If we do, in fact, live in an ‘alternate reality’, where tea parties and trips to feather our nest are the most memorable activities, then having witnesses might come in handy. This week, some old friends who were neighbors of our’s in Cambridge are in town. Glenn and Bethany have been treated to the best weather in months. Today’s Sun Run, a 10K race through Vancouver, was indeed a run in the sun. I could quibble about the temperature (about 11˚ or 12˚ C), but it really was a gorgeous day. The rhododendrons and azaleas are out, and the snow-capped mountains are clear.
While the news reports from the US are of more soldiers dead in Iraq, another message from Osama Bin Laden, and an over 60% jump in home foreclosures in the US, the scene here seems pretty idyllic. An alternate reality? Sometimes I do have to wonder.
Dude. It wasn’t “alternate reality,” it was “parallel universe.” Never, ever misquote a German!
Love the pic, though. Used to bum around Vancouver and eat Vietnamese food, back in the day.
Hey, me and a lot of my friends in the VRWC wish you’d write less about nest-feathering and give us more of the gritty, hardcore Chimpuh Bu$Hitler-bashin’ that got us reading your blog in the first place. Yeah, we riff on you a lot, Davey, but we give you props for at least having the nads to put your money where your mouth is and get the hell outta Dodge. Nothing worse than an American asshat whining about “living in occupied AmeriKKKa.” Oh, boo hoo hoo!
Sorry for the misquote, Pete. Parallel Universe is a better term, as well.
I’m looking for a good Vietnamese place, by the way. So far the best Goi Cuon (salad roll) that I’ve had was on Commercial Drive, but it wasn’t great. I hear that down Kingsway there’s a whole section of Vietnamese places, but without a car, it’s a little tricky to get down that way, not knowing the bus routes in that direction. (One of my goals in the next 3–5 years is to take a culinary tour of Vietnam).
You’re right, I used to do more Bush-bashing, and then thought I was just getting too angry (and it was too much of the same). The fact is, the more he’s visible and his approval rating goes down, the easier (and less interesting) a target he becomes. Karl Rove and Dick Cheney (counterparts to Goebbels and Goering, perhaps?) are scarier, despite the slapstick hunting escapades of the latter.
I do have a graphic taken from the recent cover of Rolling Stone that has Bush sitting in the corner wearing a dunce cap and an imbecilic grin, with the headline ‘Worst President Ever?’. Maybe it’s time to trot that one out.
As for the liberals who sit and whine, I’ve learned that there are many obstacles (real and yes, imagined) that keep people from acting on their plans. For us, everything practical lined up (family, savings, lack of a job with a ‘career track’, death of an ailing parent and an old pet). I guess we just saw a window of opportunity, and dove out of it.
I still think your politics are wack, David, but I’m done hatin’ on you. You’re just too nice of a guy. Sorry.
(Really, I am.)
ps the best Vietnamese food I had was at a little place on Davie St. But this was back in the seventies. I doubt it’s even there anymore…
What can I say?
Thanks for the tip on Davie. Lots of restaurants there, so it might take a while to find the Vietnamese one, but I’m game.
Should you ever find yourself back in these parts, hope you’ll consider the truce still in effect.
The place I went to on Davie was a real hole-in-the-wall joint. Kind of modern inside. They had a soup called “Ko” that I will never forget.
S’funny you should mention it. I was just talking to my soon-bride-to-be and she said, “Have you ever been to Vancouver? I’d love to go to Vancouver.” To which I responded, “Heh.”
I lived for years in Spokane and then in Fruitland (near Coulee Dam) WA. Also lived in Seattle and Everett. The picture you put up on your blog (of Vancouver on a sunny day) brought some of that back. I used to be able to see Mount Baker out my living room window in Everett; I lived in Spokane when St. Helens blew and we had an inch of ash in our front yard. Fun.
My brother lives near Boston now. He actually works at MIT. Tell you one thing–from someone who has spent considerable time in both cities–I’ll take Vancouver over Boston any day of the week!