Thursday, August 30, 2007

It's all about the hardness


All alone. I often think I will be happy when I have the entire house to myself, all alone, just me.

Well, the boys packed up and heading north, pilsner and pork ribs packed up along with the mighty ax and the fire stick. I overheard my husband joking with a friend, "You aren't a man unless you have an ax," he said, laughing. But then not.

He is most manly with the ax when cutting firewood after we have been visiting my parents for a few days and we haven't had any privacy for um, well, you know...private moments. The ax is a great way to relieve energy. But, um, well, I'm not suppose to be blogging about him... Did I mention he has a machete?

24 hours all alone. Just me and the cat. And the suckerfish.

And my pack of Pocky.

Yep, Pocky. A perfect little biscuit stick dipped in dark chocolate. Yum! That is my indulgence for when the boys are away. A pocket-sized box of goodness.

Did you know that they have Pocky named for men? Men's Pocky. A dark green box filled with dark chocolate biscuit sticks. That's the difference - darker box, bittersweet chocolate.

If you know anything about me, you will probably know stuff like that doesn't sit well with me. What the *bleep* does bittersweet chocolate have to do with men vs women? Were women in Japan, where Pocky originated, not allowed to eat bittersweet chocolate? Is it one of those scotch and cigar kind of things? Or, as I read on a Japanese forum, is Men's Pocky all about the hardness of the biscuit? I suppose they expect us women to prefer the Strawberry Pocky or the Green Tea Pocky (which, I might add, is also delicious)?

I think I will spend my second night of solitude celebrating the advances of women. I will wear pants, cut my hair short, swear, hit the pub, drink scotch, light a pipe, wink at some energetic ax-owning men, and discuss politics and corporate life with a Pocky eating pal of mine.

You go grrl!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Haida Gwaii

I am still finding it hard to get back into work mode after being on the road. One road trip always leads to another, I say. Time to plan another.

Here are a few of my favourite photos from Haida Gwaii.

Sitka black-tailed deer


glowing on the dock


catch.... and release


from the Dixon Entrance Maritime Museum in Masset


from our campsite

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Let's Go for a Ride


Paris showed me this site, and then he created an incredible "line movie" around the theme of ice cream. Some people are just so damn talented. Check out of few of these.

I just went to the Monet to Dali art exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery. It was good, sure. But I know I would enjoy a Line Rider exhibit more. Wheee....

Monday, August 13, 2007

On The Road

After a few weeks on the road and after a few days of being back at home, the trip just keeps getting better and better. It's amazing how repeating the same great stories over and over helps you to forget the not-so-great stories.

"Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you remember." Oscar Levant

I used to think that I was an easy-going positive person who loves to face adversity and adventure on the road. I am happiest when travelling with my backpack on my back waiting for the next crazy scene to show itself.

But perhaps that happiness is just a manifestation of my failing memory. Heck, if that's the case, fail, fail away.