What was supposed to be a brief break from blogging accidentally turned into a seven week hiatus. I'm not quite sure where all the time went - I'm sure most of it was spent working in the park as I was managing the annual Stanley Park Ghost Train five nights a week. As for the rest of the time, I can't really say I know exactly how it passed so quickly but I have a feeling most of it was spent sleeping since not much else went on this month.
It's actually quite sad to see that in writing - clearly my hopes of finding a better work/life balance have not been realized at this point and I've put myself that much further away from achieving my goal of 365 posts this year. As always, I've managed to discover a bit of a silver lining out of all of this - the blog has managed to continually draw readers even throughout my extended absence. Yay for Google searches! =)
The past seven weeks have been very tiring, somewhat thankless, and even slightly lonely at times. I've missed having a place to come express myself, even if it was only for a few lines. Being away for so long has reminded me exactly why I started this blog in the first place and how much work there is still to be done before I reach some of those personal goals. Absence has made my heart grow fonder and I'm looking forward to the rest of the ride.
Showing posts with label Silver Lining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Silver Lining. Show all posts
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Slippery Slope of Sickness
There is a saying that Vancouverites are quite familiar with; 'when it rains, it pours.' Now usually this is a saying that people don't use to reference the weather, but an avalanche of good or bad occurrences that happen one after another. It would be like getting your dream job, finding your soul mate and winning the lottery all in the same week.
While I've never had a week as good as the one I've just described, I've had some pretty good runs of luck over the years. Coincidentally, I've had just as many bad streaks to even things out. By now, my regular readers are well aware I've fallen victim to yet another case of the flu. After relying heavily on cough syrup and orange juice for the past week, I finally went to go see my doctor with the hope she would just tell me to keep doing what I was doing since it was just the flu.
On the contrary, she took one look at the back of my throat and decided we need to test for strep throat. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at this point since it's become increasingly difficult to swallow and rest has been hard to come by since the hacking cough usually rears it's evil head when I'm in bed. then she casually tosses out the possibility that even if it's not strep, it could still be some kind of infection. Peachy news for someone about to start a full time position and is looking at her only extended break between now and sometime after the start of 2012. Throw the fact that I'll be needing a new computer (and possibly a new phone) in the next month and that my car often sounds like it might die/explode on top of the pile and you'll see that even though the weather is beautiful in Vancouver right now, it's pouring where I'm standing.
But we're trying to look at the bright side of things right now so I guess I can say everything will probably only get better from here. Fingers crossed that this prediction is right for once since I don't want to imagine how things can get any worse at this point!
While I've never had a week as good as the one I've just described, I've had some pretty good runs of luck over the years. Coincidentally, I've had just as many bad streaks to even things out. By now, my regular readers are well aware I've fallen victim to yet another case of the flu. After relying heavily on cough syrup and orange juice for the past week, I finally went to go see my doctor with the hope she would just tell me to keep doing what I was doing since it was just the flu.
On the contrary, she took one look at the back of my throat and decided we need to test for strep throat. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at this point since it's become increasingly difficult to swallow and rest has been hard to come by since the hacking cough usually rears it's evil head when I'm in bed. then she casually tosses out the possibility that even if it's not strep, it could still be some kind of infection. Peachy news for someone about to start a full time position and is looking at her only extended break between now and sometime after the start of 2012. Throw the fact that I'll be needing a new computer (and possibly a new phone) in the next month and that my car often sounds like it might die/explode on top of the pile and you'll see that even though the weather is beautiful in Vancouver right now, it's pouring where I'm standing.
But we're trying to look at the bright side of things right now so I guess I can say everything will probably only get better from here. Fingers crossed that this prediction is right for once since I don't want to imagine how things can get any worse at this point!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Low Points
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| Do you feel bad for this kitty? It's waiting for you to keep it company on the blog! =) |
Summer readership coupled with lackluster posts was always going to translate into less views. Truthfully, I'm pretty surprised it took until the end of July (the 29th to be precise) to finally feature a day with zero page views. To make matters worse (for myself), July also recorded a new low in page views, clocking in with an abysmal 153 views.
Some people might be inclined to presume I'm lying about this being the first day with no views, but anyone who reads regularly knows I'm a bit obsessive compulsive about checking on my blog stats. Clearly, if I was going to lie about lame stats, I'd pad them so they don't look as pathetic! Oh well, at least the silver lining to this story is that we can only go up (hopefully) from here =)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
One Week
What is a week? It's a length of time that can be broken down in a number of different ways:
7 Days
168 Hours
10.080 Minutes
604,800 Seconds
The last time I wrote about the measure of a week (February 2010), I was questioning what you would do if you knew you only had one left. I suppose, considering what happened a week ago, I could pose the question, what if that riot was the last event that took place in Vancouver before it disappeared a la Pompeii?
It's been a week since Vancouver came undone at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals and there has been no shortage of coverage outlining the reasons for the destruction, heroism, backlash, and sense of community that came from one night.
Rioters have come forward, police have laid charges, and the debates over public opinion, mob mentality, possible punishments, and the use of social media to aid the investigation, have raged on local, national, and international levels. We are a city, united by our desire to see things set right, but divided in our approach to take to get there. While there is strong support for the public to hold riot participants accountable, it is a fine line to walk.
I believe that the authorities should use footage and photos taken by witnesses as a tool in their investigative process but I am against those same photos and videos being used to publicly attack not only the individual involved, but their families, friends, and any organization they are associated with. I think those who have turned themselves in, should have done so before their faces were plastered all over the Internet but that they do deserve some margin of credit for coming forth and issuing public apologies (even though some of them should have quit while they were ahead - actually, the first apology was re-written after the public found it to be insincere and almost argumentative as she outlined all the possible reasons mob mentality is a valid excuse).
One thing is for sure - most of us are committed to never letting this happen again and trying to show the world what Vancouver is really about. I've got faith that the silver lining of this whole mess is that Vancouver is coming back better than ever.
7 Days
168 Hours
10.080 Minutes
604,800 Seconds
The last time I wrote about the measure of a week (February 2010), I was questioning what you would do if you knew you only had one left. I suppose, considering what happened a week ago, I could pose the question, what if that riot was the last event that took place in Vancouver before it disappeared a la Pompeii?
It's been a week since Vancouver came undone at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals and there has been no shortage of coverage outlining the reasons for the destruction, heroism, backlash, and sense of community that came from one night.
Rioters have come forward, police have laid charges, and the debates over public opinion, mob mentality, possible punishments, and the use of social media to aid the investigation, have raged on local, national, and international levels. We are a city, united by our desire to see things set right, but divided in our approach to take to get there. While there is strong support for the public to hold riot participants accountable, it is a fine line to walk.
I believe that the authorities should use footage and photos taken by witnesses as a tool in their investigative process but I am against those same photos and videos being used to publicly attack not only the individual involved, but their families, friends, and any organization they are associated with. I think those who have turned themselves in, should have done so before their faces were plastered all over the Internet but that they do deserve some margin of credit for coming forth and issuing public apologies (even though some of them should have quit while they were ahead - actually, the first apology was re-written after the public found it to be insincere and almost argumentative as she outlined all the possible reasons mob mentality is a valid excuse).
One thing is for sure - most of us are committed to never letting this happen again and trying to show the world what Vancouver is really about. I've got faith that the silver lining of this whole mess is that Vancouver is coming back better than ever.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Stand Up Vancouver
As I watched thousands of Canuck fans inside Rogers Arena cheer on Zdeno Chara, Tim Thomas, and Milan Lucic each hoist the Stanley Cup last night, I started writing a letter to the Vancouver Canucks to thank them for an amazing season.
It's a letter that was never finished as news coverage shifted to the madness unfolding mere blocks away - Georgia Street set ablaze, smoke and tear gas clogging the air, police in riot gear being attacked with whatever people could get their hands on.
It was disgusting and shameful for the city to have all the positives that came from hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics and two months of play off celebrations seemingly wiped out in hours. We are no longer the home of the current President's Trophy winning team, we are the city that imploded over a lost hockey game.
I sat, glued to my TV for hours watching in disbelief as crowds refused to leave and had the audacity to attack the police officers trying to clear the streets. I waited impatiently to hear that people I knew got home safe. I went to bed in the early hours of this morning wondering how things managed to spiral out of control so quickly.
Last night was an ugly scene that won't be forgotten easily. The world spotlight is on Vancouver as people question the why's and how's. Hopefully they'll also take the time to recognize how the city has responded.
Last night, there were ordinary people who tried to stand up to the crowds. The Vancouver Police Department, along with officers from other municipalities, firefighters, and EMT's did what they could to contain and disperse the crowds while protecting the rest of the city.
Today, instead of hiding in shame, Vancouver came out to take back the city. From the hundreds (if not thousands) of volunteers cleaning up the streets to the "Wall of Love" along the Bay's boarded up windows, we are trying to change the story. Hundreds of people witnessed the theft, violence, and destruction and are in a position to do something about it. People are flocking to identify rioters via Facebook and Tumblr. Sure #CanucksRiot is still trending on Twitter, but so is #ThisIsMyVancouver.
June 15th, 2011 is a black mark on the city that will take time to erase. If today is any indication, Vancouver is up for the challenge.
*There's so much to reference here it's incredible. Shout outs to Mashable, Vancity Buzz, Vancouver Sun, Globe and Mail, and everyone on Facebook and Twitter trying to hold people accountable for their actions!
 |
| From The Vancouver Sun |
It was disgusting and shameful for the city to have all the positives that came from hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics and two months of play off celebrations seemingly wiped out in hours. We are no longer the home of the current President's Trophy winning team, we are the city that imploded over a lost hockey game.
 |
| From The Vancouver Sun |
Last night was an ugly scene that won't be forgotten easily. The world spotlight is on Vancouver as people question the why's and how's. Hopefully they'll also take the time to recognize how the city has responded.
Last night, there were ordinary people who tried to stand up to the crowds. The Vancouver Police Department, along with officers from other municipalities, firefighters, and EMT's did what they could to contain and disperse the crowds while protecting the rest of the city.
 |
| From Facebook |
June 15th, 2011 is a black mark on the city that will take time to erase. If today is any indication, Vancouver is up for the challenge.
*There's so much to reference here it's incredible. Shout outs to Mashable, Vancity Buzz, Vancouver Sun, Globe and Mail, and everyone on Facebook and Twitter trying to hold people accountable for their actions!
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