Ryan Andreas

Even though he says he has "never performed live ever"...I guess I will hand it to him anyway.... I like his voice, and the way he did Sarah McLachlan's "Arms of an Angel" tonight on AGT was beautiful.

Public Restrooms: I am glad I am not the only OCD....

OK, so I am not OCD - according to this unofficial online test - (although this one says otherwise!).

I hate touching that bathroom sink handle and the door handle on the way out, never mind a lot of other public items....

Oh, well.

This is just a great "Handwashing" song.

A Nursing Post

I would like to blog a little more about my current Nursing career,  which I did not include in the list on the Left.  For that,  I will have to *actually* retire first.

My job is actually so specialized and specific - there are only three of us doing this job in the whole province...if I went into details, it is quite possible one could figure out where I work and who I am.

For now, I want that to remain private, as our employer isn't one that would look kindly at divulging details, albeit anonymized.

Like I have said in the past - it's a small, small world and here where I live - everyone knows everyone else... or at least knows of or have met someone mutual.

Eventually, I will post stories.....but for now....I talk about everything else in my life.

And so it begins..... again

Remember the sign change at Predator Ridge when the Canucks were playing against the Nashville Predators?

Well, a well-known  Pizza chain in Canada is changing it's name temporarily......

.....now that Vancouver will be going against Boston in the finals.

There is a lot of banter online discussing whether Canadians actually like the Vancouver Canucks as a hockey team.  The evidence is overwhelmingly negative.

You have to understand the loyalties of Canadians to "their" team to comprehend the underlying animosity that the rest of the country has towards the Canucks - even though it is the only Canadian team left.

Some die hard fans would rather poke their eyes out than cheer for a team other than the one that they lay claim to.

The Vancouver Canucks, only 40 years old, is considered a relative "newcomer" to the NHL.  Apparently, for this reason alone it is enough to be hated - not being one of the "original six" teams.

They are also despised for being a team from the West - in their eyes, Vancouver is considered more "California" than "Canadian" - and here you have to understand the east/west tensions within Canada that would explain this. Sort of like the bothersome little brother you try to ignore.

Also, compared to the East, Western Canada is certainly not a populous area that warrants the attention of anyone.

 "The Canucks are that pathetic team that starts playing when the rest of the country is sleeping"

Apparently the Canucks hasn't the "fan base"  that NBC would like to see in the finals - as the official NHL broadcaster of the Game in the USA.   According to them, it's the bottom (advertisement) line - the money that large viewership brings that counts - not the best team getting to play.

Vancouver just doesn't rate in their opinion.  Hearing them talk, no one knows where Vancouver is or who the Canucks are - and according to many opines, should not be included as a team that competes for the Stanley Cup.

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The Vancouver Canucks

So what is a Canuck anyway, you may ask? 

Here is an EZlocal graph showing the results of their survey (American):

At least 28% got it right!

If you are wondering, "CANUCK" is not a derogatory term, although some outside of our borders may try to use it in that way. 

We like our name.....Canuck.  

As long as you don't pronounce it "can-ook".

The Sound of Happiness...

The last Hockey game Sharks vs Canucks....

Unless there was a TV in the restaurant or bar.....the whole city of Vancouver was a Ghost Town.

Vancouver was behind by ONE ....

Here is what happened in Downtown Vancouver at that moment, when Canucks made that last minute goal, with 14 seconds left in the game to tie it up:



Vancouver went on to win with a fluke-type goal in double OT.


Sounds a little bit like when Vancouver won over the Blackhawks:



Or when Team Canada won over the Team USA a year ago at the Olympics:





Canadians. Hockey crazy.....

White Rock Eagles

Right now the Eagles are defending their nest.



Crows are flying over the nest - divebombing - as one of the pair of adults sits above and fends them off.




You can hear the warning calls of the parent, along with the "caw-caw-caw" of the crows....


The little darlings would make a tasty meal for a crow.
It's real live drama!

You Might have noticed that I stopped blogging about American Idol

It started out so promising.

Although he seems to be a nice kid, and he was one of my picks for the top 20, I never thought he would be the one to make it to the end.

I was hoping for James.

Not only does Scotty look vaguely like someone I know - cutie that he is - but he sounds an awful lot like another singer I have heard......

Nice guy.  Pediatric RN for 2 years in Calgary before becoming the most  Popular Canadian Country singer ever -  with more awards than any other male singer in Canada.  He does a lot of volunteer work with charities and non-profit organizations such as World Vision and Samaritan's Purse, as well as one of his own that he started up.


I Meant To Do That - Paul Brandt from pbtv on Vimeo.

Sorry it's not that loud.   If you want to hear other songs.....a little louder, just google him on Youtube.

Paul Brandt.

Here is another one:

Weird

Blogger won't let me comment on anyone else's blog.

Maybe that's a good thing?

Perhaps I have been bad and reported...............?  Nahhh.....

Anyway....if you don't see any comments, that's why.  I am signed into Blogger and I can post just fine......So until the problem gets fixed...I guess that's it for me unless I create a different profile. 

I will have to do some digging and searching for answers I guess.

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Added after experimentation:

Ok, I have been able to comment on some blogs (not that you really wanted me to!) and it seems that it is only certain blogs I can't.  Which I don't understand, because it is on blogs with comments in place already, so unless one can get very selective as to who can and can't post......

Now my feelings are hurt! ;)

I had issues with Gmail yesterday - kicking me off my email....so I thought the problem had migrated over to blogland....

Ok.  Back to normal.

Tornados - I hate them worse than Earthquakes

To my Nephew who lives in Missouri:

I would feel much better if you moved here.

I know you have a very important and top-secret job with Homeland Security, but honestly - after you missed that last big Tornado strike by only 10 miles......Is it really worth it??

I think you would be safer here in B.C. with your brother.  Or even Seattle.

I think your mother - my sis - would agree.

With Love and Hugs and much Worry and Prayers -

Your Auntie CC



********************
UPDATE:

He says - "for now" he's ok, but it's crazy with more tornado warnings..... he will let me know when it all passes....  :(

Tickets start at $300....and it is only a semi-final game

The FEVER is on here in Vancouver.   Worse than ever.

The Sharks really want it....but the Canucks want it more.

Another thing I won't do: Grand Prix Mountain Biking...

VCA 2010 RACE RUN from changoman on Vimeo.

The Valparaiso Downtown event in Chile.  Open to full screen for the best effect

If you are faint at heart - be forewarned. 

I let out a scream several times during this video.....and was "motion sick" by the end.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Camping in the USA

One thing I noticed in this campground just across the border in the Lynden Washington area.....is that there are a LOT of Canadian license plates - probably only one or two American plates in the whole place. 

If there weren't the Canadians visiting here - this campground would be EMPTY.

I suppose, being a Holiday - Queen Victoria's Birthday, it would make sense.

All the "celebrations" are geared to the holiday - "Queen's  Ball Dance", Birthday cake, dress-up in royal outfits for the kids - etc......I guess they don't realize most Canadians don't really "celebrate the birthday"....it's just regarded as another day off work.

It's funny that we have to come to the USA to experience the "British Experience".  Right now they have "Royal-type" marching music on their speakers by the office.  Ugggghhh!

This is where we are:

Wifi is sketchy so we aren't on the computer as much - but that's ok.   It's gorgeous here, and even though it isn't really very dry.....it is still nice.

It's not that we have to worry about the rain - because we have the trailer....a 30 foot with a super slide. It's almost like being at home....just a little smaller.

Funny thing though, passing through town.   The cemetery has a big billboard up. 

Very strange place for it, I would say:

What do YOU think?

Medical Insurance : who are the 4.6 million???

In British Columbia we have a Medical system that covers any MD and emergency department visit and also a stay in the hospital.  There is more that's covered but basically,  the upshot is - any one with insurance won't get a huge bill with illness.  

You definitely won't lose your house because of huge hospital bills - unlike our neighbours south of the 49th.

The premiums are cheap - and based on your income.    If you don't make much, you don't pay much - or nothing if your yearly income is less than $22K -  and you get the exact same care and coverage as the person that pays the highest premium.  I happen to think that is a fair way to bill.  Health care should be affordable for the average citizen.

The "old card" that will be replaced

We are all getting a new "Care Card" in the near future - starting 2012 - one with high-tech microchip and other built-in security  ....phased over the next few years.

Apparently there are 9.1 million cards floating around out there.....but actually only 4.5 million persons in B.C. that are actually covered.

I am surprised that they haven't decided to do this earlier. 

As much as I feel every resident of B.C. deserves coverage no matter what their economic status  - I don't think that I should be footing the bill of another 4.6 million people who decide to scam the system. 

After all, it isn't free medical.  Someone pays - and that's us - the taxpayers.

In Just under a month - Look how much they have grown!

April:21st




May 18th:





These are snapshots taken of the eagles' nest in White Rock, B.C......link to the left.
It's amazing how much they have grown in such a short space of time!

And - btw, the Eaglet on Vancouver Island was safely rescued and the parents are continuing with feeds.
Also good news - they cleaned the camera at the same time and now the view of the 3 eaglets is much clearer!

An RN with Singing talent and More:

Inez Jasper. 






Inez is a Registered Nurse - graduating from UBC approximately five years ago with a BScN - and has been working in the area of Community Nursing. At the moment, she is on hiatus from her nursing  while she is persuing  her dream -  music.

But, as she says in one of  her videos -   she doesn't want to give it up entirely:
 "I love Nursing. It's in my heart- it's so close to me - I love it, I can't let it go"

She is a wonderful  role model - a  thoughtful and  articulate young woman :




Last month she was in Wyoming to perform and also lead a workshop  at a youth conference. A College Radio station invited her, along with an aboriginal comedian (Drew Lacapa) to be interviewed informally by their  DJ.


Drew and Inez had been asked how they got into their "biz" and Inez mentioned how APTN (Aboriginal People's Television Network) and National Aboriginal Day - or "Indian Solidarity Day" as it is called by some elders - had created a demand for her music.





Drew mentioned how he thought that it might be nice to have a similar National day for Mexican people in the Southwest, or if perhaps  they could come up to Canada to observe the celebrations.

The conversation then drifted over to guns, and how US citizens are allowed to carry a concealed weapon - and Inez made the comment that she thought that was "crazy" and so different than what she is used to in Canada.

The Radio Station Director phoned in to the DJ booth and abruptly terminated the interview.

Someone felt threatened.

The "full-on censorship" shocked Inez, as she realized that perhaps "free speech" isn't really free in some places.

In the end, Inez's gracious take-away was this:

"Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree. I have thought long and hard about this. I thought I was being careful. I'm not a radical person and I guess we have to respect people's readiness to change."
"I've come to the conclusion this was really a good lesson on how we need to create more space for discussion and ideas that may be different or foreign to us, and to talk about how to move forward when we disagree."



Inez is such a positive person and she likes to take a positive view on life, even with difficult subjects and experiences.

Last fall on stage  at the Aboriginal Peoples Awards  (winning in four categories),  upon receiving her award she stated - all the while holding her babe in arms:

 " Being raised in a traditional way...where I was told - listen to the teaching of our elders because you will need to teach it to your children one day.....and now it makes so much sense to me why I do what I do ......I do it for for my family, I do it for my people....."

 


Here she is at home with her young son:

More Eaglet Drama

You have seen and visited the Eagle Nest link to the left in my connections.  

You have also seen the Virginia Eagles - the mother eagle that was killed by the plane and now the babies are being raised at the Wildlife Center there.

Well, there is another Eagle's Nest that is coming into the news.

Apparently, an eaglet - one of three - in this nest in Sidney, B.C. (on Vancouver Island)  is snagged on some fishing line since this past Saturday.  

Fishing line can be found in most Eagles' nests because they tend to prey on fish that are wounded - ones that have been caught in nets and escaped.  These are perfect targets for Eagles, who work continuously to feed their young.

 Today, a rescue plan to drop down from a Search and Rescue helicopter was scrapped.

The plan now is - to get large mats in place on the muddy land's surface that will support a 65 Ton crane at the site of the tree and someone will rescue the eaglet.   

Hopefully the ground will dry enough to allow the crane to do the rescue....or the eaglet's days are numbered.

The adult eagles will continue to feed the baby and will not abandon it, but the fear is that they will no longer use the nest in the future.

Here is the link to the Sidney Eagle cam. 

If you are lucky enough, you might just catch the rescue......Live!!  Tomorrow!!

Hockey Jersey : Dress for Success

Vancouver has gone through a metamorphosis of sorts.  Thirteen changes to be exact - in the 40 years the Canucks have been around.

Present Uniform

If you have followed the history of the Hockey Uniform in Vancouver,  you will agree that it went through the most bizarre transformation.

I can remember the inception of the Vancouver Canucks.  I was a teenager at the time and my brothers were so excited - although perplexed that Vancouver was put in the East Division instead of the West.  I suppose someone out east wasn't looking at the map.


The Hockey-Stick-in-a-Rink  Logo was designed by a local designer - Joe Borovich - who was subsequently paid $5000 for it.   This design, with minor tweaks, was used from 1970 to 1978.

In 1978, hoping to achieve a more "aggressive" image - the management consulted with a designer from San Francisco.  Big mistake.

Look at what they came up with - the "Flying V":



Or here is the "Away" outfit:

We could have been an arena full of Cheetos-dressed fans - just like Nashville!

The "Away" Jersey had yellow as the main color....which made it look even more like a Hallowe'en costume. 

It wasn't a Jersey or a team one could really be proud of.   But, despite the horrible hockey fashion faux-pas, it was with these "costumes" the Canucks made their first run for the Stanley Cup in 1982.

In 1985, the colors were more or less the same, but the "V" around the neck was reduced and a new Logo was introduced - said to be reminiscent of "Star Wars":



The "Flying Skate" was the logo up until 1997 and actually was the one the team was wearing the for the second "kick at the can" - for the Stanley cup in 1994.

 I can't believe they kept those colors for so long.  U-G-L-Y.

Thankfully, the yellow "Away" colors were changed to white:



Finally, in 1997, a change in uniforms was announced once again - and the new "Birthing Orca" was introduced.  

Agreed,  this was more of a North-West Coast Logo, with an aboriginal Haida influence....the Orca whale being the official Mascot - "Fin the Whale".   The Blue and the White and the Silver looked great.



But that red color.....!!!!????

this is the "special" 3rd uniform.....  :(

The actual "Home" uniform

In 2007,  the colors were tweaked once again and, taking the initiative from the Seattle Seahawks with their Green and Blue.....changed the Jerseys once again - ditching the red.   The change in colors reflects the "cooler" colors of the North.



Note that they have the original "Hockey Stick in a Rink" patch on the shoulder for which rights of use, the original designer was paid $10,000K .







Yes.  Much better. 

Might even be the all-time favorite uniform....and definitely an upgrade from the 1980's.

Hopefully this will translate into success ......

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Spring is getting here s-l-o-w-l-y............

Love the spring.  Here is a peek at what's in our yard!

The Clematis blossoms are cascading off our fence...but you can still see the snow on the mountaintops!



There are soooo many blossoms!!!

Apple blossoms.  We have a "apple hedge" that grows 4 different types of apples!

A dead honeybee hangs from a spider's web.  Notice the spider blends into the blossom!

Then there is the Evergreen Clematis that grows around our house.....

The bleeding hearts have been out for a month now!

And in the local park nearby....



Little  families are coming out!



Canada geese and their babies!

...and at least a dozen of these big boys sitting on the log sunning themselves. (western painted turtle)




Nothing more beautiful than nature!
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San Jose Sharks vs the Vancouver Canucks - first Game tonight!

It looks like the San Jose Sharks

will be playing the Vancouver Canucks*




Who will win? This might give you a hint:





*It's an Orca Whale breaking out of a "C" for Canucks, just in case you can't figure it out!!

The Stanley Cup - "Interesting Stuff about Hockey to write about while the Husband watches it"

I know you have heard about it.   But - what is it?

The Stanley Cup is the *Holy Grail* of the Hockey World. 

the first Stanley Cup Champions (Montreal) with the original Cup -seemingly just thrown on the floor 

First donated  in 1892 by Lord Stanley Preston - the Governor General* of Canada appointed by Queen Victoria -  as an award for the top amateur hockey team in the league after catching "hockey fever"  when exposed to the sport during his tenure.

the Stanley Cup as it is today

It became the official trophy for the NHL in 1947.

The original award was a simple silver/nickel plate punch bowl made in Sheffield, England - purchased for under $49 USD  ($1,186 today) which now sits on top of a pyramid of bases. 

Each year, the names of the players and management from the winning team are added to it.    The same trophy is used from year to year and relinquished at the end of the season when the new victor claims the coveted prize.

The dreams of kids all over Canada...playing in the NHL and winning the Stanley Cup



Since 1914 there have been only 2 years that the Trophy was not awarded.  

The first time was during the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 - for the 1919 season, when it is estimated that 50 - 100 million people died - definitely more than the feared swine flu.  The season was cancelled to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.

The second time was during the 2005 NHL Lockout - the dispute between the owners and the players' union, which led to the cancellation of the 2004-2005 season.  This almost killed the avid hockey fans.

The Stanley Cup "stovepipe form"  in the 1940s before the redesign

Interesting Trivia About The STANLEY CUP

-The height of the Cup is a smidgen under one yard....the weight is just under 35 lbs. 

-It is interesting to note that the Trophy's engravings have numerous spelling errors, misprints, corrections and one illegitimate name. Some of the errors  include the spelling of "Boston" as "Bqstqn",  theToronto Maple Leafs spelled "Leaes" - and "New York Islanders" -  engraved as "Ilanders".  Who did the "spell check"?

-Jean Beliveau has his name on the most number of times - SEVENTEEN times -  10 times as a player and 7 times as management....and Henri Richard as the player on the most winning teams - 11 times.

-Twelve women have had their name engraved on the cup - as management or owners.  Only one of them is Canadian.

Hayden Panettiere licks it rather than drinking champagne from it

-Since 1896 - it is tradition to drink champagne from the Cup itself.

-Since 1950 it is customary for the Winning Team's Captain to take the first victorious lap around the rink -  first done to give the fans a better view of the Trophy.  It is now tradition that each member of the team to follow suit -  the Cup hoisted over their head.



-The Stanley Cup Winning team is allotted 100 days in which they are allowed to pass it around - placing it in a place of honor in parades or allowing  fans to touch it.   

In our town just this past year, the Stanley Cup was put on display in a local bank, allowing the public to have their photo taken with it.  There must have been a lineup of hundreds down the street!

2006 - Wounded US Marines pose with the Stanley Cup with Glen Wesley, a Canadian player now retired and living in the USA

Each team member gets it for a day.

Some players do some bizarre things with it, some of which includes baptizing their children out of the bowl - or allowing their dogs to eat out of it (only in L.A.!!). 

Glen Wesley, (pictured above -in the orange shirt) took it to a Marine Corp base camp then the beach - to his church and then served his family a sundae from it.

The Stanley Cup gets attention from the President

In 2004 the Stanley Cup was put on display at the McDill Airforce Base near Tampa Florida.  A young Staff Sergeant from Massachusetts couldn't bring himself to leave after having his picture taken with it.  His mother was a nurse in the early '70s and he remembers her taking him to meet all the Hockey team and being allowed to touch that same Cup.   "This is the reason I am here" he stated.

In 2007 it was taken to a NATO base in Kandahar, Afghanistan where it was involved in a a rocket propelled grenade attack - emerging unscathed. 

A second trip to Afghanistan was made  in 2008.

- There are 3 Stanley Cups. 
1. The Original Bowl, last awarded in 1970 and now sits in the Hockey Hall of Fame Vault Room in Toronto Ontario - on display.
2.  The authenticated "Presentation Cup" - the actual replica awarded at games - created in 1963, and kept "secret" until 3 years later.  You can see the seal of the Hockey Hall of Fame on the bottom when hoisted at games.
3.  In 1993 the "Replica Cup" was created as a stand-in at the Hockey Hall of Fame when the Presentation Cup is absent.

Peter Pocklington, owner of the Oilers - put his father's name on the Cup in 1983 when he shouldn't have - you can see the xxxxxx that strikes it out

The Presentation Cup and the Replica are almost identical and the only true way to tell them apart is to look at the strike-out of the Pocklington name on the Presentation Cup.

Stanley Cup Cupcakes

Now, just in case you want to know more about the Stanley Cup - here is a website where you can quiz yourself on Trivia about the Holy Grail.

I can vouch that it can pass the time quite nicely, as everyone else watches the playoffs.


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*Governor General of Canada - is the "official" Queen's representative while absent from her commonwealth.  The G-G is a Canadian who represents the figurehead -  a tradition within Britains colonies since the 17th century -  basically, the Queen's stand-in for official duties.  It is primarily a ceremonial role.