Streets of #YXE

I've added a new section to this site: a gallery of the best images taken from my "alter ego" StreetsofYXE. You can view them by clicking here. Part two of my personal project in showcasing the depth of the beautiful prairie city of Saskatoon will focus on the characters that command the theatre of her streets. Stay tuned. 

Chillin' at the Pope's House

All the talk of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI made me want to revisit my own experience in his domain - the smallest independent state in the world (and home of more Roman gladiator bobbleheads than you could ever imagine): the Vatican. It was one of the most artistically rich places I have ever been; inspired by God, created by man. Check out photos of it here. 

Great Quote

"My drafting table, where I drew 'The Far Side' for most of my career, faced a window that overlooked a beautiful garden; beyond the garden was a lake and beyond the lake Mount Rainier rose majestically into the Washington sky.

I worked at night."

Gary Larson
Creator of The Far Side 

Back To Black

Just finished reading 'Amy, My Daughter' by Mitch Winehouse. Great book that offers some insight into the woman behind the tabloids and, of course, that voice. Oh, that voice! In my opinion, Back to Black is the most perfect song of the past 10 years. Just hauntingly beautiful.

Sad to think she was silenced:

Hello 2013!

It's that time again. The page turns to a new year and all foibles of the previous are erased with a clean slate. Here are some things I would like to achive in 2013: 

1. Evolve photography project: A speaker at the PhotoPLUS Conference in October talked about the street portraiture process. He claimed the best results could be had by simply walking up to people and clicking the shutter on your camera. The end result would be honest, unrehearsed and infinitely more compelling than asking subjects to pose. While I'm sure this works in theory, I can't help but take pause before employing this method for my first resolution of 2013. I already get strange looks when I'm walking solo around my town and snapping pics of architecture and whatnot; whether this is a symptom of lack of civic pride or greater paranoia of Big Brother, I'm not sure. I don't think people here would be so receptive though. Having said that, I really want to evolve a photography project I am doing to document the characters that act on the stage that is YXE. 

2. Learn basic French: I already did this from grades 1 - 10, so hopefully it all comes back to me with relative ease. Having said that, I can't recall most of my classmates names from this same period and they were far more interesting. Sacre bleu.

3. Lose 10lbs. Obligatory.  

4. Renovate condo. Equal parts saving money and making a decision I am prepared to live with for the next while. The latter part being more difficult.  

5. Write/Illustrate and possibly self-publish a children's book: Books have played such a huge part of my life since childhood that I would love to contribute something back in this artform, whether it be a one-off or something that is decent enough to share with others. The story I am playing around with is the bond between human and pet and is inspired by Reggie & Monty. I tend to be more detailed in my drawings, but I want this to be very simplistic. As I've been saying this for years, I wouldn't place bets on this resolution getting done but it's always motivational to have something in writing that can haunt me next December 31 in addition to the 10lbs that I never lost. 

Here's to 2013!

Eurovision

There are 100 days, 8 hours and 35 minutes (as of me typing this) until my next big trip. I will be visiting a country that is rich in beauty, art, history and escargot: France. As you can tell, I am very excited. I've always been captivated by it, in particular Paris which I consider the most iconic city in the world.

I've had my airfare booked for months. I made a conscious decision not to fly with Air Canada because they are terrible. Truly the worst. It was just a bonus that Air France was cheaper AND set to fly an Airbus 380, a double-decker airplane and one of the biggest in the world! I've never been on one and was looking forward to this as much as I was taking in the view at the top of the Eiffel Tower. But alas, plans disappear; dreams take over (or something)...and I am now flying on a smaller plane. My upper deck window seat changed to the middle of the middle. And so begins this edition of first world problems: I am lamenting a 7-hour plane ride wherein my bladder will be tested like an Olympic sport and I will probably start snoring on the shoulder of one of the individuals sitting next to me. Hopefully they are cute. And under 40.

I also hate not having a window seat as my first glimpse of a new place is a memory that always stays with me forever. Travel is magical. The world we live in is magical! I remember landing at Heathrow back in '07 and watching the tiny double-decker buses power down the motorways lined with Georgian homes. I was definitely not in Canada anymore. I remember landing at PuDong in the same year and thinking to myself, "where the heck is Shanghai?", as all I saw were farmer's fields and an apocalyptic sky tinged red from pollution. Oh, what foreboding. This past October, I couldn't help but envision all of the characters - real and fictional - that were acting below on the stage that is New York City. From George Costanza to Carrie Bradshaw, Jay-Z to the Ramones, Scorsese to Allen, their art and influence has, over the years, made everyone feel like they knew that city intimately and were a part of something greater and now I would be too. The first glimpse of any city helps ignite that spark of imagination and sets the tone for impending adventure. 

That first glimpse of a new place is the moment that everything changes. Especially the traveller.

And so I feel robbed that I will not have that moment with the city of light. I won't lose sleep over it until I'm on the plane though. 

Landing at PuDong International Airport.

Landing at LaGuardia International Airport.