a place to rest my thoughts

Blog Wagon was always intended to be an interim thing - a vantage point to listen and read others' thoughts and blogs.

I have listened. And I have read. Far and wide. It's time to contribute to the dialogue.

So I've started up something more polished. From here forward, you can find my two cents at The Sandbox.

Thanks for reading and I hope to continue seeing you around!

good weekend

This weekend needs to be recorded as one of the best of my life.

Main ingredient: sunshine.
Other vital ingredients: great company, good food, fresh air.

The morning of Friday, April 9 began with grogginess. I headed to work for a 8AM shift at the coffee house after a previous night shift ending at midnight. (No calculator required to understand that by the time I wound down and woke up again, less than 6 hours had been spent in slumber.) But the American misto and a few regulars perked me up and soon the four-hour shift was done. I had been checking my phone for a voicemail all morning, though, in hopes of hearing a result from my job interview the morning before. Nothing. So I trodded up Main and got on the phone with Wisam to organize our meet up. Sushi, in 35 min.

Turned out to be more like 50 min because I got distracted by an email ...offering me the job! As fantastic as immersing myself in a Francophone community for 5 weeks this July would be, this job is the career-related break I've been waiting for. (Only took 25 resumes and a month and a half to find; not bad at all.)

I called Sam immediately (well, after I wildly pumped the air in a spontaneous happy dance) and bounced out of the house into the sun. Wisam parked his car, we grabbed sushi from across the road (Zipang - I love the tempura yam roll, namely because they include avocado, and the spicy scallop roll was tasty but I wouldn't recommend their gomaae salad (undercooked spinach and slimey sesame dressing) and picnicked in a nearby park. We couldn't get enough of the good conversation and sunshine so we ventured down to English Bay for a tea walk along the sea wall. Vancouver Biennale's installation of laughing patinated-bronze Yue Minjun's made me so gleeful.

I love this city.

My activity for the evening was to be had at the Museum of Vancouver. It was the second DIY Craft night, and Sam was having a table for the mini Got Craft? fair. Brendan brought back tasty bagels, and there was $4 glasses of wine and beer, and free mini eggs, chips, pretzels and gummie bears strewn about between the tables for collaging, felting, brooch-making, knitting and weaving. I tried my hand at everything but the spinning of wool (which I must learn in order to borrow Oma's wheel that Sam will likely inherit). Everyone was really friendly, open to sharing their crafts, creativity and general conversation. There's an exciting community of crafters and creative minds here in Vancouver. I'm glad I feel comfortable within it.

Saturday, mid-morning, I met up with Missy and Lisa for a run-turned-stroll along the sea wall (we are all a bit exhausted from the week). We started from the Olympic Village station, crossed Cambie bridge, went west along the north sea wall to Granville bridge, crossed back over to the Granville Island and dined at the Sandbar. We perched on comfortable, leather benches in sunbeams and enjoy our fish and chips (puffy-battered cod, thin chips, lightly-vinegared coleslaw and a sweet tartar dipping sauce). Since the Granville Island tram is no longer running - shame, TransLink - we walked the path east along False Creek and back up to Cambie. We all parted ways around Broadway and I continued my way home the last ten or so blocks on foot.

I considered doing laundry but got distracted by updating my CV for some potential graduation awards from SFU. Then a well-timed text from Natalie got me into the shower and out the door to her place with a bottle of white wine. We drank with her housemate, David, while troubling over the unfair treatment of 18th-century castrati. On a happier note, their chihuahua, Riley, has changed my mind about small dogs. Fortunately Natalie and her lovely mates have raised Riley to believe is actually a dog, not some anxious accessory. He growls, plays tug-o-war, and barks at strangers. He also burrows for warmth and steals dog biscuits that are about a 1/3 the size of his skull. I've realized I can like any dog, no matter the size, but only if they have personality. That Riley does!

I joined Natalie in her appearance at Relish for her friend's birthday celebration. I was her excuse to not linger long, so after I scored a $4.75 caesar and her a $7 MGD ("better than Granville," scoffed the cheeky bartender) we sauntered to the revolving restaurant on top Harbour Centre to say howdy to her partner. And I learned a great tip! All these years at SFU I thought I was going to have to pay $10 to ride that elevator up to the viewing deck. But no funds need be spent if you say you're heading to the restaurant, just one floor above the viewing deck. Buy yourself an overpriced coffee and sit at the window enjoy the 360-degree view (58 minutes for a full rotation). The view was wicked that night - I plan to return. But only for coffee.

Sunday, today, was delightful. Not only is it one-zone day on transit, but the sun was out yet again so despite missing my connecting bus at Surrey Central, I was pretty content. Grabbed myself a Blenz Americano misto (comparable to Waves, though 12oz smalls are far too much) and scrounged in the remaining free weekend papers for a crossword (which I failed to complete). Michele and Jen were waiting for me in Walnut Grove - hooray to see my best friends!

We spent the next three hours walking the Fort-to-Fort trail and enjoying lunch at Wendel's in Fort Langley. Kira howled impatiently for us as we queued in the busy cafe to order. So many folks with dogs! Jen had a chai tea frappe (delicious) and the salmon and asparagus salad. Michele chose an espresso frappe and the Greek plate. I took the special panini - chicken, brie and pear with figs (I opted out of the roasted red peppers which I felt would ruin the whole combination). Came with a side salad and a honey dill dressing which was too creamy to have been forgotten to be placed on the side. Nonetheless, I was pleased with my dish, and glad I chose to remove half the ciabatta bun (and Kira too looked pleased with this decision, as she scarfed it down).

Kira was delighted with herself once she got in the water on our return. We found some beaver efforts and enjoyed the fresh scent of skunk cabbage. Langley is growing on me - getting out of Vancouver into more rural areas is refreshing. I love farms, bodies of water, and quiet walking trails. I try to find such things in the city, but it's not the same. Though it would be nice for my friends to live closer, I'm glad they're out there (and so close to each other) that we can rendezvous more often like today!

birthdays make for reflections

Like other notable dates in the year's calendar, my birthday instigates self-reflection. This year's analytical theme seems to be personal cleansing. As I've followed my heart over the last couple weeks, my actions have been echoed in many a sign this March. I particularly liked the horoscope Caroline coincidentally taped to the back of her envelope which contained my hand-made birthday card (note the horse she drew, and without looking at the page).

PISCES
(february 19-march 20)
I used to have an acupuncturist who, as she poked me with her needles, liked to talk about her understanding of Chinese medicine. Once she told me that every human being needs a "heart protector," which is a body function that's "like a holy warrior who serves as the queen's devoted ally." But the heart protector is not something you're born with. You've got to grow it by building your fortitude and taking care of your body.
I think the heart protector will be an apt metaphor for you to play with in the coming weeks, Pisces. It's going to be an excellent time for you to cultivate any part of your life that gives your heart joy, strength, peace and integrity.

Bring on jogging, my best girlfriends, a new handbag, and listening to my gut - always.

March 15

Get psyched. Get overwhelmed with ideas. How to get them out? Coherency. Tangibility. Articulation constipation.

Must decide on a focus. Meeting with people inspires me. What to do with my own life?

Temp. Intern. Move to Toronto. Take risks. Use the youth. Stay inspired. Stay involved. Show up.

I got energy. I got passion. But about what?

Art is an idea. I like bringing things together. Must reflect more, consider more and write it all down. Use this blog to my advantage. Exercise my tools.

What was today? March 15. A Monday. Looked tired but felt attentive.

Rough sleep night before. Distraction on the pillow. Several episodes of Being Erica and then restless cold douvee. Early to rise, too early, not hungry but shoved down a mess of cereal, yogurt and banana. Drowned in milk and tea. Love the 10 minute walk to work. To coffee grinding, milk steaming, smiles upon entrance, cheerful conversation. Coffee house as the third home? Poor boy and lost laptop. As that is what he wanted me to believe. Or just wanted a chat, sharing his leads to purchase a replacement for his stolen companion. I know, my lonely friend, I know the lifeblood that is an Internet connection.

I watch the virtual office workers, against the public glass and faces into the world's laptop windows. Young, old, large, tiny 'tops are the rabbit holes to the universe. One young man scrolls through photos of a woman. An older gentleman, a regular from the block over, is increasing his daily small medium roast quota to an 8 as he perches intermittently at the south west corner with his hefty 'top. I want to know him. What kind of business is he conducting here? Where does he go in between his coffee breaks? A "factory" around the corner? How does he not go crazy from 8x12oz coffee? I have one Americano and I'm buzzing, concentration and articulation flying to the heavens. (Should someone consider an IV coffee drip?)

job application

confined by an 8.5 x 11 inch white sheet of tree product
am I meant to contain all I am on this two-dimensional surface?
how to articulate myself in words when I struggle enough to articulate in action
then to sell my self in a letter
a Letter
a cherished construct of thought
a product I adore to create for those I love
but turn to detest creating for those I know only as HR
I do not know who I am
thus I am asked to tell a story
fictional based on non-fiction
I love stories

which is mine?

march 8

so my today consisted of .. . .

vancouver sunshine wake-up call
(espresso + steam milk + pour and re-pour) x 10
receiving a favour towards a job application
spending $16 on paper supplies and an hour browsing urban source
forming the beginnings of 12 tea party invitations
a sun-in-the-eyes afternoon run
and several hours hacking at the Grind's tinternet because I have put off contacting Shaw for this long.

Thursday is only three days away.

Ohhhh-lympics

Countdown: 0
They have finally arrived.


Though the city has been taken over for months now, the electricity has intensified in recent days. All our breath-holding, all our patience and anxieties, all culminate today. It is 2010. We are in Vancouver.



I just watched a bit of the Beijing Opening Ceremonies from a couple years back (because I want some comparison when I watch tonight's). I'm actually feeling a little emotional about all this Olympic/patriotism stuff.

I've been feeling like a bit of a tourist as I walk around, staring up to the tops of buildings and pausing at intersections like I did went touring across the country by train. I'm going to absorb as much as I can. These are going to be two weeks possibly unlike any other two weeks I'll experience.


M. and I took a peek at the Mint's set up in SFU's graduate school downtown. That's the biggest coin in the world, eh?We're keen.

And that, my suspicious friends, is M struggling to lift the $400K block of gold. (Note the chain stopping us from running away with it. I did wonder how the skinny VANOC boy in black was going to stop anyone on his own.)
If there hadn't been so many other folk getting their mitts all over that block, you bet I would've left some teeth marks.

Excessive "Buzz"

So we now have Facebook, Twitter and the newest addition, Google's Buzz.

Really? Do we really need another third-person status update platform? So far Google has done really well with creating alternatives to popular applications (such as Google Docs and Gmail) but in this case, I'm just not sure it's necessary.

awed by fireworks in Montreal

En route Montreal

A tidbit from the train, en route to Montreal. Thank you, Basia Bulat, for the accompaniment.

St Lawrence from Quebec City