Today I'm going to a .. hhmmm.. I don't know what to call it - it's a conference of a sort for dance. There will be costuming and jewellery vendors, performances, workshops and food. The local dance association holds this bazaar twice a year. Today several performers from my studio will be going so I will be there in hopes of buying some new costuming, support my fellow dancers and perhaps take a workshop.
It's a wee bit of a drive, so I posted in our group on facebook "would anyone like to carpool with me?" Since it's Facebook I assumed that people who were my friends would post a reply. But then I get a message from someone I've never met before saying that our dance instructor told her to contact me for a ride.
Gee, what was I supposed to do? So I agreed. I didn't know how to get out of it.
Now I will be driving with someone for at least an hour to the show and then home again. I hope she doesn't want to stick by my side the whole day - I'm not a good shopper and really don't want someone standing next to me all day (is that mean?).
It all seems a bit awkward. I'm trying not to think about it. I keep telling myself to be more zen - maybe she'll be really nice and it'll all work out. Maybe I have to trust my instructor - if she recommended this lady to contact me, maybe this person will be okay.
Off I go, I'll let you know how it worked out. Do you ever get these situations that seem like a good idea, and then they seem to go awry in ways you didn't think about?
UPDATE: Nope. Sadly it didn't go so well. When I picked her up, her first words were not "Hi, I'm Maureen, nice to meet you" -they were "I didn't think you'd show up". Followed by "Can we stop at 7-11 first?" She was a smoker, which I'm not used to anymore, so her heavy smoke smell in my car was rather unpleasant. No, we did not connect. In fact, at first I was a wee bit angry for my instructor to have sent this person my way. It was no favour to me, but who knows, maybe it really helped this woman out as she wouldn't have been able to go if she hadn't gotten a ride from me.
No good deed goes unpunished?
It's over, lesson learned.
Showing posts with label Adventures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventures. Show all posts
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Monday, July 15, 2013
Where have I been?
I've been to the mountain and back.
Last week I was away on business in meetings at Bear Mountain Golf Resort. Wowza, is it ever a beautiful place, and the weather could not have co-operated any better. What a tourism commercial. We had people from Western Canada and Ontario at the meeting and I think everyone wanted to return (or move) to Vancouver Island!
Travel-wise it was fantastic. For those of us on the Vancouver side, we have to take a ferry to the island which is about an hour and 45 minutes. That too was wonderful. And the ferries have much improved. They used to be so 'functional' but now they are quite well designed breaking up the sitting areas making them smaller to reduce the noise levels. And landcapes and ocean were superb - and that's coming from a personal who's seen it many times and lives here! British Columbia is a gorgeous place to be.
The craziest part is no one golfed! The events co-ordinator booked a whale watching expedition instead. The thinking was that everyone could be together and mingle since we are all so spread out across the country and you'd only get groups of 4 doing that for golf - but still, two beautifully designed golf courses at your door and no one from our group stepped on the greens. I did see licence plates in the parking lot from Colorado and California though - I bet they had a good trip up here too. If you eve come to Vancouver, you must plan a trip over to Victoria. I'm sure you will be glad you did. (No I do not work for the tourism board)
The weather this spring and summer has been stupendous and I am over the moon. Being a summer baby I just love the sun and hot weather, however, being an adult I no longer get to lay about for hours on end just being outside. Maybe that's why I appreciate it so much.
Friday night Jp and I walked out of the house to go to the grocery store and then realized we forgot our bags (they don't give bags anymore in many stores to reduce the waste and damage to the environment - do they do that where you are too?) so we turned around and headed back into the house. Just then we heard a crash and I see a pile of boxes I had in my office covering the floor. Poor Eco was under my desk, probably not sure what to make of it. First thing we did is call her to make sure she wasn't scared and that she could get out.
Although I'm not happy about the mess, I'm so glad that I was there when it happened. First because I wouldn't want Eco to be hurt by it, and two because if it had happened while I was away I might have felt that Jp was somehow responsible.
The bad news is that my weekend plans were changed as I dealt with this issue. Oh sure I could've just thrown the boxes back together and restacked them, but I decided I'd better deal with them since they were a mess and so I cleaned out my bookshelves and other areas as well. Day 3, almost done! I'm sad that I'm missing the sun, but so glad that the visual clutter won't be clogging up my brain.
How are things going for you? I must catch up in the next couple of days!
Last week I was away on business in meetings at Bear Mountain Golf Resort. Wowza, is it ever a beautiful place, and the weather could not have co-operated any better. What a tourism commercial. We had people from Western Canada and Ontario at the meeting and I think everyone wanted to return (or move) to Vancouver Island!
Travel-wise it was fantastic. For those of us on the Vancouver side, we have to take a ferry to the island which is about an hour and 45 minutes. That too was wonderful. And the ferries have much improved. They used to be so 'functional' but now they are quite well designed breaking up the sitting areas making them smaller to reduce the noise levels. And landcapes and ocean were superb - and that's coming from a personal who's seen it many times and lives here! British Columbia is a gorgeous place to be.
The craziest part is no one golfed! The events co-ordinator booked a whale watching expedition instead. The thinking was that everyone could be together and mingle since we are all so spread out across the country and you'd only get groups of 4 doing that for golf - but still, two beautifully designed golf courses at your door and no one from our group stepped on the greens. I did see licence plates in the parking lot from Colorado and California though - I bet they had a good trip up here too. If you eve come to Vancouver, you must plan a trip over to Victoria. I'm sure you will be glad you did. (No I do not work for the tourism board)
The weather this spring and summer has been stupendous and I am over the moon. Being a summer baby I just love the sun and hot weather, however, being an adult I no longer get to lay about for hours on end just being outside. Maybe that's why I appreciate it so much.
Friday night Jp and I walked out of the house to go to the grocery store and then realized we forgot our bags (they don't give bags anymore in many stores to reduce the waste and damage to the environment - do they do that where you are too?) so we turned around and headed back into the house. Just then we heard a crash and I see a pile of boxes I had in my office covering the floor. Poor Eco was under my desk, probably not sure what to make of it. First thing we did is call her to make sure she wasn't scared and that she could get out.
Although I'm not happy about the mess, I'm so glad that I was there when it happened. First because I wouldn't want Eco to be hurt by it, and two because if it had happened while I was away I might have felt that Jp was somehow responsible.
The bad news is that my weekend plans were changed as I dealt with this issue. Oh sure I could've just thrown the boxes back together and restacked them, but I decided I'd better deal with them since they were a mess and so I cleaned out my bookshelves and other areas as well. Day 3, almost done! I'm sad that I'm missing the sun, but so glad that the visual clutter won't be clogging up my brain.
How are things going for you? I must catch up in the next couple of days!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
The Spud Shack
Well based on a great review by food writer Sherman Chan on his blog, Sherman's Food Adventures, Jp took us to the Spud Shack in New Westminster yesterday. It was a surprise to the kid and I and as Jp drove we kept trying to figure out where we were going. Just when I thought I knew, he's pass the exit or turn off. And then when he parked at the River Market at the New Westminster Quay, I thought I knew and then when we started walking up the hill, I thought it was the Old Spaghetti Factory and then when he neared the skytrain station I thought we were going to board it and go for a ride. All guesses were wrong, and they couldn't be right since we went to a place I'd never heard of. And boy was it worth it, the batter on the fish was crispy - I can't remember the last time I've had crispy batter on fish (maybe never?) and yummy belgian french fries and delicious fresh made tartar sauce. It was all very good.
On our way out we ran into the owner/chef and had the opportunity to let him know how far we came for his food and how much we liked it. He seemed pleased to hear the good reviews and knowing that his efforts of hand cut fries and fresh daily tartar are appreciated - no restaurant supply house fries or sauces here!
And to top it off, we are having the most wonderful Spring weather. I can't remember a spring that was so fabulous with warmth and sunshine - it's weather like this that people fall in love with the Vancouver area, and then like a gambler who once made it big, they wait year after year for that once fabulous weather to return. This year it did not disappoint!
Today I will be cooking our Easter Turkey along with some nugget potatoes and brussels sprouts. The loaf of no-knead rustic sourdough will be in the oven in a couple of hours and the green jello with pineapple, cottage cheese and whipped cream was made last night so I can unmould it at the dinner table to reveal a surprise shape on the top of it. Happy Eating for us, and Happy Easter to you.
On our way out we ran into the owner/chef and had the opportunity to let him know how far we came for his food and how much we liked it. He seemed pleased to hear the good reviews and knowing that his efforts of hand cut fries and fresh daily tartar are appreciated - no restaurant supply house fries or sauces here!
And to top it off, we are having the most wonderful Spring weather. I can't remember a spring that was so fabulous with warmth and sunshine - it's weather like this that people fall in love with the Vancouver area, and then like a gambler who once made it big, they wait year after year for that once fabulous weather to return. This year it did not disappoint!
Today I will be cooking our Easter Turkey along with some nugget potatoes and brussels sprouts. The loaf of no-knead rustic sourdough will be in the oven in a couple of hours and the green jello with pineapple, cottage cheese and whipped cream was made last night so I can unmould it at the dinner table to reveal a surprise shape on the top of it. Happy Eating for us, and Happy Easter to you.
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