Let's Party like it's 2010 Baby!

'Mark my words, some day historians will look back at Canada's growing strength in the 21st century and they will say it all began right here, on the West Coast, with the best Winter Olympic Games the world has ever seen'  Stephen Harper CBC.ca

If you live in Vancouver, and are fortunate to say "I am Canadian' 2010 will forever be synonymous with one event which forever changed this city and how we, as Canadians viewed ourselves as a nation. I look back on the entry I made on March 27 2010, to relive how emotional I felt, when it all played itself out.......

'This is my dream, and the dream came true. That we would see a shift in our indifference to our city and the face we portray to the rest of the world wouldn't be so mundane. Somehow we would realize what we have here is highly valued and admired by those living abroad. 

Maybe this was our defining moment...our Berlin Wall. This was our wakening realization what it is to be called a Canadian and what it really stands for. For while it is easy to be cynical for waxing lyrical in praise upon ourselves.....something did happen during those two weeks in February....we came out in our thousands and flooded the streets, with our hearts on heaving chests, with good humor....with dignity for each other...and it didn't go unnoticed....'

So, mark your calenders: Saturday February 12th 2011 people. Not only is it the day when we celebrate our game with 'Hockey Day in Canada' on CBC. But this is also the day, (a year to the very day it all kicked off), that has been designated 'Olympic Day' in the city! 

So I officially declare the following Aquabus important event: 

'The Aquabus Olympic Hockey Day in Canada Celebration!!!'

Let's party like it's 2010 all over again baby! 

   

Stand by for more details!

peaaaacccceeeeee out sisters!  

 

Bloglovin'

Just trying to spread the love people......follow me on bloglovin'!

http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/2229225/in-the-center-of-it-all?claim=8ptwwej95wn

My Top 50 Images of 2010

In the last week of 2010, it is hockey week in the Reid household. My eldest son's team competed in a Peewee Tourney on the North Shore. Despite a valiant effort, they ended a prefect record to lose 5 - 2 to a team from Sannich. Watching my son play, serves as a constant reminder of how quickly he is growing up into the positive character he is. It also seems fitting that we end the year celebrating our national game, as we watch Team Canada in the World Junior Championships competing in Buffalo, New York.

Seeing the hunger of Team Canada's youth to win, harks back to that greatest event of 2010: the Winter Olympics. This year I was fortunate to visit the madness and magic that is New York, and experience Mexico for the first time. Yet, for me 2010 was really down to those two very short magical weeks in February. The Olympics were everything I hoped it would be and more. Many, like myself , turned this event in our backyeard into an opportunity to celebrate being Canadian with unabashed pride.

I was so happy to take a 3 week sabbatical from my job as a Youth Worker, and return to Granville Island. This became my beat and stage where I earned the new title of 'Mr. Ambassador' for Aquabus Ferries. I walked around giving out maps, asking questions and kept customers happy as they lined up to head over to Yaletown and the Live Nation site.

You should start a blog......

It was a simple suggestion that provided the perfect opportunity to develop my love of writing. My jackass friend and manager Jody, with the generosity of Geoff and Margo Pratt, gave me free latitude to provide a living record of life as we all experienced the Olympics together '...in the center of it all'.  Maybe I wasn't actually '...coming in hot' when I arrived daily at least an hour late, but I'm so glad I was given the freedom just to be myself.  In hindsight, no wonder I had such a crash similar to cultural shock when I returned the very next day to school, after such a rich and emotional experience. How could I communicate what I had gone through with those who weren't with me?

So, I've put together my top 50 images of 2010. Mostly of the many people I crossed paths in February, plus a few since then, including the Big Yin and those infamous Irish girls. Who, when asked why they decided to head over to Canada for a year, one said it was because '..the drinking age is lower here than the US'.

Such is life through the eyes of a 19 year with the whole world before you.......

So to: the gay dads, the cute Canada Line Girl, Stacey Dales, the Olympic Volunteers, the lovely Sammi J Pepper server, the Atlantic House girls including Alicia and Sable, Rob Blake, the gang that went to Le Swiss Hockey game, the barmaid False Creek Yacht club, the Police and RCMP on patrol, the many fans: Canadian, American and Russian, the 'hands of my ***s' girls at the Wicklow, the Matt and Micky Bubbles show........plus all the Aquabus staff who made the Olympics just so fun: Jody, Geoff and Margo, Paul, Jake!, Mr. Two Phones, Big Kev!, She-bang with her non traditional greetings, Julia, Adrienne, Astrid, my brother: Brandon....and the man who made the whole athlete experience so personal: US Gold Medalist: Steve Holcolm......and to my ever supportive wife and 'the lads'......Thank you for a great journey together!

I hope these images convey what was a great experience.......

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelimey2010/collections/72157625577347371/ 


For now.....here's wishing you a great 2011!!!

Happy New Year!!!! 

peeeeeeeaaaaaacccccceeeeeee out sisters!

Chestnuts roasting.......

Chestnuts roasting on my open fire....... 

Maybe it was the cleaning bottle sticking out of my pants wasn't the best position to be in when Margo walked in, but she took in her stride. Another typical night where men grow up, but the boy in us all keeps coming out when it's another Aquabus gathering. This Christmas found our motley crew gathered at the Wicklow to celebrate yet another year together. The man in the long black coat looking like the 'Governor' he is, came by to see how proceedings were going. Uncle Ray had already supped and dashed as the blimey Limey had finally come through with another stash of those Brit mags he loves so much. 18 magazines = 18 weeks, so that takes me up to April - right Uncle Ray? Proving that one man magazine, he another man's treasure. While John quietly preserved himself for prosperity, he gushed over his latest baby: edition numero sept of False Creek This Week. After a particularly prolonged and difficult birth, he produced a corker with a blinding advertiser on the back page (see for yourself, it's a big player on the creek). Well done Sarko!

The girls were out in force and looking lovely as ever. Margo looked wonderful and relaxed as ever, as we reminisced over seeing the Big Yin himself at the QE theater. Eleanor fresh from delivering another healthy baby into the world, looked like the yummy mummy she is. Motherhood is looking good on her, especially with those low-lites, making fireman Ryan a very lucky man! (Belated congrats to you both by the way for the new sprog: baby Caleb!). Alexis looking so cute in her Canucks top, was also s relaxed and miles of smiles - but then subbing as a teacher for 2 days will do that! Meanwhile Olivia was guiding John around the bar on an invisble obstacle course all night but just taking it all in her stride. I was so impressed I just had to get a picture of them with across there knees!

...children running through my snow.....

What is going on the at Wicklow anyway? A mighty KLANG! illustrated the utter waste of time in having a glass wall running down the center of the outdoor patio. When you have to put a heavy pint of the golden nectar on a table, you don't expect an obstacle to get in your way. KLANG! As Margo correctly pointed out: '.....you don't get many of them to the pound'. And you just don't do you? But Christine is happy as she continues to keep warm over my roaring chestnuts on fire on the patio.......

The night moves on in a continuing circular pattern between the 'smokers' suffering for their sins on the patio and gathering in front a bar full of legal refreshment with no barmaid? How nobody jumped over and start making some 'Uncle Ray' delights is beyond me. KLANG! I'm glad the Governor stepped in and retrieved those ill gotten gains from that roving party of 80's rejects that somebody apparently invited but nobody knew. Between the rather poor Buggles/Mig Ure lookalike and the girl with the exceptional booty, they should have been seen off ages ago as we all sung 'Hungry like the Wolf' in praise of Marat's wild canine hoody. And remember ladies - pencil in a date in the new year for Marat's 'Fashion Bag' party!!!! - where you can get a flashing light hang bag for just $30! 'mazing! Jody has promised me a bag featuring the queen herself: a BRITNEY SPEARS bag! I think I actually declared I should be gay at this point.....I don't like the sex part but I absolutely LUV the accessories! Ladies - in that department, you do have it so good!

......everybody having a good time.......

KLANG! Note to self - don't get on the chair to take a photo of all the proceedings below - you may fall back and take out a patron or two. Sorry Allison and Max! Before Bob takes off in his lovely white terry cotton top - he retells a tale when he was a young lad drinking pop and perusing his friend's dad very own Playboy collection in his friends loft. The boys sighed in adolescence delight over a certain Miss July center fold aka one Ms. Curly in all her lovely curved loveliness (this was '65). The boys eyes popped out and rolled across the insulation when they realized that Ms. Curley was the one and same goddess who was their school librarian! As Bob leaves later, he shouts 'I can't say goodbye to everyone' and wobbles home after another successful night of fun.....

.......Float you Jack Snow!!!!!!!!

As the night nears closing - it is odd to see more jugs appear so close to the final bell and some of our crew are getting cut off. More refreshments 20 minutes before closing usually does not make for a satisfactory parting......

Anyway - a good night had by all and we wish you all a very happy Christmas!!!!! In the meantime........

KLANG! peeeeaaaaaacccceeeeeee out sisters! 

Is it still November? It's still MOVEMBER BABY!

Hey ho.......it's still November. So it's still MOVEMBER BABY! That's why you're seeing all those grown men walking around with handle bar growth right now.....



Yeah, I know I look like a porker - but there you go......
Anyhoo, I'm in a competition on facebook, for the best mo.....have a butchers and vote for me mo!

http://apps.facebook.com/promotionshq/contests/70592/voteable_entries?ogn=facebook

Cheers!

peeeeaaaccceeeee out sisters!

Movember Baby!

Lets be honest, cancer is never fun. It's a nightmare. But every November is Movember Baby! What better way to raise awareness for prostate cancer than grown man growing a mustache.....a fun way to highlight a killer disease for men like me.

(Talking of fun, I've had 'the' check up for men over 45.....he had hands like a ruddy butcher....oooo weeee!) But a small tad of discomfort goes a long way to prevent the unthinkable. So, if you're like me....45 years old or older, and you haven't been checked yet......do the right thing: make the appointment!

For now, peeeeeaaaccccceeeee out sisters!

Happy Halloween people......

This is for all my followers (including the zombie community out there. You'd be surprised how many actually take the Aquabus to go to work everyday!)  Happy Halloween! See ya soon on the island.........