Of course

Now, after my two-week jaunt through Europe, during which blogging was sporadic despite earlier promises to the contrary, does WordPress introduce a blogging platform for the iPod Touch.

Timing is everything.

New layout: redux

The photo is of Stephansdom, the most widely known and recognized cathedral in Vienna. Located in Stephansplatz, the city’s undisputed centre, it was the site of Mozart’s funeral in 1791. Vienna, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, was my favourite travel destination and will likely remain my favourite international city until such time when I discover another one (not likely). And Mozart, of course, published like it was going out of style before he perished, was eulogized at Stephansdom and carted away for burial in an unmarked mass grave.

We’ll all perish, so let’s get publishing.

New layout (x3)

The old one didn’t look right in Windows for some reason…

One cliché after another: The “things I’ve always wanted to do and swear I will do before I die” list

My russian disenchantment, originally uploaded by nicointhebus [nicolas monnot].

1. Learn Russian. (I don’t know why or where it comes from, but I’ve always wanted to.)
2. Take pictures as a serious hobby. (This was spawned more recently, but I’m excited about it. So there.)
3. Not have to live vicariously through others. (And yet remain boring old self, as it’s the only way I’d have things.)
4. More as I think of remember them.

I’m getting better

P7131903, originally uploaded by geekmobility.

See?

And so it goes

Well I know that it’s a wonderful world from the sky down to the sea…, originally uploaded by Margot-.

I apologize for the semi-unapologetic existential tone the blog has taken on during the past few months. I blame the following:

• Having been out of school for a year
• Fast approaching the beginning of the end of my early twenties
• Planning the move into what you might call a grown-up apartment
• Trying to figure out the rest of my life

I, like Joshie, have a metaphorical road map. But mine differs from his in that his involves a concrete plan for more schooling and mine includes more schooling as a footnote, mostly because I’d like to be able to get hooded again before I die. And I will not likely be leaving Toronto for more than a few days at a time — now or in the generally near future. But it’s there, and I’m not afraid of it anymore.

And now that I’ve said that, I’m going to get hit by a bus.

Let me tell you about Vienna

P5241262, originally uploaded by geekmobility.

That may really be all that needs to be said.

People continue to ask which city was my favourite, and I continue to say that I can’t choose.

But what I’m trying to say is “Vienna.”

So it’s come to this, part II (or: I, sellout)

I’m on a diet.

This has much less to do with my self-image than it has to do with my wanting to minimize my chances of premature death (which, as we all know, I have a tendency to freak out about). And so begins/continues my attempt to be more discerning about the things I ingest. (Nobody panic; I like food too much to develop any sort of problem.)

I won’t blog about it. I’m just pointing out that I know my hips need help. Because you were wondering whether I knew.

[edit] By the way, I had been going to the gym regularly. And then I was put back on nights.

Spoony

Final Fantasy IV, final party, originally uploaded by saturnine13.

I don’t typically buy things the day they’re released. In less than two weeks, I will make an exception. As you might expect, I’ve been playing FFIV Advance so I can more fully appreciate the additions and elaborations made to the storyline in the upcoming version. And also because I’m bored.

Let me tell you about Paris

P5200814, originally uploaded by geekmobility.

It’s haunted.

I’m not crazy, thanks for asking — but I can’t put Paris into words, even after being home for more than a month. The first few hours were enchanting, almost dream-like; I drifted from the hotel to the edge of the Seine, sat outside the Panthéon as it was closing for the day and listened to the bells at Notre-Dame. I marveled at the weather, there being something indescribably sweet about the warm breeze that followed me everywhere. The city was almost intoxicating; each city block was brimming with history beyond my wildest Canadian dreams. I passed so many monuments and memorials that they all began to meld together.

I went back to the hotel that night and wrote out a handful of postcards, each waxing poetic about the wonders of Paris, before going to bed. I wrote that I’d had a great time in London but was already feeling an intense affinity for Paris, the likes of which I’d never felt before. “You need to come here,” I wrote to my parents, explaining that if they do get to Ireland and England as per their plans next year they really shouldn’t get that close to Paris without going. And then I went to bed.