Getting Back Into It (with a little nudge)

All right now, focus, concentrate, get back into it.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Man, I could fill BC Place with the excuses I come up with, to not do things. Well, given that an excuse is a tangible item the size of a bread box.

I had a problem with my cell phone. My old phone was on the way out, and I needed a new one so I treated myself to a Samsung Galaxy Note. It's awesome. I love the phone, but about 3 or 4 weeks into owning it, I dropped it and shattered the screen. Yeah, the $300 screen. Long story short I lost all my pictures I had taken on it when they replaced the screen. This would include my last few weekends in Whistler (including about the only picture I have of Adam smiling) and all my pictures from my Alberta trip. As my mom would say, GDSOB.

Well, there is no use crying about ANYTHING that happens in the past. Move on, learn from my mistakes and try to remember to back up my photo's onto another device. Actually the sad thing about this whole thing is my phone comes with 16GIG of memory, but I decided to up this with an SD card adding 32 more GIG of memory. It's a lot of memory for a phone. 50 Gig? All I had to do is set the phone to store my pics onto the SD card (which I've done now) and all would have been saved, but instead they were directed to my internal phone memory which was wiped clean when they replaced the screen.

Anyways,, move on EH?

Friday was a great night. 4 of us from work (me, Polina, Mitra & Kitson) went to Famoso on Commercial Dr to try out the new menu items. It was a great table. The owner Ryan was there for a bit, as was Trevor and Correna (Trevor sort of works for us), Mitra's boyfriend Dawid was there with his friend Eric, and an other couple John and Margarita.

You would never think it but Polina was almost as tired as I was. And I can be VERY tired on a Friday night.

Here is Mitra, Dawid and Eric (who had the most beautiful smile ever, I wanted to pull his teeth out with pliers and have my dentist put them in my mouth. They can do that can't they?)

  
Me and Kitson. Me with a 5 day growth. Love that about my new job. Kitson's nic-name is Kitty or Kitty Cat, but I don't feel comfortable with him yet to call him Kitty Cat.

We had a great evening, and tried all the new pizza's on the menu. It's great working for a company you can really get behind. Every Famoso I've been too is great food, super atmosphere, friendly staff, a fun place to hang out, and it's really well priced.

The weekend is here, and I'm just relaxing at home having coffee. I'm going to head into work for a bit, as I am getting oh so close to being caught up.

here is a view from my apartment today. It's chilly out, we have 30cm of snow at Grouse Mtn. Looking forward to ski season this year.

Baby Steps

Yes it's been a while since I've blogged about anything. Are you wondering, is Eric's life that dull and boring that he has nothing to blog about. On the contrary. I've been busy, not only at work but at home, with trips, and biking and more excitement than most people wish for in a year. But, I will confess that taking the pen in hand (or computer under my fingers) is much like dieting. It requires a bit of will power.

The fact that I have so much to talk about, has sometimes been the reason for not writing anything at all on this page. So I have decided to take some age old advice, and start blogging again, in baby steps. Not about biking, or the trip to Alberta, or my new job, or the 50 million I won in Lotto Max, but instead about Butter Tarts.

 My new job is not only new for me, but it's the first time that Famoso Inc. (which has been around for a few years) has it's own office. So we are trying to find our own identity as a group. Part of that is something else that is "age old", the Friday Beers. Yes we have Friday beers in the office, but we have added something cool, and that's each staff has to cook/make lunch for the entire office. There are 7 of us there now, so your turn only comes up once every couple of months. There has been BBQ Hamburgers, Pulled Pork Sandwhices, Curry Chicken on rice, and tomorrow is my day.

As part of my feast, I have fallen back on Canadian Living for their Maple Butter Tart recipe. OMG, they are so good. I, of course, love anything made from white bleached flour, sugar, and additional sugar (maple syrup, brown sugar, raisins, etc), but these are just amazing. I make the pastry dough from scratch. Again it's a Canadian Living recipe called Sour Cream Pastry, or something like that. If anyone wants the recipes, let me know and I'll post them.

The pastry is super easy to make, just follow the recipe exactly (right down to the ice cold water). I eat about as much raisins and walnuts that go into the tarts.

A few things in this picture are worthy of note. If you are ever going to have any success in the kitchen, be sure to have a great hand mixer (don't worry, they're cheap, even a good one), paper recipes (so you can jot down notes on it as you tweak your recipe), a great set of glass maxing bowls and of course, PAM.

Oh look at that bad boy go. And those raisins in the back are just itching to be cracked open.

oh, is that a bite out of one? I couldn't possibly serve that to a group of people.

Growing up on the Manitoulin, there was always the trip "off the Island" and that always lead you through Espanola and onto the Trans-Canada Highway. At the junction of Hwy 6 south and Hwy 17 (E & W) was a gas station/restaurant called Pacey's. It was nothing fancy at all, self serve gas, dirty bathrooms, cafeteria style food, but they had the best homemade butter tarts. Growing up, I think my dad had a bit of a sweet tooth for these butter tarts, and as I grew up, I followed in his foot steps, enjoying every oey gooey bite. My 2,000 km car trips from Minaki back to S Ontario each year, I would spend the entire trip visualising my old car pulling into Pacey's, gassing up for the final haul to to Manitowaning, and getting two butter tarts, savouring each bite after 7 long months.

Until of course the Tim Horton's/Wendy's was built right next door. I will always remember my first trip back after they were built, I saw them there on the left, all lit up, parking lots full, driving thru lined up till the traffic has gone all crazy. But it didn't even dawn on me that Pacey's would be closed. I pulled in, gassed up, went inside to pay, and looked to the empty dark place that was once a vibrant, exciting food stop on the Trans Canada Highway.

I turned to the gas station cashier and said, "What happened to the restaurant?"

To which he replied, "It lasted about 3 months after the Tim Horton's opened up and then it closed".

"But I just drove all the way from Kenora, and wanted a butter tart"

"You should of called first"

when in doubt, post a link to something

I thought this was pretty cool

http://vimeo.com/12026956

 

Top of the World

That's where I was this weekend, and that's how I felt too.  With Friday & Monday off, there was no other place for me to be than in Whistler. The biking season is fast coming to an end out here, even with the rest of Canada baking in some Indian Summer weather (is that inappropriate to say now?), Whistler on the other hand is a little to high in elevation to enjoy HOT summer weather in September. Yeah, the village might be nice and warm, in the 20's with the sun shinning, but as you creep up the mountain, it get colder and colder and colder. It even snowed up there the other day.

Adam was in Vancouver taking a break last week and visiting me at my place, so I had some company as we packed up Friday morning, and headed out. Man it always takes a longer than you think to pack the car and get moving. But we ended up in Whistler early enough to unload the car, change, and cycle over to the hill for a few evening runs for a few hours. Then it was home to bust out the Costco burgers and Adam's new propane tank for the BBQ. NICE.

Saturday ended up being a bit of a adventure. We got to the base of the hill, were we ran into Duster Dave, a biking buddy of Adam's, who is in Whistler for the summer, originally from California. He was waiting for Brent, another California transplant, and we were invited to join them as they were going to tackle Top Of The World. It's a new run that starts at the very peak of Whistler Mountain. According to Wiki (and they are NEVER wrong), your up at 7,156 feet. There is nothing up there but rock, absolutely nothing grows that high up. And suprisingly, there is even alot of snow up there.

The Trails we did are new this year, and they are limiting the amount of people that use them to just a hundred a day. That may seem like alot, but that's 100 riders, and you get one shot at it, compared to the thousands that are on the trails in the lower mountain bike areas, doing run after run after run. You also have to pay an additional $15 (on top of my season pass) to get to the very top. Once up there, you can see for ever in all directions. It's absolutely stunning.

From the time we purcahsed our tickets in the Village, riding the lifts to the top, biking down, and back to the Village was 3 hours in total. It was an amazing run, with some great guys.

I tried to take some pictures of the day in a life of Eric in Whistler, so this was what Saturday's Top Of The World Run was like.

The day always starts with a good check of your bike. The day before ride has shaken the shit out of everything, so you want to make sure your good to go, chain, cables, brakes, tires, air, fluids and for got sakes, tighten everything back up. It can sometime take an hour or more, depending on what is broken from the day before.

The line ups are not that bad, it's just something you have to deal with. When they are short, enjoy it, when they are long, well, Adam always has some texting to do

From Whistler Village, even as you strain you eyes to see the top, where we are going is still further up than the eye can see (yikes).

In order to get to the absolute top of Whislter Mountain, we need to take the gondola up with your bikes (instead of the chair lift). It's a tight squeeze, and about a 20 minute ride.

Once at the "Roundhouse Lodge" (6,000+ feet up)we get off the gondola, and onto The Peak chair lift for another 1,000 feet up.

 

like I said, nothing grows this far up.

 

and there seems to be way too much snow for a biking adventure, but look at the view that is starting to sneek up on me.

It's one of the things I love most about mountain biking. This sport will take you to some of the most beautiful spots on earth, no matter where you decide to get on your bike, you will always be amazed.

,,,

Sometimes the mountain wins, and there is nothing you can do but get off your bike, and climb down.

'

I didn't know there were "Gay Trails", I better go check this out.

The trails we did Saturday were Top of the World, Kyber, Tunnel Vision & Babylon by Bike (which wasn't as gay as we were lead to believe). Brent called his wife about 10 minutes from the bottom, and she was totally sweet in loading her 3 month old baby in the minivan and coming to pick us up. The trails left us about 5 kms out of town, and the ride back would have been painful on the bike, after riding for 2+ hours.

Adam and I parted ways with Brent and Dave, and actually headed back up the mountain for a few more runs. But not before a beer break and some carbs.

Even half way up, the views are incredible. You can see Whistler Village in the back ground.

We tried our best at taking some video, not bad from my crappy old cell phone.

Adam on Frieght Train

 Eric doing the step-up on Frieght Train

Me trying to follow Adam on my bike. Not easy with one hand holding the cell phone and your trying to look Adam beside me and the road ahead.

Adam doing Drop In Clinic

Adam doing the Rock Wall, followed by Duster Dave

Me doing the last two jumps on Dirt Merchant

The only way to finish a day like Saturday was with a giant steak dinner, BBQ'd to perfection, with asparagus, and new potatoes,,, before

 

and after

 

The rest of the weekend was just as amazing. Great runs down the mountain, beers, food, almost wiping out, laughing about your sketchy landing, or bragging about finally landing that jump "just right".

 

I  have more video from the GoPro, but the file sizes are HUUUUGE and I'm having trouble uploading. To be continued,,,

 

10 Things You Never Knew About Eric

10) My favourite food? = BBQ hamburgers. Yes sir-ree Bob. Hand made burgers, grilled over charcoal brikets, with relish, fresh tomato, lettuce, onion. It does not get any better. NO IT DOESN'T, SHUT UP.

9) Do I believe there is life in the universe? = 100% yes. I think it's everywhere in the universe. And I think they will prove it very soon. Either remnants of past life on Mars, or there is life in the oceans of Europa (a moon of Jupiter).

8) Dream vacation? = Prague, Czech Republic (oh, please someone take me there)

7) Beer? Wine? or Liquor? = oh, that's a tuff one, I don't drink much wine anymore, and even though I've developed a taste for good whiskey, I still have to go with beer. After biking all day long, nothing is better than a cold beer (oh, and maybe a BBQ hamburger)

6) If my house was burning down, what would I grab on the way out? = Gerry's paintings. I have two, and never tire of looking at them.

5) Favourite TV show? = Futurama. WHAT? You've never seen every episode 50 times? Sad, so sad. But if you're ever in town visiting, I have seasons 3, 4, 5 & 6. To give you a small taste of what the show is not like, click on this link for an episode that will leave you confused and angry.

http://vimeo.com/31829195

4) Eric has all his wisdom teeth.

3) Favourite concert? = KISS, the final farewell tour with the original line up. On the floor, 20th row, centre.

2) Pet Peeve? = people that comment "OMG, you got your hair cut", when I get it cut every 3 weeks like clock work. It actually only grows about a half an inch, I get it cut, and everyone freaks out.

1) Favourite Whistler Bike Trail? = that's easy! Blue Velvet to Frieght Train to Dirt Merchant to Lower A-Line. Uh? What's that? You've never been biking in whistler? Pft, why do I even try?

biking, whistler, adam, etc

I spent the weekend in Whistler, and I'll have to tell you, it was one of the hottest bunch of days I've ever had to bike in. Mid 30's was the name of the game for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and finally cooling down to some high 20s for Monday. Man, it was hot, sunny, dry and dusty. You add some thick, polyester knee length cycling shorts, gloves, protective knee pads, and of course a full face helmet. Oh, did I mention it's a 5K bike ride from Adam's place to Whistler Village, so I'm dripping in sweat before I even hit the mountain.

It was a great weekend of riding, even with the heat. At least it gets cooler as you go up the chair lift, and by Monday, it was actually a little brisk at the top. According to Wikipedia, the peak of Mt Whistler is 7,160 feet, so you're getting up there. Actually, if you take the gondola right to the top (which I have a few times, but there's not much biking up there), I bet there are a few snow banks up there you could make some snowballs with.

I ended up sleeping WAY in on Saturday (14 and a half hours of sleep) so I didn't get up to Whistler till about 6pm, which left very little time to go biking, as the park closes at 8pm, but it doesn't take much arm twisting to get Adam biking, so we hit the hill a little late, but got to do two "Sweep Runs". The sweep runs are when you are working with WhislterBlakcomb staff, and you get to select a group of trails/runs to do a final "sweep" checking to make sure there is no one left on the mountain. It's fun, because for the most part, you are the last ones going down the runs you have selected (no pressure from behind) and there is no one in front of you blocking your way or going "too slow". Adam and I did a pretty technical group of trails for our first  sweep, and then had some fun with some easier trails on our second sweep. It was a quite, relaxing night once we got back, BBQing some burgers, having some cold beer and watching some TV.

Sunday was a pretty full day of biking, though with the heat baking us again, it was hard to get moving early on. I love biking with Adam. He's quite a bit better than me, really skilled, but extremely patient. I think he would make an excellent coach or teacher. The only time I hear him chirping at me, is when I take off first, then find myself in his way, as he has caught up. We explored some new trails that were built this year, did some old favourites, and just had a great time biking. I had a close call on one feature; it's on "Freight Train", and it's jumping on this bunch of Sea Cans that happen to be half way up a the mountain. Jumping up onto it was no problem, but coming off the other side, there is a fairly serious drop, and I kind of landed on my front tire, and it got a bit sketchy, but I got it under control. The thing about it is, after you land off the back, it's only another 20 feet or so, before there is another huge drop off a rock, so you have to get your shite together after the Sea Can. Here is video of me last year doing the feature.

Monday of the long weekend, it was again just too hot to be Up & Atom too early, plus I had some bike repairs I had to tend too. Bike repairs are pretty much on going in the world of downhill biking. There is a saying that "Whistler Eats Bikes", which is SO true. Another cute saying on a T-shirt for one of the local bike shoppes is "Mountain Biking, as additive as crack, but twice as expensive". With our bikes up and running, we biked the 5K back to the village, where I realised I forgot my bike park pass, so it was a 5K ride back to Adam's place, grab my pass, 5K back to the village, to meet up with Adam and a guy he had met the day before (I forget his name, lets call him Dean). Dean is in his late 40s, from Kamloops, and was riding with some good Karma as he found and returned a wallet with $520 cash in it. Adam met him a few days earlier when the wallet owner was buying Dean beers (Adam was beside them at the bar). Well, we three got a good long run in (it can be 30 to 45 minutes from the top to bottom), and it started to rain, and thunder and lighting, so they closed the lift. We went to a local bar for a beer, and met up with another rider, Kaylen, from one of the Hawaiian islands. He's in Whistler for two months, to just ride. He's young (early 20s?) and just loving it here. We all went for pizza slices, and it continued to pour rain for our bike ride back home. FYI, I did about 20K going back and forth between Adam's and the Village, which may not seem like much, but I'm doing it on a downhill mountain bike that weighs about 50 pounds. by comparison, a good road bike weighs less than 20 pounds.

Great weekend. I've been biking for so long now, and I never get tired of it. I could bike every day, all day long, and still be smiling at the end of the day. Having a biking buddy like Adam along for the ride, just makes it better. He is definitely the icing on the cake.

I surprised myself tonight (Tuesday) with an 8K run after work.

Sorry for the gap

I hate people that say "sorry, but I've been busy" so I won't use that line. I'll just try and let you know what's been going on.

I've been up to Whistler a few times to go biking now that Adam is back in town. SO great to have someone to hit the hill with up there. Biking can be a bit of a bore by yourself, and I'm really not that good at meeting new people. Biking with Adam is great for me, because he pushes me to do better. It's never stale or stagnant around him. He knows exactly what I should be capable of and always tries to get me to take it up a notch. There are some new trails up in Whistler this year, so they are fun to explore, along with all the old trusty stand-by trails. It's a late start to the year; Adam was here in May last year, and it's August already and he just showed up. I think I got in about 30+ days on the hill last year, and I'll probably be around half that this year, but still fun times.

I think my running has paid off up in Whistler. For the most part, I'm standing up when biking from the top of the hill down, so I'm relying on my legs a lot. I haven't had many epic days up there this year, but I've not had any where my legs are just aching. There are times when you are going down certain trails and you can't stop, no matter how much your muscles are burning. You stop, and your done.

Usually I'd be taking a bit more time off during the summer to do more biking, but Adam doesn't have his own place this year, and work has kept me a bit occupied. I'm enjoying it though, and the days seem to just fly by. You can tell your enjoying your work, when your not staring at the clock all day long, just willing it to get to 5pm. As much as I would love to be up biking more this year, it just might not be in the cards.

Work is going exceptionally well. I'm really getting a handle on everything. It's a huge accomplishment what I've done so far, (at least I think so), considering I had to jump in, and just go with it. I've taken 7 companies, and had to figure out what's been done, whats needed, continue with all the incoming working, contact all the restaurants and work with them. Plus, as I'm taking over for someone that is not there, there was no training, and also, a lot of mistakes I'm finding done by the previous accountant, so I'm fixing all that too. It's a real mental challenge, probably the biggest in my life, and it's going fairly smoothly.

But enough of blaming the person before me, and the uber-boring chat of accounting. The work environment is fantastic. I'm really enjoying the team I work with, and they all seem really excited I'm on board. One of the guys brought his dog into work one day. I loved that, nothing makes a work environment more wonderful than a pet. Dog, cat, fish, I don't care which, every workplace should have a pet. I had those Chinese fighting fish in Victoria for about 2 or 3 years. I used to look over at them to find them staring at me (or something close to me).

It's been difficult to keep up with my running, but I'm still getting out there. My Nike GPS Watch will start to flash messages at me like "are we going running tonight?". I'm feeling good out there, but this last stretch I missed 5 days, yikes. Need to figure that out, and fix it.

I know I haven't talked much about dating on my blog, but there isn't anything going on in that area of my life, but there is not much I can do about it, so I just put on a brave face, and try to move forward. I will be honest, and wish I had someone waiting at home for me now, with this new job, wanting to know how my day went, how are the people I'm working with. I know I have friends and family that are asking me, a text, email, phone call, but it really doesn't compare to sitting on the couch and getting to talk about what's going on in your life right now.

Oh well, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Who said that? anyone?