Beautiful Bruce Peninsula

Recently I had the opportunity to take my camera for a drive through an incredible area of Ontario known as the Bruce Peninsula. You can find this gem by driving North on Hwy 6 until you feel the air lighten, the sky turn bluer and the trees grow thicker and taller. Or you can check on your map and once you reach Wiarton you are just entering the Peninsula.

On the west side of the peninsula you have sandy beaches and crystal clear water. You can walk out into the water for hundreds of feet and still the water is no higher than your shoulders.  The breezes on this side are gentle and warm. The sunsets are stunning!!

On the east side of the peninsula, the limestone cliffs thrust upwards from the deep Mediterranean waters of Georgian Bay.  The white and grey cliffs and rugged rocks are lined with Cyprus and pine. Some of the Cyprus up here are more than 1000 years old!!  The rocks form caverns and caves along the windy shore of Georgian Bay. The water is clear, frigid cold and very deep! No sandy, shallow beaches here!  Its incredible to see such opposite landscapes along each side of the peninsula.  You can drive from the east to the west sides in less than 30 mins!!

Check this site for more great information on this incredible area: The Bruce Peninsula

 

Hamilton, Ontario

Towards the end of March I took some time to walk around downtown Hamilton. It was a weekday, and I brought my camera, of course.

A bit of back story: I was not born in Hamilton. My hometown is a very short distance from Hamilton. I must admit, when I was growing up we were aware of Hamilton. In fact, it had a dubious reputation of a Steeltown that was full of pollution and derelicts. Of course like most rumour and heresay, I had never experienced Hamilton myself at that time, so I was unable to confirm the opinions.

Its almost as if the story wrote itself. I distinctly remember commenting not once but several times to my peers in my hometown, "Hamilton will be the last place on earth I will ever live..."

Through a series of life events and by taking the most indirect path possible; I found myself moving to and living in Hamilton Ontario about 17 years ago.

It took awhile for me to like then eventually appreciate Hamilton. As my daughters grew, we explored every nook and cranny of the city that was available to us.

Back to my walk around downtown, in present day:

Hamilton like most mid-sized cities has many great little jewels hidden in and around its buildings, people, roads, parks and green spaces. I took about 200 pictures that day, all from the downtown area. This first one here is something I stumbled upon by accident that day. As you can see, the side of the building is covered with an old Coca-Cola sign. It was

difficult to get a really good picture of it because the building next door is so close to it. Obviously the building on the right was built after the building on the left. At one time, the sign must have been fully visible. I thought it was pretty cool and it appeared to be pretty old. I wonder how many other old signs and curiosities like this one are hidden amongst the tangled buildings of the downtown??  Once I found this one, I tried in vain to see if I could spot anymore like it. So far I have not found others, but I'm fairly certain that there are more hidden gems like this in downtown Hamilton.

Hamilton Ontario is often used as a setting for feature films. Wikipedia lists 62 movies at the moment. I can see why it is a popular set for movies. The buildings downtown have alot of character. Add to that the cool signage, maze of alleyways and sprinkling of green spaces and you have an ideal backdrop for some great movies. So yes, I took about 200 pictures but I'm only posting a few here.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to take pictures of downtown scenes without getting any faces or license plates in them??? Really difficult. Mostly it requires some patience to stand quietly with camera at the ready, peering thru the view finder and waiting, waiting, waiting then taking the shot as soon as the picture is clear of faces and license plates.

Lets just say, I got alot of curious stares while I stood motionless with my camera at the ready.

One of my most favourite pictures of that day is this one. It was also one of the first ones I took. My timing was good that day, as the train was just pulling through as I stepped out of my car. Hamilton is also rife with train tracks criss-crossing the lower city.

As I look again at these photos and at older photos I've taken of the waterfalls and Bruce Trail and large parks in and around Hamilton, I wonder if my statement to my peers in my hometown was prophetic in nature. At this moment, I have no plans to leave Hamilton and take up living elsewhere. However, who knows what the future holds?? 

Spring Up, Spring Out, Spring Onward!!

Spring. New beginnings. New life. New adventures.

New challenges. New worries. New problems. New Fears. New misery.............

I don't want to be preachy. There's loads of that on the internet, tv, radio, magazines etc etc. I could quote several cute and well-known inspirational quotes and sayings: "Your altitude determines your attitude". "I have a dream.....". "Never never never never never give up........." "Turn that frown upsidedown"

 "When Life serves you lemons, make lemonade".

You catch my drift.

I used to allow myself to always get caught up in the little things. Someone would cut me off on the highway and I would arrive at work all fired up and peeved at ......................at what???  A person who I will never meet or likely cross paths with again??? For all I know they were rushing off to a medical emergency. Or they were distracted with worry about some personal tragedy.  Yet, here I was, peeved with a person I "made up" in my own mind. Some son-of-a-bleepy-bleep.  Really???

Now I realize how incredibly dumb and pointless it is to allow such meaningless events shape how the rest of my day/week will go.

Lets further this a bit more.

What about events that are not so "meaningless"? Like say for example, you find yourself suddenly unemployed, out of work, without a job. Probably your first reaction would be anger, shock, dismay, extreme worry, frustration and confusion. What are you going to do now?

Your whole world is now spinning out of control, no job!?! No money!!! Can't pay my bills, can't get that new dress I saw yesterday, can't take the family to dinner and a movie, can't book a vacation to Disneyland!!!! OMG!!! The world has ended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

really?

Once you have recovered from the initial shock of the new challenge of being unemployed, the next step is to carry on. I mean, what other choice do you have? You carry on OR you can jump off a bridge.  Now I am certainly NOT recommending the latter, I merely want to demonstrate that WORRY/FEAR/ANGER/FRUSTRATION are ALL POINTLESS!!!!!!!

Does worry, fear, anger, or frustration solve your problems?

Do they make you feel better?

Do they make others feel better?

Do they help you sleep at night?

Do they assist in your appetite?

Do they help any existing medical conditions you have?

NO, Nada...........Negatory!!!

THEN STOP IT!!

  

I have decided to "just stop it". It's a work in progress. I am not perfect at it. My first reaction to new challenges or roadblocks is still often fear. BUT I don't hold onto the fear. Once I've acknowledged it, I let it go. I acknowledge I have a problem then I work towards managing the "problem".

Since I've been doing this, I sleep much better. My overall mood is happier. I have alot of challenges to work through. Some of them seem insurmountable. But rather than allow myself to wallow in the depths of my own manufactured self-misery, I choose instead to take each day as it unfolds. Sure, I make plans, and have a list of things I'd "like" to do that day. But I also practice flexibility. When things don't pan out exactly as I imagined I adjust to the new scenario and keep moving on.

Sometimes, life can really suck. But it can only affect you, if you let it. You have control over how you choose to see and feel about the events surrounding and enveloping your life. You can jump up and down and scream and yell and get depressed and miserable about having to fix your car....Again!!! Or, you can just find a way to get it done.

simple

Holiday Season Lament

Hi again;

Sorry its been too long since I last posted on this blog. Life has a way of taking you in multiple directions all simultaneously....
But, I digress.

Count-down 2011 is underway. Just four more sleeps until the BIG day. The holiday season is upon us, and you can sure tell; since most people I see out-and-about are sporting the latest frown and sneer. What you say?! Grinch am I??? Gosh no!! Just making an observation.

So lets delve deeper. Why the unhappiness? Why has this season turned into something it was never meant to be?? Why the frustration and dispair???

Well, lets go much deeper, and look at how this holiday started. Yes, I'm walking a thin line now; because there are alot of opinions as to just how it started. There's the well-known biblical story, which many christians adhere to without question. Yet, there are even more belief systems that do not recognize the day, at all. Weird eh? Well, not really. However, for the purpose of this diatribe, I'm more interested in the meaning behind the day, not the actual factual existence whereof or foreto or however it might or might not have happened. To delve into the religious aspect of the day would be a long and endlessly verbose writing; which many before me have already done. Maybe this one helps Or maybe this explanation is more to your liking
Whew!! I almost got lost google searching "how christmas began" But, I'm back now.

Okay, so my point, and yes I'm getting to it.......why are we so obsessed/determined/persuaded/convinced that buying gifts is the only way to celebrate this day??? I have always, ever since I was a child, looked forward to the holidays because I could spend time with family and friends that I don't normally see through the year, and extra time with those that I do see through the year. I enjoyed, and still enjoy, the sharing of food and conversation, of telling and re-telling stories and laughing together with these people whom I love. I have excellent memories of going tobogganing with adults and kids on Dec 25th, building snowmen, playing board games and card games.

I did a brief survey this week, and asked several people I met here and there what they thought about the materialistic turn that the holiday has taken. What did they say??? I was surprised that all of them agreed with me. They felt that too much importance is placed on the gift giving and not enough on the family gathering/togetherness. Some even went as far as to tell me about how their family decided NOT to buy gifts anymore, and focus soley on the family togetherness. Wow!! Nice!!

So, maybe there is some hope then??!?

If we all; or the majority of us, feel this way, then why are we still buying into the holiday?? Literally???

Here is what Dec 25th means to me:
Giving. Giving of yourself. Giving your time to help when you see someone in need, even randomly; while out walking. Pick up the toy you just saw someones child hurl across the store. Help a senior carry the grocery bag to the car. Talk to the person at the cash register. Give a warm hug to a friend or your kids!! Give a friendly smile to a stranger. Give a moment to someone, anyone for conversation, maybe while in line at the grocery store. Give your time to write a letter (the "old fashioned" way, with paper and pen)  to someone you once knew and miss dearly. Give your heart to your most loved partner, open up and tell them how you feel about them, never take for granted that most special relationship. Give your soul to your children, listen to them when they speak and give your time to play with them.

Since the day is open to whatever we choose to do, I choose to spend it with those I love most. I give them my time, by listening to their stories and conversations. I share a smile and a giggle. We share our food and I re-learn how to hug and feel close to those I don't see often enough. And I open my heart and soul to those I love most dearly.

I can't wrap any of these gifts. These gifts of giving. I can't put them under the tree. I can't find them at a big box store or at the mall. Yet these gifts are given freely; without expectation of anything in return. Because in giving of yourself, you already receive a most amazing gift in return.

But, I'm not going to tell you what that is.

You'll have to find out, for yourself!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Murmurings, Motorcycles, Meatballs and Mutterings

Sorry for the long lapse between posts. Sometimes, as I'm sure you'll agree; life takes you by the hand and leads to somewhere you never expected. :)
And sometimes, it shows you a path that you always hoped to find, but never thought you would. I'm on that path now, and someone wonderful is holding my hand.

Motorcycles and those who are keen about motorcycles and everything motorcyclish are definitely a special breed of people. I found myself sitting in a walk-in clinic earlier this week with my motorcycle keen daughter; waiting to see if there was or was not anything broken. Lucky for both of us; she was merely bruised and not broken. I've posted the video of the spectacular race which ended in a mid-air crash on my Facebook page. And I have included a few pics of my motorcycle-keen-daughter here:

It seems I have a meatball devouring monster in my house. To date I've made two batches of my homemade meatballs in the past 4 wks. (a recipie from Gordon Ramsay that I've slightly tweaked) First batch was 16 and the second was 20 meatballs. These all disappeared within 24hrs of making. Since then; I've stocked up on ground beef and bread crumbs. Maybe I will actually get a few from the next batch I make.


In case you haven't already seen the links on this blog, I have alot of projects on the go on the internet. My web site, word press blog, blogger blog, You Tube videos, Facebook and LinkedIn seem to command a fair bit of my time. You can check these out by following these links:
Web site
Word Press Blog
You Tube
Facebook
LinkedIn


Till next week, happy meatball eating and motorcycle watching!!

Wilson!!? Is that you??

This adventure actually occurred a few weeks ago. But its still legit and interesting. We were walking the pier at the Burlington lift bridge. Guess who I saw?? Wilson!!!

okay well it wasn't exactly Wilson the volleyball from Castaway, possibly it was his cousin. Either way the poor thing was stranded floating all alone in the bay. If you look really close, you can see him smiling at the camera!

I was lucky to take my camera that day, because I had the opportunity to take some great pics of a large ship coming into the channel into Hamilton Harbour. The ships name is Canadian Enterprise. "Make it so, Number One"  



Pretty cool??  I thought it was.
These two other pics are my favourites of the sky, sun and "sea".

Most of my pics will have cloudy skies. I think its more interesting, and the colours, shadows and lights express a deeper emotion than the sunny clear blue sky! :)
Happy Flashpointing!

Surfing, shwarma, super dogs and socializing

The CNE, Canadian National Exhibition is still one of the coolest events around. Affectionately know as "The Ex" in the GTA, it was first established in 1879, according to Wiki.


My daughter and I spent the day yesterday wandering around this great exhibition. She spent some time trying out her skills on the flow rider. We took in the great shows, including the Super Dog show, always a fun time. The miniature horses were sooo cute. I think one of my cats is bigger than some of them!! lol

The Food Building is self-explanatory. My daughter and I both being adventurous, tried out a few new items, and indulged in the familiar chicken shwarma with a wonderful sweet finish of baklava. Yum Yum!!


Of course we had to check out the International Building, which is chock-full of incredible products from around the world. You have to know your merchandise and your prices to survive this part of the exhibition with your wallet still heavy enough to buy lunch; but, its well worth wandering around and looking at all the great stuff. One vendor of particular note, was offering hand-made hats, mitts, scarves, sweaters etc all 100% alpaca wool!! Incredible! And quite affordable as most of the sweaters were in the $50-60 range. We also met a very nice gentleman who was demonstrating all-natural body products. He showed us a mint body and face wash, a mud and gold flake masque and a wonderful moisturizer. We didn't buy, but will definitely check out his products later online and likely purchase some later on. He said they have a shop in Hamilton.....we were like, "really?"  LOL We live in Hamilton. Another place we stopped at hailed from Grimsby. It seemed that even though we were in Toronto, we were oddly attracted to vendors from our own neighbourhood.

Moving on to the Arts and Crafts building, we found so many talented people offering so many cool and unique items; it was starting to get hard to keep the cash in my pocket. We decided to start collecting business cards instead, so we could check out the vendors online, for purchases later. I was very surprised that not all of the vendors had business cards or a web site.

I have no formal training in marketing, however, I do know that the best way to get the word out about your products is to talk about what you do to everyone you know and to always have at the very least, business cards on hand in case anyone asks for it. I could be wrong, but my thinking is that if you are paying for a vendors table or booth at a fair or festival or exhibition, its extremely important to realize the full potential of the event. The potential for sales are not limited to just the event, because many visitors like myself, will use the event as a time to explore and inquire about new products, collecting information and contact the vendor later to make a purchase. In addition, if I liked something in particular, I will tell my peers about what I saw and again another possible sales opportunity for the vendor. BUT! If you don't have a business card; this can't happen! 

In addition to the business card, anyone who has a product or service to sell should have a web site. There are tons of free web site hosting services on the internet. It costs nothing except your time to setup a one page site with your basic product details, a few nice pictures and contact information for prospective buyers to find out.

As you know, I am a graphic and web designer; and if you don't know how to design your card or web site, this I can do for you!!

The other item of interested that I noted is that the website for the CNE does not offer detailed information or contact information for any of the vendors at the show. I think that adding this to their web site would generate more interest by fair-goers. AND, the CNE could offer this service to the vendors for an additional fee. All that would be needed is a simple listing of the vendor/company name, the product and a link to the vendor's web site. Think of the possibilities!!

All in all, I had a really great day, and so did my daughter. I can't wait till next year!!