Brainless Contemplations

“don’t take life too seriously or you’ll never get out alive”

Summer at its BEST! July 13, 2008

Filed under: Sports — Cor @ 2:45 pm

Ahhh….just one of things I MAY miss when I leave this beautiful province….

Spent the weekend up at Whistler for a super fun volleyball tournament. It may have been mostly luck that one girl couldn’t make it, so I was called to sub in, but HEY I won’t complain!! Anyways, ‘The Beavers’ had a fairly successful day, losing only one match all day (albeit the first play off match…) but still, can’t argue, those are pretty good odds. ;)

We stayed in a fantastic condo right in Whistler village, stumbling distance away from all the appropriate venues! (Starbucks of course!) lol

Check out some of our action pix and videos on my gallery!

 

 

Stuck Truck June 19, 2008

Filed under: Uncategorized — Cor @ 10:10 am

How about some good ole Canadian humor?? This has got to be one of the most classic songs/videos. Doesn’t get much more Canadian than this…those of us from the prairies can attest that! Here’s the Corb Lund Band and Truck Got Stuck  :)

 

Stinky Feet June 18, 2008

Filed under: Local News — Cor @ 4:05 pm

There is a very very sick person playing a very very sick joke. There was a 6th foot found on the coast of Western Canada today. The fifth was found just last Monday, and they have been mysteriously been showing up on the beach since last fall. I guess there are some suspicions that it has to do with a plane crash off the coast a while ago, which I guess, would be the more pleasant solution (in a very messed up kind of way). But without thinking too much about it, it is actually a little humorous. I mean, how strange is it that severed feet, still in their shoes, none the less, continue to wash up on shore! And even better, all except the one found on Monday were right feet/shoes. Methinks someone has a left shoe fetish! (ew!)

Sixth foot found on B.C. shore

Globe and Mail Update

Another human foot has been discovered on a B.C. shore, the sixth such grisly discovery in the last ten months.

RCMP in Campbell River on Vancouver Island said a local woman strolling a beach found an Adidas sneaker this morning, containing what appears to be a man’s foot.

“It’s certainly suspicious,” Sergeant Mike Tresoor said in an interview.

“A lady walking on the beach alerted us to this. … It appears to be human remains. We haven’t absolutely confirmed it – it will be confirmed through a pathologist.”

It appears to be a man’s right foot, size 10. The first four were also right feet.

All six have been found either near the mouth of the Fraser River or on beaches along the Strait of Georgia, a relatively small portion of the province’s vast shoreline.

The latest find is just minutes away from where a float plane crashed and sank three years ago. Four bodies were never recovered.

Kirsten Stevens, whose husband was the only passenger whose remains were located, was at the spit in Campbell River Wednesday trying to find out more on behalf of the families of the missing men.

“We are so frustrated,” she said. Efforts to determine if there is a DNA match between the victims and the feet that have washed up are continuing.

“Aw gosh, this is the same spit where the plane took off from, it’s a constant reminder of the lack of closure,” she said in an interview.

The story of the severed feet has generated growing interest worldwide with the discovery of each succeeding foot. Stories have been written for or picked up by the BBC, Fox News, CNN, the Associated Press and many others.

The six feet, while not yet identified, do have some common characteristics: All have been found inside running shoes, buoyant because of their thick, air-filled soles.

Police have released few details on the sixth and fifth feet, but the other four showed signs of disarticulation, which means the foot separated naturally from the leg, not through severing that would prompt speculation of foul play.

The location of the finds has prompted ocean current experts to suggest that the feet all could have been washed down the mighty Fraser River.

The first right foot was found Aug. 20 on Jedidiah Island in the Strait of Georgia. On Aug. 26, another right foot was found inside a man’s size 12 Reebok sneaker on nearby Gabriola Island.

A third was found in the same area, on the east side of Valdez Island, on Feb. 8.

The fourth foot was found May 22 on Kirkland Island in the Fraser River, only a kilometre away from the site in Ladner, along the same river where the fifth foot was found on Monday.

The fifth foot – the first left foot – was inside a size 10 black Adidas running shoe

 

Patience is a virtue June 13, 2008

Filed under: Randumb, Rant — Cor @ 7:34 am

Ok, so I’m not trying to rant on the human race, but, ok, i am.

There’s just some funny things that people do that continue to humor me. Like last night, as I was leaving work, I’m walking past a bus stop and one of the ladies waiting for the bus is literally half way out into the road trying to see as far down the road as possible to see if there was a bus coming. Now, this is really the kettle callling the pot black, because I’ve done it too, but it just strikes me as funny. The truth of it is, when you look that far down the road, you might see a bus, but you can’t read the number so you still don’t know if it’s yours, and if it IS, seeing it half a mile away, isn’t going to get it to your stop any sooner than if you just saw it as it was pulling up. So why stress?? Might as well sit back, plug in your ear buds and count cars. Your bus will show at the exact time it does. (now THAT was profound) Willing it to appear around the corner will have little to do with it. The best part is, Vancouver transit is notorious for running behind so you might as well enjoy your extra few minutes of tardiness!

 

Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink June 5, 2008

Filed under: Rant — Cor @ 8:20 am

There are some things about our human race that absolutely drives me nuts. OK, maybe there’s more than just “some” but this morning, I was reminded of one in particular:

What rediculous over-consumers we are.

This morning, as I head out in my rain slicker (both on me AND my dog), it’s clearly raining and what do I see? My neighbour has their sprinklers running full tilt. Now, I could understand if it had been dry for a few days and grass was drying out and turning brown, but this is VANCOUVER for crying out loud. No one here has irrigation systems because we don’t need them!!! It has been raining since Sunday. The park I take my dog to has practically become a mud bog, and some dude feels he need to further dampen his front lawn…WHILE it’s still raining, nonetheless. Meanwhile, last summer, we were on a water conservation program.

Ahhh…people never cease to amaze me.

 

Burgers and Booty June 4, 2008

Filed under: Uncategorized — Cor @ 3:13 pm

Ironically this seems to be the topic of the week…a friend of mine blogged about a similar topic. But I was listening to the radio the other day, and the DJ was doing a sort of survey on what guys wish women knew. The general consensus was summed up by one guys quote:

“All men want is ‘burgers and booty’.”

Translation:

Men are simpler than we give them credit for. And I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, in fact, quite the opposite. We as women are notorious for complicating men because, plain and simple, WE are complicated, so we assume everything should be just as complicated. All men want in some good quality cooking and a little lovin’ and they’ll be happier than pie.

Now why can’t we women figure out how to be so easily pleased?? :)

 

R.I.P. Luc Bourdon May 30, 2008

Filed under: Local News, Sports — Cor @ 8:21 am

Very sad news all over our papers today.  Yet another example of why I hate motercylces. :(

Bourdon got motorcycle licence only two weeks before fatal crash

SHIPPAGAN, N.B. — Luc Bourdon received his motorcycle licence just two weeks before his bike veered into the path of transport truck in northern New Brunswick, killing the promising NHL defenceman instantly.

RCMP investigators said Friday that Bourdon’s inexperience may have played a role in the death of the Vancouver Canucks rookie. Bourdon’s uncle, Robert Boucher, said his nephew dedicated himself so much to hockey that he took no time off in the last five years as he pursued his dream of playing in the NHL.

Boucher said Bourdon came home to Shippagan earlier this week for a one-month vacation so he could play golf and hang out with his friends.

So many of those friends own motorcycles that Bourdon decided to buy one, too.

“He loved to have fun,” Boucher said in French during a news conference at the town hall in Shippagan, an Acadian community of 3,000 about 250 kilometres northeast of Fredericton.

“Like anyone who is 21, he loved motorcycles. He wanted to buy a bike. That was his choice.”

Bourdon was the first-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks, 10th overall, in the 2005 NHL draft.

He also played a key role in Canada’s gold-winning teams at the 2006 and 2007 world junior championships and was expected to have a bright future on the Canucks blueline.

Bourdon was named to the all-star team at the 2006 world juniors. At the 2007 event in Sweden, Bourdon scored the third-period goal that tied the game and forced overtime against the U.S. in the semifinal game.

Bourdon split last season between Vancouver and Manitoba of the American Hockey League. He played 27 games with the Canucks, scoring two goals and collecting 20 penalty minutes.

Boucher described his nephew as a fun-loving guy who “liked to be crazy and do crazy things.”

“He was always ready to help people out - people in the family and others as well,” he said.

“We lost our little Luc, but I think that Shippagan as well has lost someone important.”

RCMP Insp. Roch Fortin suggested weather might also have been a factor in the crash. He said the wind was gusting heavily at the time of the accident on a winding, two-lane road between Shippagan and Lameque.

He said Bourdon’s bike crossed the centre line and collided head-on with the truck.

“The truck driver tried everything is his power to avoid the accident,” Fortin said.

The crash occurred not far from Bathurst, where another sports-related accident in January killed seven members of the Bathurst High basketball team and an adult.

Anna Boucher, Bourdon’s great-aunt, said his family is struggling to cope with his death.

“It’s so sad,” she said. “He was a good guy.”

She said that although Bourdon’s NHL career took him to Vancouver, he often returned to Shippagan and gave back to the community.

“He came to the arena and he used to talk to all the little guys there and he used to play hockey with them,” she said from her home in Shippagan.

Boucher recalled that sports were Bourdon’s driving passion in life and he excelled at many, including hockey and golf.

Jacques Robichaud lives across the street from Luc Bourdon’s father.

“Naturally, the community is saddened,” Robichaud said in French. “We all followed his hockey career from the beginning.”

Flags at Shippagan’s town hall were flying at half-mast.

 

The beginning of the end May 20, 2008

Filed under: Shameless Advertising — Cor @ 11:12 am

Well, some say “Congrats”, some say “Another one bites the dust” but regardless, it’s official: Cor is off the market! *gasp*

Most of you know the story by now but for those who don’t here are the gory details. I came up to Juneau last Wednesday for about a week and a half. I guess I should preface this by saying that we had been talking about getting engaged but I had no idea when it was really going to happen. Unfortunatly, it got out that Andy had already sent my dad a letter asking for my hand (it doesn’t get much more romantic than that) so I knew it wasn’t in the too distant future, but honestly, I wasn’t expecting it THIS soon!! Anyways, we came home from the airport and sat down with a cup of tea, just casually chatting. (I have to admit, Andy was very calm and collected, which was another reason I wasn’t expecting it) Anyways, he gets up and says he wants to give me my birthday present early, so he pulls out of the cupboard this gorgeous lime green Marmot rain jacket. Which was perfect because I’m sure he’s completely tired of my endless complaining of the rain in Vancouver and how it sucks walking my dog when I have no rain gear. Anyways, I was of course very taken up with trying the jacket on and checking it all out. I stuck my hand in one of the pockets to discover and small little wooden box. I just about died!! It was perfect!! And even Andy admits, that for him, that was pretty creative…not to mention romantic! :D Anyways, after admiting he’d never done this before (whew) he asked me to marry to him and spend the rest of our lives together to which I could say nothing except, “OF COURSE!”

So needless to say, I am absolutely elated. Quite arguably the happiest girl alive and, as Andy’s uncle put it, being the fisherman that he is, Andy has caught his prize trophy! lol

We have some plans already in motion for the big day which will be next spring, probably late April, in Kelowna. There’s a ton of paper work to be done, so we need the extra time to get it all organized. I will be moving up here to Juneau, which is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in the world, so I am really looking forward to the transition!

I cannot wait for everyone who has not yet met Andy to get to know the amazing man that has invited me into his already functional and fulfulling life and shown me the most exciting and promising future a girl could ask for.

I cannot describe the feeling of peace that comes with finally being with the person you are intended to spend the rest of your life with. It is a feeling I hope I never take for granted.

Thanks to all of you who have already extended your warm wishes, we can’t wait to start our life together and have all of you be a part of it!

Feel free to peruse my Picassa pictures (the link is on the top right corner of this page), I’ve posted some of our engagement pictures as well as some pictures of the beautiful ring Andy designed all by himself!

 

not-so-sweet dreams May 5, 2008

Filed under: Randumb, Rant — Cor @ 8:28 am

It’s Monday morning, it’s pouring rain, and I’ve been sitting on my couch for half an hour, ready for work. Whay is this a problem? Well BECAUSE…it’s MONDAY MORNING…that’s an extra half hour of sleep I could’ve had. It was just one of those mornings where either, I dont care what I look like, or it was just easier to get ready. (I’m hoping for the latter) But my internal clock these days has really been annoying me. For about 4 mornings in a row about 2 wks ago, my lovely little pooch decided that she was going to start getting up at 6:30AM (which is utterly rediculous when I’m never up before 8:00AM). Completely random, we were still going to bed at the same time the previous night, still doing our usual outside runs, she was just on a mission. Finally, I broke the habit…but only with her it seems. To this day, I am waking up like clockwork at 6:44AM every morning. Now, granted, I can go back to sleep, but I’m really not a fan of having my beauty sleep disturbed…and some of you early morning callers have found that out the hard way! ;) So now, not only am I waking up at 6:44 every morning without reason, I’m also popping wide awake at 7:49…11 minutes before my actual alarm. WHAT DOES A GIRL NEED TO DO TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP?!?!? lol

 

There…that’s my rant for the day!

 

:) 

 

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em April 29, 2008

Filed under: Local News — Cor @ 8:31 am

So this just takes the cake! Vancouver has all kinds of stereotypes (most of which are socially incorrect so I won’t go there) but this has got to be one of the best! We are known for our bad drivers…perhaps in some parts of the city more than others but I’ll just leave it the generalization of “Vancouver”. This article is priceless and only justifies this stereotype even more!

Canada’s Worst Drivers looking for Vancouver ‘talent’

Last season’s worst driver is from city, year before from Lower Mainland

John Colebourn, The Province

Published: Wednesday, April 09, 2008

There’s no shortage of talent around the Lower Mainland when it comes to bad drivers. That’s why a crew from the hit Discovery Channel Show Canada’s Worst Drivers is coming back to find more suitable candidates for the upcoming season.

“There’s some dreadful drivers in the Vancouver area,” said Guy O’Sullivan, the executive producer of the hit television series.

“We don’t know exactly why.”

In last season’s production, Vancouver’s Jason Zhang, 42, was found to be the worst driver. The year before, Michael Telford, another Lower Mainland resident, was given the dubious honour.

“I’ve never been comfortable driving,” Zhang said yesterday. “The problem for me was I never learned how to drive properly. I’m just not confident on the road.”

Despite efforts by the crew of the series last season to improve his driving habits, Zhang said he will not be driving a car any time soon.

“There are bad drivers everywhere,” said Zhang, who commutes by bus. “You can’t say Vancouver is the only place there are bad drivers.”

The ultimate goal of the TV series is to teach the terrible drivers some correct driving procedures. According to O’Sullivan, Zhang should not drive at all.

“He was the person we made the least improvement with,” he said.

The Toronto-based O’Sullivan said the crew goes out with the drivers to see how bad they really are.

“We will spend a few hours testing them,” said O’Sullivan of the worst of the worst. “You can tell a bad driver pretty quickly.”

In some cases, he said, his crew has come back “ashen-faced.”

“It’s like a career in the army. You really are on the front lines.”

O’Sullivan said he doesn’t know why Vancouver seems to have an inordinate number of bad drivers.

“That’s the great mystery to us,” he said, “how they got their licence in the first place.”

 

And the BEST part….check out this comment:

Boo Hoo
Wed, Apr 9, 08 at 10:36 AM
Forget Vancouver - save your time and visit Richmond. You will find the worst of the worst right here. Richmond, the land where the most common vehicle is the Autobody Courtesy Car.
WELCOME TO VANCOUVER!!! :D