Random Weekend

After last weekend, I didn't get too ambitious and plan a huge weekend. I need a rest!

On Friday some people from work went straight from work to a Wine & Beer fest. I decided not to go, but promised to meet up with them after.

They left pretty early and I had some work I needed to get finished, also I couldn't imagine beginning to drink from 3:00 in the afternoon until around 1 in the morning. I walked home and did some clothing shopping for Mike on my way home. When I got home, I noticed that the crew who were filming in our area (God knows what, they are always filming something) were still at it. I thought this was a pretty cool picture of the rain machine. You wouldn't think you'd need it in Vancouver (or maybe it is a snow machine, then you would need it).
So I tried to convince Mike to come out with me, but he was not having it.

I walked a couple blocks to the pub and happened to get there right when a few of my friends were at the very front of the line. I slid in and they let us in seconds later.

Again more clowning for the camera.

People may think that the pics are a bit excessive, but bringing a camera to a party gives people something to do.

We take ridiculous pictures, send them around after and everyone feels like they know everyone a little bit more.
At around 12, I was outside and got a voice mail from Mike. Somehow he was "fobless" and could thus not leave the building to let the dogs relieve themselves.

So I said bye to everyone and headed home, picking up pizza on the way.

We took the dogs for a walk, ate our pizza and went to bed. This is one of the times, where it seems worth it to have dogs.


Today, I woke up, walked the dogs, did some errands and then Mike and I decided to take the dogs to Pacific Spirit park which they absolutely love.

Lately we are getting loads of sun, but it is a bit chilly and windy. I will have to take some pics of all of the cherry blossoms (gorgeous pinks and whites) before the wind knocks them all off.

For some reason the dogs behave extremely well at pacific spirit park which is off leash. I think it has something to do with the fact that they are just running down a path and not expected to interact with other dogs like at a park. Tala just runs right by them with out batting a lash, where normally almost every dog we meet there is a confrontation. Tonight after writing these blogs, I think I will hit the gym and just get a movie. I have been doing entirely too much partying if there is such a thing :)

Bonza Bash

Okay, I would have to say that this was one of the best times I've had in Vancouver to date. A co-worker of mine goes to a huge party in Seattle every year that a few of his friends host to celebrate their birthdays.

He invited some people from work and I was lucky enough to be one of them. This year it was being held in the space needle in Seattle. I think perhaps he also wanted to be the guy who brought 4 lovely girls with him. Either way it was a fantastic time.


I drove up with 3 other girls and we hit a couple of shopping outlets on our way to Seattle.

Then we checked into our hotel room and got ready in 45 minutes (record time) because we spent a teensy bit too much time shopping and the limo was booked to pick us up at 6:30 and could not be kept waiting.

So we went downstairs looking gorgeous if I may say so and the guys met us (all in tuxes) at the front door where the limo was waiting.

Inside, there were bottles of champagne, a TV and music. Sweeeeet!

So we drove around Seattle for a scenic tour and toasted ourselves. Mainly though we took an obscene number of pictures. It was like prom night except with money.

Don't we all look like we were born to do this every day? I know I was!
Hmmm, I think I remember a previous employer telling me I needed a reality check when I asked for a raise. Well I checked and this is my reality baby!

Here are the guys clowning for the camera. Don't they clean up well?

Before going out we went to a fantastic seafood restaurant by the water and were treated to an excellent meal.

We had cocktails to start and some superb white and red wine was ordered.

Then every seafood appetizer you could imagine was ordered from bacon wrapped scallops to oysters in the half shell.

Again, there is no lobster in the Pacific, but I think I can live with that hardship, don't you? ;)

For dinner, I just had a salad because I was soo stuffed from the appetizers. I also ended up having some nice rare steak because the delicious steaks the guys ordered were as big as a human head and there was no way they would finish them.
so back in the limo for more champagne and more pics.

This crew loves to clown for the camera and I am happy to oblige.

This night was like one of those Master Card commercials.

Dress $90, Shoes $40, Earrings $10, champagne fueled, high-class party in a limo? Priceless.



So we arrived at the space needle, which is basically just like the CN tower and the needle that, we have here in Vancouver.

There is definitely something to partying in a 520 foot revolving tower.

The ride in the elevator was breathtaking and a little unnerving.

There were certainly no tour guides here. Just djs and a live band, Oh, my!


There were appetizers and every drink you could imagine.
We danced, sang and met all kinds of people.

Everyone was dressed to the nines and there was no way you could get lost or lose your party, because you were just walking in a big circle.







Here we are out on the observation deck, clowning on one of the binocular stands.

It was an extremely windy night so being outside was like being in a wind tunnel. However the city below looked gorgeous all lit up.

When the party ended at 2AM, we all returned back to our hotel and back to reality.

That was an absolutely fantastic night and I am sure there will be more to come.

We got back and ordered pizza, hit the hay and woke up the next morning bright and early to do some more shopping in Seattle before returning home.

Mike and I are planning a trip to Tofino, (an island near Vancouver where whale watching is on the list) for Chris's birthday so I am sure we will have a fantastic time then as well. Can't wait! Cheers!

Nelly Furtado

A girl I work with had purchased Nelly Furtado tickets...

She needed someone to go with, so I said sure. Then she added that if I could find someone else to go with that would be even better because she was having an expensive month and could use the cash instead.

Mike was talking about it at work because I had asked him and he wasn't too enthused and his buddy Jason said that he though his wife Yuriko would probably love to go. We'd met once before at the Christmas party and I thought that would be great. She was a really sweet girl.
So she came over and parked her car in our garage, and then we walked over to Yaletown to Milestones for dinner.

We had a martini and a bilini...of course and a delish salad.

We had a ton of laughs. I think my Mike and her Jason are kindred spirits. She also has a devil of a time ripping him away from the computer screen.



So we headed on over to the concert which was less than a 10 minute walk to GM Place.

We were just in time to miss the opening act (yes! I am too old for opening acts) and to arrive at intermission so that the lights were on and we found our seats easily.

Score! Awesome floor seats, 17 rows away! Way to go Yasmin!

I was happy over all; Nelly performed all the songs I wanted to hear (Say it right, Maneater, Permiscious Girl, Fly like a bird, etc.), her opening act who did the Permiscious Girl duet with her was awesome and her dancers were fantastic.

She had some odd outfits though...

First there was this black pants, skirt deal with stilettos, then this bright pink feathered dress.


Then here you see her in this all white outfit and finally, of which I have no pics that turned out, they had her in this short gold, sequined dress with an empire style belt and stilettos.

She has put on some weight since she's started having children, but her stylist must be crazy putting her in white jeans and that sparkling dress.

A giraffe would look hippish in that. So after the concert Yuriko and I walked home and said goodbye. We'll have to go out for dinner with the boys next time!

St Patty's Day

So, last weekend was St. Patty's Day.

I don't think I have any Irish blood running through me veins, but who can resist this holiday. It is basically just a huge party.

In the afternoon, I met some friends at this Irish pub called Bimini's. It has foose ball table and a pool table and was all decorated for St. Patty's Day.

There were also these high kicking Irish dancers, that performed. The all had ringleted hair and I later learned after seeing pictures of the parade that every troupe of these dancers wear the same wigs because they bounce when the dance.


I played a few games of pool...











...and some foose ball.

then Mike picked me up and we got ready to go out for dinner with Chris and Rain.

We went to this Malaysian restaurant called the Banana leaf.

I am beginning to love this food as well as Thai food because they cook with cocoanut butter and milk, which I love and of course have found out that this is the fattiest, most artery clogging fat that can be used to cook with. Go figure....

After dinner we went to another restaurant called Joey's for drinks. Their speciality are these absolutely delish mixed slush drinks called Bilinis.

I have never heard this term until I came here but it is liquid and ice crushed so finely it is like a slush puppie. So good!

We phoned JD and Sayo and they met up with us. Here is Chris trying to fight off JD's advances ;)
Too many Bilinis JD!

And look at that! There is Michael! Yea!

Thank you Raymond for shaming him into making an appearance in the blog!

some of th guys out here won't drink the Bilinis because they are "for chicks", but Mike knows what he likes.

Maybe the drinks are causing him to sprout that odd growth out of his head.





Group pic! Waitresses who ask get tipped extra specially well!

Next blog will be my Nelly Furtado concert.

Cheers!

Salsa Anyone?

Last weekend, I went to customer appreciation party that Rain's sister Sayo gave for her clients and referrals.

It was a free Salsa lesson with drinks and very tasty munchies.

The reason why Rain was without a date and needed me to step in was because Chris was in Fredericton.

His mom and her husband's house had burnt down in an awful fire, so he went home to help them out.

The instructors were terrific and watching them was quite entertaining.

I would have rathered watch them than learn myself, but it's always fun to learn something new and Rain was an excellent partner ;0

We learned a couple of cool moves and it would have been nice to have Mike and Chris with us because by the end we thought we were doing pretty well.


Sayo actually takes Flamenco lessons at this studio and after the lesson she practiced her moves with one of the guys from her class.

Sayo and JD really know how to throw a party that is for certain.

They had every drink you could imagine from Mojitos to wine to imported beers and the food was Spanish inspired and very tasty.

I met some very interesting people and had an excellent time...

In other news, Michael will be starting a new job soon. He has increased his salary and now works only 3 blocks from our condo.

That is great because it will be much easier for him to take the dogs out at lunch and I will get more days where I don't have to return home.

I would take more pictures of Michael, but I have a hard time getting him to participate in my activities ;)



I am looking forward to having Michael's parents and possibly his sisters come to visit us in May.

We have reserved the guest suite for them (a suite in the building complex that can be rented a a discounted rate).

I am certain that they will enjoy the area. They will have the gym which includes a pool, hot tub and pool table at their disposal when they come.

I will have to get Mom and Dad to do the same when they visit.

The summer's here are gorgeous, it would be a good time.

I want to wish my sister Heather a Happy Birthday! She is 22. I cannot believe she is 22!

Today on my way home from work, I stopped and bought myself a dress and shoes for the party in Seattle I am going to next weekend at the Space Needle. I can't wait!

It is going to be sooo much fun. Thanks to mom and Dad for sending me my birth certificate to get across the border. The Newfs came through and now I have two, but oh well.

This weekend is St. Patty's Day and I plan on going out with friends tomorrow at a bar and catching the St. Patty's day parade which is only a few blocks away from our place.

Snow Boarding and Sicky Tala

This week I went snowboarding again on Thursday at Cypress. I am really getting the hang of it and am finally beginning to learn how to carve. I only have a couple of more chances before the season will be over.

There was a ton of fresh powder and, it wasn't cold or raining or snowing. After boarding we came in and had some pub food at the bar before heading home.

Tala the sickly little puppy that she is. Has a pretty bad ear infection. To keep her from making it worse, they vet gave us a cone. I think it is hilarious. In case you can't tell from the picture, she isn't too impressed.

She constantly bumps into the walls and Unos is afraid of her.

This weekend we didn't do too much, we rented a couple of movies and relaxed. Today I ran for over an hour on the sea-wall. It was about 10 degrees and the view is so gorgeous that you don't even notice how long you are going for.

There were tons of boats out and the mountains looked spectacular today. I stopped on the beach and listened to the waves lapping before starting home.

Have a great week,

Andrea