a Picture Challenge: 10 - the Accomplice/s

The sis. Nothing much needs to be said here. We talk about how we're going to be bachelors together for goodness sake. Whether we're on an adventure to Wing Night Wednesday or stuffing our faces with goulash in the Czech Republic, we're always in cahoots.

The cuz. Post-midnight life chats? Check. Late night excursions to whatever fast food drive-through is still open? Check. (Illegal) Beers on the beach in summer? Check. Jersey Shore poses two years before the Jersey Shore? Check. We've got it all down.

The team. This was my RA team last year, and I miss them dearly! Well, except for the two who I still work with, but you get the feeling. We dealt with so much idiocy together, and had tonnes of good times after the fact.


photos by the sister, myself, and a team-mate.

a Picture Challenge: 7 - a Treasure

 

When I was younger I collected coins. I had all the different quarter sets. I had three elusive "dove pennies." At one point I had a penny from every year back to the 50s.

My parents and grandparents would deposit their change with me after going globetrotting, and so my collection slowly became international. I still have a tin at home filled to bursting with old coins and banknotes from the world over.

I keep one with me, though. I have it hanging on a simple black string, no clasp, and I wear it about my neck every single day. Have been for the past, oh seven years. Seriously, it only comes off to bathe. Formal event? It goes under the collared shirt. Or suit, if that's the case. Volleyball games? Wrapped around my ankle and tucked into my sock. I even sleep with the thing on.

Why?

I have my reasons.

 photo by me.

a Picture Challenge: 2 - You and the Bestie

I decided to go with the most recent picture that doesn't look like we need to be institutionalized. It was difficult. On a side note, people often think me and my sister are dating. Gross. I'll have you know that we're quite happy living together as bachelors. Well, when we do live together, that is, which isn't all too often.

And yes, that is Prague. Yes, that's a miscellaneous Asian coin around my neck and yes, I've worn it every day since the ninth grade. Yes, my sunglasses are a little skewed, but that's what happens when you refuse to fork out more than two Euros for them. Hah.

photo by me.

my Influence Map

Have you ever taken a step back and asked why you are who you are? It's not really something you think about too often. It's not something I think about too often. But now is not often; I just pondered those thoughts.

The result? This:

please click for full size view

Pretty nifty, eh? It took some work to put together, and even more work to actually think about. I tried very hard to use only photos that I have taken, but that started to limit the representation of my influences. Here's a bit of an explanation for each one, frame by frame.

Spirituality: I was raised in the Seventh Day Adventist church and attended Christian elementary and high school, so religion played a big part in my development. But not just Christianity, or just religion: I've taken bits and pieces of other philosophies, too, probably like the majority of people out there. (photo by me)

Chris Corner: He's a musician, the front man of IAMX and co-founder of the disbanded group Sneaker Pimps. As with the other artists on this map, it's his way with words that has influenced me most, as well as the messages in his lyrics. (photo by Vera Hofmann)

Sia Furler: Another musician, Sia embodies the childlike, carefree, but mature and political adult. She is outspoken in both her art and in her public life. (promotional photo, no listed creator)

Metric: A Canadian band, with singer Emily Haines at the front. Really, I think it is Emily who influences me the most, but I have to give the rest of the band credit, too. I could listen to their latest album Fantasies all day, and frequently do. (photo by me)

Star Wars: Do I really have to explain this one? The films, the books, the entire mythos behind it all. I was raised on Lucas Arts, and continue to be influenced by the franchise today. (photo by We Made This Ltd.)

t.A.T.u.: I always get lots of flak for enjoying the group t.A.T.u. Most people recognize the girls from their two (English) hits in North America, few know that they lasted as a group for ten years. Once their presence completely faded away in North America I knew I'd never be able to see them perform live. I beat that impossibility, though, by seeing them in Italy while backpacking. (photo by me)

Greek Myth: Besides being a Star Wars nut when I was a kid, I had a major soft spot for Greek mythology. I adored the stuff. I read Homer's Odyssey for fun, only to read it again in AP Literature and then bang my head against my desk in second year English because no-one knew what it was about. (photo by me)

UBC Okanagan: Where do I even start with this one? Moving away from Vic has probably been the single most impacting thing I have ever done in my 21 years of life. It completely changed the direction of my education, earned me a tonne of new friends that I know I can count on for almost anything, taught me so much about myself through living with (completely rad) room mates each year, and given me so many opportunities to experience things I never would have tried if I had stayed in Vic. That about sums it up. (photo by UBC)

Mirrors: I should probably also add windows. I have a strange fascination with them, and both often show up as motifs in my writing. (photo by me)

Island Living: Whenever I need an excuse and don't have anything valid, I usually just retort with, "It's 'cause I'm an island boy." (photo by me)

Home: What do I need to say about this one? My family has had a significant impact on me, and will continue to. I have amazing parents who are determined to present me with every available opportunity that approaches, and a sister who is pretty much my best friend. That, and my family (including me) is rather cooking-oriented, so I'm never starved for baked goods. Ever. (photo by me)

Now, what has influenced or impacted you? Feel free to answer in the comments, or write your own post about it. You can find a blank template for the Influence Map here.

Weekend of Food, part two

I am now back in the sunny Okanagan (not to say that Vancouver Island wasn't equally sunny), and I brought home quite a bit. Movies to watch, books to read, banking to do. And food. I probably brought about 3 or 4 dozen cookies on the plane. Why?

Because my house in Vic was consumed in a baking frenzy all weekend. First I baked cookies. Then my mum baked cookies. Then she baked more cookies. Somewhere in there a pie and a cake both appeared. And muffins. All over the course of about three days.

But that's only the beginning. If I were to give you the itinerary of my weekend home, it would look something like this:

Saturday
Pre-flight Timmy's; donut and hocho consumed.
Post flight Timmy's with sister; donut and hocho consumed.

Sunday
Grilled cheese sammich; cheddar, salami, mustard, and pickles on brown.
Baked cookies; oatmeal cherry chocolate chip.
Thai red curry with the fam.
Two movies with the fave cousin; cookies eaten, popcorn consumed.

Monday
Pancakes for breakfast.
Lunch out with Shawn; sammich!
Timmy's with Kayla; donuts and hocho consumed.
Thanksgiving dinner made; turkey, stuffing, potatoes, balsamic onions, gravy, apple-raspberry pie, pumpkin spice cake.
QV's with Alex; blackberry cheesecake and chai tea consumed.

Tuesday
More cookies baked. Muffins also appeared from nowhere.
Timmy's with Jen; donut and hocho consumed.
Leftover Thanksgiving dinner for lunch.
Leftover Thanksgiving dinner for dinner.

As you can see, I might have a bit of a Tim Horton's addiction. Juuuust a little bit. It doesn't help that there's a Timmy's on campus, either. Oh, and that mysterious word hocho? It's short for hot chocolate. I'm a lazy West Coast Canadian like that. I can't be bothered with all the extra syllables. Same with the word sammich. You'll just have to accept the fact that I'm rad like that.

Pictures of the baked goods will be coming in a future post, likely titled Weekend of Food, part three. Awesome sauce.

Cookie Monster would be proud. Right, Cookie?