Canadian Checklist

Things I have yet to do during my visit here:

** Watch a Canucks hockey game in a sports bar. (Like I'm a hardcore Hockey fan. NOT!...but it makes me nostalgic for my country of origin. Perhaps I will become hardcore in absentia.)
** Eat a donut... or even better, a box of Timbits at Tim Horton's. (I'm not sure about drinking a Double-double. I think I've become a coffee snob.)
** Eat a Dilly Bar at Dairy Queen. Is it a problem that my checklist mostly consists of food and eating?
** Drink a Sleeman's Honey Brown Ale. (at least one.)
** Buy something at The Bay.

Her name is Darcy, and she is not my "Good Buddy".

...Well, she is, and I love her. She is, however, too good a friend to describe with a CB handle. She deserves better than that! (This is perhaps a Tribute Post!) She flew to Victoria especially to hang out with me for 5 days, and we had a great visit...and we will have THE BEST VISIT EVAH when we meet in Hawaii in October!
This time, it was generally a (an?) hangout vibe: we ate out at good restaurants, went to the gym for workouts, went for walks and visits and parties, and talked and talked and talked. I can harly wait until we meet up again later in the year!!

Smart Women Having Babies

My friends Linda and Darcy are both happily pregnant. Linda is due any day now, and Darcy will have her third child in April. I have confidence now in Canada's future generation!

Out and About

My best friend, Darcy flew into Victoria from Calgary,and she I have spent some time wandering around the city. It's been good weather,albeit freakin' cold! We discovered that to be completely comfy, 4 - 6 layers of thermals and jackets are necessary, and even ankles need to be covered! Despite the sun, views of the city were somewhat underwhelming from the Observatory at the top of Gonzales Hill. (The Observatory always looks cool, though.)
Yesterday, I made Darcy walk way too far....but we were rewarded with some good views of the harbour, the Olympic mountains and fog banks at the Breakwater,and later on, a belated Christmas Dinner hosted by our friends Lori and Peter.

It's Cold Here

Back in Victoria, BC it is fully Winter. The snow has mostly melted, except for the ice piles left in the corners of car parks. There was frost on the sand and driftwood at the Lagoon this morning. Needless to say, I went for my run wearing long tights, a toque and two long sleeeved thermal tops!

Yes, we do have Crocs in Canada!

Yeah. So if you squint...this piece of driftwood REALLY DOES look like a Crocodile. Um. Yeah.

Departure Checklist

** Hectic last minute souvenir and gift shopping accomplished.
** Warm clothes and everything packed in borrowed Extra Large suitcase.
** 4+ hours sleep.
** Aussie brekkie of Vegemite and tomato on toast with a strong Macchiato.
** Good friends to give you a lift to the airport.
** Good friends with great taste in music to play ACDC's latest album, Black Ice on the way to the airport!
** Big hugs at drop off area at International Departures.
** Trashy mag to read while waiting for boarding.