In Threes.....

Some people feel 3 is how things tend to happen.  Good or bad they will come in threes.  I also know that Steve Jobs presented things in 3's not sure 100% what the reason was but he had a successful way of delivering his message.

I have decided to present my 3 things to you today.  First up is the F word.  I will let that rattle around in your head for a moment.  I am sure it is even a slap in the face if you are reading this.  How do we go from the simple gentle start of this post to an abrupt turn.  Well that is where you are probably thinking about a different F word.  I will simplify the thought process for you a bit.  This weekend has been full of F.  I am thankful for the F I keep thinking about that fact this weekend.  I know how important they are.  There is a power to this word.  F has strength and weakness.  It can be something that exists for some and slips from the grasp of others.  F is never 100% balanced, members of F may think they are balanced but it is the imperfection of F that makes it work.  I was reading about a person that not part of F but the connection they created with another person their F has made them part of F.  Confused?  Let us try this, you can turn your back on anyone, walk away from them.  F is always there good or bad.  The connection always exists.  F will pull you back in when you least want to be there, but you need F it is part of you and part of your soul.  So when people that are outside your F circle influence you or inspire you or simply touch your heart, they have touched your soul and F is extended.  I am continuously reminded of what F is, I see it ebb and flow only to wash up unexpectedly.  F.  If you know what I am speaking of you are fine to carry on. If you are unsure stop and think of the influences in your life, think of where you started from, think of where you have been and what you know connects you. F is always there good or bad.  

Item 2 on my agenda today is a softer topic, simple to digest and perhaps a little on the selfish side.  I was fortunate to get a new lens and flash.  My camera is an inspiration, I find relaxation and fun tends to come when I am using it.  I was outside the last couple of days with the camera and lenses only to discover that I have missed the freedom of just grabbing my camera and going.  I have mentioned that I am always impressed by what people are able to produce.  I do not considering myself a great photographer.  I do consider myself an inspired photographer.  I love looking at others photos and seeing what they have captured.  How they have pulled the image to draw your focus.  So as mentioned item 2 is a selfish one.  Me and lovely assistant made the walk around the park today while the kids had track.  Well here is a couple untouched photos.  Just for fun, me being a bit proud of what I can do.

My third item, keeping things rolling along.  More of F this time it is the hot stuff.  There was a good size grass fire next to our house in Fish Creek park.  No danger to us but definitely a danger to some other homes.  Makes you think a bit about what would I take and how would I take it.  Grab your computer rip the cords out of the wall and run or methodically grab the things your love.  Well think about it all over the place there are people that live every day or each season wondering.  One cannot help but worry about spring floods or dry conditions and grass fires.  So perhaps take a moment and think if you truly needed to leave in a hurry or your home was in danger what would you do?  What would you take?  How would you take it?  

Stay safe and take care, enjoy spring/summer as it comes hopefully your weather is warming up and you can sit and relax on your deck or just enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face.  In my case, chase the light and shadows with my camera.

Keep it simple

So time for a recap, this year it is discipline that will be my focus.  In many areas I have been trying hard to apply this gem of a word.  Not exactly an easy task all the time but I am finding the concept of focusing on the word and not some other form of resolution an easier goal.

So what have we managed to apply this to you may ask.  Many things, the renovation are certainly taking the discipline to get things done.  Life for the most part is filled with it.  Not letting my other bad habits slide back in is really a great example.  Mind you slurpee season is here, there may have been a few moments of weakness.  But I think it is simply put a work in progress.

Now I was thinking about something the other day, I am fan of many forms of music, I have had a long standing interest in the Rolling Stones.  Not many would be surprised to know that if they know me at all.  But I was sitting at work and got an email that when I was reading it I was smiling and laughed a little.  I will not go into the details, but my ipod happened to have a group by the name of Dala playing. These two young Canadian ladies are a group we have seen a few times.  I can honestly admit to discovering them purely by chance.  They played at the Vinyl Cafe Christmas event we went to one year.  What caught my attention was the sound of the two young ladies singing the Huron carol.  I later discovered that Dala was behind the voices.  As they soon took to the stage to play a few songs.  As mentioned we have seen them play live a couple of times.  We have introduced others to their music.  Coming back to the email and the song.  It made the moment for me.

So here is the song.  Maybe it will make you smile and laugh to.

Dala Best Day

Now with that said here are a couple of the songs they sing that are my favourites.

Dala Girl from the North Country

Dala Lennon and McCartney

So now that we have the Dala girls out there.  I hope you have a great day.

Oh yeah, the den flooring is done.  We are now getting ready to do the tile so let's see how we do with that little bit of fun.

Wednesday....middle of the week....sort of?

I am certain that there is some study in some location that shows how people are happy to see the middle of the week over.  I am sure it is hard to be Wednesday.  Everyone likes you better than Monday and a little more than Tuesday.  But then you have to compete with Thursday and we all know TGIF.  So how does a middle of the week day compete.  Really it must be somewhat disheartening to know you are really stuck in the middle.  Not loved or hated to any extreme.  Simply put you are just there in the middle of what most people look at as a bell curve.

So we will give Wednesday some extra respect and love today.  It was the middle of the week but it was also a very cold April morning that moved into a very nice April afternoon.  Bike day tomorrow.  Now let us not move away from our focus on Wednesday.  We need Wednesday, as we sit at our desk or in our seat or whatever you use at work, it is a Tuesday and you are glad to think Wednesday is tomorrow.  Get over that hump and cruise into a weekend.  See Wednesday is that necessity to get you through the week.  It allows you to gather speed as you head to the weekend.  Pick up so you can gather the energy to do what you want to do.

Well we will toast Wednesday this week, I tip my hat to this wonderful day.  I see it as the start of better      
weather, biking, outside stuff, fresh air in the house, and most of all that wonderful day where you are one step closer to the weekend.

Here's to Wednesday.  Hope you had a great day and may our week melt away.  (that includes the snow).

Happy Happy!

What do you think it means?

I have found little else to do but renovate.  In some way I think good old Ma nature is working with me.  I have more desire to stay indoors and take care of the renovations and not get outside.  With that in mind I have found that things are slowing coming back together on the house.  But, and I have a large pause in my thoughts here, I would really like to go outside and not be frozen.  I have managed a big 4 rides into work.  I looked back at my log for 2012 and I was well on my way to my first 1000KM's.  So what hell is going on?

I am frustrated by this lack of cooperation, I am moody and more than a little ticked.  But, there it is again, that pause.  I have many things in the house that still need work.  So stay in and do them.  Easy enough, those that really know me would be able to tell you I do not get along with power tools.  Maybe it is a phobia but (there it is again) I just do not like them.  I would use a hand saw if I was any good at it.  So here we are working along with some help from other that are more skilled than I.  So we keep moving along and things get done.

So now you see the finished product so worth the work.  Let me tell you my hamstrings are stretched and my back still hurts from putting that hardwood flooring in.  But (ok so maybe we should change the title of this blog) it is wonderful to see some finished product.

Not to have it too easy our den is another story, that is the next renovation space and it is by far the hardest room, flooring that is glued to the subfloor and bam it all grinds to a halt.  I will let you know once we have the floor out but lets just say it is going to come out with a skill saw and hammer or two.

Stepping off the reno train and onto something a little more fun, it is April, a big month of birthdays this month.  I have a day coming up but my present is sitting on the table next to the camera it is a flash.  Who would have thought a bright light would make me happy.  I have already played with off camera flash and on camera flash.  I am plotting my photos for the up coming graduation in May.  I know where and when, I now need to save for the lens.  I am planning to buy a 50mm 1.8 G which is nothing over the top but I am an addict.  Yes I love photography.  I enjoy the creativity but I love the idea of looking at light and shadow.  My morning train rides to downtown I spend looking out at the buildings and thinking what a cool shot.  That spot there this spot here.

More importantly there is a purpose to this photography to find a way to create memories for everyone. So as I have done in the past I keep on getting out there when I can.  I love talking to others that have an interest.  I love looking at other peoples photos, getting ideas or wondering how they found that spot.  In my case the best shots I have are all a random chance I looked I pondered and I photographed and sometimes I see the image in my mind well before it is off the camera those are the best ones.

So have a great day, or week or month.  I hope Ma nature gets the sunshine out where you are and that Spring weather warms you up.  My bike is waiting like my dog for the sun and warmth.

Cheers!

50/50

Well I managed a couple of rides the other week, I must admit I felt sooooo awesome when it was suddenly interrupted by winter.  Sadly it is back and is not going to be leaving any time soon apparently.  I am taking this in stride as I sit and ponder the fact that I am almost 1 month behind on riding and I was hoping to turn out another banner year.

I have been watching for the signs that the weather is going to turn and stay warm, stop snowing, stop freezing and maybe even get to the point where you could open the window.  Well I am waiting, so any time now.

What this has done is given me time to push through some updates on the renos.  The renos are a test of everyones patience and sanity.  I am coming to realize that no matter how much I struggle with patience this is truly the life lesson one needs to remind them of the simple pleasures.

So with that said here are some updated photos.

So the reno's aside.  I am and was hoping to get some photos of things that interest me.  I did manage a trip around a park in the city.  I found some interesting stuff and I found that got a few good shots.  Nothing has been post processed but will come when I have some time.

So I will put a couple shots from my daughters Italy trip.  I will show you that sometime it is cool to see the other places that have a little more to offer a lens even though it was not mine.  Enjoy the week and here is hoping for some nicer weather.