Liberty Village

I am currently reading a book that is one of those typical, textbook cases, of confirmation bias/preaching to the choir: you are shopping around in the bookstore, looking around for something new to read (despite the fact the number of unread and half-read books in my bookshelf is still pretty darn high), and voilà, you see the title and it is a match made in heaven.

I think everyone who knows me has at least heard one, of my many rants, about the phone/social media diabolic combo. I eyed the book for a few minutes and decided to buy it — not on print, but on Kindle since it was $15 cheaper.

So far, a very pertinent read that re-affirms many of the things I already know. But, perhaps, what is different this time is that I am decided to quell my hypocritical ways and finally do something about it, which I believe, is the whole point of the book (a report on the book later). One of the actions I decided to start with was meditative walks, which used to be something that I would do all the time, but that now, I have stopped doing. As explained in the book, and also how I used to do it, is that I would not check my phone or listen to music at all while walking for about an hour.

Given that I deem my phone addiction high at this time, I decided to leave the phone at home — but how would I take pictures? Well, this took me to another ex-hobby of mine. I have a DSLR and a few lenses that don’t get enough (any?) love. Consequently, decided to do my first walk and take some pictures in the old fashioned way (note to self: it would have been wiser to bundle up a bit more, or even, wait for warmer weather).

Where the morning starts

Half asleep, half grumpy. My last month’s first sight is usually this postmodern mix of old and new, brick and glass, since I must take the streetcar at Jefferson and King. I must say I very much like it — but it seems that, regrettably, a lot of new developments are doing away with this characteristic feature of old factories and smokestacks.

Give way to the… crane

And in a city of cranes and skyscrapers, this old smokestack seems to be destined to become a new adornment in a fancy high rise.

And some street art

There seems to be a few murals sprinkled here and there in the Village. I will be walking more and finding them once I can readily use my camera without my clumsy gloves.

Exhibition Go brings memories

In a not-so-distant past, I used to pass by this station on a virtually everyday basis. It feels a bit odd to contemplate the trains without the urge to frantically flail arms in despair and chase after them. Brings a feeling of peace — somewhat interrupted by the TTC chime sound. 

Exhibition

One of the many things that do not make much sense in Toronto: this beautiful archway, so far off sight from more central landmarks. I cannot pass in front of it without feeling it does not get all the love that it deserves. A pity, truly.

A [Frozen] Waterfront

There is something peaceful yet eerie about this place. Maybe it is because it is not meant to be this desolate, although, who could blame people for not wandering in -15°C?

Wait for Gap

I must start this post with a confession, an explanation, or maybe just a few words of justification for me being here again — which might not be that surprising to the last few unsuspecting visitors of my blog. Well, in earnest, let’s make it two confessions, and maybe one or two additional tangential topics, to further spice this new post up.

After sharing the unknown fact that I used to write and keep a blog to some of my coworkers, it became evident to me that my old-cherished blog had been abandoned for the last 5 years. At the same time, I have been seriously questioning and analyzing my (social) media usage and trying to understand why, or rather, what the value might be that I am getting out of the plethora of never-ending apps and sites (well, perhaps now is the time of a more *serious* confession, which is that my phone has the most random collection of apps ever imagined).

Thus, two things occupy my mind: rekindling an abandoned hobby, and finding a «new» way to share media with two very distinct audiences: firstly, myself, and secondly, whoever finds these posts about myself entertaining or at least a pastime. Therefore, readers have been warned. This place is now going to be an unstructured mess of musings, posts, rants (but I promise to do my best to keep this number at bay), but most importantly, a collage of the everyday in varied forms of expressions.

These pages are intended to fill that gap between thoughts, memories, or actions, to which we refer to more commonly as boredom. Mind the gap, and remember to always look both ways before crossing.