and then a hero comes along

My best friend, CathArine Patricia Dias, has just completed one week building houses in Belize. Her boyfriend, Paul, has posted some pictures of their adventure here. This is just one of the reasons that I heart Kate.

I mean, who could possibly look hotter in a tool belt? Paul agrees.

piano man

I spent the first half of today stressed out of my tree due to work issues, and the second half listening to piano on the radio. The second half all but erased the first.

I am not what they would call "musical". By this I mean I can not read it, play it, or understand it. It's a foreign science to me. Sometimes I wonder if I would be so absolutely enchanted by it if I had studied it... Jacob once asked me, however, and rightfully so: "Do you have a musical soul?" and, for the first time, in reference to a question regarding music, I was able to answer in the affirmative.

Sing us a song, you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feelin' alright

Oh, la la la, de de da
La la, de de da da da

- Billy Joel, "Piano Man"

camp stole my boyfriend...

...and my youngest brother, Seth. Oh, and about half a million of my other closest friends. For a week. Poo. The other day, as Andrew and I ate sushi, I almost teared up at the thought of a kid getting the chance to go to camp THE NIGHT BEFORE (which was in the works while we ate...via beepy-phone), as there were still spots available at the last minute. Camp is like Christmas to me. I love it. It's also the reason behind my mild addiction with the forest.

There must be something to this: Andrew and Seth are at camp. Nik and Thea just flew across the globe to start teaching in South Korea. Kate and Paul are returning from Belize sometime soon. And I'm...not doing any of those things. For the first time in my life. How odd.

Which reminds me, I should look up flights to B.C...

ok go

Check. This. Out.
I heart these guys.
They remind me of my brother.

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

anne

Allow me a moment of girly whim.

I have been, since I was old enough to be read to, mildly obsessed with Anne of Green Gables. There was more than a little vicarious participation in reading those books, over and over. In fact, I won Miss Mini-Yo-We my L.I.T. summer, for my representation of Anne Shirley. I've been to "the bridge" in Gormley, Ontario. And a good friend of mine, Caron, has faithfully referred to me as "Anne" since I was twelve...and I like it even though I'm now twenty-six.

And we all know my thoughts on Gilbert Blythe.

All this sentiment has flooded my mind since discovering this video on a friend's myspace (thanks, Ginette). I particularly like how they chose the song "A Message" by Coldplay. For many reasons.

I remember having a conversation with a friend of mine, Mari, about three or four years ago, during which we lamented that there wasn't any hope of us having overlooked a Gilbert in our own lives. I guess that's what Anne thought too. I'm happy to have been wrong.

i like to ride my bicycle

Today's adventure consisted of taking the longest possible route from Point A to Point B.

The journey started at my darling apartment in High Park. From there, I coasted along Bloor and took Landsdown through the lanes of Parkdale (Andrew and Ericka: where is your house?). Landsdown ends at Queen (who knew?) so I attempted to get to the Lakeshore via Duffrin, but the Ex stood in my way. I found myself in Liberty Village, seeing old, brick, ivy-clad warehouses and restaurants that I haven't seen for over two years. I got a little lost around King until I saw the stately Prince's Gates where I (finally) found a bike path that took me along edge of Toronto Naval Club's harbour and right to the bottom of Lower Spadina where "she" is docked: the stunning tallship, Empire Sandy, upon which we will be embarking on a traditional Scottish Cruise in a few weeks. Heading north, I stopped at Timothy's for a pomegranate-blueberry smoothy, did some shopping at Shopper's, and ended up at the studio at 80 Spadina.

I heart Toronto.

bon voyage

A day of departures.
This morning, the Illustrious Kate Dias woke up at 4:30 a.m. to leave for Belize. She, along with a team of volunteers, including her boyfriend, Paul, will be helping communities in Belize for a week. Read more about the plan here.
At a similar time in the morning, the Famous Newlyweds, Nik and Thea, boarded a plane for a much more distant location: Pyongchon, South Korea. They will be living and working at the same YES Youngdo English School that Dan and I worked at in 2004-2005 until this time next year. I don't think they're departure has hit me yet. Or their marriage, for that matter. But we're not allowed to post about their wedding or honeymoon anymore because it's been overblogged.

I love you guys to pieces and will pray for your respective adventures. Come home safely and soon, but not before you've discovered everything that you should have.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
- Saint Augustine