|
Feb 08, 2002, 10:10pm
Today marks the 10th anniversary of my arrival (and setting up shop, as it were) in Vancouver BC. For some reason, this is more important to me than my birthday, go figure.
10 years ago this day, I got off a Greyhound bus at around 7:40 am in downtown Vancouver. I'd never been to this city before. It was all new to me. I managed to hike to the Seabus (consulting a travel map), took it across the bay (quite an experience), and found the hostel I had made bookings at.
Hooked up quickly with a couple of Aussies who were going to a beach - Wreck Beach, a nudist beach in town. I was all for that (yes, on February 8). In fact, that day the temp was around 15 celsius - a veritable scorcher for February. We hung out on the beach in the morning, playing frisbee and hacky sack. No nude boxom women. That afternoon, we were taking a bus back (Wreck Beach is on the west side of the University of British Columbia Endowment Lands), and we passed UGC - University Golf Course. The aussies asked if I liked to golf. What the hell. we got off, and that afternoon I played 9 holes for $14. In February. Freaky.
So far that day, I was in a new city, and in Canada in February, I managed to suntan and play on a beach in the morning in shorts, and golf a round in the afternoon. In Canada. Where I came from, this was a fantasy pipe dream. In February in Canada, you're lucky if you don't have a 10 foot high snowdrift beside you while waiting for the bus.
But the day wasn't over yet. We went back to the hostel on the North Shore of Vancouver (technically North Vancouver), and after a hearty communal dinner, I went night skiing up at Grouse Mountain. Way to freaking cool.
In one day I hung out on a beach in shorts. Golfed 9 holes. And skiied in supreme deep powder snow. Without really doing a lot of travelling either.
I knew then that this could very well be the place for me. 10 years later, to the day, I think I made the right decision.
| Previous Ten Daily Rants |
| Title |
Date |
Comments |
| The continued fallout on auto gratuities |
5:35pm, 08/09 |
3 |
| Final thougths on price gouging, auto gratuities coming soon |
12:50am, 03/04 |
1 |
| The Real Reasons for Olympics Auto Gratuities |
7:20pm, 02/19 |
11 |
| Vancouver Olympics - Nice Prices, Profiteer (gouger) Restaurant Listings |
12:15am, 02/18 |
9 |
| More on Auto Gratuities |
6:45pm, 02/16 |
3 |
| Price Gouging in Vancouver During Olympics (and Price Heroes!) |
12:20am, 02/16 |
25 |
| Ideal Mac (or any pc) netbook.... |
8:05pm, 12/22 |
2 |
| NetMacBook Hackintosh Update |
12:20am, 12/20 |
1 |
| NetMac... er Hackintosh... er NetMacBook. Yeah |
5:20pm, 12/17 |
1 |
| Balance Board Wii Game I'd like to see - Boxing! |
4:00pm, 07/26 |
0 |
|
Mixelania Photos from Algonquin Park
Photos from my trip to Algonquin Park this fall with my Mom and two brothers. War Stories Making Snow for the Fortress
One of the worst jobs I ever had... till I got out. Webiffied Tools I Use
The tools I use to build websites and lead a tech life.
iPod and iTunes Offline iMark's iTunes and iPod isn't iPlaying anything right iNow. Most Recent Songs Fiddlers Green by The Tragically Hip Around The Bend by Pearl Jam Here With Me (Rollo's Chillin' With the Family Mix) by Dido With arms open wide by Creed truffle pigs by Matthew Good Band
In the News
Burundi and Beyond - NY Times
Great article by Peter Meehan - provided some background.
St. Petersburg Times
Side mention in an article about good machines
AP Story on Espresso
Background and information provided
NY Times - Grinders Article
Especially proud of this one - got the reporter to focus on grinders
Globe and Mail
LOL - showing bad reporting, dude says I'm an American-based site!
The Olympian, WA
Talks about my love for the El Sal Siberia Pacamara
Seattle Times - Clover
Interviewed for comments on the Clover brewer
NY Times - How it Works
Background and information for various espresso machines
Time Mag Article
Just a brief mention, article about roasting beans.
NY Times
Front page article about consumers getting into specialty coffee.
Washington Monthly
Quoted reference to what I wrote in an article at CoffeeGeek.
USA Today - Barista Jam
Intereviewed for my thoughts on what the epitome of espresso is.
WSJ Article
The Wall Street Journal has interviewed me 3 times. This is the first time my name got in a story.
Reuters Interview
Interview with Reuters, Jan 2 - this is the USA Today version.
My Other Stuff
CoffeeGeek
Launched Dec 22, 2001, this is THE online community for espresso and coffee fanatics.
CoffeeKid Website
It's all new, as of March, 2002. My personal coffee obsession site.
WebMotif Services
My company's site - needs an update!
Amazon WishList
Hey, if you feel the need to buy me something, check here!
Daily Visits
enGadget
Great gadget site run by the guy who used to do Gizmodo.
Google News
This is how I get my daily news fix.
DPReview Forums`
The most active forums for digital photography online today.
Daily Zen
Need my Daily Zen fix!
Jalopnik
A blog about car stuff. Vroom Vroom.
MoCo Loco
An industrial design blog. Very cool stuff.
Friends and Family Plan
Beata Blog
Beata's got her own blog! She updates it most days.
Riddla on Flickr
Matt Riddle's flickr account, updated regularly
Irdy Photos
Irdy, my friend from Jakharta, on Flickr
Recent Acquisitions
Canon EF 24-105 f4 L Lens
The best lens I've ever owned. Super sharp and quick.
Canon 5D
A full frame dSLR, with luscious colour reproduction.
Alzo Digital Lights
Some amazing florescent cold lights for product photography
Canon Xsi dSLR
Amazing technology and image quality in a tiny package.
Canon 40D
Latest prosumer camera from Canon - a much better upgrade than the 30D
Fujitsu P1610
Great 2.2lb computer that does most of my travel / writing needs
28mm f1.8 Lens
A great lens for closeup work and full picture photography
Foodsaver Advanced
Finally got the right tools for freezing green coffee.
Canon 50mm 1.4
Most amazing lens I've ever owned. Produces stellar photos.
Canon 10-22mm
Super wide angle (full frame fisheye) zoom for my Canon 20D
|
