Its Squamish, BC. Thats where I live. Coastal area where large rivers rush down from the mountains to feed into the ocean of Howe Sound. Its also home to a giant blob of granite known as The Stawamus Chief that I climb on and around as much as the weather permits me to. The back country is literally all around me, so I usually take advantage of that fact after work which sometimes results in some good photo opportunities. So, yes, it really is beautiful here. I love it.

:]

:p

What a difference a friend makes:

It’s a big glossy website with lots of smiling people promoting an intervention for mental illness. Surely, drug company marketing you think? Actually, it turns out to be a US Government initiative promoting the importance of friendship in mental health and recovery from mental illness.

In the medical literature, friends and family are described as ’social support’ and we know that social support is one of the biggest protectors against mental illness and one of the best predictors of recovery.

It’s probably one of the best studied aspects of mental health, and we know it has a significant impact on physical health as well. For example, it’s clear from the depression research that social support has a positive effect in a wide range of people and situations.

There are resources about different types of mental illness, tips for helping people you know and information on getting further advice and support, all very well presented with video and audio as well.

Largely because you can’t make a profit from love and friendship, you don’t see it promoted much, despite it being one of the most effective factors ways of combating psychiatric disorder.

Hopefully, this website is part of a larger campaign to get the word out. Bravo!

http://www.whatadifference.org/

Its stuff like this that makes me glad that I keep talking to all the people that I do. And I’ve always seen it as an opportunity to share the benefits of love and friendship and that that is about as important as anything when it comes to being human and healthy. I really believe that the new site will help that happen for even more people in more ways than I can imagine. Call me an optimist.

:]

I’ve always wanted to take a photography class. Maybe I’ll get round to it this coming year!

Its nice to know that you are going to get some time to relax with some family and friends over the holidays. You deserve it. :]

And I hope that you can take some solace from that rest that might be able to stick with you when you go back into IOP. I know it sucks to deal with, but its something that can help you. I hope you don’t lose sight of that because of the drain that i can put on you. And I know that you already know these things, but I thought it might be worth mentioning as a reminder from an outside source.

Here are a few of my pics. Hope you like. :]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Mackle/DSC_00411a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Mackle/DSC_0151b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Mackle/DSC_0120A-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Mackle/DSC_0116a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Mackle/DSC_0160b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Mackle/DSC_0042a.jpg

Its great to hear from you. Best news Ive had all day is that you are still kicking and screaming. :]

As for me, well, I’ve been pretty distracted with climbing up until just recently. Now the rains are back in full force. Quite a bit of snow and freezing temps too. I have been taking tons of photographs lately, though. Bought a new polarizing anti-reflection filter for my wind angle lens which is freaking amazing. Almost lost it the first day I used it too when I was on the beach taking shots of the sun going down.

What about you? What you been doing lately? What are your plans for the holidays?

“Novel thoughts:

Neuroscience is helping us to understand how art works – and it may offer us a way out of narcissism.”

This is an excellent article. Very relevant to whats been discussed here lately. Check it out.

:]