what i read during the summer months - volume 2 (july)

when i was on vacation, i was DETERMINED not to bring books. i didn't want the weight, or the space reserved in my carry-on-only luggage, for the many books i would inevitably need while away.

so i didn't bring a single, solitary book. 

and then, i got the best of myself (please excuse that made up phrase... it's the only thing that made sense). i bought 3 books.

shocking.

this is what i read on vacation....

1. tell all by chuck palahniuk; 2. the art of fielding by chad harbauch; 3. the lemur, by benjamin black. 

all a bit weird and twisted (with the art of fielding being the least obscure), so you're beginnign to notice a trend in my reading... i'm sure. can't ignore a new chuck book, so it was instantly in my arms - and twisted, as usual, it was. art of fielding appeased by baseball reading, and i'm sure to give it to my dad... he'll like it too. the lemur was a short read - and i needed a bit of crime/mystery reading after the first two. a fast book is always nice.

(i will also note i have thus far successfully avoided reading 50 shades of grey - but i'm not sure how long it will last, as i feel like i'm missing out on a large part of pop culture by ignoring it. i'm sure it will likely appear on my part 3 of the summer reading list.)

any suggestions for my reading log for the remainder of the summer?

my (vacation) weekend(s) in summary

i'm back. 

and to avoid writing about every single thing i did while on vacation, here are some photos, and a quick word vomit of activities. i do plan on doing some reflection posts... and perhaps some posts on some of the best things i did... lots of people have asked me about visit tips to van, and like the seattle post i wrote, perhaps i'll compile a list of my faves in my fave cities.

i was surprised at the lack of photos i took. not sure if that was a reflection of the fun i was having, or the true escape from life.... haven't yet determined. either way... some good things still happened. i also tried to spare you from 674 mountain/sunset/walking/outdoorsy photos... i'm sure the evidence of me hiking, walking, drooling over the landscape would begin to be redundant over time, as it's what i spent the majority of my vacation doing:

all carry on (for an almost two week trip) is an interesting experience; sunset dinner alone on kits beach; mussels at dinner alone at coast before departing for whistler; reading at the river in whistler; finally – dinner made for ME!; boys in their underwear. doing manly things like fixing bikes; more dinner made for the group; the beach view with jeff; reading by the pool while the boys are out biking; lookout on the sea to sky highway; made up drinks with tyler; graffiti under granville bridge; the skyline walking to kits; sushi dinner with cole; my home for the majority of the (almost) 2 weeks; oatmeal stout with tyler at steamworks brewing company; playing in tubes with boy (tyler); afternoon walk through downtown van; a long dreaded bill; my friend cole. He eats food. Lots of food; vegan brunch at the foundation; salmon bowl, and other goodies at hapa izakaya; cole’s review; afternoon at stanley park; the boats. the trees. the clouds. last day in van. 

late night chats; lots of sky train riding; beach days; beach dinners with sunsets; restaurants with $4.95 EVERYTHING; shopping; bus ride to whistler; wandering the village; sushi (LOTS of sushi); dancing; atv'ing and near death; amazing mountains; more beach time; homemade dinners; sea to sky highway and lookouts; neighbourhood explorations; lots of walking; 3 movies; stanley park; water; bruises and cuts; food (amazing food, at that); relaxation; relief from pain; frisbee golf; lots of time with tyler, cole, jeff/steve and the biking boys; 

(in no particular order)

it was fantastic. and fabulous. i didn't want to come home. 

stuff i'm digging.... (day 7)

last day my friends.

and i've saved (in my opinion) the best for last. 

jeff and steve just finished biking their way across BC, on a two week mountain biking tour. they're both uber talented downhill mountain bikers, and also really artistic guys. they've been taking photos of their travels to keep everyone up to date with their adventures. throw in some good cams, jeff's editing skills, and steve's wardrobe, and they've also thrown together a pretty kickass video blog journal of their travels. their photos alone make it worth the follow - some of the shots of their day to day in photo form are bomb.

if only to enjoy their riding, and the scenery, check out steve and jeff's trip blog. they compiled shots of their riding (and atv'ing) adventures, and all it makes me want to do is go do something extremely dangerous on a bike. 

(and. i just HAPPEN to be featured in the ATV video....  no big. )

logging country (steve)   //   'no effects needed' (brian)   //   pacific ocean (jeff)   //   sunshine coast (steve)   //   good morning silverstar (jeff)   //   peace out silverstar (steve)   //   rainbow park (jeff)   //   ridin' dirty (steve)

they're home now, probably in BC withdrawal. i would bet they're likely reading their own blog, and pretending they're still there at this very moment.

you can also check them on twitter:   steve   //   jeff

stuff i'm digging.... (day 6)

because i'm in van - the birthplace of lululemon - it's only appropriate that i post on what lululemon goodies i'm yearning for currently... because we ALL know there are tons.
my dear friend steph sent me this. and i was smitten, slash a bit obsessive about owning it. and promptly bought it the following day.

yoga material, in a dress that shows my back and sides? c'mon lulu - are you stalking me??

so, needless to say, this is what i will spend most of my time wearing while in van. maybe i'm wearing it right now!

stuff i'm digging.... (day 5)

and on the fifth day, we were given photography.
i'm digging... this project here. this one. the one by parker fitzgerald? yea. that. dope. to the max. (i'm pulling out all the surfer lingo stops here people).

simplicity is key sometimes. 

fitzgerald took a polaroid a day, and matched it with a quote. that's all. and yet, he captured something so perfect. i know there are a ton of 365 projects floating around this great web we explore daily, and yet this one is one of the ones that captured me the most - even more than my own.

he highlights the project here on his portfolio.... but you can see all 365 shots here.