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Archive for the ‘Life and Times’ Category

Word On the Street, You Reap What You Sow, Not Out of Fear But Love, Love For the Game, Roc Family First, We Never Change Man…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , on May 21, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Because of the changes happening to this site, and the limitations of WordPress (the site that hosts this site), you probably won’t see pictures of the girls on here much longer. If you prefer, they can now be found on Facebook. I know, I know, me on FB right? Who’d have thunk it?
Well, everything changes: time changes, people change, everything changes.
You probably won’t see work trip pictures, or vacation pictures, or much else that has to do with pictures on here. This site has an upload file limit, and I guess I’ve reached that limit. Sure, I could pay to have a higher upload limit, but that wouldn’t make sense, financially and morally.
I’m finding that with less to vent about and less of a reality to ‘escape’, there are fewer conflicts happening in life. This is not only making it easier and cleaner to deal with life, but it is a heck of a lot more clear. This clarity has brought about new realizations and new plans. Funny how that works: less stress, more clarity, clearer and easier plans.
The best part is that the plans are all attainable now and will bring about some new major changes coming soon.

Song of the Day: Never Change – Jay-Z

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All Through My Hard Knock Lifetime, A Gift and a Curse, I Gave You Volume After Volume of My Work…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 20, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

There are those times I catch myself asking myself “Did I make the right move?”. Almost each and every time I ask, the answer points to YES.
We had just about a perfect long weekend this past weekend. Time with the girls, some family time, and even some cleaning, organization, and purging time! We still have a ton of boxes and stuff left to purge, but at least we’re gradually getting there.
Just watching the girls growing up now, and it’s been 9 months since the move, and the move has totally paid off for them. Things are crazy hectic at work, but that’s mostly because the company has more than doubled in size over this year. I think a lot about my mental health in the old retail world, my high blood pressure, and probable shortened life span compared with where I’m at today. Sure, I’m a lot more calm, and the blood pressure has settled down. Even the family being at arm’s length away has been awesome. But when I see the value that the girls are going to have over the next 15 years, it has been worth it. Sure, there are some benefits that they will have to catch up on, not growing up in a bigger city like Toronto, but they can always catch up on that. Compared with the safety, security, and family they have in Vancouver, it’s hard to put a price on peace of mind.
I’ve always said, Far be it for me to have to complain about choosing to live and work in two cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, where many many more people don’t even have a choice.
We do things here that we wouldn’t do in Toronto like going for walks at night, having barbeques on the partio, buying flowers for the front garden, and Brooklyn even gets to take the recycling to the bottle depot for money to put in her piggy bank.
Life has changed. Some would say for the better.
Others would say, fasten your seatbelts.

Song of the Day: Moment of Clarity – Jay-Z

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Black Diamonds and Pearls, Could It Be If You Could Be Mine, We’d Both Shine, If I Ruled the World…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 15, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

If there is one thing I want to teach my girls is that they are completely undefeatable. Win the wars, not every battle. Ok, beyond that (being girls) I would teach them that they are BEAUTIFUL. Not because someone just told them that (except me), and not because someone THINKS they are, but because they ARE. And you know this. And they don’t need makeup, or dresses, or tiaras. They will know that their beauty is theirs and no one can take that away.
Sure, they will go through their phases, their experiments, and their tinkering. Sure, they will make mistakes, and hopefully none they regret for too long (or worse, longer).
Part of the job of a parent is to teach and then be there when they fail. Not all parents are great teachers, and not all parents are good supporters, and some are not good at either. I’ve always known from the very very very beginning that I would be passing knowledge on to these two little ninjas. I would make sure that they would get the heads up, the inside scoop, the true story about things of the world. Sure, they’re filtered through my jaded old man eyes, but that’s still better than believing in wishing wells and clovers.
There was a point in my life that I would never imagine having to raise one, and now TWO little girls. The fun part ahead of me is now seeing just how smart they truly are and how much of the world we can expose them to and have them take control of!

Song of the Day: If I Ruled the World – Nas ft Lauryn Hill

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You Say You Hunger For Something You Can’t Get At All, And Love Is Not Enough Anymore…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , on May 14, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

What the world needs right now is something that will challenge the human spirit. The human condition itself. Our existence. NO NO NO, not like aliens attacking, and not as severe as 9/11, but something that will challenge us all, our existence, our values, our morals, our religions, and our selves. Our fundamental rules. I’m not sure what that actually is, but after the events in Boston, some people I’ve talked to never even remembered what actually happened that day. It could be that it was so far away that they shut it out of their minds. It could also be that it never really hit close to home, so it was easy to forget it (how many people forgot about Haiti, or New Orleans already?) It could also be that the world is looking down on America right now as a hot, hot mess?
A part of me wants to see something happen that brings so much tragedy to the human soul that the world is forced to come together. Forced to put aside the differences, the greed, the agendas, and work on The World.
Sure, I’m a dreamer, but how else do we really even come close to world peace? Not just the countries and the people that are starving, but now the individuals and the groups that are wanting to take people down, add the people that are just blatantly taking advantage of others. Sure, capitalism evokes hierarchy, but really, there are still parts of the planet that we could be occupying instead of destroying. Nations of people that we could be feeding and educating instead of shunning. Ok, sure now I’m dreaming.
Sometimes I just get sick of the world and feel that no matter what happens, even World War III, it’s all useless at this point. We’ve all effed up the planet.
From global warming, climate change, and destroying the planet’s resources, to Too Little Too Late in our recovery efforts, I just sense that it’s all going to heck for our next generations. Add to that, the Education system is completely blinding and filtering our kids, and some of them will still never learn what they need in the real world to survive, nonetheless make and affect change.
I do fear that something bad will happen, something completely tragic. Something’s on the horizon that will change human history as we know it. I just hope it’s for the good.

Song of the Day: King For a Day – Thompson Twins

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What More Can I Say? What More Can I Do? I Gave This Up To You, I Know This Much Is True…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 13, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

As I think about how to evolve this space and what’s next for it, a few things come into play. Sure, the move out West has allowed for a greater work-life balance. It’s actually feeling like more life than work at this point, but don’t tell anyone. The other night on a Wednesday night, I was able to take the two little girls out for dinner on our own, head to the playground before sundown, and pickup a bunch of plants to start our backyard patio garden, all on a WEEKNIGHT. This would have NEVER happened in the past 5 years. Sure, Brooklyn is way more independent, but just considering that when I’m off the work clock, I’m entirely off the work clock with NO guilt…. Amazing.
So, sure there’s more time apart from work, and really truly living the “work hard, play hard” aspect of it all, but there’s still something about this space.
I’ve talked alot about life, about coping, about adjusting and evolving. I’ve changed over the last five years that this thing has been alive. What once was used to vent and air out life’s frustrations, is now obsolete as life doesn’t have so many frustrations at this point. I never stirred up controversy. I never brought you breaking news. I never revealed great secrets of King Tut’s tomb. I just told it like it was (to me). I told my side of the story. I showed my filter of life. So, what’s next?
Photos of the girls are now found on Facebook. Twitter is just the mad, frantic, panic, shit-disturbing version of me that comes out every now and again. There really isn’t that much to talk about on here.
What more can I say? What more can I do?
Let me have a drink and think about it.

Song of the Day: What More Can I Say? – Jay-Z
Can I tell you how excited I am to see Jay live in concert again? Row 8 Floor seats. So happy.

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The Buchanans Decode “What More Can I Say” From JAY-Z’s “The Black Album”

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 10, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

I really really really love this kind of stuff:

Song of the Day: What More Can I Say – Jay-Z

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Somebody Better Get Out a Warning, Somebody Better Start Making Room…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 9, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

“Food always tastes best in a crowded restaurant.”
Have you ever been to a crowded restaurant, the lineup is out the door, they don’t take reservations, but the food really is that good? Now imagine that you waited an hour to get a table. You see food coming out of the kitchen and empty plates going back in. You might already know what you want to order, and you may have seen it pass by you once or twice already. You check to see what other people are eating and if they’re enjoying it. You are hungry.
You see people that may have arrived later than you get seated before you. You even see a table free, but they need it for a larger party to put those tables together. You check the list yourself to see if your name was maybe called and you didn’t hear? Or maybe they crossed you off the list and you just check to see if it’s still there. You are still hungry.
You finally get your table! You finally sit down! You practically order your meal before your butt hits the seat. You look around you, you’ve finally got your seat! It’s still crowded, crowded so much you can’t even talk to the person across from you, you have to yell a bit. You look back towards the lobby, and there’s a lineup possibly even longer than when you were waiting there.
Your food arrives. I may not be the best meal you’ve ever eaten. It might not even be the highest of high gourmet culinary performance. It might not even be exactly what you ordered. Never no mind. Pay no attention.
Food always tastes best in a crowded restaurant.

Song of the Day: Everybody Move – Cathy Dennis

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If I Had to Give All That I Own, In Return For the Love That’s Grown, I Would Give It Gladly Cuz Nothing Else Compares To the Moments That We Shared…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 8, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Because of my history, the history of events, and the way that Karma is toying with things, I’m feeling a bit nervous lately.
And it is absolutely the single biggest obstacle of a reason why I cannot simply enjoy where I am right now.
Although I’ve intentionally and consciously lived to NOT walk on eggshells, there they are. They’re still right there. Right under my feet. Sure, I may have gone a few more yards, or even a few more kilometers than most people, but they really are still there… holding me back from fully enjoying these good times.
Have I paid enough dues? Is it really time for me to enjoy this life? Am I in the clear yet? Have I learned my lessons? Have I paid the dues to the point where I am actually owed credit?
The lack of peace of mind is haunting me like Bruce Lee’s family curse.
Otherwise, eff it all. I’m stomping on egg shells.

Song of the Day: If Tonight Is My Last – Laura Izibor

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Wouldn’t It Be Good To Be On Your Side, The Grass Is Always Greener Over There……

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , , on May 7, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

If there’s one thing I left behind in Toronto is the reputation and legacy for linking and connecting people. There was never any agenda, there was never any expectations, just linking good people to good people. Sure, sometimes people took advantage of it, but those were statistically slim… those were not good peoples in the end. More like wolf in sheep’s clothing. Fool me once.
With things in the world changing, things in industry and business changing, it’s hard to imagine anyone being able to keep up with everything and every degree of change. It was always my enjoyment to see two people, experts or even accelerators in their fields get connected and bring a product or a project together to their customers because of my help.
Along with that, there were always those people who would not recognize that they needed help, or they didn’t trust other people who knew more than them. I could see why that would happen. Either they may have got burned in the past, or they just simply were not good at asking for help.
These experiences and lessons learned are helping me immensely in my new role. What seems like sometimes that it looks too easy is more as a result of connecting the right people and connecting with the right people.
Someone younger than me came to me today to say “I know what you do is really complex and strategic, but you always seem so casual and relaxed. How do you manage that?”
I had to tell them that it was years and years of paying my dues, learning from the best, and learning from the worst. I never lied.

Song of the Day: Wouldn’t It Be Good – Nik Kershaw

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Nardwuar vs Macklemore & Ryan Lewis SXSW2013 – Austin, TX

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 6, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

These guys are hilarious:

Song of the Day: Like Gold – Macklemore

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If You Don’t Feel Good, Then I Don’t Feel Good, Don’t You Know I Love You So Crazy…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , on May 5, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

I’m sorry. I apologize.
I did it again. Oops.
I left for Atlanta for a Tradeshow right on the heels of the Turkey trip! Just as I was closing loops and wrapping up contracts from my last trip to Turkey, I had to get my butt to Atlanta for another Tradeshow for work! Yes, growth this accelerated is good (but hectic!).
I’ve been to Atlanta once, but it was only passing through. I guess it’s famous for peaches, CNN, and it’s sports teams, but as we were staying right downtown, it was hard to find anything else famous. We also didn’t really have much personal time about us, but we managed to have a great time nonetheless! It was a very successful trip, and more notable, our company is a legitimate threat in the North American retail landscape now!
We have so much more to talk about and catch up on, don’t we? I guess the bright spot is that I’ll be even more busy with work over the next month, and then the next opportunity to travel will be San Francisco! The city by the Bay! We’re booked the first week of June, and we’re catching a couple of Giants games!
This year is off to a great front half.
Until then, we dance!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Song of the Day: Nobody Does It Better – Mint Condition

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You Better Think Twice Before You Let People In Your Life, Because When You’re Put Down, No One Is Around, You Got a Case of the Fake People…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , on April 26, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

I thought that I knew about ‘em
Thought that they would never do me wrong
Well well the smile in your face
When all the time they wanna take your place
Them backstabbers
Same old scene that you’ve seen for so long
Always want to be around you
But as jealous as they come
Well don’t want you to win that race
’cause if you do it’s gonna lessen their space
That’s when I decide to say

Chorus
Goodbye goodbye
To all the fake people in my life
I never wanted you around me
So be on your way now
You better think twice
Before you let people in your life
Because when you put down
No one is around
You got a case of the fake people

I thought that I new about ‘em
The only ones that really cared for me
Oh yeah
But they shouldn’t be that way
Only down for as long as
You can give security
Same old scene that you’ve seen for so long
Always want to be around you
But as jealous as they come well
Don’t want you to win that race
’cause if you do it’s going to lesson their space
That’s when I decide to say

Goodbye goodbye
To all the fake people in my life
I never wanted you around me
So be on your way now
You better think twice
Before you let people in your life
Because when you put down
No one is around
You got a case of the fake people

Song of the Day: Case of the Fake People – TLC

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Anyone Who’s Seen Us, Knows What’s Going On Between Us, It Doesn’t Take a Genius To Read Between The Lines…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , , , , on April 25, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

“If that’s the greatest of my struggles behind me, then deuces.”

People that come from struggle, strife, and critical moments and times in life that rise beyond them and become stronger, and wiser from them often look back at those tough times as a reference point. Sure, you won’t know the good times without the bad. You won’t know how to touch the sky until you’ve hit rock bottom. Yaddy yaddy ray ray.
Sure, 2008 was a bad year for me. Even worse was 2011.
We are here now and we are pacing ourselves pretty damn good right now.
There’s still a little voice telling me, warning me, “just when times are going a bit too good, it will all be taken away from you.” Sometimes it really does feel like a Bruce Lee curse upon me.
I know, I shouldn’t think that way but history has proven itself. Twice. I’m not living on eggshells, but I sure am taking everything as it comes one day at a time. What’s great is that the worst of the worst may certainly be in the past.
What sucks is that when you are battling demons, you never really know if the battle is over or not.

Song of the Day: We Could Be In Love – Lea Salonga & Brad Kane

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It’s a Little Bit Scandalous, But She Lives Her Life a Little Bit Dangerous…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , on April 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

The one thing I learned about Toronto vs Vancouver lately is the dependence on being “Fake Busy”. In Vancouver, the lifestyle is relaxed, laid back, just chill. In Toronto, even if you’re not really busy, you’re Fake Busy, or you are pretending. Either that or you are doing something to keep you busy that is leading to a dead end, in which case it’s still Fake Busy.
Of course this doesn’t apply to everyone, but in general that’s the feel.
Then again, some people mistake “hustling” and “grinding” for “Fake Busy” just as well. I guess it’s all in perspective. Sure, go and pay your dues, or serve some experience time, but don’t get it mixed up with running a rat race with no exit.
We have six Torontonians (born and raised) in our office right now and when I passed my theory of “Fake Busy” on to them, it was a like a light shined from the Heavens upon them. “YES! That’s exactly it!” they shouted, once they figured out how to put it into words, and once they realized that there really WAS a balance to work and life out here in Vancouver.
True, Vancouver lifestyle has given me clarity on a lot of things in life. The future, the plan, the blueprint. Sure, a house is in the scope. Most likely a second car. Heck, yearly vacations to Hawaii or somewhere sunny. Then there’s all the stuff that the girls will be into, Ballet, Piano, Soccer, and who knows.
That is REAL BUSY to me. Stick to the plan, with real goals, and real achievables. I admit, I too was guilty of being Fake Busy sometimes. Now that the scenery has changed and the lifestyle has changed, that’s all in perspective now. Sure, it’s in the past, but it’s a learning experience, right?

Song of the Day: Inndia – Inna

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Hey, I’m Right Here So You’re Not Alone, Think It’s Time That You Move On Now, It’s a New Day It’s Gonna Get Better…..

Posted in Life and Times, tagged , , , on April 23, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

The one thing about the Turkey trip that amazed me was sitting on the edge of the Mediterranean Ocean, having a cold beer, and thinking “How does a kid from Vancouver, raised in Edmonton, grew up in East Van, get halfway around the world buying Marble and Travertine Tiles straight out of the quarries in these ancient Ottoman Empire lands?” Pretty bizarre right!?!?!?
I tell stories to my coworkers in the building supply industry about my old life in the apparel industry and sometimes they just don’t get it either. Especially when I tell them stories of the Vegas trips, the trips to NY, meeting moguls and celebrities, buying clothing lines by the ten of thousands of pieces, and even getting a chance to design skus of my own here and there. It’s so weird how it’s so risky leaving something you’ve done, an industry that you’ve loved and hated for 15 years, and then are able to switch gears after only 8 months and never look back to it. Of course, I was incredibly lucky to be in the company that I’m in now, but still, I walk into retail stores these days and just shake my head. It is going to be a slow, bleeding death in the apparel world, especially for the big, titanic ships that just cannot adapt, change, or evolve.
Another thing that I appreciated about Turkey, the people there are just incredibly down to earth and humble. Of course, we stuck mostly by the coastline, where there were more tourists and increased population, but even in the interior where the rock quarries are, there were just really awesome people there. I have already adopted some Turkish vocabulary, and am now starting to think that I might have to bring the ninjas down there one of these trips. Well, we’ll see how that goes, maybe when they’re old enough to remember and appreciate it all (like my stance on Disneyland).
And things are even getting globalized in Turkey! With iTunes opening up in Turkey, it’s allowing some Turkish music artists to get out to the world, and opening up some world artists to Turkey! I even heard Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” on the radio and top music video countdowns more than I heard it in Canada!
What’s best, I might have to go back again in September. Stay Tuned!

Song of the Day: Better – Aynur Aydin

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