Uninhabited Spaces

There's a great cafe and bakery in our neighbourhood called School, which bases its branding and visual identity on, well, school. So the idea is that the restaurant is a schoolhouse of sorts, and they have lots of fun with riffing on the theme. On their website they have a fun section called "Yearbook" in which they ask for submissions of patrons' yearbook photos and associated quote. If you take a look on the yearbook page you just might find a familiar face.

"America, I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you’re willing to try. I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We’re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America".

It was a pleasure to be in the heart of Old Montreal on Thursday evening. After a stroll through the narrow streets amidst the tightly packed stone buildings, I decided to treat myself to a classic French dinner at the super quaint Marche de la Villette.  This bistro is a slice of the French countryside, with stone walls, comfy tables, and a genial and boisterous staff. I elected to hunker down with the assiette de la vilette , which is the house charcuterie platter, and a lovely glass of red wine.  This was just the perfect way to start the evening before the event I was hosting nearby.

I can't believe I haven't posted on my blog in a month! This is highly unlike me. I guess it's a reflection of the fact that I have been going all-out at work. Not only is my department hosting many events, we get invited to attend other OCAD U and related events to represent the University. I worked last Saturday to take part in the University's open house and this Saturday I am attending a screening of a recent grad's short-films trilogy. I then have 3 evening events this week, which make for a long day indeed. When I have been getting home it's a constant ballet of making dinner and flopping down to relax and unwind. Oh ya, and there is that need to spend time with my beloved. No complaints, mind you. It's been a great year for me at OCAD U and there is more exciting things to come at work. I am blessed with an awesome team and it's a joy to head to the office. It's just full-steam-ahead busy. Looking forward to some down-time over the hol