Author Archives: westcoastprairiegirl

About westcoastprairiegirl

I'm a prairie girl at heart, born and raised in Manitoba. I am currently living on the west coast with my Mexican hubby. Our cultural differences make the days interesting and his energy and love of life, food and travel makes this adventure with him a great one! I try to LIVE life to it's fullest, LOVE as much as I can, LAUGH always, EAT with enjoyment and TRAVEL to experience what this crazy world has to offer.

Armando’s Trip to the Barber

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ROCKPORT'S BARBERSHOP - NARA - 548244

ROCKPORT’S BARBERSHOP – NARA – 548244 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Could I possibly write another post of Armando’s hair, or lack there of? (see original post here).  Oh, yes I can!  My poor, dear hubby…he just gives me such fun stuff to write about!

So, it all started when I found out that he had an appointment with an Image Consultant who was a guest speaker at one of Armando’s MBA classes.  She had offered all the students a free consultation and  Armando took her up on her offer and booked an appointment.

After a one-hour session, he learned that it would take approximately $3000 for her expertise and $5000 for a new wardrobe to whip him into GQ shape.  I kyboshed that idea but did offer the alternative of paying me the $3000 and I could whip him into runway form but he didn’t go for it.

Instead, he decided to stop at the local barbershop.  He always trims/shaves his own hair so he figured if he got it professionally done, it would be a drop in the bucket of his recommended $8000 makeover.

It had been eons since he got his hair professionally cut so he took a quick glance at the price list before committing.  $18…perfect!  Armando loves the deals.

So after a wash, a clip and a shave, Armando walked up to the counter to pay for his newly clean-shaven look but when the girl said, “Fifteen dollars, please,” he was confused.  He was sure the adult price was $18.  As he looked at the price menu again, he noticed that the adult price was $18 but the senior rate was $15.  Senior rate!

I could not hold in my laughter when he told me!  Poor guy didn’t have enough hair to warrant the adult price.  Regardless, he’s on his way to GQ status and at a discounted rate!

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Annual Bear Sighting in Port Moody

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So, it looks like this may be an annual event…

After having just finished a late dinner before 9pm last May, we looked out our condo window and saw bears raiding the garbage bins across the street at our Port Moody Fire Department.

Today, it happened again.

Bear sighting at Port Moody Fire Department on May 7, 2013.

Bear sighting at Port Moody Fire Department on May 7, 2013.

Last year, my picture was picked up from my blog about the sighting by a local newspaper, The Coquitlam Now, and their article circulated throughout the online news outlets, from The Vancouver Sun to the Calgary Herald and even to a news site that translated it to Chinese, which by the way, when we google-translated it, they completely added their own flare to the story, including saying that I was from Montreal?!  Visited there once but, nope, never lived there.

Fortunately, it appeared that all bins were locked up this year so no garbage for Mr. Bear as the firemen scared him away into the bushes where I hope no evening walker got startled.

Yep, my after dinner walk just got cancelled tonight (Click to see my post on my bear fear).

 

Top 10 Road Trip Tips

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Road Trip

Travelling along the Interstate 5.

After having recently been in a car with three other people for 48 hours on a Road Trip from Vancouver to Los Angeles and back in just four days (that’s 4100km/2547miles!), I learned a few things along the way:

1.  Travel in a Large Vehicle – our options were limited: a Mini Cooper, 2 trucks or a Ford Focus.  Our next 4000km road trip, we’re going to rent a comfortable vehicle.

2.  Never Be Overconfident with your Inner GPS – we only had one highway to travel from Vancouver to Los Angeles and back..the Interstate 5.  Yet, we reluctantly had to turn on our phone data to have Google Maps help us find our way back to I5 when we somehow went astray.

3.  Games are Not Just for Kids – car games help make the time go by faster.  Riddle games are the best: “A guy walks into a restaurant, asks for a glass of water.  The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at him.  The guy says, “Thank you.” and walks out of the restaurant.”  This one took us through a good chunk of Washington.

4.  Have a Co-Pilot – here’s another riddle for you:  If you have 3 people asleep and one person awake, what does the one person want to do?  Answer:  sleep.  Having a co-pilot was a definite must for us.  Makes for safe travels, especially while travelling through the night.

4.  Audiobooks – Another great way to pass the time was having audiobooks and podcasts to listen to.  Thanks, Tina Fey, Ms. Bossypants!

5.  Your Secret Zip Code – if you’ve ever tried to fill-up on gas in the US, you may have had trouble when the pump asks you for your zip code.  A little secret learned:  Take your postal code (i.e. V2H 1P3), type in the 3 numbers from it and then add 2 zeros at the end. (i.e. 21300).  Ta-daa!!  Works!  Just make sure you’re using the postal code that is linked to the credit card you are using.

6.  Calorie Counting – This just can’t happen on a road trip.  Food = Convenience when you are driving that endless highway.  Fast Food.  Gas Station Munchies.  Embrace the excuse to eat with abandonment.  But set boundaries…when the cheese-in-a-can starts to  look good, you know that you’re going to the dark side.

7.  Pile Up The Fluff – travel with tons of pillows and blankets.  They are great for piling up in the middle of the backseat where you can just lean into them and snooze away.

8.  Bathroom Breaks – always make time for bathroom breaks, no matter how often you need to stop.  No explanation needed there.  But I did learn one thing:  if you can hold it until you come to a major gas station (and there are plenty along the I5), you will be welcomed with a sparkling clean restroom.  They are surprisingly well-kept.  But if you have to drive further than a side road to get to the gas station, you might end up in an outhouse.  I speak from experience.  Stupid bladder.

9.  Freshen Up – when you’re on a long road trip and choose to drive straight through the night until you reach a McDonald’s for breakfast, remember to grab your toothbrush and head to the washroom to brush those pearly whites.  Your car-mates will be glad you did!

10. Have Fun – enjoy the experience of being crammed in a car filled with junk food, people, pillows, garbage, smells, music, laughter.  It may not seem like fun for many but road trips are all what you make of them.  Enjoy the ride!

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48 Hours in Los Angeles

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A lot can still happen when you’re in Los Angeles for just 48 hours (with 18 of those hours used for sleeping to prep for the 25 hour drive home to Vancouver).

Beverly Hills, CA

Our drive through Beverly Hills, CA  to check it off our “Been-There-Done-That” List.

We witnessed a movie-style, yet real-life police takedown.
It involved a police car speeding backwards along a pedestrian road, suddenly stopping, police jumping out of the car and pulling out their guns with a police helicopter hovering above them.  We determined that Venice Beach may not be the best place to hang out once the sun goes down.

Venice Beach is THE place to people watch.

Venice Beach is THE place to people watch but watch at your own risk once the sun goes down.

Armando and Jef almost died at Six Flags.
Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic but the situation could have been fatal.  Unbeknownst to them, after getting off a roller coaster they took a wrong turn through a sliding door that should not have been open and started walking on the roller coaster tracks.  But the roller coaster track looked more like a pathway than a track so they didn’t realize they were walking on the track until they turned a corner and saw the steep incline of the track and realized where they were.  Had the next car started down the track, it could have crushed them but they made it back to safe ground just in the nick of time as the panicked Six Flag attendants looked on.

The superhero capes that the guys won for our nieces and nephew, playing carnival games at Six Flags. How sweet :)

The superhero capes that the guys won for our nieces and nephew, playing carnival games at Six Flags.

We learned that there is a secret menu at In-N-Out Burger.
If you’ve never heard of In-N-Out Burger, it’s a fast food burger joint in the Southwest USA, primarily in California.  Super popular.  Known for their all-fresh ingredients.  Cheap and a menu of only like, 4 items.  Or so the newbie thinks.  Fortunately, we met up with a local friend while we were there and he told us about the “secret menu”.  Fries, animal-style.  Burgers, protein-style.  Fries, well-done.  Burgers, animal-style.  The 3×3.  The 4×4.  We fell in deep like with In-N-Out Burger on our second visit, knowing the “secret menu”. (Yes, we went there twice in 48 hours.  Don’t judge us.)

One of my favourite things about Los Angeles were the palm tree lined streets. How do these tall, skinny trees not bend over and break?

One of my favourite things about Los Angeles were the palm tree lined streets. How do these tall, skinny trees not bend over and break?

A trip to Los Angeles is not complete until you've seen the Hollywood sign.

A trip to Los Angeles is not complete until you’ve seen the Hollywood sign.

What else did we squeeze in?
Hollywood Boulevard, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Beverly Hills, lunch on the Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier, the Hollywood Sign.  Some we just caught glimpses of as we drove past or walked by as we checked it off our list of places to see. But for 48 hours we fit enough in to get a feel for LA.  It’s a surreal place where the down-and-out live next door to Hollywood celebrities.  It’s not a pretty city but it has character built on the eccentrics that make LA home.

The finer side of Los Angeles County...Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA.

The finer side of Los Angeles County…Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA.  

Worth the drive?  For the city…sure.  For the experience shared with our good friends…definitely!

As we drove by LAX we contemplated ditching the car and catching a flight home but at 10PM on Sunday, we started our drive back and 25 hours later, we we home from our whirlwind of a road trip. Road Trip from Vancouver to Los Angels and back in 4 days, a success!

As we drove by LAX we contemplated ditching the car and catching a flight home but at 10PM on Sunday, we started our drive back and 25 hours later, we were home from our whirlwind of a road trip. Road Trip from Vancouver to Los Angeles and back in 4 days, a success!

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Road Trip: 22 Hour Drive for Stanley Kubrick

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The Stanley Kubrick Exhibit in Los Angeles was the spark that started our last-minute 22 hour road trip to Los Angeles this past weekend.  Here are some pictures of the 3 hours we spent at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art:

At the LACMA entrance is the assemblage sculpture called "Urban Lights" consisting of 202 restored street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s. Most of them once lit the streets of Southern California.

At the LACMA entrance is the assemblage sculpture called “Urban Lights” consisting of 202 restored street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s. Most of them once lit the streets of Southern California.

Tickets in hand...

Tickets in hand…

LACMA - Stanley KubrickLACMA - Stanley KubrickLACMA - Stanley KubrickLACMA - Stanley Kubrick

The original typewriter used in "The Shining".

One of the original typewriters used in “The Shining”.

For someone who has never seen a Kubrick movie, I found the exhibit very interesting and my friends who are Kubrick fans loved it.  I still think it’s pretty crazy that we drove 22 hours just to see it.  But the road trip experience was worth it and we still had 31 hours left in Los Angeles before we had to make the long trek home.  Lots can happen in 31 hours!

Stay tuned to find out how crazy things got on our Stanley Kubrick Road Trip!

LACMA - Stanley Kubrick

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Vancouver to Los Angeles Road Trip – The Drive There

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We made it!

Twenty-two hours after leaving Vancouver, we finally arrived in Los Angeles at 8:00pm.  That included roughly 7 pit stops, lots of caffeine, plenty of junk food, uncomfortable rests in the backseat, a few podcasts, heated road games and 4 tired bodies.  Heads were in bed early for our jammed packed LA day of exploring that lied ahead.  Here are some pics so far…

My road trip clan at one of our pit stops.

My road trip clan at one of our pit stops.

 

Getting closer....

Getting closer….

 

My failed attempt of using the self-timer for our group shot in Yreka, CA.

My failed attempt of using the self-timer for our group shot in Yreka, CA.

We had the American Lunch of Champions - In N Out Burgers and then a dozen Krispy Kremes

We had the American Lunch of Champions – In-N-Out Burgers and then a dozen Krispy Kremes

Interstate 5 road trip

California!

We made it!

We made it!

 

Road Trip: Vancouver to Los Angeles 2013

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Road Trip!

Road Trip! (Photo credit: -Snugg-)

Forty-eight hours ago I was planning on having a nice, quiet long weekend. But I am now waiting for my husband to get home and then we are picking up our friends and heading down south for the weekend.

Road Trip!
So there is a Stanley Kubrick Exhibition in Los Angeles.  I know who Stanley Kubrick is; he’s a director.  I’ve heard of his movies, The Shining, Clockwork Orange, Eyes Wide Shut, etc. but I must admit that I’ve never seen any of his movies.  Now my friends are huge fans of Mr. Kubrick and were trying to find flights down to LA this weekend to go and see the exhibit.  Long weekend.  Last Minute.  Ticket prices are through the roof.  My husband told them the cheapest way right now would be to drive.  So the next thing you know, Armando, Rosa, Jef and myself are driving down to LA to see the Stanley Kubrick exhibit.

That’s 20 hours of driving one way.  40 hours return.  We are doing it in 4 days.  Crazy!  Leaving in a matter of minutes.  Car got a good tune-up today.  Pillows are packed in the car.  With 4 drivers, we are driving through the night and should arrive in Los Angeles by dinner time tomorrow.

Cleaning, organizing, grocery shopping and everything else I planned on doing will have to wait for another day.  We’re going on an adventure!

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Off my Bucket List: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

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The day started with breakfast at Kono's Restaurant, Haleiwa, HI. I had the best waffles ever, with bananas, macadamia nuts and whipped cream; Armando had what he say's was the best breakfast wrap ever!

The day started with breakfast at Kono’s Restaurant, Haleiwa, HI. I had the best waffles ever, with bananas, macadamia nuts and whipped cream; Armando had what he say’s was the best breakfast wrap ever!  No better way to start the day than with satisfied tummies.

I have always wanted to go to the North Shore on Oahu, Hawaii.  I finally checked that off my bucket list on March 4th, 2013.

To sum up our day at the North Shore, it was beach hopping from one end, to the other.  We followed the waves from Sunset Beach and the “Banzai Pipeline” to Waimea Bay and beyond.

Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu, HawaiiBecause of the crazy waves, it was not a place to swim, although Armando wanted to.

Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii Armando:  ”I want to go in there.”
Me:  ”You can’t. those waves are too dangerous.”
Armando:  ”I can do it.  I swam in waves like that before.  I’m from Mexico.”
Me:  ”I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Armando:  ”Other guys are in there.  It’s fine.”
Me:  ”No.”
(We watch a guy walk to the shoreline and get pulled into the water by a wave)
Lifeguard on megaphone: “Hey, the guy that just got into the water without fins.  Get out now!  Now’s your chance and you better take it.  I don’t know why you are going in there without fins!”
(Lifeguards drive their 4×4 to the edge of the water, ready to rescue him)
Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu, HawaiiLifeguard on megaphone: “Just a reminder to everyone.  This waves are extremely dangerous today and only experienced people wearing special fins should attempt to go in. “
(I give Armando a “See, I told you!” look and I enjoyed every minute of that moment) :)
Lifeguard on megaphone: “Everybody move back.  There are some big waves about to hit.”
(Big waves hit the shore, ride up the raised beach area where everyone is sunbathing, grabs sandals and other items lying around, taking them out to sea never to be recovered)
See below video:

The North Shore is known for their shrimp trucks and we stopped for lunch at the originals: Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Haleiwa, Hawaii.

The North Shore is known for their shrimp trucks and we stopped for lunch at the original: Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Haleiwa, Hawaii.

The power of those waves!  Amazing!  I could watch them all day.  Actually, that’s what we did do.  When we asked the lifeguard how big the waves were, he said that the large ones hitting the shore were probably up to 16 feet and the ones further back that the guys were surfing, probably 20 feet.  Not as high as some videos I’ve seen but they were the most impressive ones that I’ve ever seen in person to-date.

Here’s some video footage, from Waimea Bay.  Take note of just how close to the shoreline those waves break and watch for little heads bobbing in the waves.

We did a must stop for some famous North Shore shaved ice at Matsumoto’s and it wasn’t a day on Oahu until we saw some whales. We ended our North Shore trip at the end of the North Shore road, near Kaena Point (see picture below).

I think I was a surfer chick in another life.  North Shore was great!

We did a must stop for some famous North Shore shaved ice at Matsumoto's and it wasn't a day in Oahu if we didn't see some whales. We ended our North Shore day with this picture at the dead end of the North Shore road, near Kaena Point.

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10 Years Later – Memories of Aloha Tower & Waikiki Beach

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Aloha Tower, Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha Tower, Honolulu, Hawaii – this was my home port for about 6 months back in 2003/04.

Back in February 2003, I started one of my greatest adventures…working on a cruise ship. Hawaii has held a special place in my memory for the past 10 years.  I flew to Honolulu to begin my life living on the seas.

I remember arriving a day early and walking Waikiki Beach, enjoying the sunset.  I remember our home port at Aloha Towers.  I remember the first time I walked the gangway, onto the ship.  I remember the hustle and bustle of crew and passengers.

Not a soul in sight at the Aloha Tower...not at all what it was like when I 'lived' there.

Not a soul in sight at the Aloha Tower…not at all what it was like when I ‘lived’ there.

Ten years later, I am back.  This time, with my husband.  I got quite emotional seeing my old “stomping grounds”.  Happy memories.  But also sadness kicked in when I saw how things have changed.  Aloha Towers is now a skeleton of what it once was.  Restaurants and shops are closed down.  It’s looking rundown like its best years have pasted.  I was sad that Armando wasn’t able to see what I experienced and saw while ‘living’ there.

My hubby taking in Waikiki Beach...where are those eyes looking?! :)

My hubby taking in Waikiki Beach…where are those eyes looking?! :)

But, I was super excited that I was on the island of Oahu as a tourist now.  There were many things I did not get to see or experience during my ship days because there was just no time to explore.  Now, Armando and I had 9 days there and a car!  I was going to get to see Oahu and one of my dream places to see…the North Shore!  Stay tuned for a picture diary of some of the highlights…

Star of Honolulu Dinner Cruise @ Waikiki Beach...no quite the cruise ship that I lived on but it brought back memories none-the-less.

Star of Honolulu Dinner Cruise sailing past surfers waiting for some waves @Waikiki Beach…not quite the cruise ship that I lived on but it brought back memories none-the-less.

Living Life (aka The Last Two Months in a Nutshell)

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Life’s been busy.  I’ve been frustrated that I haven’t had a chance to write about all that’s been going on these last two months so I thought I’d give a quick rundown to catch you up:

- I’ve been working two jobs
- survived Christmas season (and even did some baking along the way…my belly proves that!)
- travelled to Manitoba in the dead of winter to visit family (learned that Armando’s brain actually freezes at a certain point as his usually superior navigation skills were lost in the cold)
- travelled to Mexico to visit the in-laws and attend a wedding
- lived through a colonoscopy (was actually the first time I was ever in a hospital as a patient)
- got stung with the three-week cold and managed to live with a husband that was sick for four weeks!
Ice Hockey- Armando and I played in an ice hockey game for the first time ever and no broken bones!
- had dinner with friends in a pitch-black restaurant (Dark Table).  No lights.  Couldn’t see a thing.  You are served by blind waiters.  You can’t see what you are eating, let alone see where your fork is.  Was quite the experience!
- got my Nexus card (do I see shopping trips to the US in the future?!)
- had my first Rosca de Reyes and didn’t choke on the plastic baby Jesus!
- went to Vegas and learned to play Craps.  That game is so addictive!  (hence, the two jobs that I’m working. haha!)  Just jokes :)
- got free upgrades and experienced flying in 1st class for the first time with Air Canada – did you know that behind those curtains they have ice cream and freshly baked cookies, baked right on the plane and served hot?!?!
- finally bought a coffee table (Armando has yet to finish putting it together.  First he has to learn to read Chinese so he can understand the instructions.)
- Armando and I celebrated our one year anniversary!  Where did he take me?  To the food court at the airport in Mexico City for tacos.  An anniversary that I will always remember with fondness and laughter!

And those were just the sprinkles on the cake during the last two months.  I have been busy and tired but I realize that that’s just proof that I’m living.  And life’s too short to not live.

Don’t stay stationary.  Keep on moving forward.  Happy 2013!!  May it be full of life!