I went to give blood today. An important thing to do, as I feel being a healthy individual involves the responsibility of helping others. Such a shining citizen! I even brought my trade magazines, so I could study the latest trends and not be subject to the likes of People and Canadian Living.

With all this good intention, I neglected to take the precautions of eating and drinking enough prior to the event. All did not go to plan. The needle was in my arm for less than 10 minutes, when I started to get, literally, hot around the collar, sweaty palms and queasy stomach. Upon uttering "I'm dizzy," I was swarmed by three nurses who had my feet elevated and ice cold compresses to wrists and forehead before I knew what was happening. I was stuck there for a good 45 minutes, if you can believe it. Not good practise on my part. The worst was that I was facing the waiting queue, and they just stared at me. It was horrible, and I was thoroughly embarrassed.

Coffee + snack does not equal a solid meal. We have been deceived!

Seen on fencepost, walking home:

This garden was not planted here for people to steal the plants. Could the person who stole plants from this garden please not take any more, or better yet, gain a conscience, and return the ones you stole. It is never too late to stop being a loser.

Martin Budny

We went to see the Eastside Culture Crawl yesterday. Really really cool. We went to 1000 Parker Street, which is a four-storey warehouse that has been converted to artist studios. I loved the painters' studios which tended to be the ones with windows. Gorgeous spaces. I found it interesting my response to different peoples' spaces, there were ones that I was very comfortable in and others I wanted to get out of right away. No so strangely, I liked the art in the spaces that were arranged to my liking.

I was surprised to see a lot of bird imagry, at least five artists using bird forms in their work. I think this has something to do with the grey skies of Vancouver, we are often looking to the sky for signs of life. It was cool to see the different treatments, the emotions that each piece evoked. Some used the crows as ominous, another giving them human attributes. All beautifully done.

It was lovely to be in a studio space again - I found myself missing my artschool days and having a space I could make a mess in, create in, with no distractions. I think I need to make this happen for myself again, though I wonder when that will be? Maybe next year ... The idea of having a work space to retreat to is very attractive.