These are the days when riding a bike is so lovely that I seriously can’t imagine doing anything else with my time. Hot days, warm evenings, the easy breezy cruise along 10th Avenue, a few jaunts to the False Creek seawall with friends…it’s just fabulous.

<>This was definitely NOT your local Motel 6. On a recent visit to
Tofino (on Vancouver Island), I spent 3 days at the local hostel, a beautiful guesthouse perched on a point overlooking the harbour. I was a bit worried before I arrived that I would be alone in a sea of 17-year-old surfers (it was […]

Here’s a video by local musician, Jeremy Fisher - fabulous not only for his great tunes and homemade videos, but also because he bicycled (!!!) across Canada and the States on his tour a few years ago (toting his acoustic guitar on his extended back rack).

Last night I indulged in some armchair athleticism, courtesy of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival’s “Paddle Sports” night. One of my favourites included a segment (see above) about Dubside, a colourful character from Everett, WA, and perhaps the best sea kayak roller I’ve ever seen.
Made by local filmmakers, this video showcased Dubside’s incredible […]

My hat’s off to another heroine of the 20th century: Peace Pilgrim.
Born in New Jersey, this pacifist started walking across the United States in 1953 and continued for 28 years (walking over 25,000 miles before she stopped counting). Travelling without money or possessions beyond what she carried in her pockets, Peace Pilgrim called for “international […]

In the Irish Catholic tradition, guilt is a genetic trait that is hard-wired into our chromosomes. In deference to my forebears (a suprising number of whom were nuns and priests), I tend to feel guilty about alot of things that aren’t really my responsibility: pollution, global warming, even the Writer’s Strike.
Of course, there are also […]

As 2006 winds down and I get ready to rock New Years’ Eve with some high fidelity Karoake (Kenny Rogers, anyone?), it’s time to take stock of the past 12 months in order to gain some perspective. Where have I been? What have I achieved? And what small triumphs can I celebrate?
It’s fabulously humbling […]

I am not, nor have ever been, a big design gal. My “personal style” is generally slovenly, a mix of Goodwill grab bag meets hobo market. My apartment is decorated with a fascinating mix of thrift store pillows and bachelor-y piles of books that I need to read.
Slobby as I may be, I can […]

I’m realizing that part of living life with a bit more audacity means confronting my fears, often on a daily basis. And, as I am a self-proclaimed wimp, acknowledging my inner demons isn’t always an easy process. Instead of facing my fears, I’m more inclined to crawl into bed and sleep, or eat too much […]

Welcome to the first installment of “The Fab List”, a semi-regular feature that will list some of my favourite places, people and things.
Let me clarify: these lists are in no way scientific, comprehensive, or objective. You will probably not learn anything by reading them. You may not even be entertained. However, such is the […]