Saturday, January 3, 2009

Not a lot to report on this the third day of the new year except that it is once again snowing here in Vancouver - looks like it will last into the night before changing to rain and then warm up and stay very wet for the next few days - that should finally get rid of the snow and ice on the sidewalks and roads.

Went for a nice walk yesterday down along the eastern portion of False Creek into Yaletown before grabbing a bite to eat and having a steam etc at my fitness club.

One of the projects that I have to tackle in the next week is removing all my stuff from my storage locker to make way for the changes coming there. I was able to find a nice spot for my cedar chest but my big bookcase is being a bit more problematic - I have a place for it but then I will have to find a place for the smaller ones that are currently in that space - oh well at least with the crappy weather it gives me lots of time to contemplate where to rearrange everything.

A second project is to finalize my travel insurance and train reservations for the upcoming cruise.

A third project is to clean out the clothes closet - it seems to be get a little to full and many of the clothes haven't been worm in some time so it is time to give them to charity or homeless shelter.

More later

D

Thursday, January 1, 2009

I hadn't intended to do much on New Year's Eve but the weather cleared off so I thought I would check out the condition of the False Creek seawall and took off with my camera and went for a lengthy stroll - as for the condition on the seawall - in places it was clear and in others it was icy - you had to watch your footing - it is unsafe for cyclists and I didn't see any fool hardy ones attempting to cycle it.

I came across this strange sight - it looks like someone was setting up early for a New Years party - the dish in the lower left appears to be a shrimp ring and it looked real - there was no one around the area when I took the picture.

When I made it to this point the seawall was bare as the Parks Board folks are busy clearing away the snow and ice for the Polar Bear Swim on Jan 1, 2008 - the views were great and with the sun out the temperature was pleasant.


I then proceeded along Denman to the entrance to Stanley Park and was appalled at the appearance and condition of the sidewalk and seawall - both were a sheet of ice and haven't been cleared - perhaps a few lawsuits would get the Parks Board to smarten up and clear off this important gateway to the City. It is not like it had snowed the day before - the crews have had several days of snow free weather to get there act together - guess it is more important to clear the snow off the beach at English Bay for the sponsers of the Polar Bear swim than ensure the safety of the taxpaying citizens.

Enough from the soapbox.

After a relaxing steam, shave and shower I met up with the big one for lunch and then went home to watch the Canada - US game - what a great game.

Then it was out for a late supper at a Korean restaurant on Thurlow and then home to watch the ageless wonder Dick Clark and others ring in the New Year.

Was originally planning on hitting the streets of the Entertainment district to catch the action but it started raining/snowing again and I didn't feel like heading out to get wet.

Finally hit the sack after 1AM.

It's now 2009 and I awoke to some more light snow although it appears to now be raining.

There's lots of hockey and football to watch.

Had hoped to hop on the bike and do my traditional ride around the Seawall but the conditions are too unsafe for bike to be on the seawall - I think a section is still closed from the Bridge to Third Beach because of falling ice. If it stops raining this afternoonIi might venture down to English Bay and watch the fool hardy jump into the water.

More later

D

Monday, December 29, 2008

Well it's Monday - the start of the last week of the Year 2008 - while many of us like to reflect back on the year with the shenanigans on Wall Street and most of us retirees taking a severe hit in our portfolios it is probably better to focus on the year ahead and hope a new administration in Washington is as committed to turning things around as they said they would be in the campaign.

What are my plans - well other than the cruise in Feb 09 I haven't planned any major trips for the coming year. With the price of gas dropping to 2004 levels I will perhaps do more short trips within the country.

I may do a Skyline trip in the summer depending on what location they select - if it is White Man Pass I will probably do it as I missed it the last time it was offered do to the wild fires in the summer of 2003.

If not a Skyline trip I am also looking a doing a trip with the Vancouver Natural history society - they have a trip into the South Chilcotin Park Cinnabar Pass and Basin- this is an area I visited back in the early 80's before it became a provincial Park and have wanted to revisit ever since - it runs on a similar format to the Skyliner camps and costs about the same but the associated costs would be a lot less as I can drive to the trailhead in about 6 - 8 hours and no overnight stay in expensive Banff is required.

I will continue to do my volunteer projects - Yellowpoint Lodge, Vancouver Marathon, Dragon Boat races, YMCA Connections and expect to work as an returning officer in the May Provincial election.

The heat is off in the apartment today- just those on the top two floors - as they fix a broken pipe - we are on hot water heat and a pipe burst just down the hall over the holidays - it is not too cold but will be heading out shortly anyways - may have lunch with the big one if he is feeling better but do hope to pay a visit to the gym for a post Xmas workout.

More later

D

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Update - removed some of the original comments in this blog.
Today I will be doing some emailing in my role as Work Party coordinator for the Friends of Yellowpoint - they need a small group of about six to take down the decorations just after New Year's so I need to arrange the time for that.

With improving road conditions and weather conditions I just might venture out for a drive but then again there's lots of football and hockey action on as well.

That's enough for now.

Cheers

D