The 40 Day Smartphone Cleanse

I'm currently on a 40 day smartphone cleanse. Or I guess you could also call it a diet of dumbphone. It's Lent, and Anita is currently fighting her animalistic urge to consume copious amounts of ice cream for 6 weeks (no joke, she's an ice cream FIEND!!). As a gesture of solidarity, I figured I would partake in this ritual of self-denial as well, just for kicks. Last year, I lented myself of potato chips, and the year before, all things hot sauce (I literally can't get enough of it). This year is by far the most masochistic undertaking yet, as I have set out ground rules prohibiting myself from using any of my smartphone's functions. If I couldn't do it on an old Motorola dumbphone circa 2002 (ie: talk, text, and maybe a calculator function), then it's not allowed.

It's been 20 days now, and I was surprised during the first week by how little I missed mobile internet. However, like any proper substance dependency, it's getting harder to refrain, particularly from: 1) googling random facts (ie: who invented Lent?), 2) creeping on facebook and social media (cause I REALLY want to hear you bitch about the weather...), and 3) trolling through Kijiji camera sales (while waiting for Anita to peruse yet another shoe store).

I can now truly begin to appreciate what trying to break an addiction is like. Everytime I see someone gazing zombie-like at their smartphone screen, I feel a sudden urge to break mine out and indulge in some 3G goodness. Alas, there are only so many text messages one can send before running out of things to say, and no one uses a phone to actually make phone calls anymore. That leaves me with the calculator function. And in a fit of desperation, I maaaaaay have done some random number crunching to get my fix this week. Pathetic.

Anyways, on to more photos from Chile. These were taken in the Atacama Desert.


Random Llama action.


My goal of this trip was to ride or eat a Llama.


Llama on the menu! But the restaurant was closed. Dammit, so close!








Rare Atacama desert fox


Llama on a stick. Mission accomplished!




Hiking the Valle de la Luna




Drinking Pisco Sours, waiting for sunset.




Llama meal # 2. Just for good measure.


Cute little Vicunyas!








Sandboarding! Don't fall. The sand gets EVERYWHERE.

Easter Island and Valparaiso

Sorry, no energy to write anything tonight. Gonna let the photos do the heavy lifting. Here's a set of photos from our time in Valparaiso, and some from Rapa Nui (Easter Island)... DRISTAN DRIISSTANN DRIIIISSTAAAAAN. Younger folks probably won't recognize that reference.




































Ahhh... the good old 'Knob' doodle... transcends all cultural barriers.


We take a breather on our way up to the top of Rano Kau (one of the 3 main volcanoes forming Easter Island).


The crater of Rano Kau.


Anita's first overseas scuba dive.

1998 Was Only A Few Years Ago

We were out at hipster douche central last night (aka Urban Outfitters - don't give me that condescending look, I picked up a sweet hardcover book on The Polaroid Years on clearance for ten bucks). Anyways, I was browsing the overpriced film toy camera selection, when two dudes (maybe 18 or 19 year olds) walk by and one picks up a refurbished Polaroid camera. His friend looks at the box and goes 'What is it?' Not in an 'oh I just didn't recognize that iconic instant camera because of the refurbished packaging' type of way. He literally had NO IDEA what a Polaroid camera was. The day where future generations would grow up not knowing the magic of seeing photographs develop in front of your eyes was obviously inevitable, but somewhere in my mind, I thought this would be a decade away. Mostly because my mind still thinks that 1998 was only a few years ago.

Anyways, I've been super into instant photography lately - I've scored another Polaroid SX-70, and also a Fuji Instax Mini 90. Woo!


Anita and I went to Embarcadero for Big Taste YYC.




Embarcadero's Big Taste menu was decent, but not mind blowing. However, the oyster selection was awesome!






Occasionally, some SX-70 shots don't turn out, so you must use your imagination.


Said sweet 'The Polaroid Years' hardcover I bought for $10.

"There are a lot of girls in tight pants here."

On a whim, we went to check out a live show at the Republik on Friday night. Funniest overheard quote while standing in line (Anita excitedly says, "To get ID'd!!") - the bouncer's walkie talkie suddenly comes to life, and someone on the other end of the walkie says, "There are a lot of girls in tight pants here." Fittingly, the handful of girls in tight pants in front of us laugh.

And as for the bands, Boreal Sons (Calgary) and Royal Canoe (Winnipeg): we hadn't actually heard of either band before, but that's because we're not hip and cool twenty somethings anymore. I was actually yawning by the time we got in the car to head out to the show. Grandpa G. When openers, Boreal Sons, got on stage, I thought maybe the voice on the walkie talkie may have been referring to the hipster guitarist dude with a girlie haircut, who was wearing skinny jeans a couple sizes too small. Am I showing my age again? Sorry. They were a decent piano rock band, but I thought a stretch of 3 exceedingly slow songs was a bit much, and their request that we tap our neighbours on the shoulder to shush them while they played these yawn inducers was a tad self-indulgent, Calgary natives or not. Seriously, I'm so judgemental.

The headliners, Royal Canoe were a six piece with funky beats, and a few blasts of some bone rattling percussion (2 dudes on drums will do that). I enjoyed a bunch of their songs (despite only hearing them for the first time). The only thing I didn't care for, was the excessive use of autotune/ vocal effects throughout their set.

Boreal Sons




Royal Canoe




You might recognize this song: Royal Canoe performing Exodus of the Year on Q with Jian Ghomeshi.

Chasing Ice

Oh what's that? It's going to feel like minus 43 with the windchill tomorrow night? That's fantastic, EFF YOU very much Mother Nature.

Anita and I went to see Chasing Ice, a beautiful yet sobering documentary detailing in lush photographic visuals the very dramatic effects of climate change on some of the world's major glaciers. Even if you don't believe in the science behind climate change, the lengths to which the lead photographer James Balog is willing to go to capture pictures showing the rapid decline of these glaciers over a period of four years is an inspiring call to action.

While nowhere near as grand, Anita and I had a chance to get up close to Glacier Grey in the massive Southern Patagonian Ice Field, after hiking 77km through the Patagonian Andes. We were even lucky enough to witness a huge chunk of ice calving off the glacier, but I didn't catch any photos of that event.

Smoked Salmon flavoured Vodka

I bought a bottle of smoked salmon flavoured vodka this weekend. When I went to pay, the cashier was like, 'You're the first person I've ever sold this to.' Translation: You're a weirdo. I may as well have been buying a dozen fart scented croissants, for the bewildered expression she gave me when ringing it through.

Okay, so maybe smoked salmon flavoured vodka does sound a bit weird. But all I can think of is what awesome caesars I'm going to make with this. Seriously, caesar connoisseurs, come visit and we'll have an epic cocktail night.





And while we're on the topic of strange food and drink, here's a shot of Elaine about to consume a duck tongue at dim sum. I managed to convince 3 non-asian folks to try this dish.


Taken with the Pentax 6x7 on Neopan 400, rated at 800. Pushed one stop in developing, but obviously I did something wrong, cause the entire roll came out horribly underexposed.