What a day for a Sunday!!!

When you usually think of Sundays you think of rest well this Sunday for me was not too leisurely for me. I was up at 6am and getting ready to go and do more practicing for my ski patrol training up in Saint-Therese. 

When we got there every class that was taking this course filled the entire cafeteria of that school and we were all wondering what we were going to do and how stressful can this get? We were all pretty panicked and at the same time very tired. Anyways after a few cups of coffee I was wanting to get these things done. At first we were put into groups and were told to go to stations and work with bandages and putting people in slings and wrapping legs up etc... That part was easy but then when my group got outside it like the real thing minus the snow and all. Wow was my mind like ok lets do this lets help these poor people and get what they need. 

I did not freak out as much as I thought I would be this actually gave me more confidence because I was the one that took the lead when it was just 2 of us. It felt great and finally all my paying attention payed off even though we only had a few minutes to do about 5 different cases. Although the stress was there to me it was work but a good time as well. 

Im hoping I will do this well on my exams. Only one could hope. :) And boy am I hoping. 

My leisure is slowly coming in while the semester slowly ends...

Finally I got in some leisure and put my mind to ease in every paper and project that needed to be done for classes! It is crazy this semester and I know it is not over until it is over. I'm slowly getting to watch some more television or going out and doing the things that give me a state of mind of calmness and peace. Not to say I mind having homework here and there to keep my mind focused but it is always nice just to sit back and do nothing or let your mind go somewhere where you are smiling and your free. 

Slowly Im understanding what being free is and taking my mind away from school books and letting other things take my mind away like watching the game or focusing on my ski patrol. Oh well until school ends my focus is on what I need to know for the next class. I know things will work out and either way I am having some fun. :) 

Becoming a Ski Patroller Continues....

Wow what an intense weekend it feels like I have not slept in about 2 days!!! First I had my ski patrol class which was crazy considering I was a test subject in how to secure a person in an inflatable mat that makes you feel like those tiny hot dogs in a pastry. Then I was lifted in the air and then gently put down before they set me free. It was quite the experience and fun at the same time. We practiced that for about 2 hours different maneuvers but it made all our knees sore considering we were all on the hard floors kneeling. Im still recovering from that but it was all worth it. 

On Sunday was what the ski patrollers call a "work party" which is not really a party except for the food was free. We did work and learned how to evacuate a chair lift. Mind you the chair lift was not in motion but one of the head patrollers was like ok we need volunteers to go up on the chair lift to show the rest how it is done. AGAIN THE LIFT WAS NOT MOVING!!!! Guess how we got up there? ( yes I was one of the guinea pigs to be lifted up) So I was lifted up into the air by rope and this shovel looking chair which is metal of course and there I went 20 feet into the air shaking!! My state of my mind was I really hope this thing can hold me or I will freak out. I got up on the chair lift safely and 2 others followed. Then while we were up there the rest joked how they were going to leave us up there. Haha!!! Anyways We then got down the same way we got up and it was ok in the end. 

The rest of the day we ate lunch and learned more about the hill we are going to be working on and where things are like the infirmary and where the sleds where to being people down when they are injured. It was a nice way to meet the other patrollers and get to know them. Plus the other newbies who are going to be there. 

All in all it was a lot of fun and this is going to be a great way to help people and leisure in the best way possible and that is on the hill doing the sport I love. 

P.S. The hockey game was a close one but Price came up on top yet again!!! hehe GO HABS GO!! :) 

Blog Summary #2

Lately leisure for me has gotten to be a lot more fun! I know now that there does not have to be a time constraint to what I love to do. I do the things I love to to do to have fun and to have a better state of mind . Like skiing down my favorite run! I do not have to rush to get to the bottom I will enjoy the scenery and enjoy the air around me. This is what makes leisure... well leisure. You must enjoy it for what it is and make it what you want to make it. Yes of course in some cases there are the time constraints as well as the possibility of other constraints but I learned if that is the case to enjoy the time you have. Such as watching the HABS on television or in the Bell Center there is a time that they start and finish but watching them in that time period is just amazing whether they win or loose its just so intrinsically motivating for me to watch but everything good comes to an end. 

This semester has been tough though with trying to fit in any kind of leisure because of all the work I need to do for school. As well as in my ski patrol class it may be fun and games sometimes but there is a lot of reading to do. So I have been putting leisure somewhat away to keep me focused on my studies. This has an extrinsically motivating impact on my activities but it must be done and I must keep focused to do well. 

Leisure education is for something I will teach anyone who is willing to learn. It is fun to learn and it will be even better to teach. I'm really learning something in this class and I know that the teachings I will not soon forget. 

My Classes on Being a Ski Patroller! Leisure or not???

Some might think that why are you taking another class and on a Saturday?? People think I'm crazy and that it must be stressful waking up at 6:45 in the morning every Saturday and going all the way to St-Therese for a class. Ya I'm not going to lie and say it is not stressful but this is what I have wanted to do since I got to know the ski patrollers at the hill I skied on. This for me is great to making more friends and helping others in need. 

I would say that if i enjoy doing this and I do not mind having to get up so early in the morning to do it then yes this is leisure for me. I know I will be graded on what I learned but I am having a great time doing it. Learning about broken bones, how to mend wounds etc... This is quite interesting and I can not wait for the next class where we learn about how to put the client safely on a plank to ensure they are safe in the sled for transport down the hill. 

Ill keep you posted on how that goes. :) 

Time Flies...

Thinking about the different things in my life has brought me to the fact that time really does fly and before you know it things are already in the past. It's crazy!!! 

I was just thinking about how I felt about my first time on skies and I know I do not quite remember everything but I knew that this was going to be something that I will enjoy doing till well I don't know. This is a great part of my leisure and when I am up on that hill for me there are no constraints I'm just free and and happy. My state of mind is on the freedom I have and no one can take me out of it. Even on the chair lift there is a sense of happiness and the sense of freedom. Feeling this is the great feeling ever. 

I know this more then before of course considering the first time I did not know exactly how to feel but only to know that you get off the chair lift and go down to the bottom and do it all over again while someone is there telling you how to do it. Now I am free as a bird to ski at my own pace and do whatever kind of style I want to do at anytime. :) 

Although there are other thoughts in my mind about how one minute there is something that happens in your life and then the next its 5 years later. I ask myself where does the time go? Then again what is done is done and I look to the future not only in skiing or any other sport but in the other parts of my life. I find it exciting. Can't wait to see what happens next! 

Roughing it out this weekend

WOW what an intense weekend of activities. Roughing it during this weekend was exactly how I remembered it would be but the only difference was there was 30 of us there and we did pretty much everything together. It was a lot of fun and especially challenging. 

The entire class when up north for the Leadership course that we are taking and slept in sleeping bags in cabins, woke up at 7am and was out in the field working together by 9am. We all learned to work together and to be more positive and especially being comfortable being together and encouraging one an other. It was an amazing experience and all of our mind sets were helping each other and being there for one an other when we needed it. I especially noticed it when I got injured in one of the activities and everyone made sure I was ok and that there was no bruising around my eye. It was very nice of them and I felt comforted as well as supported. 

It was leisure all around this weekend with either cooking for the entire group or helping out with the activities and even participating in them. By then end we were all exhausted but had a blast as well. :)