To Roof Or Not To Roof

This is Vancouver.
No matter how clear the skies, how warm the temperature or how awesome the meteorological forecast, expect rain at any moment. Try to remember we live in the Coast Mountains where the warning is to always be on the lookout for rapid weather changes.

Noticed this house on the way by about ten days ago. Some of the red, clay tile had been removed from the roof possibly to repair broken ones from a wayward tree branch or other mishap. Surprised me to discover the entire roof covering was gone three days later; especially since tiles should last forty to fifty years and these were barely on for twenty five. Looks to be some damage from leakage around the skylight windows because the dark areas my be due to mold. Without being able to climb up there. no way to assess what the problem may be. Judging by the new packages of insulation waiting to be install, it's unlikely the ceiling gyproc was damaged.

Since replacing clay tile is so expensive, perhaps the owners have opted for adding sheathing over the 1 x 4 strapping before installing asphalt shingling. However, other than the insulation no other materials seem to be present. Even more disturbing are the lack of tarps to protect the house in case of inclement weather. Wouldn't take much of a downpour to make a total mess of the interior before anyone has a chance to show up and cover the open roof.

So now every day that goes by seems like playing Russian roulette with the protection of the dwelling. Good luck with that!

A Touch of Amarillo

Rain or shine when you walk down Hornby towards False Creek, you're greeted with the strong flash of yellow from Bridges on Granville Island. Most of Vancouver tends to dull and washed out colors reminiscent of graveyards. Almost all the condominiums surrounding False Creek are the same pasty blue or green tinted glass towers pancaking into a solid mass of blandness almost as soon as the eyes perceive them. On sunny days you can sense some sparkle as the rays of sunlight bounce back and forth between the close knit structures but when skies are overcast or the rain teems down, all you see are clumps of grey. I've always wondered why houses and buildings are so muted the further north you travel. From the vibrant colors of Central America, all the bright lively hues are slowly extinguished as you head north until everything becomes the color of bleached out, caribou hide at the Arctic circle. I think it reflects the disposition of the populace in each region. Happy, lively and passionate in the South: sad, lonely and disinterested in the North. However, I've noticed most of the newer buildings in Puerto Vallarta destined as dwellings for gringos receive the dull, washed out facades. Must be the pervasive inbred capitalist outlook.
But the added bonus of today was the little yellow boat adding that little something extra.

Blue Screen of Rain Death

Yet another Vancouver condominium now under wraps undergoing remedial work due to water infiltration and damage. This one on Hornby has company, just around the corner on Beach its bigger brother has been completely enveloped in scaffolding and tarps. Since the early eighties watching Lower Mainland buildings pop in and out of protective cocoons has become commonplace with some buildings having already undergone a second rehabilitation. There has always been a lot of finger pointing at developers, contractors, municipal authorities and the National Building Code but the cost of repair always falls to the condo owners. Funny that commercial buildings, except for public schools, rarely have major damage due to water infiltration. Maybe poor design has been built into the plans! Having the building envelope fail every dozen years keeps the construction industry fat and busy - just another way to help the economy along.
After so many years of shrouding these buildings in white or green,  draping then in a nice bright blue certainly is an upscale design choice. Probably adds another 5% to the contract price but standing out and being noticed must be well worth the extra price.

Yet Another Dead Idea

Sitting around some time ago, I decided to start up a blog on Tumblr even though I have this one plus another on WordPress. The notion was to either alter photos I took of signs or caption them humorously. The swimming one was taken out at a beach in Richmond and there was no reason given for the warning; so I added one at the bottom specifying it was a Pacu breeding area. It was in reference to an article from Sweden about an Amazonian fish mistakenly introduced into the waters off the southern coast of the country. Apparently, the fish decided to harass male swimmers by attacking their testes which undoubtedly would prove to be extremely painful and debilitating. As usual, the story turned out to be an urban myth but probably caused quite a few chuckles as it went viral itself around the globe before being forgotten and swept away by the next myth. At first, it was easy to find signs to photograph and alter or just think of clever captions.

I had passed by this store many times before but once I had decided to do the blog the connection to Jung was obvious. Of course,  I assumed everybody would have enough knowledge to understand the reference. Likely wrong on my part. Might be the problem with the other photos: too much work to make the connection. Much of North American humor, especially television and movies,  relies on slapstick and crudeness. Subtlety falls flat. All comedy follows the doctrine of the lowest common denominator. 

Anyway, after posting a dozen or more times, ennui set in and I simply stopped looking for appropriate signage. Seems to happen to me a  lot. Get all fired up about something until the air slowly sizzles out leaving me with flattened out topics. So now I have a blog on Tumblr in a state of hibernation or suspended out there in the internet ether.
                                 

Washer Saga

Monday we discovered the clothes washer wasn't really interested in working for us anymore. Maybe we should have listened to the warning signs: a rather obnoxious creaking as the drum spun through the spin cycles and the occasional thump which we ignored as a minor unbalanced load which always righted itself. This day there was a hint of a peculiar burnt electrical smell, suggesting a possible calamity in the making, but not quite strong enough to push anybody into immediately seeking out the cause. On lifting the lid, instead of seeing items of apparel clinging to the side of the drum we noted the soggy mess of clothes resting at the bottom. Not a good sign! A quick twist of the dial to start the spin cycle with crossed fingers. Alas, only the feeble whir of a non functioning motor while the drum remained sullen and immobile. Tuesday morning I gave the machine one last chance to properly complete its assigned task and was met with complete refusal.

Now our current situation is clear, we only need to replace the washer for a year or perhaps a wee bit more. Simple enough to drag the broken down machine outside, load it up and deliver it to the transfer station with no recycling fee. That would seemingly suggest a used model with a much lower capital cost and a fast solution to the problem. Quickly Googled ‘vancouver appliances used’ and voilà, a number of nearby stores with directional maps popped up and away I went. First store sold both new and used, so I scuttled passed the 4 figure, gleaming virgin washers to check out the previously owned models. Hmm! The lowest cost unit was still a startling $450 and I was unsure whether I should kick the cabinet to show my interest. The amiable saleslady assured me the solidly rebuilt washer would last 15 to 20 years, and the delivery charge was only $85 plus a small recycling fee of only $50 for our broken down hunk of metal. There was doubt in my mind as I wondered if that machine had even lasted 5 years in its previous incarnation while I also questioned whether a six month warranty would be adequate. I mumbled something about keeping it in mind as I exited the premises flashing a friendly lopsided grin.

Next establishment was solely used and rebuilt wall-to-wall appliances. Humming softly to myself, I sauntered down the aisle until I spotted a $359 washer (actually they all displayed identical $359 price tags....) and I bent down to have a look at its rear. The information plate was well worn but after translating I’m pretty sure the machine was built in Minsk sometime about 1954, however it had only been used sparingly for cold water washes in a Siberian gulag. One of the back room boys came out to see if I needed any help and I pointed to the badly rusted backside of the cabinet. “Not to worry sir”, he said, “All the inner components have been gutted and replaced”. Does this also work in humans or will the outside skin container just give way allowing all the fine medical work to fall out? Something for me to consider. Oh, by-the-way their additional charges for delivery et cetera worked out to a miserly $125 not including taxes.

Once back in the friendly confines of home, it was time to consider purchasing new. Back to Google. From our friendly Canadian department store - known for its practice of doubling prices this week and offering a half off sale next week - a brand new washer for $478 plus $69 delivery plus $25 recycling pickup fee. Not bad compared to the used prices. Then I remembered the fridge downstairs (serves as a beer cooler from time to time) which came from the same store. No matter how carefully the door is closed, we notice it pops open occasionally. We have yet to determine if this is due to weak magnets, the inner fridge being interested in its surroundings or simply its lust for the nearby furnace. Next up was the online offerings of a local big box dealer. With some tempting offers on the web page, I convinced myself to head out to their bricks and mortar site. Surprise surprise! As I passed by the big ticket, chrome encrusted models, there in the middle stood a cute plain-jane machine with a price tag of $358 just begging to be purchased. Then I had the luck to run into a super nice saleslady who began the process of determining the final price. Delivery charge $58 - just move the x up a couple of slots and this now includes the full hookup service. Connector kit $24 - toss that in no charge. Pick up old machine $30 - reduced to $20. Competitive discount - sure, why not? Take another $35 off the price. Easy peasy. Our brand, spanking new washer will be delivered and installed next Monday. Shopping just doesn't get any easier than this.
Somewhere in this story is both a moral and an economics lesson, but I’m too lazy to search. Meanwhile, since the new washer is likely ‘Made in China’ I have to brush up on my Cantonese so I can read the instruction manual.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Last Monday in November, we were hanging out at the side of the highway waiting to flag down the bus for Boca. The idea was to hang out in the town plus maybe take a water taxi to one of the secluded coves. However, the first bus careening into view was bound for El Tuito which led to a quick change in plans.  Figured we may as well hop on and spend part of the day at the Botanical Gardens rather than wait until later in the week. Twenty minutes later, we arrived right at the gates about 10:05 just a few minutes after opening but it is still locked up tight. Met a couple who had arrived on an earlier bus plus a tour SUV with another two people. It seems we all miscalculated as the Gardens are closed on Mondays from April to December. 

Sure enough! Checked the notes on my Nexus 7 to discover this was true. For a moment I wondered why I research things if I can’t be bothered to read it later. Lucky for us the tour guide phoned somebody  connected with the gardens, so moments later one of the staff showed up to spring the locks on the gate (he also accepted the entry fee). Pretty special for just six people to have the run of the place without the usual hordes of tourists arriving by the busload. For the low price - 60 pesos - it is well worth the visit. Besides the gardens and restaurant (it remained closed), there are also a network of hiking trails and a swimming area in the river. Just before we left, we managed to convince one of the staff to let us buy some local coffee beans and a bottle of vanilla, of course.

                                                                                    

If you head out from PV the El Tuito bus is only 20 pesos each way, stops very close by and seems to run quite often. Just remember to check the schedule for the Gardens - they may not always be so kind on closed Mondays.

Eagles

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there you go! New Years Day and off we go to Squamish to view the eagles except the eagles aren't that excited - guess they fail to read the tourist promotional material.  On the other side of the river, 400 feet away, they cling morosely to tree branches and gloomily stare back at the two legged gawkers parading up and down the snow covered dyke. Lots of seagulls winging to-and-fro squawking about nothing while pleasantly defecating in midair.   Mind you, there are a couple of camera types with 8000 mm lenses peering intently for the flash of white heads but failing to spot a bird that isn't comatose or entirely disinterested in putting on a show for the pathetic human audience.
Later on the return journey, we stop off at Porteau Park to take a quick break. Here the seagulls aren't especially friendly, however they continue to sit on the railing even if  you approach to within 5 or 6 feet. Have to give them credit for chutzpah, they appear almost disdainful of  people and not at all worried of our size or bearing. All in all, a good day on the west coast. Sunny without rain - what more could we ask for?