Thursday, August 28, 2008

My Running Partner


This is Sally, my running buddy. She's a great coach. She only has one coaching phrase ("Come on!") and she uses it for everything. "Sally, I'm tired", I'll say. "Come on!", says Sally. "I'm old", "My knees hurt", and "I've just tripped over you" all elicit the same response. Actually, she does have one other coaching phrase ("Squirrel!"), but it's not all that much help.

She does tend to make detours for squirrels, deer, anyone she thinks might have food, cats, and interesting smells. Unfortunately, the places that don't have lots of squirrels tend to have lots of cats. That's not because the squirrels are smart and have high-fluffy-tailed it out of there, either, folks.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Vancouver BC travels - Oddments

We toured the gardens at Queen Elizabeth Park on 8/8/2008 - luckiest day in the Chinese calendar. LOTS of couples having their wedding photos taken that day. Here is a shot of an Indian couple posing for their photos. They had the most gorgeous wedding clothes ever. And he had a sword.

French bakery on Granville Island - divine macarons

Recycle, or you will be crushed by a Soviet satellite. On a Vancouver bus.

I didn't know you could buy that...

Groovy, dude, let's make a peace sign out of CDs.

It's 4-wheel drive, too. I'm not kidding.

Some wicked graffiti by the Science Center.

Lifeguard station at Spanish Banks

A helpful sign.

Possibly the most beautiful place on earth - Bowen Island, BC

Yaletown pier.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

101 in 1001

I've done a lot. I mean, A LOT. I've traveled, bought a house, took up yoga, pilates, weightlifting, mountain biking. I've had a baby, gotten married, celebrated my 8th anniversary last week. I've been working since I was 15, and that's a lot of jobs. I've learned to knit and made socks. I'm happy with my body, my fitness level and my diet. I've never wanted to go skydiving. So here's what's left:
Blue things have been accomplished

1. Visit Paris in the spring
2. Have another baby
3. Knit a long-sleeved sweater
4. Obtain job as creative director or technology director
5. Redesign Jack's website
6. Buy a fuel efficient car
7. Can this year's tomatoes
8. Wean off Zoloft
9. Go 2 years without bronchitis
10. Visit Vienna
11. Visit the Lake Country of England
12. Get up to 40 pushups
13. Give all knitted presents for Christmas
14. Visit Hawaii
15. Visit Alaska
16. Swim in the Pacific Ocean
17. Bake a daquoise
18. Bake (edible) macarons
19. Create a sewing room
20. Paint the kitchen
21. Have the windows washed
22. Pay forward on our mortgage
23. Reread War and Peace
24.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Vancouver BC travels - Gardens

If you love gardens and flowers, Vancouver in the summer is the place to be. There are lots of community gardens where the plots are gorgeous, flowers and veggies just tumbling over one another. Queen Elizabeth Park and Stanley Park have immaculate formal gardens.

Someone's front yard.

Community garden under the Skytrain rails

This garden also had a neat mural of veggies.

Planting in front of old city hall.

Someone's street-side garden.

Garden patio on Bowen Island

Small Quarry Garden, Queen Elizabeth Park

Small Quarry Garden, Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park

Stanley Park Rose Garden

Friday, August 1, 2008

Air Travel Isn't What it Used to Be

You know, some day our children are going to laugh at us when we tell them that airlines used to serve meals, and that taking your baggage with you on vacation was free. Flying is just not the glamorous adventure it was when I was a kid. Anyone seen those little salt and pepper shakers lately? Or wine in real glasses?

I actually like to fly (I hate airports, but that's another story), but I have 2 big advantages. My sister is a cosmopolitan type who accrues many hotel points and airline miles and distributes upgrades generously. Thus, I have flown with Jack in first class twice this year, and it's heaven. Not only do you get your wine in a real glass, but the purser shows you all the wine and asks you what you want, and then opens the bottle especially for you. And they call you by your name, as in "Mrs. _______, would you like the omelette or the fruit and yogurt plate, and perhaps some fresh coffee?"

I also bring a child along, and as any seasoned traveler will tell you, a child is like gold. Anyone who works in a plane or in an airport is so sick of looking at and listening to unhappy, exhausted people who would rather be anywhere else in the entire world. Enter a starry-eyed child who loves airplanes and airports and thinks people who work there have the COOLEST JOBS IN THE WORLD, and doors magically open. Hatchet-faced flight attendants smile. Cookies appear. Two seats together will be found on even the fullest plane. Baggage will be carried and checked at the gate. If the child doesn't scream, kick seats or refuse to sit down/get up, so much the better.

And children are small. If you sit next to one, you have 50% more room than if you were sitting next to an adult.

My two tips for traveling with a child:
1. Bring more Cheerios than you think you need.
2. Don't bring toys with lots of parts. They'll get dropped, roll to the back of the plane and disappear. Books are good, all the pages are attached and they pack flat. Or a crayon and some paper. When your child asks "Why only one crayon", tell him it's Red Day, or whatever color you happened to bring.

Zucchini Pancakes

In the interest of using some of the zucchini supply, I present:
Zucchini Pancakes
1 small zucchini, or half a large one, coarsely shredded
2 cups buttermilk pancake mix
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
black pepper
parmesan cheese
lemon thyme
sea salt

Combine all ingredients, whisk thoroughly. Cook on a griddle, flipping once.

These make a delicious summer lunch with a tomato salad, some lemon wedges to squeeze over, and a glass of iced tea/