Vancouver in the snow

We spent a night at the old Sylvia hotel while visiting friends in Vancouver. It's been snowing a lot this month and a dusting overnight transformed much of the west end into a dream-like quiet place.

Along comes November

 

 

 

It is finally cool enough that sun-dresses are frowned upon and our flip-flips have retired to the closet. Still, it is sunny nearly all the time and perfect weather for running and cycling.

Joel hired a cycling coach and has just moved up to category 4 elite for this year's competitive season with his eye on sliding into category 3 as soon as he can. His appetite for protein drinks is astonishing.

School has been less than fun this semester. I knew this was going to be rough but I'm at my limit for all-nighters already. I had a painting chosen for the winter art show -- not what I was expecting as a non-painter but other than that I think this has been mostly a survival semester and not particularly useful for portfolio building.

My mother, brother and grannie were down here for a week earlier this month. Everyone seemed to enjoy their time here. They did day-trips around Marin and out to Sonoma and San Francisco. Grannie sat in the sand and waded into the waves like a local. 

We have booked our flights home for the holidays and are eager to see family and friends again. 

Late fall in the Garden

October is hot!

I've rarely had a sunny birthday so a 30 degree birthday was even more of a change from the normally bone-chilling weather we have in Canada by late October. I'm usually packing on a parka against the frosty wind, not walking around in flip flops. I love this! A joint birthday gift from my family and Joel was a Canon Rebel XSi and a 24-70mm lens. We were out playing with it for the first time today. Can't wait to be able to finally shot my own pictures for school projects.

Float Plane to Victoria

Float Plane to Victoria, a set on Flickr.

I had so little time to see my family over thanksgiving so my Dad booked a float plane for me to be able to make it for a lunch and be back in Vancouver again for dinner. How crazy is that?

The float plane was a really great thing to do. We get so used to what BC looks like that we forget how breathtaking it is. I unfortunately only had my battered up old Canon powershot with me. Here are the pictures from my flight to Victoria.

Voting Time

My election ballot arrived a few minutes ago.  It's September 22. The little note inside tells me it has to be received by October 14th so I will be able to vote in time for the election. I'm amazed by how many pieces of paper came out of that envelope though. My ballot is that tiny piece of newsprint with the parliament buildings on it, it goes into three envelopes which are printed on the other side with my declarations of honesty. That legal size sheet is a two sided document on how to put things in envelopes and the small purple paper is the election deadline. I think each piece was designed in a different decade by a separate department. I think a design project is brewing.

It's 27 degrees celsius right now and I'm off to the library to get very cold. 

Election Madness

Since we arrived in the states last October we've been inundated with election coverage with things called 'primaries' and endless personal attacks. It's like an episode of a celebrity gossip show that never shuts up. I've become used to every newspaper and magazine front page either being Obama or McCain. 

What really shocked me aside from the total and utter saturation was how people just walk up to you and ask who you're voting for. I can't order an sandwich without dodging a bullet. I never know what to say, often saying I'm not American is met with a shocked "OMG the aliens, they're all around us" look. If they aren't in a total state of shock about my being white and not american they ask "well what do you think of Obama?" Sometimes sandwiches take a LONG TIME. If we get on the topic of Canadian politics I am often asked how it works in a country with a Queen?

Usually I'm proud to tell people that we don't oggle over our candidates before elections the way they do here and suffer very little of the media hoopla. I describe our little elections as laid back and low budget compared to real TV like Hockey Night in Canada or Corner Gas.

 

A few days ago my CBC dashboard widget flashed a news item of particular interest to me. CANADA CALLS AN ELECTION. The election is October 14th. Of this year. I know, really that seems like it's in a few weeks because it is! I immediately googled Canadian absentee ballots and could find nothing. Ironic. 

It took me ages but I finally found the absentee ballot order form. We printed them out and sent them in and now we wait and hope we get to vote before the election happens. Our deadline is Oct 7th! 

This is me, in a touque not a beanie signing off.

September begins

Summer is still here in Fairfax despite the fact that all the kids went back to school a week ago (they go back a week earlier here). A quiet has descended on the neighbourhoods which doesn't match the soaring temperatures and clear blue skies. Thankfully the weather has been kind and most days have been under 40 degrees. On the hot ones I spend the afternoons in the air conditioned library or drive into San Francisco where there is usually a 20 degree drop just before the Golden Gate Bridge.

My semester doesn't begin until the 9th so I have a few more days to pull together my supplies before the storm. Because of the randomness of my transferred credits I have two semesters ahead of me of tough classes that aren't really supposed to be taken concurrently. The good news is I can graduate with an Associate degree in the Spring and begin to look for work here. The end is near!

In other news, Joel had a 4th and a 5th place finish in his last two races. Both were fields of 50 riders and Joel with his small break-away group were able to lose the Peloton miles behind them.

I got back on the ice a week ago after a one year hiatus - the longest break since I could walk. It did all start to come back to me and I can begin to plan a few sessions throughout the fall to get back into skating a bit more. I don't know exactly what I want to do with it at the moment but it sure feels great to be back.

1st Wedding Anniversary

1st Wedding Anniversary, a set on Flickr.

Joel booked a weekend at a B&B in beautiful and romantic Mendocino. What an incredible spot!

August

I have just wrapped up the Summer semester at school and have four weeks off before the next installment of art madness.

We've been at bike races nearly every weekend as Joel keeps knocking off the requirements to reach the next racing category. These excursions have taken us up and down the state and inland to Lake Tahoe and into Nevada.

When not racing we've spent some glorious days on the beach and picnicking in our area. I've been slowly working up my stamina trail running

We've become pretty involved with our little community. There have been BBQs and impromptu driveway gatherings. Kids bring Joel their bikes for a tune-up when he's outside with the workshop door open and a new neighbour has been sending us loads of veggies from their garden.

We've also taken in town festivals, music down at our local pubs, outdoor movies in the park and are looking forward to seeing Radiohead at the Outsidelands Festival in two weeks time. We also have our first wedding anniversary on the 25th of this month. Hard to believe it was that long ago already.