Vancouver Trip - Day 12

TIMELINE

• 8:30 a.m. Awake
• 9:15 a.m. Breakfast - Skwachays Healing Lodge cafeteria
• 10:15 a.m. Walked to Gastown area; at Hudson House Trading Company - Gifts
• 11:10 a.m. Checkout - Skwachays, depart for airport
• 12:15 p.m. Arrive via Canada Line to YVR
• 12:24 p.m. Lattimer Gallery Shop - Vancouver International Airport
• 1:41 p.m. Starbucks - Lunch
• 1:47 p.m. Skyway Sandwiches - Lunch 
• 2:30 p.m. Flight departs for San Jose
• 4:45 p.m. Arrive San Jose
• 5:00 p.m. Call Air Canada to report broken zipper on luggage
• 5:45 p.m. Exited YVR Economy Lot
• 7:00 p.m. Penny Ice Creamery - Dinner
• 7:30 p.m. Home - Unpacking, cleaning, laundry, and so forth
• 9:15 p.m. New Leaf - Groceries
• 9:45 p.m. Home - Blogging, receipts, more laundry
• Midnight - Asleep

NOTES

• Feeling better but body still producing phlegm so not out of the woods yet...but much improved
• Two random artists not sure I mentioned:
• Les Finnigan - Guitar player on Granville Island
• Kaori Kasai - artist
• Called Toyota of Vacaville twice and finally got a callback saying the car was ready for pickup
• Finished watching Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - Air Canada charged for the headphones this trip, but they didn't on the previous flight (?)
• Bittersweet to leave Vancouver
• Public transportation just so seamless: Expo line to Richmond–Brighouse line to YVR...very easy and fast
• Missed opportunity to eat Tim Horton's smores donut...found two Tim Horton's in the USA departures terminal but one closed and the other sold out of them
• Skwachays Healing Lodge
• Viewed Smudge room and Sweat lodge patio; staff member helpfully volunteered to let us see it
• Has 7th floor, but rooms accessed via door on the 6th floor...that is, 6th floor rooms stacked...room 606 on 6th floor, but room 607, with entrance door right next to room 606, requires walking up stairs to 7th floor
• Samsung in-room audio speakers paired perfectly with our S7 Galaxy phone...listened to RHCP a bit
• Staff super-helpful; wish we had the $30,000 to buy the beautiful wooden artwork in the gallery
• Food:
• Skwachays: mini quiche, sweet breads, fry bread and cinnamon sugar fry bread, coffee, fruit yogurt jars
• Skyway Sandwiches: Veggie sandwich
• Starbucks: Chocolate loaf, americano decaf
• Penny Ice Creamery: Chocolate sorbet, Verve Coffee with chocolate almond praline, in a bowl with crushed waffle cone on top
• Supper: at home, Boomerangs (Australian hand pies)

Vancouver Trip - Day 11

TIMELINE

• 9:00 a.m. Awake
• 9:45 a.m. Skwachays Healing Lodge - Breakfast
• 11:45 a.m. Bloedel Floral Conservatory
• 12:50 p.m. Began walk to VanDusen
• 1:30 p.m. Arrive VanDusen Botanical Garden
• 1:40 p.m. Truffles Fine Foods Cafe - Lunch
• 1:55 p.m. Enter VanDusen Botanical Garden
• 4:00 p.m. Leave VanDusen Botanical Garden
• 5:05 p.m. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
• 6:55 p.m. Lonsdale Quay - boarded SeaBus
• 7:15 p.m. Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant - Dinner
• 8:45 p.m. Hotel

NOTES

• Skwachay's Healing Lodge
• Staff was very friendly, assisting us in getting to our first destination by public transit
• Gallery had original and certified Canadian artists, but we did not find anything in our price range
• Overall a very positive experience here, but it does exist in an area transitioning to a better place (we hope)
• For example, as we browsed, we overheard an artist describe an assault as she made her way to the hotel (apparently someone awoke on the sidewalk and swung at her and missed)
• Bloedel Floral Conservatory
• Overlook of Vancouver--can see many landmark buildings and Grouse Mountain
• Warm and humid
• Koi pond--learned some live to 200 years old
• Posed with many macaws
• During feeding time, many birds landed right in front of us, and some walked along path beside us
• VanDusen Botanical Garden
• 55 acres
• We wandered through the hedge maze for about five minutes--very nice
• Dawn found a Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)! It was their tree of the month in July 2016
• Passed fountains, ducks, a sunning turtle, bridges, a Korean pavilion, a medicine wheel stone circle, totem poles, sculpture, and a lot of plants--they need 1,200 volunteers and six full-time gardeners plus interns to maintain it
• We really enjoyed the entire place--hastened to leave to overcome one final destination...
• Really cute kid in a stroller responded to smiley faces I made at him from across the bus; Dawn and I both enjoyed it
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Hustled to get there from VanDusen--Vancouver public transit just great
• Dawn successfully navigated the suspension bridge, the treetop adventure, and the cliff walk--even the scariest parts of the glass floor and open grating overhangs
• Rained on the reverse crossing of the suspension bridge and got pics of a rainbow
• Pumpkins out in celebration of fall
• SeaBus - Sunset crossing
• Food
• Skwachays breakfast: mini-quiche, muffins, coffee, maple syrup, sweet breads
• Truffles Fine Foods Cafe: 
• Classic roast turkey & brie with green apples, watercress, and mayo, on cranberry sourdough bread
• Dessert in Jar: Chocolate Mousse
• Pumpkin spice latte
• Really nice place, great food
• Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant - 
• Herbal tea, shepherd's pie: seasoned ground beef, lamb & vegetables, topped w/ garlic mashed potatoes, crisp onions & rich beef gravy. served w/ a mixed green salad
• Watched American football, no British flag in sight--food good though

Vancouver Trip - Day 10

TIMELINE

• 9:00 a.m. Awake
• 9:55 a.m. Cora Victoria - Breakfast
• 10:37 a.m. Rexall #7121 - DayQuil
• 11:45 a.m. Board BC Ferries Connector Bus, Victoria
• 1:00 p.m. Board BC Ferry Coastal Celebration
• 1:40 p.m. BC Ferries Cafeteria - Lunch
• 3:45 p.m. Bus disembarks ferry
• 4:05 p.m. Disembark bus at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, take Blue Line to hotel
• 4:30 p.m. Hotel check-in
• 5:15 p.m. Leave hotel on Chinatown/Gastown walk
• 6:15 p.m. Trees Organic Coffee - Dinner 
• 6:35 p.m. Vegan Pudding & Company - Dinner
• 7:00 p.m. Black Lounge & Casual Kitchen - Dinner
• 8:00 p.m. Catfe cat cafe
• 9:00 p.m. Hotel

NOTES

• Cora restaurant chain has a sun very similar to one I used to draw 20 years ago
• BC Ferries Connector very nice experience, but traffic bad coming into Vancouver, so we got off early and took the Blue Line to the hotel rather than take the bus to Pacific Central Station
• Columbia Street between Keefer and Powell sketchy
• Heard steam clock chime 6:00 p.m., then watched it at 6:15 p.m. as it intoned the first four notes
• Maple Tree Square a lovely spot
• Hill's NW Coast Native Art store overwhelmed me with masks, heavyweight wool clothing, paintings, jewelry...great!
• Catfe:
• Walkin appointment late in the day
• A few cats out and active, a few asleep
• Purchased Catfe tee shirt
• Food
• Cora Victoria: 
• Strawberry-banana 3 layers of pancakes and a delicious mix of strawberries and bananas, drizzled with strawberry sauce and served with English cream Cora style. Also offered in a smaller serving.
• Ode to oatmeal: Oatmeal with English cream Cora style, blueberries, strawberries and harvest crunch*. All drizzled with pure maple syrup and served with toast. 
• BC Ferry
• Veggie Burger, fries, root beer
• Espresso shot
• Trees Organic Coffee - 
• Chocoholic Cheesecake For the serious chocolate lover. Layers of dark and milk chocolate will satisfy any craving
• Really great cheesecake!
• Vegan Pudding & Company - 
• Matcha Green Tea Pudding: with roasted black sesame sauce
• Cashier seemed like a sterotypical Japanese anime character, in a positive way...like a manic pixie with infectious enthusiasm
• Black Lounge & Casual Kitchen - 
• Pint of Guinness, Chicken Mushroom Alfredo spaghettini topped with pan fried mushrooms, spinach, fresh garlic alfredo, fresh tomatoes and green onion served with garlic toast
• Probably best chicken alfredo I've had
• Catfe - Chococat hot chocolate, Mulberry tea

Vancouver Trip - Day 9

TIMELINE

• 10:30 a.m. Breakfast - Jonathan's Restaurant
• 11:00 a.m. Royal British Columbia Museum
• Noon IMAX 4K Laser film - The Search for Life in Space
• 1:45 p.m. Lunch - Puerto Vallarta Amigos Food Truck (Behind museum)
• 5:00 p.m. Dinner - Fairmont Empress Hotel (High Tea)
• 6:00 p.m. Royal BC Museum
• 9:30 p.m. Leave museum
• 9:45 p.m. Hotel

NOTES

• Decided not to go to Butchart Gardens due to 5:00 p.m. tea time and rain
• Royal British Columbia Museum
• High quality exhibits, both natural history and modern history
• Our Living Languages and First Peoples exhibits/galleries outstanding
• Exhibitions:
• Terry Fox: Running to the Heart of Canada
• Our Living Languages: First Peoples' Voices in BC
• Natural History Galleries
• First Peoples Galleries
• Modern History Galleries
• Food
• Jonathan's Restaurant
• Oatmeal, side of potatoes
• Stuffed French toast with strawberries and brie
• Puerto Vallarta Amigos Food Truck
• Bean and cheese burrito
• Chicken burrito, root beer
• Fairmont Empress High Tea
• Savory
• Smoked Salmon On Blini - Classically presented with avocado cream cheese and pickled red onion garnish
• Hand Peeled Local Shrimp - Ginger lemon mascarpone, seaweed cone
• English Cucumber On Rye - Heirloom cucumbers from sunwing farms, fennel pollen, dill cream cheese
• Coronation Chicken On Brioche - Chicken breast, red pepper, red onion, almonds, pineapple; originally served for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and still a favourite at Buckingham Palace
• Signature Empress Warm Raisin Scones - House made clotted cream with strawberry lavender preserve
• Sweet
• Rooibos Provence & Hazelnut Delice - Rooibos tea infused provence served on a soft, local hazelnut delice
• Lemon Poppy Shortbread - A favourite of Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones, Princess Margaret's daughter
• Etenia Passion Fruit Cremeux Tart - Empress signature etenia chocolate with a balanced passionfruit cream centre
• Okanagan Apple & Crown Royal Spice Cake - Local blackberry butter frosting tops this classic royal spice cake
• Berry Pistachio Daisy - White chocolate cup filled with pistachio cream topped with fresh berries
• Tea
• Rose Congou Emperor - Five times layered with rose petals. A favorite of Princess Diana.
• Joie de Provence - An organic herbal rooibus tea. Fruity ripe berry notes balanced with mild lavender.

Vancouver Trip - Day 8

TIMELINE

• 9:55 a.m. Tim Horton's #2467 - Breakfast
• 10:15 a.m. Rexall drug store - anti-dizziness pills
• 11:00 a.m. Lucky Osaka Sushi at Pacific Central Station - Lunch
• 11:45 a.m. Depart on BCF Connector bus
• 12:45 p.m. Arrive at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, board ferry
• 1:25 p.m. BC Ferries Spirit of Vancouver Cafeteria - Lunch
• 2:35 p.m. Arrive Swarz Bay, depart ferry on bus
• 3:20 p.m. Arrive Victoria, depart bus, walk to hotel
• 3:30 p.m. Check-in at Royal Scot Hotel & Suites
• 4:00 p.m. Beacon Hill Park walk
• 6:45 p.m. Swan's Brew Pub - Dinner
• 7:35 p.m. Rocky Mountain Chocolate - Dessert
• 8:00 p.m. Hotel
• 10:00 p.m. Asleep

NOTES

• Took Fairmont Hotel Vancouver elevator to top floor, giving us a view of several gargoyles, a grand piano which Dawn briefly played, and a closed-off roof restaurant, but not much else
• Rose 31 perfuming body lotion a Dawn favorite
• Someone discarded their IROS 2017 tote bag on a fire hydrant outside the hotel
• Beacon Hill Park has flowers, ponds, fountains, ducks & geese, an overlook of the bay, a cricket pitch, and the world's largest totem pole
• Neither guidebook seems to say much about Victoria, so sort of winged it; used the Lonely Planet app to help narrow down what to see, but not much
• British Columbia Parliament Buildings and front fountain illuminated at night
• Horse-drawn carriages make clip-clopping noises through our windows
• Watched the Johnson Street Bridge open to allow a ship to pass
• Went to The Drake first, but found food selection not to our taste
• Munro's Books - Phoebe and Her Unicorn series has a new book which caught our eye, as did a new Sarah's Scribbles book, but we decided we didn't need more books to lug around...might buy when we get back
• Passed Bastion Square arch
• Almost all stores closed by 5:00 p.m. ... that was our running joke
• Pacific Central Station has columns in front and vestigial technology like empty phone booths inside; architecture of a different era (I liked it)
• Accosted by vendor wanting to show us the "eighth wonder of the world", which irritated Dawn further when he said, "How can you dismiss it like that?"
• Food:
• Tim Horton's - oatmeal (maple, berry), side of hasbrowns, pumpkin spice latte
• Lucky Osaka Sushi at Pacific Central Station - Veggie roll
• Central Station Cappuccino Bar - espresso shot, banana 
• BC Ferries Spirit of Vancouver Cafeteria - Veggie burger, fries, root beer
• Swan's Brew Pub - bacon mac & cheese, veggie panini & fries
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate - Chocolate covered brownie on a stick with M&M topping

Vancouver Trip - Day 7

TIMELINE

• 7:30 a.m. Awake
• 8:57 a.m. Blenz Coffee - Breakfast
• 9:15 a.m. Tractor Foods - Breakfast
• 9:45 a.m. Festal Paleo Cafe - Breakfast
• 10:00 a.m. On Canada Line
• 10:20 a.m. Begin False Creek walk
• 11:00 a.m. Pass Science World
• 11:25 a.m. Terra Breads #1 - Lunch
• 1:00 p.m. Ended False Creek walk
• 1:20 p.m. Stuart's @ Granville Island - Lunch
• 1:25 p.m. Rogers' Chocolates
• 2:30 p.m. Ainsworth Custom Design Art Studio
• 2:50 p.m. Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts - Lunch
• 3:05 p.m. Hotel
• 4:50 p.m. Met Dawn, ate dinner at Thai Express
• 6:00 p.m. Attended Jorge Cham talk at IROS 2017
• 8:25 p.m. Starbucks decaf to go with celebratory dessert
• 8:45 p.m. Back at hotel; news, blog, receipts, book ferry, and so forth
• 11:30 p.m. Asleep

NOTES

• False Creek Walk
• Pleasant walk, good weather
• One boat flew Soviet flag
• One boat name seemed vandalized, with "Blow Me" crudely painted
• Graffiti art of startled cat under Cambie Street bridge
• Watched a crow open an unattended backpack and remove a paper bag of food
• Jorge Cham talk:
• Points delivered humorously, in collaboration with PowerPoint 
• Credited Stanford professor Bernard Roth with challenging him to change his thinking on "things we have to do"--Dr. Roth proposed we do the things we do because we want to do them
• Proposed guilt as the main reason we avoid procrastination
• Food:
• Blenz: decaf coffee
• Tractor Foods: Cold day-old oats with blueberry and raspberry compote and granola, apple muffin
• Festal Paleo Cafe: espresso shot
• Terra Breads #1: mushroom, leek, and quinoa soup, with stecca bread
• Stuart's @ Granville Island: Turtle Cheesecake
• Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts: Lime Coconut Puff, Chocolate Eclair, Tropical Fave
• Thai Express: mediocre vegetable fried rice and yellow curry

Vancouver Trip - Day 6

TIMELINE

• 7:00 a.m. Awake
• 9:00 a.m. Blenz Coffee Bentall 5 - Breakfast
• 9:15 a.m. Vancouver Convention Centre - Breakfast
• 10:42 a.m. Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Noon Bus to Grouse Mountain
• 12:20 p.m. Start Grouse Grind trail ascent
• 2:24 p.m. Finish Grouse Grind trail ascent (2 hours, 4 minutes)
• 2:30 p.m. Grouse Mountain summit cafe - Lunch
• 2:40 p.m. Grouse Mountain summit gift shop
• 2:50 p.m. Board gondola to return to parking lot
• 2:56 p.m. Disembark gondola
• 3:10 p.m. Board bus to Lonsdale Quay
• 3:45 p.m. Lonsdale Quay - Boarding SeaBus
• 4:00 p.m. Canada Place - Disembarking SeaBus
• 5:30 p.m. Dawn's conference presentation
• 6:57 p.m. La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop - Dinner
• 7:30 p.m. Hotel - shower, change clothes, receipts, blogging, and so forth
• 9:40 p.m. Dawn done with convention dinner
• 10:00 p.m. Vancouver Lookout
• 11:00 p.m. Back at hotel
• 11:30 p.m. Asleep

NOTES

• Sick - runny nose; moving forward nonetheless
• Capilano Suspension Bridge:
• Arrived around 10:30 a.m. and glad not later--coming back across the suspension bridge was a crawl by 11:30 a.m.
• Bridge wobbles but has fine chain fence enclosures and thick cable at my elbow height, so didn't feel afraid, just a bit off balance
• Skipped bathrooms by parking lot (line) and found bathrooms inside the gate empty
• Treetops Adventure was well done but I moved through it quickly...wanted to get through it and get to Grouse Mountain
• Cliffwalk was also well done but moved through quickly
• Wifi password: "csbguest"
• Grouse Mountain's Grouse Grind trail:
• Facts (via):
• 2.9-kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain, commonly referred to as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster.”
• Elevation Gain: 853 metres (2,800 feet) 
• Base: 274 metres above sea level (900 feet)
• Summit: 1,127 metres (3,700 feet) 
• Total Stairs: 2,830
• Completed in 2:04:00 (average time: 90 minutes)
• Saw woman with baby climbing
• Took a slow methodical climb and finished feeling tired--but not wrecked...rest of day was able to function OK
• Entrance was quite a bit away from the gondolas, out on the road
• Regretted not wearing technical shirt--cotton tee shirt soaked up sweat and shocked me with cold when put backpack back on
• Stopped a few times to rest, eat a bit of a cheese muffin, and drink water...really out to enjoy
• Quite a few people out for speed and let them by; easy to hear huffing and puffing as they approached
• Lots of trees and a few chipmunks...saw bits of the bay far below nearer the top
• Getting to "1/4 Mile" sign put in perspective how far/long ascent would take
• Another woman complained of asthma and stopped frequently...I trailed her and her daughter for some time, until I took a break and they disappeared on ahead
• Lots of handy ropes and stairs...helped me a few times keep balanced
• Gave up caring about wiping away sweat after about 30 minutes...realized no way to finish without getting drenched...accepted it and moved on
• Gondola down took only six minutes
• Proud I finished
• SeaBus: 
• No problems at all; super easy to board/disembark
• Saw a helijet with rotors spinning on the Vancouver side
• Learned "quay" gets prounced "key", not like "quail"
• Dawn's presentation: 
• Thought she did a great job; sounded confident and slides looked professional
• Enjoyed seeing other presenters discuss microrobotics topics, including a mini robot that follows plumes of aerosols to the source using Levy Walk and spiral surge techniques
• Vancouver Lookout: empty when we visited (10:00 p.m.)...beautiful city lights
• Food:
• Vancouver Convention Centre coffee shop - pumpkin muffin, sausage biscuit, cheese muffin, espresso shot
• Capilano Suspension Bridge - Earl Gray tea to help soothe throat
• Grouse Mountain Summit - Espresso shot
• La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop - breakfast burrito special (black beans, soft egg, mini potatoes, etc.)
• Canada Place - Jugo Juice Acai Protein 

Vancouver Trip - Day 5

TIMELINE

• 8:00 a.m. Awake
• 9:00 a.m. Blenz Coffee - Bentall 5
• 9:20 a.m. Tractor Foods - 335 Burrard St.
• 10:00 a.m. Back at hotel
• 10:30 a.m. Left hotel for laundry
• 11:00 a.m. At Laundry Valet, 1238 Davie St, Vancouver
• 12:15 p.m. Heading back to hotel
• 1:00 p.m. Back at hotel
• 1:22 p.m. Hotel Fairmont Vancouver - Business Services print/scan/email
• 1:45 p.m. Caffe Artigiano - 763 Hornby Street
• 2:00 p.m. Vancouver Art Gallery
• 5:30 p.m. Pendulum Gallery
• 5:45 p.m. Vancouver Convention Center, West Building - Meet Dawn
• 7:00 p.m. The Hastings Warehouse
• 7:53 p.m. Bella Gelateria
• 8:15 p.m. Returned to hotel - put away laundry, receipts, blog, and so forth
• 10:30 p.m. Asleep

NOTES

• Laundry day
• Laundry Valet:
• Staff super helpful; best laundromat experience I've had
• Total cost: $CAD 5-6
• They name the washers and dryers: ours were "Samuel" and "Lady Gaga"
• Fairmont Hotel Vancouver charged fees way out of our price range
• Good deeds:
• Helped guy get back to his cruise ship at Canada Place
• Helped three young travelers looking for Vancouver Info Centre
• Vancouver Art Gallery:
• Claude Monet’s Secret Garden
• Paintings primarily from the Musée Marmottan Monet, I believe
• "The exhibition culminates in a major series of paintings executed in his famous gardens in the French village of Giverny, where Monet lived from 1883 to the end of his life. This series reveals Monet’s astute and sustained visual exploration of plants and water. His distinctive renderings of weeping willows, waterlilies and the Japanese bridge in his garden are among the most iconic imagery in Western painting today."
• Cataracts affected his ability to paint during his last two decades--later paintings seemed more abstract (though not all!)
• Stephen Shore: The Giverny Portfolio, another exhibit, showed 25 photographs of Giverny, including weeping willows, lilies, and arches
• Emily Carr: Into the Forest
• Contrast between new and old
• She painted most of her works in later life -- found myself wondering how age affected her perception of old and new trees in the art
• Easy for me to see the waving grasses she witnessed
• Elad Lassry
• A film projector displaying a motion picture art piece - I enjoyed the technology more than the art
• Pendulum Gallery - per a security guard, the pendulum was not moving due to work on the roof
• Bella Gelateria
• Cone with chocolate brownie and chocolate cherry gelato
• This place won first prize at the 2012  Firenze Gelato Festival with a "pecan and Canadian maple syrup gelato"
• Tractor Foods: they lost my sandwich order but gave me a free lemonade to say thanks--food so good!
• Caffe Artigiano - had an espresso shot and a ham/cheese pastry
• The Hastings Warehouse - meals for only $4.95! Slow but super good...best deal in town
• Kind of an overall catchup day today: apartment rental, tee shirt, Amazon return issue, laundry, and so forth. 

Vancouver Trip - Day 4

TIMELINE

• 8:00 a.m. Awake
• 9:10 a.m. Breakfast - Tim Hortons #4944
• 10:30 a.m. Check out, walk to new hotel, check in
• 11:00 a.m. IROS 2017 registration
• 11:53 a.m. Lunch - Tractor Foods @ 335 Burrard Street
• Noon - Bus to University of British Columbia
• 1:30 p.m. Nitobe Memorial Garden | UBC Botanical Garden
• 2:00 p.m. Museum of Anthropology at UBC
• 5:00 p.m. Bus back to downtown
• 6:10 p.m. Dinner - Yah-Yah-Ya Ramen
• 6:30 p.m. Back at hotel; blogging, news, UCSC CPSRC web page editing, receipts
• 10:30 p.m. Asleep

NOTES

• Scratchy throat...getting sicker
• Hotel Fairmont Vancouver:
• Resident black lab in their lobby (Ollie?)
• Roof access (?)
• Toilet handle needs jiggling to get the flapper down
• Electric/USB ports built-into nightstand
• View of Tiffany, Dior
• Large walk-in closet
• Rainfall shower head
• University of British Columbia:
• Nitobe Memorial Garden - lush, green, stone, grass, waterfalls, wooden bridges, tea house, koi fish, pond
• Museum of Anthropology - totem poles, masks, masterworks, pottery, exhibit on the Amazon, Dawn wondered about wearing the masks with the movable lower jaws, potlatch
• Fall colors appearing
• X̱wi7x̱wa Library (Squamish language-the number 7 represents a shorthand for glottal stop)
• Student Nest
• West 4th Avenue has a lot of commercial activity
• IROS 2017 registration went smoothly; found the room Dawn will present at; the conference wireless password starts with "v" and represents the name of a city....
• CityPass coupon saved us $18 already, so almost break-even ($25 cost)
• Called Toyota of Vacaville about car...corrected my email address, authorized car repair...way more than what it should cost and probably doesn't include labor, but there it is
• Make store at Granville Island responded and we settled on a color (heathered purple) for Dawn's tee shirt -- Lauren great at customer service

Ainsworth Custom Fabrication - Art Collective Storefront

This place represents my favorite Vancouver place, to-date:

http://granvilleisland.com/directory/ainsworth-custom-design

Felt right-at-home. Quirky and positive. Lots of care and thought put into almost every piece.

Wanted to purchase everything. Ended up with a Little Rabbit Notecard from Mary Kim.

Other links:
https://www.instagram.com/ainsworthcustomdesign/ (sporadically updated, since 2013)
https://www.facebook.com/Ainsworthcustomdesign/
https://www.yelp.ca/biz/ainsworth-custom-design-vancouver

Artist links:
https://chop-logik.deviantart.com/gallery/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/claudiasegovia/
http://www.sunny-shah.com/

Vancouver Trip - Day 3

TIMELINE

• 8:00 a.m. Awake
• 9:33 a.m. Tim Horton's #4944 - Breakfast
• 10:15 a.m. Canadian Crafts on Robson St - Magnet
• 10:30 a.m. Picked up Vancouver CityPass from ICE Currency Exchange
• 11:00 a.m. London Drugs - mailing postcard and greeting card
• 11:30 a.m. Vancouver Public Library
• Noon - Cartems Donuterie - Lunch
• 2:25 p.m. Ten Thousand Villages - two greeting cards
• 3:22 p.m. Roger's Chocolates
• 4:39 p.m. Ainsworth Custom Design
• 5:15 p.m. Omi Japan - Dinner
• 6:15 p.m. 7-Eleven #35667 - Ibuprofen
• 6:20 p.m. Back at hotel

NOTES

• "My Name is Citizen Crane" - sign outside Vancouver Public Library
• Canada Post employees friendly
• IGA supermarket lives on in Vancouver
• Granville Island
• Ainsworth Custom Design
• Kevin's favorite find, to date
• Vendor for local artists and quality very high
• Pickle Punch
• Cartems Donuterie: 
• Purple Yam (Ube Halaya) donut, Poached Pear donut, and strawberry mint tea
• While eating, a male passerby kicked over their A-Frame sidewalk chalkboard, punching a hole through one side...the man continued walking and the employees let him go
• Omi Japan - mushroom udon soup, chicken donburi rice bowl
• Roger's Chocolates - cashier had same name as my mother
• Dragonspace seemed run by really friendly people
• Fruit Buddy pear holder
• MAKE Vancouver at Granville Island - Dawn spotted a shirt design she liked and will custom order with women's fit and sage green color
• OSGEMEOS mural
• Really wiped out -- will have to do better about fueling
• "Trump name to be removed from Trump Tower Toronto—could Vancouver be next?" (via)
• Vancouver Duck Lady on Granville St. with pet goose (link)

Vancouver Trip - Day 2

TIMELINE

• 8:00 a.m. Awake (7.5 hours sleep)
• 9:30 a.m. Breakfast (Doolin's Irish Pub buffet, next to hotel)
• 10:30 a.m. Left hotel
• 10:42 a.m. Canada Post - mailed postcards
• 11:15 a.m. Entered Stanley Park
• 11:31 a.m. Entered Vancouver Aquarium 
• 3:45 p.m. Left Vancouver Aquarium, walked to Prospect Point (Stanley Park)
• 5:10 p.m. At Prospect Point
• 6:00 p.m. Totem poles
• 7:04 p.m. Refilled Compass transportation cards
• 7:17 p.m. Japadog @ 530 Robson - #8 Yakisoba, #11 Croquette, Shaked Fries Umekatsuo
• 7:30 p.m. Return to hotel, receipts, blogging, etc.
• 11:00 p.m. Asleep

NOTES

• Doolin's Irish Pub buffet: mediocre quality by 9:30 a.m. (closes at 10:00 a.m.)
• Stanley Park
• Vancouver Aquarium was great
• Ate: sting ray-shaped sugar cookie, kelp brownie, screamer sundae (ice cream and slush), latte
• Favorites: harbor seal, otters, rays (cownose, southern stingray), two-toed sloth (asleep, barely visible in upper corner), dolphin, false killer whale 
• A baby seemed fascinated with me and started crawling toward me; very cute
• Prospect Point: purchased moose pajamas
• Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus) sighting along path between Prospect Point and Pipeline Road
• Black squirrel sightings
• Japadog was great
• Ordered CityPass book for discounts on attractions
• Will check on Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (season opener was 9/22)
• Claud Monet exhibition
• Called pet sitters this morning and they said they incorrectly texted us about not having our key x_x So, much ado about nothing
• Everything with maple syrup tastes good this week

Vancouver Trip - Day 1

TIMELINE

• 9:00 a.m. Awake (11 hours sleep, with some interruptions)
• 10:00 a.m. Dawn meeting with academic advisor
• 10:50 a.m. Tim Horton's #4944 - breakfast of pumpkin spice muffin
• 11:06 a.m. Davie Village HH hardware - precision screwdriver set to fix laptop
• 11:18 a.m. Tim Horton's #4944 - breakfast of egg/ham muffin and pumpkin spice latte
• Noon Left hotel
• 1:59 p.m. Left Old Navy #4218 (purchased sweater for Kevin)
• 2:53 p.m. Grand Maple Gifts - tee shirt, maple tea, postcards
• 3:33 p.m. Ma Dong Coul Korean - Beef bibimbap and kimchi fried rice
• 3:47 p.m. 7-Eleven #33036 - purchased DayQuil 
• Stanley Park
• Six mile walk along entire seawall
• Walked to Prospect Point overlook
• 8:30 p.m. Rocky Mountain Chocolate - Chocolate brownie
• 9:02 p.m. Harvey's 946 Granville St. - Chicken Build-a-Bowl
• 11:00 p.m. Postcards, journaling, receipts 
• 11:45 p.m. Asleep

NOTES

• Felt mildly tired today...not sure if sick or just stress/lack of sleep catching up to me
• Rode Vancouver bus (TransLink) twice, using our Compass cards
• Tap and pay very popular
• Chocolate covered brownie: brownie core, one side had chocolate truffle filling, with a hard chocolate shell...very good after a long walk
• Stanley Park
• Clear water and blue hues to surroundings along seawall
• Saw the Siwash Rock, a great blue heron, raccoons, Teahouse Restaurant, a cruise ship, rowers in racing shells, and--after sunset--the Lions Gate bridge, the Lumberman's Arch, the 9 O'Clock Gun, the lighthouse, the Girl in Wetsuit Statue, RMS Empress of Japan masthead, the HMCS Discovery building, and the Vancouver Rowing Club building
• Called Toyota Vacaville as no word on car status...left info and later in the day received text requesting approval to text me...so I'm getting some kind of texts
• Realized SMS texts not going through due to lack of US cellular network...installed Google Hangouts Dialer app which I think also allows me to send SMS via Google Voice...works great

Vancouver Trip - Day 0

TIMELINE

• 7:00 a.m. Awake (five hours sleep)
• 9:00 a.m. Left home
• 9:15 a.m. Left Companion coffeehouse on Mission
• 10:05 a.m. Arrive economy lot, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
• 10:30 a.m. Arrive ticketing counter
• 10:50 a.m. Arrive TSA PreCheck security
• 10:55 a.m. Eat soup and salad at deli First Class
• 11:15 a.m. Arrive at gate
• 11:20 a.m. Board
• 11:50 a.m. Takeoff (Air Canada Flight 8115)
• Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (first hour watched)
• Things that didn't work on plane:
• Dawn's in-flight entertainment screen (as others)
• Rear bathroom
• Velcro holding up the emergency exit aisle's door release handle cover
• Things that did work on plane: everything else thankfully
• 2:00 p.m. Arrive Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• 2:34 p.m. Currency Exchange
• 2:50 p.m. Collect WifiCube cellular hotspot rental
• 2:56 p.m. Tim Hortons #595 (Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Pumpkin Spice Latte--verdict: creamy, not sweet)
• 3:03 p.m. Load Canada Line cards
• 4:00 p.m. Arrive Comfort Inn
• 6:03 p.m. Poutine at Smoke's Poutinerie (Traditional poutine)
• 6:54 p.m. Dessert at Tim Horton's #4944 on Granville (Cold Stone Creamery)
• 10:00 p.m. Asleep

Vancouver Trip - Day -1

TIMELINE

• 5:30 p.m. Leave work in Sacramento
• 6:35 p.m. Prius throws error code P0A93 - "Inverter 'A' Cooling System Performance" (Vacaville)
• 7:10 p.m. Better World Club requests tow truck
• 8:00 p.m. Tow truck delivers car to Toyota Vacaville 
• 8:20 p,m. Lyft arrives
• 8:55 p.m. Arrive Amtrak Suisun Fairfield station (after navigating to Amtrak Fairfield–Vacaville station, opening October 2017)
• 9:15 p.m. Schedule Lyft 11:30 p.m. service, from Oakland – Jack London Square station, to home
• 9:49 p.m. Depart Amtrak Suisun Fairfield station
• 10:00 p.m. Eat on Cafe Car (bean and cheese burrito)
• 11:00 p.m. Arrive Oakland – Jack London Square station
• 11:30 p.m. Lyft arrives
• 12:45 a.m. Arrive home, pack, clean
• 2:00 a.m. Asleep

NOTES

• As Dawn says: Planes, trains, and automobiles
• Vacaville rental services closed
• Toyota Vacaville had no rentals to offer
• Amtrak Capital Corridor Suisun Fairfield station train service to San Jose ends with the 7:34 p.m. departure
• Chose to keep going rather than stay in Vacaville overnight 

Gloria Steinem - My Life on the Road

Excellent book; some notes:

• Hate generalizes, love specifies.
• If you want people to listen to you, you have to listen to them. If you hope people will change how they live, you have to know how they live. If you want people to see you, you have to sit down with them eye-to-eye.
• That's why, if I had to name the most important discovery of my life, it would be the portable community of talking circles; groups that gather with all five senses, and allow for consciousness to change.
• "I learned from Flo Kennedy, who was a great civil rights lawyer and who was my speaking partner for a while. Nobody was better at a comeback. Some guy in some audience would say, “Are you lesbians?” and she would always say, “Are you my alternative?” and everyone would crack up. Again, it’s fun. And it’s consciousness-raising because you’re not just doing it for yourself and the other person, you’re also doing it for the people around you."
• She never learned to drive--when asked, she replies, "Because adventure starts the moment I leave my door."

NHLPA Hockey '93 - Was Bob Beers the Worst Overall Player (?)

Such a fun game.

Video accompaniment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0nw1a28DE

During high school, a few friends and I spent Friday nights staying up late playing pick-up basketball and playing rented video games.

For several consecutive weeks, we rented the Electronic Arts game NHLPA Hockey '93 (1992) for the Sega Genesis, the second installment of the franchise:

The included photocopied manual documented each player's overall rating, which determined their in-game overall ability. On a whim, I looked through the photocopied manual to identify the player with the lowest rating.

It tickled me to no end to discover (incorrectly, it seems) Bob Beers, a Boston defenseman, represented said worst player. At the time, I suspected the developers used Mr. Beers’ surname as an excuse to rate him the lowest—in subsequent games he rated much higher.

NHLPA Hockey 93 MD US Manual.pdf (last accessed 08/21/2017)
https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:NHLPA_Hockey_93_MD_US_Manual.pdf&page=32

I had a lot of fun playing as the Boston Bruins and putting Bob Beers into the game. The excitement led into curiosity about the real-life Boston Bruins and I started watching the Bruins on satellite television (we lived in the country and could pick up broadcasts from all over the country). When I left for college, my studies preempted hockey and I lost the momentum of following hockey.

Circling back, it seems the version of the manual above, page 61, pretty clearly shows Mr. Beers was below average, at 28, but not the lowest. For example, even Lyndon Byers, on the same Boston team, scored lower.

I got that wrong, which bothers me. I'm still not sure how--it seems too obvious to miss, and I have a strong memory of looking through all the teams. But there it is. It consoles me some to think that I was likely up late and saw what I wanted to see.

Good times!

Note: Bob Beers seems like a great guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06XmQCrf3Tc

Note: Electronic Arts released NHL Hockey in 1991, but it seems that game only named the teams, not the players, so I'm nearly 100% we played NHLPA '93 Hockey, which, in addition to naming the players, also had the music I remember.

Ramen

A Sacramento ramen restaurant seems to use "Paitan Ramen soup EX" as their tonkatsu ramen soup base:

http://www.somifoods.com/products/paitan-ramen-soup-ex/
Product DescriptionThis authentic tonkotsu ramen base blends high-quality tonkotsu broth with vegetables and other ingredients.
How to useMake the ramen base by combining 1 part of this product with 9 parts hot water or broth.
Packaging
60 fl. oz. (1.8 L) x 6

The web site lists the following recipe. So simple!

TONKATSU RAMEN
Ingredients

• Noodles – 1 bunch
• Cha-shu (roasted pork) – 2-3 pieces
• Green onions – A small amount
• Bamboo shoots – A small amount

Cooking Directions
Pour 1 oz. of Paitan and 9 oz. of hot water or broth into a bowl. Add boiled noodles and desired toppings.

Add as desired

• Boiled egg
• Red ginger
• Kikurage
• Dried seaweed

Photographer In Training

What is good enough?

Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS camera

• 8.0 Megapixel
• Focal length: 6.2-18.6mm f/2.8-4.9 (35mm film equivalent: 38-114mm)
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8 (Wideangle) - f/4.9 (Telephoto)
• Shutter speed: 15-1/1500 sec.; Long Shutter operates with noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 sec.
• Sensitivity: Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent (Standard output sensitivity. Recommended exposure index)
• Light metering method: Evaluative*, Center-weighted average, Spot**
• Pixels: Still Image: 3,264 x 2,448 (Large),
• JPEG compression: Still Image: Exif 2.2 (JPEG)

Depth of field increases with f-number, as illustrated in the image here. This means that photographs taken with a low f-number will tend to have subjects at one distance in focus, with the rest of the image (nearer and farther elements) out of focus. This is frequently used for nature photography and portraiture because background blur (bokeh) can be aesthetically pleasing and puts the viewer's focus on the main subject in the foreground. 

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3845728#forum-post-55833477
http://photography.tutsplus.com/tutorials/getting-started-with-your-new-monolight-kit--photo-14128
Monolights:

• http://www.blinkphotographic.com/collections/monolights/products/godox-ds200-200w-s-monolight
• http://www.amazon.com/Flashpoint-DG600-Watt-Second-Monolight/dp/B007JD3CZQ
• http://www.adorama.com/FP600DKT.html

Some helpful terminology:

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/which-camera-should-i-get/

Specifically:

Focal length describes the angle of view of a lens: how much of the scene it can take in. It is expressed in millimeters. The higher the number, the narrower the field of view. A 20mm lens is considered a wide focal length as it captures approximately an 84-degree angle of view. A 200mm lens, by comparison, offers a narrower, 10-degree angle of view, though with much greater magnification.

Photo Aesthetic

Aesthetically speaking, this resonates: clean and neutral colors, an honest but measured smile, thoughtful but minimal accessories, well-lit, focused on the face. It says, I am a comfortable person to be around

https://hired.com/how-it-works

Portrait Equipment

Lighting Kit Setups

• Beginners complete kit
• Lighting types
1. 1 main light: Flashpoint Cool Light 4
2. a1 fill light: Flashpoint Cool Light 1 (can be used reflecting into a white card)
3. 1 hair light (a small light with a snoot or grid)
4. 1 background light (any small fixture light will do)
• Lighting (other):
• 1 silver reflector umbrella: Creative Light 33" Silver Umbrella, (compare prices)
• 4 light stands: Westcott 750 Photo Basics 7.5-Foot Light Stand, (compare prices)
• Seamless paper background
• Miscellaneous:
• Extension cords (hardware store)
• Gaffers tape
• Extra bulbs (depends on fixture)
• Cloth work gloves if you are using hot tungsten lights (hardware store)
• An assortment of colored gels and diffusion material
• Clothespins for holding the gels

Photo Video Backdrop Stand Kit

• Ravelli ABSL Photo Video Backdrop Stand Kit 13' Tall x 15' Wide with Dual Air Cushion Stands and Bag (link)
• StudioPRO 3200 Watt Double 24"x36" Softbox Continuous Portrait & Video Lighting Kit - Film, Photography & Studio Essentials Includes Light Stand & 45W Daylight Bulbs (link)
• Main/Key light and fill light

Notes

• Backdrops
• Thin muslin white/black/green backgrounds...alternative (?)
• How to clean/press/steam (?)
• I use a small hand held fabric steamer (via)
• Lighting
• Types:
1. Main light (key)
• primary and strongest light
• Provides shape and form
• Can use umbrella or softbox
2. Fill light
• "fill in" shadow areas created by other lights
• provide an even, non-directional light
• adds  little character or shadows of its own
• nearly always weaker than the main light
• can use a shoot-through umbrella
• Alternatively: foamcore, at 45-degree angle, to the subject
3. Kicker light (rim, edge)
• accent the edges of the subject
• placed just out of view and, behind and slightly to the right or left of the subject
4. Hair light
• enhance hair texture
• provide separation from the background
• Should have a snoot or grid (note: maybe a filter frame?)
5. Background light
• Illuminates the background
• even or graduated, color neutral or colored with the addition of gels
• separate the subject from the background
• Notes
• Closer light to subject: softer; farther away: harder
• LumoPro LP180
• Softbox
• Emulate the soft, directional lighting produced by window light
• Directional
• Light modifiers
• Somewhat more expensive
• Slightly more complicated
• Basic knowledge of balancing main light versus fill light, so it won't produce contrasting lighting
• Octobox
• combines the benefits of both reflective and shoot through umbrellas
• Vendors
• http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759870-REG/Lastolite_LL_LS2462JM_Joe_McNally_Ezybox_Hotshoe.html/BI/2388/KBID/3211
• Umbrella
• Cheap
• Broad and soft source of lighting that could, for the sake of simplicity, be considered to emulate outdoor lighting
• Indirect, bounced light
• Easier for beginners
• Lighting is much broader, softer with less modeling on the subject’s face and there’s more light spilling onto on background
• Light is bounced, so the quantity is less, which requires lower f-stop and higher ISO
• Reflective 
• Light is reasonably well controlled and doesn’t bounce around everywhere
• Can’t produce very soft light, as the design forces the flash head to be between the subject and the umbrella, which means that it can’t be placed close to the subject
• Shoot-through
• only about 60% of the light actually passes through
• the rest bounces back and, in a small studio, will bounce off of the ceiling, walls, etc.
• creates pretty uncontrolled lighting and if the light also bounces towards your camera lens it can cause flare
• Combination: removable reflective cover
• Vendors
• Smith Victor
• Adorama
• Lowel
• Photoflex
• Lastolite (hotbox)
• Manfrotto (stands)

Chris Schmauch, Good Eye Photography

• Camera
• Nikon D800
• Nikon D3
• Nikon D70 (backup)
• Lens
• 28-70/2.8
• 17-35/2.8
• 70-200/2.8
• 85/1.4
• 60/2.8
• 50/1.4
• Lights
• Studio strobes
• Foursquare softbox (containing the four Nikon SB-800 speedlites)
• Nikon SB-600 speedlite
• Profoto B1 mono light
• 30″ softbox
• Other
• PocketWizard Flex TT5, to trigger/sync speedlites
• Lightroom

Resources

http://www.adorama.com/alc/0013566/article/Softbox-vs-Umbrella-Which-One-Should-You-Use

http://photo.net/learn/lighting/guide-to-lighting-kits/beginner/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

http://www.portraitlighting.net/multilightb.htm

http://www.diyphotography.net/take-professional-linkedin-profile-photo-living-room/

http://www.portraitprofessional.com/

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-camera-lens-filters-flashes-and-accessories-for-taking-great-photos/

Preparing for business portrait

"If you’re like most people, the idea of a closeup photo of your face is about as compelling as smashing your thumb in your car door. Repeatedly." ; o )

CLOTHING

• Style choice
• Friendly and nurturing, like a coach or a therapist? 
• Strong and able to take care of any problems like a broker or a lawyer? 
• Artistic and elegant like a gallery owner or sculptor?
• Classic corporate
• Casual: choose polished statement
• If not sure, bring several outfits tops
• Something professional
• definitely want a nice suit jacket for the professional look
• I recommend sticking to solid colors
• Something that will stand out against a darker suit jacket
• consider the overall tone as somewhat neutral
• Add splashes of color (power tie)
• 
  
• Something casual
• Avoid:
• Overly bright colors
• Lots of white/black
• Big or complicated patterns
• Large, reflective jewelry
• Caps
• Tee shirt length sleeves
• Personality, professionalism, and success
• Gray background: select blues, reds, greens, purples
• Suit: 
• Button top button
• Texture works best (for example, pin-stripe)
• Men look great in a light blue shirt and blue suit 

HAIR, MAKEUP, ETC.

• Look natural
• Look like the person you truly are
• Do not get a new haircut--at least one week, in advance
• If going to a stylist, maintain existing look
• Shave
• Men: Don’t be afraid to have light make up applied by a professional
• Oil-mattifier: controls shiny skin (really light lotion that soaks up oil without leaving any residue)

SETTINGS

• Studio setting
• Head and shoulder picture
• Best for: 
• Press release
• Newsletter or program
• Web site 
• Business card
• Studio setting works best
• Typically small and serve primarily to provide a means of personal recognition rather than to convey a particular expertise.
• Environmental setting
• Conference room, library, or office setting
• Best for:
• Corporate brochure or newsletter 
• Larger format on your website
• Communicates knowledge, proficiency,and warmth
• Blurred background: don’t have any context that gives away the location
• Alternative: three-quarter or full length view
• Natural light photography
• Very flexible in regards to weather, time of day, and location
• “Worst” time to shoot is high-noon (or whenever the sun is at its peak height):
• The sun is most “harsh” at this time
• Most natural light photographers won’t even attempt it
• For individual sessions, I like to get at least three different locations/environments, and with multiple outfit changes
• Artificial light photography
• Winter / early Spring shoots typically have the fastest turnaround
• Location ideas:
• Wilder Ranch
• 
  

EXPRESSION

• Purpose: encourage the viewer to bring his business to you
• Jaw: Forehead out and down, to tighten skin over jawlines..."feels weird, looks good" (link)
• Focus on the eyes (link)

LOGISTICS

• Sleep: get lots of it
• Set aside one-half of a day
• Items to bring:
• Comb/brush
• Toothbrush
• Just sit there and look "pretty"--let the photographer do all the work
• Time:
• 10:00 a.m.: 
• Most convenient time for people 
• Enough time to settle into work
• Still look “fresh” from the morning
• One person: 15-45 minutes
• Variables: 
• Location(s)
• Outfit changes

SHYNESS

• In good hands
• Photographer directs
• Very quick

POST-SHOOT

• Touchups:
• Tired eyes
• Stained teeth
• Blemishes 
• Wrinkles
• Chris definitely retouches purchased photos and, upon request, pre-purchase photos

USES

• LinkedIn
• Standard headshot
• Generally cropped pretty close in – say, mid-chest height
• 
  

RESOURCES

• Chris:
• http://www.goodeyeblog.com/how-to-prepare-for/how-to-prepare-for-and-what-to-expect-during-after-your-business-portrait-headshot-photo-shoot/
• http://www.goodeyeblog.com/2014/02/santa-cruz-business-portraits-buy-once-get-multiple-versions/
• http://www.goodeyeblog.com/category/san-francisco-bay-area-photography/people/business-people/
• http://www.thephotostudio.com/photography-blog/34-tips-preparing-for-your-business-portrait
• http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/83927/file-15743732-pdf/pdf/gittings-preparing-for-a-business-portrait.pdf
• http://snaphappyphotos.com/preparing-for-your-business-portrait-session/
• http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-for-a-Professional-Business-Portrait

Prius - Cleaning Interior Fabric

• Magic Eraser
• Foaming Window Cleaner: "He sprayed the foam on the arm rest, waited a few moments, and scrubbed back and forth with a white shop towel. Sure enough, the dirt came out of the fabric."
• Invisible Glass
• Gunk Foaming Glass Cleaner
• AFTA

Black beans from scratch

http://www.kitchentreaty.com/supremely-delicious-black-beans-from-scratch/

Sympathique

Dawn heard the song Sympathique today:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathique

Couldn't quite place where we've heard it before.

Belva Ann Lockwood - first woman admitted to Supreme Court bar

"My Own Words", by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, mentions the first woman to gain admittance to the Supreme Court bar, Belva Ann Lockwood:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belva_Ann_Lockwood

First Lyft Ride

Dawn and I took a Lyft car from our apartment to Capitola. Driver was friendly, car was new and clean. Recommended beer from Sante Adarius:
http://rusticales.com/

Straw superfino Ecuador Panama hat

Not sure I've ever come across a hat I think looks good, but maybe the Straw superfino Ecuador Panama hat (?)

Andrew York - Djembe

Heard today on KDFC

The Mockingbird Next Door

Notes:

1. Scuppernongs
2. Sawmill gravy
3. Potato logs - large fried potato wedges
4. Truman Capote - 
1. "Has anyone put Truman out?" - Nelle's father
2. Shared old typewriter -- one would type, then turn it around for the other
3. "An indulllged child" -- Nelle
5. Nelle Harper Lee's middle name came from Dr. Harper, a pediatrician who saved the life of her sister Louise
6. Nelle's aunt's vocabulary:
1. Cyphaloon - weather so bad it might as well be a cyclone crossed with a typhoon
7. Journey Proud - a person who tosses and turns on the night before a trip
8. Pounding the Preacher - paying the preacher with a pound of chicken or vegetables when money was tight
9. Favorite books:
1. Alabama History:
1. Pickett's History of Alabama: And Incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi from the Earliest Period (1851) - Albert J. Pickett
2. Stars Fell on Alabama (1934) - Carl Carmer
3. The Mind of the South (1929) - W. J. Cash
4. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941) - James Agee and Walker Evans
5. Inside Alabama: A Personal History of My State (2003) - Harvey Jackson III
6. Alabama in the Twentieth Century (2004) - Wayne Flynt
2. Fiction:
1. Tongues of Flame (1986) - Mary Ward Brown
2. Chicken Dreaming Corn: A Novel (2004) - Roy Hoffman
3. Petrified Man - Eudora Welty

A proper copper coffee pot

Carrie Fisher, from Wishful Drinking:

All I want is a proper cup of coffee,
Made in a proper copper coffee pot
I may be off my dot
But I want a cup of coffee
From a proper coffee pot.

Tin coffee pots and iron coffee pots
They're no use to me -
If I can't have a proper cup of coffee
In a proper copper coffee pot
I'll have a cup of tea.

She mentioned it was helpful while enunciating Star Wars lines.

No - Start Right Now

onTransition = {
  no;
  start(right, now);
}

https://oliveremberton.com/2014/how-to-debug-your-brain/

Mission Hill Staircase Tour - Santa Cruz

We walked the first half of the Mobile Ranger "Mission Hill Staircase Tour" this afternoon, reaching the Locust Street Stairs. We saw the Lower Plaza, the School Street Stairs, the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, the Mission Hill Tunnel, and a number of other historic and modern details.

STEPS

• Post Office Stairs: ???
• School Street Stairs: 73 
• Locust Street Stairs: ???
• Walnut Avenue Stairs: ???
• Red Room Stairs: ???

After, we split a Mission Hill Creamery ice cream brownie sundae (Cookie Monster ice cream) and a cherry mini pie, then purchased two pairs of socks, from the Sockshop & Shoe Company.

It looks like the Mobile Ranger app founder has decided to pursue other career interests.

Vancouver Travel Planning

Wi-Fi Hotspot Rental

• WiFiCube: http://www.mywificube.com/rental-fees-and-booking?location=66
• Other:
• https://rent-wifi.com/pocket-wifi-canada/
• Telus, Rogers, and Bell are the three biggest Canadian providers.
• https://simplefi.ca/
• https://www.cellomobile.com/hotspot-rental/canada.html

Itinerary

• 09/20 (Wed): 
• Arrive: SJC to YVR (11:50-2:03 p.m.)
• Hotel check-in: ???
• 09/21 (Thu)
• Stanley Park - aquarium, totem poles, etc
• 09/22 (Fri) 
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Grouse Mountain
• 09/23: (Sat)
• University of British Columbia, Science World
• 09/24-27 (Sun-Wed):
• Sun:
• Check-out: ???
• Check-in: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
• IROS Welcome reception (7:00-9:00 p.m.)
• IROS Workshops only
• Mon:
• IROS Technical Sessions
• Tue:
• IROS Technical Sessions
• IROS Conference Banquet (7:00-10:00 p.m.)
• Wed:
• IROS Technical Sessions
• IROS Closing Reception (6:30-8:30 p.m.)
• 09/28 (Thu)
• Check-out: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
• BC Connector to Victoria 
• Check-in: Victoria...???
• IROS Workshops only
• 09/29 (Fri)
• Victoria Island
• 09/30 (Sat)
• Check-out: ???
• BC Connector to Vancouver
• Check-in: Skwachàys (?)
• 10/01 (Sun)
• Vancouver
• 10/02 (Mon):
• Check-out: Skwachàys ???
• Depart: YVR to SJC (2:30-4:45 p.m.)

Hotels

• http://www.iros2017.org/registration-travel/accommodation
• Conference rates:
• Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown
• $CAD 229 conference base rate (before taxes and fees)
• $USD 176.51, as of 07/02/2017
• 17.5% taxes and fees:
• $CAD 269.08 ($CAD 229 * 1.175)
• $USD 207.40 ($USD 176.51 * 1.175)
• Out-of-pocket::
• $CAD 228 ($CAD 41.08)
• $USD 176 ($USD 31.4)
• Room availability, as of 07/02/2017: only Friday and Wed-Sun nights left
• Fairmont Hotel Vancouver: $CAD 249 conference base rate (before taxes and fees)
• $USD 225.20 ($USD 191.66 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 49.20
• Commute:
• 10-15 min public transportation
• 10-15 min walk
• Fairmont Waterfront: $CAD 299 conference base rate (before taxes and fees)
• Fairmont Pacific Rim: $CAD 339 conference base rate (before taxes and fees)
• Standard rates, by neighborhood:
• Downtown
• Days Inn Vancouver Downtown
• $USD 199.75 ($USD 170 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 23.75
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 8 min walk
• Skwachàys Lodge
• $USD 260.85 ($USD 222 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 84.85
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 17-20 min walk
• Kingston Hotel Bed & Breakfast
• $USD 135.13 ($USD 115 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 4/5, #57 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 17-20 min walk
• Howard Johnson Hotel Vancouver Downtown
• $USD 157.45 ($USD 134 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 3/5, #77 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 25 min walk
• Hotel Ambassador
• $USD 122.20 ($USD 104 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 3/5, #79 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 25 min walk
• Executive Hotel Vintage Park
• $USD 197.40 ($USD 168 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 21.40
• Commute:
• 20 min public transportation
• 30 min walk
• GEC Granville Suites Hotel
• $USD 202.10 ($USD 172 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 26.10
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 20 min walk
• Sandman Hotel Vancouver City Centre
• $USD 215.02 ($USD 183 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 39.03
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 20 min walk
• Greenbrier Hotel
• $USD 199.75 ($USD 170 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 23.75
• Commute:
• 20 min public transportation
• 20 min walk
• Ramada Vancouver Downtown
• $USD 205.63 ($USD 175 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 29.63
• Commute:
• 15 min public transportation
• 25 min walk
• West End:
• Sunset Inn and Suites
• $USD 263.20 ($USD 224 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 87.20
• 4.5/5, #13 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 15-25 min public transportation
• 30 min walk
• Sylvia Hotel
• $USD 148.70 ($USD 126.55 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 4/5, #34 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 35 min public transportation
• 40 min walk
• Buchan Hotel
• $USD 98.70 ($USD 84 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 4/5, #35 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 20-25 min public transportation
• 35-40 min walk
• English Bay Hotel
• $USD 150.4 ($USD 128 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 3/5, #76 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 25-30 min public transportation
• 30-40 min walk
• Sandman Suites - Davie Street
• $USD 139.83 ($USD 119 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 3.5/5, #63 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 20-25 min public transportation
• 25-30 min walk
• Riviera on Robson Suites Hotel Downtown Vancouver
• $USD 175 ($USD 149 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• Commute:
• 16 min public transportation
• 20 min walk
• Blue Horizon Hotel
• $USD 263.20 ($USD 224 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 87.20
• Commute:
• 16 min public transportation
• 20 min walk
• Fairview (across False Creek):
• Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre
• $USD 229.13 ($USD 195 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 53.13
• Commute:
• 20 min public transportation
• 50 min walk
• Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Vancouver
• $USD 173.9 ($USD 148 base plus 17.5% taxes and fees)
• Out-of-pocket: $USD 0.00
• 4/5 stars, #44 of 90 (TripAdvisor)
• Commute:
• 25 min public transportation
• 52 min walk

IROS

http://www.iros2017.org/

• September 24-28, 2017
• Conference site: Vancouver Convention Center West

Sight seeing

• http://www.iros2017.org/registration-travel/sight-seeing
• Whistler
• Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Grouse Mountain

Meals and incidentals:

• Canada: https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem_action.asp?MenuHide=1&CountryCode=1079
• All countries: https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78
• Breakdown of M&IE: https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=114&menu_id=75
• Effective Date: 07/01/2017
• Applicable Timespan: 09/16/2017 -- 05/14/2018 (off-season)
• Maximum Lodging Rate: $CAD 194 and $USD 150 ($USD 176 ($CAN 228.16) + 17.5% taxes)
• M & IE Rate: $USD 124 ($CAN 160.75)
• $USD 19 Breakfast
• $USD 31 Lunch
• $USD 49 Dinner
• $USD 25 Incidentals
• Maximum Per Diem Rate: $USD 300 ($CAN 388.91)

Transportation

• Santa Cruz to/from Airport (SFO?)
• Personal vehicle: Santa Cruz to/from Airport
• SFO Long-term Parking: https://www.flysfo.com/to-from/parking/long-term
• Shuttle to/from terminal
• Airlines
• Flight price tracking:
• Google Flights: https://www.google.com/flights/
• Hipmunk (add email address during search): https://www.hipmunk.com
• SFO to/from YVR Flights (Note: direct flights only)
• Air Canada
• 561: 6:30-8:48 a.m. (2:18 direct)
• 563: 11:50-2:08 p.m. (2:18 direct)
• 569: 4:50-7:08 p.m. (2:18 direct)
• Alaska
• American
• Delta (no thanks)
• United (no thanks)
• Virgin America
• SJC to/from VRY Flights
• Air Canada (Note: direct flights only)
• 8113: 6:00-8:13 a.m. (2:13 direct)
• 8115: 11:50–2:03 p.m. (2:13 direct)
• 8117: 5:25-7:38 p.m. (2:13 direct)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to/from Hotel
• IROS delegates can get to downtown Vancouver from YVR via Canada Line, a light rapid transit system for $9 (CAD)
• Taxis: $25
• Victoria Island
• http://bcfconnector.com/

Government Resources

• Passport: Valid through July 2026
• Global Entry:
• Valid through April 2022
• TSA Pre✓
• Expedited re-entry clearance
• https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
• U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver: https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/vancouver/
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): 
• TODO: When hotel booked
• https://step.state.gov/step/
• International Drivers Permit (IDP)
• Expires after one year
• Canada - Not needed; U.S. driver's license acceptable
• AAA in Capitola can provide
• Country Information:
• https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/canada.html
• Passport Validity: Valid at time of entry
• Blank Passport Pages: One page required 
• Tourist Visa Required: Not required for stays under 180 days
• Vaccinations: None 
• Currency Restrictions For Entry: None 
• Currency Restrictions For Exit: None

Pet Boarding:

• Peace of Mind Pet Sitting: 
• http://peaceofmindpet.com/PetSittingservices.html

Sites (Suggested)

• Victoria (Vancouver Island)
• Butchart Gardens
• The Fairmont Empress Hotel
• High Tea
• Vancouver

International Conference Travel Checklist

• Carry-on:
• Eye-mask
• Travel-sized toiletries:
• Hair brush
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mini deodorant
• Dry shampoo (recommended: Oscar Blandi)
• Linen face blotters
• Refreshing face spray
• Electronics:
• Laptop
• Laptop Charger
• International power adapters
• Mini power strip
• Cell phone
• Cell phone charger
• Flashdrive
• Dongles which use regularly
• Any adapters needed to connect your computer to a projector
• Extra:
• Kindle
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Traveling
• Printouts 
• Condense to one page; keep in wallet/passport bag:
• Flight information
• Hotel reservation (with address)
• Maps
• Location of the conference center
• Travel reason proof, for border crossing:
• Conference registration
• Talk/poster acceptance letter
• Water bottle
• Guides
• TripAdvisor
• US Department of State
• Identification
• Passport bag around neck
• Passport
• Printed copy of passport
• Boarding passes
• Conference essentials
• Business cards
• Color copies of poster (if presenting one)
• Note-taking:
• Writing utensils
• Notebook (for example, Moleskin)
• Water bottle
• Reusable travel mug
• Umbrella
• Small purse or bag (note: so don't have to lug laptop bag to dinner)
• Snacks (granola bars, fruit, nuts)
• Travel baby wipes, hand sanitizer (note: when bathroom essentials lacking)
• List of people to introduce yourself to (note: search the program online in advance, workshop, lunch, or field trip)
• Packing
• Outfits for each day, plus backup (in case of wardrobe malfunction)
• Underwear
• Socks
• Accessories: belts/leggings, jewelry
• Outdoor wear
• Coat
• Jacket
• Raincoat
• Umbrella
• Hat
• Mittens
• Shoes: comfortable, weather appropriate
• Toiletries:
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Hair products/hair dryer
• Nail clippers
• Shaving needs
• contact lenses/solution
• feminine hygiene products
• bite splints/retainers
• makeup
• medication
• ID:
• Passport
• Travel visa (if needed)
• Wallet
• Debit/credit cards
• Talk:
• Backup (!)
• Poster (with print-outs, in a poster tube with your contact info)
• Good to have:
• Mini sewing kit (for lost buttons, etc.)
• Travel laundry bag (these are great)
• Books, papers, or files you need to work while you travel (or finish your talk)
• Location of lodging, conference center, flight information, transportation itineraries, etc.
• Before you leave:
• Notify credit card companies of where and when will travel
• Citi
• U.S. Bank - Email them, like a barbarian: login, contact us, email....
• Golden One - Email them, like a barbarian: login, contact us, email....
• Capital One 360 - Don't need to
• Other (?)

Resources

• http://wikitravel.org/en/Vancouver

Reimbursement:

• Travel Process: https://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Travel_Process.aspx
• Travel "Keys": https://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Travel_Keys.aspx
• Travel Forms: https://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/travel_guide.aspx
• Travel Guide (that is, all the details): https://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Travel_Forms.asp

Previously:

https://iokevins-social.blogspot.com/2016/07/south-korea.html

SmugMug

Migrating ~6,000 photos and some 30 videos off Flickr, to SmugMug.

Constraints:

• Some "not found"...not sure why.
• Hit 5,000 max limit, per gallery, which sounds reasonable

Created a second gallery. Started importing the remaining 1,000+ files by selecting from the bottom and Shift-selecting randomly until I got something close to 1,000 files.

Jon Lovitz

Lots of memories of Jon Lovitz, but this one seems the clearest:


PLUG AWAY WITH HARVEY FIERSTEIN: KATHLEEN TURNER
Harvey Fierstein (Jon Lovitz) lets his guests - Lee Iacocca (Phil Hartman), Kathleen Turner and John Travolta (Dana Carvey) plug their projects and asks them if they would be attracted to him if he was a gay bee. [Season 15, 1989]

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/plug-away-with-harvey-fierstein/n9819?snl=1

Venison burgers

Toasted the buns: 350 for five minutes

Seasonings: salt, pepper, Lowry's

One egg plus one pound meat (Durham Ranch Ground Venison) plus a bit of Worcestershire sauce, into four patties.

Cooked four minutes, flipped, three minutes on the other side. Used the cover to contain splattering. Turned out medium-rare, but I didn't want to overcook.

Toppings: lettuce, tomato, ketchup.

Verdict: success. : ) Venison tasted just OK, to me.