And we’re all a little older. Wiser, not so much really

So, it’s official. I am no longer the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Which is a fancy-ish way of saying I turned 43 yesterday. I think that officially puts me past my ‘early’ forties and directly into my ‘middle’ forties. Ah well, what can you do, yeah?

In other far more interesting news, I did some stuff. First, husband and I went to a barbecue competition out in Chilliwack. Had a lovely time. Weather was amazing, barbecue was **amazing**!

These guys? Truly, the best brisket I’ve ever tasted in my life. Oh yeah!

It was a lot of fun. Mind you, Mr. B and I both overindulged and then had tummy aches all night. And we would and will do so again.

Spring is officially making itself known around here.

Everything smells so very alive suddenly. The yard is just exploding with growing things. And, a lot of birds doing what birds do in the spring time. If you know what I mean.

One day last week I saw this from the bus. The next day I went back and got off a stop early just so I could take a picture. It kind of makes me feel a bit like crying, but I really love it too.

Isn’t it wonderful and sort of poignant? I think we all feel like Mr. Cardigan, up there some times. Just moving through life but forgetting what it’s like to be alive. It’s nice to know that there are people and things around us that force us to remember the other, more enjoyable parts of life. My google-fu led me to the artist Matt Bowen.

Last, but not least, okay – two things actually. But they are both in one picture.

1. For my birthday bestest husband in the world got me a new teeny tiny notebook computer to replace my slowly dying netbook. I’ll miss you Alice, but WOW is Florence ever a lot faster!*
2. My book club this month is reading a book that is near and dear to me. When I went to pull my copy off the shelf I realized I must have lent it out and not gotten it back because it ain’t there. Thankfully Pulp Fiction had a copy. Unfortunately it’s part of a trilogy and they only had the omnibus edition. I now have a book big enough that I could conceivably beat someone to death with it.

See, twofer! Tiny computer, HUGE book. Carrying this on the bus is going to suck! LOL

Happy Tuesday.

*What? You don’t name your electronic devices? How odd.

Monday…

Yeah, I got nothing. Here, have a cute drawing that I found on the side of a hydro box:

Beep, boop, beep – that’s steam punk or something for ‘man I wish it was Friday.’

So much to see & do

The commute for my new job is pretty long, like almost 3 hours a day long. So, I’ve been trying to find new (read quicker) ways of getting to and from. And if not quicker, at least more interesting things to look at. So far, 41st Avenue is probably the quickest, by about 5 minutes. But it is painfully boring and the bus is painfully full. If I’m going to be uncomfortable I at least want to be kept amused. So, on Friday I tried going down Cambie then taking the Broadway bus over to the train. Saw some very cool things. Like this sculpture by Magdalena Abakanowicz called Walking Figures at the corner of Broadway and Cambie:

For scale here is my rather large size 10 foot:

Very cool. They feel like they are marching off to downtown Vancouver.

There was also a man in a cowboy hat busking with a banjo:

Infinitely more interesting than taking the bus along 41st.

Then, since it was Friday, I took myself out for a little dinner followed by a wee study party at the library. Where did I go for dinner you ask? Don’t be silly! I was at Broadway & Commercial, how could I not go to Buddha’s Orient Express for ridiculously bad for me food?

And while I was there I had a moment of perfect contentment. End of a long week, hot yummy dinner, watching the people going about their lives outside, listening to snatches of conversations every time the door was opened. It was really quite perfect.

Look, even the top of my food box was smiling. I wish I could have distilled that feeling and put it in a bottle.

ADVENTURE!

Well, for me it constitutes adventure. I had some overtime at work this week so I used it up today and left work early. I was just going to go and buy some new shoes for work. But then, I got to leave even earlier than I had previously planned and the day turned into a full on funfest. First up, Pulp Fiction Books on Main Street.

Easily a bazillion used books and some very cool new ones too. I almost came home with this:

But I restrained my self. I did special order some John Steinbeck though. ‘Cause that’s how I roll. Oh, and look, lectio!

Thinking of you! And flogging! But I digress.

Back outside and there was this cool little number:

This is the corner of Main & Broadway in Vancouver. Why are these things not everywhere as an aid to those of us who are directionally challenged? Seriously. Also at Main & Broadway:

By now I was feeling a bit peckish. Hopped on the 99 bus and headed to the Broadway Station for one of my mostest favouritest guilty pleasures.

Buddha’s Orient Express! Mmmm, I love this place with a truly unholy passion. I can’t even explain it. It’s not what anyone would consider ‘good’ Chinese food. Hell, the work express is right there in the name. It’s quick. It’s hot. It’s beyond filling. If I lived in this neighbourhood I would never buy groceries. Just Buddha’s Orient Express, every day. I’m drooling just a little right now thinking about that. Just so you know.

Still ridiculously full 3 hours later. Outside the Broadway Station are these tiles that were inscribed by I’m assuming local residents.

Now that is a happy smile. It’s a Dr. Martin Somethingorother. I’m going to assume he’s a dentist. Just a guess.

Then it was back on the train to a very boring mall where I did indeed find shoes for work. Oh, and I stopped in at Lush. Tonight, I shall have the most epic bath ever!

Today was awesome.

Thursday. Always better than Monday.

First off, yeah I totally failed at the technology thing and couldn’t turn off the comments on my last post. That said, it was really nice to read some supportive and positive messages. Thanks! I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Y’all rock!

In super fantastic positive news, the RCMP have caught and charged those that they believe are responsible for Sunday night’s shooting. Can I get an amen? Testify! I am sooooo going to sleep tonight.

In other way more eclectic news, I’ve been seeing some more interesting things on the new commute. Wanna see? Sure you do! Look!

A snowy morning commute yesterday!

Some cool heads behind the bus stop at Kingsway and Slocan??? I think???

Hmmmmm, really? Okay...

This was written on the curb (kerb?) at the bus stop yesterday. The teenager I walk in front of to take the picture gave me a look of pure disgust that I was taking a picture. Whatever!

It reads, ‘None of this will matter when you’re 75 and you can’t piss or shit or walk. so smile ‘

I was just happy that they used the correct form of you’re. Mainly because I didn’t have a red Sharpie on me to mark in corrections if necessary.

Snort. Happy Thursday, guys!

The things you come across

I’m going to be starting a new job soon, in Vancouver. There will be some things I’ll miss about commuting in Surrey. Things like coming across a giant abandoned frog stuffy at 7:30 in the morning on the way to the office.

Only in Surrey could a frog stuffy look like he’s been out on an all night bender. Poor guy.

Memories! In the corner of my mind!

Misty water coloured memoriiiieeeeessssss! Of the way we were! All this remembering is because I saw a local landmark in the throes of being demolished today.

This used to be The Dell Hotel. It is soon to be rubble and then probably high rises. Actually, for the last few years it was called The Oasis Hotel, but to me it’s always been The Dell. It was one of two local bar/hotel/clubs in the neighbourhood.

It was always a bit sketchy, sort of a dive. But, it was always just sort of there, you know? And now, it won’t be. The times & the town, they is a changin’.

In other news, if I leave my iPod on and unattended in the house husband likes to take a screen shot of whatever it was I was doing and leave it for me.

Then, when I come back to it and it ‘doesn’t work’ and I start to panic he laughs. You think he’d stop finding it funny and I’d stop panicking. So far, neither of those things has happened.

 

 

Things that were happening while I was busy being distract..oh! look! shiny!

it snowed

yummy food was consumed

some commuting

some sunsets

some knitting

some spinning

alternate yummies

some yarn. obvs.

we went back to Ucluelet. took the dog. again, obvs.

vacation yummies. sensing a theme yet?

Life, the universe, and everything

Thank you Douglas Adams. You make me feel so much better about being 42 years old.

You know what else is cool? My baby hooked me up with a beautiful bottle of ice wine and an iPod Touch. The ice wine? Yeah, I wanted it just for the bottle.

Even better was the receipt for the wine:

Snicker, giggle, snort. Sorry mom.

The iPod touch? Truly the coolest little gizmo I’ve ever had. I’ve named him Thibodeau. I couldn’t decide on name so I was going to name him TBD, (to be decided), until I figured it out. Then TBD just sort of sounded like Thibodeau and I do love me a very French Canadian sounding name.

And now, it’s Sunday night, my iPod is loaded with a tonne of music and books for the commute tomorrow, and all is right with the world.

Updates/amusements/items of note

Right, list format on account of me being lazy. You guess which one of the above each of these falls into.

• Dad finally went home from the hospital after 32 days. Sort of against medical advice but I ‘spose he’d had just about enough and that was that. Currently he’s spending a lot of time on the couch and they are still trying to figure out what is wrong with him.
• On a related note, y’all are so sweet  to send so many good thoughts and internetty hugs. Thanks, it means a lot.
• On flickr today it is apparently Capybara day. Who knew? I do love me some gigantic rodents.
• unrealfred sent me a couple of mixed cd’s over the holidays and I’ve been particularly enjoying this song recently.

How could you not love lyrics like this:

I’ve been a lot of places all around the way
I’ve seen a lot of joy, and I’ve seen a lot of pain
But I don’t want to write a love song for the world
I just want to write a song about a boy and a girl

Awesome.

• Even though we’ve had some cold & freaky weather here this week I am getting ready for this year’s garden. Onion & leek seeds to be planted indoors this weekend.
• I finally cracked out this extra cool Moleskin notebook that I picked up in Ottawa last year. 30th anniversary Pac-Man.

• Complete with cute little stickers. It satisfies my inner geek and my inner child who used to have Jem sticker books. So satisfying.

And that’s just enough about all that. It’s dinner time. Happy Wednesday all.