Cars: A New Addition and Some Family History

Yesterday my Dad came home with a new car.

“Guys, come down and see it!” he calls.

Me and my siblings filed down the stairs and out the door to see her. Our new car.

At first I didn’t know what to make of it. All I saw was a big black blur. My mind was racing. Where is she? My German beauty? My BMW!?

My father has recently starting contemplating on trading in our my BMW 325i in for a 2010 Honda Pilot. I laughed it off, since this was about the fifth time such a topic came up since our new life with her (the BMW). But I did not see this coming. Who knew he would actually do it this time!?

And so, I start to collect myself. Although I was a bit mad I didn’t get a chance to say good bye, I decided to climb in and poke around.

The whole dashboard looks like a robot. Too many buttons and do-higgeys. OK fine, I admit, it is pretty cool. And there’s a DVD player in it too. Oh and a rear view camera. The whole thing is like a robot.

This new car will be a new addition not only to our family, but to our history of cars, which I will share with you. Although I don’t remember too many details of all of them, I’ll try my best.

Unknown Construction Van (Years Present: ????-1998. I hardly remember this one, but I do know it was gray. It was the kind of van that only has two front seats and a big empty back)

Rusty Chevy (Year’s Present: 1999-2001. This piece of shit does not deserve any commentary)

GMC Safari Van (Years Present: 1998-2006. This was my moms car. It started to break down a bit a year after her death)

Dodge Ram Pickup (Years Present: 2001-2011. But my dad gave it to one of his close friends, so I still see her often. She is probably the one the family was closest too, and most people identify it as our family car, and was easily recognized because of it’s bright, bold red colour)

2006 BMW 325i  (Years Present: 2009-2011. My German Baby. She was beautiful man. Beautiful.)

1999 Hyundai Elantra [hatchback] (Years Present: 2011- . This is just as shitty as our old forgotten rusty Chevy. It’s basically the colour of Parakeet shit. It’s probably the worst car we had. The friggen back windows don’t even roll down. It’s terrible man. My dad says it’s just a temporary “work car” and as soon as it deems unusable, it’s out.

2010 Honda Pilot (Years Present 2011 [yesterday]- . She’s new. She’s kinda cool, but I’m a bit unsure. Even though it looks twice as big as our BMW, It feels much lighter. Like the wind is ready to blow us right of the road. But she’s OK.

Anything But the Opera!

All my life, I’ve been taught by televisions finest that opera was a noisy, unpleasant, long, drabby, boring musical play done by large Scandinavian women with their blond braids topped with a large viking hat, horns and all.

In recent days, I’ve come to realization that I was wrong. So very wrong. I am shocked that for all these years I’ve turned a cold, ignorant shoulder to the fine art of Opera.

A few weeks ago, I saw Montreal Director of OSM (Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal) Kent Nagano and his Symphony Orchestra do a performance with some circus and an opera on CBC. It was one of the best performances I have ever seen. Hell, it was one of the best things I’ve ever saw on TV. Ever. (I think).

This made me change my mind about opera and drove me to research it. I listened to many opera singing videos on Youtube. They gave me chills man, they gave me chills. I grew even closer to opera.

Flipping through channels one day, I came across a movie of  Carmen (the opéra comique). (There are dozens of films adaptations on Carmen, so I’m not too sure which one it was). I watched till the end and gave it a standing ovation. I mean it was that good.

I am now making future plans to see an opera sometime. I admit it. I am in love with the opera.

(Ha, as I’m writing this, I’m listening to a cover of Rusalka.)

Happy Birthday Google!

At 3:44, I got home. At 4:00 I logged onto my computer. And at 4:04, I mindlessly went to Google. (I don’t think I’m alone in saying Google is my go to page if I don’t know what to do. ) And then I saw it. The cute, colourful, clay commemoration doodle to Google’s Birthday. ZOMFG. Google turns 13.

Billions upon billions of searches, millions upon millions of users and fans, all accumulated during thirteen awesome years of rocking out and being the best search engine a search engine can be. And there is something to be said about their hilarious, yet  adorable April Fools pranks and hoaxes, and their creative, and sometimes even interactive doodles.

When something so epically wonderful celebrates it’s anniversary, you can’t go empty handed right? So with a little sheet of paper, a couple of crayons and a Sharpie, and a little bit of warmth in my heart, I drew this simple picture for you, Google.

We here at SofD love you. The world loves you. I love you. And don’t you forget it.

It’s Brick!

Today, along with the wood, it took some pictures of bricks. I present to you, my bricks.

I’m Gonna Knock Knock Knock on Wood

Today I took a few pictures of wood. Wood. Don’t you think we take it a little too much for granted? I could go all tree hugger one you, but instead, I’ll share with you some photos I took while reconnecting with wood.

Taken with Scasms Canon PowerShot SD 780 IS.

I didn’t edit these.