Graduation
Wow - six semesters, 90-odd credits, at least one all-nighter, and it's all done. Sad, yet happy.
Photos
Pictures of yours truly plus friends and fam.
May 25, 2007
April 22, 2007
Sun Run
A gorgeous April tradition in Vancouver - we took it very slow this year, but there's still something exhilerating about crossing that finish line.
October 05, 2006
Absolut Vancouver
Every once in a while I have this moment where I totally fall in love with this city. Last Sunday was one of those days. I was downtown early in the morning, watching the Yaletown mummies push their strollers along the sea wall. A cormorant was standing on top of some public art with its wings extended, triumphant against the sea wall. I went for a run through the closed-off streets of the city with a whole bunch of people wearing pink. Then I walked back slowly along the sea wall. The cormorants were now gathered together on the sea, and a friendly game of soccer was happening in a jewel-green park.
July 23, 2006
Unjust Deserts
Ever wonder what they do when your apartment has a flood? Not the visible, on the floor kind, but the kinda that comes through walls and seeps down into the ceiling from an errant toilet tank up above?
They hook up all kinds of dehumidifying machines and try to replicate a desert in your place so that it dries up.
What does this mean when you're in the worst heat wave the province has seen in several years?
It means you spend a lot of time at the beach.
February 28, 2006
Gloating, just a little
I've been mulling over an entry on the J.D. versus LLB designations, as UBC students recently voted in favour of a switch to the former in a referendum. But I am a little behind on my work and not prepared for such academic rigour, so instead I leave you with a picture of a hike we took a few days ago in the glorious winter snow. This picture shows yet another reason to love this province, winter is never more than an hour and a half away, at least, er, in the winter. It was a cloudy day, but the mountains were spectacular nonetheless.
So that was my Saturday. Oh, and Sunday I went for a walk on the beach. Jealous yet?
P.S. Surprisingly, this picture was taken with my new cell phone... the quality is actually quite impressive considering. Only the inside ones come out a bit blurry, because of the lack of flash.
July 21, 2005
Life is a Pretty Sweet Fruit
June 07, 2005 (One Year Ago Today)
Ghana Round 2
Okay I've been really lazy about uploading another segment of Africa pictures but here goes!
This is the town that my mother lives in, Tamale. Not the most scenic town in Ghana, but it has a certain cosy charm. I loved it there.
This is another HIV billboard. I loved watching the women who carried everything, literally everything on their head - from hundreds of pounds of water to a sole, tied up umbrella.
The children in a northern region waved at the car as we passed by.
The scenic, neat little compounds pepper the countryside across Bunkpuragu. This shot was taken from inside a building and I love the torn edges effect it makes.
This is, without a doubt, my favourite picture. I picked up my camera to take a candid photo of some kids outside of a school. Suddenly more and more across the playground starting moving to be in the photo - a sea of children. Then, as if one cue, they started running towards me. This picture doesn't gather the whole scope of them, they literally surrounded me. Then they just stopped about two feet away from me, all of us unsure of what to do next. I thanked them, and shook one's hand. Suddenly they were all around me, wanting to shake my hand. It was almost embarrassing, but so sweet. Finally a schoolmaster came out and ordered them away; they all obeyed immediately. Anyway, I LOVE this photo of these kids.
May 13, 2005
Postcards from Ghana
Ghana, what can I say about Ghana… so far I’ve seen a lot of the country and will be seeing more. We started in the capital Accra, where I arrived last Friday. Saturday, we explored Jamestown, once the colonial heart of the city.
Monday we headed to the gorgeous coastline of Cape Coast. The coast is haunting, extraordinary beauty paralleled with one of the most awful histories of humankind: the slave trade. Most of the slaves shipped to North America came from West Africa. Thousands passed through these tremendous forts, occupied at various times by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Their living conditions were appalling, and they were packed by the hundreds into dark, unventilated dungeons in the most terrible heat.
Following that we moved to the seat of the Ashanti region. Kumasi is a major city in the heart of Ghana. The guidebook I glanced at in Heathrow said “If you haven’t seen Kumasi, you haven’t seen Ghana.” There we visited a cultural centre and learned about Ashanti history in a rather fast-paced tour. Any summary I make of that here would be superficial, but they are a powerful tribe, with a rich history. Their kings wore lots of gold jewellery, leading colonisers to believe there was a lot of gold here. They are still a major force today, and there is still an Ashanti king. In Kumasi, we also saw a brass village where they make brass sculptures out of scrap metal.
We are now in Tamale. More on that later.
May 04, 2005
Meet Pedro
Well, there's been a request for Blixie updates, but I have to first introduce you to our other new pet.
Any music recommendations?
April 08, 2005
Last Day of Classes: A Photo Essay
This are some little bushes I walk past on my way to class - there are all sorts of neat landscaping things around UBC.
More lovely landscaping.
Actually, I don't usually walk to school by this little path because I get cold and cut through the administration building. But I almost always leave by it. It's not quite as scenic as you might think, since a large multi-storey parking lot is on the right and some portables flank it on the left.
Ah, the Curtis building. Can't even make it look pretty in pictures... but to be fair I am coming from the back entrance through the lot on a rainy, Vancouver day. But let's not lie, even on a sunny day no one could call this architectural gem "pretty."
Yes, interestingly the gray bunker theme is continued on the inside. The grim walls won't dampen the spirits of these happy law students on their last day. Because I know these folks recently finished reading a chapter on the tort of "appropriation of personality," I have decided to protect their anonymity.
The interaction area - our social lounge. Pleather couches and foosball tables. What more can you ask for? (Yeah - these folks are in my torts class too.)
April 01, 2005 (One Year Ago Today)
Where There's Smoke, There Must Be Fire
February 16, 2005
Our Trip to Tofino
We left on February 13th and took the ferry across to Departure Bay in Nanaimo. After stopping for a quick sandwich at lunch, we proceeded onwards. Much to our delight we passed directly by Cathedral Grove where there are some LARGE TREES!
At Cathedral Grove we wandered around and politely chastised a young woman who was smoking, directly contrary to the many posted signs. She responded with a snarky "I didn't see them" and continued puffing away. Being Canadian, we did not pursue it any further.
We then continued on our drive to Tofino, which is on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The drive was very pretty and didn't take nearly together as long as MapQuest had told us. (Three hours including the Cathedral Grove detour.) The drive took us past a few gorgeous lakes and up into the mountains.
After stopping at the rental office to pick up the keys to our cabin, we arrived. The cabin was right in town, but felt very secluded being down a long drive and a secluded little path.
The inside of the cabin was lovely and cosy. (For more pictures check here.) It also had a wonderful view of the water.
The next day we went to the Hot Springs, after grabbing a coffee in Tofino. We had a wonderful boat driver, Pat, who pointed out bald eagles and gave us a bit of a history lesson on the area. We also saw several sea lions lounged out on the rocks.
Unfortunately our digital camera crapped out as soon as we got to the Hot Springs. But we took mental pictures of the enormous lush green trees veiled in moss. The walk itself, done at a leisurely pace with a long stop for a picnic lunch at a lookout spot Pat had told us about, took about an hour. (It took less than half that going back.) We saw more bald eagles and heard their lovely chirping call. Apparently it is often dubbed over in television ads for a more "macho" sound.
After filling up on ham sandwiches and granola bars, we proceeded on to the Springs, foreshadowed by their pungent sulphuric smell. There were about five other people when we arrived, although apparently in summer there can be up to a hundred. The springs themselves come up from the earth and then catapult over the rocks in a steaming waterfall that is almost too hot to stand under. Then it forms about four small pools, just the right size for sitting in. Each one is successively cooler as it nears the ocean. Julian decided to explore further down, and being unfamiliar with the sharpness of West Coast barnacles, took a bit of a fall and sliced himself up in about five places. But he was a good sport and didn't complain despite the blood dripping from his heel.
After an hour and a half at the springs, during which time we chatted with another couple, we headed back to the docks. As we left we heard a very upsetting argument between the couple. We returned to make sure things were okay but we weren't really sure they were when we had to leave.
Our ride back was considerably more exciting, mostly because I thought I was going to die. I had a bit of a sun headache having spent much of the day in a swimsuit without sunscreen. (Who remembers sunscreen when there's ice on the ground and it's February?) The headache contributed to my queasiness. We also took the outer route, which was quite a bit more turbulent than our trip on the way there. The small boat bobbed and tumbled on waves about the same size as it was (waves that looked very benign from the shore.) Nonetheless I knew we'd be back safely. We didn't see any gray whales, though one had been spotted the day before.
Back at the cabin we made a lovely chicken dinner and ate homemade truffles.
The next day we got new batteries for the camera at the drug mart in town. We then went for a nice hike through to Long Beach, a 10 kilometre stretch just out of town.
After that, we watched a beautiful sunset... though we had a little trouble getting the timer lined up correctly to take our pictures.
The next morning on our way out of town we stopped one last time to see Long Beach in slightly different weather.
Then we drove out to see Ucluelet (having just read Emily Carr's book about some time she spent there I was curious.) It was quite pretty.
Just outside of town we took another lovely walk through the rainforest and saw three more bald eagles. At least, Julian saw them while I tried to figure out how to work the binoculars. The view was pretty.
February 12, 2005 (One Year Ago Today)
Photos of Winter Break
Finally got new batteries for my digicam - forgot I had these on here!
Julian looks pensive on the beach.
I look pensive on the beach.
Trees at Butchart Gardens!
Me again looking pensive at Emily Carr house...
Proof we made it to the top of Mount Washington! (Well... corroborating evidence anyway...)
December 07, 2004
Christmas Cats
I don't pose them like this, I swear. There's just enough Christmas kitsch in my home that they just seem to migrate there.
Tell me how adorable they are!
October 08, 2004
Whistler and Lynn Canyon
Hiking in Whistler:
Afternoon at Lynn Canyon
An old one from Toronto:
September 03, 2004
Homesickness
We arrived in Vancouver yesterday, cats intact. I sedated both of them, one with a veterinary-prescribed concoction and the other with half a baby Gravol (veterinary endorsed). Neither seemed much affected by the sedation and remained awake for the entire trip. Luckily we were seated next to a very understanding woman who was clearly a 'cat person.'
We quickly tooled over to our new apartment, which was gorgeous, as promised. But on the way back to where we're staying I was suddenly overwhelmed with the fact that we have actually moved here. We don't know anyone, we don't know how to rent a video or where to get drycleaning done. And everyone here is so much more fashionable than I am. Suddenly the many thousands of miles between me and home seemed like a gaping chasm. No more evenings at Mum's house or quick weekend trips to Julian's parents. No more spur-of-the-moment journeys to Montreal, or skating on the canal. I was kind of stunned all evening, realising I was time zones away from friends and family.
This morning we woke up early (jetlag) and decided to take a trip to the UBC campus where we mapped out how I will walk to the law school. Pulling up in our car, I was reminded of how lush and green the campus is. There just seem to be more types of plants here. There are huge twenty-foot high holly bushes and all kinds of evergreens and pansies grow in window boxes all year-round.
We grabbed a quick and delicious lunch on Main Street and then returned to our apartment to plan out how we will arrange all of our furniture.
This evening we walked down to Kitsilano Beach with Julian's friend Mike Ross (photographer extraordinaire.) We enjoyed coffee sitting on a huge weathered log and then we walked along the beach watching the sunset reflect across the skyscrapers downtown. We watched fisherman pull in long lines of smelt on nets. We dipped our feet in the Pacific Ocean and watched a seal cavort in the bay in the distance. And I remembered that I didn't actually skate on the canal last year anyway.
July 30, 2004
Our New Home
A picture of our new 'apartment building' in Vancouver. We will be on the entire third floor. Haven't seen the inside yet, but I'm led to believe that the upstairs deck is ours.
Maryland
My trip to St. Mary's County, Maryland
A bunch of pictures taken at our B&B in St. Michael's Manor:
Civil War soldiers slept two to a bunk on beds like this.
July 26, 2004
Washington D.C.
My Trip to Petawawa
June 13, 2004
Weekend in Wilmington, New York
Me playing with my recently received birthday present. Unfortunately the present itself is completely invisible in this low-resolution picture, but I assure you it was there!
Julian and I had an amazing time getting to know the Ausable region. With the help of our awesome and knowledgeable guide, Bill Stahl, I learned to cast and managed to catch two fish on our first day and three the following day! (Well, 2.5 as I managed to pull the last one in, but s/he got off the hook himherself...) J caught a couple too, but not quite as many as I did!
September 27, 2003 (One Year Ago Today)
Las Vegas and Nevada 2003
September 26, 2003
Newfoundland 2003
September 01, 2003
BM2003 Photos
February 22, 2003
North Carolina 2003
December 29, 2002
Christmas 2002
Tony, Hilary, Matt and Ann
Danielle, Tony, Hilary and Matt
All from the same genetic pool. Difficult to believe sometimes, isn't it?
The old chopsticks as walrus tusks joke, it never gets old...
Tony!
September 27, 2002
Random Ottawa Photos
Hilary is always a hit with the gentlemen.
Mike and Nuala
More fun!
Risks vs. Rewards!
August 26, 2002
BM2002 Photos
December 10, 1999
Older Photos
In university Hilary experiment with cooking and short hair. She no longer does either.
