Winter Shoes...

So today I was talking to Lavonne about winter shoes. And I was happy to discover that someone else finds it to be a predicament like I do.

Until about the end of the September, I am on a steady rotation of flip-flops, flats, TOMS and converse. Then suddenly it starts raining every day, and you are looking at your shoe rack, wondering "what now?".

I wonder if I can carry on with the TOMS and the flats. But I might need socks, because its the winter and bare feet get cold. And then I can't determine whether that is lame or not. So, of course there are boots. But some days you don't want half your leg covered in shoe.

So what do you do? Just let your feet get cold in your summer shoes, or is there some type of shoe that I am missing here?

Let me know what you think.

And also, expect more random posts like this. We've had some crazy developments this week (perhaps another post is in order), and now I have much more alone musing time on my hands.

Some Observations on Halloween....

Doing my best to get in the spirit, we went to carve pumpkins on Friday night. But of course, I didn't carve one. I never do. It's something about the knives I think.

I've never really liked Halloween. I'd say without hestitation it's my least favourite "holiday". In fact, I am not sure I'd even call it a holiday. I don't really like any of the things associated with it (costumes, spiders, zombies, scary movies).

Nevertheless, there are a few funny things this year I liked:

1. There was a man walking down the street in White Rock carrying a 24 pack of Corona...in a priest's collar. I thought to myself "that's funny" and then realized "he's walking to a party, it's Halloween". Might have been funnier if it was an actual priest but still, the image was pretty great.

2. Matt and I went to Canadian Tire on Sunday to cut a key for our condo. We push the buzzer and a kid shows up wearing a FULL Michael Jordan basketball ensemble - Jersey, Shorts, Sweatband, but then also massive headphones. He obviously worked there because he started cutting our key. The whole time I could not figure out why this kid was dressed this way. "Was he a stock boy, just coming out from the back to cut keys?" or what. Then it dawned on me for a second time, "oh it's Halloween". Funny thing was - same thing happened to Matt. Either that was the best costume ever, or the worst. I'm not sure.

3. Yesterday, Halloween mark downs were in effect. There was a giant plastic container of gummy spiders - so I bought them. It said $1.00 in big black marker, and for some reason I thought that was the best price ever (but it was bulk candy, so this is not likely true). I also almost bought 1/2 price chocolate bar boxes, but then I realized that if I bought 72 more mini chocolate bars, I would end up eating them all.

4. Whilst eating some of mini-chocolate bars today I thought to myself - why is it okay on Halloween to eat so much chocolate? There is no regular week where I would eat 1-2 full chocolate bars a day, but I eat like 6 mini ones. Odd.

So there you have it - even I can find some saving grace in Halloween. And of course, now we get Christmas. Oh yes.

Gleek True Confessions....

Now I don't know if you watch Glee. I sure do.

It's probably the only show that makes me think having cable is worth it. From the moment they sang "Don't Stop Believing" last year, I knew. I was going to be hooked on this show. It just brings me so much joy.

What I have loved is watching the slow revolution. At first people are like "a musical TV show about singing high school students, that sounds kind of lame". And yes, I suppose it kind of does. And then slowly, people keep falling and admitting to me that they love it too. I remember when the same thing happened with Lois & Clark in high school.

So here are my "Gleek" true confessions:

1. I listen to the songs constantly. I own almost all of them. I have about 65+ songs in my itunes library. Not joking.

2. This week I bought People "Glee special edition" and I have read it cover to cover for factoids.

3. I wish that the Glee tour would have come here, because I would have paid to see those guys sing.

4. Thanks to my excellent Novacom co-workers, I now own season one, and have spend a considerable time watching DVD extras like "Glee Jukebox" and "Glee Karaoke".

5. Today I researched Kurt mini-me double in the last episode, because it was bugging me so much. Was it killing you too? Check out my results.

So there they are - what are your Glee true confessions?

It's my birthday...

Well what do you say really, when your last post was June 3, 2010. Exactly four months to the day. Sort of timely then I suppose.

I guess I do have some pretty adequate excuses:

a wedding
a honeymoon
and now unfortunately, a surgery.

So maybe, now that my excuses are over (mostly), I can't defend my lack of posting any longer. I remember a time when something really excellent or noteworthy happened, I would shout "that should be a blog post" and then I would make a mental note. Now it just turns into a facebook status. That's pretty lame - I'm going to try bringing those thoughts here again okay? See if I can break this "soundbite" generation thing.

This week has been unusual. I have spent the majority of it sitting in my condo (hey, I live in a condo now, with my husband!) trying to build myself back up to normal activities. Things are progressing, but its still hard not be frustrated when senior citizens pass you in the street (yes that actually happened) Whilst in the hospital, someone also stole $500 from my bank account, so I worked on getting that back. And then on Friday, I thought I had lost all of the documents from my computer. Like literally all of them.

So I had a little breakdown, where I got all existential and wondered if any of it mattered ("but I did all that work on all those lesson plans and papers and they're gone"). Mostly a "final straw" moment, where I wasn't sure what else I could take. Luckily, I have a very wise husband who calmly ushered me out of the condo and into Home Outfitters to spend some wedding gift certificates (thank you my friends for those).

In the end, I got both the money and the documents back (hurrah!). But even before I did, I realized that I have an embarassment of riches here. I have a husband who loves me and takes care of me after surgery and I have a community that cares about me - one that will fly across the country for my wedding, do silly wedding tasks, visit me when I am stuck at home. I don't think I could ask for more.

So, on this 26th birthday I feel incredibly blessed.

(and hey, I'm going to try and blog more okay? please keep coming).

Mumford & Sons: The Concert

So, after that debate, I decided to go the concert. I mean, the people might be onto something right?

And oh - were they ever.

It was an unbelievable show. One that I'm pretty sure I'll always remember.

The day was pretty much "Mumford" from start to finish. It began with Lavonne and I rushing downtown to catch the FREE "Mum's the word" show in the Yaletown outside. It felt like the Olympics again - being out in the street and taking in a free concert. We sang along with hundreds of strangers outside in the open air and it was delightful. The funniest moment had to be when they asked "Who's coming to the show tonight" and only us four girls cheered. Then, we got booed, by probably about 600 people. Yikes. We had some coveted tickets I suppose.

So, we decided to carry this enthusiasm into the evening, and we ended up being in the first 10 people in line. I don't think I have ever done that in my life. We waited outside for so long, that we even made friends with our line-mates. Something amazing happens though when you're at the front of the line - you get to stand wherever you want. So, of course we picked front and centre, and we were an arm's length away from the band.

And then we sang. We sang lyrics rich with meaning and inference. Me and hundreds of strangers (including my new line-friends standing next to me). We sang lyrics like these ones:

Love it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design, an alignment, a cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

It's difficult to describe - the feeling you get when you experience this kind of solidarity. The depth of lyrics (and the blatant Shakespeare references) were fantastic. Sort of like thousands of people singing "40" at the end of the U2 Vertigo concert. You're standing there wondering - are all these people really singing Psalm 40? Something about it always fills me with awe.

And that is why, in spite of my aching feet and my lack of sleep, I will continue to go to concerts. They're just something about seeing it live.

Waiting for the show to began, and our new friend Chase. He was nice to us after everyone booed us.

Mumford playing outside. A few people came.

There was a lot of standing, walking and waiting. I gave up and sat on the floor.
Pretty Rock n' Roll right?

So we were really close. No zoom required for this shot.

See what I mean?

Bonnie even touched a stage guitar! And took all these fantastic pictures. Thanks Bonnie!

If you haven't heard them yet - go take a listen. I'll even burn you a CD if you ask. Everyone should have some Mumford for the drive home.

Listening...

So I've been thinking a lot about listening lately. More specifically the art of listening to someone when they give you "input" on some situation in your life.

Matt was telling me the other day about a friend who "wouldn't listen to what anyone had to say to her, she was just going to do what she wanted either way". And it was funny, my first response was "well, wouldn't you?" or "wouldn't I?". And then it started this bigger conversation, where I started to ask people - "who do you actually listen to? and why?". It seemed like the common demoninator was often that we listened to people who had been through the same things as us, and that we trusted. But not necessarily. For example, our parents might have been through something and we may "trust" them, but we still don't want to hear their opinion. We want to act for ourselves.

And the more I talked about it, I wondered - is this our generation? Were our parents more willing to say "no, that's wrong, don't do that" (for better or worse sometimes) Are we too afraid? Have we reacted to them and gone too far in the other direction? Will we never say it? When I talk to a friend, I often hold back some of my thoughts if I think they sound "judgemental" in my head. I don't want to be that person. I want to show my friends I love them no matter what.

Sometimes, I think that is right course of action. You can hear in their voice - they have been judged, or hurt by a lot of "do's and don'ts" thrown at them by parents, or friends, or whoever. And you are just there to listen and love them.

But other times, I am not so sure. I wonder - should I have said (in love and with a lot of caveats) that I was worried abut them? But would it make a difference? Or would it just lead to friendships ending because we hate hearing this kind of stuff. I have to admit that I tend to spend more time with those that agree with me.

These are just some thoughts - spinning my head, and I just wondered what you thought - if you think we're all like this, or if you think you can take it. I know - sort an intense post. I'll try to make the next one lighter - perhaps about the Bestseller I just finished. Yep, it's true.

Clancy's Tea Cosy...

On most Saturdays I go for tea. It's become such a frequent event, that now the tea ladies know us by name. One in particular, a lady named from Wilhemena, who started the tea shoppe and named it after her Irish husband.

She brings us so much delight week after week. We tell her stories, and she remembers our order. When only one of us comes, she waits for the other to arrive before bringing the teapot. After travelling in Europe, we came back and told her that her tea shoppe was superior to many that we visited in the UK. She went into the kitchen and we could hear her tell the other ladies that "the girls thought OUR tea was better than Europe". We were the girls. Fantastic.

And then, the first week of April something terrible happened. She annoucned she was leaving - forever. She had worked there for over 14 years, and she was ready to have her freedom (and her Saturday's back). While we did feel quite bad about the Saturdays, we were very, very sad.

It's like one of those things you just count on - like the seasons changing, or Christmas every year. And when it changes, it's kind of shattering.

So last week we said our goodbyes.


And this week we couldn't go back. It was too soon. Maybe next week.

Mumford & Sons....

Currently, I have in my possession two tickets to two separate sold-out shows that I paid a total of $25 dollars for. One is Dan Mangan and the other is Mumford & Sons.

Thanks to my obsessive contest entering (I'd say I enter about 10 contests a week through Georgia Straight and the Peak...crazy right?) - I have won two sets of tickets to shows in the past year. Well three actually, but I couldn't go to one. How rad is that?

But now I am faced with a very strange situation. Somehow the Mumford & Sons tickets went on sale, and then like one week later they got really popular. Yesterday, I looked online and I could sell my $25 ticket for $90! What?!? That is a crazy return. So the question is - is it worth it to keep them?

It's sort of like during the Olympics when people got crazy good tickets in the draws. One person at Novacom could have gotten $2500 for her $200 speed skating tickets, but she went because she figured it would be worth it. Obviously, not quite as extreme...but still.

I think I am leaning towards going. The people must be on to something right? (But I guess the same could be said for Justin Bieber...did I just compare Mumford to the Biebs? Yup). But seriously, these guys are pretty awesome. They're British, their music is fantastic and their lyrics are very compelling. Go take a listen.

And check out these lyrics:

"It seems that all my bridges have been burned/

But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works/

It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart/

But the welcome I receive with the restart"

(From "Roll Away the Stone" Mumford & Sons)

So, what do you think? And are you loving Mumford?

coupons....

So I don't know how you feel about coupons. I know that some people hate them, and some people swear by them. Matt used to always get upset when I went to use the Entertainment Book. This one year at Kelsey's, he missed his Sales Goal because of that book. I'd usually get away with it anyway. I would just have to work hard not to be an irritating coupon user (tip on the whole bill etc).

But now, my friends I have discovered a whole new set of coupons. And they are just showing the Entertainment Book how it is done.

It's called Traveller's Deck - a set of cards for the various districts of Vancouver (Gastown, Granville, Commercial Drive etc). They are created by local Vancouverites who picked their favourite places in the city. Each district has a few restaurants and a few shops. The cool part is - you can't pay to be on the list (like in the Entertainment book), you have to be selected. Each card has a little write-up about the shop and a discount. So not only do you learn about cool places, but you also get a deal. The whole pack is only $12.


Now you might think this is sounding like a sales-pitch. But my friends - this is really a Public Service Announcement, because tonight we got the best deal ever.

Matt's parents came with us to Nood Furniture in Gastown, where we got 50% off two couches. Yes, you heard me. Fifty Percent. Two Couches. That by far, is the best discount I have ever received from a coupon. I still don't even believe it.
I didn't think I could ever be this excited about coupons, or couches. But I am. Maybe this is the true initiation into adulthood.

A delight...

Matt & I both laughed out loud.

To get us both - that's quite the feat. Bring some joy to your post-Olympic life.

www.isnickelbacktheworstbandever.com

Check it.

Olympics Top 10...

So the Olympics came to Vancouver. We talked about it a lot before they came - and I think it would be pretty safe to say they lived up to the hype for me. Either that, or we just created a lot of our own hype. Probably the latter. And yet still - there were some great times.

So, now here's my Olympic top-ten, lest we forget the fun as we pay for it in taxes over the next ten years.

10. Waking up at 4:30 in the morning to see the torch: Arnold Schwarzenegger

9. Watching Ladies Moguls with collective cheering, and dancing in the rain: Richmond Ozone & Bedouin Soundclash

8. Snagging Victory Ceremony tickets at the last second: Barenaked Ladies

7. No line-ups and excellent music: Hot Hot Heat

6. Watching an opening band that got a standing ovation, beautiful melodies and a seat to call my own: Hey Rosetta & Stars

5. Singing O Canada with thousands of strangers: Jon Montgomery Gold Medal Ceremony

4. An unreal outdoor concert with non-stop favourites: Sam Roberts Band

3. Creating a new record of four free concerts in one night - all with great friends: Hey Rosetta (yes again), You Say Party, We Say Die!, Tokyo Police Club and Mother Mother

2. Geoff's sign that read "Get your photo with a Canadian - Free!" and the crazy pictures that ensued: Downtown

1. Sheer joy after Canada's huge Gold Medal Hockey win.

Well - it was a pretty unreal two weeks. So much Canadian solidarity, and fun times. Part of the joy was experiencing this with so many different friends. So thanks to everyone that was Olympic keen with me.

I have that feeling like the day after Christmas or something - so much build-up and then it's over. I suppose I should get used to it because the wedding hype is just about to get into full-swing.

Ahh yes - the wedding. 2010 is going to one for the record books.

Solidarity....

I've blogged before on how much I love community solidarity. Let's just come out and say it - I like being part of the cheering crowd.

So today, everyone at Novacom packed up for half-an-hour and went to see the Olympic Torch pass through Cloverdale. I wore my Olympic mitts, and all of us paraded down the street with joy. It's not everyday you can get that much enthusiasm out of seven adults. The streets were packed all throughout Cloverdale, and people "cheered on the flame" when it passed.

And I think I'm going to go again tomorrow. (Southpoint 6:15 or Semihamoo Mall 6:36 if you're interested).

Moments like these are rare - where we all come together for something. The cynics might say that we should come together for something more...erm...community-building. But I think this is a start.

Maybe you're an Olympic hater - or maybe you're an Olympic lover. I don't know. But I do know this - our city is about to have a big (free! well sort of) party, and you should come join me in it.

feb 12 - PPAC Opening Ceremonies

feb 13 - Bedouin Soundclash/Hey Ocean (Richmond Ozone)

feb 17 - Hawksley Workman (Richmond Ozone) OR Hot Hot Heat (Surrey Holland Park)

feb 19 - The Stars (The Orpheum)*

feb 20 - Hey Ocean/Said The Whale/Mother Mother (Holland Park Surrey) OR
Sam Roberts/The Arkells (Livecity Downtown)

feb 21 - Great Lake Swimmers (Ontario Pavilion)

feb 27 - Wintersleep/Tokyo Police Club/Hey Rosetta/You Say Party, We Say Die (Surrey Holland Park)

Check all the free concert listings yourself

Check out all the other free fun events (Russian Tall-ships, Ziplines, Country-houses)

So are you convinced? Do you want to Olympic-party with me? Love it or hate it - those tax dollars are paying for it - so let's enjoy!

*only paid show in the list. all others are FREE!

three month lull, and then FLASHMOB!

On January 23, 2010, I danced in a flash-mob.

During the practices I realized: "this was something I wanted to do before I die". I didn't even realize it was on my "bucket-list" until I was doing it. Aren't those the best kinds of things?

So now, for your viewing pleasure:

Flash Mob For Haiti Youtube

I run in at 1:45, in case you wanted to see me. ha. Geoff Stewart (the organizer) had this idea that maybe for every view (we're hoping for a lot), organizations will donate to Haiti. We'll see what happens.

When you're done watching, check out these flash-mob classics.

But maybe watch ours first, because we aren't "proffesional dancers" or anything:

T-Mobile Dance Liverpool Station London
Sound of Music - Belgium Train Station