Crazy week

Things are about to get crrazzzehh this week. Not only do I work every hockey game this week (WHOOP!) we're moving in exactly ONE week. Meaning our teeny tiny apartment needs to be fully packed up, which it currently is not... (whomp whomp) So, between working mornings and evenings, and volunteering (which I do now! More on that another time) and training for run...packing has to happen...

It's REALLY hard to pack this place up. In the past, I've been able to pack over the course of a while and store the packed boxes in a separate room or space. Now, I don't have that luxury. There is ZERO space in our tiny home to put ANYTHING, let alone boxes of stuff. I wish I was exaggerating. Maybe I'll post a video so you can see just how NOT possible it is to pack in advance. So, we are just going to give up life for 5 days and pack up EVERYTHING and leave it all in the way and deal. We just don't have a choice!


So before this week goes KABLAMO! I bring you a bit of fun with my faves.

BriTANick • Babies that aren't mine! • Hedgehogs • Showers • 2gether • Fundraising • Vancouver Aquarium • Snow!! (how can anyone not like snow) • Friends • Snowshoeing • Fruit cups • Granville Island Winter Ale • The Library • Skype • That I finally though to bring a blanket to work to keep me warm in this sub-basement! (so cold) • memories • Finally revealing BIG secrets

HA! Left you hanging with that last one didn't I...you should probably stay tuned for the REVEAL very soon....

Skip to the :37 second mark...it's the best I could do.

On that note...what are some of YOUR favourite things?



Snowshoers!

Yesterday, my darling husband and I finally got away for some LONG overdue outdoors time. We've been wanting to get out for weeks but it always ended being gross and rainy. Yesterday was finally a beautiful day and we made it up the mountain!

Having fun

We went to MEC right afterwards to buy our own snowshoes so we could do it more often! It was SO much fun and the views were amazing.

The perfect outdoorsman

 The beauty that is British Columbia

Vancouver from afar.

It was so amazing...I'm not sure we've had that much fun since Mexico. I can't wait to get up there again....it's going to take a while though since we have to move and such. It was so amazing. I feel like I've never seen anything like that before. It was so majestic. I loved it and really want to be able to share that experience with others! What's also awesome is that the people up there want to be up there. So everyone is so friendly and happy and just energized. It's difficult to not feel great up there because the air is so fresh and clean and crisp

What's your favourite outdoor activity?

Bike safety??

Why is it that there are some cyclists out there that don't feel it's nessecary to be safe while out mingling with very large and potentially very painful motor vechicles?

I tweeted at the Vancouver Police Department (@vancouverpd) and they were awesome and quick to respond to direct me to where I could find the bylaws with respect to cyclists. If you want to take a look check it out Pg 34. Section 60.


Bylaws that didn't surprise me BUT too many people in the city of Vancouver rarely abide by.

No person shall ride any bicycle upon any sidewalk except where posted by signs.
  Yes. I see this OFTEN...and it takes ALL my strength to not clothesline this person while yelling sideWALK! My only small revenge is to not move for them. I shouldn't have to. It IS a sidewalk...there is a perfectly good street for you right there! The only except (for me) is children and the eldery (which is impressive in itself).

No person shall ride a bicycle upon a street while wearing headphones
Why does this have to be made clear? Is this not a given? Do you DRIVE with headphones on so that you can't hear anything going on around you? Does this sound like it is even REMOTELY safe?!

Note the oncoming bus..probably honking its horn..

but no..this guy needs his Jo-Bro in the AM.

OR. ELSE.

The above photo leads into the next bylaw

No person shall operate or ride as a passenger on a bicycle on any path...unless the person is properly wearing a bicycle safety helmet that has been designated under or complies with the standards and specifications of the Motor Vehicle Act.
I like my brain. I think most days it likes me too. We all need our heads. So why anyone would voluntarily submit their head to become mush on asphalt is beyond me. To me, a helmet is like a seatbelt. I can't ride without it. Getting into a bike crash is essentially going to be Rachel Leigh Cook smashing up your house, except replace heroin with "without a helmet."



Seriously. It WILL save your life. I'm not going to throw stats at you...but I'm sure we can all figure out the odds of survival when you crash head first into a concrete pillar without a helmet

Futher to this, bike helmets HAVE an expiry date. 3-5 years is the max. (I've heard both) The styrofoam in the helmet will begin to break down and offer less protection. Additionally, they are ONE time use items. One impact and you need a new one...this includes if you drop it.

No person shall ride a bicycle upon a street unless the bicycle is equipped with a bell capable of being used as a warning.
Pedestrians like to wander...they like to loggygag and drift in and out of reality...and YOUR bike lane. While a bell probably isn't going to stop the Jeep Grand Cherokee that is cutting you off, it will make Tommy Tourist jump back about 8 feet when he sees he's taking a photo in the middle of the bike path, not the people path. It's just a good idea. GET ONE.

While not a city of Vancouver bylaw, this falls under the BC Motor Vehicle Act

A) A lighted lamp mounted on the front...a white light visible 150m in the direction the bike is pointed
B) A red reflector...
C) A lighted lamp mounted and visible to the the rear displaying a red light.

(Minor editing for fancy talk)

This (along with helmets) is a law that DESPERATELY needs enforcing. I ride at night very often, and MANY times have nearly crashed into Common Sense himself riding along at night with NOTHING.  Not a reflector, not a light...not a helmet. I've also been a driver at night that has nearly crashed into Captain Camoflauge blending in with the night. Are these people crime fighters? Do they need the stealthy element of surprise? No. They are just idiots. Lights can be as cheap as 4 dollars, reflector stickers can be free. There is no excuse for wanting to be Invisible Girl at night. You die that way. Morons.


These are things that bother me. A LOT. I know there are crimes, and murders and other really bad things happening that need cops...but I would really like to see more attention to the above...I will personally volunteer to patrol the seawall and ticket all the crazies I see with death wishes. PLEASE! Vancouver is a HUGE bicycling town and with the addition of dedicated bike lanes to encourage cycling there is only going to be more of these anti-safety pundits putting the rest of us at risk. Selfishness isn't a reason for me to be injured.
Sources:
Vancouver Police Department bylaws
Bike Sense BC

It's Monday!

Another week! Half way through February! We move in exactly two weeks. Crap. So not packed...just booked the truck (hopefully) and we haven't recruited ANY help...derp. Better get moving! So excited though. Can't wait for the space and a new home! NO MORE APARTMENT :D

My hips are SOO sore from yesterday's run...there will be some serious yoga this afternoon!! But for now, here is everyone's favourite feature :D

This cup of coffee • yoga • family • Daria • Papasans • Crocheting! (so easy on the bus) • The beach • Eggies (Mini Eggs SUCK) • Mac computers • Healthy snack day! • My sister • Julian Smith • Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego (especially the music from the TV show...)

I couldn't find the real ending...so here is a sing along :D

Anyway...I have a lot of blog topics I really want to get around to posting...but I just seem to be SOOO busy...it's annoying really....The next couple of weeks are going to be mental with moving and I have hockey all month...yaaaay! Busy busy!!!

WOW

Quick run post!

I just had the BEST run of my life...I don't even know where it came from! I last ran on Tuesday I think...It wasn't easy, usual amount of toughness. Ran down to what was known as LiveCity Yaletown during the Olympics and back. Nothing special.

But today...I just hit the ground FLYING. I was so steady! And I felt so fast! I was taking strides and just going! Since I got back into running, I've had to start with a 5 minute light jog to warm up and then I could do 10 and 1s...but today I just went right into the 10 and 1s. It was GREAT! I ran all the way to the Aquarium and back. Nearly 6k!! I also beat my previous 5k times by 4 minutes!!! That's insane!!


I just feel so great about that run. It felt like I was possessed by someone who was actually fit :D!


I'm having a can of coke now...we're out of milk so I can't recharge with chocolate milk...which I usually have. For some reason after a run I LOOOVE carbon...I wish I had some Perrier!

Monday!!!

It's been a good week. Running wasn't so great. I'm going farther but lately finding it hard to get me motivated to go outside...maybe the change of scenery will do it. Did I mention we're moving?? We found a great new place in a triplex!! Two bedroom and we can have a pet!! So excited!! I don't really like living in apartments, so more space is going to be awesome.

On that positive note!! Favourite things!!

Watching hockey live • Tim Horton's chocolate caramel muffin • Dibs • Ginger ale • Jonmarkphoto.com • Scrabble • 9 AM (quittin time!) • Marine life • My old bed • lava lamps • Drawn Together • Modrobes • Free stuff!! • PVR • Dancing • Michael Jackson • Air popped popcorn • Slippers • Dairy Cows

Yay! I like things. Tonight the Sens are playing the Canucks and we so awesomely have tickets :D! We've been waiting for this since September!! Yipppeeee!!

Canada is killing aquatic life

I found some interesting news yesterday. Turns out that Canada will not support a UN mortatorium on bottom trawling. They are one of the few countries who refuse to sign.

Some countries that are on board? USA, Australia, France, Germany.

So it's not like all the cool kids aren't doing it...in fact all the cool kids DID do it...but Canada is apparently TOO COOL to save marine life..

For those are you who don't know what bottom trawling is




It is essentially the clear cutting of the ocean floor. Not only is the habitat left completely stripped and void of coral and other marine life (thereby preventing any OTHER life from returning to the area) The nets capture everything. So while they might be trawling for Red Snapper, they will also catch sea turtles, anemones, crabs, shrimp, sea cucumbers. EVERYTHNG that is down there will end up in the net.

Once the net is brought up on the boat, only the fish (or whatever is being hunted) will be kept. Resulting in a total waste of life for all the animals caught and not wanted.


Article on bottom trawling



I find it unbelievable that Canada is still on board with this dangerous and deadly practice. There are so many different species of aquatic plants and animals that are being needlessly destroyed.


What can you do?


First and foremost write to your MP. That's what they are there for.


Second. Buy/eat sustainable fish. If you aren't buying the products created from bottom trawling then you aren't supporting those companies. How can you find out? It's SO easy!


Oceanwise has a comprehensive list of sustainable choices, and for those living on the West Coast, a list of sustainable restaurants.


There's also a brand new app for the iPhone/iPod. Visit the app store and search for the Oceanwise app.