Six, Seven, Stanley

Tonight is Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. If they win tonight, they've won the cup.


It has been an absolutely fantastic season and it is bittersweet to see it come to an end. Wonderful because hey, this is our chance to win the cup! And it will be nice to have free evenings after a while and not have every other night occupied with a game. But a bit sad, because it's my last season being in the lower mainland.


Secretly, I'm voting for a loss tonight so that we can win at home for Game 7 and I can be there. But I would be equally as happy if they won tonight. Where will you be watching the game?

GO CANUCKS GO!

Canucks, Cup, Cheering

Since the day I came home, I have been enjoying everything about the Canucks playoffs. I was sad to miss the first few weeks, but excited that they have been playing amazingly and that I could join in with the cheering fan base.


There's something about being at a game that cannot be fully explained, until you are there and hear the thunderous roar of the crowd, feel the towel lint irritating your eyes, jumping up at every goal and good play.


And Round 3, Game 5 was exceptionally exciting. My heart was racing most of the time, my cheeks were rosy and I was on the edge of my seat.


And we WON! For the first time in 17 years, we are off to the 4th round once again. SO exciting! I remember going to the playoffs 17 years ago when I was 10 and so I am excited to go again and appreciate it through new eyes.


And even being in downtown Vancouver is exhilarating. Horns honking, giving everybody high five, cheering loudly, waving your towel around... so great! There's something special about when everyone gathers together and cheers for a common thing. It is unifying and bonding in a unique way.


Now we will just wait to see who we play in Round 4 and until then I will keep my evenings open so I can continue cheering until the end! Hope you are also enjoying the playoff run!

GO CANUCKS GO!

Ideal, Ikea, Indian

Last week Calgary Flames came to Vancouver to play the Canucks, so I phoned Lindie up and told her she should fly out so we could go to the game together. So I picked her up at the airport and we headed to Vancouver.

Before the game, we went for Japanese to my favourite Vancouver restaurant. And suddenly Lindie was half out of her seat, about to chase two men (dressed in suits and looking quite dapper if I may say so myself) out of the restaurant. Turns out they were Flames players (Hagman and Conroy). Sadly, Lindie didn't make it in time to get some photos, but we enjoyed that we had dinner with them.. Actually this is the same restaurant where the Canucks sometimes go. So perhaps we will have to frequent it even more often.


The game was ideal (for me) and Canucks won. For Lindie's sake, I was glad that Flames scored with 10 second remaining. Because then I was happy and so was she.


The next day we did a bunch of different things and on the way to Vancouver stopped at Ikea for some wandering around and random photo taking. I love it when Lindie comes to visit. The things we do are always incredibly random, but so fun, including a lot of laughs and good chats as well. Brings you back to simply appreciating the people in your life and loving spending time with them.


That evening we went to Vij's in Vancouver, which has perhaps some of the best service and best Indian food ever. And while you sit there, they bring around appies and chai. So tasty! Here we were joined by more friends and it was just a lovely evening all together.

Dropped Lindie off at the airport on Friday morning, and then I spent the day meeting different people and such, before being dropped off at the airport myself, for my cross Canada adventure. I decided I would go to Calgary for the weekend for my friend Jenn's birthday, and figured, why not keep going? Presently I am in Saskatchewan. And it's beautiful. Yay for snow. And for wonderful friends. I am blessed.

More intermittent updates to come soon!

Hockey, Holler, Happy

Vancouver vs. Flames. In Calgary. How could I resist? I was able to get two really great tickets and flew out for the day just to go to the game. I wore my jersey proudly on the flight and in the airport and got some great comments from passerbys.


It was also fun being there with a Flames fan. That way someone was always cheering (thankfully I was cheering a LOT more)



I have to admit though that their fans are far more hardcore. And the fact that they have flames burst out when they score. It's a nice blast of warmth. :) And the "C" of red that the fans wear is pretty sweet too.

Our seats were pretty great. How cool!

We won 7 to 2 and it was a great game with lots of cheering! Just made it all the more sweeter that it was in Calgary...

The next morning, Jenn and I went out for breakfast at 5am. Because it's tradition. And we're hardcore like that.

Then she dropped me off at the airport for another delightful flight over the Rockies. And the beginning of a wonderful day that would last for 24 hours.

Oh flying. How I love thee {as long as there is no one sitting beside me...}

And that's all for now. Now I'm home and enjoying all the festivities and fun that December brings. Hopefully I will stay grounded at home... for a little while at least. ;)

Edmonton, Early, Energized

Last Thursday, when I left my house, it was starting to look like this. While I love snow, and was a bit sad to leave it, I was excited to get to the airport and fly off to the beginnings of my next adventure!


My flight left on time and after leaving the snowyland, it was a stunningly beautiful and clear day over the Rocky Mountains and with my face pressed against the window, I enjoyed the majestic beauty of some of my favourite mountains.


Absolutely stunning! I couldn't help but pull out my camera and snap a few photos...

I arrived in Calgary and went for lunch and did a bit of shopping with a friend (yay for only 5% tax!) Then Lindie, Jenn, Erin and I went to dinner theatre. The theme was 'Night at the Museum'. So there's some stuff based from the movie, but it was night at the rock museum and it was fantastic. Wonderful mix of songs, great acting and singing as per usual and the food was super tasty and the company was even better!

We have a schedule of all the upcoming ones and I hope to get out there to see those as well!

On Friday, all the flights were sold out to Edmonton (thank you grey cup), so my friend Jenn drove Lindie and I up to the frozen land of Edmonton. It's a short (ish) drive, but it was super fun!


We stopped on some side roads on the way up and found this beautiful church surrounded by snow. When Jenn and I lived in Quebec, we'd always go on church tours. So we were happy to find some nice ones in Alberta as well!


The vehicle got a bit dirty on the way up, but it was a reflection of how they sand and plow their streets there when it snows. Driving through the wintry landscapes made me wonder what it would be like to live in wintry wonderfulness for a few months at a time. It made my heart long to live a little where I could be surrounded by snow.

Upon arrival at Anne's, she had a lovely sign waiting to welcome me! How fun!

We sat by the live fire and got cozy on the couch while watching a movie. How delightful with all the snow and cold outside to be bundled and safe inside!


The next day Anne had to work, so my friend Leslie picked me up and we hung out for the day with a couple of her different friends. We even played Yahtzee which is of course always a good time.


Then the unthinkable occured as I slipped my newly purchased Edmonton Oilers Jersey on. However, I tried not to allow my face to be in too many photos.


Anne and I went out for sushi and then headed to the game against the Sharks. It was fun cheering for both teams and pretending to be oilers fans while yelling out "Go sharks!" When people would turn around, they had no idea who had yelled it because we were wearing oilers shirts... tee hee hee

This is our sharks symbol...

And the man beside us was from Wales and had had a bit too much to drink perhaps. But was entertaining nonetheless. He wanted to be in our photo, so I figured, of course, why not?





I don't know who these oilers fans are but they kept taking the camera...


The next day there was football playing in the snow before watching the grey cup (more photos to come once I get those ones from Anne...) On Monday morning I flew home and went straight to visit some of my fave little people.



That's all for now folks. More to come on my second trip to Alberta and this weekend that is full of fun!! :) Enjoy the weekend!