2015

I haven't blogged in a while. I've lost my creative force. I can't say which is the cause, and which is the affect. Blogging was a motivation for me, though, and I miss being creative. So I'm going to start blogging again.

I'm listening to Alt-J's new album, This Is All Yours, and it's good. I can't tell if it's as good as their first album, yet, but it's definitely Alt-J. I do love a distinct sound. Anyways, I'm listening to this album, and my speakers are also picking up the CB radio conversation happening in my neighbourhood. The thing is, it kinda works. Only Alt-J.

Allison, on the left, was a true beauty. With brave wings she flies.

Stacey, who just lost a best friend. Thinking of her...

posted by Unknown @ 11:28 p.m.

BSG and The Meaning Of Life

I just wanted to jot down quickly how I've been obsessed with the television series Battlestar Galactica lately (it happens), and I want to impress on any reader how well the show is done, and how it's been reaffirming thoughts I'm having concerning why were all here on this big rock (I'm telling you, it's that kind of a show).

I kind of feel like an idiot, because when I pinpointed why I think we exist, it seemed like a no brainer. It's love, dammit. Finding those people out there who will reciprocate a passion, whom you can share your life with. Finding out who those people are is a whole other ball of wax.

Anyways, in the show there's a group of human-made robots (the Cylons) who have evolved to look exactly like their makers, and whose last battle for the complete humanitizing of their kind is the struggle to find (and keep) love. The meaning of life.

posted by Unknown @ 2:21 p.m.

Walkerville Art Walk... Discovering The 'Hood

I took a walk with Stace yesterday, around the neighbourhood, to check out the Art Walk. We got a bit of a late start; we went to check out the new Downtown Farmer's Market first, where I purchased a luscious cucumber melon hand cream puck from Harrow's Faerhaven. We also saw some of a busker act while we were down there. When we got back to Walkerville, the rain started, soooo... we didn't get to see as much I would've liked, but alas! It was a great opportunity to check out some of the shops around my new place, and to appreciate some work done by local artists.

We headed to The Yoga Loft first, since Stace teaches there and I'd never been up. What a beautiful space! Lots of long hallways to display lots of art, too.


Then we headed west, and checked out Jones & Co., a great little vintage shop with lots and lots of interesting merchandise. It's owned by Stacey's boyfriend's sister's boyfriend's mom. LOL Stacey found a companion candle holder to one that her mom has had for years, and if I didn't need prescription glasses, I would've totally bought these sweet shades.


The day was getting long, so we made one last quick stop into the Walkerville Tavern (Stacey's parent's neighbour's establishment, I'm sensing a theme here)... a cute little bar with a perfect "table" for displaying some art.


Then we headed to the Kildare, to meet Mr. Stacey's soccer team, and because that's where we always end up. It's a good place to end up. :)

posted by Unknown @ 3:10 p.m.

Woo Hooooo!!! It's Finally Here!!

I'm super stoked to see the 6th installment of the saga that is Harry Potter! I must admit that Half-Blood Prince was my least favourite book in the series, but I know the movie is going to blow me away. Can't wait for Harry and Ginny to hook up!

posted by Unknown @ 2:16 p.m.

Happy Birthday Canada!!!

posted by Unknown @ 12:07 a.m.

I Love Living In Walkerville

I just read through an excellent "virtual tour" of Walkerville, and I learned so much about my new neighbourhood. I find the history of this area absolutely fascinating, and it makes me a bit giddy to look out the window and see century-old buildings, the foundation of the town of Walkerville. I'm a history nerd, I can't help it.

The Old Victoria Tavern was originally called the Walkerville Exchange, and was a rooming house for people traveling on the train from the Walkerville Train Station. The building that's there now was built in 1903, and was originally only two storeys. In 1906, a third storey was added. The house that sits just south of it was actually moved from the location of the tavern by the owner, Frank Laforet. That house was the original Exchange. The name of the tavern changed to the Victoria Hotel in 1930.

Like I said, fascinating! If it wasn't so hot, I'd go out and take more pics.

Here's a link to the virtual tour:
http://www.walkervilletimes.com/virtual-tour/virtual_tour.htm

posted by Unknown @ 3:49 p.m.

Unexpected Messages

I just received an gmail chat message from someone I rarely speak to- someone I don't think I've ever even had a conversation with- saying he's thinking about me and sending a smile my way. Which is super nice! But strange.

And yesterday, I got a message via Facebook from an old boyfriend saying he's about to be a dad, and how intense is that, and remember when we hooked up blah blah blah? WTF?

Don't get me wrong, these messages of kindness are very nice to get, and I do appreciate them, but I can't help second guessing them. Did someone hack into their accounts and send a message on their behalf, without them knowing? Is it all part of a big conspiracy to make Kari feel worthy of attention, only to be shucked back down to size in the near future by some virtual slap in the face (the possibilities are endless).

Bah! It is what it is.

posted by Unknown @ 11:24 a.m.

Stink Trees and Daisies

This morning I get a call from my landlord, saying a tree cutting company is coming to get rid of the tree that's rubbing up against the house. If it got any bigger, it probably wouldn't be good for the house's foundation, either. I took a look at it and realized that it was a Stink Tree, or an Ailanthus Tree- just like the ones that are all over Toronto! I guess they're a problem for any city. Anyways, there were huge trucks all over, and it was a big ordeal. Lots of noise and men in hats.


And then, as I was looking through Sidereel.com, I noticed that there were new episodes of Pushing Daisies! I absolutely love this show; the writing is witty, the premise is unique (a guy can touch dead people and bring them back to life) and the main character is, IMHO, super cute. I just love his bushy eyebrows.

I also got to watch the Dead Like Me movie, which was good, but not great. It was cool to hear them all use cuss words... cause when you're a grim reaper, I'd imagine there'd be a lot of swear about.

So it seems that my day was taken up by a lot of death... the death of a tree, and some macabre creativity. A good day, I think!

*** It's also my sister-in-law's birthday, and my cousin stopped by for a visit, but I didn't want to mention those two things during my "death" themed blog. :) ***

posted by Unknown @ 11:23 p.m.

Still Unemployed, But No Longer Overwhelmed

It's been a while since I've written anything on here, and my blog is the one thing I wanted to keep up with after leaving Toronto. So here goes!

Things are much the same, but all together different, in my life right now. I still don't have a job, but I've moved to Windsor and I'm loving it here. My new neighbourhood is awesome, my apartment is almost twice the size of my place in Toronto, but over $100 less in rent, and my proximity to best friends and family is nourishing my spirit! I'm on a baseball team, I get to cheer my nephew on during his games, I have a sweet car now, and I get drunk with Ben entirely too often! Just kidding... or am I? LOL

Right now, I'm feeling good. The lack of job isn't such a big deal, since my EI payments are good and steady. I'm ok for money. The problem will be my sanity level, without having something to do everyday. Right now, I'm filling my time with setting up house (pics will come soon), visiting with friends and family, and playing NWN2 (it probably wasn't a good idea to buy that, but ah well).

And I have to get Ravenswift Images up and running. I left the branding up to my friend, but I think I'm going to have to do that on my own. She's got two babies (and a husband, tee hee), and just doesn't have the time!

posted by Unknown @ 12:36 p.m.

Unemployed and Overwhelmed

Ugh. I don't like the sound of that word. Unemployed. But that's the way the cookie crumbles.

I was "laid off" on Wednesday, due to restructuring in the department. This is total bullshit. Alas, I'm no longer working for Henry's, and like I've been telling people, I was shocked, but I'm not sorry. I've been humming and hawing over whether or not to move on from there, anyways. They made the decision for me, so really, I should thank them. I don't really like making decisions, especially life-altering ones like whether or not to quit a job. Not only did they make the choice for me, but they gave me a shit load of money. Well, the standard shit load, but I worked there for five bloody years.

Now I have to decide what to do with myself. This is the part that freaks me out. How do I know I'm making the right decision? And if I change my mind, would that make me look like even more of a loser? Say I take a job at, oh I don't know... Vistek. I've heard the employees there are none too content. So would I just be setting myself up for more hassle? Same shit, different pile? I know there will be shit in every pile.

Anyways- here are some options I have:

Three-week trip to Australia: (This one I'll probably do.) I haven't seen Stef in a couple months, and it seems like it's been at least six. I miss her, I'd love to go Down Under and shoot some photographs, and I think getting away will give me a better perspective on things. The other side of the globe is pretty extreme, but I have an opportunity, and I think I should take it. (I wonder what time it is there right now... I need to call Stef!)

Get a new job somewhere in Toronto, like Vistek or Indigo: Alright, I'll admit it. I've already applied for the job at Vistek. I freaked out the day of departure, and sent them my resume. Indigo- I looked for jobs on their website, but didn't find anything applicable for me.

Apply to a newspaper in some remote community: This has always been a dream of mine. To go off to a place like Sioux Lookout in northern Ontario and be a reporter/photographer. And there's an opportunity right now, however, this is not something I planned to do on my own. This is for when I have a partner/husband willing to re-locate, so I don't get lonely!

Move back to Windsor, and try to get a job/s there: This has been in the back of my mind for a few months now. I'm thinking the time is right to move out of Toronto, and for some reason, Windsor feels like a good direction. I don't know if I feel this way because Windsor is safe (in my mind, anyways- but I know it'll be difficult to get a job there), or if it really is the best move for me to make. This is what I struggle with. (The other issue with moving to Windsor is the fact that I'll need to get a car. This is not something I'm totally against, but it's another expense, making life in Windsor with a car, comparable to life in Toronto, without.) BUT- my family and my friends are there. So, this option is a really good contender.

Go back to school: I think the government would help me pay for this, if I were to choose to study something else in school. The only thing I could think of would be something like the Outdoor Education course at Humber (or something similar). But I have no idea what kind of a job I'd be able to get with a diploma from this program.

Concentrate 100% on my photography, and maybe work my way in to an assisting job: This could happen anywhere really, but I don't know if assisting would be enough to support me on it's own. I think I would have to find something to supplement this... I also always said I'd have a photo exhibit here in Toronto before I left the city. Well, it's crunch time. I'm not sure if that's going to be possible. Although, the Lens Factory is accepting proposals for March ($450 for the space, plus framing costs and advertising- this seems doable to me now). What would I show, though? I need a theme. Any theme. More to think about. But I think I should seriously consider this. I have the time to do the work involved, and the money to front. We'll see...

I have re-vamped my website though- check it out: http://www.karigignac.com/

Tell me what you think. About everything. I'm trying to gather wisdom so I can make the right decision.

posted by Unknown @ 2:01 p.m.