A NEW Phone – and it Actually WORKS!

My Samsung RH500 has been inexplicably unreliable from the very first day it shed its plastic wrapping.  Its sleek body and modern visage gave no sign of its temperamentalism as I slid it out of its Telus-splashed box; I was instantly entranced by its slick novelty and the way it put my old chunky Fisher Price-like mobile to shame. 

But I ended up sending it back to the manufacturer after only three weeks – the battery would die without any warning (we’re talking full bars to black screen here), texting was a total shot in the dark, and phone calls would take a good thirty seconds to go through after dialing and hitting “SEND”.

Still, I stuck with the replacement I received after that for a good year and a half.  I have to admit its sophistication held me back from hating it flat-out, despite various episodes of acute frustration.  I was never ready to fully believe I owned a shitty phone.  Unfortunately, my loyalty and naiveté could not stretch beyond this sad state of affairs:    

My patience for this phone was literally hanging by a thread.  Kid myself I could no longer.  I needed a new phone – because of course, living without is just NOT an option!  So I marched down to the Telus outlet off Granville with the intention of playing up the 10-years’ loyalty card and winning a decent replacement.  I was sadly disapppointed – Telus would NOT give me any type of deal or discount on a replacement handset, even though I can’t make use of their service (ie give them money) without one.  So much for customer appreciation!

So my next move was to check out the selection at London Drugs.  Twas there that I found my new best mobile, vibrating pocket buddy:

The LG Banter.  Suitable name for a phone in my possession, n’est-ce pas?  At first I was turned off by the idea of no longer owning a flip phone, but I got over it fairly quickly.  I figure a full pull-out keyboard is a good exchange. 

Adapting to this new method of texting has been a bit precarious, but I feel like it’s worth the temporary discomfort.  The awesome selection of ring tones and wallpaper  adequately offsets the friction of change, and it certainly helps that it’s yet another step up the ladder of modern electronic beauty (the menus are brilliant!).

 

So far I’ve been very (maybe overly) impressed with this new buddy of mine, possibly because of its stark contrast to my previous fair-weather friend.  Imagine: all my texts go through to the desired recipient instantaneously, the battery life outlasts my own by a good three days, and efficient doesn’t even begin to describe the ease with which I make phone calls these days!  Who would’ve thought a phone would actually WORK? PLUS the first test of its camera was an MGMT concert at the Commodore, and it passed with colours that literally flew.  Recipients of my texts and calls, you now know the source of joy from which my messages abound!

iPod Swap

My new FAVOURITE thing about riding the bus.

Don’t ask me what my previous favourite was… Probably the freedom from parking woes, or more importantly, the environmental friendliness.

But nevermind that.  Let me explain myself, since I’m sure iPod trading is not (yet) a commonly recognized concept.

I was riding the bus home on a sunny Wednesday afternoon following a rather draining group appointment downtown, gratefully allowing my iPod to rock the blues away.  Traffic both in and outside the vehicle was heavy, but at the first stop on the good ol’ North Shore the aisles cleared. So I found a seat across from a guy perhaps four years my senior who was equally immersed in his iTouch.  I was idly scrolling through my songlist when it occured to me that a crackerjack opportunity was within reach at that very moment.  Why, not only did I have hundreds of my own mp3’s at my fingertips  – only inches away was another device compatible with my earbuds, on which resided countless more songs for me to peruse!  I pulled the jack out of my iPod and offered it to my counterpart in the opposite seat, tapping him on his knee to gain his attention and raising my eyebrows in amity.

After a moment’s hesitation, he grinned in a “why not?” sort of way and disentangled himself from his iTouch.  The swap was made, and within seconds I was (clumsily) navigating the touch screen through a whole new music library.  What FUN!  So many of my favourite artists’ names jumped at me, but hundreds more that I’d never heard of, or had very little familiarity with.  The songs I wanted to hear numbered so great that I never played any of them through entirely.  But that’s okay – since then, I’ve downloaded as many of them as I remember onto my own iPod!  

 

PS: apologies for the lengthy absence of fresh material!!!

The Monster Acadia

I’m NOT a fan of big cars.  Most of the time, they make me feel sick and completely disappointed in our society.  But usually it’s because these monstrosities are icons of excess, and completely unnecessary wherever I’ve seen them.

In THIS case, however, I have to say this enormous beast of a car is EXACTLY what we needed for our week in Palm Springs:

This boxcar seated seven out of the eight people in our party with lots of legroom and equitable comfort    (meaning that I mean the passengers in the back seats were accommodated just as luxuriously as those in the front).  Each seat had access to a separate air conditioning vent that could be rotated/adjusted according to preference – this came in handy as our temperature tolerances varied widely!  The interior was a rich black with thick leather upholstery that pleased the skin and eased the joints after long hikes in the sun.  Better yet were the tinted windows that blocked the unforgiving UV rays from drying up the cooled body.  Even when we filled every seat, we still managed to cram in our luggage, and later, our formidable grocery loads.

Best of all was the sound system!  Blue-tooth enabled, high-quality speakers with adjustable front/back balance, iPod plug-in, reliable radio, control buttons on the steering wheel for convenience and safety.  Very sleek.  Dad was impressed by the temperature gauge and the compass, and of course wasted no opportunity to inform us of their readings.  

Thing was, the tank guzzled gas voraciously and cost upwards of $50 US to fill.  So the verdict was we could drive this car again in future, maybe even as our personal vehicle – but that doesn’t mean we would.

Starbucks Good-for-a-Cause Cards

True – Starbucks cards in general are nifty in design and convenience… many of the girls in the store have their little collections going, and some of the more exotic ones from places like Hawaii or Stockholm are stunning.  But the cards that really get me smiling (and rambling on and on about with innocent unsuspecting customers) are ones like these beauties:

 

They’re part of the Starbucks’ Shared Planet commitment that’s grown immensely over the past decade, to the benefit of many and relief of others.  Its responsibility focus encompasses community, environment, ethical sourcing, wellness, and diversity – SO awesome; it’s really what every company should be doing, says I the ethical enthusiast, to whom these sorts of considerations seem nothing short of instinctive.    The company has teamed up with campaigns like (RED) and Conservation International by creating these giftcards that donate 5 cents to the respective cause with every purchase made.  There are also tons of new merchandise that support similar initiatives.

We’ve had the (RED) cards in Vancouver for ages, and I’m continually shocked by how few people – even those who own and use them – know anything at all about the program.  Every time I see one as I’m operating till, I leap with excitement and chatter on about why they’re so great.  This is a start:

 

I hadn’t ever heard of the Preservation cards before this month though!  One day at work a customer pulled one out and it caught my eye right away (as interesting Starbucks cards do).  She told me they supported Conservation International, and she’d gotten it in the States.  What a perfect coincidence, I thought, I’m off to Palm Springs in a week!!!  Thus I’ve made a point of visiting a few Starbucks locations around town while I’m vacationing to pick up handfuls of these pieces of brilliance.  They must think I’m crazzzzzy…

C’mon, you’ve got to admit that these are cool.  They’re just like any other Starbucks giftcard – you load ‘em up, swipe ‘em instead of your credit card in exchange for your favourite Starbucks products, and walk away satisfied that you’ve treated yourself (and if you’re really on the ball, you’ve registered your card online and saved a bunch on syrups, milk, and espresso shots) – only now 5 cents is donated to a well-deserving not-for-profit organization aiming to improve the world beyond your daily caffeine fix.  No additional cost to you, the card carrier – your satisfaction may actually by heightened by the knowledge that by treating yourself today, you’re giving back a little.  So WHY, I ask, would you ever go back to using the regular, run-of-the-mill, socially unattached giftcards?  These days I use NOTHING but my (RED) card at Starbucks, and I love that my partner discount stretches its donating capacity a little further.  Why wouldn’t I love the union of coffee and humanitarian projects, two of my favourite things??  

 

dormir sous les étoiles

Of course, there’s something magical about lying under the starry night sky in any situation, but this is the first time I’ve done it in the SoCal desert.  Quite a change from the determinedly brisk Vancouver climate! I’ve been talking to friends on Skype, and they’ve talked about how great the snow is on Whistler right now… in the meantime I’m experiencing a slight epidermal shock as the sun beats down proudly upon the sand and mountains, flagged by wispy palms.  I can’t even remember what snow is like…

At the moment, however, the sun has retired and the air is pleasantly cool.  I’m stretched across the wicker loveseat on some remarkably soft cushions, and the idea of falling asleep out here is far more appealing than dragging myself indoors.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camped out in this little cabana, I am at piece.  This is really what I needed from this trip – not the wild outlet mall sieges, not the excessive margarita consumption, not the Hollywood swimming pools, suntans, or sportscars; the simple star-strewn canopy and the serene ambience are without a doubt the prime sources of rejuvenation.

This is beauty, peace, and comfort in a single location.  It inspired in me such contentedness that I’ve adopted this corner of our bungalow as my place of residence for the next week, regardless of whatever the other tenants might have to say about it.

 

Maybe the rest of Palm Springs needs all the other stuff to find such contentedness.  Each unto his own.  I’m grateful once again, however, that I’ve come to know that I as a human being possess the capacity to experience such a sensation, and we’re all worth the effort to find it for ourselves.

Space to Breathe

I had about 20 minutes or so between appointments today, and there was no way I was going to pass them indoors when the sun was smiling so warmly on our monster city.  I knew of the time gap ahead of time, and had the foresight to bring a book with me – but the amiable weather was not something I dared to expect.  Hence I was so jazzed when my somewhat gloomy group finished and I walked out to find the storm clouds evaporate in the sunshine!

 

My feet took me to Nelson Park, a little green space behind St. Paul’s Hospital on Thurlow.  It’s quite something to find that a park this populated can still give a person the space they need to breathe.  Perhaps en plein air the buzz of goings-on is amply accommodated, the natural contentment well-circulated, and the beehive tension aptly allayed (thank GOD!).  In any case, the little lush oasis in the concrete jungle effectively soothed my travails and got me through several pages of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I soaked up some solitude and some whimsical sci-fi, occasionally looking up to watch passers-by, perpetually ecstatic dogs, and pigeons.  All of them seemed to have an air of purpose that was yet unable to intrude upon the serenity of their park visit.  I watched with raised eyebrows as one pigeon stalked another, nipping now and then at tail feathers and pebbles in turn.  So simple and still so extraordinary in the way the eensy weensy break can have such a positive impact.  Even better, I have no doubt that the beneficiaries of the sun and strolls will carry a refreshing optimism with them – maybe as part of a ripple effect?  One can hope!

Honestly, who can’t smile at a sight such as this?  That’s pure joy and liberty right there:

 

 

 

 

 

Awesome Eye Mask

Need I say more?? 

Well maybe not, but I will anyway.  You knew I would…  

I got this little cutie for Christmas this year from my pop, and from that moment I knew I’d love it.  Who couldn’t, I ask you?  It’s perfect for so many reasons…  One being that it’s incredibly silky to the touch.  The material on the back is so soothing on the weary eyes.   Another being that the elastic has little ridges on it that keeps it in place, but not with brutal determination that culminates in torn hair and tears.  The mask is just thick enough to keep the light out without getting too stifling.

Plus this way I’ll know when that creepy sandman stalker tries to contaminate my eyes with his hocus-pocus muck.  (shudder)

I thought this guy would be the perfect model for this:

 

Because let’s face it: who makes sleeping more appealing than a big fuzzy teddy?

The “RECHARGING” message is also ideal because I only really need the mask when the daylight intrudes on my attempts to nap – my attempts to recharge my energizer bunny, who in reality has a limited battery life.  I never used to acknowledge that, and would thus defy any inner pleas for an afternoon snooze.

I still feel a bit sick, a little disoriented, and quite groggy after napping, but I’ve finally realized that these are minor prices to pay for the rejuvenation even half an hour of sleep can achieve.  For the most part, now I can hit the sack if I’m really that tired without much guilt or frustration.  It’s not perfect, but I’m still aiming for progress, not perfection.  

Sparklin’ Star!

My parents threw me a belated birthday party the other night, and to mark my 21st year – coming-of-age in many traditions – they topped my birthday pie with a sparkler… in the shape of a STAR!!

Apple Pie was the ideal request for birthday dessert, and of course sparklers are the only practical sort of candle to stick in a flaky crust with layers of soft fruit underneath.  I had no idea that they’d find me a sparkler like this one though!  I’m so easily amused…  

It was quite extraordinary, the way the little star sparkled… If you’re familiar with sparklers (which I sure hope you are) you know that its a bit of a challenge to get them started – even more so if you’re trying to start a few in unison.  I had two other regular sparklers standing sentinel on the pie, and they were tough to synchronize.  It took forever for one of them to light!

But look at this beauty.  I outlined the star shape in red to make it a little clearer, but maybe that was unnecessary.  In any case, it was an incredible little show once the star was ignited.  The match touched the very tip of the star at the top, and actually split to either side of the star…  You can see in the photo how there are two nebulae going at once:

Watching the star shimmer and spit took me right back to those earlier birthdays. Cake and candle decorations at parties were such a big deal then.  Yet I’m still so fascinated by a good sparkler – clearly my maturity hasn’t quite kept up with the times.  Sometimes I wonder if it’s aging in reverse…. An odd Benjamin Button affair?

 

Here’s a couple of photos of the little dazzler after it retired:

It was a fittingly memorable way to mark the evening, I thought.  I’ll have to look around for more novelty sparklers – maybe they have some other crazy shapes now.  The star shape is probably the most appropriate I suppose.  The best news:  the pie was delicious and I regained eyesight only 30 seconds or so after the sparklers fizzled out.  

Hot Chocolate

Okay maybe this is a bit of a lie – the hot chocolate is really only the thread that holds all of this post together.  The rich warm treat definitely bears a whole different world of meaning for me, at the centre of which is my sister.  Are you getting the impression yet that she’s the centre of my everything right now?

It’s her birthday today.  March 15th – exactly one year and two weeks after mine.  She used to go on about how for a whole two weeks I got to be TWO years older than her, but as soon as March 15th arrived she’d be back on my heels.  I always felt a great deal of disbelief that I’d walk through my life and my baby sister would be stepping those same stones a mere year later.  Like I’d graduate from one school and enter a new one, only to watch her face the same feats so close behind me… but in her own characteristic way.  It’s hitting me now more than ever that so many of the sibling moments I’ve been looking forward to will never come.  But I’m also realizing that we’ve had so many that no other pair could rival.

Like the crazy times when she mastered the steam wand of our very first barista machine and tried to teach me the knack…  and later it was I who delighted in making her the perfect mug of hot chocolate, just the way I knew she liked it.  When we went out on walks or errands, we could always trust the nearest Starbucks to refill our thermal cups when only the last cocoa dregs remained.  She was such a cheeky monkey – whenever I took her for blood tests, she’d remind me with big puppy-dog eyes that the procedure only worked when her hands were warm… and really the best way to make that happen was to go for a tall-in-a-grande 2 pump cinnamon dolce, 1 pump mocha, 130 degree extra whip hot chocolate at my store beforehand.

So today I thought it would be appropriate to present the Recommendations board at work just so.  If I had to be at work while thinking about her, then why not make the whole point?  This way, everyone can celebrate with a loyal customer’s all-time favourite drink.

There are definitely many more pieces of her that I’m thinking of today, but this is probably one of the most recurring, as we all enjoy our various mugs of joy and as I pursue my barista career.  I’m grateful for every such memory.

Tea Lights

I went over to my friends Casey and Shaundra’s house last night for a much-needed yoga practice, just like old times.     Despite feeling completely drained from work, a lingering cold, and some other toils, I knew nothing would stop me from getting there; in fact, all of those strains necessitated the yoga even more.

Miraculously, thoughts of stress and fatigue evaporated even as I climbed the steps to the front door.  No doubt this had a lot to do with the sight of Casey and Shaundra leaping off the sofa to answer my knock!  The exuberant hellos and heartfelt hugs were enough to relieve the weariness from my smile.  We set up our mats right away, and the twins surprised me with an assortment of tea lights to attend our meditation.

It was such a beautiful embellishment to the evening!  The flickering beams and dancing shadows made our reunion glow in more ways than one.  Peace and serenity seemed to float through the room as though they radiated from the cheery flames and winsome wax.

I was especially comforted by the way the tiny lights cast not the harshly critical beam of the overhead bulbs on my body, but a sort of kindly gaze that sought features more abstract than size or shape.  It was a relief to freely focus on deeper sensations in my joints and muscles, my lungs and abdomen – the rejuvenating stimulation of the yoga practice – without the disruption of self-appraisal and degradation.

Tea lights are definitely one of my favourite ways to dress up a room – for any occasion!  They’re such a simple addition to table settings and mantlepieces that nevertheless create a striking effect.

this little light of mine…

i’m gonna let it shine.

let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…