Nicola Quilter’s Happy Skirts

I was in Camden Market, London & came across Nicola Quilter’s skirt. The minute I saw them I liked them. That’s quiet unusual for me. Anyone that’s gone clothes or shoe shopping with me knows how bloody fussy & difficult I am. If it’s not the design & style, then they don’t have my size, the colour I like or good material.

Nicola’s skirts are happy & the designs & styles are funky - the way I like it. Her store was the first store I stopped at. I had a quick peruse & decided to go see what other stuff was at the market. After doing most of the market & getting a pair of red funky flats, I came back to her store.

Nicola is really friendly & helpful. Her sizes made me giggle. My fit as she put it is a ‘Healthy’. In the end I like 3 designs & didn’t want to choose between them so I got all 3!

Zeitgeist, pulling back the curtain

As a young kid I though there was something wrong with me for thinking the government had an agenda. Well, they brain wash you so that you tow the line.

These days I’m in awe that people still think that the government is there for their benefit & protection. The more I live in this world - the more I’m amazed how inhumane it is.

Should that even be a word? ‘Inhumane’? These days, you got to wonder what is humane? Most animals don’t even conceive the things we do to each other.

I found this link, Zeitgeist. A documentary that will draws back the curtain on what is really happening in the US & around the world. You can form your own opinion about what’s going on. But having lived under the Apartheit regime as a child. I don’t think it really that far fetched at all. Watch it, it’s worth it.

A young life lost

I am again reminded that life is so short. That loving those around you that are living now is a good thing. Cherishing those that are dear to you - it should be something you do consciously. Why put it off? Why shrug off the touchy-feely stuff? Tell your loved ones you love them. if you’ve wronged them… Tell them you’re sorry that you hurt them & that they do mean allot to you - just tell them you love them.

My cousin Warren (23) lost his live today. He lived in South Africa, Johannesburg in Buchleau. It’s one of the Northern Suburbs that was perceived as safer than downtown. But alas with the ever increasing violent crimes it was inevitable that I’d hear of news that someone I love would fall victim to the evil that is running wild in the country.

It was a break in. My cousin got shot 3 times, they were watching TV in different rooms. My Aunt got shot in the arm & I’m not sure what happened to my Uncle. They took their cellphones & their wallets. The sad fact is that this kind of thing happens every day in South Africa. I’m still waiting for news about my Uncle, I’m not sure where he was at the time.

Here I sit in Canada, removed but still connected… I’m on the internet writing a blog - getting the news through my cousin in New Zealand through Skype & telling my friends back in South Africa through facebook to please becareful & to be aware. Telling all those I hold dearly - that I love them, I miss them. I wish that the country wasn’t so violent - I wish that the evil would not win. I pray there is a solution to this madness. I pray for peace, for hope, for love, for prosperitoriy, & for the ability to forgive but never to forget.

In a world where people are dying to live, why do we continue to kill & hurt our fellow human beings? We all bleed, we all pain. Why have we gone so blind from each others suffering? Is there no capacity for kindness nor compassion? Where is our humanity? Why do we forsake those that are clearly suffering?

I see it as symptom of poverty, greed & short sightedness on the part of the killer/s. How does killing & hurting help you get a head in life? I just don’t get it. It wasn’t just my cousin that lost his life. His killer/s are dead too… in spirit & humanity. His mom & dad too have a part of their life. The whole country & the collective human consciousness suffers when someone is taken through crime.

We all suffer - we all bleed… if we just started loving each other just a little more - we could make an incremental change that could effect future generations. There’s that bible verse that goes something like - ‘what we sow now is what we reap in the future’. How have we forgotten this lesson?!

.mac

10GB, now that is a reason to get .mac - love the online web gallery feature they have. Yeah Mac you talking my language. Makes staying in touch so EASY. Yes Mac - you still rock. But only a little bit….

You’re built in redundancy totally sucks ass…. And I want a piece of your ass… Will you ever help me attain nirvana? If you do that, then… Then you rock big time. I mean huge… little freighter truck ass big. Now that’s big. An ass so wide you can’t see the other side. An ass so big 10 babies can sit on it all at once.

Yes if you help me reach nirvana - you’ll rock my world & I’ll tell everyone I know that you do it for me.

South Africa does awesome TV ads

You’ve got to watch the MTN clap ad. It’s inspirational &  challanges us to be the change we seek. It was shot in Hillbrow, a ghetto in Johannesburg. I’ve never seen that neighborhood look so good, well it must over 20 years that I felt safe to go partying in Hillborw. That neighborhood was so happening back in the 70’s & 80’s. I remember my sister living there & we used to go to the Milky lane with my uncles. People used to hang around there. Browse record stores & go to listen to live bands. Hillbrow was hot back in the day.

I’m hoping that in my life time - I’ll see Jo’burg change for the better. I saw Apartheid fall. I saw Mandela walk out of prison. If we all do a little something, I think we can make a huge difference.

Hiking around BC

Over the past few weeks I’ve been hiking around the Lower Mainland (Greater Vancouver area). Unfortunately this summer has had a late start so I haven’t been out as much as I would have liked. Being what it may, I’m proud to say that I’ve been out almost every weekend since April doing local walks in the city & hike on near by trails.

So far we’ve been doing the usual walking the Seawall around Stanely Park. Hiking out from downtown to Wreck Beach at UBC. It’s a nudist beach in the summer… I have yet to see any naked bodies. We’ve also done a few trails on the North Shore. Lynn Canyon, the Grouse Grind & Black Mountain at Cypress. Last weekend was a little different. A few of us went out to Pitt Lake near Maple Ridge to go canoeing. We were hoping to paddle & then bike out to the hot springs. But with the snow melt happening so late this year. The hot springs were totally submerged & inaccessible.

The weekend wasn’t a total loss, we got 2 days of paddling in & camped over night on the shore. I think the nicest thing about the week was being out on the water, getting totally away from it all & also getting to know my friends a whole lot more. You should see my shoulders & biceps - I look so pumped & I think I lost a couple inches rowing for about 11 hours that weekend. I think I’m hooked, come next summer… I think I’m going to seek out more rowing opportunities. I’m thinking maybe kayaking or even dragon boating. I can see it now. I’m going to have a scary upper body & put the boys to shame.

Hypnotherapy

Had only 3 sessions from a student from the Orca Institue. Man is meditaion/hypnosis awesome. If you want to make changes & don’t want to waste time - this is something that you should look into. I’ve done hypnosis before actually 7 years ago just before I left South Africa.  The first time was a 180 for me in terms of changing my mentality. This time it was about getting back on track & fufulling my life’s purpose. This past 2 months have been grueling for me but having these 3 sessions, meditating, contemplating & being still has made such a difference.

If I was my old self - I would have been loosing it, drowning & would have been filled with dispare but this time around I’ve found a wealth of opportunities, tons of good people & adventures to be had. Go do it. It’s worth it.

www.ted.com

I want to do this within the next 2-3 years. I want to meet more people like these presenters. People who’s intention is to contribute to a better existence. I am a creator & entrepreneur – I want to contribute to better solutions.

See more progress on: go to ted

Kaospilot

If I had to go back to school – I’d probably enroll into Kaospilot. I met 2 girls that are attending at the moment. They’re in Vancouver for a couple of months doing their projects. It’s all about alternative business solutions, working laterally, in teams, outside the box, pushing creativity in business & communication.

Their intentions & values resonate with me. they’re looking for better ways to engage in community, in business – in life. Creating a dynamic, effective, emotive & purposeful experience. In helping themselves they’re helping others. That’s cool

http://www.kaospilot.dk/docs/About.asp

See more progress on: spread good intention in business

Just get a snappy one

I’m thinking that I wont have the time to be all arty-farty. I should just go get a good digital camera & hold off on the digital SLR.

See more progress on: Get a digital SLR camera