Friday, January 27, 2012

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

The irony of today's blog, Moving Forward..., is that I've been hijacked, waylaid and sidetracked all day. This often happens in my line of work.

I was going to tell you about how I believe the fact that I've spent a good chunk of my younger years travelling through various continents in the back seat of a stationwagon - facing backwards no less- has shaped who I am.
Not defined me, but shaped me.
And I think for the better.
True, I glimpsed what my family also did but after they had seen it.
I saw what they saw but from a different perspective.
Just how was this beneficial?
It gave me a unique take on the world.
Offered me time for my thoughts, a safe solitude, a great sense of independence.
Head space. Reading time. Dream time.
Reflection.
That said, I'm a big believer in moving forward. I just don't think one is capable of doing so without looking back for clarity.

As I've said ad nauseum, we're going to boogie on down in the downtown tonight with a Fourth Friday Disco on Ice party at Market Square. Weather permitting, Spank! the band will be playing authentic disco tunes at 8pm. Truth.

In other downtown news, our beloved Bookshelf is leaping into the future.

Yet again.

Moving forward, straight ahead.

-Downtown Lynn-

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

Dreaming of a warmer place, originally uploaded by Dom Cruz.

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

lace 'em up, originally uploaded by D J England.

Tonight!
Disco on Ice at Market Square for our very first Fourth Friday of January!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Blog Guelph: Somewhere In Time

University of Guelph Pinhole by cool-baby
University of Guelph Pinhole, a photo by cool-baby on Flickr.


I was actually going to blog about something very different today. In fact, I’d written it out completely – called it Community Starts At Home. It is something I feel very passionate about and I wanted to share my thoughts on how we build communities as individuals by building strong and loving relationships in our personal lives. But, something held me back from posting this today. Maybe the news of a friends passing. Maybe thinking about time. A call to stand away from ego and to think on a deeper matter. The community building piece is maybe not as important as the spiritual building piece and so, moving away from my advocacy for community authenticity, I dedicate my thoughts to a spiritual authenticity today.


Maybe you’ve heard of it or even seen it - Somewhere In Time is very much a cult classic film starring Jane Seymour, Christopher Reeve, and Christopher Plummer about a playwright who becomes obsessed with a photograph of an actress at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. In the film, he travels back through time to be with her and although their destinies are locked into the desperate ill-fated brevity of a displaced but timeless love, the film often comes to my mind in the form of a really powerful tale of destiny.


And although it’s not a deeply remarkable film in and of itself, it has something special. I think it’s the idea that there is this one person, this one destiny, that you’re meant to find - out there somewhere. That the road is not directionless. That we are not lost, but on a path.

That somewhere in time, we will find something profoundly meaningful.

Isn’t this the sort of spiritual thing we all want to believe in? That we can cross over any boundary – even time – to find our place in the deeper well of existence.

To overcome fear.

To find love.

To be greater than ourselves.

To find our true place somewhere in time.

 -----

And although I didn’t blog about my topic on communities being built through authentic heart-driven leadership, I do believe we all have a chance in between the sliding hands of the clock, to continue to build these things for ourselves and for our friends and families. To feel our call to a higher meaning and to engage in that daily. Being involved and passionate is one way I know how to do that.

We have such a great city with so many passionate people. I’m so proud.

Please, if you are free, be involved with Fourth Fridays tomorrow. Also, I’d love to have you join my Photo Mob. We meet at 7pm at the entrance to Old Quebec Street Mall.

Hope to see you there.

Somewhere in time.

~ Aidan M.D. Ware



Blog Guelph: Somewhere In Time

Storm's a comin' by G. Norsworthy
Storm's a comin', a photo by G. Norsworthy on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Somewhere In Time

Boom! by Ian Service
Boom!, a photo by Ian Service on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Somewhere In Time

Friday Night Lights by PhotoFinish001
Friday Night Lights, a photo by PhotoFinish001 on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Somewhere In Time

Blog Guelph: Somewhere In Time

two trees and a bench by kim/ber
two trees and a bench, a photo by kim/ber on Flickr.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Blog Guelph: It's Raining Outside

It's Raining Outside  by John Q6
It's Raining Outside , a photo by John Q6 on Flickr.

Och Dearies!

Why it is Robert Burns Day and perhaps you are going to celebrate with a poetry reading followed by a tasting of the Haggis and a wee dram of your favorite malt.

Perhaps you are wondering why all the palaver over a man who died over 200 years ago. Did you sing Auld Lang Syne New Year's Eve? That was thanks to Robbie. In honor of the day I have posted images from my favorite local Scot, John Quin.

Cheers!
Bunny Safari
(who secretly wishes she were a Scot)

Blog Guelph: First Light

First Light 02  by John Q6
First Light 02 , a photo by John Q6 on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Work on Edinburgh Road

Road work by John Q6
Road work, a photo by John Q6 on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Guelph at Night

Guelph at Night  by John Q6
Guelph at Night , a photo by John Q6 on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Guelph Lake

Guelph Lake 01 by John Q6
Guelph Lake 01, a photo by John Q6 on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Approaching Guelph

Approaching Guelph  by John Q6
Approaching Guelph , a photo by John Q6 on Flickr.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Blog Guelph: Exploring Downtown

Red Red Window by Krista Kruger
Red Red Window, a photo by Krista Kruger on Flickr.

Happy Tuesday!

Today I am sharing a few of the shots from a Sunday morning gathering downtown.

It is so interesting when a group of photographers gets together to explore an area. Everyone sees the same area, but with very different eyes.

Seeing everyones images from the day is so interesting.

I hope everyone has a great day :) See you all next week!

Krista

Blog Guelph: Exploring Downtown

carolyn by :christopheru:
carolyn, a photo by :christopheru: on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Exploring Downtown

best. salsa. ever. by M Pod
best. salsa. ever., a photo by M Pod on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Exploring Downtown

Blog Guelph: Exploring Downtown

Take it E-Z by thomevered
Take it E-Z, a photo by thomevered on Flickr.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Blog Guelph: Old City Hall

A few shots that caught my eye from the Blog Guelph pool on flickr. Have the winter blahs hit for you yet? Have you noticed the sun is up for a few minutes longer in the evenings?
Happy Monday Everyone!
Megan

Blog Guelph: Local Goodness

Local Goodness by peterkelly
Local Goodness, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Cherry Bokeh

Cherry Bokeh by Glooscap
Cherry Bokeh, a photo by Glooscap on Flickr.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Blog Guelph: Water Sitting on Earth

Untitled, originally uploaded by dgilic.

On Monday we welcome the Chinese Lunar New Year - this, the year of the Water Dragon - purported to bring great action, energy, & vitality.

The Chinese believe that there is a balance between heaven and earth in the life of people born in the year of the dragon.

I'm down with that.

And hey, if you'd like to "get down" with me next Fourth Friday on January 27, I'll meet you at the Market Square Rink, 7;00 pm. We're going to Disco on Ice!

Now that's energetic and vital.

-Downtown Lynn-

For more great Guelph photos, try these links:

Downtown Guelph, University of Guelph, The Guelph Hillside Festival or The Guelph Lake Conservation Area.

On the other hand, you may be curious about what the City of Guelph looked like last October or maybe Spring.

Indeed you may be the type that would love to wade through our deep and refreshing archives. There are over 5,000 terrific Guelph photos, taken by a growing tribe of fantastic photographers, currently available for your viewing pleasure. Check out the Blog Guelph archives located 'back up there' and appropriately titled: Blog Guelph Archives.