Goodbye Folks. Hello Freaks.

Spent a great Christmas holiday at our respective parents' places in Prince George and Victoria. Both sets of parents were thrilled to have The Boy around and lavished him with attention. Ceaseless playing and bouncing and cooing and jumping, and even though we were usually in there playing too, it was nice to be able to step back once in a while knowing he was in good hands. As an added bonus The Boy travels well. Yup a great holiday.

For Christmas The Boy gave us the gift of sleep. His middle-of-the-night wakings I've well documented, but on Christmas Eve he slept, and slept, and slept right up until 7:30 am! It didn't come wrapped in a stocking, but it was the best possible gift wet could ask for. Thanks Santa.

Between visits we spent a couple of days at home, and each time as we headed back into town the first thing that struck me was, "Wow there are a lot of freaks in Vancouver." As the province's largest city, I guess it attracts the largest population of those who live on the fringe or beyond.

Up in Prince George, aside from the fact there seem to be a lot of 'big' people there (just about every man looks like John Goodman), PG's crustiest citizen would fit right into Vancouver's ritzier neighbourhoods. Victoria isn't much different, the city attracts a larger share of the unwashed than PG does, but all in all it's a neat and tidy place to be.

But we love our city. It's that edge that gives Vancouver its energy, and makes my daily commute more interesting. Our neighbourhood in particular attracts more than its fair share of dumpster divers, addicts and squeegy kids, but we've never felt unsafe or threatened; just disappointed. So while the scariest thing about Prince George might be staring down the butt crack of the man in front of you at the Wal-Mart check-out (if you're going to wear suspenders - tighten them up) we'd still rather live here.

Looking forward to 2006, freaks and all.