This is what happens when a professional in their mid-thirties quits their job to go on a road trip of self discovery. You have my permission to live vicariously through the absurdity.
In case you're new to knowing me, I'll let you in on a little-known fact - Halloween is my favorite holiday. I've always found the spooky, scary, and paranormal interesting and entertaining. Whether it's a sunny day in May or a crisp fall day in October, it's always a good choice in my book. That's not why I love Halloween, though. I love it because it's the one time of year the rest of the world is interested in the same things I am. To me, nothing illustrates that better than when prime-time TV runs it's Halloween episodes. Here are a few of my childhood favorites...
What IS Halloween?
TV Shows Parody Popular Horror Films
Apologies for the Hulu ad at the bottom
Semi-Dangerous Pranks Abound
Full Episode
But in the end, it always comes back to being with your family
Full Episode
In the spirit of family, here are two of my favorite TV siblings
So tell us below, what makes it feel like Halloween to you? And are you as afraid of Mrs. Butterworth as Jackie Harris?
I'm not a supermodel, nor do I wish to be a supermodel or anyone of the 'model' variety. I did, however, have a friend who's a photographer and a need for an updated head shot for social media/marketing purposes, so there ya go.
On Monday I met Jess for what was supposed to be an hour photo shoot that turned into a nearly 12 hour day featuring photographs, multiple layers of professional make-up, and an entertainment industry networking event.
The day began as expected...
Smile! Don't Blink!
Jess & Tammy
Kufoo Helped
During the process, I was invited to tag along to an entertainment industry networking event the girls had learned of the night before. The first episode of a friend's web series was being screened and there would be people to meet and hands to shake - I'm not in a position to turn down an event where I can meet people in Vancouver, so I said yes. Plus, it was Halloween-themed and costumes were encouraged. I mean, their event page featured the Sanderson Sisters from the movie "Hocus Pocus"... how could I not go?! I clearly would love these people!
With head shots done early, we asked the make-up artist for some Halloween-themed faces. I requested a Mardi Gras mask, which then morphed into a mask that was supposed to look like it had been sewn on my face. Considering the short notice, I don't think the make-up artist did too bad!
This photo does not do the coloring and detail justice
When we arrived at the networking event, there were only a few of us in costume. And by 'few' I mean about five. Nevertheless, it was a very fun evening and I actually felt productive in my quest to meet new people and make connections in the area.
BONUS: I found Carmen Sandiego! Turns out she retired to Canada and has been keeping her thieving habits & geography lessons to a minimum. I was tempted to ask her for tips on crossing international borders, but I figured she'd just reply with a riddle about Canada's national exports so I didn't bother.
I won a free trip to anywhere in North America!
We stayed till the end of the event and it took nearly an hour to get the layers of make-up off my face, so I didn't turn-in until after 1:00 a.m. It was a random and unexpected day, especially for a Monday, and a lot of fun. I hope to have many more like them!
PS: Unfamiliar with Carmen Sandiego? Fore shame! Inform yourselves...
"Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" was a 1990's children's educational program that taught geography through the promotion of thievery. Set in a game-show format, children were brought up as 'Junior Detectives' to answer clues given by Acme Crime Detective Agency's Chief, as they chased professional thief Carmen Sandiego and her gang around the world. "A painting has been stolen from XYZ Museum! What country does that museum reside in?" It was a fun show and is a pop culture icon for most 80's and 90's babies, mostly due to this rockin' theme song that has been in my head since I spotted Carmen at the party.
This 2 minute intro better illustrates the 90's awesomeness of this program.
I wasn’t a kid who went to Montessori school. If had been,
my first voice lesson in Vancouver probably would’ve been less jarring. After
the standard warm-ups and getting-to-know-you chatter I was asked, “So, what do
you want to sing?” … I had no idea. I’d never been asked that question before. I’ve been singing in a formal setting since I
was 11 years old and I’d never had input into my repertoire. Or, I realized, I’d
never asked for it. This poor instructor… my eyes darted between him and the
computer for a solid minute and I still had no answer. He eventually coaxed a few song suggestions
out of me. Two didn’t work with my range & voice, one did. My ‘homework’ is
to pick a few songs, learn them as best I can, and we’ll teak them in the lessons.
This is a brand new experience for me and a good lesson in self-motivation.
Which, I realized, fits this entire journey quite well.
Hiking in Lighthouse Park
A drive through the upscale neighborhood of West Vancouver
is enjoyable enough, but if you continue through the town and up the coast a
little you’ll hit Lighthouse Park. (Aptly named for its lighthouse!) I ventured
through two of its many hiking trails and was again reminded that my legs
muscles are still those of a flatlander and not of someone living in terrain
that involves frequent elevation changes. …something to work on. I’ll happily
do it, though, when this is the view.
Parking Area
Main Trail
The Trees are THIS Big!
Tree's History
Trail to the lookout
In case you're worried you're not on the trail anymore, just keep an eye out for railings.
Beauty of hiking in a rainforest
I sat and enjoyed the view for about 10 minutes. It still didn't feel long enough.
Poutine & Packers
Friday night I made friends at a sports bar while watching
the Canucks get their butts kicked by the Avalanche. (The game was pathetic, be
glad you missed it.) The Vancouverite in the group convinced the two visiting
Australians and I to try Poutine, a much-loved dish from the Quebec area. If
you’ve never had it, it sounds promising. It’s potato (French fries, in our
case) covered in gravy, cheese curds, and your choice of other toppings. A cross between potato skins and some ‘loaded’
fries, right? Dear God, no. The two Australians ate much of theirs – one chose
the Mexican toppings and the other chose mushrooms. I went with the ‘classic,’ figuring
I should try the traditional dish first.
Not my Favorite Food
What I enjoyed most about our visit was the restaurant’s
owner. His name is Dave and he’s a Green Bay Packers fan. Because apparently no matter
where you are, if you sell cheese curds you automatically become a
cheese head.
This week's other highlights included dinner at Burgoowith someone I used to work with - she's as wonderful a person as ever. I took a Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour, complete with a visit to the old morgue which is now the Police Museum. And yes, we saw the ACTUAL former morgue, complete with drawers and equipment. Eek.
All in all, I think it was a good week. Without a full-time job I still feel unproductive half the time, but that's part of the point. And that self-motivation thing that I need to work on. Happy weekend, all!
On last night’s Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour the guide asked
the typical first question, “Do we have any visitors from out of town?” An obvious
question that I no longer have an obvious answer to. Am I a local? Am I still a
visitor? I have an address, a phone number, and a relative knowledge of the
area I’m living in… does that make me a local? I don’t have a job here, but am
spending money in the local economy... Does that count? Is there a severe
weather season I must endure or a city-wide festival I must participate in to
be considered a ‘Vancouverite?’ A new friend and fellow recent transplant had
the happy encounter at a local coffee shop of being called a ‘regular’ by one
of their staff. She was excited and I was excited for her… but is that all we’ll
be? Regulars?
I don’t have an answer to that question. I do know that the
next time I encounter someone who is new to an area I’m already living in that
my response will be different. Instead of welcoming someone to the city with
the typical, “Do you have any questions? It can be a confusing place!” I’ll
offer to take that person to lunch and introduce them to a few people in town.
Instead of telling them that a certain street festival is a lot of fun and that
my friends go every year, I’ll offer to take that person with us. We don’t have
to become BFFs, but making someone feel at home goes a long way. And at least,
for a short time, they’ll get to feel like a local.
The celebration started with a tour around Denver on a renovated school bus and a tasting of local beers. (aka, we drank beer on a moving bus.) If you want to see Denver in a different way, Banjo Bob's does a variety of tours and I'd definitely recommend them. It was a fun way to kick-off the party!
Banjo Bob's Bus Tour & Beer Tasting
The wedding reception was held in a local art gallery. It was a lovely location, though admittedly I felt nervous dancing near such beautiful artwork!
Fall decor on the tables
The Newlyweds ~ Patrick & Elyse
Cupcake Cutting
Family
Denver Day 2: Rocky Mountain National Park
I joined my parents & godparents on a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park & a brief stop in Estes Park, Colorado.
Halfway to the top of our drive
Higher & higher we go...
SNOW!
I couldn't muster this....
... instead, we got this.
You're welcome.
Parents & Godparents
An example of my mother effectively using her first smartphone to take a photo
Thank you for indulging the vacation photos. As your reward, here is the song from "White Christmas" that you've been singing to yourself since you saw the picture above. Enjoy!
This weekend was an action packed visit to Denver, Colorado for a family wedding. It was my first trip back to the States since I reached Canada, so I was anxious to run errands, fill prescriptions, and utilize the many gift cards I possessed and couldn't use this side of the border. (aka, shop for free) I visited with family, tasted local beers, toured the city, and ventured into Rocky Mountain National Park. (Pictures will be posted shortly!)
I'm actually having trouble wrapping my head around all of it. It was so wonderful to see my family. So many of my conversations and interactions here in Vancouver are with people I'm still forming relationships with, so they're mostly 'getting to know you' conversations where you never completely relax. You know, the ones where you ask the "What kind of music do you listen to?" and "What do you do for fun?" questions. It's part of the process, but it can be draining. It was so nice to feel comfortable again and it made it very difficult to say goodbye.
The visit had left me questioning my decision to leave Chicago and my friends & family. It's hard doing this alone, I won't lie. As I landed in Seattle and was again enveloped by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, I began to relax. By the time I had landed in British Columbia, cleared customs, and 45 minutes later stepped from the Skytrain onto Vancouver's city streets, I was smiling. I smiled the entire nine block walk to my 'apartment'... which I now realize probably looked pretty creepy. But, oh well! I was happy. Happy to be in a city I enjoy and happy that walking onto those streets felt a bit like coming home. Finally.
Good things are worth waiting for. Especially if they’re your things that had to be left behind and you have been eagerly anticipating their arrival.
Yesterday I received three boxes of lovingly packed shoes, sheet music, and Halloween decorations... and my world briefly turned into a Katie Perry music video.
I’ve never been happier to see rain boots.
Thanks to a few small decor items from my last apartment, this place is finally starting to feel like home.
The show started by presenting a number of scenes depicting
life in “Big City” and the audience was asked to choose which character would
secretly be the superhero. Would it be the postman? The head of law enforcement?
The plumber? When asked to choose, the audience unanimously shouted, “The Bird!
The Bird!” Yep. We chose the random ‘bird’ an actor had portrayed in a park scene. We laughed at our super hero named “The
Pecker” for the next hour and as the story drew to a close I was stumped as to
how he would save the day. I racked my brain for a scenario that would work and
kept coming up empty. The actor resolved the story by following the simplest concept – embrace the scene. I kept trying to introduce something new
into the story when the answer was already there. As typical with most things
in my life, I was over thinking it.
(All of that said, the show was hilarious and I highly
recommend any of the TheaterSports shows if you’re ever in Vancouver.)
The following day I visited another potential apartment – it
turned out to be the most promising place I’d seen yet. I’d be a roommate to a
late twenty-something gentleman who worked in marketing. He was a normal guy,
kept a pretty clean house, and we had professional experience that overlapped enough
for us to have something in common. The only drawback in my eye was that we’d
have to share a bathroom. The idea set-off my OCD a bit, but I figured I’d get
over it. I told him I’d be very interested and he said he’d get back to me on
Wednesday, after the holiday. I left hopeful and happy.
That night I got tired. The next morning I got sick. The
universe was reminding me of what I’d forgotten in my latest apartment visit–I
live with Chron’s Disease. This means I tend to monopolize the bathroom for
hours at a time… not the ideal situation with a roommate.
So frustratingly I went back to the drawing board - in between bathroom
visits – with a nod to improv lessons from the night before. This is my situation… how do I work within it?
Basically, I prioritized again. Solo bathroom? Necessary. Parking?
Necessary. Location with everything at my front door? Not necessary. I made a
mental list, scoured the internet, and sent a few emails.
In 30 minutes I received an email back. Then a phone call - I
set-up a visit for Tuesday, after the Thanksgiving holiday. I then received a
more urgent phone call – there was more interest than they expected and can I
come today… No, wait – can I be there in 20 minutes? I did what you’re supposed
to do in improv – I said yes. (I even made it with a few minutes to spare,
thanks to my Chicago driving skills.)
It was a Heritage Home (aka, a big, old house) that a
husband and wife had turned into studio rental units with ensuite bathrooms and
kitchenettes. I saw the unit that was advertised online – it was ok. I didn’t
love it. He showed me a second, smaller unit that was a little cheaper, but it
didn’t have a kitchen sink. I have no desire to wash dishes in my bathroom sink
for five months, so I passed. He then showed me a unit on the main floor. It
shared a kitchenette with another suite, but everything else (like the
bathroom) was individual. … It was lovely. It had obviously been the dining
room originally, because it featured big bay windows and a built-in hutch that
was meant for dishes, but now functioned as the room’s dresser. It had a decent
size closet, a clean bathroom, and enough space that I wouldn’t feel clusterphobic
if I was sick and needed to spend an
entire day inside. So again, I did what any improviser does… I said yes.
My New Diggs as of Nov. 2
Front Porch
Shared Kitchen
My Room
I'll be living in the neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant, just southeast of the city centre. (If you're looking at a map, I'm only a few blocks from City Hall) I'll have access to both bus and skytrain lines in and out of downtown, as well as to the airport. The street is quiet and tree-lined, but it's only a block and a half walk to some shopping and dining on Cambie. Also, the lease is month-to-month, so if my plans change or I just change my mind, I can leave within 30 days. All in all, a whirlwind of an apartment search and in the end, I was reminded that things go smoother when you just stop thinking.
In honor of my 'new home,' I purchased a throw pillow that evening at the Richmond Night Market.
Saturday night I ventured down to Richmond, BC for the closing weekend of the Richmond Night Market. The Vancouver area has Night Markets like Chicago has festivals - there's one for every neighborhood. The majority have already closed for the year, so I made a point to fit it into my weekend.
Firstly, a round of applause for Vancouver's public transit system. I took the SkyTrain to Richmond and back for a total of $5.50 CAD. The 'trains' are efficient, clean, and relatively easy to navigate (once you understand their zone system). Well done.
The Night Market
It took 30 minutes to get through the entrance line, if that tells you how popular it is. It's a combination of carnival games, vendors, food tents, and an entertainment stage. There's no liquor though, which kept things relatively quiet and family friendly.
Rows and Rows of Tents
The majority of the food vendors featured food & drinks from Asia. My favorite booth signs:
The question isn't "Do you want BBQ'd Squid?"
The question is "Do you want your BBQ'd Squid whole or in rings?"
Age old question, that one.
Apparently the most popular thing at the Night Market, the line for 'Rotatos' was about 25 people deep at all times. If you spiral cut a potato, stuck it on a skewer, and deep fry it, you will make tons of money.
I'm not indulging in squid or standing in that long of a line for a potato, but deep fried Snickers bars? YES.
The pretzel kiosk looked lonely and the food wouldn't kill me, so I enjoyed a warm pretzel stick covered in various types of seeds. No one give me a drug test tomorrow.
Actually, now I'm curious... Someone give me a drug test tomorrow.
"Electric Juke Box" aka, Random Cover Band
I wandered through the vendor tents and picked-up a few items. (Since it's the final weekend, everything was on sale. Woo hoo!) I also walked through the games area, where parents were attempting to win children prizes and teenage boys did their best to impress the girls. So many things in this world are universal.
Overall, I had a great time and enjoyed being part of one of the area's last 'summer' activities.
And as the market is held on what's known as 'Duck Island,' I leave you with the item that marks the exit...
The past few days have been filled with reminders that I am
indeed in a foreign country.
If you would like to apply for a street parking permit – and
therefore live in an area where one is required – you must have governmental
car insurance. Yes, Canada has Universal Car Insurance, too.
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is a
provincial Crown corporation established in 1973 to provide universal auto
insurance to B.C. motorists. We're also responsible for driver licensing, and
vehicle licensing and registration.
Telephone calls to the U.S. are supposed to be easily made
via my long distance calling plan on my new cell phone. Yet, there are some
1-800 numbers in the U.S. that I can not connect to and a family member’s Verizon
plan will not connect to Canada. (They still don’t know why.)
Television ‘Content Warnings’ are placed before many shows
that are not considered violent or language-filled in the U.S.
Castle comes with a warning, which I find ironic since
Nathan Fillion is Canadian
The week so far has been filled with obstacles and continued apartment hunting, so I've planned the next few days for enjoyment of B.C. Look forward to posts on Improv in Vancouver, the Richmond Night Market, and what it's like to be an American at Canadian Thanksgiving.
BONUS: In honor of my seemingly endless apartment interviews & visits, I leave you with my favorite Warner Bros. character.
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