THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE TURKEY

Eventful weekend as The Forbzez and Corsi Incorporated traveled to Portland, USA for the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend. Here's the highlights:

THE GOOD - Other than holiday festivities, the order of the day was S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G and we succeeded where most others failed. We each had a mission (shoes, clothes, technology, DVD's etc) and we each found what we were looking for. The best part? In Oregon, there is no sales tax, so the price you see, is the price you pay, I love it. Michelle got the boots she so desperately wanted and I found some kick ass t-shirts and DVD's that I couldn't find in Vancouver. Proper!!!

On our final night we went for dinner at Juan Colorados, a mom & pop mexican joint that will always have a special place in my heart and its a must everytime we visit. Why? Two reasons, the GIGANTIC PORTIONS of tasty Mexican food for cheap, cheap prices and the CADILLAC MARGARITAS. A bowl full of premium liquor that goes down way too easily and leaves you smiling for the rest of the night. Highly recommended.

We also got to spend some time with the Family Hoiem (Stuart, Marisa, Riley, Tyler and Victor) as they opened the doors (and their kitchen) to us for the weekend. The were great hosts who took care of us with a great room at the Marriot and a Thanksgiving Feast that will go down in the scrolls of History as a great one but more on that later...

THE BAD - There was nothing bad about the weekend itself in Portland, the dinner, the family, the shopping, the margaritas, the city, it was all good. The bad part was the ride there and back. On the way down, we hit a Tsunami, or the I-5 equivalent of one, as a torrential downpour slowed our progress and made visibility a joke. Honestly, we almost died, a three car accident occurred in our lane and it knocked out all the power to this big black SUV that was in our lane. As we are driving along, Chad & I notice something in our lane and at the very last moment realize it's a car, we swerve into the other lane where a car had to slam on his brakes to let us in or else there would have been another accident. The girls never noticed as they were too busy playing Video Games. See? Video Games do save lives!!!

On the way home, we hit the snow storm and it was bad! Normally it takes around 5.5 hours to get from Portland to the Border, this time it took 14. 14 HOURS!!! Traffic was at a standstill for most of the night and SNOW was everywhere, the NorthWest got rocked hard from Seattle to Vancouver and beyond and in typical NorthWest fashion, most people don't know how to drive in this weather. Brutal, accidents up the ying yang for the entire trip and I counted 36 abandoned cars during the voyage. Awesome!

THE TURKEY - The girls might say they went down for Shopping, Chad might say he went down for Camera Equipment but I went down for one reason... DEEP FRIED TURKEY. It may sound gross, but I tell you, it is one of the best tasting treats you will ever have the chance to partake in. The Thanksgiving feast of stuffing, mashed potatoes, cucumber salad, green bean casserole and two kinds of turkey (Over Baked & Deep Fried) was a thing of Beauty, but the D.F.T. was the icing on the cake! Thanks so much once again to my American Family for inviting us over for the Holiday weekend!

NOW CHECK OUT THE PICS

LILLOOET 4x4 STYLE

After a lovely weekend in Tofino I arrived at work on Tuesday to find out that I was being sent to Lillooet BC to complete some environmental investigations for a client ON THURSDAY!! I had already booked those days with work that was due soon, but apparently that was bumped! If you have never been, Lillooet (phenically speaking lil-ooooo-ette) is located at the intersection of the Duffy Lake Highway and the # 12 between Pemberton and Litton BC, about 4 hours away.

It was one day of meet and greet and one day of drilling. Okay. No problem. A friend at work helped me to prep for the adventure and off I was at 7:30am Thursday. I had read the road conditons on DRIVEBC.CA (you see the signs all over the highway claiming they provide all the current road conditions and below the claim is the web site address but never the phone number, a tad inconvenient when you are already on the road!), anyway, the #12 had falling rock and slides and the Duffy Lake had compact ice.

Day 1
Hmmm. Tough choices. I decided to take the Sea to Sky which connects to the Duffy Lake as I had not travelled that way for a while and needed to stop at Canadian Tire anyway and I knew there was one in Squamish, okay decision made. Everything was going smoothly to just before Whistler where it started snowing, no problem, I drive a 4x4 and I had had the forethought to engage the 4x4 at the Canadian Tire stop (they are good at getting you thinking about your vehicle's treatment when you wander the isles lost like I did for a bit). Besdies the snow wasn't sticking so I continued along thinking about winter and snow and christmas. All lovely thoughts though Whistler, Pemberton and the first nations reserve with the cows loose and grazing in the ditches just off what was now the connection to the Duffy Lake Highway. Ha! I love my truck!

About this time I noticed I was now climbing, oh this was the part I had forgotten. The Duffy Lake takes you up and over the mountains in a pass much like Kicking Horse pass in Alberta. I was remembering that time I drove that route last: the park rangers had closed off the down hill portion of the pass heading west (my direction) and were only letting one car at a time over the crest and down, much like when you are at the waterslides. I also began to notice that there was starting to be much more snow and as I thought I had better start paying more attention, just as my truck started fishtailing and sliding all over the road!!! Luckily I was the only one there and I did not get into any trouble, but the rest of the pass you can believe i was white knuckling it driving in 2nd gear for about 45 minutes!!! However I was of sound enough mind to grab a snap of the fun!



Eventually I started the decline and the snow dissapated and I was almost there, in Lillooet. I arrived safe and sound, and completed the chores neccessary for day one. It was particularly windy and cold and I was frozen by the end of the day. I found my hotel, had a hot bath, and ran into a collegue who works out of the Kelowna office and we found a great little greek restaurant in town (well, greek, western and italian kind of combo). By the time I made it to bed I just fell asleep as I hit the pillow.

Day 2
Arrived at site in the dark to meet with my drilling team and discuss the plans for the day. Halfway through the first hole the Drill breaks down, down and out for a couple of hours while the cold winds of Hell blowing through Lillooet made us keep moving regardless. We eventually got things going but now knew that we were in for a second day, I wasn't coming home till Saturday. By the time the day was done my teeth were litteraly chattering, my lips were numb and I was shivering such that I could barely write, you can tell it in my field notes. All in all a good day as despite the issues the crew kept a positive attitude and it did not rain on us. We left the site at 4:30 in the dark and I went straight to my hotel and tried to warm up, 1/2 hour shower and bath and then under the covers to warm up to the CSI marathon. I had to order dinner from the hotel diner and pick it up across the parking lot and I was debating whether I really wanted that food. Hunger won out, unfortunatly, as the food ended up not being worth the trip.

Day 3
Met on site at 7:00 got everything done by 12:30 and headed home, the smart way, along the #12 and the #1, affectionaly called "the canyon". A route I have taken almost every year of my life for as long as I can remember. There was sunshine, no snow, no rain and amazing vistas with mountains, waterfalls, rockfaces, pines, hemlocks, firs, tammaracks, aspen, cottonwoods! AWESOME! It definitly forced me to remember just how majestic our province is. If you haven't been that way for a while it is a good trip to occupy the kids too as there are 7 tunnels you drive through and it keeps thm on the lookout and counting, at least it worked on my cousin and I every summer! (Our gramma was crafty!)

I highly recommend on your next day when you are wondering what to do, at least taking the #1 as far as a little cafe called The Hope Creek Cafe, just outside of Hope before Yale for a deli sandwich made with fresh made bread, fresh meats and cheese, hmm one of the best I have had in a very long time! The views right now are worth it with the snow just covering the peaks while the rest of the mountain is purple and green and the rivers are full. Oh Baby, such sweet talk!

I got home at 4:30 and all in all quite the trip, as usual. And as some of my friends might know, I love taking pictures from a moving vehicle 'cause you have to be ready and quick and sometimes its crap but every now and agin you "get it", check out the ones on our site for a little view of what I saw.

LILLOOET

TOFINO

It was a capital weekend. Michelle took me to TOFINO (small coastal BC town known for its surfing and whale watching) for my Birthday. Why wait until November? Well, with fall comes storms, with storms comes lightning and waves, I like taking pictures of Storms and Waves and Michelle knows this, that's why she took me. We rented a big cabin called THE BRICKHOUSE and there were a few of Michelle's work friends there as well as THE FORBZEZ. We spent the weekend eating fine foods, watching storms and having the ultimate relaxing time. Speaking of relaxing, if you get the chance to visit one of Tofino's many spas, CorsiWorld recommends Christy at REFLECTIONS HOLISTIC RETREAT, Michelle swears it's one of the best massages she's had in a long while.

Take a look at some of the pics HERE and if you get the chance, visit Tofino, what everyone says is true...

"It's full of hippies and surfers but man is the scenery cool!!!"

GEARS OF WAR

Despite working in the biz, I've never been much of a gamer but a few months back I got an XBOX360 and some great games. TOMB RAIDER, CALL OF DUTY 2, BURNOUT and lately LEGO STAR WARS. As the months wore on, I played more, I learned more and I enjoyed more and now I'm enjoying video games even though I am still quite the rookie compared to the majority of my homies Rob, Kev, Chad, Adam, Clint and Ferraro.

Anyway, today is a big day in the Gaming World with the release of GEARS OF WAR. Now, I've been excited for the release of Movies, Comics, CDs, Books and DVDs but never for a game. It's a bit odd for me but this is supposed to be one of the best of the best, a winner, a kick ass time with kick ass gameplay and graphics. Okay, so now I am excited.

This morning I waited out front of Best Buy for the doors to open at 10am along with 40 others. Now at the time, I thought all these people (of different ages and look) were there for other reasons but as soon as the doors opened, everyone went for the Video Game section and everyone wanted GEARS OF WAR. It was quite a spectacle to see all these gamers geeking out for their latest high, reminded me of waiting in line for the new STAR WARS movie.

Anyway, I am now the proud owner of GEARS OF WAR and I look forward to playing it on my XBOX in the comfort of my gaming chair in my gaming den. Game on!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH WALL!

Star Wars Wally, the Wallyball, Wall Unit, Walnut, Saucy Swall... whatever nomiker she goes by it doesn't matter, today is her Day O'Birth and we here at Corsi Incorporated want to wish her the happiest of Birthdays. Sarah currently lives in San Fran but she came home this weekend to celebrate with friends and family with a lovely dinner at KAI and drinks afterwards at AFTERGLOW. Field Correspondent Chad Forbes, snapped some pics of the event and posted them on his Flickr site which you can view HERE.

Happy Birthday Sarah, we love you!!!

FRESH INK

Five months ago I got my first TATTOO and at that time I said that I wanted to get more. Well I did.

You see, ever since I was a kid I wanted to get a Flash Gordon Lightning Bolt tattoo and so now at the age of 34, I finally decided to get one. But now, I've imbued it with some of my comic book love and added some SHAZAM and FLASH aspects to the original design. I'm quite pleased with the results but don't let anyone else tell you differently, a Tattoo on the wrist hurts!!!

Check out some PICS from the inking!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Well Halloween has come and gone. We didn’t go to any parties, we didn’t go out on Halloween night and we didn’t trick or treat BUT we did dress up. Let me rephrase that, Michelle dressed as ROSIE THE RIVETER and I wore a VIKING HAT… Booya! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!


Let’s focus on Michelle’s costume: The symbol of Rosie personifies the integral contribution and abilities of women in the work force and of the important contributions that women made to the war effort as increasing numbers of men joined the armed services. Over 6 million women from all backgrounds, and from all over the country, worked at industrial jobs that challenged traditional notions of women's capabilities and ensured American productivity that helped to win the war. The sight of women outfitted in overalls and wielding industrial tools became an icon that was popularized in the 1942 song, "Rosie the Riveter," providing a nickname for all women who worked in wartime industries. Across the nation women worked in defence industries and support services including shipyards, steel mills, foundries, lumber mills, warehouses, offices, hospitals and daycare centers.


Let’s focus on Gio’s costume: It’s a Viking hat which personifies beer drinking, armchair quarterbacking and various forms of tomfoolery.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!