(Photo property of m.d.on Flickr)

Could we BE more active in the Vancouver blogging community? If we were I’d have to start drinking a lot more coffee, not sleeping at all and get bionic hands since all this typing (at work and home) is killin’ me.

John was invited to podcast a meetup, which we attended last night. Rachael made the request for Vandigicam, a Flickr group full of interesting people from Vancouver who love to take pictures. She’s an admin and also one of my Metroblogging Vancouver counterparts.

The event was phenomenal. We met near the inukshuk in English Bay, put names into a hat, paired off and snapped pics. It was a ‘portrait throwdown’. John captured the evening via audio while everyone else was snapping pics on all kinds of cams. After about an hour the ‘party’ moved to a restaurant so John and I parted ways with our new group. I’ll be posting the link to the podcast audio once it’s published (within the next few days).

The turnout was the most successful of any meetup of any kind we’ve been to, about 40 people. Such an interesting mix, friendly, creative and SO talented. It was my first time behind a camera in that fashion and definitely being in front of it in that way. We’re looking forward to being more active with the group. The pics are all up on Flickr (of course) under the group and also the tag: vandigicam_ptd3. ….see if you can spot me :p

I also just found the live journal blog of one of my portrait throwdown partners. Cool!

EDIT: I have to include this pic (by JudyB) it captures the evening perfectly ~ haha!

I was reading feeds on my Google home page and came across one over at CBC News about John menacing the coast of Mexico. Which made me think of my husband and then made me wish we could have afforded a nice honeymoon to some place like that. But then of course I floated back from la-la-land and read the article about the rather serious threat the storm imposes [cbc]. Then I felt bad and greedy.

Checking the local blogs and feeds this morning it seems as though people have slowed down… they’re away for that last vacation of the summer or maybe there’s not that much going on lately. I wish I could write “what I did on the summer vacation” but since I barely took any time off, and have already saturated the internet with blog posts galore about the little things we did to keep ourselves entertained, I guess there isn’t a need.

One item of note is that we’re going to check out Darren Barefoot’s play, Bolloxed, on September 7th, which is running during the Vanvouver Fringe Festival.

We’d like to get some bloggers out to see the show, and I’ve got five sets of free tickets for that very purpose. [db]

So we’ll check out the show and have some reviews up on our blogs the next day. John and I are both going so you’ll have two takes on it from us anyway. And no, we’re not one of those couples that likes EVERYTHING the same and has EXACTLY the same taste. I mean really, he’s probably at home drinking PULPY orange juice right now *gag* and that ain’t the half of it.

I walked out of the office tonight and proceeded to call Laura and tell her it smelled like Cheesies downtown. Not the poofy kind, but the hard n’ crunchy kind (Hawkins).

I find I’m starting to rate different construction sites since I walk through about 5 of them just on my way to and from work. Which ones are the tidiest, which has the worst smell, who’s making the most progress, who’s scaffolding looks the sturdiest or makes me fear most for my life when I pass under. The skyline in this city is constantly changing.

My mom works near the site of the Shangri-La. She mentioned the other night how dark the street will become once it starts its climb up into the sky. It is becoming dark. I look out the window at work toward the building across the way and I can never tell it’s sunny out. It looks grey and gloomy until I actually step into the lobby or venture outside on my lunch break. I guess I’m still not used to working downtown, even after a couple years.

We officially have one more weekend of +25C weather coming up and dammit, we’re gonna make it to the beach again, we must. Aside from our park walks and beach time – I really want to check out the West End Farmer’s Market, ever since I tried those cookies at BarCamp and Roland told me they would be on sale there. Gimme.

Next week all the fall shows premiere so my butt will be on the couch. Laura‘s been updating us all summer so I know that House starts Sept. 5th and our beloved Amazing Race will now be on Sundays. Also, season of 3 of Rescue Me airs on Showcase although we’ve been ‘following along’ with the FX episodes all summer courtesy of the weebernet. All I have to say is “whoa” (yeah, like Joey on Blossom but a lil more spooky-like).

I mainly listen to podcasts when we’re lying in the sun on the beach. I must admit the Onion Radio News [onion] has GOT to be one of my faves. Quick, short, witty, making us giggle out loud. John usually peppers the playlist with CNN and NPR 5 minute updates so when the Onion comes on, it makes it that much more enjoyable.

I mentioned Benjamin Walker’s Theory of Everything [toeradio] a little while ago [604] and must recommend it again. Also, if you live in the East Village and saw a bald, tattooed man pouring acid on the hood of a Subaru in July… you should definitely tune in to the August 22nd episode [toeradio] (although I think wanting to put someone away for life because of this offense is a little excessive).

Last but not least, Ted from Island Podcasting [ip] released an episode with audio acquired on his recent trip to Cuba. We only got about half way through so I’m looking forward to hearing the rest, but man the music, the ambient sounds – all fantastic. Soundseeing at it’s best (you know, aside from what John [radiozoom] does of course).

Tonight we’ll attempt a podcast (episode #109) and I’ll be sure to post it here for your listening pleasure.

Matthew Good’s house Friday night [604], BarCamp [bc] yesterday, why am I on the computer? I’m unsure.Just got back from a great meal and hang out time with my folks, sister, niece and nephews. We’re absolutely tired but glad we had some time for the beach this morning as well.

Hot n’ sunny, we’re in the middle of tourist season in Vancouver (although it never really goes away, it just slows down a little in the greyer months – much to Laura’s chagrin).

John [audihertz] and I have been talking about what we’ve experienced this weekend and our minds are pretty much racing. I really would (ideally) apply all of this toward some kind of magical career, which I’m certain does not exist – but a gal can dream…

Speaking of work, we’re still waiting for our dear government to approve John’s status and allow him to work in this country. For being a single income family living in downtown Vancouver I think we do pretty well when it comes to entertaining ourselves on a low-budget. Somehow I seem to keep coming across these fantastic opportunities to meet local celebs and honestly, a walk through the park to get to our favourite beach is probably our most cherished summertime activity. Cost = $0.

With Labour Day approaching, our beach days will become scarce and soon disappear until next spring. We’ll replace them with more walks through the park, trips to various corners of the city and a lot of sleeping in (I hope). Sleep is something I’m desperately lacking lately. I have to get up for work in about 6 hours. Please don’t make me do anything this week :p except maybe count down how many more sleeps until hockey starts…yeaaaaahhhhhh