Advice from a Tree

Some trees in Beacon Hill Park

Advice from a Tree

Dear Friend,
Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of a greater source
Think long term
Go out on a limb

Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter

Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night.
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light

Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots

Enjoy the view!

- Ilan Shamir

Is there anything cuter?

:-)

I'm such a hawtie.

I just have to walk past a few trees to start a forest fire. Ha!

I was walking past a local park, (Beacon Hill Park) and saw some smoke puffing up beyond some shubbery. I thought it was likely just someone smoking a joint ('tis the west coast after all).

Getting closer however, it became more than just a bit of smoke. A cyclist noticed it too and we looked at each other... 'that's beyond a cigarette, isn't it?'

He called 911, me giving the location as he wasn't familiar with the city. And so we waited and watched the smoke getting thicker. Of course my crap photography skills couldn't really pick this up very well:




Within seconds I heard sirens as the fire hall was literally around the corner. We pointed to where the flames were to the on-coming fire trucks, sat back and watched (as you do).




They put out the fire... yippy! But a lot of the area got scorched pretty good. Question for Neil: what do you think will grow well here now?




An hour later, I'm walking home and hear more sirens... I look down the street and see this:




Another fire! I'm just that hawt! ;-)

A second floor flat... completely gutted but fortunately contained and no one was hurt. If you squint and use a lot of imagination you can see smoke going up the left side of the building.




I had to laugh when I was 'leaving the scene'... fire prevention division. Where the fuck have you been all day?

Seagull Envy

This was the scene Monday evening at Clover Point in Victoria, BC... when the wind it right, there can be as many as six gliders swooshing back and forth along the cliffs. The below is a tandem flight... likely a very experienced glider and a student or someone just keen on the experience of gliding.

First, much buckling and harnessing and rope testing...




And then the two flying dudes lurch forward to lift the glider enough to get it into the wind that's coming in off the water.




And up goes the glider and two other 'land' dudes hold the flying dudes still.




Then the land dudes walk the paraglider dudes towards the cliff...




And then proceed to chuck them off it and hope for the best... ;-)




And away they go... and they glide back and forth along the cliff just as the seagulls do (without shitting on everyone).




I might as well give Vancouver Island Paragliding a plug as it's always fun to watch them.



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That's My World Tuesday... bombs and balls.

Like many people, I love a nice walk through a park. Unlike many people, Beacon Hill Park does not like me walking through it. Recent examples...



SPLAT! Ugh! I'm hit! May Day! May Day!

Fucking shithawks!

Look at them... sitting up there, so smug, above me and ignoring my fist shaking! I give them a good telling off anyways and tried to make the most of the white streak down my black sleeve.

Honestly though, if I was a seagull, I'd be doing the exact same thing. ;-)

Onwards I go, walk for a while... Suddenly I hear: CRA-WRAAACK!!! LOOK OUT!! HEADS UP!!!

SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

WTF was that?!

Oh...




Fortunately, the ball didn't come too close but close enough for me to wonder why the hell do I visit this park?

Between the above and previous years of 'fun', which includes: stepping into fresh, and I mean still steaming, horseshit... while wearing sandals; tripping face first and completely into a duck pond and being followed around by a very vocal and very horny donkey... the place is a Bermuda Triangle of bad luck and embarrassment for me.

On the brightside, the view is inspiring (eh, Jayne?).

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