Ten random updates

1)       As part of a charity fundraiser for United Way, Shane’s work held a winter Olympics competition on Friday.  The featured events were the biathlon, luge and curling.  Shane participated in the final sport on that list, helping his team to earn a bronze(-wrapped chocolate) curling medal!

2)      One of Shane’s co-workers invited him us to a wine and cheese party on Saturday night.  We enjoyed the opportunity to socialize and meet some new people, although I must admit my introverted self was equally excited to simply spend time in a Vancouver house (in the Point Grey neighbourhood, no less).

3)      Saturday was also the day of Vancouver’s local election (for mayor, city councillors, park commissioners and school trustees).  In the months leading up to the election, the major centre-left parties joined together in hopes of defeating the centre-right incumbent party.  The result was a thorough trouncing of the (centre-right) NPA, much to our delight.  Congratulations, Mayor Robertson!

4)      We used our Nexus cards again when we traveled down to Washington on Sunday.  The wait at the Peace Arch crossing was estimated at 25 minutes, but we FLEW down the Nexus lane (passing long lines of cars on the left) and waited for one car before clearing the border.  The way back was much the same, with a projected half-hour line-up that we sped past to enter Canada five minutes later.  Those pieces of plastic are totally worth the $50 (for five years) price tag!

5)      The reason we went to Washington this weekend was to help Ian (and his roommate Noah) move into a new apartment.  Combined with our recent trip to have dinner with him last week and his plans to come up for the (U.S.) Thanksgiving, that makes for a total of three times I will see him in one month.  It’s a little mind-boggling to realize that’s more than I used to see him in one year.

6)      Since the Canadian Thanksgiving takes place in mid-October, Shane and I have found that there is no real buffer between Halloween and Xmas here.  Once the first of November hit, the seasonal decorations, music and lights went up everywhere.  Weird.

7)      One thing I really appreciate about this month is that it marks the beginning of low season for tourism.  I’ve found the extra level of quiet (not to mention the extra space along the seawall) quite enjoyable when out and about.

8)      On the other hand, November and December are also the rainiest months of the year.  So we have definitely been getting a taste of the “real” Vancouver the past couple of weeks, with plenty of wet (and extremely windy) days.  I can’t say I mind that much, though, as I’m still convinced it beats dealing with snow!

9)      The coming winter will bring us something awesomely unexpected: an upgraded bathroom.  We attended an apartment tenants’ meeting last night to learn about water pipe renovations planned for November-January, and it turns out the plumbing fix will include replacing our current pink bathtub and shower tiles, and may even extend to a new sink, medicine cabinet and flooring!  This definitely makes the inconvenience of several months of construction seem worth it in the end.

10)   Finally, I’m sure some of you have been wondering what exactly I’ve been up to in my not-yet-working life.  And while I am hesitant to give the specifics of my plans until they are firmly in place, I can say that I am taking concrete steps this week to start a process of moving forward, and I look forward to sharing that with you soon.