We have a new traveling companion...

We have such amazing supporters.

We got a package yesterday. Just a simple manila envelope with the words "to the Hungry Dragons. Open when you cross the border."

"It's from K," G texted me when she got it. "Do we trust her?"
I'm thinking no, but surely even she wouldn't put anything in there that would get us in trouble.

So we dutifully keep it closed til we cross the border. Then we rip it open with glee.

Inside are: dragon temporary tattoos, the two-headed dragon you see here (she will be traveling in whichever car we travel to practice in from now on, boy is she gonna get some mileage!), a stack of papers, a CD and an obviously used pair of socks. SOCKS?

Then, we get an email.

"I just wanted to let you guys know that I am really proud of you! Going to Hong Kong??? How cool is that!!!????


AND, you are going to represent Canada! Doesn't get any better than that. Sorry America, but Canadians are more welcomed around the world... And having a Canadian husband it's even more special!

GOOD TO KNOW, cuz I'm working on mine :)

So for that reason, I thought you should get familiar with everything about Canada: Imagine yourselves at the opening ceremony in Hong Kong and they start playing the Canadian National Anthem?? You gotta get familiar with the words, so from now on you have to promise you'll listen to the CD at least once on EVERY trip to Montreal!

Promise? (this is the part where you both say out loud: Promise!) Say it!"

WE PROMISE!!

"I have also included a print out of the anthem and some facts about Canada. Since I'm looking to save the environment it's printed on the back of our news prints. 

Go out there and paddle hard! 

Puke!!"

WE PLAN ON IT!! THANK YOU K and all the rest of you who have encouraged us, pushed us, listened to us, put up with us thus far... we could not have gotten here without you. XO.

Hong Kong on the Horizon

Coach M has announced half the roster for Hong Kong... the rest will be set on January 16th, the day that rosters need to be submitted to the IDBF (I think anyway). Team reaction was a mixed bag, but overall I think it's been very positive. Those who have been confirmed have nonetheless been struck with the humble-slash-fear stick... at the next fit test (January 14) these 10 better perform even better than at the first one and show that our coaches do actually know what they're doing (they do). The rest of the crew has a fire lit under their respective tushies and are absolutely killing it in training over these next few weeks to make sure they are their leanest, strongest, fittest, and best possible selves and crewmates.

Practices are looking amazing. The whoosh whoosh of the paddles in the pool could literally make me cry it sounds so good. (And no, it's not the meds talking.. i ditched the narcotics day two of being home!) Goosebump moments all around. I managed to paddle the whole practice 3 days after surgery.. the boot served me well (tho it got a bit nasty sweaty in there, ewww) and then Coach A put me through my paces in the weight room, since I couldn't partake in the killer circuit Coach P had put together for the rest of the crew. I'm glad he rode me as hard as he did, cuz G and the other beasts looked half-dead when P was finished with them!

G and I have not missed a beat in the gym either - but are pushing each other harder than ever. It's a bit odd looking with me in my cast (do you have any IDEA how hard it is to stay put on the decline bench when you can only hang on by one leg???!!) but we're both thrilled to bits I don't have to sit out. That would suck eggs for the both of us. I'm having to be super creative with cardio since i can't do any running, biking or elliptical-ing.. but we discovered that one-legged rowing IS possible.

Other than that we are excitedly shopping for OC-1 canoes. Like little kids were are playing with the design tool at www.huki.com (try it, it's super cool!) and dreaming of getting our very own boats. The kids will have to eat Ramen noodles for a while and forego most of their Christmas presents but I'm sure they'll be totally cool with it ;-)

A second team for Hong Kong!?!!!

The excited words that are escaping my mouth are not really appropriate for publication... but imagine me jumping up and down in my living room and I'm sure you can imagine what I'm yelling. G and I have been invited to paddle on a 40+ mixed team in Hong Kong! When we were first asked we were like "holy crap" (yes i edited) and held our breath a bit because there was an attached caveat. Since this team didn't paddle at the national championships and thus earn a berth for Hong Kong in the usual way, it would be vying for a wild card draw for the remaining open spot. We wouldn't know until November 4th.

Well, it's November 4th and GUESS WHAT?!! We got the spot. Holy freakin' glittery shizzles!! So now we can be excited. And freaked out. And .... really? Two teams? Hey wait a minute! does that mean double the workouts now? LOL. Ok.. on that note... off to the gym!

Tomorrow we travel north for our first indoor paddle and circuit - the rest of the team started last week, but since it was G's birthday party weekend the two of us begged off and stayed state-side. Speaking of which - what an AMAZING night that was. G looked radiant in her sparkly shmarkly sequin dress, and didn't get off the dance floor all night. In fact, I think she danced and sang and yelled so much she lost her voice completely (and lost 2lbs in the process. hee!). And so many of our Montreal family came to celebrate with us.. it was absolutely BRILLIANT. My girl knows how to throw a party for sure.. but our teammates know how to PARTY.

I'll have to steal some pics off facebook and plonk them here :)