This entry is all over the place. Kind of like your mom, i’d say, except I don’t really make jokes like that.
October 2nd, 2008I took these photos in the middle of September, but never really got around to processing them until now. They were taken in English Bay on an unusually warm, sunny weekend, and true to form, the beaches of Vancouver were a little full while the rest of Vancouver was… also a little full.
That’s Vancouver for you: The slightest inclination of good weather (GOOD WEATHER? WHERE?!), and everyone and their pink swarovski crystal studded Jack-A-Poos are out of the house. You can’t make the stuff up, folks. Not even a bit.
In the summer of 2006, I took a trip to Northern Texas. It was my first time in Texas, as well as the central/southern part of the US. I definitely enjoyed my time there (aside from the blistering heat and lack of wind throughout my stay, which was a personal brand of hell I won’t be trying again), but one of the things that hit me during my stay there was the fact that there were people in North America who had never seen the ocean.
This completely baffled my mind. How could you go your entire life without ever seeing the ocean? As a westcoaster through and through, I grew up around the ocean. My family and I would go out for Sunday breakfast and a walk by the ocean. We’d go swimming in the pool by the ocean. We’d have summer picnics by the ocean. We’d take ferries to the Island on the ocean, and the entire ship would come to a crawling halt when the captain announced killer whale sightings on the left side of the ship. How on EARTH could someone go their entire lives without seeing the ocean?!
And the ocean smell. Sea breeze is probably one of the most intoxicating scents one could regularly stumble upon (if one lives by the coast), right up there with cookies in the oven (if one works at a bakery) and Old Spice for men (if said bakery employs at least one man or sexually confused woman who uses delicious smelling male deodorant on a regular basis). I can’t even imagine what it must be like for a brain to read the words “sea breeze” and not immediately attach it to that all-too-familiar smell of salt, seaweed, water and sediment.
(On a sidenote, because I try to contain my sidenotes within brackets: It never ceases to astound me how different things can be in different parts of the world, kind of like how the british call sweaters “jumpers”, or how there are some people who’ve never seen snow, or even how toilets flush in a different direction for one half of the world. Amazing.)
No, this dog is not a Jack-A-Poo. He’s more like 100% Jack Russell Terrier and 50% Spawn of Satan, that is, you cannot take him out in public without him making a huge scene that involves a whole lot of GROWL! BARK! ARRRRR! FIERCE! LOOK AT ME! Oh yeah, and little bit of LETS TAKE THIS OUTSIDE!, except surprise! we’re already outside, and that German Shepard could eat you for breakfast.
Once upon a time this dog was “normal”: We took him to dog school (once again, I refer you back to that time he failed puppy kindergarten, although to his defense, he did somehow manage to pass puppy preschool, and NO I AM NOT KIDDING, puppy preschool actually does exist), and my cell phone’s address book was full of all his doggy friends’ owners’ cell numbers, and we’d all regularly meet at the dog park for, I KID THEE NOT, puppy playdates.
But then something happened, and I’m not sure what, but I suspect it involved him realized that despite his name, he was actually a MAN, and now? GROWL! BARK! ARRRR! FIERCE! LOOK AT ME! And oh yeah, a little bit of LETS TAKE THIS OUTSIDE!
Although sometimes I really do wonder about him, like for example, right now. He slunk into my room with that look on his face, so I let him out. After a couple minutes of silence, I went out to check on him (because silence + winkey = trouble), and guess what I found him doing? SNIFFING FLOWERS. No, I am not kidding you, and yes, the dog sniffs flowers. He also eats carrots. I’m sure my father (the gardener of the house) will be thrilled to know someone in the house appreciates his work. Next up: DOG GOES OUT FOR A PEE, GETS CAUGHT EATING TOMATOES OFF THE VINE.
Well there you have it: I managed to cram Vancouver, Texas, the Pacific Ocean, freshly-baked cookies, Old Spice, and dogs eating tomatoes into one single entry. Crafty with the conservation of our natural intraweb resources, you say? Damn straight. I’m always doing my part of the environment.
I’ll never understand how some people have never seen the ocean. I’ve seen it only a couple of times myself (despite me being an Eastcoaster), and sea breeze over here (in NY anyway) doesn’t smell too good, but it is beautiful.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pmThat was pure, unbridled awesome, Chanel. Our dog eats carrots too but she’s never been to a playdate or any version of school. We unschool her around here. =D
Reply: Thanks! :) And aww… unschooling! That’s adorable. :D
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 amIt’s been three years since I first saw snow… in the middle of March and it only lasted for a day (should have taken that as a hint of the weird weather I’d have to be accustomed to), but it was er, magical? Yeah haha.
Those shots of English Bay are wonderful. I just have to say, that is indeed a hell lot of people who go out when the sun comes out O:!
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm[…] to you the picture of chaos that was going on before, during, and after the shooting of this photo. I’ve mentioned Winkey’s affinity for public displays of aggressiveness towards other dog…, but this was truly the first time his antics have taken place against the backdrop of, “FREE […]
November 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pm