1. Getting there is a good workout. My boyfriend and I biked the entire way down the Arbutus Greenway, then across a bridge into Richmond (scary) then across another bridge into YVR. About 10 miles in total, which is a chonker for someone who purchased their first (non child) bike a week ago. We then took the sky train past the scary part (Richmond) and cycled the rest of the way home — 5 more miles. Shit, this is being published in Canada, huh? Then… 16 km and 8 km.

2. There are mini runways. You can run down them like a plane and if you are visiting with someone, you can go in opposite directions and high five someone in the middle of the runway — just like real planes.

3. Nice bike paths. At least near the airport! I was surprised by how great they were. Truly I experienced so little stress while trying to navigate them — it was great. Perhaps I am too DFW-pilled because I imagine scary, car-centred uber highways as the only way to navigate an airport. But it makes sense that multiple modes of transport to be supported.

4. Spyglass. If you have a spy glass (you should) you can use it to read airplane serial numbers as they are waiting for their turn on the runway and feel incredibly cool. (I found that resting the spyglass on the back of a bench made it a little bit steadier and easier to make out the words).

5. Planes. Watching planes do plane things is really cool. Like… humans are kind of incredible? Like we are able to make massive metal tubes travel through the sky incredibly reliably. That’s kind of magical. Some people even jump out of those aforementioned planes.

6. Lots of seating. There’s just so many benches and grassy fields. It would honestly be incredible for a picnic. The benches overlook the runway so you can see planes take off and land. AND they don’t just have normal benches. They also have benches that look like paper airplanes! Isn’t that incredible!!!!! You’ve got to go!!!!

7. Plane Placards. There were some very cute (incredibly faded and worn) little placards describing the different types of planes and how to identify them and what they are used for. They’re a bit tough to read since they’re so faded, but they were really interesting (alas, I didn’t retain any plane facts, but perhaps next time).

8. Spy glass part two. Not only can you look at a plane’s serial number as it’s on the runway, but you can also TRACK A PLANE THROUGH THE SKY. Like starting when it’s only a little flashing dot. It feels so incredible. Bonus points if you put your leg up on a piece of nearby terrain like a pirate.

9. There’s a big hemisphere. It’s the top half of the globe and you can CLIMB ON IT. It has a bunch of cities marked and flight paths from Vancouver. And those cities have little factoids written on them about their relation to YVR. I will say, only northern hemisphere girlies are represented. Southern hemisphere cities aren’t included at all (with the notable exception of Australia et al. which… huh. FASCINATING).

10. It’s so quiet. This may have just been the day we went since it was a little cloudy and drizzly, but the park wasn’t busy in the slightest. A couple families/older couples came by (as well as what looked like a summer camp while we were leaving), but the park was big enough that we didn’t feel disturbed at all. As I say. Absolutely banger picnic spot. Highly recommend.

Other News

We watched Superman

I liked it. I thought it was a little too woke — they had so many DEI heterosexual relationships without even including an allusion to bisexuality or queerness. This is so sad :(. Also Jesus Christ so much expositioning. Me when I explain my plan to everyone who already knows my plan for the purpose of the audience I don’t know is there because they don’t know my plan.

My partner can also attest, I did sign C-O-I every time the journalists talked about giving interviews to themselves/their partners. Maybe someone who reads more journalism books than I do can correct me, but I think interviewing yourself/your partner for a news piece is not a journalistic ethics W.

Yay ren faire

We went to a ren faire in Washington this weekend. It was very fun. I followed my rule of only pay in cash and only bring as much cash as you’re willing to spend. That rule always serves me well.

I got a bunch of cute jewelry things so if you see me wearing them you’re legally obligated to tell me that you like them and you think they’re cute :). I realized I wanted to be a ring girlie, but I didn’t actually get any rings proper (instead I got FINGER ARMOUR!!!!). But so many rings are in my future me thinks. Y’all, jewelry is fun.

Also this was my first time wearing my corset with a skirt and it was very fun. I am a bit of a corset enjoyer it just feels so incredibly extra day-to-day. Since lowkey I can’t eat in it :p. And sitting is uncomfortable. But I think it looks very pretty. (I told Tony Kulenovic that I’d be wearing a corset and he replied “Oooh gayyy” which. lmao.)

The Washington Ren Faire also used like… way less slurs. Like at the Scarborough Faire ummm… a LOT of stores use an outdated term for Romani people that many consider a slur like… as their name. Which is. Uncomfortable. But that didn’t seem to be the case in Washington!

Also there were so many bee themed things I was tempted to get lmao (I have an affinity for bee themed items now. I wonder if that’s a thing for all animal-based joke candidates).

From the Archive

19 August 1987

That’s All!

We are so back (for one day) because on Tuesday I got down to the states again to see my family :). It’ll be a fun time :D.

Until Wednesday at 10:03 pm, buzz on, my busy bees!

Let me take that line again since 2025