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November 27th, 2009
06:52 pm
Some people like Christmas. I could say that about myself, up to a point. And that point is the 48-hour period from December 24th to the 25th (with perhaps another 24 hours thrown in on the 26th, because that's when we usually have our family Christmas dinner). Almost everything leading up to those 48 hours is just a pain in the ass.
So...
If I seem distant, and quiet, and cranky, blame it Christmas. Sometimes, I think the world would be a better place if we realized all the Christmas hype was bullshit. But then I think, "I like getting presents!!" :)
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November 9th, 2009
09:51 pm - La Vita è Bella
I got wonderful news via email this morning.
Background: This past summer, a friend of mine kinda sheepishly told me she'd "accidentally" gotten pregnant. I looked at her quizzically, because she's normally got a good head on her shoulders. Long story short, she told me a part of the issue was that she'd been told by doctors that having children would be very unlikely due to chemotherapy (god, another long story). So, "accidental" turned out to be somewhat of a miracle. Anyway, the email from this morning ( is behind the cut. )
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November 5th, 2009
11:11 pm
Haven't had a lot to say recently. Not sure why, really.
I'm feeling like I need more time off. I had a great time for a few days in Boston last month, but it also left me wanting more. More time to see the city. More time with a fun bunch of people. It was great, but far too short.
Or maybe I'm just tired already. I like my job, but come November, the Christmas mentality sets in all around me and everything gets ratcheted up a notch and it feels like I'm constantly running around trying to make sure this or that is done on top of just trying to keep up with the quotidian stuff.
Anyway, enough complaining.
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October 27th, 2009
07:47 pm - Why won't the paparazzi leave me alone?!?
Hey look! A shot of me at the wedding on the 17th. :)
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12:23 am
As I get ready to go to sleep, I should mention that something unusual happened this morning: I woke up laughing. At least, I was laughing my ass off in my dream.
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October 22nd, 2009
12:01 am - Wherever Gibran and Neruda are invoked...
OK, I will try to say what I feel about the wedding I was honoured to attend this past weekend.
The two words that come to mind are "simplicity" and "profundity." A simple, small room in which family and friends from around the world gathered. And in that simple, small space, a profound sense of closeness and intimacy.
A simple, brief ceremony. No sermon. No posturing from a pulpit. And in that simple brevity, a deep understanding that what is happening is beyond words, and so it's best to keep things simple and brief.
A simple symbol, the wedding bands passed from guest to guest, friend to friend until all present have held them. And so, all those in attendance became an integral part of the ceremony, not mere observers.
I could go on in this manner for a long time, but I think I need to keep this brief. Two more things need to be expressed. First of all, and here I must apologize to all those friends whose weddings I've witnessed, this is literally the only wedding that has truly moved me. Not to tears, but to that point where I know tears are very close. Moved to feel a deep, throat-constricting joy.
Secondly, the sacred texts chosen for the readings were perfect and beautiful. Kahlil Gibran and Pablo Neruda do not form a part of any religious canon. But Gibran's words on marriage and Neruda's Sonnet XVII are sacred nonetheless. Wherever Gibran and Neruda are invoked, you are in a holy place.
Now, before you all think it was all simplicity and profundity and sacredness, I must hasten to add that, all told, it was one hell of a good time. The beer flowed. The house was loud with laughter. The party lasted into the wee hours. When I finally went to sleep after the celebrations, the sun was already rising.
More could be said. But I'll leave it as is for now.
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October 20th, 2009
10:18 pm
I was in Boston this past weekend (well, Thursday through Monday) for a wedding and all around good times. A full report will be posted soon, and believe me, it will require a few paragraphs. Anyway, here's a good pic of a bunch us out in rural Massachusetts:
In this picture are a Scot, several Swiss, an Englishman, a Brazilian/Canadian and a few Americans. The cosmopolitan scale of this gathering was truly wonderful.
BTW, the lovely bride (Rebeca) is in the front row, second from the right. The dashing groom (Martin) is in the second row, also second from the right.
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October 13th, 2009
08:11 pm - Question time...
I watched a TV series recently which brought up an interesting question for me.
Is there an intrinsic link between sexual orientation and love? Are they essentially connected, or are they two separate things that have some/much overlap?
For example, do you think it possible that a gay man and a woman could fall in love, for lack of a better term, with each other? Or, more radical, a straight man and a gay man falling in love? The kind of love that goes beyond romance/sex to that state where one entrusts oneself (one's self) to the other?
Of course, this is assuming a traditional, monogamous model, like marriage but not necessarily marriage.
Anyway, discuss...
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October 10th, 2009
10:13 pm
It started yesterday afternoon. It continued on through the night. When we woke up:
SNOW!! :)
When I see snow, I often feel like I'm that seven-year-old boy from Brazil who's seeing it for the first time.
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October 5th, 2009
04:37 pm - A video...
So I'm going to Boston in 10 days. The good folks with whom I'll be staying are the dynamic duo known as Aloud. They recently launched a new music video. The song is called You Got Me Wrong. Here it is:
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October 4th, 2009
October 3rd, 2009
02:18 pm
My little panther:
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October 1st, 2009
08:36 pm - Canadian bureaucracy FTW!!
Back on the 22nd of September, I went to the Passport Office to hand in my passport renewal form. They told me it (new passport) would be mailed out on the 6th of October, which meant there was a very good chance I'd have it in my hand before my trip to Boston on the 15th.
I got it today!
So I just had a good look at it. Seems it was processed on the 25th of September. Three days (THREE) after I submitted the form. I consider this a minor bureaucratic miracle.
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September 26th, 2009
11:33 pm
Today, I was at the wedding of ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) muhree (the woman who introduced me to LiveJournal) and Mike.
In less than a month (if everything goes according to plan), I will be at the wedding of olivetree and her betrothed. I know her only because of LiveJournal.
At the end of December, I hope to visit alysbowie again.
I do not post here as often as I used to, but this is still my favourite online community. There are people here that I'm grateful to have met, and some that I would dearly love to meet someday.
Anyway, time for bed. I'm sleepy.
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September 22nd, 2009
09:37 pm
I woke up this morning, and my first coherent thought was that I'd forgotten to get my passport renewed. What followed was a string of obscenities and curses. Once that passed, I set about getting my shit together.
Oh, some background info would be helpful, I guess. I'm planning on going to Boston for the nuptials of olivetree and her beau. That is on the 17th of October.
So, I got my passport picture taken over my coffee break (there's a place 2 minutes from work that had everything done within 5 or so minutes of me walking in the door). Then, back at work, I just went over the renewal application to make sure all was in order and everything was set for me to go to the passport office on my lunch hour.
Now, normally, the passport office is a beehive of activity. Well, not a beehive. More a vast colony of sloths. Anyway, when I got there, it was almost deserted. I got my number and waited to be called to the counter. And before I could get comfortable in my seat, I was up. Gave her my forms. My pictures. My old passport. Two minutes later, I was done, with an assurance that my passport would be in my hand before the travel date.
Now, it's just a matter of believing that this bureaucrat is telling the truth, and that all the other bureaucrats along the line in this process will live up to their end of the bargain.
The only thing left to say is that I am never more humbled than when I have to get my picture taken for official documents. My passport pic looks like I'm being held hostage by al qaeda.
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September 18th, 2009
06:47 pm - Squirrel!!
I found this little guy on the way home today:
( Two more behind the cut )
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September 14th, 2009
06:49 pm
Over the next day or two, I need to do something unpleasant and possibly shitty, something disappointing to me (deeply) and to someone else. If you could, please direct some positive energy my way. I'd be much obliged.
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September 13th, 2009
01:36 am
Look, I'm not a huge fan of tattoos. I can take them or leave them, in most cases. In others, I think they're just stupid (Tweety Bird, the Rolling Stones lips/tongue logo, most lower back tats, etc). However, thanks to the randomness of my surfing habits, I have found one that I absolutely love, and that's saying a lot. Anyway, here it is in small size:
I've also included the bigger picture, but because it is definitely, emphatically and most beautifully NSFW (and just so we're clear, I'm talking nudity), I have placed it ( behind the cut. )
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September 11th, 2009
September 10th, 2009
12:17 am
I guess I have been a bit remiss in posting to LJ over the last little bit. But, with good reason: I was in Calgary over an extended Labour Day weekend (from Sept. 3-8), visiting alysbowie.
I could go on and on about how we went to Banff on Sunday, or the swell party we were at on Saturday, the movies we saw, the cafés we went to, etc.
But I will keep it to this one simple thought. It was like being at home, and I miss it already.
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