Author: spierzchala

In Canada, the norm is to have a community recreation centre, usually with a pool, an arena and a curling rink.

In the parts of the US where we have lived, community pools are almost unheard of. Private fitness clubs are the only places with pools, other than private homes.

This explains why my seven year-old still can’t swim.

While in Victoria, we have been able to enjoy

• Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre
• Saanich Commonwealth Pool
• Recreation Oak Bay
• Esquimalt Recreation Centre

All of these locations have VERY reasonably priced swim sessions, as well as public lessons and swim teams.

And in Massachusetts and California? Well, I think that if you are privileged enough to live in Sudbury, MA or Palo Alto, CA, you might have access to a public pool.

Oh yeah, how’s that Protestant Work Ethic thing working out for you?

Technorati Tags: Canada, US, Recreation Centres, pools, protestant work ethic

This trip home has been an eye-opener. It has reminded me why I want to call myself Canadian, and live in this country.

There is a flow here. A bounce. A knowledge that we are NOT as doomed as the United States is. Canada is not crippled by a devastating and useless war, a moralistic and divisive leadership, or a fatalistic sense of empire.

Even in the middle of nowhere, I knew I was in another place. A place where things get done. Slowly, but they do get done. A place where people all understand that there is a lot more to the world than navel-gazing introspection and misplaced imperialism. The world is a place to celebrate, not conquer.

Canada is home. The United States is the place I reside.

The next five years are going to be very interesting. And I know what side of the 49th Parallel I want to be on.

Technorati Tags: Canada, United States

Gee, I guess you don’t want my business anymore…

Technorati Tags: American Express, Web performance, outage

We made it back to Victoria yesterday, after a 14-hour marathon drive across Southern BC. I can’t think of a place I would rather be right now.

Yesterday was a six-summit day.

• Salmo-Creston | Kootenay Pass (1774m)
• Nancy Greene (1575m)
• Paulson (1535m)
• Anarchist (1233m)
• Sunday Creek (1284m)
• Allison Pass (1342m)

By the time we rolled into Hope, Samantha was ranting that she never wanted to see another twisting mountain road again.

Two days to rest, then off to Seattle and back “home”.

Oh, and did I mention that the plunge into Osoyoos still scares the bejeezus out of me?

Technorati: Crowsnest+Highway Allison+Pass Paulson+Summit Kootenay+Pass Anarchist+Summit Osoyoos

We stayed at the Travelodge Merritt last night. A word of advice: don’t.

Pillows that were non-existent…errr, wafer-thin.

Ice machines that didn’t work.

Unheated pool (try about 75F — the boys were freezing in 10 minutes).

Breakfast? Sure, as long as you eat it in their cramped and soulless breakfast room, not your room. And selection was Superstore muffins and still-frozen bread.

Staff needs some hospitality

Avoid this place if at all possible. Please.

Technorati Tags: Travelodge Merritt, Merriitt BC, BC

I am ot sure why these happy discoveries have not made their way south of the border, but here in Canada, some of the Starbucks’ stores have drive-thru windows.

However, I can tell you that the one we had coffee at in Westbank, BC showed that the drive-thru folks got preference over the people in the store. This is a formula that needs to be improved.

Otherwise, a grand idea.

Technorati Tags: Starbucks, Westbank, BC, drive-thru

Even though we lived in Victoria together for 5 years (Samantha grew up here), we continue to be shocked by the house prices. We have been cruising the real estate listings, and even accounting for the exchange rate, what we can afford sucks.

Most of the stuff is 1970s nightmare cookie-cutter homes with no personality and even less yard.

It’s a wonder that they can get anyone to move here.

Technorati Tags: Victoria, BC, Real Estate

For those of you in the US who are not blessed with a way to tap into the Canadian feeds from the World Cup, you are missing a real treat. And you know what the treat is?

Silence.

It seems that the announcers that Rogers SportsNet and TSN have recruited to cover the games know how to keep their mouths shut and let the action unfold on the screen, with occasional salient comments on the action.

As well, the screen isn’t cluttered with useless graphics and streaming ticker notes. Just the score and a timeclock in the top left corner that disappears, and re-appears in about 2-minute intervals.

Sometimes, just letting the game unfold is the best way to enjoy the beauty and skill of the teams.

Technorati Tags: World Cup, Canada, USA, Rogers SportsNet, TSN