watch: tv shows

Hunter's never been a big tv show watcher but i looove them. Maybe a little too much. It started out in middle school and highschool when my girlfriends and i would get together, snuggle under some blankets, snack on crackers 'n cheese or dulce de leche ice cream and watch shows like Gilmore Girls and Friends. Since then i've watched many shows but only really loved a few.
When Hunter and i moved to our little place, Hunter brought his old tv from home. Our living room is too small and so we've tucked it in a corner of our bedroom. I felt like that location is perfect for tv show viewing and began my hunt for our first tv show as a couple! We've watched shows together before (Game of Thrones, the Wire, Freaks and Geeks, etc) but i wanted something new that we could start together. And preferably something on Netflix.

We settled on House of Cards.

My first impression was not good. I hate when characters break the fourth wall and talk directly at you. It's so annoying, i feel like it's what little kid shows do to get the children to participate in the action, and it seems like a cheap way to get the audience invested in the show or to give them knowledge that would be awkward to put into character dialogue. Anyways, the main character is the only one who does it, and he never stops doing it but it sort of gets more tolerable. It's a dramatic, political show. The main character is evil, but the show is set up (Breaking Bad style) so that you want to empathize with him. My favourite character is his right-hand man. If your looking for a grown up drama that gets it's edge from something other than sex I'd recommend this series (i think that sentence will make sense if you watch it. Obviously there is still some sex involved in the show but it isn't a main theme at all and that was refreshing to me). Hunter and i enjoyed curling up together after our separate long days and trying to figure out what crazy power-play Francis was going to pull off next. Currently there are two seasons on Netlfix with the third season is out late next year.

We gobbled up House of Card, so to speak, and had to find a new show to accompany our evening wind-down routine.  A few years ago I was introduced to Twin Peaks, the fantastic genre-bending tv show by Lynch and Frost. I watched both seasons with my girlfriends, and later with my sister. I've talked about it a lot but didn't think to ask if Hunter would like to watch it. He brought it up, and i was eager to watch it again. I recommend it to everyone. It's weird, but give it an earnest try and you may end up joining the cult following.

What tv shows do you enjoy watching, if you watch any?

February through my phone

I promise I'll have a more substantial post up soon. Hunter decided he wanted to get more involved in the blog (yay) and so he'll edit the photos he and i have taken before i post them here. However, his schedule is crazy right now because of his job and that means no photo editing has happened yet. Soon though, i'll tell you all about what i've been making/doing with the many gifts i've received, I'll tell you all about our weekend in America where i celebrated my 21st (a little too much celebrating), what i'm doing academically this month, Hunter's new job, and other tidbits about our lives.

 

 

Pictured
1.  Lunch at Whole Foods before heading back to Squamish while we were moving all our stuff at the beginning of February- crazy more than a month has gone by of us living in our little Vancouver place!
2. The remnants of flour-less brownies. Make 'em with black beans and no one will know!
3. Planning dinners for the week.
4 & 5. Hunter and i at Bestie for my birthday dinner.
6. The Tuna Tataki lunch set at Basho cafe. The most adorable little family run cafe and it is so close to our house! We've already been there a few times and they just opened mid-February.


Not pictured
1. The bounty of gifts I received for my 21st.
2. Hunter getting a job!
3. Our trip to Bellingham.
4. Getting an internship!
5. Giving our landlords a cheque for our second month. Our lease here is month-to-month so every month they still want us to live here and we still want to live here is exciting.
6. Snow in Vancouver! The first day of our three day snow "storm." I miss real winter snow that is dry and sticks to the ground for months and makes the cold temperatures warranted. Also, snow makes winter brighter which makes me happier. Without snow winter is grey and flat.

In retrospect: B.C., Oregon & California

During the summer of 2013, Hunter and I lived on Quest's campus and worked for different university departments. We loved our roommates, the Squamish sun (when it appeared), and our leisure time but we still itched to get away and explore someplace new. Preferably some place that had a beach + the ocean. We booked our vacation days and went on a road trip to Nelson, B.C. then down the Oregon and California coasts.

Along the coasts we camped in our little tent in beautiful state parks and, if we were really desperate, we would sleep in the back of the subaru. One night we couldn't get a spot at a park and decided to splurge on a beach-side hotel room in Manzanita, Oregon. Definitely worth it, it was adorable and the town had a great beach and a charming vibe. Our trip flew by, but we will definitely be camping on the West Coast again.
 
The trip tested us as functional road-tripping partners. I was still hobbling around on my fractured foot and Hunter's back gave him serious grief if we drove for too long. We didn't make solid plans before we left which sometimes led to spontaneous discoveries (like the best coffee, pie, breakfast, pottery, and fries along the coast) but it also made us anxious and irritable when we suddenly had to change plans. It made me appreciate the patience Hunter has, and it made me try and be more accepting and present. What frustrated me wasn't worth the energy and time, something i am slowly learning.

 A fancy dinner with my family in Nelson

Nelson B.C., my hometown

Packing up the car

A delicious dinner of leftovers at our campsite in the Red Woods

 Awe inspiring trees, Avenue of the Giants, CA

A Cafe in Mendocino County, CA

 

The Green Salmon Cafe, OR

It was so cold and I didn't pack warm socks (I don't know what I was thinking!) 

so we had to stop at a Target and buy something to keep my poor legs warm.

 My handsome love, on the beach in Manzanita, OR

 Trying to look presentable while battling gale force winds

 I thought I packed smart for this trip: one small duffel, a few dresses and sweaters, sandals and vans. But I was wrong, I wore about three outfits the whole trip, and what I really needed was a pair of pants (dresses get cold and awkward when it's windy, which it always is), some good layering tops for the temperature change between day and evening/night, and lots of wool socks. Hunter packed pants, t-shirts, a hoodie, and most importantly socks! Next time I'll follow his example.

Have you ever traveled along the Northwest coast? What were your favourite spots to stay/eat/explore? Do you have packing tricks you've learned the hard way?

Dreaming of Tulum

My sister has always been my better half. She is my best friend in the whole world and throughout my whole life- so far and i have no doubts about the future. We are ridiculous together, lazy and whiny or motivated and fabulous, i feel infinitely loved and understood when i am with her. Which is why she is my favourite person to travel with. Although we've never done any solo traveling as adults i imagine we'd be a formidable team. Scotland in '04 (was it that long ago??) was our first experience globe-trotting as a duo and that trip will be hard to top.

So, when Kate asked me if I'd go on her impulse trip to Mexico in the spring of 2014 i couldn't really say no. We haggled over destinations and to-do's of our trip but we've decided we are going and we will drink and eat and see and explore and be lazy and return to Canada with glowing tans!

I would love to go to the little beach town of Tulum. We've been using Airbnb to scope out accommodations (how about staying in a tent, or a tree house??).

Has anyone been to Tulum, or Mexico before and have recommendations?
We have small budgets, and we don't want to feel too much like "privileged-tourists" while we are there. Things to do and places to stay that have strong environmental tract records are ideal.

(All images via google)

Right now it's snowing in Vancouver (consistent snow for the past three days!), but I'm dreaming of warmth and beaches and time with my sister.