we did it.

We did it. Raised just over $200.00 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Go Team.

zen-like moments..

I used to do yoga every week in school. Because I had to. Sunday, I went because I wanted to. It's all about balance, as I tell my friends. Sure, having drinks, staying up late, and poisoning your body is all good in all, but you also need some positive in there, too. Some time for reflection. Meditation. Physical and Mental growth. For the whole summer, the local yoga studios are sharing an outdoor space for a free hour of basic yoga. Thought it would be a good lead-in refresher course  if I want to make more of a habit of this. It wasn't that hard and I felt amazing after. I felt this weird zen-like aura around me for the rest of the day. It was peaceful.  Sure, I have other mediums I use to escape the norm. Writing, Hiking, Painting, Photography, Cooking. Today I was happy to explore a new/old thing.

 Back in High School, when I was forced to go to the Yoga class, I was a stiff board fresh from back surgery. Today, I've gained a few more pounds, got less stiff and in the best health I've been in years - considering the abuse I do to my body every week. Balance. Moderation. Find your thing to do that will give you peace within. Roll with that when needed. It'll give you those Zen-Like moments that you wish for in the midst of those crazy late nights. 

Namaste.

celebrate growth.

While growth as taken over my life lately, I've forgotten about you. Sorry. I know it's been a while since I last checked in. Over doing it with courses at the moment and my freelance biz workload is picking up. Good things, yes. I just need some time to breath. Last weekend was packed with family duties as my dear nephew turned the big fiver. He's the best little buddy a guy could ever ask for. Best nephew an uncle could have. It's amazing how one little soul could change someone's life in such a positive way. Much like, my nieces, the little kids have reminded me of innocence, unconditional love and how to have fun in life. Things we tend to forget as we get older and get busy working or learning.

While it's always good to exceed your abilities, it's also important to have fun and celebrate the achievements you have made.

Wrapped another 5k walk over the weekend. Since April, I've clocked in over 19k. Goal is to do the Terry Fox Run this fall. I know I can do it. By the end of summer, a 10k would be child's play. The Walks have been my only time to really connect with the self and reflect. I also look forward to it because it's my time to spend with my camera. As I have already tread most of the nearby grounds, I'm now  researching some new ground to conquer. The Weekend Warrior in me is enjoying late nights on the patios, and hoping to do a mission downtown one afternoon very soon.

Gotta make my fruit shake and get ready for an exam.

Leave you with this.  As the days get hotter, don't forget to Stay Thirsty, Friends and..

Celebrate Growth.

the hike..

Since I've been feeding this health kick I've been having since the new year began, I thought my newest hobby now that the nice weather has arrived (and here to stay, I hope) is to take in some pleasurable hiking trails around the hood. A quick Google search landed me on a great site sponsored by the city of some great adventurous  trails to embark on. Most of them are not too long. I think the longest one is just under 4km's. That's OK. As long as I can get some good walking in and take some good shots while I'm at it. Water is packed. Camera battery charging. Going to see if i can take in a path this week. Can't think of any other way to welcome Spring 2012.

let's talk day and the cure song

Since it's Bell Let's Talk Day, I thought I would re-up an article I penned recently. This one is one of my favorites of all the experiences I've wrote about my depression. Hope you like it.


Tonight was spent listening to different types of music as per usual, but since I was not thinking too much, thoughts came to my head all inspired by what I was listening to. I first looked up The Cure's classic, Pictures of You.

I thought of a bus ride back in late 2007. It was fall and it was raining. I was going down Highway 7 after a long day at the office. I was tired. All I wanted to do was to hit repeat on my Ipod and listen to Robert Smith sing. I looked outside the window of the Number 1 YRT bus and tried to tag the window. the F, A and E dropped slowly. I watched my tag slowly evolve into a drippy masterpiece as I pressed the repeat again and let my thoughts wonder. I repeated this motion a few times until I reached my stop. Good thing that the track is more than five minutes long. The LP version, anyway.I got off the bus and walked home. Said Hi to my Mother and went upstairs. Didn't bother with the computer or TV or even changing my clothes. Just wanted to hear Smith. Don't know why. Just did. I jumped on my bed and pressed play.

I felt empty in November of '07. It was the beginnings of my depression. Pictures of You is the song I associate with those days. Everything about the track made me feel alone, sad, dark but OK. OK with everything that was going on. Not even in that `I'll be OK' way but in the `It's OK' way. OK to feel like this. OK to feel dark and sad and alone. It was a suicidal person's comfort food. Remember walking home at night. Drunk. Barely able to keep in the tears anymore. I'd take a short cut through the park. I would sit on the swing and cry. Cry for a few minutes while I heard Smith sing. It was my medicine. Funny thing is, a song that was actually about depression, Everybody Hurts by the great REM, followed Pictures of You on my Ipod and I never found it soothing or comforting like Cure's track.

Some words do different things to different people.


Over the years, I've been able to listen to Pictures and smile. Appreciate what I went through. What I learned. What I overcame. How it made me stronger. There'll always be that little bit of me that goes back to the dark place when Smith starts humming, but that's OK. Because I'm OK, now.



If only I'd thought of the right words
I could have held on to your heart
If only I'd thought of the right words
I wouldn't be breaking apart
All my pictures of you

For more information on Bell Let's Talk Day Go here.

the cure song.

Tonight was spent listening to different types of music as per usual, but since I was not thinking too much, thoughts came to my head all inspired by what I was listening to. I first looked up The Cure's classic, Pictures of You.

I thought of a bus ride back in late 2007. It was fall and it was raining. I was going down Highway 7 after a long day at the office. I was tired. All I wanted to do was to hit repeat on my Ipod and listen to Robert Smith sing. I looked outside the window of the Number 1 YRT bus and tried to tag the window. the F, A and E dropped slowly. I watched my tag slowly evolve into a drippy masterpiece as I pressed the repeat again and let my thoughts wonder. I repeated this motion a few times until I reached my stop. Good thing that the track is more than five minutes long. The LP version, anyway.I got off the bus and walked home. Said Hi to my Mother and went upstairs. Didn't bother with the computer or TV or even changing my clothes. Just wanted to hear Smith. Don't know why. Just did. I jumped on my bed and pressed play.

I felt empty in November of '07. It was the beginnings of my depression. Pictures of You is the song I associate with those days. Everything about the track made me feel alone, sad, dark but OK. OK with everything that was going on. Not even in that `I'll be OK' way but in the `It's OK' way. OK to feel like this. OK to feel dark and sad and alone. It was a suicidal person's comfort food. Remember walking home at night. Drunk. Barely able to keep in the tears anymore. I'd take a short cut through the park. I would sit on the swing and cry. Cry for a few minutes while I heard Smith sing. It was my medicine. Funny thing is, a song that was actually about depression, Everybody Hurts by the great REM, followed Pictures of You on my Ipod and I never found it soothing or comforting like Cure's track.

Some words do different things to different people.


Over the years, I've been able to listen to Pictures and smile. Appreciate what I went through. What I learned. What I overcame. How it made me stronger. There'll always be that little bit of me that goes back to the dark place when Smith starts humming, but that's OK. Because I'm OK, now.

If only I'd thought of the right words
I could have held on to your heart
If only I'd thought of the right words
I wouldn't be breaking apart
All my pictures of you

If you feel like you are depressed and need someone to talk to, To Write Love On Her Arms is a great non-profit that helps young people find hope. Click Here for more Info. 

a sunday meal

Never need an excuse to make a huge meal for loved ones who wanna drop by on a Sunday afternoon. Got up early and did some preparing. It was good variety over some chai tea and talk and laughs. Here's some of the foods we took in including the fried kailan that my aunt brought over. Crisp and tasty.

the broad

I got introduced to a broad today. Broad Bean. Not so familiar with it, I did some investigating while I was eating the bean tomato pasta with healthy delight. Fascinating stuff you can do with the bean and even more cool is what goes with it.. An omelette, did ya say? Interesting. Also gotta try this broad bean and chick pea dish they mentioned. Chicks and Broads always seem to stick together...

cold sweats.

Woke up in cold sweats. No Nightmare. No crazy flying dream. Just woke up in cold sweats. Not sure why. I craved the leftover french fries that have been sitting in the fridge for two days now. Made some poutine with them on Wednesday. Needed a fry break after that dish. Today is a new day. Today I was able to finish them. Downloading the Alexander Ebert album. Waiting. I did have some weird dreams last night. A bunch of fighting and tripped out stuff that I don't want to get into. One does have to do with a family reunion and me running away and falling off my bed in the hotel room. I hear if you dream about being in bed, it signifies `putting a situation to bed'. Get it? Cool. I was hoping I didn't need to explain that. Anyway, I think I know what my body is trying to tell me. Thanks for the heads-up, bud. The download is almost finished. I'm really digging this Alexander dude. If you get a chance, give him a listen. He's cool. I fell asleep before The Shore last night. Debating if I want the fab gino crew in my life for 2012. Maybe. Just so tempting to watch. Addicting, really. Sad. I'm sure I'll watch. Just getting really tired of them and their useless manufactured drama. It's Friday. My yearly weekend of vegetating and creating has begun. In solitude. I like to begin the first weekend of the year like this. I have done it for maybe five years now? It's a chance to detox from all the stuff I did during the holidays and a chance to be by myself and think. Sore from the yoga I did last night. I might have to watch some How To videos this weekend on how to properly execute the moves. This is why I love Youtube. Vimeo is fast becoming a favourite, too. Ah.  Download is done. Pressing play. Goodnight.

mamastay..

I just finished doing the locust pose for five. Tomorrow, I'm going to try the bridge pose. Sooner or later, I'll attempt a class. I haven't really been so serious about Yoga since High School. No. As I stated before, this isn't a New Years Resolution. This is just something that happened organically. Something I just felt like I wanted to do. Thought about it. Doing it. Just do it. That's what's up. We'll see what goes down, but so far, I feel refreshed, centred and balanced. My mind is working better. Maybe that's why I hardly had stress backintheday. I did yoga. Mamastay.