So, another week of work under the belt. My first day at JOB 2 was insane. There's only one creative person in that company, with only one Macintosh. Guess who that would be? Anyway, my boss has made it clear that anything I need to get myself comfortable, just ask and I'll receive. Even to the point of a new Mac! It took a lot to get me caught up, but then again, there was a huge backlog of work and they hadn't had a designer gracing that Mac for a few weeks! Unfortunately, too, the last designer who'd left on maternity leave had to leave BC for a family matter, and this made it hard to get around her system - she had everything password-protected!
In came a Mac-repair consultant, a Swiss relation of ours, to the rescue. He fixed and got me (and my password) recognized into the system, though I'm now locked out of a lot of files! Par for the course when restoring passwords on a computer! I just copied over what files I needed that were locked, and am now on my merry way. At some point, I'll hope to get this lady into the office so that we can go over all relevant (and non-relevant) files, as it's looking pretty hairy between my hard drive and the secondary (much larger) external drive.
Weather-wise, things are looking quite Spring outside. We took most of the day yesterday to have a Yard Sale, selling off some stuff that had accumulated over the months, mostly old things from Europe. Last night, we saw a play at Performance Works Theatre on Granville Island, and now it's Sunday almost noon; we're about to take off cycling around False Creek and over the Burrard Bridge. There's not a cloud in the sky; our neighborhood is active with runners, cyclers, walkers, coffee-drinkers, all heading to and fro, either to the 4th Avenue shops or to the beach! So far, more are heading towards the sea!
Hope everyone's having a good weekend (those in Eastern Canada, sorry to hear there's more snow headed your way)! -
Signing off,
Ariane C
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Saturday, March 11, 2006
I'm Working Now
Well, it had to happen sooner or later, all this networking and interviewing for jobs and information. I was hired to begin on March 1st at an ad agency in town, and sure enough as timing woud have it, that very day TWO OTHER companies called me to meet and discuss openings! I spent the last two weeks working days and half that time after hours at interviews. It was a mad rush heading out the door at places all around town, heading into rush hour on the bus. By week's end, I had two very strong possibilities!
The job I started on the 1st was more or less a job to make money. I saw from the first day that it wasn't going to be something I could put my heart and soul into. Really a lot less creative than the work I'd done in a while, and in terms of professional development, close to nil. I'd wanted to hold off on starting that job until the 5th, however the production manager wanted me to start on the 1st as the contract I was filling was a maternity leave. They were hoping that I could spend a few days with this lady before she headed out for the next six months, however on my very first day, she didn't show up, nor the second or third. That Friday, she'd already given birth a week early.
And here I was, somehow hoping that something better would come around, hoping to put off starting that job, when it really DID happen that way. I bowed out gracefully this past Friday, received my first official paycheck in BC and said goodbye to a friendly group of folk.
Monday, March 13th, I start again. Very excited about this one, as I'll be exploring the world of package design, something I'd always wanted to add to my repetoire, but was rarely given the chance (I can count on one hand the amount of packaging projects I've done over the last 20 years)!
The view is incredible! Out the large picture window spanning the entire office space, I will be catching glimpses of the gorgeous North Shore ski resort mountains, seaplanes and helicopters taking off and landing, the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay, and the West Coast Express trains, tracks almost literally below the building! I must add here for emphasis that the company where i WAS, occupied two floors, one half a floor below ground and not very bright and quite stuffy. That's the floor I worked on for the past two weeks. So literally a 180 difference here.
And tonight, even with three new player trades joining the Canucks, we managed to lose against the Dallas Stars, 1-2. Wonder if we'll make the playoffs at this rate?
More later as I start the working week and head out to enjoy
1) my Graphic Designers Meetup group on Monday night at a café on Commercial Drive and
2) Electric Six performing at Richards on Richards on Tuesday night!
Ariane C
Here's a look at the re-designed bus/subway ticket experiment from last month's meeting!
The job I started on the 1st was more or less a job to make money. I saw from the first day that it wasn't going to be something I could put my heart and soul into. Really a lot less creative than the work I'd done in a while, and in terms of professional development, close to nil. I'd wanted to hold off on starting that job until the 5th, however the production manager wanted me to start on the 1st as the contract I was filling was a maternity leave. They were hoping that I could spend a few days with this lady before she headed out for the next six months, however on my very first day, she didn't show up, nor the second or third. That Friday, she'd already given birth a week early.
And here I was, somehow hoping that something better would come around, hoping to put off starting that job, when it really DID happen that way. I bowed out gracefully this past Friday, received my first official paycheck in BC and said goodbye to a friendly group of folk.
Monday, March 13th, I start again. Very excited about this one, as I'll be exploring the world of package design, something I'd always wanted to add to my repetoire, but was rarely given the chance (I can count on one hand the amount of packaging projects I've done over the last 20 years)!
The view is incredible! Out the large picture window spanning the entire office space, I will be catching glimpses of the gorgeous North Shore ski resort mountains, seaplanes and helicopters taking off and landing, the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay, and the West Coast Express trains, tracks almost literally below the building! I must add here for emphasis that the company where i WAS, occupied two floors, one half a floor below ground and not very bright and quite stuffy. That's the floor I worked on for the past two weeks. So literally a 180 difference here.
And tonight, even with three new player trades joining the Canucks, we managed to lose against the Dallas Stars, 1-2. Wonder if we'll make the playoffs at this rate?
More later as I start the working week and head out to enjoy
1) my Graphic Designers Meetup group on Monday night at a café on Commercial Drive and
2) Electric Six performing at Richards on Richards on Tuesday night!
Ariane C
Here's a look at the re-designed bus/subway ticket experiment from last month's meeting!
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Musings
Heard the other day: Ben Stiller and Dick van Dyke partying up the street on 4th avenue over the weekend (Night at the Museum wrap party). The canadian women's hockey team scoring gold!!
Seen down on 4th Avenue two weeks ago: Gael Garcia Bernal (what a beautiful young thing).
Seen 10 minutes ago on Trafalgar and 6th: coyote spotting number 2.
Robin Williams is back in Vancouver filming (more Tuesday night appearances at the Urban Well stand-up comedy?). Actually, Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney, and Dick van Dyke are all in Night at the Museum together).
The Olympics Men's hockey team are on their way home. How sad an ending, especially with the Women's team doing so wonderfully well. Ad and I are taking in as much Olympics as we can, what with being underemployed and all.
Closing ceremonies already this weekend! The Olympic flag will be passed on to our mayor, Sam Sullivan. Avril Lavigne will perform during the Vancouver 2010 segment. There will be a huge party downtown this Sunday with large screen set up to watch the ceremonies, along with a multitude of activities.
I'll post photos soon!
Ariane C
Seen down on 4th Avenue two weeks ago: Gael Garcia Bernal (what a beautiful young thing).
Seen 10 minutes ago on Trafalgar and 6th: coyote spotting number 2.
Robin Williams is back in Vancouver filming (more Tuesday night appearances at the Urban Well stand-up comedy?). Actually, Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney, and Dick van Dyke are all in Night at the Museum together).
The Olympics Men's hockey team are on their way home. How sad an ending, especially with the Women's team doing so wonderfully well. Ad and I are taking in as much Olympics as we can, what with being underemployed and all.
Closing ceremonies already this weekend! The Olympic flag will be passed on to our mayor, Sam Sullivan. Avril Lavigne will perform during the Vancouver 2010 segment. There will be a huge party downtown this Sunday with large screen set up to watch the ceremonies, along with a multitude of activities.
I'll post photos soon!
Ariane C
Sunday, February 19, 2006
A Laff a Minute
Heard last night at the LaffRiot Girls stand up comedy competition:
Three women are sitting in a sauna: a German, a Japanese and a hillbilly.
All of a sudden, there's a beep heard in sauna. The German woman puts her hand to her head and tells the other two "I have an implant that tells me when I've received an email".
Soon after, there's another beep, this time coming from the Japanese woman's hand. She holds her hand to her ear and declares "I've a voice mail message coming in".
The poor hillbilly, feeling left out, heads to the bathroom and comes out a few moments later with four sheets of toilet paper sticking out of her ass. As she heads back into the sauna, she tells the other two women "I think I have a fax coming in".
… to add a little perspective here, the joke was told by a professional comedienne on the night of her 73rd birthday, at the Comedy Competition.
The next round at Zesty's is on Feb. 25th. If you have a chance to see this comedienne, don't miss her act!
Three women are sitting in a sauna: a German, a Japanese and a hillbilly.
All of a sudden, there's a beep heard in sauna. The German woman puts her hand to her head and tells the other two "I have an implant that tells me when I've received an email".
Soon after, there's another beep, this time coming from the Japanese woman's hand. She holds her hand to her ear and declares "I've a voice mail message coming in".
The poor hillbilly, feeling left out, heads to the bathroom and comes out a few moments later with four sheets of toilet paper sticking out of her ass. As she heads back into the sauna, she tells the other two women "I think I have a fax coming in".
… to add a little perspective here, the joke was told by a professional comedienne on the night of her 73rd birthday, at the Comedy Competition.
The next round at Zesty's is on Feb. 25th. If you have a chance to see this comedienne, don't miss her act!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Cypress Heaven
Indeed a wonderful new tradition we started, spending Valentine's Day snowshoeing in the gorgeous nature! We headed up with a rental car to Cypress Mountain and had a great but tiring day, trying our hands at the shoe experience! I've got a pair of blisters, but Ad seems to be OK. This afternoon, I walked around Stanley Park and back into town, enjoying the brisk but clear air. We've a cold snap that seems to get colder and colder by the day. Tomorrow we'll have -2 C during the day, but with wind chill factor, about -15 C! We're now convinced that we've made the right decision by moving to Vancouver, and not say, to Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto!
I'll be volunteering again next weekend at the Weekend to End Breast Cancer booth, this time at the Home and Garden Show at BC Place.
…and a glorious sunset taken from our balcony on Tuesday.
Signing off,
Ariane C
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Every Day a Meeting, Every Day a New Contact
It's meeting whirlwind time, for both Ad and I. I've been breaking down the gatekeepers of all the big design and ad shops in town, and getting to meet Creative Director after Creative Director. Of course it helps when they don't think I'm looking for a job, however those I've met have been really insightful in learning more about the tiny Vancouver design market. I now know that it's about 1/8 the size of Toronto, amongst other things!
Just when I thought that I'd exhausted my list of contacts culled from the web and Yellow Pages, Ad came home with a stack of New Media Directory listings pulled from a job resource centre we've been attending workshops at. December 2005's list has come out, and although I'd already contacted at least 65% of the companies on the list, there were still more unknown to me left to contact and meet!! My list of networks is growing expotentially. My new buzz phrase: Networking knows no bounds!
Besides my work hunt going into full swing, I've been volunteering for the Graphic Designers Society of Canada, Vancouver chapter and the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, a huge 60 km walk spread out over a weekend this coming August in Van. If I can raise 2,000 dollars CDN, I can enter the race! For now, I'm considering volunteering during the course of the weekend, but the thought of actually DOING this, along with about 2,000 others, is starting to look attractive! The 75 dollar sign-up fee includes a trainer, all forms of preparation for the event, sleeping arrangements, all food and activity for the 2 days, plus a t-shirt. In any case, obviously all for a good cause. The GDC has a great posh event coming up end of March called Graphex '06 Gala Awards Night, that I've signed up to volunteer for. Should be a smashing evening, at the prestigous Vancouver Club downtown.
The weather is just superb: 12 C and SUNSHINE with strong winds, making my jogs along the beach/seawall filled with exhilarating ocean smells and beautiful dark blue water featuring white peaks on their larger-than-usual waves. We just feel like we've stepped into heaven here. Just about every day I'm out there jogging/walking, I meet up with at least one pug; they're great and feisty little creatures that I'd love to own one of in the future. For now we're in non-smoking/no pets rental land, and living in Kits as a homeowner, just can't see that happening short of winning a lottery, and LEAVING Kits doesn't seem like it could be possible, given our location, home and proximity to just about everything!
The Wired Monk is doing great business here at the corner. On Feb. 25th, they'll have an official opening party with face painting for the kidz, live music, goodies and free java, just the sort of community feeling that Kitsilano is so well known for.
So off I go, to meet another potential client.
Beste Moeder en Daddy C: het is hier zo verschrikkelijke mooi buiten, jammer dat jullie niet voor een paar dagen even deze gebeid kunnen bekijjken zonder het lange reis hoor! Wij wensen jullie een fijn reis naar Egypte, maak er veel foto's daarvan - ! Liefs van Ariane en Ad
Signing off,
Ariane C
Just when I thought that I'd exhausted my list of contacts culled from the web and Yellow Pages, Ad came home with a stack of New Media Directory listings pulled from a job resource centre we've been attending workshops at. December 2005's list has come out, and although I'd already contacted at least 65% of the companies on the list, there were still more unknown to me left to contact and meet!! My list of networks is growing expotentially. My new buzz phrase: Networking knows no bounds!
Besides my work hunt going into full swing, I've been volunteering for the Graphic Designers Society of Canada, Vancouver chapter and the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, a huge 60 km walk spread out over a weekend this coming August in Van. If I can raise 2,000 dollars CDN, I can enter the race! For now, I'm considering volunteering during the course of the weekend, but the thought of actually DOING this, along with about 2,000 others, is starting to look attractive! The 75 dollar sign-up fee includes a trainer, all forms of preparation for the event, sleeping arrangements, all food and activity for the 2 days, plus a t-shirt. In any case, obviously all for a good cause. The GDC has a great posh event coming up end of March called Graphex '06 Gala Awards Night, that I've signed up to volunteer for. Should be a smashing evening, at the prestigous Vancouver Club downtown.
The weather is just superb: 12 C and SUNSHINE with strong winds, making my jogs along the beach/seawall filled with exhilarating ocean smells and beautiful dark blue water featuring white peaks on their larger-than-usual waves. We just feel like we've stepped into heaven here. Just about every day I'm out there jogging/walking, I meet up with at least one pug; they're great and feisty little creatures that I'd love to own one of in the future. For now we're in non-smoking/no pets rental land, and living in Kits as a homeowner, just can't see that happening short of winning a lottery, and LEAVING Kits doesn't seem like it could be possible, given our location, home and proximity to just about everything!
The Wired Monk is doing great business here at the corner. On Feb. 25th, they'll have an official opening party with face painting for the kidz, live music, goodies and free java, just the sort of community feeling that Kitsilano is so well known for.
So off I go, to meet another potential client.
Beste Moeder en Daddy C: het is hier zo verschrikkelijke mooi buiten, jammer dat jullie niet voor een paar dagen even deze gebeid kunnen bekijjken zonder het lange reis hoor! Wij wensen jullie een fijn reis naar Egypte, maak er veel foto's daarvan - ! Liefs van Ariane en Ad
Signing off,
Ariane C
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Crocuses in February
Well, with the record-breaking rains came a few days of gorgeous sunshine, just enough to bring out the daffodils and crocuses in February?!! We've had such a mild winter here so far that the Spring flowers are popping up now instead.
Ad and I are getting more responses to our networking efforts. This morning, we attended a two hour workshop on the hidden job market. Much of the information given wasn't anything we didn't already know, however we did get a few great tips here and there. Today was a big day as I picked up our business cards from the printer and we're quite happy to have full-colour cards to go with our networking! Hurray for digital printing!
The Canucks are coming back with a few wins while on the road. Tomorrow and Saturday they'll play two big rivals in Alberta, The Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers, neither of which they've beat so far this season. Oilers are by far my favourite team to hate, biggest rivals to the Canucks, bar the Leafs!
This coming Saturday, I'll be volunteering at the Health and Wellness Show down at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre. I'll be at the Endcancer.ca booth giving out info.
Oh yeah, my hand-made rings are now on consignment at a cool little store on Broadway, called Shine. Hopefully they'll get some attention there! And, we've a new café right on the corner: The Wired Monk.
Off like a dirty shirt,
Ariane C
Ad and I are getting more responses to our networking efforts. This morning, we attended a two hour workshop on the hidden job market. Much of the information given wasn't anything we didn't already know, however we did get a few great tips here and there. Today was a big day as I picked up our business cards from the printer and we're quite happy to have full-colour cards to go with our networking! Hurray for digital printing!
The Canucks are coming back with a few wins while on the road. Tomorrow and Saturday they'll play two big rivals in Alberta, The Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers, neither of which they've beat so far this season. Oilers are by far my favourite team to hate, biggest rivals to the Canucks, bar the Leafs!
This coming Saturday, I'll be volunteering at the Health and Wellness Show down at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre. I'll be at the Endcancer.ca booth giving out info.
Oh yeah, my hand-made rings are now on consignment at a cool little store on Broadway, called Shine. Hopefully they'll get some attention there! And, we've a new café right on the corner: The Wired Monk.
Off like a dirty shirt,
Ariane C
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
A Day Out Between the Rain
Nothing much here to report. Just pictures taken from our bike ride around town yesterday, in the 12 degree C sunshine. And our first coyote spotting last night down our STREET! Vancouver indeed : )
Ad looking out to sea
the view from down our street
from out the bedroom balcony, with early morning fog over the water
Stanley Park totem poles with snow caps
Ad looking out to sea
the view from down our street
from out the bedroom balcony, with early morning fog over the water
Stanley Park totem poles with snow caps
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Grad Day
Anyway, three weeks later, I've met a great group of people from my Transitions program, that's been a godsend in fresh ideas for networking, resume and cold calling tips, confidence-boosting and a look at transferable skills. We have one more follow-up next week Thursday. The gang's pictured above in the office entrance. We had a great time, lots of laughter, some tears and mostly a good rapport and friendships formed as many of us are going through similar career situations. I can't recommend it enough; if you're in the Vancouver Mainland area, I'll be happy to give you the link and info.
Now it's time to forge ahead and embrace all of this newly discovered talent and power to network. As I've recently grown fond of saying, "networking knows no bounds". Just about every event, dinner, group activity and meeting can lead to something unexpected. I'm loving this part of my life.
Vancouver has seen a few wonderful Canuck victories, namely last night's great 6-2 lead over the Montreal Canadiens! Never mind that they did great justice when the Maple Leafs came to town almost two weeks ago, but now they're poised to take on any team that stands in their way. We're all getting excited about two things: the upcoming Olympic games (watching all the Canucks play for their respective country's teams) and tomorrow's National election, where popularity for Stephen Harper, the Conservative, is reaching some scary heights. To give you an example, if he wins, he'll be most aligned with George W. Bush in his policies and attitudes toward the Kyoto Accord. Challenge abortion rights. Give big business a bigger break. You get where I'm going here. Not pretty stuff to ponder.
Ad passed his PMP certification exam last week, so he's one step closer to following his career path here in Van. He'll be networking and interviewing during the coming days and has a good feeling about tomorrow's interview out (down) in Surrey. We had a few sunny breaks in this dreary wet winter weather, but currently it's wet and (not too) cold, yet not particularly wonderful to be outside. On my run this afternoon, I saw yet another Bald Eagle in a tree just down our street at the edge of Trafalgar, past Point Grey Road! Always nice to see such a massive creature with its large and painfully bright white head. By the time I returned from the Seawall, he'd already flown off elsewhere.
More snow in the local mountains here, and my daily morning bus ride over Granville Bridge is occasionally met with an awesome view of white up there!
Signing off…
Ariane C
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Van Life and News
On living in Van: I think it's really cool that our fair city is often referred to as Lotusland. Better than Toronto, where they're lovingly referred to as Hogtown.
And my brilliant career (transitions program), into Week 2: it's going really well. We're well on our way and I feel very much a part of the working world, even though I'm not taking home a paycheck at the end of the week. Many observations, tons of exercises and hand outs to stuff up our binders, and learning more and more about myself (and the group) all the time. As I have a profile now from the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator testing system, I can plug into a large group of potential new careers to enhance my talents and personality. Those jobs run the gamut from drama psychotherapy coach to actor to social jobs.
Weather Watcher: nothing to gleam about. Today marked day 24 of rainy days in a row, but luckily not the entire day through. I've walked home from my training program a few times already (can make the walk in about 55 minutes flat from downtown). And actually sweated, since it's mild as can be. The crocus and daffodil greenery is already making a break through the earth, I would say about 5 weeks ahead of its normal schedule. Today we had a few sun breaks.
The Mountains: when the clouds break through, there's whiteness all around! Every chance I get while downtown, I walk to the corner of Howe and Pender Street, and look downward towards the water, to take in the Canada Sails and the Northshore peaks. 9 times out of 10 I get a gorgeous mountain view while the bus makes its way over the Granville Bridge in the morning.
So, those Mighty Canucks, vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: 4-3 win at home! It was a rare appearance by the Leafs in Vancouver, and BC Place (at least from where we were watching on the big screen) was packed! Excellent game, guys! Now that they've won three games in a row, they're off tol face New Jersey on Thursday night.
And my brilliant career (transitions program), into Week 2: it's going really well. We're well on our way and I feel very much a part of the working world, even though I'm not taking home a paycheck at the end of the week. Many observations, tons of exercises and hand outs to stuff up our binders, and learning more and more about myself (and the group) all the time. As I have a profile now from the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator testing system, I can plug into a large group of potential new careers to enhance my talents and personality. Those jobs run the gamut from drama psychotherapy coach to actor to social jobs.
Weather Watcher: nothing to gleam about. Today marked day 24 of rainy days in a row, but luckily not the entire day through. I've walked home from my training program a few times already (can make the walk in about 55 minutes flat from downtown). And actually sweated, since it's mild as can be. The crocus and daffodil greenery is already making a break through the earth, I would say about 5 weeks ahead of its normal schedule. Today we had a few sun breaks.
The Mountains: when the clouds break through, there's whiteness all around! Every chance I get while downtown, I walk to the corner of Howe and Pender Street, and look downward towards the water, to take in the Canada Sails and the Northshore peaks. 9 times out of 10 I get a gorgeous mountain view while the bus makes its way over the Granville Bridge in the morning.
So, those Mighty Canucks, vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: 4-3 win at home! It was a rare appearance by the Leafs in Vancouver, and BC Place (at least from where we were watching on the big screen) was packed! Excellent game, guys! Now that they've won three games in a row, they're off tol face New Jersey on Thursday night.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
A Sign of Success?
Stretch limo time, first thing seen this morning looking out front of our house (the silver car across the street belongs to our neighbors downstairs). Perhaps this is a sign of greatness and success to come for us in Vancouver! The Canucks surely returned to great form last night, beating the Calgary Flames in overtime, 4-3! Finally, some groove back in their game. The big game's coming right up, against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. A Pay-per-view for sure, so yours truly and better half will be off somewhere sports-barsy to view the action…
Cool to see that Jon Stewart will be hosting the Academies this coming March! As if Chris Rock wasn't enough last year : )
The program I've started, called Transitions, is awesome. I'm in a group of about 15 other folks out of work for one reason or another, and we're focused on career as well as life-changing potential here. Very powerful stuff. Keeps me busy all week and into the evenings with assignments and reflection, as it's busy during those days (action-packed, lots of handouts each day). The Canadian government even pays for the bus transport costs! Hopefully by the end of this session, I'll either tap into some hidden potential other than graphic design, or decide that being a designer is truly in my blood - and heart - and keep within that vein.
What follows are a few photos from the annual Kits Beach tree-chipping fundraiser event. Man, did the air smell gorgeous from all the pine being recycled!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
It Ain't Much
As they say in The Netherlands, 'It ain't much if it ain't Dutch'. Well, Ad and I took part in the Vancouver Oranje Club meeting last month and made some common bonds with fellow (ex)countrymen and ladies. We met at Dockside Pub and enjoyed an evening of Dunglish (that's Dutch intertwined with English) and met a lot of people in similar past and present situations. If you're interested, have a look at this link and click on the group photo at the top left. There we are!
Our mighty Van Canucks are just not up to speed these days, having lost an embarassing match last night against St. Louis, 1-4. Really now, what IS eating the Canucks? With several more road games looming, we do hope they'll get their mojo back, and soon. How else are they going to qualify for the playoffs later on?
Speaking of sports news, I'm still trying to keep up my walk/jog routine along the Kits Seawall. I'll be taking a couple of intro (read:free) Pilates classes this week, around the corner at Proactive Pilates: Body Rolling, and Pilates on the Ball. Sounds interesting? I'll keep you informed, as I'm curious myself!
Off now to read the Van Sun,
Ariane C
Our mighty Van Canucks are just not up to speed these days, having lost an embarassing match last night against St. Louis, 1-4. Really now, what IS eating the Canucks? With several more road games looming, we do hope they'll get their mojo back, and soon. How else are they going to qualify for the playoffs later on?
Speaking of sports news, I'm still trying to keep up my walk/jog routine along the Kits Seawall. I'll be taking a couple of intro (read:free) Pilates classes this week, around the corner at Proactive Pilates: Body Rolling, and Pilates on the Ball. Sounds interesting? I'll keep you informed, as I'm curious myself!
Off now to read the Van Sun,
Ariane C
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy 2006
(a Spring night in Paris, 2005)
We rang in the New Year to hear a tribal drum from the house across the street - the lady drumming away mentioned their yearly tradition of the midnight drumming. Oh yeah, very Kits! At the moment, lots of joggers outside, despite the wind and occasional rain. People walking their dogs, shopping for groceries, and this, over at English Bay: a Polar Bear Swim! The yearly event started at 2:30 this afternoon. Found out about it at 2:33. I did make a run down to the beach to witness it through binoculars, and heard lots of cheering and others out on their boats watching from the water. With this wind, it's lucky the temperature is so mild (about 10C). I saw a few divers hit the waves, and headed up the hill for my afternoon cup of (decaf) joe.
The seagulls are circling here above like mad, flying against the wind, as are the geese and ducks down at the shore. All in all, we're happy to be here, very happy in fact. Did anyone see Dick Clark on TV last night? He's really doing his best, but in all the years I lived in The Netherlands, I hadn't seen him age and see his condition deteriorate at THIS pace. I guess he survived a recent stroke. It seems that Ryan Seacrest is priming up for taking over his slot in the future. And what about Duran Duran? Have they aged or what? Why the tv crew chose to show their live show during "Notorious" was beyond me. They'd had so many great hits over the years. The Bangles, however, looked great and sounded even better!
But I ramble…best wishes to all of you for a great new year -
Ariane C
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 : )
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!
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!
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