Shot/Seen

wreath

Originally uploaded by gmark1.

…or happy whichever holiday you choose to celebrate.

Splash, a swimsuit store in the neighbourhood, has added Christmas to its window displays, combining Christmas bulbs and bikinis.

It’s not just a fun picture: it’s as close to swimwear-suited folk that I’ll get to this Christmas, the first in the last three or four that I haven’t been on the road.

Recent Christmas memories: wading in the surf at Carmel on Christmas Eve, watching folks playing volleyball on the Santa Cruz beach, strolling the streets of Key West in a t-shirt…

Christmas will be at home this year, but that’s nice, too.

The photo I really want of the Splash window display is during a wicked snow storm. But, living in Vancouver, I haven’t had the chance yet.

Link goes to my Flickr photostream

I have an addiction to what could be considered diner food, particularly for breakfasts. Call them greasy spoons if you want, but there’s something about barely-decorated cafés, outfitted in finest ’70s formica and industrial-strength fabric-covered chairs, serving plateloads of eggs, fried meat and potatoes.

Two poached eggs on toast, three or four sausage links, half-a-plate of pan fries with a slice of orange and a cup of coffee makes a fine weekend breakfast. Serve it in diner-style surroundings, preferably with a big window so I can watch the world go by, and I’m a happy boy.

Photo is from inside the Nemoto Cafe on West Broadway in Vancouver, BC.

Link goes to my Flickr photo set.

There is a Christmas door-decorating contest going on in the journalism department I teach in and, for reasons I can’t fathom, I’ve turned up on our office door as The Grinch.

I had nothing to do with the design: the contest was announced and the decorations more or less carried out while I was off campus. Katie and Carla did the design work. Carla, who teaches visual design, did the work and cut the snowflakes, including the one bottom right that is what’s left of my office schedule that once was posted on the window.

Our door may not win the competition, but it’s the only one on the internet.