I'm an adult now

It's only been in the past few months that I've started to actually feel like an adult... sort of, kind of.

But I still see a lot of truth in this - http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html

Also, there are new Alexisonfire shirts for sale on the website and I am buzzing with excitement. Must buy some SOON.

"Where Once A City Stood"

I was flicking through the sets of photos and just stopped and stared at this one for awhile. Heart-breaking.

More thoughts on Eclipse

I went to see Eclipse with my sister. We happened to be sitting in between a woman and her partner (who made a few funny comments, that we laughed at) and a young girl and her family (we tried not to swear too loudly next to her young self), and in front of a group of women and one guy that was making HILARIOUS comments. Like, I was choking with laughter. At one point, I turned around and fist-pumped him. I wouldn't want to live in a world where I can't be a Twilight fan but also have a huge love for innuendo and other hilarious movie commentary. So, guys sitting near us at the 10 pm show last night at KP - kudos to you, and to men like you. Kudos.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - a review in Haiku

Best of the Saga

Hardcore Robsten make-outs, wow

Still needs better wigs

Sucksville

Went to see a Goldeyes baseball game with my parents, sisters, and hubs. It was pretty fun. What is Goldie, anyway? I think he's probably supposed to be a goldeye fish, but to me he looks like the gun that shoots t-shirts into the crowd.

Afterward, while walking to our car, we passed a car with all the doors open and no people inside. It seemed strange. It turns out some hometown lowlifes broke into the car. The couple that owned it was just around the corner, making a phone call. The licence plate said North Dakota, and we felt pretty bad - Friendly Manitoba, my ass. We offered them a ride but their car still started, and the couple had family in town, so they were okay aside losing some stuff (like a laptop with homework and other stuff on it). It really sucks to have your property violated like that, and to have it happen somewhere other than your hometown is like an extra slap in the face.

Imperial March

Best... imperial cookies... wait for it... ever. And one really big, really neat sign. 85 Arthur Street. Yum.

Synonym Girl

Me: "I think the reason I don't like the Eagles, or Neil Young, is that I had to learn Hotel California, Heart of Gold, and Cinnamon Girl in grade 10 guitar class."

B: "I learned a song called Synonym Girl. It had the same meaning as Cinnamon Girl, it just had different words."

Dear Winnipeg Leisure Guide

Dear Winnipeg Leisure Guide:

I don't need pre-natal yoga. I don't need mommy and me yoga. I don't need mother and daughter yoga. I don't want yoga fused with pilates or spin class or cardio. My hubs would never agree to couples yoga. I can't take yoga for seniors or men. I don't want yoga for runners, I don't want gentle relaxing wind-down yoga, and I definitely don't want beginner yoga. I want regular lively non-beginner yoga, of any species, in my NEIGHBOURHOOD (within easy walking or cycling distance), that ISN'T during M-F 8-5 office hours, because a heck of a lot of us out there work office jobs.

BUT I GUESS THAT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR.

Bubbles

Yesterday I purchased a container of those blowing bubbles that you can catch and stack. They didn't work as well as the container I had about 8 years ago, but I guess I shouldn't expect miracles for 97 cents. Today, I blew bubbles from a park bench after work while waiting to go to a meeting downtown. And I felt all free/young/transcendent/etc, only stopping once or twice to wonder if I was trying too hard to create a "moment".

Next time, I'm going to buy the bubble sword, if the GT Boutique doesn't run out before my return.

Yum city USA

Went to Kawaii Crepe today. Yum times a thousand. Can't wait to go back.

Robin Hood

on the way to seeing Robin Hood

Me: "Isn't Gerard Butler in that movie? I don't like that guy."
Husband: "No, it's that guy that beats up people all over the world... from Australia."
Me: "... Russell Crowe?!"
Husband: "YEAH!!!"
Me: "Does he beat people up in real life or in movies?"
Husband: "BOTH!!!"

after the movie which I found seriously boring though the closing credits were paint-y and kind of neat

Me: "Now I remember why I don't see movies like that... because I HATE them."

Almost June?

Reykjavik Bakery in Gimli, MB. Yum, yum.



One of my favourite things about June:

Memories of B.C.

Royal British Columbia Museum

tidepool example, with real animals


$51.50 roundtrip to Los Angeles!


That's still too much for turnips.


Note the Chilliwack and Burton Cummings 8-tracks.


How many of these items did you have?


Other side of the same exhibit. Never thought I'd see a My Little Pony in a museum.


//

Murchies Tea & Coffee. I should have pursued a career as a fancy dessert photographer.

Everything, everything ends

Here's what I bought in Forks. Well, I won the La Push button. Also, RIP my black mug with "Forks, Washington" and a simple apple, which didn't make it out of B.C. because I accidentally broke it. Because I'm awesome.

Sea and the rock below...

Lapush baby, it's Lapush! Rialto Beach in Lapush, Washington. Don't go cliff diving, kids.

This was probably the highlight of my Forks tour - so beautiful.







stopping by the side of the road on the way back to Lapush for a snapshot across the river

I dreamed I was missing

Views from the 14 bus, en route to Forks from PA



Miller Tree Inn B&B



Inside my room


Outside my room (of course)


View from the B&B yard


examples of businesses getting into the Twilight spirit (zoom in on the Pharmacy pic)



Dazzled by Twilight store, outside. (No pictures from inside - you'd have to see it to believe it.)


Other Dazzled by Twilight store and tour start location - first Manitoba pin!


Start of the tour: the chariot


He's a junior. I'm a junior.


Tour guide Travis told us the last film that played at Forks' Olympic Theatre was The Little Mermaid. They tried to get it re-opened for New Moon but it didn't happen.


"Be careful, Dad." "Always am. Now make sure to assemble some cold cuts in the fridge because although I am a police chief who can fish and grow a wicked mustache, I am unable to fashion myself a sandwich."


Forks went from 5,000 visitors/year to 70,000 visitors/year thanks to Twilight. Someone from the visitor centre showed around Catherine Hardwicke when she was scoping to potentially film the first Twilight movie in Forks, though eventually it went to Oregon, which was offering way better incentives to film there.


The best thing about Charlie? He doesn't hover... second best thing, he pretends he doesn't notice that my boyfriend's in my room EVERY NIGHT.


To rival "the Cullen House", soon visitors will be able to stay at Jacob's house on the rez if they prefer. This exact location was used by The Hillywood Show.


M.B. guards my pre-ordered snack, a "Rosalie" milkshake (vanilla).


Beyond my solo shot of the sign, Travis took a group shot of us all jumping at the same time on my camera, on my request.


View from the Forks Transit Centre, around 8:30 am.



View from Port Angeles, a 5 minute walk from the ferry, early Saturday afternoon.

All my life I've been searching for something

The past 2 days whizzed by in a flash. I'm a little depressed that my Twilight trip is over. I was looking forward to it so much, and now it's back to reality on Monday. (I don't really hate my job, I quite like it, I just found that too funny not to post.) At least I have my memories, my photos, and my pile o' merch to get me through.

When the thorn bush turns white, that's when I'll come home

True facts and lessons learned on my pilgrimage to Forks, Washington.

• The trip was worth it for the 90 minute $2 bus ride between Port Angeles and Forks alone. The Pacific northwest is breathtakingly beautiful. With the combination of the scenery and listening to Full Moon by the Black Ghosts multiple times on repeat, I was very close to breaking down in tears.

• Every store in Forks sells Twilight-themed merchandise, and almost every business has at least some reference (poster, words, etc) on the outside. The Dazzled by Twilight store was overwhelming in the amount and variety of merchandise. My only disappointment was that I couldn't find the only t-shirt I truly wanted in my size.
  

• The Dazzled by Twilight tour was tasteful, the perfect amount of cheesy, and hilarious. The ladies (and one Twi-dad) on my tour were a riot, and always willing to take photos of me at the tour stops since I was by myself. I won a prize during our snack break for answering the trivia question first (mitosis!). Visiting Rialto Beach in Olympic National Park was a personal highlight - gorgeous and full of interesting things to examine.
  

• The Miller Tree Inn B&B, also known as the Cullen's House, is fabulous. Why have I never stayed at a B&B before? Their cat is sleeping on me as I write this (awwwww).
  

Mushroom ravioli

Boats! (This photo is dedicated to my sister's boyfriend's dad.)

Victoria Parliament buildings at night

Oh, and did I mention my hotel room had its own balcony? No photos of the glass elevator, though I loved that too (It's the little things...)

On Thursday, I boarded the ferry, scheduled to depart at 4pm. The kind lady border official correctly identified my fandom after I told her I was headed to Forks.

I'd never been on a ferry before. I knew that there had to be an option to stay indoors, and that there was probably a bathroom of some sort, but other than that, I had no idea what to expect. I guess I was expecting public transit (slightly dirty, somewhat crowded), but on water. In actuality, the ferry was really nice. It was extremely clean, including the bathrooms (hooray). There was a small cafeteria, and tons of relatively comfortable seating. The ferry even has wifi, though it's $3 per trip to use. I stood outside for a few minutes total of the 90 minute trip, but I was too scared to be that close to the water on a moving vessel for very long, and also it was really cold. The first time I got up out of my seat, I almost fell over, but after that first time I managed to get myself around on occasion with no major issues.

Cruise ship out my window

I would have taken more photos inside the ferry, but I didn't want to creep people out.

The trip took 90 minutes. I listened to the Twilight and New Moon soundtracks - they felt very apt. The ferry was rocking quite a bit during the last third of the trip, and the not so gentle motion was both making me sleepy and making me not feel so hot, so I dozed for awhile.

The ferry docked around a quarter to 6.

I walked to Bella Italia. I helped an Edmonton couple from the ferry reach the same destination, with my handy Google map. I had emailed to make a reservation earlier in the day.

The staff were really nice and didn't make fun of me when I ordered mushroom ravioli without seeing the menu. It was pretty tasty. I would bet the other food there is really good, too. The wait staff also brought me a pen, which I used to draft this entry while I ate dinner. No slacking on my part!

I tried not to eavesdrop on the other diners, but I did overhear some interesting tidbits. Occasionally I heard people mention the restaurant's connection to Twilight - not as a positive or negative thing, just as a fact. Also, a woman at a table with a bunch of family lamented that she couldn't drink any of the wine because she was "only 19". Ohh, right. American drinking age is 2-3 years higher than Canadian... weird.

I walked to my hotel. On the way, an eight-year-old boy shouted "Edward Cullen sucks!" at me when I walked by, probably after he saw me take a photo of the Dazzled by Twilight store. I bet the girls just love him.

Anyway, I had reserved a room at the Red Lion Inn, conveniently a 5 minute walk from the bus terminal to Forks and visible from the ferry, excellent factors for someone like me (I could get lost in a phone booth).

I dropped off my backpack and went on a walk around the area.

I walked to Safeway first. This is the view on the way to the Safeway:

Definitely no views like that back home!

This is me looking left, and then walking a few steps and looking right. The Lincoln Theatre and Bella Italia are separated by a furniture store. Sadly, neither Face Punch nor Love Spelled Backwards Is Love was playing.

Fountain and mural

Dilapidated Dairy Queen

Port Angeles appears to be a clean, friendly town (excepting the harsh 8-year-olds Twilight-hating bicycle gangs). I would have liked to arrive earlier to go to all the artsy shops near the harbour, and will try to find time to do so on Saturday morning before my ferry back to Victoria.