change

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It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change
-charles darwin

it's all about the benjamins

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Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
-Benjamin Franklin

fire work

last friday i spent the day at the beach.  the beach is my favourite place in the world.  it doesn't necessarily matter where it is, as long as i'm there.

i doubt that i'm the only person who feels this way.  depending on where you live, the beach can represent a number of things.  growing up it meant time with family and friends, meeting new people, freedom, relaxation and fun.  what does it represent to you?

my parents took my brother and i to jamaica when i was 2, phil was probably 12.  i don't remember the trip but when i look at the photos i think it must have been a lot of fun.  over the years our trips often were centred around the beach; myrtle beach, florida beaches, cuba, wasaga beach, cottages on the lake, other beaches.  i feel fortunate to have so many fond memories.  as i got older my love of the beach took myself and my best friend ange (another beach lover) out to the comox valley on vancouver island.  there were no shortage of beaches, and we made good use of them.

.... oh i've gotten off track.  last friday, beach.... mike and i took the hanlan's point ferry over to the toronto islands and spent the day on the white sand, even venturing for a dip in lake ontario.  those of you who are covering your mouths in horror, don't.  it is totally safe and the water is clear and refreshing.  besides, when you live in the city and you don't have a cottage or a car you make the best of what you have.  and what we have is pretty good.  

after the sun went down we waited, anticipating the canada day fireworks.  the beach was packed full of people doing the same.  the fireworks were late and people were losing interest when all of a sudden there was a blast and a massive firework lit up the sky.  and then nothing.  minutes later the show began. it gave me enough time to get the right setting on my camera for capturing fireworks, but the battery died after one photo.  sigh, at least it was a good one.

drawers

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do you have a drawer in which you keep things you rarely use?  maybe you have more than one?  when you're looking for something in there are you surprised at what you find?

i was looking for a pair of shorts today.  i went to my "obscure clothing i never wear drawer", rummaged through and couldn't find them...  i moved on to a similarly labeled drawer (my drawers aren't actually labeled, if you're wondering) and they were no where to be found.  i was in some kind of hurry to find these shorts, even though i didn't have anywhere to go.  i went back to the first drawer, dug a little deeper and there they were.  i stuffed everything back in the drawer and shut it.  i sat on the floor, relieved that i had been reunited with my shorts.  but while i was sitting there i thought, why did i make such a mess of those drawers? 

firstly i was annoyed at myself for making a mess.  i sat there thinking maybe i should tidy them up now, and the devil on my shoulder said you never use that stuff anyway, why do you have to tidy it? 

secondly i thought about how i'd forgotten about so many of the items in the drawers.  i immediately began to decide what i could get rid of and what i wanted to start wearing again.  then i started thinking about how i wear approximately 30% of the clothing i own.  a lot of it i've had for years and years and am keeping it "just in case" . . . which makes me think that i should donate it because there might be some people who would actually use them.

thirdly, i had this vague thought.. something about comparing drawers and brains.  i guess we compartmentalize our mind in a similar way.  i've got more thoughts on that but they're still being processed.  it's got me thinking though.