The Sky is Falling!

Over the past few weeks we have had a bit of an exisential crisis; we have seen the future of the world without oil, without democracy and fried by global warming. It wasn't a pretty sight. First, we attended a lecture on Lonsdale by David Hughes, a geologist with the Geological Surevy of Canada, then we watched an Inconvienant Truth by Al Gore, and also watched The American Ruling Class by Lewis Lapham. These men represent scenarios of tremendous environmental and societal change that are backed by empirical observation and confirmed by global events every day. To put it bluntly we have run out of oil and have triggered global evironmental collpase through global warming. Although America, the world super power, has played a significant role in these processes it continues to downplay their existence; worse, its' continued dogged pursuit of material gain and consumption through corporate capitalism and military expansionism ensures that they will not be a benevolent force as this end game plays out. Where then does that leave us if the world as we know it now is set to disappear in the next 2 decades? Check out this link to see what happens to the world if sea levels rise only 7 M. Global warming isn't an theoretical scenario - we're already living it. Google ice pack melting in Greenland and Antartica. The recent drastic changes in temperature, storms, rain fall - it's all happening now. The only question for debate is what will get us first, evironmental or economic collapse? We are already experiencing the effects of decreased oil production. When I started driving only 15 years ago the price for a litre of gas was $.50, now it's over $1. My generation will not reach old age before our world changes. How will this play out and how will we respond? The information is out there, we need to put it all together.

its a winter wonderland!

In the midst of a boil water advisory (courtesy of recent Pacific rainstorm) the rain turned to big juicy snowflakes and covered the city. It was almost enough to remind me of home; although back in PG it was -36 C. at the same time. So although we are surrounded, covered and pelted with water in various forms we unable to drink any of it. Stores have been continually sold out of bottled water and I refuse to begin drinking my urine. We've been getting fresh water from the farm in Squamish - trucked right to our door by family. I am eagerly anticipating the traffic chaos to ensue tomorrow and hope to observe the famously bad winter drivers of the lower mainland, but dont ask me yet if I have winters on my new used Corolla (pics of my old subie are forthcoming).

I'm King of the World!

This is the view from the top of Mt. Seymour - one of the many peaks on the North Shore, only a 3 hr trip from home. In the immediate foreground is the ski hill, then there's North Van and Burrard Inlet and Vancouver in the background. It was a bright crisp day, and Raven guarding the summit really scared the hell out of me. Being from the North I had no idea that Raven was so huge and creepy-like. Yikes!

Please welcome to the stage...

awesome - Oct. 18 we checked out one of my fav bands from the 90's, Sloan, at the Commodore Ballroom downtown on Granville - great venue BTW - they played mostly new tunes, but had some old stuff from Navy Blues, One Chord to Another, etc.

Wedding #3

We attended the wedding of my American cosuin, Satchiko Young to Jim Young (no relation) in sunny Olympia Wasington. In an evening chock full of neat Americanisms such as an online-ordained 'minister', alcohol-inspired bravado and hand guns we witnessed Jim and his family 'gitter done'. As the requisite family picture can attest, quite a few of the Canadian Youngs were able to attend- notables include Cliff and Jean and our newest cousin Kelly. Much to our surprise (disappointment?) we were granted entry into the USA for the weekend despite (inspite?) of yelling 'Allah ahkbar!' as we drove up to the border waving cans of shaving cream.

July 7 harbour crusin'

All these summer weddings must have rubbed off - I found myself securing a ring and proposing to Amy on a local dinner cruise around Vancouver. To my great joy and surprise she said that she would 'get back to me on that'. In the meantime I entered into negotiations with her father on the subject of a dowry - I suggested a healthy hereford, but he quickly dismissed that and countered with an offering of a lame chicken. We've agreed to table the issue for now.

Wedding #2

Wedding #2 was my cousin's wedding on Kalamalka Lake, outisde of Kelowna. Although I emcee'd the reception I was able to imbibe spirits with the 180 Pound Club; a process the peaked with a flaming pyramid of tequila. It was great to have the Hoffarth clan together again and I was able to spend a few nights with Willy the Whippet whom my mother brought down for the occasion. You're my boy Will!

My first sweat lodge!

In August I attended my first sweat lodge ceremony - another traditional aboriginal cleansing and prayer ceremony. The ceremony was led by the Semiahoo band chief - it was very hot and I left quite energized. Doing this regularly would be of great phyiscal and spiritual benefit.

Wedding #1

This was the first of our 3 weddings this summer. We attended Amy's cousins ceremony in Sun Peaks near Kelowna; luckily the hotel had great central air conditioning as the temperature that weekend reached 40 degrees in the area. We stopped in a sudden rain shower on the Coquihalia highway and cooled off on the side of the road.

Cheap Fun!

how does a couple entertain themselves on a muggy summer night in North Van?

a tube of facial mask? $10
a shared can of Kokanee? $2
a under-used digital camera? $150
losing all self-respect? priceless....

Pete's Pirate Island!

On a humble island just a few nautical miles west of Vancouver lies the lair of famed Pete - treeplanter/pirate of the North seas. Under his rocky plot lies his buried bounty....guarded by the scurvy hound of hell, Tundra..of the North seas...Amy and I recently returned from Passage Island to view the latest building project of Pete's. It's a beautiful westward facing lot with water access - they have built a temporary cabin while they begin a larger log house on the rocks overlooking the Pacific. The island is quite small, with maybe 30 cabins and is just 10 minutes from a West Van harbour by water taxi.

fair thee well, loyale steed!

Here is the last pic of my sweet ride - returning to the City whence she came; purchased several seasons ago from a local merchant she carried me well and with God speed. She will ride again to serve another master whilst I mount a larger breed....rubber side down my fine friend!

Pampered Protesters

Let the Games begin! In prepartion for exponential vehicle traffic to Whistler for 2010 events the Man has decided to improve the treacherous Sea To Sky Highway. A part of this plan includes constructing a new route for the highway through West Vancouver, one of the area's most scenic and affluent neighbourhoods. An assortment of conerned eco-tourists and well-heeled NIMBY's have gathered to blockade the development citing the need to protect the natural habitat, currently consisting of a pond and a frog. As an alternative they suggest pounding a massive tunnel through the side of a mountain. I hope to post pics from teh actual protest line, but for now check out the link.

The Coalition to Save Eagleridge Bluffs at Horseshoe Bay - Our Legacy

My First Yuwipi Ceremony!

A few weeks ago, upon invitation from a co-worker, I attended a Yuwipi; a Lakota-based healing ceremony in which a shaman contacts our ancestors from the spirit world. It was very powerful, but alas no pictures! I also hope to attend a sweat lodge and pow-wow in the summer months. Check out the link for more info...

Sacred Hoop Magazine, the home of Shamanic Spirituality

Local National Daycare Advocate

During a recent stop in Vancouver, and ironically, after an announcement concerning national daycare strategy PM Harper had a nose job courtesy of the son of Amy's friend. Soloman, age 2, provided Harper with the unequivical feedback that his caucas could not and a visercal rejection that Canadian parents everyhwere could only wish to. Soloman refused to provide any further comment to the national press, but was heard to be babbling something as he was whisked away by the PM's security staff for detainment.

A Moment in Time

Pictured above is one of the rarest of moments - when 2 special beings meet on a bridge. This meeting was one of the most momentous of the early 21st century - on the left is the reclusive orthnographist Ms. Nepple and on the right is raconteur Ms. Fip. After years of empassioned debate on several key words and phrases in the English language the two, at the relentless request of the international community, met at Lynn Headwaters Regional Park to hammer out an agreement on usage, spelling and intellectual property rights. In addition, they also pet a dog - later named Tundra by historians. The subsequent increase in the phrase 'be all thumbs' in regional circles of the intelligentsia and the word 'weal' are directly attributed to this occasion. Ms. Nepple went on to found the Order of Purple Mammals, a literary group loosely associated with books. Ms. Fip began a steady slipping, emotionally and professionally, and soon thereafter refused to pronouce any words begininng with 'ph'.

The Great Thaw

Last weekend we travelled to Victoria, BC's provincial capital and playground of the retired. We took lunch with my paternal grandfather and his partner in their Cadboro Bay flat. The menu was quite agreeable and it pleasantly soothed the gastric-intestinal issues stemming from the previous nights debauchery. The conversation was light and scattered with stories from grandfather's younger years. Previosuly unbeknownst to myself, the Cold War appears to have had significant impact on the family's fortunes. Grandfather was naturally endowed with a musical ear and was encouraged by his mother, a teacher of Scottish descent to formally pursue orhestraic music. He became quite accomplished on the classical violin and appeared to be on the brink of making it a professional career. During the war he practised as an instrument technician for the Canadian Air Force - hearing problems had prevented him from becoming a pilot. After the war he resumed his musical career and appears to have been offered a position as orchestra conductor for the Seattle Symphony. These plans were thwarted however when the US government refused to give him the required work visa to due to his brother's associations with Canadian socialist movements. He returned to the Air Force, family in tow, and was eventually stationed in bases overseas where (ironically?) he worked on the above aircraft, the SR71 Blackbird, America's first ultrasonic stealth reconnaissance plane.

Manifest Destiny Realized

World's longest undefended border be damned! They have sailed the USS Preble right up Burrard Inlet and seized the public dock in North Van! The enemy was so bold and cunning; landing at high noon and sounding her insufferable horn - I am sad to report that we gave up the beachead without much of a fight - tugs brought her into dock and even the RCMP held watch over her as her crew disembarked to plunder local shops and brothels. There was little resistance I could give other than a resigned middle fimger - we resolved to celebrate the end of the Dominion at the SoupMeister shop in the quay market.

Newest Clan Member

I am pleased to introduce the newst member of the family; Mr Smyth. He is a very small person, some have likened him to a small child, but this is not the case. Wise beyond his years, he is a man of few words, but enjoys the simple pleasures of life - warm milk, clean underclothes and large cotton pillows. Living a life of privelege that most of us could only dream of, Smyth employs a variety of helpers that care for him 24 hrs a day - cooking him special meals, entertaining him, dressing him and managing his global investments.

Looking Back Through Time

North Van originally began life as a humble turn of the century company town situated on the water where the present Seabus terminus is located. It became known as Moodyville, after the owner of the first North Shore saw mill, Sewell Moody. Logging and ship-building soon became the primary industries of the new boom town and the village was soon connected to Vancouver by a bridge and ferry service. These pictures are taken from South Lonsdale about 85 years apart. Note the mix of small business and residential buildings, lively streetlife and public transit.

New Digs!

After many weeks of packing, re-packing, driving, job-hunting, apartment-hunting and more driving we have finally ended our journey at Vancouver's North Shore. In strict geo-spatial terms we reside in the City of North Vancouver, located in the District of North Vancouver. What a strange and wonderful place my new mega-city is! Even the geograpy is sophisticated; there's West Van, North Van (west of West Van), the west side, the west end, and East Van (east of Van Van). I've already got 2 parking tickets (damn fire hydrants!) and been the victim...uh, instigator of road rage (damn turbo!). Here are a few pics of our new neighbourhood; the 2nd pic is looking south across the Burrard Inlet - one can see Canada Place and the Harbour Tower in the background. The 3rd pic is taken looking north from the end of the public pier at what used to be the home of Burrard Dry Dock Company, of BC's largest Canada's largest builders of merchant marine vessels during World War II. The 1st pic shows the MV Burrard Beaver, Vancouver Transit's 'seabus' that ferries foot passengers across the inlet 19 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition to being a steadfast and invaluable link in the daily commute the Beaver was also successful in 2 marine rescues in 2ooo.