274: DANGER

273: PISTACHIOS

272: REBELLION

It's interesting: when a band you are a fan of is not well known, you want them to become famous because of their talent. But once the band becomes big, they start to play arenas and you just don't get the same intimate experience live...

Arcade Fire played at a sold-out Pacific Coliseum today. Last time I saw them, they were at the PNE forum (where I saw Phoenix; see day 270) and it was all general admission. This time, the general admission tickets were gone in a snap, so we had to get actual seats. I haven't had a seat at a concert in many many years, since I am used to smaller venues that are general admission. I'm used to standing and waiting in line for doors to open, standing and waiting near the stage for the show to start (meaning that I can't go to the washroom since I would lose my spot, and therefore meaning that I can't drink water, which leads to me being incredibly thirsty), standing and waiting through the opening set, being pushed around and struggling to see through all the tall people's heads - it is just all very uncomfortable.  But usually they are worth it in the end - it is a greatly different experience from being at a seat on the side.

The concert was amazing. Arcade Fire is one of my favourite bands. I was jealous of all the people on the floor who were jumping and fist pumping, and I wanted to be one of them. For some reason, my row was full of older people...but I decided, screw it, I'm going to fist pump! And so there I was, fist pumping to Wake Up, with a bunch of older people standing beside me (none of who joined in the fist pumping).

And now I have concert withdrawal.

271: ONESIES

My friend made me a nautically-inspired onesie (the pattern is of sailboats and anchors). I paired it with my nautical loafers. I find this get-up very amusing.

270: LISZTOMANIA

Where would you go, where would you go with a lasso?
Could you run into, could you run into, could you go and run into me?

I went to the Phoenix concert tonight and it was awesome. So fun. It was a hot sweaty mess - just the way I like it!  Everyone was very nice (I only got hit on the head once, and the guy who did it patted my head afterwards and apologized), until the very end, when the singer decided to jump off the stage and crowd surf. That was when mayhem broke loose and I thought I was going to fall over from all the pushing and shoving, since everyone wanted to touch him. I had to take drastic measures - I ended up pushing a little Asian girl beside me to regain my balance. I felt no remorse; it was every man for himself!

269: A SOFT SURPRISE

I arrived home to find Leopold the Lion clutching the arm of this bear. I have never seen either of them before, and I don't know why they appeared on my desk today. What a mystery.

268: FROM NONNA'S GARDEN

A big green tomato, transplanted from Bryan's nonna's garden into mine!

267: INSPIRING WANDERLUST

My guidebook arrived yesterday! I love reading through guidebooks, especially ones with colorful pictures - they make me thirst for adventure in foreign lands. I have decided that one thing I want to do in Japan is to go to a SUMO MATCH.

266: SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS

North Delta, BC

265: THE LOVE BOAT

At The Eatery. It's not just for lovers...

Mao decor

264: MAILBOX

263: SHOWER DROPLETS

262: WOOD, STONES, GRASS

Sunny days make me want to take a walk, so I hopped off the bus early and walked home on the railroad tracks after work. I ended up working seven hours straight and leaving one and a half hours early - it gives me so much time after work! Now I understand why some people don't mind not having breaks.

261: BUS MEMORIES

Ah the 480, how I do not miss thee.

260: GENTLE FLOWER

259: ASIAN-CENTRIC

For the past 3 years I have gone to Europe in my travels - Spain, France, Italy, Greece, UK, and Germany. This coming year, however, I'm heading to the opposite part of the world. Work just confirmed my 3 week holiday in March, which means I will be going to Japan then, as well as Cambodia and Laos in November. Yippee!

258: DEMOLISHMENT

This was fun to watch.

257: FLASHBACK

To three weeks ago: parasailing on Lake Okanagan. My holga pictures are finally developed and uploaded.

256: IN THE CAR

I had just driven home from a day of yoga and rock climbing - both were packed, probably because of the lousy weather. I didn't want to get out of the car because of the pouring rain, so I stalled by making faces at the visor mirror...

255: RED LEAF

Autumn is fast approaching.

254: RETURN OF THE MACK

An exhausted Cat, at approximately 3:30am, so fast asleep that she didn't notice us put an apple on her head for this picture.

A bunch of us had gone out to Library Square for 90s night. I don't go clubbing because I hate the music they usually play, but I had a really good time because of all the 90s songs (Britney, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Spice Girls, Ace of Base, Madonna).  Now I want to go to 80s night, because I would rather hear Under Pressure over Ice Ice Baby...

253: BLOODBUZZ OHIO

I had an awesome day! It started out with a leisurely bike ride with a friend in the morning, starting at Granville Island and going along False Creek past the Olympic Village, Science World, Yaletown, and finally Stanley Park, and then going all the way back to our starting point. I think it's about a 25 to 30km bike ride, but it was flat and therefore fun! Plus, along the way, we stopped at Sciue (an Italian cafe) for brunch and had panini and a ciambella, and then had gelato at the end of the bike ride to reward ourselves. My friend lives two blocks from Granville Island and I am so jealous of his new condo, especially the location. I want to be his neighbour so I can do that bike ride every week!

Lions Gate Bridge from the Stanley Park seawall

Afterwards, I went home, met up with another friend, and went all the way back to Stanley Park for an outdoor concert. We got there when the gates opened and managed to get front row spots. One thing I hate about general admission in concerts is that tall people alway block my view, but I was so glad I didn't have that problem this time! The National was really good - I LOVE the singer's deep voice.

252: NIGHT STUFF

A night of driving around in circles and of almost being locked out of the parking garage at close to midnight.

251: FLOWERS

Flowerpot bathing in the afternoon sun.

250: LABOURING

It was a rainy Labour Day, in which I cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, went to two yoga classes (flow in the a.m. and power in the p.m.), did two loads of laundry, got a surprise phone call from a friend in Toronto, and watched lots and lots of True Blood. I disliked Eric in season one but I love him now! I wish Sookie would dump Bill for Eric. (If she does, don't tell me, I am midway through season 3)

249: SIDE VIEW MIRROR

248: NAUTICAL DREAMS

I quite enjoy looking at my miniature ship!

Here it is on the mantelpiece, although it doesn't match the painting of the farmers working the rice fields. I've been moving it around the house, trying to determine the best place for it. It belongs in my room for now.

247: JAMIE'S CLOWN

My friend Jamie is a clown-lover. He received this clown, with his name on it, specially from France. I love it. Such a good choice of clowns! Now I wish I had my own.

246: TOP OF A BRIDGE

The composition is a bit weird, but I liked the wispy clouds on the upper left corner.

I also saw this on my way home today. I like how it looks almost tropical.

245: LONG SHADOWS

Riding home just before dusk.

I spent the whole day commuting by bicycle - first to Kerrisdale for lunch and a chat with a friend who just came back from a trip to France, then to Main Street for a Jamaican dinner in honour of a friend who is moving away from Vancouver tomorrow. All in all it was a good day off - I got to exercise, eat, AND socialize. My favourite part of the day though was when I was locking my bike up at the bicycle rack on Main Street. A group of girls passed by and looked at my bike, and one of them said, "That's a sick bike". Yes it is a sick bike indeed.

P.S. For the first time ever, I had a passenger sit on my rear rack of my bike today as I biked around some bushes. Fun times! Not very safe though, that extra hundred pounds made me wobbly.