it takes a village

IMGP2431.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

Snapped in Greenwich Village. Michael and I popped in to buy a pack of Nat Sherman's for a friend of his.

Of this kooky little shop- there is an interesting fact to point out:

laid permanently in in the sidewalk (you can just make out the point of the plaque right at the door) is a marker that reads:

"Property of the Hess Estate
which has never been dedicated for public purposes"

"There used to be a five-story residential building on Christopher Street called the Voorhis. It was condemned in the 1910s to make way for the IRT subway. However, the Voorhis' owner, David Hess, refused to surrender this small plot to the city to become part of 7th Avenue South's new sidewalk. The Hesses created this mosaic to let everyone know of their small (VERY small) victory against the city.

Village Cigars moved to its present corner site in 1922, and bought the 500-square inch property from the Hesses for $1,000. The mosaic has stayed put."

and the envelope says...

You're the next contestant on the crazy train.

And that's what can happen in life and it can come cleverly disguised as a piece of mail.

One minute it's a simple brown envelope. Flat. Crisp. Punctual in it's neatly typed address label. Stamped.

The next it's a can of whoop-ass crazy with a jagged torn metal cuff and some sort of halitosis of the brain inside.

That.is.all.I.will.ever.say.

I have a little white cat who long ago became accustomed to having 24hr access to the outdoors. When I moved to my new apartment I had to construct Ruby's ability to get in and out through a small window 5 ft off the ground. So a little ramp was constructed and the window remained open.

In all effort to be more energy efficient, my landlord constructed a window to fit in the window. A frame fitted with plastic sheeting and a little cardboard door- just slightly bigger than Ruby's head. So, sometimes, you can hear her scratching on the ramp and then her little pink nose pushed the cardboard door and her little head emerges.



Funnier still is when the last thing you see is the last of her one leg as she makes her way down the ramp immediately on the other side.

It's that time of year again...

...when I agree to post everyday in the month of November. This should be interesting given that I have been prone to uninspired and somewhat angry inner thoughts lately. These have been systematically kept off my blog in the past, due to the fact that the very nature of this portal- as indicated by the title- is to post the things that need more kisses (or praise, or exposure..).

Mmmn.. maybe I just answered my own conundrum.

Onwards.. to National Blog Posting Month. Who's with me?

hello- my name is jack

hello- my name is jack, originally uploaded by jill y.

busy bees

Ya- I don't have too much to say right now. I'm kind of busy and not feeling creative. Today might have gone the way that many before it had.. off to work, solve problems, work late, come home, make dinner or order in, retreat to beautiful flannel sheets, and the biggest puffiest feather duvet I could buy covered in flannel. Get cat to purr in the crook of my arm. Fall asleep.

But tonight is different..back in May I decided to buy a ticket to the Madonna concert. I almost forgot about it and now I'm running late.. but tonight is different than the last few.


I'll fill you in later...

on green, originally uploaded by jill y.

guess where

guess where, originally uploaded by jill y.

Janis Joplin's Bathtub

Janis Joplin's Bathtub, originally uploaded by jill y.

Did I ever tell you about the time I talked my way in to the house Janis Joplin owned when she died? No? Maybe I'll tell you that story tomorrow.

{72/365} love in silly places, originally uploaded by happygirltc.

You know when all things seem to happen at once and there is almost no time to get anything done lest of all hire someone to help you.. there really is only one thing to do and that's..


I desire one of these lovely posters/ tshirts/ bags/ whatever but they don't ship to Canada. Must find another way..Heidi.. may be this is the thing you can help me get from the UK.

update: I have the shirt ordered!! YA

and here's the history behind...

"a bird in the hand"

"a bird in the hand", originally uploaded by jill y.

For Friday

where ever you go- there you are.

In March, on a Wednesday, I found I was going to Tokyo on Friday- for a week. I stayed in a remarkable hotel styled after the hip era of the 1970's except with rice paper screens and toilets that cleaned up up after. I found charming little sun powered bobble head dolls and had to buy another piece of luggage to being 10 of them back because they were 5 bucks each. I also bought a vintage kimono on the street. Tokyo was cool.

In May, I took off for Toronto and caught up with a dear old rocker friend, Gene, for a few drinks and laughs before I took off for Havana with a 2am arrival. The tropical air engulfed me and under mild intoxication from crushed mint and rum- Cuba and I had a 2 week love affair and I visited 10 different and crazy places.

A week after coming home from Cuba, I was whisked off to the tropical paradise of Scottsdale Arizona to entertain the masses with my funny jokes and fresh face mask making. The hotel was brilliant. Like an oasis.

In July, I was packed again and headed for London, where I was met at the airport by my old friend Heidi. We stopped talking to one another nearly 15 years earlier and pretty much picked up just about where we left off but better. I met her charming partner Matt and their happy little baby- Indie. We spent the day in the park eating cheese, fruit and drinking ciders. So perfect.

Then for the next 5 days, I lived in the Selsdon Park Compound where I partook in team building exercises, dressed up like Tippy Hedren from The Birds complete with fake blood and a million tiny birds, engaged in vegan cuisine, lead discussions on Motivation, and conducted a presentation in front of the leaders of the 5 global Lush Manufacturing Companies. Then I had summarize the NA Manu meeting in front of all of global Lush. I like to say I was motivated by fear.
I did manage to sneak away in London and find a 300 year old cheese shop. Nuff said.

On the heels of London, I flew to Edmonton to meet with my bike and do a little trail riding for old time's sake. I met up with old friends Pete, Vince, Tracy, Sean, Sherry, Sandy, Elizabeth, Alf, Evan, and anybody else I could happen to find. A little Folk Fest action happened (along with Heritage Days and Fort Edmonton). Took a drive down into the country and saw my mom and grandmother. Always perfect.

In September, it was time to pack my bags again for a whirlwind trip to NYC where in a flurry activity the Christmas Lush lineup was set up and presented to the NY Press. I got to be demo girl extraordinaire and make my favorite product ever- Angels on Bare Skin and talk it up and give it away to gate crashing editors. Then we tore it all down in one night and I walked away from the Hudson Hotel and headed for the Chelsea.

And for 2 glorious nights, Michael and I stayed in the historic Chelsea Hotel, in a room with a balcony and regretfully- no ghosts. We made friends with the cafe around the corner and wandered aimlessly through the West Village, Greenwich, Soho and Central Park and did nothing.

And there it is- my year of wanderlust and wonderful opportunity. Lest I forget how fortunate I have been this year.

I stumbled upon this Etsy seller. This bag is so gorgeous I half wonder if I could commission a similar one with something similar to my wheat and rose tattoo?? So pretty..

from the archives..

True stuff folks, from the archives of Time Magazine...

Monday, Feb. 11, 1929

Ring

At Saint-Brieux, France, one Victor Rousoult was walking along the docks where he worked, when a dangling hook caught in the ring on his finger. The derrick from which the hook dangled hoisted ring, finger and Rousoult 100 feet into the air. Comrades saw, shouted. The derrick lowered Rousoult to the ground. When he was within a few feet of landing, his finger tore off.

Aged

Near Cairo, Egypt, last week, the police commandant discovered, living alone in a six-foot shack, an Arab who said he was born at the opening of the American Revolution (153 years ago) and who remembered the massacre of the Mamelukes by Mohammed Ali in 1811.

In the village of Latti in the Caucasian mountains, last fortnight, Henri Barbusse, French author, discovered a peasant named Nikolai Andreyevich Shapkofski who has a social insurance card showing that he is 146 years old and entitled to draw a pension of 50 rubles ($27.50) a month. Peasant Shapkofski has only one tooth left and therefore does not eat as heartily as he did a few years ago. But he still drinks plenty of wine. His last child, a daughter, was born when he was 120 years old.

Near Siler City, N. C., last fortnight, a woman reporter interviewed "Uncle" Ance Watson, 112, onetime slave, and his son, 75. Said Watson Sr.: "If my Missus didn't go to Heaven, den Heaven is sho scarce of white folks."

In Rochelle, Va., Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, 93, was cutting, last week, her third set of natural teeth.

Latchkey

In Willesden, England. Magistrate Lloyd Williams upheld the right of a father to take away the latchkey of a daughter who stayed out after 10 p. m.

Well.. whatyaknow..

don't forget to send a thank you note to life

The annual celebration of Thanksgiving came and went and mostly I was thankful for an extra day off but then I kind of gave it some thought.

So.. in no particular order, thanks for:

• Parents that were/are pretty decent human beings who made sure I had a clean bed, breakfast lunch and dinner and new clothes and school supplies every Sept.
• Family of amazing character on both sides behind them.
• A farm in my childhood.
  
• my beloved maternal grandfather. I've missed you terribly for 33 years.
  
• family pet cats. Duchess and Ming
• My maternal grandmother who taught me to bake bread, crotchet, knit, embroider, sew and raised my lovely mother- among other things
  
• My mother who always maintained it was better to be my parent than my friend. Now she is my best friend.
• My sister who gives me pillows that say, "I'm smiling because you are my sister and laughing because there is nothing you can do about it."
  
• My father for giving me my intellect and stubbornness and maybe some "issues" but I'd be nowhere without them or at least not wonderful me.
  
• my job for it's flexibility, challenges, frustrations and opportunities
• cheese- the first time I ever felt passionate about anything
• hostels- the first time I felt really truly happy was when I lived in one for a month.
  
• my beautiful Michael and for the last 5 years. I always suspected love could be so effortless and simple.
• the boyfriends of the past for I see now that it isn't supposed to be a struggle.
• old blues music you make me feel calm
• white sneakers, Levi's and white t-shirt- you are my uniform
• wheat and wild roses- you are my preferred landscape
• health- without you I'd be sick and sick sucks
• clinical depression- you taught me to be less hard on myself and to try and eat my greens. I love how you slink around in the background waiting to pounce again. You're so playful in your darkness, you funny thing you.
  
• Jon Penner, Sandy Smith, Rob Grant, Sue Foley- you 4 made up some of the best times in my 20's. They were roaring thanks to you.
  
• photography- I always wanted to draw or paint pictures. Thanks for filling in the blanks,
• mashed potatoes, butter and gravy.
• art nouveau
• Cuba- I loved you
• Scotland- you're hot
• my cool landlord's who care more about a community in the house than making a buck
• Ruby- the playful white cat that sleeps in the nook of my arm at night
• bird song and prancing squirrels
• bike riding
• friends in Edmonton- Tracy, Vince, Evan, Alf, everyone- you make coming home worth it
• friends in far away places- Bess, Heidi, Tim- you make getting out of dodge a possibility
• my blog. you need a revamp but without you, where would all this stuff go???
  

just because..

janis jOplin, originally uploaded by PinCheCha_Sk8.

dinner time

I'm burnt out. Sold. Done. You know the drill- nothing to say and I don't feel like cooking- except this... Western Spaghetti.



Stop Motion Spaghetti Cooking - Watch more free videos

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel, you were talking so brave and so sweet, giving me head on the unmade bed, while the limousines wait in the street.

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel, you were talking so brave and so sweet, giving me head on the unmade bed, while the limousines wait in the street., originally uploaded by jill y.

5 friends

I remember you well at the...

IMGP2316.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

You can see the rest of my photos from the historic Chelsea Hotel here.

power walk to Central Park-Upper Westside, NYC

IMGP2376.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

IMGP2250.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

notes on NY

- the food was amazing with large portions and reasonable prices. We ate many meals at Cafe Champignon on 7th ave, around the corner from the Chelsea and Kashkaval , near the Hudson Hotel. Kashkaval had scrumptious cheese fondues of which I had twice!

-Speaking of Cheese.. there appears to be only one or two specialty cheese shops in all of NY. other than that- you have of course, Dean & Deluca and Balducci's for your one stop gourmet shop.

-there is no recycling evident. For a city of that stature, I was surprised to see metal waste bins brimming with plastic bags, bottles, paper and discarded newspapers. Surprised at the amount of packaging forced upon your purchases. 2 pieces of pizza wielded 2 paper plates, 2 pieces of tin foil, 2 paper bags, and an offer of a 3rd. Plastic bags were offered constantly. Even when I bought reusable bags at The Strand, I was offered a plastic bag for them. There were places that upon entering, offered a long plastic bag for your umbrella.

-alot of people own big dogs. Where do they put them? Thank goodness for the off leash dog runs in most parks. I couldn't believe the size of the dogs. Must be the equivalent of the phenomenon of the size of a personal vehicle equates to someones financial stature. If you have a large dog, therefore, you have a large apartment= $$. Alternatively, we also noticed the absence of cats. None in the quaint village streets, nor sitting in windows or bookshops.

- the city constantly has scaffolding and appears to be in a constant state of repair. While in town, Bloomberg announced a website where citizens could report a pot- hole to assist with the upkeep of NYC.

-people in NY all need a lesson in umbrella etiquette.

chelsea nights

Dreams do come true. Sometimes you have to pay for them though. But whatever..it's a dream. And mine was to sleep in the Chelsea Hotel. And if I could get a balcony room- that'd be swell. Throw in 12 foot ceilings, a kitchen and 2 beds and Michael and I are in heaven.

(Last 2 nights we stayed in the Hudson Hotel which was ridiculously expensive,painted entirely in the color of muddy grey, dimly lite and room was the size of a small shoebox. The bed was stiff as the starched sheets babysitting a sheet of feather duvet masquerading as a blanket.A bottle of water on the table that proudly announced it could be ours to quench for only $7.95 made us feel completely at home. The finishing delight was the hotel lost a gift bag that was left at the front desk for me!!)

But now, it is so much better. I'm in the Chelsea. Free to wander around and take photos. Free to talk to the residents. Free to linger in the lobby and soak up all the history, energy and secretly for 2 days, pretend that I too live at the Chelsea Hotel.

what to do on a Friday night in Brooklyn

Alex Itin: Reading Room, originally uploaded by alex itin.

Luckily, Michael and I will be in NY and really.. it's not like we have anything else to do but watch TV in the Chelsea Hotel!!

By the way.. a little background.. I "met" Alex Itin when he randomly commented on a photo I published to Flickr. A few comments exchanged and a few emails after that, it turned out that he was a friend of a good friend of mine. The randomness of it all is astounding.

not your everyday walk around the block

I got an email this morning.. my mother is out walking..

"Walked 23 K today. We stopped for coffee, lunch beside a lovely forest stream and then for a beer. The weather remains great, warm & sunny. Today our trail took us through a lot of country side and forest. Saw and smelled Eucalyptus trees, also saw lots of pine, oak, ferns, and vineyards everywhere. Saw a family harvesting the grapes today, standing on boxes in the field beside a wagon. There is also a lot of corn, sometimes in the front or back yard or anywhere there is an acre or two of land..

We have 43 K left to walk. The trail is quite well marked with signs - yellow scallop shells on posts with the kilometers or yellow arrows on posts, stone walls, the pavement, and wherever. We have to keep watch as we walk to avoid having to go back to the last sign. And everywhere there are shrines. The local people are very friendly and wave and smile and sometimes give us blessings. Sometimes older women lean out of their upstairs windows to greet us. The older women all wear dresses and aprons."

My mother is walking the El Camino De Santiago and she is officially renewed her membership as my personal hero.

top 10 things to do

1. embroider christmas gifts
2. publicly display my photographs for money
3. loose 30-40 lbs
4. accept the natural opportunities in life
5. pay someones rent
6. ride everyday for a week then a month
7. visit buenos aries
8. knit the slippers from the cashmere wool I bought 2 years ago..
9. tidy the tickle trunk
10. kill the gym member ship

walk in style

I was curious about Ked's new "shoe studio" and decided to play around. I picked a random photo I had of one of my favorite flowers, but the possibilities are endless.

And you know you are a "wild rose" and if you must, you can buy the shoe here.

after the rain

IMGP0475.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

dreams

It's not on my list of 100 things to do before I go, but it should be and it should be number one.

I've wanted to do this for years...

I've dreamed about this...

I've adored the idea of...

Staying in the Chelsea Hotel in NYC.

And I'm going to do it and it's costing a pretty penny but I'm going to do it. Vespa's can wait until next year. (Maybe)

chelsea, originally uploaded by jill y.

Cuban Gems

I loved Cuba. Loved it more than I thought I would. Loved it despite the heat. Loved it despite the lack of pubic transportation. Loved it despite the dirty and matted wild cats and dogs that roamed the streets in near death. I loved Cuba. I want to go back. I have finally put all my photos up on Flickr, but here are my absolute favorites.

Psst.. they're for sale too.

blue

blue, originally uploaded by jill y.

calling all creative types

This site needs a revamp. Know what I'm saying?? Seriously. The Coca Cola font need to go. I'm looking for mastheaders, blog creators, html'ers and all you in my homeotown of Edmonton to drop in and say hi. I see you.

love,
Jill

travels abroad

IMGP2073.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

We met when I was walking on my way to get a passport photo. He drove past me in a something or other that was not like the rest of the cars on the road. It was a Bronco or something. He was cool. I waved at him. I'd seen him around.

He lived in my neighborhood and we hung around the same bar, playing pool and shooting the shit. I'm not entirely sure what put us together. One day Alf just put his arm around me and that was that. Caveman style. But, strangely, we used to go for brunch with his parents and we both liked pea coats.

I stayed with him just before I left for Europe, borrowing a cashmere sweater. I remember coming back to his apartment with 5 grand in traveller's cheques and throwing them around in an odd excitement. I figure we dated for about 3-4 months before that and I went to the Heineken Brewery just for him.

One day he found the hostel number of where I had been living in Edinburgh and called the public phone. Someone got me and there he was calling from around the word to wish me a Happy Canada Day. It's that kind of thing that makes up for the tine I caught him in his robe with the dodgy girl next door.

But that was Alf.

Salty and Sweet. Like salt water taffy. I saw him walking towards me in a random crowd of Folk festers and was stuck on him again. We ended up meeting later and I snapped this.

And its too bad I didn't take a picture of us together.

IMGP2016.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

rhymes with heaven

back in the day, originally uploaded by jill y.

Back when I was about 17, I lived with my boyfriend. Earlier, we had met in a serendipitous manner by, believe it or not, by having a silent conversation from across a street. Punctuated by hand gestures, we connected and one of us crossed the street. That night we went for a walk long down Whyte Avenue to an abandoned slaughter house- our first "date". We explored and talked and laughed. His name was Evan and I could only remember it by remembering it rhymed with heaven. We were together from that point on.

One day we went to a tattoo parlor, on my suggestion, and had matching 8 petal daisies of yellow and green forever etched into our wrists. I still have mine. He covered up his. But back then we cold hold hands and our flowers would match.

On another day, I got an eviction notice from the rooming house I was living in and he invited me to live with him. Everyday he wrote me a note and taped a loonie to it. That was my bus fare to high school. I don't remember much of those days really. Of catching the bus and being in class and talking with friends. I remember being with Evan.

I remember when we broke up. When we cried and I yelled. When I slammed down the phone and when I burned all the letters. I had kept every one in a coffee can. I lite them all on fire and watched them turn to sooty ash in a the crisp white snow, turning to liquid around the corners of the can. And I remember the years he wouldn't talk to me despite my best efforts.

I'm really glad that 20 years later, we are friends again. I met up with Evan at the Edmonton Folk Festival and whatever it was that sparkled in his eyes the day I first met him, I saw it again and adored him still.

IMGP2080.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

visual feasting

Much quicker than my photos from Cuba (which aren't all up, mind you), I have posted all my photos from a recent trip to Edmonton.

You can see the Edmonton Photos here and the photos of Fort Edmonton here.

I hope you like them.

people caught in pictures dancing, always look like they are doing the zombie walk.

IMGP1952.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

Edmonton Folk Fest!!

fall down and get back up

I slipped up. Relapsed. Fell off the wagon. How many other euphemisms are there for fucked up? I wish I could say what it is that I messed up on but I can't. I can't write it here and I can say it to anyone either. It's just one of those things. It's like having a friend that's a secret drunk and they come to you and tell you that they drank again, but they vow to stop the next time and all you hear after a while are the excuses. And it's frustrating to watch. That's me, but I'm not a secret drunk.

So I can't tell anyone I fell off the wagon. I can't say how hurt and ashamed and remorseful I feel because it will go away and likely it will happen again. And I'll fool myself into thinking it doesn't matter. No amount of opening up will bring any sort of aid or support. But I had to tell someone. Say something.

I fucked up. I fell off the wagon. It hurts. I'm sad and full of regret.

Now I'll get myself back up, dust off my bloody knees and carry on.

Thanks for listening.

oil town

oil, originally uploaded by jill y.

a trip back in time

Today, me and my friend Tracy are going for a fierce ride. Likely 15 k to go back in time. We'll snake through downtown, across the High Level Bridge, over to the southside Farmer's Market, through the neighbourhood where I grew up, down one fierce hill and voila.. we'll be at Fort Edmonton.

I have adored Fort Edmonton in the past. I think it's been about 25 years since I have been there though. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Fort is partly to blame for my fascination with all things 1930's antique- which is really things left over from the turn of the century. Whatever it is, I enjoy the people in costumes, the old stores where you can buy rock candy, the hotel and restaurants and wood slat boardwalks.

vow

I took one to not eat meat for 30 days. In an unprovoked incident, I broke the vow within 36 hrs. Very unconsciously ordered blackened chicken at Dadeo's. It was an automatic gesture and I thank girth that I didn't choose the blackened chick po'boy (the choice of so many visits.)But it arrived and I started to eat and completely realized that I had taken a 'declaration' of sorts. I realized that me eating meat is may be an automatic, possibly desired, accidental occurrence.

Must be more diligent.

end of the road

IMGP1931.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

out in rural Alberta

My calf looks like a barely missed the grips of a grizzly bear and I could run with that story since I've been out in rural Alberta not minding my own business. But it's much more foolish than that. Nothing really, I stumbled, fell and graciously snagged a bike with my flesh.

(I would like to mention, with considerable blood appearing from my wound, 3 people walking down the street, gawked at me, made comments to themselves..."oh my gawd."-and kept walking!)

IMGP1941.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

Despite this minor injury, I endured numerous inclinations to incline towrds the top of Gallager Hill in search of choice vantage points. The Edmonton Folk Fest did get off to a rocky start but ended up being really sweet.

IMGP1954.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

currency

IMGP1857.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

Today I stood in the middle of my ill-spent youth.
By the hockey benches
and green grass rinks
where I smoked illicit cigarettes
after school
and played truth or dare with boys.

I walked down the alley's of my adolescence
and stole the sweet and tender young raspberries
from the bushes that defiantly taken root
on the wrong side of the fence.

Riding by a park,
I remembered the day when my friend told me
she lost her virginity in a hotel room
to a man she met in a bar.
We swung high on the swing sets,
our converse sneakers and feet dangling.
Kicking at the dust of our childhood
while we spent the shiny coins of our youth.

walking

walking with jill, originally uploaded by djkreutzer.

I came to visit Edmonton. To visit some old friends and find new ones.

Darlene and I know each other through our online presence. I can't exactly remember how it started. It may have been flickr, as I remember she had a photograph of an old friend. Well, however it began, we finally had an opportunity to meet. And she brought her fabulous husband as well.

A lovely time at the Sugarbowl for a light lunch and later a few Strongbow's and in between a walk around the University area. She snapped this photo and if you click on it, you'll find more of her generous talent.

It's one of my favorite photos of me. Thanks Darlene.

cheese

cheese, originally uploaded by jill y.

nuff said

men on the mind

IMGP1782.JPG, originally uploaded by jill y.

a cut above the rest

I took a wee journey while in London. I headed to Liberty's for mannequin photos, then headed down Regent St and over to Savile Row- which was rather boring. For some reason I thought it would be interesting but I only learned what the word bespoke meant:

2.British.

a.	(of clothes) made to individual order; custom-made: a bespoke jacket.

b.	making or selling such clothes: a bespoke tailor.

But cutting across Burlington Gardens and through the Burlington Arcade to Piccadilly and then Jermyn St in search of 200 year old Cheesemongers, I stumbled across Taylor of Old Bond St. Which was really exciting.

Ever since Michael bought a Safety Razor from Farfalla in Vancouver to avoid what he tenderly calls "land fill razors", I have been hooked. I adore the old school style, the class and permanency of the delicate little nickle plated unit. I snagged it from him and declared it my own as he didn't like the small handle.And so luckily for Michael, I found this lovely shaving shop and found him the long handled version. Now we're both gleefully portaging the plastic razors, packaging, and shitty quality of the entire shaving aisle in your local drugstore slash supermarket. Check out the link for Taylor's. You can buy them online.

One thing to note: we'll still go back to get our safety blades, which ironically continue to be sold, despite not having the safety razors.

Go figure.




View Larger Map

not exactly as planned

The 2nd half of my transcontinental journey has not gone exactly according to plan.

Just thought I'd mention that.

One one hand I've been slapped back to my senses thankfully with one too many Strongbow. Unfortunately, I made quite a fool of myself in the process. And wasted time and resources. Oh well, a lesson has been learned and no one was hurt.

On the other hand, the weather has not been very cooperative either. I clearly thought that I made a reservation with the sun for this week with brief visitations of lightning and thunder after 8pm. I don't think the weather got my memo. I'm a bit disappointed.

I do have my bike, I am in Edmonton and I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

a return to the prairies

barbed wire1, originally uploaded by jill y.