I sent my niece a Valentine in the mail. It had a bee on it, it was pretty cute. I know that as a child anything that came through that mail slot with my name on it would light up my day. I think that’s also why at a Scholastic book fair one year I bought “Free Stuff for Kids”. It was a book with a whole bunch of contact information, where you could send a letter to say, the Otter Society of Canada and they’d mail you back a free poster or something. Yeah in effect, I sent myself mail, but I digress.

I hope my niece and nephews enjoyed the gesture, as it’s the only Valentine I’ve sent. Not even an e-card has been browsed from this end. We’ve been running around so much lately, and John’s been under the weather so our big day o’ romance on the 25th seems that much sweeter.

The Canucks face the Wild tonight in a must-win game (as per usual). Speaking of, I think I might have actually made a Valentine yesterday, for a special little lady over at Canucks and Beyond. Oh, and I just got email from my mom. She loves me.

If you really want to do something special, and have a very good laugh, check out The Onion’s Valentine’s Day 2007 headquarters page. Featuring a fun quiz and safe for work e-cards.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Put your feet up and lots of chocolates (or cinnamon hearts, or Cadbury mini eggs, or those hearts with the messages on them…)

Without Dave this episode we have a special guest joining J.J., Alanah, John and me for some good ol’ fashioned hockey talk. Run time 49:41, visit site to play or click here for mp3.

…we did find another blogger who loves the Canucks as well, but you’ll also hear about the “other team” he follows. Sean, aka Zanstorm, from Waiting For Stanley joins us from Smithers, B.C. to discuss the last two games against the Blackhawks and Thrashers.

Record as of this episode: 31-21-4
Northwest Division: 2nd
Western Conference: 7th

The hunt for the playoffs is on, so we cover some of that ground after getting to know a little more about Sean. John and J.J. also report back on what they can remember about the Thrashers game at GM Place. Rebecca checks in with the ever intriguing players blogs, and we can’t help ourselves from addressing the trade talks.

* Waiting For Stanley – Sean’s fan blog

When I first started blogging I think it was just something neat I wanted to try out. The first blog I ever read in a sense was Matthew Good‘s, from there I found more Vancouver blogs and eventually podcasts. Sometimes John and I get asked how to get into blogging, and I’m sure there are people out there (myself included) who want to know how to make a little more out of our sites.

Over time I developed my own little rules and protocol (e.g. quote your sources, spread some link love and keep an open dialogue in your comments etc.) but I had never read a useful and practical list until first I saw Tony Pierce’s “How to Blog“, way back when.

12. link like crazy. link anyone who links you, link your favorites, link your friends. dont be a prude. linking is what seperates bloggers from apes. and especially link if you’re trying to prove a point and someone else said it first. it lends credibility even if youre full of shi*t. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Update: I have two tickets to the Festival, Sunday May 20th $45/each. Drop me a line via the Contact Form if you’re interested – thanks!

Update to my post about the Virgin Festival in Vancouver, May 21-22 [Miss604]. As of February 10th, Muse has officially been removed from the bill for the Sunday show at the Festival. I am 90% ready to sell my tickets to the event right now.

Last year we were on hiatus (mostly due to my whole ‘getting married’ thing) but the family girls weekend is a go in a couple of weeks. For several years my mother, sister, aunt, niece and I have ferried over to Victoria for a 3-4 day weekend of Hotel pampering, spa sessions, shopping and touring about the city. It just so happens that our little trip coincides with the city’s annual “Be a Tourist in Your own Hometown” event. Basically, townies are invited to purchase a pass which includes anything from free admission to museums and attractions, free coffees or half price discounts for over 30 places around town.

It allows us to have a little getaway and see a lot more than we would normally because a) it saves a lot of money b) it gives you ideas about what exactly you can do in Victoria. I know we’re not from town but they usually give us a break at the Tourist Infocentre when we pop in every year.

Vancouver could really use something like this, sure we’re inundated with tourists daily but I’ve never been up Grouse Mountain and never gone up the Harbour Centre tower. Does this make me a bad local? I don’t really find a need to check out our tourist spots but I’d like to be able to play host when my in-law family comes to town. I’m sure they’d rather like to see the Vancouver John and I experience though, and not what’s plastered on the front of brochures and in promotional videos. For me, that view of Victoria works just fine when I experience it every 360 days, but I’m certain there’s much more to the city than an Undersea Garden and Miniature World.