• It's the winter solstice! SAD suffers rejoice, the sun comes back soon. Well, soon-ish. #
• What if Earth had rings? http://bit.ly/8DlS82 (vid, runs 3:33) Science here: http://bit.ly/5m0zVc (via @badastronomer) #
• "Share the damn road" and other pearls of wisdom on cycling jerseys: http://bit.ly/78ugUy (via @bikingbis http://tinyurl.com/yjaonpc ) #
• RT @CameronHerold: http://twitpic.com/ufpgd – AWESOME drawing of a child who wants to 'be like mom'…then read mom's note to teacher. #
• Fog in Kits valley // Frost built up on car windshields // Lawns need to be mowed #PostcardsFromYVR #Twaiku #
• Free routable street maps for Garmin GPSs Free Geography Tools shows how http://tinyurl.com/y94o6ff [via @GPSFix. Good coverage in YVR!] #
• RT @gnb: @AnthonyFloyd It's hot and sunny // The ocean is clear and blue // Mexico is nice. [Lol. But at least I'm not getting a sunburn.] #
• Great quote re: Malcolm Gladwell: "The problem is, you get to the end of it and you're suddenly convinced that eugenics is a good idea." #
• Still on Gladwell: "He's an extraordinarily persuasive man that isn't necessarily concerned with accuracy; " http://bit.ly/92bgrI #
• Seems to me that the biggest knock against Blackberry is the single point of failure that fails often. #Blackberry #Fail #
• Classy: Sitting on the couch, laptop at hand, eating supper from a plate in my lap, drinking wine from a tumbler. #
• On the other hand, an interview with Tom King is on @cbcradio, so it's all good. #
• .@GPSFix I can't believe how much Garmin continues to support/fix/add features to the older Oregons. They sure know how to hook customers. #
• The bottom 2 ft of our Christmas tree is almost completely denuded + the upper 5.5 ft has an overabundance of ornaments. XMas with a toddler #
• At least the flashlight is keeping the early-rising toddler busy. :yawn: #
• Black-clad #asshat walking wrong way on road in entitled-darkness of Pt Grey: my 50 kph + your stupidity nearly meant awful Xmas for us both #
• We put a string of LED XMas lights around Aidan's bed tonight. He was in heaven, absolutely thrilled. "Wow! … WOW! Look at that! WOW!" :) #
• All the odds are in my favor / Something's bound to begin / It's got to happen, happen sometime / Maybe this time I'll win #cabaret #glee #
• I'm such a sucker for showtunes. Back off boys, I'm taken. :) #
• RT @BCBreakingNews: DEVELOPING: Actor Steven Seagal reported dead after luxury yacht sinks off coast of St. Tropez: http://is.gd/551mU #
• Oh noes! Is the Hollywood b-list trifecta in play now? #BrittanyMurphy #StevenSeagal #
• Yeah. That Seagal story? I suggest salt. A huge grain of salt. #
• RT @smuttysteff: Oh, NICE. @BreakingNewsBC reported a FAKE news story on Steven Seagal that was three years old. Nice catch, @KeldieJamieson #
• Hmmm, what was that sound? Ah yes, that's the sound of @BCBreakingNews' credibility taking a hit. #
• WOW! @jonathancoulton Being played on @cbcradio! Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime! #
• How I loathe UBC Food Services. They operate the world's slowest Tim's, which for YVR is saying something. Naturally, it's closed today. #
• Via the great Information is Beautiful blog: "Climate Change: A Consensus Among Scientists?" http://bit.ly/6v0jK1 #
• At Maplewood Farm for some pre-xmas R&R #
• http://twitpic.com/v1ac2 – Merry Christmas from Maplewood Farm! #
• Strike the chorus and light the harp, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la #
• Both boys in bed, asleep! Presents all wrapped! Somehow no XMas-eve assembly of $COMPLEX_GIFT! Nothing left but to eat this milk + cookies. #
• Merry Christmas to all, and to all … a good night! #
• Happy Winter Turkey Day! #
• OH: No headlamps in the bathtub! #
• Discovered someone has had unauthorized access to one of my secondary accounts … for over two weeks now. Tonnes of spam sent. Crap. #
• So, just how icy *is* it in YVR? We're hoping to go snow-shoeing… #
• http://twitpic.com/vdc36 – The Left Coast Floyds taking a snack break snowshoeing at Mt Seymour #
• Temperature inversion in Vancouver today. Near-zero at sea-level, +6 degrees up on Mt Seymour meant that the fog never really left the city #
• We had a great time snowshoeing – even if it meant that I pulled one or both kids a kilometer+ up the side of the mountain in the sled! #
• Aidan has just come back upstairs (out of bed) and informed us "I think I missed a tooth" (from brushing his teeth). Points for good excuse! #
• And, of course, he's now brushing just that one tooth. Pretty impressive skillz on that kid. #
• Travelling to/through the US? New TSA rules: No leaving seat in last hour of flight. No electronics at all, last hour. 1 carry-on only. #
• Remember Citizen, these measures are for YOUR safety. #Farcical #PoliceState #TerroristsHaveWon #TerroristsKeepWinning #
• Wow, so foggy that we can't see the street behind us let alone False Creek or downtown. Feels like the East Coast! #PeaSoupFog #
• Zombie-ing out with early rising children on the chesterfield to the tunes of Quest for the Flying Rock. Backyardigans FTW! #
• Another airline incident involving Detroit flight. TSA soon to outlaw going to the bathroom, flights to/from Detroit. Yin and yang, I guess. #
• Aidan just _demolished_ 3 pieces of tortiere. I guess he likes it. #
• Dear US friends: taking "Fall of the American Empire" to heart aren't you? Science labs cut b/c they benefit white kids http://bit.ly/5JfmT7 #
• I … uh … I've never seen Pump Up The Volume. @LeftCoastMama is rectifying that now. Thanks #KVOS #
• Due to lack of interest, tomorrow is cancelled. Let the clocks be reset and the pendulums held. #TruthInSongs #Ruby #

It’s been a busy few weeks. We did the Van Dusen Gardens Festival of Lights, the Stanley Park Bright Lights Santa Train, the Stanley Park Carol Ride, Christmas at Maplewood Farm, and the Christmas crib service at St John’s Shaughnessy. Whew.

Today, on Boxing Day, we decided we’d go snow-shoeing. After all, Vancouver was socked in with fog and due to an amazing weather effect called a temperature inversion, it was actually warmer (and sunny!) on the mountains than down in the city.

So, we headed to Mt Seymour for snow-shoeing. We took along a newly-acquired sled in order to pull Quinlan along, but both boys ended up using it (off and on).

None of us had ever been snow-shoeing before, but that didn’t matter. It was pretty easy to pick up.

Mt Seymour had snow-shoes that fit Aidan, and as you can see, he did walk a good portion of the 2.5 km loop we did. Quinlan had a great time in (and rolling out of) the sled!

The weather was absolutely perfect and although the snow was hard-packed and a bit slushy, we had a blast. I expected the terrain to be a bit … flatter … but it was just like a typical hike in the Coastal Mountains, up and down moderately steep trails only in the snow. It sure was a workout, and we’re definitely going to do it again soon!

• Wow, some very good prank sites today: http://www.enviro-canada.ca and http://www.europe-wsj.com. @davidakin is probing link btw the two #cop15 #canpoli #
• RT @kady: okay, so, uh, is this real? (…) not exactly in the usual release format http://twurl.nl/ldhzao [Wow, not exactly gov't language] #
• If that presser on ec-gc.ca is fake (http://twurl.nl/ldhzao) then they either have someone on the inside or have hacked EnviroCanada @kady #
• Snow flakes lightly fall // Winter breathes into the city // White blankety goodness #twaiku #buffyisms #
• Do you like mashups? "A Very Bootie Christmas 2" is out! http://bit.ly/5yTvrY #
• The Santa Conundrum: A trilogy of posts from @curiousdad http://bit.ly/6N7r3u http://bit.ly/5xXP84 http://bit.ly/8LKJQq #
• Simon's Cat (@simonscat) is great for cat-ppl. Dog ppl probably don't get it. New vid today: http://bit.ly/89s4t0 (runs 1:21) #
• There is a very confused #UBC snowplow/salt truck driving around campus. 1) No snow anywhere. 2) No salt in truck. #snowmageddon #
• Dear @Tweetdeck: The New Followers column, while interesting is supremely borked. My latest follower is, apparently, me. #
• Score! A freezing rain warning issued for Vancouver! Wonder how our awesome drivers will handle that? #
• OK, snow (big fluffy flakes) has started at UBC. Time to get the bike out of Dodge. #
• Cut it close, but ride home was relatively uneventful. Snow's very wet. If it freezes tonight, it's going to be an ice rink. #
• Never has there been a Canadian government more selfish, corrupt, and cowardly than our current government. I am ashamed at their actions. #
• The Conservatives demo their contempt for the CDN public and our system of government by considering prorogation AGAIN: http://bit.ly/4UYHds #
• I hate the prevailing attitude in ALL our politicians that is "we're not bad, but THOSE guys are worse!" So tired of negativity. #cdnpoli #
• Instead of finger pointing, griping, and calling each other names, how about working to be a positive force for change? #cdnpoli #
• Why do I always forget about the "No feeding of trolls" rule? :( #
• Yeah, so, Canada's Worst Driver wasn't a surprise at all. But the idea of her being back on the road? Terrifying. Watch out Sudbury. #
• Anytime I worry about the accuracy of our simulations at work, I look out the window, check the weather, and realize we're better than THEM #
• $418000 for an average house in Toronto. $622000 for an average house in Vancouver. I have no idea how we're supposed to "get into the mkt" #
• CBC Radio reporting someone has driven an SUV into YVR. Got a flight out today? It's gonna suck getting on it. #
• Via @ggiannakos: A truck just came smashing through the airport in reverse about 15 feet from where we were. http://twitpic.com/tm3rh #
• Another pic from @ggiannakos http://twitpic.com/tm4yr [Funny, I don't see any tasers, are we sure this is YVR?] #
• The first flight of Boeing's 787 will occur this morning ~10am PST. You can watch it live here starting at 9:40am PST http://bit.ly/8UytsL #
• The 787 first flight video feed is live. ZA001's first flight likely around 10am PST http://bit.ly/8UytsL #787FF #
• Awesome that Boeing has included the ATC chatter on the #787FF webcast http://bit.ly/8UytsL #
• Wow, crazy listening to ATC manage all the helicopter traffic surrounding #787FF #
• Alternative feed of #787FF from KIRO helo: http://bit.ly/8JP53O #
• ZA001 taxiing in 2 minutes to flight line #787FF #
• Boeing 001 Heavy Experimental now cleared to taxi #787FF #
• ZA001 is just finishing its taxi to the end of the runway. First flight moments away. #787FF #
• If you want to watch the #787FF, try CNN, KIROTV, KING5, SeattlePI, http://bit.ly/8UytsL and so on. Lots of cameras, helos, bits flying out #
• T-33 chase planes airborne, overflying Paine field. Big show is about to start #787FF #
• Boeing 001 Experimental HEAVY cleared for take-off #787FF #
• Boeing 001 Experimental HEAVY (ZA001) is … AIRBORNE! #787FF #
• Happily the 787 first flight was complete and utterly uneventful. ATC chatter indicates ZA001's just climbing up above the cloud deck #787FF #
• Repairing a b0rked SVN merge by hand. If you told me I'd be having this much fun today, I wouldn't have believed you. #
• #YYJ folks: If you look SE at about 7000 ft you might catch a glimpse of #787FF right now! #
• One of the more distracting things today: Watching the #787FF on FlightAware http://bit.ly/5rjRnb #
• Canada's new cell provider offers the BB Bold w/o contract http://bit.ly/4W4baU #
• RT @KIRO7Seattle: Boeing: 787 is landing early due to weather. Chopper 7 is up again for landing, live video: http://bit.ly/7zhoDx #787FF #
• Estimated #787FF landing at 1:22 PST, in the pouring rain at Boeing Field (BFI) #
• #787FF landing live-streaming: http://bit.ly/8UytsL It's on final approach now, 6-7 minutes to landing #
• Boeing 001 Experimental HEAVY is cleared to land #787FF #
• Boeing 001 Experimental HEAVY (ZA001) is back on the ground! Congrats to the folks at Boeing on a great first flight! #787FF #
• What a pretty landing, absolutely perfect! #787FF #
• Local business, who I won't call out yet, has been serially following and unfollowing me. #TheyDontGetSM #Fail #
• Dexter Season 4 collected on DVR. Season 3 acquired in slightly more than 1 hr of pushing bits. Then we realized we've only seen S1! Nuts. #
• The @WindMobile plans look awesome. Wish there were more phones, but can't wait for them to come to YVR! http://bit.ly/7D4LDl #
• Wordies: I'm drawing a blank here. Need one word to describe complexity that's between "simple" and "complex". I.e., moderately complex #
• .@iheartthatdance OK, Byzantine had me in stitches, but look at the thesaurus on that gave me "intricate" which is almost perfect I think #
• On the heels of yesterday's news about house prices in YVR it's no surprise YVR is most expensive rental market too http://bit.ly/665hcp #
• RT @CrunchyCarpets: RT'ing http://bit.ly/5cvNBE I need help donating some LeapFrog Tag Readers!!! (YVR area) #
• RT @flightblogger: Why didn't Mike Carriker raise the 787's landing gear? http://bit.ly/8gmI2z #787FF [Frankly, I'm surprised this was a Q] #
• When journalists forget a closing parenthesis I get lost trying to find the end of the parenthetical. Often can't finish the story. #
• In related news, it's interesting how big companies are still struggling with social media http://bit.ly/7JwKEy #
• RT @trishussey: And the winner's are @NetChick & @AnthonyFloyd! Tanya was drawn 1st so she picks the visor clip or headset. Yay! [Thanks!] #
• Watching the Tony Parsons retrospective. I bet the other local stations are just rubbing their hands in an….ticipation #
• OK, who broke Twitter tonight? #
• The federal gov't trying to set our copyright laws by locking us to int'l treaties rather than in Parliament http://bit.ly/8N9j6w #cdnpoli #
• Has there ever been a Canadian government that has tried to destroy Canadian values more than Harper's gov't? #cdnpoli #
• Twitter is ruining my online communication skills. Tweets I compress, removing extra words. I find now w/ emails I have to *expand* them #
• RT @sassjordan: all i want is a new version of Firefly PLEASE [Awesome] #
• Information *is* beautiful. A balanced look at the climate change argument? http://bit.ly/8d2DLn (h/t @badastronomer's blog) #
• Well Q discovered a very effective way of letting us know it was time to lower the crib mattress. So much for perfect record for crib falls. #
• Pick-me-up for the day: The As It Happens Complaint Choir http://bit.ly/6coqif #
• Related: Radio personalities should almost never be seen in public. The real deal hardly matches what you think the voice should look like. #
• Politically-minded cousin of mine (Hi Paul!) suggests a FB app to allow people to vote (fed elections, etc). This frightens me … #
• I agree that we need to engage the disenfranchised but would it trivialize the process? But maybe better than completely disengaged? #
• RT @LauretteIAm: I hate things that say "Mom-Approved." Why not just PARENT approved? #
• At the Stanley Park Bright Nights tweetup #
• http://twitpic.com/u3oz9 – Waiting in line to get on the Bright Lights train #
• Great seeing @tjrossignol @alexishinde @604homesguy and kids and family at the Bright Lights tweetup #
• Back from tweetup, errands run. Now for putting Q to bed + eating fish & chips as requested by A. Highly rec'd the Windjammer Inn 15th/Main! #
• Going to take advantage of the unexpected sunny morning by taking Aidan out for the bike ride he's been asking for the past month #XMasInYVR #
• 20 km ride with Aidan this morning on the Trail-A-Bike. The Central Valley Bikeway is *nice* but confusing at Science World… #
• 5 dozen Snickerdoodles. Check. #XMasBaking #
• RT LeftCoastMama: Heading out to Stanley park for the carol ride. Should be fun! [Note: carol ride. Not Carol ride. Pervs.] #
• http://twitpic.com/ua4vm – We had a front seat for our horse-drawn tour of Stanley Park! #
• Aidan reminds everyone that as of right now, there are 7 sleeps until Boxing Day #KidsAreWeird #
• Also, if he tells you I locked his sister in the closet, please keep in mind … he doesn't have a sister … #KidsAreWeird #
• A slow lazy Sunday means receiving packages from the mail carriers in pyjamas. At 1pm. #
• Not even the Sally Ann wanted our working 24" CRT TV. "We only take LCDs now" !!! #
• I understand LCDs are all-round better than CRTs but it was a *free* working TV. I wonder if it would be different in another city? #yvr #
• No prob I say to myself, I'll search for articles written by @gillianshaw over past few days. Apparently something @vancouversun can't do. #
• The "advanced search" page *does* have an "author name" box, but it does little more than take up space + frustrate customers #vancouversun #
• Oops, Survivor spoilers appearing. Time for Twitter blackout. Later Tweeps. #
• Jury votes are so very perplexing. There's no way Natalie should have won #Survivor. #
• At least we got the boys' presents wrapped, so then night wasn't a complete write-off :) #ItsOnlyAGame #

• Gearing up for the first sub-zero ride of the season: -4. At least there's no snow/ice on the road! #
• Thanks to the miracle of modern textiles and layering, I arrived at work toasty warm and invigorated #BikeToWork #
• On a related note, I see the @cityofvancouver has moved to salting the roads with brine instead of rock salt. #
• In the end, it's really only the lawyers that benefit (Music copyright holders sue CRIA http://bit.ly/7YIie0 for $60B, in Canada) #
• Giddy about new client. The sort of place that would make me think long + hard about moving to the US; they're as bleeding edge as we are. #
• Except much, much cooler. #
• RT @laurict: McCartney tried Beatles: RB "I lost 2x .On easy. I was playing bass, I’m ashamed to say. It’s all red & green & yellow buttons" #
• Spinning silently // rubber wheels meet frozen road // carrying me home #twaiku #
• RT @GPSFix: http://twitpic.com/smawx – A shot of the Geocaching – Active dashboard on the Map Page. [New Oregon f/w; that screen rocks!] #
• I don't know why the folks behind "Canada's Worst Driver" haven't set up driving schools for the public, doing the challenges. $ to be made! #
• The "Smart Baby Case". Words fail me. http://bit.ly/7IivXU #
• VPD why don't you do any traffic enforcement? On tonight's ride: 1 car, 1 pedestrian, and 2 bikes all blatantly ignoring red lights #anarchy #
• RT @Nunavut_Teacher: It is -20 Celcius where I am today. What is the temp. where you are? (Class experiment) Need 20. #
• Whoa. Facebook? If that's "simplified" privacy settings then … you're suffering collective delusion. #
• Good luck to @buzzbishop as he gets ready for his @ampcalgary debut at noon MST #
• The Weather Network (always pessimistic) has forecast as much as 40 cm of snow for Vancouver this weekend…. Uh-oh. (h/t @mozy19) #
• Note: On Twitter, as in life in general, context is so very, very important. #DuctTape #LaceUndies #
• YVR drivers: Turning hi-beams on + pulling into my lane when I'm coming at you only makes me angry. You should not be surprised at my words. #
• It should be equally unsurprising that, now blinded, I'm unwilling to yield my lane + pull off into the icy debris on the side of the road #
• I'm actually a little disappointed my earlier convo w/ @tjrossignol and @alexishinde didn't get me any #ducttape or #lacyundies follow-bots #
• There ain't no party like a west coast party, 'cause a west coast party don't stop. 6 toddlers + parents testing that theory this morning. #
• Yes I know I can "turn off" the owl.ly bar. I don't like that I have to, it doesn't always stick, it doesn't always work, + I don't trust it #
• Mondoville.com has a poll on best fake CDN political twitter acct. @fakesteveharper is absent, reinforcing my idea that it's not a fake acct #
• According to a @CityOfVancouver presser, the brine on the roads is a trial on bike routes. 1) It works quite well, 2) I've seen it on non-BR #
• Must say that I've been quite impressed with @CityOfVancouver's treatment of the bike routes this fall. Leaves + ice much less of a problem #
• Now if only @cityofvancouver could do something about the idiotic drivers. Like, how about some traffic enforcement? #
• Just when I think that my opinion of the #cpc couldn't get any worse … Laurie Hawn opens his mouth. It's McCarthyism all over again. #
• More Twitter pals trying to pull me into the darkness that is Facebook. The truth is that I don't get Facebook, but I'll happily friend you! #
• Thinking about going to the VanDusen Festival of Lights this Saturday night with the kids. Snow forecast, Saturday night. Are we nuts? #
• The number of Buffyisms I've seen on Twitter tonight make me wonder what kind of crowd I've fallen in with. Actually, you're all pretty cool #
• XKCD rocks. Latest one: parenting and geekery http://xkcd.com/674/ (be sure to read the ALT text) #
• For the first time in a very long time, I agree with my government: Cabinet overturns CRTC + allows @WINDmobile to enter the CDN cell market #
• Dear @CityOfVancouver; Salting the bike routes = good! Gunning the spreader as I pass, showering me in rock salt? Not cool. Also, ouch. WTF? #
• RT @canadaliving: Dr Peter Watts, Canadian science fiction writer, beaten and arrested at US border http://bit.ly/6wnbl4 #
• Re: last tweet. *That* is why I have no sympathy for the US journalist who was *gasp* ASKED QUESTIONS at the CDN border. #
• Here's what it feels like to be treated less than human when you dare cross the US border: http://bit.ly/6qyxN4 #
• A whole host of followers today from Vancouver. Weird. Where did you all come from? #yvr #
• RT @jaypiddy: Good luck to all the #12x12yvr participants. Wish I could have joined in on the fun.  [Ditto] #
• while not 1: bastards.wearDown(you) # Illegitimi non carborundum. (Tweet 10000!) #
• And, yes, I'm aware it's a nonsense phrase. "Noli nothi permittere te terere." is roughly the correct phrase. It doesn't have the same ring. #
• Back from VanDusen Festival of Lights. Went at right time, weren't too many people. No snow, but ponds were frozen! #yvr #xmas #
• I get so frustrated w/ Windows. 1.7 GB RAM in use, no progs running. Clearly something has gone sideways, but no way to know what. Reboot. #
• Snow has reached downtown YVR. Panic will set in in 3… 2… 1… #
• Cleaning up wife's laptop. Apple, you ignorant pig. Why was the "MobileMe Control Panel" installed along side Safari, iTunes, etc? #NoIPhone #
• I don't know what's happening at @muppetsstudio, but The Muppets are rejuvenated again. Carol of The Bells is awesome http://bit.ly/4rakOd #
• Aw, I feel bad after discovering real tears after mocking my 1 yr old's fake cry. #BadDad #
• On the other hand he's magically transfixed by the amazing falling snow. #MomentsToLiveFor #
• Finished Xmas tree hunting. Wasn't much of a battle and Hey! didn't fall off the ladder. Now to assemble it. Biggest challenge yet to come. #
• Everytime Max shrugs, drink. Everytime the narrator says "Whoville", drink. #XmasSpecialsMadeSpecial #
• So the green guy started with a heart 2 sizes too small, then ends w/ one size too big. I dunno if eating roast beast is the best idea … #
• Well, @LeftCoastMama is still lighting the tree. It's unclear if I'll need to go out THIS year for another string of lights or two. #
• Operation Light'Em Up enters its fourth hour. Mind you there've been interruptions for naps and supper. Upper third of the tree to go. #
• So she's reached the last string of lights. Upper quarter of tree still unlit. This is going over as well as you might expect :p #
• RT @LeftCoastMama: You may commence the mocking now. I am headed out for more lights for our Xmas tree. [At least *I'm* not going for them] #
• .@cognoscento I'm pretty certain no one can explain Sephora to me. #NaturalIsBeautiful #
• I know you're all breathlessly waiting for this: RT @LeftCoastMama: http://twitpic.com/tgmse – Et voila! #