TICKLEBEAR

SEPIA SATURDAY (98)

2012-01-28T00:10:00.000-05:00

Alan's prompt this week is taking us to the theater.

That is a theme for which I had to research on the web

as I have no family pictures to cover this theme.

It doesn't mean my mind is not full of memories though...

Searching the web,

I came across some familiar and not-so familiar places in the city.

Let's look around!!

Theaters!!

Now something we totally take for granted,

it was once a marvelous place where one could dream.

From the silent movies in the early days of cinema,

to the news reels to keep informed;

from the arrival of talkies to technicolor,

from western to scifi,

we all enjoyed at some point getting lost for a couple of hours in this world.

Some theaters had their heyday and evolved gracefully;

some became seedy places where certain people liked to meet in the dark...

some went bankrupt due to the arrival of the cineplexes.

Some were doomed and visited by the wrecking ball,

while others found another mission:

live performances!!

Let's take a walk!!

I've never been to the Rialto

but looking at it,

it looks like a great place with splendid architectural details.

Live performances are on the menu here.

It even inspired someone.

The Outremont theater,

once a repertoire cinema in my youth,

which I often visited,

seeing movies from eastern Europe

like this movie mentioning the beginning the solidarity movement in Poland

that made Lech a familiar figure in the news...

and other fun stuff.

It was eventually closed...

but after much protest,

the theater was revived to offer live performances.

Hurray!!

The York theater,

where I remember seeing the first version of the Lord of the Rings,

mixing animation and live action.

But I also remember seeing there

my first [and only] cockroach walking on the top of the seat

in front of me and my friend...

The damn thing was as big as my fist!!!

(shudders!!)

Never went back there afterward,

understandably...

It has since been closed for many years

and was eventually torn down.

The Imperial theater,

a favorite of mine,

where I think I saw the Star Trek movies,

and my most lasting memory,

Latcho Drom,

a masterpiece movie about the history of Romany across Asia, Middle East and Europe.

I had the VHS cassette but it was never released as a DVD or Bluray,

sadly...

My cassette died a few years ago.

Still...

Loews,

another favorite of mine,

especially when I worked downtown at Eaton's.

I would finish my day's work and cross the street

to catch the latest movie,

on a weekly basis.

I miss those days when I was able to sit in a chair for two full hours.

My back problems have changed all that.

Now,

I rely on Blurays...

Oh well!!

The names of Clayburn or Dreyfuss come to mind.

Travolta and his Saturday Night Fever;

Spielberg, Lucas, Scorcese, etc...

I even remember meeting friends there,

on a VERY snowy Xmas evening...

Movies were a passion of mine!!

Still are...

The Corona Theater,

another unknown destination to me,

but given this pic,

I might have to change this.

Another venue for live performance.

The Ouimetoscope!!

A fascinating history and great memories here for me

as I remember it as a repertoire theater.

The Empress theater,

unknown to me,

but still an impressive facade.

Its future is uncertain...

The Seville theater,

another venue that went down under the wrecking ball to make room for condos...

You can still follow the link to read its history.

This was a mishmash I wrote rapidly

before leaving for work on Friday morning.

I hope you won't hold a grudge...

I never aimed at a Pulitzer,

you know...

I'm a visual,

not a writer.

Montreal had such a great heritage in its theaters.

Nice to see some of it survived.

But you can enjoy other contributions by better writers on

SEPIA SATURDAY.

:)~

HUGZ

TICKLEBEAR's SIX WORDS SATURDAY (#47)

2012-01-28T00:05:00.000-05:00

OK, OK!!

I KNOW!!!!

I'M GETTING OLD...

Sigh...

I went to see a specialist this week

since something about one eye was bothering me,

and given my genetic baggage,

I believe I had reasons to be concerned;

but it was concluded it was merely a case of...

me getting old[er].

Oh well!

Thanks for reminding me...

Looks like I'll have to get used to this.

DARN!!!

:/~

HUGZ

BYE BYE CLOUDS!! (025/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-27T21:37:00.000-05:00

Well,

after it rained all day...

the sky is finally clearing,

the few clouds left now falling to shreds,

promising a fine weekend.

Here's hoping!!

Luckily this wasn't yesterday,

or my vision would have looked like this...

;)~

HUGZ

KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS (024/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-26T18:06:00.001-05:00

I've had a concern for the last few months...

a dark spot floating around when I look at a clear surface.

I went to see a specialist today!!

Apparently,

it is of no concern right now

and only a reminder that I am getting old after all...

but should it get worse,

or if other symptoms should show up,

I should see him again.

The reason I was concerned is

that my father's blindness started just about the age I am right now

and his eyesight deteriorated quickly.

Furthermore,

it all started in his right eye,

and my spot is in my right eye...

Nah,

it appears I should get used to this

as it won't go anywhere.

I should just be wary if it increases in size

or if it multiplies.

I feel relieved that it is a banal thing,

so far...

In the meantime,

I'm stuck for a few hours with a fuzzy vision

because he put drops in my eyes to dilate the pupils.

WHOA!!

I certainly wouldn't like to be stuck like that.

On my way home,

whenever I crossed a street,

I couldn't look at the oncoming traffic

and their headlights were blinding me

and hurting my eyes.

I'll keep the lights here very cozy!!

:)~

HUGZ

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE!! (023/365 DAYS, V2.O)

2012-01-25T17:04:00.000-05:00

Today,

I had lunch,

ran an errand,

(i.e. looking for chocolates and buying chocolate fudge instead...),

and simply enjoyed the blue, blue sky!!

It was not too cold for a change when sunny.

But I think we have an odd month of January...

I've been wearing my [new] shoes all week now [so far]!!

How long will that last?!?

And on my way home,

I noticed someone had the right idea

when a guy improvised a standing bar alongside a vacant lot,

on top of a concrete block:

Rum & Coke on the Rocks!!

Not my drink of choice

as I personally prefer Vodka or Whiskey [or Porto...],

but still,

on such a beautiful day,

one thought came to my mind:

TERRACE SEASON!!

Will it happen early or late this year?

Sigh...

HUGZ

GOSSIP GUY!! (022/365 DAYS, V2.O)

2012-01-24T19:43:00.001-05:00

I heard it through the grapevine that

I'M A NICE GUY!!

WHO KNEW?!?

Apparently,

I was brought up in a meeting at one of our clients...

and it appears my sense of collaboration is appreciated over there.

I did intervene in a few cases

to solve the matter the quickest way possible

to avoid any type of aggravation for the patient.

It is part of my professional ethic.

That's just how I am!!

I suspect some people at work might disapprove of my ways...

but not everyone would agree with them,

fortunately!!

I obviously cannot elaborate on the matter more,

but I'm happy to see someone noticed

I'm trying to help the best way I can.

Maybe I should have remained in the customer services business.

I would [sometimes] irritate the management,

because I'm the type that needs an answer "N-O-W",

not later,

and I don't quit until it is fully resolved.

I am stubborn that way...

But the client would be happy!!

Isn't it the main goal here?!?

It felt good to get a compliment,

for a change...

:D~

HUGZ

RANDOM VIEWS in OLD MONTREAL (021/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-23T17:11:00.000-05:00

T'was a grey day,

cloudy and uninspiring,

but mild...

I nevertheless went for a walk during my lunchtime,

just looking around...

I always thought these old houses must be dark,

but given the amount of windows here,

I doubt if it is the case here.

Just because...

I like the curve,

it's metal,

and I like the old stone in the background...

Well,

if this truck ever gets stolen,

it should be easy to give the cops

a proper description...

I love this sculpture.

I've often seen it.

I believe it is made of a whale bone [or something big like that...],

no?

Must be expensive...

I didn't ask!!

If I had more space to display it,

I might be tempted.

Some folks might say I'm displaying enough stuff already in my apartment...

But when is enough, enough?!?

When your credit card is totally maxed out!!

That's when!!

;)~

HUGZ

ANOTHER MONDAY!!

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

No comment...

;)~

HUGZ

Have a great week!!

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

2012-01-22T23:57:00.000-05:00

Watching TV tonight while doing some other stuff,

I got hooked once more by the latest edition of

STAR ACADEMIE,

the Quebecois talent show showcasing emerging potential singers.

A few stood out of the lot for me,

and when I saw who had to sing to deserve a seat at the academy,

out came the credit card to cast my vote(s)...

(La Thibert cost me a pretty penny a few years ago...)

:D~

Olivier,

a Sherbrooke native,

seemed to me to be a wholesome individual,

easy on the eye and easily marketable,

and with a little coaching,

he ought to be able to reach his full potential.

If he's got the drive,

he's got a decent chance to pull this off.

He sang "Home",

but he's definitely not going home tonight.

Good luck to him!!

And I do like the new theme song by Gregoire,

a french singer who took an unusual road to reach his goal.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

I might even watch the dailies...

:)~

HUGZ

STAYING INSIDE!! (020/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-22T13:54:00.000-05:00

My friend and I were planning something for today,

but given our respective mood,

(mine: lazy, hers: creative),

we've both decided to stay in today instead.

Our plans will still be doable later on.

So,

no reason to go freeze our butt outside!!

Even the river seemed to protest this morning,

spewing forth some fog...

I will definitely try to enjoy instead

the comfort of my own bed.

:)~

HUGZ

THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT (VINTAGE STAMPS)

2012-01-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

Since London will be hosting the Olympic Games this year,

inviting nations to compete in the best athletic performances

and stand [briefly] united together [peacefully],

I thought I would occasionally post some of the stamps I have

of previous Games.

This week:

1960.

I missed those as I was not born yet.

My arrival was announced later on that year...

Back then,

the winter and summer games all happened on the same year,

but they eventually were presented on different years,

which I much prefer

as we now have to wait only two years to see some games,

whether being the summer or winter games.

In 1960,

the Winter Olympic Games happened in

SQUAW VALLEY (USA),

and the Summer Olympic Games were in

ROME (ITALY).

HUNGARY.

SAN MARINO.

This is it for this week.

Stay tuned as there will be more stamps to come

before we all turn our attention toward London.

:)~

HUGZ

PLAYING with MY FOOD!! (019/365 DAYS)

2012-01-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

It's Saturday night

and if it used to mean to me

an exciting time,

things have evolved somewhat now.

What did I do tonight?

I ventured into the kitchen!!!

Yes, MOI!!!

:)~

Some vegs,

for color and good measure.

Awh,

red onions!!

One of my favorites.

I'd have that from soup to dessert.

I can just imagine this,

a onion ring topping some vanilla ice cream...

(kidding, of course!!...)

;)~

A little steam did wonders here.

The guest of honor tonight:

NEW-ZEALAND SPRING LAMB HOCK!!

I love this soup,

just for eating with a crust of bread,

or as a base for cooking meat,

like chicken, pork, or lamb!!

The lamb here playing peek-a-boo!!

And voila!!

Dare I say

this looks delicious!?!...

Bon Appetit!!

:)~

HUGZ

SEPIA SATURDAY (97)

2012-01-21T00:10:00.000-05:00

I believe I could hardly be any more on target,

given Alan's prompt which involved a child on a big chair and toys.

These photographs were in such poor shape,

paper bent and creased, cracking in some cases,

showing scratches and dirt.

I tried restoring them to some degree...

:)~

Me,

sitting pretty in my parents' livingroom in 1963,

surrounded by a big red balloon and an even bigger teddy bear.

Possibly where my love of Tartan began...

Nothing was written on the back of any of these pictures

but I can still ascertain that it was in 1963

as the birthday cake shows two candles.

Wouldn't it be better if they were lit up?

I'm just saying...

Possibly explain why I never got my wish,

whatever it was...

;)~

I wonder if this was the apartment my parents rented

where there was a problem.

My mom told me I would cry and say

"Mouches, Mouches!!"

(Flies, Flies!!),

but these weren't flies,

they were cockroaches!!

Is it where I developed my innate disgust for everything creepy crawly?!

It won't surprise anyone if I say

that my parents quickly moved away,

again...

You'll recognize some familiar faces here:

my mom, moi[!!], Uncle G. and my maternal Grandma.

Can someone explain something to me?

If I got brand new toys for my birthday,

why am I playing with a rosary?!?

I guess my parents didn't get the memo

they'd be raising an atheist.

But it sure made for interesting discussions

when I got older...

:D~

Obviously,

you can now visit other contributors of

SEPIA SATURDAY.

Enjoy!!

:)~

HUGZ

In case you were wondering:

I was studying German when this came out..

;)~

TICKLEBEAR's SIX WORDS SATURDAY (#46)

2012-01-21T00:05:00.000-05:00

I don't know

if it's due to sleep deprivation,

or a seasonal thing trying to make me go into hibernation,

exhaustion or frustration,

but I am SO tired.

In my last 10 minutes at work,

I almost dozed off on my chair...

If the day had been pretty busy for me,

the last hour was fairly quiet.

It's high time the weekend got here...

:)~

HUGZ

You can also play

6WS.

TITS ANONYMOUS... (018/365 DAYS)

2012-01-20T23:30:00.000-05:00

What a single cocktail and a bottle of wine gets me.

Thank God it wasn't "open bar" night,

or I might have found myself [unwillingly]

into an episode of

GIRLS GONE WILD!!

Something in the air,

I guess,

as I saw such a dog in a parked car,

on my way to the restaurant,

with its paws firmly on the steering wheel...

I didn't take a picture

because I'm a total stranger to the dog

and I didn't want to upset it with the camera flash,

but still...

it would have made for a darn funny picture,

no?!?

:D~

HUGZ

B-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!!! (017/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-19T17:33:00.000-05:00

Sure,

this has nothing to do with the exotic rooftops of Mykonos...

but I thought it looked pretty

as I walked in Old Montreal during my lunchtime.

It was sunny and bright and practically blinding.

The blue sky was uplifting,

but...

IT WAS SO DAMN COLD!!

The wind was almost a deterrent...

but I kept walking around,

needing to fill up my lungs with some fresh air,

being cooped up all day.

But instead,

my headache worsened and I got a nosebleed...

So much for trying to do the healthy thing!!

Still,

I think it did me good,

psychologically,

to go outside.

Can I say here

I am eager for Springtime!?!...

OY!!

:)~

HUGZ

MAKING THE CUT? (016/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-18T20:44:00.000-05:00

I recently did a retrospective of my pictures of Montreal

for the last five years

and had it all done in one book via

PHOTOinPRESS.

I love their services.

Easy interface and great book in the end.

I am now working on a book

featuring my self-portraits of the last five years.

But all I am missing for this book

is a picture of myself with Ophelia.

Could this be "it"?

I'm not sure...

In the meantime,

I did receive today the book I did about my eldest cat,

MISS CARRIE BRAD'CHAT,

and the eventual arrival of

OPHELIA o'CHUM.

I'll have to say the last year and a half was... interesting!!

So is the book I did.

What you see here is the picture appearing in the cover window of the book.

Who knew I'd ever have not one but two cats?!?

And live to tell the tale!!!

:D~

HUGZ

GETTING THERE SAFELY... (015/365 DAYS, V2,0)

2012-01-17T22:09:00.003-05:00

I trust everyone got home safely today,

despite the miserable weather...

Be mindful of the road conditions in the morning tomorrow

as I hope to see you all again,

in one piece!!

You may think you are in full control of the situation

but too much temerity might cost you.

There's no rush to get there,

just get there safely!!

No need to rush to your death...

:/~

HUGZ

BLUE MONDAY?!? (014/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-16T16:32:00.000-05:00

Blue Monday?

Really???

It was decided this would be the most depressing day of the year.

Why more this Monday than any other,

I have no idea why...

But as far as I'm concerned,

I've had worse days.

A whole lot worse!!!

True,

my typical workload was a tad disappointing as it was less than expected

and I felt I might find this day boring,

but other things turned up

and it made for an interesting [and busy] day!!

HURRAY!!

Can't complain when it gets busy.

There was no major aggravation,

my colleague and I managed quite well the job at hand

and time flew by.

So,

if this is what a depressing day is supposed to be like,

I'll have more like this any ol' time!!

Please!!

:)~

HUGZ

A QUIET WEEKEND? (013/365 DAYS)

2012-01-15T17:02:00.001-05:00

One might expect a Sunday morning to be the quietest time of the week...

but not around here!!!

All night,

I heard trucks busy at prepping the surrounding streets

for snow removal this morning.

And all weekend long,

some workers were busy making noise

behind the TV station next door.

So,

who ever said weekends were quiet?

Not me,

sadly...

Would have been a nice change!!

;)~

HUGZ

WHILE ON THE SUBJECT (NOT SO VINTAGE STAMP)

2012-01-15T13:54:00.000-05:00

While I may not impress you with the stamp today,

this postcard was sent to me EXACTLY four years ago.

And the Montreal scene depicted on the postcard

is EXACTLY what we're seeing right now!!

I just felt it was MOST appropriate!!

:)~

HUGZ

I QUIT!!

2012-01-14T20:09:00.000-05:00

Notice anything missing here?!

That's right,

no cigarette!!

I had my last one twenty-seven hours ago.

Next summer,

it would have been seventeen years I had started smoking again,

after having stopped smoking cigarettes for seventeen years.

You know how you give yourself an ultimatum,

like "when a pack will cost $10, I'll quit...",

well, that came and went.

When I turned 50,

I thought it'd be a good time for this.

Didn't work out at all.

Truth be told,

if I'm going to use all the excuses in the book,

why not be a total drama queen

and claim that all of the various situations currently aggravating me

are a source of anxiety driving me to smoke;

one might wonder how do non-smokers deal with THEIR anxiety?!?

It had to stop somewhere!!

The smell, the stain, the cost, the coughing, the mess it creates...

Enough!!

So,

after my workday,

I went to get a laser treatment

that generally works a bit like acupuncture

but in a much safer way,

in my opinion.

The treatment isn't cheap,

but I felt somewhat confident it would be helpful

as I embark on this quest to get rid of this long time enemy...

I won't lie to you:

NOTHING IS EASY ABOUT IT!!

While the treatment does seem to alleviate some of the physical symptoms,

the battle is in between your ears,

and my demons are still haunting me,

lurking behind every habit I have in my daily routine.

I even dared drinking my usual pot of coffee this morning,

and no cigarette at all to go with it.

And I survived,

even though I still have some packs of cigarettes left here at home.

I intend to bring them to work as there's always someone begging for cigarettes.

And there is NO WAY I am also quitting drinking coffee as well...

I certainly hope this is for real this time.

I would hate the idea of spending all of this money for nothing.

And I would mainly hate going through this

without any results to show for.

This has got to work!!

So,

Day One is now a done deal!!

Moving on to the next day,

and the next...

:)~

HUGZ

P.S.:

If I were you,

I'd keep my distance.

I may seem all peaceful and all,

but inside,

it is a whole different matter.

So,

if you run into me on Monday,

just smile,

and keep on walking [real fast]!!!

;)~

DINNER 4 ONE?!? (012/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-14T17:07:00.000-05:00

This was not what I was aiming for,

but that is what drew my attention at that moment...

Bon Appetit!!

:)~

HUGZ

SEPIA SATURDAY (96)

2012-01-14T00:10:00.000-05:00

If Alan's prompt this week had to do with ladies, hats and the silver screen,

I'll be testing your ability at walking backwards,

going from modern fake retro to actual vintage.

Are you ready?!?

Let's go!!

:)~

TITANIC,

from James Cameron,

first released to acclaimed success in 1997,

overlays a love story over the tragedy of the Titanic,

that sank in 1912.

A 3-D version will be in theater in April 2012

to commemorate the event.

Will I go see it?

Nope!!

3-D gives me headache.

But I do have the Bluray of the original movie,

which I'll enjoy again and again,

and most likely sob again like a schoolgirl...

It just gets to me!!

Still a sap for stories like that...

The scene where Kate Winslet approaches the boat,

wearing that gorgeous hat,

is a treat in glam and flair!!

THE ARTIST,

2011,

made quite an impression and reaped prizes after prizes,

as a modern silent movie showing the period of the silent movies going into the talkies

and how some stars vanished in the transition,

or so I understand.

A friend of mine saw it and loved it!!

I'll wait for the Bluray...

Another Kate,

Kate Middleton and her HRR Husband,

impressed us in 2010 during their first official voyage to Canada

with her fascinator...

But this was not a novelty for me

As a few years ago,

one of my favorite gal wore one for her movie premiere,

( was it in London or Berlin?),

Sarah Jessica Parker wearing one of those hats that caused much discussion...

If like me you are a big fan of "SEX AND THE CITY",

you'll appreciate this parody.

If you're not familiar with this series [and movies],

this will give you an idea in a nutshell!!!

Just to prove how much a BFF I am [Biggest Fan Forever!!!],

my eldest cat is named after the main character of the series,

in an adaption since it pertains to a feline,

MISS CARRIE BRAD'CHAT,

but it is pronounced the same way when said in French.

I am a francophone after all...

ROMY SCHNEIDER,

one of my favorite European icons,

who enjoyed a grand movie career if a most tragic personal life...

here in

LA BANQUIERE,

1980.

Always seductive, always moving,

in the large variety of characters she played.

But some of you may remember her better in her rendition of the Kaiserin Elisabeth,

in the trilogy spanning 1955-56-57,

SISSI!!

A classic for me,

and another one I cry over...

Do you notice a trend here?

Ingrid Bergman looking gorgeous here in the 1942 movie,

CASABLANCA.

Another favorite gal,

BETTE DAVIS!!

Here in

JEZEBEL.

(1938).

A southern bell causing mayhem in her society with her spunky attitude,

but redeeming herself with the ultimate sacrifice,

taking care of the man whose heart she broke and he got away,

but he fell ill of yellow fever

and she will follow him in the camp to tend to him on his dying days.

YUP!!

Kleenex moment again...

as you see them being carried away in a cart toward that camp.

But I was first introduced to Bette during the CBC Saturday Matinees in the 1960s

when she co-starred in

"THREE ON A MATCH",

a 1932 movie.

The premise is that it is unlucky for three people to light their cigarette with the same match.

An ill omen for these three girls...

In the 1980s,

Kim Carnes sang a song alluding to Bette's charms.

This was my journey for today

about ladies, hats and the silver screen/blue screen/media.

I hope you've enjoyed this.

:)~

Don't forget to visit the other contributors to

SEPIA SATURDAY.

Thanks for dropping by!!

:)~

HUGZ

TICKLEBEAR's SIX WORDS SATURDAY (#45)

2012-01-14T00:05:00.000-05:00

Sure,

my body is covered with tattoos,

thus a million pricks on my skin...

My work brought me my share of blood sampling and vaccines,

making sure I didn't contract something

and protect me from anything else.

But this week,

I got another foraminal bloc in my spine,

two actually...

That needle in my spine was not a welcomed intrusion,

(and so damn painful!!),

but it is for my own good,

apparently.

Traditional medicine seems to have run out of answers in my case.

I've survived the experience

and I am not eager to repeat it anytime soon...

But I seem to have made it my karma

to be a pin cushion...

I'm only hoping the next needle I feel on my skin

will be the one creating the tattoo I have in mind

to commemorate a turning point in my life.

I'm still waiting on the government to do right by me...

NOW WOULD BE GOOD,

you know?!?

:)~

HUGZ

You can also play

6WS.

SO? WHAT ABOUT TODAY? (011/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-13T20:36:00.000-05:00

Aside from being a "Friday the 13th",

what might have been so special about today?

Certainly not the snow that has just kept on falling since yesterday,

still does right now actually.

It was busy at work,

without being anything spectacular.

I finally received the book I created last weekend

showcasing my pics of Montreal for the last five years.

While I think it's nice,

I don't think this was the most special thing today.

Could it be that I quitted smoking about four ago?!?...

COULD IT???

I'll explain later.

I'm tired right now from a very long day,

but I did have a sip of wine,

a Sancerre,

to celebrate the occasion.

Now,

some of you may wonder what i've done...

but you'll just have to wait.

As I've said,

I'll explain later.

:)~

HUGZ

NEED I REMIND YOU THIS IS FRIDAY the 13TH?!?

2012-01-13T05:06:00.000-05:00

Some people are spooked out of their mind by such a day.

I am definitely not!!

I actually like days like these,

and I do have a special idea for this particular one...

Something I'll talk about later,

as it will be happening only after my workday,

and I have no idea when I'll be getting home.

I only hope this will be of a good omen for my plans to work out just fine...

So?

Will you be living this day in terror,

enjoy it instead and dare a few things,

or is it just another day for you?

It's never "just another day",

you know?!

Make it count!!

;)~

HUGZ

See you all later!!

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!! (010/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-12T18:16:00.000-05:00

You wanted snow?

YOU GOT IT!!

Some folks were bemoaning the lack of snow so far this winter.

I was definitely not!!

But the next 48 hours should be

interesting/aggravating/enchanting/disgusting,

all according to your own preferences...

You know where I stand...

To keep in the spirit,

I looked at my DVDs and Blurays

to see if I had anything wintery.

Clearly not my favorite season,

but I did find something,

the ICE AGE movies.

And I was in for a special treat

as my eldest cat,

CARRIE,

left the comfort of the couch

to hunt for Scrat on the TV screen.

No,

I didn't take out the camera to capture the moment,

given she's camera shy...

but it was well worth the show.

Most glad to have my cats with me.

They make me laugh on a daily basis.

Alright, alright!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

No way around it.

We still have months to go to see this white sh...snow!!!

Damn it!!

:D~

HUGZ

RANDOM VIEW (009/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-11T19:10:00.000-05:00

After an exhausting day,

I ran out of ideas but not of options

as I entered a private parking lot

to get this picture.

I have no idea what this building looks like inside,

but outside...

It looks pretty derelict to me.

Can't always be pretty!!

:)~

HUGZ

DEJA VU (008/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-10T19:13:00.000-05:00

What a day it's been!!

If the morning started slow,

on the verge of being boring even,

it did eventually pick up

and it turned out to be quite busy,

fortunately.

I did have to leave earlier than usual today

to keep up with a medical appointment at "that other" hospital...

I took the shuttle

and what a nightmare that ride was.

I know the roads are bad in the city

but I strongly believe

the driver managed to hit every bump and every pothole there was

between one hospital and the other.

[and that is NOT good for my back].

I eventually got there,

registered and filled out some papers,

and waited my turn,

and waited...

[and THAT also is not very good for my back],

and all of this time,

I was sitting there in the corridor,

wearing nothing but a very chic hospital gown,

[and THAT was not very good for my ego].

After nearly two hours,

they called out my name

and they installed me on the table,

and I quickly realized the boss wasn't going to do the job,

but a resident would instead.

While I understand they have to learn and practice,

I think me and my back have been through enough over the years.

But people told me it wasn't her first time

and that the boss would supervise her.

Still,

it was a tad disappointing.

I would have felt better to be in more experienced hands...

After discussing together,

it was decided that my two lower hernias would be injected on the left side,

meaning the L4-L5 and the L5-S1.

Sounds familiar,

doesn't it?!?

I told you before about those I got over the years...

Not the most pleasant experience

and today was no different.

At one point,

she got damn close to the nerve

and it hurt me badly,

but people seemed a bit dismissive of my pain.

So I toughed it out,

as this was only the first injection...

The second was not pleasant either.

But I knew beforehand that I wasn't going there for a massage or a pedicure.

This had to be done,

in the hope it may help me in the long run,

even if these things are only temporary.

Crossing my fingers here!!

After the procedure,

you have to stay lying down for half an hour,

and then,

they want to see if you can stand and walk on your own.

While it didn't prove as difficult as the last time,

I couldn't walk right away either.

But after a little while,

I tried standing on my own and walked a few tentative steps,

and finally dragged my sorry ass to the changing room to put on my clothes

and getting out of there at last!!

It was after 4pm when I got to breathe some fresh air,

and have a cigarette...

None too soon if you ask me!!

I got home [on my own],

feeling exhausted,

and I can already predict it will be early to bed for me tonight.

The cats are fed,

and so I am.

A handful of Tylenol, some Doritos with my chicken sandwich,

and watching a light comedy was on the menu for me.

Let's see what the next 24 hours bring!!

I do hope to be able to go to work tomorrow

and have a decent day.

But right now,

just sitting here at the computer writing this,

I can feel my back tensing up.

I'm telling you:

Soon beddy-bye for me!!

Let's NOT do this again any time soon...

I'm just glad it's over [for now].

OUF!!

:/~

HUGZ

PS:

You know what bugs me the most about all of this?

That I wasn't able to get everything done more rapidly or all at once,

to perhaps reap better benefits.

But those are the constraints you have to put up with nowadays

according to our current health system...

I believe that the fact that there was such a lapse of time

between each intervention,

that it may have kept me from getting proper relief.

But let's not jump hastily to conclusion.

It may turn out for the better this time,

hopefully...

GONE THE XMAS MAGIC, GONE, I TELL YOU!! (007/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

Gone is the hysteria people felt before the Holidays,

hoping to have everything ready on time.

Gone is the euphoria of too much booze and merriment.

Gone is the good cheer as people are slowly getting back to work.

Gone are the gift wrappings.

Gone are the leftovers [hopefully]...

Gone are the Xmas trees lying there like garbage.

Something that hasn't gone yet are those bills people ran up

in their frenzy to make this the perfect Holidays...

And yet,

in eleven months,

the whole circus will start all over again.

People will shop rabidly for bargains

and will still spend too much.

People will party too much and go back to work totally spent.

People will drink too much and say way too much...

And more Xmas trees will enjoy a brief moment of glory,

only to end up like their predecessors,

on the curb to be picked up with the rest of the trash.

Is it too late to wish you again

HAPPY NEW YEAR?!?

;)~

HUGZ

WAZZUP?!? (006/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-08T16:55:00.000-05:00

While this was a quiet weekend at home for me last weekend,

it didn't rhyme with farniente...

Some folks may have wondered why I wasn't as quick as usual

replying to comments and visiting other blogs.

Let just say I had a colossal task to do:

looking at five years of photography of my beloved city

and choosing those that would make it into a book.

Not for commercial publishing but for my own personal delight.

Hours of fun reminiscing about those various moments in my life

and those places I've seen.

I obviously could not include everything and did sacrifice a few...

but I should be getting my book in a few days now,

and I am looking forward to it.

But this exhaustive process kept me inside all weekend long,

and I barely glimpsed outside at all,

only to catch a rare bit of sunlight late yesterday afternoon

as it had felt grey to me the whole time.

I didn't feel being cooped up indoor was a waste of my time.

Now I still have to do also

a five year retrospective of my self-portraits,

but there aren't as many pictures to manage there.

And the retrospective of the last year of my two cats

and how they've learned to get along [finally] since December 2010

when they were first introduce to each other.

I love making these books and

PHOTOinPRESS

remains the service I trust to deliver me my memories in a neat little book.

So,

my apologies to those who may have felt neglected.

Regular business will soon resume.

:)~

HUGZ

WHILE on the SUBJECT (VINTAGE STAMPS)

2012-01-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

Since I mentioned yesterday in my Sepia Saturday

a children's book character,

I figured I'd stick to that idea.

These stamps were issued in 1980

by the Republic of China.

You will all guess which famous character

I am thinking of here,

won't you?!?

:D~

HUGZ

STILL FACING THE SAME ISSUE... (005/365 DAYS)

2012-01-07T19:53:00.001-05:00

Still smoking...

Still a nasty habit,

but one I can't shake [so far]...

It's now been 16 years since I've started smoking again,

after 17 years of non-smoking.

Will I stop when I reach the 17 years mark?

Or will I just keep on smoking?

I remember telling myself

that when cigarettes would reach the $10 mark,

that I would quit...

Depending which brand I buy,

it's now over $10.

Still smoking...

I've had problems breathing but,

still smoking...

I find it expensive,

but still smoking.

When my apartment was renovated,

i thought I'd quit then when I moved back in but,

still smoking...

NO,

I'm not taking a resolution to stop,

'cause I'd most likely come to year's end and find myself...

still smoking.

It's winter again

and I freeze my butt off to have a smoke when I'm at work.

I'll even interrupt a conversation with friends to have a smoke.

Will this ever stop?

In the meantime,

still smoking...

:/~

HUGZ

SEPIA SATURDAY (95)

2012-01-07T00:10:00.000-05:00

If Alan's prompt this week had me stumped for a moment

as I have nothing possibly related to it in my personal archives,

thanks to the web,

I did nonetheless manage to cook up something

to be on theme this week.

Circa 1947,

you can see the lovely "Norma Rae" reading a children's book,

and you'll notice there is a bunny on the cover.

So this is my thread...

Montreal, 1900.

Sisters [obviously] reading a [children's?] book together.

Was it "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"?

Certainly not as the book was first edited only in 1902!!

Beatrix Potter,

(1866-1943)

was a woman of many talents

and her love of nature influenced her choices in life,

as she invested in the preservation of land in its natural state,

was good at farming,

and at illustration and storytelling about Nature and its inhabitants.

Peter Rabbit is only one of her many characters

but decidedly one of the best known,

which endures to this day,

in many languages and media forms,

to the delight of numerous children across the globe.

This concludes my journey today in sepialand...

Please do visit the other contributors at

SEPIA SATURDAY

to see what they've come up with.

:)~

HUGZ

TICKLEBEAR's SIX WORDS SATURDAY (#44)

2012-01-07T00:05:00.000-05:00

I came across this picture on the web

and decided to frame it for my 6WS

because it's been brutally cold for a couple of days,

here in Montreal.

I would like this toque in a single color,

preferably black,

but I don't knit!!!

Someone tried to show me when I was a kid,

but I sadly had no feel for it...

Sniff!!

:(~

HUGZ

BECAUSE I FELL IN LOVE... WITH A GIRL!! (004/365 DAYS)

2012-01-06T16:41:00.001-05:00

OH YES, I DID!!

She's Belgian, 21 years-old and we met on the web!!

I was browsing the web randomly last night

and I came across this girl,

and I just stopped right there...

Her singing seduced me

because it's not the usual stupid pop the music industry tries to force feed us.

She writes her own stuff and it has substance,

plays her guitar and has a peculiar voice

that gives her a style all her own.

For someone her age to impress me,

I daresay that is already an accomplishment

as I'm not easily impressed.

By the way,

I should mention her name:

SELAH SUE.

Remember this name because I will!!

If she ever crosses the Atlantic to come to Montreal,

I'LL BE THERE!!!

Now excuse me while I listen to her CD I bought today...

:)~

HUGZ

NICE DAY TO PLAY OUTSIDE (003/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-05T17:36:00.000-05:00

But there was nobody around...

:)~

HUGZ

WTF?!? (002/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-04T17:14:00.000-05:00

While the picture today is nothing extraordinary,

especially because it's a cell pic...

But it is its unusual character that amused me.

I went out for a smoke,

and after a while,

I realized there was a body underneath a car across the street.

at first,

I was concerned,

but I eventually saw movement and I heard him swearing...

Looking at this scene,

I deduced it could be one of two things:

either it was his car,

or it wasn't and he was sabotaging the car,

putting a bomb even...

If this was his car and he was desperately trying to fix something,

I would have called for a tow truck

as you'd never see me underneath a car,

especially not in this cold weather.

If he was sabotaging the car,

he was not very subtle about it...

Anyway,

I had to get back inside,

but I can tell you the car was still there later on,

so,

I guess it wasn't a bomb...

;)~

HUGZ

HOT DOGS & SEX?!? (001/365 DAYS, V2.0)

2012-01-03T19:37:00.000-05:00

Wasn't it only yesterday that I said

I would stick to lighter and healthier food after these holidays?

Hu-hun...

That didn't last long!!

Let me explain:

On my v-e-r-y short lunchbreak today,

I went to the Red Light district!!

Oh Yeah!!

The picture above is the only one I found on the web

that I felt was of any interest.

The Montreal Pool Room

is an old institution running since 1912,

right smack in the Red Light district,

serving hot dogs and fries [among others] to

prostitutes, patrons, sailors, joebloes and transvestites and tourists alike since a century ago.

Yes,

it has now reached its 100th anniversary landmark,

despite being threatened for a long time by the gentrification of the district.

What was once considered a seedy and risky place to be a century ago

is now aimed to become a more prestigious part of the Quartier des Spectacles.

But I remember when I was a kid in the 1960s,

after shopping with my parents at Morgan's [now The Bay],

that we'd walk down the St Catherine street to reach the Main

(and my mom always kept telling me to stay close to them...)

and do a pit stop at the Pool Room for

"deux roteux pis une graisseuse",

(two steamies and french fries).

They were a favorite of my father [from his bachelor days]

and I sure didn't mind this treat.

My mom would just have a Coke

and steal a couple of fries from my father's...

She was finicky that way!!

I also remember in the '70s,

going to see a movie either at the Loews theater or the Imperial,

and stopping by the Montreal Pool Room afterwards.

In the early '90s,

back when I was working at the delivery room on the graveyard shift...

Prostitution was very active on St-Denis street and the Rene-Levesque boulevard,

facing the hospital.

I was living uphill back then,

on the edge of the Plateau,

and coming down hill,

I would walk by the same girls night after night,

and they'd smile and wish me a good night,

knowing full well I was working at the hospital.

I also greeted them and told them to be safe!!

I remembered from my days at the E.R.

how some of the girls that worked those streets got butchered,

having a crowbar or a baseball bat with their name on it,

either by their pimp or a trick...

But when I'd come out later in the middle of the night to fetch lunch for me and the girls,

(the nurses and doctors I worked with, not the hookers!!),

because I was the token [gay] guy there...

the girls would shout at me

as I was running in my surgical greens,

which are now blue,

but they were still green back then.

The girls were always so nice to me...

And I'd cut across the parking lot behind the Champlain Residence,

where tricks would call out to me from their car,

asking me

"How much?!?"

I just kept on walking real fast!!!

And I'd finally reach the Montreal Pool Room,

and every time I'd step in there,

my eyeglasses would get foggy because of all the steam inside,

necessary to make those delicious steamed hot dogs.

I'd order 12 to 16 hot dogs,

6 to 8 fries and a few soft drinks,

and then I'd run back to the hospital

so we could all eat while it was still hot.

I was generally the only one who dared to go out at night like that.

Goodness knows this was not the only thing I ever dared doing in my lifetime...

Sometimes,

my mom would call me as she knew what time I got home after my shift

and she'd ask if I'd come by for brunch

and I would tell her "No!!" because I was still full with those hot dogs

and she would scold me for going out at night like that,

that it was a terrible place to be,

even for a grown man...

The "girls" no longer hang around the hospital,

(the hookers, not the nurses and doctors I worked with...).

They've moved on...

But the "Main" is still colorful,

with its share of homeless, junkies and dealers.

The Red Light district is still wild,

but perhaps not for any good reason,

as we often hear of people getting stabbed or shot dead over there...

Mom was right to worry after all,

I guess...

In more recent days,

but still a while back,

I went shopping west of the Main,

and on my way back home,

as I was walking east on St-Catherine street,

I decided to satisfy the pangs in my stomach with some dogs and fries,

except,

when I got there,

the place was all boarded up!!

Actually,

pretty much the whole sector was,

like a ghost town;

except for the Cleopatra Club,

but that is a whole different chapter in my life...

I felt sad to see it now gone

but I didn't hang around.

And every time I walked on the Main,

I just rushed by the odd creatures I met on the street,

not looking around much;

like the time an old drunk came out of a bar and started shouting at every passer-by...

You just don't stick around then

to find out what angered the man,

only to find out he might have a gun or something...

Keep on walking!!

But that was my loss until recently...

Last weekend,

I went to the Monument National

to see the fabulous Cirque Eloize,

and after the show,

my friends and I walked up north

and were forced to crossed the street because our side was all blocked off.

That is when my BFF's boyfriend exclaimed himself:

"Hey, the Montreal Pool Room is here now?!?"

And indeed there it was!!

It's been there for nearly a year now,

I found out on the web today...

As I said,

my loss!!

I should have paid more attention,

but I was so disconcerted by what I saw

when I saw the old place all boarded up,

that it looked so final to me.

Well,

REVENGE IS MINE TODAY!!

After all of this time,

I finally enjoyed again my two steamies but with a poutine this time,

and a Coke.

And can I say that today's experience with junk food was way more fortunate

than my terrible experience in December...

Everything tasted so terrible at that other place

that I vowed I wouldn't return there for at least a decade,

if not more,

( and I always keep my word!!).

The same cannot be said about

the Montreal pool Room.

It is not refined gastronomy,

it is junk food!!

But it is good junk food!!

It fed me,

it pleased me!!

I'll certainly be back for more,

now that I know it has not totally disappeared.

And I was amused by the hockey jerseys the employees wore,

bearing the number "100"

commemorating the centennial of this institution.

LONG LIVE THE STEAMIES!!

:)~

HUGZ

A JOKE BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE OFFICE!!

2012-01-03T03:45:00.000-05:00

For most people,

it is back to work today...

But for those who find the return to reality a little harsh

and still want to party,

wouldn't it be cool to have this at work?!?

And here is something I believe in!!

Hoping everyone had great Holidays.

Back to work now!!

Gotta pay those bills!!

Which by the way,

if you don't know what to do with those,

here's a suggestion.

And if you think you can't pay your bills now,

no worry!!

It's the end of the world in a few months...

I intend to throw a cocktail party on December 21rst,

if anyone is interested...

;)~

HUGZ

HOW TIME FLIES!! (365/365 DAYS)

2012-01-02T20:18:00.001-05:00

Already a year of photography on a daily basis...

This completes my journey.

I opted to show you this as a last picture

because this is how I survived these last Holidays.

I heard enough from people

having too much to drink and too much to eat,

and paying for it dearly.

I myself had a warning from my body earlier in December

that it wouldn't put up with any kind of excess.

I listened...

Sushi proved to be my salvation

as I didn't solely eat heavy greasy food,

and enjoyed an occasional drink

as much as I felt I could handle.

So far so good!!

I'll try sticking to lighter food for a while,

just for good measure.

I wonder how other people fared during the Holidays...

H-mmm?!?

I know I did a short recap of 2011 this weekend,

but this video (9 minutes) is the complete review of my 365 days.

Well,

almost complete as it seems to be missing half a dozen pictures,

and I don't know which ones...

Too bad!!

It reflects my life in Montreal,

and my shopping habits and also my love for my kitties.

I sometimes settled for a quick fix,

due to the weather or my health or even sheer laziness...

But that's part of my life!!

I intend to do this for one more year,

even if it's a lot of pressure.

It's challenging and forces me outside,

sometimes even out of my comfort zone.

Or I could settle doing 365 days of kitty pictures...

I could,

you know...

;)~

HUGZ

RUNNING ON EMPTY!! (364/365 DAYS)

2012-01-01T23:50:00.000-05:00

Well,

another bottle is now empty.

Ever since I tried this last fall,

it's been a favorite here

and I'm talking about the

CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA.

Lucrecia dropped by yesterday,

so out came the vodka, basil, lime and some club soda for her.

And I finished the bottle tonight.

I love its distinctive taste.

Too bad there's none left now...

I also realized 10 minutes before closing time

that I was running out of cigarettes.

It had been a long time since I slipped my jeans on so fast

to run downstairs to grab a new cartoon of cigarettes.

If I had been hoping to quit smoking in 2011,

it is now obvious it didn't happen...

I'm not taking any resolutions this year.

Things will happen when and if they are meant to be.

I don't need to stress myself out about such matters.

There's plenty more that concerns me more.

A funny thing though:

in the elevator,

I ran into two tenants,

one of whom I am somewhat familiar with.

Well,

I don't know her name or where she lives,

but after over a decade,

her face is familiar

and we say hello when we meet.

I let them press the button first to go to the garage,

before pressing the one for my floor.

No point in forcing them into a detour.

Her friend was impressed with my courtesy

and pulled out a deck of cards,

divination cards.

I picked one and apparently...

it is going to be an excellent year for prosperity.

Does that mean I'm finally going to win the jackpot at the lottery.

Maybe I should check out my tickets,

do you think!?!

Today was a restful day

as I did nothing,

absolutely nothing!!

I didn't even think,

for a change...

I didn't worry,

I didn't plan ahead.

Monday promises to be a bit busier

as it is my last day off.

I could get used to this,

having time off.

I had been running on empty for a good while now,

my energy level hitting an all time low.

Possibly the change of the season and the [lack of] light is affecting me.

But staying quietly at home is helpful when I keep to myself.

It keeps the physical pain to a minimum

and my mental state was great,

like a quiet lake,

but I believe that like any still water,

there is bound to be some undercurrent,

but it is deep in my subconscious.

Let's see if I'll dream tonight.

Maybe my mind will want to tell me something?

I can't help smiling at the idea of that divination card.

Not that I am superstitious

but a positive vibe would be welcomed.

Do you believe in such things?

:D~

HUGZ

WHILE on the SUBJECT!! (VINTAGE STAMPS)

2012-01-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

This is now the new year,

and also winter in Montreal,

hence...

CANADA.

(1989)

BULGARIA.

(1971)

Happy New Year!!

:)~

HUGZ

I ALMOST MISSED THE END OF 2011 (363/365 DAYS)

2011-12-31T23:58:00.000-05:00

OOPS!!!

What time is it???

Lucrecia came by this afternoon

and we had sushi and vodka (+basil and lime juice) to go along

a few laughs and some reminiscing.

I later went to bed...

(just for a short while...)

Sounds familiar???

Go away!!

Let me sleep!!

Alright...

Alright, I said!!!

I'm getting up!!

Fireworks at the Old Port are making my cats crazy,

the tourtiere is now in the oven,

and I'm prepping all of this,

a review of 2011,

from my point of view,

while watching the Bye Bye on Radio-Canada.

The bits I saw,

I liked!!!

Still caught up in the government's red tape

as two issues remain unresolved still...

but I remain hopeful things will soon be settled in 2012.

It just got to be...

The biggest tragedy for me this year was

when my coffeemaker died...

While it was quickly replaced,

out of necessity,

I still mourn it

for serviced rendered.

Another tragedy was me turning 50!!

Just joking

as I almost welcomed it.

I was ready!!

An intimate affair,

just as I like it.

THANX!!

If you remember,

in December 2010,

I told you how I rescued Ophelia from the hospital's washroom...

The first 24 hour with Carrie may have seemed worrisome...

...but they have since learned to be roommates.

Much to my relief!!!!

While Carrie remains the first lady of the house...

Ophelia is such a darling,

even if her social skills kept her away from any other humans.

I seem to be the only one she tolerates/loves.

Pity,

as people would surely love her as much as I do!!

Still,

can't blame her for that,

due to her difficult beginnings in life...

She is SO adorable!!

Aren't they cute!?!

I shared with you my shopping experiences,

online and in store...

I paid respect to the dead...

...and I paid homage to Life!!

TMI!!

No coitus interruptus here...

Throughout the year,

I met some beautiful strangers...

Even Mother Nature was in love...

And even a biped made a favorable impression on me...

Workwise,

the situation remained the same

and my health has not improved in that regard...

but I did go [for the first time] to the Xmas office party...

Was it a mistake?

I saw and heard things I'd rather not know about...

really!!!

Lucrecia,

once again a Montrealer [on a part time basis],

has now been a part of my regular routine

as we both explore the city together...

...but I had to write to VOLVO

to thank them for saving my friend in a recent accident.

If she had died,

I don't know where this would have left me...

As we explored together,

she even captured me doing my thing...

MY THING!!!

Something we often enjoyed this year

was dining on one terrace or another in the Gay Village,

and being serenaded by this woman.

What a great voice,

and an excellent repertoire!!

If you're in Montreal and see her,

don't just walk by!!

Slow down and listen!!

Linoue made herself scarce this year...

but we did manage to get her for her birthday [or just about...].

As ever,

the party girl!!

Loverboy, Martha Wannabe and Vanti!!

While I never doubted of the nature of two of them...

...I always suspected there was a darker side to Martha Wannabe...

One of this year's great experiences was being at

OCCUPY MONTREAL.

I felt exhilarated.

The British Monarchy came to Montreal last June...

Oops!!

Sorry!!

This Queen is from Montreal's Gay Pride...

Say hello to Nana!!

I went to a few cultural events this year,

like the St-Patrick's parade.

Did I ever mentioned I have a thing for men in uniforms?...

First Nations Festival.

Centraide's parade...

and someone who got hungry on the way!!

The Carifiesta!!!

The St-Jean Baptiste parade.

First time in my adult life I assisted to this.

The Pink Karnaval,

an homage to Jean-Paul Gaultier's lifetime work.

And the first time I noticed someone had stolen one of my pics for commercial purposes...

Experimenting with the human subject...

in an outdoor fashion show.

And I definitely didn't have the best seat in the house,

as I was standing,

during a heatwave,

among the tall and stinky homo sapiens...

Not my best moment in my whole existence!!

I always tried to bring you a dose of prettiness,

whether it was outside...

Or inside.

Even the subway can be fun!!

My first trip on an articulated bus...

And the utopia in regard to the traffic...

This speaks volume!!

...the ever present traffic!!!

The Jacques Cartier Bridge,

my favorite subject!!

Montreal,

a city of contrast,

between modernity and our heritage...

[from MY point of view!!].

When a great idea turns sour...

because of too many kids around,

and stupid parents...

...or me running into a zealot!!

Can an atheist call for a Jihad on a stupid christian woman?

She's a menace for her own religion!!

I had never hated anyone so much for a long time now...

Now I know why I don't stick to too fervent believers.

THEY ARE F&CK%NG SCARY!!

She even tried to humiliate me...

because I didn't believe in her little baby Jesus...

Damn fool!!

I was allowed this year in places where no cameras were normally allowed...

Must be doing something right!!

I faced the weather of all seasons for you.

Some folks make fun of me for bitching about the weather,

but when you're the one standing outside to take pictures,

no matter what,

I believe this entitles me to some bitching...

whether I'm sweating my ass off in the heat,

or freezing my balls off!!

I also tried to capture the unusual...

...and a few shiny things too!!

I may be a Quebecois,

but first and foremost,

I am a proud Montrealer.

I hope I was able to demonstrate this much this year.

My photography and my blogging was [sort of] part of my therapy.

I only wish to show you my corner of the world.

Hoping you liked it

and that you'll follow me in 2012.

Leaving you with this,

just so you can relax and find a bit of serenity.

May 2012 be a great year for all of you!!

Let's just say I have great hopes myself.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

:)~

HUGZ