Happy Valentine's Day. Stay Creative.

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

Get-HER done

For a few days now I've been going around trying to understand a new tv purchase. One guy friend went with me yesterday, but we didn't find anything fabulous sale wise, nor did we really know what brand to buy - just looking at 40" - 42" screens, while finding that magic combination 1080p/ 120H.

At the end of the day yesterday, I called my YOUNGER brother and he said he'd meet me at some place called Open Box on Marine Drive in Vancouver at 10:30 AM. So this morning I hook up my Garmin GPS and make my way over there for 10:30 a.m. on the dot.
No Christopher.
I call him.
Chris: "Oh - are you there?"
Me: "Yes Chris, I'm here. Where are you? "
Chris: "I'm at home."

The sketchy Open Box place wasn't even open yet, so I drove over to next door to Visions. Met a nice fellow to assist me in narrowing down my decision, which was based on price. Dreadful time for me to be purchasing something like this. Anyways, who among us can do without a tv?

So I've purchased the Sony Bravia - without any help from the chumps I know - got in in the car and out of the car and up my 3 storey walk-up apartment.

Out of the box, stand put together, plugged in to the wall, hooked up cable. Cannon understand if I need the little digital box thingy that I had for the ancient tv.

I cannot figure out how to hook up the Sony home theatre.

I'm in the Initial Setup mode at the moment. The screen says "Channels Found - Analog: 36 Digital: 56. Please allow 30+ minutes to complete.

The table I have it on needs a hole drilled out for the back for the wires from the Sony home theatre thing and digital box. That would be fine, but I can't figure out how that thing attaches to the new tv anyway. There are a lot of wires from the speakers. I'm working through this, like I work through EVERYTHING else around here.

Oh - the tv is now emanating jazz music. Looks like it's stop searching for channels. I guess I'll press the arrow button to continue.

Just another dream house...this one from Country Farmhouse blog.

Bill Murray, you make it all better

Waiting for this one...

Gastown's Gamble in Love

This morning I discovered through Fred Lee's Twitter feed, a new local reality series called Gastown Gamble. It will air Wednesdays on OWN and gives me one more reason to break down and purchase a new flat screen television. Yes - I still own a cube television tucked away in an armoire. But I digress. Gastown Gamble is the story of how "loud and shiny" Mark Brand and his wife Nico, begin to undertake the revitalization and renewal of the Vancouver institution - Save On Meats, which, after-all, had closed it's iconic doors in March of 2009 having served this city for over fifty years.

So what's the fuss all about? Well, for one thing, hard-working, restauranteur Mark Brand, (he is a partner in Vancouver's coolest places to hang and eat - Boneta, The Diamond and Sea Monstr Sushi) and his wife Nico, are awesome.

And the other thing? Ground zero happens to be the sketchy location of what we refer to as the Lower Eastside - not the happiest place on the planet, but in the past few years, this portion of YVR is becoming more approachable and getting a better wrap because of the care and attention from cool, caring people who believe in our city. It's a fabulous story and beats the crap out of watching another episode of Survivor (that's just so passe).

The undertaking of the transformation was huge. I mean when you think of this...

Going to this...
Well that's pretty wonderful.

And don't we just love the idea of the young couple giving it a go - not owning a fancy house or a car, but believing in their business that stands right smack in the middle of where no dreams seem to come true - the Eastside. So that might be changing too. There is something to be said of the compassionate and passionate sentiments of Mark Brand -

“Nico and I don’t own a home or a car. We own our business and we’re totally comfortable with that. We’re peeling it back and being a positive force in the community.”

Another very cool thing: the Brands started is a meal program in the neighbourhood - 600 some odd meals a day are given to nourish at-risk people! That's serving the community, literally. Way to go.

All this is wonderful inspiration is being produced by Vancouver-based television company, Lark Productions. You just can feel the momentum of Vancouver start to percolate can't you?

Read more on Scout (plus Scout has fantastic photographs for their set)

and on Word of Mouth Blog.

43 West Hastings Street

Open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

This is the FUNNIEST thing I have seen in a LONG TIME!

No clutter, just simple and creamy-dreamy

Simplicity

There is such simplicity in this fireplace. It's old school for sure, but creamy white paint over the bricks just makes this fireplace quaint. And I like it.

Transformations

I couldn't help but post this transformation. I looked back and forth at the photos trying to see what exact difference was - I didn't notice it was about the drapes! What a brilliant idea...RIT - who knew?

so ya just nik em

Christmastime is here

The truth about this cat

Not sure what one has to do with the other...but that's where I'm at

I purchased these Boutique 9 black suede pumps last Tuesday on sale...

They're great because the heel is not a spike. I can't wear those type any more. I have a gorgeous suede pump with a high spike heel -- and I just look at them in the closet. They're just not practical. You need heels that you can run around and get things done in. I am all for looking sharp and of course shoes make the outfit. But really, don't break your neck.

The Hiatus of 8-5

It's Friday and day 3 of being out of my position with the Mayor's Office. A fantastic opportunity it was, but alas, my fearless leader had made her decision to not run for re-election. Not an easy gig - particularly in the fashion she ran her Administration - on high octane, to an impeccable standard, and to the very best of level of democracy.

As 2011 comes to a close and I begin to suss out a new post, hopefully in the political realm, I will take it easy on myself. Going forward sans Blackberry, hours in front of a small screened PC, millions of details to cope with and negotiate through on a daily basis, these are the things I am looking forward to...

Just another night. In the cold city.

Winter came symbolically early, but in the physical, I suppose you could accuse it of being late. The slender leaves still clung wholeheartedly to the weeping willow outside in the front yard, and white blossoms still engulfed a protected geranium on my deck. Why was winter symbolically early? Because before I knew it, summer was faint and wilted. My summer vibration of light, energy, nervousness, sickness and obsession was completely and utterly invisible. Gone.

Final words

Do you think she knows something I know something about?

“If you have to ask someone to change, to tell you they love you, to bring wine to dinner, to call you when they land, you can't afford to be with them.”

“It's never good to fall in love with someone whom you'd have to stab in the eyeballs to elicit a response.”

― Sloane Crosley, How Did You Get This Number

Occupy Wall Street is on.

Another Blog: Hygge House

Among the many beautiful blogs I try to visit on a daily basis, I love Hygge House. I'm especially impressed with creative bios and descriptions of personal sites. Here is what Alex Beauchamp writes about her Hygge House blog...

The Danish word Hygge (hu-gah) is a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary everyday things simply extraordinary; whether it’s using real lights on a Christmas tree or breaking out the good wine when friends come over. It’s about owning things you only truly love or that inspire, being present in yourself and your life, putting effort into your home without being Martha Stewart or buying a bed in a bag. It’s about being conscious and authentic from home to work to friends to celebrations and making all events {no matter how big or small, mundane or exciting} matter. Words like cosiness, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, fellowship, simpleness and living well are often used to describe the idea of Hygge.

Isn't that brilliant? She's convinced me! A beautiful philosophy...So do things that are fun, nourish the soul and find ways to incorporate that into daily life. By creating simple rituals without effort, such as brewing real tea with a little china cup every evening to stopping at the farmers market every week to buy flowers. See domestic and personal life as an art form and not every drudgery to get away from.

Tender as a crystal

I was ready to tell
the story of my life
but the ripple of tears
and the agony of my heart
wouldn't let me

I began to stutter
saying a word here and there
and all along I felt
as tender as a crystal
ready to be shattered

In this stormy sea
we call life
all the big ships
come apart
board by board

How can I survive
riding a lonely
little boat
with no oars
and no arms

My boat did finally break
by the waves
and I broke free
as I tied myself
to a single board

Though the panic is gone
I am now offended
why should I be so helpless
rising with one wave
and falling with the next

I don't know
if I am nonexistence
while I exist
but I know for sure

When I am
I am not
but
when I am not
then I am

Now how can I be
a skeptic
about the
resurrection and
coming to life again

Since in this world
I have many times
like my own imagination
died and
been born again

That is why
after a long agonizing life
as a hunter
I finally let go and got
hunted down and became free
(Rumi)