The Canada Line

Yesterday we rode the brand new Canada Line for the first time!

I wanted to do a test run to the airport cause I'm planning on taking it there next weekend when I go to see Emily, Heather, Kim and my brand new nephew!

That's right! Kim went into to labor last night and I might be an aunt right now, but don't know for sure yet. I'm very excited!

The station is only 4 min walk from the condo on Davie and Drake.

We went down and everything is so new and clean

Here is Mike paying at one of the terminals. $2.50 compared to $35.00 in a cab to the YVR?!?!?!?! Can't beat it.

Here it is, it's completely computer controlled and extremely sophisticated.

There are little benches at the station and a digital clock that tells you how far away the next trains are.

I love it! Such a big city thing to have a sub-way and it's so fast it's unbelievable, I couldn't believe how quickly we got from station to station.

Over all with the walk to the station and the worst-case-scenario wait, it's the same amount of time as a cab to the airport, but potentially quite a bit less.
When you get nearer the airport and at the airport stop, there are terminals to check in at the airport!

How cool is that? I myself check in the day before online to avoid the lines, but this is awesome.

When you get out of the station, you arrive right at domestic departures and right next to the security doors to the departure gates. Fantastic!

On all the cars there are attendants who can answer all your questions about the stops, arrival times, etc.

On the way back we saw our attendant open the control panel to make and adjustment and he even honked the horn a couple of times for the kids up in the front. Pretty cool.



So after we walked around a bit at the airport, we took the train back and had some lunch outside as it was a beautiful day.

We came home, got ready and then walked to a pub with our neighbor-friends to watch a UFC fight.

It was a really good fight and I think I'm getting a bit into UFC. It is really entertaining and a lot of the people in our building and neighbor buildings are into it so great way to make friends.

While I was there, Kim texted me and told me here water broke. I spoke with her briefly, but haven't found out what happened yet! I'm so excited to see my little nephew. I'm really extra happy she's had him right before my trip! Perfect timing Kim, way to go, ha!

Today is another gorgeous day. Mike has gone on a bike trip to Whistler with some of the people from last night. He didn't have insurance on his bike, but they told him that the insurance place that is 5 min from our house is open on Sunday's and he can purchase insurance for a day! So convenient, that's awesome. I opted not to go. That bike is not comfortable long-distance for the passenger. I'm going to go to yoga, get outside and enjoy the sun and maybe do some shopping.

Very good weekend! woohoo!

Summer Fun

Recently they had the yearly fireworks competition here.

We saw almost all of the shows, but by now, I know better not to try and take pictures, they never turn out.

One of the nights we went to a friend's house who was also celebrating her birthday.

Check out the sunset over the Burrard Street Bridge!


We've been doing what we call "staycations". Just checking out what there is to do around town during the summer.

It's been a beautiful summer. We tried out a new restaurant on the seawall. Dad this was Fiddlehead Joe's and is now a Pirate themed pub with lots of rum drinks and seafood. Joe must have retired and headed back to NB?

We've also been doing lots of walks picnics and I've really enjoyed the outdoor pool at Second Beach this year and have a pretty decent tan.

One of the things we did was go and see the pride parade for the fist time in our 3 years here.

It was certainly something to see. Very colorful and lots of music. A really great time for all ages lol.

The parade is actually really long. The longest parade I've ever seen and it was a hot day.

I was burning up, I don't know how the drag queens in their heels and makeup managed to do all that walking, but I guess they were suffering for their cause ;)

After the parade there was a whole market set up with some free stuff and a food fair.

Yum, yum, the first thing on my mind was juice and a Popsicle. It was hot!



















Other than the parade we've been going on some long walks and bike rides and doing little picnics outside. We've been taking the dogs to the park and Mike had been doing the grind regularly and hitting the gym too.

I'm really looking forward to going to seem Emily, Heather and Kim in Edmonton too for the Labour Day long weekend.

I'm planning on riding the Canada Line which has opened and goes directly to the airport. I'm going to try and do a trial run before the day I leave. I hear that the stations on the way to the airport have check-on kiosks right in them, very convenient!

Fredericton Trip

This summer in late June/Early July, Mike and I made the trip to Fredericton to see visit family and friends.

We dropped the puppies off at the kennel and then took a flight to Freddy. For the first time ever, I was searched at the airport for having "trace chemicals" on my person! Whatever that means, I don't know and they didn't find a thing.

We arrived and Mike's parents picked us up and it was raining. It was very warm and humid and the air was just dripping with condensation.

The next day we went up to Woodstock to see Grammie and Mike went with us. He's never met my Grammie and he decided it was about time.

Before we went to see Grammie we stopped at Nanny and Grampie's so that I got to see them the first day. They looked very well and we had a good time catching up. I was very happy to see them.

Grammie looked good and her little dog was still certainly alive and kicking.

Here's Dad pushing down a tree with his bare hands, cause that's what you do in Woodstock. ;)

The whole time we were in Fredericton, it rained or was overcast. There was one day where the sun came out for about 5 minutes and I certainly enjoyed it.




The first night I wanted to take our parents out for dinner as a bit of a belated Father's Day present.

I picked Brewbakers as the food is generally pretty good.

We had lots of wine an good food and had a great dinner with everyone.

Love this photo, we all look our best.
The next day was Canada Day. For dinner we went up to the Blanchard's and had a really nice spagetti dinner.

We had a great time talking about old times and drinking a little too much beer and wine.

We actually ran out of beer and wine, drank it all! The next day, Mike was a little rough. Mike and his Dad got into the whisky when they were watching the old family videos :) Good Times!














The next day I went out for dinner and drinks with Amanda who I hadn't seen in years and Trevor.

We had a little dinner at Cannon's Cross and then Trevor was nice enough to let me crash his place and have a little party.

A couple of friends came over and I bought a bunch of beer and we had a little party around the fire which was nice.

That night I was the one who stayed out way too late and had way too much to drink. I had a fantastic time with some old friends.














The next day we were to have a lobster dinner at Mom and Dad's.

I slept most of the day and was really hoping that I'd feel better soon because I wanted to enjoy my lobster, mmmm.














I was very grateful that Mom and Dad had a very nice lobster dinner for me with all the family and all the trimmings. It was awesome.
Mike was very nice to grill the steak for the surf and turf.

Here he is digging into his lobster with a mug of Moose.






















All in all we had a good time even if the weather didn't cooperate.
Our flight was fine and the next day we got to pick up our little stinky babies.

I missed them so much!

They'd just had a bath at the kennel and smelled very nice.

Vancouver Jazz Festival

I haven't blogged about the Fredericton trip yet, I know, but it will be a longer one and it's just too nice to blog lately so these quickies will have to do for now :)

When we were in Fredericton, the Vancouver Jazz Festival was going on. We managed to catch the last two days of it when we got back to Van. Right outside a stage was set up in David Lam Park.

There was a huge stage, a beer garden and little tents for shopping not to mention all the junk food.

There was everything from corn on the cob, to mini donuts, chicken slouvaki and ice-cream.

Mike and I had a few beers in the beer garden and enjoyed the music.

I browsed the booths and picked up a few scarves and jewelry.

There were all kinds of activities for kids from hoola hoop contests to crafts and the mural below that the kids were colouring.


We had a great time and it was a nice finish to our vacation and I felt refreshed to go back to work the next day.