17 years older, but not a day more mature?

The rioting in my hometown last night was a scary reminder of the human condition. I don't understand why an advanced society in this modern age can't seem to rise above humanity's more baser instincts.

It makes me question things about humanity like, is peace not a natural instinct? Maybe it's something learned with age? If you look at pictures that have been posted on the internet all the rioters appear to be under 30 males. While I am under 30 (barely) I am definitely not a male so I guess I just don't have the capacity to understand what would be alluring about causing a riot and destroying our beautiful city. My husband and brothers however are under 30 males who after last nights game showed absolutely no inclination towards anger or violence, so what's the difference? Is it upbringing, morals, class?

As a young parent these questions terrify me. It's been 17 years since the last Stanley Cup Final with the Canucks and apparently we haven't been able to move forward from it. In fact, this riot was apparently worse than the last one! So the real question on my mind is what do I and the other people of my generation need to do as a parents to ensure that we raise our children to be better than that? What do we need to do to ensure that the next Stanley Cup Final this city sees, or any big event for that matter, has a peaceful and respectful outcome - no matter what?

Good music, proud sister ...

My brothers' just started a new duo called charlie bird and released their first song on myspace last night.

In my humble sister opinion it's so incredibly good and every time I listen to it feel like I'm twenty again driving in the summer with my windows rolled down and my music turned way up. It's a good feeling and I love it that their music can make me feel that every time I listen to it without fail.

See for yourself:
Halflife by Charlie Bird

Dear Canucks, validate us please

As a beginning disclaimer - I'm not qualified to talk with any sort of authority about hockey. I am not so much a hockey fan but more like a Canucks fan and even that is more like a "Canucks fan by marriage." I'm sure though that many wives like me can attest to the fact that a fan by marriage often turns into a fan by choice.

One of the main reasons I became a fan by choice is the Sedin twins. I think they are equal parts talent and class and in my books that's the perfect recipe for a world class athlete. I think another current athlete that embodies that recipe is George St.-Pierre - talented and classy (and Canadian so that helps too).

Another reason I couldn't help but become a Canuck fan by choice, is the other fans. There is a real sense of ownership amongst the fans here in Vancouver ... whether that's fueled by the Canucks slogan "We are all Canucks" or not, it seems to be true. We all feel that we are Canucks - we keenly feel the losses and euphorically celebrate the wins and we are fiercely proud of our boys, no matter what.

However, what I think this team and its fans really need right now is a sense of validation. After watching the disappointment of game 6 last night my brother said, "I feel like we will still win the cup in game 7 but I worry that everyone will say that we didn't deserve the win because of our failures on Boston ice." Wow, way to really put how I think the entire city is feeling into one sentence. However, as we've all heard time and time again throughout our lives, "Who cares what everyone else thinks?" I'd like to think that Vancouver could rise above worrying what everyone else thinks and just play a good game. Despite the previous advice though, I think there's a part in all of us that still wants the rest of the league to acknowledge the Canucks as hard-fought and rightful winners when we win the cup.

I think the refereeing throughout this series has made the Canucks team and its fans feel disrespected and invalidated. We need to win the cup despite the disrespect, despite the thug play of the Bruins ... and we need to win it decisively for Vancouver and no one else. It's like the 2010 Olympics all over again here ... Vancouver needs its golden goal on Wednesday night!


Go Canucks Go!

Trying to regain my former self ...

In a literal sense I'm trying to regain my former self, as in physically. I'm currently on a mission to fit back into my clothes that I enjoyed pre-baby. I'm even going so far as to try and fit into those clothes that still lurk in my closet from pre-marriage! That's about 20 lbs of excess "self" that I have to shed to regain my former physique and since I'm practically a sloth where physical activity is concerned it should be an interesting journey.

I'm dangling this little swimsuit carrot in front of myself though to keep me going in the right direction. f I'm successful in my shedding I might just treat myself to this swimsuit - Definite motivation in my books!

Sorrento Swimsuit - Shabby Apple

 Happy slimming to me!