Finally I have proper resolutions for this year

1. Call my grandmother once a month (which has not worked so well yet, but it could all change),
2. Talk less.
For this I have recruited this random but obviously smart guy to drill it into me



Yes Sir.

The reason behind the resolution?
Well if you knew me you'd tell me talk less too. But most likely I won't listen to you.
Now I'm listening to the mountains of Vancouver.
Sure, I liked the Rockies back in 2005 (who wouldn't) but I was also a little uncomfortable with their quiet and imposing presence.
Vancouver mountains are no where as ginormous as the Rockies but they surround the city.
I completely ignored them the first two months of my move to here. I was always waiting for a glimpse of the ocean that was active, ever changing and I love to hear the waves crashing.
Then for the next two months, I noticed the mountains and I hated them. They were perfect reminders that I was in freaking Vancouver instead of Toronto!
In the last two months, I started observing that mountains change too depending on the clouds, the position of the sun and somehow my mood. They are more than spectacular on a clear day and they grew on me in way that was different from the time when I hiked up the Banff mountain. Now I can't seem to get away from their presence. Everywhere I look they are there and seem to be saying so much more with a quiet presence. They have taught me about patience and resolve and humility, in a different way from the ocean. I love them both now.

(here are a pictures to show you what I was seeing..not mine..as I hate lugging my giant camera with me)





Now if only the mountains offered a 2 month intense course to teach me to 'shut the eff up' I would be set. The nitty gritty of listening without comment and 'think before you open you trap hole' would be so beneficial.

I guess I'll have to find a way to do so on my own for the next two months.

(was that a suitably schizophrenic post for you? yeah me too)

The good thing is that I'll be returning to Toronto soon since the UBC thing didn't pan out. It was a risky thing leaving a steady job and friends and family but I wanted more and I wanted to feel like I had done as much as I could before I turn into an old maid.
Once I got over the disappointment of not doing my Masters here, I figured its probably for the best.
I don't belong here.
Vancouver is a beautiful city with its own quirks, but if you are not a outdoorsy, hiking, biking, Frisbee playing person its quite 'dull'.
Not sure what I'll be doing in Toronto once I'm back, but I'll be back to a city I love and among the civilized smog and black-iced streets like proper human beings should damnit.
Meanwhile, I have a feeling I'll miss the mountains no matter where I am.