So I left to go for a bike ride yesterday, and forgot my camera. It is sort of funny that I bought the small camera, so that I could take it with my all the time, and I still forget it. I really missed out. Stanley Park got crushed by that storm a few weeks ago, but I had no idea that so much damage could be caused by mere 150km/h winds. There are trees with at least 10' diameters completely broken in half, and others of the same size uprooted. The plus side is that the whole park smells like a big sauna, and the roads are closed to cars.

So the moral of my story is that I should not be lazy with my camera.

And now back to my trip.

Can you believe that we had a Loose reunion around a game of Balderdash, and I forgot my camera? Yeah I can believe it too. What I can also believe is that those guys paired with that game make me laugh harder than anything else.

However, Matt and Lauren invited me over again the next night to have dinner with them. So I got some photos then.
The Cat is Bixby and the dog is Petunia.




Matt and I went to the Edge. Akeem tried to front.

Other sweet things at the Edge did not get photo'd they include, Blade, Bang Bang, Cliff, the new mini ramp, Matt shredding, Evan and Jesse. Ooops.

Le Tigre has gotten a bit mean. She did eventually warm up to me, but she isn't the same. Maybe when Luke brings her to his new house, she will calm down.


One of the greatest Winnipeg institutions is a tiny little blues bar called Times Change(d). I went there with these two jokers.


This is a very strong crew. Also my only photo of Blade, even though I spent a lot of time with him on this trip. It was pretty awesome to see Dave, as he lives in that really big province now, the one that I have no desire to visit.


I spent an afternoon with Luke, we walked around a bunch and nerded on Computers. This is a pretty standard scene at the Mansion. Notice the zippers in James' jeans. Carson Cartier is not alone. Also, Luke is the newest member of the Homeowners club, he takes it over in February.


Somehow I suckered this girl into giving me another chance. So for all of you who are asking the same question, the Answer is yes.


I think this is Anthony's reaction to me fronting on his sister.


Once a car is retired in Manitoba, it seems to be tradition to give it one last night out. Or maybe a night and a day. Of course I forgot my camera when we went and actually smashed it up. Well I thought I had my camera, but it was a worthless Ipod in my camera pocket. Just rest assured that anyone who loves trees would not love us. And my chest pains from the seatbelt finally subsided after 4 days.




That was my Christmas. I am so thankful for all of my friends and the Pletts for their generosity and love.

Love Nathan

Manitoba is going through an image makeover, I guess to try something new in order to attract tourists. Their new slogan is "Spirited Energy" which does portray a lot of what I think of when thinking of Manitoba, but I don't think anything will take the place of "Friendly Manitoba." Although there is a lot of natural beauty in the province (if you don't believe this, you have not done your research, and are just giving into the pervasive negativity thrown at the prairies), nothing can compare to the people. I have said it before, and I will say it thousands of more times, I love Winnipeg, but more than the City I love my friends.

Thank you all for everything. You all play a large part in completing my life here on Earth.

I didn't take as many photos as I would have hoped, but I guess that means I was having too much fun to be bothered with a camera.

Melissa and Anthony met me at the airport, and they got to see my customized Rubbermaid container, complete with skateboard straps.


We went straight to Cafe 22 from the airport. It was sweet, Jacquie was working and then Luke stopped by. As Luke put it, "it feels like no time has passed."


On my first day in town, I accompanied Anthony on purchasing a new vehicle. When you need a tarp strap to hold down your hood, it is time. Although the camo tarp strap really did blend well with the rust.


The trade off.



It seems as though all of my friends in Winnipeg are buying houses now, and along with houses come cats. I think this is awesome, because even if the people are boring, at least there are cats to play with.

This is Killer, Melissa's cat.



I got to get in on The Edge's Christmas party for all of the volunteers. It was pretty hype, we went on a horse drawn sleigh ride, and then went to Cliff's beautiful home and had way too much to eat. This is the only photo I took. So in other words I missed a photo of Blade hanging Jesse upside down off of the side of the sleigh, and a bunch of bro-ments. I can't believe I just said "bro-ment", that is almost as played as saying "epic" or "I'm not gonna lie".

Evan and Jesse getting down with the cat.


There is more to come, but it is beautiful out, and I want to go for a bike ride. So I am going to leave it at that for now.
Check back soon.


Nathan

Okay, I am getting pretty lame. I just finished two more projects, and as a treat I allowed myself to go to Chapters to lurk their magazines for awhile, then I made myself some yam fries, and now I am blogging. Actually if that means lame, then I am all for it, because that is enjoyable (well the blogging is definitely nerdy).

So this blog is going to have some oldies in it, because I haven't been up in here for a while.

This is what I think of when someonesays it is going to snow in Vancouver.



This is what I got, and it lasted for almost a week. I was so hyped. It stayed just below freezing and looked so beautiful.





I guess since the skateparks aren't too fun in the snow, people have to draw this other places. Well at least they are trying new mediums.


I am pretty sure that the palm trees weren't too happy about it though.


I am a pretty huge critic of street art. Because of this I will not participate, because I don't think I have witty enough ideas. I would say that 1 out of every 5,000 pieces that you see on the street is worth seeing. I found this in the bathroom at school, it made me mad. This is a prime example of what makes up the remaining 4,999. This dude is presumably a student in an art school that is located on the top floor of a nice building in a nice neighbourhood, he is "getting up" in a locked bathroom stall. Way to get "back to the street" tough guy. I am sorry, for being so negative, from now on I will hunt some of the more inventive pieces.


People are often pretty hard on Vancouver for its rainy winters. But I would like to stick up for them with these pictures. They were taken on December 6th. We sat on this beautiful green hill and drew strangers for almost three hours, and yes we did have to take our jackets off because it was getting too warm.





Now is the point of this blog where I will try to explain something that was so magical that I feel it is unexplainable.

Joanna Newsom. I went and saw her perform at

St Andrew's Wesley Church

(a 14th century style Church that was built in 1933). And everything was absolutley perfect, the Church is amazingly beautiful and it matched her set so well. I was full on music nerding out, the place was packed so I opted for a standing position in order to get a better view, and to save my butt from some seriously painful pews. She performed some of her "hits" from Milkeyed Mender, but the highlight was the material from Y's. She had a full band, and by band I mean a bunch of people playing every thing from a saw to a Bulgarian tamboura. experiencing this live makes me appreciate the album much more than I initially did. The set had a feeling of adventure and storytelling that was breathtaking, it was alomst like a live drama acted out on instruments. I want to say that I enjoyed this show more than that Junior Boys, Caribou, Russian Futurists show or The Rapture show, but that would be like comparing your favourite comedy to your favourite ballet, it doesn't translate. If you didn't go, you screwed up.

I don't know what percentage of my loyal readership knows Rachel Parsons, actually I do know, 25%. My mom knows her, Blade, Anthony and Melissa do not know her. But anyways, she has a

blog

that follows some of her adventures in Africa. These aren't any old adventures, she is there for a reason, and the reason is not to see other places and get cheap clothes. She is there with an organization called "Cherish Uganda" and they are building housing and creating a community for orphans that are living with AIDS. This project gets me so excited, I thank God for people with hearts like Rachel's. I can only dream to pour out so much love.

Well, until next time (unless you live in Winnipeg, then until Friday).

Love Nathan

Been missing for a while. I am in the midst of final project mayhem. But I am still alive and loving life.

This photo (click for bigger) is the state of my mind right now.










So I will be back soon. With some fun(?) stuff. Including a Joanna Newsom concert review (magical).

Love Nathan