One crazy $%#*&!

I left the office last night, at around 6:00 pm, to meet up with a friend to play squash. As I walked down towards Bloor, I could hear somebody yelling in the distance. When I reached the corner, I waited to see who was yelling, and what they were saying. A little ways down the street, I could see a man coming towards the corner where I stood, and I could start to make out what he was yelling... it went something like this;

"Repent! Turn to Jesus! Ask Jesus Christ, the son of David for forgiveness! You ****** ******* son of a *****!"

At first I thought he was a little dilusional, but religious, until I heard the last portion of his tirade. He proceeded to say this sort of thing over and over, while walking down the street, approached each person he passed.

I let him pass me, and continued to walk behind him, to see what he would do. I was a little nervous with him at my back, so I wanted to let him past. At one point he pushed a woman that was walking in the opposite direction, and another man came to her defence, and told the 'dilusional' man not to push the woman, or anybody else. To this, he felt threatened, and apologized for his action.

As he progressed down the street, he came to Avenue Road, with all six lanes busy with traffic. But instead of stopping at the red signal light, he just marched straight into traffic, not paying any attention at all. Several cars had to either swirve or hit their breaks to avoid colliding with him, and there were many honking horns, and irate drivers.

At this time I lost him in the crowd, as I was not going to continue across in the same fashion, and had to wait for the light to turn green. An interesting character he was, but not somebody I would feel comfortable running into alone on the street.

DB.

Ted's Variety

Blue Sky

Can you remember going to the corner store, with that dollar from Dad for the both of you, and you'd buy handfuls of candy with it. Buying that big green package full of 'Bottle Caps', and hoping there'd be more root beer flavours than orange?

Sitting in the car parked in the driveway, with the windows rolled down, pretending to be driving, chasing down criminals.

Swimming and barbeques in the green concrete pool, on those hot summer Sunday afternoons.

Waiting for that one Uncle at Christmas, then having to wait even longer, until you'd all had coffee and cake, then finally opening the gifts.

Getting up early on weekend mornings, sometimes before the t.v. stations were broadcasting anything, to watch cartoons (what time would that have had to have been... before 6:00?).

I remember those things, and more. Now I'm the Uncle that the kids are waiting for.

DB.

I don't know what to say...

Everything just seems bad this week.
I shouldn't be feeling this way,
but I do.

I'll drive myself crazy,
unless I get a handle on things.

DB.

...

"Everything can be taken from a man, but one thing, the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude to any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way."
- Viktor Frankl

End Of An Era...

Today signaled the end of an era
in motorports; it is the end of an
era that will be remembered the
way names like Fangio, Clark, Moss,
Prost, and Senna are remembered.

Michael Schumacher, Seven times
Formula 1 World Champion, raced
his final race, and went into
retirement, at the age of 37.

He is the most accomplished driver
of all time, holding every record,
except for most Grands Prix raced.

After 16 seasons, he put on his
helmet for the last time in Brazil today.

I started watching Formula 1 racing
on May 1st, 1994... possibly the darkest
day in modern Formula 1; the day that
Ayrton Senna died.

That was also the day that the
Schumacher-era began. At the young
age of 25, Schumacher went on to
dominate Formula 1 for the next 12 years,
outlasting challenger after challenger;
Hill, Villeneuve, Hakkinnen...

I watched every race during those 12 years,
through all 7 of his championships, and
have attended 3 Formula 1 races in Montreal,
where I saw Michael win twice, and his
brother Ralf win once.

I know that this doesn't have a great
significance in the big scheme of things,
but it is a nostalgic time for me, and for
all Formula 1 fans. I was still in University
when Schumy won his first championship,
and now I have been out of University for
10 years. So much has happened during
that time.

I watched the race at a friends house today,
who has been a big Schumacher fan with me
during these past 12 years. We have rejoiced
in his victories, and argued with his detractors.
This may be a big LOL for everybody reading
this, but I think we both had a tear in our
eyes as Schumacher climbed out of his car
for that final time at the end of the race.

It was a fantastic race though, with one of
Schumacher's most brilliant drives of his career.
A fitting way to end such a long and successful
career, even though he couldn't quite get
that 8th championship after such a wonderful
second half of the season.

Many people dislike Schumacher for some
of his tactics over the years, but so many
more liked him for his brilliant driving. It
was a combination of all that he was that
made him so exciting to follow.

Formula 1 will definitely not be the same
without him... even when the next great
champion begins his reign.

Forza Ferrari! Forza Schumacher!

DB.

Andy Warhol

I went to see the Andy Warhol exhibit
last week at the AGO; it was interesting.

I didn't know too much about
Andy Warhol, and learned much from the exhibit.

Some people might not understand
how his silk screens or movies
could be called art.

But it was in what the audience
is made to feel by the works,
that is what makes it art.

Some people may feel revulsion;
some people may think it's garbage;
some people may be moved to tears;
it is all of these reactions that is the art.

To have an 8 hour movie of a man
sleeping in bed, or an 8 hour static shot
of the Empire State Building;
it illicits reaction, which is what Warhol wanted.

DB

Is there anybody out there?

Does anybody,
other than my brother,
actually read this thing?

DB

Nothing to do...

Here I am, on a Saturday night, sitting in the Second Cup
at Brant and Lakeshore,
waiting for a friend.

I don't know where he is, we agreed to meet tonight,
to talk about business.

But here I am waiting, with the other customers,
having cancelled other plans for the night.

DB.

Emotional Rescue...

Our emotions change from day to day,
they evolve from one extreme to another;
sometimes taking days or weeks to make the evolution,
sometimes taking only minutes or hours.

And our bodies can become exhausted by these emotions.

I think that we should embrace our emotions,
good or bad,
and express them when they hit their hardest.

This can lead to wonderfully creative things.

DB.

Haiku for a cold day...

The sun was shining,
the wind blew throughout the day.
It is cold outside.

DB

Dandruff

It snowed today,
not very much,
(at least not here in Toronto)
but it was damn cold,
and it snowed.

DB.

How Nerdy are you?

You are a nerd if you try this out...

Schumy will retire at the end of the season...

Some of you might think I'm being silly,
but to me Michael Schumacher's announcement
that he is retiring from Formula 1 at the end of this season
is a sad thing for me.

I know it has nothing to do with anything important in the world,
but I've watched every single Formula 1 race since 1994,
and Schumy has always been the greatest driver to me.

Maybe it's not so much that he's retiring,
as it is that I am reminiscing about these past 12 years of my life.
So much has happened since his first championship in 1994,
and his retiring is like an end of an era,
and end of this portion of my life.

Yes it sounds silly, but I will miss seeing him race.

The records he holds speak for themselves...

Titles: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Wins: 90
Pole Positions: 68
Most wins in a single season: 13 (2004)
Successive wins in a season: seven (2004)
Most fastest race laps: 75
Most points in a single season: 148 (2004)
Most successive seasons with a win: 15
Most podiums: 153
Most second-place finishes: 43
Most wins at the same grand prix: 8 (France)
Most wins from pole position: 40
Most clean sweeps (pole position, race win, and fastest lap): 22
Most successive podiums: 19 (2001-02)
Biggest winning points margin: 67 (2002)
Fastest title: 2002 (won in July with six races to spare)

DB

A friend told me that my Saga reminded him of this song...

The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You

I'm looking through you
Where did you go
I thought I knew you
What did I know
You don't look different
But you have changed
I'm looking through you
You're not the same

Your lips are moving
I cannot hear
You voice is soothing
But the words aren't clear
You don't sound different
I've learned the game
I'm looking through you
You're not the same

Why, tell me why
Did you not treat me right
Love has a nasty habit
Of disappearing overnight

You're thinking of me
The same old way
You were above me
But not today
The only difference
Is you're down there
I'm looking through you
And you're nowhere

What I saw today

Today I saw Police cordon off a portion of Bloor Street,
just West of St. George Street.

There was a man in a cab, who claimed to have a bomb strapped to himself.

I saw the Police get ready, with the bomb squad,
the little remote control robot, the bomb sniffing dogs,
the sharp shooters on the roofs.

Then they dawned their gas masks,
and a group of 4 or 5 armoured SWAT officers surrounded the cab,
shot tear gas through the window,
and dragged the man out, to subdue him.

It was all rather like a movie.
It was scary, but exhilarating.
I knew there was danger, but I couldn't make myself to leave.

I stood behind the Police tape,
and watched the drama unfold.

As it turned out, there was no bomb,
and the man was mentally unstable.

DB

Longing for more...

I went to my alma mater this evening,
Ryerson University. I signed up for a C.E. course
in French. I've wanted to learn French for years,
and decided this was the perfect time.

I haven't been to Ryerson very often
over the past 10 years, since my graduation.
After registering, I walked through the school,
through the corridors I'd been through 100's of times.
I walked through the quad, and past what used to be
Ernie's hot dog cart.

There has been lots of construction
during the past decade, a lot has changed.
But more has remained the same,
a comforting fact.

Watching the Students getting ready for the
year ahead, I became nostalgic, and wallowed
in the memories of my time spent there.
How I wish I could go back 15 years,
to live that time again. They are such
memorable years, such fun years. There are
things I would do differently, but so much
I'd do the same.

Autumn is my favourite time of year,
and every September I get that itch to go back
to school again. Finally this year, after 10
years have past, I am once again going to be
a student.

The excitement is almost too much!

DB.

Beautiful Moments

The evening sun had just dropped below the horizon,
the air was warm, and calm.

Across the bay, the bright lights of the big City.
The CNE was in full swing, with it's sounds drifting in the air.

The ducks swam along the shore,
birds flew to their nests, for the night ahead.

Bats were coming out of the trees,
getting their fill of the insects above.

Raccoons were coming out of the trees,
fighting for their food.

And the crickets were chirping loudly,
so peaceful and perfect.

A perfect moment;
a beautiful moment.

DB.

Tyred

I am so tired right now.
One of those times when you are so tired,
and you can barely keep our eyes open,
but you are too lazy to get up and go to bed.

I do have to go to work tomorrow,
so it's not even like it's a Friday or Saturday night,
when I'd be able to sleep in the next morning.

The body is tired, but is not willing.

DB.

August 22, 2006 - ACK ACK ACK!!!

Sitting in Yorkville, having lunch.
Zanta is down the street picking flowers,
giving them to all the ladies.

"ACK, ACK, ACK!", he says.

"Here you go." he says to the lady, handing her a flower.
"Go to www.torontozanta.ca. That's Zanta, with a zee."

He leaves to go, then turns to me.
"Here, I'll give one to you too.", he says, as he hands me a flower.
"You're kind of cute. I'm a lesbian.", he says as he turns and walks away.

"WWW.TORONTOZANTA.CA!.... ACK, ACK, ACK!!!"

DB.

That healing power...

"Do you know that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour?"

"Yes I do."

"Are you a Christian?"

"Yes I am."

"Are you born again?"

"No, I've been a Christian all my life."

"Praise God ladies! He's one of us!"

"Are you visiting the city?"

"Yes, we're here to see Benny Hinn."

"Oh yeah."

"You know Benny Hinn?"

"Yes, I know who he is."

"I was healed... he healed my leg 40 years ago, with the power of God.
And every year it feels better and better. Hallelujah!"

Growing old"er"

I won't say that I am old, I am not even 40.
I will say that there are so many reminders that I am getting older.

I have been out of University, and working for 10 years now.
I have learned so much in that time, and still have so much more to learn.

This summer I have realized how little I really do know,
not necessarily in work, although I am always learning there,
but in life.

I have learned, and I am learning so much this summer,
about things I was so clueless about until now.

It feels good to be studying, to be learning,
to be improving my life.

I just have to stop myself from regretting not having learned these things years ago,
and to embrace the knowledge now, and apply it to the rest of my life.

Time is Mankinds greatest healer.

What is it that makes our lives so varied,
that makes it seem so much worse at the time,
but when we look back, not so bad at all?

Motorcycles

Drive the car, if you're with me
Che Guevara's drinking tea
He reads about a new device
And takes to the stage in a secret life

48 Degrees In The Shade

In the heat of the day, so much can change.
Few people wandered outside today,
as the humidex reached 48 Celsius.

We never know the future,
what is in store for us.

One year ago, things were so different;
not only in my life, but in the World.

We experience so much in that short span of one year.
And that experience changes us,
sometimes profoundly.

But it's what we do with these experiences,
what we accomplish through these changes,
that make us who we are.

Life is too short to have any regrets.
We have to trust our instincts, trust our decisions,
and not doubt what we know is right.

If we go through life doubting,
if we go through life with regrets,
how will we ever accomplish anything?

DB.

45 Degrees In The Shade

Today was a very hot day.
The temp was 36 Celsius,
and with the humidity, it felt like 45.

It was hot during the lunch hour,
but the afternoon was even warmer.

By the time I was walking home
from the bus stop,
It literally felt like an oven outside.

In my infinite wisdom,
I decided to go jogging,
but only once the sun began to set.

That was still a mistake,
because the humidity was still so very high.

By the time I arrived back home,
my clothes were soaked in sweat,
and I felt so dehydrated,
even though I drank a bottle of water while running.

Now I feel exhausted,
so we'll have to wait and see how I feel in the morning.

DB.

Haiku For An End

Your heart shined within,
as the Summer heat went past.
Autumn comes again.

DB.

Clark Kent

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 65% The Flash 60% Robin 50% Spider-Man 50% Hulk 45% Green Lantern 45% Iron Man 45% Supergirl 43% Wonder Woman 43% Catwoman 35% Batman 30%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

An exciting ending...

The Tour de France this year was the most exciting in years. After 7 years of dominance by Lance Armstrong, nobody could guess who would come forward this year to take the win. Surprisingly, another American has won; only the 3rd in history, behind Greg Lemond and Lance Armstrong. Floyd Landis won it in an exciting manner, not dominating like Lance has in the past, but really working for it.

Last Wednesday, Landis cracked during a very tough mountain stage, and fell from 1st to 11th, losing over 8 minutes to the new leader. When everyone thought he was out of it, he came back the next day on another tough mountain stage, and broke away at the first of several climbs, in the end winning by a huge margin. He ended up in 3rd place overall at the end of the day, just 30 seconds from the lead.

On Saturday, he rode incredibly well during the final time trial, gaining back the lead, with a 59 second lead over second place. What a great tour, with a record number of riders in the Yellow Jersey, and a very exciting finish.

DB.

The crashing sounds of thunder...

As I sat at my desk in the office, sketching details for a project I was working on, the red felt tip pen I was using started to fade on the printout that I was tracing over. The sky had been dark all morning, since getting out of the Bay subway station. I had luckily listened to the weather in the morning, and knew that rain was on its way, unlike all of the people waiting just inside the station, hoping that the rain would stop. I opened my umbrella, and walked the 10 minutes to the office.

The rain was coming down hard, and soaked the bottoms of my pants, and the humidity made it feel much warmer than it was. The AC was on in the office, but it never feels cold when you enter. I stowed my umbrella under my desk, and turned on the notebook computer that sat before me.

All morning, the rain came down. As the lunch hour drew near, I could feel the rumblings in my stomach, and I couldn't wait to leave and get some food. I was contemplating leaving earlier than I usually do, but then the rain started to come down heavier than it had all morning. People started to leave the office for lunch, but I chose to wait and see if the rain would die down a little.

After waiting half an hour, the rain let up a little, so I decided to go out with my umbrella, and brave the light rain, hoping that it would not start pouring once again. I made it to the restaurant, and sat down to eat my meal. As I ate, I looked across the road at the new ROM addition, and could see that the rain was starting to get heavy again. The people out on the street started to walk faster, getting wet because they had no umbrella's.

As I walked back to the office, the rain was pouring down hard. Once again the bottoms of my pant legs were wet, as were my shoes. I got back to my seat, put my wet umbrella under my desk, and was about to start working, when a LOUD CRASH of thunder followed a very bright flash of lightning. It surprised everybody, causing some to let out little screams. That's when one co-worker sheapishly said "I really don't like thunder", as she closed the open window next to her.

DB.

The sounds of summer

I heard my first true sounds of Summer on Saturday;
the Cicada.

Whenever I hear their buzzing on a hot July afternoon,
it is that sound that signifies Summer to me.

I can remember for as long as I have been alive,
from the times as kids, when we thought the sound was from the
electrical lines overhead,
the buzzing of Cicadas is the sound of Summer.

I love that sound, just as I love the sound of Crickets
later in the Summer during August.

Cicadas signify to me the beginning of Summer,
while Crickets signify the coming end of Summer,
and the coming wonderful season of Autumn.

DB.

The Job Tomorrow

I will be signing for my new job tomorrow.
That means I will be resigning from my current job on Tuesday.

I know my current employer will not be happy,
but I've given them many chances,
and they haven't done anything for me yet.

The opportunity with the new job is just too good,
I can't pass it up.

There are many things that I will miss,
after being with my current company for 6 1/2 years.

But it will be good to be in a different part of the city.

It will also be good to get away,
to start new,
to get a new start in life.

DB.

Job posting

I am going for a job interview today.
I have been working at the same office for 6 1/2 years now.
I haven't been very happy there for a while now.
I've been content with staying where I am,
it's comfortable.
But I can't stay anymore.
There are too many opportunities out there.
I have to be more assertive,
go after the things I want,
go after the things I need.

DB.

One of the best feelings in the World.

This past weekend I went to visit my Brother, his Wife, my two Nephews and my two Nieces. I was feeling down on Saturday, and when I walked in the front door of their house, I was first greeted by my youngest Nephew and Niece. They came over, gave me a hug, and were saying how happy they were that I was there. Then I walked into the t.v. room, and my older Nephew walked over, gave me a big hug, and said "I love you."

Those greetings lifted my spirits so high, I almost cried. It was so wonderful to hear them say those things at that moment, it allowed me to forget about my problems.

Then as I left to go home on Sunday evening, I was already at my car, and my Brother lifted his Son to the dining room window, and my Nephew said "I'm so happy that you were here this weekend."

DB

What makes you happy?

There are many things in life that can make you happy...
what makes you happy?

DB