'farm' but it was awesome - even got the right of passage of going for a 'country cruise' haha!
Does it honestly take the setting of a 'city girl' going to the farm to remind her that life can be happy in a totally unexpected way? Don't get me wrong I could see there being a "Housewives of Rural Manitoba" out here and I'm sure there are similar stresses but for me it was a great experience to see a new side of what true happy-family-living can be about for some people and that it still exists in such a pure form. The calm and darkness in the night can be stirringly eerie or bring a city soul much calm. Either way I was so fortunate to get to experience the real living of a 'friendly' Manitoba family and all the pride, responsibility and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. Happiness in life can mean so many different things but all that matters is doing the things that make you truly happy and remind you how lucky you are.

Corny ramble but maybe after two weeks of being a hermit and getting fed up with school a change in setting is all I need to regain some passion and energy. And sometimes is can be as simple as a 3 hour drive west and spending some time with friends in an undiscovered setting - try it out!

Trip to Florida post to come ...

"I wouldn't change the blissful of silence and the darkest of the night air out here for anything" SB