Kieran Christopherson- the magical music man

This is a dear friend of mine Kieran Christopherson. Not only is he a talented musician he is a great person and passionate about life.

He  has a articulate and beautifully honest touch to saying what he sees and feels. His lyrics leave him nothing to hide behind and make you realize there is someone that feels how you feel and has the courage to stand and face the situation.

This is my chill out music. My go-to settling and road-tripping tracks. When I need to feel like the world is going to be ok I listen to Kiz.

His shows are always full of smiling people so you are sure to be in good company if you are lucky enough to catch him live. He plays simple yet poetic folk/ rock. The intimacy you will feel watching him perform is organic, he is a gracious and loving man and a whole hearted member of his community and the world.

Kieran is the real deal; working as a youth facilitator, helping other young people find their own voice Kieran found his. Now he writes and performs music with his friends- for the love of it and each other.

He has just put out some new songs and you can check him out at the following links:

myspace.com/kieranchristopherson

Facebook Page

soundcloud- listen and download

Youtube

My current favorite songs are Into the night and Lullaby for the ones that matter...

Photo given with permission by another talanted friend; Michael Norton @ Michael Norton Photography

If you can't have the ocean you should have car racing

Tonight I am in small town Iowa, America, visiting my brother and watching dirt track car racing. The track resembles the organized chaos of an African market; with people and cars crossing paths and flying in every direction.

It's lit by a handful of light towers and I wonder if it is strange to race around the track without headlights. I think it must be like little boats bobbing their way to their destination when a lighthouse is their only light source.

Growing up by the ocean its rhythm was integral to my own and these days I feel disorientated in myself when I have been away from it for a while. Despite being hours from the ocean, sitting in the stands tonight I feel closer to it than I have in months. Mostly it's the weering roar of the cars as they lap the track kicking up the dust. The sensation of their rumble  running in and through my body is undeniable and joyful. Being out in the elements, even though the focus is on something far from natural, I  feel connected to the the world around me, with the canopy of the open sky and the dust and burning red sun set.

I stepped out of the stands and down to the fence line- as close as I could get to the action. It takes me back to the ruggered Victorian coastline. Standing out on a rock that boldly juts out into Bass Straight, with my palms to the sky as though I am flying, the waves crash all around me drenching me with their spray. As they envelop me I am minuscule and insignificant and it takes all my settling in myself to not be tossed around and swept away by their rhythm and power.

At the track I instruct myself not to think about what this is doing to the environment, my to-do list and being cold. As a result I surprisingly find peace in watching cars race around a dirt track and learning about this new world, with its own unique culture that I have stumbled into. It's beautiful.

Awesome.

There is a bit of a theme of AWESOME being injected into my life at the moment. I have an awesome new friend, I'm spending time with my awesome uncle, 1000 awesome things blog brightens my day several times a week with a little thought on awesome in my inbox and now this...

THE AWESOME FOUNDATION  

Check it out and judge for yourself. But if you have a dream, a vision, a light bulb moment or the inkling that you need to be doing a touch more with your lovely self your going to dig this. Its not just a way to kick start what ever you have (or want to have) going on, it a great way to check out awesome things happening in your community... AWESOME!

Kaitiakitanga

Today I watched this awesome documentary today on 'Kaitiakitanga'. A Maori term for the guardianship and active nourishment for our natural world. It's about protecting, respecting and investing the sustainability of our natural environment and it's a concept that is being adopted as a national ethos in New Zealand- leading them towards being the first carbon neutral country- how cool is that!

It would be hard for a documentary about New Zealand to be anything but beautiful but this show had some great concepts too. I learnt about Trees For Travelers; a program where you can buy, plant and track the growth of a tree which contributes to off setting your carbon footprint as it grows. Such a fantastic idea as there are only so many easily accessible ways for us globetrotters to shrink our footprints.

I also learnt about businesses being 'Green Globe Certified'. "Eco" is a term that has been plundered by advertisers but there are more important questions to ask when you are choosing where to place your businesses and tourist dollars. For example; was your accommodation build with recycled timber? Are they energy efficient? Do they employ locals?
The Green Globe can help you find places that deserve your business.

You can learn more about the documentary at Adventures with Purpose - I really like this idea

and learn more about Kaitiakitanga by clicking here or googling it.

peace mother earth- love you xx

Portland Oregon

There is a lot of buzz around Portland Oregon at the moment and as I was going to be in the state I didn't want to miss out due to lack of trying. I could only squeeze one day out of my itenary but here is what I discovered. 

Portland. Lovely. 

Portland has neighborhoods (which I love) and makes fantasticly big shaddows in the morning sun. Walking, working, riding or driving the people smile at you-espically if you are smiling to. Even the rain was nice. Big drops that did their duty, not bothering anyone and left as soon as they were done for the sun to come back out :) 

I never expected to know the real Portland in a day but I wanted to taste its essence. Flying solo in a new town I didn't really know what to do. So I decided to see MY Portland; to do the things that I wanted to do and see what I discover. I was stoked to hear about Powell's Books - the worlds largest independent book store when I asked for advice on Portland-esq activities. I like books so surely spending time in in a shop that boasts such a title was a legitimate way to spend my only day in the city. As I wondered the rows of towering books on the various floors I realized that while I had come to Portland in search of glimpsing its essence, part of the real Portland had come to me in the people that browsed Powell's with me. 

They were cool, relaxed, stylish in a way that showed they valued creative and fine things. They were unimposing but there was an openness. 

And that's what I think of Portland. 

That night I met some brilliant people in the hostel. The last few months have been stressful for me but after just a conversation with them I felt refreshed and I think the kind of people a place attracts and holds is a good insight into its character. 

It was lovely to meet you Portland- I'll catch you sooner than later I hope. 

I stayed at the HI Portland northwest . It was clean and the bathrooms and staff were lovely. It is in a good neighborhood and only a $5 cab ride from the Amtrak and Greyhound stations or a 15 minute walk. 

There are a few street cars/ trams/ trollies that cover an extensive free zone but I saw a lot of the city on foot without feeling like I had walked too far. 

Mission Theater plays current movies for $3! It's a beautiful old building, with friendly and funky staff and has a pub attached so you can eat and drink deliciousness while you enjoy the show! Its also just a few minutes walk from the HI 

One of my favorite things about Portland is that in the NW their avenues are numerated (which is common and really helpful to know where you are and how far your next stop is) but their streets are alphabetized too!  It makes reading a map and feeling like a local instantly so much easier.  

Dear Canada, Much Appreciated :)

Dear Canada,

Thank you, it’s been lovely.

Looking back I’m surprised how little I knew about you a year and a half ago when I came to play.

I knew your flag looked like this 

and that you are part of the commonwealth.  I had heard the people were really friendly and mostly spoke English but some spoke French. I knew that even though I could drive there from The United States of America you are a completely different country.

In the time that you have been my home I have learnt that Ginger Ale is really good at making my tummy feel good when it doesn’t, that the winter Olympics are real Olympics and not just a token get-together for those far away (from Australia) countries that have snow. I have also learnt that if I cross paths with a bear I should remember this rhyme: if its brown lay down, if its black fight back. No offence, but I think I will trade fighting back with running back.

I have had some of the best times of my life here and met some of the greatest people. A lot of those people are Australian too but the Canadians that warmly welcomed me into their lives, homes and hearts have remained with me; celebrating and consoling due parts of my adventure and always pushing forward with me. I have no doubt that they are genuine life long friends- no matter the difference in our ages.

I’ll remember forever the first time I saw snow flakes the size of 5c pieces, heard the roar of an avalanche and stepped into a forest that instantly felt as good as my favourite place in the world- MY beach back home.

I was blessed by your champagne powder snow, and the striking colours of the sun as it rose over a mountain range that stood like an army of giants guarding the horizon. I have made memories worth more than gold with some friends from home- because you welcomed them too and your stunning curves facilitated our adventures nicely.  

 

  

 I didn’t tick all the boxes on my bucket list… because I look forward to coming back (and I couldn’t afford to on what you pay) but I did do some things that I never imagined: I became a skier, lived an entire winter never seeing rain, stepped outside at –17 degrees C and thought “its not that cold out here”, but I also lost feeling in my hands and feet more than once while playing in my ‘back yard’.  

I lived a life better than I had every imagined for myself and worked a fantastic job.

 

While I had some hard times I know no place is immune to hassle and heartbreak and I was always glad I was living and learning real life here with you; and the gems of people that you brought into my life.

Thanks for sustaining me fair Canada. You are beautiful.

Looking forward, my next adventure is about to land me in a country that I know even less about that I did Canada when I arrived.

I’m pretty sure that they don’t have Tim Hortons, Poutine and wont understand when I say “oh for sure eh” but the adventure only moves forward. I left my heart on the dance floor on a little ski hill for you to remember me by :) Love Dallas. 

This is my iconic Canada photo. Taken just out side Banff on my Rockies road-trip April 2010

 

 

"If you leave the youth out of the circle they will start a fire and burn down the village just to feel the warmth" - from Loz's pool of wisdom collections

‎"The mistake adults make when looking at the future is that they see the future from their own eyes, If you want to see how the world will be in ten years, just watch a fifteen-year-old boy or girl. Observe the world from their eyes and you will see the future."- Josh's facebook status

oh Loz I love the things you collect and share with me and Josh I had no idea you were so deep :)

1000 Awesome Things- 'How to be Happy'

1000 Awesome Things is one of my favorite things about the time i spend online. people often write in about their awesome things; i thought this was pretty awesome...



“Hi my name is Tiferet. My 6 grade teacher asked us to write a paragraph for Lang. I chose to write on How To Be Happy. I hope it’s awesome enough. Here it is for you.” – Tiferet

Humanity
"we call it random acts of kindness but there is nothing random about it. It is purely intentional. The human soul longs to do good but is at a loss for direction. Humanity is each and every individual standing unified with one single purpose that purpose is the dignity, respect and well being gor all become a part of humanity."

my dear friend Erin came to visit a few weeks ago and left me this lovely bracelet- this was the inscription on the tag. You can check out the bracelets at Humanityforall.com

Love Someone- DubFx Live 10/10/08

"Everyone needs a go-to video that can lift your spirit whenever you're feeling down. This one's mine." 
-Frank Warren, founder of Post Secret