Thanks to the internets AND the Canucks, Sarah Harris found me while searching for some Canucks blogs (I think). The thing is, she lives in the UK and loves the hockey! I’ve never met Sarah in person, but she’s sent me cool stuff from Jolly Old England – like this awesome Will and Kate totebag – and we’re buddies online. One day I will meet her in person – I’m sure of it – but today, I got to see her sketchbook in The Sketchbook Project. It’s a tour of hundreds? Thousands? So many art books created by people all over the world.

I made the most of my half hour visit – they have a tight schedule and have to close up at 7 pm. I didn’t leave until 7:20, actually, so they gave me a break/I kept holding up the show. Would you like to see the books I got to see? Here you go!

You can see more beautiful pages out of the art books right here.

I just may stop on my way home from work tomorrow, too.

Lelainia met me at the event and I took her photo with her traveling sketchbook.

Her book is about to carry on to Los Angeles…Oakland…Toronto…Atlanta…

Glorious!

It feels like SUMMER!

Today I opened up the balcony door in the kitchen, slid the screen door over, put the dishwasher and the laundry basket in front of the screen door so that I wouldn’t have any escapees to tend with and we all enjoyed the warm air and the sunbeams. Oscar found his favourite one and just laid there, only opening his eyes up when he thought I may be getting close to the treat drawer.

Ahhh…another leisurely weekend….

I’ve been no a real streak of fun, lovely, and happy adventures lately. I attended Vivienne‘s demo today where she shared her Polaroids and showed us how she tricked the cameras into making double exposures. All that means is that you take two photos in one frame. The results are dreamy, overexposed and a bit ghostly. This is my favourite double exposure I made today.

That’s the Woodwards Condo building mixed with some graffiti from a nearby alley.

Vivienne also let us use a Polaroid with some black and white film. I’ve never used that before. I gave it a whirl. I liked the results, but I somehow made the photos underexposed, so all my photos came out very dark.

Are they chairs? Or is this art? It’s chairs, double exposed. I like how it turned out. I think it turned out dark because I took this inside. But I can’t explain why this one turned out so dark.

Graffiti in the dark? Or in the shade, I guess.

I also learned how I can turn my digital camera into, well, basically, a pinhole camera, which is cool and ridiculous at the same time. I didn’t try too many of those photos today, the Polaroids were way too much fun. I’ll try those photos with my own camera later.

After the demo was over, Lelainia and I roamed the nearby alley and I took two photos to mix together on Photoshop once I got home.

This isn’t a real double exposure, but 2 photos layered on top of each other. But I’ll remember to use this technique more often! It’s fun!

And here I am in ghostly, double exposure Polaroid style.

Booo! I make a spooky, smiley ghost!

In a surprise move at the job today, I was asked if I’d consider working from 10 am to 6:30 pm. YES PLEASE! Woohoo! I start my new schedule tomorrow morning, so I celebrated tonight by going out for sushi with my buddy Iris, had some birthday cake with another pal, and then toodled off to pick up Mike for his 10:30 pick up and now I’m up way past my usual bedtime. It’s okay! I don’t have to be on the bus until 9:10 tomorrow morning. Hooray!

As my friend, Iris, put it, “That job really suits your circadian rhythm.” Boy howdy, does it ever.

Speaking of circadian rhythms, we solved the mystery of the thumping at 5:30 in the morning. One morning it was so loud, Mike thought someone was trying to break into the garage. He got up to check, but everything was safe and sound. It happened a few days in a row…and then, Mike sent me the link to this video and I put it all together.

Oscar hadn’t gotten into the full run and smash mode when we figured this out, but he was definitely bulldozing the kitty robot with his head – I had seen him doing that before. The running full throttle would be the next phase of his attack on the food dispenser, I’m sure. I’ve seen him run straight at the laundry basket and push it until it nearly tips over, so I’m pretty sure he was just in training for kitty robut bust of 2012. SO, the kitty robut has been put behind closed doors and now there’s no punching in the mornings.

Now he just rubs his paws on the closest door he can find and makes crying sounds for his breakfast. So that’s much better.

At 6:00 am.

Oscar is going to have to learn to sleep in a little bit.

Earlier this month, when we were in Calgary, my mom said,

“You don’t mind if I give these dishes to Allison, do you?”

Now. Keep in mind, Allison is very, very cute. Not to mention, very, very clever, and if she had asked me if she could have them, I think I may have been unable to say no. So, I consider myself very lucky that this opportunity came my way. They are the dishes from when I was a kid. I forgot all about them. But once I saw them, I had to take them home with me.

I think it’s important to remember just how cute Allison is. For example:

This was not an easy decision.

Let’s change the subject from my selfish choice over to a public service announcement. Never leave your cutting board and knife unattended for a second while you’re taking photos.

What the? I didn’t even hear him jump up there. I was putting the dishes back on the counter and when I turned around, he appeared there.

Spooky.

This is Donner, sitting on the washing machine in the kitchen, clearly worried I’ll forget to feed him at precisely 5:00 pm. I like how his little vampire toof is pointing out on his left hand side there.

Not to worry, Donner and Oscar were fed. Oscar just walks around my feet the closer it gets to the feeding hour so I won’t forget. It’s dangerous for him, but it works. I’ve only accidentally stepped on his tail once during his “reminders”.

My hope for more superhero spottings were dashed this morning. There weren’t any characters in the line up at 7:40 am. If I didn’t have to meet with my pal in New Westminster today, I would have come out early to pick up Mike and taken lots more photos. Maybe next year I’ll buy a pass for the day and peruse the inside of this mysterious event. One of Mike’s co-workers actually got his photo taken with Lou Ferrigno yesterday and shared the photo with Mike. Sadly, no one in the photo was actually dressed like The Hulk, but Lou Ferrigno is a gigantic man, even in regular clothes and skin tone.

Tonight is a jackpot night for entertainment. First off, The Canucks! Go team! Then Mad Men, and then I think I’d better go to bed for my first day of school tomorrow. I think I’ve got my outfit picked out, so I’m all ready to go.

Yesterday, I met my buddies, Lysa and fabric designer, Cynthia at the Daiso. Just in case you’re not familiar with the Daiso, a) you need to get to Aberdeen Centre immediately and b) nearly everything in the store is two dollars. They have cute-sy little items in there – erasers shaped like fruit, teensy rolls of fabric tape, bento box treats, and this terrific platter!

Cynthia: “Uh, do see what this says?” *giggling*

Me: “Yup. And you can put that right in my basket!”

My new platter is now sitting on the counter with the sugar bowl on it. It’s terrific.

The Daiso is also a good place for paper products, stationery and notebooks. Now that I think of it, Cynthia spotted this little notebook, too!

I will fill my stylish black cat notebook with copious notes about the kitties. This also makes me want to put bows on both the boys’ tails. Mike does not approve of that suggestion. I’m pretty sure Oscar wouldn’t care, but Donner would NOT like that one bit. But I should try and see. I don’t think that’s considered cruelty to animals.

Now for the Pièce de résistance. I couldn’t believe we found the elusive disposable underpants. We had heard that there was paper underwear at the Daiso…I can’t remember how…I vaguely remember seeing a sign of some sort. In any event, we didn’t hallucinate them, because, well, here they are in our kitchen!

ZOMG. I was SO excited to see them in the wild! But my excitement quickly turned to disgust. You may know that the word, “panties”, is a word I hate. It sounds like something a pervert would say. I avoid that word at all costs. But to see it as, “Men’s Panties”. Oh no. I nearly fell over with the vapours.

Of course I bought them.

However, I could not imagine when one would need a pair of disposable underpants. So, I googled it, and thankfully, got an answer without photos or anything weird. These underpants are used for traveling and/or camping. You can just throw them away after each day you’re on vacation and then you’ll have all sorts of room in your luggage.

One time I went camping with my Outdoor Rec class, and a girl in my class brought a couple of pairs of old underwear with her. One day she’d wear them right side out, then the next day, she’d wear them inside out, and then the next morning, she’d throw them into the campfire. I guess disposable underpants are one step above that and handy if you don’t have a camp fire.

I did check the package and found these words a little troublesome.

We’re just a heartbeat away
One touch could make it
happen We can reach the other
side if we hold on to the passion

WHAT? IS? GOING? ON? HERE?

But I do agree, Do not dump it to toilet, okay?

This is what they look like out of the package.

Upon further inspection, it turns out they are made of the material that surgeons and nurses wear in the Emergency Room on their heads.

EW.

Underpants hair nets.

I think I’m about to get the vapours again.

First of all, thanks to you guys for all the congratz on my new job. I’m excited! I will update you on my first day – officially April 23rd. WEWT! The funny thing is, my new job is right around the corner from my current job, so I will be in the exact same ‘hood as I have been for the last 12 years. Things just worked out that way.

While we were in Banff last weekend, I had great fun people watching and street photo snapping down the main drag. Banff is a lovely place for photos with its scenic views and all the rosy-cheeked people. I loved this girl’s sunglasses, so *snap* for her.

Turned out we weren’t the only Canucks fans in town. Full Disclosure: I only noticed that Canucks toque after I took the photo. A happy accident the man in front of the fan didn’t see (clearly. He looks a little grumpy.)

This cute couple must have spotted the “I love big dumps” t-shirts just then. And also, that guy was sporting a mean hickey. Just sayin’. I walked right by him and took a good look to be sure. Well done, sir!

A pack of men in kilts walked by us, which I’m a big fan of.

What I didn’t understand were the boots a couple of the men were wearing. It’s got to be an inside joke of some sort. Or maybe they’re in a band? Very mysterious.

I continued my paparazzi shooting all the way to the Banff Springs Hotel. Here’s my cousin, Andrea. I love her expression in this photo. She knows I’m there and played it very cool. Very celebrity-like.

On the other hand, I’m pretty sure my sister didn’t notice me at all. Either that or she really played it cool.

And of course, Allison played it cool in front of the camera…as always.

She could not be more adorable. And her baby brother is equally as grinny.

Those are just a few of the beautiful people in Banff. The streets were packed with cheerful, happy tourists on the Easter break. I’m so glad we got to be there with them.

Now that the “guess what?” game is over with, I think it’s only fair to show you the faces at the zoo.

The elephant above has caps on his tusks because:

a) They’re bionic
b) It’s his internet connection. What? Elephants are smart!
c) It helps with his painting technique. What? Elephants can paint!
d) He broke a tusk and in order to prevent an infection, they capped his tusks so no one has to stand in line at the pachyderm dentist. I hear there’s quite a line up at that office.

D is correct! I read about it on the internets NOT routed through is dental caps.

There’s another reason why the elephants were all outside during this visit to the zoo. They needed to make room in the elephant enclosure for face painting all the kids for the zoo’s Easter event. We saw beautifully painted faces on kids around the zoo, like Tiger Girl:

And Pink Tiger Girl:

The face painters did such a good job that the line up for faces wanted to be painted was very, very long. While I would have loved to see Allison’s face all decorated in her favourite animal, it’s pretty cute just as it is.

Across the way from the elephants were the camels. They were eating.

Over in the Conservatory, Mike rested in the tropical temperatures, lush plants, and a few butterflies.

And across the way in the Tiger zone…

Gosh! How rude!

Hooray! The plane trip was quick, and our drive home was even quicker. We’re home with the kitties, who were NOT waiting for us at the steps as we predicted. They didn’t come out to see us until they hear the pop! of the wet cat food lid. We left all kinds of bowls of water around the house for them and somehow, all the bowls were dry. One bowl was tipped over. I blame Oscar for that. I caught him pushing his water dish over before with his head. He just pushed it over, bulldozer style.

We had a lovely break in Calgary this long weekend. I’m so happy we got to go, see our family and meet our new second cousin, Cameron. Also, the weather was lovely and Banff was beautiful. The only downside? Too short! And no pie for the flight home! Can you believe it? I wanted to carry one all the way to Vancouver, over-my-head, waiter-style. Maybe next time.

Tomorrow we are back to our regularly scheduled work week. Hopefully I will have good news in the Great Job Hunt of 2012 this week AND I’ll have photos of zoo animals and family members to share with you all. Also, this week will contain Stanley Cup Play-Off activities. The Canucks are in the first round of the play-offs against Los Angeles. Oh the excitement of the upcoming week! Hurrah!