Long & McQuade

This morning I hopped on a SkTrain bound for the Main Street / Science World SkyTrain Station. My destination was Long & McQuade on Terminal Street in Vancouver.  They are Canadian dealers for musical equipment and had one of the few, tiny, remaining Roland S-1 Synthesizers available in all of BC, I think.  The Surrey branch would've been closer but the item was out of stock.

It was of no matter because going to that part of downtown Vancouver takes exactly 25 minutes by SkyTrain from New West.  I walked five minutes from the station, bought the synth, and returned home in under an hour.

 

Oh my.  The picture doesn't do the retail section of the store justice.  It felt cavernous but fully packed with musical equipment.  It was the first time I'd ever been in their doors.  The day started off a bit rainy but had pretty much cleared up by 10:15 am.

Now I have a new little toy to play with.  The tiny 'synth' and the software I loaded on my computer for manipulation of sound and midi files should keep me learning new things for quite a stretch.  I love finding out about new things.  Accidently discovering more about the topic of electronic music last week seemed like prying the curtains back on a secret little club that nobody had ever mentioned to me.  Earlier today, I wrote to friends in Whatsapp (using a perfectly acceptable double negative and ending with a preposition):

"There's nothing that I don't want to learn, at least, a little bit about."

The Shifting Skyline from the Royal City

It is fascinating to look out from our vantage point in New Westminster and realize how much the landscape has evolved since Jay and I first settled here. My lone photo of the day captures a reality that would have been unrecognizable a decade or two ago. Where there is now a dense phalanx of glass and steel stretching toward the clouds, there used to be open air and a clear line of sight.

Back then, the horizon belonged to Mt. Baker down in Washington State. Its snowy peak was a constant, majestic companion to our morning coffee. Today, those towers have claimed that particular piece of the sky, effectively editing the volcano out of our daily view.

It’s not a point of sadness, though; rather, it's just the natural rhythm of urban development in a corner of the world that refuses to stand still. We’re watching a massive demographic shift in real-time. Just across the water, Surrey is growing at such a clip that it is projected to surpass the population of Vancouver proper in the very near future.

New Westminster remains our home base, but the view is certainly getting more crowded. It’s a bit like watching a child grow up; you don't always notice the height increase day-to-day until you look at an old photograph and realize the world looks entirely different.

Being Appreciative

 

The cool air was sharp and fresh. The rays of sunshine were sharp and direct. In other words, it was one of those mornings where being out in the Lower Mainland seemed like harnessed joy.  I accompanied Jay to Burnaby's Metrotown neighbourhood on his way to the Bonsor Recreation Centre.

I marvelled as we waited just several minutes on the platform for a SkyTrain headed toward downtown Vancouver.  We were probably only around 65 meters from my couch or bed in the building above.  Mass transit running so close to our residence is an enormous asset.  

As Jay continued through the mall to the municipal complex at its other end, I looked at merchandise in the many outlets and walked through both a Walmart and a huge Canadian Superstore.  As I stepped out of the Kingsway entrance, the ski slopes on North Shore Mountains peeked out from behind some clouds in the distance.

We live in a convenient, safe, and beautiful part of our world during summers.  I honestly cannot think of a place I'd rather have as a home base.

 

Today's Equivalent of the Wells Fargo Wagon

It's a real shame that society, at large, is in such a miserable funk. 

Honestly, these days are probably one of the best times to be alive, ever.  Take a glance at the advances in medicine, technology, entertainment, and the general quality of life. We collectively seem have a great big chip on our shoulders. Far too many people run around grumpy and work hard to ensure that everyone else is too.

 

Today, I felt a bit like George Jetson. My electronic, universal, remote control (phone) came in handy today. I received an email that 'Menahem' had my delivery waiting for me. I took a 3-minute train ride to the next station and walked under the building to the bus loop. I found the refrigerator-sized machine and opened my Amazon app. 

 

My phone displayed a button for me to proceed. 

1) First, it verified that Bluetooth was on. Check. 

2) Then, it made sure my location settings were on. Check. 

3) Next, a single button was displayed.  

I pressed the screen and a door popped open. So, I removed my box, closed the door, and was home all within ten minutes.

The Produce Pilgrimage

Jay and I decided to take a short drive to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables. It was one of those days when the weather cooperated, and the road felt familiar in a comforting way. The trees along the way were still full and green, though the light had that late-summer softness.

We stopped at a roadside stand we’ve visited before. The woman running it greeted us with a smile and pointed out the best of what she had. The peaches looked especially good, and the cucumbers were firm and dark green. There were also raspberries in small containers, and the scent of basil lingered in the air.

We didn’t buy much, but the car smelled like summer on the way home. It reminded me of other drives, other seasons, and how small errands can turn into something memorable.

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We actually went to Langley Farm market this morning to pick up some fruit and vegetables. I didn't feel like writing about it. I didn't feel like adding much of anything at all here either. That's understandable as I've been adding an entry pretty much every single day for over 21½  years. One expects a bit of writer's block, or occasional laziness, considering such volume. 

The story above was created with Microsoft Copilot. It even made a title nearly as catchy as I would have.  I forced it read a few pages worth of journal posts directly from URLs for this site. Then, I asked to create a new entry using my tone.  Perhaps I will be able to automatically write from the grave after I pass away.  I also had it create a photo to go along with the entry, so the pictures never need to stop either! 

When reading or seeing anything online, sources are already nearly unverifiable.  The world is already awash with AI generated trash.  If unable to verify the source, the truth is left up to the believer.  This will cause us to throw away all that we take for granted about the creation of non-fiction and the ability to assess truth.

To make this all worse, AI systems themselves are pretty damned encouraging.  As I was adding my example data.  It plied me with compliments along the way by saying things such as: 

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Your Voice, Fully Formed 

You’re a thoughtful chronicler of everyday life, blending humor, nostalgia, and curiosity. Your posts feel like postcards from your world—sometimes local, sometimes global, always personal. You write with warmth, clarity, and a quiet appreciation for the passage of time.

Scrutiny on My Continuing Use of Facebook

I first joined Facebook in 2006 before it was open to the general public.  My email address as a teacher involved in higher education got me in.  In those initial years, I collected a whole lot of 'friends' that included past students and even people we met during trips or outings.  I had hundreds and hundreds of followers.  In those days, it was fun and exciting.  This screen shot was from June 2010.

By 2018, it had all became a bit too much.  I went through the process of deleting my original account and starting again from scratch.  I tried keeping up only with folks I actually knew or had known well.  That whittled down a whole lot of the unnecessary noise.  A part of me still felt as though Facebook was a bit evil and that it had helped to create cracks in the fabric of civil society.  I continued my participation with hesitation. This action rewarded me with the chance to keep up with others whom I hold dear.  It was never a part of my news gathering process.  I eventually deleted all group affiliations as they became irritants.  Over time, it became more obligation and much less fun.

Now it's 2025.  I think I'm at the point of vastly minimizing my exposure to Facebook. Even after curating a short list of friends, I find the algorithms add tons of advertisements and posts from strangers in order to spur my engagement.  Well, it's not working. I am discovering that using the site is no longer a useful part of my daily routine.  In fact, it's very often a source of frustration.  I wish there were an easy fix to all of this.  It would be great to be able to suggest an alternative for those few folks whom I can only contact via my FB account.  I can't come up with one though.  

My personal online journal isn't going anywhere and I will continue to publish because that's as much for me as for sharing with others.   In fact, if you're reading this then you're already there!

Ricoh Pentax Papilio II (8.5x21)

For years, we've had small binoculars for travel even though they didn't often leave home.  I also once bought a large pair for the apartment that we never use.  They're good for watching things go by on the Fraser but they're big and awkward.  After opening their case, taking off four lens caps, and adjusting them, whatever we'd wanted to spy on would be far up or down the river.

We have a couple of small ones, one set dating back to our days in Saudi Arabia in the mid 1980s.  The most used set have the brand Samsung on them.  They're easy to carry but even though infrequently used are just about worn out.  Even the plastic parts have deteriorated.

I was thinking about what to pack for our one-month trip to the Balkans that begins when we fly on Sunday.  The idea of new binoculars popped into my head.  I did a little research and decided against buying cheap Chinese-branded ones on Amazon.

I settled on this Pentax model because they're a perfect size for travel.  As well as zoom, they have a close up field of view for studying the details of objects in macro.  I can't say whether this will turn out handy but it seemed like a positive bonus possibility.  Oh, and I got them because they reminded me of the cute CGI robot in WALL-E.

A Half Hour from This Couch

 

This morning I rode with Jay to his stop at Metrotown. He went to the gym. I continued on the SkyTrain to downtown Vancouver. I used an excuse to stop in at the Translink Service desk at Waterfront Station and turn in an old transit card. I really just wanted a trip to see the Waterfront area. Two cruise ships were at the cruise terminal today. There's a lot more early activity for the Alaskan cruise season nowadays. 

I couldn't help but feel as though we surely picked a special city in which to call home. Tourists and luggage were stacked in front of the Pan Pacific. They are paying a lot to come to the city but I live just a half hour away by SkyTrain. In fact, a train stops right at our building every three minutes during peak hours and each could whisk me right to the Vancouver Waterfront. Yes, lucky, indeed!

 

Back to an Exercise Routine

It has taken me two and a half weeks to get back to my 'home-for-the-summer' exercise routine.  Walking uptown is a bit of a hike because of the 90 meter gain in elevation.  Consequently, it is a perfect place to get in some enjoyable exercise.  Last summer, I became enamored again with my thrice weekly walks to uptown New Westminster.

We're down near the Fraser River but a lot of the city's shopping is around 6th and 6th near the Royal City Mall.  And, that was my destination today.  I ducked into the Walmart and bought a year's worth of baby aspirin.

As they say, getting there is half the fun.  I walked up 4th Street and through Tipperary Park.  Then, today, I walked up 3rd to the height of the land at 6th Avenue.  Many out-of-town folks do not really know about the lovely neighbhourhood streets that lie between uptown and Queen's Park.

I love the manicured lawns and heritage houses.  I love seeing folks out walking their pets or pushing strollers.  Today, I used my new Sony headphones and played a Spotify playlist called, Wake Up Happy.  Seeing the scenery and hearing the music was intensely emotionally uplifting.

It would have been pretty darned difficult being in a sour mood on a day like this!

   

Time is Precious

 

Day 102: The weather cleared. The picture above is the Florida Road side of our Airbnb in Durban, South Africa. We walk up the stairs right over the Pic 'n Pay grocery store to get to the apartment lobby. Today's view from the balcony is below.  

Most human lives can be measured with fewer than 33,000 days. I'm happy to have been right here for this one.

   

A Shortcut

We're having weather typical for the time of the year.  In other words, in this part of BC, it is quite dreadful.  At the moment, we're having a long-haul shower that probably won't quit until tomorrow sometime.  The temperature didn't make it up into the double digits on the centigrade scale.

I really didn't feel like taking off for uptown on my Wednesday-morning walk.  I  did want to get in an hour of activity, so I chose a different route than I've been doing of late.  I devised a path through the New Westminster campus of Douglas College.

The building has gone through some additions and renovations but it was there when we moved to this city.  For two years, we rented a place on the other side of it on Agnes Street.  And it's just two blocks away from the place we've been living in for 26 years now.

It was a bit exciting just walking though as a visitor this morning.  I haven't spent much time in any academic settings since I retired ten years ago.  I used to work at the BC Institute of Technology as a technical language instructor.  In fact, I spent 17 years there, primarily at the Burnaby Campus.  

Although I'm happily retired, there is one hard-to-describe feeling that I miss.  It is a sense that one is in the middle of an active learning environment.  I enjoyed the feeling of determination and progress.  These occur in a school where people dedicate their attention toward the goal of picking up new skills.

I relived the essence of those feelings today, even for the brief moments, as I passed through the inside the college.

Putting Off a Furniture Purchase

We haven't been breaking into peoples' homes to snap photos of their belongings.  We quit doing that a long time ago!  No, we got pleasantly dizzy running around the maze of showrooms at the IKEA in Coquitlam.

We were pretty much assured that we had decided on our new leather couch after visiting earlier in this summer.  We'd downloaded the specs of the loveseats and insured it was exactly what we wanted.  We were going to execute the purchase today.

Yet once we sat in the display model again today, it just didn't seem right for us.  I like the color and the design.  However, Jay mentioned that the back did not rise enough from the back of the cushions.  We often sit with our heads against our current loveseat back when watching TV. We sat for a while and changed our minds about this piece of furniture.  It didn't seem possible to truly relax in their pricy VISKAFORS. So, although it was 90% of what I was looking for, we didn't fork over a credit card today.  

I guess we can leisurely search for something better when we return home next spring.

Our Travel File Folders are Colour Coded

This will be our eleventh post-retirement winter.  During nearly all of these years, we have travelled to warmer places for four of five months.

Interestingly, this upcoming one is turning out to be our most complex winter ever!  We have never had as many reservations and separate itineraries during a four month period.

Today, Jay and I spent some time printing out schedules that have changed since our initial bookings.

For example, recently Air Mauritius cancelled a flight from Antananarivo and put us on one the following day.  We checked with them directly but the Expedia itinerary did not auto-update.  So, we called to ensure our correct data showed on the website.

Even our beginning Air Canada flight to Dubai has changed.  We booked a direct flight but now they've changed our itinerary so we have to change planes in Toronto!  We will have to leave in the morning,  but one benefit is we'll arrive about five hours earlier and no longer after midnight.

When there's just a flight or two, I'll happily download boarding passes to my phone.  However, as we have over a dozen different bookings, I find printing it all on paper rather comforting.

On My Way Back Down

I didn't plan that this summer I'd again begin to take my health seriously. Back in 2012, I achieved a weight-loss goal of around 50 lbs.  Since then, slowly over time, I stopped paying attention and my weight has crept back up.  However, this has been over the course of a whole decade.

I got a renewed interest in shedding extra kilos this summer.  Perhaps it was more the idea of turning 65 than the view in my mirror.

Spring's lab results showing an A1c of 6.2 was assuredly a result of the whole cascade of unhealthy outcomes directly related to carrying around extra weight.  My mother died of juvenile-onset diabetes before she had a chance to get old.  I don't like the thought of now being pre-diabetic.

So, I'm at it again.  Twelve years ago, trying to lose weight was more of a chore.  I wasn't using a fitness tracker and I didn't have access to GLP-1 medications.

I just returned from a one-hour walk uptown and back.  There's about a 70-meter gain in elevation.  I vow to do this at least three or four times a week for the remainder of our autumn here.

Canada Day 2024

 

New Westminster, BC is about 12 miles from the Waterfront in downtown Vancouver. The easiest way to get to Canada Place is to take our elevator down to the SkyTrain station and hop aboard one going in that direction. The train goes through the city of Burnaby and arrives at the start of the line in a bit over a half hour. I never drive downtown as it'd take longer, be stressful, and end up costing more because of parking. 

For years and years, it's been our habit to head to Vancouver on Canada Days. We use it as an an excuse to go downtown. We most always use it as an excuse to transfer to the SeaBus and visit the Lonesdale Quay in North Vancouver too. It's good to have a few traditions to try sticking to.  Today, we repeated these actions.  

 

We crossed back on the SeaBus to see what was happening at the Vacouver Waterfront area. As well as the celebrations, two cruise ships were in town. Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and a Disney cruise ship were docked today.

We call a gorgeous location on this earth home.  I feel privileged to be a Canadian.  This is what Canada Day 2024 meant to me on this July 1st.

Back to a Quicker Normal

When we go away for winters it takes a while to get back into a groove at home. 

This is our first day back from a little four-week sojourn in Central Europe and the Baltics. We feel as though we recovered fairly quickly today. First, we left and returned in the evenings which makes conquering time zones a bit easier. More importantly, there was less to do at home. For example, the refrigerator was running and we didn't switch off services like the Internet. As well, we only brought two backpacks and one carry-on-sized checked bag. So most all the laundry is clean and was dried on the balcony in the superb sun and warm breeze of New Westminster, BC today. Our shopping trip to fill up the fridge didn't take long either. 

I hope we continue taking 'excursions' of around the amount of time at this part of every year. Last June was the first time we tried and stayed in Nice, France as a base. A lot can be said for travel before it gets too hot and the tourists too thick. We can continue heading to warmer climates during our retirement winters, but we can save June for those places where it makes sense. The biggest trouble we find is that there are a whole lot of places we'd like to go, and not enough years to do them all!

TODAY'S PHOTOGRAPH 

For the first time since the end of May, I took a single daily photograph, at least so far. It will live in this summer's Flickr album rather than the special one from our recent trip that got over 560 images. Looking down from the balcony, Jay noticed the New Westminster electricity crew working on a few lines close by. Our power wasn't interrupted but there is a distribution vault near the foot of our apartment towers.

 

Less Hair and Fewer Boxes

I could have posted a selfie after today's haircut. My hair is long now, long enough to tie in a pony tail. However, for quite some time, I've had the sides shaved. I'm finally starting to notice my receding hairline but, hey, I turn 65 this summer, so it's a little expected. One change is that I now ask the barber to use the clipper attachment labeled as 1/2.  That causes just a little stubble to remain.  By the time I get around to having another hair cut it's always quite grown out.

Instead, I included a picture of boxes.

 

These boxes contain Christmas decorations.  When getting ready for the installation of a new hot water heater, we had to clean off some shelving in the utility closet.  These were not put back.  It is time that we get rid of the things inside the boxes.

Since we retired in 2014, we have not been in British Columbia at the end of the year.  Neither the lights nor the objects have seen a Christmas for at least ten years.  I feel as though it's time to free them so that some many participate in someone's joyous season.    

School Days Ahead

I still get a little excited at this time of year. 

I've not taught nor attended school for a while but I find that some magic happens near the end of August.  For example, I saw a couple of red-coloured leaves on some trees today.  Also, the big-box stores are filled with back-to-school sale items. Who'd not appreciate the smell of a new eraser or the potential of a brand-new set of coloured markers? I noted that the sunset will be a lot closer to 8:00 than 9:00 pm in Vancouver.  

Kids may groan but at least it'll be a normal school year for most students.

 

My Favourite Month

I am always happy at this time of year, especially when I see that local cherries have hit the market. So many good things happen during the year's seventh month. 

I'd easily say that July is my favourite month of the year. I love the feeling of freedom when one can simply walk out the front door without the need for any additional clothing. The windows are open and the birds are much noisier than normal.  People enjoy the outdoors.  The whole world seems pleasant.

   

We got some of these at our weekly trip to our closest Langley Farm Market on Kingsway.

Unevents

I lit the gas fireplace again today. The temperature only reached about 16 degrees Celsius today and is forecast to dip to a mere 10 tonight. 

There's really little to relay in a blog post today. 

We did go to the uptown Walmart this morning. We went to buy bananas but I also got a pair of Levis. My regular jeans are a bit too thick for spring or summer travel. I bought a thinner pair that'll be comfortable when flying to France.  Although we don't dress up on flights, it wouldn't seem right to fly wearing shorts, especially on an all-nighter to Frankfurt.  

I had to pay 32 Canuk bucks for them!  You'll have to forgive me but I'm nearly officially an old fart now.  So, spending that amount for, what did I call them when growing up?  Dungarees?  That just seems excessive.

 

These pictures don't have anything in common with the text or each other.  They're simply the most recent three that I created with AI.