she's no baby no more

"She's no baby no more" was a phrase coined by my Italian grandmother and used on me throughout my childhood by relatives who enjoyed pinching my cheeks and watching me squirm under their attention. And I am the baby, the youngest of twelve first cousins save for two of them. But today this phrase feels more relevant than ever b/c it is my birthday. Today I turn 35. Thirty-five. 3. 5. It's a marker, a turning point, as many numbers ending in 0 and 5 are in age. You know those questionnaires you fill out that have a check box next to your age category, well I think I just entered a new one: 35-40. Wow. I'm a bit stunned really. See, I always have been the youngest in most of my circles, be they work, friends, relatives, etc. But over the past year I have been reading about some talented people who are all younger than me, and it's a new experience, one I'm trying to adjust into, fidget a bit until I find comfortable seating, you know? Odd this growing older is. But I do like it. I don't wish to be younger for the growing I had yet to do. I've become so much more inwardly aware and I look forward to seeing myself flourish with the years.

I am celebrating with family and friends today. Lunch here with my family. Sushi for dinner and then happily off to The Grad Club to listen to one of my current favourite bands. I'm feeling very loved and lucky for the family and friends in my life who are taking the time to celebrate with me today. I woke this morning to fresh, handmade cinnamon scones, (one of my favourites) left on my doorstep from my buddy Dawn. How lovely is that?

As for the above image, it was taken on my birthday in 1979. I had a couple of b.day celebrations at McDonald's back then. Anyone remember the chocolate McCains cake they had? Ooh that was special! For those of you who don't know my mug, I'm in the front on the left. My sister is behind me, followed by my next door neighbour and two other friends who lived on my street.

So off I go now. I'm 35. I'm standing right smack in the middle of my 30's and there's only one way out. Nobody move, don't come a step closer, this is my territory for one year. Yup. I'm no baby no more.

letter to the wind

Dear Cool, Windy Weather,
Get Lost Already! In case you've forgotten, it is no longer March, but May. Perhaps you got confused and didn't realize it since they both begin with the same letter and all, but it is indeed May, going on June I might add. The flowers are in bloom, the trees have buds, yet I'm still in a jacket and long pants! Out for a walk the other day I wish I had worn long johns the wind was so ferocious. I'm about to lose my nut it's been such a long season of cold air. I desperately need to feel the heat licking my bare skin. Please go away cool windy weather, you've had your fun, and while you're packing your bags would you kindly turn on the heat before you leave?

paris beckons me

To know me is to understand I have always wanted to travel to Italy, live in Italy, play in Italy, eat in Italy, sleep, walk, laugh, love, cry...I want to do it all in that marvelous country. But lately, for some reason I have been inundated with reading about spring time in Paris wherever I look, and it's begun to seep into my very much reserved desire for Italy. Read it here first folks, I now want to go to Paris in the spring.
It all began rather innocently. I have a list of a few key blogs I read and soon one after another, several of them were leaving for trips to Paris or were writing about their year living in Paris. You can read about them here and here
A bit of a coincidence yes, and their stories and experiences left me breathless for riding my bicyclette toward the Arc de Triomphe, visiting and stuffing my face of the fine scents emanating from boulangeries and the creaminess found in their fromageries.
Every week I look forward to reading Saturday's Globe and Mail, and last week, without exception the first columnist I read is where? You got it!
How have I lived this long without understanding the relative importance of visiting Paris in springtime? To top it off, the other day a friend gave me a lovely wrapped gift and inside was a box of vintage postcards of this much loved city. I don't know what to make of it all but to say it seems the universe is conspiring to bring me to this obviously unforgettable place. I have a birthday just around the corner, perhaps the wind will gently blow a plane ticket neatly into my lap? C'est mon anniversaire souhait!

in good company

Victoria Day weekend was chilly and blustery in this part of the world, however the weather didn't alter the enjoyment of it one bit. There are plenty of things to write about my w/e, such as photographing a 7-day old, 5 lb, newborn baby boy, but the real enjoyment of this w/e started Sunday night.

A toasty warm cabin from a wood stove fed a few hours of euchre with good friends until the early morning hours. When sleepiness, (or maybe it was losing 5 straight games), finally beckoned us to bed, my body fell easily and heavily into unconsciousness. When morning dawned and the weather was still windy and cool, we sat back in our chairs, warm drinks in hand and watched the amazing surf outside. Having a southwest view means seeing no signs of civilization, and especially on windy days like this, you feel as though you're looking at the ocean rather than a lake. There is no electricity or water in this cabin. No cellphones or computers. There is instead buckets to collect water for washing, a propane stove for heating water, a small solar panel used to listen to music and an outhouse with a dutch door so that you're never without a view.

You would think cool, windy, wet weather would mire what is typically a sunny, warm long w/e, but somehow we found ourselves hoping we would get stranded inside this small abode only to continue enjoying the simplicity of doing nothing more than playing cards, sharing stories, reading mags, and taking a snooze. The pleasure came from having no agenda and being with old friends who appreciate slipping into "doing nothing". It was only one night, but when we eventually faced up to the fact that we had to return to our respective homes and responsibilities, it felt like we were away for much longer. I can easily say it was one of the best times I've spent at my cabin for the company, the weather, the games, and the escape from what at times feels like constant "doing". It was wonderfully relaxing and purely pleasurable. I hope to do it all over again soon.

blossoming

The island is bursting with lilacs right now. It's such a pretty sight. Lilacs are "an old flower". Well, yes, most flowers are old, as in having been propagated a long time ago, but lilacs give me the feeling of being in a stone house, seeing women in long skirts, picnics on blankets beneath a big oak, Charles Ingalls type men coming home after a long day of work outdoors. You get the idea. I love bringing lilacs inside for this very reason, as they only add to the charm of this old house of mine.
Happy long w/e everyone! (sorry to those of you who aren't getting one)

short list of today's pleasures

Some things I'm enjoying.

Reading this makes my stomach growl

I want to go to this festival

listening to her (love this cd)

the full bodied flavour, when-I-need-a-chocolate-fix-without-the-sugar-content hit of this

the black & white's here

I want this dress (#2 "Victoria")

as luck would have it

Sometimes the stars and planets align just right and what you've been wanting, hoping and searching for falls neatly into your lap. You may recall a couple of posts ago I wrote about my $3 bargain polaroid biting the dust after 4 or 5 pictures. Add a 0 to the backside of that 3 and what do you get? THE polaroid camera you've been wanting -- The SX-70 Land camera folks. That's right, I'm back in business!
Let me back track... Two weeks ago I was on my way to Toronto with my boss and colleague for work purposes. As often happens, we chatted not only about business related matters, but learned more about each other's personal habits. On a whim I asked if by chance they might have a polaroid camera stashed away in their basement. J spoke up and said she believed her hubby might still have one from his days as a plastic surgeon. Apparantly he would take a before and after polaroid before each surgery. Smart thinking...can you say, libel suit? Anyhoo, a week or so went by and I sent her an email asking if she had one. I received a phone call today, yes we have one, it works, we want $30 for it. Okay I say, what kind of polaroid is it? Oh, an SX-70? Insert me doing a quiet little dance in my office. Yeah J, that sounds fine, bring her down. And so ends my sweet story of how I am now staring at my beeutiful polaroid camera. Now to take her home and start having some fun!

sunday goodies

I've never been a Nutella lover, but a friend just pushed some chocolate hazelnut spread into my hands and OH MY. It tastes like the inside of a lovely, smooth belgian chocolate. We sat out on her porch overlooking the water with said spread, two spoons and a cuppa PC's chocolate chai tea (sipped for the first time this w/e) and claimed ourselves a Sunday ritual right there on the spot!

I had a beautiful early morning today. I went for a long, slow stroll through mother nature, which if you know my normal walking speed, is novel for me. I saw many things, but what tickled me the most was spying a den of 4-5 kitten sized baby coyotes. I was able to stand about 10 feet away without them seeing me b/c they were too busy rough-housing each other. When they finally did notice me they darted to safety, only to peek their tiny furry heads out at me again and give our visit another try. SO CUTE. Of course I wanted to pile them all up in my arms. Their momma was out of site, but they looked healthy, so I believe they're not abandoned. Maybe she was out on her own for a Mother's Day break from the kiddos.

update from yesterday

Well, I got an image in the paper, just not the front page. It's on the back page. bastards.
The image they used is the first one I put on my photoblog of the 'fire and smoke' series, but in colour. Interesting b/c the editor said he wanted action shots since all their staff photographer got was images of the rubble. In the end they used it as the cover instead of my action shot.
Anyhoo, I did get paid, and the experience was what I was looking for, so overall I'd give it an A.

my day as a pj

It's been a busy day. Around 8am this morning a friend told me she could see smoke and fire coming from the roof of our Health Clinic across the road. I called 911 and headed over with my camera. Almost 200 photographs and 6.5 hours later, I'm in correspondence with one of the editor's of Kingston's newspaper, The Whig Standard, about one of my images being used on the front page of tomorrow's paper. I also spent half of the day interviewing some key people for the story I submitted with my images. My deadline was 3pm. Even though I was told they have a reporter writing about the fire, the editor thought they might use mine as a companion piece. I have had enough experience to know my image may very well not be used. They did send one of their staff photographers, but he arrived after the fire was extinguished and all that was left was rubble. If I get in, I'll include the article and picture from the paper tomorrow. For now, zip on over to my photoblog for some images from today's fire.

p.s. I don't mean to sound unaffected by the loss of our health clinic, I am, but I've been at it all day and right now need a break.