Spring in Calgary

Such a strange juxtaposition:

The lilac and forsythia blooms are a riot of colour and scent that is only amplified by the cool air and the dampness of the snowflakes that drift down to meet them.

The sun peeks through the thick blanket of steely clouds, and the world is momentarily diamond encrusted.

Very refreshing.

Note.

If there's something better for soothing the frustrated soul than listening to Ani DiFranco whilst going about your day, I don't know what it is.

I can quit anytime I want to. Honest.

Seriously. I'm not dependent upon my cellphone. I'm not.

Just because my cellphone is simultaneously my timepiece, my alarm clock, my window to the world, and the only way most people can get in touch with me does NOT make me dependent.

And the fact that I LEFT IT AT THE OFFICE, WHICH IS LOCKED FOR THE NEXT THIRTY-SIX HOURS BECAUSE TOMORROW IS A HOLIDAY is causing me to have mild heart palpitations doesn't mean I have a problem, does it?

All Hallows Eve

It's deliciously chilly and overcast; the browned leaves swirl and slap wetly in the sharp wind, and my breath billows from my mouth in white clouds. By all rights, I should be longing to curl up in front of my fire with a cup of tea, but I find myself enjoying the day, the tangible energy of it, and the prospect of the little ones creeping down my long, dark lane way to come knocking in hopes of a sweet treat.

It's All Hallows Eve; the Samhain. The Celts herald this night as the first of the new year, and a day to celebrate our lost loved ones. I quite agree. So tonight, I will set an extra place at my table, and light a candle to guide the dead home. And although I won't have a feast with my family and friends, they will be in my thoughts as I recall my lost loved ones, and celebrate them in my own way.

Have a wonderful evening, no matter how you plan to spend it.

Back in the saddle again...

Good day.

It's been a while, but I've decided I'm going to begin blogging again. For real this time. I mean it. No, really.

I also think that it may be time for a re-vamp of this template. Thoughts?

Observation.

People are more likely to acknowledge you with a nod, a smile, or even a friendly "Hello" as they pass if you are both walking on the street, rather than the sidewalk.

Curious.

What is it that prompts this? Is it that they feel more of a connection? That you are bonded by your rebellious need to avoid the bone-crushingly slippery ice on the sidewalks , and play chicken with on-coming traffic?

New Resolutions (only a wee bit belated)

Happy New Year!

We're back to square one again; life can be a virtual tabula rasa, or so we would like us to believe in any case. It's that time of year again- Time to wax philosophic about the state and direction of our lives and how best to improve upon both. Thus, I present you with My Resolutions:

1. I have been very happy with my progress through my resolutions for 2007 , so I shall continue on with those that are still relevant, ie:
#5. I will learn to, if not love, at least like myself.
#6. I will write more.
#7. I will live more.
I've made great strides with number 5, which is perhaps the most important of all resolutions, and thus I will continue the journey; Some of you have noticed that I've sort of fallen off the wagon with number 6, so I'll have to really work at that one; Number 7 is a bit broad. How do I propose to live more? Well, let's see:
- I will take a trip this year- a big one- and cross of at least one of the places on my life's "Must See" list.
- I will take a class in at least one thing that is completely non-academic: Photography? Tango? Belly-dancing? Who knows!?
- I will make an effort to meet more new people- difficult to do in this town, but I'll see what I can manage.
- I will finally make the time to sit down on a regular basis and work on my French.
- I will continue to find new and wonderful ways to be creative.
- I will try something new at least once a month, if not once a week or day!

Ok- I think those are some good goals to work towards. Let's see how this goes.

Good luck with your resolutions for 2008!!!

In praise of the season.

It's raining, it's pouring...

I think I've started a post with that phrase before, but I'm too lazy to check my archives for confirmation.

It is, in fact raining, and pouring, right now. It's a deliciously halloweeny type of day: the dark and dreariness is constantly interrupted by the magnificently colourful bursts of flame-like trees. Every once in a while, fallen leaves are swept up in a cool gust of wind. I half expect the headless horseman to come charging 'round the bend at any moment.

Taking all of this in today as I walked home for lunch, I was struck by an incredible sense of loss for the season. Some of the trees are nearly bare, their leaves a riot of colour at their roots, and I know that soon the world will become a monochromatic scene, where life is frozen in time and space.

This is a thought that occurs to me around this time each year, and I am genuinely sad. But then I remember that this is how it is: part of a cycle that must not stop. I think about how beautiful and quiet that monochromatic world can be, and I feel a little bit better.

The benefits of Queen, freestyle.

It's amazing what things will make you smile and set your day off on the right foot.

This morning it was the solitary, and very off-tune stylings of the guy I passed on my way to work. He was crooning to himself while painting his house, and I was delighted when I realized that his tune of choice was Bohemian Rhapsody. As I passed him, I joined him by singing along in my head, and couldn't help but grin when he shakily extended the note that accompanies "toooo meeeee" about three beats longer than Freddy would have done. Gotta love poetic license.

More people should sing as they work. I think the world would be a much calmer, happier, and entertaining place if we did.

Eight things...

1. I love English Lavender. The smell reminds me of the time I spent in the UK during my undergrad. It was a really good four months.

2. I can be seriously dramatic, especially if I'm upset, but I'm usually pretty level-headed.

3. I am 27 years old and absolutely love children's literature.

4. I am a fairly solitary person, but I over think things if left to my own devices for too long, so I go out of my way to be in social situations that I might otherwise avoid.

5. When I was a kid, I used to stand on the shallow tree roots in the woods on windy days and sway with the trees.

6. I have a vivid imagination.

7. It takes me a while to process things that people say, or things that happen. This means that I'm excellent in a crisis, as I won't start to panic until several hours after everything is over.

8. I love to swim; I love the feeling of moving through the water. When I was younger, I would pretend I was a mermaid discovering a deep-sea trove of treasure. At the same time, really deep water, and the possibilities it holds scare me.

Ok, now it's your turn: Tell me eight things about you!

Lilacs

Soft violet and bright green contrast sharply;
Their flourishing clusters adorn laneways and sidewalks throughout the city.
You need only close your eyes and breathe deeply, and the aroma will carry you to warm evenings spent sitting ‘round the barbeque.
As I step into my front path, I stop to bury my nose in the wondrous perfume of late spring.

The lilacs are out.

Green

Unable to focus on her work, she resigned herself to the meandering of her mind and stared out the window onto the sun-bathed street below. The trees were finally beginning to fill out with fresh new leaves, the colour of silly childhood summer afternoons, and in the distance she could hear the buzz of a lawnmower and the cacophony of construction crews. She closed her eyes and sighed as the refreshingly cool mid-spring breeze washed over her, its brusqueness biting into her arms and face. Longing to be away from this place, to be out there in the breeze, she opened her eyes and looked to the distant tree-encrusted hills. As her eyes scanned the horizon, she shook her head and smiled to herself, enjoying the fantasy of heading out on a journey for destinations unknown.

The phone rang shrilly in her ear, startling her back to the monochramatic reality of office life. As she lifted the receiver and began to listen to the caller describe his quandry, she tucked her hopes back into their hiding place with a small sigh, and returned her mind to her work.

On where we're headed.

In the past few years, I have often looked at the world and been reminded of a poster that used to hang in my departmental lounge of my university. This is what is said:

Only after the last tree has been cut down;
Only after the last fish has been caught;
Only after the last river has been poisoned;
Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten.

- Cree Indian Prophecy

Somehow, it just seems to fit.

The REAL reason they put benches in public washrooms.

Everyone seems to have a different sensitivity to Public Displays of Affection. Some are loathe to hold hands in public, while others seem to have no qualms about detailed exploration of their partner's anatomy whilst in a group situation. I place myself somewhere in the hazy middle of this scale: I don't consider myself to be a prude, but I wouldn't say I'm exactly an exhibitionist either. Really, I think I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to PDAs: I think it's nice to see a couple expressing their love? affection? for one another... but when a quick peck on the lips or a hand on the leg turns into obvious lust right before my eyes, I'll admit, I tend to feel awkward- like I'm peeping, even though we're all in a public place.

This brings me to an explanation of the motivation behind this post: On Saturday evening, I attended an event with a large group of friends. It was something we had all been looking forward to for a long time- winding down after a loooong couple of months while enjoying one another's company. One of our number has recently begun a new romantic relationship. He and his new amour are still in the cuddling, don't-want-to-let-you-out-of-my-sight-for-two-seconds phase, and it's really quite cute. To a point. During the course of the evening they spoke to approximately 5 people, and ended up making out in the middle of the room- taking a 30 second break every 5 minutes or so. I really would rather that I did not have as much detail as I do concerning their... mutual affection... but as they were in the middle of a rather small room, it was sort of hard to miss. At one point, they decided to get away from 'prying eyes' and proceeded to occupy one of the washrooms for a while...

*sigh*

The whole scenario reminds me strongly of a futuristic short story I once read (Jules Verne?) in which spontaneous sexual activity had replaced conversation as the culturally acceptable mode of relation between the sexes. The story, of course, revolved around a young man and woman who were looking more for cerebral than sexual stimulation, and thus found themselves at odds with the societal norms. It was a very interesting read, and I have often mused as to whether or not this is one direction in which our current society might be leading us...

Now don't get me wrong- no one at the party on Saturday was particularly upset by the couple's display of attraction- on the whole everyone was pretty amused: There were lots of comments along the lines of "Well I haven't seen THAT since I was in the eighth grade..." and the occasional joking "Ahhhh. Ain't love grand?" But it sparked a hot, and somewhat drunken, debate to which I now request your input. So here is the question:

Public Displays of Affection: How far is too far?

Go nuts.

one year down...

Well whaddya know? It's my blogaversary!

Happy Blogaversary tooooo mee!

New Year's Resolutions...

Well. It's been a busy week. First came Christmas, which this year included a fantabulous dinner with my Korean students, who had never tasted turkey before. My family has never really had guests for Christmas dinner, as our extended family lives elsewhere, so this made for a nice change. Four days later, it was my birthday: I am officially in my late 20's and as many of you know, I'm not entirely happy about that. But then, as my Grandpa used to say, it sure beats the alternative! Third, and finally, New Year's Eve is now upon us. Thus, this week has essentially been one long excuse for unimpeded imbibing of alcoholic substances, consuming of delicious goodies, and lazing about in general. It's been nice.

I am beginning to mourn the fact that in less than 48 short little hours I will be slogging my way back to work. Seriously- this week I have slept better than I have in the last two years, and I attribute it to the fact that I haven't been at work. Sad.

But I digress.

With tonight's festivities, comes the age old tradition of naming our New Year's resolutions. This is the one day of the year during which people are actually encouraged to be self-reflective- something some of us all too often forget to be. So what shall I resolve this year? In a sort of omnibus resolution (followed by a resounding 'DUH!' from the peanut gallery) I resolve to make 2007 a better year than 2006. True, it won't be hard to accomplish this, as 2006, in my experience, was a particular stinker, but there are a few points that I will concentrate on (in no particular order):

1. I will find a job that doesn't cause me undue stress and depression.
2. I will continue to work towards my latest goals.
3. I will continue to rid myself of poisonous relationships... I think I've already got most of them, but I also need to make sure I stay rid of them (I'm a bit of a doormat that way).
4. I will continue to work on fixing the emotional problems that have plagued me since my teenaged years.
5. I will learn to, if not love, at least like myself.
6. I will write more.
7. I will live more.

And no, I am not so naive to think that the clock will be reset and that my problems will evaporate simply because I am exchanging my Giverny calendar for one of Scottish landscapes. Nor have I waited for said changing of the guard to commence the changes I deem necessary (note the verb 'continue' in sub-resolutions 2, 3, and 4). But still, it appears that I've got my work cut out for me. Never fear, though. I've got some excellent friends, tons of sappy movies, good music, this blog, pretty toes, and gallons of coffee and wine to get me through ;)

What are your resolutions??

Oh, and-

HAPPY NEW YEAR!