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

Poverty, homelessness and Vancouver covered in snow

I was just browsing through blogs and the Vancouver Sun picture gallery and found some really nice pictures. But the snow also makes me reflect on those poor people who are homeless and who are unable to sleep under a warm and dry roof. I have never in my life experienced sleeping on the streets, although the third time I moved to Vancouver I almost had to sleep in the car I had rented.

All this makes me think that, while some people may see the snow as a happy (and strange) occurrence in Vancouver, others lives are threatened by it. Vancouver does not have enough capacity (in terms of beds) to provide shelter to every homeless person out there. And yet we seem to be so happy that it's snowing because it is pretty. I am sorry, but I am not happy. If faced with the choice between snow and hot weather, I'm happier with hot weather. At least, homeless people can sleep on the street then!

All this comes back to the heated discussion on whether Vancouver has a progressive affordable housing policy. I won't comment on that. I will just ask Vancouver councillors and the Mayor to roam around in this weather without enough winter clothing... *then* they will maybe understand how does it feel for the vulnerable and disenfranchised...

My two cents, even if gloomy.

PS - I found this cute picture... downloaded it from the Vancouver Sun website, so I am guessing it was provided by a Vancouver resident. If you are the owner of the picture, let me know and I'll credit you!

Flans - Las mil y una noches


Como todos los ridiculos fresas de aquella epoca, yo fui uno de los que se enamoro escuchando esta cancion...

"Tu forma de amar... siempre a medias, siempre loca, siempre a destiempo... tenia que acabar con alguno de los dos..." Cursilerias para muchos, pero bastante importantes para otros :)

Real Thing

Lisa Stansfield is, without a doubt, one of the best singers of the XXth Century.

Magneto 40 Grados

If you're Mexican and you're about my age, you have heard this song. May like it or not, but it was for sure super popular. I have it on tape and MP3. I can't believe it!!! I'm a dork :)

It's snowing in Vancouver!

For the love of God, I just can't believe it... it started snowing last night when I went out for dinner (well, apparently it started to snow around mid-day on Saturday) and now the whole city is covered in white powdery snow. I found pictures from the festival of snow in Vancouver... And for the record, I hate -3 oC temperatures... BRRRRRR

Patrick Duffy & Mireille Mathieu - Together We Are Strong.

I admired Mireille Mathieu since I heard her sing "Allo" (Lionel Richie's "Hello") but when I was looking for Hello, I came across this one. It's so funny to see Patrick Duffy sing besides Mireille that I thought I should post it. It's quite sweet.

Restaurant review: Trixi's

I have been neglecting to write Trixi’s restaurant review because I’ve been swamped with work commitments. But I can’t delay it anymore. Last Sunday, I went there with two of my best friends and we had crepes for dinner. Yessir, crepes. I admit it, I was shocked myself. I am usually a fan of Trixi’s for 3 pm crepe and tea on a sunny day (as I have done numerous times with one of my closest friends) but they wanted a savoury treat and I wasn’t about to say “oh I am sorry I’m a sweet crepe kind of guy”.

So, there I went with a herb-chicken and mushroom crepe (without cheese but with tomatoes). It was, as usual, fantastic! But I was more shocked about the fact that I had enjoyed a savoury crepe rather than a sweet one. Of course, I shared a sweet crepe for dessert. Prices are fantastic (with 6 bucks you can have crepe and ice-cream and for 10 bucks you got yourself dinner). The owners are sweet and adorable and they’ll come to your table to tell stories. So, kudos to Trixi’s. It is located right across from Tomato on Cambie and almost 17th Avenue. My favourite crepe restaurant (and yes I know Cafe Crepe, and I like their crepes too, but Trixi's has a homey flavour to it).

In peace :) Amado Nervo

A really good friend of mine was feeling somewhat sad and blue the past few days, and even though we haven't seen each other in months, I thought I'd cheer her up with part of a poem by Amado Nervo... It's a wonderful poem worth revisiting here. I will do the translation eventually. I e-mailed this poem to an ex- of mine a few years ago, when I was head over heels and I was completely in love. The e-mail I got back was quite pathetic, I must add. But that did not detract from my emotions. I was SO happy :)

En Paz

Muy cerca de mi ocaso, yo te bendigo, Vida, porque nunca me diste ni esperanza fallida,ni trabajos injustos, ni pena inmerecida;porque veo al final de mi rudo caminoque yo fui el arquitecto de mi propio destino; que si extraje las mieles o la hiel de las cosas, fue porque en ellas puse hiel o mieles sabrosas:cuando planté rosales coseché siempre rosas.... Cierto, a mis lozanías va a seguir el invierno: ¡mas tú no me dijiste que mayo fuese eterno!Hallé sin duda largas las noches de mis penas; mas no me prometiste tan sólo noches buenas; y en cambio tuve algunas santamente serenas...Amé, fui amado, el sol acarició mi faz. ¡Vida, nada me debes! ¡Vida, estamos en paz!

Restaurant review: The Red Sea Cafe

Ok, this restaurant review was long overdue and thought I'd write it before I forget completely. I have been to the Red Sea Cafe (670 Broadway, near Fraser) three times in the last month and I am going again this week. The last time I bumped into really good friends and took one of my closest friends for dinner for his birthday. The time before I just had a craving and had to run get some Erithrean/Ethiopian food. The first time I went with a good friend of mine.

The basis for Erithrean/Ethiopian food is a crepe-like bread called injera. A bit sour but incredibly tasty, it is used as a plate for the wot (curry or 'mole'-like pastes with meat or veggies, amazingly well cooked and spiced). You then can use injera to grab morsels of food. I have been to the RSC three times already and every time I finish the meal so full I can barely walk.

The service is amazing and I always have a wonderful time. The owners I think are Erithrean. Despite the neighbourhood (it's in a not-so-beautiful part of Mount Pleasant) it's very well worth the trip to try the food.

A proposito de Dirty Vegas...

One of my best friends gave me this song in MP3. Awesome beats, although I wonder if it's along the same lines of Sam Roberts. You will understand my confusion when you know that Dirty Vegas is actually a house group (my good friend Silver introduced me to deep house). The better known song of Dirty Vegas is actually a house tune, Days Go By.

I am a big fan of Sam and now of Dirty Vegas :-) but definitely, I never expected DV to play something similar to Sam Roberts. I am confused now.

House or ... Canadian folk ?!

Dirty Vegas - Walk Into The Sun

One of my best friends gave me this song in MP3. Awesome beats, although I wonder if it's along the same lines of Sam Roberts. You will understand my confusion when you know that Dirty Vegas is actually a house group (my good friend Silver introduced me to deep house). The better known song of Dirty Vegas is actually a house tune, Days Go By.

I am a big fan of Sam and now of Dirty Vegas :-) but definitely, I never expected DV to play something similar to Sam Roberts. I am confused now.

Restaurant review: Figmint and Rain City Grill [2 Reviews in 1]

Well, this past weekend was very much a trouble-plagued weekend. But more than anything, bad choices for dinner and brunch. So I'm going to review them both in the same post.

I was totally looking forward to brunch at Figmint given that it had just been reviewed on the local newspapers and it is very well located, on 12th Avenue and Cambie. But it was a total disaster. First of all, they charge 7 dollars to park (valet parking). I would think that (as an added bonus) they would offer free parking. I now know that there's no such thing as a free brunch! For the price they charge for scrambled eggs, they should really provide some perks. I was not impressed. I could think of a good half-dozen places where I've eaten cheaper, nicer breakfast. The only good thing about it was the company, one of my best friends.

That same night, I went out with another good friend to Rain City Grill on Denman Street and almost Davie. The prices are quite exorbitant for what they offer (and the flavours are quite bland). I ordered salmon, and it was almost burned. Supposedly their dinner menu is very good, but I did not see the selection of dinner plates that is shown here. I was definitely unimpressed too. And I dine out quite a lot! Again, the only good thing was the company of another of my best friends. But, next time I'll pass on both Figmint and Rain City Grill. I think it's time I go back to my Main St. roots :)

Movie Review - Mount Pleasant

The 25th Vancouver International Film Festival, held in Vancouver this year from September 28th to October 13, had numerous Canadian films (99% of which I could not see because of work commitments). But I did make time to see Mount Pleasant, for three main reasons:

a) The movie stars Kelly Rowan, one of my favourite actresses, who happens to be Canadian too. Kelly likes to support Canadian film, as shown in this interview with The Vancouver Sun. For those of you who don't know who she is, here is her Wikipedia biography.

b) The movie is set in Vancouver in my neighbourhood, Mount Pleasant.

c) It is perhaps the first movie I have seen where I can actually relate entirely to what is being depicted in the film.

d) It is directed by brilliant UBC alumnus Ross Weber, who also happens to live in the neighbourhood.

So, on to the movie review. A few other blogs have also published a review of the film, so I'll make my review more focused on why the film struck home with me. Beyond Robson, a very good local Vancouver blog published a really nice and thoughtful review, although I have to say that I did not hate every character. I felt sorry for Nadia and for Sarah. However, I did hate Megan.

The film is set in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant, in Vancouver (present day), and the lives of two families collide with those of a lost soul, leaving a big mess. Nadia, a young under-age prostitute who lives with her pimp Nick, and works the streets of Mount Pleasant, is picked up by Stephen, who is a real estate agent. He is in an unhappy marriage to Anne, and they live in (apparently, I can't recall properly) Kerrisdale (or Shaughnessy), one of the affluent neighbourhoods. Doug and Sarah (whose boss is Anne) have just moved into Mount Pleasant with their six year old daughter, who pricks herself with a used hypodermic needle. This single event triggers an outrage by Doug, who is upset at the poor conditions of the neighbourhood, including drug addiction, prostitution, etc.

The movie does a superb job of depicting the state of the neighbourhood, and the complicated and intricate relationships of these individuals. It is a superb movie, and it struck home with me. As an example, 'Nadia' was "picking up" at the bus stop on the corner of 19th Avenue and Fraser Street, where I often have taken the bus to go either to South Fraser or Downtown. Seeing the neighbourhood where one lives in a cinematic fashion is really eery. I had an opportunity to talk briefly with Camille Sullivan (Sarah) and Ross Weber, the director. The question/answer period after the October 11th showing at Granville Seven was really good.

I hope they release Mount Pleasant on video so that I can show it to my parents and friends. Kudos to Ross Weber and the cast of Mount Pleasant for a job well-done.

On the sociological and urban development side, the movie does depict reality but I am hopeful that the gentrification process will reach this area soon. It is not a bad neighbourhood, it just needs some cleaning up.