A West Coast Christmas

Even More Goodness :)
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

One week of exams down.
Another week of exams to go.
Plugging away each day at school.
Reminds me of climbing a mountain.
Day after day, step after step.
Times and distances laid out by the many moments and movements

Just Hanging Around

Just Hanging Around
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Sometimes I procrastinate going to sleep because I don't want morning to happen just yet.

Snowy Day

Fountain 1
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

This probably got the bulk majority of the Vancouver Island news. Yes.. indeed.. it snowed today in Victoria. A little bit. Then it melted. Though higher up it'll still be around. I heard many people talking about how it was a "snow day". Some places were closed. Hello? It wasn't even half an inch in town. Yeah.. kinda funny is all. LOL

Yoink

Yoink
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

I wonder, when we look back from a far distant time, what sorts of things will stand out? Which decisions made? Which ones let go? What actions will we see as defining? Thoughts and musings of the late night.

Tribute to Leonard: Like a bird(s) on a wire...

Tribute to Leonard: Like a bird(s) on a wire...
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Which bird are you? Another one in a long line? Sitting on a unique perch? Flapping your wings frantically to make it up, or down? Wonders, thoughts, musings for the day..

Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

It's been a busy little while, between work and school I've had my hands full. The challenge is to use the little times well. And right now leaves are flying by the window and the wind is whooshing.. inviting me outside to play ;)

Life

To think of everything, possible, to sit and dream
to look around, be amazed, not hesitate
to listen closely, listen well, and not speak
to seek, all that outside leads within
to find, you can fill your sails with your own wind
and glide upon the sea of your own soul
and sound your own voice a madrigal
of astounding choice, your own song
is part of mine, can I sing along
invitations, all around
for you
for me
we share
you see

that together we are closer then we were before
You're a part of our house, just a different door
way in side deeply moving sharing breathing caring

We are stars shining on high blazing brightly in the sky
it's true I know, I've a certificate that shows it's so
but sometimes I forget we've met I try to lock
my door it's foolish yet its so. I run away
into the known where I feel safe with out a sound
I am an ostrich I am the ground

But even there in the dirt the worms whisper
of their hurt, share struggles of the soil,
we are connected in turmoil.

It's a journey, it's a quest, it's a river
winding, upside down and rightside twining
all around, in and out, come on all lets twist
and shout. Cause that's how the story goes.

So dream, and live, smile, and give, fear and find,
it's a kick in the, pain in the, sweet.. ass.. ride.

Hunting. Job Hunting.

A Couple Couples
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

So apparently my student loan $$$ will not be enough for this go round. So I need to find one of those job dealios. My first batch of resumes are printed. 1 application and cover letter are ready to be dropped off tomorrow. And my bed now awaits. One more class and then hooray for the weekend! It'll be a long one ;)

Porcine Curiousity and Poultry Indifference

Porcine Curiousity and Poultry Indifference
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Sunday.. the end of the month. It's gone by quickly and looking back all I see is the school work done. It would seem that this stage of life shall be known as "College" and consist of a crap load of studying with many pictures of walking in the park near my house on study breaks. I hope I don't sound negative because, most of the time, I really enjoy the stuff I'm learning and the opportunities it will present to me. That all said, it'd be nice if you could just plug the info into your head. ;) LOL

Flight Path Entered.. nearing Victoria Harbour

Flight Path Entered.. nearing Victoria Harbour
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

A weekend done, a new week just begun.
Downward drifts the setting sun and my legs lead to my bed.
The light grows dim, my jammies slip on, gently I rest my head.
Morning waits, with it's class, and again the day of Mon.

Slow Down Icarus! Where are you leading us?

Slow Down Icarus! Where are you leading us?
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

The Weekend is upon us! Woo hoo! So what did I get up to this past week? Well.. school. :) But also a visit from my good friends Colin and Tina (pictures in flickr) and some more walking and photo taking of course. My student loan was deposited in my account yesterday so today I went and got my books for this term. $480 for 4 books. At least they are heavy books of girth. I can use them to squash things. It's worse when it costs alot and they're itty bitty ones. :)

And for those of you that enjoy my writing and more lyrical flow type of words.. sorry about the recent picture posting flood.. I've not been getting that much journalling done.. but I may find one or two to pass on. I did manage to sit and muse for a couple minutes the other day.. ;) A little something for you to look forward too.

Adios for now,
Jordan

Ophelia 6

Ophelia 6
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

T minus 1 and counting.. tomorrow it starts again. But this time we're in term 3! Oh yes.. and I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine.. I know.. Jordan? Routine? But yeah.. *mumble mumble* structure *muble mumble* good *mumble mumble* ya know? :)

Here's an edit of a picture I took last night.. I really like how it turned out :)

Then ya throw in a little Shakespeare to take it up a level.. also the fact that the blossom kinda looks like a person in a gown... with the sweet heart light.. yeah.. I like it :)

Heading for the Ferry

Heading for the Ferry
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Well.. it's been awhile.. my apologies.. My 3 week roadtrip has come to a close. I saw quite a number of friends, and it was good, and there are a number of people who I missed, which is too bad. But there will hopefully be another day in which we may meet.

I leave tonight with a picture I took a couple weeks ago, as I left the Sunshine Coast for Abbotsford. This picture was taken on the Sunshine Coast Hwy as we were heading for a morning ferry that would take me to the mainland. I think it's one of my favorite ever taken by me.

Teaching Mom to Add a Picture

So I'm having a wonderful vacation so far. And when I'm Sechelt what will I do? Other than going on the roof to spray off some windows, it's also time for computer lessons! So the facebook account is all set up for her now, and you really should check out her sweet blog (look for the link on the sidebar) cause she'll be putting up sweet tales and pictures in no time!

So today we'll be adding 2 pictures of arguably the cutest dog in the whole world. Enjoy and we'll talk more later ;)



That's one pic of Kato, here's another.




This concludes today's lesson in posting picture's on your blog. Stay tuned to fishingforcod.blogspot.com cause there's going to be a picture of a large cod up there soon. :)

Yerba Mate.. what and why

So I'm in a Flickr group and the question was posed. What am I drinking from and why do I do it? I was invited to write about Yerba Mate. So I wrote up a little something.. something that I shall share here as well.. cause I did all that typing anyways :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So.. you'd like to know a thing or two about Yerba Mate? Then you've come to the right place my friend. You could peruse what I'm about to write here, or.. you could go to here , or you could do both. Your call.

Yerba Mate is a tea. A tea that comes from a variety of holly plant, first used in the region of what is called Paraguay. (hence the name Ilex paraguariensis , Ilex = holly family, paraguariensis = having something to do with paraguay? Odds are yes.)

I'll bust out the reasons I think it's so kick ace for ya now, in a rudimentary approximation of the order that I appreciate the most.

Tradition!
Accredited to first being drank by the Guarani natives of South America (Have you seen the movie "The Mission" with Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson?) and , there's a sweet legend of the plant being given to a farmer and his wife by the moon in appreciation for the kindness they showed to her when she was walking the earth. The drinking of the Yerba infusion was then picked up by Jesuit Priests who, I believe, were the first Europeans to really rock out the green goodness. It is now drank through out South America, primarily in (in alphabetical order to avoid acusations of favoritism) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay (which also happen to be the regions it grows in). It has spread beyond South America and is also enjoyed in populations in several Arab countires, as well as North America. And I start with speaking of tradition for it merges with, and leads to, what is most likely one of my most favorite aspects of drinking Yerba Mate.... (excited yet?)

Community
Oh yes, oh yes indeed. For me, Yerba Mate is a reminder and connection to my friends. My brothers and sisters who have shared of my guampa (cup) and shared theirs with me. This is part of the tradtion of Yerba Mate. In most places and cultures there is a fairly ritualized system of verbal cues, and non-verbal rules, that are followed when participating in a yerba mate circle. It is this inclusion and sharing that create something that is much more than just a drink. It is a connection to friends, to relationship, to the land. Though you can also drink it by yourself, and many do, for it is said to have some rather great....

Health Benefits
First off, contrary to what you may hear, Yerba Mate does have caffeine, though some people may erroneously say that it contains mateine instead.. but a chemical break down has shown it to be caffeine. The amount of which is around half that of coffee. It also has 2 other stimulants of the Xanthene family. So why drink Yerba? It can help you stay awake, or energized, without keeping you awake when you want to go to sleep (unless you hit a whole lot of the stuff.. then you can get a tad buzzed). It is purported to be full of anti-oxidants (like most green teas) that fight the evil free radicals!! Mwa ha ha ha ha. I also have a thought that if you drink mate in the traditional way (ie through the multiple infusion process of drinking much water repeatedly through the same container) you would encounter less caffeine then in the coffee method.. since each new cup of coffee ='s the same amount of caffeine as the last cup. Plus it's alot better for you than drinking alot of other beverages like pop, or warm beverages full of milk and sugar. (Note: I drink my yerba mate without milk or sugar, but it is common in certain culture's traditions to drink mate with milk and/or sugar)

Economics
When you break down the price of buying the equipment (be it gourd, horn, or wooden mate) and bombillia (straw) and the cost of a kilo of yerba, you're saving mad cash over buying a coffee or tea every day. As a student I think this is a great option when compared with coffee or other such beverage (like how much would it cost if I drank Red Bull instead? Yowza!)

Environment
The last time I went in to my local coffee shop I was blown away at how many disposable cups are filled with hot beverage every day and then thrown away. Sure they're made from recycled product (hopefully) and sometimes recycled (possibly) but a great number still end up heading to the landfill, or on the side of the road. Whereas I've been drinking from the same guampa (my beautiful and wonderful horn) for the better part of 5 years? And I'm on only my second bombilia (straw). I think I prefer impacting the environment in a positive way.


Ok so those are a few reasons for why I drink Yerba Mate. Now as to the question of how to enjoy it? Well.. there are numerous products out there that actually have yerba mate in them. From carbonated beverages to actual brewed tea in some stores. But for me? The traditional way is the best; with your own container of water and set up to drink it from. If you drink it with hot water (but never boiling!) it is called yerba mate (mah-thay) (that's a hard "th" as in the spanish T) , or if you drink it with ice water (lemon or mint being a nice additive) then it is called Terere (tere-e-ray). You could also instead just buy a little tea ball and soak it yourself, or get it in tea bags or instant "just add water" style, though I'd feel that was missing out on the other sweet aspects.

As for how I came to partake and participate in this fine tradition? Well that's the tale of another day. Which happens to have already come.. so you can read that story by going here
which happens to be the blog of some Yerba Mate enthusiast and coastal lover.

So if you're interested in Yerba Mate then check it out. If you've any questions then feel free to ask. If you already drink then may you drink well, and if you'd like to drink, may you find a sweet mate circle near by.

~ The Author of this article is biased by the fact that his introduction to mate was had with a group of great and wonderful people who still inspire and support him to this day.. results may vary :)

Written shortly before today's test

Getting ready for the test
T minus 20 minutes
Heart beat accelerating
read, remember, recall
don't choke don't choke

Muscles nerves veins
Innervations and palpations
A practical test with hands on demonstration
Verbalize actions as you poke and prod landmarks

Nerves Arteries Veins
run their subterranean terrains
through the tunnels of muscles and maze
the images building in our neural database
to chart the course once again, in actuality
beneath my hands, the pressure builds.

but as I write the focus comes
my brain still flighty like that giant flock of flamingoes
we saw on Nature the other night. Or the sparrows,
swirling, soaring, plunging, perching
it goes around and through and in
The anxiety trickles away.
Leaving excited, nervous, challenging fear.
The thrill.
I have prepared to the level I have.
Soon it will be time to see how I can apply and present my knowledge.

People come in and talk about their tough spots. Stress rises.
I think I should leave this room now. Walk to the ready room.
T minus 10 minutes.

Flickr Goodness

mate 4
Originally uploaded by CheloUY

One of the things I like about Flickr is the wordly diversity available on there. Like this lovely photo I found in one (yes one of the 3-4 I'm a member of) yerba mate groups.. so good.

I'm reminded now of my buddy Theo Epp, doing a Will Ferrell impression as Frank the Tank from Old School. It's so good. It's so good when it touches your lips.

You did good Big Dog, you did good.

My Favorite Book Ever?

I need to read it again, as it has been awhile, and who knows how I've changed. But my suspicion is that it will most likely retain it's position at (or at least very near) the top of my favorite book list. The book I speak of? Here's a quote by the author in reference to his book..

“How can they (i.e. the gods) meet us face to face till we have faces? The idea was that a human being must become real before it can expect to receive any message from the superhuman; that is, it must be speaking with its own voice (not one of its borrowed voices), expressing its actual desires (not what it imagines that it desires), being for good or ill itself, not any mask, veil, or persona.”

So the book in question? Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis (of Narnia and the Space Trilogy fame) The Myth Retold? Cupid and Psyche
Now I suppose I should get back to my school work :)

Incidentally, if you're wishing to enjoy some of the health benefits of the Ice Swimming tradition (found in Nordic countries, Russia, China, Canada, USA, Belgium.. ok it's fairly popular) but don't have a frozen over body of water with a hole hacked in it, you could still stimulate your bodies circulation and what not, by concluding your morning shower with a session of cold water spray.

Interesting that the stuff that's good for us often isn't the most comfortable.. :)

Groovy Goodness :)

Groovy Goodness :)
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

The fantabulous artwork of Davyd Oram. From "The Last Wave" (or The Lask Wave according to a newspaper typo) series now at the Campbell River art gallery. Check out his website at www.veniceissinking.com or some more pics of his stuff on my flickr account at the moment.

So yeah.. I had a great weekend! Went up to my bro's art show in Campbell then a sweet after party in the bush on Quadra Island. DJ and good times deep in the coastal temperate rainforest. You know I had to enjoy that ;)

May y'all have a great week, and see the amazing that is all around amidst the trying.

Where's Waldo? The Naked Version

Where's Waldo? The Naked Version
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

What a wonderful long weekend. I think it's probably my best weekend since I've moved to Victoria. On saturday night I got to hang out with my old roomate, his wife and their daughter, as well as some of their other friends and associates, around a fire on the ocean playing my guitar. Now that was most enjoyable! Then on sunday my papa and I went to the Fifa U-20 World Cup that is currently taking place. We watched 2 games, Japan vs Scotland and Nigeria vs Costa Rica. It was a great amount of fun.

And for those back home who watched on TV.. here's something that you probably missed out on. The Streaker.

Yep.. it was a fun weekend.

Lit House

Lit House
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

This weekend went fairly well.

Random and organized encounters occured. Sights seen, conversations had, memories rememberd, and laughter discovered.

Sunday night... and now I shall descend to slumber. For the morning awaits, as does school.

In The Forest

In The Forest
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

The other day my father and I went for an exploratory jaunt in the forest. It was a great Father's Day excursion through beautiful coastal rainforest... and we passed a big damp bog filled with my favorite plant. Though they weren't in bloom yet. Oh well. Francis King Park gets a thumbs up from me. Neat place.

Split Rail Safety

Split Rail Safety
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Overgrown demarcations that once seperated one from another, slowly being taken over by nature, reclaimed.

Table 27

Table 27
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

U2
"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"

Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough

You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

We fight all the time
You and I...that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need...I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

I know that we don't talk
I'm sick of it all
Can - you - hear - me - when - I -
Sing, you're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me...

Where are we now?
I've still got to let you know
A house still doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone...

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it
The best you can do is to fake it
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

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Good song, great lyrics.

A Day @ The Beach

A Day @ The Beach
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

RIP New Thermos. I barely knew ye. You will be missed. *sniff sniff*

in other news.. if anyone see's a funky pump thermos.. I'm looking. :)

Do you Sometimes Feel Like an Orange Blossom in a Blue Blossom World?

Do you Sometimes Feel Like an Orange Blossom in a Blue Blossom World?
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

I've a test tomorrow. I should be studying for it now. Sometimes I'm filled with joy and hope at possibilities and musings, at learning and life. Then in other moments I struggle to find motivation to move on and do what I kinda want to.. but am not actually doing. I wonder how often things stop because they never were started. If only that initial movement had occured... That all said.. I'm gonna go start studying now.

A Day @ The Beach

A Day @ The Beach
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Today I went for a walk to try to clear my head. Down and around my old new stomping grounds. The overcast sky enclosed and kept me. The fresh moisture rested on top of flowers and foliage alike. It was a great day for a walk. The usually crowded park and beach were hardly occupied. I enjoyed it greatly. Now it is time to sleep. A day behind me; done.

The Coast

The Coast
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

The other day I heard that with the proposed climate change cedar trees may not be able to survive in the climate that may come. The longer drought seasons, the heavy rain periods. It will change.. and that's not bad.. but I love this temperate rainforest. And should go take more pictures today.. out in the rain.

Have You Lost Your Cheese?

Have You Lost Your Cheese?
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Yesterday I went for a walk with a buddy of mine who has a good "friend" coming up and wanted some massage advice. I guess I"m not the go to guy on issues like that as well. On the way back from the ocean we were walking along when I noticed this. A forlorn, discared? lost? piece of cheese. Not only was it laying there on the sidewalk but it had actually been run over by a bike. Was it the running down that caused the cheese to halt it's journey? Well I didn't do anything with it so I'm not sure where it's journey's taken it. But I know it'll go on to feed something else, just not what it had in mind. The Circle of Life...... and the wheel of fortune.

Winking Perry?

Winking Perry?
Originally uploaded by maplemusketeer

Been a busy last couple weeks... lots of school.. tests. Road trip to Sechelt for my 10 year high school reunion.. and now I'm darting out the door to bike rapid like to school. But we'll talk more later ;)

The Tale of How I Met Pedro The Guampa

I've been asked to recount the tale of my attainment of Pedro the Guampa. But where to start? When I first drank of Pedro the guampa? When I first drank of a guampa? Or when I first drank of Pedro the Guampa once he was in my possession? Hrm.

Firstly, a guampa is generally a hollowed out bulls horn ( http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guampa ) most commonly associated with being used in Paraguay more so than the other large yerba drinking countries in South America.

The first encounter I had with guampas and yerba mate was as an impressionable young lad around the age of 18 at Camp Squeah in Hope, BC. The cool older staff (Rob, Jon, Tim) would pass around this steaming horn. It was odd. It smelt like hay. And I was offered some. So I tried, and burned my tongue. That stuff is hot! So I tried it a couple more times with similar results and decided that it just wasn't for me. Then 2 years of camp passed by with me only occasionally partaking of the maté and burning my tongue. Then.. Papa Theo taught me the secret of.. `Little Sips` and a whole new world was opened to me.

I started becoming a regular feature at different maté circles around camp. I started entering into the fellowship and communion of the guampa, the gourd, the good green greatness. Long conversations, pensive discussions, and humorous discourse was soon to follow. Here a foundation of friendship and fellowship was instilled in the passing of the cup and the company of many good people.

It was at camp that I first met Ben Kauffman. Years later we would be roommates during my little stint at bible college. So it was here that I first met Pedro the Guampa. For it was Ben's back then; recently arrived from Paraguay with a soccer insignia on the front of it.

Camps came and went, years passed like grains of sand along the windswept beach and.. I found myself at college in my room in the Underground. One of the greatest birthday memories occurred one day when, after helping tidy up dishes after the supper meal, I went back to my room to discover Andrew Goertzen and Ben waiting for me with the guampa ready to go! We fellowshipped, told great tales, and did other various things (like probably played a game or two of cribbage as well).

At school I formed more friendships around the horn of goodness. With people like Andy Janzen, Tom Enns, and a number of others.

Sometime during that first term at college Ben came to me and made an offer. To sell me Pedro the Guampa (as yet unnamed at that point) for $5!. Wow. So I purchased Pedro from Ben then and there. But what was Ben going to do? Fear not.. for he had a plan. He got me to move in with him at "The Beerhouse" across the street, where he kept using the guampa for the whole second term. :) Oh Ben.

Since that time Pedro has been many places with me, and many various and wonderful friends and people have shared in the cup of life with me. And now I have the wonderful joy and honour of serving as an ambassador to this healthy, bettering, way of life. Despite occasional mockery and scorn I continue on my way with a smile on my face, a song in my step, water my thermos and yerba maté in my guampa. :)

People sometimes ask me why I don't "upgrade" to a nicer container, to a bigger container. Or to one that isn't a horn. lol. Why do I drink from my guampa? Sure it's pretty cool to drink from a frikken horn, but more than that, it is a connection to all of my friends and the good people with whom I've shared conversation and contact. It is a representation of all of my friends and they come with me where I go.

Here is a brief telling of my tale. The tale of Pedro The Guampa, and a few of the times we've spent together.

Something for Everyone!

So.. the other day I borrowed my father's camera and went for a 1 hour walk, that turned into a 3 1/2 hour walk. I ended up taking over 350 pictures... lots of multiple shots and what not. When I'm going for a walk with my beat up old camera I don't go as long because the card only holds about 49 pictures. I didn't even fill up my dad's camera. Just kept walking and shooting. It was sweet ;)

So apparently a rumour was going to be started at school about me. Something about me hooking up with a girl from school on a one night stand and she's now 3 months pregnant. This is why it's dangerous to go to a school where boys are outnumbered 30+ to 2. You become toys to be played with. Whereas when my buddy Dave and I get bored, we hacky sack. Anyways.. I told them I really didn't think that was a plausible story (and I didn't want them to start a rumour about some girl at the college.. I could care less if they spread something untrue about me.. meh) and I then went on to tell them how to create a plausible story and fill it with details that could add to it's credibility. (thus preventing the first rumour from circulating.) So apparently someone saw me eat out of the garbage can the other day, not deep, there was a tuna sandwich just on top, and when confronted I said "hey, you just cut off the teeth marks and the rest is all good". At least, so goes the rumour.

Back to the multi-hour photo walk. Here are some pictures from it. I figure there should be at least one picture in here that you should find decently enjoyable. :)

Oh.. and I noticed that there are a number of people who check this thing out. I'd like to conduct an impromptu survey and if you wouldn't mind, please leave a little hello about who the heck you are. If you don't mind. :) I'm just curious as to who some of those large red dots are on my "cluster map" thingy :) Friend? Relative? Associate? Random Stranger? Non-random Stranger?

Thanks muchly and may you have a wonderful marvellous splendid weekend full of frivolity and fun.


ps looking at the cat one makes me feel a little woozy so be careful! :)