(21 x 8) ÷ 6

I can't believe it's been over 5 months and that was the first lolcat on the blog. At least I think it is. Either way it's a smug cat wearing a crown so it's staying.

As I've mentioned before and most of you already know I'm not the birthday celebrating type so today will be fairly low key. Partly because I'm working today and early the next day, but having said that I'm sure there will be a certain level of shenanigans. Greg's kitchen has become the de facto birthday celebration den so it'll be off there after work for some pizza and cake. And maybe, just maybe, good times.

Other than that the previous week has involved heading to some bars in East Hastings. You know East Hastings, the only part of Vancouver you're supposed to avoid. But actually it was fine and we had about 3 pitchers, a pizza and some nachos for about $20 each. I also had one of those moments the day after where I wasn't sure what I'd dreamt and what had really happened. Not because of alcohol you understand, just because it seems my life has got to the point where I have trouble distinguishing reality from talking geckos. No wait that is real...sort of.

I believe there were some good photos on Rosie's camera from last week. I told her all I wanted for my birthday was for her to write the blog, so if emotional blackmail doesn't work I'm not sure what to try next. Anyway blackmail is such an ugly word; I prefer extortion. The X makes it sound cool.

Stop raining. It's not funny anymore

I don't really mind rain to be honest, but when it happens every single day for a fortnight it can get a little...tiresome. And here's something that will please Homer no end; I bought an umbrella. Don't get excited though dad, it cost me $6 from Chinatown, and I'm not sure but I think I may have already broken it. This is why I don't buy umbrellas. I don't trust them.

- Greg and I discovered Army & Navy right on the end of East Hastings (on Rosie's recommendation). This shops sells everything and if you can believe it, reminds me of a lower class Wilkinson's. Example: Greg was looking at shoes priced at $11. He wisely decided against it since they appeared to be made of some kind of cardboard. We also found a pair without insoles.

- I played Rock Band for the first time. It was alright I guess, but then I won't be saying that when the video Rosie took gets uploaded to Facebook. I also learnt that when the neighbours start banging on the ceiling, it's time to stop.

- Tinseltown mall is like some sort of pseudo-realistic world where shops go to die. One shop was closed at 3.30pm on Saturday. If you're closed then, when are you open? The cinema also cannot be trusted when it comes to movie times.

- I can honestly say that Friday night was the first time I've found myself ordering a dessert in the middle of a drinking session. Pecan pie + mojito = nice.

Also debating whether or not to go snowboarding next weekend. I know I should and I probably will but I'd have to buy ski pants. I usually delay buying new clothes until my current ones are physically disintegrating. Or it's a football shirt. Then it's different.

Why can't the Scotiabank theatre have an Unlimited Card?

The thing about living above a cinema is you tend to watch a lot of films. I don't mean surreptitiously, I'm not hanging on a trapeze from the balcony trying to follow the plot of Twilight. Then again I couldn't do that if I was actually in the theatre watching it. But it's just an easy and accessible form of entertainment to take the lift downstairs and catch a film. And they have something called Telus Tuesdays which basically means a cheaper ticket, free popcorn and a free drink. And since this isn't the UK the popcorn size is what you could describe as generous. The drink is huge as well, in fact so huge we saw a kid literally sprinting out halfway through the film yesterday. When you gotta go you gotta go.

2012 was alright. It was basically every disaster movie wrapped up into one. Obviously the visual effects were great but no one remembers them when they're good, only when they're very bad (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull anyone?). So on a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a 6.2537.

In other news we were in our regular eatery yesterday and everything was fine. Cheap pitchers, giant plate of fries, decent conversation. And then we saw a rat. A rat. He was huge, like a mutant badger. Of course I'm sure I've eaten in places with rats before, probably a lot worse, but you don't want to see one scampering around the place while you're enjoying a cream ale. He looked alright as rats go I suppose. So I hate to say it but I'm having second thoughts about the place. I mean I'm sure I'll eat there again but I'll never look at it the same way again. The best thing about all this is I took my parents there, twice. And they paid. Ha ha ha!

Another photoless update? How boring

Well I'm working on it. We got some fairly decent snaps earlier in the week so as soon as they're up I'll get the edited highlights.

On Friday myself, Piers and Rosie headed on foot across the bridge to North Vancouver. Partially because none of us had anything better to do but also because I wanted to get some stuff from the greatest shop of them all - Wal Mart. So 2 freezing cold hours later we made it. Sadly they didn't seem to want to carry jeans in any size other than XXXXXXXL so I'll have to wait another day. On the plus side Piers picked up some Animal Crackers and something else I can't remember. I think it had bears in it.

So aside from a few drinks and a few movies (2 good, 1 pretty bad) that's pretty much it. Busy week at work as predicted and probably more of the same next week. Onto the other highlights:

- Eating food in public can be embarrassing

- Not sure if I've mentioned this already, but there's a cat that lives in a florist downtown. He's got his basket in the shop and everything. A couple of weeks ago we walked past and he started rubbing up and pawing against the glass.

- Buying night vision goggles seems to cause endless amounts of confusion and even disgust

- Apparently Fruit Loops are some kind of food of the devil. What's wrong with liking a little bit of sweetness in your breakfast cereal? Also one Fruit Loop is a 'cereal' and a bowl of them would be 'cereals'.

I've been press ganging Rosie to write the blog entry but no luck just yet. She's complaining that she has nothing to write about but then neither do I. In fact where was I going with this?

The guest entry is coming, I promise

I've informed Rosie that she was the chosen one and has to think of exciting and interesting things to say and get them down on paper. As for when, well your guess is as good as mine but I reckon if a mate told me I'd have to write something for their blog I'd think it was great and then forget almost immediately. Don't worry, you'll be the first to know.

So moving onto the highlights:

- I'm not Australian.

- Apparently my Nathan Barley costume also reminded some people of Dennis Rodman. Good thing I can dunk (doughnuts)

- I found someone I envy at The Templeton. For those of you that don't know The Templeton is our usual food place, I probably go there once or twice a week and I'd say we're not unknown to the staff (one gives us free drinks). But I saw a guy in there tonight who came in and sat down without checking the menu. The waitress knew his name and said "The usual?". We have some way to go.

- Seriously, I'm not Australian.

- Paranormal Activity is a bad film. It's like all the internet scare clips put together in 90 minute marathon. But it was free popcorn night so I ate popcorn and drank Coke until my pores wept sugar.

- It seems people really like cats. 9 votes and only one that was for dogs. The right kind of people are reading the blog.

So yeah another crazy week in happyland. Next week is going to be a total nightmare because Call of Duty is out and I have to be in work for stupid o'clock on release day. Still on the plus side, I get to buy a pair of night vision goggles I'll never, ever use.

Who are you supposed to be?

Another holiday that I've never really had any interest previously came around at the weekend and of course I'm talking about Halloween. Since it's not very big in the UK and I never went trick or treating (in fact I don't even remember any other kids knocking on our door) this was my first taste of it North American-style. And it was good, although the drinks on the Friday night previous meant neither myself nor Greg really felt like having a big one. Nevertheless we suited and booted ourselves (well...kinda) and hit downtown. And true to the poll result on here a few weeks ago I did make an effort to dress as Nathan Barley. I went for the 'Geek Pie' Nathan, not easy since I don't have long hair, but I think I can honestly say I was the best dressed Nathan Barley in the whole of Vancouver.

Gold jacket (ladies) and glasses courtesy of rip off costume shop on Robson. I can't believe how much those bloody glasses cost me. Pose also thanks to Rosie's advice "Try and look like a wanker". Way ahead of you.

Greg with an excellent rendition of Ash from Evil Dead. I also helped to make the chainsaw. Well when I say 'helped' I mean 'sat in his kitchen making unhelpful comments'.

Rosie & Greg, with Rosie as a Zombie Pirate. I should point out she was working that night and we headed down to Score to sample the cuisine and the service. I can honestly say that when I've ordered another round I've never had the waitress say "Good"

Greg was having trouble with his boomstick all night. He knocked over a gravestone with it in the Beaver. Fair play, someone did ask him for his photo though "Bruce. Bruce! Mr Campbell! Over here!"

Now THAT'S a costume. Sadly I wasn't there to witness this one (all photos courtesy of Greg) but you can just tell from the picture how good that is.

After Score we headed down to Granville for a couple and to check out the costumes. We spied a rather depressed looking Robin in Speakeasy's (seriously, who goes dressed as Robin with no Batman?) and an excellent iPod guy. Sluttiest costumes had to be in the Beaver/Samesun Hostel. In fact that whole place was a den of inequity, I saw Superman smoking. Good thing Bruce Wayne wasn't there or he'd have kicked his ass into next week. In fact come to think of it I don't remember seeing any Batman costumes.

So like I say it was fairly low key. Friday night was spent having a few drinks with Piers whilst Greg and Rosie saw Evil Dead the musical (where does Greg get his costume ideas from?). Another trip to the Furniture Warehouse as well, and before you ask that's actually a bar. And it's great, all food under $5 and cheap beer. It's good food as well, although saying you had a great time at the Furniture Warehouse still sounds weird. And finally, on a completely unrelated note:

FOR SALE: ladies' gold jacket. Worn once, mocked several times. Size: (way too) small. May contain small traces of green hair spray. One careful owner. Ask about matching sunglasses. Contact via Sugar Ape.