Nine Pics of LIMA!!! 4 of 9

This guy was one of my favorite models on my trip. We were going to see the presidential palace and all that good stuff in the heart of downtown. There was a very heavy police presence due to all the diplomats and important people for the APEC conference; so there was a lot to see and watch. Nonetheless, this guy was the center of attention. Every person who walked by or even caught him in the distance wanted to know if he was still alive and what was up with him. He was pretty beat up, but this picture shows him happily resting.

Nine Pics from LIMA!!! 3 of 9

This happens to be from the same park as the Nazca symbols. Throughout the park there was a beautiful cement checkered path that just led me to imagine it heading off the faraway places. It felt like I was a little like Alice in Wonderland or Dorothy heading to Oz. (Do only girls take cool looking paths?) You can see condos in the background overlooking the Pacific. Ummm... yeah.... anyone want to timeshare on one?

Nine Pics from LIMA!!! 2 of 9

This shot is number two on the list from my little visit to Lima.

Lima is a bustling city with all kinds of things going on. It is not some sleepy little South American town. However it is very picturesque with grand views of nature and architecture. This one is a little bit of both. In a different part of the country they have these "crop circle" things but are in the form of animals. They are called Nazca symbols and this one happens to be a little monkey (big monkey i guess). This park is high up on a cliff with the ocean pounding below. People bring the dogs to play. Others bring their lovers to make out with. Do not confuse the two.

Nine Pics from LIMA!!!! 1 of 9

So I have some shots of Lima that I would like to share with a little explanation for each.

So this first one was taken at the beach in Miraflores which is just a little section of Lima. It has a lot of nice restaurants and bars and is a somewhat touristy place to visit. Its a great place though with a lot of culture and a place to meet tons of different cultures. SO this beach offers some surfing opportunities and they guaranteed you will stand up by the end of your first lesson! Unfortunately I was on a tight budget and couldn't hang with them... but they were great to talk to!!! Next time I am in town I will definitely take them up on it!

Flipping it upside down and back to front...

Marithe & Francois Girbaud, originally uploaded by kunshou.

I love this picture. I love the role reversal. I love thinking about how others will think about this.

Its a beautiful photo and leads itself to many meanings and interpretations. Not much else to say. Enjoy the pic and keep looking for things that are out of the ordinary and even out of place or different.

Stay tuned to the Blog for photos of Peru that will be up the evening! Yay!

i will fix you...

photo from: http://www.paulridenour.com/CPclocks.jpg

I am currently listening to this song over and over and over and over... if you get my drift.

I am not a Coldplay fan! WHAAAA??? HUHHHHHH? Thats right, I said it! But this song has definitely captured hearts and minds. Everyone who I talk to about this song loves it. Its a simple song but speaks (or sings) volumes.

There is also something about it that rocks us to the very core of our being. Take a look at the lyrics:

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse.

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
"Just what you're worth"

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream, down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I...

Tears stream, down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

We all have a desire to fix problems and/or things we see. We want to straighten that crooked picture hanging on the wall. When someone is crying we want to offer arms open wide and a shoulder to catch those tears. We like being able to be in a position of fixing someone.

I think why this song has been resonating with me lately is that I feel like there is some fixing to be done in my life and I like the thought of someone coming and helping "fix me."

Take a listen to the video and tell me what you think. I smile and get pumped everytime I watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBEYyHGbwto

nothing to say...

I feel like i have to put something up here because it has been forever since I have written something! Forever actually translates to like 4 days, but its all good.

So I am back from Lima... I made it in no problems. Not a very comfortable flight and the airplane food was just garbage!!! I normally don't mind it, but this was beyond awful. Imagine, I spend a week eating local food and running the risks that it entails and then get on board a plane for a company I work for and I get all liquidy! Gross eh? Food, by the way, in Lima is delicious. I highly suggest a little Tuca-Tuca and cebiche topped off with a pisco sour. Did I say how much I miss Lima? Anyone with a job offer in the Lima area, send it my way. I am ready to take it!

So nothing new here. The Montreal Alouettes lost in the Grey Cup... what else is new? The Montreal Canadiens are in a slump and can't find any good rythm. That sucks. We are 30 days away from Christmas... thats fun! Although Christmas day is a make believe date. But Christmas is always fun... so looking forward to that.

Ok... I will end this here. I am just kind of rambling because I feel the need to update this and keep it fresh... I have pictures from my trip to Lima coming soon. Tomorrow or the day after! They're great! You're great!!! Yay!

Here is an older picture to keep you interested!

Ahhh TATTOOS!!! Run away!

roller coaster in the barillo...

So I experienced the most intense roller coaster ride in my life.

Today we got a later start to our day because we wanted to go to a photo exhibition downtown Lima which opened at 11am. So we headed out by cab as we have been for the past couple days. Our cab driver didn't seem to know where he was going. He had no idea actually. We took out our map and he stopped to ask directions 3 times. But we ended up going through the worst part of town. Our host had specifically recommended to stay away from that area without a group of locals being our bodyguards.

We did not go the usual way to get into town and we quickly realized we were going through the poor of the poor. It was fascinating and eye opening to go through there. To see how the rest of the city lives was sobering and soon became scary. All of a sudden the tension just shot through the roof. Our cab driver started getting jittery and kept looking over his shoulder. I felt like i was in a spy movie and we were being followed. We knew the seriousness of the situation but still wanted to push the envelope and take pictures. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and these pics had to be taken! This being said, I was not so quick to pull up the camera and snap away. The stress was palpable... the driver rolled up the windows and told us to put away the cameras. He was worried about us, but more importantly about him and his car.

It was a very surreal experience. We felt privielged to view a part of Lima that screams reality and a side that most people don't see. There was a little excitement to be doing something different and dangerous. However, our logic kicks in a now we want to get out. We notice that we are being noticed!!!! The car is bouncing all over the road due to potholes and craters. The driver is tense and the traffic is hemming us in. We were actually bumped a couple times by other cars. With the windows rolled up the heat is now oppressive. We are following a bus who's exhaust is black and toxic. I can't tell you how nervous I was. The first chance we get we are out of that car and heading to a "safe zone."

I am glad to have made it out and really happy that Lima is safe!!!

they stormed the city!

Hey...

I am still in Lima... thankfully! Still loving it here and with each minute that passes by I want to pour myself into its culture.

Today was an early morning start for us. We headed out for a little desayunos(breakfast) in the heart of downtown. Once we had had our cafe con leche we went walking again and got to the main square where the presidental palace is. As we looked around we could tell something was going to happen. There was riot police everywhere and there was a slight edge in the air. We waited around and were rewarded with a military band playing some really good tunes. It was big band meets salsa. It had such a nice kick to it, it caused people to dance in the street in front of swat police in full riot gear. It was really impressive and fun!

Our day continued with walking and a little bit of shopping for souvenirs. However due to a big conference going on and the arrival of the Chinese delegation the city was blocked off in a lot of areas and we were not able to move around as freely as we would have liked. However this allowed us to catch multiple regimens of the armed forces march and parade around the square. It felt like the entire army was there and we just kept snapping away(pictures are to come, but since I did not bring my laptop, you will have to wait to see!) When the parades stopped we finally were able to make our way back to Miraflores (look at the flowers!)

Once arrived we met up with Jorge, our most excellent of hosts, and went out for some sushi. It was sooooooooo good. It was a Japanese-Peruvian fusion and it knocked my socks off! From there we just walked around a little more, because our feet weren't totally chewed up yet, and headed down to the water to have a nice coffee and watch rich people pay too much money for things that they didn't really need. Aren't I a cynical bastard?

Now we are back home and I am blogging... One thing has stuck in my mind from today though. There were a couple of people begging today. I am sure there were more, but I did see about six or seven that really hit me and have caused me to think. It was always mother's with young children and it hurt so bad to see a child not have the same advantages that I have and that my 6 month old has. There is a sadness in their eyes that I cannot begin to explain. However, I turn away. I dont want to look at the reality of things dead on. I want to believe that the mother is not really that hard up and she is bringing her kids, or anybodies kids, with her to make me feel sorry for her... and I harden my heart, ignore her situation, distract myself with just about anything else. I am a cruel for having a granola bar and not giving it to her. I am a liar for pretending that she is not doing so poorly. I am a selfish prick to hold on to my change to get something for those who already have (mainly me). I am a hypocrite for writing a blog about how much I care for those who need it and not making any significant change in my life.

I still love this city even though it can show me for who I truly am.

Lively Lima!!!

So first day done and my feet are aching!

Lima has vaulted to one of the top positions of favorite cities. Its beyond impressive, surpasses gorgeous, supplants interesting... I cant say enough good things about it.

We started off our day taking a stroll in our neighborhood of La Molina before heading off on a crazy cab ride to Miraflores which is a very desirable place to be. The houses range from run of the mill to spectacular Spanish-villa style to condos that are perched on a cliff looking out on the beach below. We walked down the cliff, snapping photos along the way and when we got to bottom we are tempted into surfing lessons by a couple of the locals. "You can't experience Peru until you have surfed it!" was their claim and was tempted to believe them. There are still a couple days left to the trip... who knows. I might just have to go try it.

We climbed back up the hill in search of food and drink and found it at a little restaurant called "Las Pizzas Bar." We were treated to free pisco sours and were so taken with them that we quickly ordered another round at $10 a piece... (uno mas!!!) The waitress was wonderful (weally?) and the food was even better! hmmm... a pisco sour would so hit the spot right now! Once we got up from our beverages we were off exploring and taking pictures again. We walked to different parts of town and were continually blown away by the buildings and the attention to beauty and their desire to inject it into everything.

We made it back to the cliffs, but this time at a huge green park with "Peruvian crop circles" placed in the grass. The cliffs were awe inspiring and we were able to watch the sunset into the ocean. It was obviously very beautiful cause there were about a dozen couples just making out to it all. We kept walking and walking and walking... but we did cross the biggest and craziest public skate park I have ever seen. Not only was it a skate park but it had a huge dirtbike track... with jumps, kickers... the whole nine yards! We ended up eating and people watching on a busy street and after a strong coffee we hailed a cab and took the roller coaster ride back to our part-time home.

Amazing place people! Make your way out here!!!

Mathieu Picchu????

Ok, so I am making this one quick... as I possibly can.

I am currently on a mini vacation in Lima, Peru. I decided to go last minute with a friend of mine to somewhere I have never been before so I can scratch another country off my list. The flight over was very enjoyable with the exception of a couple bumps and the fact that the woman sitting in front of me decided to travel the entire flight with her seat pushed all the way back on my knees... yeah...

Peru is amazing. It is really a bustling metropolis where as a westerner you could get whatever you need. We arrived at the airport at around 10pm and it was a hub of activity. Non stop action. People greeting you and pointing you in the right direction. McDonalds, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Papa John were all waiting to treat you to the Peruvian experience! There are cell phones for rent, jewelry stories to splurge in, and Inka Cola to drink!

We are staying with someone i met through couch surfing and I am amazed at his place. I would definitely trade appartments in a heartbeat. He is very nice and accomodating and I know that this guy is a gold mine! I am very happy with our find!

So today I start my first full day in Peru... I am excited to explore and get out there! I hope to update on other days as we try and find a cheap way to get to Machu Pichu. Dont know if we will be able to...

Couch surfing

I just joined an online group called couchsurfers. This group is basically for people who are travelling and looking for people to stay with while they travel. Sounds crazy... i know. People voluntarily giving up their homes and letting complete strangers in. They will share their home, their food, their time, and their city for someone who asks.

Can you believe this? I love the world we live in where people are still generous and willing to take a chance on others! Shouldn't it be more like this? Just to read the comments and praises of people who were so hospitable is so encouraging! The amount of friends and connections made on that site is uplifting!

Anyhow... just wanted to let you know. I will be taking advantage of it in this coming week. Hopefully people will feel like having me invade their home! If you are ever in the Montreal area look me up!

the heart of the matter...

What is this? Trouble in the Crayola factory? Not quite...

This is the first creation by my son... not even 6 months old! I got a new laptop and I thought that he and I should spend some creative time together and he just went to town. He has banging his hands on my laptop to the point where I thought my new toy was in danger of being abused! I had to help him out though. I held the button to allow him to paint and changed the colors once he started losing interest!

And then to top it all off, this afternoon my wife and I took him to the hospital for a little check up. He has a bigger heart than most babies his age as he is bigger than most babies his age! Ha! Its so simple it makes sense! So the doctors thought it best just to make sure all was good because they were hearing a murmur. So we went in for an ultrasound and I got to actually see his heart. I saw it beating and pumping blood. I could look into his body and see him from the inside out. He was blissfully unaware of everything that was going on. He was having fun looking around and being distracted.

I have to say it was amazing to get that perspective on him. To see his insides working while he is just lying there smiling was a once in a lifetime thing. I wish that I was a ultrasound technician so that I could understand it more. And then I started wishing that actually seeing his physical heart meant I could see his "actual" heart. The heart that will control his emotions and not his bloodflow. Who is he going to be? I want to know, there are pieces of me in there!

Then I thought back to his painting. He was just banging on the computer not realizing that his hand was controlling what was up on the screen, but just enjoying the whole ride. I am going to keep doing the same!

Inspiration... breathe it in!

The Smoke by lucaszoltowski

http://lucaszoltowski.deviantart.com/art/The-Smoke-100571961

I search for inspiration... i scour comics, pictures, speeches, sermons, music, and movies to find it. Its what makes us as humans want to be better, to be different. I like to think of it as reaching out beyond ourselves, the mundane if you will. Reaching out and touching something divine and supernatural. That doesn't mean that all that is inspired is pretty or beautiful. Its something that can push you to see things through a different perspective and alter your perceptions. The picture above is not beautiful by typical standards. It is not full or bright colors and curvy lines and is not full of hope and all that stuff. But it is creative and a lot of work and heart went into it. When I see something that simple make such a huge statement I smile and mentally kick myself for not doing more or not thinking of it myself.

Just for kicks here are a couple of definitions of inspiration that are inspiring themselves:

1. divine guidance or influence exerted directly on the mind and soul of humankind

2. stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity

3. an agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention

4. arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity

Doesn't that make you want to get out there and paint or write a sonnet? It makes me wish that I was more in tune with everything out there. The worst thing about it is that material for inspiration is everywhere. All we have to do is breathe it in!!

"the act of drawing in, especially the inhalation of air into the lungs"

Its as simple as breathing. Just open up and let it in! I would continue but its early and I am worried I am not making much sense. Get out there and be inspired and inspire others! Take the "ugly" and watch how quickly it can grow into something beautiful.

Let me know how it goes!

...better times by Kat-Art http://kat-art.deviantart.com/art/better-times-102182319#

there goes my hero...

I have always wanted to be a superhero. But I am not greedy. I wouldn't expect a superhero of Superman proportions. Something more along the lines of a Spiderman...

I love the superhero that is a regular guy and has the extra burden of dealing with his power and responsibility of his position. Superman really can't be killed. He can fly into space, he could eat bullets for breakfast, and if he flies fast enough counter clockwise to the earth's rotation, turn back time. Oh yeah, this is a fact! Spiderman can be shot, struggles to keep a job and pay the rent, and has to deal with bad guys as well as relationships with those who are close to him.

I think this is a lot closer to what we live in our regular day. I like to think that we all have this special gift or power and we have to figure out how to work with it on a daily basis. What can be do with our talents to better the world and lives of others.

Then there is also the anti-hero. He is the reluctant hero. He doesn't want to do anything with his gifts for anyone else. They are a burden and the individual feels no responsibility to use them other than for his own purposes. I find these characters intriguing as they usually have a dark past that they are trying to deal with and overcome. There is a desire to do good, but they shy away from the spotlight and they try hard to figure it all out.

I love comic books and stories. I like seeing my life,struggles, hopes, and fears through the eyes of fictional characters.

I hope my little, flying ninja will be be able to be a superhero...

That movie was RELIGULOUS!!!!

So i went to see Religulous last night. Contrary to what the above poster makes you believe, it is not about monkeys... i was so disappointed. Just jokes... I knew there were no monkeys involved.

But the movie is definitely worth watching, regardless of your faith background. Be warned that Bill Maher seems to be very critical and hurt by religions. There seems to be a particularly toxic venom when he addresses people who are obviously caught off guard. I am not religious at all and I was laughing throughout this movie, however there were times that I felt really bad for the people he was talking to. He definitely has an agenda and will stop at nothing to get it through. But thats what you're paying for... you want him to poke fun and show the most outrageous religious nuts out there.

This movie will definitely challenge what you think and cause you to doubt any preconceived religious/systematic ideals you hold on to.

On a personal note... if you have been following this blog you know that I am a believer in Jesus. Contrary to what the movie would make you think, I have tons of doubts. I cannot guarantee anybody anything about the afterlife. Am I 100% of what is going to happen to me when this is said and done. Nope. Not close. If I could, you would see a very different person. However I am willing to risk a lot and lay down my life for it. A lot of what he said about religions and the people who follow them are unfortunately true. I would be glad to agree with him and do something about it.

Religious folk feel a great need to be right and the documentary brings up a good point that one can't answer some of these questions... but they try anyways. And the answers always seem so stupid and weak. Because thats what they are... they don't make sense because the natural can't fully explain the supernatural. So what happens? A formula for arguing is followed as if they are telemarketers. And when all else fails, attack the person with the questions: "What if you're wrong? What if there is a God and you won't get to be with Him?" Thats it... when all else fails... scare 'em.

Anyhow... i have doubts. I won't be spoonfed pat answers. I am glad that there are movies like this that make me squirm and push me to think a little harder and not take for granted my beliefs.

Bill Maher is still a little bit of a prick though.



In completely unrelated news, this movie below looks like a winner if you are into 3D animation stuff. I think there will be a really good message involved especially in light of the fears that we have and how we are almost programmed into them.

change is here

So its done... change is no longer coming... its here!!!

For those of you living under rock... in the ocean... with your eyes shut... and your fingers in your ears... Obama won the election. What can I say??? I am glad for the United States and glad for the world. I think this definitely shows a change in ideals and priorities that I think will benefit the US and, by the nature of the beast, the world.

However I am not a political person. I dont fully believe the democracy works. And before I get cyber-jumped-on, let me say that I am glad that I live in a country where I have the freedom to vote and "influence" change. However the system is very flawed... and thats where I feel that it doesn't work.

But back to Barack... Putting aside my dislike for politics, I do believe him to be honest and a man grounded in reality. Though he may not have all the political credentials and experience, that may end up working in his favor as he might be able to think outside the box and shake up the system. And in the end thats all I would really care about. Is his heart in the right place and does he have the creativity to solve a whole plate of very daunting problems.

But what do I know? I am a ballot-spoiling-Canadian!

judging books by their covers

My son is getting cuter and cuter! Sorry for being a gushing dad... but this picture is just too funny and really speaks volumes about who he is. But thats what I think.... I mean how much can I really know about him? He is 5 and a half months and he is just beginning to shape and form into who he is supposed to be. I can tell what he wants by his grunts and movements and all that stuff, but I couldn't tell you who he is going to be as he grows. He is away for a couple of days with mommy visiting family in the States and I am stuck with work, so I am feeling a little more sentimental than usual. But who he will be made me think about someone I bumped into on the metro the other day.

I didn't really bump into him. People kept a very wide berth from him. It was a teenager... he was about 15 years old and I could tell just by looking at him he was very, very low on the social food chain. It was sad that I could tell this by one quick glance at him and everyone else seemed to be able to as well. His hair was messed up and obviously uncared for. His underwear was sticking well over his waist band for his pants that were too big for his waist and well too short for his legs. His shirt was tucked into his underwear. He had leftover food from a meal on his shirt, cheek, and upper lip. His upper lip was trying to grow facial hair but it was obvious that it wouldn't be a little while for it to fill in. It actually looked like a 2 year old was drawing well outside the lines and gave up after the first few strokes. But besides his appearance it was his attitude that gave him away. He looked dejected and resigned to his fate. He knew that he was at the bottom of the totem pole and I imagine that he has had his fare shair of people teasing him and reminding him of that fact. He stood in the metro accepting of his situation but still sad and hurt. I could tell he had learned to tune out his emotions to emotionally survive. He has created defense mechanisms to slip away from the torment of his peers by not caring in the least. Once you get so low people lose interest because the challenge isn't there. I felt sorry for him, but at the same time glad that I wasn't in his shoes. I am selfish.

I then thought of my son. I hoped he wouldn't turn out this way. I hoped and do hope he will be well liked. Not so popular that people will be jealous and it will go to his head, but well liked enough that he is grounded and can be a go-in-between for all the cliques out there. So I am thinking about how difficult it could be for my son if he is outcasted and I am stuck. I want to say it doesn't matter. It will matter to him no matter how strong he is. It will matter to his mother and I as we see him grow up and face these issues...

It works out to that what will come will come. I will love him no matter what. And that maybe I should spend more time actually reading "books" than judging their covers.

29 year streak over!

It was bound to happen... one of these days I was going to end up missing it and I am so sorry I did!

So I got up early this morning. My little one decided that we wanted to have a snack at 4am!!! UGHHH!!! But he was so happy and smiley that I actually enjoyed getting up for him! So I get him taken care of and I start getting myself ready to go to work. Toiling on the sabbath... yeah I know. I am a horrible person. So I make a little breakfast and I walk out of the house at around 540am to catch the bus at 556. Its freezing cold! Literally. The grass is all crunchy cause it frozen and not only can I see my breath but I swear my body is giving off steam! So I make it to the bus and I try to keep warm while I wait. My feet are going a little numb and I drift in and out of sleep. I would sit down, but seeing that the bench is metal I am afraid that my ass would freeze to it and then I would really be in trouble!!!

So I wait...

And wait some more...

I swear I have been standing here for 30 minutes. But that can't be... the bus hasn't shown up yet. I start to panic... What if the guy didn't show up to work today. What happens then?? I am really stuck! I start talking to myself. Out loud. Its early so that there is no one around to tell me I am crazy. I start kicking the bus shelter in frustration. Not too hard though, because its too cold for that! I can literally (and I mean literally, literally) hear electricity going through the wires about my head. I am not joking. It sounds very futuristic... like I should be waiting for a hovercraft rather than a bus.

Finally another brave soul wanders over to the bus shelter so I know I am not crazy and I am actually at a bus stop. I nod and smile because I am very happy to see I am not completely crazy and that if I freeze to death at least this guy can steal my wallet and continue to live as me if he so desired. The bus shows up a couple of minutes later and I am happily on my way to work... well not happily, but you know what I mean.

Approimately 40 minutes later I am at work and I am ready to sign in and get my day started. Now realize that I sleep on the bus and metro whenever I can. I am completely oblivious to the world around me, but for some reason my body knows when to wake up and exit my particular mode of transport (I was just going to say wake up and get off, but that sounds to sexual). I look at the clock and it says 6:15am. I am 45 minutes early.

Thats right people. Daylight savings time is over!!! OVER! The one day where we get a free hour of sleep. A free hour!!! And I missed it! I feel like Santa just skipped my house. I have never missed a time change in my entire life and today that streak is over.

Change your clocks people!!! If you live in the part of the world where you need to of course!