now that's what I am talkin' about!

So, we have this street here in Vancouver, BC called Commercial drive.  It's made up of pizza joints, Italian cafes, sports pubs, expensive home furnishing stores filled with products created by local designers and artists and much more.  The joy being that you can never really be sure of what it is that you are going to stumble upon, you just know it's going to be good.

  This Friday afternoon I decided to take a stroll down it, as the surf season here on the Pacific Westcoast is just beginning (swell is best in the winter), the sun however, has just begun to sleep the next six months away and the rains have come.  Needless to say, my courage to get out into the waves disappeared this past weekend so I decided to trade my surf trip in for a weekend in the city and shopping (for boots, still).  Feeling slightly anti-social and mind-bogglingly exhausted from a hectic week at work, I walked from store to store up and down Commerical Drive, trying to convince myself that I really needed everything, however, wisely walked out empty handed, as boots were the goal and all I could find were awesome hats and toques/beanies (although I did buy the coolest beanie of the season).  

  

  I was just about to turn in for the day as I glanced up as I was walking down the street and saw the sunshine brightly (metaphorically speaking, as it was the greyest day so far this fall).  Three amigos had decided to plant themselves on the patio of a popular pub and enjoy a cocktail or two together, wearing the largest sombreros three amigos could possibly wear.  Nothing about these dudes screamed "Meixcan" or gave any reason for the casual hat choice.  Nor was the restaurant they were at Mexican OR was there any special national Holiday or occasion whatsoever for their fine choice in head attire.  Nonetheless.  They'd just decided to wear them.  To make the casual outing of spending time together as friends solid.  Sitting on an outdoor patio.  Two months post summer.  Just them. Their summer drinks. And their Mexican attire. 

Who needs the sun when you have sombreros?  Nicely chosen boys.  You made my day.

  

 

The Perfect Coffee Ritual Destroyed

I find coffee tastes its most best when it's picked up slowly (with the lid already taken off), lifted gently toward the lips till the dark aromatic steam rising off the top perfectly fills the nostrils. It is at this moment of transformation as I pause tenderly to stare into the future by scrunching the eyebrows into a semi-scowl whilst inhaling the dark beautiful wonder that has forever altered the coarse course of history, that I anticipate the majesty about to fill my body with life, riches, warmth and peace. As I lean forward and tilt the cup ever so slightly, I am most rudely interrupted by a deja vu moment so crystal in its clarity that I cannot procede with the finale of the perfect morning coffee ritual. The coffee abruptly returns to the table in front of me and I am left despairing at the thought of another fall/winter season of Ponchos. That's right friends, ponchos are back! Checkit.

*photo courtesy of Lynne Madden