project-41.net

Last night myself and 2 other classmates (Joe and J.P.) did a polar bear dip in Lake Ontario at 6:00pm. It was -5 degrees. We were so far from the school we were almost in darkness, but it was a clear night and the moon was out, reflecting on the water, and we could see the CN Tower and the city all lit up… I had an awesome time! Yes the water was cold and it was pretty painful, but it was a wonderful experience. We had to walk about 10 minutes before we even made it to the beach where we had planned to do it, and then had a couple swigs of Bailey’s and took our clothes off, and dove in. I could feel my body’s temperature changing almost immediately. I didn’t realize how quickly the water became deeper and when I came up to the surface again, I couldn’t touch the bottom, and I had to swim for a couple seconds to make it back to shore.

A bunch of our friends cheered us on from the beach and Tom came and brought his camera. As soon as I was out of the water Meesha was there to throw a towel on me.

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My mother is the type of person who isn’t very musically inclined. It’s not that she doesn’t enjoy music, she’s quite a groovy lady, but she just can’t sing, or play pretty much anything. She has always had a terrible sense of rhythm and couldn’t hit a note to save her life, but she always tried her best. The rest of my family is very music-oriented. My dad has been in a band since he was 16 and the even got on TV a couple of times and toured with a number of big acts, my sister and I have played piano and sung since as long as we can remember, and all my uncles play  guitar and drums or something else… And so I think my mother always felt a bit left out or lacking.

Somewhat recently she decided to take a drum class. She was given her first jembe and started really enjoying it. The rest of us just kinda nodded along; we didn’t really expect her to do that well to be honest, she had never been good at anything musical. But then we started to notice her getting better, and actually hearing sounds coming from the music room that sounded like rhythm. Eventually everybody had to face the facts that she was great at playing drums, not only that but she loved it!

I cannot play drums. Somewhere deep down I’ve always known this. I can remember trying to play when I was about 12 years old, and failing so miserably that my dad had to pick me up away from the drum set and ask me not to play that one, or when I was maybe 18 at a friend’s house and everyone winced when I tried to play in a mini drum circle… I just can’t do percussion. I can sing any rhythm you want or figure it out on the piano, but using my hands to create a beat… Nope. Can’t do it. This has become a problem for me, because I want to learn how to play for my mother’s Solstice Circle she is having on December 21st.

I borrowed one of her small drums and decided I was going to teach myself and surprise her, how hard could it be? It turns out, very hard, for me. I cannot keep a beat or hit the drum so it sounds at all like music. Help! If anyone plays drums or ever has, would you mind giving me some pointers? Am I going to have to go to a class to learn?

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I think I need an outside opinion on this. Here’s my situation: I have this gorgeous pair of Birkenstock sandals. Now, I have had these babies for 3 or 4 years now; they were given to me from my mother, proud owner of a 20-something year old pair of the things. I am not the kind of person who ‘likes shoes’. Know what I mean? I don’t buy a pair unless I need them for something: like hiking, fancy dress, or summer shoes. You know, different events requires certain attire, and appropriate footwear. Not that I have anything against those people who can’t buy just one. Or ten. But with this pair of sandals, I can literally use in almost any situation. Hiking - they’re damn comfortable and keep my foot from sweating. Fancy dress - a nice pair of sandals in a dress just makes me look cute and summer-y, always works no matter how fancy you have to be. Summer shoes - uh, check!  So naturally, I wear them all the time.

It has been getting colder out, fall is slowly moving her way toward winter, and a number of people have seen me, still wearing sandals in November and made a comment or two. A policeman even stopped me at LCBO and pointed at my feet and said, “Socks.” A number of my classmates have also brought attention to it. I didn’t think it was such a big deal, but apparently it is. Personally, I’m enjoying it. I feel like my feet are getting accustomed to the cold and my body is following suit. Which is great because I’m usually always cold around this time of year and here I am feet out in the cold, wearing no coat and still not sick, while almost my entire class has gotten a cold. I say - screw the socks ’til snow starts to fall, and I’ll put on the boots when my sandal sinks into snow!

This could be something to do with the sandals… or something to do with the fact that I’ve been taking an iron supplement recently, and so my body’s ability to regulate the temperature of my body is amped up a bit… I think the sandal reason is more fun though.

It’s just a thought.

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I just thought I would take a moment to share some beautiful photos. These people are very talented and deserve some recognition. Give ‘em some love.

Sunset walk by ~MojoFire

tire swing by ~hersley

colorful by *julkusiowa

J.U.M.P. by =thrumyeye

salvation by ~ntscha

Anything Helps by *Gazzaf1

Feel free to show me any artwork you may have or even others that you think are deserving of recognition. I’m all about the art today.

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It’s that time of year again! Halloween/Samhain/Hallow’s Eve is approaching pretty quickly. I haven’t really chosen anything to do for it this year… I’ve got some candles to light in our window and on our front steps, as well as a couple small pumpkin/gourds to put on display. But no costume this year. Since it is a time of reflection and the end of the harvest before winter, I think I am going to spend a fairly quiet night at home with some cider and possibly cookies I will attempt to make and see what I’ve done and learned this past year. I know, I’m so Halloweeney eh? :P

What are you doing this holiday season? Anything spiritual or are you all for the candy and costumes?

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