The Day in Photos

All Photos Were Taken Steps Away from the Road on a Walk Yesterday.
More snow is expect again today.

Quiz Time

I got this quiz from GL. I had a good laugh...
At least they got that part right.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

A Deep Freeze

While yesterday's problem was all that snow, today's problem are the power outages and deep freezing weather, along with sliding on icy sidewalks. It's not too cold but for us who live on the warm West Coast -8C (wind chill -18) is chilly for the current temp in Vancouver. However, this is as a result of an artic blast which is not going to let up.

Here in North Vancouver this morning, there are blue skies showing Grouse Mountain and just lots of white stuff everywhere. The schools are definitely open today after a few power outages yesterday.

We did finally get a let up on the boil water advisory which has been lifted. But the bitter cold for some people must not be nice. Vancouver does have a large homeless population which I am sure is not fun to be part of.

If you don't clear a walking path from the snow by 10am, you can be fined. To me that sounds like a Swiss law too. In fact, P actually bought a shovel to shovel his way out of the parallel parking. This cold air doesn't seem like it will let up even until next week.

I'll see what I can do to post a pic or two from just around our neighborhood because besides walking 10 blocks up to the pool, I didn't walk much further than that.

We're Snowed In

On Saturday Morning P and I went out for a morning walk. It was cool yet beautiful as you could see the snow on the nearby mountains. Green is what it looked like.



As the day progressed, it started snowing. Here is a night shot where there was some snow on the cars but not too much on the roads.

Waking up this morning, it was a different story.

There's probably a good 6 cm of snow stuck to the ground and a good 6 more cm's of snow on the trees. These photos don't do justice but maybe I'll be able to take a few more pics today outside.

There's enough snow to cancel almost all schools today, but that certainly doesn't mean you can't skip work. I'm just hoping a long drive I usually take today will be cancelled because of the conditions.

Check out one article here. It's -4C in Vancouver this morning and P is debating on buying a shovel just to shovel his way out of the roadside parking. Not all too fun.

The kids are happy...

We've Got Snow

So I'm not sure If I'm excited or annoyed with this light dusting of snow which is said to be sticking around for a while. Today's high was 3 degrees. This morning P and I went out for a beautiful walk before most people woke up. It was beautiful. I'm glad I got that in because the weather soon turned to white skies and slow falling snow.

Tomorrow it's supposed to feel like -5C outside. Now if I only had plans to be outside sledding! Where will this weather appear next?

How Time Flies

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It seems like it was just yesterday that I was living in Switzerland. In fact it's been over 2.5 years. It's been a good 1.5 years since our vacation back to Switzerland in fact. I'm crossing my fingers for the next trip.

This is the famous Bern Astrological Zytglogge tower clock. The Zytglogge tower is an astronomical clock from the 16th century. The hand symbol displays the position of the sun (left is east, top is south, right is west), while a gold-and-black ball shows the phase of the moon. - The angle between these two marks the lunar phase. Impressive at that.

Click on the link to see a photo from the 1900's of the clock. The area still looks the same today!

I'm Done

Most of you knew I was taking a photo class. Well that class finally ended on Tuesday with a photo contest. I didn't enter my photos because I felt mine were sub-par. I was probably wrong as usual but I just didn't like the shots I had. The winner got an autographed poster photo from 1992ish which our instructor took of the Vancouver Canucks in black and white.

I've found two that I might have entered. Actually they are the only two I can find right now.

Maybe I should have been more confident but I wasn't because everyone in my class was shooting great landscape photos. I think we all still need to improve taking people shots. There's a lot that goes into a shot.

Some points to think about when you are shooting people are

1. Timing - the time of day, how much light you are giving your subject.
2. Good Timing - what type of reaction are you getting from your subject?
   
3. Background subjects - do you have an interesting background you are using?
4. Comfortability of subject - How does your subject feel around you? Are they enjoying themselves?
   
5. Lighting - Is there enough natural light? If not, use props to improve this?
6. Bring in the details you see in a good photograph always. What I mean by this is if you had seen dew on flower and you want that same dew, make it.
7. Take your Time!
   

I'd also recommend watching or renting a few video's if it is possible about photography. We did this in every class. Although these videos were from the 80's, they were still very valuable information wise.

It's Just Amazing

I've read and heard a lot of people linking behavioral problems during the start of the younger years. There is great evidence to show for this. A recent article about Rising Football violence among youngsters in Switzerland as young as 13 years of age is just shocking if you ask me.

How about bringing St. Moritz to China? They have in a village that is currently being developed for those well off wanting to live in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. The real city of St. Moritz is of course happy as can be with the free advertising.

I do hope everyone enjoys Thanksgiving if you are living in the states or celebrating elsewhere. One thing I've learned this year is to be thankful for clean water, which we haven't had for an entire week. I'm not sure when this will end...

If you are watching any of the parades today, lets hope the floats can fly despite the wind in NY.

Montreux Marche de Noel

On Friday, the famous Montreux Christmas Market opens. There are many attractions and I understand since I've left Montreux in 2003, the market just keeps on getting better!

The biggest attraction is the great "hot wine" and typical food from Finland underneath the big tent. If you'd like to go ice skating, it's 7CHF to get on the ice from 11am until 9pm. Yes they close early in this sleepy family town.

This article in 24 heures reminded me of what I got to look at while they worked nearly 1 month to put up the Montreux Marche du Noel.

Some of the newest attraction for Montreux Christmas include:

• the new 2006 ice skating rink & ICE BAR
• "the home of Father Christmas" perched at the top of "Rochers-de-Naye" (2032 m above sea-level)
• "Father Christmas' workshop" in the Christmas Market
• the Fairy Tale Festival at Chillon Castle and under the Marquee of Fairy Tales amidst the Christmas Market. (The Blown Glass exhibit is what interest me!)
  
• the exhibition of the Nativities of Naples (at Inno Les Galeries in Montreux)

Hours include:

• from Friday, November 24th 2006
  to Sunday, December 24th 2006
• Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Be sure to check out the great photos from previous markets. Now I'm definitely wishing I could join in on the fun this year!

I also hear there are Christmas Markets in Lausanne and Basel.

Lights Out

I wrote a long post and the pop up command on IE made the screen go blank. This is just another reason why I use firefox on my own computer and not IE!

So onto what I was saying.

I had decided to get into the car for a gas run at about 10am this morning. As I hopped into the car, a downpour ensued. Let me just say that I was very happy to be inside the car rather than outside in the pouring rain.

What happened next was the strange part though. As I was pumping gas, the power decided to go out. I was about halfway done pumping gas and saw exactly how much money I had put into the tank, which in my mind was so odd. I'm not sure if it was a good omen or what but it was just my luck I knew. So I paid the attendant and left the station.

Have any of you pumped gas when the power went out suddenly?

After that, I proceeded to bring the car in for an air care inspection. It's something that has to be done with older cars every year, much the same as a smog check in the US. How time flies! I can't believe it was already a year since that last inspection. With my luck today, the car passed. So another year to wait again.

I'm also wondering if these inspections happen in Europe?

More Rain, More Bottled Water

Looks like there isn't a let up until when our boil water advisory will end. The thing that frustrates me is that we are actually really dependent on water and don't realize it.

Think about these things we need daily thanks to safe drinking water.
1. Brushing your teeth with tap water (can't do that right now.)
2. Washing your dishes in the sink. (Can't do that unless we boil the water first.)
3. Rinsing off any dishes you use. (We have to do that with bottled water.)
4. Using boiled water for anything that goes into your mouth. (I personally hate the looks of this murky water so I'm using all spring water bought from the store.)
5. Using a dish washer is okay as long as the water gets to 85C (150F).
6. Use bleach in your washing laundry because the whites turn out dirty.
(I'll have to do this today or tomorrow, not fun!)
7. Before washing food, use boiled or spring water.

Actually it looks like I'm not alone either. It does take a lot longer to eat and cook dinner if you follow all of these precautions were have been told to do. It's crazy how much we really take for granted these days!

I Totally Forgot

There's something called the Grey Cup happening today at 3pm in Winnipeg. It's supposed to be equal to that of the Super Bowl in the US, except Canadians party the entire week before the game together as one. It's supposed to be big and everyone's supposed to watch it...

I guess I'm not like everyone.

And they are supposed to have great clear weather, unlike here in Vancouver.

**UPDATE** Looks like the Lions Won the Grey Cup and everyone (including the workers) had to make sure they knew what was going on in the stores. It was all over the radio, and all over mini tv even in the two grocery stores we went to.

How is that for dedication?

Ok - now you can go onto read my other post... :)

Holiday Spirit Officially Begins Today

The Santa Claus Parade, which usually takes place on the Sunday before US Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the official start to the holiday season here in Canada. Holiday decorations are up in full swing already in all of the stores here in Vancouver.

But since I grew up celebrating Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November, all of this still feels so odd to me. In the US, Christmas decorations officially go up the day after Thanksgiving. It's all just so different! Well not really all that different than Europe.

The difference between Canada and the US for celebrating Thanksgiving and starting the Christmas season is quite different. In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on Columbus Day in October, while the US celebrates Thanksgiving somewhere around the fourth Thursday of November.

I think my biggest downfall is that I lack the knowledge of where great holiday festivities are happening around Vancouver. Part of me is just used to see festivals in the city center, like I did while living in Switzerland. Luckily, I have found an extensive list showing what to do around Vancouver for the holidays. I just hope I'll be able to catch one holiday market.

So as the rain and wind touch down today for another crazy storm, P will be braving the elements to get down towards parade area. No he's not watching the parade. I'd be going too if that were the case. We also still have to keep boiling our water. It's murky and annoying, but something that just has to be done.

My Plush Toy

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This weeks Photo Hunt Theme is Plush

I'm posting early.

Well I don't really have any plush toys lying around the house. We DO have a really plush (I mean flush) toilet as a result of the recent mudslide, but I'll spare you the details of those images.

However, I've got one plush toy who comes to greet me daily. He's my little snuggle bug. He's my buddy and definitely way better than just a plush toy.

Don't those ears look plush to you!

We Are Boiling Water

The recent storm has left us with some unwanted tap water. In fact, the water in Vancouver is so bad that a "boil water" advisory was issued for the entire area of Greater Vancouver. What sucks is that there isn't enough bottled water in the stores to go around.

I'm not worried. We have an easy boiling method. But I'll spare you the photos of this merky colored water. Check out the above links for pics and other news.

A Break in the Storm

We actually haven't had rain all day today. I'll leave you with this.

Storming Outside

This morning I woke up the same time as P suddenly. He was getting up for work, but I didn't need to be awake so early. Except, I couldn't sleep because it's storming outside. We've had 10mm of rain per hour. Yes that's a lot of rain! It's supposed to keep up for another 6 to 8 hours.

I guess there have been a few earthquakes and tsunami warnings off the coast of BC/Alaska and Japan also. But nothing to worry about there.

They will even open up some Vancouver and Whistler ski hills early this week because we have had so much snow at the upper elevations!

In other news, I got my FOSS notes back. I'm not pleased with the findings. They're unsure P and I live together because of my mailing and home address. UGH! What a way to have to wait and explain myself...

I'm obviously not pleased and for anyone who knows us, you surely know we are happily married and living together!

Spreading Peace

Please help me spread the word!

I normally don't talk about politics etc, but feel it's rather important.

P and I are big fans of Coast to Coast AM radio show. I listen to it every night before going to bed. I guess it's like my reading because I'm just not comfortable reading in bed. Anyhow, I was hoping since we have a lot of European readers that you could help me spread this word of PEACE not WAR.

Beck is very concerned there are plans for war within the next month! Shocking and not good news because of concerns of nuclear warfare.

He believes that in the next month or so we will have another conflict occurring in Iran. We all have heard of news that Iran has Nuke capability. Make sure this worry doesn't erupt into warfare!

First half-hour guest, radio and TV host Glenn Beck discussed his research and concern over the extremist agenda of Iran's President Ahmadinejad, who has talked of bringing about Armageddon. Beck's new TV special, Exposed: The Extremist Agenda airs Wed. Nov. 15th at 7 & 9pm ET on CNN Headline News.

** UPDATE ** So the show wasn't as good as it appeared. See comments for more.

Maybe you guys can see this in Europe, but I'm not sure...

Please help spread the word that war will not be tolerated!

It's My Day Off

I was really happy to gladly wake up at 7am this morning ready to do whatever I wanted to do today. I knew P knew I was at home and surely enough when he got a moment, he called me to say hello. I think that's guy talk for "I miss you", and yes P is that wonderful... I'm so lucky..

So I was doing a lot of computer cleaning and came across a wonderful photo that I just can't seem to get posted. So here it is.

While I lived in Switzerland, I never took a photo of a chestnut stand. I wish I did but I've come across someone who shares the zest for Switzerland like myself. Here's a Maroni stand in September... They are open I suppose until the run out of chestnuts or it gets too hot to enjoy them. I remember still eating them in January or February in Geneva.

What a wonderful thing to discover on my day off! Daydreaming of Switzerland. Other plans include making P dinner. I love doing this but never really get to since I'm always working until after P wants to eat dinner.

Not So High Five

Over the weekend, P and I decided to check out Borat, hiiiigh five! I agreed since it was only 84 mins long and I figured I could stand sitting still in those really uncomfortable seats for that time.

For those of you who haven't checked out the movie yet, yes it is very funny. Yes there is a great point to it, but I doubt many who watch it will get it. You can see so much of the movie online in the trailers. But maybe you'd like to see about 10 or 15 more scenes that were left out. Much of the movie is quite different than the trailor too!

I'd recommend Borat if you want to see a comedy and are young at heart. But don't be disappointed like the 70 plus couple we saw sitting a few seats away from us! The poor couple, really I never saw them laugh once and am not sure why they decided to see such a film.

What I wish was part of the Borat movie was more of a documentary tied into lessons and slapstick humor Cohen was trying to portray, delving a bit deeper into the meaning behind the movie which I doubt many people understood.

What really gets me is that Cohen paid a Rumanian village no money at all to film there. What I can understand is that they really didn't know what the movie would be about. They were really poor and well I do hope in the end, this movie gives this village a bit more than the measly 3 quid they paid out. Just pay them a bit more money and make them happy. You've had your success...

Watching The Leaves Grow

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One of the coolest parts about living where I lived in Montreux was being able to walk literally 5 mins or less to get to the vineyards. It was so beautiful but there was thing I did daily, I watched the leaves GROW. I never before took the time to notice the simplest things in life until that year in 2002.

I was so amazed at their growth from winter when the leaves got trimmed back to nothing and how much growth came out of them by the summer and into the October harvest.

Here's a before and after of the Growth in Montreux Vineyards.

Winter

Autumn after harvest

Writers Block

I really don't have much to say this week because I'm at a loss for words. I'm wishing I could put up a newer pic of P and I but really I haven't taken any. I know I should! Same with having taken more pics outside. I just haven't. But I've been keeping up with my swimming workouts. P is off today which is nice.

So why not amuse myself with some new Guiness World Records before the long weekend.

Rocketts Longest Line of Dancers
Most People Kissing at Once

I did like Renny's Post about Curling. He depicted it so well!

That's it.

We've Got Flooding

Beautiful Autumn Days
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

So was there enough rain? Yup - enough for record amounts with sub tropical air. It's moist and warm (15C yesterday), which I guess is better than moist and freezing.

There really wasn't anything that happened besides me getting soaked during my walk up to work. Somewhere Ginnie visited actually got flooded in Stanley Park at Lumberman's Arch.

Some areas of high rain included Victoria, Chilliwack and I'm sure North Van wasn't much behind. We had something like 200 to 350 mm of rain since Thursday, where some people were ordered to evacuate in such areas of Chilliwack and Hope.

What I do know is that this has been one of the prettiest Autumns I've ever noticed. Maybe it's just because I'm photographing more, but I've seen so many great colors. I've also put up a post a day blog if you want to check out more of my photos.

Pouring Rain

For the last couple of days we've really gotten rained upon here in North Vancouver. Officials in the area even are concerned about flooding in the area. I'd call it bad timing since I've been wanting to get outside and photograph some great stream photos. The rain is fine, but pouring rain is just not my cup of tea.

We also have a small stream in the back yard which on Friday was quite high. If it keeps raining at this rate here, which I think has been some 90 plus mm a day of rain, maybe I'll see it flood for the first time. Considering that everything here is down hill, I seriously think this problem will last all too long....

That's all...

Looking Through The Window

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This weeks Photo Hunt Theme is Windows

Since I just posted my new favorite window last week,
I decided I wanted to post a different window for your enjoyment.

This shot was with my tiny camera, seen in the reflection from the window. The location was a cold wintery morning in Montreux, Switzerland back in March 2003. If you look further in this photo and find the houses with the triangular roof tops, that would be where this house was located.

Enough windows for ya???

Sayings That Are Aha Moments

This morning I was reading the current addition of Photolife which I get via email. It came in my inbox this morning along with too many other tons of emails. I finally got to it some 4 hours later and wow, I'm glad I did...

I was reading and looking at the photographer Freeman Patterson his excerpt and photos called "Thoughts on Photography".

If there is one lesson I have learned well along the way, it is simply this: the place to live is in the here and now. If I dwell too long in any of my past homes or anticipate too vividly my future travels, as important as it is to factor in the relevance of both, I find that I am missing what’s happening to me today. That’s how life can pass you by.

I had this aha moment back in August 2001 during a complicated time, while I was enjoying some time in France with a very good friend. I came back and was determined to start capturing every moment I could. Somehow, I ended up moving to Switzerland and capturing perfect moments daily, day in and day out... I haven't shared these photos with the public, but maybe some day I will but this guy really said it how I feel.

A Good Fight

Ok - I've finally done it! I've gotten the trouble boys on tape. I think they are so adorable. Of course Mr. Twist is my buddy and his talk is too adorable to pass up. But make sure you turn up the sound, that's the best part. Once they spot me, they always stop playing and making sounds. And that's a big problem....




Here are two more.
1st - playing.
2nd - more play.

American's Guide to Canada

I ran into this website about Canada this morning. I guess there are a few hints here and there that once you have lived in Canada you sort of just take for granted.

But I can laugh because I didn't figure out a few things until way later on.

For instance:

There is no mail delivered on Saturdays. I think it took me over a year until this really dawned on me!

The Trans-Canada Highway -- Canada's analogue to the US Interstates -- is two lanes wide for most of its length. (Way smaller than I was used to!)

Mortgage interest is not tax-deductible. The interest rate on most mortgages is not fixed, but rather, is renewed at the end of a term which can be as short as six months or as long as seven years. (way different)

Most Canadians will tell you that the last letter of the alphabet is pronounced "zed." Sharon, Lois, and Bram, popular children's entertainers, make it a point in their performances of "The Alphabet Song" to say "zed" instead of "zee." (this one still cracks me up - It's sort of like how Europeans always start counting with their thumb!)