Friday, July 16, 2010
Sour: How Will You be Remembered?
I have been thinking a lot lately about death and the significance of our time on earth. I have been thinking about what’s important/what’s not, what I want to spend my time doing, etc. Mostly since I have come back from travelling, I have really put my ducks in a line and found a sense of direction.
Recently I watched a biography on Johnny Cash. This wasn’t the flashy blockbuster hit with Joaquin Phoenix-it was merely some late night program a channel-surfer would surly flip past. The relevance of this program was that it was a tribute to his life and aspects of his life I had never seen.
Toward the end, Johnny Cash’s devotion to religion was revealed, and it made me curious why I had never seen this side of him. In all of the coverage I had witnessed of his life, I had never heard this about him, and to be honest, it changed a lot of how I feel about him now. People have picked over his life and displayed what they have thought to be the most interesting. There are so many ideas, deeds, successes, lessons lost with death. What makes me sad about this is that we have no control of what people remember of us.
The program constantly displayed Johnny Cash’s name with the dates of his life tied with it. “The Man in Black”, “Mr. Cash”, “Johnny Cash 1932-2003”-his last title.
The dates you lived forever become attached to you as if it were your legacy. Those dates do not justify a life.
When I die, I don’t want to be remembered from the time I began to the time I supposedly ended. I hope to be remembered as an idea that is and can never be completely the same again.
Jess
Recently I watched a biography on Johnny Cash. This wasn’t the flashy blockbuster hit with Joaquin Phoenix-it was merely some late night program a channel-surfer would surly flip past. The relevance of this program was that it was a tribute to his life and aspects of his life I had never seen.
Toward the end, Johnny Cash’s devotion to religion was revealed, and it made me curious why I had never seen this side of him. In all of the coverage I had witnessed of his life, I had never heard this about him, and to be honest, it changed a lot of how I feel about him now. People have picked over his life and displayed what they have thought to be the most interesting. There are so many ideas, deeds, successes, lessons lost with death. What makes me sad about this is that we have no control of what people remember of us.
The program constantly displayed Johnny Cash’s name with the dates of his life tied with it. “The Man in Black”, “Mr. Cash”, “Johnny Cash 1932-2003”-his last title.
The dates you lived forever become attached to you as if it were your legacy. Those dates do not justify a life.
When I die, I don’t want to be remembered from the time I began to the time I supposedly ended. I hope to be remembered as an idea that is and can never be completely the same again.
Jess
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Tim Hortons: The Buzz
Coffee, their way:
Tim Hortons has built their coffee legacy around the concept of the "double-double": creme and sugar. Try it with just milk-crap. Try it black-crap. I myself prefer to drink my coffee with milk, but take my Tim Hortons coffee with creme and sugar. If you notice yourself ordering the ever so catchy "double-double", you are not alone.
A word to the wise:
When the young, doesn't-ask-if-you-need-napkins drive-through tottie at Tim Hortons advises you to choose an onion bagel because they're out of everything bagels, just say no.
... no it is not "close to the same thing"
... and no it does not bode well for the people around you when mixed with the fan favourite herb and garlic creme cheese
... and that is the millionth time I've gotten creme cheese on my work pants and not had napkins!!
On a brighter note:
Tim Hortons has recently splurged on coffee cup sleeves. David Suzuki would be proud- they are made from recycled goods. Adios to the double-cup.
Jess
Tim Hortons has built their coffee legacy around the concept of the "double-double": creme and sugar. Try it with just milk-crap. Try it black-crap. I myself prefer to drink my coffee with milk, but take my Tim Hortons coffee with creme and sugar. If you notice yourself ordering the ever so catchy "double-double", you are not alone.
A word to the wise:
When the young, doesn't-ask-if-you-need-napkins drive-through tottie at Tim Hortons advises you to choose an onion bagel because they're out of everything bagels, just say no.
... no it is not "close to the same thing"
... and no it does not bode well for the people around you when mixed with the fan favourite herb and garlic creme cheese
... and that is the millionth time I've gotten creme cheese on my work pants and not had napkins!!
On a brighter note:
Tim Hortons has recently splurged on coffee cup sleeves. David Suzuki would be proud- they are made from recycled goods. Adios to the double-cup.
Jess
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Cliff Jumping: A Thrill to be Alive
I have been meaning to start blogging again for some time. Luckily, opportunity found me when I decided to jump off a hundred and ten foot cliff on Sunday morning at Shuswap Lake (insert image of my mom scowling at me).I have a few days off now to recover.
I jumped off the largest cliff at Shuswap Lake at the wrong angle. I hit the back of my legs like concrete into the cold lake. Currently I am stuck in my house with a black and blue bottom, a bruised tailbone, whiplash, a bucketful of medications, and the knowledge that it could have been a lot worse.
If you’ve ever wanted to BASE jump, you are not alone- the thrill, the escape, the pride. The injury?
It was my first and my last cliff jump. I would not recommend doing it. The pain I am in now wasn’t worth the four seconds of free-fall. Once I hit the water, my arms had to hold up my body, and I wasn’t able to respond to my screaming friends who were about to jump in after me. Winded by the fall and wading in freezing water, these are only some of the dangers that come with cliff jumping.
Others dangers/risks include:
1. Not knowing how deep the water is
2. Hitting the side of the cliff
3. Not knowing if the water has rocks in it
4. Slipping/tripping on your run and not jumping in at the proper angle
5. Unexpected undertows
6. Debris in the water
Unfortunately these never changed anyone’s mind! Sure didn’t change my mind. My goal is not to preach but to warn- it is extremely dangerous. I am lucky to be walking even alive.
If you must try it, please consider these important tips based from my experience.
1. Check to see if you are slightly mad, then please change your mind and not jump.
2. After you don’t listen to my warnings, start with small jumps.
3. Watch someone who has done it first.
4. Walk through the steps where you will launch yourself to make sure you won’t trip, and that you have enough room to jump past the cliff.
5. Know your cliff. How deep is the water below? Are there any rocks sticking out? How far out do you need to jump to clear the cliff?
6. Commit. If you’re going to go, go and put everything into it.
7. Point your toes, close your eyes, and tuck your arms into your sides. Head straight.
8. Hit the water straight on, with your feet breaking through the water like the tip of an arrow.
9. Swim like hell back to the surface.
10. Let your friends know you’re safe.
Now before you print off this list and try it, remember that IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. There are many uncontrolled factors.
Jump safely my friends. (preferably don’t jump.)
Jess
Hello World
Dear World,
Thank-you.
Thank-you for providing me with this beautiful habitat to live in, species to companion with, and endless amounts of randomness and opportunities to just sit back and enjoy myself. Life is entertaining. Everything from global politics to that disgusting fly that just landed on my leg and peuked on it - you never know what’s going to happen, and I love it!
After travelling through Europe for half a year and writing about everything I came across, I realized how much I enjoy writing. When thinking of a specific topic I could consistently write about, I drew a blank- I am passionate about so many things.
The purpose of my new blog will be to create some sort of thoughts, opinions, discussion, or whatever you can take from it. The idea is to draw from my everyday encounters for a weekly post. You may not agree with my findings, but that makes it so much better! I am here to stir the pot. Please feel free to comment.
Also, the goldfish at the top of my page can be fed by clicking on the fishbowl. Haha, I love technology.
Jess
Thank-you.
Thank-you for providing me with this beautiful habitat to live in, species to companion with, and endless amounts of randomness and opportunities to just sit back and enjoy myself. Life is entertaining. Everything from global politics to that disgusting fly that just landed on my leg and peuked on it - you never know what’s going to happen, and I love it!
After travelling through Europe for half a year and writing about everything I came across, I realized how much I enjoy writing. When thinking of a specific topic I could consistently write about, I drew a blank- I am passionate about so many things.
The purpose of my new blog will be to create some sort of thoughts, opinions, discussion, or whatever you can take from it. The idea is to draw from my everyday encounters for a weekly post. You may not agree with my findings, but that makes it so much better! I am here to stir the pot. Please feel free to comment.
Also, the goldfish at the top of my page can be fed by clicking on the fishbowl. Haha, I love technology.
Jess
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