Latest activities

So, I've started playing wallyball on Wednesday nights with some guys from church. This is abrutal abuse of my muscles and joints, highly agressive and competetive, and a great escape from work. Wallyball is volleyball, in a raquetball court, and you can play off a wall. Check out the American Wallyball Association. Also, I may be returning to the drums with a couple of guys looking to rebuild their band. 

Just to consume my free time, I'm working from home for World Relief, to finalize a project in Congo for them, based on the work I did with Food for the Hungry last year. 

Laura is on her office social committee, and has organized monthly team outings, including kayaking, hiking, and others, which should be fun. Thursday night we went to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, which is a local secret (free) alternative to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and it's high priced tourism.  No pictures, as we forgot the camera!

Also, I have an interview for a possible job as Emergency Planning Officer for the District of North Vancovuer on Tuesday, which I never thought I would get!

Easter Weekend and work

Laura and I had a really good, but busy, Easter weekend. With my new job (more details to follow), I worked Saturday and Monday of the weekend, but Good Friday was a relaxing day, with another long walk, and Easter Sunday was baptism Sunday for the little church we visited last week, so we shared in the special day. For all you Catholics out there, this was an adult baptism, where we watched people get fully dunked under water on stage. The church followed with a dinner for everyone, with ham (and a really yummy cranberry curry sauce), and warm home baked pies!

I'm adapting to the commuting life, and it's not too stressful, as I commute out of the big city, rather than in to it, so there's never a lot of people on the bus/train. I can read both of the free dailies they hand out at the train station, or when I start school I can get some studying done. My work environment is really good, it's a small optometry practice, with a lab on-site, so my day is filled (once again), with booking patients and selling glasses. Conveniently, I started work in time to get paid 7 days later!

Weekend Workout

Guest written by Laura:

Thursday: Chris had one of his best interviews in Vancouver yet. The owner of this restaurant on Commercial Street was impressed with his humour and skills. Unfortunately, with his luck, they weren't even hiring for the position he interviewed for. Afterwards, Chris met up with his lovely little Laura and took a romantic stroll down Commercial (1 hr worth's). We stopped in for a bite at Red Burrito - best burrito to be eaten in Canada! We headed home and watched a library rented movie, titled "Tsotsi". Inspirational and a must see! Rent with your mate today!

Friday: Walking, reading, walking, and more walking!
As Chris was reading in the nearby Vancouer Public Library (directly below the condo), a cute girl approached him. It was Laura who had left work early to come and take Chris to her craving - those huge dosas we had last weekend. I then convinced my partner in crime to take a leisurely walk (3 hours of steep hills, mostly going upwards) and head south to unknown territory. The unknown territory consisted of rows of residential streets and miles and miles of cemetery parallel to us. Barely making it back home from tired, sore feet, we called it a night and swore we wouldn't take a long hike like this during the weekend to come.

Saturday: 4.5 hours of walking.
Taro and red bean bun for breakfast! That's what you eat when you live in an Asian replica area. My day started with an inventive and original activity - walking! ...all around downtown. The first coffee shop we stopped into led us to see an elderly woman sitting and having coffee with 2 little dolls sitting at the table facing her as she stared at them adoringly. This may have traumatized me from coming back to this area. I hopped into a few stores to window shop and saw some authentic Chinese items mixed with Yaletown designs. Cultural, yet modern at the same time. Next stop - Vancouver central library. Photos on flicker for you to view. Beautiful cylindrical building design. Chris borrowed 1 book, Laura borrowed 5. Number of books that will be read this week: 5 by Chris, 1 by Laura. The outdoor temperature felt like +15, and so we walked along Yaletown and the seawall. I felt underdressed for Yaletown (see the chihuahua in the photos). Tandem bicycles are so darn cute! I plan on getting one to ride together. Exhausted from our lengthy hike, we sneak into a sushi joint for the freshest sushi ever eaten with "rice-washed" green tea. I'm tired of writing, so Chris will take over now.

Saturday, cont'd. - We hiked another mile to find a bus to take us across Granville Bridge, and then went to the island market. For those naysayers out there, Granville Island Market is NOT just a tourist trap. Organic strawberries at $2 per pound! We indulged in potstickers (Laura says they're better than Feng's dumplings), Eccles cake, and cappucino squares, and of course more coffee. We took the bus to Commercial Drive, because our bus transfer expired (too many wheelchairs being loaded and unloaded), and found some other groceries, then walked home again. Walked, walked, walked!

Sunday - Chris started with a jog in the morning and workout, to increase the pain. (Moron) Then, we walked to church at 19th Avenue Community Church, a very welcoming congregation. After church, a quick walk to Shopper's for a Sunday only sale, and a leisurely stroll home through some parks, a stop at a Japarribean (yes, really) cafe, and now it's time for a nap.

Don't forget to look at the photos!

Musings and Mutterings

I haven't blogged for a few days, I've been too frustrated with not finding a job, despite the number of interviews I've had. Laura and I went to Granville Market on the weekend, and took pictures of huge strawberries and massive meringue pies, which can be seen here. Sunday for lunch we ate dim sum at a famous (for dim sum in East Vancouver) restaurant, total cost for two, $14.45. Incredible. Then we walked to Commercial Drive, one of my favourite spots in Vancouver. FYI, for anyone that knows the Drive, Cafe Deux Soleils closed this week, no notes as to why, but their website is down as well.

I found a soccer league to play in, but no one wants to sign me, they're all full (old boys league). So, maybe rugby? They have open practices nearby. Laura and I found a church we want to check out, walking distance away. We'll see what it's like on Sunday.

Last night Laura and I went to the local library branch, and I got a library card. We plan to go to the main branch on Saturday, it's legendary. Anyways, the library is really convenient,so i may be spending a bit of time there. Oh yeah, Monday night Laura and I went to a Vietnamese place,and our total bill was $10.50. Ironically, we spentmore on coffee the next day. Vancovuer isn't more expensive, it's just "alternatively priced", so you have to watch what you're buying and where.

Today I'm sitting in a cafe on Commercial Drive, with a movie shooting outside on the sidewalk,a nd the same extras walking past over and over. Also, the usual Drive regulars - a guy in a skirt, runners in Lulu Lemon, old Italians, girl with fuschia hair and a burlap dress, cowboy with then gallon hat and huge buckle, squeegee kid and skaters. Never a dull moment.

A plug: I'm reading Wikinomics right now, it's already outdated, but it has changed the way outdated industries are thinking about economics for the next generation. Definitely an easy and intersting read.

That's it for now, except to say that I've switched from Picasa to Flickr, so photos will be available at my Flickr site. Feel free to comment!