Today was such a Monday. It dragged on, it was grey, gloomy, and people weren’t in good moods. My feelings towards man on the crowded soggy bus ride home who was setting his ring tone on his phone for 20 minutes just typified how I’ve felt lately. Yes, I said “typify”, thanks Ryan Walter!.

John and I are having some job woes right now. He’s looking since he’s got all his paperwork from the Canadian government, but we’re not having the party I anticipated. We’re busy, stressed, and scouring Monster and Workopolis for opportunities. We both have extensive experience and qualifications (and if you’d like to know more please contact me) but things just aren’t going our way. I haven’t spoken much as to why I left my recent position but technically “I was offered a lovely severance package so I accepted it”. Emotionally, it goes a lot deeper than that and even though I’ve put on a happy face, I’m still recovering…

I’m looking forward to tomorrow, I really am. We get to meet up with fellow Crazy Canucks podcast co-hosts for the Open Practice at GM Place. It will be really great to get the whole gang together, because in case you hadn’t realized, we record all episodes via the internet. John and I are the only ones actually in the same room together. I’m pretty excited to see Alanah again – she’s a total hockey blogger guru, and since she lives the furthest away, meetups like this are few and far between.

I am looking through the clouds at this point, although it just seems that our entire year has been a struggle, and things just never get any easier. But then again I suppose (and I’d like to believe) that makes John and I even stronger, as a couple and individually.

I just noticed this now because I had a post scheduled for 9:00am today. My WordPress didn’t spring ahead for Daylight Savings. I supposed that means everything I’ve scheduled has been going out an hour after I planned – oops. It’s fixed now.

This past summer a really good friend of mine went away on vacation for two weeks with her husband. Upon their return home, they found their house had been broken into and most possessions were gone. I’m certain it was a devastating blow to the young married couple, being one of those myself, I know how hard things are in the first couple years together and this must have been quite the stressful situation.

Recently I remembered how much of a Canucks fan she used to be back in the day. Hanging around outside the Pacific Coliseum, getting Trev’s autograph [wiki], running into Corey Hirsch [wiki], and having a riot at the Canucks Family Carnival. Her favourite player was Marty Gelinas “Marty” and she had a signed jersey of good ol’ number 23.

Gelinas was a factor in the Canucks’ 1994 postseason run. Though they lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the New York Rangers in 7 games, Gelinas himself had an opportunity to force overtime late in the deciding game. With Ranger goaltender Mike Richter at his mercy, Gelinas wristed the puck into the post, coming within an inch or two of tying the game. He had a strong career in Vancouver during his four year tenure there. His best season came in 1996-97 when he scored 35 goals and 68 points, highlighted by a four-goal game, and being voted the team’s Most Valuable Player after the season. [wiki]

The man who was traded to Carolina alongside the now PPV star, Kirk McLean will always have a place in our hearts. Unfortunately, my friend no longer has the prized uniform in her possession – it was a victim of the break-in last summer. If you have seen a signed Marty jersey around town, smelling like teenage girl from 1994 – please let me know.

Playoffs are on the horizon for our Vancouver Canucks and we discuss the last couple of wins, our new “fame” on Canucks.com and much more in Episode 26.

Dave is a healthy scratch on this episode, but the rest of the crew gathers to tackle the recent games, look ahead to who is coming up, and hash out some topics that the big media folks are drudging up. J.J. makes a call in from the game he went to against St. Louis(W), and we look at the other two games against Detroit(W) and Edmonton(W) in true TCC fashion.

Record as of this episode: 44-23-6
Northwest Division: 1st
Western Conference: 3rd

We also bring you some breaking news at the top of this episode regarding the Canucks and the world of podcasting, Alanah details her live blogging on the day of the Red Wings game, and J.J. presents some interesting insight to the slight against Naslund’s play even though the team record has been overly positive.

Visit website for Episode 26 show notes and links.

I have to admit, I’ve faked-and-baked more than a few times over the last couple of years. It’s nice to get a head start on your summer colour so that when you hit Third Beach you don’t blind those around you with your pasty whiteness. It also feels warm, and gives you 30 minutes to yourself, listening to tunes. Yes, I understand all of these are pretty weak arguments when you look at the consequences.

As of today, teens under the age of 16 will need their parents to go with them if they want to tan at one of Canada’s largest chains of tanning parlours.

And 16- and 17-year-olds will need parental permission to tan at Fabutan. The company says the new policy will ensure that parents keep track of how much their children are tanning. [News 1130]

Photo credit: kk+ on Flickr

16 year olds go tanning? Yikes. Not only does that not sound good for your skin’s health, but when I was 16 I wasn’t getting naked for nothing. (Pause for gasps of disbelief here because you all know I grew up in Surrey). No matter how safe tanning booths are reported to be, regardless of possible melanoma badness, you don’t want to end up looking like a 50 year old leather purse when you’re 35. It kinda defeats the purpose of trying to obtain that lovely looking sun kissed look, really.

Around Vancouver you can spot numerous bronzed faces on every city block. Thing is, I’m pretty sure they’re just very smart people who’ve been able to get out of town and head someplace tropical during these very grey winter months. Being lucky enough to live downtown in the summer time I have to say, I prefer real sunshine and fresh ocean air to the stench of toasting skin and cocoa butter simmering on a Viper VHR bed 4 feet away behind that rattan wall.