Lion

At the risk of making him blush, (or dropkick me in one of his ninja-esque moods)I would like to go out on a limb here and talk about a guy.

Now, I have years and years of journals in which I've archived my trials and tribulations in the romantic realm. Usually, I write with an offhand, half-involved tone. I used to jot down the events of the day...if they happened to include a boy then I mentioned it. And usually, (he says I always say "usually") I speak to my friends about relationships with a very laissez-faire "why not" or "couldn't hurt" philosophy. And...those of you who have known me through my misadventures and poor luck may know that at one time I acquired myself the nickname Siren. This was/is by no means a name or reputation I would choose, nor one that--in all fairness and circumstance--I believe I earned. But nothing had truly sparked my interest until this point. I hadn't yet realized the possibilities that can arise when you find a true connection with someone

Enough preamble, I suppose. It has been nearly 5 months of "relationship" and more than 3 years of friendship. Short and sweet thus far? Yes....but with so much built in, squeezed in to this admittedly short period of time. We have shared everything from homework to late-night Wendy's, gone on long drives, short walks, early-morning jogs, drunken dance floors. You get the point.

I am writing because I want to share him. There are a lot of things about Brian that aren't immediately apparent. And that, for me, is one of the best parts. Getting to know him since first year has been a process. At the beginning I had to ask him a million questions just to hear one-word answers. Now, he is a wealth of humour, creativity, intelligence, warmth and charisma. Every time I see him I learn more and love him more. In this case, putting love on a computer screen is not cheap and I don't believe it loses its aura. The more you share, the more it multiplies, I swear.

I am also writing because I miss him, and because I soon have to leave him for a few months. So expect him to be a mainstay here, cause I will need any kind of connection. Either way...those of you who know him, know that he is a musical encyclopedia and a superb drummer. I know that he loves dinosaurs and is nice to his dog...and respects his mom. Brian is nothing that can be expressed here in any way that would do him justice. For now, it's enough just to talk a bit about him.

My lion.

a first

This morning, I sent in a draft of my first to-be-published magazine article! It will be printed in the next issue of Shameless Magazine--For Girls who Get It.
In the article, I write about my experience as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator. I hope they liked it!

the power of the image

I have decided to post some pictures. For my birthday I got over 600 digital photos printed...my favourites from over the course of the past year. I'm sure many of them will make their way onto here eventually. For now--and as much for my viewing pleasure as yours--I'll put up some that evoke just the right memories for this mood. I figure that it might be nice to have them up here in cyberspace, for easy access when i'm across the ocean from loved ones. sooo:


This is my old room in Burlington.


and a peek at my present one in London


An aerial of my cottage in Meaford, with 22 years of memories intact!


Compass Rose in September. Photo credit: Dave Picard


A late-night photoshoot in Talbot Theatre (also by Dave Picard)


My lovely female housemates, all of whom I miss dearly. Right now...(from left) Maia is working at a daycamp in Etobicoke, Gill is working as a research assistant in Vancouver, Kristina just got back from a whirlwind trip to Hungary and is relaxing in her European-esque castle in Toronto, while Jennie is working at a river rafting company in Wales before doing a 37-day tour of Europe with her sister.


This is the Danforth Music Hall, where Brian & I saw The Arcade Fire show in April. Go here to see great pics of the performance and a little writeup on the show. Let me mention that the music hall was the absolute ideal venue for the show. We arrived a little late, expecting to squeeze our way into a general admission,standing room only setting. When we arrived, however. The audience was seated in the old theatre...everyone was silent or whispering excitedly to their companions and the room was illuminated only by an overhead projector on the stage and some vintage chandeliers above us. It smelled like popcorn and springtime. What a cool and ethereal experience!


Our hotel room view in Montreal


The smoking lounge in Thursday's underground nightclub in Montreal.


Rue St. Catherine a nuit (durante la notte)


My French companion


Gibbons park in the springtime


Secret staircase in Owen Sound

More stories and visuals to come. Check back, because I promise I will update regularly!

deep breath

alright,
Tonight marks the beginning of a concerted effort to report everything over the next few months. I have been pretty much the worst blogger so far this summer.

I'll be honest with you:
I am in denial, and I have to break out of it cause I'm running out of time. I am filled with excitement and nerves about my upcoming trip to Africa. I will tell you all about it, because this blog will serve as window into my thoughts and experience. I will have another blog, a more academic one that is part of my internship. I'll let you know when I name it, and you can read if interested. Just note that this blog will be personal while the other will be more professional.

So...I sign off tonight with a somewhat heavy heart. We have lots to catch up on!

til then

Neighbours.When you're a student, they can be your new best friends, or the bane of your existence. If you're lucky, they will be the kind of people you want to invite to all of your house parties. You know, the kind who let you store your valuables at their place during the party, or fire up the BBQ and let your guest go nuts with hotdogs and marshmallow roasting. Good neighbours should be treasured when you find some.
Bad neighbours come in many forms. From cable stealers to peeping toms, a bad neighbour's close proximity to your life can quickly become a major nuisance. I've experienced both ends of the spectrum: some neighbours bring over banana bread and flowers and ask me in for tea, while others burst through the front door to scream delightful phrases such as "Stop using your F****** toilet, you're F****** up our water pressure!"
As I've discovered while staying with some of my parents' friends, neighbour feuds, fights and rivalries are not things that disappear after our exodus from the student ghetto. Alas, some bad apples are here to stay. In fact, it seems that soem neighbours get meaner, more spiteful and definitely more nosy as they age. So,if you realize that you are stuck with a truly bad neighbour, you might as well have a little fun with it.
Take a hint from the Grumpy Old Men films and play harmless tricks on your neighbours. In the films Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau emploted such tactics as hiding fish in the back of the other's car, or videotaping his nemesis while he was posing as a nude model for a sculpture. Now, I'm not advising you to do anything illegal or creepy, but the odd practical joke never hurt.
On the other hand, you never know when you might need a favour , so ensure you're not the instigator of a ruthless battle. You could also try the exact opposite approach from the onset and bombard your neighbour with kindness. If his or her cruelty still persists after many kind visits and well-meaning smiles, you really have no choice but to give 'em a pie in the face...or maybe consider moving.