Occasional musings from a Left-coast Canadian ExPat in Oxford.
It never, ever fails. You think some day we’d catch him napping, or in the can, or something other than staring out his window. But no. We can’t make it halfway across the street before he’s strutting out his door and striding across the grass, bellowing “LEASH YOUR DOG PLEASE!” We call him “Park Boss” … Continue reading Park Boss
Another thing I love, Love, LOVE about living where we do is that the people are freakishly friendly and neighbourly. Our asshole dog (she’s officially an asshole until she accepts the fact that she WILL poo while attached to a leash and WILL NOT do it as far as she can possibly get into some … Continue reading Not Old, just…. Older.
After our Tofino accommodation debacle, Neil and I changed plans abruptly, deciding to make our way down island to the Cowichan Valley and check out some of the wineries that have sprung up in the area over the past decade or so. Late August is a bit of a dodgy time to visit wineries. Their … Continue reading Vacation Lessons #3 – take a chance, make the call
That’s me in the purple. Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Mayer! Also, my speech made the bride cry – I win! More photos here. Continue reading Weekend Wedding Whirlwind
Thank god I wasn’t expecting to birth my (likely not-so-) immaculately conceived (and thankfully non-existent) child any time soon, because while on our wee excursion, Neil and I broke the (until that point rumoured but not really believed) 11th commandment: Thou Shalt Not Arrive in Tofino and Expect to Find Suitable Accommodations if Thou Hast … Continue reading Vacation Lessons #2 – No Room at the Inn
I know a blow-by-blow breakdown of things that I did on my luxurious week of unemployment/vacation isn’t really interesting to anyone except those who were there – so I won’t torture you. However, there are a few very important lessons I learned while on my “fly by the seat of your pants” whirlwind tour of … Continue reading Vacation Lessons #1 – Dogged Determination
Borrowing a page from Sue, I give you the Readers’ Digest version of what I’ve been up to the past week: Approx. Kilometers Driven: 1200 Ferries Taken: 4 Coasts visited: 3 (mainland west coast, island east coast, island west coast) Minutes waited in line for the Earl’s Cove-Powell River ferry: 4 Nights gone: 6 Hotels … Continue reading Vacation by the Numbers
I had a strange fixation when I was a teenager about turning twenty-six. For some reason I always thought that was when life would really start for me. I imagined myself living in a great little apartment either downtown or near the beach, being successful in a career I loved and in a relationship with … Continue reading Not Old, Just Older
This entry would be far better if I scanned some high school photos to accompany it. Instead you’ll have to just imagine, and hope I dig some out later. In my 1997/98 yearbook from Hope Secondary School, that from my graduating year, there is a single line entry from one of the guys in my … Continue reading Kiss Kiss
I’m back from the weekend’s regatta, plus medals, a racerback tan line, and a whole lotta muscle ache, minus sleep, sleep and more sleep. I don’t speak too much about rowing on this site, since frankly, it’s pretty boring to anyone but rowers. However, for the few people who may be interested/curious, I particpated in … Continue reading Ooh, Shiny
Thanks everyone for your stress-busting advice! I’ve obviously been taking it, and since blogging wasn’t one of your suggestions, I’ve been a bit absent from this particular space. I’m scampering off to compete in a regatta this weekend, and as far as I know, rowing shells still aren’t generally equipped with wifi – so no … Continue reading Scamper!
I ventured out to Abbotsford a couple times this past weekend for Neil’s 10-year High School reunion. A note to those who don’t know any of their partner’s high school friends (especially when said partner has kept in touch with exactly no-one) – damn yo, those things are BORING! Thankfully I managed to keep myself … Continue reading Interest Bearing Accounts
With the jet lag and the work catchup etc. etc. I really can’t get to the Sasquatch Music Festival like I’d planned this year. This means I’ve got a ticket to unload. $175 to the first interested party (I paid $215 for it). Because I’m a busy bee these days, call my cell if you … Continue reading Sasquatch!
Eating Live Octopus Originally uploaded by peechie. Amazing trip. Amazing food. Amazing country. Amazingly long flight ahead…. Continue reading And so it ends.