#hotel moving service vancouver

[quickmoversbc1]

Reliable Hotel Moving Services in Vancouver, BC

At Quick Movers BC, we specialize in providing professional, reliable, and hassle-free hotel moving services in Vancouver, BC. Relocating a hotel is a complex task that requires precision, planning, and expertise. As a trusted leader in the moving industry, we ensure that your hotel’s move is executed with minimal disruption, ensuring your operations continue smoothly.

Our Comprehensive Hotel Moving Services

We offer a full suite of hotel relocation services to accommodate every aspect of your move:

Packing and Unpacking: Our experienced movers ensure that all items—furniture, equipment, and valuables—are packed securely and unpacked with care to minimize any risk of damage.

Loading and Unloading: We use specialized equipment to safely and efficiently load and unload heavy and delicate items.

Short-Distance and Long-Distance Moves: Whether you're moving your hotel within Vancouver or across British Columbia, we handle both local and long-distance relocations.

Timely and Efficient Hotel Relocation

We understand the urgency of hotel relocations. Any downtime can affect your business operations, which is why we ensure that your move is carried out on time and with minimal disruption. Quick Movers BC’s hotel moving team is dedicated to delivering services that meet your schedule, making us a top choice for hotels needing efficient and reliable moving services in Vancouver.

Additional Moving Services We Offer

Residential Moving

Commercial Moving

Emergency Moving Services

Same-Day Moving

Packing and Unpacking

Furniture Removal Services

Junk Removal

Specialized Equipment Moving

Senior Movers

Storage Solutions

Special Commodities Movers

Why Choose Quick Movers BC for Your Hotel Relocation?

When it comes to hotel relocations, Quick Movers BC stands out for a variety of reasons:

Expert Hotel Movers: Our team is trained and equipped to handle the unique demands of hotel moves, from delicate furniture to heavy equipment.

Efficient & On-Time Service: We know time is critical in the hospitality industry, so we focus on getting your hotel relocated quickly and without delays.

Professionalism: Our movers are courteous, professional, and ensure that your property is treated with care at every step of the move.

Custom Moving Solutions: Every hotel move is unique. We offer customized moving plans that fit your hotel’s specific needs, ensuring a smooth transition.

Our Professional Hotel Movers in Vancouver

With years of experience in the moving industry, our hotel movers are fully trained to handle all types of moves—from small boutique hotels to large resort relocations. At Quick Movers BC, you can trust that your hotel’s assets are in safe hands.

Step-by-Step Hotel Moving Process

Here’s how our hotel moving services work in Vancouver:

Initial Consultation We assess your hotel’s relocation needs and design a custom moving plan.

Packing & Preparation Our team will carefully pack your hotel’s items, clearly labeling everything for easy unpacking at the destination.

Transport Using our fleet of fully equipped trucks, we ensure the safe transport of all your hotel belongings.

Unpacking and Setup Once we arrive, our team will unpack, arrange, and set up your hotel as quickly as possible to minimize any downtime.

Areas We Serve in Vancouver and Beyond

In addition to offering top-tier hotel moving services in Vancouver, we also serve surrounding areas, including:

Short-Distance Relocation Services

Burnaby

Coquitlam

Surrey

Richmond

Maple Ridge

Langley and Langley Township

Delta

White Rock

Abbotsford

Mission

Walnut Grove

Deroche

Baker Trails

Cultus Lake

Long-Distance Relocation Services

Vancouver to Kelowna

Vancouver to Victoria

Vancouver to Nanaimo

Vancouver to Okanagan

Why Trust Quick Movers BC with Your Hotel Move?

When you choose Quick Movers BC, you're partnering with a licensed, insured, and experienced team that prioritizes your hotel’s needs:

Stress-Free Moving: We handle every step of the relocation process, from packing to unpacking, so you can focus on your business.

Experienced Movers: Our team has extensive experience in hotel relocations, ensuring that your assets are treated with the utmost care and professionalism.

Fully Licensed & Insured: We are a fully licensed and insured moving company in Vancouver, so you can rest assured that your move is protected.

Conclusion: Your Trusted Hotel Movers in Vancouver

For hotel moving services in Vancouver, Quick Movers BC is your trusted partner. Whether it’s a local or long-distance move, we combine expertise, professionalism, and efficiency to ensure your hotel relocation is seamless and stress-free. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your hotel’s next big move.

[travelingarden]

No matter how far I go, I always return to a central feature of my personal garden; writing.

I had the opportunity to visit Vancouver, B.C. for the first time a few weeks back.

It was a work trip, so I was tempted to shut myself in my hotel room other than the daily obligations, but I was pulled out into the world with the rumor of a beautiful park just a few miles away.

Stanley Park offered a much-needed reprieve from worker/performance mode. I was most excited to visit with the rhododendron garden the map promised I'd find within the park. The flower garden was more than I could have dreamed. A vibrantly multi-colored patch singing in shades of pink, white, purple, fuchsia, and red, with green leaves all lush and bushy, some were as tall as trees.

I've been missing the annual bloom of azalea and other rhododendron kin, since moving to southern Arizona in 2023.

I grew up along side them and they are some of the first flowers I remember being fascinated and inspired by. Many heart-blazing writing sessions went down on their whimsical watch.

Standing among them, I felt an overwhelming sense of creative power building all around me. Rhododendron reminds us how crucial uniqueness is to nature and the world. The kind of shining that comes naturally doesn't take study, or striving, or masking, although I am certain that every year the flowers try to give their best face. These brilliantly colored and theatrically made flowers are natural performers. They didn't have to try to stop anyone in their tracks with their gorgeous dresses and fairy-like forms, it simply is that way.

For a few years now, I've been caught in the vines of striving, studying, perfecting. I'm grateful for all I've learned, the teachers, and the community I've gained.

I'm also ready to cut loose from the twisting branches and claim my beingness. Although I'm still a novice gardener, when it comes to the little piece of soil I've cultivated inside myself, I feel the steady fertile ness that comes from walking and working the landscape.

I know enough to know now, that everything I needed, was literally already here, covered in dirt, tucked away behind thick groves of trees.

I thought I needed to become something different to be of service in this world. I considered all the many ways I could train and change to be what was useful and yet I neglected the sacred wisdom of the rhodedendron in this way of thinking.

There is usefulness in everything, even beauty for the sake of pure wonder and inspiration is useful.

That is how it feels for me to write. There is no end goal, although I have many dreams and intentions. There is no why other than the simple pleasure of creating.

Fiction writing is a key aspect of my heart's way of creating. It is something I have done for my entire life and after years of searching for purpose, for specialness, for how to best be in service, I've surrendered to what I know to be true.

My heart's desire is to write stories.

And So it is. The gardening continues as it has, one season to the next, with new blooms, some failures, prayers for abundant rain, and a hope to be present for the sunny days.

[libertyreads]

February TBR--

It's Girl Scout cookie season AND I get to finally read the next book in The Empyrean series? It's going to be a good month. I'm also continuing on with the Sci-Fi series I started last month. Plus I'm diving into a translated High Fantasy novel that I found a few months back while browsing in a book store.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean #2)-- Year two at Basgiath War College for Violet Sorrengail is destined to be more grueling and brutal than the first. Now the real training begins and Violet must contend with a new vice commandant who has made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is--unless she betrays the man she loves. But Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

Iron Wolf by Siri Pettersen (Vardari #1)-- This is a Fantasy Mystery built on a foundation of Norse Mythology about blood, desire, and addiction. Juva knows all about blood readers. Praised for their Sight, they are nothing but swindlers preying on people's fears. Born by blood readers herself, she knows only too well and has vowed never to become one of them. Then her family is threatened by vardari, the eerie lasting ones, who never age. Juva is entangled in a desperate hunt for the blood readers' legacy: a dark secret that once changed the world and may do so again. I don't know a ton about this one. It was translated somewhat recently so I'm excited to get to it. The second book in the series has come out but has not been translated yet so hopefully I'm not setting myself up for heartbreak here.

The Exiled Fleet by J.S. Dewes (The Divide #2)-- The Sentinels narrowly escaped the collapsing edge of the Divide. They mustered a few other surviving Sentinels but with no engines they have no way to leave the edge of the universe before they starve. Adequin Rake has gathered a team to find the materials they'll need to get everyone out.

The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer (Vancouver Storm #2)-- In this one, we follow a girl who decides to get back at her horrible ex but fake dating his rival. But fake dating hockey star Rory Miller is fun and addictive. He's sweet, funny, and protective. He teaches her to skate, sleeps in her bed, and convinces her to break her just-one-time hookup rule. He kisses her like it's real. Which makes her wonder if Rory was ever faking it to begin with. There are just so many things here to make my heart happy. I liked but didn't love the first book in this series so I'm excited to see how I feel about book two.

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis (NetGalley)-- Welcome to the Grand Abeona, home of the finest food, the sweetest service, and the very best views the galaxy has to offer. All year round it moves from planet to planet, system to system, pampering guests across the farthest reaches of the Milky Way. The last word in sub-orbital luxury--and a magnet for intrigue. I'm excited to see what kind of take on a Sci-Fi Mystery we get with this one.

Cursed Cruise by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren (Horror Hotel #2; NetGalley)-- We rejoin our group of teen ghost hunters as they're invited to travel onboard a haunted historic cruise ship. They'll record onboard the RMS Queen Anne, a transatlantic ocean liner with a colorful past of violent deaths. I'm excited to enter this world again. It's been about two years since I read and enjoyed the first one.

Such a Lovely Family by Aggie Blum Thompson (NetGalley)-- This one almost didn't make it to this list before it posted. I got approved for it late in the day while at work yesterday. But if I've got the time I'm going to read it before the end of the month. The Calhouns are in the midst of hosting their annual party to celebrate the cherry blossoms being in full bloom when a brutal murder transforms the yearly gathering into a homicide scene and all the guests into suspects. The family has secrets and drama and I'm sure they're stupidly rich. Who doesn't want to read about rich people drama?

I didn't realize how many second books in series I'm going to be reading during the month. I'm glad I'm making progress in these series. I know a lot of people in the bookish spaces are focused on reading series this year.

[katblu42]

Day 11 - Rocky Mountaineer part 1

I'm behind again! Mostly because I've been busy experiencing stuff, and not connected to tech!!

Anyway, Day 10 started pretty early - coach pick up at the hotel was 7:50am, but our luggage had to be outside our rooms for collection an hour before that.

Our coach was the first to arrive at the station, so we had about half an hour to hang around before the welcome (which involved bagpipes), and then boarding.

(This is a Gold Leaf carriage - I was travelling on Silver Leaf)

We set off at 8am, and while we were still slowly trundling out of Vancouver the first refreshments were served - coffee and tea, then a 2 course breakfast!

We had an unexpected and sudden stop when the emergency brake was pulled due to "an issue with the crossing ahead." Not sure what the issue was, but when the emergency brake is pulled the whole length of train has to be walked to check the brake has been released. I think we were stopped for about 10 minutes.

(The stop also caused a service cart at the back of our carriage to topple. These carts basically never to that, so this was definitely unusual according to our 3 cabin hosts!)

Not long after that we had a glimpse of Mt Barker (which is over the border in the US - Washington).

At this point I feel the need to point out 2 important things: 1. I took over 200 photos today 2. All photos were taken through the windows of the train, and are therefore subject to reflections off the glass - watch out for the little UFOs, they are reflections of the lights in the carriage ceiling!

I also should point out seeing mountains like these is kinda exciting for me - Australia's mountains aren't like this! And the train follows the Fraser River pretty closely. The grey-green colour of the water is apparently due to the sediments it carries - they never get a chance to settle.

Speaking of colours . . . this mixture of blues and greens is because it's part of where the Fraser meets the Thomson River, which the train then follows to our eventual overnight stop in Kamloops.

This train trip is like being in a moving restaurant - we were supplied with drinks and a snack, then a 3 course lunch by the time we hit this point!

Rainbow Canyon - the colours of the rocks caused by oxidation of iron, copper and sulfur (I think that's what they said!)

I was really on the wrong side of the train to get shots of the rapids on the Thompson, where some of the rocks have names! Can you spot the rock called the frog? (right pic above)

Murray Creek Falls . . .

On one of our many stops while waiting on a siding for a freight train to pass in the opposite direction, we had a Bald Eagle circling beside us. Not easy to snap pics!

Somewhere near Black Canyon we had one of the best chances to shoot pics of the front of the train - my carriage was the second last of 22 "pieces of equipment" (engine, carriages inc non-passenger cars), and the last passenger car. (I still had trouble getting a decent shot without reflections or telephone wires in the way!)

We spent much of the day spotting Osprey nests! (And one or two eagle nests)

Does anyone recognise Rainbow Bluffs? Apparently they appeared in the X-Files. (right pic above)

After many, many delays pulling into sidings for freight trains (the two I counted cars for were 150 and 194 cars long - so not short trains!), and our afternoon snack and drink, we finally came up along Kamloops Lake. Lots of winding track as the train closely follows the shoreline.

And that's my 30 image limit!

We were late getting into Kamloops - so many stops along the way we even got a second afternoon snack!! So, when we finally reached our hotels it was around 9pm. That's basically a 13hr train trip! Certainly not boring though.

[petalsfm]

if you’re hearing I LIKE YOU (A HAPPIER SONG) by POST MALONE & DOJA CAT playing, you have to know MILAN “MILLY” EDWARDS (SHE/HER; CIS WOMAN) is near by! the THIRTY-THREE year old HOTEL MANAGER has been in denver for, like, ONE YEAR. they’re known to be quite OPINIONATED, but being ADAPTABLE seems to balance that out. or maybe it’s the fact that they resemble LAURA HARRIER. personally, i’d love to know more about them seeing as how they’ve got those SOUND OF A BELL RINGING, SIGHING AFTER A STUPID PHONE CALL, LIVING OFF TV DINNERS AND TAKEOUT, YEARNING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER vibes. and maybe i’ll get my chance if i hang out around the DOWNTOWN DISTRICT long enough!  

STATS:

full name :       milan ramona edwards

nickname(s) :     milly

birthplace :      miami, florida

date of birth :       01 / 01 / 1990

parentage :      elizabeth washington edwards & jeffrey edwards

relationship status :     single

gender identity :     cis woman ( she/her )

sexual orientation :     heterosexual

faceclaim :      laura harrier

BACKGROUND:

born in miami, florida to two… trying parents.

in no way was milan planned. in actuality, milan’s conception was meant to be no more than one last hurrah before her father left salt lake city, utah to fort hood in killeen, texas to join the military base

however, two and a half months later, sergeant jeffrey edwards receives a letter from the one and only elizabeth washington saying she’s pregnant and it has to be his

trying to do things the traditional way, the two find a way to get elizabeth to killeen and situated. around elizabeth’s four month mark, elizabeth and jeffrey decide to elope, tethering themselves together forever.

it’s around six and half months that the edwards’ are told they’re being relocated to florida.

milan isn’t due until mid january, but decides she wants to spend new years with her parents. she’s born on january 1, 1990 to a twenty-four year old jeffrey and a twenty-five year old elizabeth.

she spends the first year of her life in florida, but it’s at age one the edwards’ are told to move to seattle, and age three they’re told to move to washington d.c.

stability had never been a word milan was all too familiar with, seeing how she never lived in the same town for longer than two years at a time up until the age of eighteen

despite attending numerous public schools both on and off bases, milan had to really rely on herself if she wanted to retain any information. jumping from schools in the middle of the year always left her at a loss. either she was joining a new school ahead or behind where everyone else was.

neither of her parents were educated past the secondary level, but her mom tried to help her whenever she had time

luckily, the books and work she did seemed to be a constant in her life, which motivated her to do the work on her own. while the content of the work may have been inconsistent based on relocations, the expectation remained the same.

if she can’t control anything going on around her, she can control her own person. her grades were always good, and she always took really good care of herself. as she entered her pre-teen / teen years, she began reading different fashion magazines to figure out what to do with her hair, skin, and makeup. something she’s always had, though, is an incredible care for her teeth. it’s at age thirteen she decides she wants to go into dentistry when she gets older.

when she’s fifteen years old, jeffrey edwards is discharged from his military services. after living on bases all around the country, he decides he wants to settle down in vancouver, bc.

living in vancouver from ages fifteen to eighteen meant she was going to have a new record for place she’s lived the longest.

it’s not until things have really settled that milan notices her parents don’t seem to have the connection she thought they did. with the chaos of moving all the time with two parents working, it was never apparent to milan that they might not be a good match.

things are tense, and she hears harsh whispers across the hall when her parents believe she’s asleep.

still, they refuse to divorce. milan is almost out of the house, then they can be free to live life as they wish. after giving her years of instability, the last thing they want to do is spring yet another new life change on her. sometimes she wishes they had.

to get away from it all and back to what she’s familiar with, milan looks for a school in the states where she can get a degree in dental hygiene.

at age eighteen she moves to sacramento, california to attend carrington college. the program promises licensure in less than two years, and the sooner milan can get herself to a normal life, the better.

when she’s twenty and unfortunately after some mishaps with fiscal services and payments, milan is halfway through her program. just one more year and she’s done. and that’s when she meets her first boyfriend. she’s never been in one place long enough to really care to meet anyone, so this man is both nerve-wracking and exciting.

he is good to her. in fact, she’s never felt more COMFORTABLE in her life. with his love and support, the last year of the program is a breeze and she passes her licensing exams with flying colors.

she’s twenty-three and a year into her new job when she messes things up ROYALLY. her boyfriend’s sister is now engaged, and milan begins to think. she begins thinking of her parents timeline versus where her and her boyfriend were. they were almost the age her parents were when they had her. her parents never had the heart to tell her the truth about her conception, and although she knows their relationship is not good, she has no one else to look up to. she didn’t meet many friends parents growing up, and her parents would talk to more people on each base than she could keep up with.

for the first time in her life, milan is not fully in control of herself. sure, for the most part, everything is her choice. but wanting to be married was a decision they both had to make, and it didn’t seem like he was going to budge. before she knows it, she’s pushed too hard and he’s moving his things out.

not long after that, her parents finally decide to pull the plug on their own marriage as well. a cherry on top of the shit cake life had seemed to hand her.

with everything she knows crashing down around her, she feels herself spiraling. being a dental hygienist is not nearly as fulfilling as milan had planned for it to be, but the gig did come with some pretty decent benefits.

it’s the only way she can afford therapy. while she desperately needs multiple years to unpack everything she needs to deal with, it only takes a year for her to decide she needs to find a new job.

when her and her boyfriend were together, she was always the one planning dinners and parties, and she always felt her calmest when doing so. her therapist suggests it gives her the opportunity to have control, something she’d lacked the majority of her life. so, getting a degree in hospitality management and seeking jobs in that field seems like a no brainer.

she’s twenty-nine when she finally finishes school for the second time. she knows through social media that her ex has found his way to denver, colorado, and seems to have found peace for himself.

they haven’t spoken since he in years, but she ( hesitantly ) reaches out to catch up. she asks how he’s liking the city and what it’s done for him. in the end, she asks if denver is big enough for the both of them. ❛ I WANT SOME OF THAT PEACE YOU’VE GOT, ❜ she jokes.

to her surprise, he says yes. she goes back to work as a dental hygienist while planning small events on her off time. that, and selling most of the things still remaining in the apartment she never moved out of, seemed to be a bit lucrative. she saves enough money to get her to denver by february 2022, and her parents were kind enough to chip in what they could to help.

she quickly found a job at a hotel-- a receptionist, but there’s always room for growth. she moves up fairly quickly. it’s not long before she’s promoted to hotel manager.

she’s currently still trying to find her footing of life in a new(ish) town with a new(ish) career. overall, my girl is strugglin !!!!!

[charlesandmartine]

Sunday 9th July 2023

Two of my most favourite announcements came close together around 8am this morning: 'All aboard' and 'Breakfast will be served shortly'. As the Rocky Mountaineer pulled slowly out of Jasper Station, there was an announcement that there was a bear on the tracks. We we all pushed our noses against the glass, but saw nothing. I can't believe the railway company is part of this bear conspiracy.

Breakfast served and Coldplay playing softly in the background Martine told me not to do the old man head nod to Chris Martin and then realising all the old men in the carriage were simultaneously doing it anyway.

Everyone craned through the window as we passed Moose Lake, so named because of the 100,000 moose supposed to be in the area. My finger was paused on the camera button just in case but clearly all 100,000 were on a coffee break somewhere. The mighty Fraser River uniquely filters through this lake on its 1500km journey to Vancouver. Next hotspot was a stunning view to Mount Robson, the highest peak clocking in at 3954m. Following soon after is Valemount, famous for having the longest chum salmon run anywhere in the world. The old salmon swim 830 miles from the ocean for spawning. Logging was the main industry here until 2006 when the sawmill closed. Now tourism is their main source of income.

Single track railroads the world over can be the cause of accidents without adequate control. One such incident took place on November 21 1950 on Canoe River just south of Valemount. Due to a mistaken directive, a westbound troop train carrying soldiers bound for Korea collided with a Canadian National Railway train head-on. Poor old signalman Jack Ashton was initially charged with manslaughter, but was later let off the charge of not sending vital information required to move one train out of the way to a siding. Instead procedures were reviewed preventing any repetition. Sadly twenty one people were killed.

It is a skill not yet learnt how to drink SB with the movement of the train without spilling any. I'm sure it is one that could be mastered with enough practice.

The Rocky Mountaineer runs throughout the summer until October, leaving Vancouver on Friday to Jasper returning on Sunday back to Vancouver every week. Coaches are light and airy with fantastic visabilty of the surrounding countryside. Wide aisles and comfortable seating with plenty of leg room. Guests relax in their seats or stroll down to the viewing platform at the end of the coach, providing an opportunity for a bit of a natter. We left Jasper with 12 coaches and 220 guests but at Kamloops overnight the similar service run from Banff will be attached to us taking us to 22 coaches with 550 guests in all.

Breakfast and lunch were superb; a tender chunk of rib of beef for the latter washed down in the appropriate manner.

The scenery gradually changed from the high Rocky Mountains to pine clad hillsides, fast flowing rivers and waterfalls then woods of thick deciduous trees and rain. One such tree fell in front of the train holding up events whilst an engineer was sent out to clear it. It was like Murder on the Orient Express. Tree cut and moved to the trackside we were once again on the move again and heading towards Kamloops.

The organisation had thought of everything and issued our hotel room keys to us whilst still on the train, then fed onto a waiting bus by the track to take us to our room for the night. We were told when you get to your room, your luggage will already be there. If it isn't, don't worry, it'll probably be somewhere else!

Great day. Great way to see the Rockies. More tomorrow to complete our journey to Vancouver.

ps. Bear spotted in the water. No chance of a photo.

[boricuacherry-blog]

Jimi Hendrix's family

When Jimi was born, his father, Al, was a 23-year-old private in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala. Jimi's mother, Lucille Jeter Hendrix, was only 17 and still a Seattle schoolgirl. They married on March 31, 1942, at the King County Courthouse in a quick ceremony, and only lived together as man and wife for three days before Al was shipped out to the service.

Al liked boxing and dancing.

Seattle, then headed to California to get the toddler.

The family in Berkeley attempted to talk Al into leaving Buster with them, and an adoption would have been easy to arrange. Al was conflicted, yet overwhelmed with paternal love. Al decided to take the boy.

In Seattle, Al and Jimi moved in with Aunt Delores to the Yesler Terrace housing project, the first racially integrated public housing in the United States. Lucille showed up soon after. For the first time the three Hendrixes were in the same room. By all accounts, the next several months were the smoothest the family would ever experience. Living with Lucille's sister, their expenses were minimal, so for once money was not an issue. Al was receiving small payments from the Army, and he and Lucille were able to go out on the town while Delores stayed with Jimi. Eventually, Dolores became fed up with Al and Lucille's drinking and kicked them out.

Al then found work at a slaughterhouse, and they moved to a transient hotel in the Jackson Street area. Their modest room had only a single bed, which he, Lucille and Buster shared. They had a one-burner hot plate to prepare meals, and the room's only other furniture was a desk chair. They lived in this hotel room for months, until Al took a job as a merchant marine and was shipped to Japan. When he returned, he found that Lucille had been evicted. Al later said she had been kicked out after being caught with another man in the room; Delores disputed Al's version of events, but whatever happened it did not stop Al from taking Lucille back again immediately, and thus a pattern emerged: fights and separations were an integral part of their marriage.

Just 11 months after Leon was born, Lucille gave birth to another boy, whom Al named Joseph Allan Hendrix. Al was listed as the father on the birth certificate, though in his later autobiography Al denied paternity. Where Jimi and Leon were both tall and lanky, Joe was short and stocky, but looked enough like Al to be his twin.

Joe's birth was not a joyous occasion, as the baby had several birth defects. Jimi had turned 6 the winter Joe was born, and the family now had three young children to feed. Al and Lucille often fought about which one of them caused Joe's medical problems: Lucille blamed Al for pushing her when she was pregnant; Al blamed Joe for drinking.

In official divorce proceedings, Al was awarded custody of Jimi, Leon and Joe. This was really a paper formality: As they had been during most of Al and Lucille's marriage, the Hendrix boys were raised by Grandma Clarice Jeter, Al's mother in Vancouver, Aunt Delores, friend Dorothy Harding and others in the neighborhood. And despite being divorced, Al and Lucille still were together sometimes, as their passion play continued. Joe, however, was scheduled to become a ward of the state, the only way to get his medical expenses totally covered. Lucille and Al had to give up parental rights and leave him at Children's Hospital.

Watching for Welfare

Lucille quickly went off again, and Al was left raising Leon and Jimi by himself. "The neighbors started to take over watching us," Leon recalled, "because they knew what was going to happen - that welfare was going to take us away." The welfare department workers drove green cars, and Leon and Jimi learned to watch for those vehicles and beat a retreat if they saw one. Leon and Jimi would usually end up at neighbors around dinnertime. "Jimi and I used to be so hungry, we'd go to the grocery store and steal," Leon said. "Jimi would be smart: He'd open a loaf of bread, pull out two piece, wrap it up, and put it back. Then he'd sneak into the meat department, and steal a package of ham to make a sandwich out of it."

In 1953, the family's fortunes improved when Al got a job with the city engineering department as a laborer. He purchased a small two-bedroom home at 2603 S. Washington St. Jimi was now attending Leschi, the most integrated elementary school in the city. Here, he met up with the boys who would become his closest childhood friends: Terry Johnson, Pernell Alexander and Jimmy Williams. Jimi occasionally joined Terry at Grace Methodist Church, and it was there that he had his first exposure to gospel music.

For entertainment the boys enjoyed swimming in Lake Washington or going to cheap matinees at the Atlas Theater, where Jimi fell in love with the "Flash Gordon" serial and especially with the movie "Prince Valiant." The villain in "Prince Valiant" was called "the Black Knight," and Jimi and Leon would charge each other with brooms in make-believe jousting matches. That same broom was also fashioned into an imaginary guitar. He would play along to the radio, strumming the broom as if it were a guitar.

By 1954, acting on repeated complaints from neighbors, a social worker eventually cornered Al Hendrix. He was given two choices: His sons could be sent to a foster home or be put up for adoption. Al argued that Jimi, almost a teenager, needed less caring for, and thus should stay with him. Leon, Al's favorite by every account, would go to foster care.

Leon was placed in a foster home six blocks away with Arthur and Urville Wheeler. The Wheelers had six children of their own, but housed as many as 10 additional kids. They were church people. "Jimi was at our house more than he was at his dad's," recalled Doug Wheeler, one of the Wheeler sons. "A lot of times Jimi would spend the night, so he could have breakfast before going to school. Otherwise, he might not have anything to eat."

That fall, at Al's urging, Jimi turned out for junior football. His coach was Booth Gardner, who decades later would become Washington's governor. "He was no athlete," Gardner recalled. "He wasn't good enough to start; to tell the truth, he really wasn't good enough to play." Gardner felt sorry for Jimi and saw that the poverty in the family home was severe. One day Gardner stopped by and found Jimi sitting alone in the dark. "The power had been turned off," Gardner recalled.

When he wasn't playing football, Jimi roamed the neighborhood at all hours with little supervision. He soon knew every musician around, simply by listening by the sounds of their rehearsals. He'd hear music coming from a house, and as a curious boy, he'd simply knock on the door.

In 1956, during the first half of a year at Washington Junior High, Jimi earned one B, seven C's and one D. In the second half of the year, he had three C's, four D's and two F's. Jimi would have started eighth grade were it not for further problems at home. The bank repossessed their house, and Jimi and Al moved to a boarding house run by a Mrs. McKay. As a result, Jimi had to switch schools.

Jimi wouldn't finish high school. And after getting caught for driving two stolen cars would be faced with either two years in jail or the army. He chose the army. And he brought a guitar from his father with him.

[businessclassflightdealstosydney]

4 Things About the Flight Aggregator Site You Should Check

When it’s time to book a ticket for one of the best flights to Vancouver from London, like any other individual of this era of information technology, you will Google. Unless you have a particular choice about booking flight tickets from the direct website or app of a certain airline company, show your smartness by exploring the leading aggregator sites. 

Booking flight tickets from any reputed flight aggregator site/app is always beneficial because you can get a variety of airline companies with different prices they charge for flying to the same destination. While exploring the flights to Los Angeles from London, check the overlays as with more overlays the cost of the tickets is higher than the direct flights or with one overlay. 

Here are the four things about the flight aggregator sites that you should check before moving forward to book your flight tickets--

How popular is the business?

Select reputed aggregator websites/apps where you can book flight tickets. You can learn about the top aggregator sites from advertisements or references from friends. Before booking tickets for flights to New Zealand from London, knowing about the popularity of the business is essential as you are about to spend your hard-earned money on them.

Who are the owners?

Check about the owners of the aggregator site when you choose it to book your tickets for flights to New York from UK or wherever else. Scan the About Us page to learn about the background of the enterprise. 

Are the customers happy with their services?

Explore the reviews of former customers. You can know about the excellence in their services they have talked about. 

Is it an online travel agency?

Check whether the aggregator site is also an online travel agency OTA. You can also book hotels from the same site or can custom-make the whole tour. 

[awanderingcanadian]

Costa Rica for Newbies

After arriving at YVR to discover that our ongoing flight from Mexico City was “delayed” for 2.5 days, and the staff at YVR didn’t have access to options, we arrived in Mexico City around 4am local time, (2am Vancouver time), and immediately made a beeline for the AeroMexico customer service desk. You may be shocked to read that it wasn’t busy at that time of the night. When I booked the flights, I saw that we could go in Business Class for $200CDN more, (I’ve never seen a price that close to a domestic price before), so I booked them. In hindsight, this turned out to be a great decision. Not only were we a priority for rebooking, we also had use of the AeroMexico lounge. The wonderful representative found us seats on the next flight out, (albeit it 12 hours after our original flight, and in an exit row, not Business class, for which she apologized profusely), and off we went for a record 14.5 hours of lounge time. We napped, ate, and drank water, lattes, and even a glass of wine. Arriving into San Jose, Costa Rica around midnight, we weren’t out of the airport until closer to 1am. Our car rental representative was still waiting there for us. We had booked a last minute inexpensive hotel near the airport and had said we would be arriving around 1am, (as this was a small family run hotel we worried about a late arrival). We pulled into the gated parking at 1:30am and crashed hard into our bed. Awakening to this view though, made it all okay:

The next morning we set out for our treehouse accommodation in Cocles, (a few kms south of Puerto Viejo). I had read that it would take just under 4 hours, but almost 6 hours later, we arrived. Our limited experience of roads in Costa Rica, (the ‘highway’ over the mountains to the Caribbean coast and subsequent side roads), have thus far confirmed the opinion that the roads here are terrible. The highway is under construction, moving from 2 to 4 lane constantly, but with very little notice. One moment you’re driving on a 4 lane divided highway, the next, the two lanes over the median are empty, and there are large trucks coming toward you in your ‘fast lane’. In an interesting twist, there are often 2 lanes going down the hills, and one going up the hill?? We quickly understood why our AirBnB host said not to make the drive at night. The ‘road’ to our AirBnb is a 2 km gravel road…with huge rocks and not gravel. It’s quite a workout for the Suzuki Vitara, (probably the most common vehicle we’ve seen here).

Car rentals here are also interesting, as most places insist that you take out the full insurance, regardless of the fact that your credit card company might provide secondary insurance. I called our credit card company and they said to take the minimum required and they would cover the rest. They sent us something to print and take with us specifically stating we were covered in Costa Rica. So, we booked with the “full insurance” package. When we picked up the car, they then informed us that the “full insurance” had an $1800USD deductible if the accident was our fault, and get this…a 20% deductible on the total damage if the accident WAS NOT our fault. WTH?? We’ve declined this extra insurance, on top of our “full insurance”, and hope that if we are actually involved in an accident, our credit car will honour its word. Because of these dire warnings, we took a video of our car at pick up, (as well as some photos…remember it was after 1:00am and we had had very little sleep in the past 2 nights). Two days into our rental, we discovered that we are missing a lug nut from the front and back tire on the passenger side. We looked back at our pick up video and yes…they rented us a car already missing two lug nuts.

I tilted this post “Costa Rica for Newbies” because, although we are fairly seasoned travellers, there’s always something new to learn when you go somewhere new. I’m not writing this to complain, just to maybe help other newbies to Costa Rica!

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Rent Official Asks Landlords to Be Good," Vancouver Sun. October 16, 1943. Page 5. --- Removal of the eviction clause on commercial property demonstrates that the administration does not wish to retain wartime regulations "any longer than the emergency dictates."

But, declared C. R. DeMara, rentals administrator, before Friday's Real Estate Exchange luncheon at Hotel Georgia, if this relaxation is abused, "the clause will go back again."

"Try to be a good landlord, because if we get too many complaints from this area we will have to act," Mr. DeMara pleaded. "Think of the tenant as well as the rent, and if he has to move, try to find him another place."

'LADIES DIFFICULT' The rentals administrator, whose jurisdiction extends from the Quebec boundary west, spoke only briefly. Most of the luncheon was devoted to technical questions directed at J. G. Walker, rentals appraiser for B.C., by the realty men present.

"Most of our difficulties come, not from real estate men, but from, elderly ladies of considerable means," Mr. DeMara observed.

Referring to four leading realtors who have given their services gratis as Okanagan appraisers, the board official said, "We have had no complaints of favoritism where we have placed our trust and confidence in a representative of your business."

WAR LAW SUPREME Spokesman said that on one-family areas, such as Shaughnessy, the fire warden was demanding rooming house fire equipment where there was emergency "shared accommodation," and the owners' objections, based on housing orders, were being over-ruled by local authorities and by the Attorney-General.

The rentals administrator said that the War Measures Act over-rides all other laws and suggested that owners might get relief under a "deterioration of property" clause in the new order, No. 294, if they cared to take a test case to court.

Explaining new forms provided by the board to expedite operation of the order, he warned landlords as well as tenants to "get the wording right if you type your own forms, or risk outlawing of your lease."

Elimination of affidavits did not eliminate penalties for misrepresentation, which are "greater under the War Measures Act than for perjury," Mr. Demara also pointed out.

Stanley Miller, new rentals officer here, and J. S. Maguire, his predecessor, who is returning to private law practice, were introduced to the meeting along with J. R. M. Anstis, deputy rentals administrator, from Toronto, who will be in B. C. for another month, it was announced.

[missguomeiyun]

I AM BACK!

Hey everyone!!!

I remember saying I'll be posting a Sept-Oct homecooking post but look, it is Nov 29th already! So instead, I'm working on a Sept-Oct-Nov post :P

So . . .

I was back from Korea on the 3rd week of October. I had a blast there, as usual. I can say everything went smoothly - with minor hiccups regarding the flights. I don't know when I'll share those or IF I will share those. .. maybe here? I don't know! Anyway, it was so much fun!! I didn't want to come back but by the end of the 3 weeks, I was getting kind of tired towards the end bcos I had 12-13 hr days, all day, every day lol out around 8am & back to hotel about 8-9pm, with no rest in between besides coffee time, basically. It was go go go everyday! I didn't get sick so that was awesome. I purchased another umbrella -.-" every time I go to Korea, there's like 1 day (or 1.5 ish) where it rains & I'm like. .. should I buy an umbrella or not? I end up buying one every time! Currency exchange rate was good; even with credit card service fee, so I feel like I went at the right time. Umm. .. what else? Oh, I checked off a bucket list item haha actually a few. My fav place remains to be Busan! Weather was soooo hot & humid in the beginning of my trip but cooled down the last day >.< lame! As a result, about 1 week into my trip, my skin turned terrible. I visited a pharmacy on Jeju Island bcos the mosquito situation was bad- had to get kids mosquito 'lotion'. It's basically a cooling liquid that you rub onto your mosquito bites & it has a mint-y effect to relieve itchiness. I really like the smell & it worked really well, so I was gonna buy another one to bring back but forgot!

The main concern for me was. .. things were not as cheap as they used to be. By "things", I really mean the food & coffee. In particular the street food - omg! It's rare to find items that are <4000KRW (~$4USD). Coffee was also very pricey! I mean, they were already pricey but numbers are higher now :O It hurt but it was great! haha

So yeah. .. I'll be getting on that 3-month summary post so I will end the post here =]

This is what I made earlier this week at home~ I'm putting my milk frother & milk pitcher to use. I have had the frother for a while now but haven't used it. .. until I got a pitcher during Black Friday. Anyway, will elaborate on what this is in a later post~

Good night, all~

Actually, changed my mind. .. I will keep writing bcos I kind of miss this =D

PS: about the flight hiccups. ..

My flight itinerary was Edmonton to Vancouver to Incheon, you know, the standard route. Having roughly 4 hrs left on the long flight from Vancouver to Incheon (hovering above Japan), there was a medical emergency on the flight; specifically, cardiac arrest. I was like. . . "this kind of thing happens in movies!" I didn't think I would witness CPR on a flight & potentially experience an emergency landing (if the situation didn't improve). Thankfully, everyone was okay & flight landed in Incheon. EMS had to assess & deal with the patient first before anyone on the flight can move, which ultimately ended up delaying the whole 'arrival to hotel' schedule. (Ended up staying in for the 1st night bcos it was also Chuseok/Korean Thanksgiving so most places were closed really early besides convenience stores)

Coming back.. . again, the same long flight from Incheon to Vancouver. .. it was such a bad experience =( this may be controversial or viewed negatively but I'm sharing anyway bcos. .. This is my space! lol I was window seat, there was a middle person, & another person in aisle seat. 3 strangers. The middle person, unfortunately, was a bigger lady & her arms were in her 2 neighbours' space for the entirety of the flight. The only way/time when it wasn't was when she was physically not in her seat or when she was pressing stuff on her screen (so her arm was straight out). But in 'resting position', her arm was like above mine OVER MY SIDE OF THE ARM REST. It was very uncomfortable- for everyone, I'm sure. The Air Canada economy seat was clearly not a suitable seat for this lady. There wasn't anything I could do - I hated meal times the most bcos I felt so cramped. This, of course, can't be the only example; I am not sure what ppl do or what they think.. . maybe choosing an aisle seat would be better so you only have 1 neighbour if you're not gonna get non-economy seat. OR I dunno. .. can you buy 2 seats? But that's more than 1 business class probably? *shrugs* I felt it was a little inconsiderate but what can you do? Pls share your thoughts on this matter. I've never encountered this before.

Okay, I'm going for real now~ BYE!

[quickmoversbc1]

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When you choose Quickmoversbc for your in-house moving needs in Vancouver, you’re choosing a company committed to quality, professionalism, and a hassle-free experience. Let us handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on settling into your new space!

[college-girl199328]

BC NDP reviewing SRO maintenance model, BC Liberals say action needed now

British Columbia’s housing minister says the government has commissioned an independent review of single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels operated in the province.

SROs house many of Vancouver’s most vulnerable low-income residents. Many were built in the early 1900s and have become notorious for poor living conditions.

Earlier this week, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services revealed it had received more than 500 calls from a single SRO last year from residents of another SRO with “disgusting” conditions, the Sakura So SRO on Powell Street.

Speaking with Global’s Focus BC, Ravi Kahlon acknowledged the state of some of the city’s SROs is not acceptable and “hard to see.” Kahlon said the province’s primary goal is to move away from SROs and towards long-term housing. In the interim, however, he has ordered a review through BC Housing of the way SROs are operated and maintained.

Some SROs are privately owned and operated, and some are owned by the province and BC Housing. Others are owned by and maintained under public-private partnerships (P3s).

The P3 initiative was launched in 2012 as the province sought to finance the renovation and restoration of more than a dozen hotels it had purchased since 2007.

Those contracts included restoring the buildings, along with operations and maintenance. Kahlon said he wouldn’t pre-judge the upcoming review, but “my instincts tell me that a model where profits are being made off of trying to house the most vulnerable people is not the best way to go.”

“Now we’re in a position where we’ve heard complaints, we’ve heard from residents, and we’ve made that decision to get an independent analysis done,” he added.

There are real challenges in getting proper responses under this P3 model. The review was ordered by former housing minister and now-Premier David Eby back in August and is expected to get underway next month. It was not immediately clear how long it was expected to take.

Global News is seeking clarification on the review from the housing ministry. BC Liberal mental health and addictions critic Elenore Sturko, meanwhile, accused the NDP government of stalling on an issue that demands immediate action.

“I was disgusted when I saw the video that clearly showed uninhabitable circumstances and absolute inhumane conditions,” she said of the Sakura So SRO.

"Think of a single person I have ever met in my life that would understand that would be acceptable." Sturko pointed to an existing BC Housing report on the P3 model of SRO maintenance that was produced in 2018, a year after the NDP took power.

That report draws favorable conclusions about the P3 model, including good value for money. However, it highlighted several “challenges,” including the responsibility for any “abnormal wear and tear” outside the initial maintenance contract falling to BC Housing or non-profit operators. It also identified renovation, maintenance, and utility connection delays linked to permit issues and construction timelines.

Sturko said the NDP has long had all the information it needs to improve conditions in Vancouver’s SROs, yet conditions have steadily declined over the last five years.

“I’ve only been in public office for not even half a year yet, and I think this is probably the fourth or fifth study or audit I have heard of,” she said.

“It doesn’t take a special report to see a bathtub full of feces and realize something is wrong.” The current conditions in B.C.’s SROs do not simply reflect problems with maintenance, she alleged, but also reflect health, mental health, and addiction services for the people living in them.

Kahlon pins the deteriorating conditions on underinvestment in housing by the federal and provincial governments over the last two decades.

He said the NDP significantly increased funding for housing, but the process has been slow, and units are only now starting to be built, with 7,000 slated to become available in the next 12 to 18 months.

[cithaerons]

so. basically after through passing customs roughly half my flight was shuffled into this corridor made of construction materials with no windows and no agents to tell us what the fuck was going on or why we were there. we stand around for about 40 min with rumors circulating about why the hell we’re there, because no actual agent to clarify. about twenty of us were all trying to make the same hour and a half connection to [my redacted final destination]. line not moving even an inch, no info, we are very literally stuck in this windowless corridor with no signs or information. eventually agents come by and tell us that our entire flight was “randomly selected” for “additional screening” involving a bag check and ANOTHER covid test. this is apparently a “new policy of customs canada” (????). (no consideration at all was made to the fact that this was going to take 2+ hours and a huge chunk of the flight had connections in under that time. we also were given no warning whatsoever that this might be ??? happening.) we ask if those of us with connections very soon can jump the line. resounding no. the agents assure tho that we’ll definitely be able to find new connections and the expenses will be reimbursed. then we finally get the end of the line (we are about ten or fifteen minutes after the scheduled departure time for our connection at this point) and we are shuffled into this room and told to “look at the screen for our name to turn green and if we see our name turn green come back up to the agent.” i see my name go green pretty soon and come up to the agent. he just tells me to “go on” (girl sitting near translates this to “go out the way i came”). no explanation. no additional steps. so i just walk out keep walking and keep walking until i finally emerge into the gated part of the airport. (i haven’t gotten any kind of additional covid test or bag check that was supposedly happening.) i go the gate - it’s about 20 min past at this point. the flight has left. they couldn’t delay even twenty minutes for the sake of TWENTY of passengers being arbitrarily delayed for ??? reason. so i (with a group of others in the same boat) go to customer service. there are no more flights to [final destination] that day. even taking into account connections through toronto / vancouver / calgary / literally any other city there is NOTHING until the TWENTY-FIRST at the earliest (today being the 19th). not only that - air canada is refusing to issue any refunds or to pay for the cost of hotels, cabs, etc. saying it’s “an issue with customs canada and they have no responsibility” so we get nada. (the girl beside me in line is a HIGHSCHOOLER traveling by herself to see her mom, stranded in this city where she knows no one, with no money, on the other side of the continent from her family. air canada tells her to go fuck herself and take it up with customs canada.) basically my best / only option is get an evening flight to [city sister lives in about ten hour drive from where i’m trying to go] and then spend all day tomorrow on standby for various flights from there to [final destination].

anyhoo. my phone is dead for 90% of this process (aside from a few initial cryptic messages to my mom about how I might miss my flight because shuttled into strange room with no info about what was going on.) in the meantime my mom somehow manages to book me what must have been the last available seat on [flight to major connecting city]. and from there i can fly to another city which is not [original final destination] but roughly a similar distance (4ish hours) from home. i see this text AFTER the whole above situation + talking to customer service for about an hour (see above) and just about cried. (but knock on wood this connection works)

so…. tentative good ending for me. but the nineteen others are (from what i can tell) absolutely fucked. one guy tried to lodge a complaint with customs canada - they told him it was all air canada’s fault and took no responsibility.

there are even more gory details to this but this post is already novel-length — like, when talking to customer service i got myself put on standby for the same flight my mom had previously booked for me (phone dead, didn’t know she booked it) and then air canada acted like i was on standby the whole time and that it has never been booked, then finally figured it out that it had indeed been booked, then the system would not print my boarding pass (just the “standby” one), the lady finally manages to override the system after playing with it for about twenty minutes. i also have not slept since 11am yesterday so i’ve been awake for over 24 hours and i’m about to start hallucinating.

anyways this has been a surreal dystopian nigthmare and i’m knocking on wood the rest of the connections go smoothly

(don’t rb pls)

[spine-buster]

peaceful easy feeling ft. b.boeser | three

A/N: Thanks again for your positive feedback on this mini-series!  Please keep those canon questions coming as you guys know I loooove answering them to help build the canon!  This one is a short one but it will be made up for by the last two chapters.

CONTENT WARNING: parents with disease/sickness (Parkinson’s); swearing; sex; alcohol use; lots of emotions.

                                                                 *     *     *     *     *

Brock and Grace were having fun.  Actual, genuine, real fun.  Whenever they were together, they were smiling and laughing and kissing and having a good time.  They’d go out to eat at Vancouver’s best restaurants.  They’d take walks in parks or along the seawall.  They’d get coffee at cute little cafés and munch on bespoke cookies or donuts that would make Brock complain about extra hours in the gym.  They’d invite Elias and Svea with them and it would be great, because they were great, and they’d all just be constantly laughing.  Grace and Svea got closer – much closer.  Elias and Brock were tearing it up for the Canucks.  Grace and Svea would go to bars for a glass of wine before going to games together.  They’d cheer and clap and sing along with all the songs being blasted throughout the arena.

Fun.  Life was fun.  

***

“How do I bite it?!” Brock was incredulous at the size of the cupcake Grace got him.  It was bigger than his jaw could open.  Elias and Svea were already ready with their damn phones to film him.  “I can’t…” he tried to bring it up to his mouth.

“Just put the whole thing in your mouth!” Grace exclaimed.

“That’s what she said,” Elias mumbled, only to garner a disapproving mother look from Brock and a slap on the arm from Svea.  “What!  Isn’t that the joke?!”

“Don’t be crass,” Svea chastised before focusing her attention back on Brock.  “Just bite the thing, Brock.  Just…just stuff it in there,” he pretended to do the motion herself.

“Again, that’s what she said.”

Grace hit Elias too this time.  

***

“You can get us reservations to Hawksworth?” Svea asked in shock.  

Grace nodded casually, like it was the easiest thing in the world to get a reservation at Vancouver’s best and most exclusive restaurant.  “The Gillespie’s own the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.”

“You do?”

Grace nodded again before sucking back on an oyster.  “When do you want to eat there?”

“Oh, I – I don’t know.  Can I get back to you?”

“Of course!  Just let me know.”

“Wow Grace,” Svea said.  “You really do have the world at your fingertips.  Vancouver especially.”

Grace shrugged her shoulders.  “It’s a blessing and a curse.  I can’t go anywhere without running into someone that knows my dad or knows who I am and thinks they know me.  It’s even worse when they knew my dad a long time ago and only ask about how he’s doing with his Parkinson’s now.  Most of the time they don’t even truly care.  And I’d trade it all in, every single penny, if it meant my dad never got Parkinson’s.”

Svea couldn’t imagine living that kind of life.  She didn’t know how Grace did it – or Brock, for that matter.  She would be a sobbing mess on the floor every single day.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to be insensitive when I—”

“Oh God no.  No no no – you don’t need to apologize.  I just…” Grace paused, trying to collect her thoughts.  “I know how fortunate I am, believe me.  I just don’t think people know that – that I know I’m fortunate.  But Parkinson’s – any chronic illness – it really humbles you.  Most people don’t know what that’s like.  And like, thank God they don’t.  But they think they know.”

All Svea could do was nod her head and listen.

***

Whenever Brock sent a text that said ‘come over and watch a movie’ Grace knew what that really meant.  But instead of finding it lewd, she’d slather on some raspberry chapstick and be on her merry way to Brock’s apartment.

When they were done, and lying in bed together, with her head on his chest and her hair sprawled everywhere, that’s when the talking would begin.  “How’s your dad doing?”  “Are the new round of meds working?”  “Is he having more trouble getting up now?”  “What are the doctors saying?”  “How’s his memory?”  “How’s the swallowing?”  “Are the doctors recommending speech therapy?”  

“When I quit dance, my dad was so disappointed,” Grace revealed one night as Brock was running his hands through her hair.  “It was the only thing I was ever really, really good at.  I wasn’t the best in school.  I just didn’t get things the way other kids did.  And when I told him the reason, he made me promise I’d keep doing dance in some capacity.  I maybe wouldn’t do it super-competitively anymore with him driving me all around BC and flying me all over Canada and the US to attend competitions, but I’d still do it.  That’s why I teach at the Goh Ballet.  Like…I know I’m not the smartest girl in the world, but I like to think I have a big heart.  And I just hope that people see that.”

“I wear number six because it was my dad’s number,” Brock revealed too, one night when they were alone.  “I wanted…I wanted to make sure that if he wasn’t around, my career would still honour him in some way.  I want that to be my legacy…like, everything I do, I do for my dad.”

Grace nodded.  She completely understood.  “I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who knows and understands exactly what I’m going through,” she said.  “Do you think it was fate that brought us together at that meeting?”

Brock found himself nodding his head automatically.  “Of course,” he said softly.

***

“I’m sorry we couldn’t have you at the house for dinner, Brock, but our chef is on vacation,” Eliza Carmichael, Grace’s mom, smiled from across the table as she sipped on her glass of wine.  From beside her, her husband, Grace’s step-dad James kept perusing the menu, as did Grace’s two step-brothers, Jasper and Theo, who were seated at opposite heads of the table.  

“Oh that’s no problem at all,” he smiled politely, grabbing Grace’s hand underneath the table and squeezing it gently before putting it in his lap.  “I actually come here with the boys sometimes.  The food here is amazing.”

“It is, isn’t it?  James knows the head chef,” she said.  “Grace tells me you’re a hockey player.”

It was at that point that James put down his menu.  “Honey, he plays for the Vancouver Canucks.  We’ve been over this.”

Eliza rolled her eyes playfully before picking up her menu.  It was only at that point that Brock noticed the giant rock on her finger.  It was the size of his eyeball.  “Grace tells me you live in Shaughnessy,” he said, trying to make polite conversation.  “I hear that’s a beautiful neighbourhood.”

“Oh, it is.  Perfect place for the quiet life hockey player’s lead,” James joked.  Brock forced out a chuckle.

***

“I love this song!!!” Grace exclaimed as the DJ began to play some old school Rihanna.  She downed the rest of her drink and slapped the glass against the bar before grabbing Brock’s arm with one hand and Svea’s hand with the other, knowing that Svea would, on instinct, grab Elias’s arm and drag him to the dance floor too.

The club was completely unstuffy.  There were no girls dressed to the nines, no four-inch stiletto heels digging into Grace’s feet, no people showing up just to be seen in booths with bottle service.  It was completely unpretentious and that’s how Grace liked it.  Considering her lifestyle and her wealth, it was actually how she liked everything.  So when the DJ began playing pop songs, she couldn’t help but start dancing uncontrollably.  To his credit, Brock did too.  It was like he lost all his inhibitions and began moving his body in tune with the music.  Even Elias and Svea did, and Grace knew how…well, quiet they were.  This wasn’t their scene at all but they were having the time of their life dancing with each other, spinning each other around and moving to the beat of the music.  

For at least a night, Grace could forget.  She could forget how her parents used her to get back at one another during an awful divorce.  She could forget her mom re-married an equally as nice guy as her dad but became more pretentious as the years went on and the wealth accumulated.  She could forget that she made the decision to quit dancing professionally.  She could forget her dad had Parkinson’s.  For one night, everything was perfect.  Everything was fun.  Everything was how it should be.

***

“Fuuuuck, baby,” Brock groaned as he watched Grace climb on top of him, leaning forward so she could press his breasts up against his face.  He immediately took the opportunity to place wet, open mouth kisses all over her breasts, kissing down to her nipples before taking them in his mouth.  He could feel her grab his cock and lower herself onto it, sighing at the feeling of him filling her up.  “Feel good?”

“You always feel amazing,” she smiled, her hair falling around her face.  “That’s why I can’t stop fucking you.”

Brock chuckled, a cocky smile on his face as he reached up and brought Grace’s face down so he could kiss her and stick his tongue down her throat.  “Ride me, baby,” he mumbled against her lips.

Grace began rocking her hips back and forth, her body moving so expertly and so in tune with Brock’s.  Almost immediately, she began to moan, and Brock grabbed her hands and intertwined their fingers so she’d have something to brace against.  Brock was in a trance – as he usually was when Grace was riding.  He was completely and utterly transfixed by her in every sense of the word, and in every way; from the hair on her head to the red nail polish on her toes.  

“God, I fucking love you, Grace.”

The words had barely escape Brock’s mouth before he realized the magnitude of what he said, how he said it, and when he’d fucking said it.  God, he was such a fucking idiot!!!!!  During sex?!  Really?!  Way to live the cliché Brock Boeser!  Way to be a fucking idiot and—

“I fucking love you too, Brock,” he heard Grace say, a smile adorned on her face.  The both of them giggled, and couldn’t stop giggling for a while even though she was still riding him.  It was miraculous.  “Way to say it for the first time while I’m riding you,” she joked.

“I couldn’t help myself,” he said.  

“You’re lucky I love you, because that’s such an amateur move, Brock.”

[headinthestaticsky]

The Dusk Calls for me: Jasper Hale x Fleur Swan, Chapter 14

AUTHOR’S NOTE: ALL the characters in Twilight DO NOT belong to me. ALL RIGHTS GO TO STEPHENIE MEYER

“I can see you clear as yesterday Top down, fingers in the breeze Weavin' through the lights in the sky You said, "Baby close your eyes" And I prayed we would all always Hold on to this feeling, stronger, faster Faster.”

Kwamie Liv, Angel Haze: Pleasure This Pain.

I couldn’t remember much of the ride to the airport, nor did I remember much of the plane ride. I was in shock, paralyzed with worry and fear. Not for me per-say but, My dad, the Cullens, they were all at risk. I couldn’t stand the fact that any of them would be killed because of me. I wished my dreams could’ve predicted this, that I had somehow acquired the ability to see the future like Alice did. I could only predict death it seems... I hadn’t dreamed of anyone getting killed. Maybe it was a good sign, we would be fine. Yes, I would convince myself that... I hadn’t dreamed of anyone dying, we would be fine. 

The only thing I could remember was Bella constantly calling mom, she wouldn’t talk to me or look at me. I felt the same tension I always felt when I was around her a few months ago. I was livid with her, not one call to dad... not one. She clearly didn’t give a damn about his safety either, she was ready to abandon him. Throw him into the wolves to save herself... that selfish side to her had never left it seems. I pulled out my phone again, texting dad.

“Made it to phoenix, we’re safe... getting a ride to a hotel now. I haven’t changed her mind yet. I love you and miss you.” 

I read the text again, wishing the contents of it were true. I wanted to be safe, I wanted to be back home. I wish I was sitting across from dad in the diner talking amongst ourselves. I wish I was driving down the forest going to see the Cullens. I wanted to attempt to beat Alice at chess, to joke around with Emmett and Dean. To have heart to hearts with Esme who was more of a mother to me than Renee had ever been. I wanted to be with Jasper, wrapped in each others arms doing random things together. But, I had to come back to reality... I might not be able to do those things... ever again. 

The hotel looked nice and comfortable but I couldn’t stand the heat of Arizona. It was sickening, the hot air struggled to get into my lungs. The rainy weather of Forks sounded wonderful right now. Dean and Alice got us a hotel room and eagerly brought us up to it. I had a feeling they thought we would be fully safe in there. I put my bag down at the side of my bed and clasped on it, my exhaustion was setting in. Bella had sat on the one next to me and signed. She sounded annoyed to me.

“I didn’t want to come here, I wanted to be with Edward.”

I lifted my head and stared at her... I wasn’t going to snap... maybe she was just scared and was lashing out at people... yeah that was it. 

“I’m really sorry this is happening Bella, It must be really hard to be away from Edward.”

“Yeah it is! If you hadn’t said anything...”

“Look this isn’t either of our faults. If we’re going to get pissed at anyone, it’s James.”

Bella looked at, she knew I was right... I could see it in her face. But, she couldn’t admit it right now and just scoffed and went into the lounge area of the hotel room. She was making this more difficult, I wanted to snap at her just as much as she was angry with me. We’re falling back into the dark hole of resentment, it was suffocating. 

“Fleur? Could you come in here for a second?” Alice asked

I groaned slowly raising myself up from the bed, I went into the lounge room, Alice and Dean looked at me sympathetically. 

“How ya holding up?” Dean asked.

“I’ve been better.”

“Look, you’re going to be okay.” Alice said.

“It’s not about me guys, It’s everyone back at home... They could get hurt, and I can’t do a thing about it.”

“They can handle themselves Fleur, I’ve lived with them for decades... the know what they’re doing.” Dean said.

“But what about dad, I know he’s hurting right now.” 

“He’s going to be fine Fleur, I promise besides, Esme and Rosalie will be down there with him as soon as they leads the tracker away.” Alice said

“You guys are right... could we get something to eat, I am absolutely starving.”

“Sure, I’ll order room service.” Alice replied.

Room service had come, the food was devoured quickly. The nerves were still lingering in the back of my mind but I knew I would just have to have faith in everyone back at Forks. We were all sitting in silence, Bella was facing away from all of us, she looked tense. I heard Alice gasp and my heart sunk to my stomach... she had a vision and I knew it wouldn’t be good.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

“What do you see, Alice?” Dean asked.

“The tracker... he just changed course.”

“Oh on.” I said.

Bella’s head whipped around coming to sit next to Alice.

Dean grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil. He put it in Alice’s hand, she then started drawing where the tracker was going.

“So the tracker is going to be at a... Ballet studio?” Bella inquired.

“You’ve been here?” Alice asked.

“Yeah, I took lesson as a kid, the school had an archway just like that.” Bella added.

“Is the school here in Phoenix?”

“Yeah..” Bella’s phone began to ring, she went to the balcony and closed the door, clearly wanting privacy.

“If the school is here in Phoenix... he probably going to use the place as a trap in some way.” I said.

“Are you sure?” Alice asked.

“Yeah I mean... why the hell would he go to a ballet studio other than the fact that he was trying to find Bella and I.”

“We better leave then, get Bella when she is done and meet us down in the lobby.” Dean ordered.

“Yeah... I will.” 

The pair then left quickly, going to check out. I had just grabbed my back when my phone had rang.

“Hello?”

“Fleur, the tracker... he changed course.” Jasper said, he voice was dripping with worry.

“I know Alice just saw, we plan on leaving soon.”

“I’ll be coming down to find you as soon as I can. Your dad is safe still. We can go anywhere you want as long as it’s safe.”

“My phone’s about to die... I have to go. Love you, please, stay safe.”

“I will, love you too.”

I sat in the room, my body stuck in it’s place. He was coming here... we didn’t have much time to get out. Bella had burst through the balcony door, worry etched all over her face.

“Fleur we need to go, we need to go right now. James has mom, in the ballet studio.”

“Bella, calm down... I think it’s a trap.”

“Like hell it is I heard her over the phone. She kept saying my name she sounds terrified.”

“Think about this Bella... Alice just saw James change his course to that studio... it’s a lure Bella he’s going to kill you.”

“How selfish can you be Fleur!?”

“Excuse me!?”

“Yeah you heard me, this entire time all of this has gone down you’ve been trying to convince everyone you’re right.”

“I said two things Bella, I’m not trying to get people to follow me blindly... I use context clues... It’s been working for me these past 17 years!”

“I mean you just had to butt in that we had to go back to Charlie, you made Edward change his mind about taking me to Vancouver, and now you’re trying to convince me that mom isn’t in any danger at all! How selfish can you be?”

“YOU...” My hands had begun to shake, I pointed a finger at her hitting her in the chest.

“YOU, ARE OFFICIALLY THE BIGGEST HYPOCRITE I HAVE EVER MET IN MY LIFE. YOU WERE GOING TO LEAVE DAD ALL ALONE WHILE A VAMPIRE WAS CHASING US... DO YOU REALIZE THAT IF HE DIDN’T SEE YOU LEAVE THAT HOUSE DAD WOULD BE DEAD?! AND DON’T YOU DARE TELL ME I MADE EDWARD DO A DAMN THING, HE IS A GROWN ASS MAN... A 108 YEARS OLD TO BE EXACT... HE CAN DO ANYTHING HE WANTS TO DO. AND IT’S NOT “CHARLIE” IT’S DAD!”

“I am going down to that studio whether you like it or not.”  

Before I could get another word in she stormed off. Not matter how pissed I was at her... I couldn’t leave her alone in that studio. I would have to find a way to get there without Alice or Dean noticing me. I snuck my way down to the hotel lobby, I looked around for Bella, she was no where in sight. 

“She moves quick... I’ll give her that.”

Alice and Dean had just made it to the front of the line to check out. That was when I made a run for it. I made out, the sun already blistering my skin even if it was 8:49 PM. I ran to the nearest taxi.

“Hello, where can I take you today?”

“Mimi's School of Dance, please.”

“Of course ma’am.”

I remember the name of that school by heart. I had begged my mother to go when I was younger but, she never let me.

FLASHBACK...

“Oh c’mon mommy please?”

“NO, that is my final answer!”

“Why, Bella gets to go?”

“Because you’re way too lanky, you’d look like a dying deer out there!”

I had looked up at here, tears were spilling down my face.

“Daddy says I look beautiful.”

“Well there’s a reason why I left him... he has no sense to him what so ever.”

“I asked why I couldn’t go... not to get insults hurled at me.”

“Maybe if you’d just keep your mouth shut you wouldn’t have to worry about now would’t you? You’re just like your father... you never know when to shut up!”

“I hate you.” I said. I turned and ran back upstairs, Bella was looking over the corner of the room. A smirk was plastered on her face.

“She’s right you know... you would look like a dying deer out there.”

I didn’t even engage in her conversation, I just slammed my door shut. I didn’t come out for the rest of the day.

END OF FLASHBACK.

I stared out the window, the same mantra going through my mind.

“Just let me get there quick enough, please.”