nostalgia of a previous life

16 July, 2024

White Rock, British Columbia

Writer's block in the first-degree. Too many engagements, so little seasons.

I sat down to write this and I immediately was distracted by past trauma.

Back to some form of grand, scheduled programming.

Forever wedged into the plank, here's to 'the little town by the sea.'

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Mall (2014)

Linkin Park's Joe Hahn brings the reign of dope & gunfire to the mall. A complete intriguing original, and the usage of VFX is well beyond the grain. A portrait of the messed up world we live in, and how broken kids try and navigate through broken homes. Monaghan's character is intellectual and operates among juvenile criminal minds. P. Rod dry-humping a mannequin will forever pay first month's and last month's rent in my mind from here on out (Yeah Right!). It's a sic & twisted ride into the shopaholic's demise, and collecting observations from peeping Toms, desperate housewives and hero rent-a-cops passing through.

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Saving Us By Katharine Hayhoe (2021)

The ongoing cli-fi war amongst the disciples and non-believers. Regardless of which category you find yourself in, our health relies on our planet's health. If everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American, we would need five planet earths to sustain. A ton of interesting facts and statistics in this book, while Hayhoe dives into the importance of conducting discussion surrounding climate change with your peers. Connecting the dots within something they value in life, that has great impact from the crisis. Those common-life experiences may result in the most effective way to instill change in our society. Continue to add low-carbon habits to your self each year.

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Brothers Osborne - 21 Summer

Simple frills, nostalgic melody. You can feel the pride in this southern, gay country star in pure, musical divinity. There are memories within. To revert back to youthful, summer nights and reminisce of a bond you swore you'd never break. This track would surely bring a tear to a glass eye. Allow yourself to be grateful for all the experiences you've shared. Where you've been, and where you are headed. Roll down your windows and feel the breeze.

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The Next Five Minutes by Sophie Diener

An empowering description on moving forward, and the assuring factor that nothing you feel is truly permanent. We as a society are lead to the slaughters of stress. An ongoing battle to worry, and accept hopelessness in the probability that we all at one point or another lose faith.

This poem demonstrates that focussing on the small steps ahead rather than far off in the distance can calm your frame of mind, and allow you to see the blue skies more clearly. I believe your conscience will continue to guide you through wrong & right, but we all want to throw hands with it sometimes. We've felt this particular way before, but we've also been through it. Check the clocks, and embrace the small ticking, for now.

a hustle to be a jack russell

20 May, 2024

Port Renfrew, British Columbia

Sheer moments of pure, Bliss. I've encountered very few of these over the last couple of years, but my certainty is undeniable when they do occur. We feel these when we often don't expect them, necessarily. In the moment, a wave of emotion and euphoria flows through out bodies and if it's deemed cloud nine, we store it a very special place within us. Unforgettable.

On the subject, there also lies - Deja Vu.

Are these sources of a past life? A premonition? Studies have often claimed a glitch in the matrix and other unsettling phenomenons. It's unclear how or why this happens, but many associate it with spirituality or paranormal. I just can't seem to fathom how crystal clear some of my cases have been. I've heard that its important to feel comfort if you ever are to experience deja vu, for it may just be a sign that you are right where you are supposed to be in life.

There's a strong theory that this takes place more predominately in young adults and begins to decrease in instances as the brain is more fully developed with age.

I suppose this makes sense as to why this keeps happening in my thirties...

:)

~

The forest remains quiet while the city is exploding with Stanley Cup fever. Once again, a scale around the island lives up to its promising zen. A life of working 'from home' while you catch sounds of orca breathes from your bedroom window. Secret saunas in the middle of nowhere and a flight through the aurora borealis. In times of stress, it's critical to locate your inner peace. I tend to bring my mind in + out of the darkness in an attempt to become an expert on navigating it. The woods host great grounds for those of us who outgrew the McDonalds playplace, and need a place to reflect. Though, the amount of tourism is aggravating and parking is about as expensive as scaling Whole Foods hallways.

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The Leather Boys (1964)

Newlyweds, Reggie & Dot are bombarded with hardships within the working-class marriage, while they focus on their opposing viewpoints. Rita Tushinghan, who I adore deeply, performs eloquently as always. The screaming matches alone draw such anxiety from the viewer. Her and her mum exchange toxic suggestions over tea, as Campbell's character befriends a local biker, with whom he spends the majority of time with. This kitchen-sink drama demonstrates the regular, everyday human relationships from an era that seems so regular. It's refreshing to look back at problems that make sense - Questioning one's sexuality in a fast-paced, sleazy environment. In addition, if anyone knows the name of the song Reggie puts on the jukebox, please get in touch with me - Shazam is useless. After all, 'when I talk to the kettle, I don't expect the pot to answer.'

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The Midnight Library By Matt Haig (2022)

The teachings in this toward the unpredictable nature of quantum physics. Nora Seed, genius, takes her life and ends up in the Midnight Library. Throughout the volume of bookshelves, endless possibilities of lives she could have lived in literature form. The more lives you try, the easier it was to imagine a better life from where you found yourself. However, the more lives you live, the harder it may be to feel at home anywhere. Right? Every life contains millions of decisions, and they influence the outcome immensely. They say, to never go back on a life that you've once tried, for there always needs to be some sort of variation. We place so much fixation on our lives to convince ourselves it was never the right one. A memory so vague and intangible, it will hardly be there at all. Does Nora see this through? Do you?

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The Wooden Sky - Something Hiding for Us in the Night

A true, master-piece of music. If only there were a life where I had caught them at one of their many in-store, acoustic performances at record shops that are no longer with us. With Neil Young and Matt Good inflections, embrace the slow buildup to folk vibratos from heaven. This was released at such a good period in life, and you can feel it throughout the song. Not to be sappy, but if the sky were actually made of wood, that'd be tree-mendous.

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The People Have The Power by Patti Smith

In these times of strife, New York punk poet recites her dream, frustrated with the concept of struggle. For we, the people, withhold so much power to create ongoing change, but choose to hate, inflict pain, and decide to turn on one another. This is contemporary talent at its finest. The musical rendition of this on most days would benefit so well in the modern world.

Thank God for sending us Patti. A true, empowering woman, whose contributed to modern literature like no other, providing a world and journey to those who care to listen.

sing the cosmo's song

4 April, 2024

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

How often are you asked, and more importantly, how comfortable are you answering the question; "Are you Happy?" How does one handle such a request? We all have different ideas of what the feeling of happiness may look or feel like, right? The study of Eudaimonia goes beyond the standard, textbook definition. How does one obtain this enlightenment of true happiness? Furthermore, how do YOU define that term? Between reading, writing in my own experience with the subject matter of philosophy, there are often two factors that remain constant towards the influence;

a) What is our purpose? and

b) Where are we currently in accomplishing that purpose?

The present version of yourself does not represent who you wish to become. Nor, does it in the reverse. Living with the idea that you will one day reach this apex can drastically impact your everyday decisions. Your mentality of locating that eternal happiness can present itself in many forms at any time.

~

Quite an outgoing gathering of humans in such an intimate setting these past few days, it's clear to me how vulnerable people can be with their feelings when they feel safe in their environment. I am incredibly fortunate to have been brought on to connect deeply with the poets, the emo's, the Wildlife Photographers, the heartbroken and the damned. Pinto gallo & sweet plantains for breakfast from here on out! It gave me such joy to be a part of this community and learn where so many walks of life come from, what their adventure has been like, and what lead them to this very moment.

Do you ever experience this sense of bliss you can't possibly explain? Sure, you do.

Take the necessary time to slow your life down and find fulfilment.

Pura Vida!

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Take Shelter (2011)

Obsessing over an incoming storm, Curtis LaForche plans to protect his family's safety by any means. Michael Shannon performs the small-town, Midwest Father who struggles in dealing with his deaf daughter and rampant hallucinations. I've admired this film since its origin, and have always felt inspired by its visual appeal - The VFX were surely ahead of their time. With navigating a potential schizophrenia diagnosis and the township turning on the family, this buildup leads to the big blowup at the legion, in an incredible dialogue delivered by Shannon. Night terrors & biblical metaphors, this film depicts the importance of family and making a choice based on impulse. The intensity of the human emotion alone is breathtaking. I've always wanted my own tornado shelter...

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Spaceships Over Glasgow By Stuart Braithwaite (2022)

Mogwai's finest Scot depicts his upbringing and the sought out music career at large. The endless concert quests with siblings, watching Sonic Youth side stage, and being belligerent at almost every turn, this book tells the adventure in a well-written timeline. You really get the feeling of sitting in a Scottish pub, listening to him tell you these stories in real time. Demonstrating what really happens when a band is on non-stop tour, how it feels and affects the camaraderie. Forever holding Braithwaite's statement close to heart; "No matter what is going on in your life, music can transport you away from it."

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Casper Skulls - The Science of Dichotomies

Often compared to the blessings of Sonic Youth, Sudbury-natives deliver pure gold. Steady bass lines that could happily go on forever, accompanying vocals of indie essence and tones of that perfect twine. The song structure and especially the male vocal delivery seems to please the masses. At the time of me writing this, their website has expired and I remain hopeful for more greed. Casperholic indefinitely.

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just a second, i am turning into gold by Christi Steyn

A promise to yourself and the world around you as you embark on your healing stage, your transition, and your absence from your norm. It can be challenging to convince those around you of your current availability. We never want to ask anyone to wait on our timeline, and understanding that process typically stems from somebody else's experience in a similar fashion. Not knowing how you will get there, just that it feels absolutely essential to you in that stage, right now. There is a ton of sacrifice in Steyn's writing, with the intent on returning to the world covered in complete gold. Take the time for yourself and trust the process. You're morphing into the brand new you. Go & save the world, CS...