We’re stuck in a warm air bubble and there’s been a lack of sun in the last couple of days. I feel unconscious though I sit here in an empty lobby, drinking coffee. Everywhere is gray, most eyes are motionless and kept relatively close to the ground. That’s right… it feels like we’re all still asleep and a. said it best – that we need to burst out of this bubble, and this, we depend upon color. I see blue skies from out the window, though the trees are all very still, except for a few skinny branches that sway from the little moist, heavy air. The clouds are steady, peoples’ hair all seem damp and I’m reading more news about another train or plane crash that’s happened in Italy and the eastern coast of Africa consecutively. Ah, there’s the sun. There’s some color now. I can’t eat this blueberry scone. It’s not the same. I am heading into class now. (I cannot think straight).

It’s a little passed the afternoon, but as promised here is a rare Beirut song, which I have not included a “Buy Album” link to, simply because (and this is according to Wiki) the album is unavailable for retail. The song is from an unreleased album called ‘The Joys of Losing Weight’ and it was apparently made by Zach Condon when he was fifteen. Believe it or don’t believe it… what does it matter? I’ve played it a dozen times or more already today and now, I pass it on. It’s a beautifully constructed song, filled with loose piano keys, running along an atmospheric, hard-not-to-dance-to beat. Enjoy.

MP3: Beirut – Untitled #4

A quick one. Discovered these guys (2 Door Cinema Club) from one of those Kitsuné Maison Compilation albums. You can also hear their other song in this video (first song played). The morning went by fast and it looks like the gray clouds didn’t stay for long. I had a bagel with light cream cheese, which haunts me of its deliciousness. There are crumbs from it all over my keyboard, which I’m tempted to nibble on. I found this article on thestar.com – Top 10 streets to live on in Toronto. I’m happy and quite surprised that Palmerston was chosen at number two, but the street stretches from Queen St. to Dupont. I’ve walked down and up this street so many times and the street is beautiful and friendly. It’s also one of the quieter areas downtown.

MP3: 2 Door Cinema Club – Hands Off My Cash, Monty

Visit f.y.bss.

Just fixed it for a.

Lazy day. But this photo makes me happy. I feel better after the walk; Sunday night turning out to be alright. I like this photo, again from yesterday, the lamp sticking out from the wall. Hope for a repeat of this next weekend, except with more sun. Jeopardy? Is it the week starting already? I had to add some more notes to this entry and Trebek just mentioned my name. What is the universe trying to speak to me about? I hope it’s good news.

MP3: Sonic Youth – I’m Not There

I thought I’d end with this.

MP3: Bibio – Lovers’ Carvings

I had to post this again even if I posted it before. It was my second FA Cup victory with Chelsea and both had come thanks to Franky. The first in 2007, when Lamps set-up Didier with a little chip pass, which I always recall with a little “dink” noise. That was a good year. A good relationship in fruition and an FA Cup victory over United that somewhat released me from the complexities of being a full-time supporter. Then there was this year, a real emotional one. A win as a farewell present to Guus.

I have to talk about this goal though. Frank Lampard stumbles and somehow finds his way past several defenders to get enough space to fire a beautiful strike. But it’s not just the goal, but the celebration that was special, as he stated in The London Paper: “My dad scored against Everton many years ago and he ran round the corner flag, albeit in a semi-final. It was the proudest moment in his career and so it was just a little thing for my dad”.

Just got back from roaming around downtown and resting on the bed now. The grass felt soft, but nothing beats the bed after being out in the sun all day. The faces we saw today were generally happy ones, something I was very glad to see. People holding doors for other people, the kindness recognized and passed along, the voluntary taking of a group photo, waves (including from drivers), handshakes and thank yous to strangers for giving away old books… it seemed like a secret happiness project today. Let’s keep that up!

The day seemed quiet, from the little Mexican place, the side-streets, the park and the gray cat that sat quietly against the sun. Maybe the timing was just right today, I don’t know. Here are a couple of photos. The first one, a wall that a. and I found in an alley. It was an old building, some greens sprouting against its bricks and the randomly placed rusted, copper bolts over it. The second, a happy overgrowth at the back of a laundromat, along with a turquoise, wooden fence and little bits of litter that wouldn’t normally be seen in the ground… or maybe it would. Again, maybe the timing was just right and all the colorful pieces gathered about to make a good photograph.

M. Ward – “Chinese Translation (KCRW)”

I accidentally hit the publish button before I even had the chance to write anything. Demar DeRozan was chosen with the 9th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors last night and I am very pleased by this decision. I’ve been pretty lucky this year in terms of my wish/dreamlist coming true – Guus Hiddink to Chelsea (even for that brief period of time) and now a player that I’ve been following for a few months now.

Here is a great first article on the Toronto Raptors taking Demar DeRozan. I couldn’t agree more with this quote by Dave Feschuk: “The Raptors, in a refreshing throwback, actually drafted an athlete – you know, one of those jump-out-of-the-gym, strong-as-a-bull fountains of talent that most good NBA teams have in quantity and Toronto hasn’t had in eons. That’s right. They didn’t draft a lumbering maybe of a Euro, as they did in the first year of GM Bryan Colangelo’s three-year descent to this year’s draft lottery.”

Brendan Canning – “Something For All of Us”