Airports

Recently, meaning yesterday, my long lost brother returned from the great beyond of Northern Alberta to grace Calgary with his presence for a few days. Since he is Mr.Money bags these days he flew down from LLoyd to Calgary and thus I was at the airport to pick him up. This got me thinking as I was standing waiting for him to disembark from the aircraft. I noticed that there are two distinct types of people at airports. One type of people are getting ready to say goodbye, and the other group are getting ready to say hello. I found myself mentally trying to place those around me into those two groups. For the most part it was simple, balloons and flowers = hello, awkward phrases about how things were = goodbye. Since there are really only 3 reasons to come to an airport, to say hello or goodbye, or to work, there is a great feeling of expectation. I love that feeling. A few weeks ago I found myself at the airport at the late and tired hour of midnight. I was there for only one reason, to say hello to Sharon and Ri after they got back from a trip to Thailand. I got to the airport just as they were getting in and I thought that I would have enough time to wander a bit before meeting up with them, granted wandering in an airport gets tiresome after 5 minutes. I wandered to attempt to find where they were, and I continued the wandering for quite some time. All the wandering only spurred on the anticipation of seeing good friends. I then met up with another friend Tim, who was also there to meet Ri and Sharon, so we wandered together and when we finally spotted them it was as if a great weight was lifted off my chest and much rejoicing ensued. I found that since there was only the one reason for being in the place, to have gone home without closure would have been disastrous emotionally. Yesterday I had a similar experience since the brother had gotten to Calgary early I was wandering in the same airport looking all around to see if I could find him, and I ended up standing waiting where people usually come from. Then I got tired of not seeing anyone so I went to the baggage area where I was grabbed from behind by the same brother who I was trying to find. In the one moment of being hugged I felt a massive amount of relief and had finally found what I was looking for. With much joy I embraced my brother and thus my spirits were lifted and perhaps the spirits of those watching were lifted as well.

That brings me to why I like Airports. I like Airports because none are the same, they are all different and beautiful all the same. Airports contain duty free shops that have great prices. Airports bring out deep emotions in people, infact both ends of the spectrum grief and joy. I have thought about going to airports when I am feeling down to revel in the joy of someone else, if only for a moment. Airports also have cutting edge bathroom technology, there is no need to touch anything in there, it does it all for you. And finally, airports have moving sidewalks that make you feel like some sort of Olympic hopeful. And that's why airports are one of my favorite things.

Something New - "Photographic Series & Photo No.1 - Trucks"

Today's post is a break from the otherwise scheduled programming, "My Favorite Things", and is more or less a press release regarding the fact that I recently started a series of Photographs being released on MySpace. The following is the original MySpace blog.

"This is a break from the normal simulblogging, but I felts that since I have been pestered from day one regarding my lack of photographs that I should finally include some originals. These photographs being posted over the next while are taken for the expressed desire to post them on MySpace. The series is not as flimsy as it may sound, but I have decided to attempt to capture the consumerism that surrounds us everyday. The first photograph, No.1 - Trucks, is a photograph of a warehouse/truck loading area that I discovered a few weeks ago while out driving. It struck me as odd since even though it was well past my bed time, and by well past I mean it was 12 or so, the trucks were still being shuffeled around like some sort of coffee table puzzle. It seems as though even in the dead of night there is something happening which in turn causes the world to still work in the morning. Granted the last little while I have been quite upset with consumerism and attempt to stay out of its path. I still have not formed any direct notions and conclusions regarding this dislike, but with this series I think that it would be interesting to see what I learn, and where I learn it. Until next time, enjoy the photo."


Original Post Here

Americanos

First of all, Kudos to me for posting 200 times. Second, it may look like Americans are one of my favorite things, but you would be wrong in assuming that. I like Americans, but I like Americanos more. Perhaps a small amount of back story is applicable. One time I was naive and did not know what an Americano was. Somewhere along the way someone explained to me that and "Americano" was really just a shot of espresso and boiling water. It seemed simple enough. Fast forward to January 2006. Every Saturday night my co-worker and I get coffee from next door and we find that their regular coffee is usually of a poor quality and also bitter. We decide to suck it up and get real coffee made by hand, ie espresso. I begin my drinking of Americanos. Fastforward to May/June 2006. I discover Starbucks gift cards in my wallet and decide that I should supplement my working for the man with high quality/caffeine coffee during breaks. I decide that since I don't like plain Starbucks coffee that I should get the cheapest espresso coffee. Americanos become my drink of choice. I even have a system of drinking said Americanos. First there is the initial preparation of the beverage, which includes some half and half, and some honey. I find that honey gives the Americano a richer and rounder flavor, and also perhaps is a little more natural then white sugar. Then I take this prepared hot bevy back to my desk where I let it sit for a few moments while is cools slightly, I have to protect my palate. Then I begin drinking the Americano. The drinking part can last up to 5 hours, and the rest of my shift, since I like to enjoy the experience in its totality. I may even have to warm up the Americano near the end of my shift to make sure that it is still enjoyable to drink. It is a great system since I spread out the drinking over the entire shift. After all that I may concede the fact that I may have a minor "need" for that delicious caffeine and honey fix each day, but as far as vices go I think its a pretty safe and fairly harmless desire.

But why do I like Americanos so much, and why are they one of my favorite things? A couple reasons come to mind: they are the cheapest of the espresso drinks, they contain no frou frou (not the band) additives, they do not require a special sign on the coffee cup, its sounds relatively decent when spoken ie: "Grande Americano" as opposed to a "Grande/no fat/low foam/room for cream/half sweet/extra hot/extra shot/double whipped/2 pump caramel/soy/misto/in a venti cup", coffee can be added to bump the drink up to "High Test, or Canadiana", and finally, today when I got coffee from the coffee shop next the wine store (which has the best Americanos in town, the coffee shop, not the wine store) I did not even have to order it, the began making the drink as soon as I stepped in, what great service. And also indication of my enjoyment of one of the civilized world's best, and most delicious hot bevys.

BBQs

Though this story happened a few days ago I will still relate it since BBQs are one of my favorite things, and so are free things so they work hand in hand.

I have wanted a BBQ of my own for about 22 years. Granted my parents always had one so that was never a problem to have some burgs or some chicken or steak. But ever since moving away from home I have been burdened with the desire to cook steak above a flame right outside my back door. I have succeeded only for one summer, but that wasn't my own BBQ. This summer marked a threshold in my desire for said cooking utensil. I finally decided that it was time to buy my own. I looked in the buy and sell and found a few that looked alright, but alas Gertrude is small and would not fit a BBQ in the back seat, or in the front seat for that matter. It was looking futile, but I found the help of friend and truck owner Kevin. He agreed to assist me in my acquisition of both a BBQ and freezer. A few days later I was at the monument to consumerism called Walmart and was pressured by a few friends to buy a reasonable BBQ at a reasonable price. I felt good about it since I would soon be enjoying flavor-full BBQ meats from my butcher, that's correct I have a butcher, they are called Master Meats. Anyways, so the day after I got my BBQ, without the help of friend Kevin I was walking home from my car and had to hurry so I took a shorter route, but a less scenic route. I then came across a BBQ and tank sitting by the Garbage can out near my home. I ran through the rain home and grabbed my roommate Kier, and we dragged the BBQ up to my patio and then I went and got the tank and took it to get filled. $10.54 later I had a full tank of propane and was in business. Now what to do with the BBQ that I had just bought? Nothing like taking something back to Walmart, they really have no problem with taking it back, as long as you have a receipt and a nice smile. I had both so it worked out well. I have used my BBQ, named Q (like the Document in Adventures in Odyssey or real life, or like the character off of James Bond films), for many meals since I found her, and it has been alright, the heat is not distributed correctly, but it is quite pleasant due the fact that I found it. I added some bricks and bought a brush to spruce her up a bit.

But why are BBQs one of my favorite things? Other then being pretty manly, and down to earth, its great to cook food over a fire, much like our ancestors did before the invention of electricity and microwaves. BBQs also provide me with a quick, easy, and healthy meal since there is no oil involved and neither is there any rich sauces, other then BBQ sauce. On a side note there are kids playing outside my window and though they may be having fun, I think they are hacking the bushes that border on the Cemetery. So there you have it: free BBQs + good beef + propane + match = favorite thing.