Adventure No. 13: Wise words from an old man

So today is my birthday; I've gotten to the age where whenever someone asks me how old I am, the answer will evoke images of Kiefer Sutherland (a bad thing? no? *shrugs*).
This morning I awoke with American Boy by Estelle ft. Kanye stuck in my head (wtf, I know eh?) and first thing wondered if it was a nice day out. It is, it is a beautiful morning today. The next thing I thought was that I'm now well into my twenties; I've lived as many years as there are hours in a day, then it occurred to me that I should glance down at my body to make sure wrinkles hadn't magically appeared over night. They hadn't. I realized there's no fooling anyone, I'm not nineteen anymore, no more days of youth, no more young, hip college kid times; now it's young, hip twenty-something times. I'm glad I don't act nineteen anymore, or else I'd have to make myself stop and grow up - what a horrifying experience I'm sure that would be. Yet, I am eternally grateful to whatever forces are responsible for keeping the mid-twenties percieved as being young and vivacious; it seems it is only on my birthdays that I realize how much I never want to get old. Though even with my tenderness in age, I still have been around for quite some time, and in that time, I've been sure to learn a lot, and I'd like to pass some of that wisdom on to you, if anyone is actually reading this. So here is one thing I've learned for every year I've existed:
1. Never assume anything.
2. "Friend" is a term used very loosely; you have very few true friends, and you'll only find out who they are when you aren't expecting to.
3. In life, always try to find balance.
4. You are a reflection of yourself; they way you appear to others eventually becomes the way people treat you.
5. Fairness does not truly exist, so make the best of things
6. Keep self-expectation high; as I often say, "It's better to aim high and miss than to aim low and shoot yourself in the foot."
7. All nature is connected, and we humans are a part of nature.
8. There is a difference between being responsible and being serious, that being said...
9. Laugh, and laugh often.
10. Appreciate the little things in life (ie. a morning birdsong at dawn).
11. The only people who can really hurt you, are those you keep closest to your heart.
12. Churchill was right about fear.
13. Always help if you can.
14. Benjamin Franklin was right about procrastination.
15. Wake up feeling beautiful, that is, realize what a beautiful person you are, inside and out, each morning.
16. Be reasonable for Pete's sake.
17. Always give yourself a little extra time to do things - it delays frustration.
18. Tell someone you love them.
19. Love yourself.
20. There is beauty in almost everything; it is your mission to seek and find it.
21. Never underestimate anything.
22. Use your sleeve or a paper towel to open the public washroom door.
23. Rain isn't so bad.
24. Do everything to the best of your ability and do it with pride.
Ciao,

Adventure No. 12

So, right now I'm in the process of baking an Apricot Almond Streusel Coffee Cake... well, okay, my oven is in the process of baking it, my work with it is done, until I get to eat it that is.
The batter tasted so good when I licked the spoon, that I seriously debated just eating it as pudding, and skipping the entire baking process completely; then I reflected on the time I had salmonella, and decided to pop it in the oven anyway. So now, I am sniffing its heavanly scent that hath filled this apartment o' mine, and trying to keep myself busy with artwork to get my mind off of eating the whole cake... we'll see how successful I am.
Ciao,

Adventure No.11: Host With The Most

Wine, cheese and crackers, wine, red pepper cream cheese and crackers, wine, perogies, and more wine. Take this and add in some of my best friends, a turntable and a bevy of jazz records, some creative discussion and what do you get? An absolutely wonderful and amazing evening at my place. I love my friends and I love spending time with them even more, even when we conclude that monkeys are the originating source of HIV/AIDS - that was probably just the wine talking. ;)
Ciao,

Adventure No. 10: Kevin The Plumber.. Again

How A Toilet Works: by Kevin Ouellette
You know that little floppy lever you push everytime you flush the toilet? Well, that lever is connected to a chain in the toilet tank. Subsequently, that chain is connected to a rubber stopper-flopper that plugs the hole between the toilet tank and bowl, acting as a sphincter if you will, allowing the tank to fill with water instead of having a continuously flowing fountain in your bathroom. Well, that chain, the one between the floppy lever and the stopper-flopper (that's a lot of flopping going on there) rusted and broke. That was on New Year's Eve while I was having a dinner party, so I quickly improvised a repair with a paper clip. Well, one month later, that paper clip rusted and broke, seeing how it was aluminum, and not even galvanized. So today I had to fix it for realz.
Now, it's a rather simple procedure, buy a new chain and replace it. It acutally went well with few trials and tribulations, toilet fixed, easy.
The problem is, that shopping on Roncesvalles is so convenient, that one can manage to spend way more than expected. I am now at home, eating some fresh red peppers, looking at the pink hyacinth and purple primrose I just placed in my sunny window, and listening to my new double-album of Sonny Rollins, while I should be getting ready for work I might add.
I love this place, even if it puts me in the poor house.
Ciao,

Adventure No. 9: OMG Am I Ever Good In The Kitchen

Boeuf Bourguignon - that's what Julia Powell made in the movie Julie and Julia, and that's what I made today, kind of. I took the recipe from Juila Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and some bits and pieces from an Irish stew recipe, blended them together, adding in my own personal touches, and I got perfection. Seriously, this is by far the best tasting thing I've ever made; I didn't realize anything I touched could taste so good. It is easily one of the best dishes I've ever tasted... ever, and I've eaten in a lot of great places (Paris, Rome, Florence, etc.).
So now my cooking foray has brought me to a dilemma. That being, why can't I cook all the time? Why can't I make a living of it? If only I was like Mrs. Child and had a spouse with a cushy job to put me through chef school, then maybe I would have the credentials needed in this world to make a living of something I love such as this. I guess for now, my only legitimate art will be confined to paper and photos; the art I create in the kitchen will only be for pleasing my palette, and those of my friends. *sigh*
...If anyone is looking to hire a personal cook, let me know!...
Ciao,

Adventure No. 8: Auld Lang Syne

So I find myself upon a new year once again, as I'm sure you do as well. It's been a very interesting year during which I experienced many things; my highest ups and my lowest downs (almost), as well as reaching many, many milestones and firsts that are important in life, or at least in my own.
I finally finished university, I accepted a life path that was different than the one I had mapped out (which has been really refreshing) and will continue along this path while still looking for any chances to track back onto the originally planned route somewhere along the way. I broke out of my shell even further, and even made the big move up to Toronto. I got a new job thanks to H1N1 and gave it up thanks to a crappy work environment. I became closer emotionally to my family even though I became further apart physically. I lost some friends who were very close and important to me, though I now feel I am better off without them. And to counter balance that, I also met some people who have become very near and dear to me, and I feel I am a better person for knowing them.
Looking ahead, I have high hopes floating in front of me, like frosty mist hanging in the air on a frigid morning. This past year had been a fairly difficult and trying one, and the past decade was certainly a tough one for myself, my family, and as I'm sure, for most people in the world. I have a real bed coming to me, that is, not an IKEA futon, but an actual bed (wooden, with a boxspring and mattress and everything) (this is big news for me), I'll be starting yoga as I've pretty much always wanted to do, and the opportunities for me are nearly boundless. Do I try making a living as an artist? Do I still juggle two interesting and engaging part-time jobs? Do I find a suitable, challenging and secure full-time job? Maybe I could do some tavelling; maybe I could go back to school. It seems the world is on a buffet table in front of me, and I get to have my pick of what parts of it I want.
Here's hoping the new decade (What should we call it? The twenty-teens?) is full of as much promise, prosperity, health, success and adventure as I think it will be.
Happy New Year everyone.
Ciao,