Happiness, Thursdays, and Findings.

Greetings, First things first. I may have figured out life today. It's summed up in a simple table illustrated above. The building blocks of life and simplicity of actions allow you to climb those mountains of your dreams. Notice that genuine creativity can only be accomplished with confidence and peace of mind on your side; not to mention friends, family and the most basic of animal and human needs and desires.

Taking care of a block at a time may afford me my dream of finding a place in the sun with a spotted dog, fishing boat, philosophy books, buttons for my coat, scripts for the scenes, and the wine cellar of gods.

Article of the day: 'We are not here to steal your gravel' - The New Yorker

Things I've lived by today - Apply the context to journalism and reporting.

On audience: "All I want now is for enough people to identify with my songs so I can keep on singing them...." PN

On thoughts and arguments. "I'm going to know my song well before I start singing..." RZ


Another random thought: I have not purchased a single fashion piece in more than six months now, other than I pair of lace-up leathers (classic Spanish shoes) for work this summer. When my sole pair of dress boots had become battered beyond the point of being acceptable newsroom attire, I purchased the shoes on my lunch break, thus killing my grocery budget for the week. It's nice when you've built a wardrobe for all seasons, and have many go to items in the archives.

I used to be obsessed with perfect presentation, but am happy now actually wearing my clothes, and not worrying about wrecking things or tearing holes. It's more fun to wear holes in your soles from dancing, and toss your shirt to the bin when it has been laden in blood, sweat and beer one too many times. On a side note, most reporters and journalists (most, not all) I have worked with have been under dressed for certain situations to say the least. What's the point of wearing a tie if it is slackened before 10:00, slacks without pressing them flat, and shoes without applying a coat of polish?

I of course believe in "rolling up my sleeves" in reporting, but not compromising personal presentation and professional dress. Dress for the situation, but represent your publication and your dignity first and foremost. Also, dress better than your boss. Always. Your effort is often appreciated. Not that I should be offering any kind of advice, but I'm simply saying.

Findings:

a - Smartphone travel. I just went through four months without a wireless carrier, where my iPhone become nothing more than a iPod wi-fi advice. I can tell you a hundred handy tips for borrowing wi-fi signals.

b - The Perms. The arts editor of the Reflector (Sean-Paul!), the student paper at MRU asked if I could help him out by writing a story on a cool Winnipeg trio. My first band story. Lame and rock 'n' roll.

c - Travel days. Travel becomes routine, almost second nature, until a twist is thrown in by transport security.

d - Ripped-off Glasgow: Budget cuts to the arts in the city of creativity.

Goodnight. Signing off. Much love, Daniel C.

p.s. Stay tuned for my online reporting portfolio, photography slideshows of recent adventures, and random thoughts on all the things that spin through my head in the wee hours of the night. Also, for new blog followers, I urge you to read prior posts for articles I have written over the past summer, and a collection of snapshots from my life. All the things in view you see.