The Force is still with me...

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Actually, it was 30 years ago (long enough!) that a young boy sat in a movie theatre with his older brother and watched a whole new world unfold before him with unprecedented spectacle. That boy was, of course, me. And the movie was Star Wars.

From the opening scroll to the exhilarating climactic battle, dazzling sights and sounds thrilled and inspired me to become the sci-fi geek I am today (not that there is much science in George Lucas’ universe, but who cares).

I can still remember coming out of the Manulife Centre (we saw it at The Varsity Theatre) dodging imaginary laser blasts and dispatching several “stormtroopers” with a few of my own. (Stormtroopers are notoriously bad shots.)

There have been many pretenders to the throne since Star Wars debuted and though the groundbreaking effects may be deemed obsolete by today’s CGI standards, I don’t think a movie has captured the collective imagination of a generation the way that movie did. In a way, I feel sorry for kids who weren’t around to enjoy the original Star Wars mania and have to be content with Lucas’ subsequent prequels which, though visually impressive, remain an exercise in sensory overload and sterile storytelling.

But I’ll always be grateful that I happened to be at the right place at the right time in history: the time a young boy was rocketed toward a destiny he never dreamed possible – both on and off the screen.

A Hair-raising Question

Ever wonder why the ‘Hitler’ moustache never caught on? I mean, as far as brutal dictators go, he was definitely right up there. You’d have thought that there would have been all manner of Nazi worshippers lined up at the barber to have their ‘stache trimmed to emulate their idol; that it would have been on the top five “must have” list of the master race.

Then there was Saddam Hussein. Just about every Iraqi male of hair-growing age had one of his moustaches. Maybe Hitler wanted to remain unique whereas Saddam saw the potential for mistaken identity as a form of personal protection.

Either way, creepy moustache + brutal dictator = bad news.

The TTC: A Religious Experience

Whilst riding the TTC bus today, I saw an ad for something called “Bus Stop Bible Studies”. It consisted of a Bible passage and a “thought provoking” question designed to promote reader introspection.

Although I’m an atheist, I understand that some people have a need for religion in their lives and have no problem with that as long as there is no proselytizing. The ad did not offend me by its presence but I began to wonder what public reaction would be if there was a similar ad displaying quotes from the Quran. Would Christian riders be offended that they were exposed to this on their daily journey? Would they feel threatened? Logical thought would suggest that they wouldn’t be. But if there is one thing I’ve learned about the religiously devout - sometimes faith defies logic.

So in this age of religious intolerance and hypersensitivity, I’m curious what you, my loyal readers (you are out there, aren’t you?) think on the matter.

In Loving Memory

August 1, 1994 – May 1, 2007

Buster Shepherd was cantankerous, persnickety, and one of the most loving dogs I’ve ever known.

He was adored by his ‘parents’ (my brother, Wes and sister-in-law, Anne); worshipped by his brother, Jake (a Chocolate Lab); and taunted with affection by his sister, Elsa (a cranky-yet-lovable tortoiseshell cat).

On numerous occasions, I had the pleasure of pet-sitting the family during which time I quickly learned who was in charge of the home. Long before the Blackberry, Buster was a living, breathing organism of organization, keeping track of every meal, every snack and every outing he and his brother were due, with almost obsessive precision. If I lapsed in the doling out of any of their treats, Buster would stare quizzically at me, one lip curled under his tooth, not letting the matter rest until all was right with the world.

Jake was the more laid back of the two because he had complete faith that Buster would take care of all their needs. They could often be found sleeping curled up next to one another, perhaps one soothing the other with a comforting tongue-bath. Sometimes, Buster would even be found snuggled up with Elsa (the cat) and almost seemed embarrassed to be discovered in their tryst.

Sadly, Buster was not in the best of health, suffering from many joint ailments and assorted infections. On May 1, 2007, after much agonizing by his parents, Buster was put to sleep where he will rest, as they say, in peace.

So many wonderful memories of a dog with so much life and character. I will never forget that old fellow…

The Journey Continues...

So this past Sunday, The Geeky Cat and I set out on what we thought would be an exhilarating hike through the Mimico Creek area with the Toronto Field Naturalists. It started out well enough but we soon realized that the group was more interested in fossil hunting than strolling - which is fine because that’s what they do. But we were interested in the further exploration of the hidden treasures in our city so while the crowd began to move on to the next fossil site, we quietly sauntered away toward our own path.

We spent the afternoon ambling through a variety of neighborhoods each offering their own unique and appealing charms and even came across some urban wildlife (see photo).

Our expedition culminated with a sojourn (as should all good adventures) at a the Coffee Tree Roastery which boasts a very isolated back patio. Appetites sated, we basked in the late afternoon sun, contemplating nothing but the many journeys ahead…