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Archive for the ‘Vancouver’ Category

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Apr
28
     
Behind again
Filed Under (Canucks, Vancouver, family, playoffs, ramblings) by Flash on 28-04-2007

Once again I have fallen greatly behind. I guess most would just abandon blogging, but I do enjoy it and do want to work on improving my writing skills, so I won’t. I’m also surprised by the number of people that have discovered my blog on their own and either return or subscribe to the feed, and I appreciate their interest and don’t want to disappoint. There isn’t a huge number of such people, but just one or two is enough to appreciate, and it is more than that.

What is up in my life that has me so busy? Well, let’s just look at what I’m looking at right now:

  • There is my full time job, of course.
  • The summer semester of school has started, as books arrived yesterday for two out of three of my courses, and I actually read one for 20 minutes in bed last night until sleepiness made it incomprehensible. The first weekly assignment isn’t due for a while, but I need to get ahead now if I’m going to do 3 courses in the shortest semester.
  • I have a spring semester course for which I need to schedule the exam, which will depend on when I figure I can fit in studying for it.
  • I still haven’t squeezed in finishing the taxes. Ours are complicated by the fact that we have enough medical expenses to qualify for the deduction every year except last year, and you can make your “medical expenses year” be any 365 consecutive days that end in 2006. I have to figure out the best 365 days between Jan 2, 2005 and Dec 31, 2006; looking for the maximum deduction while at the same time leaving the maximum I can for next year. I found an extra couple of receipts from 2005, so I might have qualified for the deduction after all and might be refiling my 2005 return.
  • In the meantime, Matthew has given me his paperwork to do his taxes and my dad is bringing his by today. We all have refunds coming, in which case the April 30th filing deadline in Canada doesn’t apply. The government is nice enough to give you unlimited time to file if they owe you.
  • I also am behind on keeping our Quicken files up to date and either filing or shredding paperwork and receipts.
  • Karin’s brother Carlos’ computer is having software issues again, and they will be dropping it by today or tomorrow. I think they are hoping for a speedy turn around.
  • My dad and I are going to Vancouver today to get the parts for me to build him a computer. I’ve planned it out already, and will be very jealous of his machine until we finally get now ones here. I’ll therefore be spending this weekend and probably my evenings all week assembling and setting up his computer. I need to also pick up some parts for Rudy, another of Karin’s brothers, and find time to swing by his place and install them.
  • The Canucks continue their playoff run, and I am watching those games out of the side of my eyes while doing other stuff. This is my one “luxury”, but even then I am multitasking because of all the other items I have going on.
  • Matthew is living with us right now, and in addition to his taxes, I need to get him properly tracking his expenses in Quicken, help him prepare for his driver’s test next week, and other little things. I think I’ve got our wireless internet situation properly set up, so that is one less thing to work on.
  • Sorting through all our old computer parts and either junking or selling what is not needed has ended up on the back burner each week; but needs to be finished as we don’t have the room for extra parts right now.
  • It’s spring, so we need to clean up and organize our deck soon.

I know that almost everyone has a busy life, but mine was busy enough with just work and school. I have a little too much going on right now, and things like a social life just don’t fit into my days right now.

I have numerous posts that I have started, but due to all the other pressing items I still need to finish them. Some I will just have to abandon, they are simply too old. I see that a number of people end up on my blog doing Google searches from far off lands for Canucks playoffs information; so I won’t abandon those posts, but will combine them into just a few posts and then I’ve resolved to be good about posting after each game going forward. I can understand that if a fan is stuck on the other side of the world, reading blog posts about a game would make one fell the excitement a lot more than news articles. I plan to be living in Mexico one day, and while I can probably go to a sports bar there to watch a game, I’ll likely be reading blogs also since I won’t have friends, family and co-workers saying “How about those Canucks?” all day.

Also on my “Do Not Abandon” list will be restaurant reviews, as my feeling that there are not enough unbiased information about local eateries has been largely proven by the number of people that come to my blog through Google searches for information on specific restaurants that I have reviewed. Many of those people might never return to my blog, but I know I appreciate when I can find information ahead of time as to where to go and where to avoid. There are several places that we have stopped at this year that I have yet to post about, and so I will finish those up. After all, what does it matter to if I ate there yesterday or last month, a review is a review.

This has turned into a lot bigger post than I intended, but I think that is partially why I am so far behind; I leave things too long and what could have been some quick, short posts get combined into one long post quite often. So I apologize for once again getting so far behind, and I also apologize that there will be some dated posts coming up; but I will be keeping more up to date by posting more frequently from now on.

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Apr
17
     
Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars – Playoffs – Game 3
Filed Under (Canucks, Vancouver, playoffs, ramblings) by Flash on 17-04-2007

After the low level of excitement I felt during Game 2, I was afraid that this might be in large part due to my need to multi-task while the games are on. Since my life is just too busy at the moment to let me sit down and watch each game, this would be the game that let me know if I was doomed to not be able to enjoy with the rest of the city.

I spent all day Sunday setting up by brother-in-law Rudy’s computer, which had not been done in a while and was suffering some major issues. I was hoping to get to his house before the game started, but had some issues and did not arrive until after the second period. I watched the first two out of the side of my eye at home while finishing off his computer, and found that once again I wasn’t feeling that level of excitement. There was definitely a level of tension thanks to the close defensive styles of the two teams, as you realized that a single goal was more important than in most games; but that lack of scoring also kept the excitement level down. I couldn’t help but to get caught up in the wonderment of who would score. Unfortunately, it was Dallas that scored near the end of the second period.

During the intermission I headed over to Rudy’s house and began setting up his computer and installing such items as his printer software. This is not as bad as it sounds, as his computer sits next to his 70 inch widescreen TV. There was more tension now, as we need to come from behind, and we were rewarded when Jan Bulis pounced on a rare rebound by Dallas goalie Marty Turco. Finally, some excitement! The initial shot was by Jannik Hansen, the first Dane to play in the playoffs when the Canucks called him up from the farm team after several injuries in Game 1. Hansen is looking impressive, and I look forward to seeing him improve in the future.

I finished with the computer just in time to settle down and watch the overtime. Rudy was already groaning, as it was his bedtime and he was recalling the 4 overtimes in the first game; but we were rewarded at 7:47 of the first overtime when Taylor Pyatt scored on a quick one timer. You can watch the winning goal below.


And so in the end this was a more exciting game, but the beginning was slow. And because of the circumstances, I can’t tell you if that lack of excitement was the defensive style of play these two teams are following, or the difference between watching alone while multitasking as opposed to watching with another fan on a huge screen. I guess I’ll have to wait for Game 4.

Update – It turns out that Pyatt both won the game and won a jersey for me.

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Apr
17
     
And the Winner is….
Filed Under (Canucks, Vancouver, contest, playoffs, ramblings) by Flash on 17-04-2007

It turns out that when one is really behind on their blog posts and is publishing a post that they started a few days beforehand, one should recheck their links in the post. If I had done so when I posted last night about the contest at GoCanucks.ca, I would have discovered that they had already made a post to say that my name had been drawn as the person who would receive a replica Canucks jersey if they won Game 3. And since Game 3 was already over by then, I would have realized even before I read the next post that I was a winner!


I received an email last night informing me of my win, and I need to reply with my info so they can send me my jersey. To add to the woes of getting behind on posting, the sponsor of my jersey is Doolin’s Irish Pub, an establishment that my dad, Karin and I visited for the first last week and where I had the best lasagna I’ve ever had in while out, and which I still plan to blog about in the next few days.

So thanks to DarrenBarefoot.com for mentioning the contest (I guess I owe him a beer should we ever meet after his Malta adventures), Doolin’s Irish Pub for sponsoring Game 3, and GoCanucks.ca for a great contest! Enter soon for your chance to win, and good luck to tonight’s contestant,Craig MacKenzie, though I’ll be rooting more for the Canucks and he’s welcome to the jersey when we win!

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Apr
17
     
Review – Rugby Beach Club, Vancouver
Filed Under (Vancouver, food, outings, ramblings, restaurant, review) by Flash on 17-04-2007

Rugby Club Entrance

After appetizers downtown at the SIP a few weeks ago, Karin and I headed towards Vancouver General Hospital to find a full meal before her 6:30 appointment for an MRI. We wanted to park nearby and walk if possible to the hospital, and so I pulled into the parking lot of the former Chevy’s restaurant on Broadway at Oak. Chevy’s used to be one of my favorite spots in Vancouver, but when I had attempted to take Karin there previously we had found it had closed. A new establishment has opened in it’s place and we decided to try them.

Upon entering the Rugby Beach Club Grille, I was greeted with a familiar room. The restaurant has been renovated to give it an oceanside feel, but the layout has not been changed, largely I believe because it has always been comfortable and works well. Formerly TVs hung from the ceiling throughout the room so that every table would have a view of the sporting event; these have been removed and the ceiling is now covered with large large bamboo stalks. The large TV covering one wall of the lounge remains, and many people were sitting in the bar area awaiting the Canucks game. The built in tables remained as before, as well as the bar and open kitchen kitchen; with everything having been refinished.

Ribs Ribs Ribs

The decor did have me worried a bit, as there was a nautical theme and we are not big fish fans; but we did not have to worry as the menu was extensive. In addition to numerous salads, the appetizer menu had nine seafood items, but then had eight non-seafood items. We started with an appetizer of Ribs, Ribs, Ribs. As the name and picture implies, there is three flavours of ribs in this starter; Mesquite Rye BBQ, Caramelized oy and demerarra sugar, and Cajun dry rub. I think we might have been cheating a bit on Karin’s diet, as vinegar is something she must avoid right now; but a little shouldn’t hurt too much. Each of the ribs was meaty and flavourful, and we gladly licked our fingers afterward. I would definitely try this again, which could be a problem as there were many other tasty items from which to choose.

Looking at the main menu, it seemed that everything was extremely reasonably priced, even priced too low to believe. It took a little to realize the reason; all items on the menu come unaccompanied. If you order a steak, that is all you get on your plate. Vegetables and carbs are ordered separately, and the portions for these sides are enough for two people. As Karin and I are both watching the number of calories we stuff down our gullet, eating out has been a nemesis as almost any plate is almost half carbohydrates. Too top it off, we have had even more trouble eating out as of late due to Karin’s need to avoid the foods to which she is allergic. We had stumbled upon the perfect restaurant for us completely by luck!

Just like the appetizer menu, there were numerous choices when we choose our main course. In addition to the seafood section of the menu, there was a separate sections for shell (shellfish are fine by us, and I think I’ll try the prawns next time), chicken, vegetarian, turf (lamb), steak, ribs and surf & turf. Within each section there is numerous choices. I suspect that the separation of the sides from has allowed a much more extensive range of choices, as the chef did not then feel the need to have a unique starch and vegetable combination with each choice. With such a wide range of choices, you would think we would have had different things, but we were both attracted to the filet mignon, though I had mine with blue cheese topper. Without the sides, each filet cost $11.95! When was the last time you had filet mignon for that price?

Main Course

Skipping the carbs, we had roasted asparagus with balsamic drizzle. Again, this was a bit of a cheat for Karin due to the vinegar. We had not been steered wrong, there was definitely enough vegetable for the both of us. The portions were just right, but had we not stopped at SIP earlier in the afternoon for an appetizer, we might have had two vegetables dishes, thereby having a filling meal without the starches and still at a very reasonable price.

While the ability to make your own main and side dish choices did fit our dietary needs perfectly, I also liked the idea purely from the point of view of being able to pick what you enjoy eating. Many a time I have been out and have seen something that seemed quite tasty, only to realize that the accompaniments were not something that I would enjoy at all. The Rugby Beach Club would also be the perfect place to go when some have a limited diet and others do not.

As we left, the crowd watching the Canucks game was just beginning to get into the game, and it was only Karin’s appointment that kept me from proposing we stay a while. This will definitely be a stop again in the near future. Overall, I’ll give the Rugby Beach Club Grille a 7.5 out of 10.

For more pictures, click on any of the above and explore the others on our Flickr site.

Rugby Beach Club Grille on Urbanspoon

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