We spent a relaxed weekend up in Whistler with two couple friends of ours. The six of us met at our condo around 3:30pm and got out of the city before the Friday evening rush.
It's tough to top Whistler most days, it's even harder to beat it when the top of the mountain has over 20cm in the past 24 hours and then the skies give way to glorious sunshine.
You can't time a good day at most mountains, but when you've got one, you have to try to take advantage of it. Trish & I made sure we were on the lifts at the opening and rode straight until 1pm. At that point the top of the mountain was shrouded in a few clouds and the good snow was getting tracked out so we headed down the mountain.
Since we were in Whistler for the entire weekend with some friends we decided to head back to the condo to rid ourselves of our gear before heading back to Monk's Grill for a little apres lunch of nachos. We enjoyed some great people watching from the patio.
After our apres we enjoyed the condo's hot tub, went for a walk, dozed, and read magazines in our eager anticipation of Jeff's famous sangria.
We woke up on Sunday to complete cloud cover and massive snowflakes. Amazing how quickly the weather can change at this time of year. Fortunately, by the time we checked out and headed home the temperature had warmed up enough that the roads were completely fine, especially with the Sea to Sky highway improvements that have already been done in anticipation of the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Olympics.
Since the journey home was so easy we decided to stop at The Village at Park Royal and more specifically our favourite coffee shop, Caffe Artigiano where I was able to enjoy my favourite drink, a grande, extra-sweet mocha.
mmmmm....
27.3.06
17.3.06
The Loop...
It seems rather pathetic, but this is going to be the second TV related post, but at least this ones not reality TV based. Today we're talking sitcoms, new sitcoms.
I don't envy the job of trying to find a new television show that actually connects with its target. Earlier this season Love Monkey was doing just that. LM was a unique television show that didn't seem as contrived or juvenile as many of the programs that air week to week. The star was a young music producer dealing with the challenges of making it in a rather tough industry. He wasn't a superstar, he didn't drive a Bentley, he didn't live in a penthouse, etc. The show seemed quite real. Unfortunately it seems that it was too real for most of America as the show received little advertising or promotion and a mere 6 episodes were aired.
On March 15th I stumbled across the premiere of The Loop on Fox. Yes... I know... Fox. But I decided to give it a chance and ended up watching one of the funniest shows currently airing. The young airline executive constantly falling our of "windows" and having to land on "his feet" is quite humourous as is the rest of the cast and their various quirks. The Loop will be airing on Fox on Thursdays at 8:30pm.
15.3.06
Lake... like the ocean...
Currently there aren't many television shows that I watch on a regular basis, but two have grabbed me for a regular weekly timeslot: The Amazing Race and The Block. Surprisingly both reality shows, but if Alias was currently airing and Love Monkey hadn't been cancelled the mix would be more even.
Amazing Race, now in it's 9th season is an excellent show helping to broaden the horizons of its contestants and viewers alike. One of the most interesting (read: wacko) contestants of this season is Lake, a dentist from Hattiesburg, Mississippi who will help you by relating his name to the ocean if you didn't understand him. Hopefully Lake's horizons will be broadened from his experience on the race and maybe, just maybe, with time he'll cease to tell his wife, Michelle, to, "Shut the f@*# up!" Hmmm... now is that any way to speak to your dental hygenist wife? Click here to view their bio. Thankfully their are still 9 other teams involved in the race.
Now despite most reality television shows becoming completing boring and ridiculous as their ideas get tired and the ratings even more fatiqued The Block is surprisingly refreshing. The primary reason for it's refreshment is in my opinion the fact that the show was not created in North America. This ultimate renovating show was developed and shot down under in Australia. Since not everyone is aware of the show I'll give you a basic rundown.
A small apartment building, thus far consisting of 4 units (2 up, 2 down), located approximately one "block" from the beach is in requirement of massive renovations. The producers ensure that all of the units are of similar value and are appraised as such before the show commences. The show begins with four couples selected, each of which will move to The Block for the duration of the show. Renovation money will be given to each couple at the start along with various other items helpful for completing their renovation such as tools, laptops, cars, etc. The couples then have 100 days to completely renovate their flats and upon completion of the units each one will be sold at auction, a method often employed to sell houses down under. Through the 100 day dash the couples will have to completely renovate one room per week in addition to renovating common areas of the apartments. Now 100 days doesn't seem that bad to renovate an apartment but one of the catches on the block is that in addition to abiding by the local noise bylaws each couple must maintain their day jobs throughout the show. At the end of the competition each couple will keep the difference between the auction price and the reserve price (set at the original appraisal amount). The winning couple receives an EXTRA $100,000!
Season 1 of The Block called world-famous Bondi Beach home while Season 2 calls Manly home.
So if you want some refreshing 'reality' TV check out The Amazing Race or The Block.
Amazing Race, now in it's 9th season is an excellent show helping to broaden the horizons of its contestants and viewers alike. One of the most interesting (read: wacko) contestants of this season is Lake, a dentist from Hattiesburg, Mississippi who will help you by relating his name to the ocean if you didn't understand him. Hopefully Lake's horizons will be broadened from his experience on the race and maybe, just maybe, with time he'll cease to tell his wife, Michelle, to, "Shut the f@*# up!" Hmmm... now is that any way to speak to your dental hygenist wife? Click here to view their bio. Thankfully their are still 9 other teams involved in the race.
Now despite most reality television shows becoming completing boring and ridiculous as their ideas get tired and the ratings even more fatiqued The Block is surprisingly refreshing. The primary reason for it's refreshment is in my opinion the fact that the show was not created in North America. This ultimate renovating show was developed and shot down under in Australia. Since not everyone is aware of the show I'll give you a basic rundown.
A small apartment building, thus far consisting of 4 units (2 up, 2 down), located approximately one "block" from the beach is in requirement of massive renovations. The producers ensure that all of the units are of similar value and are appraised as such before the show commences. The show begins with four couples selected, each of which will move to The Block for the duration of the show. Renovation money will be given to each couple at the start along with various other items helpful for completing their renovation such as tools, laptops, cars, etc. The couples then have 100 days to completely renovate their flats and upon completion of the units each one will be sold at auction, a method often employed to sell houses down under. Through the 100 day dash the couples will have to completely renovate one room per week in addition to renovating common areas of the apartments. Now 100 days doesn't seem that bad to renovate an apartment but one of the catches on the block is that in addition to abiding by the local noise bylaws each couple must maintain their day jobs throughout the show. At the end of the competition each couple will keep the difference between the auction price and the reserve price (set at the original appraisal amount). The winning couple receives an EXTRA $100,000!
Season 1 of The Block called world-famous Bondi Beach home while Season 2 calls Manly home.
So if you want some refreshing 'reality' TV check out The Amazing Race or The Block.
11.3.06
Admission...
Not 'admission' as in "acceptance to university" but 'admission' as in "admitting a character flaw". [But I guess the real question is to whether or not those two versions of 'admission' are spelt the same way... ;)]
Now I'm not certain that my blog is the appropriate place to admit a genuine character flaw, but I figured what the heck, it's not like many people actually read my little web foray at this point... so here goes:
I enjoy chick flicks.
There, I admitted it, it's out in the open. Now I don't want to go into too much depth as that might incriminate me further, so I'll just leave it at this... Failure to Launch was pretty good, but not quite as funny as Hitch .
The secrets out...
Now I'm not certain that my blog is the appropriate place to admit a genuine character flaw, but I figured what the heck, it's not like many people actually read my little web foray at this point... so here goes:
I enjoy chick flicks.
There, I admitted it, it's out in the open. Now I don't want to go into too much depth as that might incriminate me further, so I'll just leave it at this... Failure to Launch was pretty good, but not quite as funny as Hitch .
The secrets out...
10.3.06
Stabilo
Stabilo's new album titled Happiness & Disaster will be released April 4. What I've heard of the CD sounds great! Some previews are apparently available on iTunes. View the complete track list here.
The boys have also put out a music video for the first track that's been released. View the video from the EMI Canada website here.
To learn more about Stabilo's music or to join in discussions check out their forum.
The boys have also put out a music video for the first track that's been released. View the video from the EMI Canada website here.
To learn more about Stabilo's music or to join in discussions check out their forum.
9.3.06
Lent's Been Rough...
It's barely been a week, but two of the vices I've given up for Lent are proving to be rather difficult to kick. Having owned a couple of Volkswagens and being fascinated by the entire Volkswagen AG empire it's tough to stay away. Prior to Ash Wednesday I spent far too much time on the Volkswagen Drivers of Vancouver website and an equally excessive amount of time on the VW Vortex, a site dedicated to the empire.
I've still got until Sunday, April 16, 2006.... ahahahahahhhh.... I can do it.
I've still got until Sunday, April 16, 2006.... ahahahahahhhh.... I can do it.
8.3.06
Bright Trading
Yesterday I launched a website for my Bright Trading office. Bright is an excellent option for day trading in Vancouver. We offer professional tools, excellent rates, a variety of training options, and a friendly atmosphere to trade in.
Silverstar
Just spent the weekend up at Silverstar near Vernon, BC.
Unfortunately we had to drive the Coquihalla highway to get there, which can be treacherous and WAS treacherous. The snow had just started to fall as we past Hope meaning the plows and sanding trucks hadn't yet got out of the work yards. Fortunately I had just purchased a brand new set of Michelin 4X4 Synchrone tires for the Disco.
Fortunately snow on the Coq' translates into 'snow on Silverstar' so we were blessed with a bunch of the fluffy white stuff for the next day. On top of that, we also "had to" ensure we put on sunscreen as there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
As pathetic as it sounds, Thursday was my first day snowboarding all year! Lucky for me, snowboarding's a lot like riding a bike, you've just got to get back on and it comes right back.
While I was up at the 'star I did a bit more work on the website for Sacrifice Designs. Sacrifice was a small clothing company that my best friend Dave and I started almost 8 years ago. Sacrifice was started as a clothing company geared at creating streetwear for both skiers and snowboarders.
Like all good Vacations this one also had to come to an end. Thankfully the Coquihalla was completely clear for the journey home and the road was almost entirely dry. The highway is very beautiful and quite peaceful when not engulfed in a blizzard. Imagine that, eh?!
Unfortunately we had to drive the Coquihalla highway to get there, which can be treacherous and WAS treacherous. The snow had just started to fall as we past Hope meaning the plows and sanding trucks hadn't yet got out of the work yards. Fortunately I had just purchased a brand new set of Michelin 4X4 Synchrone tires for the Disco.
Fortunately snow on the Coq' translates into 'snow on Silverstar' so we were blessed with a bunch of the fluffy white stuff for the next day. On top of that, we also "had to" ensure we put on sunscreen as there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
As pathetic as it sounds, Thursday was my first day snowboarding all year! Lucky for me, snowboarding's a lot like riding a bike, you've just got to get back on and it comes right back.
While I was up at the 'star I did a bit more work on the website for Sacrifice Designs. Sacrifice was a small clothing company that my best friend Dave and I started almost 8 years ago. Sacrifice was started as a clothing company geared at creating streetwear for both skiers and snowboarders.
Like all good Vacations this one also had to come to an end. Thankfully the Coquihalla was completely clear for the journey home and the road was almost entirely dry. The highway is very beautiful and quite peaceful when not engulfed in a blizzard. Imagine that, eh?!
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