I also have studied photography for many years, and have taken professional portraits for many people already, and I wouldn't mind taking pictures for you, if you'd like.

soooo cool. I don't have any photography skills (isabel's the crafty one), but if you help doing any organizing or whatever, just let me know!

quote:

---

Originally posted by hermitclare:

Natalie, if you're around, I've been meaning to ask - are you articling with the AG? 'Cause if you are, I think we've been invited to the same Christmas party...[/B]

---

Why, yes, indeed I am. Is this party on the 18th? Man, we live in a small town.

Correction, Jan 21, 3pm? Do we have witnesses? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

I'm so excited for you!!!

Edited to say that I just spent 20 minutes banging on my outdoor staircase with a broom stick to get rid of the 1/4" crust of ice on the stairs. Highly therapeutic.

*unless I am able to take a vacation day then...won't know for a while, though!

Reload and READ crowjoy! Yay, kena can come! And geo, same advice as Casion, take it off!! Ahem, the day I mean. I am/will be a married woman you know.

I can just take a late lunch, and mosey on over...it's about a 5 minute walk from my office!

quote:

---

Originally posted by c_green:
I know we have several Vancouver digsters and I could use some insight. I want to surprise the boy with a trip to Vancouver for Christmas. The trip is a present but I was thinking we'd go in late January for a weekend. We will have a dog by then so lodging where we could take along would be good, or maybe even doggie daycares there?? I'm thinking I’ll book us at the Sylvia. Is that decent proximity to fun pubs and such? Also, any suggestions for good pubs, fun shops or any good local music. The boy is an ex-college DJ and loves him some blues, jazz, progressive and “Sad Bastard Music”. Just a couple of 20-somethings looking for a good time, but not real dance club types. ANY ideas or inside info would be great. I trust digs before any travel book. We just moved to Seattle from the mid-west and have never been to BC, but know we love us some Canada.

---

Here is some info on dog-friendly places in town, including some daycares (my friend's little dog goes to The Doghouse), and hotels.

Edited to say: yay! Vancouver is great! Full of beaches that dogs have tons of fun on in the winter! yum! dead seals to eat!

(rest of post has been edited because in my excitement I didn't actually read the whole thread.)

It looks like you have your witness situation all taken care of, but I'd still love to come to the ceremony, if that's OK. Maybe you'll need a backup witness!

You have no idea how excited I am about this. Feel free to give me a shout at the email in my profile if you have any more gay-community specific questions.

And for the record, I really like Milton. My aunt lives there, and works in Mississauga. It's right on the commuter train/bus line to Toronto, so it's easy to get downtown (about an hour trip) for some cultah. And it's got a fantastic small-town feeling about it. There are lots of housing developments going up around Milton right now, but the town itself is still cute and has lots of gorgeous historical homes. There are some good restaurants, a few grocery stores, an Italian deli, and the best farmer's market in the spring/summer/fall. You're very close to nature; a few minutes and you're in the country proper (i.e. farms). It's not the most left-wing or progressive of towns (not a lot of southern Ontario towns are, in my experience) but it's got a lot going for it.

I live in Vancouver. You're going to love the Sylvia. It's an incredible hotel literally steps away from English Bay - one of our many local beach areas. It's also in close proximity to all kinds of cool clubs and restaurants. I would strongly urge you to walk along Denman street which will be to your East at the hotel and also up Robson (tons of shopping although it can be a bit expensive). Robson has a great night life as does Granville Street.

I would also suggest you check out Granville Island (not really an island actually but it's under the Granville Street Bridge) across the water. Just ask ..anybody local will be able to direct you there. Some interesting shops down there. Any visitors I have had, love it there. Gastown is also pretty cool for shops. Very much a tourist location and very close to Chinatown.

There are really tons of places to go. For Jazz, one of my co-workers suggested these two places: Capones (restaurant and live Jazz club or O'Doul's. I have never been to each so I am relying on his recommendation.
http://www.jazz-clubs-worldwide.com/docs/canada.htm

Edited to add the link to said palmares here. Montreal's Plateau is #7 so it's not so bad

ETA Nevermind, I'll just email you

Ottawa, Canada:

The flood of American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased patrols to stop the illegal immigration. The re-election of President Bush is prompting the exodus among left-leaning citizens who fear they'll soon be required to hunt, pray, and agree with Bill O'Reilly.

Canadian border farmers say it's not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, animal-rights activists and Unitarians crossing their fields at night. "I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn," said Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota. The producer was cold, exhausted and hungry. "He asked me if I could spare a latte and some free-range chicken. When I said I didn't have any, he left. Didn't even get a chance to show him my screenplay."

In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher fences, but the liberals scaled them. So he tried installing
speakers that blare Rush Limbaugh across the fields. "Not real effective," he said. "The liberals still got through, and Rush annoyed the cows so much they wouldn't give milk."

Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals near the Canadian border, pack them into Volvo station
wagons, drive them across the border and leave them to fend for themselves. "A lot of these people are not prepared for rugged
conditions," an Ontario border patrolman said. "I found one carload without a drop of drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa Valley cabernet, though."

When liberals are caught, they're sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives. Rumors have been circulating about the Bush administration establishing re-education camps in which liberals will be forced to drink domestic beer and watch NASCAR. In the days since the election, liberals have turned to sometimes-ingenious ways of crossing the border.

Some have taken to posing as senior citizens on bus trips to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a half-dozen young vegans disguised in powdered wigs, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior-citizen passengers. "If they can't identify the accordion player on The
Lawrence Welk Show, we get suspicious about their age," an official said.

Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating an organic broccoli shortage and renting all the good Susan Sarandon movies. "I feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just can't support them," an Ottawa resident said. "How many art-history majors does one country need?"

In an effort to ease tensions between the United States and Canada, Vice President Dick Cheney met with the Canadian ambassador and
pledged that the administration would take steps to reassure liberals, a source close to Cheney said. "We're going to have some Peter, Paul & Mary concerts. And we might but some endangered species on postage stamps. The president is determined to reach out."

A manager I work with in TO sent me that, hahaha.

quote:

---

Originally posted by kena:
Ok crowjoy, you have to come clear with us on an issue of crucial importance: how are we supposed to dress for your wedding?

---