tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13283046893940266742024-03-12T23:29:53.514-04:00hold hands and breathe lightCarmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-61203012521746049632011-03-24T03:09:00.005-04:002011-03-24T14:56:08.770-04:00on-line theft<div>When Myra, Shantel and I first mused about starting a group blog, we agreed on focusing on the positive and the inspiring. Of course, it also never occurred to us that people would take advantage of internet anonymity -- BIG MISTAKE.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Last week, one of my media classes debated much about "intellectual property" and what exactly it entails. It got pretty heated as technology and media gets updated so often that lines get blurred, definitions perpetually compromised.</div><div></div><div>Now, I've heard various cases of identity thefts on the internet, but I certainly never imagined it to happen to anyone close to me -- or even to myself.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yads_lB78Gg/TYrlf1TD_KI/AAAAAAAAAFY/TjL375Oufuk/s1600/fraud3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yads_lB78Gg/TYrlf1TD_KI/AAAAAAAAAFY/TjL375Oufuk/s1600/fraud3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of Shantel's followers on tumblr alerted her that the page above copied much of her posts verbatim.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qLi8IIM93hg/TYrlm2T1GdI/AAAAAAAAAFs/ngFTxLAwa5Q/s1600/fraud6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qLi8IIM93hg/TYrlm2T1GdI/AAAAAAAAAFs/ngFTxLAwa5Q/s640/fraud6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shantel then notified me that my photos were stolen as well.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8UramZYTHek/TYrlg-MRrzI/AAAAAAAAAFc/B3iw5pqyAQc/s1600/fraud1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8UramZYTHek/TYrlg-MRrzI/AAAAAAAAAFc/B3iw5pqyAQc/s640/fraud1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's right, folks. <a href="http://holdhandsbreathelight.blogspot.com/2011/02/birthday-weekend.html">Photos from my birthday weekend were stolen</a>... except I'm pretty sure there was no Stephanie and especially not a "Kikay" in attendance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this photo, you can see our cups of tea, my phone, a glimpse of my friends - MJ reading Amanda's sweet birthday note and Georgia sitting right across, her head conveniently blocked by the antique Cold War globe my friend Melody gave me as a present.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YR6dljiHj54/TYrlh2CLZNI/AAAAAAAAAFg/iHL8Bm2YvcI/s1600/fraud2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YR6dljiHj54/TYrlh2CLZNI/AAAAAAAAAFg/iHL8Bm2YvcI/s640/fraud2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://holdhandsbreathelight.blogspot.com/2011/02/birthday-weekend.html">Stolen from the same post, guys</a>. Mind = blown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, knowing Shantel, this wasn't a case to be ignored.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This "Kikay" person behind the above thefts was immediately reprimanded with swears and a well-constructed hate speech, I'm sure. And without skipping a beat, "Kikay" (sorry, I just can't stop using all the scare quotes) immediately deleted her page to avoid any further confrontation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But then...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BSsJS-uY-Iw/TYuSs0YejVI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Oh8AAtnSpYs/s1600/fraud10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BSsJS-uY-Iw/TYuSs0YejVI/AAAAAAAAAFw/Oh8AAtnSpYs/s1600/fraud10.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How does one explain her abrupt flight from the land of Tumbls to her beloved followers?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Return of "Kikay"...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">entailed, um, an unnecessary public documentation of GERD and...</div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JqDYu0Nuhh8/TYrlk40TdWI/AAAAAAAAAFo/fZj-r81sA3o/s1600/fraud4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="379" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JqDYu0Nuhh8/TYrlk40TdWI/AAAAAAAAAFo/fZj-r81sA3o/s640/fraud4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div>Anyway, isn't it funny how she subtly incorporates some kind of reverse psychology on us in her first post? <i>K, guys, I took down my tumblr because people were stealing my stuff and messaged me about it. So, obviously the logical thing to do was to run because I'm, like, totally not guilty</i> - WHAT?</div><div><br />
</div><div>What kind of person has the gall to pull this, I'll never know. So kids, be wary, and blog safely!</div><div><br />
</div><div>PS. If you've experienced something similar or just want to talk, shoot us an e-mail at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">holdhandsbreathelight@ymail.com</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">!</span></div>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-70917078158883288592011-02-28T23:48:00.004-05:002011-03-03T20:48:14.731-05:00on desire,<center><img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t186/_sweetestdruug/83257985-2.png" width="550" /></center><br />
<br />
<big><i>‘L’appétit avec conscience de lui-même’</i></big> - ”<span style="font-style: italic;">Appetite with knowledge of himself,</span>” was the definition of desire for Spinoza. Indeed, in its universal definition, the desire is a particular tendency to want to get something to satisfy a need, a desire. In philosophy, the longing/desire to seek recognition of others and demonstrates a lack. It is a condition of human life that can register its existence in time, because the desire is inseparable from the projection into the future. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Living without releasing your desires is to live like a stone</span>. In an ancient text describing conversations with his pupils, Socrates thinks that a life incontinent, that is to say without restraint, is a dissolute life and inconsistent. Using a metaphor, Socrates shows that such a life is absurd because it amounts to fill barrels drilled. Callicles responds that it is precisely this inconsistency is a source of pleasure and excitement. ”The man with casks has no pleasure,” because happiness is not in possession and comfort, but in the excitement of the conquest and the alternation of pleasure and pain.<br />
<br />
As Rousseau said, “<span style="font-style: italic;">It excites the imagination and nourishes (…) desires</span>” and who attribute to the object, qualities he did not. The reality is often disappointing because it does not coincide with what I had imagined and the expectation of appointment is sometimes more beautiful than the appointment itself. Rousseau concludes, “<span style="font-style: italic;">we enjoy what we get less than what we hoped, and we are happy to be happy than before.</span>“ <br />
<br />
Life without desire is the life of a death in life. This amounts to show that even the desire is inseparable from life. So the real reason emerges from the struggle between the desires. So the desire is part and parcel of human life; an essential faculty of human life. It is constitutive of individuals and allows them to move forward in life because a desire is constantly renewed by another and so on … The people, through desire, seek to fill a lack - a flaw. And we do not mind, one bit.Shantelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05859736932120291143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-1786026989119437932011-02-21T22:03:00.001-05:002011-02-21T22:03:29.511-05:00January remnantsMore photos from winter adventures in January.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5381786515/" title="snow angel by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="snow angel" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5381786515_20b38cfda1_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
Here's our buddy, Fred:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5381787641/" title="Fred by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5381787641_df8e703b4b_z.jpg" width="429" height="640" alt="Fred" /></a>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-84414251550601284812011-02-13T15:05:00.001-05:002011-02-13T15:07:11.100-05:00art/philosophy<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgjziitaF91qgz6abo1_400.jpg"><br /><br /><b>Rembrandt Van Rijn</b> - <i>Philosopher in Meditation</i> (1632)<br /><br />Located at the Musee du Louvre, dutch artist Rembrandt’s <i>Philosopher in Meditation</i> has always fascinated my senses. The portrait depicts the essence of light captured within the darkness of the room, with only a glint of fire to match the light of the sun. The winding staircase plays a role in capturing the balance between the dark and light sides of the portrait, evidently similar to the yin-and-yang symbol. The metaphysical question of natural power facing the phenomenon of man-made itinerary, such as creating a fire, is pondered by the philosopher. <br /><br />Perhaps Rembrandt’s theme was to capture the true essence of the natural power of the sun, as the preferred personal choice for himself, while showing that the forces of man could never amount to the power of the sun-rays leaking into the dark room.<br />This painting is the ideal studying place I would like to have. Peaceful, dark, and inviting to the sun’s beautiful and powerful rays. Such a life that would be.Shantelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05859736932120291143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-76520022993040021352011-02-06T21:25:00.000-05:002011-02-06T21:25:36.438-05:00birthday weekend<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5423231415/" title="015 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="015" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5423231415_8032de91e1_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
I turned twenty this past week.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5423225693/" title="002 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="002" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5423225693_930ffed60e_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
Spent the weekend with some friends (minus Shantel and Myra, unfortunately).<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5423833260/" title="006 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="006" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5423833260_ef46ee3afd_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
(death of Jenga tower)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5423836936/" title="048 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="048" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5423836936_d37bba0844_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
Ended the day at David's Tea with Georgia, MJ, and David!Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-68429577938725557622011-01-31T21:53:00.001-05:002011-02-07T12:13:25.297-05:00tumbl'n backShantel and I have Tumblr accounts now. Well, I had one two years ago and then forgot about it and made <a href="http://crmlgrvz.tumblr.com/">another one</a> a few months back. Shantel, on the other hand, made <a href="http://prestigemode.tumblr.com/">hers</a> a couple of weeks earlier, and she's already got more substantial content than I do!<br />
<br />
Also, there's a new e-mail address where you can all direct your questions/further comments: holdhandsbreathelight@ymail.com. (Apologies to those who have e-mailed us and did not receive a response! For some reason, the old hotmail was sending them all to the Junk folder and then deleting them forever into cyber abyss.)<br />
---<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5381774881/" title="Queen's Park by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="Queen's Park" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5381774881_5cb8b9efac_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
Today's featured photo is of a less snowy and less hazardous Queen's Park, taken on a relatively warm day earlier this month. (It's difficult to make out, but there's a girl walking on the path a few distances away, wearing such a beautifully bright red pea coat.)Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-47695889700387184212011-01-25T17:47:00.004-05:002011-01-25T18:06:58.869-05:00misgivings<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t186/_sweetestdruug/4876107242_32b91d5cdf.jpg"><br /><br /><big><i>"Hatred is like a long, dark shadow. Not even the person it falls upon knows where it comes from, in most cases.</big></i> It is like a two-edged sword. When you cut the other person, you cut yourself. The more violently you hack at the other person, the more violently you hack at yourself. It can often be fatal. But it is not easy to dispose of. [..] Once it has taken root in your heart, hatred is the most difficult think in the world to shake off." <br />— Haruki Murakami (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle)<br /><br />Things to note as the end of January approaches:<br />1. Lazy mode should not begin now. <br />2. Catch up with sleep. It misses you dearly.<br />3. Go home more often.<br /><br />It seems like I can't catch up with time, because I have so many goals set for this year, I don't really know how to organize them properly. Maybe I'm just too lazy to start, or too eager to multi-task. I don't think it's the later option, either.Shantelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05859736932120291143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-56233198185386076882011-01-24T22:49:00.000-05:002011-01-24T22:49:34.970-05:00a relay of sorts - January<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5381776487/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="F1000012 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="F1000012" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5381776487_40417aeaf3_z.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from my neighbourhood walks, taken a few weeks ago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last week was eventful in comparison to any other school week. As I've mentioned in the <a href="http://holdhandsbreathelight.blogspot.com/2011/01/boxful-of-cheers.html">previous post</a>, Monday was stressful due to school applications for abroad. And consequently, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/crmlgrvz">Twitter</a> was bombarded by obscenities fueled by frustration and despair, mainly directed to the university and its unreliable tech service. But at the end of the day, all was well after being cheered up by two of my favourite people and finally having my application go through successfully (eight hours later). Now, all I can do is wait until April! Fingers are continually crossed.<br />
<br />
The following day was much better. I had some alone time before my 3-hr class, so I picked up my reserved copy of the latest issue of <i>Lula</i> (featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg on the cover). Lula always manages to put together a visual dream in material form. I feel like floating whenever I flip through the pages. (Take a peak <a href="http://www.scout-holiday.com/blog/?p=2840">here</a>.)<br />
<br />
And that night, my friend Amanda and I had an interesting time with The Vaccines. At one point, Freddie and Pete were singing "Blue Jay Way" by The Beatles to us for no given reason. They played a pretty good albeit short set at the Horseshoe. But the highlight of the night was definitely going home to a mass of tweets about "Angles" - The Strokes' fourth LP. I was restless all night and couldn't sleep. I sent so many people delirious text messages that I ended up receiving a slew of concerned responses in the morning.<br />
<br />
Wednesday to Friday ensued with much gushing and excitement. (The Strokes have that effect on me.) Saturday came, and Shantel and co. picked me up for a joyride to the west. We had an impromptu snow adventure at High Park, where Shantel, her brother, and her roommate went tobagganning down a very steep hill that led to the lake. I opted out of the tobagganning venture, though, and was perfectly happy to assume the role of audience for the feat. It was also bitingly cold. I feel like it's been -35degrees since last week with non-stop snow since Thursday. But I've actually been enjoying bundling up and dressing warm. Layers all the way!Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-86995816184044137952011-01-21T18:24:00.000-05:002011-01-21T18:24:25.045-05:00boxful of cheersI was having a trying time on Monday due to school complications. And in an effort to lift my spirits, pals Melody & David met me after my last class and handed me this wonderful box of treats:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5374437896/" title="boxful of cheers by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="boxful of cheers" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5374437896_3b7e5bc819_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
All the chocolate-types of sweets were picked by Melody, while the fizzy, weird ones were from David (of course). Said school complications have been ironed out now, though, so 2011 still hasn't disappointed. In fact, things are looking up!Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-52238709905308954832011-01-21T13:28:00.004-05:002011-01-21T16:05:23.945-05:00consideration.<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t186/_sweetestdruug/5327485546_76d5657146_z.jpg" width="550" /><br />
<br />
<big>“No days, perhaps, of all our childhood are ever so fully lived are those that we had regarded as not being lived at all: <b>days spent wholly with a favourite book.</b>”</big> — <i>Marcel Proust</i><br />
<br />
<b>Currently reading:</b> <i>The Reveries of a Solitary Walker</i>, Jean-Jacques Rousseau.<br />
<br />
These days, reading at home seems to be a great past-time. The weather constantly seems to dip, and leaves me blasting on the heat. <br />
Me + Toasty room [bed] + Coffee in favorite mug = Time well spent.Shantelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05859736932120291143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-11720351905954340082011-01-20T21:48:00.001-05:002011-01-20T21:48:42.485-05:00Holiday cards '10This past holiday, I made it a goal to create my own set of cards to give friends.<br />
Using pages from an old French book and various cutouts from Ikea catalogues, buttons, deco tape, type letters, acrylic paint, etc, I came up with the following:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5374437882/" title="Holiday cards 2010 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="Holiday cards 2010" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5374437882_f1145cb7fa_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
Next set to make: Valentine cards?Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-27497703715727441122011-01-12T22:09:00.001-05:002011-01-12T22:10:41.780-05:00empty nostalgia<div style="text-align: left;">Whenever I go into shops that sell antiques and olden sundry items,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I tend to gravitate towards the boxes of <a href="http://holdhandsbreathelight.blogspot.com/2010/07/strangers.html">photographs</a> and letters from years passed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5351020970/" title="scan0009 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="scan0009" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5351020970_527a0c9df1.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Often taken out of discarded albums and scrapbooks,</div><div style="text-align: right;">these mementos were once kept and shared intimately between families, friends, and lovers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5351021250/" title="scan0005 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="scan0005" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5351021250_a358fbbcfe.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What are we to make of these forgotten keepsakes, proofs of existence, fragments of being?</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's sort of impossible not to wonder the fate of one's memories frozen in such images.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will they, too, end up merely as curious objects in boxes?</div>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-20559299634290024862011-01-10T21:01:00.001-05:002011-01-10T21:04:22.455-05:00requiem.<center><img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t186/_sweetestdruug/3740401917_0a68ae2f2d.jpg" /></center><br />
Every exit is an entrance somewhere else.<br />
It's not until you get to know people that you begin to find out what it was in the past that made them who they are today, and why they do things they do, or think the things they think.<br />
<br />
You can choose to blame your circumstances on fate, bad luck, or bad choices. <br />
<br />
Or, you can fight back. <br />
<br />
Things aren’t always going to be fair in the real world. That’s just the way it is. <br />
But for the most part, you get what you give. <br />
The rest of your life is being shaped right now. <br />
With the dreams you chase, the choices you make, and the person you decide to be. <br />
<br />
The rest of your life is a long time. <br />
<b>And the rest of your life starts right now.</b>Shantelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05859736932120291143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-80219108152290133212010-12-28T18:23:00.000-05:002010-12-28T18:23:49.506-05:00new year fodder<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RB3cvTZUKq0/TRpwTd7D64I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/qVhX-tNF50U/s1600/155121_10150097370363523_501153522_7188290_3526161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RB3cvTZUKq0/TRpwTd7D64I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/qVhX-tNF50U/s400/155121_10150097370363523_501153522_7188290_3526161_n.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Shantel Z.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The new year is coming to a fore, and by extension, so does a boatload of resolutions and promises. The blank canvas-associated notions of the start of a year are irresistibly attractive, and rightfully so, because of the hint of so much potential. In essence, we all selfishly want a year better than the last. And this idea of renewal is resonant for us internally because of the sole reason that it gives hope for change and improvement.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, I privy myself to these overarching thoughts about the things that are deemed Most Important in Life: love, happiness, hope; and it's a little weird to realize that such things are merely human constructs and are therefore quite intangible.Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-2963699962078965562010-12-28T07:29:00.006-05:002010-12-28T17:12:02.857-05:00dancing on my own<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t186/_sweetestdruug/4253309529_3cfcaaa2ee_z.jpg" width="550"/><br />
<big><i>"Remember: the time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. Life’s cruelest irony."</i></big><br />
— Douglas Coupland<br />
<br />
I blame exams, failed relationships, and laziness, as the main reasons why this blog has halted into a stand-still. However, things are looking up. Things will blossom again.Shantelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05859736932120291143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-77828581310183437472010-12-10T20:14:00.001-05:002010-12-10T20:17:35.333-05:00Hurry UpHow I feel right now.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1wS-k66MKgs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1wS-k66MKgs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-12429567958353884782010-11-05T19:44:00.000-04:002010-11-05T19:44:19.517-04:00KingstonLast weekend, MJ and I went to Kingston to see Myra and other high school friends.<br />
We spent Halloween there -- an interesting time to explore the town and the Queens campus.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5149360153/" title="F1000037 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="F1000037" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5149360153_1903b5a7c3_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
It's a lovely, quaint place.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5149967018/" title="F1000035 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="F1000035" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1401/5149967018_5da93be115_z.jpg" width="550" /></a>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-25091920519556280932010-10-12T01:45:00.002-04:002011-01-07T18:26:57.366-05:00irony in freedom<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5031584364/" title="DSC02382 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC02382" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5031584364_7673f367a4_z.jpg" width="550" /></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
He stood, a point<br />
on a sheet of green paper<br />
proclaiming himself the centre,<br />
<br />
with no walls, no borders<br />
anywhere; the sky no height<br />
above him, totally un-<br />
enclosed<br />
and shouted:<br />
<br />
Let me out!<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- Margaret Atwood, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Progressive Insanities of a Pioneer</span></i>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-59521136728124447172010-10-10T03:06:00.002-04:002010-10-10T21:34:05.893-04:00flotsam and jetsamSome updates, not that they really matter:<br />
<ul><li>For October, the Toronto Public Library is holding a month-long art display at the North York Central branch. Ten of my photos, including a little blurb about this here blog is mounted on the wall. Go check it out if you like, but we we're not forcing you. Really.</li>
<li>Earlier this month, Shantel was in town with her roommate Nicoletta for Nuit Blanche. We went out just to browse all the arty things that were in store for the night, not really intending to stay too long. But then a series of funny incidents and random encounters led us to staying out much later than expected. We essentially got home a little before 3am. (And to think, I anticipated to be home before <i>midnight</i>...)</li>
<li>Also, I <i>just</i> recently jumped on to the bandwagon and watched The Social Network with Georgia, and to be frank, we didn't expect it to be as intellectually intense as it actually was. It's kind of interesting to note that the roots of Facebook and its conception, like most things men create in life, always involve a girl. This observation doesn't pertain to the "intellectual" bit of the story at all, but it resonates with a topic that I've been meaning to write about on here. I'll probably get around to doing that in the near future.</li>
<li>But of course, it's Thanksgiving weekend, so enjoy your days off! (if you're in Canada)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RB3cvTZUKq0/TLFlWZQEZHI/AAAAAAAAAFI/ogIWQLyln60/s1600/dayoff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RB3cvTZUKq0/TLFlWZQEZHI/AAAAAAAAAFI/ogIWQLyln60/s1600/dayoff.png" /></a></li>
</ul>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-29659562859871366232010-09-30T20:56:00.001-04:002010-09-30T20:57:39.924-04:00Postcrossing!A little over a month ago, I decided to sign up for this international postcard exchange project called <a href="http://www.postcrossing.com/about">Postcrossing</a>. Basically, you sign up and are given an address from a random part of the world. Once the person receives it, they register your postcard #, which would then enable you to start receiving postcards from someone else from another part of the world - what a concept!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5039796895/" title="Postcrossing by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="Postcrossing" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5039796895_15578c8e0e_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
This week, I finally received my first batch of postcards. One from the US and the other from Finland!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5040525660/" title="postcrossing by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="postcrossing" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5040525660_67e54ab42c_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
The second photo above is of my first batch of postcards that I've sent about a month ago. I'm excited to start sending again. You should give it a try!Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-73297577161136608302010-09-30T17:39:00.002-04:002010-09-30T20:04:17.513-04:00remnants of summerI'm pretty much on the same boat as Shantel about <a href="http://holdhandsbreathelight.blogspot.com/2010/09/12.html">not really missing summer</a>. But I sure do miss the time of liberty. Last night, I finally set aside readings and overall feelings of uni lethargy and got around to uploading my remaining photos of summer.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5039604017/" title="009 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="009" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5039604017_f9077876be_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
The above photo's a favourite of mine. Georgia and I went for afternoon tea at a place on Queen West back in June/July. We loved it there so much, we just had to go back!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5039606567/" title="011 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="011" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5039606567_8dfa53b112_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
Notice the water in the glass seems to be almost translucent in colour - that's because they add cantaloupe in the jar to add some flavour to it. Neat-o.Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-52227318957738867292010-09-30T15:15:00.004-04:002010-09-30T17:07:03.747-04:0012.<img src="http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t186/_sweetestdruug/4411137517_4f9831895c_z.jpg" width="550" /><br />
<br />
<big><i>Suffering … is not just lots of pain but pain amplified by distinctly human emotions such as regret, self-pity, shame, humiliation, and dread.</i></big><i></i><br />
<br />
If you have not read the works of <b>Michael Pollan</b>, I suggest you work your way into a book store, as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
Autumn is here, and I don't miss summer one bit. <br />
Cheers.Shantelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05859736932120291143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-73307714195375512142010-09-29T09:20:00.003-04:002010-09-30T00:04:21.360-04:00bedroomsToday's post is dedicated to the one place we always retreat to - somewhere we can always count to find solace in.<br />
<br />
Happy Wednesday!<br />
<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3617193039_7a25dd21f2_z.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3617193039_7a25dd21f2_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3617193039_7a25dd21f2_z.jpg"></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo from the Coastal Living Magazine, via </span><a href="http://decor8blog.com/2009/06/11/coastal-living-magazine/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">decor8</span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4986576263_62223640f1_z.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4986576263_62223640f1_z.jpg" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo from <a href="http://loppeleah.blogspot.com/">Loppe Leah</a></span>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-4141241700918175382010-09-28T22:54:00.003-04:002010-09-28T22:56:52.062-04:00To see a world in a grain of sand...<big><i>And a heaven in a wild flower,</i></big><i></i><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5035262650/" title="F1000031 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="F1000031" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5035262650_b6c22fb55c_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
<big><i>Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,<br />
And eternity in an hour.</i></big><i></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-William Blake, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Auguries of Innocence</span></i>Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328304689394026674.post-79878479117597627842010-09-27T19:40:00.001-04:002010-09-27T23:36:26.912-04:00quiet loss<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/garbledupwords/5030967493/" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="DSC02384 by garbledupwords, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC02384" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5030967493_6f74e862b3_z.jpg" width="550" /></a><br />
I've noticed there are times in the night when everything appears to be crystal clear - when thoughts and ideas just sort of tie in smoothly with one another, and everything just seems to make sense. In these fleeting and rare instances of time, it's as if Life momentarily gives you a taste of the answers that you've sought after for so long, just as you are about to doze off. But trying to grapple onto such moments of clarity, while fighting the urge to surrender to slumber, is never easy.<br />
<br />
And then, the next thing you know, the morning sun is greeting you once again with a promise of a fresh start of a new day.<br />
<br />
Yet there's also that quiet lingering feeling inside as if you just lost something. You can't really put your finger on what it was, but you're kind of sure it was there...Carmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13784021621421023686noreply@blogger.com