First Few Days in November

Hi friends,

( If you are looking for my post for Our World Tuesday you can find it here)

The first few days of November have been wet and raining. I was feeling under the weather the last while but feel somewhat better today. I need to try and pace myself as I've got a busy time ahead.  For me, being busy often means not getting enough good sleep and fighting infections; especially during the wet and rainy season.

I mentioned in my last post that I had taken 5 movies out of the library. The movies I picked up include:  War Horse (Jeremy Irvine) , Paris When it Sizzles (Audrey Hepburn & William Holden), The Trip to Italy (Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon), The Hundred Food Journey (Helen Mirren) & Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Gary Oldman). Four of these are movies I missed when they were in theater so I'm very happy to get them now.

I didn't realize when I took the movies out that the loan period is only one week long.  So it is a good thing that I've already viewed three of them.  The one I enjoyed most was The Hundred Foot Journey with Helen Mirren. I expected it to be good but it was excellent! The Trip to Italy is funny. I didn't see Steve Coogan & Rob Bryden in the similar movie called The Trip to England. What I enjoyed most about these two was all their impersonations. I've always loved a good impersonation. Also the locations in Italy are spectacular. I've never been to Italy and I'm not sure if I'll ever have the chance to go. Fortunately there are a lot of wonderful movies around that let me enjoy the sights of Italy vicariously.  The third movie I viewed was Paris When it Sizzles. While the vintage decor is divine and the two lead actors, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden were wonderful, the script left a lot to be desired. I guess that is why the movie flopped in its original release and was dubbed Paris When it Fizzles.  I'm still glad I saw it because I really like the two lead actors.  When I checked my library account, I found out that there are already 6 people waiting for The Hundred Foot Journey and there is 1 person waiting for The Trip to Italy . I will try to return them on Wednesday but hope to see the others first.
Mid-week, a friend and I are going to a book launch of local author, Carol Cram  The book is called Woman of Note (Lake Union Publishing) about a woman composer in 19th century Vienna. This event includes readings, a piano performance, and the world premier of a commissioned Trio for Piano, Cello, and Clarinet by Canadian composer Paul Cram inspired by the novel.  I'm really looking forward to the reading by the author and also the musical performance.

I'll  end my week with a visit to see a contemporary dance performance by the BC Ballet. I've never seen a work by this company and it very looks exciting. I love the choral singing that goes with the program in this trailer.

In other news, I'm trying to get my Compass Card. It is a card that will replace paper cards for public transit and not unlike those used in Seattle or San Fransico.   But because my card is a discounted one I've discovered it isn't as easy as going to purchase it from a vending machine at a train station.  I have to hunt down the locations where they sell them. Even though I asked for help from the organization that runs transit before shopping for the card, they gave me the wrong information.

I still have to run to 2 different places: one to get the card and one to load the card. The card can also be loaded on line, but you must order a card on line or pick it up in person. I was led to believe that the card could be purchased and loaded at any number of retailers as well as all train stations which is incorrect.  Ya gotta love bureaucracy where the left hand often doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

The price of the card ended up being double what one vendor said was the price.  Now I have to go and make inquiries somewhere else to see if I was charged the right price or not. I detest inefficiencies and have put off the transition to the electronic card for this very reason.  The transition to the new system has been in the works for 3 years. You would think they would get everything properly sorted out by now.  For seniors and the disabled, these new "efficient" system of doing business is actually much more difficult especially if they do not use a computer for their daily business. I hope they can offer more places to buy a card in future and also make it possible for the elderly and the disabled to buy their cards and load them anytime at any vendor location.  That would make the cards truly accessible.

As sun was setting tonight, I saw the lights from afar glinting off the highrises. I wasn't quick enough to grab my camera and catch the twinkling lights.  I did manage to catch the pink sunset and the mountain shrouded in mist.   I think it looks quite lovely though in person it wasn't quite as dark outside as it looks.

I hope your November is off to a great start.

Have a wonderful week and thank you for visiting.