CouchSurfing 101

Photo: 'Glasgow Surfing' - Daniel C.

Hi All,

This weekend I was reminded of adventure, and living life in the moment. I was reminded that I am young, and meant to stay out until the sun comes up. This weekend I was reminded of the spirit of CouchSurfing, and experiencing life through the eyes and still frames of new friends and old; those people that you meet along the way, off the beaten path or in the streets.

I was reminded of making the most of your days and nights in the company of friends. It's what a circle of my Parisian friends call 'le live' - life should always be 'live' they say; a la minute, the camera is rolling, life is happening now. It's about taking whatever corner feels right, climbing new hills, enjoying yourself anyway you can, wherever you may be, at any given moment. 101 insane stories of adventure from this past weekend, as my old friends Alexis and Ben made it a memorable one.

The most hilarious and travel savvy Parisian dudes you could ever hope to have crashing in your living room. Off to bed to actually get some sleep. 1 more week of work to go - for now. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Sending much love from my living room in Glasgow to you wherever you are. Thanks for the notes, the comments, the postcards. Goodnight,

- Daniel C.

Also, a few things I found from the past few days:

i - Well said Christie. The cultural mosaic. The great Canadian divide. "This is Canada. And Canada is not the United States of America, as we so often point out with tedious smugness. There, the motto on the Great Seal of 1782, the motto carried by the American Eagle, is e pluribus unum , Latin for, “Out of many, one.” There is the melting pot, where everyone is first an American. "Here is the mosaic....." It's too bad the comment blog was disabled on this story, although the debate probably would have got out of hand.

ii - Loblaw slowly taking over Canada. First they buy Maple Leaf Gardens, now T&T Asian markets.

iii - Selling a life's record on the black market. The dangan files - corrupt communist officials, and the lives they destory. China.

iv - Champagne on a beer budget. Eating. I saw this last week, and am not sure if I shared. I went out for lunch yesterday, which I can never afford to do, but actually found a trendy bistro that does BBQ Sundays, with quality Canadian-style bbq favourites for pocket-change prices. Coffee, drink, burger, tip. $10 - complete with paper plates and plastic cutlery.

v - Love in 2-D. Only the New York Times could make a story about a man falling in love with the image on his pillow case sound ellegant and newsworthy. I love it. "He treats her the way any decent man would treat a girlfriend — he takes her out on the weekends to sing karaoke or take purikura, photo-booth pictures imprinted on a sheet of tiny stickers. In the few hours we spent together, I watched him position her gently in the restaurant booth and later in the back seat of his car, making sure to keep her upright and not to touch her private parts...."

vi - Front page news? Maybe not, but I'll take it. My second page 1 byline. Also, front page of the Monday business setion, with a boring piece which is sure to see less debate on the ET blogs.

vii - Scottish opinion. Generation X-rated: Are young males the hidden victims of pornography?