So, now that Fall is here, most would expect that I have now joined in the hordes of students returning to school.  However, this year I have decided to take a well-needed break from studies.  Now, you may wonder why I would do such a thing when I moved out here specifically for school.  This brings me to some of the big changes that have been happening in my life.

The  biggest change that has occurred has to do with my work: earlier this summer Dave Saraiva, who I’ve been doing various forms of contract work over the pasta year and a bit, tossed me over a proposal for a new initiative for his (and his partners’) business.  The main idea around this is for me to join up with them to create some entirely new web applications for their company Lifeline Design.  What this entails is me working full-time, where I will focus on helping build this software, as well as continuing to help work on existing software.

The proposal fits in very well with my long-term goals, and I have enjoyed working with Dave over the past year, and I like the direction that their business is going and how they operate it.  After some discussion with Dave in sorting out the details, I decided this is what I wanted.  It’s a very exciting opportunity for me, and I’m glad to be able to work with them in an expanded role.

As to what this means for school in the future: after my break this semester, I will finish off my degree on a part-time basis, likely taking 2 courses per semester from here on in.  One reason I felt I was able to take the position with Lifeline is because I’m close enough to being finished my degree that I know I won’t quit now.  I was able to finish 3 courses over the summer while placing a large emphasis/focus on my work, so I don’t expect 2 courses to pose much of a problem.  As for now, I’m certainly enjoying the break…

Now, while work may be the big change, there are still a few other changes that are helping this Fall shape up to be super-exciting.  As I mentioned in my last post, I’m quite involved with the worship team(s) at my church, which will continue.  As well, I will be leading a small group for the Entry Level (ages 24-30) group, and I have joined the newly created leadership team for that group as well.   Finally, I’m currently in a Sunday school type class at church that is a pre-requisite for church membership, which leads to the last “change” happening…

As I’ve spent more time out here, and continued settling into my apartment (which met my mom’s approval, by the way), I’ve decided to make BC my “permanent” address.  I will soon be a member at my church out here, and have traded in my Ontario license for a BC one.  At least for the time being, I feel that this is where I belong.

On a closing note…now that I’m working full-time, I’m certainly hoping to make it home more than once a year.

P.S. For those of you of who are more technically inclined, I now also blog on Lifeline Design, so feel free to check that out.

The day I was to fly out was a foggy one, and my dad and I were frequently checking the flight status, which in time indicated a one-hour delay.  Being as I live all of 15 minutes from the airport, this wasn’t a big ordeal; it actually gave me a bit of time to relax.  Upon arriving at the airport adequately prior to the new time, we quickly learned that the “one-hour” delay wasn’t quite accurate anymore.  As it played out, the flight that was to be coming in had to be redirected to Toronto, meaning that we had to be bussed there and fly out from there. We had to wait for the buses, and then wait again to check in once in Toronto.  By the time had taken off and arrived in Calgary, it was 1:30am (CST).  We were given a pass for the airport, but being as my flight in the morning was scheduled for 7am, I was limited to a hearty three hour nap; definitely the shortest hotel stay I’ve ever encountered.  All in all, it was around 7:30am (PST) when I finally arrived at my destination.  I decided that my afternoon classes were not an option and a nap was a necessity.

Since then, it has been much smoother sailing (thank goodness!).  My school schedule seems to be a lot more balanced this time around, and I have a lot better feel for how to handle the workload.  A couple of weeks in, and I am keeping up on my work without mass amounts of stress.  My professors all seem decent thus far, and the workload is definitely a bit lighter than the last time around.  I am particularly enjoying my business classes; English and philosophy are different story, but they at least seem tolerable and not overly  difficult.

My running has been going quite well, and a couple of Saturdays ago we traveled to University of Washington (in Seattle) for our first indoor meet, which was quite an enjoyable and exciting experience.  It has been nice being back in our wonderful temperate climate, though we did just get a foot of snow this past weekend.  The indoor season it quite short, and the real fun starts at the end of March, when we begin our outdoor season.

All in all, I’m pretty excited about this semester.  The schedule is better (as well as the workload), my parents are coming to visit in March, and I should get to travel even more than last semester.

The quick snow-storm certainly reminded me of my quick-approaching Christmas break. I realize it has been a while since I made a post; life has definitely busy out here. To quickly summarize the last little while: running, and school.

The cross-country season finished on a bit of low note for me personally, but the team did really well. Our guys and girls team both won NAIA Regionals, with the girls going on to win the NAIA Championships for a record fifth straight year. The guys, having been unranked a couple weeks before regionals (unranked being under the top-25 in the NAIA) pulled off a 4th place finish. Now it’s time to start gearing up for our two track seasons, indoors and outdoors. I’m looking forward to traveling with everyone on the team and having fun at the meets, though it can make for tiring weekends.

School is coming to a quick close. I am buried in my books cramming for my finals; only 2 left. It has been a tough semester, both adjusting to the University academic system, which as I expected, greatly differs from the College one, and trying to survive my Calculus class. I have learned a lot about how everything works in University over the past 4 months…apparently being perpetually behind is quite normal. It truly is a great juggling act, especially with athletics thrown into the mix.

On December 16th I hop on a plane and head back to my true home. I’m really looking forward to the break, and having substantial time (rather than one day to pack in as much as possible) to visit with family and friends. I do believe that this Christmas, that time spent with everyone will seem even a bit sweeter than normal.

Until then, I shall remain in a high state of stress and lock-down as I try and shove as much information as possible into my head and then release it all within a 3-hour time-period. I also want to thank everyone for keeping tabs on me, checking in, and keeping me updated on things back home. It’s always great to hear you.

P.S. More pictures of our lovely snow-storm can be found here: http://gallery.mac.com/tfeens#100042

The week began with a strong effort to catch up on the sleep I had missed from the previous week. A calculus midterm on Wednesday hampered these efforts. The mid-term itself was tough, as I had expected. The week also included a couple of assignments which needed to be completed before we left Friday at lunch for our race. It was another packed week with plenty to do. On top of this, I had to make sure I was doing enough contract work to keep my clients pleased, which has been tough as I’m limited to my laptop until my main development computer arrives.

I entered weekend far more stressed and tense than I would’ve liked, and this was compounded by a bit of a nagging foot issue. I tried to put as much of this behind my going into Saturday’s race, one that I had been trying to build up for, as it is our last race until Regionals. The race did not end up providing any solace to my already less-than-ideal week. Within the first (of three) loop of the race I had rolled my ankle twice, and considered dropping out the second time as I jogged with a limp, trying to loosen up the foot. The rest of the race was spent being overly cautious on the rough areas of the course and trying to make up time on the better areas. It was the worst I have raced this year, though I was proud of myself for sticking it out and putting in all the effort I could given the circumstance. The result wasn’t disastrous, and our teams both did really well in winning the meet. I must admit though, I wasn’t in a particularly good mood at this point.

Sunday I made an effort to make my way to church, on yet another rainy morning (not that the rain itself bothers me, it just seemed fitting with my mood at the time). Church did not disappoint this time. It helped me to take a step back and regain a larger perspective. The sun can’t always shine; there are always lessons to be learned and hardships to go through.

Later Sunday afternoon, the sun made a welcomed appearance from beyond the clouds. I enjoyed a light run around the campus, and was able to take a brief moment of time to relax, knowing that I had an extra day off. In addition to having the day off today, it also marked my first Thanksgiving away from home. Luckily, I know I will have the opportunity to see my family in a short while. As well, me and my neighbor, a member of the track team, had organized a Thanksgiving meal for those of us who didn’t have opportunity to make it home. With everyone chipping in, we made and enjoyed a wonderful (and rather large) dinner, showing that University students are capable of having the luxuries away from home. It was a great time, and really helped kick-start a new week.

Sometimes it does rain; but rain is refreshing and invigorating, and helps us to enjoy the pleasure of the sunshine. I’m learning to balance my workload better, and to make sure I take time out for that which really matters. One bad race only re-ignites my passion to train hard and I intend to be ready to go come Regionals. The sun is always there waiting for the rain to end.

On Tuesday, my classes begin. I really am not sure what I think about that, or what to expect. Although I have 4 years of College under my belt, I expect that University will be vastly different than what I am used to. I am going in ready to work hard at every aspect while here, whether it be my running or my academics.

After numerous shopping trips (and by numerous, I mean way too many), I am fairly settled into my new home. I have learned that shopping without a vehicle can be a difficult task, as one can only buy what they can carry (and I have definitely overdone it a couple of times already). I never realized how many items are required to set up a household. Today was my first go at using the laundry facilities here (and it went smoothly).

Training camp was a super experience (and vacation of sorts), and it was great getting to know the team members who I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot of time with over the years…it’s also comforting actually knowing some people in the residences nearby. As I mentioned in my previous post, I am definitely excited about the upcoming season.

[photopress:CRW_6602.jpg,thumb,alignright]So after a year of preparation, waiting, fretting and trusting, the time for things to kick in has arrived. I look forward to posting my thoughts as I adjust to being back in school. For now, I’m enjoying some quiet time with a nice view of the Vancouver skyline at night…and I still can’t get over all of the spectacular views out here.

Now that we’re a couple days in, I have to say I am probably as excited as I have been about moving out here. Now, to clarify, this isn’t purely because I’m surrounded by runners and running activities; I had a couple of days to get settled in my residence back at Simon Fraser and spend a bit of time at the campus, which really got the ball rolling. I’ve been able to touch base with quite a few people back home, which has helped the transition as well. Of course, there’s also the fact that I’m surrounded by stunning scenery: mountains, rivers, lakes and oceans are no longer uncommon. I currently have no doubt whatsoever that I made the right decision to make my way out here. As much as I know I am going to miss the many close friends and family back home, I feel very much at home here already.

Training camp has been absolutely amazing thus far. I had a great long run Sunday morning: I was out with the team Capitan traversing the many trails around here, and we often popped out of the forest to a gorgeous view of lakes and mountains. The other members of the team all seem really great and are really welcoming and friendly to us newcomers (and there are quite a few of us). I have a lot of opportunities to chat with various members and get to know people better. Everyone is really excited about the upcoming season, and I definitely fit in that camp. The coach seems great, and I think it is going to be and excellent training environment for me. It is an intense week here training-wise, but we also have a lot of time to relax and recover. We have access to a heated pool and 3 hot-tubs, which also have a nice mountain view. It’s also been great getting together to socialize as a team: last night was a movie in town, and tonight was karaoke and Dance Dance Revolution in our room. It really feels like a strong team atmosphere, something like I’ve never really experienced when it comes to cross-country.

Again, I have to mention the scenery…both here and at SFU. It still really blows me away when I look around and realize this is my new home, not just a brief vacation. To get an idea of what I mean, visit my photo gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/trevor.feeney/TrainingCampWhistler

I’m looking forward to the rest of the week, and once it’s done it’ll be time to gear up for class. I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to say once that begins.

It has been a good 7 years since I last went away on a long trip of any sorts; ironically, this was the first big trip out West that I enjoyed, along with my best friend. I remember that it really wasn’t until a couple of nights before we left that the reality of it set in. However, back then it was merely a long vacation, to be spent with someone close the entire time. Reality is setting in much earlier this time, with a much different air about it too.

The past week has been great in the sense that I’ve been able to spend some quality time with friends and family. It also brought on the first round of “goodbyes” that I have had thus far.

Yesterday marked the last time I will enjoy leading worship with the team that I helped form 3 years ago, and the last time that I will be able to be at my church until I am back home. My pastor and close friend formally announced my imminent departure, and the church voiced their support for me. I had to take a deep breath to keep myself composed; I have known a good portion of the congregation for a long time now, and they have been so supportive over the years, and continued to show that support by offering words of thanks and prayers.

The day also marked the last time that I will see my younger sister until I have home for her wedding at the end of September. I don’t think this realization will really hit until I leave again after her wedding, as that will present a great time-frame of being away (though, hopefully I will get to see here when I am back for Fall wedding #2 in October).

I think when the reality really hit, though, was after I left Grand Bend visiting my parents and older sister on Saturday at a cottage they had rented for the week. Though I still have some more time left to spend with them, it was a reminder that there isn’t a whole lot of it left.

The upcoming week is set to bring even more goodbyes, particularly on Wednesday when I have a mass party with a lot of close friends and relatives (all of which my parents have set up for me). I have come to realize that this will be a recurring event over the years, and that I just need to remember what lies ahead and take a deep breath. Having said that, it would not surprise me if I have some moment of breaking down before I leave. Only time will tell.

It’s not a simple question, and fittingly neither is the answer. I live at home with my parents, who are fantastic. I have an amazing family nearby, run for a track club with a great coach and great people in it, go to a church with a super community where I am heavily involved; I have many amazing friends here, my best of who’ve I’ve known for 22 years. Life is comfortable here, it is familiar here, and I really do like so many things about being here.

I am not one who really likes change. I used to really dislike it, but as I’ve mentioned before, the last two years my life has been in a great upheaval. I believe this has been God’s way of helping me to learn to accept change, to appreciate it what it brings in the long run. In the past few years I have seen many close friends experience the exciting change that marriage brings, with more friends quickly approaching that change. Being a single guy at 26, life has just seemed to be fairly constant. With all that happened in this two year period, I came to realize that for me, change was in order. I have felt a need for an adventure of my own, before I am ready to really settle down with my life.

Going to school was an easy choice (which seems amusing to me, as I was never one to really enjoy school)…I hope to run a business when I’m finished, but don’t feel quite ready yet, and hope to gain some better business sense. As well, I hope to one day teach at college, which will at minimum require me to have a degree.

That still leaves the issue of why so far away. One look in my room, filled with pictures and posters of Western Canada, will give a bit of an idea. The climate for running is great in BC, and the teams at Simon Fraser are really competitive. In 7-week trip, which my best friend and I titled “Go West 2000″, I learned to love the West (and this grew after returning 2 years later on a another great trip). But there’s more to it than that.

With the upheaval, and all of the tough situations that occurred over the last while, I have really felt the need to have a fresh start in some areas of my life. I have had a bumpy ride with regards to romantic relationships and just learning to find myself in that respect. Now, I don’t believe that I can run away from my past; I do, however, think that stepping out of my bubble will really challenge me and help me to dig down and come to know myself better, and to rely on God more than I would here. It’s a new environment, with new faces and opportunities. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have hopes of meeting that ’special someone’ out there. Whether or not that does happen is not up to me, but there is a spark of hope, and I’m ready to see where God leads me.

In one of my favourite books, Wild at Heart, John Eldredge says that “in the heart of every man is a desperate desire for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” This is my battle, to find myself and grow to be the man God has called me to be, and to live my adventure. At times, when I think of it, it is scary; I am leaving so much behind. But, I know that this is exciting change; change that will pave the way for what is meant to be.

The last few weeks have included numerous hours spent on organizing countless items for school, including setting up my classes twice. Accidentally signing up for classes at the wrong campuses is not a good idea. In my 4 years of College, I believe I chose one elective…I didn’t even choose the class time. This new process is one that I came to detest quickly, especially trying to carefully craft my schedule around cross-country times. Luckily, this process is done and has made way for others, such as figuring out how I will pay for all of this (OSAP actually is as painful a process as I was led to believe). Life has seemed like quite the whirlwind, and keeping track of everything has been a lesson in itself.

One of the questions I have been asked quite frequently is “are you getting excited?” It is a tough one for me to answer. On the one hand, I have a new adventure ahead of me; a new place to live, new people to meet and experiences to carve. However, there is also the other side of the equation: I leave behind so many amazing and close friends, family and everything else my life has become familiar with in 26 years. For the greater part of my life, I never figured I would be able to move away like this. Only with the rapid change of my life over the last couple of years and conversations with those who have experienced similar have I been able to really believe that I’d survive just fine (of course, time will tell). So to really the answer of being “excited”, I have concluded that it’s more of a being at peace. I have found a deeper appreciation for that which has brought me to this point, and I look forward to the unwritten stories of my life.