random recaps

Le jazz
Jazz tunes wholly fill me up. I love all the different emotions coursing through my body when I'm in a jazz trance. From the slow ballad-like tunes to the upbeat Latin jazz or big band, I always feel so good afterwards. The music evokes certain words to my head, and I wonder if the composer thought of the same words. The pieces with lyrics exude real human experiences, usually love, be it forlorn or content.

Me
I've been feeling a little disconnected from myself. It took a lunch hour big band concert at Nathan Phillips to make me realize that. On my way home from work, I stopped by the stage again, and a great Latin jazz performance brought members of the crowd (mostly older) to their feet. Slightly swaying and toe-tapping, I felt like myself again.

Weekend
I felt restless all weekend (thanks to the G20). I couldn't read my book at my neighbourhood Starbucks (I wish it wasn't a chain). I wasn't able to roam freely around the city without seeing destruction, riot police, and the smell the vinegar. The events of this weekend made me very frustrated. I understand the right to peacefully protest and our freedom of speech in our democratic society. It is a privilege. The acts of vandalism is not a privilege, and it's unfortunate the perpetrators were not brought to justice. I'm just disappointed that the protests and all the arrests took up most of the media space.

Me again
My writing is a bit choppy today. I still haven't recovered from this writer's block. Working in an office really stifles one's creativity. The vocabulary I come across are often planning jargon - designation, provisions, compliance, flood plain, setbacks, permitted uses, etc. I feel as though I'm in this bubble, which is why the lunch hour and after work jazz sessions brought me back to life. Though I'm not writing as fluidly as I would like, I'm learning to write in bits and pieces, from one thought to the next. Maybe I'm expecting too much from myself. Sometimes, the words just have to flow naturally, and often with a caffeinated drink. I'm hoping for some breezy, sunny weather so I can bring myself to a bench under a tree at UT and read and collect my thoughts alone.

eventfully uneventful

I'm not even sure if the title of this post makes sense. I've been keeping myself busy, so life has been eventful in that sense. But even though I'm doing all these activities, life still feels uneventful. I feel like I'm not living comfortably, thanks to the old witch I live with. I've put up with her insanity quite well these last few weeks. It's nearly July and summer will pass, even though I don't want it to.

Living in Toronto the second time around is quite different than the fall term. This time, I know what to expect, and nothing is really shiny and new. I've been meeting some new people and doing some really fun things with them. For instance, Luminato was such a fantastic arts festival. Vancouver doesn't have any events that even parallels to the size and sophistication of Luminato. I also did yoga in the middle of Yonge and Dundas Square with my fellow R. It was really super fun.

My mind's really been quite blank lately. I've tried writing, but to no avail. Perhaps I should be reading more, and reflecting upon my experiences. I'll start chronicling my roommate experiences in the next few posts!

superfluous

I don't need to close my eyes to take myself to another world, my future, ideal world. The reality of that future is achievable, but from my current situation, I feel years and years away from it. It's partly this idealism which drives me. I'm wary of my actions because too often I build up extravagant concoctions about what will happen and those expectations aren't always achieved. I need to learn to take things one step at a time, and not try to take leaps and bounds. I just know I can't turn out like my 40 year old roommate.

That's all.

I left my heart in San Francisco

The Bay Bridge

Road to Sonoma 

Sunset beach...surfer boys 

This trip really opened my eyes. I've stayed in one place for too long and I know I desire a change - a change of pace, a change of scenery, a change of culture, a change of environment. Although I was only in San Francisco for 4 days, I feel like I was able to explore so many places. The city itself was similar to Vancouver, but on a larger scale. If I move my life there, it will be closer to the lifestyle I miss in Vancouver, yet with the cultural and distinct urban environment that I'm looking for. I really hope the next chapter of my life will be in San Francisco.