The second Facebook Developer & Design Garage (and Facebook Awards) will be kicking off tonight at 6:00pm sharp over at the Vancouver Film School on Homer. Doors open at 5:30pm and space is limited to 100, so be sure to come on time. Here’s a sampling of what we’ll see tonight (and for more background, see my past posts about the event).

Potential demos include:

I will be liveblogging – at THIS URL – when things get underway and my entry will be complimented with live shots from Duane Storey who is the official photographer. I look forward to seeing some of you great folks tonight, and if you can’t make it, I hope this live blog will be helpful.

Update – 5:45pm – After piling into the lecture room at VFS, I’m hanging out with Phillip Jeffrey waiting for the show to start. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

It’s been so long since John and I had some down time, just the two of us, and with the sun shining today (at least downtown) we headed to our favourite place, just a short walk away.

Winter Beach – Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

10 minutes turned into 5 hours as we explored all of our trails that have been covered in snow, frost and ice since we last walked down them. Third Beach, Siwash, Marilees, Rawlings, Lees, North Creek and Beaver Lake. I think we covered around around 15 kms since after we stumbled out of the park, we headed downtown to do some quick shopping as well.

For those who don’t know – the Vancouver Aquarium has a little gate at the back that allows passers-by in the park (near the artists’ circle) to walk along a path and visit with some of the marine animals they house.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Although watching harbour seals frolic in a glass tank isn’t as fun as seeing them cruise by you in Burrard inlet, the kids with huge smiles on their faces running around talking about the Beluga whales seemed to have a pretty good time, thanks to this free preview.

I love going for walks with my husband, being outdoors, getting my shoes muddied and hearing the snap of twigs under my feet. I even enjoyed getting stared down by a squirrel that was the size of a housecat, even though it scared the bejesus out of me at first.

John took some really great shots this afternoon so here’s the rest of the day in photo-form. I’m really glad he’s getting some use out of his Christmas present.

Frozen Lost Lagoon, still not solid enough for pond hockey
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

It was like this throughout the park, just patches of green, orange and white
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

I had to
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Obviously the storms didn’t do a good enough job getting rid of those pesky trees,
the City had to come in and clearcut a bunch themselves to make room for
more tourist parking… but don’t get me started on THAT…
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

View all of today’s pics in John’s Flickr set.

I woke up with sun beaming through the bedroom curtains. The voice at the local radio station coming through my alarm clock said it was “frigid” outside but the warmth radiating from my window was quite comforting. As I was getting ready to head out this morning my mother called and said it’s a “white out” in Surrey. She couldn’t even see her neighbour’s house and my brother in law who was on the highway called to tell her to stay in today, and not go driving anywhere. As this was in complete contrast with everything I was viewing out my balcony I looked up a few local webcams to get the scoop (all still shots are from around 10:00am today)

The Katkam in Vancouver (what I am seeing)

Meanwhile…

Lougheed Highway

Boundary Road & The Queensborough in New Westminster

Willingdon at Highway 1

Port Mann Bridge

and going the other way on the Port Mann

It might not be too long before that front rolls over this way but in the meantime if you’re heading out today, check the local highway cams and traffic reports to make sure you’re not going to get stuck anywhere unprepared.

Last night over at the Lamplighter in Gastown over a hundred people mixed, mingled and shmoozed at Vancouver’s third Launch Party event, organized by the folks at Strutta.

It’s something I would have attended regardless but the night was extra special because we were getting together all of Vancouver’s Tech Women to Watch in 2008 for some photos, drinks, and good times. Duane was commissioned to take most of the shots and his work will be up soon on his website or Flickr. In the meantime, here are a few snaps from others that I’ve been able to find.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Maura of Strutta, and me in self-portrait mode
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Jordan of Strutta and me
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

The lovely Megan Cole and I, up to no good
Photo credit: IanivandArieanna on Flickr

Mr and Mrs Bollwitt
Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

I had a wonderful night hanging out with familiar folks from some really great companies, meeting new people, making new connections, and being able to promote my site all while sporting a snazzy yet cheap new ‘do.

After Launch Party, and with the help of Monica, we ended up at Tanya’s for what pretty much turned into a Vancouver Twitter meetup. I got to experience Rock Band and it was a lovely end to the evening although I think I’m still recovering… from all the photos that have been taken at least.

Yesterday was deemed the most depressing day of the year. If your winter SAD has kicked in or your holiday bills are catching up to you, that classification might be justified. But here in Vancouver RIGHT NOW, the sun is shining, yes, there’s SUNSHINE.

I propose, just for a day, just while there’s no cloud cover overhead, that there be no complaining about umbrella etiquette, ICBC rates going up in the Valley, school closures in Surrey, or the aging eye-sore that is BC Place.

Let’s just all gaze over at the gorgeous North Shore mountains, or peer across the ocean toward Vancouver Island, or you know, vote for our favourite local blog (whose only competition is “local” blogs in Ontario). But I digress…

John Bollwitt on Flickr

Sure, we could be turning a museum into a fitness club, but I want to focus on some fluffy, positive material here.

Open forum: What makes you HAPPY about living in Metro Vancouver?

No mention of the word “Sam”, “2010” or “Translink” (let’s keep it clean here folks) and no mention that when I missed the Skate for a Cure, that John got to meet Trevor Linden instead of me. It could just be one word, like “gelato” or many, like “snow day next week!”.