feens.org

Adventures in Hollywood North

feens — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:48:38 +0000

As seems to be the trend now, it has been a while since my last post, and much has happened since then.

A few weeks back, my parents made the trek out here for the first time, and it was a great time spent with them. They were here for just over a week, and we got to do a lot of touring and hanging out. I took them to Whistler, Granville Island, Stanley Park, and of course, around my school and residence (which, my mom wasn’t so thrilled about…really, it’s clean…at least by most people’s standards). My dad got to run a workout with the team, and my mom and dad met the coach, although briefly. It’s the first time since I’ve been out here that I’ve really taken the time to actually tour the city. You can see pictures of their visit here: http://gallery.mac.com/tfeens#100050

While they were here, they also got to witness Hollywood North. Just prior to their visit, our school began a transformation to movie set resembling a military base for the upcoming movie The Day the Earth Stood Still. Although I have seen various parts of our campus transformed numerous times since being here, this was by far the most elaborate and widespread work I’ve seen. During the actual filming, there was helicopter flying, lights everywhere, traffic being diverted, etc. It was pretty neat.

To add to this Hollywood theme, during my Sunday long run this week, the park/lake loop I run around also had small parts being adjusted for filming. It seems to be a normal theme out here.

Moving on, this past weekend I opened my outdoor track season with a cold, windy day in Seattle. Luckily, the weather overall has been fantastic out here (in my opinion…unless you like the mass piles of snow that is found in Ontario). I’m looking forward to the season, as there are chances to travel to some exciting places (California, Oregon). We actually have the bulk of our season after the semester has finished, which I like, though it means I likely won’t return home until late May (depending on how well I run).

Continuing with the school end of business… It has been a tad stressful, and I’m definitely looking forward to being finished with it. Almost all my papers are done, and soon the cramming will begin for exams. One last push, and it will be behind me.

All in all, it’s definitely been a great learning experience out here, on so many levels. I came out with the idea of stepping out of my bubble, and well, I definitely feel that I’m far from that bubble. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again and having good times over the summer.

It started with a night in Calgary…

feens — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:40:11 +0000

It’s been a few weeks since I returned to what I now think of as “Home #2″. Things seem to be going fairly smooth, but it definitely was not such a seamless start…

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.

Feels like home.

feens — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:27:58 +0000

I looked out the window, revealing a winter-like bliss unfolding before me. The forecast had called for rain in Burnaby, however I just happen to live on a mountain. This actually isn’t the first time I have seen snow up here this year, but this was definitely the most I have seen thus far. However, it did not seem unusual to me; the drivers on the mountain must have felt differently as their cars got stuck. The next day we headed down the mountain for our practice, and it was mostly green…I even saw a guy mowing his lawn. A couple of days later, I look out to mostly melted snow and have already enjoyed one of my two runs today in shorts and a long-sleeved shirt.

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

Sometimes it rains…

feens — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:23:03 +0000

Friday we (the SFU Cross-country team) arrived in Olympia, WA (75 min south of Seattle) to a nice sunny day. Saturday was race day, on the same course that is going to be used in one months’ time for NAIA Regionals. We woke up to a wet ground and a light rain falling from the sky with cool temperatures. Far from ideal running weather, but such was the story of my week.

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.

38697 feet up.

feens — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:43:46 +0000

As I write this, I look out of a small plastic window and see the world below with pockets of lights scattered around, and the dark horizon in the distance. This caps off what has been an absolutely amazing weekend.

The weekend started off with a visit with my home track club, including a good, tough hills workout. I must admit, I was very excited to see my running friends and my coach again. However, as exciting as this was, it was merely the start.

Saturday marked the wedding of my little sister (Alicia, for those of you who do not know her). Due to a crazy schedule and hectic workload and stresses leading up to this, I think my anticipation was really delayed for this. Friday was spent doing do work up until the rehearsal, and the rehearsal just flew by. In addition, I was trying to learn the song in which I would be joining the other two musicians in. Waking up Saturday morning though, everything came full circle. I couldn’t have been happier for Alicia and Mike. The ceremony suited them perfectly, and was very emotional for all involved, including my grandparents who are in their 90’s. Just seeing them there brought tears to my eyes.

My duties in the wedding were as a groomsman, which is simple enough, and to sing one of the songs. Although I have never been one to be overly comfortable in front of people, I have learned to adjust to this over the years of singing on a worship team at church. Saturday morning was different though, as I quickly learned. I have never been so nervous in my entire life. I was already emotional and I wanted things to be just perfect…Alicia would deserve nothing less. It was such and honour and privilege to be up there participating in her wedding, and is definitely a moment I will never forget. I do believe that Saturday would mark one of my proudest moments for her.

The weekend finished off with some time spent with my close friends, one of whom is getting married in 3 weeks time (which prompts for another brief return to my hometown). It was great spending some time with both family and friends, and it’s nice to know that it won’t be long until I do so again.

The next task at hand is conquering my current state of sleep deprivation, which is never an easy task while in school.

Update: here is a link to the pictures my older sister took at the wedding: http://picasaweb.google.com/tfeens/ALICIAANDMIKEWEDDINGSEPT2007?authkey=P3EuyFsVau8

Finding my rhythm

feens — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:38:21 +0000

A couple of weeks have gone been by since the start of school, and I think I can now accurately put down my thoughts as to how everything is going out here. My life can basically be split into 2 parts right now: studies, and running. Outside of these, I really don’t have much of a life (not that it’s a bad thing…I like how it’s worked out thus far).

As I had expected, University has proven to be much different than College. It’s not that the content is necessarily really hard, but there is a lot more regular work to do, and I have come to understand the importance of scheduling. It has taken a bit, but I finally feel like I am beginning to get a good feel for the academic portion of my life. I have 4 classes, 1 which is my hardest (Calculus), 1 easy one and 2 that fit somewhere in-between. I think it is a good and manageable setup as long as I stay on top of things.

That leaves the other part of my life out here: running. As I’ve mentioned in a few posts already, I’m pretty excited about how this is going. We have now completed 2 races: one in Seattle, WA and the other our home meet here. I have been more than happy with my results, and things are really falling into place. I have finished 7th and 6th on the team, and am running far better than I ever have. Our team is solid this year, and I must say, I am really proud to be an SFU Clan athlete. I can’t wait to see how things progress.

A friend asked me the other day “is it everything you expected out there?”, and I have to say, it’s everything and more. I think I’m really finding myself out here in many areas, and gaining enjoyable experiences and learning new things in the process. I know that before I left, I had a peace about coming out here, and that has really be realized.

On that note, I also have to say that I’m also really looking forward to my brief trip home this weekend, and being able to see my family and friends again. Despite the fact that I love it out here, I still miss everyone and certainly haven’t forgotten them.

Welcome to my new “backyard”

feens — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:24:18 +0000

If the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” holds true, I would argue that no matter how many photos I take, I could still not describe the beauty out here.

Last week during a light run I was introduced to what is now my favorite place on campus. From this park area, I can see Vancouver, the Burrard Inlet, Indian Arm and the Pacific Ocean. All of this with just the turn of my head.

Many of you have asked to see what the campus and area looks like, and I finally had a chance to take a bit of a walk around with my camera. I didn’t have the time to get everything, but do take a gander at some of the sights that I do see on a regular basis at http://picasaweb.google.com/trevor.feeney/AroundSFU

There are plenty areas from atop the school or it’s various patios to have absolutely stunning sights, and I am making use of these for work/study areas. Hopefully the pictures give you a small idea as to what it’s like where I am. The pictures honestly aren’t great in a photographic sense, but I think the views in them will speak for themselves.

And so it begins…

feens — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 06:38:23 +0000

The countdown has dwindled. Training camp is over. The students have arrived, and the nightlife is abuzz as summer comes to a close.

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.

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.

Amidst the mountains

feens — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 06:43:08 +0000

Saturday afternoon, after a light workout, the Cross-country/track team headed up to Whistler for our pre-season training camp. We are staying in a very nice lodge situated on the side of Blackcomb mountain. For me, this trip is an excellent opportunity to meet my teammates and get a feel for what the upcoming cross-country season might bring.

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.

Saying Goodbyes

feens — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 06:03:27 +0000

If I were to walk into a room full of people and ask those who enjoy saying “goodbye” to those close to them to raise their hands, I doubt I would have many hands shoot up into the air.

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.