itinerary, originally uploaded by Mister Wind-Up Bird.

• Paris. June 28-July1.
• Madrid. July 1-7.
• Brisbane. July 9-20.
• Melbourne. July 20-29.
• Brisbane again. Jul 29-Aug 1.

O Canadas and High Fives, originally uploaded by Mister Wind-Up Bird.

Robson & Howe about 20 minutes after Canada won the gold in men’s hockey. I’ve never seen such an outpouring of joyous patriotic fervor — you can’t hear it, but the crowd was singing O Canada. I’ll admit it, I was a little choked up and yes, I’ll say it, proud to be a part of it all and proud to be Canadian. Despite going out of my way to really not have much to do with the whole thing at all.

And on that highest of high notes, the olympics left Vancouver, like an annoying house guest that always wants to be doing something when you’re working, but then they leave and you sit alone in your apartment and you’re all “well… now what do I do?” The streets and skytrain were unnaturally quiet, the red and black Canada hoodies were gone, and nobody asked me directions or randomly high-fived me. The olympics came and went, and all I got was two sweet, sweet weeks of uninterrupted thesis work.

( more photos >> )

hands at Woodhands, originally uploaded by Mister Wind-Up Bird.

The Rogue Film School is not for the faint-hearted. It is for those who have traveled on foot, who have worked as bouncers in sex clubs or as wardens in a lunatic asylum, for those who are willing to learn about lock-picking or forging shooting permits in countries not favouring their projects. In short: it is for those who have a sense for poetry. For those who are pilgrims. For those who can tell a story to four-year-old children and hold their attention. For those who have a fire burning within. For those who have a dream.

This is another:

It’s probably no surprise that he does some of the best DVD commentary tracks ever.

do not touch them they will bite, originally uploaded by Mister Wind-Up Bird.

Well, it’s been a fun few weeks, but I’m back.

The lovely Janelle journied across the Pacific for a visit, and while I still had to work a bit, we did find time to visit Salt Spring Island, where we stayed in apparent close proximity to child-devouring mink. Janelle also got to drive on the wrong side of the road all over Vancouver, Victoria and Salt Spring — at some point, I’m really going to have to break down and re-acquire my driver’s licence. We took the trip from Salt Spring to Victoria to do a little orca watching, which was a fantastic experience. Just zipping over the waves in a zodiac is fun (Flipper-style fun for Janelle, Danger Bay-style for me) and at the end: orcas!

We also found time to eat and drink our way up and down Main Street. There is an insane amount of really good, cheap eats here — bahn mi, beef noodles, katsu-don, knish, burgers — washed down with beer and vintage cocktails. At some point, I’m really going to have to put together my long-awaited Main Street dining guide.

But for now, it’s back to work. I’m still part-time at Worio (until September), and I have some well-past-due thesis writing to do this weekend. It’s been crazy-hot in Vancouver, but seems to be settling into merely hot, so with any luck, I’ll be able to get some work done at home and finally be able to sleep properly tonight.

That is all.

The Field at Richard’s on Richards, originally uploaded by Mister Wind-Up Bird.

Electronica has really fallen out of the mainstream in the past few years, but there are still brilliant acts like The Field emerging. On stage, they’re about as charismatic as most electrominimalists, but the live versions of some of their tracks killed, especially "Leave It" from Yesterday and Today. The music has a clean, contemplative feeling. It reminds me of hiking alone through the mountains.

(They were opening for The Juan Maclean, which didn’t really do much for me live, and I left after a few songs. Though they do have a kick-ass theremin player.)

trees like pink popcorn, originally uploaded by Mister Wind-Up Bird.

East 23rd Avenue at dusk, in cherry blossom season.