My Galoshes Are Exhausted

24 consecutive days of rain....with no end in sight. Vancouver and Victoria about to set a record for this weather. Endless, dreary days, continually looking and feeling like dusk. Having grown up on the West Coast, I love the rain and find it comforting, but this is absolutely ridiculous. I am seriously considering purchasing some kind of lightbox.

But then this morning, a glimmer of hope as the skies parted and a rainbow appeared. And then mere minutes after snapping this photo, the rain began again. If I wasn't flying to Hawaii on Saturday, I would begin preparation for ark building.

Photograph: Peek-A-Boo

I spotted this deer staring wistfully at the flowers appearing in my parents' garden...unfortunately, the fence is too high for this little guy to hop over. Yes, Victoria = flowers in January.

Revenge of the Mouse

Man catches mouse in house. Man throws mouse into fire of burning leaves outside. Mouse survives, runs back into house aflame, burns house down. Serves you right, jerk.

Robert Mondavi Winery

While in Napa Valley, I had a private tour and lunch at the Robert Mondavi Winery. Here are some photos of the vineyard, the wine barrels, and the private dining room in which I had lunch. And where I plied myself with my favourite wine - the Mondavi Reserve Fume Blanc.

Jesus Inhaled

I knew I was going to end up digging Jesus for something...but who knew he was so progressive? Apparently, a new study of scriptural texts reveals that Jesus healed using cannabis.

My favourite selection from the article is, "If cannabis was one of the main ingredients of the ancient anointing oil - and receiving this oil is what made Jesus the Christ and his followers Christians, then persecuting those who use cannabis could be considered anti-Christ[ian]."

Jesus was also spotted checking his watch and yelling, "Dudes, it's 4:20!"

Signage in San Francisco

I was almost run over by a cable car as I took this photo in San Francisco....but how could I not take it for Robot Johnny? I love the type and does that mean 63 cent cocktails?

Inspiration for a Resolution

One of my New Year's resolutions is to read one non-fiction book for every fiction one - the perfect place to inspire this resolution was a bookstore I visited in San Francisco a few days ago. The famous (infamous) City Lights Bookstore was absolutely amazing. The store was packed not only with books, but with chairs, as well as signs posted everywhere inviting readers to pick a book, get comfortable, and read. Imagine Chapters doing that!

There was an entire floor (an entire floor!) of poetry. There were also sections entitled "Commodity Aesthetics" and "Muckracking". Not too many Republicans here....or in San Francisco at all, for that matter...

Spotted in an apartment window in the neighbourhood of Nob Hill:

Christmas, First Light

Advent Calendar Surprise

I came home from the library today to find the most wonderful package in my mailbox. Direct from England, courtesy of my friend Charlotte, an advent calendar! While visiting last month, I complained to Charlotte that I couldn't find the old-fashioned advent calendars I had as a kid - they are now all filled with cheap chocolate. And I hate cheap chocolate - if Godiva produced advent calendars, then we'd be talking, but no such luck.

But now I have a cool snowman advent calendar (that even plays music) and I got to open thirteen little doors today to boot. It's feeling more like Christmas already.

Rocking with the Rheostatics

2am this morning. Me rocking out to the Rheostatics at the Horseshoe Tavern, so close to the speakers that half of the experience is feeling the music, so close to the band you could touch them, so oblivious to how late it is, how hot it is, how loud it is. Awesome.

I saw the third of ten consecutive nights that they play at the Horseshoe - if I didn't have a huge work deadline this week, I'd be going again. (Photo taken from last year's Winter Nationals stint at the Horseshoe.)

Brighton Pier: Two Photographs

These two photographs were taken from the window of the flat I lived in earlier this year in Brighton. A little colour on this seriously grey Toronto winter day.

Can You Feel The Love?

Everyone knows that I unabashedly love Oprah Winfrey and there was a time in university when I couldn't sleep unless I spent my nightly hour with Dave Letterman. So last night I stayed up and watched Oprah make her first appearance on Letterman in sixteen years. She was all gorgeous and nervous, he was all cute and serious for once...I could feel the love. Staying up late totally screwed up my sleep schedule, but it was worth it.