Not for the Squamish

Okay apparently my last post grossed a few people out. All I can say is that that post was specifically directed to those who were in the pool. People who were in the pool would totally understand because they probably lost some skin too. That pool is rough and shallow. 

Now if any of you decided to read it, you did so at your own risk. Sorry if I made you puke. 

Here's a shot of me at Siwash Rock (Squamish legend is that this was an Indian warrior turned to stone).

And a picture of Shannon Falls in Squamish, BC. I highly recommend the restaurant across from it. And as you can see the view is pretty spectacular.

Attn: Anyone in the Pool

In case you were swimming yesterday and found a piece of skin... 

It's mine.  

P.S. Be careful swimming too close to the bottom. 

Ireland

(Okay technically I'm in Vancouver right now. But I still haven't told you about my Ireland trip yet. So just to keep my photos organized. I'm staying in chronological order.)

When we landed in Dublin,  it was raining. So not only were we driving on the left but we were doing it in the rain. 

We stayed at a B&B called Number 31 and it was really great. 

The staff was so welcoming. 

We bought an umbrella at a drug store and in very little time it already started to break. 

It didn't even last the afternoon. We threw it into a garbage where I noticed at least two more broken umbrellas sitting there. So there was clearly a scam going on here. 

The natural history museum was small but had a sweet leather jacket on display. 

Oh wait that jacket has fingernails. 

Finally we stopped in a pub for a bite. I had my first of many seafood chowders on this trip.  But the nothing was a memorable as the ketchup bottle. 

The Day I Lost a Whole Outfit

Yesterday. 

July 24th 2008.

I lost a whole outfit. 

It all didn't happen at the same time either. 

Okay. I was in the car waiting for a meeting I was going to have with a director. And while I was waiting I thought I'd fix my bluetooth. 

A piece broke off inside it and now when I snap it together it doesn't stay together in my pocket. So I figured if I can Krazy Glue it together and it still works then I won't have to replace it just yet. The Krazy Glue I opted to buy was the one that has a brush in the lid for precision gluing in hard to reach places. Now the trick to this type of gluing is that it requires two hands (one to hold the bottle the other to hold the lid with the brush attached).

However I also needed two hands to snap the two parts together. Okay so that's four hands. Of which I only have two so my hands are doing double duty. So I have my bluetooth and the bottle in my left and brush-lid in my right and trying to get around to the other side as I was applying the glue I poured the bottle of glue onto my stomach.

The first reaction is "Damn!"

The second reaction is "Oh my God! That burns!"

I pulled my shirt away from my body and tried to wipe anything on me with the bottom of the shirt. In an instant they were both dry. And crusty. I tried to separate the two shirts which were now glued to each other. 

Well, neither of them made it. Luckily I was traveling last night so I had luggage and clothes in the trunk. And since I was parked by a dumpster I could dispose of the shirts. 

A quick change and I had my meeting. 

Then it was off to the airport. And just my luck, as I bent down to remove my shoes in the security line I felt my pants split. Now at this point I don't have access to my clothes. The luggage was already checked. So I had to take my flight with split pants. Luckily my t-shirt was pretty long. Do you think anyone noticed?

London (Closeout)

Last two shots from London.

Hmmm..... 

Could you be more specific?

And Abbey Road. Why not?

Dharma everywhere

Tooling around London we passed this dry cleaner.

And then in Hawaii I saw this in the ground. 

But it was just a sprinkler head. 

3D-lemma

You know what I liked about The Bug's Life show at California adventure? Well a lot of things, you got poked, you felt the bugs under your butt... But for the sake of this blog I liked the fact that when you left the theatre there were these big bins to recycle your 3D glasses. Just the other day I went to see Journey To the Center of the Earth in "Real D" and upon leaving the theatre I found no such bin. 

Now what the heck am I supposed to do with these? Do I need to hold onto them until my next "Real D" experience (probably Clone Wars)? I'm guessing "No" because I'm sure they'll be handing them out again then. Is there gong to be a time when they won't hand them out anymore? Or when they will no longer be free? I'm going to say, "I doubt it."

So, now I have ANOTHER item for the junk drawer. Wonderful. The clutter war continues...

And then back again

We did a lot.

We saw everything except the inside of the Louvre.

We had a crepe.

Met the crew from Airforce One (go figure!)

And now we were back at the station ready to return to London

and reflect on the day.

Other Stuff I Saw In Paris

This guy. How about that for self expression?!

This whole trip I've been taking pictures of street signs and walking lights. 

I took it for the posture of the guy. But I kept it because someone stuck a piece of gum on his privates. 

I also discovered that the Coke in France was sweetened with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. 

Making it  in Paris.

(The Sisterhood of the) Traveling France

Here's a tip for when you're site-seeing through Paris. But before I give it away I want to see if you can notice it.

. 

Notice how the second picture is somehow a hundred times better than the first? What's different about them? I've added one simple item. Can't put your finger on it? Look closely. 

Okay, I know it's subtle. 

Try looking at this picture below and finding what it has IN COMMON with the second picture. 

Still don't see it? 

It's a black beret I bought on the street. 

It makes all of your Paris pictures automatically "one louder." (It also makes your hand do that for some reason.)

La Tour Eiffel

So the first thing I wanted to see upon arriving in Paris was the Eiffel Tower. Which was a good idea because it was still a little early and the line was only this long:

This is the sign for the security line. It appears that an Irish guy helped them translate it. 

When you get there you put your bag in a tray just like you would at an airport. And you walk through a metal detector just like you would at an airport. But instead of x-raying your bag the guy just takes a look inside. As I was getting into the elevator I got my first of many warnings about pickpockets.

This is a warning to make sure smokers don't light the filter end of their cigarettes I think.

Paris on a whim

The great thing about being in London is that you can decide to go to Paris from one day to the next. Which is what we did. All you do is hop on the train. Do a little magic trick (like turning a sausage into a potato). And PRESTO! the train's under water. And soon enough you're in Paris.

London Eye

Went to the London Eye.

That was fun. You can see everything. I just wish I knew what it all was. I mean Big Ben I could figure out. But anything else? 

My Favorite Souvenir

This last trip to Disneyland I was browsing the souvenir store and found this:

I'm guessing it's a coffee mug. And I don't even drink coffee. But I had to buy it. 

It was just so odd. So random. And kinda creepy. 

I can't think of what I would drink or eat out of it...

maybe chocolate pudding.

On to London

Then we went to London. 

You remember when I went to San Jose and had my first run in with a quail egg?

I tried the scotch version this time. 

Ooo! Easy Churchill quit ticklin'!

More Monte Carlo

Hmm... 

I thought it'd feel more cushiony...

This was a mural on the first aid station at a circus ground. That elephant doesn't know what's coming.

Okay... I get it. 

You don't like the Natalie Portman Squatting statue.

But the dirt clod? Real mature guy.

Happy Birthday USA!

Ah the Fourth of July. We kinda kept it low key.  Went for sushi (very American). Went to the grocery store to buy milk. But once there, we couldn't help picking up a few fireworks on impulse. Here's pics:

Smoke inhalation!

Nothing says patriotism like an Ireland shirt.

This one made me grow another head.

I love this truck. It was a total disappointment because the box said the truck was going to move. It did not. But this smoldering ring in it's rear reminded me of the curries I enjoyed in the UK.

The hands down favorite this year was "Cracklin Cactus," mainly because of the little ball that shot off like a machine gun. 

Wanna see?

Crackling Cactus