And It Comes to a Close

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Smelly Danielly

Well, it’s over, and my tired soul can’t help but be relieved. Nothing disastrous happened. We won our Gold. The city and the country came together like never before, and despite all the naysayers, it was a huge success.

This giant event that occurred for two weeks straight, was probably the most stressful event I’ve ever not had control over. As a resident of this great city, I wanted everything to go off with out a hitch. I can not tell you how many frantic discussions I had with Chad about snow on Cypress, or not doing well on the podium, or protesters making us look like fools on the world stage. I wanted us to suceed so badly that I couldn’t even watch any of the gold medal events because I was so nervous. But now, I can smile with pride, because these truly were Canada’s games.

Here are the last few pictures and stories from this amazing once in a lifetime experience.

Last week Alicia, Claudia, and I went for dinner down on Robson street while the Canada vs. Germany game was going on.

Claudia wore her Sock Monkey hat. Cutest thing ever!

There were guys playing drums in the middle of the street.

We went to Earls and got a table right away, which was pretty sweet.

Out on the Patio under a heat lamp watching the 3rd period.

We walked around Robson and Granville and were lucky enough to catch Joannie Rouchette skate her short program which they where projecting on the big screen.

The laser show was also really neat. It was pouring rain at this point and I was soaked.

—

Saturday was spend quietly.

I realized on Friday night that I am much happier when I am not on the Internet and attached to Twitter and Facebook at the hip. There are just too many stupid people on both networking sites and there are too many things that I read that piss me off. I realized that most of my anger stems from crap I’ve read on Twitter or Facebook. I know too much about people and their thoughts. More then I want to know.

Saturday I turned off the the Internet and the TV and worked away oblivious to the world while listening to Radiohead. It was very nice and peaceful.

Once Chad came home from work we decided to check out the Olympic Torch at night, since Chad hadn’t had the opportunity to see it yet. We headed down there around 9ish and braved the crowds to see the torch. Chad stood there in awe for quite a while. After all the work he has done for the Olympics, all the time and effort hes put in, I could see how proud he was.

We checked out the rest of the sights in and around the torch. The gold rings were amazing, though my camera would not get a good picture of them.

We decided to go for a drink in Gastown. In no way did I want to brave the disaster that was the downtown core. I’m not a party person at the best of times, and after my relaxing quiet Saturday I really wanted to continue down that path. In reality, it was pretty stupid to go downtown at all. None the less, Chad had to see the torch.

So, we walked down Cordova.

Every place was packed. Every place we thought wouldn’t be packed was packed. Not really all that shocking.

Then we came across this little pub. This was the pub we went to once during the Summer that Chad and I started to date where a homeless man walked by us as we sat on the patio and told Chad he had to marry me. Chad listened. Deightons Well is the name and from the outside it is tiny, and sketchy, but there was a table for two open and they served beer.

We sat down and I instantly became annoying with the chicks behind us. I did not have my party hat or my patients hat on at all during the courseof the evening. The chicks were so annoying I begged Chad to find us somewhere else to sit. Luckily we discovered the bar expanded to the back. The best we could get was a couch, but trust me, it was better then sitting at a broken table with a bunch of drunk air heads.

The rest of the evening was a bust. I’ve never been surrounded by a more annoying clientele. I’ve become a snob in my old age and I just don’t care to hang around overly drunk, super annoying 20 year olds. I want a nice spot in the corner with some dark lightening and good drinks where I can have a conversation. I was in the mood for class and I got white trash.

The waitress for our section was also clueless. I watched her bring the wrong food to 4 different tables, and even when she brought the right food it was wrong and sent back. She totally ignored us and it literally took an hour of waiting for her before we could go home. She tried to charge us for beers she forgot to bring us and was impossible to get a hold of. Not to metion she looked like she was a 15 year old and homeless. I’m sorry, but it was the worst bar I have ever been to. Everything was dirty, the atmosphere was bad and the lighting was horrendous.

Snob Alert. I was just not in the right mood for the evening and was totally turned off by everything.

—

I did not watch the hockey game yesterday, I would have thrown up if I did. Instead I locked myself in the bedroom and watched TV while refolding all my t-shirts and cleaning out the closets. I flicked back every now and then but I couldn’t watch it.

With about one minute to go I decided I was going to watch so that I could see us winning GOLD live. Yea, that was a bust. I’ve never sworn so loudly in my life. Chad thought I had broken things in the bedroom because I started to throw my boots on the ground. Over reaction much? No, I think the perfect amount of reaction.

I ran out to ask Chad what was going to happen next. He said there would be a break and then overtime. I asked him if he was going to watch it, but he didn’t know if he could handle the stress, so I asked him, if I wasn’t going to watch it, and he wasn’t going to watch it, how would we know who wins? He said, ‘You will just know, listen for it outside’.

I flicked back at around the 12 minute mark. Soon after that I heard little kids outside cheering. I kind of ignored it because I didn’t think it could possibly mean anything. Then there was more little kids. I turned the channel and there it was, GOLD.

Talk about relief.

I watched the closing ceremonies at my parents house. I enjoyed them making fun of how our torch didn’t work at the opening ceremonies and how Catriona Le May Doan got to finally light it. That was cute. I liked the way it poked fun at who we are. I was expecting more of a crowd reaction when Shatner, and the Mom from Home Alone, and MJF came out and did their thing. I enjoyed the dancing mounties and beavers and moose. I’m a sucker for Canadiana.

The musical acts where a whole nother story. I assume they chose who they chose because they wanted it to be up beat and fun, but they clearly have no clue which Canadian Bands people ACTUALLY want to see.

But now it is all over. Now, I can have my husband back. Now I can stop worrying about Spring showing up in the middle of Winter. Now I can get back to all those things I started but didn’t finish two weeks ago. I will miss the Olympics, but all good things have to come to an end.

You Are My Accreditation

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Smelly Danielly

Chad won two free tickets to the Dress Rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies through work yesterday. Only problem is that they are for tomorrow night and hes got a night shift. He said he still wanted me to use them, but for some reason it just felt weird thinking of going with out him. I was so wishy washy about it. To think I was actually contemplating just staying home and letting them go to waste. Luckily he smacked some sense into me.

I’m taking my favoirte Chilean with me tomorrow night. We have to leave work early to be there with enough time to go through security. We can’t bring any cameras (obviously) or any food and we have to wear white tops. I read some news reports of people saying its going to be an amazing show, so I’m quite excited to see it. But, I am going to keep my lips sealed on the matter and not tell you anything about it until after the real Opening Ceremonies. The only thing I am having a hard time with is the no camera bit. Not because I want to sneak pictures of anything, but I want to have my camera with me for AFTER the show, when Claudia and I wonder around downtown. The blogger in me is dying knowing I won’t have my camera with me.

I haven’t figured out exactly what free shows and things I will be attending yet. Alicia is going to be working every day with me during the Olympics, so we plan on taking the bus down town after work most days and just hang out.

Monday, Chad and I, along with Claudia and Elise, plan on going down to the Atlantic House on Granville Island to watch Sloan play and drink some beer. It should be really fun and I’m quite excited about it. I can’t believe it is only 3 days away!!! I’m going to live it up as much as possible.

As for now, I should get my stuff for work ready, so I can go to work early tomorrow. Then I need to figure out something white to wear. This should be interesting since the only white I own is in t-shirt form and that is going to be cold!

It Is Banquet Time

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Smelly Danielly

Another year, another Trevisani Banquet!

I borrowed some of these pictures from Alicia, Dario, & Pat.

To see more of them click Here, & Here. Other photos are on Facebook.

Don’t we all look good!?

I Want Meatballs

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Smelly Danielly

So it was Wednesday, on Wednesday, and what does Wednesday mean? It means its time to hang out with Claudia and Alicia. Because you know, we aren’t allowed to hang out any other day during the week.

We started off the evening with Alicia being highly racist. At least her tits look fabulous. Enjoy.

And we carried on the evening with Claudia wearing her sweater inside out. She did this all day.

We decided to go to Ikea because Claudia wanted to make some purchases and since she doesn’t have a car she needs someone to drive her. Plus the stuff she was looking at buying was heavy, and she is tiny. This is where we stepped in.

We decided to go to IKEA for dinner as well. Now I have eaten the hot dogs and the cinnamon buns, and I know they have a little restaurant upstairs but I’ve never been so I didn’t know what to expect. Alicia assured me it was a good idea.

Oh, I’m sorry, whats this? A bottle of Wine, Pasta, Garlic Bread, and Cake for $8. OMG!!! Greatest discovery of my LIFE!

Now, as an Italian, I am very particular about my pasta, but for 99 cents this stuff was damn good. The noodles were little al dente but the sauce was money.

We were in heaven. Everything was so cheap and looked so good.

Thank you Ikea, thank you.

Claudia was beyond giddy, and with the day we all had, a glass of wine was well deserved. I still can’t get over Ikea selling booze. Its that even legal???

I told Chad we are going to Ikea for our anniversary dinner next year. I want to go back right now.

I still can’t get over the food.

Oh hey guys, pose for me would you?

Table Dancing.

I don’t think Ikea is up to date on their fashions.

These two girls are trouble.

FACE

Mirror Delights

Is it just me or does my body look weird here? Like my stomach is sticking out or something?

Chad is insanely anal about the side of wine glasses we have. We bought 6 a long time ago from Ikea that are actually quite large. I enjoy drinking from them but he HATES them. He uses the medium size stemless glasses we have for dinner and the small stemless glasses for lunch. Anyways, gets annoyed when we have to serve wine in the GIANT glasses and wanted to buy a set of smaller ones (that we have no room for) so I was looking at the new ones Ikea carries, but they still weren’t right. Srsly. SO PICKY.

When my Dad lived on the farm they use to have a cowhide rug (naturally). It was so beautiful and I loved it. Who knows where it is now, but I so want one of my own. Ikea sells them for a friggin arm and a leg, but I guess we have no room for one. Maybe for the new house, just maybe, I will get Chad to buy me one. PLLLLEEEEEAAAASSSEEE.

Oh hey look. Chad.

The Epic Mission of Claudia Carrying the Carpet.

The thing is bigger then her.

Excellent shopping trip guys!

For 30 bucks I got…

2 rolls of Christmas Wrapping Paper
3 packs of Candle Sticks
2 Glass Bowls
1 pack of Napkins
1 pack of Bag Clips
1 Pant Hanger

Hahaha, such a great collection of random crap.

Thank You Turd Face

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Smelly Danielly

Well…that was by far the most exhausting trip I’ve ever been on. I really had no idea what I had gotten myself into, but 12 hours of shopping, and meeting with sales reps, and walking around, and driving from one part of the city to the next almost every day, was more then my little body could handle. I don’t know how Claudia and the boss do this 4 times a year. Though, I have a feeling that now that I’ve done it once, its going to be a regular occurrence. The boss is getting older and already has a calendar full of trips that she takes, so I’m sure she would be more then happy to hand off a few of those to a capable assistant. And since I’ve done it once, and am quite comfortable with the surroundings and situations, I would be happy to go again, even though I WILL complain about how exhausting it all is.

The only celebrity sighting of the trip was Jesse Metcalfe. Lame beyond lame. I’m also 98% sure that while dining at Chin Chin on Sunset, Steve Carell walked by in a plaid fedora and smiled at me as I stared at his face trying to figure out why he looked so familiar. The only reason I didn’t name him as a celebrity sighting was because I didn’t have Claudia to confirm the sighting so it could have just been all in my head. Though I’m 98% sure it was definitely him.

Thanks to Alicias keen eye and fashion skills, she informed us that Target was currently selling a pair of boots that looked exactly like those made by Frye but for only $50. Needless to say, Claudia and I made a stop and both made the purchase! Real leather boots, that look like $300 boots, for 50 bucks. It’s a no brainer.

I also went nuts in Forever 21 and blew my budget on jewellry.

I am also majorly obsessed with the leopard print quilted change purse I got at Marc by Marc Jacobs. Had it not been at the end of the trip and had I not run out of money, I would have bought the clutch too.

Koi was amazing. Clearly the best Sushi I have ever had. No celebrity sightings, but one of the most amazing experiences and meals I’ve ever had the pleasure of partaking in.

The only downside to the whole trip was yesterday.

As we are about to board the plane back to Vancouver, an airline employee happened to take a look at Claudia’s Canadian Residency Visa. While Claudia has lived in Canada for the majority of her life, she still has her Chilien passport and is a landed immigrant in Canada. I don’t really understand all the specifics but as it turned out, her Visa had expired. So there we are, about to board the plane, and Claudia gets taken away and I am left standing there not knowing what the hell is going on. I stand by the gate waiting for her to return, thinking she’ll be back shortly. The entire plane boards and there is no Claudia. I get asked to board the plane as ‘it is not likely my friend will make this flight’. I’m sorry…WHAT!?

I boarded the plane in shock. I had no idea what is going on and I was actually quite panicked. They called me up to the front of the plane, only to tell me that they didn’t know when Claudia would be able to fly back home, but I would have to pick up her luggage in Vancouver as it was already on the plane. Both Claudia’s phone and my phone were dead so we couldn’t even message each other. I was left with no other information. I felt so helpless.

Sitting in the seat, all by myself, extremely worried about Claudia, I realized that there was absolutely nothing I could do so there was no point getting all worked up. I was seconds away from bursting into tears because I had never been on a plane all by myself, and as much as I knew everything would be fine and it wouldn’t be that difficult, I was just so freaked out about everything that has just happened.

The flight was fine and I landed in Vancouver, picked up both our luggage, drove home and immediately phoned the boss. Claudia had left a message on her phone so she was a little bit more in the loop then I was, but not by much. The last she heard was that they were putting her on a plane to Seattle so that she could talk to the Canadian Consulate this morning. Other then that there was nothing anyone could do.

I was basically upset all last night. Here, Claudia and I had had this awesome experience in LA, we had lived together for 5 days and had bonded, and then all of a sudden she was ‘taken away’ with out knowing what was going on. I know that sounds dramatic but its exactly how I felt.

Anyways, I got a txt from her last night around 11 that she had made it home, after 3 flights and $200. I don’t know what happened to her, but I will have to find out this morning.

It was a very dramatic and stressful way to end the trip. Ugh.