Something About Us

Sun Run Sunday

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Sun Run, 2009Today was the Sun Run. It’s quite an event, the 2nd largest in the world. As one of the winners said, “Oh I’ll be back – watching 50,000 people run is inspirational!” There were actually 55,858 people who ran, walked or rolled the 10k course through the streets of Vancouver.

Before the startI’ve run in the Sun Run before, but the last time I ran it (2000), there were 40,000 runners, and we ran through Stanley Park for the most part. This course was quite a bit different, never entering Stanley Park at all. There were two tough bridges to ascend, but for the most part the run was flat and level.

Facing away from the start lineNot that that helped me! But at least I made it through. But it was a tough go… if it had been an 8k, I’d have been fine. If I’m philosophical about it, I haven’t run for 8 years, and I’ve only been training for 3 months, so can’t expect much. Excuses, excuses, I just didn’t have it this time. Ah well. I’ll be out running on Tuesday with Max, and we’ll have a fine time.

Cambie BridgeThe most amazing thing was to see the MASS of people! Really amazing – you come around the corner onto 4th and there are two kilometres of 4 lane street absolutely solid with people running – absolutely solid. Pam described it as a wall of people moving,  when she saw us coming over the Cambie Street Bridge – and it really was something to see.

Lots of people run it in costumes, but I saw a very inspirational saying on one ladies shirt. It said, “Living proof that organ donation works. Thanks to…” and she named the people who I assume saved her life. Wonderful.

Truly an amazing experience. Sometimes the running is tough (move over to the right BEFORE you start walking please!) and you have to dodge around people who are slower, but it is a FUN RUN. And the inspiration on the way from people lining the route, giving you applause and words of encouragement, that really helps too. When you’re struggling they inspire you to get back into pace cuz hey, they came to see runners, so give ’em a show!

Tons of runners carry cameras, so there must be a lot pictures of the race around. Here is a link to the Vancouver Sun’s gallery.

Something About Us

Run for Life

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Riding in the carI have been doing some running lately. Seems every time I get a dog, we start running! When Buck got too old to run, we gave it up.

Run for LifeMax is a fit ball of energy tho! He loves to run, especially if there are birds to chase. We run around Surrey Lake and he thinks it’s a total gas to chase the ducks and other birds making use of the wetlands.

On Sunday April 5th I ran in the 5k Run For Life, a fund raiser for cancer research. My family has been hit hard by cancer, so I figured it was a perfect time to do a little fund raising and get some excercise too. This was the first 5k I’ve run. It was fun – I will definitely do it again next year too.

Run for LifeI’ve run in the Sun Run before, and the last time there were 40,000 people. This race had about 300! You can be a little more anonymous in that 40,00 mass! But 300 – not so easy…

It was held out at Sun God arena in Delta BC. We got there early, and there were lots of people milling about, some obviously course marshalls, wearing bright yellow vests with crosses.

Run for LifeLots of people were there to support cancer survivors in the family, some proudly wearing names of people they are hoping to help. (Go Mario!)

There was a no dogs policy, and this little guy in the picture to the left gave his opinion on that rule… (click the thumbnail to enlarge it.)

The Sun Run is in just two sundays now!

(I’m running in that too – have not run in it since 2000 I think.)

All About Max

Shedding Max

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March 01 2009 in the Watershed When we first got Max, I was amazed at how much he did NOT shed. Well, I guess there are two cycles for him to shed, and he’s pretty much finishing up shedding for this spring.

And wow – that was a shed! Just TONS of hair came out of that little guy!

Max - lighter colorHis color is so much lighter now! He’s almost blonde! It’s quite remarkable actually. I’m hoping you get a sense of the difference from this recent picture. The bigger one I took today in the front yard.

He is a really lovable dog. Just loves to be with us, and in physial contact with us, if possible! I’m just so glad to have him in my life.

He makes us laugh with his quirky silliness. You should see him “make his bed.” Just hysterical – we have a nice sheepskin plush bed, with a nice plush bed under that. We keep it nice and neat for him… so he can jump on it, squish it around, dig at it with both front paws, get both pieces all scrunched into a ball, then toss it aside, so he can lay on the carpet BESIDE the beds to sleep!! lol

Holidays

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

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St. Patrick's DayHope you all had a great St. Patty’s day, cuz I sure did! Here is a picture of Max and I posing for a green photo before heading off to work.

Nice hat!Pam found some swell four leaf clover lights – like a string of Christmas lights, but with lucky clover leaf. I took them into work and strung ’em around the desk.

And it worked! The Canucks won last night, setting a team record in the process. (A good team record too, ten victories in a row. Much better than the 9 losses in a row that preceded this record!)

Anyway – hope you all had a Lucky day!

Something About Us

The Time to buy is NOW!

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Well we did it. We replaced the old Pontiac. It was a relic, but man, she was a good ole boat. Did her job day after day, with little cleaning, little love, and lotsa cursing! haha

The new carWe bought a beater 1991 Grand Prix for our first car – I’d been a motorcyclist for 28 years, so it was all quite new in a car. We figured we’d get a beater in case I wrecked it! We’d only anticipated getting three years out of it, but it last seven, so we got our money’s worth out of it.

The new boat is a 2004 Chevy Impala. Much bigger in the interior than the Pontiac, but not much longer, if at all, on the exterior. It is taller, but no wider. Lots of pickup. Power this and that. And a  HUGE  trunk! Wow – we’re going to rent it out for the Olympics!

Kinda fun having a “new” car! Really nice ride. And hey – it’s built in North America!

Now the picture shows the color! LOL – if you can see it under the SNOW we got this morning! DO YOU BELIEVE IT!? SNOW!? AGAIN!?

Sigh!

Commentary

Bait and Switch Best Buy

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In my job, I’m required to purchase/source a lot of computer gear for a number of clients, not to mention friends and relatives.

I needed a bluetooth adapter, so I can quickly get the pics off of my cell phone. I usually go to Generic Computers to buy all my stuff, but since we’ve moved to Surrey, they are a 90 minute round trip. A Bluetooth adapter should run anywhere from 15 bucks to 30 bucks, hardly worth a 90 minute trip.

Bad BusinessSo I head to the local Best Buy – they have two bluetooth adapters – one is $39.95 and the other is $14.95. The $14.95 one looks a bit cheap, and has no cap, but what the heck, I’m only grabbing pics off a phone – it’s perfect. Grab one and off to the checkout.

She rings it in and takes my card and swipes it, I do the punching in crap and then I notice she’s charged me over 40 bucks… Whoa I say – it’s $14.95. I must have grabbed the wrong one – so I run back and grab the other style. Nope – it too is $39.95. So I say, I’m not paying that much for that product. Give me my money back.

I can’t do that she says, you’ll have to go stand in line for a refund. So I do. When I explain to the guy what is going on, he says, well if it’s labelled $14.95 you should get it at that price. I said, that’s what I thought. He says, show me where you got it. I do. The sign is missing. Some young guy comes over and says, yes it was a mistake, I said mistake? There are two styles here, one at one price, one at the other, there are 6 adapters in one style on this rack, and 4 DIFFERENT adapters on the other rack. What gives?

Long story short – too late I know – they will not give me the adapter at the price displayed in their store. Last year I spent over $5000 dollars in Best Buy. Guess how much I will be spending in Best Buy in the future?! Can you say ZERO DOLLARS??

Also, I’m urging YOU not to purchase anything from Best Buy.

All About Max, Surrey Parks

Back to the Watershed

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March 01 2009 in the Watershed Well today Max and I went back to the Watershed Park in south Surrey.

It’s a great park. I’ve done some running around the Lower Mainland, and I really like this park. The trails are not paved, so it’s easier on the knees and ankles. We spent nearly two hours here today, switching from the upper to lower trails.

Watershed parkIt’s a wonderful experience. Old growth forest, so peaceful…. walk about 30 seconds into the park and the traffic noise fades away and you’re alone in the forest.

I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed running as much as I have through this park. It’s really a lot of fun. Even better than Stanley Park – the grounds here are more natural. The park is so large. It seems like you are alone in the park.

March 01 2009. Watershed Park.We’re going to take in a different park each week, so stay tuned for more!

The watershed is part of Surrey’s park system, which is the best and largest in Canada. We have more park space than any city in Canada. And Max and I are going to explore every one of them! hah

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao