Hawaii with BB

We had a great time in Hawaii......again. Great weather, perfect in fact. Cooler at night, nice sunny warm days with a little sprinkle of rain here and there. Saw our friends.......always good.







Changes ahead for my dear friend Mrs. A. She's put her condo on the market and is moving into an Assisted Living place so the next time I'm on the island I will visit her in her new home. In the meantime she's still screaming around town in the Taurus making men quake in their boots (or flip flops) when they see her coming. A force to be reckoned with but a dear soul and one who loves me and has always been so generous with me.






My friend Becky who never changes even though life has its ups and downs. She continues to always be upbeat, caring and a lot of fun. Becky lives in the building next door to her mom and dad and looks after them on a daily basis. She amazes me with her strength in the middle of life's storms.










Friends of ours, Dana and Carol who have blended their families and have 4 amazing kids that I adore. Lots of love and happiness in the household and a real thrill to meet Dana's mom for the first time. I think our two moms became best friends the moment they met.

































I love Hawaii for so many reasons and I never fail to see the beauty. I love palm trees. The sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore. Sitting by the pool of the hotel meeting people who live less than 30 miles from my home that I've never met before. Going to the giant flea market and meeting people from Florida, all 4 had been to Vancouver and loved it. I love the sounds of Hawaiian guitar and the sweet sounds of serenaders by the hotel.

My Favorite Blog

Yesterday we did something spontaneous and drove to Seattle to meet the Pioneer Woman in person. I've been reading her blog for the past few years and love it. It's always entertaining and often educational.





PW is a crazy kinda person, lots of personality and full of life. She also is a wonderful cook and photographer. Last year she wrote her own cookbook full of recipes that she illustrated herself.







I bought a copy of her cookbook to give to my friend for Christmas. But because she always has a lame excuse as to why she's too busy to get together she has yet to receive her cookbook. BUT because I am such a great friend I put all bitterness aside and brought her book with me, it's just been gathering dust on my bookshelf anyways and had it signed by PW so that whenever my friend DOES have time to see me she will get her own personally autographed cookbook by PW. Maybe when she reads this (cuz I know she reads my blog) she'll reconsider some of those lame excuses. Ahem.









We got to the bookstore at 1:00 just to get a ticket to come back at 5:00. It was really well-organized. You picked up a ticket for each book you wanted signed and it had a letter on it. When they called out your letter you got in line then and only then giving you lots of time to look around, have something to eat, etc.








When PW walked in she was accompanied by her oldest daughter and her mother-in-law. Her daughter is as tall as me but a lot sweeter. She was happy to roam around the store and talk to people. She wore the coolest boots so she showed them to us when I asked her to. Very accommodating, like I said, she's sweet.



So NOW I'm off to pick up my mom and head to Hawaii tomorrow!...

This was my boyfriend when I lived in Hawaii, I spent many hours chasing him around the island in his Ferrari, watching him play beach volleyball at Ft. DeRussy, or looking for him at his restaurant. I don't know what he's up to now but I'm gonna find out!



This is my other boyfriend in Hawaii. I look forward to seeing him again too while he's not chasing bounties and putting away the bad guys. Chris isn't coming on this trip so I won't have to share him this time.



Actually, this is more what it will look like........aloha! BB and I are off to Hawaii for a week of sun, fun and seeing friends.

It's just about a done deal! Our offer was accepted on a little bitty piece of property with trailer and deck and a cute little shed all in pristine condition.

Just across the border and not so far from home. We're looking forward to having a place to chill.

There's a familiar theme around our house...........we used to have our whole bathroom done in this theme.........big girls at the beach. Now we see it in the funniest places.



We spent the weekend on Vancouver Island in Sidney at a beautiful resort on the water. It was a rocky ride over on the ferry, I've never seen dishes go flying quite like that before and we were more than happy to get to safe docking.




We spent a whole afternoon exploring Sidney. It's a beautiful little place and although it seems like a small town there was a large variety of places to eat, book stores selling new and used books, several gift stores, home accessories, flower shops, etc. Nice people everywhere we went.



We ate lunch at a little Swiss bistro and the people next to us were quite chatty when we sat down and looked at the menu. After we ate our lunch (yum) somehow we struck up a conversation with them and heard their life story. Very interesting. They had endured so much illness, cancer, heart attacks and on and on, broken back, and just at the time they were better their daughter had her bowel burst and they stayed to take care of their granddaughter. Amazing what people have to go through. But the over riding message the lady said over and over was 'I'm at peace with God, I'm not afraid to die.'

The greatest message of Easter is that Jesus rose from the dead. Because of that hope we can go on living without fear.

We are so blessed. We live in a beautiful province and are able to enjoy it in freedom.




Because He lives, we can face tomorrow. Happy Easter!

The Problem with Deforestation

The best part about having the Paralympics in our city is the opportunity to drive groups to events. Tuesday I drove a group from a day program,full of enthusiasm and excitement to see a sledge hockey game between the USA and Japan.

They offered us free tickets to join them so we got into see most of the game. Amazing to see the speed and skill played on ice. Very impressive.

Its been a wonderful experience to have the Olympics and Paralympics in our city. I am very proud of all that has been accomplished by our athletes and the response by spectators. A once in a lifetime experience for sure.

Stopped by my fave coffee place this morning to get a java to go. Rolled up the rim to win and I did! $100 gift card. Made my day, put a skip in my step and a whistle in my walk!

The Olympic fever that hit Vancouver is still alive and well. In fact, it's awesome. I've never seen such patriotism in my life. Lots of red mittens still being worn, toques (yes that's what they're called) and Canada scarves.

Impromptu singing of "Oh Canada". My fave?

Driving a bus of 12 'mentally challenged' adults home from their day program and listening to their deafening version of our national anthem. You gotta love it. Nothing else mattered to them than singing with gusto. All the little hissy fits on the bus, 'who gets to sit beside who today', 'i don't like you anymore but tomorrow i may just be back in love with you' dilemmas gone.

Priceless.

Weekend Away

Chris and I snuck out of town early Sat morning and headed for the west coast of Vancouver Island. I've only been there once before and it was many many years ago. it's beautiful. Long Beach lives up to its name. The ocean is so vast, big high waves and surfers were in their glory.

One thing we love to do is people watch and people listen. Sat night we went to a place that was recommended by the front desk at the cottage where we were staying.

Real conversation:

We were sitting at a table by the window and I had my back to the front counter. It wasn't a formal restaurant so you could either eat in or take out. A woman came in by herself and the owner/cook/server asked if he could help her.

"I don't have much time, how long would it take to get a piece of fish and chips to go?"

"not long, I'll get it ready for you."

"No, that's too long. How long for a curry bowl?"

"About 6 minutes. Would you like one to go?"

"No, that's too long. Maybe I'll have fish. Why do you charge $14 for fish and chips to go?"

"Because that's the price. Would you like some to go?"

"No, well maybe. Maybe I'll have a burger. How long would that take?" "Why do you have a fish laying on its side that looks like it belongs in a museum?" "Your city hall is really run down, you should do something about it. We're having a whale exhibit next weekend, can I use your fish for a demonstration? It's for the children. You should let me use your fish." and so on and so on..............

Finally she ordered something and in the meantime she kept the guy from cooking her meal to go and we laughed hysterically behind her back. Way too funny.

We were the only seated guests so when we went up to pay at the register I asked him, "Can I borrow your Captain's bell? Why is your Captains' bell just sitting there doing nothing?"

He laughed and said, "Wow, crazy lady, too much pot"

Just booked our next trip to Hawaii.........thought you'd all want to know.

April 19 - 26........can't wait.........coconut shrimp, blue hawaiians, BB drinking her white wine no matter how appealing the special drinks look, staying in the same place............good times! Friends are all waiting, making plans......look out Hawaii.......here we come!

Loving the Olympics

So much has been said about the Olympics....how much it all costs, blah, blah, blah and on it goes. But I have to say the Olympics are a pretty exciting time to be in Vancouver. There's so much going on!

Today I drove a group of people from Langley to BC Place to watch the medal ceremony and go to different Olympic events around. They had a blast. Who wouldn't?

I picked up a client visiting from Germany from the Richmond Oval, home of the skating events. She was ecstatic about the Olympics and her experience in Canada.

Then on to a group of 4 from West Vancouver who had just gone to hockey game and loved it.

Back to the group I left earlier this afternoon and drove them all to their meeting place a little tired but very happy.

Such a great day. People were everywhere. Lots of people smiling, enjoying themselves and living in the moment of having a world event in their city.

Go Canada!

And That Was All She Wrote..........

10 Years Ago:

Alone
Lived in Surrey
Hated my job
Drove a '90 Toyota Tercel
Had just come home from a trip to Hawaii with my brother John

1 Year Ago:

Happy in love
Lived in Surrey
Love my job
Driving a '08 Pontiac G5
Just came home from Mexico

Yesterday:

Missing Chris
Living in Pitt Meadows
Love my job
Still driving the Pontiac
Booked my time off for Hawaii

Tomorrow:

Chris will be home!
Off for the weekend - Valentine's Day!
Watching the 2010 Olympics in my hometown!
Doing laundry that never ends.
Enjoying time with the one I love.

5 snacks I enjoy:

chips and salsa,
zuccini sticks at the spot,
chicken fingers and dip,
7 layer dip with nachos,
carrot sticks and dip

5 Things I Would Do With $1,000,000:

Give a bunch to JF, a ministry to people with disabilities,
pay the bills,
buy my mom anything she wanted,
take Chris to Europe,
get married

5 Locations I Would Like To Run Away To:

Hawaii,
California,
Holland,
Australia,
Spain

5 Bad Habits I Have:

scratching til I bleed,
drooling in my sleep,
can't think of any more

5 Things I Love Doing:

scrapbooking,
taking pictures,
going to hawaii,
going on road trips,
buying clothes that fit

5 Things I Most Likely Will Never Wear:

strapless evening gown,
tube top,
belly button piercing,
nose ring,
high heels

5 Movies I Like:

Jazz Singer,
Steel Magnolias,
Beautiful Life,
Bucket List,
The Joy Luck Club

5 Famous People I Would Like To Meet:

Maya Angelou,
Ellen De Generes,
Judge Judy
Joni Eareckson
Sandra Bullock

5 Biggest Joys At The Moment:

Chris,
Benson and Bailey,
drinking my first cup of coffee for the day,
planning my next trip,
going to see my mom

5 Favorite Toys:

Camera,
computer,
ipod,
pvr,
cell phone

This Morning's Events

Today I went to the Memorial Service of my co-worker Jeff C. He was a couple of years older than me, nice guy, married 27 years with 2 great kids. He took good care of himself, exercised, did yoga every morning. He was a philosopher and lover of books. He wrote Haiku and won Haiku writing contests.

There was a great turn-out of people supporting the family, both family and friends. I counted at least 25 co-workers there. The Pastor asked us all to raise our hands, I was proud that so many people took time out of their schedules to attend.

Jeff got sick very quickly. He was diagnosed with a rare heart disease in Sept and it made him weak and incompacitated and hospitalized. Not the way he wanted to spend the end of his life.

So much of our lives is spent working, doing, fulfilling our duties we forget to take time to live.

Live well, laugh often, love much is a phrase we have in different parts of our home. I look at it every morning in my bathroom. Life's too short to be unhappy I always say.

Here's to you Jeff. Go in peace.

2009 Submarine Races

and so the bickering continues..........as I've said all along nobody wins in a strike. The strike continues to divide people after we've gone back to work.

For 10 weeks we stood out in the rain and wind and cold and endured big promises from the Union, 'hang in there' 'we're all in this together' 'the employer is the enemy' and so on.

In the end the Union caved to the company's demands because they could no longer fight them. So what. The contract was a fair one and I was happy to vote for it. I was one of 42% that voted yes but 52% voted no so we were at a standstill.

They brought in Canada's best chief negotiator in labour, I was impressed. Way to go Vince. Vince looked at the contract and said, 'it's a good one, not much more I can do here' and to appease the people who wanted more money for driving he added a nickel an hour to our wages. Yup, a nickel.

And THEN he said, we're going to charge the company to give the Union a bonus of $400,000 to be distributed amongst the members.

But he didn't specify which members. The drivers understood it was the for them because we didn't get the wages being asked for. Then the office workers who make more money than the drivers wanted a piece of the pie. And I don't blame them. As a driver I made an extra $150/week driving an essential service shift.

So now, instead of deciding what to do with the money, we're voting on Super Bowl Sunday 'do we give the money to everyone who picketed or not'. What kind of lame vote is THAT? Of course we do! But, gee, wouldn't it be nice if those of us who were out there the whole 10 weeks got a little bit more than the ones who showed up the first week, said 'nope, not for me, I'm getting another job' and we never saw them again?

There's my rant for today. Grow up. Put your big girl panties on and grow up.

New Airport Security Rules

Anniversary Time

We don't usually make a public announcement so it's not like anyone knows to go out and buy us a card but every year Chris and I do something special for our Anniversary.





Anniversary of what you ask? Good question, you can make up your own answer in your own mind and then.......keep it to yourself. Understood? Good.






So this year on our anniversary we went for a 2 day getaway to the island to a fancy schmancy spa and resort place. Bee-yoo-tee-full!












It was fabulous, our own little log cabin with big girl soaker tub which opened doors to the living room! How cool is that! Except we didn't use it because we were across the street at the big ole Grotto Spa.









There we enjoyed swimming in the mineral pool with a cool refreshing shower at the same time. Swimming around the rocks and taking a dip in the really hot pool, then going back in the cooler pool. So refreshing!


The best part was eating tapas in our robes.......only spa attire allowed at the tapa bar and only accessible from the spa. Yes, just us being served in our spa attire. Very cool. And the prawns and scallops? To die for. If I ever have to list the menu for my last supper on earth it would be at the top. OMG. OK, I sound like a teenager here but really, it doesn't get any better.

We enjoyed a trip to the beach, watched a wedding party being photographed (boy did that chick in the strapless gown look cold) and a really nice relaxing weekend.