a treasure hunt

on tuesday of this week i met my friend from college to hit up the thrift stores. she had a specific mission "a juicer", but not just any juicer, for this juicer must conform to a stringent set of rules set forth by the hunter. "having nubs" was one such requirement in reference to the previous failed missions. also, "the ability to strain", assumed to mean no pulp or seeds needed or required. there was a thrift store near my house, in which we would find such a treasure. "dude, it has a basement! haven't you been?" i was sure everyone had been there before, their "name your price" bargain basement was, i thought, legendary. "nope", i nearly fell of my bike. truly, it is my favourite thrift in the city!

tuesday did not disappoint, a quick wander upstairs revealed the same over priced "luxury" goods that make the store its real money. TVs, stereo receivers, turntables, DVDs, an electronic smorgasbord. we were headed for the stairs, let the digging begin. descending past the never used gum-ball machines, a hand drawn sign asked the visitor to leave their bag upstairs, a rule that is not adhered to in any way. rounding the corner, my friend's face carried that joyous look as if she were a child and santa had left her exactly what she wanted. "wow!, i had no idea!" Indeed.

i always start in the kids section to check out the board games. there are a few that I am looking for, and I know I will find them eventually. like an old "clue" or "sorry". they are hard to get complete, and counting them in the store takes some time. today though, game shelves had been ravaged. no dice! then the usual route rolled me into housewares, with the pots, pans, racks, and sheets. I am not really looking for a particular house-ware at present (though a crock-pot is on my wish-list) so the i burn through that section. my friend found many things she thought i would like and started off the find with a box of drinking glasses. inside the box were not normal glass but rather kitschy, pop-culture mcdonald's promotional glasses from the 60s - the 80s

a set of four walt disney glasses(1980s)
a pair of camp snoopy glasses (1960s)
and one coke promotional glass (1970s)

"oooh", my friend laughed "thought they would be something you'd like". she was right, they were amazing!

a wander through the picture frame section garnered an original lithograph from vancouver artist john koehner called "pacific gateway (107)" the inscription on the back revealed its life and ultimate fate. "to ALCAN: thank you from the students of the arts umbrella, 2000". i can imagine it this way: a retirement party, and office cleaning, a trip to the thrift. or maybe it sat neglected leaning in amongst the winter michelins bought for last years snow, in a garage. it now hangs on my wall next to my desk, it makes me smile to look at it.


my friend spotted the pack next, while i was flipping through the records. i had seen this pack on two previous visits to this thrift and wondered what made it linger so long. burnt orange in colour, i am rapidly dressing it in patches of far away places, past lives, and former glories. a fine reminder of the places i've been and the sights i have seen. its retro stylings fit the times perfectly. i put the pack next to the glasses and my lithograph, and threw myself back into the records. by this point my friend was enjoying a break in a rubber chair reading a children's book about bears.

i picked out seven albums in total, four as wall art and three to put on the stereo. stereo worthy recordings include "flashdance: original soundtrack", corey hart's "boy in the box", and seals and croft's "summer breeze". artwork presently adorning the walls include "2001: a space odyssey" and three disneyland recordings "goldilocks", "little engine that could", and "cinderella". indeed the thrift had been kind!

unfortunately my friend never found her juicer in this bargain treasure palace, and the hunt continued, after a quick stop by the house to unload my presents.

... remember the time ...

ah, went through a bit of a spell there didn't i? oh, back to our regularily scheduled programming now. so these days life is pretty good. i am riding my bike lots, talking films, enjoying cultural education, connecting with people. very nice indeed! it's a sunday night and i am curled up on the couch, burning through a marathon session of deadwood (season 2), whilst cruising around on the "www."

this was an interesting week, one of the first times since i've been home that i have had a kinda blah feeling. when i got back from my trip i felt amazing. i had spent a lot of time healing a broken heart, learning to be confident and strong. the trip was good for me on so many levels but particularly an emotional one. time and distance really was the difference between recovering and continuing to wallow. one thing i have definitely learned is that i am finally over my ex! That alone was a really freeing experience.

The support of my friends was quite simply amazing. true friends who went above and beyond the call of charm, wit, and congeniality, played excellent host to this couch surfing canadian. we chatted, drank beers, ate wonderful food (even the beans, lentils, barley, and rice), as if we had been living next door to each other for ages. it had been three years or so since we parted ways from korea to return to our "real" lives in north america. over the course of six-weeks, i slept in their beds, on their floors, their couches, used their soap (and maybe i stole a razor), ate their food, probably helped them spend more money than they normally would. they were generously kind, wonderful, entertaining and gracious. i probably didn't thank them enough when i was there, and i really, really want to thank them now. you guys rule!


the elevator to my friends place in the richmond district of San Francisco

oakland city centre BART station, home base!

and then it happened!
Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.

the plan: out with fab gay friend to the castro, after wild bay to breakers run, for window shopping, eye candy and bar stool hopping.

the result: sitting single in the mission district's les watering hole The Lexington, staring into a glass of PBR, texting like a fiend, and grunting about my lame friends.

accidental discovery: a girl

NICE!

a random conversation, while watching each other's bags for smoke breaks, led to a really entertaining evening out (on a sunday), an amazing dinner the following evening, and a late night beer and appies fix, with ride on cable car (to cap off the mini weekend). a lovely end to my vacation to be sure. i had no idea at this point that i would be, only 3 days later, on a plane to las vegas to continue the adventure. Rat Packers beware... a couple of lucky, high on life, ladies just rolled into town. it's roughly been a month that i've been home and when i think about her i smile. she taught me a valuable lesson: it is possible to love someone for who they are, and you should accept nothing less for yourself! we agreed to be honest and communicate - be kind - she has earned my respect for her honesty, and continues to surprise me at every turn. so thank you rad girl, for re-teaching me some of the things i had long forgotten about myself :)




it's now almost midnight, and i wanted to leave this little shot because it made me chuckle!



i figured this happened, but i didn't expect someone to make a profit. pretty funny, dummy looks like he's headed to school in the 90s.

word!

am email i wish i could send...

im really sorry
but I can't see you anymore!

it isn't fair to either of us.
i wish you nothing but the best,

living on a prayer

I'm ticketed, prepared, guided and sorted!

Ready to start the adventure.

It's going to be a good time!

If I had my life to live over...

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

are you going to san francisco? wear some flowers in yer hair

ok, i am really going to do it.

i have a bit of money, got a good tax return. am heading away to the city!

prepare ye landlubbers, jen's sailing into the bay!

shazam!

j

YES, THEY DID!

I am so thankful, Can't wait to see what happens next!

Oprah says.....

OK... I know she is famous and all that, but really people...

"oprah's favorite Diet Berry, acai."
"oprah's book of the month"
"oprah's favourite ice cream"

This list was complied from a myriad of pop-ups on facebook.

Don't get me wrong, she's alright, but seriously people!

Un-Like an old 45

This is what a real "single" looks like... DAMMIT

WTF

Three Years and Three Months.... Seriously???

I am appalled. This rant is long overdue and I can't guarantee that I will be playing nice, so this is the warning that there will be lots of swearing and whatnot.. Could be slightly offensive to some.

WHAT THE FUUUCK!

Today I am faced with the picture again, it stays in my brain, and the reminders take me back to a place that isn't like this at all. How could you do it? How dare you rob children of their lives and harm them all the while pretending to be a a mentor and teacher and friend! Children who don't know any better, who are young, impressionable, have lives ahead of them. I am sickened that you did this, and more sickened by the face that you seem happy. Like you don't give a shit.

But it's not just the children that you have hurt. There are your friends, those of us who stood by you when things were bad. Supported you when you needed it whether it be through time, money or energy. What a fucking waste! Then there is your family, probably wondering where they went wrong, (even though clearly it isnt their fault). Wondering why they didn't know anything about you, why you never called, why you never came home.

Now, you will sit in prison for 3 fucking years. That's it. I am saddened by this fact because what you really need is therapy, and coping skills. Now you will sit in prison and become angry and jaded only to be released to reoffend. That is the sad fact. YOU WILL REOFFEND! How many more lives will you ruin?

I wish i could forget you, forget i even knew you! Forget all the great times that we had. Forget the times where we shared a laugh and sang some songs. drank some beer and stayed out LATE. So many memories of my travels contain you and I am really sad for that. To have my experience tainted by you.

...........................

I can't write anymore!

Working for the Weekend

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Yay GAY icons!

ROCK IT

If only...

This came into my email the other day.
SCAM-O-RAMA.

hehehe

Must admit tho, sounds like a cushy job....

Dear Teacher,

I am Frederek Sigvard from stockholm, Sweden and work as an Engineer at Chevron Oil Lagos, Nigeria. My wife and Kids recently joined me in Nigeria; she is Swedish and can't speak English. I am seriously seeking for the services of an English Teacher.

I have reviewed you resume online and would like to know if you would be able to come and teach my wife and four kids Ludvig, Helmer, Synnove and Arvid English most importantly is my wife; She would be attending an interview at a bank here in Nigeria soon. I want to know if you can come by July 2008 to teach my family English.

I am willing to offer you US$6,500 per month with health insurance and return ticket. I have a twin duplex which I and my family occupy one of them at the moment, and if you accept this offer, you would be staying in the second Duplex. I will pay for your airfare cost if you accept the offer.

Regards
Fred (+234 708 728 6586)

The cat came back..

ok so...

schwa took a flying leap into the abyss of an abandoned garbage chute!

Goodness me!

He's ok, a bit bruised and a nice slash across his face. But all things considered... in one piece... pics to follow.

EDIT~~


First, there is an abandoned garbage chute that was used when the building was built in the 1950s. The garbage went down to an incinerator (which has been long shut off)



Me: Hey you, what are you doing down there?
Cat: meow!
Me: You OK?
Cat: Meow!

So here is the dilemma. What the hell and how are we gonna get him out.

meow!



Ah here he is after his visit to the vet for x-rays. Letting the pain medication set in!
No borken bones! good...



First "war wound"... in the war for the great outdoors, it is vacant shaft = one, Schwa, WunderKat = no score!

Well it's been about a month! and look at the fruits (and veggies) of our labour!

hooray.... the growth has been fantastic, and we have gotten most of the pots for free, salvaged from the streets.







ROGHT ON!

Awesome Weekend

Well...
Another week has begun...
This weekend was very awesome...

On Saturday, Astrid and I went to Maple Ridge to go Junk Hunting (looking at Yard Sales). We didn't see much in the way of "good" things, but we went to a Church Sale where I managed to pick up a TREK 500 Pro-Series bike for $10 bucks... it is killer. I am addicted to bike projects now and I have a MTN bike already but wanted something faster for the commute to work.



Pretty SCHWEET.... I think I have gone OCD on the bike thing, but both Astrid and I really enjoy fixing the bikes up, so that's great. Her bike is now finished except for the handle bar tape.

Also, BC is here from Australia so Sunday was spent touring her around Vancouver. It was her first visit to Canada-land and I hope she has a FUN time....

Addendum....

I haven't mastered all the perks of Blogger yet, and I can't figure out for he life of me how to go back and fix the page so it doesn't look like Shiiiiite! Without doing the page all over again...
BAH!

Easy Rider

On Saturday, I biked about 20kms with my school friends around Vancouver.

Today I Biked 13.6kms to and from work. I need to get an odometer to record how far I go this summer... I am really curious.

I want to see how far I go during the month of May... I want to not buy a bus pass for the whole summer... Saving me $146.00!!



This is a photo from that day... We were taking up the whole street, and totally flying all around the city. It really didn't feel like we went that far until the next day!




Mac, Huff & Ash (who is dressed as "sperminator") chillin in the cherry blossoms at Granville Island's Coffee Pit Stop.
Sara & Christina waxing philosophic on the "zen of planning" or playing the game "Who would you rather FUCK?" (Stuart or Brian?)





It wouldn't be a first day out without an injury. this one... not very "cool"... it's the metal pedal bangs back of leg.. WHOOPIE.
And... i almost got smoked by a van who just stopped in the middle of the road. when i biked by she said... "o, i want that parking spot, sorry." Also, summer is coming and that means gardens. Faced with agreat deck outside, and creative ways to make it look better, we have created a little garden nook. Got some veggies and fruits there... proably going to et worm composter really soon so that I can have my own fertilizer.


Good times.

Enter Sandman

Well... I keep trying and trying to get onto this thing more than once in a blue moon. But surprise, surprise. I can't manage to get on here at any time. hahaha Not that I am busy at work or anything just facebooking and reading online newspapers.

So YES, I am still at that boring ass job... I don't really need to go inot detail here, just want to mention that I am totally bored, and I am actually taking the time here at work to look for another job!

Finally finished skool for this year... well all except summer classes, but its only one class and its only for 6 weeks. Good news about taking one class, is that I no longer have to purchase monthly BUS PASSES, as I now get them through school. ROCK ON! instead of paying $73/month it will be $38.50/month WHOOT....

Hmmm, I've been run down and tired for the last little while, I think it was just the end of term and the stress of getting exams and projects done. But now thats all behind me and I am ready for the SUMMER... at least this year I feel like I earned it.

On the weekend, Astrid, Kate, Jimmy, Paljo, and I went out to Bowen Island for a nice little retreat. Oh the joys of not having anything to think about for 2 whole days... We just consumed lots of beer, scotch and Green and played board games all weekend! HOORAY! I love Board Games.

Speaking of Board games, For my Birthday, I got the Settlers of Catan expansion set called the Seafarers of Catan we played one full game of it and it was great. We also played a huge game of Carcassonne which is a tile laying game where you build land, and then try to amass points but building roads, cities, and settlements. Kinda like risk and a puzzel! hehehe

Well that is the exciting life of me for today. hehe..
Catch ya on the FLIP SIDE!

Hangin' Tough

WELL WELL WELL
REUNION.?
I'M JUST SAYIN'

Old Skool!

ASTRID's NEW WHEELS...
I will be working on this as my PROJECT.

Jen