Call it a whirwind tour if you like, but eight days is a pretty short time to go from Cayman to Vancouver. It takes a day (and an overnight usually) each way to get there, there's three hours difference, and you have to go through customs and immigration twice.

That said, I had an absolutely fab week. Sunday the 19th I left and had dinner with Shannon (but no Bella this time) in South Beach and the freakin Gipsy Kings were playing at the lounge/bar/restaurant where we were eating. Way cool!

Monday I flew into Vancouver, Ork picked me up, missed a connection with Fedde, headed to my parents place and crashed.

Tuesday I drove out to The 'Wack to see Scott and pick up the bag he carried back for me a month ago or so and then had dinner at Montana's Cookhouse in Coquitlam Center. Pretty good bbq chicken & ribs.. best I've had outside of Texas, anyway. My Dad didn't like his burger, he thought it was too dry, but that's what you get for ordering a burger at a bbq joint. It's almost as bad as ordering a steak in IHOP and not having a good experience. :)

Wednesday Rich and I had lunch at Burger Heaven, in what seems to be turning into a tradition and then I had probably one of the best steak dinners I've ever had at Gotham Steakhouse. The whole evening was great: the company, the cocktails, the wine, the oysters and of course, the steaks.

Thursday night Rich & Stacy had me over for dinner and a little geekfest afterwards. w00t!

Friday was Christmas Eve, so I went out to the mall and finished my shopping. Not really, I already had everything, but I wanted to witness the capitalistic commercial orgy for my own eyes. It's kind of like watching Jerry Springer or a train wreck, you know you shouldn't look, but you just can't help it. I met up with Bob and my cousin for lunch and hockey talk (Just call, we'll talk hockey with Paul Baldwin) at the Red Onion in Kerrisdale. I don't know if it's on any Vancouver City Guides or anything, but it should be. Burgers and Dogs, done to perfection, and their dill-based dipping sauce for chips is goooood too.

Dinner with the fam at White Spot in what's another sorta newish tradition, and then it was off to the 8-Ball cafe for Kelly's birthday. Saw the old gang together again for the first time, then came home and was in bed by 1:00 so Santa could come.

The rest of the weekend was a big blur of family, eating, running around and not having time to see everyone or do everything. I think I'll try and get home in July or August for a longer trip, like two weeks or something to try and fit everything in.