Weekend Review

Photos: D.C.

Hi, After a solid week of CouchSurfers, four over seven nights, I finally re-claimed my couch last night. As much as I've loved my visitors, it was nice to have a quiet and relaxed night. I've had a pretty whirlwind week, which saw me put in a few overtime hours at work - newspapers love reporters who they don't have to pay, and keep them busy, trust me - and am enjoying a weekend of the simple things in life.

A lengthy run, a walk in the park, a few photos and quiet dinners, sleeping in, a few tunes, and a couple pints with family and friends. It's those simple things that matter most folks. I stopped into a cafe close to my flat last night on my home from taking pictures to enjoy a beer and pen a few thoughts in my journal.

I walk past this cafe/bar all the time, and have yet to stay in, day or night. I guess they have a jazz cafe on Saturday nights, and the band was outstanding. It was one of those moments where you could have been anywhere in the world. There were people the world over sitting in bars not much different from this one, perhaps there were similar photographs and bottles on the wall.

I wrote for a while, sipped a beer by myself. It's actually something I like doing, but usually I'm drinking coffee, or sharing wine with someone who works behind the bar. A curious gentleman sat to my left was doing the exact same thing - well, he was just enjoying the atmosphere, scanning the room, not penning thoughts or scanning through the 145 photographs he had snapped that same evening.

When he got up to leave he finally spoke up, and asked me the question he had probably been wanting to ask for 25 minutes. "Son, is that going to be worth reading when it's done," he asked in reference to the worn journal I had been writing "They're all worth reading sir," I replied.

"I have a whole bunch on a shelf at home." "What's it about? Is it a novel? Is it a diary?" "It's about life. Just a consciuos stream of thought. Just words on a page; I write about anything that comes to mind, and sometimes I just sit and write. I carry this around in my pocket," I said, holding up the worn brown journal for him to see." "One day when your famous, will anyone get to read those journals," the gentleman asked as he headed for the door.

"If anyone can find them, I'm sure it will make for great reading," I said. "Goodnight sir."

I woke up early this morning, had a wee bit of breakfast and a few cups of coffee. I walked along in the pouring rain to mass, and was greated by many old friends. Mass was beautiful, as is the baby girl who was baptised into the church. Anelise Rose.

I was comfortable being at church, as I was raised to be a good Catholic, but to be honest, I'm not sure God is ready to take me back. Sinner. I'm not sure if there are troubling things in my life that I need answers to. I always figure it out the hard way, and always will. For now, I'll just write in the journal, and talk to anyone that will talk back, and help me turn life into some sort of sense.

Someday I'm sure God and I will make some sort of deal, but until then, I'll walk along. I said a prayer for you all, and then went over to the pub to have a few pints and watch God's game. Golf.

Happy Sunday to you all. Ciao!

P.S... CouchSurfer on the way from Detroit just now, a great photographer, and my first of two final weeks at work start tomorrow. Lots to catch you up on. Lots of life to live. Goodnight.

- Daniel C.

Found:

A - This is the worst trend I've ever heard of. When I was a kid I loved to walk around the lakeshore at the cottage, or on the beach in bare feet. Sometimes I didn't mind walking across the gravel road while camping, although it can be a bit painful, taking the entirity of an adventerous childhood to get used to.

Feeling the grass beneath your feet on a sumemr day and the sand between your toes puts you in time and place, makes you feel alive. I especially loved stepping onto wooden docks out over the water, knowing I was going to hang my feet into the water, or dive straight off the end.

There's nothing like pulling off your soccer boots after a match on a warm evening, placing your feet in the cool grass. Or sliding off your hockey skates and socks and resting for a few minutes with your bare feet on your mat. I actually went barefoot in my hockey skates for years. Mom, do you have any idea when I decided to ditch my socks, and load my expensive kevlar and leather skates with talcum powder and gold bond? I actually think I may try it again. Bobby Orr never wore socks you know.

Right, but we're talking about stripping off socks and shoes in the city. Walking down Yonge Street in barefeet? Going out to dinner? Wow. I won't even put my barefeet in the floor of the healthclub, or shower used my someone else, let alone the street. Flip-flops in an urban setting - the unfashionable 'trend' that gets to me alomst as much as ugz boots - are bad enough.

I can't believe the gent, err, guy, Bryan MacDonald, in this article is proud of going to church in barefoot. Brilliant mate, your a genious. I actually might pick up the phone to tell him I think he's ridiculous. Just kidding. No, but really. Start a revolution! Free the people from their stiff leathers, from laces and snaps of those shoes. Bozo. Absolute clown.

B - Probably the best beer advert you will ever see. North Korean Style!

C - "Eat better, eat less, exercise more.." Simple, thanks for saying that.

D - A knee in the groin for Nasa and the space program. The future of the space program? I interviewed a Nasa astronaut a few weeks back, who said the space program was the future of science, and the key to the survival of mankind. I'm not sure, space scares me.