What did I do today?.........

Well, let's see. Starting to make new friends, (social distance safe) like Ophelia here, who I see once in awhile along my jogging route in the morning.

Now, the only housing I see around this area are townhouses, so I have to wonder where this beauty lives.

This is one thing I did not do on this day. One of Ritsue's many baking projects. (I have been blessed as the benefactor of most of her creations, including this focaccia)

One day spent celebrating Ritsue's and my daughter's birthdays at a park in Burnaby. ((Yes, we were more than 6ft. away. (just trying to get use to the new norm.))

Let's see, one day was Easter Sunday. Ritsue's first Easter in Canada. (It didn't take her long to figure out the foil was not edible, haha.)

The beautiful cherry blossoms of our neighbourhood in Burnaby have come and gone.

Like a lot of others, a lot of my days are spent watching t.v. shows and movies. One of the series we enjoyed was Upload, which airs on Amazon Prime. 

I was lucky enough to work as a cast driver on this show last spring when it was filming in Vancouver.

The five main cast were so awesome, it was hard to pick a favourite. (Andy Allo and Zainab Johnson shown here.)

The main star, Robbie Amell, as well as Kevin Bigley were always a treat to drive.

Ok, I picked a favourite. Allegra Edwards (on the right) was the most fun to drive. We shared many laughs over the 3 month shooting schedule

I think it was cleverly done.

One of the surprise stars of the show is Owen Daniels. He is the son of the creator Greg Daniels. Owen had many scenes throughout the series, always bringing a smile to my face and many others I'm sure. (I will always remember his endless energy on and off the set, as well as in my cast car!)

One day, in a parking lot below my balcony, nice to see the social distancing.

....one last cherry blossom pic.....

How selfish are people? You see more and more discarded mask and gloves every day!

On this day I ate Ritsue's delicious French toast!

I spend many days looking out of the condo towards Mt. Baker. On this day I either saw a tadpole or a sperm floating above. (depends on your head space I suppose)

We spent one Sunday driving out to my grandparents grave site in White Rock. 

A day later, I found a photo album that had a picture of my Grandmother and my Aunt at my Grandfather's grave back in 1956.

As always when I go to White Rock, a quick stop at Everall St., named after my grandparents.

This is as close as we would get to the iconic White Rock pier on this day. The pier and the beach are closed to the public due to the pandemic.

Some more social distancing activities. We were in the neighbourhood of one of my Teamster peeps, Tracy. We had a beer in his back yard. The camera was zooming in, we were not that close. (no offense, Tracy!)

Haha, I think Ritsue is in there somewhere!

On this day, I watched the goings on in the apartment building beside me. ((always something going on, never noticed it as much before.(oh ya, I was working before))

On this day, on the way back from an errand, a quick photo op at Deer Lake. 

It was way busier than this pic shows, which was our hint to get the heck outta there.

I'm dating myself. "I remember in the day when the Girl Guides came to your door selling cookies." Now we have to buy them at Save-On. (c'est la vie) Still taste the same, though.

On many days I peek out the window and watch the cloud formations. This, I like!

Days spent discovering new solitaire games. (The pace is NOT killing me, lol)

Spent one day on a hike in the ravine close to my place. (Thank goodness, not much people traffic on this route)

So close to suburbia, I bet a lot of people don't even know this creek exists.

Someone started a project to paint rocks along the trail. It's nice to see, they are scattered everywhere.

I finally received my absentee voter ballot for the U.S. June primaries. Hmnnnnn...... who to choose.....

.......I know who I'm voting for.......

On this day we discovered Kea's meat shop, which is relatively close to my place. We decided to try the ground elk and venison. (farmed, no wild)

Well, I don't mean to brag, actually, I do, but this elk burger was quite tasty! It was also my first foray into making oven baked plank fries as well. Nailed it!

On this day, Ritsue nailed this ramen dish!

I must say, more days of home cooking than I have probably had in many years, and certainly before I got involved in the film industry. (No one know when filming will resume in Vancouver. The latest speculation has studio shows (including the Good Doctor) starting sometime in July. 

On this day, digging up old pictures seemed like a plan. This picture (me and my two brothers Skip and Don) says it all, I NEED A HAIRCUT!

One day digging through storage, I hope it doesn't get to this.

Not quite, but there's still time! Be safe everyone!

The new normal?

Ahhh, the new normal, sunsets at Stanley Park. (Oh ya, wait a minute, that was actually the last night you could drive in Stanley Park due to Covid-19)

I'm sure for everyone, it's been quite an adjustment.

The positives: ahhh, home-cooked meals. (mostly served by the master in-house chef herself)

.....actually it was 3 thumbs up if you include me!)

Another positive: going through boxes of junk I have stored over the years and finding cool junk like this Charlestown Chiefs figurine from the movie Slap Shot.

.....and finding old pictures, like this one of my brother Rick (who just passed away in December.) and his wife 

Wendy, who came to visit us when we lived in the Okanagan back in the 70's?

....and this pic of my brother Don (who passed away in 1984 and bro Skip. They had a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup at a hotel in Edmonton back when the Oilers won their first of five cups.

...and finding notes from the kids back when they were little, Priceless!

When was the last time gas was under a $1 per litre??? (In Vancouver, not in recent memory)

We did wander from home a couple of times. We went to Spanish Banks out by UBC on one evening.

This would be one of the last times we have ventured very far from home as the gravity of the Covid-19 situation was settling in.

Another attempt at cell phone camera art.

We did get to see a seal, though!

People seem to be listening to the stay at home advice. 

Outside of my condo, that is one crazy looking squirrel. 

......I've been keeping busy, though, like watching Ritsue heading to the store.....

......watching Ritsue go to the store......

.....watching Ritsue farther away heading to the store.....

......and watching, oh never mind, you get the picture, or pictures.....

.....the bonus of house arrest is all the good home cooking. Ritsue  preparing what I am calling her famous dumplings.

Oh man!

Voila'! So scrumptious!

Lots of time to stare out the window and watch the ever changing weather.

Not quite there yet, but I am on the 11th floor....

Many interesting, oishii (tasty) dishes these days, courtesy of Ritsue.

Watching Mt. Baker is another one of my hobbies these days.

Fresh bread?!!! Woohoo!

Haha, Ritsue sewed us matching masks.

One of the news stories was on the downfall of the tourism industry in British Columbia. This shot is of the Rocky Mountaineer train on its way from Vancouver to the Rockies. I'm proud to say I was on the train on that day. (I was part of a group of actors on the train filming a commercial. I distinctly remember the smoke from the many forest fires around the area that summer.)

More home, more food! This time chijimi!

The cherry blossoms have come and gone.

The Queen made a rare speech, reassuring her country amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

This looks like a bad news story, but it's actually a good news story. I bought a new Black & Decker mixer around Christmas time. It died mid use about a month ago. I could not find the receipt, so I thought I'd take a chance a call B & D. They said if I sent a picture of the cut cord, and a $6 charge for shipping and handling, they would send me a new one. I'm happy to report it arrived yesterday!

.....back to the final drive at Stanley Park......

One last look out over English Bay before we head back home to hunker down.

Why can't the freeway traffic be like this when I am working??????

I'm working on that one.............