This is it, the final count down is on. In a week today, I fly out to Halifax to visit my brother and his little family. Then, on June 8, I fly out to London.
It's for real, I am really going. Four months after I decided to do this, I am actually ready to go. Yeah, there are a few little details to deal with, like health insurance, but other than that I just counting down the days.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
In Sudbury
My mom and I drove up to Sudbury to take care of some family business. It is nice to be back, I am looking forward to seeing some people up here I haven't seen in quite a while. Of course, my cousin's new dog, by far, takes the cake. Literally, if we are not careful.
The puppy is an eleven week old hunting hound of some sort. I completely forget what he is, but my cousin will set me straight shortly and I will update with photos. Oh yeah, his name is Memphis.
I experienced some new and strange today. My mom, my aunt, and I went through my grandfather's house to decide which furniture to move into his new apartment. As I wandered through the rooms and poked around, I could feel his presence and all of the years of memories floating through the rooms. Every room had its own feeling and I could tell which room my mom and her sister had all ready been in.
I did manage to open the right cabinet that held some very old photographs of my grandmother and her travels. My mom had been looking for them for years, I suspect it was a little more than luck I found them. At some point I will scan in the albums and post them on my Picasa page, I think they are something I would like to have with me as I travel. I get the feeling I may have to retrace some of my grandmother's steps through her European travels...
There are other things taking shape on the horizon too. I not sure how they are going to affect my future, but I am getting the feeling I will be directed to a certain task. I have always been able to see things like this coming, even if I tried to ignore them. Now it is just a matter of seeing them and accepting them, things seem to line up quickly for me when I follow my gut.
The puppy is an eleven week old hunting hound of some sort. I completely forget what he is, but my cousin will set me straight shortly and I will update with photos. Oh yeah, his name is Memphis.
I experienced some new and strange today. My mom, my aunt, and I went through my grandfather's house to decide which furniture to move into his new apartment. As I wandered through the rooms and poked around, I could feel his presence and all of the years of memories floating through the rooms. Every room had its own feeling and I could tell which room my mom and her sister had all ready been in.
I did manage to open the right cabinet that held some very old photographs of my grandmother and her travels. My mom had been looking for them for years, I suspect it was a little more than luck I found them. At some point I will scan in the albums and post them on my Picasa page, I think they are something I would like to have with me as I travel. I get the feeling I may have to retrace some of my grandmother's steps through her European travels...
There are other things taking shape on the horizon too. I not sure how they are going to affect my future, but I am getting the feeling I will be directed to a certain task. I have always been able to see things like this coming, even if I tried to ignore them. Now it is just a matter of seeing them and accepting them, things seem to line up quickly for me when I follow my gut.
Jaguar Club Spring Blossom Run
Sunday, May 6
What is that, you might ask? Well, it's pretty much an excuse for people to take out their Jags, new and old, and go for a drive through the country. Then there was lunch.
All of the big cats met at Tim Horton's in Hamilton. I think we were in Hamilton to start, but my memory is like Swiss Cheese at best. Anyway, after our coffee brake
and instructions by the illustrious club leader, Jeff, we were off. Trying to get 40 drivers to navigate their cars through one exit of the parking lot at a time and line up along the street, was a lot like herding cats...
It really didn't take too long, though, before all the cars were qued up and ready to go.
Our drive took us up the Niagara Escartment and through wine counrty. I think I got the most pleasure from watching people stare in disbelief and envy at the procession of Jaguars as we cruised past.
We were fortunate to have a beautiful, cloudless sky and a refreshing breeze for the day. Apparently, they did this same route four years ago and it was so cloudy and rainy, no one could see anything but fog. I think I brought the weather with my sunny disposition...
What is that, you might ask? Well, it's pretty much an excuse for people to take out their Jags, new and old, and go for a drive through the country. Then there was lunch.
All of the big cats met at Tim Horton's in Hamilton. I think we were in Hamilton to start, but my memory is like Swiss Cheese at best. Anyway, after our coffee brake
and instructions by the illustrious club leader, Jeff, we were off. Trying to get 40 drivers to navigate their cars through one exit of the parking lot at a time and line up along the street, was a lot like herding cats...
It really didn't take too long, though, before all the cars were qued up and ready to go.
Our drive took us up the Niagara Escartment and through wine counrty. I think I got the most pleasure from watching people stare in disbelief and envy at the procession of Jaguars as we cruised past.
We were fortunate to have a beautiful, cloudless sky and a refreshing breeze for the day. Apparently, they did this same route four years ago and it was so cloudy and rainy, no one could see anything but fog. I think I brought the weather with my sunny disposition...
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Running away, finding myself, or something else?
I think I want to maybe layout what I am doing a little better. When a person decides to quit work, sell off his possessions, and live with little more than a passport and a backpack, people make assumptions. I am not lost, I do not need to find myself. I am not running away from anything... Okay, maybe a little. Mostly it is a hiatous. Honestlythough , I am not so niave to believe I can run away from any problem, but it is nice to take a break once and a while if I can. The real reason I am making this effort to travel though, is to enjoy the world in a way that allows me to experience adventures and meet people.
So often we get caught up in the current of our everyday lives, we forget about our dreams and desires. When that happens, it seems to be very difficult to catch hold of those dreams again. I was lucky though, the universe conspired to ensure I had the opportunity to not only remember my dreams, but to be in a position where I could realize them. I wanted to break away from the normal course of life and do things differently. Not just to be different, but to follow my heart and let my intuition guide me.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all... Helen Keller
So often we get caught up in the current of our everyday lives, we forget about our dreams and desires. When that happens, it seems to be very difficult to catch hold of those dreams again. I was lucky though, the universe conspired to ensure I had the opportunity to not only remember my dreams, but to be in a position where I could realize them. I wanted to break away from the normal course of life and do things differently. Not just to be different, but to follow my heart and let my intuition guide me.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all... Helen Keller
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Vagrant
It's done. I am now homeless.
My parents came up to Ottawa on Friday and moved me out of my house. Of course, they nearly strung me up by the rafters when they saw the state of my apartment. Let's just say it wasn't quite as ready to pack up as I implied. Apparently we have differing opinions on ready to go. In the end, we managed to get the things I wanted to keep into two cars and a minivan.
On a related note, people are scavengers. Every piece of furniture I put to the road was gone within 15 minutes. The futon, shelves, my desk, and other assorted junk. Some guy even took the ratty old blankets my mom threw out into garbage bags, with garbage. I guess one can never underestimate the need for seemingly inconsequenstial stuff.
The weekend was, however, stressful and emotional. Closing one chapter of my life to write a new one comes with saying a lot of goodbyes. While I know I will see some people again, many will move on and our paths may not cross again. Well, there is always FaceBook.
I did manage to get my car insured and plated for the drive down. That was, in no small way, a miracle in itself. My dad felt getting the temporary permit was too easy and perhaps we ought to scurry out of there before some one changed their minds. Then there was finding a cheap battery, which my dad and I did. Only after I yelled at him to say there was no way there would be a deal where he thought there would be. After all, I had worked in the area at a neighbouring dealership in the parts department, I would know. As it happens, we passed by a shop that sold a particular brand of batteries, the brand of batteries for the Jag. If that wasn't a sign from the heavens, I don't know what is. I went in and asked, and yup, they had gently used batteries in the price range I was looking for. My dad enjoyed that moment for a while.
Then there was the drive back... Burning oil that puffed out behind the car in smelly blue clouds. Did I forget to mention the engine is in dreadful state of disrepair?
My parents came up to Ottawa on Friday and moved me out of my house. Of course, they nearly strung me up by the rafters when they saw the state of my apartment. Let's just say it wasn't quite as ready to pack up as I implied. Apparently we have differing opinions on ready to go. In the end, we managed to get the things I wanted to keep into two cars and a minivan.
On a related note, people are scavengers. Every piece of furniture I put to the road was gone within 15 minutes. The futon, shelves, my desk, and other assorted junk. Some guy even took the ratty old blankets my mom threw out into garbage bags, with garbage. I guess one can never underestimate the need for seemingly inconsequenstial stuff.
The weekend was, however, stressful and emotional. Closing one chapter of my life to write a new one comes with saying a lot of goodbyes. While I know I will see some people again, many will move on and our paths may not cross again. Well, there is always FaceBook.
I did manage to get my car insured and plated for the drive down. That was, in no small way, a miracle in itself. My dad felt getting the temporary permit was too easy and perhaps we ought to scurry out of there before some one changed their minds. Then there was finding a cheap battery, which my dad and I did. Only after I yelled at him to say there was no way there would be a deal where he thought there would be. After all, I had worked in the area at a neighbouring dealership in the parts department, I would know. As it happens, we passed by a shop that sold a particular brand of batteries, the brand of batteries for the Jag. If that wasn't a sign from the heavens, I don't know what is. I went in and asked, and yup, they had gently used batteries in the price range I was looking for. My dad enjoyed that moment for a while.
Then there was the drive back... Burning oil that puffed out behind the car in smelly blue clouds. Did I forget to mention the engine is in dreadful state of disrepair?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Balance...
Balance, Yin and Yang, beauty in suffering.
We cannot know what it means to be free unless we have known what it means to be trapped. No joy without pain. A measure of good can only be known by an equal measure of evil. The amount we suffer is directly proportional the amount we have love. We have lost by what we have given.
Is it in only the wise or the insane who know this? We live in a society that insulates itself from danger and risk. We tell ourselves if we are safe, we will be happy. Yet, we have raised a generation of children who are afraid to leave home or make decisions for themselves. We are seeing a whole generation of children stay home with their parents until their late twenties, not willing to risk financial burden.
There are those of us who are like the caged lion born in the zoo, pacing his enclosure, longing for the open plain where he can run. He has never known the open skies of the Serengeti, but his instinct tells him something is amiss with his environment. There those who feel as though they are in a cage, but they cannot define the boundaries. While some can see the cage, but dare not step through the gate left open, the world beyond is frightening and dangerous. Yet, we that feel the urge to tear down the walls and emancipate ourselves from our own shackles must know it is our birthright to run free.
It is up to each of us to define the life we live. It is easier to believe forces outside of our control define us and our lives, but we always have the ability to choose. With each choice comes a consequence. However, it is not for us to judge each other's choices. Should we choose to live in the safety and comfort of walls, then this is the experience we have chosen for ourselves and it should be celebrated. Should we choose a life of experience and adventure, defying the conventional, then that is the path we have chosen for ourselves and it should be celebrated.
It is the dichotomy of desire that creates the cage and the shackles, the desire to experience a thing, only to make choices which bring us further away from our goals. The cage that so many of us live in, is the mistaken belief we must follow the norm, the status quo. When we learn to believe there is no alternative, that is when we have become the caged lion. When we have chosen to live the status quo, we have built a life for ourselves and can experience it fully.
We cannot know what it means to be free unless we have known what it means to be trapped. No joy without pain. A measure of good can only be known by an equal measure of evil. The amount we suffer is directly proportional the amount we have love. We have lost by what we have given.
Is it in only the wise or the insane who know this? We live in a society that insulates itself from danger and risk. We tell ourselves if we are safe, we will be happy. Yet, we have raised a generation of children who are afraid to leave home or make decisions for themselves. We are seeing a whole generation of children stay home with their parents until their late twenties, not willing to risk financial burden.
There are those of us who are like the caged lion born in the zoo, pacing his enclosure, longing for the open plain where he can run. He has never known the open skies of the Serengeti, but his instinct tells him something is amiss with his environment. There those who feel as though they are in a cage, but they cannot define the boundaries. While some can see the cage, but dare not step through the gate left open, the world beyond is frightening and dangerous. Yet, we that feel the urge to tear down the walls and emancipate ourselves from our own shackles must know it is our birthright to run free.
It is up to each of us to define the life we live. It is easier to believe forces outside of our control define us and our lives, but we always have the ability to choose. With each choice comes a consequence. However, it is not for us to judge each other's choices. Should we choose to live in the safety and comfort of walls, then this is the experience we have chosen for ourselves and it should be celebrated. Should we choose a life of experience and adventure, defying the conventional, then that is the path we have chosen for ourselves and it should be celebrated.
It is the dichotomy of desire that creates the cage and the shackles, the desire to experience a thing, only to make choices which bring us further away from our goals. The cage that so many of us live in, is the mistaken belief we must follow the norm, the status quo. When we learn to believe there is no alternative, that is when we have become the caged lion. When we have chosen to live the status quo, we have built a life for ourselves and can experience it fully.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
The Road not Taken
Life is a daring adventure or nothing...
I have to admit, I have never been this organized or driven towards a goal. Ever. I have never committed to a goal so wholeheartedly, nor have I wanted to do something so much I can taste it.
We all have and have had goals in our lives, big and small, that dream we have held so dear. We go through life chasing our dreams, keeping pace. Then, as time goes on we get distracted. We start looking around at the scenery and soon we have forgotten the chase.
That was my life. Caught up in the scenery, my dreams long forgotten, and one direction was as good as another. They all led to the same nowhere. Every once and a while, I would catch a glimpse of the dreams I had, like seeing the trees rustle as a dear jumps away into the safety of the foliage.
Eventually, the scenery bored me. It was nice, it was comfortable and stable, but I felt dead inside. It is time to chase my dream.
I have to admit, I have never been this organized or driven towards a goal. Ever. I have never committed to a goal so wholeheartedly, nor have I wanted to do something so much I can taste it.
We all have and have had goals in our lives, big and small, that dream we have held so dear. We go through life chasing our dreams, keeping pace. Then, as time goes on we get distracted. We start looking around at the scenery and soon we have forgotten the chase.
That was my life. Caught up in the scenery, my dreams long forgotten, and one direction was as good as another. They all led to the same nowhere. Every once and a while, I would catch a glimpse of the dreams I had, like seeing the trees rustle as a dear jumps away into the safety of the foliage.
Eventually, the scenery bored me. It was nice, it was comfortable and stable, but I felt dead inside. It is time to chase my dream.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Recon 1
I thought I would be organized and prepared for a change, so I went to MEC and did a little reconnaissance. Holy Moses, it is going to cost a fortune to equip myself. This is going to take a lot more positive thinking.
Hrrmmmmph...
Ouch, headache.
Hrrmmmmph...
Ouch, headache.
Craziest. Idea. Ever.
I have decided since I am out of work, can't find any work, and have no real desire to work, I am going to close down shop and travel the world. Craziest damned thing I have ever thought of.
For a very long time I have wanted to travel and see the world, but I was bound by my commitments, more than that though, I just never made the effort. I realized recently, I haven't accomplished a lot in my life, no great stories, nothing really worth writing about. (Well, I did jump out of a perfectly good plane once and that is a pretty good story, I think so anyway.) Since I lost my job at the end of December, I have been struggling to find work, but more than that, I have been struggling to find a job I would actually like. It dawned on me, rather suddenly I might add, I should take this time and just travel. I went from thinking I should see some of Europe, to traveling all of Europe by motorcycle (okay, that is just hair-brained, I don't even know how to ride a motorcycle), to traveling everywhere around the world until I have gotten my fill. I don't know how I am going to do it, I don't know how I am going to pay for it, but isn't that part of the adventure?!
I have only told a couple people so far, but I am looking forward to the various reactions I will be getting from friends and family. It will be entertaining at the very least, but I doubt many people will actually be surprised. Maybe a little when they realize how long I plan to be gone, but we will see. I regret I will not be able to play Ultimate Frisbee this summer, I feel like I will be letting people down. Some how though, I think they might be able to find a way to carry on without me. Be strong! I will certainly miss everyone though.
I think this will be the best thing I will have ever done for myself in my life. Even the cat curled up in my lap isn't enough to keep me from adventuring. Almost, not quite.
For a very long time I have wanted to travel and see the world, but I was bound by my commitments, more than that though, I just never made the effort. I realized recently, I haven't accomplished a lot in my life, no great stories, nothing really worth writing about. (Well, I did jump out of a perfectly good plane once and that is a pretty good story, I think so anyway.) Since I lost my job at the end of December, I have been struggling to find work, but more than that, I have been struggling to find a job I would actually like. It dawned on me, rather suddenly I might add, I should take this time and just travel. I went from thinking I should see some of Europe, to traveling all of Europe by motorcycle (okay, that is just hair-brained, I don't even know how to ride a motorcycle), to traveling everywhere around the world until I have gotten my fill. I don't know how I am going to do it, I don't know how I am going to pay for it, but isn't that part of the adventure?!
I have only told a couple people so far, but I am looking forward to the various reactions I will be getting from friends and family. It will be entertaining at the very least, but I doubt many people will actually be surprised. Maybe a little when they realize how long I plan to be gone, but we will see. I regret I will not be able to play Ultimate Frisbee this summer, I feel like I will be letting people down. Some how though, I think they might be able to find a way to carry on without me. Be strong! I will certainly miss everyone though.
I think this will be the best thing I will have ever done for myself in my life. Even the cat curled up in my lap isn't enough to keep me from adventuring. Almost, not quite.
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