Experiences rather than things...has always seemed a no-brainer to us

This article did give me some insight into why people buy expensive things...always something I've found hard to understand.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/06/why-wanting-expensive-things-makes-us-so-much-happier-than-buying-them/276717/

Wonderful lunch at Donna's

Donna had me,  Kerry, Katie and the grandkids,  Harmony and Zion over for lunch today and a swim.  A super time was had by all....thanks so much, Donna.  We really lucked in with the weather.  Sunny and warm and no wind!

 Kerry,  Katie and Zion and Harmony

Donna

What a difference an hour makes!

First three photos taken about an hour ago...last three in the past 5 minutes.

Espana still on my list

The menu at Espana didn't appeal to Monique so we went to The Sylvia instead.  We got a kick out of how they served the "9 oz" glass of wine Monique ordered....a small and an even smaller carafe.  We had a great visit and enjoyed imbibing from this great bottle of grappa she brought over.

Big week for out of town visitors

Kerry's in town from Edmonton this week and came for lunch yesterday....loved our new place!  And Monique from Victoria is also in town and we will see her tonight. We're planning on dining at a fairly recently opened tapas place on Denman called Espana.  Gets good reviews and is always doing a great trade.  We plan to go on the early side otherwise we probably won't get in.

Serrano ham on grilled endive...photo from the Yelp site.  Looks good!

Another interesting day

Linda warned us yesterday that we should act fairly quickly on getting a portable air conditioner for the bedroom as they sell out when it gets hot.  The fellow at Home Depot confirmed that.  So,  off shopping for that before noon today.   Sunday morning is a great time to shop and drive...very little traffic and very few people in the stores.  (Only slight problem was this old dear in a car with the vanity licence plate "Auntie" came out of nowhere and went obliviously through two lanes of traffic and almost sideswiped us....perhaps late for church.)

And we managed to get a handyman to install it this afternoon so all set up for the heat when it comes.  The most interesting handyman we've ever had.  We invited him for a beer and had an interesting chat....very new age, Eckhart Tolle kind of guy.  But of course,  Aldous Huxley was like that so,  hey.

A few photos I took from the balcony and of our new installation.

Lunch with old friends....

We had lunch at the Cactus Club today with Linda and Cec and Carol and Dave.  Always lots of laughs!  They came in from Surrey/Delta on the transit system....the only way to go for a trip to the West End.  Linda has become quite an expert.

                 Carol  and Linda...we are all childhood friends since the age of 4 years old  (well,  Carol was 3 years old).

Cec,  Linda, me, Carol, Dave....well....what you can see of us.

Lunch with John and Carol

John and Carol came for lunch today...great to see them as always.  So now John tells me the latest thing in photography is just pointing and shooting and not using a viewfinder...just after I'm so thrilled to have a viewfinder back on a camera!  Ah well,  I still LOVE my viewfinder.

Went for a walk Lost Lagoon way then back to the seawall to have a hotdog for dinner from our hotdog guy.   Best deal in town for 3 bucks with all the interesting condiments.  I passed on the hot peppers and hot pepper sauce (Jim didn't!)...did enjoy the onions, pickles, black olives, and sauerkraut.

Thursday night at The Sylvia...

A fellow called Bruce Gerrish tonight...first time performing at The Sylvia.  We really enjoyed him and his group.  Something new this year is the Thursday night music seems to go on past the end of May.

Video seems to have failed.  Here are a few photos.

First ocean swim...for Jim at least

Jim went in for his first ocean swim today and said it really wasn't that cold.  He stayed in about 10 minutes and said it was quite warm in places.  He would have stayed in longer if I had gone in.
I'll join him next time.

 I see last year the first day we got into the ocean was July 11 but then we were in Victoria for that first week or so of July.  But certainly with "Juneuary" last year there certainly wasn't any chance of swimming then.

Tonight's sunset...

Too exhausted to go to the photo class tonight and hadn't done my "homework".  Tonight's sunset.

Joined the Vancouver Aquarium today.

I always loved the penquins at the old zoo Stanley Park had and now the aquarium has penguins.  No more orcas but there are the belugas and my beloved sea otters.  Very cool jellyfish display at the moment.  Lots to see and lots of activities....good for rainy days especially I think.

jellyfish

 beluga

 penquins

 otter

 sea lion

dolphin

A few photos of the apartment....

 We put this bistro set in front of the window since we had the space and were missing that particular close up view of the seawall and all the goings-on.  It's a great little area sit.

 Part of living room into the dining area.  We made some separation with bookcases and they make my little desk area more like a den for me.

 Other side of the living room,

 My desk area.

 Dining room and my art studio.

A friend sent this comment today about clouds so I will stop apologizing for all the photos of them and hopefully will take better photos as I learn to use my new camera.

"I love clouds too. I love the changing "landscape" of the sky. I have received my greatest inspirations from looking at the sky. (I know it sounds odd, but I have also received answers to complex problems that way--symbolically, of course.)"

A perfect day....

From our balcony last evening...I do promise to take more than photos of clouds from our balcony soon!

Lunch outside at Las Margaritas,  hit some golf balls at the University Course so Jim could try out his new clubs...he loves them!  Soon an evening walk along the seawall.  Almost went for a swim at Second Beach Pool but a bit windy.  A number of people went in the ocean today and didn't completely rush out so can't be too bad.  Perhaps we'll get in the ocean in June this year if the weather holds.

The Great Gatsby

We went to see the movie yesterday and we both felt it worked very well.  Yes,  the beginning was a bit over the top but the point is to depict the excess of the jazz age and the frenzy does contrast nicely with the quiet ending scenes.  Di Caprio was meant to play the role....perfect.  I really liked the Nick Carraway actor as well.  He did an excellent job.  I had forgotten the ending since I hadn't read it since university.  Jim picked it out from our bookshelves and I look forward to reading it again.

Funny to think of Di Caprio playing as a child with Laura Huxley's adopted daughter in the yard of the place in the Hollywood Hills where we visited Laura.

My new camera, Jim's new clubs

This free camera course is taught by an extremely nice man who is willing to help these 6 senior women in the course with the most basic things...he's printing up manuals from the Internet for some of those who don't have them,  getting some special software to retrieve a photo one of the women erased by mistake....didn't know you could do that!

Although it was billed as an DSLR course,  I'm the only one who has one...the others have point and shoots.  Didn't faze the instructor.  I imagine he is used to this.  His father was a professional photographer and he seems to be a wealth of knowledge and has absolute patience.

So far just taking photos from the balcony but now that we're pretty settled in and the big to-do list is crossed off I'll get out and take some more photos of other scenes.

Jim left his clubs in Palm Springs and went out to Sports Junkies and got all the clubs he needs and great brands like Taylor Made Burners for around $175.  He was thrilled.

We get so many great cloud formation views...can't wait to learn how to capture these better and experiment using my tripod.