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

sun

Yesterday (Saturday) started off rather promissing with the sun showing its face in greaterr frequency than we've seen it in a long time. The day was partly cloudy with sun and temperatures very spring-like. Health issues (several trip to the bathroom) made going out not a wise move, so I stayed home and got caught up on things. I finally may have figured out why the health issue; I bought groceries on Friday evening on my way home from work which included a pineapple that that evening went bouncy-bouncy from the kitchen counter as I was getting a tea bag (the crown was slightly higher than the cupboard door and fell over as I opened the door). Was the pineapple responsible? Perhaps, perhaps not but I did feel a lot better today. This fruit does have a fair bit of fiber which is good for moving things through the gut. All is good!

So, today after three loads of laundry were behind me, I was out by bus and SkyTrain but instead of heading into Vancouver as I originally planned, I decided to stop at Metrotown. This included two stops, one at the drugstore for some tea tree oil and some soap (starting to run out) and second, to one of the largest grocery stores in the area to get some more groceries that I didn't get Friday evening. The experience cost me nearly 20 dollars at the drugstore and around 66 dollars at the grocery store. My, how the money disappears fast. However, I only go shopping at Metrotown once every two or three months. Otherwise, its usually in downtown Vancouver or near my place in New Westminster. Either way, we have to eat but I try to get the best deals I can.

Now its supper time but nothing too fancy, just sandwiches and tea. There is hot salami and some cheese for the sandwiches to be washed down with Earl Grey tea. I may have a navel orange for dessert but after some time at the computer, it'll quickly be time for bed. I'm up at 5 am Monday for the start of another workweek. As a nightcap, I may have a glass of white wine, Blouberg, a fresh, lively white from South Africa (Stellenbosch, for those that need or want to know). I hope you had a great weekend and that your week will be awesome! - V.

Zoo

Well, it seemed like a zoo though I didn't visit one in actuality. I took the SkyTrain home and stopped at Metrotown on the way to do some grocery shopping. The train was packed as would be the case before Christmas. The platforms were busy too. People were in a good mood generally, though some insisted wearing their backpack in a crowded train which caused atleast one person to vent his frustration. There is far more of that (wearing backpacks on the train) than you would ever find back east. Having lived and worked in Toronto for six years, I can't remember ever seeing such a thing and people there stand aside to allow people to get off the train before they enter. Here it seems they stand right in front of the door blocking people's exit, or worse yet, enter while others are trying to get off. Such are the frustrations of using mass transit here in the Vancouver area. You'd think after using this form of mass transit for a decade they would know better but they don't. I even spoke to a SkyTrain person over a month ago and she agreed, they are rude and inconsiderate. They're not at all like that in Toronto, Montreal, London (England), Berlin (Germany) or Stockholm (Sweden), just to name a few places I've been.

After I got off at Metrotown, I walked through the mall and over to Kingsway where I thought the grocery store was located. After a detour, I realized that the store was on the south end of the mall facing Kingsway and not across the street as I had thought. Some walking for nothing. Well, I used the gift card I got from my employer to buy groceries, and before you knew it, I was through a hundred dollars. The supplies will last me for two weeks and some of it longer than that. I settled on turkey wings to either bake in the oven or use as a base for a soup. I'll decide on that on Christmas Day, my next day off work. I also bought some cold cuts, cheese, marmalade, bread, cake and other necessities. The small basket was filled but its amazing how quickly a hundred dollars disappears!

Traffic on the transit was also affected by the snow we had over the weekend and particularly last night. More is expected. The main roads were fine but the side streets were a nightmare driving and sidewalks were a real challenge for those walking. It wasn't overly cold, just below freezing (-3 or -4). I guess as the temperatures warmed from the arctic-type temperatures last week, the snow came along with the change. I guess all of Canada is expecting a white Christmas this year. For the Vancouver area, its the first in a decade or so. When I first arrived here in 2006, the winters were rather green, except in the higher elevations where you would definately expect snow.

I read about the extreme weather with snow and hurricane force winds in Nova Scotia. Quite a number of households were without power as a result. Here some had to do with frozen water pipes and thawing snow on the stove top to heat for washing dishes and such. I hope you had better weather where you are and if the weather was severe, you weathered it without too much disruption.

Well, after I getting home and sorting everything away, I had supper and then got to the computer for a bit. Time has flown and now its time for bed. Tomorrow is another day. You have a good one!

Maillardville

Sunday afternoon took me over to Maillardville in Coquitlam for a visit to the nearby Ikea store. Pictured above is a close-up of the clock tower and then the whole tower in the photo below. Weatherwise, it was very hot and humid and has been that way all weekend. A good thing that the sun was not out in full strength otherwise it would have been like a steam cooker. There's not much to Maillardville Village other than the clock tower and some stores in the main corner in the French style but then I didn't venture to other parts of the village.

The main corner is at Lougheed and Brunette Avenue. The name "Brunette" may bring certain things to mind for some. Then below, who can resist a beautiful rose in flower!

The IKEA store is only a city block away from the main corners. That was the destination of the afternoon trip in the heat but then the store was air-conditioned which was a plus. I bought another chair for 20 dollars plus a lamp and a few items for the kitchen. Perhaps Brad can assist me in future trips to the store. After all, he does love shopping from what he has told me. Meantime, he's not here yet but I'm patiently waiting for his arrival. He, along with his brother, must be having plenty of fun where they are at right now. I guess no news is good news, except if you're the worrying kind like I am. Then a short note or a call does wonders for calming the nerves, so at the moment I have no idea where they are other than somewhere between Montreal and the BC lower mainland. What else can I say?!?! Hope you all had a great weekend as we prepare for another work week. Take care! - Volker