The Daily EO: September 26th, 2012

When I first moved to Hamilton, Ontario, I sat at light ready to turn left.  It turned green bt then started to blink.  I sat and waited while the cars behind me started to honk.  I sat in the middle of the intersection uncertain how to proceed.  The cars on the other side were not going, yet there was no advance green.  After careful checking, I finally proceeded through the intersection much to the relief of the drivers behind me.

After consulting with local Ontarians, I found out that a blinking green light in Ontario was actually an advanced green – normally signified by an arrow or separate bank of lights in BC (where I grew up).  It took me quite some time to get to used to this in Ontario – though I find that many lighted intersections use arrows to indicate advance lefts now.

In BC, a blinking green light means a pedestrian controlled intersection.  So, normally the light stays green until a pedestrian comes along and presses the button to cross the street.

September 26th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:  Trying to break myself of the learned habit of advanced lefts on blinking green lights.

The Daily EO: September 25th, 2012

I was truly terrified to make my way back down to Gastown to see our new place.  Emile and I agreed to meet there after work, but it was not because I wanted to.  I had already put off meeting their on Monday with some airy excuse of being too tired.  But the real reason was because I was afraid.

Seriously.  Yes, I was afraid to go and see my new condo that I had committed to paying a large amount of money for each money for the next 15 months.

  1. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find the parking and I’d accidentally pull into the wrong underground parking.  Then I wouldn’t be able to back out because there would be all these cars behind me honking.
  2. I was scared that perhaps the real estate agent who arranged this deal was shady and this was going to result in me actually not have rented an apartment and that he just took our money. (despite me visiting his Re/Max office myself)
  3. I was anxious that the concierge would be mean and not helpful.  (??!)
  4. My gut clenched at the thought of 41 stories in the air and that I would be frightened every time I was at home.
  5. The apartment shrunk in my mind and I thought all of our stuff wouldn’t fit.

All of these ridiculous fears made me feel ridiculous, and so I knew I had to go down and deal with it.   And turns out I am just a little crazy.  None of these things actually happened.  Can you believe it?  The concierge helped me find the parking location – he was friendly, our key was not a fake one,  unless I was standing on the balcony I felt fine and the apartment was the 950 square feet.

September 25th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:  My god, I’m ridiculous.

The Daily EO: September 24th, 2012

I stopped by to visit my grandpa spontaneously today.  He had just returned from a walk and was sitting on the bench in the sun outside.  We exchanged small talk, but mostly just sat in the sun.  Finally, he decides its time to go in.

His residence has a large number of well maintained gardens in walled off areas featuring bushes, trees, shrubs and flowers.  I noticed as he went to move his walker along the sidewalk to get back in, there was a bit of plant debris gathered there.  I worried about him tripping, and was about to move it when my grandpa reached up and snapped off a small branch of a low hanging branch.

I as stood there gaping at him, Grandpa threw is to the ground and said “I’m helping them trim this tree back. ”

September 24th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:  Grandpa doesn’t like the tree there, so he is slowly taking care of it.

The Daily EO: September 23rd, 2012

I missed it!  I missed the Vancouver Fringe Festival!  But all is not lost:  I’ll be able to attend next year (!!) and the last Pick of the Fringe is playing today.  For $10, Emile and I could take in The PostSecret Event in Granville Island.

The day started out pretty overcast and dull, but by the time we made it down to Granville Island, the sun was peeking out and the tourists bumped their way through the market.

PostSecret fans are generally like Apple cult members.  A sighting of the founder – Frank – results in smiles, pointing, giggling and tweeting.  Although I much appreciate the PostSecret project, I don’t know that I fit into the category of fanatic.  I check the Sunday Secrets out often, rarely read the forums, and never post in them.  But I like the concept, I like the outlet.

They had an interactive application running while we waited for the show to begin. If you tweeted using #psvancouver, then it displayed the tweets.  Some were from audience members, some were from people who wished they could be there.  Really neat way to pass the time until the show began.

I love fringe performances because it is alright if they aren’t great, and it is such a bonus when they move you.  The PostSecret performance touched us both – there were a lot of people shedding secrets and somehow it makes me feel more connected to those around me.  We’ve all got those things we don’t say out loud – but until someone does communicate something from their inner being – we forget that we are so much alike.

We immediately returned home, changed and made our way to pick up my grandpa who was treating us to dinner at Horizons on Burnaby mountain.  The sun hung in the sky and we had panoramic views of the city.   We enjoyed our meals as the sun dipped below the horizon.  Grandpa reached out while gesturing during a story.

The red wine sat between us.

September 23rd, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:  With red wine dripping down me and the table, I knew that this was a GOOD day.  Starting with installing my grandma’s new light, wandering like locals through the tourists at Granville Island, and pleasure in my dinner company and thankfully purple dress.

 

 

The Daily EO: September 22nd, 2012

It’s Saturday night in my new urban city of residence and what do we do?  We head to Grandma’s house for dinner.  Part of the reason we moved to Vancouver was to be closer to family – well, my side of the family as we are now much further from Emile’s side.  So, I thought having dinner with Grandma would be a good idea.  She’s older now, and uses her walker quite a bit.  She also has lupus and that can cause good and bad days.  So, to avoid dragging her out and about on what could be a bad day, I said we’d bring dinner.

What would be a good take out meal?  I did actually spend a bit of time thinking this through.  Seriously, I am in the Western sushi capital of the world and I am married to the sushi captain himself.  Why would I bring something else?

My grandma is proud that she “likes everything except dill”, so I thought she must like sushi.  But I checked in to confirm.  She said “I’ve never had sushi.  There is something about raw fish that puts me off.  But I’ll try if you think I should.”  Of course, I think she should!

So, sushi it is.  We determined that we should take a variety of items for taste tasting, and of course, we had to take the non-seafood items for me.  Yes, I was raised in BC and I don’t like seafood or fish.  Get over it.

Emile spent some time with the menu and I put the order in.  We stopped to pick up dinner and it wasn’t quite ready yet.  We waited a couple of minutes and soon an 18″ platter and a large plastic bag was handed to us.  With 6 sets of chopsticks and multiple packs of soy sauce provided, I came to the realization that perhaps the amount of food we ordered was above average for 3 people (and only 2 eating the real sushi).

We burst into Grandma’s place and started up the chaos.  She tried some of everything – Tuna, Salmon, BC, Cucumber, Crunch, Dynamite, Hot Night, Teriyaki Chicken and California Rolls; edamame; tempura veggies; Agedashi tofu; and miso soup.

And you know what?  Grandma likes sushi – even the raw fish.  In fact, she wants to do sushi night again (despite having to put up with her “miserable grandchildren’s company”).

We rolled out with the leftovers – like there wasn’t going to be any – and left her licking her lips considering tomorrow’s lunch care package.

September 22nd, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:   Even if the thought of raw fish turns your stomach, try it.  You might hate it (me), you might like it (grandma), but at least you know.  And knowing is important.

The Daily EO: September 20th, 2012

It was a pretty crappy ad as ads go.  No pictures, no great use of punctuation, poor description.  Normally, sending up red flags about reliability and credibility, I wouldn’t have responded to it.  I was high from my urban experience at Salt, and feeling risky, and that I needed to look deeper to find a place.

So as we sat and chatted around the kitchen table, I send a quick e-mail.  I didn’t even tell Emile.  I got a response quickly – in about half an hour I got a no salutation, no capital, no paragraph, ramble of an email.  I almost wrote it off as someone I wouldn’t trust to rent from.

But I googled the cell phone and email address and found that it was a real estate agent.  Okay.  Hmm.  I answered, and I got another quick reply.  With 3 or 4 exchanges we made an appointment to view the apartment the next day.

We walked the area and noted all the shops within the building – pub, grocery store, drug store, bank.  And the area – great restaurants, shops, boutiques.  Walking distance to Emile’s work.

The sky was pink from the evening sun and people bustled around returning from work.

The agent arrived and we made our way up to the 41st floor to one of the penthouse suites.  We opened the door and found ourselves in what could only be described as our new apartment.  The view stretching across the living area and two bedrooms.

September 20th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:  Finding our spot in Gastown.

41st Floor, North View across the water, 2 bedroom, 2 full bath, ~930 square feet, immediate occupency.

The Daily EO: September 19th, 2012

I needed to head into the “city” to look at a loft for rent and to finally get my hair cut.  Thank god – I do have back-of-head dysmorphia.  I am always convinced I have grown a horribly hairy neck and that I look a mess from the back.  So, after nearly 2 months of not cutting my hair, I was excited to get my hair cut in shiny Yaletown.

The hairdresser came recommended to me by my aunt.  The stylist kept a running commentary from the minute I sat down until she shook my hand goodbye.  Everything from apartment hunting, Vegas, cute guys, Forever 21, and partying.   I think I like my hair, but whoa!

Anyways, afterwards Emile and I checked out the loft and found it was too expensive for what we were getting.  At least what we thought.  I am sure someone will pay it.  Not us though.

When you are new to town, you have to count on the opinions of others to find your places.  Hence my aunt stylist recommendation.  But soon you need to move onto the anonymous.  I hit Yelp! for a recommendation for “cheap dinner” and the people gave me three choices nearby:  Save-on-Meats, Salt and Shizen Ya.  We decided to skip sushi for tonight and find Salt.  It sounded interesting.

Salt Tasting Room is located in Gastown the historic heart of Vancouver.  It’s darker, it’s grittier and it represents more of the city.  The restaurant we were looking for is located on Blood Alley – which really sounds intriguing doesn’t it?

And an alley it is.  Complete with dumpsters and those you need to dig in them.  And yes, there was a gentleman there who was digging.

We were early for supper and so the place was pretty empty.  Essentially Salt is a charcurterie restaurant – no kitchen – they only serve sausage, cheese, condiments, some desserts, wine and beer.  We choose the “BC Plate” to eat some delicious local delights and paired it with a flight of wine.  The servers were friendly and knowledgable.  The food was good.

We sipped, we nibbled.

I felt so urbane, so sophisticated sitting in an alley, eating honeycomb and chevre, and sausage with quince paste and guiness mustard.  It was the chic downtown vibe I wanted – the desire that has been fighting against the more logical and practical  rentals in the suburbs.

September 19th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:   You know, I could live here.

The Daily EO: September 18th, 2012

I can’t – and I don’t really want to – get into the details of today.  I will write about it eventually.   Today, I entered a manufacturing facility for a couple of tours.  I had to wear a lab coat, a hair net, shoe covers and a mask.  I kept smiling at people as a greeting and realized later that they could not see my friendly expression.  Except the crows feet around my eyes when they crinkle.  But I work hard at not having those to begin with, so perhaps my obsession with youthful eyes has belied my friendliness.

I sat in the lobby awaiting the beginning of the tour, I took in the walls, chairs, building, people and their clothes, etc, but I was distracted.

I really only thought about two things.  First off, the chair was low and my butt was lower than my knees.  When I stood up – would I be able to do it gracefully?  Or would my negligence in my ab workouts finally show itself as I tumbled over.

Secondly, I felt like I was sitting in a field.

September 18th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:  The whole place smelled like berries – a field of assorted wild berries.

The Daily EO: September 17th, 2012

All of my life – well save 6 or so years – is has been an accepted fact that my brother is the artist of the family.  And me not.  That is okay with me – I have many talents that have got me through so far.  He can just pick up a pencil and . . wel. . . draw.  It’s almost like the image was there the whole time and he is just tracing it.  It’s always proportional, identifiable and usually funny.

I cannot draw at all.  My stick men even look sick.   So, when Selina – who’s 7 – offered to give me an art lesson, I took her up on it.  Perhaps she would teach me something I didn’t know.  Alas, an art lesson to her was telling me what to draw and then critiquing it.  “That’s Pretty”, “I like pink” – you know very constructive statements.

She told me to draw a fairy, and so I did.  I drew a fairy flying in the night sky over evergreen trees, holding a wand, and wearing a pink ball gown.  It was pretty amateurish.  But I took my time – trying to set an example to the kids that you always do your best work even if you aren’t as good as someone else.  I coloured carefully in the lines, I drew five fingers on each hand and made sure there was twinkling stars in the sky.

September 17th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary:  “Flora the Fairy” blew these kids’ minds.  They clamoured for me to draw them one so they could colour it in.  They think I am a great draw-er.  I’ve just been hanging out with the wrong people.  Perspective.