Goodbye 2008

It's strange to think that the year I was apprehensive about is just about done and gone. This time last year I was trying to stop the days till turning 30, and here I am now closer to my 31st birthday.

2008 was a pretty decent year. It was definitely the year of discovery and travel. I ended visiting Las Vegas with girlfriends; attended sorority convention in Washington D.C.; and traveled north with Colin to see the rest of BC, the Yukon, and parts of Alaska... and I turned 30.

For some bizarre reason I am really looking forward to 2009 - not to jinx anything. Two of my closest friends are having babies this coming year. Colin and I plan to take our long-awaited trip to New Zealand. And I get to be a bridesmaid again in September. Not a bad year, and it hasn't yet begun.

I will be ending 2008 on Vancouver Island. We will be ringing in 2009 in Esquimalt with Adam, and will be heading up to Shawnigan Lake tomorrow to spend New Year's day with my sister-in-law and her family.

See you next year!

Success

Colin and I cooked our first turkey dinner on Christmas Eve and it was a great success. The turkey, the stuffing, everything turned out just right. Well, almost everything was near perfect, except the roast and mashed potatoes, but they weren't bad at all. And apparently we prepare a mean Brussel sprout!

It felt very rewarding, but it was far too much for our small kitchen, sans dishwasher. Fitting eleven people in our apartment is usually no problem, but for a formal sit down dinner, it was bit much. We do have an excuse, though, for not hosting next year - we plan to be in New Zealand.

After this year, Christmas on the beach seems ideal. It will be strange not being around family at Christmastime; something I actually enjoy. But this is one of those trips we've always wanted to take, and December/January is the best time for us, and for New Zealand weather.

We did well this Christmas. Not that we don't usually clean up in the presents department. My father and mother-in-law gave us a few small gifts, and some money to spend on ourselves. We decided to use some to by a surround system and any leftover we'll,k split and buy ourselves whatever we want. I'm going shopping. But that should be a surprise to no one.

The next day, we received a bluray disc player from my parents. It goes perfectly with the surround system. And we christened the lot with the Dark Knight. Most excellent. Colin took full advantage yesterday and watched two of three Lord of the Rings movies. I couldn't handle the third one yesterday, so guess what we will be watching today...

After a week of too much [rich] food and little exercise, we were both feeling a bit zingy so we hit the ice last night. We missed the season last year, so our feet were sore for the first 10-15 minutes. I even had to go re-lace my skates. We skated for 45 minutes and felt refreshed after that much needed exercise.

This week is panning out to be a busy one. I am going shopping tomorrow. Die is back in town, so a few of us Crofties are getting together for tea on Tuesday. Colin and I are heading to Victoria to spend New Year's eve with Adam. And then my vacation starts to wind down.

Two weeks seems to be going by too quickly this year, but my last week of work before the holidays seems a lifetime ago.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

For the first time in a decade Vancouverites could well be waking up to a White Christmas. Not the usual I'm Dreaming of a Wet Christmas.

What makes this weather all the more interesting was that the temperatures this fall were pretty average, and it was fairly dry. But in the past couple of weeks, the city, and the entire country have fallen into a deep freeze. Which is fine for the rest of Canada, but not for us. We aren't used to -15 degree weather, or whatever the heck the windchill has been. When you are born in or move to Vancouver you sign on the dotted line for sea breezy summers and mild winters. I don't recall signing on for sub zero temperatures and this white stuff. That's what the mountain views are for!

Needless to say it's made the first couple days of my Christmas vacation interesting. We did most of our shopping for Christmas dinner on Saturday because the forecast said it would snow again on Sunday.

The Superstore is trying at the best of times. But dealing with it the Saturday before Christmas, oh my god! After that torture we went into Richmond to pick up a couple of presents for Tiki and Welly, and a few other items. Later that night we bundled up and walked to our local sports bar to watch the hockey game. I had five layers on, but nothing is a match for the biting Pacific breeze. It eats through you, straight to the bone. We left the pub to find it had started snowing again, and was a cold like no cold in Vancouver before.

We had planned on walking to the video store to rent a film, but it was too damn cold. We considered driving, but we would be there and back by the time the car heated up. So we trudged home from the bar and watched one of our own movies.

Yesterday we battled the roads and the crazy Vancouver drivers who shouldn't be on the road on a dry, sunny day, and finished our Christmas dinner shopping. Last night we began to set up the apartment for our Christmas Eve dinner.

Now all we have to do is head into Steveston tomorrow and pick up our turkey. Oh, and then prepare a turkey dinner for eleven... for the first time ever...

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

Yesterday was a fairly busy day. I had a hair appointment at 11:00 a.m. and had a couple hours afterwards to relax at home before heading to our two Christmas parties. We left the first party around 7:30 p.m. to head to party number two.

It was ridiculously cold when we left - cold enough to snow, which it was starting to do. We left the second party just after 11:00 p.m. because we noticed the snow getting worse and worse.

Driving in Richmond is like running the gauntlet at the best of times. Add snowy, icy conditions, and localized blackouts to that mix, and it becomes a complete gong show. A normally ten minute drive took an hour.

We managed to make it to the Arthur Laing bridge and would have been home in thirty minutes, but there had been an accident on the bridge deck, and northbound traffic was blocked. So we turned around at the BCIT campus, made our way back over the Dinsmour and along Alderbridge to get to the Oak Street Bridge. Of course, so was everyone else. It was a slow crawl to get onto Highway 99, but traffic was moving. There were a couple of scary moments, however. We saw one guy go for a slide and nearly hit the car next to him. And there were numerous cars pulled over, stuck, and even one in a ditch.

Once we made it onto Hwy 99 it wasn't so bad. The sanding truck had just been along, so we had good grip making our way back into Vancouver. We didn't take the Marine West exit though, because we knew trying to get up Osler would be interesting to say the least. Instead we continued up Oak and turned off on 67th and came down Osler.

We made it home, an hour later, in one, slightly frazzled, piece.

A 'Golden' Day

Yesterday started off good, and I knew the day would end on a good note, with the Robin Williams show. But as the day went on, it just got better and better.

An already good day was made better with a phone call from Colin (see blog entry for December 10th).

Then, towards the end of the work day, I decided to check my gmail account. There was something from VANOC regarding Olympic tickets. I went straight to my account to see if I got anything we signed up for... but I couldn't remember my password, so I had to wait to receive a new one. It only took a few minutes, but still... And there it was: two tickets to the men's gold hockey game. I could not believe it. I called Colin. He could not believe it. And I believe half the people on the 3:15 p.m. ferry from Nanaimo to Tsawassen yesterday know about our luck.

Too bad we didn't buy a lottery ticket for last night's draw... the wins could come in handy paying my January Visa bill...

Oh yeah, Robin Williams was damn funny. I was in hysterics for almost two straight hours. My temples hurt at the end. And I don't think it helped my cold much. But who cares. It was the perfect way to end the perfect day.

A Change in Plans…

Welcome to my crazy week. Thinking back on this year, this is probably my most hectic, jam-packed week, except maybe the week of DPhi E Convention. It all starts tonight with the Robin Williams show and doesn’t end till Sunday evening.

None of my events have changed, per se, but some circumstances around them have. And, as Martha Stewart would say, “that’s a good thing.”

Colin has been working on the Island this week, and in order for him to make tonight’s show I was going to drive out to Horseshoe Bay after work to pick him up. Even worse, I was going to get up at the ungodly hour of 4:30 a.m. tomorrow morning to drive him back to Horseshoe Bay. But, as luck would have it, the job is complete, and he is coming home today; which means no cavorting out to West Van during rush hour after work, and a normal start for me tomorrow. And, I no longer have to worry about whether or not Colin would be able to make the sorority party on Friday.

Prorogue this Harper

I started writing a blog entry the other day (which seems be turing into an essay) on what is currently happening in Ottawa. I'd thought I would have few days to write it, and take some time to research a couple of things, because nothing was supposed to happen until Monday. What I was trying to say has now become obsolete (somewhat), because, quite suddenly yesterday, the decision came down that Parliament would take a little hiatus, or in proper Canadian political terms, Parliament is now prorogued.

What does this mean? It means that Parliament is not on break, but it hasn’t dissolved either, giving Harper, (and I guess the opposition coalition) some time to figure some things out. Personally, I think this is the cowards way out. Harper would have won back some of my respect if he just swallowed his pride, realized he is a Prime Minister with minority power, and put forward a stimulus package. Perhaps it would do Harper some good to review Canadian Political Science 101 and re-read the chapter on minority governments…Instead we now all have to sit around and wait until the new year… with nobody in charge.

What's Dark, Wet, and Unsuccessful?

Last night's foray into Marpole.

I figured since I was going to walk down to Curves I may as well pop into the bank to deposit some cheques, and pop into Safeway to pick up some crazy glue.

It was dark, pissing with rain, and the bottom third of my Lemons* were soaked. But I was fairly dry and content with my umbrella and iPod.

Task #1: go to RBC and deposit cheques - Outcome: Thwarted. The damn bank was out of envelopes. It was me and a bunch of other soggy people standing in a vestibule at a complete loss due to a lack of envelopes.

Task #2: go to Safeway and buy a particular brand of crazy glue and tomotoes. Outcome: I got tomotoes, but not the right brand of crazy glue. The Christmas Tree stand is only half fixed and the living room is covered with Christmas tree branches (it's a fake tree).

Task #3: go to Curves - Outcome: Had a really good workout. Thank god for that - that saved the outing.

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*Colin's term for my Lululemon pants

December Madness

Well folks, 2008 is fast coming to a close. In just over a month we will all be settling into 2009. But before we get there we all have to get through December. I always find December nuts, and just a little too jammed-packed, but this year? I don't think I've seen anything quite like it.

Colin will be away again for the first two weeks of December (but back for the weekends), working on the Island. It's ironic (in a good way) that during this massive economic slide Colin has had more work than ever before, and it sounds like he will be busy till the end of the year.

I will have to use this weekend, and the first two weeks of December to finish my little project and get the house in tip-top shape because... starting December 10th we have 6 functions in 5 days: we are going to see Robin Williams, I then have an admin staff party, my sorority party, two more parties on the Saturday, and one on the Sunday. In that time I am also getting my hair done and in order for Colin to see Robin Williams I have to drive out to Horseshoe Bay after work on Wednesday and drop him back out there around 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning! Which means a 4:00 a.m. start for me, followed by 5 parties in 4 days.

The third week is pretty quiet so far. I have my staff party, and then my vacation starts. But Colin thought it would be a good idea to host Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve - so there goes my first week of vacation - cooking a sit down Turkey dinner for 12 people, for the first time ever! I will have lots of help, but still...

I'm declaring 2009 the year of rest... yeah, fat chance of that happening!

Darker and Darker

Is it just me, or does this autumn seem particularly dark this year? Considering it's November the weather hasn't been all that bad. Just a few days of rain, but mostly sun or overcast, and fairly average temperatures. Maybe my body thinks it's Spring and is expecting the days to get longer, not shorter.

Maybe I get in such a funk at this time of year with the weather, that I never pay much attention to the shortening days. But since the weather has been okay, I'm noticing the darkness that much more.

Now I am just sitting and waiting for the crazy windstorm headed our way today. Apparently the gusts are supposed to hit 90 km/hour. I am just noticing now the trees are starting to sway a little...

On an entirely different note, I can't believe it's already Friday, and that the day is half done. This week has been a little strange since last weekend was so stressful, and Colin has been away all week, working on the Island. And he may not be back for Saturday night. Hopefully he will be, but I have Lisa and Andrew to keep me company tomorrow evening. I think Lisa needs to win the super duper friend of the week award. I plan to go shopping tonight - see if I can get some more Christmas shopping done, and maybe do some for myself - I am bucking the economic trend...

My de-cluttering and re-org is nearing the end and I will be damn glad when it's done. Then the next steps are putting things away and clearing out the closets and putting more things into storage. My goal is to have this done by the end of November, since December is always busy, and the calendar is starting to fill up!

Can't Wait for Monday

I think Hell just froze over - I am actually looking forward to the work week this week. I never in a billion years thought I'd say that, as much as I love my job. But this weekend was just crazy.

I will preface it by saying it wasn't all bad. I had a couple of awesome social engagements. But when I wasn't out of the house, things were just stressful.

My de-cluttering and reorganizing project has taken on a life of its own. And while I am trying to achieve an organized lifestyle, everything has been thrown into more chaos than I started with. And I don't do chaos, so it's starting to get to me.

With both our parents moving we have been obtaining more and more stuff we don't have room for, but things we want for when we have a decent sized home. So Colin has spent his weekend moving things to the storage locker, and it's just been stressful. For the both of us.

Colin will be away most of this week working, so hopefully I will distract myself by finishing my reorganization and start to organize a few more things for the storage locker. And then I can get on with my life...

Vote n' Bowl

What can I say, today hasn't exactly turned into the most relaxing Saturday. In less than four hours we need to be out the door to cast our vote in the Civic election and then participate in a bowl-a-thon for Cystic Fibrosis - which I'm organizing. In the mean time, Colin has to set up our storage locker, help my dad with some shelves, and then start moving things to the locker - none of which are even ready.

We'll probably take the mattress and mattress pad over today, and a couple of other things. But the mattress and pad haven't been wrapped, so I don't know what we're going to do about that.

It can be hard sometimes when you're the type of person who likes things done, ready, and organized, and you're with someone who is the opposite. And vice versa.

Jumping the Gun?

So I got some me shopping and some Christmas shopping done today. But the Christmas shopping wasn't quite as successful as I hoped. I may have started too early, as none of the Christmas stores have opened and Purdy's doesn't have their Christmas chocolate yet. Apparently that all happens this weekend.

But some Christmas shopping done is better than no Christmas shopping done. The only real downside today was that Lansdowne and Richmond Centre were a heck of a lot busier than I was expecting. I guess a lot of people took today off to get a long, long weekend. Either that, or they were playing hooky...

Coming Along

Do you want an update on my house de-cluttering and reorganizing activities? Probably not, but I am going to tell you anyways. I have completed the two worst rooms in the home: the den and the bedroom.

The den was a nightmare - basically five years of stuff to go through and tidy up. The bedroom wasn't as bad as I cleaned it not long ago. What took the time was going through all my clothes. I emptied all my drawers and took everything out of the closet. I know have this much room for new clothes. Colin wasn't too up on that theory. And I even got rid of a few pairs of shoes, which means more shoes too. Colin didn't like that theory either. But, I plan to go shopping tomorrow anyways - shopping for me, and shopping for Christmas. Yes Christmas shopping! I started doing my Christmas shopping in November a couple of years ago and I really enjoy it. I don't feel rushed and the malls (and people) aren't insane. I generally have everything bought and wrapped by early December. But this year I have to remember not to put bows on anything until the last minute. The cats love to chew them and rip them of the presents. A few people got mangled bows last year - but that's just Tiki and Welly's gift to you.

The Lowest of Human Lows…

There are lots of them out there, but my example is the person who stole my umbrella. Seriously, you have to be a pretty bad person to snatch a Vancouverite’s umbrella during the rainy season, especially with this week’s forecast. And the worst part is, it was taken from work…

You Know That Joke...

...the one where the restaurant patron tells the waiter, "there's a fly in my soup!" Well, I had a similar situation yesterday. But it wasn't in a bowl of soup,the fly was in my glass of water, and I nearly took a big gulp out of it when I noticed the fly. Just in time for Halloween.

Oh, and he wasn't doing the backstroke...

The October Blahs?

The last few days I've been feeling, well, blah. I don't know if it's the time of year - the weather's been nice, but I haven't been outside much; I don't know if I'm having a hard time coping with not being busy. When I get bored I tend to hit a bit of a funk.

I'm not saying I have nothing do, but I feel like I've hit a bit of a wall. I think I was just too busy this weekend, and didn't have a huge amount of fun - which I really need right now.

Actually, what I really need is a vacation. I have two weeks until mid-term break, and a four-day weekend and 7 weeks until Christmas vacation.

I think the important thing is to keep myself busy and fight the urge to sit around and do nothing. When I'm busy I feel energized. When I do nothing, it draws me into a deeper funk, and just exacerbates the problem.

Round 2

No sooner than wrapping up the Federal election, people living in Metro Vancouver are heading back to the polls on November 15 for civic elections. And yesterday there were some areas of BC that headed to the polls to vote in Provincial by-elections. And this whole time many Canadians have had their eyes and ears glued to the US election. Myself included.

So a week ago I had to decide who I wanted to be Prime Minister. In three weeks time I have to decide who I want to be mayor of Vancouver. Actually I've made that decision: Peter Ladner. If Sam Sullivan was still NPA party leader I would have a difficult decision ahead of me. Many NPA supporters are not fond of Sullivan... doesn't that sound familiar.

Gregor Robinson has a lot of good points too, but voting for Vision Vancouver is much like me voting for the NDP... The area I really have to focus on is who is running for the Parks Board, School Board etc.

And when I'm done with that election, that isn't the end of it. British Columbians will be going back to the polls in May for provincial elections. Then I think it's time for a rest. But with another ($300,000,000) minority government in charge federally, I could be back to the polls sooner than I know or care to know... and this coming from someone who loves politics and election time...

Back to Square One

Nobody really wanted an election. The lowest voter turnout in Canadian history made that apparent. For the most part people were happy with the status quo of the last minority government. Everyone except the PM and his Conservative party. He called an election because the polls showed he could win a majority, and stop the back and forth bickering associated with a minority government.

The Conservatives were re-elected. With a minority government. All that time and tax dollars to maintain the status quo. But the Conservatives did gain some seats; a slight victory. And the Liberals lost some key seats, the biggest shock being the riding of Richmond.

And there could be another shocking Liberal loss. South Vancouver, my riding, is doing a re-count. On election night Dosanjh won by 700 or so votes. Elections Canada re-counts on races separated by less than 1,000 votes. The re-count showed Dosanjh won by 30! So they have to re-count again. What was once a Liberal stronghold could still end up on the Conservative side... but it still wouldn't give Harper his majority. And we would still be right back where we started five weeks ago.

An Election Story

The deed is done. I have voted.

My plan after work was to go vote and go to Curves (or vice versa), but since this was my first day back at work in a week, I felt exhausted by the end of the day, so I exercised my right to vote, but not my body. Actually that's not entirely true, since I walked to the polling station.

As I was walking to my polling station I was thinking about the first time I went voting; not the first time I voted, (1996). It was back in 1982 and I was four, so obviously I couldn't cast a vote, but my parents could, and took me along with them to the polling station (on the Musqueam reserve).

For weeks my parents had been telling that on this day we were going voting. Except I didn't know what voting meant, but I knew what boating meant, so I thought we were going boating. I was very excited since I enjoyed the water, and had been on a boat before. And I knew our polling station was on the banks of the Fraser River, so even more reason for me to believe we going boating.

Well, you can imagine my disappointment. Needless to say I was totally unimpressed with this whole voting business, and cried the whole way home because I didn't get to go boating!