That's It For That!

After much consideration I have decided to end this blog.

Never fear however, I will now be chanelling my blogging energy into writing for Reading Toronto as well as updating my Flickr site. Since I recently lost a bunch of photos in a hard drive crash, that should give me some incentive to get out there and get clicking once again.

Its been fun! Cheers!

Postsecret Blog

Recently I've had a bit of an obsession with trying to see through the bullshit and facades which we are presented with everyday in this crazy world. In particular, I've been interested in having REAL conversations with people, about real, honest things. Like lonliness. Abuse. Addiction. Self-worth. I feel like there's a whole other parallel universe out there that we can access, not by going to another dimension, but just by having honest, heartfelt interactions with others.

Accordingly, I was happy to find out about this blog. This guy decided to leave postcards (pre-paid, I think) and pre-addressed all over the place, with requests that people write down their secrets and mail it back to him. Damn, I wish I had thought of this first. Some of them are by turns funny, horrifying, and slit-your-wrists-vertically tragic. See the Postsecret blog here, which is updated every Sunday with new secrets. Now, its even more interesting because people make their own postcards, and I think you can even send in your own secrets! Of course, if anyone feels the immediate need, you can leave an anonymous secret by commenting here!

The Waspinator

I happened across this product, the Waspinator, which claims to keep wasps away. Its basically a replica of a wasps' nest, which apparently keeps other wasps away, because they think that they have come across an enemy wasp nest in their midst. I love these products: the ones that actually use animal knowledge to come up with a simply solution, instead of simply killing them or using harsh chemicals which are harmful to other creatures (us included) as well. Happy fall picnicing!

Temporary Disruption

Having some camera problems, so I'll be offline for a (hopefully) short period. Check back in a week or so, I have lots of pics from recent events to upload! Above is one from lovely Fergus Ontario to tide you over!

Bird Entertainment

Last weekend I saw a great play being put on by my friend's theatre company, Bird Entertainment. Always entertaining, be sure to check out their next performance!

Avalon Organics

Avalon Organics is one of my favourite "body care" product companies. Organic, limited chemicals, no animal testing, wide range of products. Although I've been using their products for years, I wanted to give mad props to their Lavender Moisturizing Cream Shave. Smells great, you don't have to use much, and it really does give a smooth shave, unlike many other products that only claim to, but fall flat. Very useful in this summer shaving season.

Get Your Retro Fix!

I've spent way too much time tonight on this site. Watch clips of your fave 70's and 80's tv show intros and commercials. So far, I've checked out the Ewoks, Smurfs, A-Team, Knight Rider and some of those "say no to drugs" ads from the 80's, among others. Good, clean, nostalgic fun!

Rate My Kitten!

Just came across this site today by accident.....we all think we have the most beautiful kitten, right? I guess we all do, since our own opinion is really all that matters. But, if you feel the need to have strangers validate your opinion of your own kitten's cuteness, check out the site! I believe there are also rate my bunny and puppy affilated sites as well.

PS - I really do have the cutest kitten (well...more like a grown up cat but she'll always be kitten to me)! Her pic is above!

Magical Brew

With some photo post-processing this sure looks like a magical stew made of light, no? Actually its just pasta!

Temporary Disruption

Due to some illness in the family, I won't be posting for a while. Check back in about a week or so. Thanks.

Nuts to Drivers Licenses!

Today I read an article in Spacing (by Liz Worth) which discusses the allure of getting (and keeping) driver's license. It goes over the fact that when you turn 16 there is this imperative to get a driver's license because it represents freedom and independence, even if parking and getting around in downtown Toronto in a car is more difficult than taking the TTC. The author mentions that many people eventually come to the conclusion that the latter issues are too problematic, and start taking the TTC or biking again. The paragraph that got my attention:

"Now, driver's licenses sit expired in friends' wallets, and come out only for comic relief when they feel like showing off some bad pictures."

I was so happy to see this. I sometimes feel like a second class citizen because my license has been expired for many years now, so I can't really use it for identification. Because my passport is also expired at the moment, and I still have one of the old health cards (without the photo), I sometimes find myself unable to prove that I am who I say (and know) I am. Having an expired license also means the odd lecture from my parents about how I should "really take care of that", etc. Kudos to Spacing for legitimizing us folk who have deliberately let their licenses expire, and instead, can enjoy the streetscape on a much different (and, I would argue, more enjoyable) level than drivers.