the streets of toronto

(This photo: he was walking along University
Ave...singing loudly to himself...his shirt is
decorated with roosters and soccer balls)

Thoughts from my day:
I've been struggling with the concept of 'home' lately. Finding peace and happiness in a city, or house, or community...or any sort of space...is hard to find for me lately.




I feel selfish and restless somedays...and on others Im content and comfortable with this time and place in my life. Im finding inspiring people, friendly people, beige people, awkward people, people who hum mozart on the street, people who want to join the circus, people in motorcycle gangs, drunk people, people who are fulfilling their dreams and just 'doing' (a concept i find hard to implement into my life).


I find myself at York looking at all the potential friends and aquaintences...looking around Bloor Street at all the faces of refugees, fashion gurus, homeless... looking around Symington Ave at the old Portugese women sweeping their driveways, the Persian women watering their gardens, and the Italian men pruning their small backyard vineyards (There is a river of grape juice flowing in my back alley way...remnants from wine making?).


There are so many STORIES and EXPERIENCES and PEOPLE. ---im itching for communion with HUMANITY. I dont really know what this means..but I do know that I want to share my life and my stories. I want to be apart of a universal humanity swap. Does this exist? I hope Im not crazy.


(Comment on the photos: they are randomly placed...interesting things I have seen over the last few weeks)

Painting the Roses Red

As a gift to one of our host families, Natalie and I decided to paint a mural on one of their bedroom walls.

Here is little Diana helping Natalie speed up the process... some photos:

After we painted the walls blue we took advantage of the wonderful backdrop:

Resulting in a ridiculous night of writing thought bubbles on the wall (what else better to do on a friday night?)

Natalie: "How can I be a freespirit today?"

John: "Give me a beso"

Jenna: "MOof"

Nick: setting fire to "yesteryear"

Oh how I love these people.

Guatemalan Glory: A Photo Update on my Travels in Guatemala

A Contemplative Diana (Daughter of my host family)

Double chinned Jennifer Soria (the daughter of my host family) and myself: grins upon arrival. I lived with this family (a single mom and her two daughters) two years ago. Its lovely to be tickeled by these girls again.

A Holiday Face: This book has captured me...Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels...please read it.

Natalie and I: Our view of three mountains and one errupting volcano...we woke to puffs of smoke every morning.

Entrance to our Lodgings for the Weekend...Tree House: a little cabin located in a giant tree overlooking the above view. Frig. I didnt want to leave. Sweet solace.

Back to Real Life: The Market...crabs on a fence...the market is full of wonderful pictures.

Tomato Angles

Chili Piquante

Everything is for sale: rusty tools, eight tracks, and used construction helmets. (Blade??!!)

Guatemalan Cowboys gather to sell their animals in Chimaltenango.

Contrasts: 2d idealism vs 3d reality

She's in there...and she's under lock and key. I suppose this was a mistranslation.

Foosball in Guatemala?

....More to come...