rocket

this photo isn't very good but i had to take one to prove i was there

yesterday i was a first time passenger on the new ttc rocket.  only minutes earlier i had been saying that it probably doesn't actually exist... which only seemed reasonable considering i hadn't actually seen it or knew anyone who had.  well little did i know... i was about to eat my words.  after climbing the steps to transfer southbound at st. george i noticed something different; there were no screeching tracks and no loud rumblings. i watched in awe as the brand new train came barreling down the tracks. it was so quiet, so sleek, so ... new.

"ooh look at me, i'm all shiny and new"

for those of you who haven't been hearing about it day in and day out, the ttc is integrating these fancy shmancy new trains on the yonge/university line.  here is a concise blogto article if you want to know more. i'm fairly skeptical of the design... despite being noticeably smoother and quieter there were even more armpits in my face.

via blogto - look, it's all connected - neat.

it'a shame that they aren't adding any of the new trains to the bloor/danforth line which still runs trains with no air conditioning and vinyl seats... could the ttc be favoring people who live north and south of the downtown core?  they claim to have more passengers on that line, but i can tell you (for certain) that at rush hour, going east is always more crowded than going south (and northbound is never as crowded as westbound).  in conclusion, i think someone needs to double check their statistics!

stop. start.

So motivational. (clipped to polyvore.com)
i like how this can be read vertically or horizontally.  i guess that's the idea. 

i know i go on about the little things, but what would life be without them?  for example: i was walking down dundas, and a man was walking toward me.  he appeared to veer to my right so i veered to his right (my left).  at the same moment he veered to my left and i looked up at him with a growl rumbling inside of me but he was laughing because of our mix up.  i laughed too.  i should have laughed to begin with but i guess i was feeling a bit jaded. 

it's funny, riding the subway during rush hour can be draining (oh i know i go on about this too, but it's a day to day thing for me - so i think about it a lot).  it's interesting to think about.  all these people with the same goal, fighting each other to get there first.  i think if everyone just took a step back and realized we're all trying to get somewhere it would improve the general theme of rage and (mild) violence i see on a daily basis.  i'm guilty of it sometimes too.  you get pushed around enough and you start to lose your patience.  just like i almost lost my patience with the guy on the sidewalk.  there are two things that help me check myself before i wreck myself. 1: when i see people confront one another, i am reminded of how petty the situations i face really are. 2: when i'm victim of someone in a hurry, i am reminded that passing people agressively can be dangerous and frustrating to them.  for example: a girl was trying to pass me after i finished buying my metropass. just as i was about to leave she tried to pass me but i was already going through the spinny thing so there was no room for her.  as i walked toward the stairs she stepped on the back of my shoe before passing me and i turned around and said take it easy.  so, i take my own advice sometimes.

lemon face

my mom used to tell me, if you make that face long enough your face will stay that way.  well, she's right.

i'm often reminded of this expression when i see people who appear to have a permanent frown on their face. it makes me wonder if maybe they've had a lot of struggles.  i often see these people on the ttc.  and i promptly tighten up my face muscles because no matter what happens i don't want to be walking around looking like i'm sucking on a lemon.

------------------------------------------

but on a more important note, the lovely and talented jessa made me a little pet.  his name is fred.

fred is a snail

jessa is creative in a lot of ways.  she has a sense of humour that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. she created fred out of piece of binding coil that crossed her.  i'm pretty sure i wouldn't want to cross her.

oh

it has been tough to blog lately.

i think a lot during the day.  i observe people and situations, and sometimes things in nature.  often i think about how i will write about it when i get home.  i phrase it and rephrase it in my head.

i listen to the radio in the morning.  i like to hear the news, and see if i missed anything while i was sleeping. i wait for the bus, listen to music, sometimes a podcast.  i often wish there was a newspaper box near the bus stop.  then i would skim the 24 or the metro on my way to work, to see if i missed anything on the radio. without a paper my options are to read a book, zone out or play a game on an electronic handheld device.  sometimes i'm pressed up against someone on the ttc and that's about all i can do.  when i get off the subway a lady hands me a paper and says "thank you have a good day" over and over and over again.  i can hear her as i walk up the steps and as i walk away.

work is work.  i work with nice people.  we listen to music while we work.  it's the only area in the office that has a music playing device, specifically a bose dock.  sometimes we talk about news, celebrity news, books and music.  today i was telling stephanie how i've been having a tough time with blogging.  she asked me a question that helped me realize part of what has been holding me back. it was something to the effect of "because you know people are reading it?"  don't get me wrong, i'm happy when people read it, but it does create a bit of pressure on something that was meant to relieve it.  well, that and i've just been a bit lazy.

then i leave work.  sometimes i leave with a co-worker, share some laughs and stories about the day.  sometimes i leave with my headphones on.  i complete (well not always complete) the crossword in the 24.  i go over a list of things i need to do, and things i don't want to forget, sometimes i write that stuff down.  and sometimes all i can do is focus on not falling over on the subway.

it seems that my thoughts revolve around people, the weather, information and entertainment.  lately the weather hasn't been great and i haven't been doing much reading or reading the paper.  maybe i'm uninspired.

days run into days and turn into weeks and months, inspiring moments happen.  when i'm touched by something i think about how i would write about it and i tuck it away.  eventually the memories pile up up and i don't know where to start.  i am grateful to have a lot of refreshing experiences, and occasionally some sour ones.  there is always something new to learn and life is good and life is interesting and i have a lot to say about it.

here is a picture of the beautiful vintage guitar mike surprised me with yesterday:

thanks mike 

here is a picture i took, enthusiastically hoping the massive pile of garbage meant that my obnoxious and somewhat frightening downstairs neighbours were moving out:

i was wrong, they're still here

here is what it looks like when you knock over a jar of buttons... why i collect buttons and don't keep a lid on the jar is one of the great mysteries of the universe.

this was fun to clean up

i see a lot of birds from my apartment window.  lately there have been two cardinals, one is primarily grey and the other is primarily red splashing around in "the junction lake" . . .i have yet to capture them on camera, but this is where they hang out:

and lastly, i stayed at a cottage this weekend.  highlights include: great people, a grand piano, trying elk, bison and wild boar meats, driving a silverado and winning a pool tournament.

altercation

as per your request verlaan...  a new tale from the ttc...

monday morning i witnessed an altercation on the subway.  as i was boarding i could see a man in his 30s (let's call him john) stand up, swear and yell in the face of a 70 year old man (let's call him bob).  i didn't see what happened leading up to this event, but for 7 long stops they continued to argue.  one thing was obvious: john was a bully, a hot head, and a little out of touch with reality.  from what i understood john was taking up two seats (which he was), and bob had asked him to free up one of the seats.  john appeared to have a problem with the way bob had approached him, and thought it was reasonable to take up two seats because of his height... and that it was appropriate to lose his shit... on an old man... during rush hour... on a monday morning.  it was a disturbing experience for everyone on that particular car.  a couple people tried to intervene and stood up for bob... which only made john more angry.  unfortunately neither of them had the strength to walk away. finally another man came toward john saying: you have no respect, you can't talk to people like that.. and continued to call him out.  john wasn't able to defend himself to someone equally as assertive and aggressive as himself.

and on a semi related topic, here is a ridiculously cute video of a puppy and a kitten fighting:

bad moods

i have no idea who this author is, but i loved her quote:

You can only be in a bad mood for so long before you have to face up to the fact that it isn't a bad mood at all; it's just your sucky personality.

— Megan McCafferty

when you've had a bad day, the most challenging thing is to pull yourself out of it.  people who love and care about you might also try, but sometimes it just sticks.  and what is interesting about this is how a complete stranger's kindness can turn it around. 

as i was riding the subway home today, the platform was entirely full at my usual transfer spot (st. george).  as the train pulled in i hoped to get on, but figured my chances were slim.  i managed to find a comfortable spot near the door and as the door chimes went off, roughly 4 more people crammed their way on to an already full train.  anyone who has ridden the ttc knows this is a common occurrence... nothing out of the ordinary.  but what did happen [that was out of the ordinary] was one of the people who stuffed their way on asked me if i was okay.  this small gesture gave me a bit of hope, and my mood began to change.

once i got home i tidied up, cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the kitchen and before i knew it mike had arrived with a bag of sushi.  he knew i had a case of the mondays and wanted to cheer me up.  the sushi was from a new place in the junction called LAN sushi.  mike had suggested that if i tidied up a bit i would feel better, and he was right.  so here is the formula that i have developed:

kind stranger + clean apartment + nice guy = good mood

cute things help, also.

mr. freeze

yesterday i was riding the street car.  it was fairly busy and as i walked to the back i passed a stroller.  sitting behind the couple with the stroller was an older man eating a mr. freeze.  walking by i heard him say i know you want one but you'll have to wait until you're out of that stroller and you're old enough.  from where i was sitting i could observe them.  the little girl started out with a curious look on her face, she was saying bubby, bubby, bubby  and then reaching out for the mr. freeze.  the man shook his head at her.  she continued with that tactic until realizing that it clearly wasn't working.  her next approach involved her looking down, and then back up and smiling at the man a few times before reaching out for the freezy.  he chuckled, but still shook his head, no.  it was evident to everyone but the little girl that there was no way she was getting his freezy.  she was not yet aware that passing germs with a stranger is a big no no.  her final tactic, which was the funniest one to watch involved her tilting her head down and furrowing her brow.  she looked quite ticked off with him.  and occasionally she would flare her nostrils at him.  i got a real kick out of it.

election 2011

this morning as mike and i were walking to the bus stop, a bus pulled up...
should we run?  nah...
yeah! let's run...

it seems more often than not the bus is arriving at the stop just as i exit my apartment.  it's sort of similar to a yellow light.  slow down and stop or speed up and make it....  it depends on the day but usually i opt for the sprint because i know it's usually another ten minutes or so before the next bus arrives.  it was an older bus, packed full of people.  we arrived at high park station and were pleasantly greeted with some campaign flyers for the incumbent mp in my riding..  i gladly accepted a flyer and out of the corner of my eye i noticed gerard kennedy was there handing out flyers himself, answering questions and shaking hands. 

awareness.  a theme that has been consistent in my life over the past few weeks.  i liked seeing him out there, making people aware... and thought it was a smart place to be for that riding.  it created a sense of respect for him.  and i'm happy when i see the candidates out campaigning and not just their loyal volunteers.  it showed me that he personable, hardworking and strategic at the very least.

i feel fortunate, happy and inspired to have run into him on my morning commute.  i wonder what the other candidates are up to....  i heard the three (out of four) of them on metro morning yesterday.  i guess it would only be of interest to those in the parkdale-highpark riding... but if you're curious here is a link:
http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2011/04/11/parkdale-high-park/

considering the turn out of the 2008 federal election was 58.8%, the biggest battle seems to be getting people out to the polls.  it frustrates me.  people have the lamest excuses for something that is ever so important.  if you're not informed, ask someone.  use the internet.  read a newspaper.  listen to the radio.  you don't need to be a rocket scientist to choose a candidate.  if you claim not to "like" any of them, go and throw your ballot, but at least do something.  you know why it's important, i don't have to tell you.  i don't have to tell you about the people who have fought for their right to vote, and guilt you into realizing how not voting is abusing yours. 

with all that being said (or ranted), i know that there are a lot of people who are planning on voting in this election.  here is a helpful link that will answer pretty much any of your questions...

http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&lang=e

positivity

this morning i was inspired by the lady at bathurst subway station who hands out the free daily newspaper.  as i approached her in the freezing rain, just as every time i've seen her before, she had a big smile on her face.


good morning! i exclaimed, i hoped to meet her smile with equal enthusiasm
good morning - hope you're having a good day! she says
no umbrella? 
no but i'll be going home soon. in 2 hours.


2 hours did not seem soon to me.  i was worried she'd be soaked.  we continued small talk for a little while.  a car pulled up and she ran over and brought the man 2 of the free daily papers before he drove off.  that's so nice of you. i said.  she didn't seem to mind.  the smile never left her face.  i told her i wished i could be more like her, i can't really explain in words how much sincere positivity this woman projects.  i told her i don't know how you do it. to which she replied i'm no eeyore.

it took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about, but when i did i smiled.  you certainly aren't.  i thanked her and as i descended the steps to the platform i noticed the smile hadn't left my face.  how infectious a bit of positivity can be!  the feeling carried with me throughout the day.  and when the everyday turbulence hit i remembered to keep a smile on my face.

it's not like it is particularly difficult to be positive.  but it doesn't appear to come naturally.  it's something to work on.  but what a difference it makes.

spontaneity

i had a post prepared today to commemorate mitch hedburg.  he passed away 6 years ago today.  but instead i want to share this beautiful quote with you:

photo from this flickr page
quote from hafiz or hafez

i thought it was such a beautiful way of thinking about love and life.  i feel like people in western society have such a great sense of entitlement.  and the reason for this is unknown to me.  it reminded that an entitled point of view can perpetuate negativity in life.  that everything doesn't have to be give and take, sometimes it can just be give.  it reminded me that life isn't all about the day to day and to think of the bigger picture.  the things to be grateful for, like the sun  ... which luckily was shining today.  and the snow is slowly melting and you can almost feel spring in the air.

and i finally have another tale from the ttc.  i was sitting on the bus on my way home today when a young boy (around 3) shouted out aye aye aye and a young girl (around 4) shouted back in a slightly higher pitch: aye aye aye, from the back of the bus.  they were total strangers, and she was completely unprompted.  he went again: ooh ooh ooh  and she called back in her voice: ooh ooh ooh.  they continued exchanging sounds for almost a minute.  she said we're talking dad.  it was evident that these children knew how to speak, but embraced the simplicity of the sounds they could make and the interaction.  and in turn the entire bus was giggling.  it was pretty special.

goings on

this morning i shared a laugh with a stranger.  we watched a man pry open the subway doors and squeeze his way on.  i had been standing there hoping the doors would re-open due to his ninja like door stint, but they didn't.  i think she had been hoping the same.  as the train started to pull away we made eye contact and laughed together.  it was nice.

on another interesting note - as i was riding the st. clair streetcar today i came across a store called: st john fish sandwiches and antiques.  i had to look it up, and it turns out that it is... an antique store that also offers sandwiches and pop.  so - how about that?

i still can't get over how amazing my niece and alison are.

funny day

i woke up this morning from a deep sleep.  i can't remember the last time i've been that conked out.  it was marvelous.  mike and i had a nice morning that included tea and old motown songs before i headed home.  due to it's proximity to mike's house, i had to stop in sonic boom.  i picked up one of my most favourite movies, grizzly man (i know it's an odd one but...) and the album i ordered over a month ago.  on my way out i decided to stop into ghazale and treated myself to a carrot/apple/ginger juice (which is now churning in my stomach... in a good way?).  the lady handed me the drink and said "drink some" so i took a big sip "drink some more, i'm going to give you extra" i gulped back as much as i could and she refilled my cup. 


waiting for the subway with my friends

when i got to dundas west i sat down and waited for the bus.  i sat next to an older lady who had a small jack russell sitting on the seat of her walker.  the dog whimpered at me, and the lady asked me if i had fifty cents.  there was something about her that made me feel like i wasn't being duped.  maybe it was a scared and helpless look?  during our conversation she told me that she is sick and ohip doesn't cover all of her prescriptions.  a lot of her stories didn't line up but she was certainly interesting to talk to.  when my bus finally arrived i said goodbye and she said if she had enough change she would "get a coffee and a chicken sandwich, the dog eats the chicken and i eat the bread" ... side note: she spoke in a ukrainian sounding accent, although she had said earlier that she was from germany, and she happens to speak macedonian?? ... being that she didn't look overly mobile i went and got her the coffee and the sandwich.  she was so delighted that she gave me this necklace:

please try and contain your jealousy



it's pretty stylish.  i tried to refuse it (several times) but she insisted.  the gesture was kind.  i told her as i left that if ever see her again i'll be sure to say hello.  she told me she was going to be rich on monday and asked where she could find me.  with a deep sigh... i told her that i was sure we'd meet.

full moon

today wasn't the best day.  and on the subway a woman pushed me as i was trying to step out of her way and i tweaked my back trying to keep my balance.  it's funny, it was around 9 degrees and sunny but people (including myself) seemed extra grumpy.  so here is what i think might make the world (and my world) a better place. 

i'd like:

• spring to start springing
• people not to litter
• earbuds that never tangle
• a 3 day weekend, every weekend
• a piece of mail that isn't a bill or junk once a week
• often finding things in the first place you look
• more kindness and patience
• less selfishness

in other news.... i got the review of the day on yelp today and am so thrilled.

and it's the friday of a long weekend.  i have a couple of new records to listen to, books to read, free time and family time.  it's going to be a good weekend, damnit.

this is my mind, vinyl.

commuting chronicles

some days, i can't bear to go underground and take the subway.  while i know it's the faster and warmer route, i sometimes opt for the streetcar.  lucky for me, i have the option. 

today was one of those days.

the first car to come was packed and i couldn't get on.  i knew this was a bad sign and it occurred to me that taking the subway isn't that bad but i decided to tough it out despite the bitter cold and obvious volumes of people.  the next car to come (about 6 minutes later) was also packed, but i managed to squeeze my way into the back doors.   a couple of stops later i felt a tap on my shoulder.  this frightened me a bit (since i'm not used to anyone tapping me on streetcars) but i turned around and noticed the man behind me was motioning that he wanted to exit soon.  i had nowhere to go, so i thought... maybe i misunderstood him.  i removed one of my headphones (listening to the best of ricky gervais) and said "pardon?"  "i'm getting off here, do you want this spot?  it's a good spot."  he said.  i was delighted.  it was a better spot than where i was standing, and the fact that he went out of his way to offer it to me was a real treat.  those random acts of kindness really do something special for my spirit.

so as the streetcar continued west and people began to thin out i found a seat.  sitting ahead of me was a couple around my age.  the young man was very outspoken and he had several outbursts that i could repeat, but this was my favourite:
"hey, guy, where'd you get that jacket?"
[muffled response i can't quite make out]
"but like, is it special or something?  like what's the point of it?"
"warmth"
"oh, warmth eh? i thought like, i don't know, maybe it was for charity or something, like if you bought one some of the money went to charity or something. i don't know, everybody is wearing them, i see them everywhere.  but i guess warmth is a good enough reason."

the streetcar went out of service at queen and i had to wait a little while for the next one.  it was cold.

anyway when i finally got on the bus to go home, a drunkish, 40ish year old man stampeded onto the bus and exclaimed "is this bus going to mexico?! it's way too cold out there!" no one really acknowledged him, except for a young boy around 5ish? . . . i couldn't hear their whole exchange, but the best part went like this:
"the leafs are gonna win some game, a game tonight, soon, i mean, sometime, soon" (drunk man)
"well i don't even like the leafs" (young boy with his dad)
"you don't like the leafs!?"
"i'm a montreal canadiens fan, and so is my dad"
at this point the whole bus was cracking up.  the exchange went on but i don't remember any more specifics.  it was pretty cute especially considering that the man seemed to smarten up a little and level with the child instead of being a belligerent drunk.

photo credit

so that's the ttc for ya.

karl pilkington

is my new favourite human being. 

i've been listening to the ricky gervais out now podcasts.  it's ricky, stephen merchant and karl pilkington talking about different subjects to promote their upcoming (now outdated) audio books.  despite being anti-headphones on the ttc, this has been worth it.  i'm the only person on the train smiling on my morning commute. actually i'm more than smiling, i'm in stitches.  and maybe a couple of people look at me like i'm a crazy, but that's okay.
here is a link to listen to some of the podcasts, alternatively you can upload them through itunes or purchase the audio books.  once i'm done with these i'm going to start watching an idiot abroad.  they have several different projects so i'll be sorting [laughing hysterically] my way through them.

you know who else is funny?  stewart lee. 
disclosure: to all harry potter fans [i know you're reading this because you're my biggest supporter robyn], please don't take him personally, he probably secretly loves hp.  to people who don't like the f word, please plug your ears around 1:12.  thanks.

i have one final funny.  it came from darryl's trash can this morning.  it really summed up the day for me, so i kept it. enjoy.

things not to do

here is a list of things not to do... (list may or may not be based on true events)

• neglect to use a bookmark (if you are against dog-earing pages)
• forget your book somewhere you may never see it again*
• order something from threadless before christmas**
• wear brand new suede heels on a slushy and salted sidewalk (and expect them not to get ruined)
• lend your metropass to someone***
• expect there to be no ttc delays when you have to be somewhere
• eat or drink (anything) while wearing your favourite clothing
• let me choose which lineup to get in
• lose your brand new glasses
• forget to return dvd rentals on time
• forget to buy toilet paper when you're on the last roll
• wait three weeks to do your laundry****
• stare directly at the sun....



photo taken on the gabriola ferry in november 2010

* because if you get it back you'll have no idea what page you're on as a result of previously stated negligence
** when you alert threadless that your items haven't arrived at all nevermind in time for christmas, they will kindly reply that the items you wanted are now out of stock, joy.
*** and realize they didn't return it when you're waiting in line for the streetcar without any change
**** and expect any stains will come out

please feel free to add to this list at anytime...

are you aware?

today was one of those days where the world was against me.  nothing in particular except everything in general.  luckily i stumbled upon this little gem...

i'm going to share this one too because i like how you can see that it's snowing.




i noticed it from across the street and stopped dead in my tracks.  i think i was drawn to it because somehow it looks like a vintage ad.  imagine being absentmindedly bombarded with that question... or maybe you were when you saw the picture?  one of the things i love about toronto is the diversity of the people.  culturally, politically, artistically, everyone brings something unique to the city. 

today after work i was descending the steps at st. andrew station. a man came flying from behind me and actually kicked me (accidentally) as he flung himself onto the train (while the doors were closing).  it made a loud noise and several people turned to see what it was.  i was embarrassed but i laughed it off, besides i'm made out of titanium.  he got on the train, and i stayed behind without serious injury.  i wonder what made him rush to the train so violently?  doesn't he know they come every 1 - 2 minutes in rush hour?  doesn't he realize that he was endangering himself and others?  i wonder if he is aware of the beauty he brings this place...  i wonder about a lot.

i'm glad tomorrow is tuesday.

city talk and other tales

i'm all over the map here...

something i noticed today, a lot of people are dressed like "where's waldo".... and i thought to myself, who wakes up in the morning and thinks... i'm going to dress like waldo today? it weirds me out.

another thing i think about sometimes... is that when you're in the city, natural beauty is hard to come by. it's there, but you have to keep an eye out. after living on vancouver island for the better part of five years and being surrounded by mountains, ocean, and old growth forest... the views in the city can be kind of harsh. when i first moved back to toronto in september 2009 i was so excited by everything it had to offer, there was so much potential. after i started working downtown, and commuting underground in the rush hours... that potential had the potential to ruin me. it's taken time and patience, but i am truly happy to be in toronto. while i may not be awe struck by the mountains every morning, i have found beauty in the city. it can be as simple looking out my window and seeing rooftops covered with a fresh coat of snow, a vibrant sunset, the way a shadow is cast on the sidewalk, a pigeon nearly flying into my face... oh wait, that wasn't beautiful at all.... but anyway, you get the idea. and when i see these things i want to take pictures of them and share them with you.

and it doesn't stop at natural beauty... because i see beauty in humans every day. yes, i see ugliness in people too, but i have chosen to focus on the good... for my own sanity. and let's clarify that i'm not talking about aesthetically beautiful people and ugly people... i'm talking about people who are kind to one another, especially strangers. for example: yesterday i was entering queens park subway station and the woman ahead of me tried to hold the door but the wind blew it shut. she waved her arms apologetically. when i muscled the door open (with my muscly arms) she was waiting for me and she said "i'm so sorry i tried to hold it" and i replied that i understood and told her not to worry ... she then complimented my shoes and went so far as to note that while i was finishing my cigarette outside the station she was admiring them from afar. now that i'm typing this i realize she may sound kind of creepy, but trust me, i've seen creepy and this woman was entirely innocent. i have my best encounters on the subway during off-peak times. i have a bad habit of looking people in the eye and i realize that this is an invitation to talk to me. i know to keep my head down if i'm not in the mood to entertain strangers... for example... there was a man with a dolly cart(not a doll) at dundas west station yesterday, and i offered to hold the door for him. he declined my offer but thanked me... and then continued on about how he didn't want to go home because he lives in a boarding home... and he's a hoarder and he has roaches and mice... and he's trying to quit hoarding but the people at the boarding home want to kick him out... and somehow this led to him telling me that he wants to live with a woman and that mice are eating his condoms... and at this point i had to leave the bus station even though my bus hadn't arrived. i'll take some bad for some good though, what can you do?

humanity fascinates and terrifies me.

i looked into volunteering at the food bank but unfortunately all their shifts are during my work hours. i hope to find something i can commit to. i read recently about this amazing organization, Kiva: http://www.kiva.org/ in which you lend any denomination of money (i think it starts at $25) to a small business entrepreneur of your choosing. the pay back rate is something like 98%... go to the website and read more about it because i won't do it any justice. i read about it on a blog that i try and follow: http://www.raptitude.com/.

my friend amy sent me this video... it's great. you've probably seen it, but if you have you'd want to watch it again. it's pretty awesome. i had to research the name of the organization that posted it, as it was called reality changers and i had to know what that meant. upon visiting their website i was intrigued and inspired. so i thought i'd pass it on. lately it's been little things, that inspire me. and i think since realizing that inspiration is there but you have to look for it, create it almost... i dunno, i look for it i guess.

so that's all i have to say about that