Prompt # 2 from 301 Writing Ideas: Describe the day you graduated high school.
I don’t know. I really can’t remember.
(more…)Tag: Calgary
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Aly walks around taking pictures of Toronto, and he talks, too | visiting Calgary
I went out to Calgary to visit my folks. While I was there, I went around and took some pictures. I never appreciated what Calgary has to offer as much as I did during this trip. In many ways, it’s the opposite of Toronto; the availability of space and access to nature is just one of those ways.
During this trip, I took some pictures in Banff, Alberta and Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. If you are out that way, be sure to check out both. They won’t disappoint.
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Cucumber Water
Over the March Break, I went home to Calgary for a few days. The visit was too short to do much more than hang out with my family but was long enough to interrupt the things I wanted to do back home in Toronto. Of course, I made a trip to Reid’s and bought a pen. (more…)
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Calgary, where 5°C feels like summer
On New Year’s Day, -4ºC, my father walked down into the basement, which is my room, turned on the lights, and, in Katchi, softly said, “Aly. Aly, wake up slowly and take your mother to the hospital.”
In Katchi, I replied, “Yeah, okay.” (more…)
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It’s Nice to Go Home, and It’s Good to Come Back
I arrived home last night, at around 3 am. When I walked in, Riel meowed with a voice that sounded either parched or worn. For the next three hours, he kept bunting me, in between rubbing himself all over me. I didn’t get much sleep last night. (more…)
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Summer Sixteen
Let me start by apologising for the reference to Drake with the title. It’s catchy and rhythmic, though. He must have good writers. (more…)
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Pre-progressive, pseudo-bifocal vision correction
I do a lot of seeing throughout the day. Seeing helps me do my job, get from one place to another, and even, among many other things, helps me write these blog posts. Without seeing, I couldn’t text people, and I would be forced to call them. I would say that I see pretty much from the moment I wake up in the morning, until I nap in the evening, and then again between the end of my nap and when I finally tuck in for the night. (more…)
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Longboarding in 2010
I was looking for some photos tonight and I came across these gems. I put together a quick slideshow for you. I used to really like Wolf Parade.
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Fly Fishing and Photography
Coming back to Calgary is always good, in a sense, as it provides some sort of “check-in” for me. Looking through my stuff and thinking about things I’ve forgotten about, passively or actively, gives me a chance to reflect a bit. Last night, I ended up at a cafe that I rarely go to, just to change things up, and, there, it dawned on me that I’ve done very little this last week, even though I was expecting to do a lot. (more…)
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The First Few Days of My Visit to Calgary
I was born and raised in Calgary. I used to know the streets like the back of my hand, with a mitten on. I was able to get things done in the city, because I knew how it worked.
Not a lot has changed, but it’s different enough now. It doesn’t really feel like the same city, but, then, I don’t really feel like the same guy who left.
We’re coming up on four years that I’ve been away. When I’m in Toronto, I’m from Calgary; when I’m in Calgary, I live in Toronto. I haven’t been away long enough to belong to just one city. I guess, that’s just a matter of time.
I haven’t seen any of my friends yet. I came in on Christmas Eve, dropped my parents off at a family gathering, drove myself home, ordered a pizza, ate some pizza with my sister, then we picked my parents up. I saw some of my extended family for about 15 minutes. When we got home, we sat around and chatted for a couple of hours. It was kind of nice.
Christmas Day is rather boring. Everything is closed, except for what’s open. There’s not much to do, unless you have something to do.
Today, Boxing Day, my sister and I drove to a mall, then drove passed it when we saw how busy the parking lot was. We then went to a SportChek closer to my folks’ place, but my sister didn’t find any sneakers and I just sat on a bench. I was able to plan some get-togethers today, so it was productive.
This evening, my sister and I made a trip to Higher Ground for a tea (me) and a hot cider (her). While waiting in line, we both remarked on how the atmosphere of the place hasn’t changed, only the people. Our drinks felt hotter than we remembered them ever being.
For the last few months, I’ve been compiling a list of things that I want to bring back with me. Other than that, there are two pictures of the city that I want to take. I’m really just visiting Calgary for a few days.
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Three days until I fly to Calgary for a week
This year, more than most, I’m quite looking forward to visiting with my family over the winter holidays. It hasn’t been that long since I was last in Calgary or since I’ve last seen my family, but I feel like it’s been a long while since I’ve not had to pay for laundry and used a dishwasher. (more…)
