All the small things: Food edition

I rag on Vancouver a lot.  But in the four plus years I’ve spent here, it hasn’t been all that bad.  I mean, we’re a week into November and there has been no snow. None.  Take that, Edmonton. 

I need to spend more time in my kitchen

Things haven’t exactly been coming up Loxy lately.  From the below mentioned concussion, to an unfortunate Blackberry incident, to online dating failures, to arriving home and finding my door open and spare key missing, to losing $100 in the mall yesterday, to going back to work today… I’m surprised I’m in such a good mood! (Strange, right? I know.)

A failed Hallowe’en

I love Halloween. I love scouring Value Village for the right parts to a costume. I love the mix of candy that comes from trick or treating. I love the spooky decorations. I love the smell of carving pumpkins. I love wearing ridiculous outfits. I just love it.

Friday night I had some friends over to my place for a small get-together. I was pleasantly surprised that most people showed up in costume. There were spooky eats and I’ll be taking down spider webs for the next few weeks. It was not some raging party – but that’s not really my style anyways.

Near the end of the evening, sober Loxy took to the death chair. It’s an old wicker thing that I bought for 10 dollars from the couple who formerly lived above me. All night it had brought people problems. Depending on what direction it is facing, it can be tippy.

30 things before I’m 30

It was recently my 28th birthday.  It has finally hit me that 30 is just around the corner.  While I have no idea where my career is going, I know it is headed in the right direction. But for once I don’t have a plan.  I just want my options to be open.  That’s not to say there aren’t things I am striving for, things I hope to accomplish and things that are so youthful that they should probably be done before I hit the big 3-0.

And that’s why I have a list.  I made the list this weekend.  I’m sure that 30 minutes of thinking of random stuff hasn’t captured the full essence of who I am and what I want, but it is a start.  I have 30 things to do before I’m 30.

(And I reserve the right to add, change, edit them, but if I want to put something on, I have to take something off…)

In alphabetical order:

Bake my mom’s cheese scones
Brew my own beer, cider or wine
Cross an ocean
Develop my own photographs
Display my photos in a public setting
Do something worth recognition at work
Fall in love
Film a short and likely pointless movie
Find the right perfume
Finish writing the book
Get a facial
Get an iPhone
Go Hang-gliding
Go canoeing or kayaking
Go for Dim Sum, again.
Host a theme party
Keep a plant alive for two years
Keep my weight under 160lbs, but enjoy eating junk food if I feel like it
Learn to play squash
Nap on a beach outside of Canada
Own a Betsey Johnson dress
Plan an awesome 30th birthday party
Read 10 books
Ride a crazy roller coaster
Save $5000
See someone compete in the Olympics
Spend a night sleeping outside
Start a new blog
Stay in bed all day
Visit my brother’s new house
Write my will

Is technology my best friend?

My computer and/or my cell phone is the first thing I see every morning and the last thing I see every night.  I often have my laptop in bed with me (like right now) and if it’s not there, it’s probably on the floor just an arm’s length away. 

The rest of my trip

New York, September 2009

I can’t believe how long it has taken to finish this post.  The two weeks, since I returned, have flown by.  I’m writing to you from the kitchen table at my parents’ place where I’m spending a quick visit for Thanksgiving.

While the first few weeks of this new schedule left me wondering what I should do with all the free time (and an ill-planned re-commitment to this blog), I’m now filling up all my time and having to book in “relaxation”.

As of Monday I’ll be without a computer, so this will likely be the only post for at least another week.  By then I need to be fully looking for a halloween costume, even though there are no parties planned this year.  Should I have one?  Nah.. I like gatherings and not parties that will undoubtedly be 80% work friends.

Lets get back to the story I was telling.

Part 2: Visiting Toronto, three more days on record

Day two started with a greasy Sunday morning brunch.  I took a regular grilled cheese and got the waitress to add in some spicy Chorizo.  Gold.

Up and waiting to get at ‘em

(Edit: Originally this was supposed to be one post with my entire vacation.  Halfway through, my browser crashed and somehow wordpress saved NOTHING.  So now I only have the patience to post the first day.  As the trip goes on, there will probably be less talking, more pictures.  Day one lacked much photography, much to your surprise.)

Not my hands

Day 1:

I got to sleep in – until 5:00am.  I was all packed and ready to go, even had a shower the night before to expedite the process.  By 5:15am, I had called the cab.  By 5:30am, no one had arrived. 

Eastern Promises

Rattlesnake Choir, Dakota Tavern, Toronto, ON, September 2009

I’m writing this from a dying computer. Despite an internet connection, the Quick Shuttle from the SeaTac Airport lacks plug-ins, so after traveling for over 12 hours, my computer is low on juice.

I left over a week ago – flying to Toronto, busing to Buffalo, flying to New York, flying to Seattle and now busing back to Vancouver. The only thing standing in my way is the wait at the Peace Arch – which could be excruciatingly long considering it is Sunday evening.

The trip was great. Really. But… the first half significantly overshadowed the second half. Toronto better than New York City? How could that be?

Only so many clever ways to say it’s Friday and I’m posting photos

Vancouver, September 2006

This post has been created in advance of showing up online. Hopefully if I check it on Friday… er.. today.. it will be there.
I’m doing so because I’m on vacation and by Friday I will be taking in some New York City action. Needless to say, those are a few days where I won’t be sitting around the house type type typing away.