our collective future

28 October, 2023

Geneva, New York

Captivated with new ideas, countless unique faces along the travel route, and endless stories to add to the journal. I maintain sanity with Tonglen breathing, a variety of commencement speeches, hiking and cold showers, yet I find the same nirvana with Chrissie Hynde's voice echoing through the punk bathroom stall while I urinate. I spend a great deal of time hearing out the friends dwell on their stories via Facetime, and it feels good to watch first-hand how people are changing throughout the years. Do you notice it? Oblivious or in denial? For the better, or for the worse, an unimaginable rate this life seems to be soaring by.

The horrors of the world continue to unfold as we seek those things that keep us at peace.

Is the end of the world just the start?

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Endless Summer (1966)

Mild weather and beautiful lake patterns make the season that much more enjoyable. A film deemed as 'Prehistorical Vlogging,' places the viewer in sun-struck position right on the shoreline. Bruce Brown delivers a masterpiece dedicated to those who possess a love for the surf. The soundtrack and colour correction alone - accompanied by dry & hilarious commentary - bring much joy to the viewer. Posters of this film still remain on walls around cities today. When the winter blues start to hit, I encourage you to pop this into any format you own and truly feel the heat.

"No two waves are the same. That wave belongs to you."

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Blue Mind by Dr. Wallace J Nicols (2014)

Ever wonder what the mental & physical health benefits are by simply existing by a body of water?

This book contains a massive amount of interesting facts surrounding positive mindset, the rehabilitation history, The Blue Marble Project, and incredible stories and research about all things water. The encouragement to seek the element whenever you're feeling low, and fall in love with the natural essence, the dangers it faces on a regular basis, and develop your Blue Mind at peace. I think everyone will find a similarity in their life to several points in this literature. I also really need to take a whiff of Libby Patterson's Wave Perfume....

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Angela - Flower Face

The willingness of Ruby to open up about the history of this song in her interview allows us listeners to love Angela that much more. I discovered this many years ago in the algorithms of nostalgia, and it's continuously been a go-to at those moments of comfort. The feeling of wanting to let that special someone go, but remaining wishful that they might find their route back to you someday. The perfect poetic tone and rhythm, that come

together to replicate those memories we all hold onto. Who do you see in your snowglobe?

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Find Me by Forest Blakk

A hypnotizing spoken word to exercise your inner emotion toward someone that once was. To believe in a feeling you previously felt, and cherish memories that push you to remain hopeful, and shed light on the good that existed and that they may transition into a new existence. The millions of thoughts we experience throughout our lives require some sort of explanation and meaning. One of the hardest challenges we face, is to grieve someone who is still amongst us. You'll hear something different each time you replay this.

faut dire que c'est plat, plat, plat

15 August, 2023

Quebec City, Quebec

Octane in the shower. Where do you find your most zen? Does it come in the form of travel? A walk? The coastline somewhere? All around us, an endless array of stress and worry is constantly dangling from the skies. Whenever I have an existential crisis, casually riding my bike around the cobblestone, listening to a variety of music always helps my mental clarity. Put me back into the present moment. *Add rain for an extra bonus.*

It feels fresh to connect with an existing cityscape, where memories flow so eloquently accompanied by the soothing harp from this Harpo lookalike. That may very much have been the best French Onion soup of my existence.

The island of Maui is on fire. My sincere best is thought upon all my pals that I have met from there, and that their friends & family remain strong. What's next in the world. There is such a dark energy pulling on the strings of humanity.

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The Adventure That Saved My Life. - BORDERLESS (2023)

Natalie Lynn documents her touching story through her lens of heartbreak, packing the van, and saying yes to adventure. With her internet, beefaroni-loving friend by her side, the two embark on what can only be described as the summer mission to joy. Say yes to strangers. Life can make you feel lost, lonely and disoriented. I believe for those who struggle with such impacts, can tune into this and relate. A filmmaker inspiring to let you into her world, gives you an experience you can only fantasize about being a part of and take the leap. Using Youtube to its absolute full-scale potential. Keep in mind, this is a video blog.

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Eric LaRocca's Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke (2021)

A collection of exchanged emails between two women in an internet chat room. A rapid turn of events into a dark spiral make for an impactful, quick quick read. This has been out of print for a while, and I was hyped to get my hands on a copy. There is a LOT of disturbing imagery in this, borrower beware. The author does a wicked job of portraying how wild an internet connection could become back in our MSN Messenger days. Oh, how I miss them.

Sadomasochism. Obsession. Death.

I wonder what would happen if you apple-peeled the soles of your feet.

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Cœur de pirate - Dans la nuit (feat. Loud)

The French Canadian goddess. For forever ago I've followed the pirate. Some of my fondest memories exist at her hometown gig when I knew none of the conversation her and the audience were having. Two hearts meet and share their boredem of the night. Loud instills a contrast vocal track that pairs well with the snappy beat. Let this be an introduction to French pop music if you've yet to let it in. The perfect voice doesn't exi... Beatrice, please keep singing forever.

I just want to cook and clean for you.

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how to be insecure by Shelby Leigh

Overthinking at its finest. When introverts of the world constantly doubt themselves, and fear of the surrounding judgement upon them. Shelby comes from a world which is so relatable. This poem identifies a list of components to demonstrate the perfect insecure individual. I've seen so many others with similar traits all my life. In school, we're surrounded by kids our own age, but entering adulthood, we're then immersed with so many different types and qualities of people. The social aspect can stress us out. Follow this guideline for appropriate tips and measures.

neck of the woods

28 July, 2023

Algonquin Highlands, Ontario

We out here. Studying various ecosystems and evaluating their behaviour is a humble experience. There are loads of people who fantasize about time in nature, and don't necesssarily take the time to breathe it in. At some point, we'll all find ourselves outdoors with an empty mind. Fantasize about the existence of an environemnt that's thriving. The stories I had the chance to listen to about wildlife were so pure and made of magic, it leads to you believe in a utopia that's all around us. Getting to embark on a full-blown portage trek through the pouring rain, sleeping in my beautiful one-person tent with my millions of mosquito amigos, and learning from the best - an absolute honor to have my photo taken by, and inhale a cigar with a true veteran wildlife photographer.

Time and working on yourself will alleviate the mental wound. Allow it to diminish and heal into a stronger, better version of yourself. If you're like me, the memories won't ever leave you. Some of us try too hard to rip out the pages in our book, and it shows. In time, you will learn to live with it. Even if you're filled with some layers of charm, existential dread and dark humour.

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Purple Noon (1960)

I've always been fascinated with foreign films. They are wildly accessible, yet astounding when you come up on one you've been after for a while. I've obsessed over how there isn't the need of use of CGI, or massive budgeting to captivate an audience. You can simply connect with real humans and real-life problems. It can pose a relatable experience. Purple Noon tells the story of identify fraud with Alain Delon giving us a performance of a lifetime - imagine what it would be like to age when you've experienced being that charming? Romance, and the lust to live the international playboy life regardless of the lengths one must go through. This picturesque piece is well-equipped with stunning European visuals and rich culture. I was so engaged in this flick, I really didn't see that coming neither... The ending was nuts.

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Elif Batuman's The Idiot (2017)

Ivy League gals navigating their journey through everyday settings at Harvard. Relatable to Selin's overthinking, and the way she deconstructs her environment almost every time she's asked a question. The scene where she speaks with her counsellor about the topic of emails had some powerful impact on the reality of the inter web. The agony of youth, and a coming of age story that may not be everybody's cup of tea, but enjoyable to follow along with the school calendar year. . Takeaway: Jump in a lake with your loved ones and recognize insignificant subtleties.

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Six Days At the Bottom of the Ocean - Explosions In the Sky

This album has hollowed out my ears for a few years now. There's a feeling of complete emptiness when it starts up, that draws you to your surroundings and being still in your present moment. I listen to this band on hikes a lot. Although I enjoy my silence in nature, there's something that this group offers that enhances the wilderness as you venture through it. The break in the middle of the song is so pure, and it feels like I'm falling into the abyss of my whole life in slow motion.

Each of us can experience this emotional track differently. Looking forward to the new record and tour this year. Thank you to the post-rock quartet for everything. Take me out of here.

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Give Me A Call Sometime by Andrew W.G. Rees

It was a treat to reconnect with Andrew after all these years. The last time I had seen him, I was bagging his groceries and glorifying his band at the time. A poem about trust and confidence to a desired entity. Putting thought into the mind of another, serving the opportunity of pure, genuine love. How insane the idea may be to some, all the while when a writer knows their lust is flourishing from within. To anybody who shouts out with sincere intentions, and to those who never read 'em - Prost.