are you ready to die?

tonight Levi, Laura and I had a short chat about death.

we shared some stories about the things friends have said before they passed away.

In many cases it seems like God prepared them for what was to come. Death has always been a strange thing for me. I don’t want to die, but I feel like I am always ready for it.

Are you ready to die?

But more importantly… how are you living knowing that God has put you here to live out an amazing adventure? Are you scared of the life he has for you?

 

The Oh Sleeper song, Breathing Blood, popped into my head when this all came up.

…

Regaining consciousness under a swinging moon,

He speaks of alliances that beckoned me long before the womb.

I’ve caused more wounds than I’m worth. I see now, you must not have heard…

I am the natural born killer.

There is freedom past your history.

“This air won’t fill my lungs!”

Because you should be breathing blood.

See, this death, it was your victory so…

“Teach me to fill my lungs!”… never stop breathing blood.

I had it all so very wrong, but I fought… I fought with only song.

God, I’ve tried… I’m trying like a beast all alone, but my words…

My words have aired in poison.

Please teach me how to breathe because this air keeps failing my need.

Fill my lungs with what wont bleed from my enemies.

He said, “If death is victory how afraid of life can you be?”

I’m born a war machine not knowing which beckon to heed.

Will I rise as a tool for glory or be lost in dormancies?

I’ve regained consciousness under this swinging moon.

You filled my lungs and each breath heals this killer’s wounds.

There is freedom past your history.

“But this air won’t fill my lungs!”

Because you should be breathing blood.

See, this death, it was your victory so…

“Teach me to fill my lungs!”… never stop breathing blood.

I hear him speaking to me. For the first time he cleared my head… that’s when he said,

“Only cowards keep dormant their sleeping strength, and soon you’ll find,

Only the fearless will reach their potential’s peak.”

(What will wing these words if even the air is poisoned?

If the air is poisoned, what will wing these words?)

“Tell me, If death is victory how afraid of life can we be?

If death is victory how afraid of life can we be?”

 

Breathing Blood

Oh Sleeper

Alberta

Edmonton was cold.

I don’t like wearing so many layers in the summer.

After our event at Kingsway we met up with Mister Nolan and his friend shawna.

Then to red deer. I got to see my good ole buddy Tyler Juell

I drank my first Jones on the tour. We got new flavours… I so went for a cream soda.

This is how I get treated on tour.

Calgary round 2:

hung out with Tyler Clark and his lovely lady.

tyler laughs more than anyone I know…. except for maybe Laura Bronson, but he can’t seem to smile in a picture.

Laura and I had a day of adventuring together in Calgary. We mostly just wandered 17th ave for a long time making friends.

The first friend we made sitting on a bench when I asked some guy if he wanted to be our friend not thinking he could hear me.

He could.

I don’t remember his name but he is in a band called, Maria in the shower. He does calligraphy and hoops.

We ventured into some shops, then hit up Tubby Dog.

This is where we met DJ sideshow from Australia

He had a great tattoo on the back of his neck.

Then we walked past a place that said, “we put feathers in hair”

so we went in.

we made friends with the girl that day and hung out for a while. Her name is Katie. Friend #3.

Then we wandered some more. visited more stores. took a nap on a schools front lawn.

Then went for a yummy dinner at local 510.

My friend Brett Husband came too.

Then we left for some other places in Alberta… eventually we will end up in Edmonton again.

 

many places in the west.

sooo…. I clearly neglected this blog for a little while there.

I went to many places in the west.

Bradon is gone and we went to Kamloops. There we friends, hot tubs and skating.

If you want to see videos, Laura has been making some. CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEOS

I found a new way to make ramen

Dylan and Nolan were in town too!

Then we started to head up to Prince George, BC.

There was only one road to Prince George and an ambulance just a bit in front of us somehow managed to hit an electrical pole. There was someone in the back and they unfortunately didn’t make it. The entire highway got shut down and they warned us that it might take them hours before it was cleaned up.

Laura and Levi headed down to check out the situation….

I tried to keep up… I failed.

On that note we brought out the ramps.

Then we heard rumours of a creek.

What came next was one of my favourite summer moments.

We left our truck right there on the highway, cut through some properties then bam…. found the creek.

I wish I could have brought my camera the rest of the way.

The current was so strong and I just kept thinking that this was going to be one of those moments the “people not from around here” had no idea that they were in deathly waters and then drown. For the most part it was just pure fun and laughter being dragged by the water. There was just one moment when Levi went under and struggled getting his head to stay above the water that put me into panic mode… but once we got past that we were all good! haha.

When we decided that we had had enough of the water we went back to our truck to find out that they have closed the road for the night… there was now a gas leak.. and we now had to head back to the closest town and try again in the morning.

So we ended up in Quesnel, BC eating pizza in in our bed.

The next morning we had to get up at 5 and head to prince george… do our event then drive to Valemount.

Once we got to Valemount the girl at the front desk showed up at our door and wanted to hang out with us. so we did.

it was weird. funny. good.

Then the next morning we got to drive through the mountains into Jasper, then end in Edmonton.

Levi is not happy in this picture because we were watching the Justin Bieber movie and we had to pause it to adventure.

Edmonton time.

Vancouver

Frig I love vancouver.

I managed to work my way around on the transit and spend time with some wonderful friends.

While we were in Van, the man who started West 49, Sam, came out to visit and took us out for dinner. He is a funny man and it’s awesome to hear his stories.

He also hooked us up with the biggest best nectarines.

us nuggets got fancy looking for the dinner.

Levi is a hair dresser and sets me up with new bangs.

he is going to be Canada’s next top hair stylist!

We had our last event with Bradon. He is going back home and a new guy Jon is taking over. It is so sad to see him go.

Lately we have been testing how much I trust these skaters.

There is this show called The Cupcake girls… and while walking down the street looking for food I found the shop that they run.

then a mom came over with soem for us!

I had the chance to explore with my dear friend Eryn.

We started off at the Famous Warehouse for some great $4.95 food.

This day also involved andrew from squamish and Dylan who was in town from Yorkton, Sk for his sister’s wedding.

we had a great dinner at a place in Kits called, Local

 

To end our night, Andrew and I went to the Foundation with Dylan and his brother along with Jamison and his girlfriend. Jamison is a friend that I first met in Regina years ago. Since then he has moved to calgary and I shared my friends with him there… he became good friends with them. And now he live s in Vancouver! It was great to see him.

The the next morning we had the sad sad moment of last family meal with Bradon.

 

Despite the smile on our faces we were heartbroken to see Boss go.

 

After he was gone… his nuggets just frowned.

Then we were off to Kamloops with the new TM, Jon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria

We got to vancouver and jumped on the sky train for the first of our Vancouver adventures.

It was great to be back in this wonderful city…

I decided to spend my full day off in Victoria visiting Jacob!

I got to the Ferry all by myself, I was impressed.

The Ferry was great… mostly because I got to see a whale shoot water out of it’s blowhole!

And then we were reunited

 

 

Perfect place for a day off

Jacob lives right by the water.

 

This is a little Jelly fish Jacob found and shared with me

We spent most of the time just floating around and eating snacks

sometimes Jacob would catch the slimy  jellyfish

After a long day on the water, it was time for me to go back to where I came from.

but before I end this blog I need to show you young Jacob’s wonderful story:

Kelowna and Beyond

we love Kelowna

sometimes you have to spend you night in the hotel trying to get work done with crappy internet… we bring beer to those nights.

We had packed out sessions in Kelowna! Great day! After our sessions we wandered the town

We had a rooftop family dinner

Today was an extra full day.

started with Levi showing off his gangsta ways

Then we went for a walk up a mountain to do some swimming… and for the boys, jumping.

After our swim we had to start travelling to Chilliwack.

This drive was breathtaking. Along the way we found Merritt, BC. We stopped for lunch, some wood and a skate.

(we didn’t actually get wood)

this is what I do while others skate

Levi had the great idea that I should lay there while he did something that I still don’t know the name of.

this picture laura took is the winner

then we continued to drive. amazing

Now I’m in my hotel bed. Time for sleep. Tomorrow is another event and then we head to VANCOUVER!

Goodnight

Calgary

We stopped in Drumheller on our way to Calgary because we were overly excited about the dinosaurs!

We got to calgary and I managed to get us the best hotel location… right downtown next to the Calgary tower.

Boss and I hang out at the window sometimes.

While in Calgary I got together with some dear friends for a BBQ and a night on the town.

Our night on the town was an interesting and hilarious one.

Clearly I am walking Brett’s bike. the seat is almost at my armpit.

The ride home was something to be remember

So there were about 6 of my friends all walking their bikes because I didn’t have one and they were taking me home.

As we are walking down the street some dude across the street started yelling things trying to make fun of them all with their bikes. My lovely friend Brett said some things in response that I can’t write on here… but it was amazing.

We stopped for just a moment, and it was right then that I see the guy running full speed towards us he…

(get ready for what came next)

-Pushes over bretts bike while still running full speed

-accidentally shouldered me just a bit

-he turns his head around to me says “sorry!” …. still running

-turns head back just in time to realize he is running into a lightpole

-tries to recover, trips, and face dives into the road.

It’s safe to say his big plan didn’t work out how he thought, and that he now as road rash on his face.

It was then that we all simple just clapped as he got up and ran away.

amazing.

The next day we had an event… hung out with more friends… took over H&M and I finally got to see Harry Potter (amazing)

We left Calgary and headed to BC! On our way we also stopped at Lake Louise for a chilly dip

sometimes Levi puts his stinky feet too close to me… so I make little friends out of his toes.

Then he passes out and the fun ends.

swim time with the creeper

a lovely stop along the way

It was an amazing ride and we are all so stoked to be in BC now

Saskatoon moments

Once we were all settled in in Saskatoon, we headed over to a skatepark to try and recruit people to come out to our session.

I felt like a mom just sitting there on the bench while her kids played at the park.

It’s my job to hold the water bottles and sweaters.

After skating we headed to the Taste of Saskatchewan.

 

If you look closely in this picture, you will see a shirtless old man with a balloon around his neck dancing. it was weird

There was lots of yummy food. I ate a lot of it

Saskatchewan.

flatlands.

We hit the prairies… and they weren’t too bad. This was my first time going through them in the middle of the summer and everything was green and alive. I liked it.

We also found a hilariously small chapel.

I wonder who actually runs this thing. Maybe a very small cult.

Near small chapels you can always find crappy diners.

This is where I started making jewellery. Levi is my model.

really it was just thread I was playing with then didn’t know where to drop so I put it on his finger. my jewellery career is over.

We have really started to make a home in our truck. I am in the front seat always to do work and navigate with bradon. It also works quite well for me because my legs are so short and can stretch out fully onto the dashboard.

Recently bradon bought gum and I turned it into a dispenser! I was so proud of myself.

Turns out Levi was thirsty.

yes… this is our ice bucket

During my time in Regina I got to see lots of old friends. Dylan Johnstone drove all the way into town to hang out. We ran into Stephen who I met my first time in Regina years ago and since then have housed multiple times for the odd night when him and dylan were on tour. We had some dinner and then Dylan and I were off to Aaron and Kelli’s house. Aaron was in Means with Dylan and I met him and his wife kelli when they were on tour a few years back. Since then they have bought a lovely home and had a beautiful little girl. It was great to sit on a couch with Kelli and catch up. I like her a lot.

After a quick oil change, we were off to saskatoon.

And what do you need in the middle of nothing? An A&W of coarse.

Our night in Saskatoon continued with skate parks and food festivals. But stay tuned for that…

 

aka… I have to go do something else right now and don’t want to finish this.

 

Winnipeg.

First things first… sushi.

We were down to just 3 of us, Brendon got on a bus to go home in North bay and we were now going to pick up our next instructor, Levi.

I finally did laundry for the first time and our room was handy for hanging things to dry.

(clean clothes are wonderful to have)

 

 

I got to see the Men of the Brandt Family. they are great!

After our event we met up with my dearest friend Brenton. we piled into his van and hunted down Burritos and Holly!

(this is Levi on the left. he is ok I guess)

 

Our new friend Levi is a hair stylist…this could be handy.

 

Then we wandered the Forks.