Robbie Williams - Lovelight

While I'm a fan of Robbie Williams, I'm more used to his "pop rock" songs, but I just found this one and I really like it!

The proximity and nearness of things

Ok, so I am spending my holidays in Mexico, and I was just reflecting on how much I enjoy having amenities near my houses (both in Vancouver and in Mexico).

At home in Mexico, my parents' house is near:
* A movie theater (MMC)
* A supermarket (Soriana)
* A wonderful restaurant for Argentinian food (El Rincon Gaucho Clasico)
* A great hotel with lots of little restaurants (Hotel Fiestamericana)
* A car-washing place (La Vendimia)
* A big mall (Centro Max)
* A big park (Explora)

Really, I think that I have everything I need within a 2-4 minute drive...

Now, in Vancouver, I live within 15-25 minutes of:
* The best spots for brunch (Slickitty Jim, Cafe Main, Crave on Main)
* The best coffee places in the SoMa area (Soma, Waves, The Grind)
* Wonderful places for dinner (Red Sea Cafe, Monsoon, Crave on Main)
* The best spot for movie rentals (Happy Bats Cinema)
* Nice small Mom-and-Pop market (QS Supermarket)
* Great large market (Safeway)
* Wonderful places for dinner on Commercial Drive

So, I can't complain :) I'm a happy camper -- I got everything I need and more!

The invisibility of cancer

My family has had a history of dealing with cancer patients. I have had doctors and nurses in the family on both my father and mother sides. Furthermore, some of my extended family members have faced the disease itself. Our family has fought cancer many times, and unfortunately, we have lost all of our battles so far. I was just reflecting on how we felt when we last had to deal with the disease (the last time, was lung cancer). We didn't talk about it. We were silent, as though the illness was invisible, as though it wasn't there. I believe that by not talking about it, we let cancer win at least one battle. But I hope this is not the case this time. I hope we can conquer it, I really do.

Sweet Surrender - Sarah Mclachlan

One of the best tunes from Sarah McLachlan!!!

Sarah McLachlan - Hold On

Best song ever. It still breaks my heart to listen to it, but it is unbelievably good. Sarah McLachlan rocks, period.

Computerized life

Ok, I admit it. I have signed on to the dark side. I have become a pseudo-geek. Why not a full geek, you might ask? Well, for all these reasons:
- I do not own an iPod
- My cell phone is pretty basic
- I don't use BlueTooth
- I do not have a Blackberry
- I don't own a digital camera BUT I now know how to download pictures!

That being said, I do:
- Bank online - which includes bill payments
- Organize my contacts using online calendars and address books
- Have a blog
- Have more than four e-mail accounts (which I read regularly)
- Watch YouTube
- Read the news online

Hence, while I do not deserve a full geek nomination, I can be a pseudo-geek. And I do depend
a lot on my computer! So I've decided that I will upgrade myself this Christmas, at least with a digital camera.

Movie Review - The Devil Wears Prada

Given my interest in fashion (yeah, I bought clothes in Montreal, Paris and Madrid alright!), and under the circumstances (extreme stress) I decided to rent the movie "The Devil Wears Prada" with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. It was a breath of fresh air. Yeah, Thirteen Going on Thirty also touched upon fashion and the sacrifices and choices we make to get ahead of the game, but TDWP has Meryl Streep (sorry Jennifer Garner, I love you to bits, but Meryl is Meryl).

And the lesson remains the same: Family and friends first, career advancement second. Not for everyone, I am sure. But at least, for me, it has worked wonders. And I have a very happy life full with friends and family who love me. Overall, the movie makes you feel good by the end of it (just as with 13 Going On 30) and teaches you a lesson or two...

Rant: Snow shoveling on Vancouver's streets

This is a call for Vancouver residents who have not shoveled and cleared their snow-covered (now ice-covered) streets... YOU HAVE TO DO IT! THERE IS A BY-LAW!!! I almost took a fall six times last night because of some lazy resident who decided that he/she did not want to clear their walkways. The worst part is when 90% of the block's residents have cleared their paths and there are only one or two who have not.

A mailman recently died as a result of a fall, and people still do not realize that it is wrong not to clear their walking ways. Unbelievable... and this is a first-world country!

Robert Palmer - Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You

Singing what has been named "The Ecology Song" (Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye) intertwined with "I Want You"... I love Robert Palmer's rendition of Gaye's song... he was amazing!

What A Fool Believes - Michael McDonald