DIY Olympics rings.........

Don't know where they sell these, but I've seen a few of them around in people's yards. They are cute.

Google Maps is good for something.........

The "old homestead" where we lived from 1974 to 1998! And it pretty much looked like this for the whole time except for the gate on the left side, that was never there. Desi and Tamara grew up here. I just dug these shots up on Google Maps tonight because what is here now is a new development of condos. I'll have to wait a few months for that view. But I wanted to save these shots - they must have been taken last summer because the weather isn't like this at the moment. :)

That part of the mountain in the background is "Sleeping Beauty". Rick and I disagree on which way she is facing. :) Still haven't found a reference for it.

The view to the west - we drove down this street thousands of times.......

And to the east - not as often....... although we moved about 8 blocks away in 1998 - down to 31st Avenue just off Fraser Street.

Cabeza Vainilla, Cabeza ordoba, Cabeza Chiapas - Feb 6/10

Cabeza, meaning "head" in Spanish. Big surprise! :)

I assume this one is Cabeza Vainilla - sounds like a girly name. Ordoba and Chiapas must be the guys!

The latest installation of Vancouver Biennale in Richmond. They are pretty huge!

Even little teardrops?

The day wouldn't be complete without Rick getting in on the action. :) Boys!

Link to an article on the heads:

http://blog.vancouverbiennale.com/?p=1396

Goodbye January!

Considering the block of Elmbridge between Gilbert Road and Alderbridge Way only contains RONA and ICBC, there sure is a lot of action going on there these days!

Take THIS guy ^^^ - built to look like the Olympics Inukshuk stone structure. This is HILARIOUS! Who did this, I wonder!

And we have flowers in January here in Richmond. Daffodils and a Canada symbol in the flower bed.

Orange barrels ready to block streets off during the Olympics! :(

And more of the action on Elmbridge - back to Lenin and Mao. They took a beating this week! Not sure of the story, but heard that someone tried to remove Mao from the top of Lenin's head. But here they are, united again.

And in this picture you can see how his nose is displaced - his head is all shifted in the middle. What's the story!!!!!!!!!!??????????

UPDATE: Here is a link to an article on the Inukshuk!

http://www.bclocalnews.com/richmond_southdelta/richmondreview/community/81796512.html

Double Rainbow

A great double rainbow last Saturday ..... thanks for taking the pics, Rixie. :) They looked much better than this in real life - but you do what you can............ :)

I could have SWORN I uploaded these last year - but here they are, for the record. From March 2009.

Driving Tam home from the airport tonight.......

My little day........

After learning about Vancouver Biennale yesterday after seeing the Lenin/Mao sculpture, I decided to check out "Waves" at Garry Point today. There is it!

Then a little closer. That's Mr. Rick looking at ......

.... THIS! I guess the artist's copyright mark.

There you see some mountains in the background. Probably West Vancouver.......

... and that's probably North Vancouver........

This is DEFINITELY the North Shore Mountains - that white area in the middle is Grouse Mountain, I believe.

This would be facing approximately North-West.

And this would be facing South-East. Certainly not much difference anywhere today - it was a panorama of grey..........

I believe that's Mount Baker, in Washington State, on the left - or it could be the right.... I'm not positive. *G* A great day for the nap I didn't have. :)

More eagles around town.......

Down in the West End. On Denman St. near Comox. Thanks, Tam! :)

WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you ever just going about your business and .... you turn a corner and - What the HELL!!!!!!!!!!

That happened today when we were turning the corner at Elmbridge and Alderbridge today. Who expects to see THIS!

I said to Rick - "Is that Lenin????????!!!!" and he thought it was. So we circled around the block and stopped to take a few photos.

This is the main body of the sculpture...

... and atop his head is this:

... which is supposed to be Mao Zedong.

But this top piece reminded me of this book I read a couple of years ago:

Great writing, great story .... except the ending sucked big time! What can I say. And I realize the Mao balance is different than the Mistry one, but that was the thought that struck me as soon as I saw Mao up there. "Hey, that reminds me of that book........"

And someone laid flowers at the base, which I assume are in honour of those killed by Lenin and Mao.

There's been a controversy going on about this sculpture since mid-December and I never even heard about it. Especially here in Richmond with the huge Asian population.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/richmond_southdelta/richmondreview/news/79858067.html

Man, am I out of touch.

I must say it is very impressive as a structure. Funny how it's so obvious it's Lenin when he's been so dead all these years. Too bad it wasn't "Lennon" - ROFL!

Facing west from White Rock.........

On Saturday, January 10th. Visited Jenny J. and this was what was going on out there.........

The Yellow Rings........

From the back I thought they were white, but they just looked a bit off. Obviously, today was yellow ring day! Only blue to see now. Then perhaps some patterns.

Cut me some slack, people - at least I'm out there looking at stuff. :)

Back to work tomorrow after 3 weeks more or less "off", except for appointments and family gatherings and stuff..........

Just for the record...

Bought yesterday with matching beige mats. :)

Dishes

New dishes. It will be Corelle next time. :)

2009 Christmas Tree

Tamara did a great job!!!!! :)

Then they were green........

Christmas Day at 1:04 a.m. I saw the damn rings changing colours - blue, yellow, red, green, white - but by the time I could stop the car anywhere they went back to green only. ARGH! Like that stupid frog in the Bugs Bunny cartoon where he sings "Hello my baby, Hello my honey...." but as soon as someone watches him he just sits there. :)

One of these days!!!!!!!!!!!

Red...

Finally! Some action with the Olympic rings out at YVR. They have been plain white for months and Monday they were red, Tuesday they were green, and tonight (Wednesday) they were red again. I can't get close enough from the road to get a decent shot and I was too lazy to get out of the car at 12:45 a.m.!!! I'll try for the green tomorrow!

Grey.........

Went to the dentist - Pacific Spirit Dental Clinic at UBC - go there!!!!!!!!!!! Dr. Schmidt ROCKS! As do all the staff members.

On the way home - foggy - this is the Olympic Oval while we can still get close enough to see it. :)

At least there isn't all the snow we had last year - yay!!! Maybe I can just stay home for a few days and enjoy the time off!

Holy Smoke!

Since the weather has been ugly and rainy and windy I haven't been walking as much. One can get VERY lazy that way! :)

Been listening to lots of Christmas music, sending some Christmas cards, playing Secret Santa and all that stuff. Great fun!

Enjoying the lead up to Christmas and time off to be lazy and hang. :)

Tree hug.........

Well, that's what it looks like.

Another red tree I love.