I always win

downtown Seattle from the ferry dock at Bainbridge Island, March 31 1999 On March 30 1999, I flew from Toronto to Seattle to start an exciting chapter of my life: an internship at the head office of the company I worked for. It was a big deal for me. Not only was I hopeful about where the internship might take my career, but I had always been envious of my high school friends who bravely went on student exchanges. Here I was, jetting off to a city I'd never been to before, and living with people I had never met. My company's legal department determined that I didn't need a work visa. Instead, I'd apply for entry under a provision of NAFTA . I had full references and documentation; still, I was nervous clearing U.S. customs at Pearson . Before my car service arrived to take me to the airport, I took an Ativan . I sailed through effortlessly. My Air Canada flight to Sea-Tac will likely remain one of the most pleasurable I've ever taken. Relaxed from the Ativ...

...and snapped a couple of digital pictures. Simcoe County, Ontario October 12 2008

It's an overdue post, but since I'm already up with insomnia, here is an update on my vacation to area code 807 . You know you're in northwestern Ontario when you start seeing Robin's Donuts stores. Here's a shot of my take-out Robin's coffee early in the morning of July 20th, on the Trans-Canada Highway just west of White River. 1800 km from Toronto, and this is far as Mrs. Viggen* can take me. My family's cabin is another few kilometres by boat. Note the gorgeous Red Pine . The sound of the wind flowing through its needles is beyond calming. * my car's nickname The Bald Eagle population is thriving. The view from my bedroom window. I had a great time. Unfortunately, when I came back to Toronto, there was a total shitstorm at work, and I've been trying to recover ever since. Increased dosages of anti-depressants are helping, as is a strong ethic of "I don't give a fuck."

Presented for your amusement: a funny "wet floor" sign: OMG I'm falling down! WHEEEEEE-E-E-E-E-E!!!!!

This week, I saw the Neville Park "mini-ravine" for the first time. I was driving down Victoria Park Avenue to meet a friend in the Beaches neighbourhood. Vic Park gets very quiet and residential down by the lake. It jogs slightly to the east at Bracken Avenue... and that's where I had to stop and take a look. In front of me was a landscape I had never seen before, yet it was strangely familiar. I've had a recurring dream about an almost exact replica of this beautiful, south-facing, tree-lined ravine. The light was poor, but I took a photo anyway. You can see Lake Ontario in the background. On my way back home, I got this shot of downtown Toronto on Kingston Road, just east of Woodbine. Again... not the best light. I shot several, but my hands were freezing and the best vantage point was in the middle of the road. Once home, I did this: It's basically the same thing I've done with this blog. I haven't quit or bailed on it for...

This spring, I received a free package of carrot seeds as a promotion from a mayonnaise company. I'm an apartment-dweller, and although I'm in a bit of an urban canyon, I have a western exposure and can usually rely on a couple of full-sun hours every day. I've had success in the past growing morning glories, petunias, geraniums, and hibiscus in containers. I had a deep clay pot that I wasn't using, so I planted the seeds in May. The pot is 13" deep and 14½" in diameter at the top: So the question is begged: can carrots be container-grown? Answer: not on my balcony! I probably didn't water them enough. Of the entire seed packet, I only had two plants make it. Containers are quick to dry out on a balcony -- particularly in an urban environment, with winds whipping around buildings. Revel in my bountiful carrot harvest! REVEL IN IT!

I wrote in June that I know how to change a spare tire. Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to the placement of the tools in the cargo area as I was removing them. After I changed the tire, I just pitched everything back in. A couple of weeks later -- after getting two new tires -- I had a chance to put everything back in its place. I knew the compact spare went in a certain way, and was secured with a threaded disc. What I couldn't figure out was how to get the toolkit (jack, lug wrench, tow eye, etc. all packed in a neat polystyrene form) to fit. No matter how I tried laying it out, I couldn't get the cargo area floor access hatch to close. Consulting the owner's manual was no help. It gave detailed instructions for the sedan, but not my model (the wagon). I pulled up a lawn chair to the back of my car, sat down, and tinkered for an hour. Finally, with my head on the bumper, peering into the cavern of my car's innards, I got it. The polystyrene toolkit l...

Outside my building last night, I noticed one of the clematis vines making a break for it -- creeping onto the branch of a nearby Japanese Maple . I made a note to go back in better light and get a picture for I always win . I went to bed, but couldn't unwind. As 2 A.M. approached, I panicked and took a 'pam . I managed about four hours of sleep, and woke up before my alarm went off. I had some orange juice, and went outside with my digital camera to shoot the clematis. But the plant was in shadow. I took a series of flash and naturally-lit pictures, headed back up to my apartment, put on some coffee, and started to download the images. I had some technical problems, and before I knew it, it was after 7:30. I still had to shower, dress, drive to Sunnybrook for a blood test , then go to work. At the opposite end of the city. On four hours of sleep. The day was full of frustrations like that. I don't normally drive to work, but on my blood test days, public trans...

I'm back from the island vacay Sunburned my face but not my vajayjay Don't want to go to work today That was a little poem for you. Here is a picture I took Thursday night:

For the Victoria Day long weekend (May 19-21 2007), I went with my family on a camping/RV trip to Letchworth State Park . Yes, this was more than a week ago. And yes, I've only just now downloaded my digital photographs. Letchworth simply blew us away. The gorge cut by the Genesee River is, in places, 600 feet deep. The river makes three amazing sets of waterfalls. UPPER FALLS LOWER FALLS My pictures of the middle falls are on 35mm... still undeveloped. I hiked all the way up to the top of the canyon, right underneath the railway bridge (right side) in the first picture. It was a good weekend. The weather wasn't too bad, and I got to try some delicious wine from the nearby Finger Lakes: Salmon Run Petit Noir and Coho Red .

I walked home from work this evening. My usual route takes me close to Massey Hall and the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres .* The paint on the south side of the theatre is peeling off, and it's revealing the brickwork in a way that I find very pleasing. Tonight, the reflected sunlight from a nearby building added an extra layer of interest. Standing on Victoria Street, I took this picture: There it was: through the streetcar wires, dappled in light... a pattern on top of a pattern that made my grumpy mood disappear. * thanks to Salem for the geographical/architectural correction

I took time to smell photograph the flowers this morning after my medical appointment. Forsythia gives us a jolt of electric yellow just when we really need it. It's in the same family as jasmine and lilac. Guess what else is in the same family? Olives. location: between Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Vaughan Estate

I first fell in love with French blue in 1998 when I bought a suit at Holt Renfrew . Unfortunately, it did not come with two sets of pants, and eventually, the jacket became an orphan in my closet. I went shopping after work today and found a pair of blue dress pants. I just had a feeling the not-quite-navy pants would match my suit jacket from "Holts." They were on sale, so I bought them. When I got home, I discovered they coordinate perfectly. And I was reminded of my affinity for French blue. Inspired by a tea towel I found at IKEA , I punched up my apartment's cream-coloured 1950s kitchen with French and royal blue a few years ago. Two of the towels are folded and leaning against the bowls in the picture to the left. As you can see from the last picture, I wasn't kidding about my "thing" for the Oregon license plate . And check out the old milk door!

This is how I spent my Sunday afternoon in the country. (A "thank-you" goes to my sister-in-law for the use of her digital camera.)

I've been organizing photographs from my 2002 trip to Europe, and thought I'd scan and post this close up I took of the Berlin Wall. It's from the East Side Gallery , a large outdoor gallery of murals painted on remnants of the wall by artists from all over the world. I felt soothed by the colours in this small section, yet haunted by the overall image. The piece is "Coming Through the Wall" by Kani Alavi . Here's hoping that in 2006, the world will tear down more walls than it puts up. (Except for the East Side Gallery . I hope it stands for a long time to come.)