Yeah for Healthy Almond Butter!

This is the best Almond Butter I've found yet. I never really had any complaints about the brand I usually bought. But! This stuff tastes as though it has been whipped. It's fluffy and yummy unlike any I've tasted before.

Random, I know, but I wanted to "spread" the word.

I'm so excited!

I am very excited about a new film coming out in 2010 called Jennifer Government. It is based on a novel of the same name. A novel by Max Barry, it is one of the most innovative, sarcastic, interesting social commentaries I've read in a long time. It is about the 21st world; the twist is that everyone takes on the last name of the company for which they work. Thus, Jennifer Government. Government workers, however, are not wealthy. They are overworked and underpaid. There are two characters called John Nike and a couple of Exxon Mobile executives that make you want to scream. Every word is fresh and darn right hilarious. I highly recommend it!!

On My Bookshelf

This is one of the most bizarre books I've read in a long while. I'm only about a quarter of the way through but the subject matter is so potent. It's non-fiction, true crime, but it reads like literary fiction. The author's voice is barely present. The entire "story" is told by the various voices of friends, socialites, family members, police reports, hospital reports, newspaper articles, and letters. Everyone contradicts each other and the reader is constantly unsure what to believe. The family this book chronicles is... interesting, to say the least. Wealth, empire, high society, all that good stuff, collides to create a fantastical, but disturbing, portrait of insanity. I am very curious to see the film, which stars Julianne Moore. But, I want to wait until I have finished the book, so I have a point of reference from which to draw. Films never seem to capture their literary counterparts as well as they could. In some cases, though, they can often stand on their own, like The Constant Gardner. (For example, the film and novel are complimentary, not shadows of each other). Anyhoo, I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is very "Leave it to Beaver" because it takes place in the fifties and sixties. The writers have researched the family with a fine toothed comb, and provided every tid bit of relevant background information the reader could possibly need. At times it is contradictory, purposely so, just to prove to the reader how fallible "eye witness" accounts can be. These tactics, on their part, are what make this book so effective. So far, the most astoundingly bizarre moment in the text is that a short story, written by a member of the iconic, wealthy family, is included: "Milk". The reader will not know what conclusions to make; but first, he/she will have to scrape his/her jaw off the floor from sheer astonishment. I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't read it so "mum" is the word. Even more is that I didn't expect the writers to include this part of the story. They often share seemingly irrelevant threads into other family member's pasts for, what seems like, random purposes. The reader later realizes the utter importance of every word.

Check it out.

Dean. James Dean.

Feelin' a little retro today.

Anyone out there a James Dean fan?

I absolutely love Rebel Without a Cause. Natalie Wood is also a favourite. If you're into biographies, she (and Marilyn Monroe) make for really fascinating reads. Wood had a particularly interesting career.

Vacation Wish List!

(flickr, Omar Omar)

I am reminded of a love story for some reason. Something about the shade of purple.

(flickr, Josh Sommers)

This angle is spectacular. I feel as if I could walk on this glorious blue sky.

(flickr, Woolfgang Staudt)

This shade of red (terracotta) is astounding. I wish I could touch this soil.

(flickr, by mandj98)

The glow of a sunset is always beautiful.

I want to see the South West. In particular, the desert. New Mexico looks like one of the most colourful places I've ever seen. There is something about the vibrant red and orange of the soil and rock that is beyond captivating. I found this beautiful photograph on flickr by Kevin Dooley. The shadows are incredible. I love the bleak yet breathtaking atmosphere of the clouds. I look forward to experiencing a sight light this in person. I am looking into doing a hiking trek through the Grand Canyon or another national park but the options are limitless.
(flikr, kevindooley)

Blog Francais Numero 1

I've been trying to keep up with my French. I'm afraid that I'll lose it if I don't practice. I've spent over twenty years learning the grammar, literature and history of the language/culture; if I get lazy now, that would mean several years of hard work down the drain. Although, it's kind of like riding a bike. You never really forget it, you just have to refresh your memory. Re-familiarize my mental muscles with a language into which I haven't invested any effort for quite some time. So, that is what I am doing so I started reading this novel a while ago, with my trusty dictionary at my side. It is called Robert des noms propres by Amelie Nothomb. Thankfully, I didn't need it as much as I thought I would. The story is very interesting and, to my knowledge, well written. French writing has a different feel; the sentence structure has a different rhythm. But I sit back and pretend I am in Paris. The plot line and character development is fun. I enjoy reading about their psychological hangups and difficulties. The thematic concept is a little strange but still pleasantly unexpected.

In the spirit of all things French, this is the only of the trilogy I have yet to see. I've already seen White and Red. Red is probably my favourite so far. Though, White is really well done; the cast includes Julie Delpy, one of my favourite actresses.

Okay, so I've got the literature and film covered; time for the music portion of the blog. This is a fun video. I think it's about five years old but this particular recording artist, Alizee, has also released an album in 2004 (or so, give or take a year) called Psychedelices. It's fun pop music but with a really interesting literary twist. The first video is a song called Moi Lolita. Nabokov is one of my favourite writers, and her use of the icon is really appropriate, I think. The airy, cinematic quality of the music video is quite haunting. The second video is a song called Mademoiselle Juliette, of Shakespearean fame. Also, the artistic nature of the video (despite the poppy sound) is intriguing.

I'm Addicted

I was at the gym last week and an episode of Lost was playing on the Space Channel. I have never watched that show once but, for some odd reason, I caught the last 10 or 15 minutes of some random episode. Since then, I've found at least the entire first season on Youtube. I am fascinated by the plot line, character development, and the writing. Every character is allowed the chance to wipe their "life" slate clean simply by landing on this weird Bermuda-triangle-ish Island. Everyone who was cruel or greedy in their "past" life must come to terms with this self-depracating knowledge. There is no television to distract them from their shame, nor is there food. Money is practically obsolete. It doesn't mean anything to them. The concept doesn't have any value on this island. What are they going to do with it? How does it have any value if it can't purchase goods, if it doesn't have a system in which it can participate?
These people are more than "lost". They are broken. Being on this island with one another allows them to dig deep - deeper than I'm sure they want to dig - into their soul and ask themselves how they ended up on a destructive or useless path.

The writing is very well done. Every character has a distinct voice and history. Each one has a hidden yet bold identity. It is up to the viewer to decipher these identities and interpret their lives within a greater social context. I've never come across a television show that didn't use an excessive amount of cliches. Stereotypes are used, but used in unexpected ways.

Join the adventure...

The Parts of Vancouver We Do Not See

Here are some videos I found on Youtube. They are very interesting and insightful windows into a part of Canada we rarely see. As a Canadian, I was shocked to see the 4Real episode featuring this city and the serious affordable housing issues it is facing. I'm a little ashamed to say that MTV, and not the newspapers, was my source of information. Why is this issue not spoken of more often? There are several videos on Youtube featuring one part of Vancouver in particular, where it seems to be the most crippling : Hastings Street.



(Posted by "bipolarex")




(Posted by "celistin")





(Posted by "pumpkinheadbc")

This last one is particularly frustrating. Elections are taking place on both sides of the border, and I think this is an issue to keep in mind when you vote. Vancouver is certainly not the only place experiencing poverty. Both Canada and the US have some serious problems to fix. I am not usually one to talk about politics, because we end up going in circles most of the time and it just feels futile, but I am trying to take an active interest in who I am voting for and the issues that his/her party represents.

I encourage you to do the same.

Tid Bit 3

"Nature-based peoples throughout the world have cultural practices that assist every individual in the village to experience soul encounter. Soul initiation is a developmental milestone that must be passed before one can be said to be fully human, a truly adult member of the culture. A person who does not have a conscious relationship with his or her soul remains forever a child (or what in the West we would call an adolescent)."

-Passage from Bill Plotkin's Soulcraft

Tid Bit 2

They are the last romantics, these candles:
Upside-down hearts of light tipping wax fingers,
And the fingers, taken in by their own haloes,
Grown milky, almost clear, like the bodies of saints.

-Sylvia Plath's "Candles"

Tid Bit 1

"Spirituality is that sphere of experience that lies beyond the commonplace world of our surface lives and that opens our awareness to the ultimate and core realities of existence. There are two realms of spirituality. They are distinct yet complementary. Together they form a whole. Either alone or incomplete."

-Taken from Bill Plotkin's Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche

Savage Grace

I want to see this film.

YouTuber Art

Long Time

Things were a little crazy. I didn't get a chance to write for so long. I had to catch up the other day on SuziBlu. Things are on the horizon, just tickling at my feet. Even though I have some major issues with patience, I'm learning to wait with grace. I'm not there yet but I have to concentrate really really REALLY hard. It's hard to live in the moment. When you have bills to pay, a day job to worry about, and the stress of it all accumulating, it can be very difficult to focus on the beauty of the present. But! But, I'm slowly understanding how to make my conscious mind stop. It can be quite the task, though, and I have a long way to go, but I'm making headway.

'Tude Like Tori

Tori is my inspiration. Whenever I write, I listen to her stuff. Her attitude and vibe is totally infectious and makes me want to be a better writer and artist. Each song packs a political, social, or cultural punch that draws me in with such captivating yet bizarre language. I love hearing new phrases, new ways of conveying a feeling or a situation. When a writer/artist can use words in an entirely new and crazy way to describe the simplest or most complex perspectives, I am drawn to their bravery. Sometimes we are taught to colour in the lines, but that's what's so fun about Tori- she does everything with a playful nudge outside the usual box.

This song, Big Wheel, is on her latest album, American Doll Posse. The concept behind this album is incredibly potent. She has a certain flair for women's issues that I think is worth mentioning. There are five or so groupings of songs, meant to be sung by different "personalities", personalities modelled after famous goddesses. But she is also playing with the stereotypes of women in social constructs as well. Just check out the cover, and you'll see what I mean.

The woman's got guts. I think women should be fearless; not careless but fearless. We shouldn't worry so much about how we are perceived by others and pursue our passions with dignity, but with attitude. She isn't afraid to have an opinion; she isn't afraid to make a statement. I think sometimes women have been conditioned by their environment to think within certain parameters but we're beginning to wake up to the absurd presence of those lines and question them. Questioning ourselves, and the foundation of our sometimes traditional beliefs, but also questioning others.
One step at a time, right?

In this interview, she is very eloquent and gives us some insight into the process of songwriting. There is one story she reveals that is extremely sad, but she talks about some of the projects she is working on to productively encourage the necessary laws in a direction that will protect those who need them most.

Women's Marathon Winner

The stamina! I respect the training, time and effort it takes to prepare for a race like this and it never ceases to amaze me how people are able to run through the pain. You can see the fatigue on their faces, and the desperation for rest, but they keep going. They keep running until they are finished the race. I just watched the complete their marathon a couple of hours ago, and it was a sight to see. Both the winners were able to keep an incredible pace during the final 5k of the run. They barely even slowed down! I'm in awe of their dedication and talent.

Be Thankful

What are you grateful for? After watching an incredibly compelling report on 20/20 last night called Babyland, I suddenly felt the need to feel happy and lucky. I know that we all feel unhappy sometimes, or frustrated when devastation hits our lives with unwelcoming bluntness. But, I urge you to look on the bright side because it's never as bad as we think. If you have the chance to see Babyland, I urge that you watch it.

1. I am grateful for a safe place to sleep, eat, and relax.
2. I am grateful for the time and resources that allow me to enjoy my creative outlets.
3. I am grateful for easy and affordable access to public transportation.

Although, these are only three, they are very important to me. There are many, many more things that I feel thankful for, but the three that are listed here are significant on a broader scale of social awareness.

Care to share?

Here are a couple of videos that I found on YouTube. I've been working on a painting of the desert and I was looking for some inspiration. The colours are incredibly vibrant and bold, beautiful.

A Little Taste

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Twilight series by Meyer, here is the trailer for the upcoming movie. I hope the film does the novels justice, but I think that is always a concern when it comes to popular books. The fans are very particular about how their favourite characters are translated onto the big screen, myself included. There are so many subtle elements to this novel that I'm afraid they might not think worthwhile to convey in the movie. If you're a Potterhead, you may recognize the boy who plays Edward as Cedric Diggory from Goblet of Fire.

The Glass is Half Full

I am very proud of myself. I don't mean this to sound incredibly conceited but I am just happy that my rhythm seems to be returning. My mental rhythm, that is. Yes, I know, this sounds a little odd. But, my creative rhythm has been a little topsy turvy as of late and it is finally coming around. I've been writing seriously everyday now for the past two weeks. My notebook is full of plot notes and character sketches, just waiting to be woven into a coherent narrative. It's exciting because for the longest time, I felt stuck. Just stagnant. It's very unpleasant to sit in unmoving air, so when the breeze suddenly comes along, albeit a small one, it makes me feel incredibly encouraged. After completing Meyer's books, I got a sudden boost of energy and inspiration. Her fluid prose just made me want to experiment with my own. The obvious passion for words that Meyer demonstrates in her novels lit a fire of excitement under me. Again, it's still slow, but I don't mind so much, because I know that my creative energy didn't fade away into nothingness. It just needs to be coaxed from it's hibernation, it's hiding place. Just like we never truly forget how to ride a bike, my creative muscles have memory of when words flowed onto the page with such ease. All I need to do is tap into those muscles, remind them of their abilities and have patience. I see inspiration everywhere. Images, words and conversations jump out at me like they used to. Not that they ever stopped, but they offered something different, more meticulous, more methodological. Finally, the carefree randomness of creativity has returned.

The Host

A secondary note to my previous post: Stephenie Meyer has also written an adult fiction novel called The Host, a science fiction romance novel. (I promise, it's not your typical romance novel at all. Meyer has got the market cornered on innovative love stories that don't feel cliched.) Opinions about this novel are also welcome. I am really curious to see what people think about this story, to see if you think that this narrative had as much fire and intensity as the Twilight series. Science fiction is new territory for me, so I don't have much to compare it to, but it was really imaginative without feeling over the top. At times, the plot felt a little unnecessarily convoluted but, that aside, Meyer's treatment of internal dialogue is quite genius. Brilliant, actually. Sometimes, she would use a combination of phrases or words that would just blow my mind with its emotional accuracy. She is able to articulate complex psychological situations with incredible ease. Despite that, it did feel a little predictable, but it didn't feel like a big problem in the overall scheme of the story. The reader is just happy that the characters have made a journey that feels significantly relevant to modern life, and completely worth it, despite the incredible misery it inspires throughout the novel.

Twilight Debate Anyone???

I devoured all four of the Twilight books in a little under a week. Although the lead female character is a little too self-depracating for my usual taste, I still loved the chemistry and the language of these novels by Meyer. The dialogue is fantastic. If you read these books for any reason, it should be the witty, flirty banter between Bella and Edward. It draws you in, grabs you by the lapel and will not let go. I have stayed up until the wee hours of the morning far too many times just to finish a chapter. I kept telling myself "Just one more chapter" and I would do that until three am. Curiosity gets the better of me every time.
However, after completing the final and fourth book a couple of weeks ago, I am a little unsure how I feel about the last few pages of this love story. I promise not to spoil it for everyone if you haven't read them yet, but I would really like to hear how other readers feel about the conclusion. I am also eagerly awaiting the film adaptation of the first book, and any opinions on the actors/actresses are totally welcome.
Warning: The second book is kind of depressing -still good, but depressing- so I don't suggest you read this volume until you are in the mood for a heart wrenching read. The reader is constantly dragged through the muck along with the narrator and Meyer is very vivid in her descriptions of a broken heart.
It is not your typical Vampire story. The writing is quite mature for a teen/adolescent series, as is the subject matter. It's a plain out-and-out love story. Now, I am not normally into super duper romance but I guarantee that this series will melt even the most cynical heart. If it doesn't, you will at least be thoroughly entertained by the sexual tension and imaginative plot line that Meyer creates so well.

Super Cute Mini Schnauzer

Puppies Rock! I have a miniature schnauzer as well, only it was all black as a puppy. This one in the video is cuddly too. Mine is 18 months now. I would put videos of my own puppy if I knew how... I am completely inept when it comes to technology. I've just managed to figure out how to imbed YouTube videos let alone my own photographs. I'm working on it... it's only a matter of time and a little practice.

Authentic Self

"Distinguishing authenticity from deception- at any stage of life- requires the ability to access and understand your emotions, desires, and values. But the more advanced practice of choosing authenticity over social acceptance requires something more: you must tell yourself and your intimate others the truth, all of it, as deep as you can, especially when it's difficult. What you express is from the heart and intended to serve both yourself and others. You must adopt the practice of making all your actions align with what you know to be emotionally and spiritually true."

-An excerpt from Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche by Bill Plotkin

The following video is an interview with Plotkin. It's quite interesting and he presents some really significant ideas about developing an authentic self.

Here are some fun and colourful ideas from a YouTuber. I haven't had a chance to try some of these techniques just yet but they are very versatile.

The Art of Peace

I've always wanted to learn how to meditate. I've done Yoga and Pilates, which helps. The closest I've come to finding that bridge to mental silence is when I run. But, I think that reading comes in at a very close second. For the past week, I have been submerged in language, reading incessantly. (The books were highly addictive and virtually impossible to put down.) When I read, my thoughts rest, stop wishing, wanting and complaining. Instead, I was in the moment of each word as I read them, soaking in the narrative and emotions that they conveyed. Time slipped by when I wasn't looking and before I knew it, half the night had passed without a moment of frustration. I went to sleep, physically and mentally tired, but not leaping forward to the next morning. Focusing on my breathing and the weight of my head on the pillow was all I needed to do before I could feel myself drifting off. Considering I have a bad habit of putting the cart before the horse on many occasions, I was happy that I'd made this step.

Learning to empty one's mind of thoughts is a tough task. My mind often produces more thoughts and anxiety than I need or want. Those moments of lightness are what I hope to understand and, ultimately, learn how to control. Right now, it is not easy. It takes a great deal of concentration but it's worth the peace it gives me, if only momentarily.

Speechless: In Memoriam

I simply can't understand an act of such violence. I am utterly speechless as to what to say or write about this horrific event. What can one say when something like this happens? Please take a moment to watch the videos...

Funny Face

Although it is difficult to maintain a certain degree of positivity when one is experiencing difficult times, I never have any trouble when my doggie is keeping me company. When I'm reading, she's at my feet, her little paws curled around my toes. She follows me when I walk around my apartment, to my room, to the kitchen, to the living room, always curious: what is she doing now. Even though I come home after the longest, most tediously agravating day I've ever experienced, she always does a special happy "dance" to welcome me home (which usually consists of tail wagging, jumping up and down from the couch, and smiley face panting). Her ears are so soft and her still-young puppy coat smells so fresh. Whenever she wants to play, she'll toss her ball at my feet and stare at me with happy eyes beckoning me to throw it for her.
Awww... how can I refuse?
I came to the conclusion that I was meant to find her.
I remember when I first saw her, she was a scrawny little black tuft of fur but she made direct eye contact with me and licked my chin the first time I held her. She trusts me to take care of her and keep her safe. She respects my space (most of the time--she's only 18 months), and I respect hers. When she lies on the floor, her two back legs shoot out behind her; she's part frog, it seems. Oh, and part otter and part ferret. I call her Funny Face, or my Big Funny because she's always full of energy and life, ready to play at ANY time of the day. (Midnight, three o'clock in the morning or in the afternoon-- it doesn't matter to her. Fun is fun is fun.)

Animals are so intuitive. I'm amazed by her brilliance everyday. Even though this past year and a half has been difficult and tiring, I come home to her every night. She puts a smile on my face and, I hope, I put a smile on hers... well, her tongue sticks out and it LOOKS like a smile.

Spark!

Colour Mania!

I found this video on YouTube and I think the techniques are really cool. I think I'll give it a try. The colours are beyond vibrant but the mix of spray paint, markers and what I think is acrylic paint is what makes the paintings pop. The painter's name is Jelene and the YouTube member is called cheeryohs, FIY.

The final product reminds me of Beetlejuice, a crazy but imaginative cartoon. I've always enjoyed the colours and off-beat atmosphere of that show. These paintings have that same weirdness but in really intriguing way.

Crafty Idea No.1: Personalized Notebooks, Journals and Memory Books

Five or six years ago, I found an old box of pictures from the 60s and 70s. They were of my parents, my grandfather, aunts and uncles back in the day when they were young and full of mischief. The photographs themselves were square, kinda cool in a retro way. Also, it was neat to see my parents in their twenties and thirties... the clothes, the hair, the sideburns... jeepers! I decided to use them in my journal but I didn't want to ruin the only copies we had, so I went to Staples and had them colour photocopied. The colour and atmosphere of the photographs turned out incredible and didn't even look like a copy at all. I even found some REALLY old photographs from the late nineteenth century and early twentieth of my relatives. Some were from the old country in Europe and several of them were taken in Canada. Again, I just photocopied them, still using the colour copier even though they were black and white because the image comes out really crisp. These photographs added so much charm and history to my journals that I started to brainstorm and rummage around in my shelves for something else to personalize my notebooks. I soon began to do colour copies of Waterhouse, Dali, and other paintings. They made beautiful covers and, to finish it off, I had them laminated. I did colour copies of my favourite novels, the covers of cd jackets, illustrations of favourite childhood storybooks, comic books I used to read when I was in grade school. Of course, if you were to do the same, your image library would be entirely different. Search through old photo albums and see what you find. You might come across a picture of your father in a pastel coloured polyester suit, which may be traumatizing, but that's the fun of it. Dig deep enough and the most interesting things can rise to the surface. You could use photographs of your own work to the pages of your journal and layer it with even more colour and imagery.

Check it out: Making Memory Books and Journals by Hand , Thunder Bay Press. It is full of inspiring ideas and cool techniques. One of the artists uses old corks from whine bottles to make modern stamps with plain black ink. Very cool.

Speaking of imagery and colour, a long while ago I came across a newspaper article about a collaboration between Salvador Dali and Walt Disney. This seemed like an odd pair but full of possibility. Who knew? Anyhoo, it's actually quite beautiful and, in true Dali style, very bizarre but I wouldn't have it any other way. Check out the video, Destino. It's quite the artistic project.

It's All Coming Back to Me Now

When I finished grad school, I felt empty. There was simply nothing left of myself to give. I had poured my brain into my degree and could not and did not feel creative in the least. I am finally starting to come around. I am writing again, something that used to be so easy. I am painting and mucking around with paper and colour again. It took forever for me to start reading without thinking I had to contextualize everything for a research paper. For once, in a long long time, I was reading something for my own pleasure. Even though it's slow, I am sitting in front of the computer and writing something for myself instead of yet another research paper or seminar proposal. I owe a thank you to Suzi Blu whose videos and blog inspired me to throw myself back into the creative ring without so much self doubt. This music video, "I Love Myself Today" just kicks ass and sometimes we all need a little extra confidence on our Off-Days.

Dido and Julie Delpy

Every time I hear this song, I pause. There is something about it.

WANTED: Creative Career

Well, I am eating a yummy smoothie right now. It's full of raspberries, blueberries and pom juice, one banana and some ice. Highly addictive. I suggest you give it a whirl.



Now, if you find yourself walking through your local bookstore with only a vague idea of what you are looking for, allow me to make a few suggestions. These are some novels I found particularly interesting, and I thought that you might feel the same way too.



The Night Ferry by Robotham

This is a mystery novel set in London and Amsterdam. The writer is quite clever, a male writing from the perspective of a very quick witted Sikh female police detective. His story is very grand, and explores many twenty first issues we've all heard about on various news programs such as prostitution and human trafficking. His writing is comedic yet dark, effective yet vague. A linguistic chameleon, so to speak.



The Way of the Whore by Tamara Faith Berger

A novel unlike any other. I can't even describe it. The main character Mira is disturbing, intelligent, beautiful, and scary. It unleashes a literary discussion of various women's sexuality issues in a way that no other author would even dream of attempting. Gritty, uncomfortable, and outright paranoid but extremely relevant for any woman, regardless.



In the Cut by S. Moore

Do not be turned off of this novel because Meg Ryan played the main character in the film. It is very well written, socially observant, and daring. Yes, I agree that she was not the right choice for the part but the role can be seen in two very interesting lights: the film version and the novel. Each have a different yet bold ending.



What I am reading now: The Night Watch

Critics have called it Harry Potter, Russian Style, but I am finding the translation difficult to follow. The sentences are a little choppy and I have a feeling that it would sound better in its
original Russian, a language I would love to learn if I had the additional time. However, the concept is very fun and creative. I feel as though I have travelled to Russia every time I finish a chapter. I am only a few chapters in, and it took some time to get into the text's rhythm, but it has potential.



Anyhoo, on a completely random note, I am beginning to discover that it is very difficult to find a creative career (or any job for that matter). I have often toyed with parlaying my artistic tendencies into a career, a business of my very own. It really is about time. The Nike phrase, JUST DO IT comes to mind. It is only a matter of pooling my resources but I think it is entirely doable.

Simple Summer Pleasures

1. Popsicles of any flavour
2. Watching re-runs of Golden Girls on You Tube. (You'll laugh your head off!!) Thank you to a member called GoingGolden who posted a million episodes.
3. Reading murder mysteries on Sunday afternoons.
4. Journaling and painting. (Although these can bring pleasure any time of the year.)
5. Going for a jog in the sweltering heat and then having a cold glass of water.
6. Crafting and playing with colours.
7. Walking my doggie.
8. Writing on the balcony.
9. Having pasta salad because it's too hot to use the stove.
10. Having a nap.

Go for a run

The best feeling in the world: meditation via running. All you need is a comfortable pair of runners and some music. Get into the zone. The zone I'm talking about is not a "diet" fad but an honest to goodness ZONE of awareness. It is a great time to get some thinking done, a great time to work out your problems without feeling overwhelmed. Not only that, you feel like you can breathe that much deeper once you've completed your run.

Calling all writers and artists!

What do you do for inspiration? Do you wait until it comes to you magically or do you slap something down on paper for the fun of it? I have a horrible habit of editing everything I do, something I can't untrain myself to do... university drilled it into my brain. I need to learn to let go of the artistic process and just create something that makes me happy.

Share your happy tricks

How do you keep your head above water? What do you do to keep yourself from being overwhelmed by anxiety or anxiousness?

Sappiness Aside

Ethan Hawke was right. Or, at least, his charcter in Before Sunset and Before Sunrise was bang on right. Everytime we achieve a goal or significant ambition, it seems to agitate a sense of dissatisfaction in another part of our lives. How do we extract ourselves from this circular, and slightly masochistic, thinking pattern? Get rid of our stuff and live simply? I would prefer if that wasn't the case. Creativity, though, in all forms, is one of the best ways to live in the moment. I know, I know, all this stuff about the "power of now" on Oprah is a bit much but the core of the idea is what matters. Painting, drawing, writing, journaling, photography, and any other creative outlet I haven't mentioned are the perfect venues to self awareness in a way we would never reveal to others face to face. It is a roundabout but effective way to work out the static in our heads. So, these are my happy tricks. They are very scientifically unsophisticated but one of the easiest and most enjoyable forms of escapism.