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Although I constantly preach that there are no coincidences, I am still constantly baffled by the world, the universe's ability to provide us with so much foreshadowing of things to come. I recently had a great example of this. Someone who was no longer in my life had recently been popping up here and there, randomly, and I was questioning the meaning of it, if there was anything beyond the blatant meaning of it all. And then yesterday I got my answer. It was foreshadowing of a run-in, a first interaction.
Is it just me or isn't it a sort of law that when someone asks "how are you?" regardless of how you are, you generally answer "good" or "great" or "doing fine". Maybe on a rare occasion to someone you are very close with you'd say "eh...i've been better" or "having a rough day". Last night I got the response "terrible". No joke. I didn't realize anyone actually responded to "how are you" with "terrible". I have to say, it was bizarre...bizarre, off-putting, and a bit sad. I do not know the root of the "terrible", I didn't inquire, but one has to wonder...what compels someone to be so bad off they would actually say "terrible"? Maybe there is a bit of a refreshing element in it, that someone would be so brutally, painfully honest? However, does saying out loud that you are doing terrible, just make it worse? The power of positive thinking...it's an interesting topic. An interesting theory.
I hope none of you are ever doing so bad, are so sad or stressed that you feel the need to say you are doing terrible. And if you are feeling that low, I hope you call me to talk instead.
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
2007...2008
The holidays are such a great time but also become hectic and time consuming, hence my lack of posting lately. Happy New Year. Haola Maka Heeki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian...spelling questionable).
I spent a week in FL for Christmas and spent a good majority of it in my pajamas doing crossword puzzles, reading, drinking coffee and conversing with my family. We took the week to just relax...I didn't even meet up with old friends. It was quite nice to be honest...to just escape and mentally relax. I got a few minutes of sun although it was overcast a good portion of the trip and according to my mother there hadn't been a cloud in the sky for weeks...go figure.
My horse Krunchy
A highlight of the FL adventure was our trip to Busch Gardens for a day of roller coasters and bad food. My parents are such kids...they love rollers coasters! The only one they didn't get on was the newest one with a 200 foot, 90 degree vertical drop...yes, your face is parallel to the ground for a good 2-3 seconds...it was intense. A fun day was had.
After our upside down ship ride.
The day after returning from FL, Walter and I took a trip up to Montreal for the night to enjoy a little city fun. We walked around for a while, had some food and drink and narrowly escaped falling on the ice multiple times on the walk back to the apartment. We sadly missed out on the museums the next day as they were closed for the holiday.
A nice NYE was had at Becky and Ewen's with some close friends, good food and drink. Many people left before the stroke of midnight (are we really getting old this quickly??) but we stayed for the ball to drop.
Becky and I
Walter and I
2008 is here with a nice snowfall happening as I type this. Who knows what is in store for all of us but one can only hope it is full of fun, fortune, friends and family.
I spent a week in FL for Christmas and spent a good majority of it in my pajamas doing crossword puzzles, reading, drinking coffee and conversing with my family. We took the week to just relax...I didn't even meet up with old friends. It was quite nice to be honest...to just escape and mentally relax. I got a few minutes of sun although it was overcast a good portion of the trip and according to my mother there hadn't been a cloud in the sky for weeks...go figure.
My horse Krunchy
A highlight of the FL adventure was our trip to Busch Gardens for a day of roller coasters and bad food. My parents are such kids...they love rollers coasters! The only one they didn't get on was the newest one with a 200 foot, 90 degree vertical drop...yes, your face is parallel to the ground for a good 2-3 seconds...it was intense. A fun day was had.
After our upside down ship ride.
The day after returning from FL, Walter and I took a trip up to Montreal for the night to enjoy a little city fun. We walked around for a while, had some food and drink and narrowly escaped falling on the ice multiple times on the walk back to the apartment. We sadly missed out on the museums the next day as they were closed for the holiday.
A nice NYE was had at Becky and Ewen's with some close friends, good food and drink. Many people left before the stroke of midnight (are we really getting old this quickly??) but we stayed for the ball to drop.
Becky and I
Walter and I
2008 is here with a nice snowfall happening as I type this. Who knows what is in store for all of us but one can only hope it is full of fun, fortune, friends and family.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Life in the Fast Lane?
This past weekend I ventured to New York City to rendezvous with some friends. Christina and I packed up my car on Friday afternoon and made the 5.5 hour drive into the Big Apple to begin an adventurous 3.5 days of laying out in Central Park, walking the city, shopping, dining, partying and people watching.
Life in the Fast Lane.
New York City is an intense place. Maybe intense isn't the right word. It is almost an over stimulation of the senses. You have anything you could possibly dream of at your disposal. Have a busy day and get home late, shower quickly and go out for dinner only to realize it's 1am? No worries, they still serve dinner at most restaurants...often until 4am! Not to mention that on a weekend night, at midnight, you might have to even WAIT 40 minutes for a table for dinner. Want to go out for drinks but not walk more then 2 blocks? No problem! Want some chinese food, bagels, groceries, flowers, whatever delivered at any time of the day? Sure thing!
It is easy to see how people get sucked far into debt and gluttony while living in the city. If you aren't part of the swiftly moving river of trends and partying and dining and strolling the city, you are quickly pulled in the undertow. Upon entering the current "it" club of NYC and being ushered to the VIP table complete with bottle service and models, I quickly realized how seductive that kind of life can be. Being a woman in the city is not a bad thing either. While waiting a few minutes for even the smaller, less "it", more divey local bars I was pondering whether there'd actually be any males in the bar considering that the doormen seemed to only be letting girls in. Apparently guy get in either through a back door as VIP or with massive swarms of good looking woman. They WERE inside the bars, but I'm not sure how they got there.
One thing I noticed about the city that I really liked, aside from the cute little corner cafes with amazing coffee and paninis, was that, for the most part, people take pride in themselves. Granted, I live in a city where a hoodie and tshirt is not only acceptable at bars and restaurants but also pretty much standard. It was nice to see women in fun outfits, great hats or scarves or accessories, nice shoes even while hiking through the subway. Even better was the men. Nice jeans, button up shirts or at least very nice, fitted, clean non-button up shirts, nice shoes, and so on. It reminded me of Paris where people walk out of their house representing themselves, marketing themselves, taking pride in themselves and leaving the loungewear and hoodies for, well, lounging!
I am not sure if I could endure the city on a permanent living basis, but it could be fun to have a residence there as a second home. Granted, being in the upper echelon of earning would make it even better but we seemed to do pretty well with the right connections. It was an exhausting weekend but refreshing in the sense that there is an unmistakable energy in that city that invigorates and intoxicates. The view at night from the Empire State Building wasn't bad either.
Life in the Fast Lane.
New York City is an intense place. Maybe intense isn't the right word. It is almost an over stimulation of the senses. You have anything you could possibly dream of at your disposal. Have a busy day and get home late, shower quickly and go out for dinner only to realize it's 1am? No worries, they still serve dinner at most restaurants...often until 4am! Not to mention that on a weekend night, at midnight, you might have to even WAIT 40 minutes for a table for dinner. Want to go out for drinks but not walk more then 2 blocks? No problem! Want some chinese food, bagels, groceries, flowers, whatever delivered at any time of the day? Sure thing!
It is easy to see how people get sucked far into debt and gluttony while living in the city. If you aren't part of the swiftly moving river of trends and partying and dining and strolling the city, you are quickly pulled in the undertow. Upon entering the current "it" club of NYC and being ushered to the VIP table complete with bottle service and models, I quickly realized how seductive that kind of life can be. Being a woman in the city is not a bad thing either. While waiting a few minutes for even the smaller, less "it", more divey local bars I was pondering whether there'd actually be any males in the bar considering that the doormen seemed to only be letting girls in. Apparently guy get in either through a back door as VIP or with massive swarms of good looking woman. They WERE inside the bars, but I'm not sure how they got there.
One thing I noticed about the city that I really liked, aside from the cute little corner cafes with amazing coffee and paninis, was that, for the most part, people take pride in themselves. Granted, I live in a city where a hoodie and tshirt is not only acceptable at bars and restaurants but also pretty much standard. It was nice to see women in fun outfits, great hats or scarves or accessories, nice shoes even while hiking through the subway. Even better was the men. Nice jeans, button up shirts or at least very nice, fitted, clean non-button up shirts, nice shoes, and so on. It reminded me of Paris where people walk out of their house representing themselves, marketing themselves, taking pride in themselves and leaving the loungewear and hoodies for, well, lounging!
I am not sure if I could endure the city on a permanent living basis, but it could be fun to have a residence there as a second home. Granted, being in the upper echelon of earning would make it even better but we seemed to do pretty well with the right connections. It was an exhausting weekend but refreshing in the sense that there is an unmistakable energy in that city that invigorates and intoxicates. The view at night from the Empire State Building wasn't bad either.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Inspiration
Inspiration comes in many forms and is often more readily available then we realize. Sometimes it's as simple as looking at some everyday object in a different light, or different time of day or through someone else's eyes.
My mum and I have spent a lot of time in the past few months discussing my love for travel and my desire to find a way to get paid for it, or at least to have my expenses covered. She recently bought me a book by Lonely Planet called "Travel Writing". My mum is one of my main sources of inspiration, and by her getting me this book, has provided me yet another bit of inspiration. My good friend Penelope has also been an inspiration for this blog I have started. I first did not quite get the whole "blogging" idea but upon random readings on her blog I became inspired and intrigued. It was the combination of my mum, the book and discussions, and Penelope's blogging expertise that I decided to put this blog together and test out my skills as a writer.
I am attempting to keep this blog travel-focused since, as I stated above, it is an effort to practice and progress as a possible future travel writer. Penelope and I were talking about this at a cook-off party Saturday evening and how hard it is to keep a blog focused on one particular topic. I am already finding this to be true, as you quickly realize how much there is to write about and think about on a daily basis. I do truly want to keep this focused on travel but I may also create a section for "random musings". In the very least, I may incorporate more day-to-day thoughts into my general postings by relating them to travel and how different areas of my life can relate to my love of travel.
Blogging is my new black.
My mum and I have spent a lot of time in the past few months discussing my love for travel and my desire to find a way to get paid for it, or at least to have my expenses covered. She recently bought me a book by Lonely Planet called "Travel Writing". My mum is one of my main sources of inspiration, and by her getting me this book, has provided me yet another bit of inspiration. My good friend Penelope has also been an inspiration for this blog I have started. I first did not quite get the whole "blogging" idea but upon random readings on her blog I became inspired and intrigued. It was the combination of my mum, the book and discussions, and Penelope's blogging expertise that I decided to put this blog together and test out my skills as a writer.
I am attempting to keep this blog travel-focused since, as I stated above, it is an effort to practice and progress as a possible future travel writer. Penelope and I were talking about this at a cook-off party Saturday evening and how hard it is to keep a blog focused on one particular topic. I am already finding this to be true, as you quickly realize how much there is to write about and think about on a daily basis. I do truly want to keep this focused on travel but I may also create a section for "random musings". In the very least, I may incorporate more day-to-day thoughts into my general postings by relating them to travel and how different areas of my life can relate to my love of travel.
Blogging is my new black.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Notes from the road - a compilation
Throughout my travels, I have been blessed with meeting some amazing people. People from all over the world, from all walks of life, with all different stories to tell. Lawyers, doctors, students, freeloaders, surfers, artists, architects, computer techs, entrepreneurs, you name it. Some people are traveling for a month, some for a year. Some are finding themselves, others losing themselves. I have found inspiration and motivation from so many of these people and after each of my trips, as I return to the 9-5 computer screen desk life, I revel in the fact that I can continue to dream and travel vicariously through these new friends.
During my most recent trip to Brasil, the vast majority of people I met were continuing to travel for as little as 3 months and as long as a year. Upon my return, I made a point of continuing communication with these new friends in an effort to not only maintain and grow these new bonds, but also to hear of their continuing adventures. Here are some excerpts from emails of these various new friends and their continued wanderings.
"Nick and I had a rad time...everything was crazy.
and good times. yes we did meet up with the aussie boys. killed it in la
paz. such a good time to see them again. we also met up with a crew we have
been with since
dangerous road. I continued north of
some surfing there....yes i have extended my travels. I am in NZ right now
on the north island. it is amazing here but $$$$$$. we were going to go
skydiving today, but too windy so hopefully in the next town. also looking
forward to some surf here. I am travelling with two of the crew from buenos
aires and la paz...we are here for about another ten days then we are going
up to fiji!!!" - Colin from Vancouver
"i am still in holland since a month. Almost leaving again. Bought a car, A peugeot 206, dont know if you drive those cars overthere but this baby is gonna take me to southern europe. Monday i am driving my way down. Takes about 4 hours to reach France. After crossing holland, belgium and luxembourg, yes its a very handy small continent. Than it will take me 7 more hours to go to the south west of france where i am gonna pitch my tent and surf for 2 weeks before ill head to spain." Casper from Holland
"Im staying here in Floripa now. I work here in a surfboard factory.
I have a little place on the beach. Surfing every day. Life is good." - Roy from Australia
"In early April we decided we needed to get out of La Paz! off to the jungle we went for an excursion of crocs, paranhas, and anacondas (though we didn't find any...after three hours in of hiking through a swamp in 40 degree weather, covered in mosquitos)." - Colin from Vancouver
I read these notes and stories and find my mind trailing off into visions of massive mountains and sandy beaches, thatched huts and muddy roads, rickety buses and cheap beer. They bring me back to memories of stories from my trips...the memories make me smile.
Traveling solo is what has afforded me the opportunity to receive these tales from the road...it forced me out of my comfort zone and into a place where I had the choice of making friends or being alone for the next week, two weeks, month. Sitting in the lobby or dining hall of a hostel is like sitting amongst old friends...you already have 10 things in common with everyone there. Conversations come easy, and lifelong friendships form quickly.
I open my email each day with the silent anticipation of another email detailing my international friends' "notes from the road". It keeps each day from seeming like just another Tuesday.
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