The other day I woke up and I thought big things to myself.
I got out of bed shortly thereafter. This is quite an accomplishment because I've been hitting the ol' snooze a few too many times in the recent past.
It's amazing how far a positive attitude can take you. It's nice to wonder where it'll lead you... And to look back on the road you've traveled after it's gotten you there.
I asked a friend of mine if she ever tried keeping a journal or diary. I'm quite intrigued by them, you see. I've recently come to think of journals and blogs as our best form of time travel. Writing in particular is good for that. Preserving thoughts and ideas for people generations away to read and perhaps understand and - even more unlikely? - appreciate.
I guess that's why I keep stringin' words together on here. I like to look back every now and then. It's a good exercise. Sometimes it's good to read about how you were and gauge how much you've changed - it's a bit of a motivator, a pick-me-up, to notice the growth you've undergone, especially if you think you're going nowhere at present.
Progress. But not for the sake of progress.
Rather that it just happens anyway.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Dry Fire (What's on the Radio?)
After finishing supper at a north-side pizza joint, Dave and I continued our conversation at his truck.
We were talking about how we woke up at Pemberton Music Festival one morning to the sound of a Tragically Hip song to which neither of us knew the name, but both of us recognized and at least I knew the words to. The name having escaped us - or having decided that we had never caught the name to begin with - we began a new topic.
"I hate it when they over play songs," Dave said. "Hey, what song do you think is playing on 102.9 right now?"
I guessed, "Aw... I dunno. Probably something by Arcade Fire."
I was definitely right.
Dave then showed me a game that he sometimes plays when he's in the car on his way to and from work during rush hour. "I scroll through my programmed stations and try to name the songs that come up. It's a challenge..."
Sure enough, as he demonstrated, we came upon a station that was playing the very Tragically Hip song which we were both talking about. And sure enough, the DJ did not announce the title.
The name will continue to vex us. I refuse to look it up on the internet.
I'm S&M like that sometimes.
We were talking about how we woke up at Pemberton Music Festival one morning to the sound of a Tragically Hip song to which neither of us knew the name, but both of us recognized and at least I knew the words to. The name having escaped us - or having decided that we had never caught the name to begin with - we began a new topic.
"I hate it when they over play songs," Dave said. "Hey, what song do you think is playing on 102.9 right now?"
I guessed, "Aw... I dunno. Probably something by Arcade Fire."
I was definitely right.
Dave then showed me a game that he sometimes plays when he's in the car on his way to and from work during rush hour. "I scroll through my programmed stations and try to name the songs that come up. It's a challenge..."
Sure enough, as he demonstrated, we came upon a station that was playing the very Tragically Hip song which we were both talking about. And sure enough, the DJ did not announce the title.
The name will continue to vex us. I refuse to look it up on the internet.
I'm S&M like that sometimes.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Wild Rose Prairies of Alberta
As I type this I am on my way home from Calgary. Indeed, I am connected to the internet. Indeed, I am on a bus.
Indeed - this is the 21st century!
Today was a good day in Calgary: nice weather, a little bit of exploration of a "strange" city, a little bit of new work experience... Good times all around.
In fact, my work experience brought me to the Glenbow Museum. I was poring over things called "Henderson's directories" and from year to year I saw the automotive shops and private businesses give way to things like Video Station and Mr. Lube...
Those books smelled like the 80s. I spent a few years in the 80s, so I should know.
While I was perusing one such edition of "Henderson's," a man - decked out in his cowboy best - in the library approached the librarian and asked, "Can I print this here?"
"Do you have a computer at home?"
"Yes -"
"Then you can print it there," the woman replied bluntly.
The man continued, "It's in Fort Worth, Texas."
Who knew that Texans dressed like Calgarians?
Yes, Calgary is a pretty nice place. Where else could you find something called "Engineered Air Theatre?"
****
p.s.: I totally should have said, "Indeed - this is a 21st century." Because that would have implied alternate universes and mirror-time structures. Because those are cool.
Indeed - this is the 21st century!
Today was a good day in Calgary: nice weather, a little bit of exploration of a "strange" city, a little bit of new work experience... Good times all around.
In fact, my work experience brought me to the Glenbow Museum. I was poring over things called "Henderson's directories" and from year to year I saw the automotive shops and private businesses give way to things like Video Station and Mr. Lube...
Those books smelled like the 80s. I spent a few years in the 80s, so I should know.
While I was perusing one such edition of "Henderson's," a man - decked out in his cowboy best - in the library approached the librarian and asked, "Can I print this here?"
"Do you have a computer at home?"
"Yes -"
"Then you can print it there," the woman replied bluntly.
The man continued, "It's in Fort Worth, Texas."
Who knew that Texans dressed like Calgarians?
Yes, Calgary is a pretty nice place. Where else could you find something called "Engineered Air Theatre?"
****
p.s.: I totally should have said, "Indeed - this is a 21st century." Because that would have implied alternate universes and mirror-time structures. Because those are cool.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Calgary
Tonight is the first night that I spent some time walking around downtown Calgary. I think that I've spent more time in Vancouver, now that I think about it...
But either way - Calgary has a much more apparent "big city" feel than Edmonton does. Of course, it is a larger city, no doubt about it, but walking around downtown the streets are still empty, not unlike Edmonton...
But then I noticed something. All the cars were driving in THE SAME DIRECTION. Calgary's got the one-way street thing happening, just like Vancouver does in its downtown district. I think that if Edmonton wants to "step it up", it had better think about converting 104th Ave and Jasper Ave to one way streets...
Yeah, that'll do'er. lol. Problems solved!
But either way - Calgary has a much more apparent "big city" feel than Edmonton does. Of course, it is a larger city, no doubt about it, but walking around downtown the streets are still empty, not unlike Edmonton...
But then I noticed something. All the cars were driving in THE SAME DIRECTION. Calgary's got the one-way street thing happening, just like Vancouver does in its downtown district. I think that if Edmonton wants to "step it up", it had better think about converting 104th Ave and Jasper Ave to one way streets...
Yeah, that'll do'er. lol. Problems solved!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Spirit Road
Well, life's a crazy trail sometimes, isn't it?
Lately I've found myself reading a lot of the classics: just finished Anne of Green Gables and curiously I'm in the middle of Heart of Darkness... I've got Machiavelli's The Prince on deck...
Reading Anne has really made me realize where I stand in life. "Watching" her grow up so fast as I flipped the pages of that book made me think of how the same has happened to me. I've grown a lot, finished school, started a career... and I feel time and time again that I'm faced with a choice of epic proportions and of gravest consequence.
I've felt challenged by myself lately.
I've felt terribly hypocritical.
I've been dragging my feet.
I've felt nauseous over it. Well, not quite, but I think that's the best I can describe it. Lost would be another word, I suppose. It's a very strange feeling, nonetheless, knowing that I've come such a long way... such a long ways away. It's strange to feel so much and yet act on so little, to let time kind of roll over me and not really try to make sense of it.
It's incredibly foolish to know what I know about myself and let things happen the way that they are.
As Neil says, "there's... a spirit road that [I] must find," I feel that there is a lot of truth in the statement. And I have a feeling that road is winding through my memories of myself from days gone by. There is a friendlier, smarter, more compassionate person in there somewhere...
I don't know what I did to steer him wrong.
Lately I've found myself reading a lot of the classics: just finished Anne of Green Gables and curiously I'm in the middle of Heart of Darkness... I've got Machiavelli's The Prince on deck...
Reading Anne has really made me realize where I stand in life. "Watching" her grow up so fast as I flipped the pages of that book made me think of how the same has happened to me. I've grown a lot, finished school, started a career... and I feel time and time again that I'm faced with a choice of epic proportions and of gravest consequence.
I've felt challenged by myself lately.
I've felt terribly hypocritical.
I've been dragging my feet.
I've felt nauseous over it. Well, not quite, but I think that's the best I can describe it. Lost would be another word, I suppose. It's a very strange feeling, nonetheless, knowing that I've come such a long way... such a long ways away. It's strange to feel so much and yet act on so little, to let time kind of roll over me and not really try to make sense of it.
It's incredibly foolish to know what I know about myself and let things happen the way that they are.
As Neil says, "there's... a spirit road that [I] must find," I feel that there is a lot of truth in the statement. And I have a feeling that road is winding through my memories of myself from days gone by. There is a friendlier, smarter, more compassionate person in there somewhere...
I don't know what I did to steer him wrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
