Worst Christmas on Record

I must be getting better, because I'm feeling less despondent and more irritated. This is the second Christmas in a row that I've been ill and unable to eat any chocolate.
To top things off this year, I'm not even drinking. Not a drop. Not that I would be able to anyhow.

I don't really miss the booze, but time does crawl when you're not well. You can't even sprawl around and watch tv because it's impossible to get comfortable. Plus the projectile vomiting adds an element of surprise to nearly everything.

Then there's the sick smell. I don't mean the obvious barf smell, but the sour one that comes from within that you can't seem to shake. I have been advised to "brush my tongue", but I'm well aware of dental hygiene, so I don't need any advice from someone that has been walking around with a temporary filling in their mouth for YEARS! COME ON!!!


See what I mean about irritable?


Total mouse count to date: 6

Merry Christmas

Last evening ended with barfing, and this morning began with barfing. I was the only one exempt from this activity.
I didn't let it stop me from making one killer Christmas feast. It was nice to have my brother back from America to celebrate with us.

The only glitch was that I had no idea the watch I bought my husband had "cougar bait" stamped on the back.....grrrrrrr

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Have an Itchy Scratchy Christmas!

Unlike last year, when we were all gaunt and afflicted with some sort of flu, this year, we are harboring disgusting little pests in our hair. It's SO heinous and nasty, but a fact of life now I guess. I somehow managed to go my entire life without catching the wee little buggers, but having a husband that works for the school board, and a child in public daycare, our world has been rocked. So gross.

Tonight will be our 3'rd week of treatments. And it has been a nice excuse to avoid all the holiday mayhem by saying, "Oh, sorry, we can't make it tonight. We have to wash our hair".
Thankfully, there is a new treatment which is non-toxic, but trying to get a 3 year old to sit still for any length of time is still very much a challenge.
I guess everyone will get lice these days, but it still doesn't stop me from feeling total disgust and revulsion at the idea that these parasites are feasting on my scalp. All I have to do is think about it and I'm scratching like mad.


Hopefully after tonight's final treatment, all will be well.

I hope you and yours are not dealing with anything like this during the holidays.
Have a merry HO HO!!

Yes but he's OUR pain in the ass...

The other day our Homeopathic Vet showed up on her bike for a house call.
Yup, a Homeopathic Vet. And yes, she came to our house.

It was great, but really stressful as our 14 year old cat Chico was far from compliant.
She needed to take blood from him, so instructed us (the hubby and I) on how to hold him. I held the front legs with one hand, and with the other, tried to tilt his head back, but not too far, with the idea of keeping him motionless. My husband took care of those jack-rabbit back legs.
I wouldn't have thought that a 14 year old cat could have so much strength, but the guy was a force to be reckoned with. The vet would flinch, and remind me to hold him still. I was super stressed 'cause Chico would jerk and make this howling sound every time she tried to get a needle into his neck.

We tried several times to draw blood from his neck. A couple of times we tried to take from him back leg, but this too was difficult because you needed to press onto the vein to make sure it didn't move. Arrrgh. It was too much. I feel like I aged about 5 years, and the strain was evident on the other's face too. Even the vet was flustered by our stubborn and remarkably strong cat.

We eventually gave in and administered a sedative, but only after we were all sufficiently rattled. Poor Chico. He must have felt like a damn pin cushion. The remedies for both cat and dog were peculiar. Chico had 2 doses of a magic dust, that we were to sprinkle onto his gums. Yoshi had wee tiny pellets, but they must have worked, 'cause I do see an improvement in his kitten scratch gone bad.

It was an experience for all!
Thankfully, all balance has been restored. HA!

Remembering Women Murdered by Men

On December 6'th, 1989, at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, a man that will not be named here, separated the women from the men in an engineering class screaming "I hate feminists".
He then proceeded to shoot all the women in the class.
It was my second year university, and like many, I was shocked and disgusted by this man's actions. It opened my eyes to a whole new concept. Misogyny. What was most disturbing about this event was the fact that he deliberately separated the women from the men, allowing the men to leave the room and go free.
Even now, years later, some people challenge that this was a hate crime. Perhaps it's too painful to admit that not much has changed.

Out of respect to the victims, I have listed their names below.


Geneviève Bergeron
Hélène Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz
Maryse Laganière
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pelletier
Michèle Richard
Annie St-Arneault
Annie Turcotte "

Remembering Women Murdered by Men is the name of a new book written by a collective called The Cultural Memory Group. The group includes an English professor, a Director of a Women's Crisis Centre, a Human Rights and Equity Advisor, and a PhD candidate in Communications and Culture, among others. I heard an interview with them the other day on their attempts to establish public memorials to these victims of violence, and the resistance they face to bring attention to the plights of women who have been murdered by men. The women were great, and their ability to speak so clearly on the subject brought many knee jerk responses, which I was forced to listen to today. It was excruciating to listen to middle aged men deny deny deny. Deal with it! You are part of the problem.

Times have not really changed have they?
We are still reluctant to recognize the numbers of women on the news everynight who die at the hands of their spouses or other 'loved' ones. It is right in front of us, yet some still refuse to see. Prime time is full of crime dramas that begin every night with the bodies of dead women. Is this entertainment? I can only think of the 50 or so missing women that were collected from the streets surrounding my own home only to be murdered and forgotten until so many years later.

I can't think of too many people who can say that they are unaware of someone who has been a victim of violence against women. It is still tolerated.

I had a childhood babysitter, who was the only daughter of the Police Chief in my small town. She grew up surrounded by brothers, and they were a very nice family. She married a local fellow, and they soon moved away. Before too long, this man would murder his wife in front of thier children, then attempt to bury her in the back yard. This man is now out, and seeking custody of the kids. I hope he rots. Carole did not deserve it, and I often think of her with tears in my eyes.

Presently, our Conservative Government has withdrawn funding for women's centres. This with a surplus in their coffers. I can only think about how mean spirited this is. Stephen Harper and his Bush humping partners disgust me.

Let us not forget the events of December 6'th, 1989.
It will remain Canada's National Day of Remembrance

Right on Schedule

Everything is right on schedule.

It's scary how the universe clicks into order sometimes. I've learned not to even dwell on the idea, just go with it and enjoy.

Have decided to go into work this Sunday for double time and a half.
I always said that I would never do that. I guess the consumer season has got me thinking that it's better to buy in cash.
That's the way I roll now. Cash only for large, self indulgent items.

On the mouse front, our little killer got another one today with an assist from dad. He opened the pantry door and saw something scurry, so he got the kitten, pointed it into the direction of the pantry, and voila, one more mouse out of our house.

Total mouse count to date: 5

Infinite Jest

David Foster Wallace has invaded my itunes!!
Does this guy have ibooks, or podcasts or other such stuff?
Of course he does, and now it's in my itunes. Jeebus!!

Maybe he'll appear on my ipod too.......*wink*

Water Water Everywhere

but not a drop to drink



We are still on a boil water order. It is surreal.
There are certainly no bodies in the streets, but it is a wakeup call. The biggest downside on the "no water" situation had to be the "no coffee" situation that followed. Fortunately, my favourite shop lived recklessly, and we were all fine.


Today I needed to tape my boots together. I hadn't noticed that they'd both split open and needed immediate repair. Fortunately, I acquired some tape and resolved the near disaster immediately. I half expected to incur a possible I.O.D. on the job however, so I remained ever vigilant and alert.
All possible mishaps were avoided.



Now all I need is a lobotomy to get me through the rest of the season.

I'm Walkin' Here...

I've had it with drivers and their anger issues. In this town, people don't even stop when they hit someone legally crossing in the crosswalk. They just mow them down and drive away. Every week the police are on the news asking people to come forward and turn themselves in. It is pretty ugly. What ever happened to common decency?

As for cycling, you have to be pretty gutsy to ride here. It can feel like every trip out sometimes is a risk.

In the summer, one of my good friends broke her collarbone when a car decided to make a left hand turn in front of her. She was traveling at a good clip, and therefore had no time to stop. She bounced off the car. It was a nasty break. Then, a few months later, we see another friend of ours sporting a fashionable black cast on her arm. Same scenario. Hit by a car while riding her bike.

My 3 year old child has already been in an accident with a car, while riding in her trailer behind her dad. It was such a stupid accident, that it makes me wonder if the geezer behind the wheel was even capable of operating a motor vehicle. Thankfully, no one was hurt in this incident, but it was so unnecessary.

And maybe it's just me, or maybe it's because I'm in the business of walking, but these ridiculous, stupid scenarios have even come even to me,a pedestrian, as I walk along the sidewalk. I'm not talking about the risk taking that I do when I decide to 'J' walk across a certain 6 lane stretch of my route; but after several times of nearly being mowed down at the lights while crossing legally, I have decided that it is better to do the dash....when I can be certain that there are no cars coming. I am super cautious though, because it wouldn't be hard to be surprised.

So yesterday, I'm at work, and I almost get hit by a van which runs a Stop sign and nearly takes me out. He missed me by maybe 2 feet, which is pretty hair raising. I point at the sign, and he finally decides to stop long enough to yell out, "SHUT YOUR HOLE YOU BITCH!!!!". Does he forget that he is driving around with his business labeled on the side of his van? Sheesh. Deal with yourself guy. I called his boss and told her about his potty mouth.

Also yesterday, my co-worker encountered the biggest Samoan guy in Vancouver, who parks his car, and chases him into an apartment building and spits on him repeatedly. All this because he didn't want to stop to allow someone to cross. Thankfully, my co-worker is not a fighter, so managed to rise above such reprehensible behaviour and sends him on his way.

Is it just me, or do these responses seem somewhat over the top?
Just another manic sign of the times I suppose.

Can I have a collective OHM please?!

Meditation on a Mouse and a Mouse

We still have mice!! After killing 4 of them. They live.
I refuse to go to the sticky tape solution though. Seems completely inhumane. Though I don't suppose that a mouse has enough intellect to sit around pondering it's own existence, I still wouldn't want one to chew off it's own limb in a desperate attempt at escape.

I'm glad that Freaky T has finally got his own blog. He's been needing one for awhile now, and finally, he's 'diversified'.Yippeeeee!!!!!

You know that thing when you get a new mouse and the thing just has a mind of it's own? That's where I'm at right now. Finding out all of the new wonderful things that my mouse can do.

That said, I'll end the mouse theme now.

In other matters of great import, we have finished watching 2 whole seasons of Lost, and have caught up on this seasons 6 episodes. It was a delicious guilt free marathon!!!!The whole time I was watching, I kept flashing back to posts on the The Busblog, which I had been misreading for months as The Bushblog. I can't remember the details, but the obsession was always there.
Now I understand why. It's a damn good show, but it does sometimes fall short of what your imagination has painted. What are we to do with ourselves now? Converse? Play Scrabble? Other things? At least I have a good jump on making some pretty special Christmas Gifts if I must say so myself.

Back to work.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling

The other day, we were driving home, and I saw this really sketchy guy carrying a bunch of what looked like stolen stuff. I only say this because he had one of those tell tale black gym bags awkwardly overstuffed, and he was carrying something that was obviously a television covered by one of those Mexican cotton blankets.
It was a purple and white one.
HEY!! We have a purple Mexican blanket like that!

Short of stopping the car and beating and robbing this unsuspecting man of his stuff while our toddler looked on, we decided to fly home first to see if anything had been disrupted. Fortunately, it was someone else's stuff...and blanket. Good thing we didn't act upon our impulses. We are learning and growing everyday. Ha!

In other urgent matters...
Vancouver has been told that their water is unsafe to drink.
Charming. Oh well, at least it's a good test for us unprepared types.

Question: Is it wrong to steal your neighbour's water that has been sitting on their front porch for a week? I don't usually condone thievery, but really, take your water inside girly! It has suddenly become more valuable, and if I don't take it someone else will. I'm reminded of that Lost episode where the water becomes scarce and precious. And why am I so damn thirsty all the time?

Another one bites the dust...

Total mouse count to date : 4

Help Me......

Does anyone remember how to add that photo strip from buzznet or flickr?

I just can't seem to find the upload link. thx to any nerds out there who can help me.

Heading to L.A.?

I noticed today that my friend Carrie Walker's opening is happening this upcoming weekend at the Kristi Engle Gallery in downtown L.A. If you are going to be in the area, then most certainly drop by.

It's good stuff.

The face of a killer.....

She may look sweet, but this cat is a killer.
She is only about 10 weeks old, and this morning, went charging into the pantry and relieved a mouse of it's life.
I didn't witness the carnage myself, but apparently, she was fearless, caught the thing in her mouth, growling, ran outside, and that was that.
She knew just what to do. I'm not surprised she could finish the job either, as her teeth are like little razors.

Chico, you have been replaced.

All hail Celeste the Fierce!!!


Total mouse count to date : 3

What the hell was THAT?!

Last night after my man returned home from a night out with the boys, we heard a loud, high pitched SQUEEEEEEEEEEAK that sounded like someone was coming through the front door with an axe or something. I nearly jumped out of my skin, as I had just been discussing ghosts and my potentially haunted house with my brother.
After checking that all was well, I awoke this morning to find some carnage under our upstairs sink. A mouse.
The sound was that last dying gasp as the air was squeezed out of the poor little critter. No wonder it scared us so much.


Total mouse count to date: 2

Parade Of Lost Souls tonight

Don't forget about the annual Parade Of Lost Souls on Commercial Drive tonight between 6 and 10 pm. It should be a good, spooky time for all! It would have been my Grandmother's birthday on the 31'st, and I remember every year. I like that board where you post messages to the dead. I'll be looking for it tonight.

2-4-6-8 we will not deliver hate!!!

If you live in Canada, you may be familiar with this story as it's been all over the local and national news.
Here in Vancouver, we were asked to deliver this piece of admail, and after viewing only the first page of this 27 page document, we were so horrified and disgusted, that our entire postal station walked out in protest. It couldn't be considered an actual "walk out", as most of us would have been suspended, so we called it a coffee break en masse, and it made a difference.

You don't even need half a brain to determine that this piece of admail is inappropriate. It is SO offensive on so many levels, but my employer takes the stand that it cannot censor their admail business, and are obliged to carry through with delivering this zealot's personal views! For once I wish they would grow some balls, or at least get some standards.
Check out but one of a series of news stories here.
It makes me so ashamed to work for a Corporation that would deem this as just another way to make a buck.
As you can imagine, this story has spread like crazy across the country, and a good thing too, because the general public needs to be aware of this nasty bit of business. I also heard our MP starting to mix it up at the House, so we'll see where this goes.

Apparently there is video footage of me floating around out there, but as of yet, I haven't found it!
stay tuned.......


FIGHT THE POWER!!!!

No Yo La Tengo

Sadly, I won't be attending the rock show tonight, and by the looks of things on Craig's list, it's sold out! Too bad too, as they are one of my favourite long time running bands. Te Amo Yo La Tengo.
The babysitter cancelled at the last minute. Arrrrgh! It's legit, and she's a kid and all, but in the bigger scheme of things, it feels like Karmic payback for the time I jammed on her. Oh well. I am a true homebody, so I won't miss the going out part, but I will miss the music.

Yo La Tengo are champs live. I still remember them busting out "The Kids are Alright" at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England. That was back in 2001. The room went crazy!! Especially after hearing dead Princess Diana jokes from Neil Hambuger. They would NEVER be a disappointment musically. I haven't really explored the new record, "I Am Not Afraid Of You And Will Beat Your Ass" too much, but the few tracks I have heard sound like the real McCoy and not just a band cranking out yet another mediocre album. But like I said, I haven't delved into it too much. But you have to love a band that will open a record with an 11 minute song.

Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind.


Besides, if I went out tonight, I'd have to put down the kitten.

Mouse Outing

Oh My God!!!!

I just saw the mouse!!!!! It was totally chowing down at Yoshi's food dish. I don't know why, but those little buggers really scare you for a moment. It jumped, I jumped, and then It scurried to exacly where we suspected he comes from; a big gaping hole under the sick where the pipes disappear into the floor. UGH.
I hadn't seen any evidence of him in the pantry, so optimistically thought that he'd moved on to our neighbour's house, but there he was this morning. And now my pulse is really racing.

He's going to be evicted. I hate to kill anything really.
Until then....eeeeeeeSH!

Score another one for the mouse.

Shanty town

One man's shanty town is another man's half a million dollar home!

Read all about the insanity!!

When is enough enough?

If ever I was going to rob a bank or commit some other crime, now would be the time. I have sanded all distinguishing marks off of my finger tips. This bloody door has taken over for the time being, and I am determined to get that thing hanging again by the end of the weekend. I have no idea what I'm doing though, so I might still be sanding then. I have gotten really fastidious about the whole thing though, so it's going to look awesome in the end.

I have heat gunned the thing, and stripped it, and now I'm debating as to whether or not I should fill the holes. I think that I might skip that part, as who wants to look at a bunch of filled holes? Maybe it will be more interesting with scars. I mean, it's a 100 year old door, so it's never going to look immaculate. Should I stop now? Then what? Christ. Feel free to send tips, though it's nothing a google search wouldn't solve. Maybe after one more coffee.

at least the place doesn't look like this anymore, with tagging everywhere.....jeepers!

Let the vacation begin now...

So I had a half empty carton of eggs that had been rotting for sometime in my fridge. I'd decided to keep them for hurling purposes, as sometimes there is an annoying "john" on the block. I would never hurl at the ladies. Though I talk a big game, I am an empathetic person at heart. So there they are, hidden yet present, and more than likely pretty lethal if injested.

I decided to make brownies yesterday, because I had a box of baking chocolate and I didn't want to see that damned mouse get any of it. I melted it with some unsalted butter in a bowl over a pan of hot water, and mixed in a sinfully large cup of white sugar. mmmMMMMmmm!
I even added some vanilla though it was uncalled for.
So it was time for the eggs. I grabbed a carton from the fridge and cracked away into the thick, brown, glossy mixture. The first one was ok, maybe somewhat dodgy, 'cause I could spy some red veiny wisps in the yolk. But ok, I decided to let that go because I am a food freak, and mostly phobic, so I decided to let that one slide. It would be baked, and all would be well. The second egg was seemingly ok too, 'cept that when I put the shells into the compost bowl, I saw something out of the corner of my eye that froze me still. I'd grabbed the wrong carton of eggs!!!!!

UUUGHKKKKKKKKKK! There was a small cluster of black beads, quite large living on the inside of the shell of the egg. IT was the most disgusting thing I had seen in a while, and it was SO sad, to have to dump the entire mixture into the bin. Wahhhhhh.
Of course I made another batch, and I pitched the rotten eggs that once held so much promise. The brownies were overcooked, but they still tasted wonderfully. Sadly, I can still conjure up perfectly the image of that dark, beady colony. *shudder

I have been checking out the new Chad VanGaalen album. It's not as immediately likeable as his previous, but there are at least one or two songs that have wormed their way into my head. Check out graveyard.

AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!

I am SOOOOO tired of moving piles of things from one place to another.
Is this to be my lot in life until I die?

If anyone knows of a good 'organizer'.......let me know.


until then.....grrrrrr

Getting that Disgruntled feeling...

Sure, many people think that my job is a dream, or a joke, depending on your view, and there are many misconceptions and Kafkaesque realities about working for Canada Post. Firstly, It IS a manual labour job, so accept it, and while it seemed hilarious to take it on initially as I paid off my student loan, I just ended up staying on, where the paid vacations were, and where I thought it might be possible to find some security since I one day wanted to own a home.

It's difficult to explain to people why posties become so grouchy, or why they seem to complain so much about a job that it seems a monkey could do.

I received this letter in the mail the other day, and it was a real downer. This might explain some of the reasons why postal workers tend to become bitter and disgruntled.
enjoy....



Canada Post Corporation,
PO Box 2110 Stn. Terminal,
Vancouver, BC
V613 4Z3

Dear Colleague,

As you know, improving Admail service performance is a high priority for Canada Post and is critically important to our future, as it currently accounts for 20% of our income.

To ensure we meet our customers' expectations and determine where we can improve our effort, Canada Post has engaged IBM to measure our performance for both Addressed and Unaddressed Admail.

While IBM's test methods have been questioned by some employees, please be assured that there is diligent and thorough checking of all deposits of test items, in order to confirm on-time deposit and receipt of sufficient volumes in depots. Your Supervisor can provide you with further details of the testing methods if you wish.

Based on these independent measurements, we are seeing modest improvements in Addressed Admail service -performance, though we still have a long way to go to meet our customers' expectations.

Unfortunately, Unaddressed Admail service performance has not improved, and the results tell us that non-delivery, rather than on-time performance, is the cause.

In an effort to understand these non-delivery issues, we have analyzed possible contributing factors. We have looked at Unaddressed Admail volumes, depot processes, employee satisfaction and absenteeism rates, but have found no connection to low performance- for this is -product-, The IBM test results also lead us to conclude that non- is occurring after the time the Letter Carrier receives the item for delivery.

From our testing, we know that Letter Carriers are receiving the right amount of mail, but it isn't being delivered in all instances. In addition to this, we are aware of many incidents of improper Unaddressed Admail disposal by Letter Carriers. This is a major misconduct for which disciplinary consequences have been, and continue to be, applied.

Despite the fact that low performance has been due almost exclusively to non-delivery, we do know those items that are delivered have a very high on-time performance rate.

In order to meet commitments to our customers, we must improve considerably and do so over the next few months. We must satisfy ALL of our customers by providing the same level of professionalism and accuracy we do for Lettermail!
I am asking for your support to help us meet our targets for 2006 by delivering all Admail Unaddressed and Addressed, on time, every time. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

A. R. Burnett
General Manager, Pacific Region

Word on the Street

The annual Word On the Street Festival is happening! We're all heading down there to see one of our favourite bands, Duplex. If you haven't already heard me going on and on about them, you should really check them out! Go here!
They are all over the place: catchy and interesting and infectious to boot! Not just fare for kids, that's for sure. Though mine loves to sing along and at one point this summer there was an actual ban on the CD for awhile. Just to take a rest. It is just too good.

This year, the little one can watch Duplex instead of her favourite from last year, Mecca Normal.
That is so hilarious. It cracks me up.

On the mouse front, score another one for the wretched filthy vermin. I am getting closer to setting those traps!
I just wish that my cat would do his job and secure the damn fortress. Enough already.

Gorgeous fall weather is upon us!

It's shaping up to be a busy week. Sydney is one busy gal.....a book launch tomorrow, at the Charles H Scott gallery, then this show with Book of Lists and the Rodney Graham band on the 14'th, which just happens to be my 10 year wedding anniversary.
Earlier that day, I'll be taking in a show with my little E and seeing Fred Penner at the library.
Here is a tease of one of our favourite songs.... The Cat Came Back
Should be a hoot!

Get out there and see some art!

Did someone say Dance Party?

This looks like it could be good.
Anything that involves green, you can pretty much count me in!
Plus, 'going out' just blocks from my house is an added benefit!

It promises to de/evolve into a dance party later in the evening.

Be there, or be sqaure!!

Victory Square Block Party

Victory Square Block Party
on Monday, September 4th

They Shoot Horses
Hot Loins
The Battles
The Doers
The Nons
The Winks
No Feeling
Precious Fathers

Hosted by MC Babyduck.
DJ's provided by Vinyl Records.

Monday, Sept. 4th
Victory Square (Cambie and Hastings)
2-9pm


*thanks to myvirtual friend theonly for the info and cool poster!!

Art gallery madness...

The Battles at the art gallery on Friday night were great. It was good to get out and catch up with some folks and hear some great music and see some art.The set up at the gallery was for an outdoor concert, but drinks were forbidden down where the band played, so we were forced to swill atop the pyramid stairs that would became the stairs of death later in the evening, or so I imagined.
I can't believe how many people you can reconnect with at the Art Gallery. Becoming a member was well worth the investment!
So we were forced to listen to Sinoa Caves, as we tried to get a couple of drinks into us, and then we descended to the stage to check out the band. Les did a great job with the visuals!

Surreal was the fact that the show backed onto the Robson Square skating rink/ballroom dancing extravaganza. So between songs, you were able to listen to either the Rumba band playing upstairs in the Fuse part of the VAG or you could check out the dancing below street level. It was packed down there. People sure do love their ballroom dancing.
As usual, the battles took us all over hells half acre with their awesome music. They are tight, and fun, and great to watch.
Book of Lists also played and I liked what I heard, until I had to vacate the premises to head over to some art opening which turned out to be great!! I really must get out a bit more. Now that we have a sitter, mebbe it will happen.

Go and see some great music at Victory Square party on Labour Day. It is always a good time. I'm still cursing myself that I missed the damn Unicorns that one year.
arrrrrrgggghhhhhhhh!!!!

Art Show in the 'hood

This looks like it could be good, and I wouldn't even have to leave the neighbourhood.
It conflicts with the Battles show at the Art Gallery though, but since I just cancelled my sitter...

For Sale

100 year old house in Vancouver's downtown ghetto.
Asking price $299,000.00.
It's going to go fast, so get on it!!!

I'll be waiting to see the weekend feeding frenzy!

Goodbye Bo

Yesterday our good friend Bo, or Baby Bear as he was also affectionately known, passed away. It happened at the beach. Still a sad place to go, but I can't think of a better place really, since he loved to be there.

Bo enjoyed two wonderful lives on this planet. One with an old fella named Ed who spoiled him until he himself passed away. Then with a couple of wonderful people who nursed him back to a healthy weight, and exposed him to the finer things in life such as daily trips to the beach, and weekends on Saltspring Island.
Bo will be missed by friends and neighbours, and cats alike.

RIP Bo, you were one of the good ones!!
I hope we call all gather to remember Bo over some drinks and stories.

Happy Birthday Yoshi man!!

Born August 18, 1999, in Langley BC

puppy of
San Jo Shomano' Forever
Hitomi Midori O' Forever

forever My Yoshi is today 7 years old.

I love my Shiba Inu. They are so unlike any other dog that I've ever met. Not just lapping at your face, but really remaining aloof, unless you're family. I love this trait about them. Yoshi is such an independent little man, and has survived one harrowing "runner" away from me, where I imagined seeing his little body flung up into the air by some passing car. It was a nightmare. He survived crossing 2 pretty major streets in Vancouver and I nearly killed him when I finally caught up to him on the Drive.

Carnage at the Bus Stop

It has been another crappy day where I feel like hiding under the bed, or running to the hills for some solitude. As I was waiting at the bus stop to begin my job, I heard a thud, and then saw a gang of birds flying away. They had been in pursuit of a Peregrine Falcon which now lay stunned on the sidewalk beside the glass bus shelter.
It was such a bummer.
I picked it up in my hands, and saw the tell tale lolling of the head. I wanted to believe though, and refused to just leave it on the sidewalk, so I took it indoors, and we called the Wildlife Rescue. They tried to tell us on the phone that it was probably just a juvenile Seagull, or Shithawk as I like to call them. Why do people insist on doing that? Telling you that you're probably not right, but anyhoo...

It died, before I even left the station, and I felt so bummed, but it was an incredible thing to enjoy up close even for a fleeting minute or too. It's a shame when nature clashes with the city. I have to cheer on the wildlife I have enjoyed out there when I've been working. I've seen coyotes, raccoons, rats, mice, a mama skunk and her kitten, and legions of spiders that I usually de-web with my face. eeeek!
I don't know what planet is in retrograde, but it has been challenging the past few days that's for sure. Strangely It's like I'm
watching it on reality tv or something. Is this what they call a disconnect?

oh well, big ups to the guys whose pics I stole, and if anyone could tell my why things are so crazy cosmically right now, I would really appreciate it!

What do you do?

when someone you know pops out of an alley and you freeze because they look half dead?

when things go poorly with said person, so you try harder next time to be "open" and they just smack you down anyway?

when you're riding the bus home from work and you see someone you know working as a prostitute?

when drugs destroy your friends?

Freezies:

preferred food of drug addicted people on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Self Inflicted Neck Injury

I'm suffering from that thing where you are doing nothing in particular, then you turn your head a certain way and "sproinggGGGg"...you feel some big elastic band in your neck snap.
Ouch!
Now I'm unable to turn my head to the right without turning my entire upper body.
I am a gimp. Good thing I didn't go to work today and aggravate it!

So here's the story

There used to be this cute little garage that this old man started to fix up and do odd jobs from. He was a nice enough guy.
It was mostly bicycle repairs, and scrap metal stuff, and he even stabilized a small antique chair that I got at "the sexy sale" for a mere $2. This guy didn't really bother me much, and even when I saw the odd cracked out looking woman hanging about, I just thought, at least it's indoors, and that's a good thing, non?

So anyhoo, this guy eventually moved in, and maybe some of the neighbours were bothered by this, 'cause a few fights started up, and a garden war ensued, and city hall was called, and restraining orders were issued, and eventually, this guy, feeling bitter and defeated, went ahead and just pulled the supports out from under the thing.I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this. It is unbelievable. The extent to which this bitter spiteful man would go is astonishing. I just don't know what good can come of it.
It's sad to see any heritage building destroyed like this, and though I have it on good authority that this guy was obviously nuts, it's still a shame to see the depths of his spite. I don't know where he's gone, but he's left quite the mess for the landlords who I'm sure are baffled by the whole thing. It's a lame example of people meddling too much in other peoples business. This neighbourhood is changing...and not necessarily for the better. I wonder what other changes we'll be seeing in the lead up to the Olympics in 2010.

With an Attitude like that?

I just got this weird call from some group calling themselves "BC Organization of Police Officers" or some such charity.
I don't really know. But they did tell me that "our" call would be recorded for quality purposes.

Then he launched into his pitch, and I was truly too tired to protest, so I listened as he used my name loudly, often, and with force.
".....blah blah.........your donation...........to underprivileged families.......AND TO KEEP VIOLENT CRIMINALS LOCKED UP BEHIND BARS WHERE THEY BELONG......."


huh? It was weird, but I let him go on. Saying my name and then repeating his rant about violent criminals again.
It stuck out like a sore thumb, so when he finally stopped to take a breath, and say, "what's best for you... $45?"
I said, "um, it sounds too political, but thanks for calling"....
he interrupts me and goes on about not understanding what I mean, and he was sure that I believed that violent non rehabilitated criminals should be behind bars.
It left such a bad taste in my mouth.
I didn't really want to hang up, but the dude was seriously not taking no for an answer, and he seemed genuinely flabbergasted that I thought he was coming on too conservative like and scary.

Perhaps I was speaking to one of these said violent criminals working inside the pen?

whatever. It's over, and I'll be continuing to screen my calls.

The most awesome John Fahey is helping me stay calm with his gorgeous guitar playing.
tell her to come back home.

Blown Fuse

Today I discovered that I cannot operate my heat gun in conjunction with the oven preheating and my strategically placed fan.
Everything whirrred to a halt, and I discovered the greatest tragedy that was my coffee stopped in mid drip.
I didn't panic though, as there are usually a few extension cords about. I've got the coffee on the mend and going to try another extension cord to another outlet.
Hopefully I won't start a fire or blow up the house by doing all this stuff.

If you don't hear from me again...

It's always better on holiday

Some things I did on my vacation:

-drank beer, too much beer, and now I will pay to work off the belly
-went to the beach. almost everyday
-swam and floated in the pool. almost everyday
-watched reality television
-went to the beach.
-reconnected with an old, dear friend.
-drove around on dirt roads at high speed.
-listened to the red winged black birds every morning.
-gardened until the sun went down, or it was time to drink beer.
-went to a family wedding which played mostly new country. bleh.
-went to the beach.
-burned stuff.


The question I am asking myself now that I have returned to the ghetto:

-what am I doing here?