Citizens of Collingwood in SE Vancouver - Thank you

Thank you for SHOVELING your sidewalks SO well during the last SUCKAGE of 3 weeks of snow.

Why am I thanking them you ask?

Well, yesterday….after feeling pretty smug about getting all the Christmas decorations packed up and stuffed back in our storage locker, we decided to go to Milestones for a treat for dinner.

The closest one is still a bit of a way from us, but (usually) an easy drive up to Lougheed and Wilingdon.

The kids LOVE the watercress dip.

Anyway…it was rainy…but the roads were clear and the forecast has been that rain was FINALLY arriving to wash away all the whiteness.

It was a bit of a mix of rain and snow as we headed.  We did NOT expect the white out conditions we faced when we stepped back out of the restaurant around 6ish.

There was no rain…it was a full on blizzard.  

After Patrick PUSHING us out of the parking lot, we slithered down Willingdon with all the other idiots/ poor souls who were caught in it.

Cars were skidding and sliding all over.. a poor bus had its flashers on and was struggling even on the flat terrain.  Cars were being abandoned ALL OVER THE PLACE.

We knew we couldn’t make it up Willingdon to Kingsway…we could see the carnage as we hit Deer Lake Parkway….and Patrick had already had to get out and push a couple of more times.  Cars were getting maybe a quarter of a way up the hill and then skidding out of control..either that or they just TRIED to do a sort of slippery U-ey and get back down the hill.

Buses were parked on the hill….a total mess.

So we we swung right along Deer Lake..where Pat had to push us AGAIN up the hill.

We managed to get along Boundary till again we could see the carnage ahead as people tried to crest the ridge to Kingsway.

‘No Way,’ we figured…so we swung along to Joyce to check the hill there.

THAT hill was blocked by TWO buses…both stuck ACROSS the right lane causing any cars that COULD make it up the hill to use the wrong side of the road.

It was a disaster.

Deciding we had probably gotten as close to home with the car as we could, we found a legal parking spot near there and prepared the kids for a LONG walk home.

It was a big adventure for them and again….because of all the people along Tyne who have done a GREAT job maintaining their sidewalks, the kids managed great…it took us just over an hour.

So today, we are going to head out by bus (hopefully) and (hopefully) find our car intact and unticketed and get it back home.

The one thing we noticed, which was nice…was that ALL the driver were very patient…no idiots…and that people were helpful too.  A guy helped us out of the Milestones parking lot and we saw lots of pedestrians on Joyce helping the cars out on the hill.  Patrick even helped a car as we trudged home along Kingsway.

I hope that THIS forecast for rain this time is true.

I have had enough of the bad weather and snow.

I don’t want to wear my boots anymore.

Vancouverites don’t do snow unless it is on the mountains.

Merry Christmas From Vancouver

Well, a lot of BC’ers are dealing with BIG Snow this year….

We TRIED to get our car out of the complex, but no such luck…not till they plow.

So a quiet immediate family Christmas here.

But the snow is pretty if you don’t have to go anywhere!

My Back Yard

Front Wheel Drive with Traction Control Failed Me

A White Christmas Indeed

My kids and I am sure kids everywhere are delighted that it is a ‘real’ Christmas’ for them.

Beats the rain I suppose…well, no not really.

So for Christmas this year, I wish Health, Safety, Good Company and a Well Stocked Pantry for all!

Cold Weather Brings Many Sad Stories…

I wanted to link to Hummingbird604’s post ….

The homeless in Vancouver are having a TERRIBLE time during this awful deep freeze.

Emegency Shelters ARE open but many don’t allow people to bring in their shopping carts and or pets.

This causes many homeless to decide outside is better.

This is not good.

I know that our new Mayor is VERY keen on helping Vancouver’s homeless ….but how about a place that offers FREE storage for street people.  

A places with storage lockers and showers and a phone.

A place that they can go in get what stuff they need and carry on…without worrying about what few possessions they have.

Anyway….just a thought.

If you have blankets, socks, etc….please try to help.

The Unions Gospel Mission and the Salvation Army are two other places that are always thankful.

Help if you can.

For the Last Minute Gifts on Your List

For those of you still rushing around to find those last minute presents, I have two suggestions for you:

The Women’s Winter Faire this Weekend

I went to their November fair and found all of the remaining gifts on my list, including this one for my 70+ year old father.  It really is what every Dad needs for his office wall.

Even the Coyotes need to eat..

small children apparently.

I live in a picturesque neighbourhood in South East Vancouver….we are near the Fraserview Golf course and Everett Crowley Park….this mean LOTS of trees, trails, and wild animals living cheeck by jowel with us.

I LOVE the Eagles seen soaring over head.   I love the ducks and geese that wing over here.

I even enjoy spotting the Racoons and Skunks.

Coyotes….not so much.

Not because the are not cool.  I love them.  I get chills hearing them howl at night.

They lurk in the trails around here.

I have seen them in the parks in broad daylight.

Today my sons teacher called to say that a pack of them had been spotted in the woods right by the school.

The kids LOVE the woods…there are stumps of old growth trees there, perfect forts…they still have the marks left by the lumbermen of the past who felled these giants.

Needless to say, the woods were of limits during recess and lunch.

My son did not see what the big deal was.

Three times he was spotted wandering into the woods.

Three times he was sent back and finally into the office.

Self preservation is obvioulsy not a big issue on the mind of my six year old boy.

Ah nature…

It was an honour just to nominated…

and be there…THANKS, Carol for convincing me to actually show up at a Blogger event!

The lovely Miss604/Rebecca in just three weeks threw together nominations, votes and an awesome awards night to wrap it all up…all to celebrate the local bloggers with her Best of 604 Awards.

And what a turn out.

It was packed!  I was bad  and didn’t wander ENOUGH to say hi to those names I recognized, but there were many bloggers and twitter friends there.

Wow.

It is great to see such enthusiasm and support in Vancouver blogging scene.

We rock!

4 Van Sexy Finalists in the 2008 CBAs

Four sexy and savvy women’s blogs are featured as finalists in the 2008 Canadian Blog Awards.

If you didn’t check these tantalizing blogs out last week during the nomination round, then go check them out now.  And vote.  Voting closes later in the day on Saturday December 6th.

Well done you sexy things!

Best Blog

• Meg Fowler

Best Personal Blog

• Meg Fowler

Best Podcaster/Vlogger

• Row Three (Marina Antunes)

Best Professional/Career Blog

• Get Elastic (Elastic Path) (Linda Bustos)
  
• My Name is Kate (Kate Trgovac)
  

Main St. Brings Me MORE Delish Foods..

We are friends with a couple who still live in our old apartment building on 15th just by Main St…..

I LOVED living in this neighbourhood and miss it very much.

We LOVE that our friends are still there, because they always suggest GREAT restaurants for us to get together.

Last night it was for my friends birthday and they told us to meet at a place in a tiny strip mall between 24th and King Edward called Rekado’s.

It was amazing.

No really.

I have eaten in Filipino restaurants before ..mostly for lunch, and was never won over…so I was a tad hesitant….but wow….loved every single thing we tried.

And being that there was 8 of us…we tried a LOT of stuff.

There was fish, there was chicken skewers, there was tofu, there was okra, there was this amazing grilled eggplant, shrimp, curries,….the list goes on….all fresh and tasty and just alive with beautiful colours and textures and flavours.

I have been googling around for mentions of this place, and keep coming up with talk of poor service.

Not with us…the ladies treated us like gold.   Much humour, and patience with us mangling the pronunciation of all the tasty dishes.

People have also complained about the prices per portion…I don’t get that.  If you consider the dishes to be tapas style, you get a great deal for very little money…the average was around $6 for a plate.

We also loved all the fruity drinks.

And we can’t discuss dessert…YUM.  Though we all still think the corn and cheese sorbet is just plain weird.

Anyway….I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.

If you want to try something a bit different, go for it.

Don’t Miss the WIFF New Media Awards Deadline

For all of you sexy female storytellers using emerging technologies, just posting a quick reminder that tomorrow, Friday December 5th is the deadline for submission to the Women In Film Festival’s New Media Awards.  An entry form can be found on the festival’s blog and entry into the awards is simple and free.

Rant Foiled

After spending this morning driving around town, I was getting a bit testy about drivers in Vancouver.

This was exacerbated by the total Fucktard in a BMW that killed two small brothers in their minivan this weekend as he/she drove ALONE down the HOV lane.

Vancouver drivers have got to be the most self absorbed, self important lot I have ever had the bad news of dealing with.   These people drive with the attitude that nothing matters but them.  So forget looking around you, forget thinking about the other cars around you, forget using turn signals, go ahead cut people off…the mentality is boggling.

The concept of ‘Drive Defensively’ has been totally mangled or forgotten.   They mayaswell drive with blinders on.

It doesn’t matter what the weather is…people are driving too fast (or too slow) and completly unaware of their surroundings.

I won’t get into the TWO people who drive over 50 on the road outside my son’s school every single time.

I had to park AGAIN at the London Drugs PAY parking on Kingsway in Burnaby.  The lab that is taking all my blood right now is there, so I am getting to know the place really well.    Today, even trying to get in was a challenge as people blocked the sidewalk and entrance WAITING to grab spots that people hadn’t even started backing out of.    They HAD to park their because they were obviously so bloody important that only the spots CLOSEST to London Drugs would do and heaven for-fend they actually drive INTO the rest of the parking lot where there were PLENTY of spots.

Anyway…so I park and go muttering away to the parking meter thingie, and as I am fumbling for my wallet, a voice calls to me.

There in a car is a lovely  gentleman waving a ticket.  He was just leaving and had AGES on his ticket…would I like to use it!?

How amazing is that! 

I was very touched and thankful and it put me in the right mood for the Christmas Season.

Thank you sir for making my morning.

The wait at the lab is vaguely entertaining too.   Mainly because the machine that hands out your numbered wait ticket is a bit confusing to people.  Despite the big sign saying ‘ALL PATIENTS PLEASE TAKE A NUMBER’ and the other note on the machine saying ‘PRESS THIS BUTTON FOR NUMBER.’

I love timing how long people will take to suss it out.   There is a lot of looong hard stares at the machine.

Rarely do people ask for help.  They just stare, waiting for the answer to show up.

That or they go to the desk anyway and try to get served.

Or they leave.

Ah finding entertainment in the mundane.