tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2010://1 2009-01-03T18:52:54Z Movable Type 3.32 tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2009://1.283 2009-01-03T18:51:29Z 2009-01-03T18:52:54Z

So I begin 2009 asking myself, "How could I have been so blind?" And with a quiet resolution to be a better person....

Jason So I begin 2009 asking myself, "How could I have been so blind?" And with a quiet resolution to be a better person. tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2007://1.182 2007-10-04T05:16:22Z 2007-10-14T21:48:12Z

The best way to recount the stories from this year is to start from the beginning. From here, I'll trace where life has taken me in the past 9 months. I welcomed 2007 without any resolutions, which made me uncomfortable....

Jason expected the job hunt to be frustrating-- I knew this from hearing the experiences of others who had graduated before me, but it nonetheless got to me and I began to feel some bitterness at a world that wouldn't hire me. There were a couple of jobs I really wanted and I have to admit I was pretty disappointed when I didn't get them. And then there were others in which the interviews were just short of a dog-and-pony show. But at the end of the day, it makes for a good story, right? Eventually, it got to a point where I just needed to do something. Money was running low and so was my sanity. The bright hopes I began 2007 with had dimmed a bit already. I thought that I wouldn't have reached this point for a few more years. Sadly, most nights I thought to myself, "is this what 'real life' is like?"]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2007://1.147 2007-08-08T08:19:28Z 2007-08-08T08:45:54Z

There have been so many times in the past 8 months that I have started writing an entry, only to save it as a draft, thinking to myself that I will refine it at a later time for publishing. But...

Jason There have been so many times in the past 8 months that I have started writing an entry, only to save it as a draft, thinking to myself that I will refine it at a later time for publishing. But then the moment passes and when I come back to it, I'm in a different frame of mind and the words just don't seem quite right. And so I put it off for another day. Another week. Another month. And while it has been refreshing to simply live my life without worrying too much about how I'm going to write about it on the blog, there is a part of me that has missed sharing my life with... well, you, whoever you may be. The past 8 months have been filled with hope, disappointment, love, beauty and adventure. The stories behind them will come soon, I promise. tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.66 2006-12-05T09:52:39Z 2006-12-05T11:09:41Z

Last week, I received a letter in the mail with familiar handwriting on the envelope. It was my own. I vaguely remembered writing a letter to myself last year while sailing back to Argentina from Antarctica. Writing a letter to...

Jason Dear Jason, You are currently going across the Drake Passage and trying hard not to be sick. But this is all part of the epic adventure, right? The trials and tribulations that must be endured and suffered before the great reward may be found. I went to Antarctica and lost many material things. About the only thing I did find was myself. I found myself not so cynical and and reinspired about what is possible in this world. As I stood gazing over the Antarctic wilderness, I felt part of something. More connected to the Earth than I have been before. This was a reminder that anything is possible. That dreams count for something and that if you only hold onto them, they may one day be fulfilled. The universe conspires with us to unite us with our innermost desires. What's next? Biking across Canada. By the time I receive this letter, I want to have biked across Canada and fulfilled another dream. I've met some truly amazing people on this expedition. People both young and hold who are passionate about what they do and refuse to accept the status quo. Crazy people who believe they can change the world, because they will. Remember the feelings you experienced. How, at times, you were moved to tears by the sheer beauty of everything. The beauty of Antarctica, of people, and of life itself. What is the value of dreamers? Those whose heads are not in this world, but one that exists only in their minds. A vision of something better. They see possibilities. The world is one to shape and change, not simply a place to live, make money, and die. It's time to reassess my life dreams and never to give up on them. Continue to teach. Get that PhD one day. Start something big. Something influential. Write a book. Live. Love. Laugh. Live long. Love deeply. Laugh loudly. Take Care.]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.64 2006-12-04T10:32:09Z 2006-12-04T10:51:42Z

My posts here are still sporadic because I really can't find the words that I'm looking for. I haven't been sleeping much lately. At first, it started off just staying up late into the night browsing the internet and absorbing...

Jason My posts here are still sporadic because I really can't find the words that I'm looking for. I haven't been sleeping much lately. At first, it started off just staying up late into the night browsing the internet and absorbing news articles and blogs. But then I found myself pushing my physical limits more frequently and staying up because after a few hours of total silence, something happens. Everything is still for a really long time, and then suddenly, my mind starts racing. I lay on my bed and just let it wander, touching upon everything from total absurdities to utter seriousness. It's as close as I can get to a waking dream, just thinking about all the possibilities in every aspect of my life. Oftentimes, there are reflections on business ideas or new inventions, but in the last few days, my thoughts have just been simple meditations on my life. I've been asking myself how I fit into this world. How do I look beyond making money and really create or contribute something of value to this world? tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.60 2006-11-24T20:37:03Z 2006-11-24T20:37:34Z

The words don't seem to come as easily as they did in the past. I hold back a lot more and every time I write, it's a struggle to let loose and let my words fly with reckless abandon. To...

Jason Nanowrimo this month has been abysmal and unless I sequester myself and punch out 8,000 words a day for 6 days, it doesn't look like I'll be making the 50,000 word mark. I'll just do 100,000 words next year.]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.57 2006-11-21T08:15:12Z 2007-04-05T02:18:22Z

I wish I could say that my lack of posting lately is the result of being busy with schoolwork, but to be honest, I have simply found myself occupied with life. I spend most of my days reading, cleaning, and...

Jason I wish I could say that my lack of posting lately is the result of being busy with schoolwork, but to be honest, I have simply found myself occupied with life. I spend most of my days reading, cleaning, and cooking; in the evenings, I browse the internet and watch my newfound Season Six DVDs of CSI. At times, I feel a twinge of guilt for not being more productive or doing something to further develop myself as an individual, but that feeling usually goes away after I have a few slices of dried mango. Shut up and enjoy the evening. Mmm mango. At the end of the night, after I kiss Jenny good night and exchange I love yous, I lay in the darkness and think. In December, I will be officially graduating and I am presented with the prospect of looking for full-time employment. But I know that I will not be content with that. That's the type of person I am. There are a few exceptions to that, but for the most part, my joie de vivre will be crushed in a regular full-time job. So what's the solution? Go entrepreneurial. Each summer, I tell my students that never before has so much opportunity lay before them and that they should seek to live out their dreams. Now it's time to live out my own. There are some big things on the horizon that I can't blog about for the time being. But when they happen, I'll share it here. tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.56 2006-11-16T06:24:53Z 2006-11-17T03:00:52Z

The Newlyweds I haven't seen the sun in a day and a half because it has been raining constantly and I have had the floor lamp in my room constantly on "high" in an attempt to reproduce some semblance of...

Jason
The Newlyweds I haven't seen the sun in a day and a half because it has been raining constantly and I have had the floor lamp in my room constantly on "high" in an attempt to reproduce some semblance of tropical weather. Last week, I had the opportunity to be a wedding photographer at my Uncle Peter's wedding in the Dominican Republic. At first, I was bit intimdated by the task set before me because you really only have a couple hours to take the pictures that are supposed to last a lifetime. However, I just jumped in, kept the shutter going and came out with some shots that the newlyweds were quite pleased with.



Click here to view all the photos The wedding ceremony was breezy, fun, and casual. Nearly everyone was barefoot in the sand and we were surrounded by the ocean and palm trees. There was a small crowd of tourists gathered nearby taking pictures and videos of the wedding and topless women casually strolled by in the background. But the children didn't notice, they were busy digging holes in the sand.]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.52 2006-11-03T14:49:35Z 2006-11-03T14:54:44Z

Post about food will have to wait for another time. Recipe for comedy, stay up all night dreaming about your future and how amazing it will be and then when it's time to send in your resume for the job,...

Jason Post about food will have to wait for another time. Recipe for comedy, stay up all night dreaming about your future and how amazing it will be and then when it's time to send in your resume for the job, have the internet crash on you. On the way to the basement trying to fix the internet, pass by a puddle of water in your kitchen. Look up at ceiling and realize that faucet you installed a couple days ago has slowly been leaking water. Look at the clock. You now have an hour and a half to fix the internet, fix the faucet, get a haircut, shower, pack, and meet the shuttle outside your house. Try not to freak out. Have your girlfriend call you a few moments after you realize how much water is in the bathroom. Tell her you really can't talk right now and oh my god, there is so much water, what am I going to do. And I still have to get a haircut. Hang up. Try to fix the faucet. Fix the faucet. Spill water everywhere. Call her back, apologize for being snippy and tell her you love her. Go to the kitchen wipe up all the water. Run out the door. Get your hair cut. You have no idea whether or not he missed a spot, you really don't care, just cut something, anything, oh my god look at the clock. Jump in the shower and decide that despite how much stuff you have to do and the fact that you still have to pack, write a blog entry. After you write the blog entry and submit it, sigh, close your laptop, toss it into your bag, hop unto the shuttle to the airport. Get there just in time. Check in. Get on. Ask the stewardess for glass of wine, because you're going to the Dominican Republic for a week for a wedding and you have been looking forward to this for a really, really long time. tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.48 2006-10-28T10:47:04Z 2006-10-28T10:47:33Z

When I moved into my first house in my second year of university, I remember that my limited cooking skills dictated that I ate mostly canned and microwavable food. My typical shopping cart would contain a loaf of bread, processed...

Jason Marcos could often be found making coffee in a French press while I munched on my sloth-induced concoctions. In that house, it was the perfect convergence of class and ass. 4 years later, while I still do enjoy the foods of my 20-year-old self on occasion, I can't imagine reverting back to eating hamburgers every day for weeks on end. Today, my typical shopping cart usually contains an assortment of pasta, fruits, vegetables and items from all four food groups. Chips are a rarity and pop has been replaced with soda water and fruit juices. Never in my life did I anticipate the moment when I found myself standing at the fish counter at the New City Supermarket in Kitchener asking for fresh tilapia. An aside: to all of you who dislike fish, try tilapia. It's crisp, clean, and doesn't taste like most other fish. I've heard halibut described in similar terms, but it is ridiculously expensive at $15-20 a pound, whereas tilapia is only about $3 a pound. If you're interested in trying it sometime and live around Waterloo, let me know and I'll invite you over for dinner so you can try some. So, what has brought about these changes in my shopping cart? Well, this past summer I had to avoid filling myself with junk, because I could not reasonably expect my body to cycle 150+ km a day after eating an entire bag of chips for dinner the night before. I became much more conscious of my health and at one point, I was actually counting calories to ensure that I was getting the nutrients I needed. But besides that, many of the changes have also been motivated by my relationship with Jenny, but more on that in the next post. What's in your shopping cart?]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.44 2006-10-21T18:08:28Z 2006-10-21T18:32:44Z

Jack Layton speaking at the Paul Martin Centre (he noted the irony) A couple of weeks ago, Jack Layton came to Laurier as part of a university tour that included several universities in the Ontario. Half an hour before it...

Jason
Jack Layton speaking at the Paul Martin Centre (he noted the irony) A couple of weeks ago, Jack Layton came to Laurier as part of a university tour that included several universities in the Ontario. Half an hour before it began, I lay in bed thinking about how tired I was and whether or not there would be free food. In the end, I decided to go because political underdogs have always held a certain fascination for me; the ones who strive in the background in the face of all opposition in hopes that they can effect some real change. Or at least, that's what I'd like to think. Half an hour later, I found myself staring at a packed room with all the seats either filled or being held for others. Damn. However, Laura spotted me and waved me over to graciously offer me a seat in the front row. While the topics were interesting, such as environmental issues, post-secondary education, and the war in Afghanistan, I found myself more interested in how Jack Layton spoke. There is something about listening to political leaders speak, after all, part of their survival depends on charm and charisma. When I was in high school, I had an opportunity to hear Brian Mulroney speak. I don't remember much from his speech, aside from an anecdote about a brief exchange he had with a woman in an elevator, "You look a lot like Brian Mulroney." He smiled and figured he wouldn't say anything about being former Prime Minister, "I know". And the woman leaned over and whispered, "I'm sorry". When he finished, there was a standing ovation. And it wasn't one of those half-assed standing ovations, the ones where everyone stands up because a handful of people in the front are clapping wildly and then you feel bad because you're still sitting down. No, it was one of those standing ovations in which everyone immediately rose. You couldn't help but like him. No matter how much people may despise him for NAFTA, the GST, or his patronage appointments to the Senate, the fact remains is that he is probably one of the best public speakers to ever hold the office of the Prime Minister. Who's the best public speaker you've ever heard?]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.40 2006-10-14T18:54:11Z 2006-10-14T19:13:08Z

1st place - Animal This year, I wasn't able to enter the photographic print category of the Markham Fair, but I managed to send in some submissions via email for the digital exhibition. Though the prizes are small (a few...

Jason
1st place - Animal This year, I wasn't able to enter the photographic print category of the Markham Fair, but I managed to send in some submissions via email for the digital exhibition. Though the prizes are small (a few dollars if you place first), I nonetheless enjoyed the anticipation of waiting for the results and well, it's always nice to be appreciated.
1st place - Sunset or Sunrise
3rd place - Rural Landscape
2nd place - Human Portrait
2nd place - Footprints]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.37 2006-10-11T19:26:28Z 2006-10-21T18:11:31Z

Cooking up a storm in my kitchen I never really appreciated how much work goes into preparing a Thanksgiving meal until I took it upon myself to do so for my household; it's a culinary gong show. I think it...

Jason
Cooking up a storm in my kitchen I never really appreciated how much work goes into preparing a Thanksgiving meal until I took it upon myself to do so for my household; it's a culinary gong show. I think it is the first time I have ever simultaneously used all four burners on the stove, the oven, and the microwave. I managed to multitask pretty well, with the exception of the dinner rolls, which I completely forgot in the microwave and found hours after we had finished eating. Surprisingly, even though it was my first time, the turkey came out moist and nicely browned; it was the first Thanksgiving for my Swedish roommates, so I supposed if I burned the whole thing I could have said, "well, it's what we do in Canada. Have some more wine." Jenny and I spent the weekend visiting family and stuffing ourselves with food. My younger cousins recently found those Mentos and coke videos on YouTube and decided that this would be a good opportunity to try it out. The results were pretty impressive and I have to admit that it's been something that I've wanted to try for a while. After the sun set, my cousins wanted to try making a coke rocket which involves inserting the Mentos, sealing up the bottle, and hurling it at the ground. This usually results in the cap popping off, the bottle shooting up in the air, and coke being sprayed everywhere-- in this case, it would be all the cars belonging to my family members, which lined the street. This plan was vetoed. But I did offer my vote in support of this rocket if my cousin licked an entire floor tile. He declined. At Jenny's parents' place, I was introduced to her grandmother's coconut cream pie, which I quite enjoyed and secretly hoped that it would help me gain weight. After dinner, I weighed myself on the bathroom scale and found that I have barely gained back any of the weight I lost this summer. I'm at 146 pounds. Is this normal? I still haven't figured out how to slow down my metabolism which is still under the impression that I'm biking across Canada. Even though I had just stuffed myself with a Thanksgiving meal, a few hours later, I found myself on the phone ordering wings to satiate my sudden onset of hunger. It doesn't help that chips have been on sale at the local grocery stories; in the past 24 hours, I've eaten two large bags by myself. Anyone have any healthy snack suggestions?]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.32 2006-10-04T02:37:52Z 2006-10-05T14:46:50Z

Lori and Shawn dancing One element of Western weddings that I have only recently discovered are speeches. At Lori and Shawn's wedding, they were all heartfelt, well-written and well-delivered. I found the speeches from the fathers to be particularly...

Jason Lori and Shawn dancing One element of Western weddings that I have only recently discovered are speeches. At Lori and Shawn's wedding, they were all heartfelt, well-written and well-delivered. I found the speeches from the fathers to be particularly poignant. I suppose I had never really thought about what it would be like for a father to see his daughter or son get married. My own parents tend to be pretty private people and I don't think they enjoy the spotlight. I imagine my father's speech would go something along the lines of, "Congratulations! All the best! Don't do anything stupid." Cliff, my best friend, tells me that he already has had his Best Man speech written for quite a while. I'm can't even begin to imagine what he might say, and I suspect he may chime in on that subject in the comments below. On Saturday, the spotlight was on Lori and Shawn and they certainly deserved every moment of it. I first met Lori a few years ago, simply because I was something of a fixture around the department office. Over the years, I got to know her through our frequent conversations. She was always there to listen to the drama that would find its way into my life and there were countless moments when she saved my ass during those days when everything seemed like everything was breaking down. In the time I've known her, she's transformed the department office into a model of efficiency and organization. I remember how excited she was when she first met Shawn and before long, Jackson and I were helping them move into their new house. Before all this, I never really appreciated the community aspect of a wedding. Inasmuch as a wedding is for the happy couple, it's also very much an opportunity for other people to take part. As we all crowded around to watch them dance at the end of the night, I found myself thinking a lot. In about a month, Jenny and I will be taking off for a destination wedding. In the last year, it seems like there have been a ton of people who have gotten engaged and/or married. Even one of the students who I taught 3 years ago recently got engaged and I couldn't be happier for her. I've been surrounded by commitment and marriage and inevitably reflecting on it. How do you know for sure? When's the right time? Questions like that. I try to keep my thoughts focused on the present and I'm reminded of Yoda chastising Luke for always thinking ahead to the future and craving adventure and excitement. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. I think a sobering moment for me was when Lori sat down next to me later in the evening and I asked her if anything felt different and she happily answered with a simple, "nope". It didn't quite hit me until a few days later, but I realized that I've built up marriage in my head to be an event that somehow fundamentally changes a relationship, when perhaps it's more of a ritual of affirmation. I'm slowly turning it over in my head as the days go by. Click here to see all the photos from the wedding. ]]> tag:www.perpetualstroll.org,2006://1.33 2006-10-03T02:47:24Z 2006-10-05T07:11:17Z

Princess Leia and Han Solo on the wedding cake The ceremony was one of the best I've ever seen. When we got there, it was 3:02. We were out by 3:16. Short, sweet, and to the point. I like it....

Jason
Princess Leia and Han Solo on the wedding cake The ceremony was one of the best I've ever seen. When we got there, it was 3:02. We were out by 3:16. Short, sweet, and to the point. I like it. A lot. As a child, I remember being bored silly with marathon wedding ceremonies. I would play with the Bibles and song books in the pews, wondering why there were no colouring books or ... something fun. There should be a new rule for wedding ceremonies: If it's going to be over an hour, it better be fun for everyone. For instance, at my wedding, the ceremony would be an hour long, but everyone would be wearing costumes. And holding lightsabres. After the ceremony, there were a couple of hours left until the reception. It was time to find a gift. It's not that I had forgotten, but I knew what I was going to get weeks ahead of time-- a home depot gift card -- but kept on putting it off for one reason or another. You know. Life gets busy. So we made our way to Home Depot, but the only gift cards that were around were ones that said "Dad, you rule!" I sighed. We were running out of time. I purchased the card, loaded it up with money, crossed out "Dad", and wrote "Lori and Shawn". I could only laugh at the absurdity of it all. I really wanted to be able to get them the kind of gift that they could look at after 15 years of marriage and think, "isn't that such a great gift?" I'll have to make sure I'm the first one to hit the baby registry. Fast forward. New dress. Picked up Jackson and Ryan. The reception. Play. You don't really appreciate how much planning goes into weddings until you hear the behind-the-scenes stories of people who are getting married. There are so many details that have to be taken care of that I'm surprised more people don't get married at city hall and have their reception at Chuck E' Cheese. However, Lori, being the goddess of organization that she is, had everything taken care of weeks ahead of time. The reception was fantastic. The food was delicious. And if there was any disappointment, it is only because I don't think I will ever get another opportunity to see so many people from my academic life in such a different context. Imagine seeing all of your professors dancing it up, forming a giant conga line, and doing the funky chicken. And to literally top it all off, the wedding cake had figurines of Princess Leia and Han Solo, frozen in perpetual awesomeness, knee-deep in icing. Absolutely beautiful.]]>