oh, really?

One day I was downstairs and happened upon a few boxes of books. Interestingly, I found two (yes, two!) books on the topic of the Sasquatch.

I decided to read the one that is obviously aimed at a young-reader audience first. And boy, was it ever painful to read! Not subject wise, for the Sasquatch remains an enigma and a source of inquisitiveness, but the way in which the book was written, and the monotony of it was indeed painful.

The book: "Bigfoot: All over the country" by Marian T. Place

Basically, Marion just recounted story after story of Bigfoot sightings, and even some hoaxes. There was no new news on the Bigfoot, or what it could be, but just a book of sightings. Perhaps this book was aimed more at those who don't already believe.

This next book seems a lot more interesting - but I shant divulge too much here until I've completed it. But so far, there's a theory that Bigfoots have mystical powers and can see in the dark. Intriguing!

On another note - Lance Bass is gay!



Is this really news? Haven't we been saying this since NSync first came out?? (ha ha, no pun intended). But all humour aside, so what? I think he should've come out right away, it could have opened up a whole new demographic for the band, increased their profits twicefold!

In fact, my idea for a new supergroup would be the "Sexually Tolerant Spice People." You'd have a gay man, a lesbian woman, a bisexual, a straight person, and maybe even a tranny! Through the power of catchy pop tunes, young tweens everywhere will learn about tolerance and acceptance! Sweet action, yo!


(With photos like these...who would've seen it coming?)

sea cavalcade extraordinaire...

Each year, during a weekend in July, Gibsons has Sea Cavalcade. The two most exciting parts of Sea Cav (as the locals call it), are the fireworks Friday night and the parade Saturday morning. Sadly, the fireworks kinda sucked this year - and as an added bonus they debuted playing music like the Symphony of Fire. Their selections included the song from the People's commercial, and Carmina Burrana. Odd, very odd. The evening went from wanting a diamond to examining my life prior to impending doom.

The parade was interesting, as always. For some reasons pirates always seem to dominate the theme of the weekend - even though this year it had the unfortunate title of "Fanta-sea." Either way, I shall not bore you with countless photos of pirates, and young girls dressed up as mermaids, but instead, I present:

The Oddities of the Sea Cav Parade:

A sweet BC ferries float, accompanied by John on his strange golf-equipped Segway.



Yeah, I'd be scared, too, if sheep were driving:



A little hometown-pride for the Canadian idol:



A whole hord of accordion players! Which definitely beats out Sechelt parade's lone accordionist:



And now for the strangest of the strange:

There was this:



This:



Oh boy:



Hot damn:



And, saving the best for last! Crabs!

THE LIST pt. I

Okay, so this summer I've been back working in the kitchen of the golf course. This being my fourth season there, and not liking coooking in the first place, it has not been fun.

Needless to say, I've been entertaining myself by mentally making a list of all the stupid things people do. Perhaps in order to unleash them on some other poor, unsuspecting service worker in the future to provide me with years of enjoyment.

And now, in ongoing segments, I shall unveil THE LIST!

This first one is my absolute favourite - it always makes my day just that extra bit special, and almost makes ten-hour shifts worthwhile.

(Note: most of these apply to a restaurant that does not offer table service)

1. At a restaurant where the menu is posted somewhere near where you order: stare at the menu intently for about ten minutes. Proceed to order something that does not appear on the menu in the slightest. For example, at a burger/sandwich joint, ask for a steak, medium rare, with fries and gravy (we do not offer gravy).

2. Dress as a hippy: bring a small child and your dirty husband. Don't actually golf at the golf course, but place child on ordering counter where its feet get all over where food should go. Proceed to inquire/demand why there is no kids menu without thinking about the fact that it's a golf and country club and that children under the age of five do not tend to golf.

3. Bring whole freakin' family without golfing up for a monday afternoon lunch. Insist on table service. When cooks do not acknowledge your existence, wave a $100 dollar bill at food manager and ask again. Because pulling out your wad of cash in front of everyone the first time is not enough, pull it out again, make a big deal about pulling out another $100 bill, and remark "if that first one doesn't cover it all." After your lunch, and paying your $100 tab, leave a $5 tip.

On the subject of tipping...

4. If you're old, never tip. Or make a big deal about giving up a quarter.

5. After your server has kindly offered to package up all your beer cans in bags with ice - complimentary - do not tip.

6. At a place without table service, when you can see that the cook/server is tired, and perhaps is just starting her ninth hour without a break, get her attention when she's delivering someone else's food, and ask her to bring you a menu. Because you're "too tired to walk."

oh canada...(five days late)

The streets were lined with people adorned in red and white, carrying tiny little flags...



Presenting: highlights from the Canada Day Parade in downtown Sechelt:

It all kicked off with ye olde mounted police:



And a bunch of the "usuals" - accordion players, shriners in little cars, square dancers and Smokey the Bear (only YOU can prevent forest fires)









But there were some others that are distinctly BC - someone representing the 420 Hemp Shop driving solo in a motorized scooter throwing out bags of hemp hearts, and some hippies doing what hippies do best:





And then, under the uncatagorizable was...well....this...

closer still...

So I had a random day off today. What to do, what to do...and so I hiked up Soames Hill, this random knob-like structure in Gibsons.

I think this photo pretty much explains it:



The view from the top was spectacular. You could see all of lower Gibsons and Keats Island. It's strange that I never hiked up Soames before. I always thought it was so funny looking and wondered what it was like on top.

Well, now I do.

And for your enjoyment as well, here is a panoramic shot from the top:



Interestingly, although I did not notice on the drive to the trailhead, on my way out, I saw many a sign indicating that there had been bear sightings in the area. Now, these signs said bear, and had a drawing of a bear on them, but can they really be so sure? Perhaps my quest to find the sasquatch has become closer than I had previously thought.

More to come on the imminent meeting of melissa and sasquatch.