Monday March 16th, 2015

The exercise:

Write something that has to do with being: atop the tower.

Greetings from the 29th floor of the Century Plaza Hotel in Vancouver:

That's looking down from our room, taken on my camera. I've got shots of the view during the day on my phone but they haven't made the leap to the computer yet. And, yeah, it's not quite the very top of the building... but it's pretty bloody close.

Had a successful journey from the island to here. We stopped in Courtenay to pick up some lunch and snacks for Kat and Max, took the scenic route for most of the way to the ferry (had to cut in to the faster route to make sure we got there in time), had a smooth ride to the mainland, and then stopped for a walk in Stanley Park on the way to the hotel.

We went out for dinner before hustling to get Max back to our room before he fell asleep in his stroller. Now we're resting up for the last leg of this trip, which should hopefully see us back in Osoyoos by mid-afternoon tomorrow.

It'll be good to be home again.

Mine:

"Your room is on the 29th floor."

I was not expecting that. The discount site I used to book the hotel said that our room type was located between the 6th and 25th floor. I had hoped for somewhere around the 20th, in order to get away from the sound of downtown traffic and for a nicer view.

The 29th floor though? I was thrilled. My first thought was along the lines of 'I can't wait to see the view!'

And it is spectacular. Absolutely. But, having never had a room this high up before, there was one thing I wasn't counting on.

Whatever the hell is going on with my balance.

I feel like I've been on a boat for the last three days and I'm trying to get my land legs back. I honestly don't know if it's entirely mental (I don't really care for heights all that much - I wouldn't call it a full on fear, but it's certainly not my favorite) or if it's something to do with being up this high. I'm guessing it's the former.

Anyway. The effect is starting to wear off, so maybe I'm getting used to it. And the view really is incredible.

I think I'll just try to stay focused on that.

Sunday June 26th, 2011

The exercise:

How about we go with: the tower.

Quiet day off today, featuring rest and reading. Oh, and going out for gelato for after dinner dessert.

Mmm, Blackberry Merlot.

Mine:

It rose from the ground like a sickly old man without his cane, threatening to topple over at any moment and never reach for the sky again. Whenever the wind gathered strength and set against its walls I suspected that the end had finally come.

But still it remained upright.

No soul had been inside in recent memory, to my knowledge at least. Why someone didn't have it knocked down I never understood. Didn't they see the children playing around its base whenever the adults were too busy to watch them?

But still it stands.

Perhaps I shall destroy it myself. Not a finger would be raised to stop me. It's not like I believe in that silly old story about the last resident of the tower. Only little boys and girls are scared of curses these days.

But still I delay.