Monkey Crunkland

First and foremost, I'm now actually employed. After a solid week of interviews around the area I've landed an opportunity at the Canadian equivalent of Starbucks.. Tim Hortons. It's not the most ideal, but it's a job and a pretty sweet opportunity to get busy during the day and get involved in Canadian society on a daily basis. I've had about 6 interviews (4 of them twice at 2 restaurants - one being a nice funky restaurant chain called The Cactus Club and another set at a classy restaurant called Red Door - which does the BEST Thai in the history of ever). But I haven't heard anything back from them just yet, both places sounded keen though. I'll be at Timmys during the day, so my nights are open for more work until business lands at Telus.

Reposted pic: But see that red thing on the bottom right? That's Timmys.

Thankfully it shouldn't be for too long. The I.T team at Telus dropped by 8 staff in the last 2 weeks, which means as soon as they've done the budget for the month then I should be getting the call up to get into the industry which I'm designed for. Derp.

The city has gone Stanley Cup Playoffs crazy. The local hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks, had their first game last night (versing the LA Kings in a 'Best of 7' series to determine who goes to the next round). The Canucks have home ice for the first 2 games, then they go to LA, then it goes back and forth each day until a winner is determined. It's also the most exciting hockey to happen all season due to the fact that each team is pretty much playing for their life. Every game is just as exciting as the next and it's the time when stories and legends are made..

Every game day, it's not an uncommon sight to find the streets littered with people of all shapes, sizes and origins adorning blue Canucks logos and jerseys. Ryan and I had an opportunity to get tickets to Game 2, but they fell through at last minute (sad face). Last nights game was particularly exciting since the scoring went back and forth, and the goaltender (Roberto Luongo) made some rather impressive saves.

If Lord Stanleys Cup happens to come to this city.. I'm sure it'll be just as epic as when Team Canada won gold. And since I wasn't around for then, then I'm certainly banking on the prior happening.

Last friday, I got to take a trip down to Granville Island. First off: It's not an island. It's just a parcel of land underneath the bridge that runs to Downtown Vancouver (the CBD). That night we went to a local improv show. Think the show 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' - but more amateur and local. It was funny for the most part, and awkward for a tiny part of it. Either way it was a terrific introduction.

The entrance and overhead of Granville Island itself. You can see the markets, strips of shops and areas where buskers play to bustling crowds on the weekend. At nights, it lights up and turns into a small entertainment precint for theatre, restaurants and bars.

Granville Island also hosts its own mini brewery (the aptly titled brew 'Granville Island Lager' is served and brewed there). You can buy a sampler and mow through all the brews. It helps you find a flavor that suits you (I myself dig 'Maple Cream' which is like a sweet golden ale that has a name that sounds like a Canadian adult film).

Nom

It also has the biggest and best toy store I've ever seen. If I was a kid, I woulda been hella happy to have just been in it's presence. But since I'm a bit more older and reserved, I settled for rummaging through the sports store for merchandise.

There's adventures on the high seas coming soon.. We were due in Whistler this sunday for the Telus snowboard festival, however Ryans car has taken a turn for the sick, which has put those plans to rest. The Calgary Stampede is happening soon, we've got a US road trip planned for the end of next month,