Travels
Off to Vancouver for a business trip and boy howdy did I ever make a mistake with booking. I try to add a day or two onto such excursions just to poke about for a bit but this time (I don't know what came over me) I failed to do so and to change the flight at this time would shoot the airfare from just over 600 to 2000. So must make do. A shame as Vancouver seems to be a lovely place with many interesting things to do/see and a very friendly foot traffic sort of place.
Did book a place in the "colorful" west end area of town with a plethora of small boutiques, bookstores, bakeries, and people watching cafes. I am looking forward to it as it is loaded with goodies and (my favorite words) ON SALE. I get a suite with king bed, full kitchen, W/D, open balcony, ocean views, etc., on the tour and public bus lines, less than a mile from the venue for a sweet price. Mother did teach us how to shop. I did locate a couple alt events to attend while there and want to get to Capilano suspension bridge and hopefully to Grouse Mtn 3 (or is it 5?) K zipline - wheeee!. Stanley park is a must see with the 6+ mile seawall hike all around the periphery and gorgeous beaches and would love to do a walking tour thing (love the pub crawl and ghost walk ones and a combo of both is even better).
Oh, and the conference itself - these folks are usually right on target with some quality educational offerings and I do need a bucket of CEU's to maintain board certifications so off I go and thank goodness I don't know many people there so I can scoot off by myself to hit the courses I want (no negotiations) and the after hours events that interest me (none of this "where are you going now?" stuff). So school all day then swimming or window shopping or hiking or scene and then dinner how/where I want it and no one to bother with for almost a week - lovely. I will have a Mac laptop with me (T.H my B.B. and #2son are working on that right now to make sure it is all ready for me) so I can keep up with lj and email. Already checked on the cell phone and yes it covers out of country stuff and the passport is still good - packing tomorrow night.
Will make Renn Faire this Sat with T.H. my B.B. - that will be a nice treat for the both of us. I have not been since I was a little girl and he has never been at all. That was where I first had raw oysters - loved 'em! Now it is just too dangerous anymore for that. Sigh. I hear from several others it is just as good as it ever was and enjoyable as ever.
When I get back I will have some time each with my sister the tree elf and my boy. I am also trying to get an early dinner munchie organized for first week of Oct (see previous posting) but not much response so far. Maybe a good thing - a small group would be more flexible/fun or perhaps move it to early Fri eve to be just before D-101? Then maybe Renn Faire Oktoberfest that Saturday? There is shopping to do, visiting to enjoy, instruction to deliver, and fun to be had. Travel home on Sunday full of new memories.
Life is Good.
Did book a place in the "colorful" west end area of town with a plethora of small boutiques, bookstores, bakeries, and people watching cafes. I am looking forward to it as it is loaded with goodies and (my favorite words) ON SALE. I get a suite with king bed, full kitchen, W/D, open balcony, ocean views, etc., on the tour and public bus lines, less than a mile from the venue for a sweet price. Mother did teach us how to shop. I did locate a couple alt events to attend while there and want to get to Capilano suspension bridge and hopefully to Grouse Mtn 3 (or is it 5?) K zipline - wheeee!. Stanley park is a must see with the 6+ mile seawall hike all around the periphery and gorgeous beaches and would love to do a walking tour thing (love the pub crawl and ghost walk ones and a combo of both is even better).
Oh, and the conference itself - these folks are usually right on target with some quality educational offerings and I do need a bucket of CEU's to maintain board certifications so off I go and thank goodness I don't know many people there so I can scoot off by myself to hit the courses I want (no negotiations) and the after hours events that interest me (none of this "where are you going now?" stuff). So school all day then swimming or window shopping or hiking or scene and then dinner how/where I want it and no one to bother with for almost a week - lovely. I will have a Mac laptop with me (T.H my B.B. and #2son are working on that right now to make sure it is all ready for me) so I can keep up with lj and email. Already checked on the cell phone and yes it covers out of country stuff and the passport is still good - packing tomorrow night.
Will make Renn Faire this Sat with T.H. my B.B. - that will be a nice treat for the both of us. I have not been since I was a little girl and he has never been at all. That was where I first had raw oysters - loved 'em! Now it is just too dangerous anymore for that. Sigh. I hear from several others it is just as good as it ever was and enjoyable as ever.
When I get back I will have some time each with my sister the tree elf and my boy. I am also trying to get an early dinner munchie organized for first week of Oct (see previous posting) but not much response so far. Maybe a good thing - a small group would be more flexible/fun or perhaps move it to early Fri eve to be just before D-101? Then maybe Renn Faire Oktoberfest that Saturday? There is shopping to do, visiting to enjoy, instruction to deliver, and fun to be had. Travel home on Sunday full of new memories.
Life is Good.