Surprise of the day

Unexpected flowers just because =)

On the edge

Didn't I tell you to take a breath and not panic?  When you're on the edge of something great, you can't look back at the roadblocks that knocked you down along the way.  You should focus on all the times you got back up and conquered whatever was in your way.  Let's take a look at how we got this far (minus the last 2 games) cause this is what we live for!  Get ready Vancouver...we're one win away and it's gonna be the hardest one to get...



*Video courtesy of the NHL Video Centre on Canucks.com

Turning Things Around

My head and stomach hurt.  When I woke up this morning, I though that it'd be a long day and an early night.  I did not think I'd get the warm fuzzies from a simple elevator ride, feel awesome sitting through a long meeting, or laugh so hard it hurts. It's amazing how such little things can change your day so quickly.  It's odd to feel so carefree, relaxed and optimistic...I'm actually quite enjoying it at the moment so I hope you're all ok to come along for the ride now that I'm done brooding for a while =)

Take a Breath

Vancouver, let's not freak out, we know that this is our year.  It's now a best of 3 and we have home ice for 2.  What happens over the next week will define this team (and this city) for years to come.  So here's a bit of advice...

Thanks to Keep Calm and Canuck On for the pic!

The X Factor

Friday was opening night of X-Men: First Class.  Surprisingly, my dad and I managed to get our acts together to catch a show at a decent time.  I haven't seen a non-animated movie since The Adjustment Bureau and was pretty excited for my first action blockbuster of the summer season.  Sad but true - this is what my life is like these days =)

In all honesty, I really liked it even though it does lead to some inconsistency with a few minor details in the later films.  It's always nice to be able to see where the characters came from and how they became who we know them as today.  Where you come from and the experiences you go through along the way have a huge influence on who you become.  As with all X-Men movies, this one touches on issues of discrimination, fear of the unknown, and the battle between good and evil, both internally and externally. 

"In each of us, two natures are at war-the good and the evil.  All our lives the fight goes on between them and one of them must conquer." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Is the capacity for evil really inherent in all of us, waiting to be unleashed by a traumatic experience or constant abuse?  When faced with the choice between doing what is right or taking revenge, what would you choose?  It's not an answer that can be predicted or debated ahead of time because you usually go with your gut when the moment actually arrives. 

Even though we know the eventual outcome of the film (assuming you've seen the other movies prior to this one), you can't help but wonder for a moment if a different choice will be made by these characters, led by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) respectively.  As the photo says, "Witness the moment that will change our world."  Don't mind if I do - it's definitely worth the watch.

Panic or Cucumber (as in keep as cool as)

Refrain from hitting!

It was painful to watch, especially now knowing that it ties Vancouver with the '96 Florida Panthers for the second worst loss in NHL Stanley Cup Finals history.  Minnesota is still the reigning champ (or loser, depending on which way you want to look at it) for their 8-0 loss to Pittsburgh in '91.

A lot of people were questioning player health, travel fatigue, and what AV was thinking keeping Luongo in goal the entire game (as opposed to resting up for the next game once the game was out of reach).  Those that weren't asking any questions were too busy drowning their sorrows and fighting off panic attacks and visions of playoffs past.  Personally, I feel like a bit of the team's zen attitude is rubbing off on me.

I predicted that this series would go all the way to 7 games and that there was no way we'd get out of Boston without losing one game.  Now I never could've predicted we'd crash and burn in an 8-1 loss, but as PiTB wrote way back at the end of March, It's Okay to be Optimistic!  The race to lift the Stanley Cup is a marathon, not a sprint, and I believe with the end in sight, the Canucks have more than enough gas left in the tank to bring it home.

Ricky & Janice Take 2

I'm finally back to post these photos from the wedding I worked during the May long weekend (Saturday the 21st to be exact).  Hopefully the photos will actually post this time and we avoid another fail =s

The ceremony took place in the atrium of one of Gastown's historic buildings, The Landing.  Once the ceremony ended, the guests headed over to Steamworks, which just happens to be adjacent to The Landing.  The atrium was then flipped to double as the buffet station, then again as the dancefloor.  Janice chose to go with a classic black and white theme and I wish I had photos of the bride and her bridal party but it's pretty hard to try and snap pictures and still look professional =)

The entrance to the ceremony site

The view from the top of the asile



Dressing the head table



 

The view of the room from the head table



Janice & Ricky





Yummy layers of lemon & raspberry chocolate cake

I know it's tempting, but please don't poke
the cake until AFTER it's been cut!

I heart weddings =)