year ending soon!

So, the year is fast coming to a close. I'm off to work shortly but it will be dead by mid-afternoon as businesses close early in preparation for new year's eve. Did you successfully complete all your resolutions for 2010 or will you have to give some of them another shot in 2011? More on all that later but for now, we'll end 2010 with Adam above! Be safe and enjoy yourselves!!! - V

exercise

After this week of festivities are past you may want to do something to get rid of those unwanted pounds. My friend, Scott Herman, has plenty of exercises that fit the bill and a meal plan as well. The link is in the right sidebar. Check him out.

I've always been on the thin side most of my life and I certainly don't plan to change at this point. I do lots of walking and hiking when weather and time permit, so its no problem discarding some extra pounds. Do what you like and enjoy the most to get yourself into shape if you're not or to refine what you've done if you are! There's no sense in doing something you don't enjoy anyways. Its better to focus on what you do love!

Have a great festive season, guys!!! - V

notice

Not to spoil the festive season but this needs to be said: for those followers, or potential followers, of this blog, if you are into child porn or something that very closely resembles this, you may find yourself blocked and potentially reported. Some have already been blocked. If you are such a blogger in question, DO NOT even think of following this blog. The plan is to review more of my followers and root out any suspects. You have been warned!

Merry Christmas and all the best!!!

Merry Christmas and the best of the season to all!!! Enjoy a safe festive season as we come to a close of yet another year. My how fast the year has gone!

Today, as on many of my days off, I slept in. After showering and getting cleaned up, I had a leisurely breakfast. In the afternoon I took the time to watch a dvd after getting caught up on my emails. The movie I watched was "The Bishop's Wife" (1947) starring David Niven as the bishop, Loretta Young as the bishop's wife and Cary Grant as the "angel." Its a lovely film but I don't want to give it away. I'm a big Cary Grant fan! Check it out if you have the chance!

After a short snooze this evening, I got back to checking out emails plus posting on Facebook and my blogs.

Merry Christmas - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noel!!!

Christmas 2010 nears

After work today I went into downtown Vancouver via SkyTrain to get the remaining grocery shopping out of the way. On the way I stopped in the Chapters store to get a few magazines, one of which was on the iPhone and its many applications (apps). That magazine alone set me back about 30 dollars. The reason why I bought that one is because I am leaning toward getting an iPhone4 in January. I love the features, so its on the top of my list. There was a bit of a line up at the cash but it seemed to move fairly well.

After that, I was off to the Marketplace IGA a couple of city blocks away. The line ups were not too bad there either. It should be a madhouse during the daytime tomorrow as people try to get the last minute shopping done. I'm working, so that's not an option for me. After work I'll be heading straight home to sort things away and rest my feet.

Have an awesome Christmas, guys! More coming soon, hopefully some scanned photos too! - V

Ethan

Now with Christmas fast approaching, this is one of the first photos I saw of Ethan Reynolds as he appeared in Instinct Magazine (2006?), and what a start that was. So while on the subject of the holidays to come, I'm planning to have a cornish hen for Christmas dinner and either a duck breast or leg with red cabbage later in the holiday period. What are your plans? Feel free to comment and let us know!

Meantime, its a full moon and a clear night ahead! - V

less than a week

Its less than a week till Christmas. I took it easy yesterday (Saturday) by recharging my laundry card (smartcard), having a light lunch and so on. I slept in until nearly 11 am. Supper consisted of spaghettini with tomato sauce along with some artichoke hearts added. Nothing too fancy. Otherwise, I sat down to watch some tv, in this case, Great Canadian Rivers on Knowledge channel. Check out knowledge.ca if you'd like to know more.

I also sat down to watch a French film called "Douches Froides", or Cold Showers in English. It stars Johann Libereau as Mickael, training for judo, who befriends Clement, played by Pierre Perrier. There's a lot more to this movie, so I don't want to give it away. Check out the trailer and then the movie itself if it sounds interesting to you. Its available on dvd.

After that, I watch a murder-mystery (British) before heading off to bed for the night.

Today, I slept in again ( I can only do that on my weekends or when I'm off work) with a late breakfast and then got laundry started. Now that its out of the dryer and folded, I plan to put it all away and then get off to the grocery store before dark.

The sun has even pulled a surprise by showing itself through the clouds. If there had been more sun, I'd have been out taking photos. Howe Sound has been in my mind lately. I hope you've had a great weekend, guys!!! - V

hot dude - hot muscles

The photographer, Michael Downs, has done a superb job at showing our model Anthony at his best, a great inspiration to all of us that want to keep fit and also enjoy the beauty of the male form. Being in shape increases our vitality, reduces the stress on our back and joints but most of all allows us to get more enjoyment out of what we do in our daily lives and get the most out of the things in life that we are passionate about. There are ample resources and examples in our work to perfect our physiques. The internet is full of them. If you need more examples, keep coming back. Good luck, guys!!! I wish you well in your struggle! - V

thoughts and ideas

Recently I've spent a lot of time thinking about my friend Brad, not constantly but often enough. They're all good thoughts. I haven't heard from him since early September and do miss exchanging emails with him. I even miss the chats we used to have when he did have ready access to a computer and I'm certain he misses all this too.

I'd most like to take him to Germany in the new year. I thinks what he sees in Germany and central Europe in general will open his eyes a lot plus it'll give us a chance to talk about various things that have been on his mind for a while. It'll give us both a chance to get to know each other better as friends, and more if he wants to! Being the greatest of friends will certainly do it for me know.

Having each of us wrapped in a warm embrace is but a memory if we don't see each other in person. For now its but a dream yet to be realized. All I hope for the moment is that he's happy and all is well. That is the best we can hope for all our family and friends plus people we encounter daily. To wish otherwise is a non-starter and a total waste of time!

I hauled out my Christmas CDs earlier in the week and today I found some of my Christmas themed DVDs to add to that, such as the black and white movie from 1947 called "The Bishop's Wife", starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, "Prancer" (1989) starring Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman and Abe Vigora, and "Creature Comforts: Merry Christmas Everyone!" starring Wallace and Gromit.

Tonight, though, I'm going to watch a few movies starring Christopher Atkins, such as "The Blue Lagoon" where he appears with Brooke Shields, "A Night In Heaven" with Christopher Atkins and Lesley Ann Warren, and "The Pirate Movie" where he appears with Kristy McNichol. Well, that's what I plan to watch tonight and over the weekend. I've got lots of movies to choose from with or without cable tv.

So, how's your weekend shaping up??? Have a good one, guys!!! - V

lunch

Well, there are times when the best laid plans go wrong and yesterday was one of those days. The client where I work at my full-time job invited those of us at the front desk to a Christmas lunch. My supervisor's relief person arrived but mine didn't. In fact the latter person was late by over an hour which delayed my departure to the lunch. When I did arrive, some people were just leaving and others were having their dessert. I had ordered my lunch via cell phone and later asked that it be wrapped, so I could take it home. When I did arrive, I had an Earl Grey tea and some yam fries that included a dipping sauce with the hint of lemon.

I had the spicy Bombay Butter Chicken when I returned home. That lunch included roasted almond basmati rice, grilled naan bread and lentil papadum. I just loved it and plan to have this again sometime soon.

Meantime, I was not happy the way things turned out and neither was the client. There is a remedy planned but I don't know when. Despite the setback I did the best under the situation. I hope you can maintain some dignity and poise under such circumstances. Have a good night, guys!

smartphones and other stuff

Today after breakfast and reading emails and such I was doing laundry, nothing exciting but something that needs to be done regularly.

Once the laundry was done (three loads) I headed out to the mall at Metrotown to get some groceries. About 70 or so dollars later I couldn't wait to get out of that mall. The energy there is such that all I want to do is get in and get out as fast as I can. Besides, its usually crowed and noisy! I've been in other malls around the world but this one has that particular energy and my reaction to it!

I've been doing some research on smartphones and iphones lately. Certainly ones interest me but Apple"s iPhone4 has got my interest. That one would be great keeping in touch with Brad and others, including my blogger friends if they want. Then there's Facebook which I read and update daily. I'll let you know what I decide. Meantime, I'm stuck with the current cellphone that does it for now but a new one should be an improvement for texting and sending and receiving emails among other things. More later!

Meantime, have a good night, guys!!! Its time for bed and another early rise at 5 am tomorrow! - V

sunshine

We had a day of bright sunshine, so I took advantage of the weather and got out for a bit. It was mid-afternoon by the time I got away but it was worth it for the fresh air and sunshine.

I went up to Burnaby Mountain in north Burnaby where I hadn't been for some time. There had been a fire at the Horizon Restaurant earlier in the year and the renovations are coming along. The restaurant looks as if its operational but the public washrooms consist of portapotties for now.

It was nice to see the sun. I did get a number of photos during my stay there but if I had been there earlier, I would have been able to get some of the fresh snow on the mountain tops against a blue sky. I'll post some photos as soon as they've been uploaded from the camera and edited.

I must have eaten something that didn't agree with me because even before I left the apartment I had to make several trips to the washroom. I had more samosas (veggie) for supper this evening and came about a discovery: I found corn in one of them and I'm sensitive to corn and its various forms, including corn syrup! Why anyone would put corn in them is beyond me. I'll stick to those that I know will agree with me, such as the ones I buy from one of the local supermarkets.

Anyways, I hope you're all having a great weekend, guys!!! More news coming up later! - V

hot diversion

With all these recent posts about snow, here's something to warm you up! Scott Herman wears some hot underwear. The photo is by NYC photographer, Joseph Smileuske. Check out his link in the right-hand sidebar! Meantime, have a great night, guys!!! - V

snow scene

The winter of 2008-2009 offered us some snow as well, not just in November 2006 as posted previously. Here children are using a snow-covered hill in New Westminster's Queens Park to full advantage with seemingly boundless energy fully absorbed in their task. Snow in the British Columbia's lower mainland is not as rare as people might think. Fifty years ago or so this was the norm! - V