We’re back! Back in Halifax that is. I’ve managed to swing a deal with work to telecommute for three weeks and I’m taking a week vacation so that all adds up to a month in Nova Scotia.

We got another good deal (relatively speaking) with WestJet about a month ago, and before we knew it we were landing in Halifax for Mother’s Day. This time, it was a jump from YVR to Calgary, a short layover in the terminal there and then direct from Calgary to Halifax.

The boy was quite excited to get on the airplane, and the trip to Calgary was … I dare say … great.

In Calgary, Aidan puttered around the various play areas (which I’ve blogged about before) and the time flew. Then we got on the flight to Halifax and taxied forever. The pilot remarked that although it seemed like we were driving to Halifax, we would in fact be airborne eventually.

Unfortunately, Aidan got airsick on that leg. Not violently, but we did go through more than a few airsickness bags. He also slept for over two hours. He was sick again on the descent into Halifax. I don’t know how many transcontinental flights he’s had and he’s never been sick before, so we didn’t anticipate it. You can be sure that on the return trip we will be pumping him with Gravol well before getting on the plane.

And once again, I have want to give kudos to WestJet. The bags all arrived, the stroller was waiting for us, set-up, by the time we walked off the airplane, the staff was helpful, friendly, and so understanding with the airsickness incident. The flight attendants in particular were super helpful. The seats are comfortable, and we love having the separate entertainment screens.

Why does anyone fly Air Canada?

So, we’re in Halifax. Aidan perked up immediately after we landed. He’s been super excited to spend time (so far) with Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Aunt Mary, Granny, and of course all of my parents’ animals. And he’s old enough now that we can literally throw him in the backyard and he will entertain himself for hours. >Sigh< He’s never going to have a yard in Vancouver.

With the extended stay, hopefully we can get some relaxed visiting in, do some serious toddler-less geocaching, and help out around the house a bit while my mother recovers from some ongoing health concerns. Posting frequency is likely going to be pretty low, but hopefully we can make up for quantity with quality!

Busy day today. WWFM III in Coquitlam, cleaning, packing, and these gems…

A: Are we going to the grocery store?

Me: No, we are going to the highway.

{We drive towards the highway, but then the GPS suggests taking the road beside the grocery store}

A: Are we going to the grocery store?

Me: No, but we’re driving by it.

{We come to a stop just outside the grocery store}

A: I’m confused. There’s the grocery store! Are we going to the grocery store?

Me: …

Later, whle cleaning his room:

A: I get knocked down! But I get up again! You ain’t never going to keep me down!

I’m not sure he can pronounce ‘Chumbawumba’, but he sure likes the song.

A few weeks ago, we bought an XBOX 360. That officially brings us into the Wii60 ranks that were predicted at the start of the latest “next generation” console war. It was a bit of a steep purchase, since we bought Rock Band along with it (and Burnout Paradise too, FWIW). Rock Band is largely responsible for the dearth of posting on this blog and LeftCoastMama. Gwen plays guitar, I play drums. Aidan sings. Yes, keep that visual in mind … in reality, it’s not nearly as bad as you think it might be.

A few days ago, you may heard of a small game released called “Grand Theft Auto IV“. The GTA series has become quite notorious for the amount of sex, drugs, and violence portrayed in the game. I had played the very first GTA game — a top-down game where you could steal cars, shoot people, and run over pedestrians. I don’t recall there being much (any?) sexual content in the first one. Even then, it was a fun, addictive game. You can actually download that game, legitimately, for free.

Fast forward a few years and now the forth edition of the game is out, to much hubbub. And yes, we did pick it up, and I’ve been playing it a few hours every night over the past week. It is as violent as you have heard. The language in it is as crude as you might expect in the back alleys of New York (the city on which the game’s Liberty City is based). There is sexual content. Stealing cars is commonplace. Running over pedestrians is easy and lacking of any serious consequence (but don’t run the tolls on any of the bridges!).

And yet this is a magnificent game. It is, by far, the best looking and best sounding game I’ve ever played. The attention to detail in the city is incredible. Every city block is different, and different neighbourhoods have their distinct feel. There are tonnes of cars and pedestrians on the roads — sometimes. In the middle of night, not so much. In the day time, lots. Traffic increases at rush hour. There are lots of taxis, and an incredible number of incompetent police cars. Pedestrians have lots to say (usually not of it very polite). There are 18 music stations you can tune into in whatever car you’re in, all with track lists numbering well over a dozen songs. You can watch TV. You can surf the net. You can bowl, play darts, play pool, go drinking, go to a cabaret, and participate in lots of other activities.

The city’s architecture is something to see. Towering skyscrapers, lots of impressively lit bridges. Tunnels. Parks. Slums. Construction. An airport with airplanes landing and taking off with regularity. A Statue of “Happiness”. A comprehensive subway system with 4 lines. The city is massive, and the game comes with both a street map and a subway map.

The sun rises and sets on Liberty City, and all light sources are a thing of wonder. Shadows fall as expected, and are nice and soft, not hard and ragged as in many other games. I will often find myself walking or driving along and lose myself in just looking at the game. You can find lots of screenshots on the net, but you could start here. Frankly, they don’t do the actual game justice.

On the otherhand, the game is quite violent and crude. The control system leaves a bit to be desired, and although each different type of car/truck/van/garbage truck/motorcycle drives differently, they’re all pretty twitchy when it comes to steering. Fighting and shooting isn’t particularly easy. The camera doesn’t help a whole lot when driving — it’s hard to see if you’re going to run into something or get T-boned at intersections.

Although this game is being set up as the biggest entertainment release (surpassing that of any other video game or movie) I wonder if a game without the history and notoriety that this one brings, without the sex and violence, and keeping with the visuals, sounds, voices, and storytelling would be as successful or more successful. Sadly, I don’t think so. And yet I can’t help but wonder if a superhero game (think Superman, Spiderman, or even something like Hellboy) would be able to function in this setting just as well. Or a suspense/mystery (think Phillip Marlow).

Still, despite the 18+ rating, it’s quite a compelling game. Liberty City keeps drawing me back in…

The weeks fly by but the weekends are family time. As such, here’s another weekend update…

We went and got Aidan’s hair cut yesterday. It wasn’t exactly planned; I mean he certainly needed it, but Gwen has developed a phobia about taking him to get his hair cut so it hasn’t been done on the weekdays. I desperately needed to get my hair cut too, so when I announced my attention to get my hair cut yesterday, Gwen & The Boy tagged along. We got to my barber’s shop, which was completely empty when we got there. Well, the barber and another hair-cutter (aside: what’s the noun describing a woman who works at a barbershop that exclusively cuts men’s hair? Barber? I guess, but it’s one of those nouns that I exclusively associate with a man. Weird.) were there but no customers.

So, we had a quick discussion (that involved the barber) and we decided that I’d get my hair cut while Gwen & The Boy watched, and then we’d get Aidan’s hair cut too. My haircut went well, without any tears. As soon as we tried to put Aidan in the barber’s chair, though, the hysteronics began. Once again, I sat him on my lap and the barber did the best he could. There were less tears than in previous times, but calm is the wrong word to use.

The haircut isn’t great, but it’s better than what it was when it was long. There are some pictures a bit further below.

On Sunday, we had brunch with our friends Ali and Nooshin. We biked over to Ali’s Yaletown condo and ate brunch while the Vancouver Marathon passed on the street below. Aidan had a chance to help with breakfast, and seemed to enjoy himself.

After brunch, we all got on bikes and pedalled over to Stanley Park. There’s a nice new playground there near Second Beach, and one of those old firetrucks-turned-into-playground-climbing-equipment that seem strangely popular in Vancouver.

After parting ways with Ali and Nooshin we took the Aquabus from the foot of Hornby Street to Granville Island and biked home. It was a nice way to start the day. The rest of the day sort of got away from us, but it started well!