homesickness: a picture essay

So what's new kidlins? First off, nobody panic, but I've managed to get a pretty good view of the New Zealand public health system. Once again, those dastardly tonsils have struck and have managed to get the best of me. I'm ok, insurance is covering it (THANK GOD) and really all that happened was I got to get some sweet as hospital food (oh my god it was awful, I'm honestly considering not checking the vegetarian option on the next flight/hospital form. I'd much rather have some dry-ass turkey or mystery-meatloaf than another painful excursion into "The worst possible thing we can make involving chickpeas"-Land.) There's a picture on my phone reminding me of the ordeal. Haunting.
But yeah, I'm alive and well. Don't worry a second folks!

So I've been gone for almost a full month, crazy hey? It's made me wax a little poetic and think about all the things I took for granted in Vancouver that I now miss a whole bunch. Here's some GIS'd up images of a lot of them.

Things I Miss Real Real Bad-like

Old Dutch and Hawkins Cheezies. Errr...I mean, my lady and my bestie of course.

The 2010 Winners of Couple of the Year.

These Knuckleheads.

Mi familia. EXTREME EXTENDED EDITION

Mama-mia! I had to really go into the vault to find a pic she won't murder me for publishing.

  

Things I Miss About VanCity

HAHA jokezzzz. Ok I'll be srs.

OK Seriously this time: Things I Miss About VanCity

THAT'S NO MOON!

Sometimes you just need a giant neon sign to remind you.

Ghetto Slice. I mean sure, its nice getting a grilled cheese at 2 am for 2 bux (Did I mention this yet?). But nothing really tops hitting Fatih's or 4 Bros for some serious eatz.

This is kind of a double whammy and a double edged sword. Coffee here is reeaaaaaal good. And there's like no Starbucks to be seen. BUT! I miss me some donuts. Supposedly to get your fix round here you have to go to the Auckland Airport to go to Dunkin Donuts? NO TY

THA HOOD

Even if it's gonna look just like this when I get back. Waitaminute. It looks like 2 pictures above now doesn't it? Shit, worlds are colliding.

I finally found a country where the money is more monopoly-like than ours! The real confusing bit is that a 10 is the exact same blue as our 5, so I keep being like yeah I've got a fiver then I'm like aw wait. THIS COUNTRY MAKES ME LOOK STUPID =(

Seeing this all the time =( Man I miss these lil dudes.

 Things I Probably Shouldn't Miss But Do

This Ol' Bullshit Festival. (And yeah I couldn't resist getting a second shot of Science World)

This weekly tragedy. It was hilarious to walk past, harrowing to enter. I feel that upon my return it may finally be time to, in the words of a very wise man Alan Ng: "Embrace the Douchebag" Well, there's Courtenay Place here, and it looks to be similar. Hopefully we can get a team outing and really regret something.

Disclaimer: I have to watch my words here so I don't come off as a total asshole here: But Wellington doesn't really have a homeless population. As someone who's grown up with this constantly and has like any Vancouverite learned to turn that blind eye in order to retain one's sanity while still trying to remain compassionate without becoming a handout machine (as you'll go instant bankrupt if you give a quarter to every person you pass). It's really strange to see this missing. It's sort of like going somewhere and slowly realizing there's no awnings, or maybe fire hydrants. Something that was just part of the scenery is missing, and its eerie. Maybe this means I should volunteer when I get back, maybe it means that I'm jaded. Maybe I am the asshole I'm trying not to come off as. But at least it's gotten me thinking. That's a start.

Maybe I've forgotten the smell, but I miss these cuties. Of course back in Van I was basically the only person who thought they were cute in the first place.

More wildlife. I suppose if I were to compile a list of animal traits I admired it'd start with resourcefulness.

  

That's enough for now I suppose. Obviously I could go on for ages. And don't take this post as a "BAWWWWWWWWW I MISS MY MOMMY AND PIZZAAAA WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" As that's not the point. The point is, Vancouver, Canada, and I had some sweet shit going, and sure I miss it. But that's just gonna make it all the sweeter when I get back. Maybe next installation will be a photo expose of some totally sweet but obviously mundane Wellington shizz. I.E. $2 Grilled Cheesez. TWO BUX!

Missing you all like cheap pizza on the steps of science world,

The Talented Mr. Fisher

Addendum: I think maybe I should tack on the list of things I totally don't miss from Vancouver.

THINGS I TOTALLY DON'T MISS FROM VAN-CITY

a.k.a. The Die In A Grease Fire List

This Bullshit. Tiny dogs. Like, seriously. And if you must have one, keep it the hell out of your purse. (Exception: Pugs [BOOPBOOPBOOP])

May God have mercy on us all. I sure hope I don't come back to find Starbucks on the other two corners.

Ok, this was kind of a tough one. But if you're going to take a swing at the everpresent Lululemon, I figure the reusable shopping bag is the most prominent symbol. Firstly, Lululemon and it's ilk singlehandedly set back women's fashion in vancouver by like...6 years or something ridiculous. We just recovered, maybe. The infamous hoodie, the yoga pants, the even worse Man-yoga pants. The fact that everyone in Vancouver wears this stuff when they aren't even going to yoga. GHHHRARRRRRRRRRGH. Man, it's just real unfortunate. That's all. Odd that the 3 things I just listed that I hate are basically all consumed by the same subset of people hey? I might as well toss in SUV's and Sports Cars and call it a day. Eh, another time.

Also, I kind of forgot, but apologies for adding in ads. I figure I might as well try to make a buck while I'm at it. Mom, don't cash my royalty checks until I get back!