Friday’s Intentions – Ya win some, ya lose some

I got Mom a picture of a small lane in France with French shopfronts, vegetables on display in crates, a bicycle leaning against a lamp-post, and just exquisite lighting. This is perfect for the Battery House as her kitchen is of Provencal décor. Anyway, I chose it in New Westminster a little while ago and they were to deliver it today. They did! Mom really knows nothing about it (in fact, I think she’d have a fit if she knew) and she will never read this blog (right?)!!!!! I’m very excited to give it to her when she comes in August.

Today, I worked on the EnCana project, went to the 7 Eleven (as reported), worked some more, the art guy showed up (incidentally, his name is Guy and he is from Gatineau) and delivered the picture, I worked some more, and then proceeded to pack everything up and head to the beach. It was about 2:00 pm.

I have to make reference to Ra McGuire’s book again because I am reading it and it conjures up so much (I so mean it when I say that you should read this book). Anyway, he talks about a bag for his laptop that is made by Tom Bihn (He actually makes reference to a Web-site belonging to a friend of his that ‘showcases’ really good products that people review and send in. I can’t make reference to that right now because I have to be honest and say that the book is not here. I’m going on memory to remember ‘Tom Bihn’. I will get the book back, and I will give Ra’s friend the proper credit/link. The book is presently vacationing in Whistler…).

I am referring to this bag because I went to pack up for the beach today… and… man alive… y’d swear I was packing up for a family of 4. I didn’t have much either, but y’shoulda seen me.

In hand I carried my beach mat. In the Molson Export knapsack that Pierre won me in St-Sauveur a few years back (great bag and merci a Pierro), I had sunscreen, some cash, towel, writing tablet and pen, plastic bag (in case something got wet), bottle of water, can of Pepsi, headphones, and 1 nicotine patch (I wasn’t wearing it today because I’m soon going to have the opposite of a polka dot tan). Then, I had the laptop bag that only contained the laptop and the charge cord (in case I found one of those outdoor/camping-style outlets). I had to fumble to get my cell phone and my keys. That’s just wrong!

I’d like a handy bag where I can put a few things and take the laptop safely. Tom Bihn… here I come.

Talk about NOT having a horseshoe up my arse… I get to the beach and get settled in only to realize there was no way in hell I'm going to be able to see the screen of the laptop, I had forgotten my magazine (remember… Vancouver Lifestyles). All in vain… plus, I ripped my beach mat! Doh!

I had stuff to say about stuff! It’s always interesting at the beach because it is truly a microcosm of society where everybody (and their dog...literally) is represented! I saw vagabonds, elderly couples, young couples, people on their lunch break (late lunch), singles reading, people playing with a beach ball, children with pails and shovels, adults with pails and shovels (kidding), I could really keep going here, but I think you get my drift. There were several of Vancouver’s finest patrolling and I thought how cool THAT job would be. Then there was me… trying to sling a towel over a laptop, keep the laptop out of the sand, suntan lotion, and the sun…jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezuz. I looked quite funny actually. Hey, it’s a pretty good thing I can laugh at myself!

Oh, the art guy told me that this particular square mile is the most densely populated square mile in North America (with maybe a place in Manhattan being the only exception). I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I sure would like to know. It doesn’t feel that populated. Oh well, hopefully I’ll get a true answer to that. I think art guys are usually expert demographers, no?

One really cool thing came from my time on the beach today. I met a girl from Quebec City. Her name is Stephanie and her boyfriend is here for the summer doing a workterm. They only arrived on the weekend and they don’t know anybody here either. Nice! We exchanged numbers and will get together next week. I think I know more francophones here than Anglophones, can you imagine that? Honest to God, socially, I’ve spoken more French here in less than two weeks than I spoke in Ottawa in almost two years (excluding time on the Quebec side).

I had a grand chat with Ness (Vanessa – from an earlier posting) from the beach too. It was weird for it to be so late there and so early here. God, I think it was about 3:30 here when I was talking to her (8:00 pm her time). Just weird.

It’s just past dusk here now (but nowhere near dark… just that really cool blue) and it’s 9:50 pm.

I hate the guy in the Ikea radio commercials!

Oh, I did go to the pool today!