Snapshots from the trip:

Mike, Margaret and Sarah at Guu with Garlic......yummy food!

At the wedding

The newly weds..Doug and Gloria

Rog and Will at the Bongo battle

Momma Yip sorting through the stuff...

Me getting through the stuff..

Unearthed treasures...

Sorted and labelled organization!!!

The pooch

Darrell pretending he doesn't like fries at Feenie's

OK, I'm back...and waiting for yet another CT...

Well, the Yip house is cleaner and more clutter free...and for those wondering why we did it...well, it's a pay it forward thing, I guess. As I say, if D has to live through renovating the cat house, the least I can do is do something nice for his folks...even if I still complain as I do it! :P

But it did make me think of a lot of psychology about ppl and possessions and what makes ppl do (or buy!) the things they do and just what makes ppl the way they are...no, it's not just the dust getting to me. But, it's funny, cuz I see my own parents doing the same thing...and if they can make multiple TV shows about decluttering and publish books on the topic well...clearly it can't be a rare affliction. Anyway...thought for the day for you guys!

Otherwise, as usual being in Van made D and I miss having all you guys closer and having the nice clean air and ppl that actually care about detoxing and excercising and sponsoring children in third world countries! Too often I find myself wrapped up in the rat race and all I can see is the hospital and the 4 walls around me...we gotta take D's friend, Gowhara's, advice and go travel and see the world or something! But then again, I would miss home. :)

Alright, well...I can't wait to see you guys that are visiting us out East...Cathy/Ian and Madeline, Ghislaine...as for the rest of you guys...best wait til the cat house is done, so you have somewhere free to stay, haha! That's all I can think of to say....back to studying, renovating and hopefully some exercising (we really want to be good about running, the gym, climbing and maybe ultimate or dragon boat....but I think I am getting ahead of myself here...:) guess I still have dance too!)

Talk to you guys sometime soon hopefully!

So, we are back in the Hammer after our 12 day Vancouver "vacation"...and I am back on call...but have a bit of downtime waiting for CTs to come through, so I figured that I would do a much delayed update...

The trip was fun as usual...though it rained and rained...but it was great to see all you West coasters and as usual we were reminded of what fabulous friends we have. Thank you for taking the time and burning that hole in your wallets to eat your to your/our hearts content with us!!! Detoxes for later!

We had a smashing success with the Hainanese Chicken nite, great din din at Cyn and Rog's (yummy BUFFALO pasta and beef...no...lamb!) Darrell was still full the next day, great Banana Leaf get together on the last day..and good eats in between...thank you Marg and Lynn for ferrying us back and forth to the airport and thanks to my sib Sar for tolerating our stay at her Kits digs. The runs on the beach were great, the BBT was tasty...but the thing most talked about was the great Cleaning of the Yip house....well, the before and after pics to come....a small word of advice...think twice before you buy...and for those anti-knick knack and clutter-free obsessed as myself....please no knick knacks as gifts!!!! It pains to get rid of them cuz of the sentimental value, but it pains just as much to have to try and find a place for it!!! Perhaps charity or a service or something...I will definitely think twice when I get you guys something next time...or else I will flat out ask you want you need/want...I know...not romantic or spontaneous, but at least it's practical!

OK, gotta read the CT now...more on this later

So...couple of interesting things...

We're fixin up the Cat House..a house my parents have owned for 28 yrs or so, but have rented out since..long story short...we rented it out to some big cat lady that at one pt in time had 40-70...I dunno cats in it. Needless to say, it's a....poo hole....and....it needs to get fixed. If interested I will indulge you with the long version of the story.

Went to the gym a couple days ago...you all know me...I don't get hit on....EVER. So...here I am stretching (which is a pretty funny sight, cuz I have the flexibility of a dry stick) and groovin to my Pussy Cat Dolls on my MD player...oblivious to any persons that may come within a 2 ft radius (I don't wear corrective lenses to work out so I can ignore ppl...and use that as my excuse). So this guy to my right starts gesturing..and I figure...how annoying, he wants me to move over...so I kinda step slightly aside..and then he points at his ears...and gestures for my to remove my earphones...so I do....getting progressively more annoyed. And he goes...I kid you not "I don't know if this comes as out of the blue to you but...I find you to be really beautiful"...dumbfounded (and face it guys...he was funny looking) I was like...uhhh.... "thanks"....and it gets better...he goes "Do you believe in ESP?"...and I am thinking...this is what I get for not wearing my wedding ring to the gym (I don't want scratches on it when I do weights, ok?!)....and I can't figure out how to get rid of him, so I go..."why?" and he embarks on this story about him being on vacation and waking up before his alarm was supposed to go off..and that must be ESP....and at this pt...I was like...please go away...so I reply...eloquent I know.."I think that's just a coincidence, but nice to meet you. bye." and take off to the opposite corner of the gym into an aerobics studio...I continue to work out...thinking...haha..that was funny...but then...the guy walks into the studio...and all of a sudden it's not so funny anymore...but another person is working out there so I figured..it's ok...but when that other person left...I got freaked and went to the lady's only part of the gym...finished off my workout and decided to call D (who was out for dinner) just in case (I watch too much Law and Order SVU).......go figure...he doesn't pick up the phone...so I figure...I'm just being too paranoid...and walk out of the change rm...and guess who's standing by the door....so I bolt back into the change rm...and thankfully get thru to D and then practically run out the gym. Freaky huh?!

Alright...that's enough story for now....here's a boarding pic...it's D's cool coworkers at Devil's Glen, a privately owned hill/country club ski hill..fancy schmancy, I know.