Rose Blanche, Newfoundland

Rose Blanche

Please note that numbers in parenthesis ex: (1) indicate footnotes with full reference and credit at the end of this posting.

Please note also that this has nothing to do with the 80s sitcom “The Golden Girls”… Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia lived in Miami where the climate is slightly different from that of Rose Blanche, Newfoundland. No Sicilian proverbs here!

Cin, one of my dearest and never-this-nearest friends, is from Rose Blanche, Newfoundland. Through Cin, I met her sister Joy who has also joined the ‘inner circle’ ranks! I will tell you more about them another time. For right now, this posting is about their hometown.

Located on the southwest coast of Newfoundland (45 km from the ‘gateway-to-Newfoundland’ town of Port Aux Basques – the Marine Atlantic ferry terminal is there 12 months a year and it the only year-round ferry service to the island from North Sydney, Nova Scotia), Rose Blanche was settled as a fishing colony around the 1810 mark.

These maps were taken from: http://roseblanchelighthouse.ca/

I realize they are not the clearest, but the map on the left is a blow up of the bottom, left-hand corner of the map of Newfoundland (on the right). St. John's is at the end (on the right) of the red line (Transcanada Highway)

(Above): Rose Blanche Picture taken from: www.geocities.com/rblighthouse/roseblanchepics.html

(Above): Another view of Rose Blanche

This picture was taken from: www.geocities.com/rblighthouse/roseblanchepics.html

This community is located in a barren area on the east side of a small bay. In this bay there are two harbours that were mainly used to provide shelter for fishing vessels. (1).

(Above): Rose Blanche with calm waters

This picture was taken from: www.geocities.com/rblighthouse/roseblanchepics.html












(Above): More Rose Blanche water
This picture was taken from: www.geocities.com/rblighthouse/roseblanchepics.html

I am purposely omitting the French/English history of battles for territory because that would make this a completely different posting. The west coast, however, is primarily made up of French place names and holds the majority of French place names in Newfoundland.

I will interject here that when I refer to Newfoundland I am excluding Labrador as the two were only grouped with Newfoundland’s entrance to Canadian Confederation in 1949.

Rose Blanche, along with most communities in Newfoundland, is a coastal one as its existence is/was fishery dependant (any reference to ‘the fishery’ refers to the cod fishery – both inshore and later inshore/offshore). With an ocean and a fishery come lighthouses. I think anyone would agree that you can not discuss Rose Blanche, Newfoundland without making reference to the Rose Blanche Lighthouse (a Newfoundland Heritage Site).














(Above): Rose Blanche Lighthouse
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/rhs/rs_listing/212.html

This charming and very beautiful community thrived (and I hate to use the past tense here) through the years and is made up of mostly Protestant people.

Newfoundland’s population has been mainly on the decrease since the collapse of the cod fishery in 1992 (hard to believe it has been almost 15 years). That’s a sad situation and it really leads me to wonder about the cultural future of home. Statistics Canada reports (Harbour le Cou is the neighbouring community and the are grouped together for statistical content):

Population and Dwelling Counts
Rose Blanche-Harbour le Cou, Town
2001: 668
1996: 814

1996 to 2001 population change (%)
-17.9

Total private dwellings
304

Population density per square kilometre
150.3

Land area (square km)
4.44

Source: Statistics Canada

On the Stats Can site this appears in a very neat little table (I haven't written html tables and cell padding in years), so I thought I'd just link directly to the table. It's pretty neat because you can compare the Rose Blanche stats to that of Newfoundland as a whole. Here it is! Just click here

I’m from the east coast. My mother is from the Goulds – now a part of St. John’s, since the 1992 amalgamation to the city (along with Wedgewood Park), and my father is from Bay Bulls (the next community ‘on the shore’, and a short 15 minute drive from the city). I also plan to talk about this another time, today, I’m setting a stage with this information.

I met Cindy in Quebec City in January 1996 teaching English at Les Ateliers de Conversation Anglaise (http://www.lesateliers.info/). 10 years, girlie! I still remember meeting her as we sat around that table with Alan at the helm (I can only imagine Cin’s face as she reads this).

We became friends instantly and other teachers naturally asked us if we knew one another from ‘home’. Another popular question was, “Do you live far from one another in Newfoundland?” To which, my favourite response was, “Well, Cin just lives down to the end of the road from me”. Of course, ‘the end of the road from me’ is about 13 hours away (and can take DAYS depending on the weather).

Cin and I were roommates (In Montreal…how we got there… that will be in the “Cin” posting. This is also where Joy enters the scene for me) for some years and we decided to go home for Christmas and the millennium New Year’s. This trip home in December 1999 brought me to Rose Blanche for the very first time (the more I write, the more I realize I will have to do the “Cindy & Joy” posting right after this one).

I guess I can not talk about Rose Blanche without referring to my trips there though. Hmmm.

OK, I’ll try it this way (trying to keep this about Rose Blanche, not my trip there). The community has a school, church, a Kinsmen Centre, a restaurant, a bed & breakfast, corner shops, and a lounge. If I have forgotten anything here Cin and/or Joy will have to help me once this is posted.

Like most “outport” (Newfoundland term for coastal, fishing community) communities, there are certain family names associated with certain places. You can almost tell exactly where someone is from by his/her last name. This is not so common now, but it certainly was (and still is in the case of Rose Blanche… though a little less). I looked up the white pages online to learn that there are 18 listings for the name Parsons and 19 for the name Hatcher.

People like Cin’s and Joy’s and my grandparents will most definitely talk to you about certain names coming from certain areas and they can almost always say they know/knew someone from there. It’s really great to hear folks of their generation talk about ‘how it was’.

I am sitting here on the west coast of Canada looking at the lights of downtown Vancouver and Cin and Joy are planning their trip home for the Rose Blanche “Come Home Year”. I looked and looked online, to no avail, for information on the “Come Home Year Celebrations”. If anybody has any…by all means…send it along.

“Come Home Year”. This is a term commonly used in Newfoundland since 1997 when Newfoundland celebrated its 500th anniversary (John Cabot’s landing in Bonavista in 1497 marks the discovery of New Founde Land). Many communities had what we now call “Come Home Year” as there are more expatriate Newfoundlanders than those who still make their home there.

You see, the thing with “Come Home Year” is that you can be sure that you will never all be reassembled like that again. If you have the fortune to attend ANOTHER one… it will be many, many years later and #1 the same people will not be in attendance, and #2 people pass on.

I am guessing that there will be all kinds of events planned for this important occasion. There will be bbq’s, parties, dances, probably a highlight of an outdoor festival-type get-together, something out in the boats, maybe a church service, card games, and there will not be one person anywhere for miles around without a camera! Again, I could indeed be leaving things out here, so forgive and enlighten me!














(Above): Boats of Rose Blanche

This picture was taken from: www.geocities.com/rblighthouse/roseblanchepics.html

There will no doubt be all kinds of private (I use the term loosely because everybody is almost like family) family functions within local households. People will be staying at this one’s place and that one’s place, and spirits will surely soar. It will be fantastic!

There will be unofficial get-togethers with guitars and lots of food and drink. There will be some children of expats who will see Rose Blanche and this part of their heritage for the first time. There will be people meet their young cousins, nieces and nephews for the first time. I can guarantee you that this is a very big deal and that there are big plans in the works! I can’t wait to hear about it. I’m going to suggest Cin and/or blog while she’s there (hehehe).

There will be a big, big, big buzz in the air (I hope they get good weather) and it will turn sad as people leave with their memories safely tucked away. I’ve lived this several times myself.

So, I hope Cin, Joy and their family have the very best time!



(1)http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Blanche,
_Newfoundland_and_Labrador
(2) http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/rhs/rs_listing/212.html

Stanley Park - Back around again

(Above)
I'm back near Second Beach and the Second Beach Pool.

Photo taken from The City of Vancouver

Funny stuff, folks! We’ve just trekked around Stanley Park.

Details in a sec. I have to tell you this. I’m back near Second Beach, but I’m on a lawn near The Fish House Restaurant. I have only 3 CDs here in Vancouver with me (Sue will surely love this). One is Trooper’s Hot Shots, Women and Song (Import) - TOUGH to find credits for this one: www.madacy.com, www.warnerspecialproducts.com (I love this CD so, so, so much though - Thank you, J.o.s.f.), while the third is Evans & Doherty’s Much Better View. Sorry, Sue, no bang-bang-thump-thud music!

Right now, Trooper is in the laptop and I’m basically on this lawn alone, but there is a pedestrian path really close and a road for cars. I have selected this place because I want all of me in the sun except for my head so I can see this bleetin’ laptop (which also needs to be in the shade. Geeeeeez! Anyway, Hot Shots starts of with “Boys in the Bright White Sportscar”. I just pushed play and the music cut in as an elderly lady was going by. She started groovin’ and sayin’ “yeah” in a ‘fight-the-power” manner! Almost reminded me of Sue! Of course, I fee like singing “Boys on the Bright Red Scooter” instead! That one has nothing to do with you, Sue, there’s just a huge scooter population in this park at the moment.

OK, we just walked 7 kms around Stanley Park (and took the shuttle for 2 while on the cell with Sue)…and…WOW, this Windows Media Player sure sucks the juice outta this here laptop. I guess I had better type quicker or start singin’!

I took the seawall around in a counter-clockwise fashion (not sure if you looked at the map, but I started out near English Bay). There really weren’t many places to stop along the seawall to write. I know that sounds ridiculous… I mean there WERE places to stop, but nowhere that the adequate shade I require for this there was a lot of traffic. Anyway, I decided not to go into the Vancouver Aquarium as there seems to be several tour busses there and it looks to be just madness. I should really work on the weekends and do my tourist expeditions on the weekdays when there is less madness.

I think this is one of Vancouver’s primary tourist attractions (especially in the summer) because this place is uber-packed.

Oh, did you know that Washington State is The Evergreen State? Americana fer ya.

Had a great chat with Sue. I need to do a separate blog entirely for that! Anyway, Sue is in Ottawa and is has been reading my blog with Gina. These are the two lovelies (snicker, snicker) who have taught me about the Ottawa Citizen subculture. According to Sue, I need to be a little more risqué here. I guess I’ll have to introduce you all to Sascha soon.

There’s a couple just over the way here and they’re playing badminton (netless). I think they are late twenties…hang on…oops, make that early to mid twenties. They are just a nice couple out playing badminton in the park on a nice Saturday afternoon. I don’t know whether to hiss and spit (blech, blech, blech) or think it’s nice. Hmmm, cynical or idealist today? Jury’s out.

Mind you, “Two for the Show” is on, and it’s hard to feel anything but totally into it when that one plays. It’s totally keeping my mind off the car alarm that has been honking for the last 5 minutes.

This is really a cool CD to play in public because EVERYBODY knows all the songs and there is almost always a reaction from folks. I get a kick out of that for sure.

Ooo, “Here for a Good Time”… and lookadat… the badminton players are dancing!!!!! I don’t think there is a person on earth who doesn’t like that song. Seriously, can anybody name just one? I know the first thing that comes to mind for me is drinking at the Sundance Saloon under age in the ’88. Even THAT’S almost 20 years ago.

It’s a little bit weird to be thinking about when I’m going to lose power. I’ll do a better job of this back at the apartment. I’ll then be able to talk more about the things you see and do in Stanley Park.

For now, I’ll just say bad things about Sue (wink)! Sue is actually the only person I know who can travel (post September 2001) with no identification other than a German birth certificate (a big paper one, not the ‘card’ kind with photo). She’s also the only one I know who can convince the Yuk Yuk’s comedian (who called us “Sex and the City) that we were actually CIA visiting Ottawa on operations! The follies!

Of course, the Yuk Yuk’s comedians then joined us at the pub afterwards. “Raise a Little Hell”.

I am now back at my place and I am disappointed that I don't have more exciting things to say about the trip to Stanley Park today. There really is so much do to, but I just took it all in today and trekked around noticing things.

Prospect Point gives you a view of the Lion's Gate Bridge and North Van (or is it West Van?). I saw several cruise ships in the Coal Harbour area (I think that's where it was). Lots of Stanley Park's attractions and things to do are not toally visible from the seawall. It was more about views today when all was said and done. All of this is readily available on-line (I prefer not to use strangers' images - I want to credit people properly). Some key terms would be View Vancouver port, Views Stanley Park, Cruise ships Vancouver, Lion's Gate Bridge. Thanks!

Second Beach Pool, Lawn Bowling, Seawall, and Nicotine Patch

OK, here we are at the eating area at Second Beach. If you read the posting entitled Jerome (young man from France) you will see a picture of Vancouver from Grouse Mountain. This is a southward view. Stanley Park is the big green thing on the right.

The ‘downtown core’, as they call it, juts out into the sea (at the end of this ‘downtown core’ is Stanley Park. Now, I thought this downtown core was Vancouver… I mean, I thought that was all of Vancouver. Well, I was off on that one (just a wee bit).

I am telling you this to try and convey the size of Stanley Park. This massive park is larger than the downtown core of Vancouver.

I came along Beach Avenue to get here (on the south side). I continued along the Seawall to the Second Beach Pool area (where I am now). I meandered trying to see if there was any power outlet available to park visitors. So far…shitotta luck. We’ll see how this battery goes. Hell, I’m just glad I can see the screen.

On my way here I saw the Lawn Bowlers (visitors welcome). Boy oh boy, there sure were a lot of white pants and large hats THERE! Eesh! Good for them though, at least they’re getting out.

The Seawall circles Stanley Park and you can take it all the way around on foot, on rollerblades, bike, stretcher (joke – just checkin’ to see if yer payin’ attention). It’s a lovely seawall and the smell of the salt air is delightful.

The Pool is pretty cool too. You have to pay to get in and there are many slides, a ‘beach-type’ entrance (no steps). There sure are a lot of strollers here.

I feel like the urban asshole here with a laptop! Everyone else is all into nature, family, and pets while I am here like a digital moron, but who cares.

There is a family of 5 next to me here and one of the twin boys is acting up. OUASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s a screamer! God love his little heart, he sure can howl (he’s crying to break his heart). I sure can empathize… that’s EXACTLY what I did when Buffalo put the Sens out. Now, the kid’s getting a time out and his dad is telling him to stop kicking. Again, flashbacks to the day our Sens lost.

From what I can gather, I’m using about 10% of my batter here every 20 minutes. So, the play-by-play of the screaming kid should last for hours! KIDDING!

I have to post a separate entry regarding my quitting smoking. Today is Day 40 and I mentioned my patch yesterday. Well, get this; I forgot to put it on yesterday. I had purposely left it off at the beach, then, when I arrived home, I just forgot to put it on. Next thing I was coming back from the pool and putting the patch on wet skin doesn’t work. One thing led to another, and I only thought of it, as I was about to go to bed. I then opted to leave it off (dreams and insomnia…I’ll definitely save that for the separate posting).

Now, this morning, I put the damn suntan lotion on and can’t put the patch over THAT. So, my nicotine ran out yesterday (Friday) morning at 7:00 am, and it is now Saturday at 12:54 pm. I guess that’s pretty good, but I think this could be a dangerous game. Yeah, here goes… I had better put it on (now to try and find the same ‘hole in the tan’ as last time). Well, it’s on, but I’m not sure how well I did blindly trying to affix it to the exact same spot.

Time to move on. Will fire this puppy up from the next stop (wherever that turns out to be).

I've Edited some Older Posts and Added Pictures

As you all know, this is very much a learning experience for me and I am indeed learning. I've discovered how to put pictures in here now, so I've gone back to the original post and started adding pictures and more 'clickable' things.

Just thought I'd letcha know. Off to the park. Let's go. Oh, we MAY walk the full thing (8.something kms, I think). I wish I had a ballcap here though.

Thanks for coming along ;)

That’s it! I’m Bound and Determined. Get Your Things, We're Going To Stanley Park!

(above) This is a map of Stanley Park

(can you believe that I live about 30 seconds from this?)

This picture was taken from the City of Vancouver's Web-site


All right, gang this is it. It is presently 10:45 and I have done a couple of hours work (would you believe this… I forgot it was Saturday). Oh well, I really love this project and would do it any time for free… so, whatever.

I logged on to this machine to check my e-mail and there is nothing ultra important demanding my attention… so, we’re off. Stanley Park it is. Bye d’Jezuz, I’m gonna find some place to plug this puppy in (or at least a really shady spot. I don’t need sun today, I did just fine in that department yesterday.

Now, I just need to (dragged out, slow tone please) pack the bags again!

I think this could be a longer trip today and I should pack some bouffe, grub, sustenance, and a few bevies (no booze though). Of course, that would mean a cooler bag. No, this is getting’ whack! I will have the laptop bag (I am thinking this out loud with you). I will have the knapsack… (lips pressed tightly together, shaking head) no room for cooler bag (sigh). I guess I won’t make wraps or sandwiches then. Chips and Pepsi just seems a bit… Magoo! I wanted to have sockeye salmon sandwich/wrap (with green peppers). I know, I’ll have something now before I leave. Got it. I have gouda and crackers, and I can always buy something en route. Done.

Cool. This will be neat. There are all kinds of things to see in Stanley Park!

Kathy Reichs and the Paleo-DNA Laboratory in Thunder Bay

Aside from looking like an idiot on the beach trying to view my laptop… I have a few academic interests (wink).

I happen to love the books that Kathy Reichs gives to the world. I read everything she writes (and have for a long time) and I find her writing VERY prolific (wink). Kathy has been writing about forensic science since long, long before forensic science became such a buzz on television. I have learned so many interesting things that I would NEVER know otherwise, (example: blood splatters, trajectory, grids of string for digging/sifting, the complex nature of serrated objects, and that people can do some really, really, really bad shit).


(Above)
Kathy Reichs
Photo Credit: Kathy Reichs (merci)

She is a New York Times best-selling author. Kathy is also a full-time, practicing forensic anthropologist (North Carolina and Quebec), a university professor, a lecturer/presenter, an instructor to the FBI, and she sits on various boards in various capacities. Oh, she has a TV show based on the main character of her books now too. You may be familiar with the show Bones (This fall: Tuesdays – 8:00 eastern on Fox). Well, if you watch the show… read the books. If you read the books… watch the show. Frankly, it’s quite difficult to be anything other than completely and utterly awestruck by her books, her Web-site, her accomplishments, her contributions, and her mind. (The information in this paragraph comes from my little head but I did consult Kathy’s official Web-site for accuracy… hope everything is OK… not exactly having the ‘luckiest’ of days here).

In her book Cross Bones she makes reference to the Paleo-DNA Laboratory of Lakehead University (named for it’s geographical situation at the head of Lake Superior) and specializes in human mitochondrial DNA analysis. Thunder Bay is quite pleased that Kathy has given the lab international exposure on a different level.

(Left)
Paleo-DNA Laboratory (Lakehead University), Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Photo taken directly from the Paleo-DNA Laboratory

While I am not personally familiar with this lab I did visit their Web-site to learn that they are a state-of-the-art facility and a world leader in several areas. God, I can’t believe I’m going to try to reproduce here the little bit I’ve gathered! Here goes. They specialize in extracting DNA from degraded and even ancient substances (old chewing gum instead of ‘fresh-out-of-the-killer’s-mouth-with-witnesses’ chewing gum). While I believe I know the difference between mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA, I’m not sure what Ancient DNA is though… maybe I’ll have to poke around that site a little more.

(Left)
Hard at work at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory (Lakehead University), Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Photo taken from: Lakehead University

It’s neat and a very big deal for a small city to appear in a New York Times Bestseller (not exactly an everyday occurrence… and I know how I felt when George Clooney made a one-line reference to Newfoundland in The Perfect Storm). It’s awesome! We have many fine, world-class institutions here in Canada that nobody (even us Canadians) has ever even heard of. Someone said to me in February, “They’ll close Newfoundland schools when Newfoundlanders are curling for an Olympic gold medal… but they couldn’t care less when there is a medical breakthrough at McGill”. We do have fine institutions and we should exalt them. Oh, and Brad Gushue is awesome! Made history by being the leader of the first Newfoundland group to represent Canada in an Olympic Games (Men’s Curling – 2006 Winter Games – Torino, Italy) and indeed win a gold medal. I digress.

I spoke to a proud (probably the proudest – wink) citizen of Thunder Bay yesterday and he told me he had just finished Cross Bones (and that he reads all Kathy’s books), he told me about the lab and its fine work, and I thought it was all so cool and definitely worth mentioning!

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!

Jerome from Villemoisson sur Orge, France and his trip up Grouse Mountain (photos)

Jerome from Villemoisson sur Orge, France

On Saturday, July 1, 2006, I was watching the FIFA World Cup in a local pub here in English Bay. That day, England was defeated by Portugal, while France prevailed over Brazil. Big day!

I met tons of folks from all those countries and it was a lovely chance for me to have French around me. I had a really good time, met nice people, spoke French, and had a pint or two (but who was counting – wink).

I met a 19-year old lad whose name is Jerome. He was over here learning English and was returning to France the following Tuesday. We chatted and Jerome practiced his English.

I got an e-mail from Jerome because I made the commitment to keep in touch with him and help him with his English (many, many miles away).


On Sunday, Jerome went to Grouse Mountain (just north of Vancouver). Grouse Mountain is quite visible from Vancouver (and certainly from the plane at night). There is a thing they call the “Grouse Mountain Grind”… and that is a hiking area of the mountain. It takes 7 minutes in the skyride (chairlift) or 2 hours 20 minutes on “The Grind”. The lads decided to tackle “The Grouse Mountain Grind”. Bravo!

(above) This is the view from Grouse looking southward to Vancouver. The big green 'blob' of trees there on the right is Stanley Park, and I'm in the area of buildings right next to that (on the south side). Anyway, I thought this photo gave an interesting vantage point and a rare view of the city.

(left) Yikes!














(left) How sweet is this little guy?! Nice shot (picture), Jerome!








(left) Snow in July!










(left) Victory for Jerome














(left) Just Desserts! True Canadiana and a great reward for conquering the Grouse Grind







Jerome, si tu preferes que j’enleve tes photos tu as juste a me le dire et je les enleverai tout suite. J’espere que tu as tout compris de ce que j’ai ecrit.

7 Eleven and Old(er) Men Walking Dogs and Feeding Birds

Ladies and Gentlemen! I have been to a 7 Eleven for the first time in my life (I've led a sheltered life, alright? - wink). I’m not sure how long they’ve existed, but I have gone almost thirty-three years without ever entering a 7 Eleven. No particular reason…(to my knowledge) they just don’t exist in Quebec, I think I’ve seen them in Ontario, but they’ve just never been situated next to me, and I can assure you they are nowhere to be found on the Rock.

Anyhoot, I went in there to get a drink (hadn’t decided what kind). I like the slushy frozen things and I think they are fun in summer. So, I head to those, colourful machines rolling over semi-frozen liquid forms of sugar and artificial flavour (yummy). Mother of God… you should see the sizes of those cups!

There were Gulps, Slurpees, Big Gulps, Big Slurps, etc. I felt like a cartoon! Anyway, regardless of the name, I looked for the smallest one there (550 ml…and it’s a ‘Gulp’, according to the cup I’m looking at here). It was $1.29. The enormous cup was 1.8L!!! Can you imagine that? I have to say, this ‘small’ one would be like the large ones we used to get at the movie theatres growing up (I know that’s changed now too, but you get my drift). Anyway, the monster drink at the 7 Eleven is only $1.99. I felt strangely American.

I also noticed that the drink coolers were the whole length of the side wall and were was made up of 80% juice and water. Good, right? There were no cans of soft drink, just big bottles, and the juice sure has gotten funky! Tell me, is it like that everywhere at 7 Eleven?

That’s it for my beverage purchase and first visit to the 7 Eleven. The guy on the phone talking to his ex was hilarious too! I love this line, “I can’t believe you dumped me for him (his eyes grew large and buggy)! Let HIM feed your damn bird and walk your dogs then!” He was about 65 (I can just hear you now, Sue - wink).

A bientot

Some Short-Term Goals

Well, this place is pretty bare! In this apartment there is a couch, what they call a 'burl' table (which is just a slice of tree...more BC than that and you die), and a massive clump of wires and machines for my 'wireless' system! In order to have wireless Internet on your laptop at home...they need to put a wire into everything else in sight! That's all that's in here, with the exception of a few empty boxes.

Don't get me wrong, I'm just fine! Mind you, I am looking forward to doing this place bit by bit. I'm quite comfortable and my friends Ann and Al have seen to that. I have to tell you about them (separate blog).

I've decided to have this livingroom in a natural-looking motif. I want some treelike plants in here. The hardwood almost demands that 'look'. I am getting a webcam and I'll take pictures and post them.

The short-term goals are as follows:

• A little urban gardening (various planters on the balcony) and some indoor plants
• To swim in the pool downstairs 30 minutes/day
• Poke around the neighbourhood here for some funky decorative things for the apartment
• Get myself a doctor and a dentist (cringe)
• Find a library and take books out (I think I was in grade school the last time I did that...and I think that was at gunpoint). I want to read some completely different authors. Any suggestions? Please spare me the romance novels, folks! I like Kathy Reichs, Ken Follett, Ian Rankin, and I am about to start my first Agatha Christie book. That gives you a little idea of the general area of the ballfield to which I tend to navigate. Merci.
• Oh, and get an mp3 player. Again, suggestions are certainly welcome (I have no clue on this one).

I think will do it in the 'goals department' for this month!

A demain et bonne nuit les amis!

English Bay Beach looking east at Vancouver

This is where I am

Tulip Festival in Ottawa - we saved a little baby princess!

The History Of The Canadian Tulip Festival (taken from www.tulipfestival.ca/en/FestivalHistory/)

Queen Juliana of the Netherlands 1909 - 2004

The Canadian Tulip Festival pays tribute to Queen Juliana who will always be remembered in a special way for her Gift of Tulips to the Canadian people. Thanks to her, the Tulip Legacy holds a very important place in Canadian history and is particularly celebrated by Ottawa and Gatineau residents. She is, in many ways, responsible for the creation of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

A celebration founded on friendship. The Canadian Tulip Festival has grown into the largest tulip festival in the world from a gift of thanks given five decades ago. In the fall of 1945, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands presented Ottawa with 100,000 tulip bulbs. The gift was given in appreciation of the safe haven which Holland's exiled royal family received during the Second World War and in recognition of the role which Canadian troops played in liberating the Netherlands.

The tulips have become an important symbol of international friendship and the beauty of spring. They also have special meaning to the people of Canada's Capital Region. During the war, the Dutch royal family was hosted at Government House in Ottawa. Princess Margriet was born at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. The floral gift that began in 1945 has established this region as "The Tulip Capital of North America".

A few years after the Dutch tulips arrived in 1945, they became a strong attraction. Stunning pictures were appearing in newspapers nationwide. More and more events began to centre around the annual bloom of tulips.
The first Canadian Tulip Festival was held in 1953. The Ottawa Board of Trade, at the suggestion of world renowned photographer Malak Karsh whose photographs have immortalized the tulip, formalized the Canadian Tulip Festival to coincide with the tulip's annual bloom. In the next 10 years the Festival grew in size, with a staggering display of over two million flowers.

Each spring, the National Capital Commission (NCC) is the official 'guardian' and designer of the national capital's gardens by managing the colourful splendour and stunning display of millions of tulips, creating a magnificent backdrop for the Canadian Tulip Festival. The NCC is responsible for many of the impressive flower beds and green spaces found throughout the region located on Parliament Hill, along Confederation Boulevard and the Capital's scenic parkways and recreational pathways, in front of national museums and institutions and along the historic Rideau Canal.

The most spectacular display of tulips is found in Commissioners Park, the official site of the Canadian Tulip Festival located at Dows Lake and near the Rideau Canal, where the NCC plants more than 300,000 tulips each year. Commissioners Park is also home of the Tulip Legacy Exhibit, an exhibit implemented by the NCC explaining the history of the Dutch Royal Family's refuge during the World War II and the contribution of Canadian troops in the liberation of the Netherlands in 1944-45.

Brian & Kevin (Evans & Doherty)

This is an interesting situation. Let's see if you can follow THIS!

Kevin Evans & Brian Doherty are two Irish guys (from Dungarven, Waterford and Omagh, Tyrone respectively). I met them in Newfoundland many years ago, but they live in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Irene & Bill own Hurley's in Montreal and are friends of mine. So, Brian and Kevin were coming there to play. This was a pretty big deal to me being away from home (and not in Toronto or Fort McMurray where all Newfoundlanders tend to flock). Plus, anybody will tell you that there is nothing like a face from home when you're away from home (especially when it's rare).

Brian and Kevin come to the pub and we have a blast for 3 days. When I say 'we' I mean Irene, Bill, Tim, Rocky, other friends and myself. Those were great weekends!

Then, the boys started playing a Montreal weekend followed by an Ottawa weekend...at the Heart & Crown (Irish Village) because Larry (owner of the Irish Village) is from Omagh, as Brian is. Sooooooooooo, the Montreal gang would often hear Bri & Kev in Montreal and then go to Ottawa the following weekend (or vice versa) and do it all over again. This dual visiting would happen every May, September and either December or January (and sometimes both). This was tradition and very normal. Many, many laughs and pints, and pints, and pints, and chicken sandwiches, and crosswords (Bri). Everybody knows everybody, we're all from all over creation, and we have a heap of fun.

Oh, I have to mention The Old Triangle, the pub that Bri and Kev bought in Halifax in (let's see if I can get this right)....2000? Help, friends! Anyway, this new endeavour the boys came 'on the road' much less. We now see them twice a year in Ottawa and that's about it. They also spend time in Ireland more now and we simply see them less.

That's the skinny on how all that happened (and it went on for years). The funny part about it is that it was always the same. Golfing for Bri and Lar, touring Ottawa and watching soccer matches for the rest of us. Lunch-n-laughs, dinner-n-drink, and it would all start again.

It was great for me because when I moved to Ottawa I already had a local. There is only a short one-hour-thirty-minute drive from one to the other. It also provided me with the nice feeling of having the Montreal gang visit Ottawa once I lived there and missed them and my life there so much.

Brian and Kevin (known to the masses as Evans & Doherty) are my favourite musicians. I say that with grace. They’ve been the wonderful musical duo they are ever since Baby Jesus lay in a manger. I know their Web-site indicates how long they’ve been giving us tunes, but I think it’s been about 30 years. These guys are no spring chickens! I really can’t list the songs of theirs that I love…WAY too long. Kevin’s guitar solo in the Stan Rogers song “Mary Ellen Carter” is known across the country. They have a huge sound for two guys. You should hear them to the Pogue’s “Fairy Tale of New York”, and my personal favourite being a Gerry Rafferty song by the name of “Her Father Didn’t Like Me Anyway”. My definition of a great performer and amazing musician (from the viewpoint of an audience member) is when a group can play a song you absolutely hate…and make you like it. They do that with a few tunes (Black is the Colour, Bri).

These two are funny, good-natured, family people. Their sense of humour matches mine, so I find them even funnier. We’re all about these dark one-liners that are very direct (as politely as I can put it, thank you very much). There is no shortage of crack and banter, great stories, awesome music, and new memories. Always.

At the end of their evening in Montreal they like to sing “Goodnight, Irene” which drives Irene up the wall (and why I believe they do it). They will surely sing the traditional song “Farewell to Nova Scotia” and there will be maritimers screaming and singing (that also tends to happen with Barrett’s even though Stan Rogers was from Ontario). They will sing the Ron Hynes song “Sonny’s Dream” and then the Newfoundlanders make the noise.

Pigs eating the wires, ‘there I was in line at the bank…’, Cindy’s wedding shower paraphernalia (very practical), Brian’s famous night on an Ottawa stage (Lar had been the perfect host all afternoon), and reminiscing.

Irish Village (Heart & Crown) corner of Clarence and Parent in the ByWard Market, Ottawa, ON (now with photo)

This picture was taken directly from The Irish Village Web-site and, again, I hope I'm not in shit.

The Irish Village is is four pubs in one. Unlike Hurley's which is one pub with many rooms, The Irish Village is many pubs connected. The difference? Well, The Irish Village has an entrance to each of its 'rooms' and washrooms in every 'room'. They really do exist as separate entities, but you walk freely from one to the other with your drink in hand.

The Heart & Crown is the front room (which is what appears over the door). The bar is on your right, the stage is in the front window, and there are plenty of tables. There is a lot of hardwood and glass. If you keep going, you will find yourself in The Snug. This is my favourite place in the pub (In Ottawa, I just call it The Pub...like I do in Montreal with Hurley's). The Snug has two very special tables in it. They are my favourite tables! They have walls and doors! No kidding. It almost reminds me of a train car. You can go in there and close the door! Neither the doors nor the walls go to the ceiling (total privacy is not ensured...but close). There is Waterford Crystal behind the bar that is to die for. There is stone, a woodstove, and Danny McGarry will treat you very well! There is also a patio that moats two sides of the building.

From there you can go to Mother McGintey's which is the largest of the quad. Oh, you can watch sporting matches in The Snug and in Mother McGintey's. Big screens and big fun! Bigger acts play on this stage. They recently expanded it and it's awesome. Larry and Pat own this pub. I know Larry very well and consider him and his wife Michele good friends. Lar, I feel for the poor aul horse. There are 2 bars in this pub and you should see the job Julie does decorating for any event (Halloween, special events, etc). I don't think that's in her job description, but she does it anyway! That's Julie! Thanks for the shirt, girl; it's quite the conversation piece! There is a large patio (which, due to the lay of the land, is a second-story patio) off the back of the pub. It's dynamite.

Also in the corner between The Snug and Mother McGintey's is the smoking area that we just call The Courtyard (for the life of me, I don't know which pub that belongs to). Anyway, due to the City of Ottawa's bylaw banning smoking in all public places...Lar has an outside area that is beautiful. It is multi-leveled with tables, chairs barrels for stand-up tables, 4 famous red tables (one of which I want, Larry...the one where our famous horse story took place). The walls of both Mother McGintey's and The Snug are done so they look the outside walls of a small place and you are in the lane. Brilliant! There is a tent over this in the winter and there are heating lamps. You really don't know you're outside. You can see and hear the band, have your smoke and your beer, and a way t'go!

Roisin Dubh (The Black Rose) is downstairs from Mother McGintey's and is like a typical little Irish pub. It is very impressive with a feeling of times past. I don't spend much time in that part of the pub, but I have been to a party there (thanks, Larry) and it is a great little place.

I have to tell you that there are different menus for all these places. The Carnivore pizza (I believe this is on the Mother McGintey's menu) is to die for and the Leinster Pasta is one of my favourites (thanks, Isabelle). Their food is spectacular. I really wouldn't even put it in the category of 'pub grub'...though you can get that stuff too. Go have a look at their menus!

The happy hour gang here is great. I was only in Ottawa just under two years and I have much emotion for this pub and these people. It's the only place I go in Ottawa, and that is not likely to change. I tell you, it was really great having that pub as a newcomer to the city. A great local! We are all in the same hockey pool...in which I finished dead last this year (PedroKnowsHockey). We go to hockey games together, we spend afternoons on the patios. We have the Irish festival in September. We thank GOD for our VIP cards! Peter organizes a honkin' golf tournament every year. We chat in the snug after work, we listen to Brian & Kevin, which is a WHOLE other story, and will be the next posting. It will fit well with the Hurley's thing too. OK, good.

So, The Heart & Crown, Irish Village is something pretty frickin' great. It's been wonderful to me and it's a place I will always want to be. I love it there and I miss it something fierce. I laugh so, so, so much there (thanks, Peter). Yeah, Peter's outlook and his one-liners are great (he's also pretty quick on the raydar)! I'm even laughing as I type this. Again, I have to leave out names and stories (so my pals don't KILL me outright).

I'm going to sign off and post this (and get to the Brian & Kevin stories that combine Montreal and Ottawa)...oy oy!

Michele, have a watermelon cooler for me! I have a box of 'em in the fridge!

Stay tuned for Brian and Kevin.

Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 Crescent St., Montreal, QC (now with photo)

This picture was taken directly from the Web-site of Hurley's Irish Pub and was taken by Jim Macdonald, and I hope I'm not in shit (have no link for Jim).

Ahh, the pub. You really should check out that site before you read this (I feel it would make the read a little better).

Where to start... For years I've said that my ashes are going there when I pass on. I think I'm serious about that!

Some of you are from Montreal and have been to the pub with me (probably many, many times). Some of you are from Montreal and have been to the pub without me (whatever were you thinking?). Some of you are from different parts of Canada and have visited the pub during your stay in Montreal, and there are some of you who have never darkened the doorstep of 1225 Crescent.

The pub is situated on Crescent St, which is a main strip of sorts in what I consider to be the English-speaking pub zone in Montreal. It is just below Ste-Catherine and above Rene-Levesque. For those of you at home... there is no cover charge at the pub (it seems as though Newfoundland is the only place that does that...drag).

I've you've gone to their site, you know that the front of the pub has flags draping the front patio (see picture above). There are two floors to the pub, there is a courtyard out back (frickin' gorgeous). Downstairs (the main level) has the bar area (complete with the Harp Table and Mitzi's corner). There is a fireplace that is decorative. You will see two clocks on the wall; one with Montreal Time and the other with Ireland Time. There are publications pertaining to anything that's Irish in Montreal. The specials of the day are written in chalk (in both official languages...merci). There are police badges from all over the place pinned up inside the bar in plain view. Of course, there are barstools and you can usually find Will on the corner by the waitress' serving area.

The area on the side of the bar (leading in one direction to the snug, and straight ahead to the music room) has lovely pictures. There is one of Will with the Guinness Brewmaster (that's a new one), there is my favourite one which is a print of the bar from two different angles. It's quite different and it's awesome. Irene, thank you for the information about this "print". This is an original S. Dempsey painting given to Hurley's Pub. There is a porthole (which I've always liked). There is a window to the music room (very strategic place to sit...tough to be there when it's busy though).

The Music Room holds most of my memories. It is a very, I almost want to say 'rustic'....but...not quite. It's a pure and true pub atmosphere. Its walls hold pictures of sailing schooners, Irish and Guinness signage, and there are shelves holding books, vintage things, and that's where I figure I'll have my urn placed! There is a corner stage that fits 3 snuggly. There is a stand-up bar (my favourite place to be actually) and a window out into the courtyard.

The Snug is an area where I think the artists are most happy. there are plush, leather armchairs, couches, coffee tables, regular tables, doors with windows that are not operational, but do add to its charm. There is a non-operational fireplace there too. Not a place I ever really spent any time.

The Courtyard is past that and is too beautiful! It's a relatively new addition to the pub and is seasonal (Can you imagine that being open for a Montreal winter?!). It's all stone and the walls are done to look like the outside walls of a cottage. In some respects, it's like you're in a country lane. There is no roof in The Courtyard. The lighting out there is spectacular and there is a bar with an awning.

I should mention here that none of these areas are vast. They are like rooms ("Pub" is short for "Public House", and is supposed to be made up of various rooms).

On the other side of the bar is The Games Room. Here you will find posters of events, dart board, TV, and tables. Again, not a room I've spent a great deal of time in, but it is nice...and you can see all the food go by as the kitchen is located right there.

Proceeding along, there is a door to exit or you can go up the stairs (oh, and the men's washroom). To the top of the stairs you find the ladies washroom (and they've done something up there to the left that was under construction the last time I was there). Anyway, you turn to head in to the bar area. Look up! You will see a picture of St. John's, Newfoundland that Cin and I gave Irene and Bill some years back for some event (wink).

Through there is a neat room with a functional fireplace, nice armchars, pews (seriously), a piano (which people rarely fool around with, but it DOES work...I know!), windows and a door that give you a view out over Crescent (and a little patio you can go out on). It's a very cozy room with that fireplace. I still remember Shag bringing those brick/stone in in '97! Where does the time go!

The bar here is 'carved' in a very unique and special way. It is a replica of one in Ireland and is the focal point of the upstairs. It is central and serves three rooms, but it is the same bar. It is all dark brick and is really beautiful.

The area in front of the bar is where we always, always stand (and sit in the bay window) on St. Patrick's Day. I think it's the only time we park ourselves there, but it is quite strategic for reasons I can not disclose as I've been sworn to secrecy (wink).

The music room upstairs is the largest room in the pub. There is a large stage and dancefloor, and plenty of tables. The decoration is not as 'present' as it is downstairs, but it is of the same style.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, so, there you have the description (which I didn't intend to do...I guess I just got carried away).

The food at the pub is really good and I know they take great pride in every detail of their menu. It really matters to them! I love the Irish Mist Lamb Stew and the Chicken Sandwich (to name a few). The portions and presentation is top-notch, and the service is just perfect. I know that it seems really easy for me to say that as I consider the owners close friends of mine, but I thought that of the pub before I ever knew either Irene or Bill. There's just no way you'd be disappointed there (unless you're sad because the Canadiens just lost - wink).

There is music 7 nights a week and some nights there are 2 groups playing (one upstairs and one down). It is a place that attracts literally every walk of life. You will see a business crowd there. You will see students there. You will see couples and groups there. You will see tourists there. You will see visible minorities there. You will see celebrities there. You will see a lot of smiles there too.

I dunno...the pub is many different places for me. It's a weekend-party place in the music room. It's a great place for a chat at the main bar during happy hour or in the day. I can not even begin to count the people that I have met there. I have made so many good friends (with whom I am still in contact) over the years. It's just a big living room(s)! It's very personal and folks feel very at home there.

The pub also is the home to lots of events on a regular basis. There is storytelling, there are sessions (like a jam session), and they really go all out for special days like Robby Burns day (Ag and the haggis....yum!), and they sometimes have finger foods if Ag is in the mood.

Everyone in Quebec wants to be in this pub on St. Patrick's Day. I'm going to scan a picture I have (I have tons) of the sea of people out on Crescent that green, green day in March and post it here. I forget which year this picture was taken, but it really doesn't matter because it always looks like that.

I would be here forever to list the musical talen I've seen at the pub (plus, you can see it all on the pub's site), but I have to mention Salty Dog. This is Tim Chambers and Rocky Dalonzo, along with Ron and the fiddler changes sometimes. These two lads are amongst my favourite people. They would always play for my birthday and have a piper there. Bill and Irene would have a cake, and I would have about 30 of my pals around. GOD..................I loved those birthdays. They really have been the very best birthday memories I have. Tim and Rock (and families) are great friends and have been for years and I miss them. Morin Heights, gentlemen!

We have some famous friends who frequent the pub too. I'm not sure I should mention names without the proper approval (I have to respect people's privacy). The conversations are really something. I also think I should leave stories out!

I think many of the people there are friends and consider the pub a sort of second home (hell, there were some weeks it was more like a first home). This special pub is known the world over and you should see the postcards they get.

At the pub, I have attended a wedding, a funeral, a Christmas Day, wedding showers, many birthday parties (many of them my own), stagettes (definately not my own), St. Patrick's Day, and really great Friday nights. I even know people who have gotten married because of that pub (Roger and Gimli's parents).

There you have it. That's my pub, full of very dear people, fine food, great drink, funy characters and stories, dynamite music, an ambience that is unparalleled, and a very busy staff! Look for Eugene!

I'm going to get in some serious shit here for this...but I don't care...it truly is the best pub in Canada (and I've seen a few). Oh, the pub has a new mascot now...MURPHY! Slainte!

Weather and Some of Today's Activities

Hello and greetings. The weather here as been absolutely fabulous for a week or so. I can't tell you how nice it is to have opened windows with a sea breeze coming through! The weather has been sunny and in the high 20s (70s F), but there that dead-bake humidity and heat that we know in Montreal and Ottawa doesn't exist. That's pretty cool. You can be on the beach and never feel uncomfortable (regarding temperature, that is - wink). It is very refreshing not to need AC! Today's skies are overcast and it is just on the cool side, which is very welcome. It's so nice to sleep with windows open too. I couldn't tell you the last time I did that in the month of July!

Today is a working day (as the rest have been). I won't talk about work here because that's just foul! This is not about that. However, all is very well with that and I am excited about many things on that level. I'll get to spend some more time in Calgary with that and it's pretty cool to see new cities. I was just there in June for the first time and I like it there.

I have to say, I love reading the comments you post. It's really nice to know that people are reading this. I guess I just assume you all see it because I do picture myself actually having this conversation with you. Oh, I have chosen the settings to keep you all anonymous (respect of privacy - your name only appears if you write it)...just thought you should know. I do receive copies of them to my e-mail, but I check them directly on the blog every day anyway.

Off to earn me a livin'. Will post a little later on the pub in Montreal for sure.

EB (English Bay)

Newfoundland, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver

I'm really posting a lot this evening. Guess what? I stayed in!

Most of you know that I am from Newfoundland. I would even go so far as to say that it largely defines me. I think most would agree. I was once told that in order to really know me... you would have to see me there. I'm sure that there is some truth to that...though, most of you have never seen me there and I think you know me. I think it was a very interesting and observant statement with a lot of care thrown in there.

I love my home and visit have had the very good fortune to visit very frequently. There is surely a part of me that has never left. I maintain many, many relationships there and have remained in very close contact for many years.

I'm very proud to hail from the youngest province in Canada...that incidentally calls the oldest city in North America its capital. We are a charming island off the east coast of Canada and I believe we are very rich. I have never lived so far from there and I don't like to even think about it. This Vancouver is FAR!

When I'm home, I like to eat things that are really bad for me! I like to go to George Street (a friend's brother once said his sister and I would be taking the seniors bus to the pubs). I love to play darts in Paddy's shed (thanks for the soup Maude). I love wing nights. Seasonally, I love to be on the water www.obriensboattours.com. On the open Atlantic, it is really hard not to constantly smile. It is really hard to have the minutest of negative thoughts. It is really easy to just stay there. My thanks to Joe, Loyola, Wayne, Michael, and the whole staff there. I have a lot of memories on those boats. It really is one of my favourite things to do at home. I think some of my fascination for marine biology stems from that. Of course, I spend time with family and friends (a list that's just WAY too long to go into). I love to play 120s, a card game that is the best yet played nowhere else. Hmmmm.

Quebec City. I lived there and it gave me the gift of my French. This gift is undoubtedly the gift for which I am most grateful. It was my first real exposure to other cultures and languages (yet another defining part of me). Today, I have a strong commitment to diversity and those days in Quebec City have become more important that I ever knew they would. A charming city of great food! My God, it's endless. I love the Quebecois culture and it have most definately become a big part of me and I love that. I remember discovering the music of Paul Piche (my favourite Quebecois artist....merci, Isa), the Quebecois love of sport and the outdoors, and the word 'passion' took on new meaning for me from that point. You know, those poeple are absolutely fantastic. I have always felt very at home in the culture quebecoise. I think I learned one of my most valuable lessons there. That is one of perspective, and how that related to mentality, expression, thought processes, and feelings. Big stuff! It was my first time being in the minority, and I think all people should experience something like that, for it really does make you a different person (and a better one...I say that with grace).

I have a mesage to Canada...poutine was never meant to be a snuggling of mozzerella amongst those fries and gravy. The cheese curds from Lac-St-Jean are the true stars of the show.

My beloved Montreal. When I left Montreal for Ottawa I rarely spoke of that wonderful city. I really couldn't believe I didn't live there. It still aches me to talk about it because I feel like I have betrayed a friend. I realize that may sound very melodramatic, but that city really 'bit' me and is a part of me and I will always long for it. Here's to the old port, Crescent Street and my wonderful friends who spend time at that special place www.hurleysirishpub.com. ANYBODY who knows me at all knows that my talking about Montreal HAS to start at Hurley's. It's even funny to call it 'Hurley's' because we only ever call it 'the pub'. I have to do a separate post for that (I bet some of you are sweating now)! (wink). The festivals. Oh, the festivals. Just for laughs, the Jazzfest, les Fetes Gourmandes (which I believe they've stopped....shame), Benson & Hedges International Fireworks competition (I believe that one has changed names now), and the francofolies (a festival showcasing francophone entertainment of various aspects). Sunsets and sunrises on Mont-Royal. Funky shops in the plateau. Professional squeegees. Gay village. Tam Tams. Oratoire St-Joseph. Skating in the old port on Sundays and going to the pub for the beef dip and to hear Jimmy (God rest his soul) and Gary. Restaurants, restaurants, restaurants. Skiing in St-Sauveur (WOW!). Mondo shoe store on Jean-Talon. The big, bright uniforms and the aura at the Canadiens' games! St. Patrick's Day (I'll save that one for the pub posting). Mark's fruity drink nights (wish I could have done more of those). Boating. Jello shots (Cin and I rule at those). I think the biggest thing in Montreal for me is that I really feel like I have a relationship with that city. There were so many times (and still today) that I would be downtown amongst many...yet feeling like the people were a part of my Montreal. I hope you can find some sense in that because I know I'm fumbling the words here.

Ottawa. Our nation's capital. I still feel like I live there as more of me is there (physically...all my things are there! I am also maintaining my aprtment there for another year) than anywhere else right now. True to form (and much to my mother's dismay), the first thing I did was find my local. www.irishvillage.ca. This is Larry, Michele, Julie, Peter, Tina, and the gang (I have to do a separate posting on that one too. I'll probably put that one with Hurley's). The happy hour crowd. The hockey pool gang. Politics is a subject I hate, however, I think it unwise to be completely ignorant on that one. I learned...and still do...thanks, Kenny. The tulip festival (great story of how and why we have that festival...separate posting). The Rideau Canal. Mellos! Molson XXX. Canada Day! GO SENS GO!! The Ottawa Citizen (and several of the monkies I call friends who work there). I have to say that the Ottawa Citizen is a subculture. I'm not joking when I say that anybody I know who is from Ottawa either works at The Citizen, has worked at The Citizen, or knows several people who work/have worked at The Citizen. I also have to say that I learned so much about Aboriginal peoples in Ottawa, and I am grateful for that and it has made a difference to my life. The time in Ottawa also marked the first time I have lived in the same city as my mother and brother in a very long time. That was great. As a whole, the city itself is not one of my favourites and it is hard leaving Montreal for Ottawa (everybody will tell you that), but my life/world in Ottawa couldn't be better and Ottawa has been very good to me and I had difficulty leaving it. While talking about Ottawa people rarely even think about Hull/Gatineau. That is an interesting situation there (yet another subjet that merits its own post, and I will do that one very soon). I love Hull/Gatineau!

Hey, my song of the day is playing! Cool. Copperhead Road! Great beat!

Vancouver. Well, this blog will largely be my discovering Vancouver. This is why this is one big blog called English Bay. That is where I am sitting as we speak. I look to my left and see snow-capped mountains, I look straight ahead and see the most beautiful cityscape I have ever seen. I really can't believe this is mine. I am very happy here. I step out the door and walk for about 20 seconds and I am on the beach. If you go to Google and type "English Bay", then click "images" before hitting "go"...you will love what you see. I am reluctant to put the link for my apartment building here in a window to the world (safety reasons), but if you really want to see it e-mail me. I live close to the Davie and Denman intersection and Stanley Park is really close too. Oh, did you know that Stanley Park is honours Lord Stanley (as in the Stanley Cup)? There y'go, a little trivia fer ya. I am discovering this neighbourhood little by little. I haven't ventured too far out of this area, though I will post more about other areas I have found. I need to tell you about some really neat places.

So, here I am on the Pacific Ocean while my mother is on the Atlantic. It really is far! I can't get over just how far this is! I'm not used to the time here. It's very weird to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs at 4:00 pm. It's wierd to be able to go to a mall after the game. It's funny to think that when it's just 6:00 pm here...folks in Newfoundland's clocks read 10:30 pm. Speaking of clocks...mine now reads 1:32 am. Ouash! Time to turn off Jack, post this entry, shut this laptop down, and kiss Vancouver goodnight.

Bonne nuit

I'm getting the hang of this, Les Amis Francophones, Siochana, People I know, What People Talk about (thanks for the great conversation, David)

I've had this blog for 1 day and 4 of you have seen this (that I know of). I'm so excited. Thank you and merci to Vanessa in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, Isabelle in St-Viateur (je pense? je sais que tu as demenage...pas d'accents sur ce clavier-ci....c'est plat), La belle province de Quebec, Darrin in Newfoundland, and to Elspeth in Burnaby, BC. I guess I'm officially on both coasts now.

I have to say that it made me smile so much to get some feedback on this blind venture of mine. I really wish I could do this in French. Damn it, it's really not the type of missive of that nature though.

Les amis francophones, je suis tellement desole que je ne peux pas faire mon 'blog' dans les deux langues. Comme c'est un peu un journal personnel, ce n'est pas vraiment quelque chose pour traduire. Il n'est pas b'en b'en drole non plus que le clavier d'un laptop ne vient pas avec des accents.

J'espere sincerement que vous comprenez le plupart de ce que j'ecris. Si jamais il y a quelque chose que vous voulez que je traduise...s.v.p. laissez-moi le savoir et je vais faire mon possible de le faire.

(above) This is Siochana! 1st row (l-r): Bruce Mesh, Wayne James, Jimmy Feehan
2nd row (l-r): Jimmy Carroll, Darrin Feehan, Steve Knight

Photo taken directly from Siochana's Web-site (Darrin, I don't know who to credit for this...let me know if I need to add something).

I think most of you know what a huge music fan I am. I am going to put a link to Siochana on the mainpage of this blog just as soon as I post this entry. I will use a couple of 'full names' here because you should visit their site and you will see their full names anyway. Jimmy Carroll has been a great friend of mine for many years. Through Jimmy, I met Darrin Feehan and the rest of the lads in Siochana (Irish gaelic word meaning "Peace"). these fine folks are from my hometown of St. John's, Newfoundland. I use the term 'St. John's' loosely as I think most of us are from more specific parts in and around the area...but you all know what I mean!

(Above) Siochana playing at the George Street Festival in 2004

Again, this photo was taken directly from Siochana's Web-site (Again, Darrin, let me know if I should make any changes).




This band plays traditional Newfoundland music and is made up entirely of members of our fine Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (locally known as "the RNC" or the less-popular term "Constab"). While I am not a traditional musician myself, I sure have listened to more than my fair share of it my entire life (both live and recorded). I have several musician friends all over the country (mostly traditional Irish). These guys are amazing. I can't believe how much I love their show. God, I'd give anything to hear them now. I really love these guys. The band's talent speaks for itself (and speaks very loudly, I might add), but I want to share with you a little bit about the people on that stage that I am very, very proud to call friends. All these guys are family people (Darrin and his wife sure know how to throw a mean Christmas party...and his girls are exactly how I would want mine to be...if I were to have any). They all work full-time jobs, are involved in just about every event going (local, provincial, and national charities, curling, rowing, etc) and they have very full lives. I am so grateful that they take the time to give us the music they do. They tear the house down every time. I love my conversations with them (Ottawa - September 2005...smashing). I had the priviledge of a 'behind-the-scenes' tour of parliament with them and our great friend Kevin (who works in the Senate) just this fall past when they were in Ottawa for the annual national salute to fallen Canadian police officers of every force in the country. They are great people who are great conversationalists, great showmen, great friends, great people, really funny, and I miss them. I was so happy to have spoken with Jimmy earlier this week and to have gotten an e-mail from Darrin tonight. Please visit their site www.siochana.ca and meet my friends! If you ever have the chance to see them play...do yourself a favour and don't miss it. Oh, laddios, I've just checked the site and it looks like we're on again for this September in Ottawa! Good thing I'm keeping my apartment! Alert Kev and Cathy and let Round II begin. P.S. I noticed you're playing at my brother's pub Biddy Mulligan's (did you even know it was my brother's?), no link there because he doesn't have a site yet. Hafta talk to him!

I think they would put off a feckin' helluva show with Trooper! I think I'd even fly the 7,500+ kms just to be there. I would most definately think that some hangover prescription would be in store for 99% of the audience. Maybe you could get a pharmaceutical sponsor, lads!

This blog is surely developing into an interesting experience. I kind of feel like I have you all here. I like this.

Again, I have to say that it was 100% due to Ra McGuire's book "Here for a Good Time" (which I told you in an earlier posting that you HAVE TO READ THAT BOOK) that led to the development of this blog. Thank you, Ra! I remind you all that the beer bet is seriously on the table!

I had the fine fortune of meeting Ra at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody, BC on June 30, 2006 at the Golden Spike Days Festival. This festival celebrates the laying of the last spike of the Canadian National Railway. I little Canadiana fer ya!

Isabelle is a francophone friend of mine from Pointe-Lebel (near Baie Comeau), QC. We were neighbours in residence (Pavilion Parent - aile C, 2e etage) at Universite Laval. Isabelle is a wife and a mother of three wonderful boys. I like to think that all those I hold dear have great hearts, and I know they do. I just have to put Isa in her own category somehow. I admire her in so many ways and I have never seen a spirit quite like the one she is blessed with. Seems only fitting to mention Jenny (another neighbour from residence), the Swedish leg of our trio. Jenny now works for the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm and has seen the world over. A fluent Swedish, French, and English speaker, Jen shows me the world! The three of us had the wonderful opportunity for a reunion in the summer of 2004. It was the first time we'd been together since 1996. We met in 1995 and have wonderful memories. I saw my first hockey game with Jen (Nordiques de Quebec contre les Penguins de Pittsburgh). I had my first drink of 94% alcool with Isa sitting under a desk (and there are pictures). We sat in Carre d'Youville when Quebec City didn't win the 2002 Olympic bid. We ate crepes, cheese, cookies, and cheesecake. We ran time trials in the hallway of our floor (on a wooden trolley designed for people moving boxes). We experienced the Quebec Winter Carnival. We made tons of language mistakes. We played guitar in small residence rooms. Can you imagine Newfoundland, Quebecois, Swedish tunes! Thank GOD for the 94%!!!! I remember Cadi (from Africa) stopping to hear the music! it was great. Thank you for those fantastic memories, mesdames!

Vanessa. Now, THERE'S a story! Vanessa is my lifelong compatriot (or probably more accurately...'cohort'...police friends please look away). She doesn't even know this, but when I'm faced with dicey situations... I ask myself what she would do. I'm then comfortable. Vanessa has a new baby and I am very proud of them both. I think I had something to do with the baby's name (wink, Nessa). Vanessa is a person of dignity, intelligence, honour, and she's pretty cute! I have learned a lot from her. She is very fair. She is honest and forthcoming. She is open-minded. Her quick wit is fuckin' stellar! We've shared moves, cities, and provinces. We've seen each other through new boyfriends, bad boyfriends, good boyfriends who became bad boyfriends and eventually became old boyfriends. We've helped one another through periods of frustration, devastation, happiNESS, drunkeNESS (hehehe, aren't I clever?), and we've had too many laughs to count. Maybe the baby will see this one day...I have to be careful (wink).

Elspeth. This is a new friend here in BC. This fine lady hails from Northern Ireland and is a spitfire. She just clebrated her 61st birthday and I've enjoyed happy hourssssssss, gardening, chats, and she will always be my very first bocce partner. She has shared with me her wisdom, her kind heart, and her bacardi! Her lawn was the first one I ever mowed! She taught me so much about plants and gardening in general (something I really love). She is a kick-ass badminton player. I also have to give her credit here for being a part of my 'operation quit smoking' support team. Thanks, Elspeth....for that and so much more. I'm really glad she's here.

So, those are the folks who have contacted me since I started this blog. Merci and thank you.

One more topic and it's time to post. As many of you know, I have lived from one coast to the other now, with a large part of my life being in Montreal and in Ottawa. David is in Montreal and he one of my best friends. Many of you reading this blog know David and what he means to me. We had a 2-hour chat tonight. I spoke to him about this blog and how it's interesting that people talk (phone or in person) about things they do, plans they are making, memories, troubles, good things going on, etc. They, don't, however, often talk about things they think about, notice, wonder, etc. This blog seems to be that sort of medium for me. David and I have camped in upstate New York. We have painted the town red in several cities. We have decorated many Christmas trees! I've talked David home safely when he's been on the road with hockey. He's talked me through many relationship follies/situations. He is my friend and I can't imagine not having him in my life. He picked out my skates with me in 1998. We've eaten/drank soup in small cafes during winter walks in the country of the eastern townships of Quebec. We've shot pool. We've enjoyed every seasson. We've smiled a lot. David, I thank God for you.

Medium Sugar, "The Georgia Straight", and "Vancouver Lifestyles" Magazine

When ordering coffee, I've only ever heard people say (for example), "2 milk, 2 sugar".

I learned something new today. Apparently, you can ask for medium sugar. Now, I think that means 1 and a half sugar, but I would have to verify that. I wonder can you ask for "medium milk". I also wonder if these 'sizes' work at places other than Tim Horton's. Hmmm....

The Georgia Straight is a free weekly publication in Vancouver. It gets its name from The Strait of Georgia (also known as Georgia Strait and the Gulf of Georgia) is a 240 km (150 mi)-long strait between Vancouver Island (as well as its nearby Gulf Islands) and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia . The southern end of the strait is the intersection of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, while the northern end is Johnstone Strait.

I enjoy free publications because they are often very full of personality and they really do write about what they want to write about, as opposed to the bigger papers who are aiming for top-notch, to-the-minute, informative journalism.

This particular 'free weekly' is really funky! I don't know if other papers have a section for folks (in the classifieds) to write an ad looking for a person they saw somewhere. Some of these are really whacked! Let me explain this better by citing a couple of ads.

This is no joke, I am typing these verbatim from the Georgia Straight (June 29 - July 6, 2006).

Hey Badger
Badger, I saw you with your ruff style at the entrance to your crack den. Your black mangy fur with a greying streak down the center. Maniacal eyes, pointy teeth, frothy mouth, cocaine styled into your mange. Me, a beaver worth looking twice at. Old enough to build a dam, but young enough to know a girl needs to get her tail wet. Call me ruff Badger. I'm just a beaver waitin to please ya.

I have 1 thing, and 1 thing only, to say to that.... What the fuck?

Here's another:

Expo Line June 16, 8:15 am
Our eyes met briefly as we got off the #20 we both boarded the expo line at the Broadway station and we (I thought) stole glances at each other until you got off the sky train at the New West station. I don't know if that meant anything but I would like to find out. You the Asian shoulder length hair me the black guy shaved head. Maybe coffee?
ringnumber1211@hotmail.com

At least this one seems not to involve wildlife! While the poor chap's grammar sure could use some work, I can't help but wonder does he (and all the others who post things like this) REALLY think he is going to hear from her? Wow! Oh, I also wonder if he takes his coffee with medium sugar!

I'm serious, there are two pages of ads like these. Whacked!

The fun doesn't stop there. There are also ads for musicians (which I always find funny because they couldn't care less WHAT they write).

I thought this one was cute:

Bass Player Needed
Mature, responsible, talented. keep your day job.
Call Jeff @ (604) 732-****

No paper would be complete without offering you ways to get a good stripper!

Busty Tanned Stripper
Availble for birthdays and sports celebrations
(604) 667-****

My personal favourite (this one's a job ad):
Smilers Wanted
Lougheed Mall and Burnaby Plaza
No experience necessary
Apply in person

They also have the usual classifieds offering music lessons, places for rent, movers, etc. Other than that, they are just an entertainment 'what's on the go' type of publication with lots of funky articles. I get a kick out of it and have found some really cool things going on in Vancouver.

"Vancouver Lifestyles" magazine. This monthly publication is truly awesome. It covers everything from furniture to real estate, history of the city, events, urban gardening, interviews, art, fashion, dining, wine, and various features that differ in every edition. A great friend to the Vancouver newcomer.

Red Door restaurant, Kayla,

On Monday evening I went to the Red Door restaurant with friends of mine from Humboldt, SK. Ivan and Cecile are people I hold very dear. They were here visiting their son on their way to Victoria. I had the wonderful pleasure of dining with them at the Red Door (which is a Pan-Asian grill). Very interesting place. You really should check out the menu on the link above. Funky!

Kayla (who I call 'Kayla Boo', or just 'Boo). Kayla is my cousin (who is more like a neice as she is 14 years my junior). She is one of only 5 first cousins that I have. She is my friend. She is now 19 years old and I think of her often and I want so much for her. She has been to my place in Montreal, in Ottawa, and now she will come to Vancouver in August. I know she'll be so excited that I'm doing this blog thing, and I'm excited for her to read it! She speaks French (which I like to think I had something to do with) and is turning out exactly how I would have chosen! She showed me how to 'chat' on MSN because I Cindy had sent me some kind of thing requesting a 'chat'. I had no clue what was going on, but Boo cleared that all up. So, there I was chatting online with Cindy and Boo said, "So, does this remind you of being 16 (she was 16 at the time)?" Needless to say, I felt our age difference that day!

As promised...

Liquor Store windows. Being from the far east of the western world…our lavish liquor store window displays include 50 bottles of Lamb’s Palm Breeze, 5 bottles of Smirnoff vodka, 5 bottles of any brand of Tequila (for the new drinkers), and another 50 bottles of Lamb’s Palm Breeze. Of course, I left my humble origins and arrived in La Belle Province where liquor store windows are chock-block full of wine, wineglasses, grapes, sparkly things, etc. Monday night, on my way to the Red Door on Granville and West 14th I saw a liquor store window somewhere around 8th. It was totally Hawaiian. I’m not sure if that’s just a seasonal thing here, or if that’s the BC thing in general.

Harbour Hoppers. I was in Victoria on Victoria Day. Cool. I bought 2 ponchos and an umbrella. I took the harbour hopper to Spinnakers (which I love). Last night I took another harbour hopper from somewhere on the beach near English Bay to Granville Island. I really like these little things. I have never seen anything like them and watching them bop across the water reminds me of the boats children play with in the bathtub.

Members of Paliament (I have to be careful because I know one is reading this). ;) I know a few MPs, one of which I speak with regularly and consider a friend. I was thinking about his job the other day and, you know, in the entire time I've known him, I've never known him to take an entire day off. Not once. I truly love my friends and I sometimes think of you at your jobs (a capacity in which I don't know most of you...unless you're a bartender). I know it is very easy to have opinions of politicians and the type of life we think they lead, but there really is more there.

Anyway, I went to Cardero's Restaurant last night. It is on the water and the boats were really beautiful to see. The restaurant and the service was absolutel fabulous. They had an entertainer there who was folky and I think you all know how I love that stuff. Anyway, his style reminded me of Gordon Lightfoot (I wish I had gotten his name... but he plays there every Monday and Tuesday evening).

I have to figure out how I want to organize this. I don't know how many completely different topics I should put in one posting. If there are any experts out there, I sure would love a few suggestions.

For now, I think I'll just post this one and start a new one. I want it to be easy and painless to find things. Hmmm.

See ya in a minute.

I really need you to read this regarding my privacy.

Hello!

Before I tell you about liquor store windows, MPs, and harbour hoppers, and some things I did yesterday after I posted the first entry, I have a request to make.

I have now sent this blog address to everyone in my address book (with the exception of Elton John and Ali G because they wish their addresses to remain secret).

It seems as though you can make comments and post them. I'm not sure if you can read someone else's comments or not.

Some of you know some very personal things and intimate details about my life. I really beg of you not to post anything that I wouldn't want you to tell the entire world (literally). You all have my e-mail addresses (and phone numbers) for that.

This is a new experience for me and I think it's going to be pretty cool and I wouldn't want anybody to post something believing only I can see it. I know it would not be intentional, I just want to avoid any type of situation like that.

Thank you!