Personal Space

Work has annual requirements for me to fulfill, so for the past two days I drove down to Toronto to take a course on Crisis Intervention and Restraint training. I choose to take the course in TO rather than in my district because I prefer to train with a room full of people who have different cultural backgrounds. And once again I had a blast.
One of the first exercises was to split the class in two, line up and face eachother. My partner happened to be a cute young guy who had never taken this training before. I was supposed to walk across the room and when he felt uncomfortable with me approaching his personal space bubble, he would put up his hand to stop me. I would then stop. Three feet away.
Next he had to walk towards me and I put up my hand at about a half a foot away because he was looking very uncomfortable. The teacher told everyone to take a small step forward and we were toe to toe. He started to laugh. The instructor thought a third time would really nail down the theory that we all have personal space, but when I walked across the room, this man opened his arms and gave me a hug. Yeah! I did it again. Broke the ice and proved I don't really care if you are in my space.
The instructor was a bit intrigued until I explained that I have lived in third world countries and people invade my space all the time. When she asked why I let his guy in, I told her that I trusted him. It was pretty clear that we shared the same faith and position at work, so why wouldn't I trust him. I assumed he wasn't aggressive and I had no reason to fear him, and in the end I got my free hug for the day. :)
Guy number two brought out more of my humorous side. We were watching half the class do their restraint techniques and it started to look like a choreographed dance routine. Later on in the day I was watching this guy do his manoevers and so I quickly sketched an 8.5 on a napkin and held it up. He laughed, completely catching on that I was judging his dancing.
Why am I sharing these stories? I don't know, but it's just been fun to laugh and learn and once again spread my wings.

Glimpse Shots

I've still been trying to go around with my camera and catch glimpses of what goes on in the world around me. Please share in my sight seeing adventures:

This tree reminds me of many "Group of Seven" paintings.
Yeah, I graduated with another certificate!

Finally, two days ago I finished Mom's cross-stitch that we bought in the Philippines in 2004.

Bones started licking his paws when he found real Canadian maple syrop.

Phew... winter is over... spring has sprung!

Now it's time for fishing and barbeques.

One day I went to go find Bones because I wanted to pack him for a trip and I found him praying at the bedside in Dad's office. Silly Mom, tricks are for kids.