theory of raffaella

spring is the time of plans and projects

2015-05-21T16:30:00.000-06:00

I started this blog nearly eleven years ago... with no real purpose other than to see what it was all about. It's unbelievable that this thing has existed for over a decade... although I went through long gaps where I ignored it, which is why it is basically a shapeless blob of random posts and photos.

For some reason I feel inclined to start blogging again. Mostly because when I was blogging I was taking photos more frequently - and I have huge backlogs of images from the past few years that are languishing on my hard drives. If digital files could amass dust, my photos would be covered with thick cobwebs that would not be out of place in Miss Havisham's decaying mansion.

So, it is with a renewed spirit and gusto that I am returning from my unplanned hiatus from blogging and starting again.

Perhaps this time I'll give myself a little more structure and write in a little more detail about my amateur interior design pursuits and less about my general ennui and half-finished knitting projects.

Spring is after all the time of plans and projects. And I have some ambitious plans that require some documenting.

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers

2013-10-10T09:55:00.001-06:00

Anne Shirley knows what she's talking about.

Montreal

2013-07-26T11:24:00.001-06:00

June 2012

10 days during a June heat wave meant lots of late night strolls, cool drinks and ghetto a/c.

the smell of victory

2013-05-21T13:04:00.000-06:00

A couple weeks ago I attended the first annual Yeggies, an awards show created to recognize and celebrate outstanding social media content creators in the capital region. The Yeggies are the brain child of my good friend Adam Rozenhart (aka @bingofuel - King of the Internet), and I was very happy to help him document the evening with Edmonton's online glitterati and twitterati.

No extended commentary about the night other than it was a great event and fabulous to see the diversity of online content creators in one room (and all the style bloggers who upped the fashion ante for next year). Congratulations to Adam and his team of volunteers who helped put this show on.

forgotten vacations

2013-02-01T10:56:00.002-07:00

I have travel on my mind.

a beautiful british columbian new year

2013-01-09T15:22:00.001-07:00

Otherwise known as what I did on my New Year's Vacation.

After a relatively quiet Christmas in Edmonton we (the gentleman and my sister Alessandra) took off to Vancouver to meet up with my brother Renato who was back in Canada for the holidays and my sister Francesca who had stayed on the island. After a brief reunion with my youngest brother Alberto in the Edmonton airport, we arrived in Vancouver and made the quick trip downtown via the extremely convenient Canada Line (which happened to be free that night because it was New Year's Eve).

After checking in to our hotel we strolled over to Calabash Bistro on Carrall Street for our New Year's Eve Caribbean Fête. The food was fantastic and the company excellent. In addition to our sibling crew, we also dined with resident Vancouverites Nuala and Corina, the cousins representing the Trinidadian and Italian sides (respectively) of the family.

After we had indulged in our dinner of roti, doubles, crabcakes, saltfish, coconut dumplings and some tasty cocktails with ginger beer and Angostura bitters, we were handed a rum punch and sent downstairs to the dance floor. Contrary to typical Loro fashion we did not dominate the dance floor and instead were content to quietly people watch.

New Year's Day we were all slow to get going. After a second Christmas gift exchange with my sisters we set out on the sunny streets to meet up with some family friends for brunch at Catch 122. Our attempts to dine there were thwarted (CLOSED!) and ultimately we ended up at Steamworks. Brunch proved to be a rather drawn out affair, so long that by the time we were finished the sun was starting to disappear. We walked to Renato's hotel in Coal Harbour, so we could see how the rich live (and apparently how they vacation given the swankiness of his hotel room) before heading up for a walk along Denman for our dinner at the Legendary Noodle House where we met up with yet another cousin.

Stuffed with noodles and dumplings we walked back through the foggy streets admiring the old apartment buildings close to Renato's hotel. We had big plans to make some New Year's cocktails at the hotel, but we were unable to find any liquor stores that were open. Night caps abandoned we wandered back to our hotel.

We began the next day at the Vancouver Public Library, grabbing some coffee and croissants after the gentleman bonded with his new older sister (Catch me!).

Alessandra hadn't been to Vancouver in twenty-something years so we felt it necessary to visit Granville Island. Coffees in hand we walked up to False Creek and hopped on an Aquabus. What started as window shopping at the various boutiques ended with me leaving with various woolen goodies and stationery treats. After fighting other tourists for a table by the food vendors, we managed to eat some lunch before heading on the Aquabus back to Yaletown to be one amongst the gentry.

That night the gentleman and I met up with his college pal of-sorts for some dinner in Gastown and drinks at The Ascot. We did not order the $150 slap in the face that came with a bottle of champagne. Why bother when I can slap people for free?

The next morning we wandered into Finch's Coffee and Tea shop across the street from our hotel, discovering it to be an absolute gem from both a photographic and culinary perspective.

After breakfast we wandered through some of the shops in Gastown where Francesca and I stocked up on buttons for our respective knitting projects and I learned of high-end Murphy beds from Italy. We strolled briefly along the seawall before parting ways, one sibling departing by sea, two (three) of us by air and the last sibling choosing to hang around for a few more days.

Au revoir Vancouver.

dust of snow

2012-11-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

So it would seem that spring, summer and autumn all passed and I was too preoccupied (amongst other things, I had a few trips here and there and yes, I got married about a month ago) to bother to post anything to my blog. Now winter has arrived again and I'm readjusting to the snow and cold.

Winter is not my favourite of the seasons and typically I don't weather it well. But so far I haven't been feeling quite as dreary as I usually do. It helped that when the snow first arrived a few weeks ago the majority of it fell overnight. Like so many others I got caught up with how pretty my neighbourhood looked under a blanket of white. I find myself really loving the look of the city during the wintertime.

This newfound affection for winter reminded me a Robert Frost poem.

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

the festival circuit

2012-11-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

For the last four years a few of my friends and I have entered the Edmonton International Film Festivals 24/One film challenge. It is exactly what it sounds like. You have 24 hours to make a film that is no longer than 5 minutes. In those 24 hours you must script, film, edit, score and render your movie, which anyone will tell you is quite the exercise in restraint (particularly when you and your friends are prone to ridiculous and complex narratives).

Yet somehow we always manage to pull something together and for the past four years we have been lucky enough to have our films be screened in the Top 10 and pick up a couple awards for our work.

So, for your viewing pleasure, I present to you, the Team Awesome Video Club Criterion Collection.

Best Original Score, Best Art Direction

Best Actress

Best Actress

Best Original Score

glory days of summer

2012-08-30T13:14:00.000-06:00

The nights are getting cooler now and it's time to take a look back on another summer that has just flown by. It's been a full and busy summer, packed with things like...

road trips in rural Alberta and a (partial) sibling reunion in Quebec

leisurely picnics in beautiful Montreal parks and spontaneous backyard dinners with friends crashing a couple weddings so Chris could charm the ladies kitchen parties and patio parties letting the Olympics inspire athletic and spectator pursuits
cleaning the apartment during thunderstorms and visiting with faraway friends celebrating my 30th birthday

time flies while waiting for spring

2012-02-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

The first couple months of the year always seem to pass by so quickly that I hardly have the time to stop and reflect. It's probably a coping mechanism to get through the long stretch of winter. My days are spent working and attending to household matters (I'm much more of a winter clean type of person than a spring clean) with the occasional evening out with friends followed by frequent dreams of vacations in faraway lands.

The sweater, completed during dark January evenings in the company of Bones on Netflix.

The last part of my Christmas vacation was spent starting to knit a cozy weekend cardigan using the yarn my sister Francesca gave me in our family gift exchange. I was determine to finish the sweater in January so I could at least get some wear out of it before winter was over. I succeeded and was on such a knitting roll that I started a second sweater project and set a sort of half-hearted goal to knit one garment every month this year (all for me with one exception). I expect I'll have to abandon that plan once I start making time to work on the growing queue of projects that others have requested/demanded I make for them.

At the beginning of February my sister Noemi and brother-in-law were in town with my nephew for a short work visit. Noemi and I took in the sights (read: shopping) and had a sister's lunch at Tres Carnales with Alessandra. Tacos were consumed while Alessandra and I plotted how we could steal Lucas' eyelashes.

Lucas being super cute!

As stated, there has been the occasional evening out with friends. More recently I indulged in a little recreational slumming at a bowling alley (10-pin is not my game), followed by a classier (dressed) affair at Halo where the Urban Monks were doing their dj thing.

Marc and Thomas' sets were early. Too early for me to dance.

Fellow ladies Christy and Lauren having fancy lady conversation.

Zach listens as the fancy ladies converse.

Later we added some more gentlemen to our party. Marc joined us after his set, and the gentleman made an appearance.

Hilarity ensued.

An appropriate ladylike response.

It was almost like the camera wasn't there at all.

The evening out was the first time I had really taken any photos since Christmas (other than of yarn and knitting projects) and it was nice to resume taking photos after an unplanned photographic hiatus.
I had another delightful opportunity to take more photos when Sable asked me to take some portraits she could use for her choir headshots. I edited a few last night after a Family Day dinner with the gentleman's family.

After shooting a series of simple portraits inside, Sable and I headed outdoors to take a few in the gently fallen snow. The resulting photos have given me a new appreciation of winter.

the art of dining out

2011-12-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

At the end of November the gentleman and I trundled down to mrkt to celebrate our friend Dave's birthday. It just so happened that the birthday celebrations coincided with mrkt's first annual harvest dinner.

We were served a fixed 5 course menu paired with a selection of Italian wines. A sommelier on hand to describe all of the selections and answer any of our questions. The evening was a delight. I love multiple course fixed menu dinners. The whole experience is so relaxing and every dish is a surprise. I'm looking forward to another night out like this soon.

the helplessness blues

2011-11-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

So as per tradition I spent these first few weeks of cold weather being sick. I followed up the Thanksgiving cold with a bout of bronchitis which then turned into pneumonia. As a result I've been a bit of a dullard for the past while (dullard in the sense of a person who evokes boredom rather than the stupid type) and have not felt the inclination to post about anything. That feeling of dullness has started to lift over the past few weeks, but not without some effort. I know I'm not the only person to feel like this. Lots of other blogs I read have featured posts about being bummed out by the weather or feeling depressed, and it's given me some comfort to know that other people out there have been struggling like I have.

For the most part I like the seasonal change. It's hard to dislike the beautiful colours of the falling leaves or the romance of the first snowfall.

Cooler temperatures mean that I can wear sweaters and boots (even if the zipper on my favourite pair keeps on breaking and all of my tights seem to have holes in them after only being worn once) and I have the perfect excuse to work on knitting projects in the evenings and on the weekends.

But the coziness of fall and winter attire doesn't really do all that much to keep my emotions warm. It's like the darkness of my moods correspond with the rate at which the sun sets each night. I know I'm not very pleasant when I get depressed like this. Usually I don't start to feel like this until winter has been around for a few months, but this year has been particularly bad and I seemed to have fallen to despair ahead of schedule. Perhaps being sick exacerbated things... at least now I'm feeling more my normal self.

They say that major depression occurs in 10 to 25 percent of women... and yet it's not something that most people feel comfortable admitting to suffering from. Admitting that you're depressed is tough, particularly when you feel like telling others how you feel is like admitting you're somehow weaker than everyone else. This is especially difficult when you feel like people will use this weakness against you... whether it be in your personal life or your work. And so you start to withdraw and construct imaginary barriers between you and others. I am particularly guilty of this. I'm a pretty introverted person to begin with, but add feeling depressed to the mix and I become a serious loner. I do this because I know I'm unpleasant to be around when I'm depressed. I become instinctively negative and it's just easier not to be around other people because talking about how I feel is exhausting for everyone. Trying to feign pleasantries is even more difficult and it's just so much easier to be sullen and silent alone.

Breaking out of this spiral of negativity isn't easy. Progress is slow and there can be lots of setbacks. It's sort of like recovering from dehydration. Chugging back water will just make you sick... but you'll recover quite nicely from a slow saline drip.

People have lots of methods for dealing with their depression. Some rely on antidepressants, others rely on therapy, others meditation or exercise. For me, feeling normal again has meant that I make time for creative pursuits (photography), I knit for stress relief (a sort of meditation in itself), I eat a more balanced diet and take vitamins, I exercise (some more social in nature and some more meditative), and I go for walks. It's a simple routine... but it's still one that I have to strive to maintain.

It's worth it though. Things are starting to fall back into place and I'm slowly returning to normalcy. This morning I went back to my Pilates class after having to miss a few while recovering from pneumonia. It was good to be back even though I had to wrench myself out of bed to go and then speed walk to there on time. I started taking more photographs of things that aren't just my knitting projects and even made a video for fun recently. I found myself relishing the bite of the wind today as I walked back home across the bridge. Winter may be coming, but at least any numbness will be due to the temperature and not the winter of my discontent.

thankful feasts

2011-10-11T14:22:00.000-06:00

I was hoping to visit with my family over Thanksgiving, but I had to postpone my visit until later in Autumn. For a few weeks I was thinking that the gentleman and I would have a quiet weekend at home filled with long naps, and that maybe we'd roast a chicken and some vegetables and maybe watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles. In reality, we were flooded with invites from friends new and old. It was a spectacular weekend with a feast every night.

Saturday evening began with a crab boil. Our gracious and generous hosts (Chris and Jill) had advised that we show up hungry. I tend to take that sort of advice quite seriously, particularly after receiving email reminders during the day reminding us a second time. Jill and Chris know how to put on a crab boil. They had transformed their dining room into a sort of crab-shack (an elegant one) and equipped each guest with all of the utensils and napkins necessary to address the pile of seafood and vegetables before us.

Jill starts bringing out the food.

Jill brings out even more...

more again... We are slightly daunted by what we have before us.

The gentleman readies his bib.

We ate and ate and ate, but there were still leftovers.

Part of the magic of the night came when it was time to cleanup. Once the glassware, utensils and butter warming dishes were cleared away, it was simple to just roll up the paper that covered the table for some really quick party cleanup.

Post dinner we retired to the deck with coffee and blankets for more conversation and a special accordion concert. We stayed outside for a few more hours, talking and laughing with our new friends.

We woke up on Sunday morning to a beautiful autumn day. Perfect for brunch with the urban family and for a quick photoshoot for Sarah and Leanne's summer project (a cookbook that they will be selling at the Royal Bison Craft Fair at the end of November).

Leanne and Sarah have spent the summer compiling recipes and stories of meals where they acquired ingredients via bicycle... a sort of velo-fare type cookbook. They were in need of an image for the front cover and for their bio page, so after a satisfying brunch we hopped outside to photograph the ladies and their bicycles while the dudes went for a stroll.

After running some errands in the afternoon, the gentleman and I headed to Highlands Kitchen with John and Glen. I've been trying to go to Highlands Kitchen forever (back in the days it was called Bacon and then when it opened again as Culina Highlands) but somehow I had never made it out there. But all of my longing finally paid off when the gentleman made a spontaneous reservation on Saturday while he was at the Farmer's Market.

We chatted while drinking wine and enjoying the set Thanksgiving menu. We arrived around 7:30 and most of the other diners were finishing their meals so we had the restaurant to ourselves. This ended in our favour since the kitchen brought us out extras of everything. I would definitely go back to try their regular menu (and check out the back patio in the summer) and maybe while I'm there go to the wool store next door.

I woke up Monday with a sinus cold, so the Thanksgiving feast from the gentleman's family came to me by way of leftovers. The one up side of being forced to stay at home (my sneezing was deemed to be unappetizing), was that I was able to watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles, thus fulfilling my original Thanksgiving plans. I hope that I recover from this cold soon so I can get back in the pool to work off this weekend of feasting.

twenty four hours of film

2011-09-21T19:01:00.000-06:00

Two years ago Phil, Wade and I decided that we would give the 24 Hour Film Challenge a shot. Between the three of us we thought we'd make a pretty good team. And what a combination we were... Phil, a talented composer as well as skilled editor in FinalCut. Wade, also a bit of a video man as well as former thespian. And of course me, former preteen stage actress and child star of the indie-home movie circuit. I also possessed a certain love of cinematography. Naive but committed we set out to make our 5 minute masterpiece.

That first year it was just the three of us (with the exception of a brief appearance by the gentleman who served as our cook and narrator). We didn't really know what to expect so other than a few excited conversations we did almost no preparation for our 24 hours of film-making. In fact we did not even pick up the equipment we were going to use until after we had received the envelope that contained the instructions and the ever-important challenge including the genre of film (suspense) as well as the prop we needed to integrate into the film (golden coins).

Props are supposed to be shown onscreen at least four times. We could have taken the easy road out and just done a few gratuitous shots, but it's a bit more fun to make the prop a part of the film, which is how we ended up with our tragic tale of a mysterious woman (running in stilettos I might add), a suspicious death and poisoned chocolate. It was all very Hitchcock-inspired.

Our experience of 2009 was positive enough that we decided to try again last year. We had less equipment (which we had prepared the evening before) but increased the number of our cast, adding the talented Marsha and Kris as well as a few others who had a certain vegetable quality on camera (watch for Wade's brief appearance on screen. He's rather handy that one). Our genre was comedy and for a prop we had to spend an allocated sum on something from the Downtown Farmer's Market. We were at a bit of a loss at first but everything seemed to come together when we realized that one of our cast had a collection of googly eyes. Googly eyes always make vegetables more appealing. Once our leek and cauliflower had some personality it was an easy extension to film the story of the breakdown of a popular children's show.

I am selectively vague on the details of our film-making process since this is cut-throat business and we must protect our secrets. We were lucky before, as both years our films were selected in the top 10. You might even say we made some award-winners as Phil won for best score in 2009 and in 2010, Marsha, our lead won best actress. I have no idea if we can repeat the success this year, but we'll find out soon. We're preparing for another 24hour cinematic whirlwind this weekend. We're all looking forward to another fun and stressful 24 hours. I'm pretty excited to see what the other competitors come up with. There were some really great films last year. The top films are screened the following weekend on October 1st. Hopefully we finish our film on time.

a summery encore

2011-09-13T17:15:00.000-06:00

Over the summer I had been collecting bits of footage here and there with the intention of making a video encompassing all the exciting things I had been up to. But just as I was saying goodbye to summer, Mother Nature piped in and said, "Too Soon!" I should have known better and waited for the autumnal equinox. I thought the Symphony would be the last event I'd include in this summer retrospective, but then there were a couple visits to the outdoor pool and then a rooftop dinner party that lasted well past sunset. Spending an evening with friends on a warm evening while the sun disappeared below the horizon seemed like a fitting finale for summer.

And with that I present a recap of my summer in less than two minutes. The longer recap is below.

While I managed to blog about most of my summer, there are a few notable events still missing from my blog. I'll get to them eventually, but I might as well finish writing about topics that I've already introduced like Symphony Under the Sky.

So here's what happened during the rest of the weekend...

After braving the chilly Friday evening performance we were rewarded with a beautiful weekend outside with the Symphony. They were great company. On Saturday afternoon they entertained me with a matinee performance of Broadway favourites, followed by the Hollywood showcase in the evening. I was back again on Monday afternoon for the finale performance of Gershwin and the explosive 1812 Overture.

I always hope for a second summer in September, but it doesn't really seem like we ever get one. So when temperatures were close to 30 during the first part of the month I was eager to take advantage of it. I skipped what should have been time spent exercising at a lap pool with a few visits to the newly opened Queen Elizabeth Pool, swimming a few laps, but mostly I had a relaxing time in the water or reading an Agatha Christie murder mystery on the grassy deck.

We walked past the reflecting pool in front of the Alberta Legislature on our way to Queen E. Pool.
It was so hot out that we were tempted to stop our journey here.

It's easy to work up an appetite even when you're just treading water in the deep-end. After my stops at the pool I would be ravenous. During my search for food I did my best to find dining al fresco spots. Somehow the gentleman and I wrangled a pretty good invite for a rooftop picnic from dachshund owning Dave and Kyla. Given my love affair with rooftops I was all over that.

Time for a golden hour rooftop picnic. An incredible vista.

It is officially night!

Spending an evening with friends on a warm evening while the sun disappeared below the horizon seemed like a fitting finale for summer. I'm definitely prepared for autumn now.

ending the summer with the symphony

2011-09-03T11:31:00.000-06:00

Although I am sad to say goodbye to summer, by the time the September long weekend rolls around I have started to get a little bit tired of the migraines and mosquitoes and I'm ready for autumn to begin. To mark this transition to fall, it's become a bit of tradition for me to attend Symphony Under the Sky. This was one of the first festivals I attended in Edmonton and it's easily one of my favourites. I love coming to the park, well prepared with my blanket and mittens, ready for an evening listening to the Edmonton Symphony play while the sun sets behind them.

I prefer the grassy areas to the seats under the tent. It means you have to brave the elements a bit more, but I appreciate being able to stretch out my legs and cozy up to your significant other if they happen to come along. Of course there's also the added benefit of being able to beat the rush at the refreshment tents.

Conductor Bob Bernhardt adjusts his bow-tie before beginning Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp in C Major, K.299
(Elizabeth Faulkner on flute and Nora Bumanis on Harp)

Grassy seating is for lovers!

Amazing views of Hawrelak Park while the sun sets (except perhaps for the trailers parked behind)

This is Bob Bernhardt's sixth year conducting the ESO for Symphony Under the Sky.
One of my favourite photos from SUTS in 2009 is featured in the program!

Friday night's performance featured selections from Mozart, Handel and Brahms. The rest of the weekend is a mix of Broadway and Hollywood favourites on Saturday, a children's concert (not featuring the ESO) and an evening with Ian Tyson on Sunday, followed by the concert finale of Gershwin and the 1812 Overture.

I love it when the "house lights" dim after the intermission and you can really begin to appreciate the lighting on the tent. It was a little chilly last night, but the audience was well bundled and came prepared to endure the light rain at the end of the performance.

It was a fabulous first night and I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend.

If you've never gone before or you haven't bought your tickets yet, the rest of the weekend is going to be beautiful. Gates open at 6pm and there are always tickets available at the gate. Hope to see you there!

there's gonna be weather...

2011-07-27T21:53:00.001-06:00

Talking about the weather is more than just a polite conversation piece for most people living in Alberta. We're sort of mild obsessives on the topic. Whether it be the temperature or the threat of thunder or the mere suggestion of sun, a day doesn't go by where don't find ourselves caught up in some sort of conversation about the weather. While they may seem trivial, these conversations are perhaps some of the more important discussions that take place during the day. This seemingly idle chatter about the relative humidity, inverted umbrellas from violent gusts and light-hearted disputes about the best time to reapply sunscreen is all very influential on our social behaviour.

The weather is that invisible guest that must be taken into consideration when planning your social calendar. Appearances at post work patio events are highly dependent on whether or not you can show up, make the rounds and then make it home before the almost inevitable summer evening thunder shower.

Such was the case a couple Thursdays ago when I headed to Latitude 53 for another weekly patio series. The previous week I headed straight out to the deck to socialize, but this time I arrived a bit earlier to check out the McLuhan exhibit, much to the delight of my inner communications theory nerd (there's a reason why this blog is titled theory of raffaella).

I wish there were more rooftops of Edmonton I could explore. I love the view from up high. Even being one or so storeys above ground gives you a new perspective. Suddenly you're at the level of the tree canopy giving you a better vantage to watch the weather come rolling in. Like I said, we're weather obsessives... serial storm watchers.

Paying close attention to the clouds means you know when to have an early lunch to guarantee a spot outdoors during the lunch hour. I had some work at the Muttart Conservatory the other day and I timed everything so I could still get a table before the ladies who lunch crowd arrived and stole all the prime shady spots.

I was able to enjoy a tasty sandwich and salad and work on a very special speech that I will be delivering at the wedding of the summer. I made sure to scribble furiously between bites as I wanted to add some weight to my story (should anyone ask) that I was working on my manuscript.

Heading back downtown I smiled and nodded with my fellow river valley explorers and photographed the passing teens on their skateboards. Always watching the clouds I stopped along Jasper Avenue to shoot the reflection of the sky in the windows of Telus Plaza and the glint of the sun in the golden towers of Scotia Place.

But later that evening the sky had darkened and I sheltered myself from the rain on my way to meet the gentleman and the equally gentlemanly Philip at Tres Carnales for dinner.

As the sign on the window would suggest, the newly opened Tres Carnales serves real Mexican food. And having just visited Mexico (which would of course make me an expert on Mexican cuisine) I feel pretty comfortable with their claim. The warm interior and hot and spicy food made for an ideal location to dine while it rained outside.

The rain brought its own rewards later that night, when we were treated to a beautiful sunset and rainbow. Although we couldn't see it from our apartment, our city was apparently blessed with the double rainbow phenomenon that night. Curses! If only my building had a rooftop patio I might have seen it coming.

the good, the bad and the beautiful

2011-07-14T11:43:00.002-06:00

Putting aside my most recent vapid post I thought I might delve into something a bit more serious. Looking over my last series of posts I seem to be writing only about the exciting and seemingly glamorous aspects of my life. Which I suppose is intentional, since blogging is a bit of an escape for me. I like to spend some time not dwelling on laundry that needs to be done or the cleaning of toilets or the constant challenges of working freelance (deadlines, billing, finding the next one). But everything else... the picnics, the parties... wouldn't be possible without those less exciting parts of life. So despite what my posts might suggest, let me assure you that those other parts exist. In fact the less exciting bits probably outweigh the rest.

Every so often I get a comment from a reader saying that I must live such a beautiful life. And for the most part I would agree. But much in the same way that when I post photos of myself I try to disguise my less than define jawline I do the same for my life. For a while all the stress of the other bits silenced my writing. I was either too sick or busy with finding work to write about anything good that might have been happening at the time. I must have been so unpleasant to be around.

What saves me from remaining in that endless state of negativity is taking a moment to observe all of the positive things going on around me. It helps when some of my freelance work involves photography because I am transported out of my everyday routine and get to experience something different and make me excited about my life again. That makes up for the unpredictability of freelancing.

Back in May I got to work on a short project for a nearby school division to document some stories about different volunteers and role model students. One story was about a retired police officer who now volunteered in his wife's grade one class. The morning bell had rung and the volunteer went to the door to let the students inside. He told me that he and the students would always play a little game, where he would open the door a crack and peer out while they would excitedly push towards the door hoping to squeeze through with their oversize backpacks. Slowly he would open the door the students would walk under his arms to get inside.

It was a really simple and beautiful moment, repeated day after day, the kids always being excited to come inside. It was completely immersed and remained that way for the duration of the project. When I got home later that night I was telling the gentleman about all the cute characters from the day and he remarked how markedly different my mood was after spending a day focusing on positive things. I wasn't complaining to him about where my next contract was coming from or venting my frustrations about the garbage needing to be taken out. It's so easy for me to fall into that trap and become that depressed person who spends her non-working hours complaining. I dislike when I get like that.

That is why I am trying to write more about the good than the bad, celebrating ridiculousness like a good hair day or the simple pleasures of the summer.

They could be as simple as enjoying the view from my desk. I in love with the view right now. I adore looking out at the trees and watching them move in the wind. It reminds me of when I got glasses and I realized what it was like to see leaves for what seemed like the first time. I have not taken them for granted since then.

Sometimes, when I'm working I find myself looking at the reflection of the clouds in the surface of my desk. For that moment that my gaze is affixed on the reflection of the slowly shifting clouds I feel at peace. All my worrying stops and I'm reminded to think about my life as something more beautiful than dreary. If you're feeling a bit low I suggest you try the same.

black wires grow from my head

2011-07-14T00:19:00.000-06:00

I was having a good hair day today so I feel like musing about hair. Vanity alert.

I've been growing my hair out for a while now... eventually I will cut it to donate to be made into a wig, but for now I'm trying to see how long I can grow it before I become my mother's worst nightmare and look like a witch with long and scraggly black hair.

I haven't coloured my hair in a long time... there were a couple brief periods where I had highlights (during a brief stint as a hair model as well as an earlier time when I had a bob and more subtle colouring done than the photo below), but my hair grows too fast for the highlights to really last and I just don't feel like myself when my hair is another colour.

Some people are more chameleon-like with their hair. The cut, the colour changes drastically over time. Not so much for me. I may grow tired of how long it takes for my hair to dry. I might get tired of it getting stuck under my purse strap or having to sweep it up around the house. My hair starts to take over.

Eventually it gets to a point where I start to look like this all the time.

That kind of hair requires some serious maintenance. This doesn't jive with me, for you see, ninety percent of the time I'm a wash-and-go kind of lady.

Although I spend an inordinate amount of time in front of mirrors, I'm often just using them for some sort of photographic purpose (or practicing my self-portrait pout). Eventually my hair will get too long and too big that I don't want the hassle of dealing with it anymore. Once I reach that point of frustration I tell my stylist to cut it off, but not so short that I look like a boy.

*Disclaimer... in one of the photos above I may be sporting a wig

I never regret getting my hair cut (well except for the time when I was 19 and I went in for a trim and came out looking like Richie Sambora. I had to cut off all my hair to look decent again. But it was the first trim that I regretted, not the second). I've heard stories of people breaking down in tears when their hairdresser cut three inches instead of two.

Such hysterics are not for me. It always grows back. Even if it takes a long time. In the interim you can always learn how to rock a hat.

Sure the growing process might be long and arduous. But think of what you can do in the meantime. Why not try to accessorize?

Of course there are those in between phases when your new shorter style is no longer quite as appealing as it once was. If I have to leave the house, I prefer to do so in disguise.

Except of course when I'm on vacation. I give my tresses a bit of a break then and let them do what they want.

And that's about as fancy as I get. I might attempt an updo or bun. I might channel my inner school girl and wear braids. If I feel fancy and particularly industrious (and have at least half an hour to spare) I might bust out a curling iron (and heat proof glove) to smooth my curls.

But basically I just let my hair get long, with regular trim every 12-16 weeks at the salon. I get it cut and then I let it grow again.

Long

Longer

Longest

That is, until it's time to get it cut again. Shall I be conservative and trim an inch or two so that I can keep growing my hair till it reaches Rapunzel proportions? Should I get a lunatic fringe? Maybe get an undercut? So many options.

in reverse...

2011-07-11T12:38:00.006-06:00

Rather than try to catch up on what I've been up to with a series of separate posts I've decided to do one mega-post where I list them all in reverse. Some may call this technique lazy. I do not. I find summer to be the loveliest of months. June, July (and August) are filled with long and luxurious days that result in a more casual and carefree approach to life. People are less inclined to stick to their regular day-of-the-week routines, willing to sit on a patio after work on a Tuesday or spend an entire week gallivanting. Summer is chock-full of delightful activities, much like this post will be.

This past Sunday was a quieter day. After brunch with my sibs on Whyte I checked out the Sounds of Old Strathcona (SOS Fest). I've heard that the crowds improved later in the afternoon, but things seemed kind of sparse when I first arrived. I took a few photographs, but didn't linger for too long.

In between the street shots and scoping out the rain gear on parade, Sarah and I were shooting a tiny bit of footage for a collaborative summer project that we dreamed up earlier in the week over a morning coffee at Transcend, basking in the beautiful light streaming through the big picture windows.

In further preparation for this project (which will involve some sort of moving picture) I've been thinking about locations and cinematography styles and thinking about what kind of films I should watch to inspire me. That night the gentleman and I went for dinner with friends at mrkt and then headed to the cinema. I regret to inform you that the film we saw that evening was not part of my creative process, that is unless Sarah and I decide to include massive explosions and gratuitous shots of ladies legs and bums. Unlikely.

If you're wondering... yes, dinner was delicious and yes, we saw Transformers. I no longer have to see any other terrible summer blockbusters. This one takes the cake.

Speaking of summer blockbuster hits, I came up with one a few evenings prior while out for a late evening stroll with the gentleman. I was about to leave my camera at home, but was I cajoled otherwise by my lovely lad, him telling me that I was sure to find something beautiful to photograph during our walk. His words proved to be true, as on our way home we passed by this scene on Saskatchewan Drive. However, during our brief pause so I could compose this shot, we were assaulted by a constant swarm of killer mosquitoes. Nothing seems to be able to stop them this year. Which is why I want to produce Giant Bat vs. Mega Mosquito. Given the general sentiment towards mosquitoes this year I think I could make a tidy profit off such a film.

Perhaps my imagination for such a film was not only fueled by personal experience but also a particularly relaxing afternoon spent in my favourite nearby park with a Margaret Atwood novel and ample opportunities for people watching.

It was too hot for me out in the direct sun, so I spent most of my time in the shade. Unlike some of the others who were out in the park that day, I wasn't quite as interested in baking in the sun for hours on end.

My lazy afternoon was a little day-after birthday present to myself, since I spent the day of preparing for the rooftop celebration of my turning 29.

I have been dying to have a party on this rooftop ever since I first heard about it. Yes, I've seen far too many movies where people dine on their rooftops while watching the sun set over the city. But in order for the party to be complete I also needed to string up some lights. Because of budgetary and engineering constraints I wasn't quite able to create the full canopy of lights that I wanted, but this was a first and sort of last minute attempt. I'd like to host another rooftop gathering to end the summer.

The lights will probably be better appreciated later in the summer when the sun sets a bit earlier. My birthday was on a Monday, which meant an early night for my guests (and rightly so, since we had all spent the weekend out and about following the Canada Day festivities). Most had to leave before my solar powered lights really got going. I didn't mind though. It just meant that the gentleman and I were able to enjoy a romantic couple minutes admiring the lights and the nighttime view before we finished cleaning up. I had a fantastic day and was so happy everyone was able to come out and help me celebrate. Everyone was lovely and I felt very loved. I appreciated all of their thoughtful words and gifts.

Have I mentioned lately that I love summer, especially July? Who wouldn't like a month that starts of with a fireworks show? Pretty good excuse for a party I think.

Fireworks aside, we don't really need much in order to celebrate. What? It's Tuesday and it's sunny out? What other reason does one need for a group of friendly folks to gather on a Jasper Avenue patio?

And if the sun is still up in the evening why not go for a little photo excursion which leads to a trip down memory lane? I was actually finishing up a couple projects for work when the gentleman and I came across the newly renovated for the John Janzen Nature Centre (named after his grandfather).

Post-supper strolls are very popular in the summer. Sometimes we wander aimlessly, but other times we head out with a goal (gelato, a drink of some sorts). This particular evening we were foiled in both our attempts. DaCapo was cleaning the gelato freezer and the SugarBowl patio was packed. So we settled for momentary bicycle lust and then dessert nearby before heading back across the bridge.

And that's where we got the real reward. Free from the killer mosquitoes (one of the many benefits of cross the High Level Bridge) we were able to spend a few minutes admiring the twinkling skyline as the LRT rode past.

Walking back the apartment through the park, I was glad to see that we weren't the only ones enjoying the peaceful evening.

Our bon vivant lifestyle has included other functions. It's not just reading in parks or late night walks or sipping on cocktails in the sun. Sometimes, we have forced ourselves to go out and socialize with others at events like the SNAP Gallery fundraiser (with charming hostess Miss Sarah). Oh what a chore it is to spend time with friends, checking out a fashion with pretty clothes by local designers, bidding on hilarious t-shirts from local artists and creeping on adorably affectionate hipsters.

I tell you, being a bon vivant is tough. You have to stay well fed, perhaps with produce from the farmer's market (which happens rain or shine).

And then of course you need to stay interesting with tales of your work-related adventures... I've been photographing a series of public art projects around the city and on one day it's highly possible that I might have got on a bus going the wrong direction due to some shoddy directions. Hilarity ensued. That morning I had already encountered some funny scenes (a man drove into this storage facility with a shiny convertible and left by bicycle... I thought maybe he was having a mid-life crisis that he was trying to hide from his friends and family) and my afternoon was about to get a bit more amusing.

Once I realized I was going the wrong direction I exited the bus and found myself next to an establishment called Saint Pete's, otherwise known as a heavenly gentleman's club (13 angelic attendants the sign outside read). I had not eaten breakfast and it was well past lunch, so I ate a solo luncheon at the Vietnamese restaurant next door (I checked to see who was coming and out before I went in) where I listened to three guys at the next table discuss world cuisine including techniques for cooking goat in Iraq, the ingredients in Haggis, reasons why the British have an affinity for curry, as well as the French's tendency to add cream to everything including "Creme de Brule"

At the table to my right was a 65+ fellow on a date with a woman who seemed very unsettled by the idea of eating stir-fry. He asked the waitress for a fork and then proceeded to talk loudly about his "dead hand." For you see, back in '86 he put his hand through a window and they ripped the artery out.

When the conversations died down around me I realized we were watching the world championships of darts. They were riveting.

After my lunch I found the correct bus going in the right direction, but not before seeing a dude ride past me on his bmx in his pajama pants and then come back five minutes later carrying a small case of Budweiser. I wondered what his plans were for the afternoon.

I managed to enjoy myself in between sending text messages to the gentleman about where he could find me should I stay lost.

Thankfully I returned home safe and sound that night. I was able to have a couple minutes to sit and relax like I had many nights before.

partyin' partyin' (yeah!)

2011-06-13T18:06:00.005-06:00

Although I'm kind of jonesin' for a vacation right about now (no surprise, I always want to go on vacation), life in the city is just picking up. This is the best time of year. People stay out late during the week and there's always something some sort of outdoor event happening. We clearly are making up for the long winter.

Pride Parade and Al Fresco (the 104 Street Block Party) fell on the same Saturday again this year and just like last year it was gorgeous out. And because good things happen in triplicate, I had the pleasure of being on auntie duty. After a coordinated hand-off of Dexter at the market, I had a brief shopping trip, and then I found John, Glen, Wade and Phil who had found a choice spot to watch the parade.

Phil, waiting patiently for the parade to begin.

John, also waiting patiently for the parade.

After a bit of a wait the parade finally got started. They had moved the route to 102nd Avenue this year, which allowed for unobstructed views from both sides of the street. It seemed a bit more lively this year, with more floats, music and coordinated costumes.

Dexter certainly liked the parade. He danced and cheered and even took a turn wearing some parade swag. Sarah was busy teaching and Don was riding in the parade, but he stopped to say hello to his little boy. So, if you saw him stop to say hello to a cute little kid, it wasn't a case of politicians kissing random babies.

Dexter's pick for best in show was clearly this balloon. He played with it all afternoon.

Once the Pride Parade was done, we skipped the festivities in Churchill Square and headed back to the apartment to drop off my market wares. I was about to take Dexter back home on the LRT but he decided that he was cool and mature enough to sleep over at auntie's. No complaints from me. If only all kids went down for a nap that easy.

Fast forward a couple hours, and Sarah, Don, Dexter and I met up to walk downtown to check out the block party. Much of the parade crowd had lingered in the area. We first came across a crowd watching the salsa dancers in Beaver Hill Park.

I love the block party. I like how it's grown over the past few years and transformed into a really hopping party. Tiny rave princesses, long skirts and hobo bags! Live graffiti-inspired art! Drag Queens! And let's not forget the food.

And yes, hipster culture was well represented. Edmonton's most socially conscious and stylish were out in full force. I particularly liked this bevy of boys who had gathered at the mid-way point of all the block party action. These guys have got it all.

On the left we've got leather loafers sported by a polo wearing fellow who dreams a little bit of Don Draper when he gels back his hair. We've got the thin blonde with dark frames who jots down notes in his moleskine while sipping espresso. He is half-way through his second unfinished novella. Next to him is the fellow in slim-fit denim. His airline bag is vintage Lufthansa and not a reproduction. And then there is my favourite. He rides an awesome fixie. He carries an 8-ball helmet that he never wears because he's already sporting a flannel newsie cap. And then there is the guy on the end. He must review video games.

Don't get me wrong. I love them all (I jest all in good fun, mocking these fellows with malicious intent would be a case of calling the kettle black or thowing a stone from my glass house, since the gentleman reminds me frequently that I too am easily categorized as a hipster with my maxi dresses, long hair tied up in a loose bun and my SLR in my purse. But I was an early adopter baby!). These guys are basically a spread from one of my favourite tumblr blogs, convoy.

And speaking of fashionable folks. Here is a linup of equally stylish ladies lined up for a trip down the runway.

The gentleman had attended TEDx earlier in the day, along with a large crowd of intellectually keen individuals, but it wrapped up just in time for us to grab some supper together. We grabbed some sandwiches from the Elm Cafe booth and then chatted with our fellow "urban-types" over the fence at the wine tent.

That is, when they weren't ignoring us to look aloof or discuss important worldly matters.

And then we bid Al Fresco adieu for another year.

the dog and pony show

2011-06-09T12:28:00.001-06:00

Growing up with seven siblings we never had need for a dog (there was always a younger sibling following you around), but the gentleman is definitely a dog man. Because he's Caucasian and upper middle-class, of course he has allergies (including dogs), but his parents found a way around that and fulfilled the puppy dreams of their sons. They grew up with the soft-coated (and apparently hypo-allergenic) Wheaton Terrier. The gentleman's parental units got another little puppy about a year ago and I've slowly been introduced to what life would be like with a dog.

Now that the downtown Farmer's Market is open again on 104th Street, we've started taking Finnigan our for a stroll on Saturdays. The market is a bit of a dog and pony show. If you don't bring a dog with you or pick up a treat for your dog at home (or imaginary pet) you are essentially shunned and you can never come back. At least that's what it feels like sometimes. Oh the dogs that come out on display. Some are tiny and fit into purses, others are these enormous majestic beasts that would rival Falkor (of Never-Ending Story fame) in size or the bullheaded mastiff from Sherlock Holme's Adventure of the Copper Beaches. Finnigan is best compared to Dug from UP! (and yes, I see myself as the small scout).

Finnigan, or as we like to cal him on market day, Miss Marple. It's his bar name.

My knowledge of puppy development is non-existent, but Finnigan seems to be going through a toddler phase. A toddler who is super excited to be around other kids. You know the type, that overly friendly type who doesn't really know when the other kids don't want to play with him. But he's never going to learn if he doesn't play with the other kids, which is how the urban dog share was born. Hurrah for part-time pet ownership. You get all the perks and don't have to deal with the late night pee-breaks.

Finnigan was overly delighted to see Max, beloved puppy of famed politco blogger Daveberta and his lovely ladyfriend Kyla

After meeting up with Dave and little Max, the five of us walked to the market as fast as Max's little legs could carry him. There wasn't much time for photos once we got there, as I took control of the leash while the gentleman busied him collecting our market items. Again, as a novice dogsitter I sort of felt like the mother of the bad kid who was constantly having to reign in her overly rambunctious child. I wanted to tell people, "Really, I swear he's not like this at home."

Luckily all pseudo love-attacks on other dogs were forgiven because everybody loves a puppy. The gentleman especially, who made sure to show Max a little love as well.

He's probably instructing Max to turn against his owners.

A fine selection of mustard.

Between the adoration of hipsters (who liked Finnigan's beard) and small children (who liked his soft coat) and conversations with other dog owners about the breeding and one raggedy looking fellow about his two hunting dogs, we discovered that my favourite Grainy Garlic was available and picked up a jar to use in a potato salad the next day.

I'm a dog with low self-esteem. Spring Break!

We met another Wheaton who did not take all that kindly to Finnigan's overt friendliness. Rather, we met a Wheaton that lacked Finnigan's confidence (right, that's how yuppie pet owner's are supposed to talk about their animals right? Like overly proud parents?)

We ran into Lisa and Tom's roommate Marco (actually I was admiring his shoes first and then realized who the shoes belong to) and chatted for a bit before we headed home.

On our way out we spotted another massive standard poodle who schooled Finnigan in model dog behaviour.

Back at the apartment, the tired dog took a nap before we returned him to his rightful owners. Urban dog share success.

of Pimm's Cups and downtown living

2011-06-08T21:13:00.000-06:00

A couple of my friends are currently on the hunt for a new cohabitation space. The gentleman and I had invited them over for dinner on the weekend and over the course of the evening while eating our homemade BBQ pizza and sipping on Pimm's Cups we started discussing the merits of living downtown. Since moving to Edmonton I've lived exclusively downtown. In fact, while I have lived in three different residences, they've all been within a five block stretch of 109th Street and Jasper Avenue. Certainly I've entertained some grand ideas of living in a storybook house in Glenora or a bungalow in Belgravia, but I'm prone to those sorts of flights of fancy. In most cases I am more than content to be a downtown apartment dweller.

I should describe my love of living downtown with sentiment that is a little bit stronger than just contentment, because although I like to look at listings in certain mature neighbbourhoods, more frequently I try to convince the gentlemen that we should purchase a particular 3-lot parcel that is a couple blocks away and build an ultra-mod multi-family dwelling with a green roof and maybe a little commercial unit on the ground floor. I'm full of awesome ideas like that. They come so fast and so furiously that now the gentleman cringes whenever I might start a sentence with, "You know what we should do?"

But I know he shares an appreciation for our downtown life. We're pretty lucky to live where we do. We're steps away from the LRT and within a couple blocks of two parks and the Legislature Grounds. The list of our nearby amenities accessible by foot are enviable. We have a couple grocery stores and the Farmer's Market is close proximity. There are many restaurants, bars and pubs nearby. Our apartment overlooks the multi-use trail, the streetcar, and is across the street from an elementary school.

People ask me if I feel safe downtown and I always answer yes. Sure, at times there are crowds of rowdy drunks blocking the sidewalks of Jasper late in the evenings on the weekends, but one block to the south things are quiet and serene. In many ways I prefer walking downtown late at night compared to some residential areas where all the streets are dark and you never really know what might be lurking between the cars parked streetside. Downtown there's usually someone else about, whether they are walking home from a late night movie or heading to the corner store on a midnight snack run. Sure, it's a downtown that doesn't have the same sort of 24 hour vibrancy that some other great cities might, but it's not a desolate wasteland either. In the five years that I've lived here I've seen downtown improve. And I'm happy to see that improvement continue, especially if it means helping two friends decide to live here too.

Living downtown doesn't mean you are restricted to highrises only. If you are one of the fortunate few, there are still charming brick houses here and there. There's one pretty adorable one a block away with a sweet little front stoop that in the late evenings is lit by the glow of the lights inside. It doesn't require too much stretch of the imagination to think of sitting on that very stoop, sipping on your own tasty Pimm's Cup. I'm certain I've come across the residents of this house doing that on one or two occasions. But I wouldn't testify in court to that effect, because this particular stoop is one that is easy to romanticize about (much like my 3-Lot parcel). Maybe I saw them on the stoop one time and now every time I pass by I remember that singular instance. In any case, I have a mild love affair with this residence and I hope that one day it might come on the market and I might hear of its availability before anyone else. That house has it all, character, curb appeal, and it's still in my preferred area of downtown. You know, the part of Oliver that we residents like to call Olivier.

pocket camera

2011-06-06T21:50:00.000-06:00

I was having not the greatest of days last week so the gentleman offered to take me out for poutine at the new place across the bridge. But I know that the gent has some sort of irrational dislike of cheese curds, gravy and fried potato, so instead we went for Thai food, something that we both enjoy.

I left the beast (5DMkII at home) and photographed our outing with just my iPhone. I've had a hankering to shoot with film recently, so I'm planning to pick up some medium format film to use with the two cameras I borrowed from my dad when I moved away. I also want to try shooting with a rangefinder, which I don't currently own, but it's not like I really need any more photographic toys. Still... I want to experiment more with my photography. I've been inspired recently by some pretty excellent photo blogs and it's made me want to fill my life with more pictures. All different kinds of pictures. I found that every where I've been going lately I've been looking at things as if I were to framing them for a photograph. And I've been trying to take those photos with what equipment I've had with me. And as convenient and simple shooting with an iPhone is, the photos don't offer the same kind of depth that I long for. But we're comparing completely different animals here. The iPhone camera works in a pinch, and when it's all that is available to me I make do.

And I appreciate the convenience of the pocket camera. Last week I received a last-minute invite to the U2 Concert and I wasn't sure how tight security would be and if I would be allowed to bring it in with me. I didn't feel like risking it, so iPhone it was. Because I was planning to spend the evening in my pajamas and not at a massive rock concert, my battery died before the light show really got started. Not that the iPhone would have been able to capture what I wanted to anyhow.

So, with cameras on the brain today I brought out the Bronica and Yashica to make sure all the parts were still operable. I thought I might have an expired roll someplace, but after a couple moves I have no idea where I might have stored them. But, I set up the cameras as if I was going to shoot a photo and then just captured the image in the viewfinder with my SLR. It was as close as I was going to get today to actually taking them out for a shoot. I think I will like shooting with film again. I think I will appreciate slowing down to set up a portrait and carefully considering all of my settings. Not that I don't think about my exposure now, it's just so easy to adjust on the fly. I want to be a bit more deliberate. If only I can be patient enough to wait out the development process.

nothing tastes as good as elm cafe

2011-06-01T12:55:00.001-06:00

I have a bad habit of skipping meals when I get distracted and sometimes I look at the clock at it's three o'clock before I realize that I haven't eaten lunch. To prevent that I try to be a bit stricter with myself about sticking to specific mealtimes. At the office people go for lunch at different times and it's so easy to just keep on working on a project until the end of the day. I'm a little bit better when I work from home, but I still appreciate the reminders I get from my favourite eatery in the city. When I wake up in the morning I see the daily selection of fresh muffins and breakfast sandwiches and a little while later I'm tempted with their lunchtime offerings. It's a bit easier to pop in when I'm working from home, since technically I'm in the neighbourhood and it's a short walk and even shorter bike ride.

A couple weeks ago I was drawn in by the promise of zebra tomatoes. I was visiting Elm alone that day and thought I would just grab and sandwich and run back to the home office to complete whatever task I was midway completing. But the sun was out so I decided to enjoy a solo luncheon on Victoria Promenade. I felt the event worthy of video documentation and I awkwardly held my camera with one had while stealing bites with the other. I would recommend not trying to eat and shoot video at the same time. It results in situations, such as you'll see below, where your sandwich wrapper will fly off in the wind and the concerned citizen in you will overpower your inner cinematographer and force you to chase after said wrapper instead of capturing it as it gracefully floated away. And besides, I'm not sure if the awkward first-person shooter perspective is really a great technique. Alas, I was too hungry to make a big production out of my lunch that day.

Only a small production...