Would You Like It Gift Wrapped?

This December I've spent about 12 hours a week volunteering for the Canadian Cancer Society. Specifically, I've been at their 'Wrapping for Donations' tables in two separate shopping centers. It's been a fun activity (who doesn't love gift wrapping?) and it's given me the opportunity to meet more local Vancouverites, as well as many other people in my position of 'extended vacation.' My last shift was Friday, which I shared with a student from Switzerland. She and I had fun killing time until the lunch rush - antics captured on camera and included below.

Our Kiosk. See the greenery behind us? ...

It contained their Santa display. 

Note that Santa is not real and is instead a very creepy mannequin.

Jesters! There were jesters in the trees above Santa. WTF?!

The mall was running a photo contest -- take your picture with 'Santa' and submit. Whoever was most create wins a prize. We just dragged in our wrapping paper... we thought Santa was weird enough.

My new friend from Switzerland taught me how to make these decorative stars out of wrapping paper. Not too shabby for my first attempt!

We were working the morning shift, so we didn't have many gifts to wrap. Still, the Grandma who stopped by made my day... all gifts for her kids and grandkids - all underwear & socks. Classic grandma.

Also, my many shifts yielded a trend in gift participants... As expected, men were most likely to drop off gifts for wrapping. Women did too, but while doing so they seemed to feel required to give a reason why they wern't doing their own wrapping. Ladies, we're all busy. You don't need an excuse to ask for help.  There's a life lesson here.

One of the points for my current trip was to do more volunteering. I've spent time with a few organizations this fall, but the gift wrapping was most enjoyable. I got to meet a number of new people and spent a few hours a day on a fun activity. Thanks to the CCS for a great experience!

Gift Wrapping Icon

To Boldly Go

My nerdy side got to take over this weekend when I volunteered at a Star Trek convention in Seattle. So much geeky goodness! I also had the opportunity to travel with & get to know some fellow nerdy friends from Vancouver.

Volunteering at the convention also meant I spent the weekend as some semblance of a meeting planner - my former professional life. I enjoyed the opportunity, though I wasn't the person worried about attendee experience & budgetary restrictions. Still, it was a good feeling... like visiting a friend you hadn't seen in a while and picking up right where you left off.

The highlights, though, were nerdy in nature. I finally finished my TNG (Star Trek: The Next Generation) main cast autograph collection with a signature from Denise Crosby, who played Lieutenant Natasha Yar.  (I may have chosen the name Natasha in 7th grade German class because of her character. And by may, I mean that I absolutely did.)

I also purchased a photo op... because, obviously.

I've attended conventions since I was young and the reaction to "I'm going to a Star Trek convention!" is always the same - a snicker, a laugh, or an disbelieving stare. For those not familiar with Trek, us fans do love the shiny starships and big, giant space guns. First and foremost, however, Star Trek is about humanism and social commentary. If you're feeling even a bit philosophical, I encourage you to consider the video linked below. 

If you're not feeling philosophical or just enjoy watching professionals make mistakes, I invite you to enjoy this blooper reel.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2 Blooper Reel

Either way, I encourage all of us to take Captain Picard's words to heart, when he says, "Seize the time. Live now. Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again."

Boldly Go, my friends.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Actually, Santa has arrived!  Sunday afternoon I volunteered as a Parade Marshall (crowd control) in Vancouver's Christmas parade. We were incredibly lucky in receiving a sunny day after a week of rain. And it was the equivalent of 50 degrees... that's still weird.

Parades in the rain forest - they give you ponchos

I was stationed at the start of the parade with the women in the photo. Yes, one painted her face to look like the Grinch. She spent the start of the parade seeing how many kids she could startle. We got along well.

The Rodgers Santa Claus parade featured 55 floats, bands, cars, and of course ended with Santa Claus.  Since I was working I didn't take any pictures, but my favorite entry was the RCMP. The first time I'd seen actual Mounties! They look just like you want them to!

The parade has the tradition of allowing the crowd to follow Santa's "sleigh" down the parade route as a band leads everyone in Christmas songs. It was really nice and a lovely way to end the event. As we were stationed at the start of the parade route, the four of us volunteers had the job of forming a barrier between the band and the ever growing crowd.

My view from behind the band

Crowd control using garland

The ever-growing crowd behind us

The parade ended with the band performing Silent Night as the crowd sang along. All-in-all, the most festive holiday event I've been a part of this year!  Oh, and that garland? It's now in my apartment. Free Christmas decorations, ya'll!

Happy Holidays!

Snow in a Theater

It was a rare evening in Vancouver on Friday - we were graced with a lovely snowfall here in the rain forest.  What made it noteworthy for me, however, was where I was when it happened.

That evening I was volunteering at a theater. Intermission hit and as we turned to open the house doors we saw snow falling gently outside the front entrance. A surprise snowfall! Outside a theater!

I was having my very own White Christmas moment.

Some ran outside to play, others bemoaned the winter weather. I just tried not to jump up and down like a weirdo... had a horse-pulled sleigh gone by, I would've lost that battle.

Let the holiday season begin!