Vancouver & me

The Colour Blue

2008-03-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

I've had a pretty good day, but I still feel blue.

My skin feels thin.

Fishes

2008-03-07T00:41:00.000-08:00

I made this for my father and mother in law. The message at the end is for them, but it can be for you too.

Lark

2008-02-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Lark for my foreign friends.

Lark!

Lark!

Lark!

Zipang and Lark 4ever!

Natsumi and I went to Zipang for dinner last night and they sent our Hotate Yaki out with this really sweet message. I love Zipang!

Even more New York

2008-02-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

Morning

noon

Night

A little more NY

2008-02-18T19:32:00.001-08:00

Meat Tree!!!! Yay!!!

The meat tree was rather rude!

.....but delicious looking. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there really WAS a meat tree. I would grow a salami tree and maybe turky slices on my balcony if I could.

More pictures on the way. Maybe some stories too...I'll have to think of some stories.

ny a little

2008-02-14T23:51:00.000-08:00

Tannis and Natsumi in sunglasses we got from a trade show in NY.

Here we have hot lady that knows the score and will eat you if you disagree.

And here we have a famous Japanese, modern artist who makes weird little toys that sell for a lot of money and is a DJ on the weekends.

More pictures soooon.

Lark

2008-01-31T17:05:00.000-08:00

I must add.....

2008-01-25T02:18:00.000-08:00

Waking up beside Dane and not some washed up Pacino drug lord was the best part. When I looked down I had human legs which was nice because polar bears aren't know for having nice yams.

Down side....I had no newspaper to read.

Al Pacino and Polarbears

2008-01-22T23:38:00.000-08:00

I had a really weird dream last night. It goes like this:

First of all you should know that I was part polar bear, and Al Pacino and I were in love. I'm not talking movies star Al Pacino, I'm talking washed up mob guy Pacino...like one of the characters you'd expect him to play in a New York style mob film. We were walking down a path in a park arm in arm. He was old, sketchy and jobless, I was young and part polar bear.

We turned a corner and he disappeared. I became all polar bear and in a bad predicament. There was a hill with a gate holding back back other polar bears that were ready to be let loose to mate and fight with one another, and I was about to be caught in the fray.

Fortunately I had managed to climb up a small hill behind a tree that had reindeer skulls with antlers attached which created a nice little hiding spot. Further in my favour was that I had a newspaper behind which I could hide. While all of the juvenile polar bears were fighting and f*cking I had the comic section to read and reindeer antlers to look at.

I really didn't want to wake up from this dream! I really felt the feeling of love and I got to be a polar bear!! The colours were all cool blues and the reindeers were camel colours and tundra dirty browns.

....But he looked more like this:

And I was like this:

Sometimes being me is awesome!

Sun!

2008-01-21T19:03:00.000-08:00

It's been sunny for two whole days now.

Ahhhhh the chocolates and long stem roses that Vancouver provided have convinced me that living here is a good idea. I hear if you ski or snowboard it's like getting diamonds.

Vancouver

2008-01-13T15:11:00.000-08:00

I've figured it out!

Today is a really beautiful day. The mountains are snowcapped and in full glory which has brought me to this conclusion.

Living in Vancouver is much like an abusive relationship.

I'll explain.

Usually it rains, there are about thirty five different kinds of rain. There is pounding relentless rain, drizzle-y dirty rain, misty magical rain, wet ground damp air and so on. When you spend too much time deprived of the sun you start to feel like you're being abused. You turn more shades of pale than you ever thought possible and you you forget how to smile. Everyone gets grumpy and pretty soon the whole city has forgotten how to speak and they communicate in a series of grunts.

Then one day, one magical day, starts with something familiar. They call it the sun. It has an effect like that of a box of chocolates and a dozen long stem roses, you forget all of the miserable days behind you. Suddenly Vancouver is the most gorgeous place on earth and you don't ever want to leave.

xo
V

Hey Friends!

2008-01-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

It's still raining in Vancouver.

Dane bought fish, a giant stone bowl with mollies and goldfish. Then last week he bought a GIANT tank and now we have 2 oscars. They are of the African sicklet variety.

I will post pictures of the fishbowl when there is enough light. and when we get the lights set up in the aquarium I'll get some pictures up.

Why has the sun forsaken us? I am turning translucent and grey.....wouldn't it be great if people were like octopi and you could tell how they were feeling by what colour they turned or which kind of stripes or spots they would show? If I were marine life I would be turning grey for the most part, but I would also be translucent enough for you to see my tendons and organs.

See you guys around the internet.

Define Success

2007-12-26T01:09:00.000-08:00

I have successfully lived a day in the life of a veal calf. I walked 2 blocks and spent the rest of the day watching Dane and Natsumi make a turkey.

Photos will follow. I only have pictures of the turkey because it was so amazing that once it was carved and we were all eating it no one thought to take more photos of our lovely dinner party.

Remarkably Dane, Natsumi, Axel, Nat, Jen and I all ate nearly the entire turkey which according to Martha Stewart's calculations could have fed 12-14 comfortably. None of us are even chunky.

It just goes to show that choosing your friends according to their appetites works. Seriously, you don't want to hang out with anyone who can't eat a lot, you'll just leave hungry.

Christmas!

2007-12-24T18:39:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

It has been one hell of a month.

Enjoy your families and whatever feast may grace your tummies.

xo
V

funny things

2007-12-19T23:17:00.000-08:00

I think of funny things everyday while I'm walking or doing something that prevents me from writing those thoughts down.

You're just going to have to trust me on this one. I'll be funnier the next time I see you than the last time I saw you...I've been working on it.

passing time

2007-12-15T11:33:00.001-08:00

Hello!

It has been a long couple of weeks. We are getting closer to Christmas and it feels like a dramatic crecendo that is building with each day.

The first week of December brought my mother, a move, a mould problem, new furniture, fishes, a couple of fish deaths, longer Lark hours, loads of stories and not enough time to share them!

Also, I had possibly one of the very best steaks of my life last night. Pied a Terre Bistro is lovely, warm, welcoming and the filet mignon was so tender it was almost buttery. The menu there is really simple and unlike anywhere else in East Van. They don't mess around, it's steak frites, creamed spinach, a roasted stuffed tomato and your choice of sauce. Simple perfect food, delicious...go there!

The mother visit went alright. I asked her and her boyfriend not to come to the store during operating hours and they came by 4 times. Other than that I enjoyed seeing my mother. I worry because she smokes that we don't have a lot of years left to right wrongs and become closer.

I ask a question

2007-11-27T15:05:00.000-08:00

The sun is shining, the mountains are glorious in the distance with snow caps glistening, the air is fresh and there is not one rain cloud in sight.

So I ask you this. Why is it that not very many people in Vancouver find all of the above enough reason to smile? So many grouchy faces!

It is my mission to smile enough to make up for all of the sour faces I see everyday.

Squirly

2007-11-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

I'm packing, getting ready to move to a new, bigger, brighter, quieter apartment. I pulled boxes out of storage that were packed with diaries, letters, photos and whole shit load of memories that, to be honest, hurt.

I've thrown them away. My bizarre obsession with archiving every thought I've ever had, every human interaction I've ever had, is over. I don't care anymore. Or is this blog proof that my need to archive is still strong!? Suirly squirly squirly I tell you!

I am so tired now. I did find some school photos of myself. The one with the pink velvet track top is priceless! I'll post it soon.

First animation ever

2007-11-12T12:23:00.000-08:00

Here is my first animation ever. I made it for fun, and I hope you like it!

found news

2007-11-05T22:53:00.000-08:00

Hey look, I found a post I started and didn't finish. Pictures!

Before:

After:

Restless

2007-11-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling super restless lately. My mind is on the next buying trip to New York which isn't until February. I'm am so excited about finding new brands and new inspiration for pictures, video's and even music. It's like I've exploded. I wrote and recorded 4 songs last week, learned how to add music to video clips and created the rough video below, found a new apartment all while still working my usual shifts at Lark.

So Dane and I are moving to a nicer, brighter, in suite laundry, little patio, QUIET apartment two blocks away from the store. It's all going well I must say. I do however have this feeling of impending doom....like there is a cartoon anvil above my head...or a grand piano waiting to drop.

Which brings me to my mother and her boyfriend visiting in early December. It will be nice to see her, but I can feel the neurosis slowly creeping up on me. I guess we all have varying degrees of neurosis caused by our parents.

Video Test

2007-11-04T01:49:00.000-07:00

I've been super busy learning how to use technology. Here is something I'm working on. I think once I get the technical side of things down I'll be able to make it pretty.

Incase the credits didn't take it's like this:

Music: The Gamines
Magic: Bag Tannis Hegan
& Me

I hope you all like it though it's a very rough draft!

V.

Hey Everybody!

2007-11-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

I've had a few people request that I keep this thing moving. I just want you all to know ( Elaine, you're not the only one reading this thing!) that with Christmas coming up fast I have been super busy with the store.

Also, Dane bought Leopard for me and my mac and boy have we been busy!! There is SO much that my computer can do....so much more than just 'panda cam' believe it or not.

SO pictures and stories are on the way as soon as I get the pictures uploaded to go with the stories. I also made a video that I think is funny...I just have to edit out the beginning and end where I set the camera up then scramble to shut it off.

Oh and for those of you not in Vancouver, it's raining like crazy and this is just the start....sigh.

hugs
V

...and then

2007-09-28T23:26:00.000-07:00

....then you have some steak and the last post seems silly.

Oh feelings, you beast of burden.

Kisses.

Sometimes

2007-09-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little low tonight.

Sometimes you think that you want to get to know people, and then you realize that maybe it's not that important.

Maybe I'll have to commit blogger-icide. I nixed my facebook account because it was boring, and I'm thinking that I should nix this thing because I'm expressing too many feelings.....and feelings just get annoying after awhile.

Bah.

facebook-icide

2007-09-25T01:08:00.000-07:00

tonight I:

1. saw the smashing pumkins.....I can't even begin to explain all of the levels that is wrong on.

2. I commited facebook-icide. I am free!!!!

3. Wrote to a really old friend that I've recently re-connected with about the show as it was fitting and timely. We are old enough to have been friends BEFORE the internet was invented.

More later on all of the above.......riveting I know!

RIP Trifective

2007-09-20T00:52:00.000-07:00

One more thought before bed.

I enjoyed reading trifective for over a year now and was sad when the author felt it time to call it quits. Elaine Corden wrote Band Geek in the Westender, the only piece of writing I found in Vancouver (when I first moved here) worth getting my fingers all ink stained for. The first time I read one of her articles I laughed out loud and felt like I had made a friend in a city where friendships are not easily made.

It was such a pleasant surprise that we ended up living as neighbours in the Crosby building two years ago. We did indeed have much in common, important things like a soft spot for the stone roses, grilled cheese sandwiches, and genmaicha tea.

I just want to say thank you Elaine! Thank you for writing things that most people don't have the courage to express, and for doing it in a really funny way. Thank you for keeping East Van honest!

my dreams this week

2007-09-19T23:25:00.000-07:00

1) I was going to a dinner party where I knew the host was serving burgers made out of his ex wife. I was an investigator and I was trying to get a burger back to the crime lab for testing.

There were all of these people at the dinner party eating hamburgers all over this giant, old house and none of them knew they were eating the hosts ex wife except for me. I tried to use the washroom to hide in, but the door wouldn't shut.

2) I can't remember number 2 anymore, but trust me it was weird! Like last month when I had a dream where I had to go to Dracula's castle to get my pants....black Drykorn pants. Dracula was this guy Stuart that works for the Canadian distributor for Drykorn. I was sneaking around the castle in an attempt to try to retrieve my pants wearing one of those god awful denim skirts that are made out of old jeans. I woke up before finding my pants.

I impart wisdom unto you

2007-09-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

1. mean is funny
2. stupid is also funny

So far I got the stupid funny down like a second language. I'm still working on mean and I'm confident that with enough determination I will get there.

hugs and kittens
v

things to do before I die

2007-09-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

Have a baguette in Paris.I'll probably also have a cordon bleu and an espresso while I'm there. Oh, and check out the Louvre.

have a clam bake, but only people I like can come.

Perform a comedy routine on stage for a room full of strangers that I'll never have to see again.

Have sushi in Japan.....perhaps not made by a cat...but it's pretty cute...look, it's annoyed!

Bolsheviks for Elaine

2007-09-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

As per Elaine Corden's request here are a couple of Bolshevicks.

Here's on I'm not entirely sure about...are they saying that the Bolsheviks got away with disposing of the Romanovs by using Scot Tissue Towels?

I'm not saying that Lenin looks like a giant phallus and that the world atlas behind him looks like a pair of balls........well actually that's exactly what I'm saying.

Anyone out ther read cyrillic? I think it says "workers of the world unite and bring me some caviar".

my first joke....sans le punch line

2007-09-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

What do Chernobyl forests........

......the Berlin Tiergarten......

....And Brazil have in common other than communist and fascist regimes or harboring fascists?

Hamburgers

2007-09-08T00:35:00.000-07:00

I think if aliens ever come to earth we should make them hamburgers as a show of peace.

I had a hamburger at Cascade tonight and it was sooooo goooood. I'd even say it was the best hamburger I've had in Vancouver.

Also, if you ever run out of toothpaste and need to go to the shoppers in Hell's gate Mall don't do it on a friday night. It's a bit freaky, you don't need to brush your teeth bad enough, believe me.

TTFN My BFF'S

personality shortage

2007-09-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

Do you ever meet people that just rub you the wrong way? I find that I have an aversion to people with anemic personalities.

Vanilla greyhounds, morphing mice, drifting grey clouds and Eeyore desciples. Where do they come from? Are they partial souls? Are there not enough souls in the world for everyone to get a whole one? Or maybe there aren't enough personalities to go around so some people have to share?

to be funny

2007-09-05T00:59:00.000-07:00

1. learn to be funny
2. learn to stuff emotions deep inside only to be accessed during times of self deprecating humor.
3. eliminate fear

I believe that is all I will need to become a stand up comedian. It would be easier if there was a funny school I could attend.

P.S I promise never to even joke about doing improve.

delicatly crafted story

2007-08-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

If you have any love for me in your heart at all you will watch this film. And then if you have a lot of love for me you will write, or phone with your thoughts.

I heart the CBC

2007-08-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

This morning at 6:30am I was on the CBC radio. It's one of those things that I've had on my list of things to do before I die right between swim with dolphins and have a Cordon Bleu in Paris.( a dream I had even when I was a vegetarian).

They had me on the Early Edition sports segment as a 'fashion expert' to discuss the new Canucks jersey. My honest opinion is that it has nothing to do with fashion, but in terms of design there is way too much going on with the front logo, sleeve logos, Vancouver lettering. It looks like an insecure highschool girl with too much makeup. Which I wish I'd mentioned on the air. I did get to mention the whole time and place thing.

For those of you who have not been to Vancouver you would be shocked at how often people here wear sweat pants to nice restaurants and generally under dress for most occasions. It's getting a lot better lately and I am hoping my complaints about ill fitting jeans and yoga gear in public will soon be unnecessary.

I loved being in the CBC building which has clearly not had a face lift since it was built. It's like a time capsule and I love it. The hall ways are narrow and uncomfortable with that pepto pink that the government painted everything in the late '70's and early '80'd with right before burgundy became the 'it' colour in '82.

I particularly loved the brown '70's tiles. THey made me feel like I was in the Canada of my youth. I'm not being sarcastic here, I really felt a lot of comfort and warmth in the general colour scheme and design. I hope they never ever, ever, ever change it!

Which brings me back to the jersey, why did they even change it in the first place?

I know that one person heard me today. Thanks Taunya! You are the only friend I have that gets out of bed before the sun comes out. I hope you can tell me what I said later, I don't remember. It seems that before 11am I am not capable of being able to decifer what goes on in my head and what makes it out of my mouth (which also has happened when I've smoked pot which I don't do for that reason, as well as the fact that it smells like dirty hair)

Please forgive the rambeling and the poor spelling.....it's 8:30 am for god's sake and my fingers are typing even though my brain is on the snow chanel.

Random things

2007-08-28T00:39:00.000-07:00

If you are ever feeling kind of blue I recommend that you go to your favourite cafe, have them make you a nice macchiato and pour yourself a sugar happy face. It'll brighten your day.

I've been promising steak club pictures and now I also have photos of Lena and Nick's wedding. Neither have ever missed a steak club meeting. In the meantime here is a photo of a sleeping beluga that was at the reception.

Oh and just incase you were all wondering, hell has frozen over. Below is Elaine's old apartment window being cleaned. There you go Elaine, get your skates ready.

NYC

2007-07-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

New York City Whoohoo!!

Natsumi and I were bumped up to executive class for the worst leg of the flight which is from Here to Toronto.

Flying into New York is really amazing. These are photos that Natsumi took. I love that the building look like they are growing out of the earth like giant crystals in everywhich direction.

Elaine had stayed at a boutique hotel once that was clean, affordable and cute. Natsumi and I love it. The front desk has this guy working there that is so odd he seems fictional. He talks super slow with a slured lilt, it's very hard to describe. He seems as though he can only exists in the hotel and if he were to leave he'd just turn into a poof of smoke.

Art art...everywhere you look there is something someone has made that is beautiful.

Beautiful sunsets and streets.

....and hamburgers

This here is a photo of Jenny and Karl. They live in New York and they know where the best hamburgers are.

This is Milan. I met Karl and Milan in Prague about ten years ago with thier friend Bobby. I was in a cafe with some friends and we thought that they were giving us dirty looks. Later that evening after we were good and drunk we ran into Karl and Milan (was Bobby there?) on the street in another part of Prague and accused them of giving us dirty looks, they in turn said that we were giving them dirty looks. So we all decided to go out and have more beer. Why fight when you can have beer? And there folks is the reason that Czechs are pacifists....you run the risk of having your beer spill if you try to throw punches.

Natsumi is beautiful even while eating a hamburger the size of her head.

We wore the same shoes one day and told people who commented that we were in a dance troupe.

More beautiful buildings everywhere we looked.

.....And Breakfast.

This is the interior of a synagogue. Doesn't it just make you want to convert? I feel that way everytime I visit a historical holy place with such amazing love in the architecture. I once sat through an entire Sunday service in Prague just so I could stare out of a broken window.

Here is a little piece of New York that is more East Van then East Van. Kitten posters and fake wood pannel walls!? The only thing missing is a neckerchief.

The best pear Chocolate turnovers EVER sold here.

We ate really well, had lovely coffee and walked like we were trying to get to the ends of the earth. New York I love you, but I think I love you best as a visitor. It's a tough town and when you thank people they don't always know what to do with it. I think it's manage to strengthen my spine and harden me just enough to keep things interesting. I think I need to go back at least two more times to become as tough as I'd like to be.

I miss living in a more fluid and dense city sometimes. I like that no one really cares what you are doing in New York. You can wear a panda bear suit and no one would ask why. I'm still at odds with Vancouver at times, and am too negative about it as a whole although there are parts of it that I love. Anyhow, it was nice to use the sidewalks for walking for four days.

time

2007-07-26T00:56:00.000-07:00

I have steak club pictures ready to post, and I started a steak club blog....but I can't log onto the steak club blog to post the pictures! So Perhaps I will do it here.

But first are wedding pictures as Elaine has requested....thanks for reading my blog Elaine! Then there will be photo's from New York.

There was the Canucks mascot..........

......and an ape.

....Ape and....

Mascot.

And an ape with a pretty girl.

Here are two more pretty girls.

And no pictures of the bride and groom, which is unfortunate because they were smashing. Just apes, mascot and pretty girls.

Not spellchecking, going to bed, thanks for reading.

Still to come

2007-07-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

1) Indian wedding like no other. Finn (canuck mascot...for real) + Groom's brother in a gorilla costume + groom's brothers together give speech entirely out of 80's love song lyrics + Bride in outfit inspired by pocahontas = sad Italians and the craziest wedding EVER.

2) ultimate steak club, there are no words only pictures to come.

Snuggles,
V.

Lucky me

2007-07-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

So Elaine has been accused by some of puting a few of her ex-boyfriends into pigeon holes. I support the act of puting mean people into any kind of hole, but apparently pigeons don't want to share theirs with jerks.

How do I know this? I walked beneath an awning around the corner from my apartment and a pigeon shat on me. It was warm and made a sploosh sound on the back of my neck. I looked up and the little fucker was leering at me, I swear it. It's ass said fuck you and it's eyes said keep your hands off my hole and quit sticking people in it.

I said immediately after I was used as a toilet "shit.....literally" I like that I got to use literally correctly.

I figure I was pretty lucky to have been so close to home and on the way back rather than out. Life is good.

Pictures of Steak night to follow....or I might just create a steak club blog where we can store images of steaks and their eaters.

Hugs
V

Nod to Elaine Corden and Trifective

2007-07-07T14:47:00.001-07:00

I had to publish the post below that I stole from the Trifective blog. Elaine wrote this with the belief that only the east van manchild is depicted in each category, but I know a lot of my friends in Toronto (including myself when I lived in Toronto) have dated guys that fall squarly in each description.

I laughed when I read it and came to the realization that funny is only funny when it's at someone elses expense.

______________________________

Dating in our time

Further to my post below, complaining about how I can't get a date, allow me to draw you a little portrait of the dating landscape in East Van. No, you don't have to deal with impossibly square dudes, or dudes who want to go to the Roxy, or dudes who don't read, or dudes with shitty record collections but its still ugly.

Most of my girlfriends are married or in serious relationships, but there also lots that are inexplicably single- brilliant, hot, talented funny women who somehow just end up dating wieners. After extensive research, interviews and my own field studies I've come up with a primer on specific types that haunt mount pleasant. Should you go on some sort of EV make-out safari, be sure to bring this along with you.

The Carrbon Copy
Six foot plus and beardier than ZZ-top, this Emily Carr student is likely to be found at a electro-dance party or at a backroom art show where most of the work is, like, panda heads drawn on people. Usually surrounded by a pack of adoring young girls, this kid is the star of his college, and has likely had a couple shows of his own, usually involving neon abstracts, "sound collage" or some fusion of the two ("every note frequency corresponds to a colour" he'll inform you). Yes, the Carrbon copy and his hot, lithe body are minor constellations, glittering with youthful idealism and broad shoulders. You'll feel a little intimidated by all the American Apparel-glad starlets around him, but guess what? The Carrbon Copy is into *you*. He's asked you're friends if your single. He likes older women, you see. He'll light your cigarettes and ignore everyone else around for the whole night. You'll talk art and culture and even though he sounds a bit ridiculous talking "post" and "parallax" that, you'll still kind of want to french him, because he's young and hot. Proceed with caution: the Carrbon Copy is fun for a night but next week there will be some other woman who catches his fancy, and you'll feel stupid for having a crush on a 23 year-old.

The Emosogynist
You almost feel sorry for this guy. He grew up in some fuck-nowhere town and moved here after college. He still rates U2 and only came around on the gay marriage issue because of Keith and David on "Six Feet Under". He's in the big city now, though, and free-to-be-me styles, he's gone all indie rock- which means a nice haircut and wearing girls jeans and playing in a band that sounds like, hmmm, let's say... Modest Mouse? You probably met him at a Wolf Parade or Arcade Fire show, and after a few cleverly worded exchanges on MySpace, you made a date. The emosogynist will surprise you by paying for drinks, and later surprise you even more when it turns out he's actually not crap in bed. Here's the problem: the Emosogynist, even though he owns L7's first record, still can't quite see you as an equal. It tears him up inside that he wants to fuck someone that's smarter than him, makes him feel like Keith (or David). You'll go see his MOR band, he'll kind of ignore you in that stupid "I invited you but I'm too busy to say hi because that would mean you're my girlfriend" way that dudes in bands do. Every move you make will be interpreted by the Emosogynist as some play to make him your husband so you can start popping out babies, because, where he grew up, that's what girls do. Don't waste your time with the Emosogynist. He basically wants to marry his mother.

The Keirketaard
You can find this dude pretty much at any coffeeshop or dive bar on the East Side. He'll be the one in the corner, reading Camus or some shit that blows your mind its so clever. You;ll pick up that he's a all world-weary and sad, and he'll pick up that from you, and being a girl, you'll want to take care of this broken bird and nurse him back to health. And they'll be flashes of hope: he'll be funny ina bitter, sarcastic way, sexy as hell and kind of a broken genius. Just lying on the floor listening to Mingus with this dude will feel like the heaviest shit ever. When you finally hook-up (which will take forever, cause dude has no game except being intense), it will be like sleeping with a Dostoevsky novel. This guy is awesome- it's you and him against the world, happy only when you're together. Problem: you're really only allowed to be happy together. He's like the reverse of Vidal Sasoon: if you don't feel bad, he doesn't feel good. Avoid for obvious reasons: don't try to "stick it out" till he gets happy. It ain't gonna happen (except years later, when you see him all happy with some impossibly cute girl, and you kind of die inside).

The Chakra Con
A difficult beast to identify, the Chakra Con seems like the most enlightened character you'll ever meet. He's read Jung and the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and believes in magic and meditation without seeming like a waxy fruitcake. He can make jokes and hang bro-styles with the best of 'em, but he also has a sincere streak that says" hey dudes, I don't care if irony is cool, I'm comfortable enough to be myself". Initially intoxicating, the Chakra Con will probably cry in front of you in the first month, or force feed you his poetry, but instead of losing your ladyboner, you'll think "wow, he really *is* secure with himself!" And then.... it will start with little digs about your "discomfort with your body" and progress further into him using the language of spirituality to undermine you-- your consumption of mainstream media, your penchant for diet coke- they're totally bad for your spirit. He's kind of like the new-age equivalent of an evangelical Christian. It will end when he brow beats you into confessing something really vulnerable about yourself, and he decides thats "unhealthy" and dumps you. You will simultaneously feel better and worse about it when you realize you fell for someone who poetry raped you.

The Dog What Done Shat on the Rug
So named because he's so adorable you can't stay mad at him, this mainstay is pretty much perma-stoned and perma-broke. At first, it will seem cute, and you will find the two bohemians living in poverty thing charming, but be assured it wears off quickly. Hallmarks of TDWDSOTR include standing you up cause he totally forgot and was just, like, jamming with his bros, drinking your beer, "borrowing" your money and all general crimes committed by potheads. This can end one of two ways- his band will actually go somewhere, and he'll dump you for someone hotter, or you'll look at your negative bank account one day and call it a day (who am I kidding- it's always the former).

The Funnest Guy Ever
He's usually an artist or photographer, and you'll be drawn to him because he's so damn charming and FUN. And hot. He's the dude who will flirt with your friends just enough to make you feel self-satisfied, who'll buy rounds, who wants to go play badminton at the beach at three a.m. He's funny and adventurous and always surprising you. Unfortunately, he's also bi-polar. Or an alcoholic. Or a cokehead. Or he hits women. Or all four! Either way,someone ends up in the hospital.

The Guy You Can't Get it Up For
Treats you well, makes romantic gestures like mix-tapes and flowers. Makes you cringe, basically.

Pathologically Anti-Establishment Guy
A sort of hybrid of the Chakra Con and the Kierketaard, this guy has no moral compass of his own, so he's just down on everything. People who succeed are sell-outs, people who like to dress nicely are materialistic but people who want to drink sailboats in the park are a-ok. This is the guy who hates every paper in town but would bend over backwards for some column inches in it. At first it seems cool that he hates everything you hate, but then you realize he just hates himself and doesn't want to see anyone happy. Toxic. Possibly the easiest to dump.

Happy is warm

2007-07-04T01:27:00.001-07:00

Bi-polar bears of the world unite! Maybe have some tea with a friend and cheer up.

Steak, Tea and Happy

2007-07-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

If you got the sense that I've been lonely, sad or bored...you were right. So I decided to start doing, thinking and eating things that make me happy.

Here are the steaks that Jeff at Aurora Bistro will be butchering for Steak Club on Monday night. Suddenly sadness is in the rear view mirror and I'm on the road to happy at at least 200 clicks. Woohoo!

If I were

2007-07-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

If I were an inanimate object I would be a sailboat on the horizon.

Lark Ate Me

2007-06-28T00:17:00.000-07:00

I have been devoured by Lark. I may not be around much these days because I am deep in the digestive system of the store. I hope to reach the bowels and to eventually find myself capable of conversation beyond the clothing industry and Dog The Bounty hunter's wife's rack.

If anyone out there has any ideas on how I could broaden my horizons without being more than 20 feet from my home and work please let me know.

Also, I really like tea or coffe, and biscuits...anyone else want some too?

I don't go out much

2007-06-17T01:26:00.000-07:00

Andie is getting married everyone! Here are some pictures of us all having fun and laughing a lot. It turns out that when I karaoke I KARAOKE! I will sing 'beat it' like it's no ones business and I will sing it loud.

Our first stop was Kobe on Alberni where we ate a lot of delicious Japanese food.

This is Andie's sexy face.

Some guy from Alberta crashed the bachelorette to sing Andie a song and he rubbed his ass on Andie's leg. I'm publishing our reactions to this guy. because I was laughing too hard to take pictures of him as he stripped. At first we all thought that someone ordered a stripper for Andie, which would have been really embarrassing, but it quickly became apparent that he was not a professional. You can tell because we were all laughing really hard.

Poor Lisa. I was curled up in a ball with Elaine and when we thought it was safe to open our eyes this was what we saw. It wasn't safe, so we huddled together until he left. And this folks is another reason to quit drinking....humiliation is a part of life, but why make it worse for yourself?

That's my eye peeking out at you and my good friend Elaine who goes out for tea with me even if I have a headache.

2007-06-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

I do this thing as I fall asleep that I've only told 2 people about.

I do stand up comedy in my head.

In the past I haven't managed to come up with a punch line and so it's not been a very satisfying activity, but last night I was so funny I laughed out loud!

I can't remember what the joke or the punchline was, but man was I on fire.

Blech

2007-06-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

I had food poisoning yesterday. It was horrible.

I don't ever want to see another chicken again, or green things that require cooking. You really do forget how much power your stomach has over your entire being until it seeks revenge, and then you are at the mercy of an enemy you are forced to see again, and again.

Not a very insightful post, but then I don't think anyone is reading this lately so I could get as self indulgent and confessional as I want to and no one will ever be wise of my fears and foibles.

I am in awe of health today. I don't feel totally healed, but it sure is nice to be vertical and functional.

2007-06-12T00:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding that life on earth does not follow a right or wrong pattern, and that you get one chance to make it up. I get this idea in my head that there is a 'proper' way to do things.

The pictures are from the Street festival that Dane organized. There are more on the lark blog.

Kisses!

sleep for the sleeepless

2007-06-09T00:29:00.000-07:00

I'm soooooo tired. All night shouting bellow my window..........cars and trucks.....sirens and hooligans.

Serge Gainsbourg

2007-05-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

I had a dream last night that there was a virus going around that was kind of like epilepsy. Basically you'd get fits that would make you think you were dating a high school aged Serge Gainsbourg. Once ths fit was over you'd be back to your old self until the next fit would unexpectedly hit. Eventually, like a virus it would subside.

Sometimes my dreams are better than movies.

Ode to summer

2007-05-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

Textures, colours, brilliant sunlight and funny people.

Patterns in behaviour, patterns in wallpaper and dresses.

The smell of summer and the feel of a summer breeze.

Summer, I hope you will be good to me and fill the next four months with all of the above....and also some gelato.

2007-04-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

Did I ever mention that Vancouver has some of the most odd looking foliage? Here are some plants that look like tribbles.

Pictures

2007-04-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

We have skylights in the new shop....2 of them!

Here is another shot of the store. Ahhhhhhh.

This is a shot of the alley by Dane's wood shop. I love the light in Vancouver, it is so fresh and crisp sometimes.

Nick & Lena

2007-04-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

These are our friends Nick and Lena. I think they are the cutest couple ever! I used to think that Dane and I were the cutest couple ever....but Nick and Lena definately win this one.

2315 Main St Vancouver BC

2007-04-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few quick shots that I took of the new store.

The large rectangles of light in the ceiling are wonderful skylights. They remind me of a gallery in Prague that I used to love going to because it was a giant room with huge skylights that made you feel weightless as if you were underwater. In the shop it feels more like you are bathed in something very precious....because light in Vancouver is a precious commodity.

This is Dane and Chris installing our temporary sign on the Sunday that we opened.

Lark+April 1st = A miracle!

2007-04-02T00:21:00.000-07:00

1 Chipped ankle bone (Dane's) resulting in the need of a cane.
1 Contractor with serious stomach problems (wasn't able to eat for a full week...no exageration)
1 Contractor with an ear infection & double booked
1 M.I.A employee
1 Pre-booked employee

12 Days x 16-18 hours

= Lark now on Main Street!

Thank you to everyone who helped, especialy on Saturday and Sunday.

Pictures on the way.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

P.S: no spell check and no brain.

ahhhhhh

2007-03-30T00:16:00.000-07:00

Pretty isn't it! This is the view from one of my windows. Vancouver always looks kind of lonely, but pretty.

Fashion geeks

2007-03-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, really there is a big moving sale at Lark 8th Ave starting March 28th. Natsumi and I were working late tonight and we took these photos. Those are Natsumi's feet....aren't they cute!!

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It is what it is

2007-03-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

So I'm thirty now. This is what I look like at thirty...not any different from 29.

Elaine, Dane and I have devised a new method of aging. You get to have a new privilage every year, for example at 16 you can drive, 19 you can drink, 28 Elaine doesn't have to go to any parties where you have to flush with your foot, 65 you can wear a cape and 85 you can say whatever the hell you want outloud....not just in your head.

I think thirty is going to be the year that I give myself permition to say 'no' without needing justification. Yay! I get to just say no!

Well there you have it!

mish mash

2007-03-18T12:42:00.001-07:00

I think I'm coming out of my annual Vancouver comma and I've also learned how to use this thing called blog a little better. The link under 'humans are weird' are fixed so you can read the links if they are still there.

Where do I begin! First, thank you all who wrote comments that I did not find until today! I appreciate hearing for all of you.

The biggest news I have to share is that Lark is moving! we are moving just around the corner from our current location to a space that is three times the size. We're also going to be distrubuting Jorg + Olif bicycles! I've put the link up in the link section because this new version of blogger is a lot harder to use than the idiot proof old one, sigh.

Anyhow, here is a photo of the space from a couple of weeks ago. I will post the progress of the shop as we go I promise. In the meantime if anyone knows how to post links into the text portion of blogger please let me know as I fear my frustration is seeping into my rambelings. Also, I can't seem to get the spell check to work.

Here are some photo's from NYC of Natsumi and I having lunch, New York is a really goo breakfst and lunch town,mmmmmm. Since all that I see is code where there should be photos I can't really give you any witty comments about the images.

This photo here is of the entrance to the big Barney's clearance sale. I made the mistake of going in and I swear I haven't been that afraid since being robbed on a Polish train. It was something mroe than madness. There were people with stacks of Prada shoe boxes waiting in a cashout line that was bigger than any bank line up and there were something like 10 cashiers. Personaly I would pay the extra grand for the shoes just to have the opportunity to not be so freaked out.

I waited at the entrance for Natsumi who was smart enough not to join me, and while I waited cab upon cab stopped to let off straight lady with gay man...it was like a WIll and Grace convention. This stack of coffee cups is a fraction of what was littered around the door as people filed into the abis.

NYC Pt1

2007-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

I'm really tired. So here are some quick pictures from my New York Trip with Natsumi. It's all you get right now. The stories will follow I promise.

This is a photo of Karl and Milan at an absolutely amazing place called Schillers. Every time I tried to get a photo of Milan's wife Vanja she ducked out of the frame. I think I might have a photo of her. The two of them are so sweet together.

Apparently our waiter had slapped a woman for being so rude to him right before we had arrived. I'm not sure if it was a warning, but he was nice to us and no one was assaulted so we were happy.

That's me...Look at me in New York! I am way prettier there than in Vancouver.

Isn't Natsumi so beautiful! I love this photo of her.

oh New York, I really do heart you.

This is a shot of our hotel room. Only if I know you will I tell you the name of this oasis. It's so nice there that I will keep it a secret. It was clean, comfortable, great neighbourhood and really nice staff....Except for the weird guy in the lobby at 1 am when we were coming in from our night out with Milan, Vanja and Karl. He had strange black, rubber framed glasses with thick lenses and he was going on about how he'd kill the cop that called his mother a whore. That was weird and scary. I was pressing that elevator button like you wouldn't believe. Everything sounds more scary when said with a thick NY accent. Or perhaps I've watched too many episodes of law and order.

What a lovely flower shop! So lovely I had to take a photo. I imagine the pearly gates would look a lot like this, or perhaps I just hope they do.

TTFN
xx

I Met the Mayor Today

2007-02-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

Yes it's true. I met Vancouver's Mayor Sam Sullivan today. Dane had a meeting with the local Business Improvement association and the mayor to discuss the neighborhood and the mayor's plans for the city with the 2010 Olympics in mind.

It was really interesting, I've never met a politician as important as a mayor before.
I expected to feel intimidated or nervous, but I found Sam Sullivan really easy to talk to and personable.

Some of his ideas for the city sound really interesting and I am curious to see if he's able to turn them into reality.

In other Vancouver news, didja hear they've got a COSTCO in Yaletown!? Seriously!? I'm not sure who can fit a case of cambells soup in their 560 sq ft condo down there. They've started to advertise the new condos as 'New York Style' and if you've ever been to New York you'd know that means 'walk in Closet Size' which is way smaller than what is known as 'Cozy'.

It's so weird, they (the government/developers) keep saying that Vancouver is running out of land since it's between mountains and sea and that the land is finite that is why it's so expensive to buy an apartment. If this is true then can someone explain to me how on earth it is that there is a costco downtown....anyone know? I'm no city planner, but I'm also no fool, and that is a dumb ass way to waste prime land.

Humans are so weird

2007-02-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Going from vegetarian to meat eater is an interesting experience. You sort of have to shut off the part of your brain that wants to scream in horror at the fact that you are ingesting the flesh of a once living thing. You have to be tired enough of being anemic to tell your brain to shut up and eat.

How does an animal get to go from being food to being a pet? Read This.

Have you read it? Okay, so how does an animal go from being dinner to not only a pet, but a beloved pet? Read This.

What else does it take for an animal to avoid dinner plates? Read This....And This.

Humans are so strange.

Hello Again & Meat

2007-01-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

It's so weird how you can't control which order the images pop up on this damn thing!

This is a photo I took in the fall looking west down 8th Avenue. Today it is slushing so it looks a hell of a lot like Toronto and nothing like Vancouver out there. I thought this picture might cheer someone up that is in Vancouver in this weather today.

This was taken looking east down 8th just moments after the first image I've got posted. It's the Goh ballet and isn't the light just amazing!

This tub of crabs on the scale are still alive and don't know that they are going to feed some very hungry people. I figure that since crabs eat one another they deserve inturn to be eaten by humans....they are more like sea vegetables than animals I'd say. and they are so good with some melted butter and lemon and salt and pepper and chocolate eclaires!!!!

This is a photo of Elaine eating her very first bite of meat in twenty years. Yay Elaine you're doin' good! It's a lovely duck from Aurora Bistro. It tastes like happiness!

These are the crabs before they were weighed and decided delicious enough for me to eat...mwah ah ah ah ha.

That's all for now, I am so tired...I need a holiday from the holidays!

Christmas!?

2006-12-14T21:06:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver! Nowhere else on earth does Christmas sneak up on you as it does here. I've been so busy getting us ready for Christmas at the shop that I haven't had time to upload all of the photos I took of the snowstorm we had a couple of weeks ago. It felt so odd to have all of that Toronto weather here. It was that dry cold that hits your face like a million little needles......Oh how I miss Toronto!

I promise photo's sooooon, maybe even tomorrow.

Lark blog

2006-11-11T00:27:00.000-08:00

I don't even know if anyone out there is reading these floating thoughts of mine, but I guess I write it to get it out of my head for the most part. Thanks for reading if you are.

Rain then sun and then some more rain. People shopping, window shopping or just dropping by to talk. Sell some jeans, smile at people sometimes they smile back....much of the time they just ignore me. Then it rains and sometimes the sun will come out.

The pre-teen ballerina's from the Goh Ballet come in to visit on occasion. They call me 'the nice lady' and they argue about who skips class the most.

There are the women with way more money than taste and of course the girls with more taste than money. As long as they are nice it doesn't really bother me either way...it's the ones without manners that get to me. My new technique is to simply walk away...even if they're still talking.

I wish it were ethical of me to write about some of the people that come into the shop. The people watching is great!

We've finally got our house brand in the store. There are still some tops to be delivered, but I will post some images of the Lark brand clothing tomorrow. I'm very excited about it, it's beautiful and it fits so well!

Spoke with my mom last night. As usual within the first five minutes she told me all about people I've never met nor care about.....sigh. One day she'll tell me about herself I know it. For now it's stories about her home stay students laced with inside jokes between her and her boyfriend that I don't understand. She loves me so I guess that's enough.

Sometimes my mother will tell me something about my father, usually in the moment it's just interesting...a curiosity, but then after a while I start to have some kind of feeling. It's usually a bad feeling; like after you eat an off muscle but you don't know it until you're doing a face plant into the toilet a few hours later cursing the chef and feeling like the ocean itself is coming out of your nose. For that reason I no longer eat muscles and I try to avoid all conversations about my father.

More confessions to be posted.

Love and many hugs

V.

That's love

2006-10-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Last night we ordered in sushi. I had a mind blip and only tipped the driver $3 measly ass dollars. First off I gave the restaurant the store address so he was confused and out in the rain across the street, second off he was in a cotton kimono and third it was pissing rain.

I felt SO bad about stiffing the guy, which was bad enough without the fact that it was raining. I kept seeing his face in my minds eye and feeling rotten about giving him such a poor tip. As we were eating our dinner I mentioned this a few times to Dane asking if it made me a horrible human being. Dane is honest so he said it was a pretty bad tip, but whatever. I stewed some more over it and then Dane, my knight in shining armor, decided to go up to the restaurant to give the driver a better tip despite my many protests. I didn't really want another thing to feel all guilt ridden about (thanks Mom!)

He drove to the restaurant, got the waitresses to break a $10 bill into two fives much to their confusion. They don't really speak English at this restaurant so they didn't understand why this guy was there trying to give them $5. Eventually he managed to get them to understand that it was for one of the drivers because his wife felt bad about giving him a bad tip.

I felt better about the delivery guy, but pretty bad about Dane being out in the rain over it all.

That is love my friends, when your sweetheart wants to take away your pangs of guilt and is willing to go out into the elements to do it.

8th Avenue

2006-10-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

Rarely do my friends believe me when I tell them about the kinds of things that happen on 8th Avenue right out front of the store and beneath my apartment windows. Like the day I woke up and there was a Mariachi band playing bellow my living room window.

Vancouver has this reputation as being a pretty dull place. We have less festivals than any other Canadian city and every time we do get something kinda cool thing going it somehow gets shut down....I admit it...sometimes it's like a retirement village. There is one exception to this, and that is on 8th Avenue between Main St and the first parallel alley where there is some kind of bizzarro fault line in the earth where weird shit happens. It's not an orginized festival, but it's certainly a festive street.

Like yesterday when I was working, minding my own business chatting with a couple of friends and I look up and there's this guy unloading pig carcasses from his truck onto a dolly. It just seemed kinda out of place, what is usual in Kensingtom Market in Toronto is not so usual in this somewhat sterile and rule bound city. You just don't have chicken trucks driving by leaking chicken juice all over the road here like you do there.

So Dane figures it would make for a interesting picture, he ran out the door and found the guy in the alley behind the store and asks to take a photo, the guy says "You're not taking a photo of my pigs without me" and grabs a pig to pose for this photo (If you are sensitive to death don't scroll down!)

And that my friends is the way it goes on 8th Avenue.

Sometimes

2006-09-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we love people enough that we don't really need to understand them. Sometimes we love people that much but wish we could get inside of their heads just a little bit.

There is someone I love that lives in a bubble. I imagine her in a giant snowglobe protected from the outside air and weather. I just want to shake that snow globe so hard that she falls out and sees the world from outside of her perceptions. I want her to breathe the same air that I breathe, to see the same view that I see.

I imagine her in her snowglobe home doing things, making things in complete silence all around her. I imagine her gardening, cooking, cleaning, picking up new hobbies and occasionally having that globe shaken so hard that she loses her balance and doesn't know why.

When we talk I know she's got so much noise in her head that she can't hear me and no matter what I say it can't break through the din of her mind.

Mom, do you know that I can eat 2 pounds of blueberries an hour (based on having eaten 20 pounds in 10 hours) ? Do you know that I cry when I see elderly people alone? That I'm mad at you and dad for leaving both of your mothers behind the iron curtain to age alone? That I dated boys that were mean to me? That My favourite tea is Genmaicha and the smell of rosemary reminds me of you which is why it's my favourite herb to cook with?

I don't suppose that you do or ever will, but I still love you.

construction

2006-09-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

The city of Vancouver is determined to kill off small business in the Mount Pleasant area. There is city construction all around Main Broadway and they keep blocking the streets off at random intervals with no warning. I'm not totally sure why they don't just rip the roads up once, do all they have to do, repave the streets and leave rather than all of this willy nilly construction.

Last week they shut our street down for a couple of days to re-pave the alley right behind the store and I got some kinda cool pictures.

A couple of days ago there was one of those amazing Vancouver rainbows. I've never seen rainbows so beautiful before moving here.

Comment for Elaine

2006-09-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

I left this comment for Elaine on her Trifective blog. Read her blog, it's good.

Sometimes I feel itchy from the inside out and I can't scratch the itch because it travels. I think that it's also known as feeling so tired you feel giddy.

Also, I do stand up comedy in my mind to try to get myself to fall asleep. You already know that Elaine and I feel it's time I come out with my little secret. I do stand up comedy when I'm trying to fall asleep. I have one problem though...I have never in the many years of doing this come up with a punch line.

Like for example today I turned on the tv and was 'shanghaied' by a very old episode of 90210. So tonight I'll be lying in bed making jokes up about the peach pit and Emily Valintine. Punchline anyone?

I know you Understand Elaine.

Ha Ha!

2006-09-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

Oh Vancouver you strange and lovely beast. First you mock me with your lack of friendly faces and now you poureth them upon me. My new favourite word it 'shanghaied' as in people taking you somewhere you didn't expect to go and, unlike being kidnapped, is a pleasant experience.

I know I sound happy and like I love this place, but I promise to never become one of those people that love Vancouver at all cost.... Especially at the cost of appearing deranged ( you know who you are and stop wearing so much god damn lycra and fleece!). So here I am right now and it's fun, but if it ever gets too much, too mean, I'll be o.k with leaving. So don't get comfortable Vancouver...Lark may be here now...but remember it's a lark and we can have one anywhere. Empty threats my friends, right now Vancouver is the closest thing to shangri-la. It's a layered place, just when you think you've figured it out a fancy restaurant opens off Blood Alley...which if you have never been here is appropriately named.

So I beckon you to join us here in our little provincial town as we shape it into a city much to the chagrin of city hall. If you have a good idea and limitless patience we need you. This town is bursting at the seams of convention and we need more pressure to blow the lid off and turn it into a truly dynamic city.

I am so tired and delirious right now! Someone out there respond and tell me something new!

More Pictures

2006-09-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

More Photos!

Dane!

Dane and Veronika (Me!)

Elaine Corden Everybody! Thanks for bartending pretty lady!

Elaine Corden's very long and slender legs everybody!

This is Karmin, and we both love this photo 'cause it looks like we're in a bad ass girl band.
She's so cute!

unfortunately there were a lot of people who's photo's I didn't get. This was a VERY mellow Lark party....which I must say was really nice. Dane and I are starting to get tired from working 7 days a week and the parties are fun, but man are they ever a lot of work!

There will be more photos from the party up soon. I got shanghaied by a bunch of girls for a fast photo session....I've never felt so high on estrogen before. They even asked Danes permission to take me out with them sometime ...like I need permission! Hockey season is upon us after all.

Joe's art opening

2006-09-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some photo's from our party last night. I can't upload more then a few at a time so I'll have to do this in sections.

This is a not so flattering photo of Prophecy and her sister. Prophecy is a very beautiful woman, she has very high cheek bones like a super model and an infectious smile. Her sister I met for the first time last night, she's young, shy, and very sweet.

This is Graham, we love Graham. He's a walking ray of sunshine....and cute too!

DJ Alan was kind enough to help us out with an AMAZING musical selection. Who knew that Karma police by Radiohead would work as a reggae tune. Any DJ that has the courage to end a night with the theme song 'Real American Hero' has courage unknown to most of humanity.

JULIUS!!!!! Were do I begin. Warm, funny, smart, positive, hardworking and a pleasure to be around. That's our friend Julius...damn good cook too.

This is the artist Joe...bad picture I know. This man is a true artist. His work is so amazing. Dane and I bought two pieces that work well together....and you all know that I have a general distaste for a lot of art. It's so refreshing to see someone creating genuinely, honestly, with humour and technical skill. If he doesn't become one of Canada's most sought after artists then the state of out culture in in worse disrepair then I thought.

A Case of the Crazies

2006-09-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

SO, I just skipped out for a coffee and ran into a guy that I shared a painting studio with in Toronto back when I was suffering from a serious case of the crazies. I've run into him a couple of times here, he is a really good painter and heavily involved in the arts here. I have nothing against him, nor do I know anything about him..... like his name for example, but damn I feel better when I don't run into people from that period in my life. I guess moving 4000km away just isn't far enough.

I don't know if any of you have ever gone loopy for any length of time, and I don't recommend it if only because of having to do the politeness dance with someone who you know thinks you're nutty, and not like yummy nutela nutty either, more like 'that chick is fucked' nutty.

Long story short I had a shitty breakup, I stopped eating, breathing and thinking straight. I shared a painting studio with a "friend" and I guess my case of temporary insanity got to her and just when this guy (Andrew?) took a spot in the studio I got thrown out. Did I mention that as I stopped doing many rational things I started painting like crazy? Having found a method of dealing which worked really well and having it disappear was pretty rough. I just didn't have it in me to find a new studio when at the time I wasn't even able to find a place to live. Believe it or not, this is the short version.

One of the things that I love so much about living here is that I have very little chance of running into people I would like to punch...Preferably in the nose because that's where coke heads bleed the most. I don't want to punch this painter guy, but I would like to ask "hey, just out of curiosity, do you think I'm crazy?" Seriously just out of curiosity.

Myspace rantings

2006-09-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

I was reading over my blogs on myspace and thought these were kind
of funny, so here you go.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Shake hands everyone

I've been trolling around this myspace thing and have found a whole host of bad memories and general curiosities.

So far I've seen more naked pictures of creepy people then war and peace has verbs, I've found a guy's profile whom a friend of mine is apparently dating but his profile says that not only is he single...he's looking for a serious relationship, I've found other girls with my haircut, especially one girl that I was almost friends with....what up with that!

On the plus side I've found people that I like and would like to be friends with....or even just myspace friends with, and I've been able to spy on people from the dark corners of my past....I've got to get a new haircut. (I got my hair cut shortish and have since decided that I'll go back to having it longish regardless of said almost friend...which was really a dodged ball of drama by not becoming friends...long story...another day)

So I must say that myspace you strange land of mythical beasts, you're okay in my books.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Sunshine Current mood: ham $ cheese (this one I just enjoyed the current mood option and made myself laugh with Ham money cheese)

It's sunny out, one of those days where you forget about how much darkness usually envelopes this city.

I'm sleepy, and would like some clean clothes.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Assholes and Jelly bellys

I'm not really sure what that title is supposed to mean, but what I'd like to say is that everytime I get onto this myspace thing and wander around I get this overwhelming feeling that the world is mostly made up of assholes......lots of them....everywhere.

Who am I to talk? No one...no one at all. Look at the photo of me! I'm eating a giant piece of steak with no remorse, just arrrslurp mmmmmm and in my belly you go Mr. cow. (see above photo)

I think the only cure for dealing with assholes, or in my case simply looking in the mirror, is a handful of jelly bellys.

Husband #1

2006-09-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Dane bought me this beautiful necklace from Jonathan & Olivia yesterday. If you've ever read 100 years of solitude you'd know why it's so special.

I took this photo of me.........so there you go.

Lovely

2006-09-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you Dane!

Fishing

2006-09-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

I just re-read my last post and realized that it sounds like I'm fishing for compliments. I really meant it more from a sociological perspective. So don't leave a comment saying anything complimentary...I want a diagnosis...like goth, or indie rocker, or geek, or whatever. All I ask is that I not be categorized as a fashionista...that would hurt.

Little Bee

2006-08-31T16:10:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks, which is why I haven't been writing. I'm buying for Spring '07, and all of our fall inventory is starting to not roll in, but pour in. We've got some really exciting new things for the fall season so I can't complain.

I've been wondering about something...I'm not sure that I can express it very well but I'll try. A couple of weeks ago I was talking with Dane and I asked him what kind of person I seemed like. What I meant is that people dress certain ways so that they can be recognized by their tribe, so to speak. Some people you can tell like certain things and you can guess what kind of conversation you would have with them by the tattoos they have or their hair cut. Dane said to me that I am like the little girl in the Bee costume in the Blind Melon video that made them famous in the 90's. In the video this little girl is in a Bee costume and she tap dances but no one in her town understands her. One day she finds a field full of people dancing in Bee costumes and she joins them. I can't remember the details of that video, but that's the sentiment anyhow.

You'd think that I would feel better knowing that my tribe is out there somewhere, here's the problem...I think my tribe are spies incognito. I know this because I'm incognito; which would mean that if I ever came across a field of dancing people in Bee costumes, so to speak, I'd be completely unaware of them.

Why am I boring you with this? I want you, if you know me, to write to me and tell me where I belong, not because I'm lost, but because I'm really curious (I already know that I'm a total geek though). All of my friends, to me, seem really different from one another.

So you tell me.

Battle

2006-08-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

I have spent the better part of my life in a battle with my body. It's been the enemy I've either felt the need to conquer or surrender to. I think a lot of people feel that way. For myself it started from as far back as I can remember, you see I grew up in a house with two chain smokers, so I was always short of breath. I was picked for every sports team last because I couldn't run very fast or far, my lungs would feel like they were tearing to shreds inside my chest while the other kids seemed to just fly right past. I pretty much gave up on any sort of sporting activity and lethargy set in.

The enemy then was the second hand smoke that was eating away at my lungs and making my clothes smell really bad. I guess I'm still mad about that! I just read today that second hand smoke inhalation by pre-menopausal women leads to a twice as high risk of osteoporosis and lowers bone density.

naturally I went through the typical girl phobia of being overweight no matter how thin I was. I felt chubby when I clearly wasn't and only felt thin enough when I was seriously underweight. I do however have edema in my legs which makes them swell and look sausagey if I don't elevate them or wear compression stockings (which in this heat is unbearable). My body was the enemy then because I couldn't wear whatever I wanted without being self conscious. I haven't worn shorts or summer skirts/dresses in more then 10 years and I'm not even 30.....quite yet. My legs were always tired and heavy.

Now that I've been practicing yoga for a few Months I'm starting to make friends with the enemy. It's an amazing feeling when your body does some kind of crazy contortion that takes strength of mind as well as body, and a shitload of flexibility. For me a serious achievement has been feeling my lungs capacity really expand. The legs still give me grief, but in general they don't feel as heavy as usual and the swelling is not as bad.

What I've learned is that it's not the body that is the enemy, it's the mind! You can't blame it on societal beauty requirements because the problem is a weak mind that is willing to absorb it all and believe that their physical being is their self worth. Honestly, when you're in a hot room sweating your ass literally off (he he) and you're standing on one leg with while holding the other with one hand while stretching it up and out behind you, well, you just respect your body more.

Now that there is no battle to fight and I've matured enough to realize that it is how you feel and not necessarily how you look I've found some peace of mind. If this is a glimpse into my 30's, bring 'em on!

Lovely

2006-08-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

These are some photos that I took on a walk with Dane. There is and inlet a few blocks away from where we live that opens to the ocean. Mario's ice cream factory and shop is right there too! Mmmmmm chocolate.

This is the area where the Olympic village will be built. When the 2010 winter Olympics are over the buildings will be turned into fair market condo's. What might save Vancouver from another architectural nightmare is that many of the old warehouses that are quite charming have been granted heritage status. Though most of them are derelict the facades must remain and be brought back to their original state. As you all know by now, I think that most of the architecture in Vancouver is embarrassing and uninhabitable. Let's cross our fingers and hope that this new era of construction mania doesn't add to the clutter known as Vancouver.

Along the seawall I caught the sun as it was setting behind the Burrard Street Bridge.

I am constantly amazed at how near to natural beauty I live. What I can't even begin to describe is the air. It's salty, fresh and so clean. It has you breathing in deeply so that the very far reaches of your lungs can fill with the sea salt infused air. It makes you feel dizzy and alive. Although I'm prone to exaggeration this does not even begin to explain the feeling of breathing in the fresh sea air.

David Emanuel Photo

2006-08-03T17:47:00.000-07:00

Photo's finally! Here is one of David Emanuel drawing on our writers block at the store. It was a pretty interesting day. I found David (yes we were on a first name basis) to be very fun and well mannered. We talked fashion and had a few laughs.

Being on camera was kind of fun I'll admit, though I won't be racing to be on any kind of reality show anytime soon. I will receive a copy of the episode in a month or so and it will probably air sometime in the winter.

So there you have it folks. I was one degree of separation away from the British royal family for a day.

Summer Heat

2006-07-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

It's hot in this town and I think I'm the only one enjoying it! A lot of people have been coming into the store complaining about the heat, after what felt like eternal rain this is what I've been waiting for!

In Vancouver no matter how hot it gets the shade is always pleasant and the Ocean breeze freshens the air constantly so it's never thick and sticking to you like it does in Toronto.

Photo's are on the way, just not today. I have a lot a great pictures...just not the patience to upload them.

David Emanuel Everyone!

2006-07-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Good news everyone! David Emanuel is doing a television show called 'Shop Around the World' and the crew is going to stop at the store for their Vancouver segment.

More On Driving in Vancouver

2006-07-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention the 'by the way I'm turning left' and the also popular 'I'm turning left sometime in the future'.

The first is when you are going along just dandy like, and all of a sudden the jerk in front of you decides that they want to go left and stops with no warning. So if you are new to driving in Vancouver keep some space between yourself and the driver in front of you.

The latter is the exact opposite. This driver will have their turning signal going for a couple of blocks leaving you wondering if you'll be going 30 km/hr forever.

Like in New Jersey (check out New York Hack)people here don't often use turn signals so you may find yourself in a collision. If you do use your signals to change lanes you'll find that if there is a car behind you in that lane they will speed up so that you either can't get into the lane or they will do the 'speed up, cut you off then slow to a crawl' as mentioned in my last entry. This is by far the most aggravating driving technique I have ever experienced anywhere in the world; I challenge you to find one more frustrating. It reminds me of being in kindergarten or grade one when being first was really important for no real reason.

Vancouver Driving

2006-07-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

This is a quick one though this subject definitely deserves a lot more attention.

Last night while I was waiting for Dane to pick me up for a game of tennis I noticed a great license plate. It was simply: AAARGH, now I can't even begin to explain why this is so particularly appropriate for Vancouver....but I'll try. Here is a short break down of Vancouver driving ineptitude.

1) The famous and regularly implemented 'speed up, cut you off then slow to a crawl'. An example of this was when we were headed home from our tennis game last night and a car sped out of a side street totally cutting us off then slowed to about 30km/hr...on a main road so main that it's actually called Main Street. That was not enough for this person, when we tried to move into the lane next to us to escape that car it cut us off again! Twice in under 3 minutes and all we wanted was to actually go the speed limit.

2) Relates to 1. The speed limit. Just about every driver here ignores it...but not to go faster as one would think people in a city would have places to go and people to see....but they usualy go (and this is no exaggeration) 10-20 km/hr BELOW the speed limit. (People from Texas are worse then locals though...Seriously at 20km/hr just get out and walk)

That's all I have time for now. I will have more to share as driving is more aggravating then walking (see: red rover red rover.......post, link on right side list) which will lead us to the rules of bike riding.

V is for Vacation!

2006-07-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

These are crabs that are tearing apart a muscle. I have a video of them going at the poor thing and it looks like it's sped up they are moving so fast. What amazes me about the little crabs on Qualicum beach is that they come in all kinds of colours from bright green to deep red. Some of them have a really big left pincher and others are symmetrical.

When the sun is setting and the tide is coming back in if you stand very still on the rocky part of the beach you can hear them scuttling around the rocks. It's such an eerie sound because you can hear thousands of them moving around and if they had a collective consciousness they would probably attack and eat you!

Jelly fish!
Arrrgh! Monster shadows.
I don't usually do the Bavarian Farmer girl thing, but because my bangs stood straight up I decided to pay homage to my roots. I can't even begin to describe how amazing the air smells here.

And the Ferry ride home...sigh. V is for Very sad to go home so soon.

V is for Vancouver Island!

2006-07-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

As many of you know Dane and I never close the store. We work seven days a week and that's just the way it is.

We closed the shop for two days over the Canada Day long weekend and went to Vancouver Island and it was magnificent! We were in Qualicum which is about 40 minutes North of Nanaimo. The beach there is fairly isolated so you can really get a lot of relaxing done.

This is a photo of the inside of a dead crab that I have a portrait of below. It's weird how the photo's on this thing don't post in sequence of how you upload them. Dane found this crab on the beach and left it in a small tide pool to see what would happen and we learned that crabs are cannibals. The inside of this crab was full of what ever crabs are full of and when I took this photo the tiny crabs (also pictured below) had eaten half of it's insides!
This is Dane going out to sea.

This is the dead crab that we fed to the smaller crabs.

This is a little crab. It's like a live National Geographic show on that beach. In Ontario you'd never get to get so close to wild sea creatures. It's pretty amazing how close to nature you really are out here.

Friends

2006-07-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to post this one, but with Claudia's request for more I thought I'd post it even though it was written last week and I have all kinds of photo's to share.

I recently had a great conversation with my friend Andie. She helped me out with a fantastic new haircut on Thursday and a new realization. One of my biggest complaints about Vancouver has been that it is generally an unfriendly city. People are superficially very friendly, but forming friendships here is difficult.

Hard core Vancouverites (remember the ones that Lughhhhhhve Vancouver) will dispute this fact and say that it's the new comers that aren't trying hard enough to make friends. I will say as someone who has been here for three years that my first year here was really fucking hard, and that no matter how outgoing I was no one wanted to know me, and finding work was like trying to find a snowball in Mexico.

What Andie made me realize is that it's o.k to not be friendly. Thanks Andie!

Shake on it.

2006-06-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when you shake hands with the devil you don't realize that it isn't the devil at all, it's just you on a bad day. So you go out into the world and you do the things you shook on, and then when the spell is broken and you come to your senses you feel kind of embarrassed. So you go on with things trying to be the best person that you can be, and every once in a while a post card like memory just finds it's way into you, and there you are again facing the devil, except that this time you know that it's you.

Cryptic? Not really, it's just how I feel when I find a thread that leads to somewhere inside my ribs where I've stored bad memories. Usually there is someone else attached and I can't do anything about it anymore. It's not because I lack the bravery, but because it becomes about letting go and untying the thread.

Make sense. Maybe not, but just remember look both ways before you shake hands with the devil.

Red Rover Red Rover.............

2006-06-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

It seems that I've talked more about myself then Vancouver here. For anyone who is reading my ramblings I guess I owe you a little something about this town.

Rules for pedestriansVancouver:

#1) On Robson the foreign exchange students walk arm in arm from one end of the sidewalk to the other. When approaching them it's much like a game of Red Rover. So what you do is put your head down and keep walking, at the last second they will part like the red sea for Moses and you will safely make it through. Often I stick an elbow out for insurance or use my Beck(y) skate bag as a shield.

#2) NEVER say 'excuse' me when you wish to pass a slowpoke dawdling in front of you taking up half the sidewalk with their one friend taking up the other half. It's a sign of aggression here, I realize that in most parts of the world it's a polite way of letting someone know that you are in a hurry and you need to pass them......I guess it's the pedestrian version of cars using signals, which may explain why people here don't use their signals when driving....perhaps this is also considered aggressive.

#3) When the desire to walk faster then those meandering in front of you it is customary to make your presence know in the most passive aggressive way possible. You can try walking really close to the obstructing individuals while talking loudly, if you are walking solo cough in their personal space and if necessary stepping on the backs of their heels is also acceptable....as I mentioned in #2 NEVER ask to pass, you will only get yourself dirty looks, they will move, but in a Vancouver minute which is equivalent to a New York Week. I know I don't have that kind of time!

#4) When a group of individuals spill out of any establishment they will obstruct as much of the sidewalk as possible. Asking to be let through is again an act of aggression and you don't have all week do you!? This is much like the Robson game of Red Rover, barrel on through and they will each apologize for being in your way or throw you a dirty glance, it's a toss up. Remember the key here is 'Passive aggressive', direct verbal contact is an immediate confrontation. The alternative is to step into the traffic, which I do not advise.

basically if you've ever seen that Verve video (bitter sweet symphony) where Richard Ashcroft walks down the street bumping into people you have a visual on what you're in for. Just do what Richard does and you'll fit right in.....and you won't have to change your mold no no....no no.

In my opinion the city should paint arrows on the sidewalk to help people keep to the right like the flow of traffic, and like they teach you in kindergarten.

mock me why don't you....

2006-06-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

You know you are entering a new era of your life when you look in your refridgerator and find that you have an army of salad dressings staring back at you.

I looked in my cupboard and found two unopened bottles of salad dressing and when I opened my fridge I found three opened ones....mocking me.

It' like I've prematurely hit middle age!

Every time I see salad dressing on sale, like the Eastern European immigrant that I am, I buy it. I will say that I've added some West Coast Canadian flare to my new obsessive compulsive disorder....notice how it's all organic.

Lark & Ea picture sampling

2006-06-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

"Hi Paul" (Reggie's twin brother) "You want to go to Elaine's and have some Champaign?" and that's just what they did. Elaine wooed some people away from the shop with the promise of alcohol. Which would explain why when Dane and I crawled up the stairs three hours later and found her cat Jim in the hall with his paws jammed under her door and his face smushed up against it.

And Shauna.......why do you want to attack and eat my camera...oh yeah...you've had some Champaign.

Oh Nick Tay you pumpkin. How pooped you are after all of the madness.

Andie....Andie....Andie......I don't really know what to say about this one.....but really, what is Elaine doing?

And Reggie. Why do you and Shauna both want to eat my camera?

So this is a small selection of photo's from the party. There are many, many more that I will have Shauna post on the Lark website. I've been having a lot of trouble getting pictures up on this blog recently so this'll be it for now.

Don't even get me started.......

2006-06-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

I have had something on my mind for a while now and it's time that I get it out. Some of you may not like what I have to say....but it needs saying.

What is up with people bringing their misbehaved children to fancy restaurants and cafes? Seriously Vancouver!!!!! Yes you Vancouver!!!!!

Every Sunday for just over a year Dane and I have been having brunch every Sunday at Aurora Bistro, today was the last day that they will be serving brunch ever, so we made sure to wake up with enough time to enjoy our breakfast and still get the shop opened. What horrified me the most was that even though it was like eating in a fucking day care, I was so used to it that it didn't even occur to me to be mad about the noise and chaos until now. Aurora Bistro is fancy...it's not the white spot or some other FAMILY restaurant...it's where grown ups go to relax and unwind....grown ups without children that wish to enjoy one another and grown ups with children who want to get away from them for a couple of hours. I absolutely fear having children because should I shell out for a baby sitter so that I may escape them and enjoy a quiet meal I'll only be confronted with some unruly brat at the next table. Do I have to go to Toronto or Montreal to eat in peace or wait until past the average bedtime of a toddler?

Let me just clarify one thing before anyone who might be reading this gets their nickers in a knot, not all children are poorly behaved, in fact many are delightful. The fault is with those parents who seem to forget to discipline their children, and also those parents who do not see their precious children's limitations. Some kids can eat at Aurora and behave, and others just can't.

I'm SO tired of parents who let their kids run wild and behave like monsters, it's not the fault of the children, they're doing what they do...it's the god damn inconsiderate parents who seem to think that the sun rises and sets for their precious genetic creation. Parents who get mad at sweet natured dogs and cats who nip at children who pull their tales....It's and animal! Teach your child how to treat them or the animal will! And while you're at it teach your children that yelling and screaming in a 1200 square foot restaurant is inappropriate! Also, don't be giving them donuts and then setting them loose on my nerves!

I used to like going to a cafe a bit further down Main St so that I could escape the shop and some of soma's way too regular regulars; but I had to stop going there when the last time I went a man was reading his paper while his toddler daughter was climbing up on the tables.......with her shoes! Dude, your kid is bored, doesn't want to watch you read, and she's eating a cookie so she's getting high on sugar...... sugar is speed for children!

For those that have well mannered children that they clearly nurture and discipline, well, I say thank you and bring 'em along! Also please advise on what to do about parents who are oblivious to their children's needs.

Thanks...........it feels good to get that off my chest..........oh and I love Aurora and don't blame them for not doing brunch........can't wait to have dinner there sometime very soon.

EA & Lark Party

2006-06-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

Last night was like something out of a eighties teen movie...you know, the one where there are people spilling out onto the front lawn, the one where the cops show up and they don't really want to deal with it, the one where if they had just gone home before the game of spin the bottle it all would have worked out fine. Except it was grown ups and Dane & I shut it down before anyone had the chance to lose their respectability....THANK GOD!

Nick and Nat made something like $1100 for the Red Cross Sudan relief fund....which was fantastic. At the end of the night when Dane and I were taking out the empties we met a man named Bala. He collects empties around this neighbourhood to send money to Sri Lanka to help the people who are still affected by the tsunami. In his hometown he said they have lost 364 children and that many people are still dying because of a lack of medicine, water and food. I think he said that he has lost much of his own family. He is very humble, Dane and I were both sure he was on the straight and narrow. Bala says he has a very good job and that he doesn't need the money, he does it to help his people and the money goes to Toronto where there is an organization (or he may have said friend....I was very tired at that point) that makes sure the money gets there.

So if you live around Main St and you see a very tall thin Sri Lankin man with short tidy hair that does not look at all like the usual bottle collectors in this area help him out with your empties, it's the very absolute least that we can do. He will tell you that you are very good people and that you have big hearts and you will probably feel humbled by him and shocked that he should say such things about someone who is merely giving him their garbage rather then tossing it in an alley.

I will publish photo's from the party sooooooon as I can. I've got some real gems., thank you alcohol!

2006-06-16T11:50:00.000-07:00