Blogger Get-Together

Yesterday Sandy and I visited Celia of HHL and her partner Mr. G (they live about an hour North of us).  We left at 2:00 in the afternoon, the weather was beautiful and we had a great drive up. Most of it was by highway but we were in the country for a while.


We stopped on the side of the road so I could snap a few photos of a farm.  I love old barns...

Once we arrived and settled in the girls stayed behind at the house to chat while Mr. G and I hopped in his diesel-powered Kubota 4x4 for a tour of their very large property.  This thing is awesome, rugged as hell and will go through just about anything. We got tossed around as we plowed through mud, water, steep hills and large bumps.  Just a ton of fun.  Nutkin came along for the journey...

Things were still pretty dormant in the forest, not a lot of colour yet but I snapped a few photos...

After a while we returned to the house and I got to know Stella...

and Dolce (what a character)...

Then they put the barbeque and the oven on and we had a great meal of steak, sausage, salad and corn on the cob paired with a nice Merlot.

When it began to get chilly we adjourned inside the house (which is undergoing an ambitious renovation but will look amazing when done) and had bumbleberry pie with French vanilla ice cream, tea, coffee and lots of great conversation. We left at 9:30pm feeling very thankful for the chance to spend this time together.

Secret Sunday

Hey guys it's time for the twenty-first round of Secret Sunday, a chance to share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.


All are valid.

Here's how it works:

1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor. You can participate anonymously.

2) I don't plan to censor content or language. However I do reserve the right not to post anything which appears to be submitted with the sole intent of offending. I also reserve the right to include submissions that may be considered controversial. It's a fine line sometimes.

3) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. You may copy the rules if you wish.

And now to it...

Yup, Another Photo Post

This is one of those times I have a few pieces in the works (poems, lyrics etc.) and nothing finished.  So in the meantime I've decided to do something more visual. I don't consider myself a photographer, I have a lot to learn, but I do have some favourite shots and thought I'd share them here. Camera was a Canon Powershot A620.  This is just random stuff, I'll do another one in a while...

Food and Drink Photo Post

  A while ago I discovered I really enjoy taking photos of food. I'm not sure why, I guess I just love a nice presentation. Here are some of my favourites from over the years.  Sandy's an amazing cook and it seems my camera is never far from the kitchen....

wine bottle-stopper (cool huh?)

spaghetti and meat sauce w/ shredded parmesan

scallops and shrimp with lime in phyllo pastry shells

barbeque with mixed vegetables

egg frittata with mushrooms, onion, bacon, pepper and cheese

cinnamon buns with icing and bacon

killer fruit salad

mushroom caps with shredded cheese and dressing

"shrimps on the barbie" (barbeque)

filet mignon with onions, mushrooms and side salad

So.....who's coming for dinner?

Secret Sunday

Hey guys, it's time for the twentieth round of Secret Sunday, a chance to share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.


All are valid.

Here's how it works:

1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor. You can participate anonymously.

2) I don't plan to censor content or language. However I do reserve the right not to post anything which appears to be submitted with the sole intent of offending. I also reserve the right to include submissions that may be considered controversial. It's a fine line sometimes.

3) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. You may copy the rules if you wish.

And now to it...

Memories

When it no longer hurts is when it will hurt the most.

Tiesto- The Concert vs The Show Offstage

Last night Sandy and I went to see Tiesto at Ricoh Coliseum as he stopped by Toronto for his Club Life Tour. It was the second time we've seen him and the night was all I expected.

Wolfgang Gartner opened, and while he was high energy I wasn't crazy about the way he kept breaking tempo, killing the beat just as I was really getting into it. On the upside it allowed us to take breaks every now and then.  Tiesto came on two hours after we arrived (at 11:00), the crowd really came alive and we danced our asses off.  The light show was blazing, the strobes were frenetic, the music way-too-loud just as it should be.  Most of what he played was off the new CD, but he included tracks like "Escape Me", "I Will Be Here" and "Feel It In My Bones" from Kaleidoscope. Also older cuts like "Traffic" and "Silence".  Tiesto's a must-see if you're even slightly into trance.

The show offstage was just as big. Not surprisingly about 95% of the people who came were in their twenties. Awesome, I find familiarity in this. Sandy and I were in a spot on the floor last night which had a lot of traffic and was a prime spot for people-watching. These concerts always attract the same characters and they all stand out for different reasons:

Mr. Already Wasted-  shows up high or sloshed and gets turned away at the gate before the show even starts. Or once inside pops E or some other designer drug, gets into an altercation and has his ass turfed before the opening act is finished.

Miss I'm Too Hot To Be Freezing- wears a minidress two sizes too small, barely covering her ass cheeks or other assets, in 40 degree weather and stands in line desperately trying not to look cold.

Mr. Ray Bans- wears sunglasses and runs into people when the lights are down. Sometimes convinces his gf to do the same.

Miss I'm Too Sexy For Pretty Much Everything- has the uncanny ability to walk by you like you're not even there. What colour is the sky in her world?

Mr. Mosh Pit- groups of two to five neanderthals bumping chests and body slamming like they're at a Green Day concert. This is always followed by pissing off guys they bump into who don't happen to be part of their group. If Mr. Already-Wasted is one of them the real fun starts.

Miss Touchy-Feely- some girls just like to hold each other's hand. Fact. As I watched the endless parade of girls with their besties in tow I couldn't help but wonder. Was it just to keep track of each other in a heavy crowd, or was there more to it? Don't answer this, let me dream.
  It's also common in clubs to see two or three girls grinding up on each other. I fully support and encourage this as an important social bonding tool. :)

The nerd/geek/dork/dweeb- plaid shirt with a tie? Some people can pull it off. These guys can't.

Miss Lost In The Music- one of the best sights at a concert. Arms outstretched, head tilited way back, dancing with complete abandon like nothing else exists besides the music. Awesome. Note this is a complete turn-off if she's high, regardless of how attractive she may be.

Mr. Shirtless- as a guy what better way is there to show you want to get laid than to take off your shirt in a building full of hotties? Note to guys everywhere: if you're going to take your shirt off in public at least make sure you have a decent body.  Some did, most did not.

Miss Green/Pink/Blue Hair- something tells me that's not your natural colour. Just a hunch.

Mr. Familiar- "Hey man, I saw you guys at Arrow Hall last year."  No bud, actually you didn't.

Great partying with you this year though.

The Distance

                                                                here


Good to hear your voice tonight
Was never sure if we'd be here again,
Exchanging words,
Making plans.
Nothing said that's put us any further ahead,
But certainly less behind
Than when silence last fell between us.
Too many times to count.

Life brings with it
Harsh realities
When a boy begins to see the world
Through his own eyes
And realizes
They're no longer shared
With the man whose hand he once held.

I know one day
When you take your last breath
And gaze at me with the sun
Setting in your eyes
I'll wish I had done more,
You had done more,
That we had done more
To close this distance between us.
All we have is now
To lessen those regrets.

Why do I sometimes find it easier
To hold the heart
Of one a thousand miles away
Than that of one
I've known a lifetime?

Today's My Other Birthday

Three years ago I was in a serious car accident. I'm thankful my life was spared for so many reasons, amongst them, I never would have known you.

Secret Sunday

It's a chilly rainy day in Toronto, hope things are nicer where you are. Time now for the nineteenth round of Secret Sunday, a chance to share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.


All are valid.

Here's how it works:

1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor. You can participate  anonymously.

2) I don't plan to censor content or language. However I do reserve the right not to post anything which appears to be submitted with the sole intent of offending. I also reserve the right to include submissions that may be considered controversial. It's a fine line sometimes.

3) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. You may copy the rules if you wish.

And now to it...

Getting A Little Dirty For A Good Cause

Every year around this time the City of Toronto holds an annual "20-Minute Makeover". This is an event where anyone who wants to volunteer can help clean up selected areas in the city. Today at noon I joined about 30 of my co-workers, splitting up into groups and venturing into three separate locations.

Some spots were a bit marshy. We found a stroller, a couple seats, a full bottle of Pine Sol, some Crown Royal bottles, I found an old long-sleeve shirt. Lots of plastic bags, bottles etc.

We managed to fill 38 bags with litter and came away feeling like we made a pretty significant difference in the area. It was a great feeling and a nice way to wind down the week!

Short Letters

Dear Noah,
We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.
Sincerely,
Unicorns


Dear Twilight fans,
Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping
through them, they can never get an erection.
Enjoy fantasizing about that.
Sincerely,
Logic


Dear Yahoo,
I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo it” I’m just saying......
Sincerely,
Google


Dear Windshield Wipers,
Can't touch this.
Sincerely,
That Little Triangle


Dear Saturn,
I liked it, so I put a ring on it.
Sincerely,
God


Dear jf;ldsfa/kvsmmklnn,
Please lknvfdmv.xvn.
Sincerely,
Stevie Wonder


Dear Osama Bin Laden,
Marco....
Sincerely,
United States


Dear World of Warcraft,
Thank you for ensuring my son's virginity.
Sincerely,
Parents Everywhere


Dear Batman,
What was your power again?
Sincerely,
Superman


Dear Customers,
Yes, we ARE making fun of you in Vietnamese.
Sincerely,
Nail Salon Ladies


Dear Ugly People,
You're welcome.
Sincerely,
Alcohol


Dear Mr. Gump
WTF are you talking about? There's a little diagram on the lid that tells
you EXACTLY what you're gonna get....
Sincerely,
Jenny


Dear World,
Please stop freaking out about 2012. Our calendars ends there because some
Spanish douchebags invaded our country and we got a little busy ok?
Sincerely,
The Mayans


Dear iPhone,
Please stop spell checking all of my rude words into nice words.
You piece of shut.
Sincerely,
Every iPhone User


Dear Giant Spider on the Wall,
Please die. Please die. Please die. Please die. CRAP! Where did you go?
Sincerely,
Terrified


Dear Trash,
At least you get picked up...
Sincerely,
The Girls of Jersey Shore


Dear Man,
It's cute, but can you pick up peanuts with it?
Sincerely,
Elephant


Dear Dr. Phil,
Look man, there's only room for one fake doctor in this world
and I was here first.
Sincerely,
Dr. Pepper

Song Post- "The Truth"

Ever have those moments where you hear a song you've heard dozens of times before and something just clicks? It catches your ear, the words become clearer and it all just pours into you and takes over in some way. This happened to me a few times in the past month (all with songs that have been around for a while) so I'll probably do another post like this in a bit.

I've heard this song a lot at work on the satellite station and never paid much attention to it, but one day last week I found myself thinking of it a lot. Since then I've had it on constant rotation. It's heart-wrenching but beautifully written, it really gets to me and I've decided to write some pieces like this...

Kris Allen- "The Truth"

Lying next to you

Wishing I could disappear

Let you fall asleep

And vanish out into thin air.

It's the elephant in the room

And we pretend that we don't see it.

It's the avalanche that looms above our heads.

And we don't believe it.

Trying to be perfect

Trying not to let you down

Honesty is honestly the hardest thing for me right now.

While the floors underneath our feet are crumbling

The walls we built together tumbling

I still stand here holding up the roof

'Cause it's easier than telling the truth.

I still keep your photographs

I remember how we used to laugh

I can keep on losing sleep

If you're okay with being torn in half.

It's the elephant in the room

And we pretend that we don't see it.

It's an avalanche that looms above our heads

But we don't believe it.

Trying to be perfect, trying not to let you down

Honesty is honestly the hardest thing for me right now

While the floors underneath our feet are crumbling

The walls we built together tumbling

I still stand here holding up the roof

'Cause it's easier than telling the truth.

Stop ignoring that our hearts are mourning

And let the rain come in.

Stop pretending that it's not ending

And let the end begin.

Trying to be perfect, trying not to let you down

Honesty is honestly the hardest thing for me right now

While the floors underneath our feet are crumbling

The walls we built together tumbling

I still stand here holding up the roof

'Cause it's easier than telling the truth.

It's easier than telling the truth.

Secret Sunday

I can't believe it's that time already, where did the week go?  Welcome to the eighteenth round of Secret Sunday, a chance to share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.

All are valid.

Here's how it works:

1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor. You can write anonymously.

2) I don't plan to censor content or language. However I do reserve the right not to post anything which appears to be submitted with the sole intent of offending. I also reserve the right to include submissions that may be considered controversial. It's a fine line sometimes.

3) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. You may copy the rules if you wish.

And now to it...

Me

“What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now."

                                                                                               ~ Buddha

Happiness may feel elusive but it's attainable. The world is as it is, I'll change what I can within my abilities and for that which I can't, I'll change myself instead. There's peace to be found in this I think.

Ignorance is an excuse for those unwilling to open their minds. Understanding breeds tolerance, which in time breeds acceptance. I want to understand everything without judgement; empathy is a tremendous ally and close friend. My life is full of wonder because I search for it. I fall in love with something every day; a song, a book, an idea, what I discover in someone (whether man or woman). Words of simple eloquence strung together. Each moment is a memory, each heartbeat a lifetime. Every day holds the promise of something learned, added to my collective experience as pieces to a puzzle. Perhaps one day I'll feel complete. I hope not.

I'm made not from flesh and bone but woven of contradiction; I'm adult and child, intrigue and vanilla, hope and foreboding uncertainty. I don't dwell in shadows nor do I fear them. There's great truth in the beauty of a breakdown; even when awash in darkness I believe no one truly becomes this, for I see light in everyone. I'll venture to the precipice and peer into the deepest chasm if that's what it takes to find it, if for no other reason than I'm too uncompromising to expect otherwise.

Words are my brush, life my canvas. I'll paint you in colours so vivid they’ll burn right through it. I won't always be the man you think I am but will forever stand before you as an open book, inviting you to turn my pages.

This is me.

Innocence

"To know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain ever a child."

                                                                                                            ~ Cicero

Secret Sunday

Hey everyone, welcome to the seventeenth round of Secret Sunday, a chance to share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.

All are valid.

Here's how it works:

1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor.

2) I don't plan to censor content or language. However I do reserve the right not to post anything which appears to be submitted with the sole intent of offending. I also reserve the right to include submissions that may be considered controversial. It's a fine line sometimes.

3) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. You may copy the rules if you wish.

And now to it...

Big News Coming Soon

I had a shoot with a professional photographer last night for an upcoming project. I'm really excited about it so stay tuned, I'll be revealing it in the next week or two!