Category Archives: adventure

opera thoughts

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My evening at the Vancouver Opera was fantastic. I had a very good time – the whole evening was a spectacle, from getting myself all fancy to the live blogging and the performance itself. An opera virgin as I am was, I really thought the entire thing was enchanting. Carmen pretty much had everything you would expect in an opera:

  • Saucy maidens in corsets!
  • Smoking!
  • Rope play!
  • Gun battles!
  • Apples!
  • Manly men who do as mother asks but get arrested and thrown into jail instead!
  • Opera urchins!
  • Girl-on-girl action!
  • Table dancing!
  • Shiny satin pants!
  • Jealousy!
  • Swords!
  • Death!

Good, good times. Many thanks to the Vancouver Opera, everyone who welcomed we bloggers with such enthusiasm, and especially Ling and Selina for their hospitality (and the kickass lobby sign!). The backstage tour was especially great – I love seeing things the general public don’t get to see – and I stand by my original assessment that the opera is a classy affair. It’s a great deal of fun and everyone should get to experience something outside their comfort zone to see how the other half live – apparently, the other half are all about gorgeous music and costumes. Who knew?

I can’t imagine the others having any less fun than I did at the opera, but please check out their recaps as well:

Tanya/Netchick – Rebecca/Miss604 – Ami/Beyond Robson – Ling/Vancouver Opera

I can’t access my photos at the moment, so I’ll upload them later tonight. In the meantime, here’s one of my favourites taken by Ami’s girlfriend:

we are fancy

we are fancy

We got a mention in the Georgia Straight, too. I had to laugh last night when a lady asked why we were doing this – was it for fame and fortune? I have yet to make any sort of fortune from my words, but I’ve been linked by many exciting new places this week and hope some of my visitors decide to stick around. I’ll be honest – it’s not always operas and tiaras around here – but I *can* guarantee an uncensored glimpse into my pants, both figurative and literal.

Wait, that came out wrong.

I think I’ll stick with it, though.

bloggin’ the opera

Posted in adventure, everyday kimli by

It’s Opera Night!

I am all ready to be cultured and fabulous for the evening. Last night I prepared my Opera-Going Kit – a change of clothes (my new slinky black dress from Bodacious, my lucky bra, “high” heeled shoes, a tiara [I wasn’t kidding; I’m going to wear a tiara], and a necklace that invites you to inspect my cleavage), my MacBook, my camera, business cards, and a flask of Diet Coke. I am all set! I can’t wait – I’ve never been to an opera OR the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, so my Tuesday will be full of exciting new experiences.

The Vancouver Opera is doing a lot of really neat things to bring opera to the masses. In addition to this inaugural Blogger Night, they’ve released a series of manga comics (click on read, then manga at the bottom of the grey menu bar) based on various shows, some of which have been or are going to be performed by the Vancouver Opera. I fully confess to being a complete opera newb – I know what Carmen is, of course, but not how it all plays out. Reading through the comics gave me a better understanding of the stories behind some famous operas, and it was fun to recognize the plots as the inspirations for some of my favourite things. After all, what is RENT but an updated version of La Bohème?

Tonight’s event is getting a lot of press, too. We got a mention on CBC Radio 2’s blog, a post on Opera Chic, a couple of articles on the Vancouver Opera blog (and oh my god how hilarious is it to see my oranges used in an official manner like that – I’m almost sorry about the whole boob thing, but not really), and a sprinkling of updates all around the web. Since we’ll be blogging at the event, you can keep tabs on what goes on before, during and after a performance: I’ll be joined by Miss 604, Netchick, and Ami from Beyond Robson. Each of us has our own distinct style of writing, and I’ll link all the updates from tonight and tomorrow. Should be neat to see what each of us take away from tonight’s performance of Carmen!

boooooobs. (photo by Tim Matheson)

boooooobs. (photo by Tim Matheson)

getting classy up in here

Posted in adventure, everyday kimli by

In my many years at the helm of this e-boat, I’ve been lucky enough to have some pretty cool things come my way. I’ve received free smoothies from the best joint in town, been given delicious chocolate in startling quantities, met more fabulous people than I can shake one of my many sticks at, and annexed a fancy new Zune for my nerdy enjoyment – just to name a few. Today, one more jewel will be added to the shiny crown of my hilarious empire: Delicious Juice Dot Com has been invited to attend the opera.

You read that right – the *opera*.

Yes, *this* Delicious Juice Dot Com.

No, I am not shitting you. I have been invited – quite possibly *cordially* invited; opera is some high-class stuff – to attend the Vancouver Opera‘s performance of Carmen later this month.

Heeee!

The Vancouver Opera, wishing to reach out to Vancouver’s many hipsters and technodorks, is hosting a Blogger Night on Tuesday, January 27th. The delightful Ling (I met her last night, which is how I know she is delightful) confessed to reading my blog, and chose *me* to sit amongst Vancouver’s blogging elite on the night of the opera. I am verklempt with delight!

Seriously, I am SO EXCITED about this for many reasons, some of which I will share with you now:

  • Being invited to something special is such an awesome feeling! I feel so .. so .. significant! I get to sit with the cool kids!
  • Not only do I get to go to the opera, I get to go to the opera with my LAPTOP as we will be blogging before, during the intermission, and after the performance. This is so completely awesome and nerdy that I can hardly contain myself
  • AT LAST – AN EXCUSE TO DRESS UP AND WEAR A TIARA!

The first two points are weighty unto themselves, but the third – that’s the one that’s really making me giggle with delight.

I’ve often bemoaned my lack of opportunities to dress up and get fancy with my round self. I’m a big advocate of playing dressup for no other reason than it being Tuesday, but there’s something missing. Yes, you’re all dolled up and you’re gorgeous and you wouldn’t look out of place in a cell phone commercial, but at the end of the day you’re just going to end up at home sitting around in your underwear with your hand down a bag of chips (literal, not proverbial). Having an Event to Attend gives the act of playing dressup a whole new dimension – I’m not wearing heels because I had a bowl of danger for breakfast; *I* am going to the *opera*!

I’ve never been to an opera before! Will I need opera glasses? Should I switch my browser to Opera? Is it time to carry out a construction project in Ancient Rome? Where does the Oscillation Project with Emulsion-tRacking Apparatus fit into all of this? There’s so much to learn – it’s time to do some research; I’m going to do this opera thing some justice!

i’ve been a good girl

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Coming back to work after a couple days off is always much easier when there are presents.

Our office Secret Santa was on Thursday, but I missed it because I was having a fantastic time in Seattle. I was a little sad I was going to miss the fun, because a) presents are awesome and b) I was really excited about what I got for my recipient. I drew the name of our co-op student from Rio de Janeiro, so I got him a Team Brazil scarf and lanyard because he’s really into football.

I went nosing around the tree this morning in the office, because there should have been a present for me. What I found was TWO presents for me, each made up of two packages taped together. EXTRA PRESENTS! I don’t know why I got two; I asked the Lab Admins if there had been a mistake or if my name was drawn twice. Doesn’t look like it; everyone who participated received a present from someone else – so yes, for some reason I had two presents. Squee! One of the packages was full of chocolate – a giant Toblerone that I will use as a weapon because it is deadly and huge, and a box of hedgehogs. The other present was from my Secret Santa; a laser pointer pen and an awesome Hello Kitty keychain that lights up with disco LED goodness. Hooray! I do so love getting presents!

My Seattle trip was cut short, but I had the best time while I was there. The original plan was for Josh, Shan and Ed to take the train down on Friday night to spend Saturday in Seattle with me before coming back later that evening, but on Wednesday evening we had a change of plans. Sasha isn’t doing very well – she’s come down with a wicked case of old – and I didn’t want to leave her alone for 2 full days. There were other reasons as well, but it all boiled down to a frenzied postponement of the Seattle Adventure for everyone else.

As for me, I had a great time and came back Friday night instead of Saturday. I left early Thursday morning and leisurely made my way down to Seattle, stopping at various places along the way to complete the majority of my Christmas shopping. I arrived at Ali’s house around 5pm, and got to watch River dance in circles around the kitchen. Doug made us all dinner, then Ali and I were off to the Showbox to see Amanda Palmer.

The show was awesome, naturally. I actually liked the Vancouver show more – it was much smaller and more intimate, and the venue wasn’t dotted with assholes throughout. I don’t understand why people would pay money to see a show then spend the entire time talking loudly about ridiculous things, or be so rude as to engage in obnoxious conversation while people around you are trying to listen to the show. One part of Amanda’s show features a reading of names of people who died in school shootings – it’s a fairly emotional piece, yet the idiots sitting next to me were giggling over German verb conjugation. Stay classy, guys. Numerous people told the various talkers to shut the hell up already, including Ali. They were just .. unbelievable, really. I don’t get it.

After the show, Ali and I stuck around to meet Amanda and get an autograph because I am a huge fan girl. Almost every CD and poster I own is signed by the Dresden Dolls, but this is different because she signed it in front of me:

Friday was some more fun with Ali before I hit the road at 5:30 to drive back to Vancouver. The roads were terrible, but I made it in one piece. Sasha is doing better – we changed both her food and her eating schedule, and she seems to be keeping things down easier. I’ve had pretty much non-stop fun since Wednesday, and it just keeps on coming: stuff is good.

If you haven’t already, check out the Cans in the next post!

can i get a witness

Posted in adventure, everyday kimli by

.. because I have a COURT DATE!

Many moons ago I was pulled over by the police and handed a traffic ticket for having tinted windows and also turning right at 11:03pm on a Saturday night. Full of my usual righteous outrage, I decided I was going to dispute the ticket in a scenario that was much less hilarious than I hoped. I waited and waited and waited and eventually forgot all about it, because it seemed the city could not care one way or another that I owed them money and wanted to fight about it.

Then I received a Notice of Hearing Date!

On February 11th at 9:30am, I get to go to court and tell them my reasons for not wanting to pay the stupid ticket. I am very excited about this. As a good suburban city girl without a lust for criminal activity, my closest brushes with “the law” include such shockers as minor vandalism (dropping eggs off a parkade roof), being a witness (one car accident, one bear spraying aftermath), and being a victim (Aquaman went on a rampage and shelled the door and boothatted our car). Oh, and there was that one time the cops came to my bachelor suite because people thought I was dead, and that other time we were surrounded by 5 cop cars and multiple police with their guns drawn and ordered to put our hands up, but that’s it. As well, my knowledge of what happens inside a courtroom is limited to what I’ve seen on Law and Order and Judge Judy. The whole experience is new to me, and new things are awesome. I get to go to COURT! HOORAY!

I am highly amused at how excited I am about this. I clearly need to get out more.

home for a rest

Posted in adventure, everyday kimli, nerd, relationship drama by
  • Went to Fright Night
  • Somehow managed to take 369 pictures
  • Was kicked off the Ferris wheel (“weight distribution problem” – the Ferris Wheel called me fat)
  • Was put back on the Ferris wheel and NOT ALLOWED TO GET OFF – seriously, we went around about 10 times and I was getting wheel sick
  • Reconvened at Denny’s with gang plus extras; disassembled then ate a club sandwich
  • Woke up horribly early on Saturday morning
  • Applied zombie makeup
  • Went to Mac’s for water in full getup; disappointed at lack of reaction
  • ZOMBIE DANCED !!
  • For one beautiful moment, knew what it was to be a grandmother famous – at one point, Shan and I had six photographers crowded around us taking pictures as we posed on the beach
  • Went for brunch at a ritzy restaurant, still zombie’d up
  • Got my brunch for free because my chicken and brie sandwich was missing brie
  • Left brunch to reconvene at a pub in Gastown; drew two directors out of a hat and have to do a photo project in the styles of Fellini and Gilliam
  • Finally dezombie’d; took nap
  • Mouthed off to strangers in Gastown
  • Went to hockey game!
  • Walked from GM Place to the Art Gallery to take photos of art projection
  • Walked from Art Gallery to Gastown
  • Was passive-aggressively assaulted by some chick walking in a group of Canucks supporters as they razzed Ed for his Oilers jersey
  • Ran out of latex gloves
  • Cleaned the apartment minus the bedroom
  • Bought a new TV – a 47” LG LCD, and a stand for it
  • Graduated from my beloved Canon S5 to a Pentax K200D :o
  • Somehow made $15 while purchasing Fable II
  • Set up the new TV and stand with Ed
  • Bought tickets to see Amanda Palmer in Vancouver in December
  • Made dinner for the home gang
  • Got a permit to blow shit up
  • Glad the work week has started; I need some rest

October has been one hell of a month. This is good, because November is looking to be very quiet – Ed is taking a Boring Insurance Course that runs every Saturday in November; Shan will be out of town the first and last weekend of the month, Josh is gone the first weekend and is taking most of Vancouver to Tofino for the next; and Miranda and Reilly have shoots and meetings lined up for the middle of November. So far the month is looking to be just me and Gillian sitting around in our underwear, but only because she hasn’t told me her plans for the month yet. I could be all alone. Normally this would upset me, but see above re: Fable II.

I adore my life.

please hammer totally hurt ’em

Posted in adventure, medical anomaly by

If ever there was a time when parachute pants and gold lamé were the lesser of two evils, it would be now. For some, Hammer Time is a nostalgic look back at things you can or cannot touch, coupled with a healthy dose of early 90’s (and I mean early – the song was released 01/13/90) whimsy. In this case, however, Hammer Time has unfortunately little to do with touring ‘round the world from London to the Bay – rather, it means I would like you to pick up a hammer and hit me with it. Hard.

I don’t suggest you try this at home, but if someone would like to kindly get a hammer – a large one would be best; perhaps even a mallet – and violently but lovingly break my left foot, I would be ever so grateful and would not press charges or anything.

As strange as it may seem, this is an ongoing quest of mine. When the pain of my deformed feet get to be so much that I have little anxiety attacks on a daily basis, I often daydream of something “accidentally” breaking my foot so badly it would require surgery – and while they’re in there, they might as well realign the nice new bone-replacing titanium rods so it doesn’t hurt when I walk or dance or stand or breathe.

Shan and I went to the Thriller dance rehearsal on Saturday, and then joined the rest of the gang (minus Ed [isn’t a camera person] and Gillian [out of town]) for a Toy Camera photo walk. Everything was fun and super and good, but by that evening, I was in some serious pain. By the time we got home, I could barely walk. The pain subsided a little for Sunday, but I was still in enough discomfort Sunday evening that I had to take some sort of pill to get to sleep – and then woke up every hour or so for my efforts. Even today, my left foot is cranky and pissed off at the world, having not asked to be born. I am at My Limit over this, which is usually when I start fantasizing about hammers and Thor and Bob the Builder.

The Thriller Dance is this coming Saturday at 11am, in front of the Watermark Restaurant on Kits Beach. Come down and check out all the dancing zombies, and take a certain special pride in knowing that after the 6-ish minute dance, I will be completely unable to walk properly for the remainder of the weekend. Hooray!

It sucks to be my feet.

Horrible never ending pain aside, I had an awesome weekend. It amazes me just how much fun stuff you can cram into a weekend if you really try: we tried a new restaurant on Friday night and it was incredible; the Toy Camera photowalk was a blast and I’m really looking forward to getting my film back; Sunday was pretty chill but featured brunch with hungover friends and an excellent scooter ride. This week promises to be nearly as exciting: Fright Night, the Thriller Dance, a hockey game, and perhaps a new TV. Phew! It is exhausting to have so much fun.

Here are some pictures from Saturday (I cheated and had my trusty Canon S5 in addition to my three toy cameras):

booty bounce

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You’re meeting someone for the first time. Do you:

a)    Smile politely and shake hands
b)    Simultaneously jam hand down pants and tongue down throat
c)    Drag the new person downtown and force them to learn a choreographed dance for two hours

If you answered b, then you are usually me. If you answered c, then you have the misfortune of being Chris today.

While Chris and I have spent many an hour chatting away via MSN and text, we had never actually met face to face. That all changed today, when he came to my apartment as he is crashing here tonight. We said our hellos, then Shan and I forced him to drive us downtown so we could do this.

It was awesome. Shan is an experienced dance person (her role in the Gang is that of Fine Arts), but neither Chris nor myself have danced recently (unless you count naked shower booty dancing, which I clearly do on a daily basis). Exhausting! Shan and I will practice during the week and go to another rehearsal next Saturday. It will be hilarious. And sweaty. Very, very sweaty.

Tonight there is to be beer and pizza. I clearly earned it, since I totally danced for two hours today.

nerd cred

Posted in adventure, nerd by

I do so enjoy fun weekends.

Ali arrived just before 7 on Friday night, and we promptly went to what is fast becoming my favourite pub on the North Shore, the Queen’s Cross. Gillian couldn’t make it, but the rest of the gang was in full force. We ate and drank and it was a good time, but then I played a mean trick on the remaining bar patrons. As I waited for Ali to finish with the ATM, I wandered over to the Digital Jukebox on the wall. As I started poking buttons, I realized there were three credits in the machine just sitting there. Naturally, there was only one thing I could do – use the credits to have the three worst songs I could think of play throughout the bar.

  • Song 1: (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
  • Song 2: Hit Me Baby (One More Time) – Britney Spears
  • Song 3: Take a Chance On Me – ABBA

Okay, the ABBA song isn’t that bad but we were leaving and I had to make a quick decision. While I didn’t get to stick around for the reactions for the second song, the uproar over the first song was frankly hilarious – people did NOT appreciate the croony ballad where there had previously been a rather excellent selection of rock. I am a bastard. I readily admit it.

The weather wasn’t spectacular on Saturday, but we had a late brunch on West 4th with the gang (again minus Gill, who clearly hates me). Ali tried to introduce me to the wonders of geocaching, but we didn’t have much luck. We did find an awesome community garden along some scenic train tracks, had some coffee, bought some rain gear, and just hung out enjoying the company. It was great seeing Ali again – it’s been far too long, and we’re not going to let that happen again. Hopefully Ali will be free when I go to Seattle in December to see Amanda Palmer, but if she’s out of town, we’ll just have to schedule a weekend visit some time in November.

Speaking of traveling to Seattle to see things, all my friends lost a huge amount of nerd cred this past weekend. I was beyond excited to learn that Jonathan Coulton is playing Seattle in January, but when I shared my excitement, I was met with many blank stares and general confusion. Disgusting! They are not nerds at all!

I’m going to the show anyway. Perhaps I will find myself a new gang of real nerds instead of hipsters just disguised as nerds. :(

stand by me