How Life Didn't Turn Out

There was a long time in my life when this PostSecret would have spoken right into my heart.

I don’t know why my life morphed from what it was, what is was ‘suppose’ to become, and into the amazing beauty that is it today. It took a lot of work and maturing and sheer luck. I’m thankful that that PostSecret doesn’t speak to me; that this one does.



xo

S-Squared's Birthday

We celebrated a special birthday in the Steinbach family recently. My sister-in-law, lovingly named S-Squared, shone into her new year. Naturally there were countless, yummy salads and just as many cakes.

The birthday girl

The Mr and S-squared

All three Steinbach siblings

xo

For the Record: Guitar Hero

Guitar hero is a lot of fun, obsessively fun. Obsessively fun like its impossible to stop once the fun starts. Especially if Guitar Hero is played in a private theater room.

Yeah, thats a ton of obsessive fun.

xo

PS - cute new couple alert



Sparta Lives!

Although the movie 300 - which the Mr. adores - created the impression that Sparta ended dramatically in battle: have no fear! Sparta lives!

xo

Mr. Detroit

Over this past week I've been a little surprised at how often I've defended poor little Detroit - okay, outside of Detroit. Really, people, it isn't that bad. Actually, it was quite nice. Some of it even made me smile.


For example, Mr. Detroit – who rivals Captain Pittsburgh – and is a Detroit native showed me a good time. He is the roommate of the good friend I was visiting and his second possible nickname for this blog was “Male Me”. We’ve got a lot in common, including posing for super silly pictures.

For example, THIS is how one enjoys a real s’more.

And a game of pool.


So, see Detroit isn't so bad.



xo

On Request - Wonderful Whistler

Based on popular (meaning one) request, here is some more from Wonderful Whistler.

The Olympic rings, looking even more fabulous with three lovely ladies decorating them:

The ultimate downhill bike route:

Clear, clear water. Sure it was also cold:

What a bear of some ladies!

xo



Sushi = Squealing Glee

Sushi just makes me happy. The idea, the view, the taste, the after taste, just about everything about sushi makes me happy; happy in the way that expresses itself through delightful squeals and general excitement. Truly.

If you don’t believe me, I think you should invite me out for sushi and watch the entertainment start.

So imagine the little dance I did when I ordered this for take-out while in Vancouver (ignore the Styrofoam, that sorta killed the absolute buzz):

Or when I was handed this menu on my last night out in Vancouver – notice the all important “All You Can Eat” note at the bottom:

Yeah, that gets a total thumbs up:

xo

Vancouver vs. Detroit: S'more Style

One of my favorite activities when I was growing up, is still an activity that I really enjoy as an adult: sitting around a campfire, making s'mores. A s'more is comprised of two graham crackers, some chocolate, and toasted marshmallows. Yummy, yummy, yummy!

On this latest trip, I got the chance to experience two very different areas of the world: Vancouver and the greater Detroit area. In both locations I enjoyed s'mores, and looking back, I realized that the two s'mores reflected the spirit of the two cities.

This is a Vancouver (Whistler) s'more: organic, handmade, beautiful but slightly more concerned with appearances that most likely necessary.

This is a Detroit s'more: sloppy, super fattening, anything but organic, but really laid back and lots of fun.

That’s basically the difference between the two cities. And while Vancouver is absolutely complete kick ass,

xo

I found the Jesus!

If you don't know who the Jesus is or what movie created the Jesus, well, you just aren't as cool as you could be. I'd suggest changing that. Quickly.

xo

Introducing The Profis

While in Vancouver I was introduced to the world champions in food sharing: The Profis. The Profis not only share their plates during dinner – as so many of us do but won’t admit – but actually plan out their dinner order based on what they both want to eat. Because they know they are going to share anyways, so why not order things that they both want to eat?

If that isn’t clever to the tenth degree, I really don’t know what is. I can't describe how often I wanted to order two different dishes and had to pick one or the other. Wonder if the Mr. will go for this one...

Photographic proof is below, notice that the muffin Mr. Profi is divided exactly in half.

xo

Three Things to Smile About

Its a three-day weekend in Canada and the US. In celebration of the three free days, I'm sharing three things to smile about.


On the way to meet a beautiful little girl and her fabulous parents this weekend, I walked past some outrageously dyed flowers. They made me smile so brightly that I had to take them along for my visit.

It turns out that the little girl I got to meet is not only clever and beautiful, but she also shares one of my nicknames: Bug-a-boo. We just know she is going turn out to an absolute rock star!

The lovely colleagues that I’m working with here invited me along for one night in Whistler, a so-called "resort municipality" about two hours outside of Vancouver. Here are lovely ladies and a sneak peak of the beautiful environment that surrounds Whistler. More pictures will follow soon.

xo

Happy Happy Biking Day

I toured around Vancouver this afternoon on a rented bike. Although Vancouver is an area with over 2.1 million people, it has to be one of the easiest places I’ve ever biked in. Not that I’m a professional city biker, but I’ve tried my luck in a number of places in the world and this place absolutely impresses with me. The experience was stress and danger free and led to a very happy me:

Here are some more fun pictures from around the city. Unfortunately the pictures of the totem poles didn’t turn out well but you get the idea.

If my last posts haven’t convinced you to travel up here, I just really don’t know what to do with ya!

 
 
 
xo

How 'bout that?

This evening I had the pleasure to enjoy an excellent dinner at a Vancouver restaurant that serves only locally grown foods. The dinner was wrapped up with one of my favorite deserts, an excellent crème brûlée with fruits.

In another Vancouver-related story, there is a myth here that pedestrians wield more power on the roads than cars and buses do. So much so that even if a pedestrian boldly steps out into traffic when he or she has no right to do so, all traffic will stop – or at least slow down enough – for the pedestrian to safely cross the road. Think something like this famous picture here:

I strongly doubted this myth. In typical fashion, I decided to give it a try on the way home from the restaurant. Yes, I know it is relatively stoopid to step out into traffic just to test a local myth. In my defense, I chose a very well lit area shortly below an official pedestrian crossing and ensured I had enough space to hop backwards if required.

Result: all traffic came to a stop and I crossed the street is absolute safely. Well, how about that. Myth confirmed.



xo

A View of Vancouver

I think I'm finally over the jet lag - which was brutal because of this experience that led to no sleep on the plane - and ready to enjoy Vancouver. Last night I took a short walk  around the city while looking for a good place to eat. I can't add a lot of context to the pictures - but Look! Pretty!

This view is right outside of my company's office. Something about that head is creepy, yet reassuring.

Some high rise apartment buildings with a park - full of families - somewhere close to the water front, so these people have beach views.

The beach that was within five minutes of the buildings above.

Two views from the middle of peninsula. It was tough to choose pictures here because it is too easy to take a beautiful pictures that show the young, yet self-confident spirit of the city.

xo