Saturday, April 26, 2008

Adventures in the Pacific Northwest Day 2

Day 2 started much better than Day 1, mostly because it didn't start until 7:30am (as opposed to 4:30, ugh!)

We got up and had the free, and pretty good, breakfast at the hotel. I picked the brain of the sweet girl at the front desk and decided to go shopping with my morning alone. (Timothy was attending the morning sessions, something about bridges and building stuff so it doesn't fall down. His job is complicated!) After some great directions, I walked down Pender street to the Pharmasave and bought 2 day passes for the bus. (Aside: the buses are SO easy here. I would venture to say even easier than they were in London and infinitely easier than Mexico City. The bus drivers, though not always in the best moods, were totally willing to tell you how to get where you were going, and announce your stop so you wouldn't get stuck on the bus. It was really awesome. But, then again, I am a big fan of public transit.)

I walked through Pacific Centre Mall out to Robson street. Robson street is one of the shopping areas in downtown Vancouver. I peeked in the Roots store and saw they were having 25% off of everything and resolved to bring Timothy back so we could get some authentic Canadian gear. I enjoyed walking and not buying anything (except for some Japanese candy at this really cute Japanese market) and looking down the streets to see the bay and the mountains! It was so pretty and serene, I felt like I was in my own little movie. I was walking at a leisurely pace to warm my legs up... And if I stopped here, it would sound like a perfect morning.

But, of course, it can't be that easy! Would it be an adventure if it was easy?! Nay, I say thee nay!

I decided to up the pace a little bit, thinking I'd work out some of the soreness from trying to hoof it around Seattle the day before. I'm singing along under my reath to the Caedmon's call song I had been listening to when all of a sudden....

BAM!!!

I'm on the ground. A rogue CD had been left on the sidewalk and I used it to slam my knee to concrete. Concrete and jeans are not forgiving, my friends, not forgiving. I am tempted to post the picture on here. I have a pretty awesome scrape. Lost of flesh gone. I'm hardcore.

Anyway, by then it was 11:20ish and I was to meet hubby at 12:ooish, so I pulled my sniffling self up and hobbled to the bus stop. One of the people from the hotel outside of which I fell came out so see if I was alright. Oh yeah, it was bad. But, I politely, if not a little sniffly, said no, and continued on the painful journey to the bus. I made it and made it back to the hotel, so that when my husband arrived, I was laying on the bed with my pant leg rolled up. I got lots of sympathy points from him.

After that, we maneuvered the buses to Stepho's Souvlaki for a lunch of excellent and way too much greek food. I have not had a bad meal here.

We took the bus to Granville island and wandered around the public market, which is a hippie's paradise. A market full of organic food and artisans hawking their wares. It was ok, but the best part was just walking around and looking at beautiful Canada. We took the a boat back to the city and wandered around Chinatown (where I got the coolest little kitsch wallet). Then we went back to the hotel and relaxed for awhile.

Next, Timothy wanted to see the Roots store, so we went. My new favorite Canadian, Pam, helped us find some cool stuff AND gave me stickers to give to my kiddos "all the way from Canada." She was so fun! She laughed at our jokes and we laughed at hers. She sold me a jacket with thumbholes. Awesome.

So, after some contemplation, we decided it was dinner time. Dinner was a bit of a fiasco, since after a walk that was twice as long as the hotel guy said it would be, we were TURNED AWAY FROM THE SUSHI PLACE. The guy was so weird. We were willing to wait for a table, but he didn't want us to. Very surreal experience. But luckily, there is a sushi place every 13 inches here, so we didn't hace trouble finding a replacement. We ate, got sleepy, grabbed a bus back to the hotel, and went to bed.

We'll leave Vancouver today and head back to Seattle. So far this trip has been awesome. I pray that the trip the summer is as good (maybe with less scars).

It's beautiful here, and easy to remember that the Creator is infinite. Staring at the beauty of not only the landscape, but the many different faces surrounding me, I can see the great care God had in creation. I'm also humbled that the One who created all humbled Himself to come and save us. Praise Jesus!! Praise the Father!! PRaise the Holy Spirit that stirs within us to show Himself in creation!! Praise to the Three in One!!

Well, I'll update more later, eh?

Robs

Me being a statue in Chinatown.



Tim Dawg representin' Red Raider style in the B to the C! (What, you didn't know I had a little hip hop in me? I so do.)

Friday, April 25, 2008

Adventures in the Pacific Northwest Day 1

HI FROM CANADA!

We made it! I'm not sure how, but we did!

We left on Thursday morning from our house at 5am. That's really early, even for an elementary teacher! We were on the plane at 6:30 and in Dallas by 7:30. We left again at 8:55 and after a stop in Albuquerque, we made it to Seattle by Noon Seattle time.

Then my bag got lost! I should be given credit, and my husband will back me up, I didn't get upset! They told me they'd call me if it cane in on the 3:00 plane. So, it was off to lunch and the SPACE NEEDLE!!!

We. Had. Fresh. Fish.

See, for all of us who live in and LOVE Texas, there is this amazing this off to the left and right side of the rest of the country called THE OCEAN. Good fresh fish comes from there, and I think it might taste like heaven.

But seriously folks, we went straight to the closest sushi bar to the Space Needle. It was delicious! We were so happy! After some recuperating from our long day, we left to go to the SPACE NEEDLE!!!! I took some time as we walked over to video tape a short segments for my kiddos at school about the Space Needle and where we were.

The Space Needle was so cool. There's a coffee shop at the top, and a restaurant above it! It has a beautiful view. Timothy and I enjoyed just sitting and staring out at the Pacific Northwest.

As an aside right now, this area is SO beautiful!! I can't believe it. I think I could live here in a heartbeat.

Just as we were trying to decide where to walk next, Southwest called with my luggage! They even called early! Go Southwest! Sooooo, we took the Monorail back to the bus and went back to the airport. (The transit system is AWESOME! In Downtown Seattle, the buses are free from like 6am-7pm!) Southwest even gave us a $50 travel voucher for having to come back to the airport to pick up our luggage.

At this point, we had to go to the train station to catch our bus to Vancouver, and by the time we got a sandwich and got on the bus, we were exhausted. The story could have ended here...

But then there's the BORDER!!!'

I guess I look like a frightening terrorist, because the teeny tiny border patrol girl felt the need to interrogate me... All the normal questions and a look of surprise when I told her I'm a teacher.... Did she expect me to say narcotics smuggler?

No, no... It was fine, they were just kinda rude about everything. Guess we're not in Texas anymore! We got to our hotel (after using Vancouver public transit, pretty awesome!) and checked in and fell asleep as soon as we got to the room.

So, now we've had breakfast and the cute little Canadian girl at the front the desk told me where to go shopping until Timothy can get out for lunch. :)

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

No luggage!!



SUSHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!Timothy on top of the Space NEedle

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Sweet Times!

How much fun did I have this weekend?

I had the best time with Jonathan and Meredith... AND LUKE. Meredith had to put up with me talking to her stomach every 45 seconds. It's a good thing they love me, or they would be so annoyed. Jonathan told us that we had to make our decisions on moving (whenever we get around to that) upon where they are living at the time. We suggested that we might like to live in western Europe, but he said, "No." Then, he recanted on the condition that he and Mere are in Spain. But who knows. Anyway, it's nice that someone wants us to be near them.

We also went to a shower for them and saw Justin and Holly! It was so fun to catch up with them. I hadn't thought for a long time about how well I got along with Justin and was pleased to find that I got along well with Holly, too! (I didn't know her very well, back in the day) The girls from Mere and Jonathan's SF group were way cool. I also got to show off my new tattoo. I felt so cool.

Tim-Dawg and I are going to Seattle and Vancouver starting on Thursday and I am excited AND overwhelmed all at the same time. Hopefully, I'll get everything done in time to be REALLY excited. I just have to get all the sub junk done by tomorrow.

I've got one more thing to say to make Jonathan laugh before I go.

Fortitude.

Oh, and tell Mere and Luke that I love them!

:)

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Calling you to see if you're ok when I'm not around...

My title has nothing to do with what I'll write. It's just the song lyric in my head.

Here's the first blog! Woo hoo!

I wish I had something profound to say on here, but at the moment, I've gone all pumpkin (which basically means it's after 9pm and my brain has shut down).

We had dinner with our favorite "part of the family" across the street. They love us way too well. Far more than we deserve. Thank you Jesus, for making a family out of your rag-tag group!