urban_memories [the unfinished polaroids]

Monday, October 20, 2008

A Swing in a Heart.

"Happiness is only real if shared"
Christopher McCandless
----

Happy Birthday my love.

Labels: about her, everyday life, ramblings

Sunday, October 05, 2008

In a Manner od Speaking.

Sept.08 / Morin Heights, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

"In a manner of speaking
In a manner of speaking I just want to say
That I could never forget the way
You told me everything
By saying nothing
In a manner of speaking I don’t understand
How love in silence becomes reprimand
But the may I feel about you is beyond words
Oh give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me nothing
Oh give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me everything

In a manner of speaking Semantiks won't do
In this life that we live we only make do
And the way that we feel might have to be sacrificed

So in a manner of speaking
I just want to say
That like you I should find a way
To tell you everything
By saying nothing
Oh give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me nothing
Oh give me the words
Give me the words
Give me the words
Give me the words
Give me the words"

Labels: about her, fall, photography, the flaneur

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Humming Girls [Women Throw Curves].

June 07 / Montréal, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

Tuesday night…
Cold outside… warm inside…
Every day life…

Wife and sister were sitting in the living room.
Like humming of bees, they were talking and conversing while doing their “girly” things. The T.V was on, but they were not watching anything in particular. Every once in a while, they would glance, find something interesting… pause… and then continue with their business.

Dude was there… in the room… hovering around and about... dropping a sentence from time to time.
He was quietly enjoying those rare moment of tranquility, when his brains are not processing multiple images and sequences, in front of a computer screen.

Suddenly, dude felt he wanted to be in on the private chat, the laughter, and the giggling.
In his ~~boyish~~ awkward, way of seeking attention, he stands up… heads towards the girls… lifts his hands up in the air… does ~~weird~~ stupid dance… shouts out loud… pauses… and heads back to the couch…
...
Girls never stopped humming…
…

He just shouted the silliest childhood cliché… something that would have caused any sane head to turn with surprise…

They did not see, or hear him…
…

Dude gets ignored…

Dude decides to blog.

Labels: about her, everyday life, ramblings

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

A Blink of Memory [Butterflies & Demons].

Butterflies & Demons / Nov.07 / Montréal, Québec / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

He had a dream about her last night...
They were together, in their usual little hideaway.
That old vernacular, yellow stone house hidden deep in the heart of the mountain they loved so much.

With only the occasional mist as their accomplice, for years they were able to meet there… clandestinely.

They were happy, enjoying their intimacy, and their isolation.
The world revolved only around them, and the rest fell into oblivion.
Suddenly, a life threatening incident occurs, and without thinking for even a second, he did something that ended him dead to save her life.

He instinctively sacrificed his being, for her.
…
He always asked himself that question.
You know.
That question he always thought he surely knew the answer for.
If he would really die for her.

People love, and say I love you all the time... but would they really die for someone?

In this intense, unrehearsed, and unconscious phenomenon of dreaming, he got his natural and unconditioned answer...

He would do it faster than the flick of the wings of a butterfly.
He would do it in a blink of a memory.

Labels: about her, everyday life, ramblings

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Spring Mood Swings.

Snow is starting to melt away leaving a big black mess behind. Dirt, garbage, gravel, and brown grass are dominating the streetscapes. The city is getting ready for its big Spring clean up, and Homo Urbanis is getting impatient waiting for hot sun and open terraces. Slowly but surely, Metropolis is coming to life again; already moods are shifting.

We had a big scare last week with a snowstorm in April, and we may get another white coat this week, but spring is definitely stepping in.
You can smell excitement in the air.

I am going to start taking my camera out again. For the past few weeks I opted to leave out my faithful daily companion, as I was not in the mood for capturing moments. My eyes were not capable of seeing anything beautiful. I relied on the mobile phone camera when brief appetite appeared, but never felt like holding my camera… I should give it a name by the way…

I have been waiting to post this for a long time now, but if you remember this, then you’ll probably be expecting me to post the sequel and final results.

Yes! Again… She won!

Busy Schedule_the end / Dec. 07 / Mtl, Qc / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

Labels: about her, everyday life, ramblings

Friday, March 07, 2008

Sock it to me.

Hers...

From the "SockParty" Series / Feb.08 / Montréal, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

His...

From the "SockParty" Series / Feb.08 / Montréal, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

Labels: about her, everyday life, photography

Sunday, February 24, 2008

A Royal Gift [part two].

She was a girl who rarely asked for anything. She never really wanted or needed anything; when and if she did, she would never ask it of you. She would get it herself, which at times, drove him mad.

This time, not only did she know what she wanted, it seemed that she had researched it too.
She did say “Royal Python”…

He smiles, runs his fingers through her hair, and looks back at his white screen…

- What? I am serious!
- Habibi… we’re not getting a python.
- It’s pretty cool. My classmate has one and she was walking around with the python on her arm. I held it and it crawled on my arms and shoulder… it is so beautiful.
- Babe!… we’re not getting a python.

She stands, disappointed, and sits on the other blue couch that is perpendicular to his, and that she too, hates so much.
She picks up her black laptop, places it on her lap, and raises her legs up on the same coffee table, perpendicular to his… toes almost touching.

- I didn’t think you were going to say NO to this.

He did not answer.
But for the next few hours or so, all he did was research that thing...

Royal Pythons, or Ball Pythons as they are often called, are beautiful motherfuckers that don’t grow too much. They hang around in aquariums or tupperwares even, and require little maintenance. Apparently, they make excellent pets, they could hang around for years, they come in many colors and patterns, and they are bloody expensive!!! [argument 1]

They also eat mice!!! [argument 2]

- I was looking at that Python thing yesterday. They also call it Ball Python.
- I know. I researched it yesterday too.
- Hehe... so did I.
- You can leave them in tupperwares and don’t require much you know!
- They are very expensive.
- How much?
- They vary with colors. The albino is the most expensive, and goes around 2.400$

She frowns.

- The cheapest one I was able to find online was for 700$. But it’s not as beautiful.

She shows sadness…

- There was this one pet store, I passed by today that was selling it for 100$. They didn’t have it on display, but said that they could get me one. But I didn’t like the sales person there.
- Okay… 100 is good. We can look elsewhere…
- Hold on.
- What?
- Who is going to feed it?
- She smiles.
- No way! I will never, ever, kill a mouse and feed it to a python.
- We don’t have to kill it. We just give it to him.
- Well first of all, some say that you have to kill it because the mouse may pluck the python’s eyes out, or even scratch its skin. Add to that, the fact that throwing a living mouse in the aquarium with the python is the cruelest thing; in the wild, the mouse at least has a chance to escape.
- Well… okay. Let me think about it. We'll talk later...

She goes, assumes laptop position again, and starts typing.

He thinks that he won the battle. There is no way she will be able to feed the python with the due cruelty that the procedure requires. She is too sweet for that…
He can finally regain peace.
…

- Hey! We can get frozen mice. It says here that they are sold in packets. Pet stores carry them.

Baffled, unprepared, and taken by surprise with this counter argument, he shudders:

- The day I defrost frozen mice in my microwave, I will dance naked in -20C weather!

[end of part two]

Labels: about her, everyday life

Thursday, February 21, 2008

A Royal Gift [part one].

A Scene From our Living Room / May 07 / Montréal, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

She comes in the house, locks the door, and stands at the doorway. She takes off her coat, hangs it neatly, and then tends to her snowy shoes. She lays them tidily in their allocated space.

She removes her hat, lifts both arms back up, and arches her back as she fixes her hair with a brisk brush.

She takes a deep breath, and lets out a long sigh as she glances across the room. She picks up her bag, removes her black laptop, places it on the coffee table in the living room, opens the lid, and turns it on. Then with a big smile, beautiful as ever, she comes and sits quietly next to him, hands cutely placed on her knees joined close together.

He was sitting quietly on the blue couch he hates so much, and from across the room, he could watch her as she elegantly unfolds. He was contemplating every sway of her unrehearsed ritual.

He was writing, his white laptop placed on his knees joined close together, and his legs were raised and resting on the coffee table in the living room.

He loved watching her. Everything she did seemed meticulous, special, and effortless. He lifts his head, looks her straight in the eyes, and smiles back at her.

- What? He starts.
- Habibi! I know what I would like to have for Valentine’s!

He smiles.

- This is a first. Since when do we celebrate Valentine’s?
- I know, I know, but I really know what I want for this Valentine’s.
- What?
- A Royal Python!

She smiles.
Her eyes glitter.

[end of part one]

Labels: about her, everyday life

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Her Sacred Feet [two].

From the "SockParty" Series / Feb.08 / Montréal, Qc. / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

Labels: about her, feminine, photography

Monday, January 28, 2008

In her eyes.

I would like it if for a day, I could see life through her eyes. Inhabit her soul, and through her eyes grasp how she perceives the world we live in, as we share days in days out; colors, landscapes, depth, dimension, scale, perspective... and me.

My wish unfortunately will remain a wish. And I can only capture and use the reflections "in her eyes" and hope that one day my blue sky will shy in their pure yet sophisticated blackness.
----

Mushaboom - Feist

«Le cadrage, la beauté des couleurs et l'originalité de l'image quant à la représentation d'un des jardins de Flora ont fait en sorte que «in her eyes» est la photo gagnante de cette édition 2007 du concours».

Translation:
The framing, the beauty of the colors, as well as the originality of the image and the portrayal of one of Flora's gardens have all contributed to make "in her eyes" the winning photo of this 2007 edition of the competition.

This above picture was my first ever submission to a photography competition...
And guess what?
I won!
I had submitted more than one photo, and to be perfectly honest, the photograph that ended up winning the competition wasn't my favorite of the bunch. But what the hell, why am I even arguing and nagging when I actually won the thing!

Every year, Montreal organizes a showcase of experimental, "avant-garde" gardens, and ephemeral installations as part of the "International Flora Exhibition". In 2006 I had designed an installation that remained showcased for 2 years. This year's edition of Flora held a competition for the best picture in the show. "In her eyes" is not a photograph of our garden unfortunately, but it features "La Cathédrale de Bamboo" by Fabien Dreuil, Florian Fiebig, and Boris Pintado.
----
Lyric: Mushaboom, by Feist

Helping the kids out of their coats, But wait the babies haven't been born oh
Unpacking the bags and setting up, And planting lilacs and buttercups oh
But in the meantime we've got it hard, Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day, My dreams will match up with my pay

Old dirt road, (mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow (mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow (mushaboom, mushaboom)
o-o-o-o-old

I got a man to stick it out, And make a home from a rented house oh
And we'll collect the moments one by one, I guess that's how the future's done oh
How many acres, how much light, Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbours and tip my cap, On a little road barely on the map

Old dirt road, (mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow, (mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow, (mushaboom, mushaboom)
o-o-o-o-old (mushaboom, mushaboom)
Old dirt road rambling rose, (mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow, (mushaboom, mushaboom)
Well I'm Sold...

Labels: about her, memories., metropolis, photography, the flaneur

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Communication_S_kills.

Busy Schedule / Dec. 07 / Mtl, Qc / Canon Eos Digital Rebel XTi

She's over studying.
He's overworking.
Not enough hours in one day.
Messages left for one another are coded with Xs and Os.

Communication is key.
----

Two more grids to go... The score is a tie...

Place your bets ladies and gentlemen... place your bets.

Labels: about her, everyday life

Monday, November 12, 2007

Faithful [In her Hair].

So I got wife this barrette (hair clip) that I found in an antique Chinese shop. There were but a handful of those clips, and they looked really nice and fancy; they were handmade. I found the one I like and as I was reaching to grab it, the old lady that keeps the shop said:

- each one have meaning... which you want?
- I like this one, I said. What does it mean?
- Oooh, this one good. This one mean good! You take!
- What does it mean?
- Faithful! she shouted... Means faithful.
Fidelité in french hahahahah. She laughed at her French tentative.

And I thought PERFECT! It will look beautiful holding baby's beautiful night colored hair, and the interpretation is every man's desire and wish of course.

I ran back home ecstatic and exited, and played with wife the "guess-what-did-I-get-you-game". After 15mns of torment and playfulness, I offered the clip to her, holding it in my two straightened arms. Stretched like that in front of my chest.
It means faithful... I whispered softly.
She smiled, habibi she said, took it, gave me a kiss, and lifted it up to her hair.

As soon as the clip touched her hair, it broke in two.

----
The barrette you see in the picture above, is the second one I got. I had to go back and get her another one!
Faithful means Faithful!

Labels: about her, everyday life

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Happy Birthday.

His birthday occurs three weeks after hers.

Before they had even celebrated her birthday, she was planning his.
Is there bigger love?

She doesn’t give a flying f. about the day she was born on; she cares only for his existence.
There is no bigger love.

And he loves every breath she takes.

Labels: about her, ramblings

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Building Memories.

If you were convinced, and surely you were going to go... to depart, what would be your last words to your love?
Would they be “I love you” or “don’t forget me’?

Selfishly I think, I would choose the later.

She knows that I love her, she can read it in my eyes, but I want to make sure that she will never forget us.

All we have left are memories.

Promises yes, and hopes sure! But the only element that remained true, constant, and kept on building throughout the years, is memory.

You don’t want to lose that.

Labels: about her, delirium, ramblings

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Her Sacred Feet.

First Nations Garden / September 2007/ Montreal, Quebec/ Canon EOS 400D

Labels: about her, Canon, feminine, photography

Thursday, August 23, 2007

This Blogger is Gone... and Back!

It took a message from Krys to wake, and remind me that vacation time is over, and that I have to get back to my blogging addiction and duties.

The thing is - and it happens a lot, being a perfectionist - I was waiting for the perfect post before I tended to my "normal/regular" everyday life stories. I was trying to write a super nice and complex post about the big changes that stormed my life this summer, but never found the time to give it its worth.

I realize now, that a simple post would have done the job. Then, I could move on much easier, and start talking about the many events that are occurring in other people's life (so as in mine). After all, my voyeur nature asserts and confirms that others' lives are much more interesting than mine.

... so here it goes...

It was uncertain, fast, unplanned and unrehearsed, but it was something we both have been waiting for... for a long long time.
The situation in Lebanon, my father's shaky health, and the fact that 80% of my friends could not make it to Beirut this summer, were considerations to annul, or report our official union.
It was also a last minute decision, but in the end we prevailed, and together we were able to omit the word "Long distance" that used to precede the word "relationship", whenever we had to explain that "thing" we had.

In the end, and on 20.07.2007 @ 07:07 p.m., this beautiful union, marked our lives, our history and forever, our memories....

Labels: about her, blogging, long distance

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Long Distance_01

I usually call her before I go to sleep. I am in my bed, and she is on her way to work. She is already in her car, driving the bustling highway, drinking her morning coffee, while talking to me on her cell phone.
She started her day full charge and already multitasking, while on the other side of the planet, I am finding it hard even to articulate and formulate useful sentences.

That doesn’t mean that I am lazy. That just means that we’re truly worlds apart.
(Although I am a bit lazy)

There are many means of communication these days to make your life easier, and make you “reachable” anywhere in the world. We use most of them. Except we never sent each other carrier pigeons, nor smssed with white smoke.

We invested so much in being in-touch… But in our own way.

I say in our own way, because people usually don’t find that we communicate well… she and I. We normally approve understandingly, because honestly we never feel that they deserve an explanation. We really don’t make a big deal out of it; we don’t even think about it twice…

Pouf! Dissolves into thin air.

We do communicate. We communicate extremely well… But in our own way. We are one of those couples who are able to communicate a lot, without saying much. There is no such thing as “uncomfortable silence” between us. Anything is welcomed, enjoyed, and appreciated, be it silence, talk, or song.

A lot is said with silence anyway. People should try it even.

She and I… We’re worlds apart, yet so much alike

----
One, by U2 is one of my favorite songs. I found this version of the song, by pure chance; a very sexy performance by French Vanessa Paradis.

I prefer the audio for the video because it makes you dream and imagine a bit, but if you want, you can click Here for the video.

Labels: about her, long distance, msn, musing

urban_memories [the unfinished polaroids]

Monday, October 20, 2008

A Swing in a Heart.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

In a Manner od Speaking.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Humming Girls [Women Throw Curves].

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

A Blink of Memory [Butterflies & Demons].

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Spring Mood Swings.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Sock it to me.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

A Royal Gift [part two].

Thursday, February 21, 2008

A Royal Gift [part one].

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Her Sacred Feet [two].

Monday, January 28, 2008

In her eyes.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Communication_S_kills.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Faithful [In her Hair].

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Happy Birthday.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Building Memories.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Her Sacred Feet.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

This Blogger is Gone... and Back!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Long Distance_01

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