Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Between the Holidays



This one was taken in front of the Hotel Vancouver last week, right after visiting Stanley Park's Bright Nights. Ad and I had a quiet Xmas, cooking dinner and making holiday cookies part of the meal plan. Life here is wet right now; one day just melds into the next as the rain comes and goes. The ski season had a great start, but is now practically non-existent.

What's eating the Canucks? They've now lost five games straight! Tonight they'll face Nashville, again at home.

Hope everyone's been having a not-too-chaotic holiday season - feel free to post your comments on the blog - let me know what's going on in other corners of the globe!

Friday, December 23, 2005

Bright Nights

…and here, those promised Stanley Park holiday night pix! Click on a photo and see its larger cousin : )
















Thursday, December 22, 2005

Wind Storm


(artwork by Arleigh Wood, ©2005)


The winds are kicking up and team Canada has been announced. Bertuzzi and Jovanovski will play for the Canadian Olympic hockey team in Turino! Not without controversy of course, in Bert's case.


(l-r: Todd Bertuzzi, Ed Jovanovski)

In other news, I went to Stanley Park's Bright Nights last night, in between downpours. Not only were there millions of lights on display, but a petting farm as well. Upon exiting the farm, I noticed a hand-washing station, to help prevent any visitors from catching that pesky bird flu. Will post soon…

Happy last-minute frantic holiday shopping,

Ariane C

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Sunday Posting, Part 2

If anyone watched that Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers game last night, what a match, eh?! Can't believe that Bertuzzi was actually smiling again (should be, after scoring two goals in the game); sudden death overtime saw them lose to the Oilers 4-5. Scary enough, as the Canucks enjoyed a great 2 point lead twice during the game. Matt Cooke and Anson Carter had the other goals for Vancouver. Sadly, the Canucks have now lost all three games against Edmonton this season, and suffered only their second home-ice defeat of the year in the process.

After winning four straight, and humbling three Eastern Conference giants in the process, the Canucks faltered back home. They’re now 5-7-2 against divisional opponents, and hold a single-point lead over the Flames in the Northwest.

Anyway, they'll be hosting the LA Kings tomorrow night at home. Hockey is really more than the 'violent' sport that people make it out to be. After watching several (just about all) of this season's games, one can really see the finer and FASTER points in enjoying a hockey game. Things can change in a split second, and when a team ties, those final moments of the third period are exciting to watch. I highly recommend it : )

Birdlife in Van: It Doesn't Get Any Better

Today was bird-heaven for the likes of nature lovers like myself. As I headed to the sea for my Sunday fitness walk, I approached the seagulls sitting atop the frozen Kits outdoor pool, mostly sleeping in place and warming up in the sunshine. Once I passed Watermark Restaurant, I looked up and saw a Bald Eagle in the tree. A couple walking by pointed out its mate on the rock ahead. My walk was temporarily haulted to watch these two lovely creatures feeding on fish. Somehow they were brave enough to stay even though a crowd of curious onlookers was building up along the shore.





A couple of kayakers (yes, in this winter cold!) stopped to watch the birds as well…



Close to home, on 2nd and Trafalgar, I spotted a Steller's Jay (BC's provincial bird) cruising overhead on its way to a bird feeder.

Days like today only make me appreciate this new city more and more. Friday was our six-month anniversary of arriving in Canada. Yes, time flies. It's incredible though, the amount of things we've seen and done in that time.

Photo credits go out to Kylm - www.klym.ca - thanks for sending me those pix!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

The Season Has Arrived



Now that my web site is finished, I can go back to updating this little baby. We're here deep into the holiday season and still finding lots to keep us busy despite no work offers at the moment. Ad is busy ripping CD after CD onto his laptop, now that he's gotten used to iTunes. One day, his Nano will come…

Last night, we took a walk along Broadway Street, beautifully illuminated with lights for the holidays. Back along Stephens Street, we were amazed at some of the light displays up and running along the beautiful old character homes of Kits. The summer beach scene has now been replaced with jogging suits, dogs on leashes and plenty of Starbuck's coffees to go. There's an area close to the Maritime Museum that allows dogs to run freely, and seems to be a friendly doggy meeting spot for the locals. I've also been told recently that many people DRIVE over to the Kits Beach seawall area just to go walking with their pooch and be seen. And the luck that we're a 5 minute walk from all this!

And speaking of that seawall, I'm off for a walk/jog now. If you go to this link, you'll see photos of our area of the seawall! Yes, down THOSE stairs!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Once the Tallest Building in the British Empire







While downtown last week, I entered this gem of a building - the Marine Building - and photographed some of the interior. Click here for an in-depth historical link to this marine-themed heritage building.

Other than that, we awoke yesterday morning to a nice site out our window:



I'm going to get Ad to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas tonight, as this classic TV special has yet to make it to The Netherlands! Signing off, from a cold Vancouver evening…

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Sinterklaastijd



To all my family and friends in Holland: wij wensen jullie een prettige en gezellige Pakjesavond toe en niet te veel pepernoten eten! Groetjes van Ariane en Ad

Friday, December 02, 2005

Trippin'

Sometimes it still feels like being on vacation, discovering new things all the time. In Gastown, close to Water Street, is a tiny alley I bumped into on my way to my first appointment:



According to legend, Blood Alley was the location for a number of butcher shops. At the end of each day they would be rinsed out resulting in the inevitable blood in the street. As if that was not enough they used to hold public executions in Blood Alley Square.

The snow we'd been promised was but a light dusting of powder that dissipated upon touching the sidewalk. Still, it made a cozy café visit all the more enjoyable over at Blake's Coffee Parlour…

Not quite downtown, not quite East Van, Gastown and Water Street (its main street) are filled with restaurants, boutiques, tourist shops and bars. A hip and urban crowd, with a smattering of homeless people walking the streets (and inside the cafés. I was approached by two within half an hour).

After my rather successful meetings, I headed to the Vancouver Hyatt Regency to check out the Gingerbread Lane and a 14 foot high, six feet wide Gingerbread Man. He is the undisputed Guinness World Record holder, baked with 100 kgs of flour, 1.6 kg each of salt and baking soda, 20 kg each of sugar, molasses and shortening, 1.6 kg of nutmeg and 4 kg of ginger! Just imagine the pan needed to bake him as well.



Here's a couple more photos taken of the displays…



Thursday, December 01, 2005

Taking Stock



There's much to be thankful for, as our recent international move will prove. I began a work search at the start of September and this morning took inventory of what activity has come about as a result.

resumes and digital portfolios/business cards sent out for both freelance and full-time jobs = 115
interviews to discuss possible freelance ops = 5
actual job interviews for a full-time job = 3
job offers = 0

Albeit, Vancouver is a small, tight and closely-knit job hub, much like that of San Francisco. I did however hope to have more success by now. With the upcoming holidays, that glimmer of a job offer may have to wait until everyone's done partying. Have no fear, I'm off to enjoy (as a volunteer and pro-networker) a holiday party, Cuban-style, with the GDC* next Wednesday. Yesterday's Globe and Mail Business section's first page: quite apropos. A huge article discussed networking right DURING the holiday season, and not letting the fact that everyone ELSE is gainfully employed stand in your way.

Breathe in: gainfully
Breath out: employed

*Society of Graphic Designers of Canada

Happy December 1st to everyone near and far.