it doesn't seem that long ago since we took this picture, but considering all the changes that's happened since that very day, we've all come a long way. what did we really know back then... about the condo market, career stress; work visas; salary negotiations; office politics; driving on the other side of the road; moving out of orangeville; love and even friendship.

the last is interesting because friendship in "adulthood" is vastly different than friendship of childhood or even university. trying to maintain friendships outside of a school setting becomes more and more difficult as life starts leading you into different directions. no matter how close you might live to one another - or how far away - doesn't necessarily determine whether the friendship survives the transitions of life.

in the past two months, i've had the incredible experience of reuniting with friends from as far back as elementary school; dinner with colleagues from the old porn days; kareoke with high school girl friends; coffee with industry mates; lunch dates to look forward to; dinner with CABBIES; the first unofficial Ultimate Book Club meeting; dinner parties with neighbourhood friends; etc.etc.etc.

it feels like spring brought with it an incredible tidal wave of familiar faces including MSN chats with my dad in China on some mornings. i wonder sometimes where we find the capacity to fill our lives with so many people when work and home demands so much from us alone. but these friends and family can draw from a bottomless well of love from me because they return the energy tenfold.

it feels so cliche to say that "life's short" - especially coming from someone who only just turned 24. but for some reason, i've always felt inexplicably old at times and not because i feel grown up... it's more like having a sentient experience of time where i can jump into a future where the pain of loss is just waiting for me. maybe everyone feels this way and doesn't want to talk about it.

there's no point in talking to it - borrowing yet another cliche "all things must end". i guess a part of me in the now is a bit outraged by the reality of it. why should things end when they are bursting with so much life, joy, beauty, love? it seems so bitterly unfair.

so i won't go on about it anymore. this is life in this very moment. we are all of us hyper-aware of this reality and what really gives me the courage to go on is the bravado of those around me. i've been fortunate to have met many individuals who rise to every occasion and i try to do the same in my own way.

i often like to think of my life as a book, or a drawing, or a piece of music... a giant snowball charging down a mountain gathering voices, thoughts, ideas, actions, creations, achievements and moments along the way. and i feel like i'm the snow that picks it all up, accepting what destiny has placed in my path as gifts rather than burdens.

i love the springtime.

A Complete Overanalysis

Ryan and I tried to watch Across the Universe again last night at home. We agreed that it's hard not to love a film at the premiere when you have the director and cast watching in the balcony above you and you’re wearing a cute little red vintage dress (I wore this, not Ryan).

Regardless of this, I still can't stop myself from watching the movie because it contains some awesome Beatles covers. If nothing else, this movie was just one big music video. And yes, of course the originals are better - the best. But what's wrong with paying homage? What's wrong with revival?

Creative Zombies Will Always Walk this Earth Forever

I'm not even a very nostalgic person (compared to most people I know). I grew up in an age when pop music was worse than it's ever been - the mid to late 90s were even worse than the 80's. I have no memory of any cartoon storyline. I didn't have very many toys except a Lite Brite and Play-Doh. I should be violently against everything that Across the Universe stands for with its lazy storyline and Beatles remixes.

But the fact is I'm really thankful to Julie Taymore for bringing their music back in an eventful way that we can enjoy at this contextual moment. The Beatles aren't around anymore to go on tour - most of us were not lucky enough to have been born in their time, and even less likely to have seen them in concert. So while I don't think Across the Universe will become a cult classic, artists of all forms will continue to be inspired by the Beatles for generations to come.

The Fountainhead

My love-hate relationship with Across the Universe is such a perfect example of the struggle between "classic" and "progressive" architecture in The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. What is right? Should we continue to re-purpose old styles and ideas because we have always loved them and are pretty much guaranteed the love and support of the masses? Or is this a bastardization of our god-given talents?

You Either Get it or You Don't

Classics because it's familiar and comfortable will always be easier to be accepted and loved. But luckily for us - in modern day North America, we are hungry for originality. However, unlike the setting in The Fountainhead, I suspect that we're starting to love original things because that's what's expected of us - and not necessarily because we have developed an understanding of it.

It just doesn’t matter whether you're into classic or progressive things - I think the point is to get it and know it and own it.