checking in, checking out

Hey y'all! I am fresh back from visiting relatives in the deep south (Georgia, specifically) where I sadly could not access Blogger for some reason. I have plenty of stories and photos to post, as soon as I have access to my own computer again. Until Monday, have a fabulous long weekend!

help me try to help the world...

Or, ok, help me start my thesis.

I recently sent out some mass emails canvassing for help with the beginnings of my thesis research, and I will continue to ask for help here. My research looks at the discursive patterns found in travel blogs of Canadians volunteering in African countries--how they choose to describe their experiences through text, and in some cases images. What I'm asking is pretty straightforward:

If you know anyone (preferrably a Canadian) who has been to any African country as a volunteer and has kept a blog while there, I would love it if you could pass on the URL. Also, if you yourself have been to Africa and kept a blog, please pass me on a link to your travel blog. If you don't wish to post the link in my comments section, please email me at [removed email address].

I have already received an overwhelmingly helpful response via email, but the more links the better. If you know of someone who went, but can't remember their blog address, consider sending me their contact info and I can ask them for the info myself. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

city soup

The heat (the humid, humid heat) has mixed together with the eclectic collection of weirdos in my neighbourhood to form a thick and unappetizing soup.

Before I go into detail, I will add that I am still very much in love with Montreal, we've just seen too much of eachother lately. Brian and I have had guests for about 2 weeks straight, and every other weekend in July as well. I have loved playing tour guide, but how many times can you tell guests, "Oh don't worry about him/them/her, they're harmless" when one ranting crackhead or several yells in their faces or lies down on the sidewalk in front of them?

Also, as much as I love people watching on the streets, it is becoming kind of tiresome to weave in and out of wide open construction sites (which are littered with metal rods and other sharp objects), or stepping gingerly over used condoms, dog poo and other "refuse" that decorate the sidewalks.

As a people watcher, I feel I am very tuned in to other people as I walk through the city. Judging by peoples' facial expressions and body language over the past few weeks, I think it is safe to say that most people are thinking "I don't give a hot damn who you are, so I will not share this sidewalk with you. Get out of my way; I'm going home for dinner and booze."

I am quickly losing patience with the stickiness and pushiness of the city soup I am steaming in. I don't want to become one of the people who push others of the sidewalk or the lecherous men who openly ogle women and girls passing by. I want to be the rare stranger whose belly laugh is infectiously joyful, or the kid who laughs gleefully at pigeons. I want to enjoy the summer and wipe the defensive frown off my face.

Oh, but it is so damn hot and humid! I'm here for 5 more days, then it is back to Ontario for the rest of the month.

on a binge

I have had a crazy week, and in between it all, I have squeezed in a big handful of photoshoots, which has been just wonderful. I know this blog has been very photo-centric lately, but I hope you haven't given up on me as a writer just yet. It must be something about summer holidays that makes a girl want quit typing in lieu of more fun activities.

My models have been wonderful...
For more photos of Rozlyn and Amanda, go HERE.

To see more of Sam, go HERE.

And for more pics of Karlie, stay tuned. I'm having uploading issues at the moment.