Or rather — should I say — a 3 a.m. stroll …

It has been too long since I've delved amidst the serene nights from the plain walkways of Brandenburg Blvd. I have recently allowed myself to compensate these strolls with more frequent (shorter) trips to the mailbox, albeit the exchange, as I now see it, has been quite subsidiary.

Upon finding my way to Keats Way, I looked to my right to discover a pathway that lead into the heart of our subdivision, nearing toward Erb St. Although the houses to my right were somewhat distracting; a maze of forests and brush sat to the left which greatly comforted me; amongst the dense fog that cooled my skin and relaxed my mind. (It's hard to think when it's 30°C+ outside!)

Although my initial thoughts seemed to be conjured from a busy mind, by the end of the walk, three thoughts were impressed upon my conscious unwillingly (although not unwelcome).

1. My age and the foreknowledge of potential in my 22nd year, now quickly coming to an end. Although a complex variation of what I saw as a boy has come to pass through recent meanderings.

2. There is a person I need to desperately converse with. Although I have decided upon a year to have her hear my words.

3. A task I feel I must undertake, a period of time upon which I hold no possession over any material that isn't my carrying bag, wallet or bike. Not even a rented apartment in which to cook or sleep.

I always feel I can achieve so many things while I'm walking. It's a nice feeling before drifting off to sleep.

Side Note: At least I'll have many exciting things to discuss when I (finally) meet up with Aly! (Grimsby, not UW Aly)

I attended the 2007 Ontario Sustainable Campuses Conference hosted by SYC this past weekend with Joe Craddock, a friend of mine keen on environmental activism, and part of my CSAF working group. It was definately an enchanting experience to learn and grow as an environmental activist (despite being so tired throughout both days that i often fell asleep for periods of 5 minutes at a time… whoops.

As an attempt to assess what I learned at the conference, and correspond it to the sustainability efforts and progress we have here at UW, I wrote an article addressing the student body of UW. Many, many thanks goes out to blue_lightning for reading it through twice and weeding out the bias. After all, I'm not only the science editor… but also a board director of UWSP, and (consequently) the SYC rep for UW. Conflict of interest was hitting me on three fronts.

The article is located here: [Imprint: "Sustainability, UW struggling to keep up with the pace"]

Quote from the conference (day two - me slumped in my chair, being me):

Joe: (turns to look at me) Dude, you're so incredibly sardonic. It's amazing.
Rob: … What?

So - I'm home. Lots of planning and brainstorming to come in the next week for hippie initiatives.

However, for myself, one thing is for certain — no using the car at all, unless I'm travelling "home home". It's quite sad actually - I used the car this term (excluding driving home) so much that it equates to the last 4 terms added together almost (again - excluding going home). I'm estimating 8-12 times? So, that's out the window. Basic groceries that cost the same no matter where you go, can be easily picked up by my bike (I just keep forgetting my bike bag! - so i usually have to fill my pockets and my backpack - and try to walk/bike home while holding up my pants [somehow]). Not fun :) Although I'm constantly smiling to myself, as I trying to fasten an unfastenable belt around my waist.

Esp. Imprint - I survived two winters without the car for the most part. Hell - i remember one winter in 1B - where it felt below -20°C, and I had to walk home at 3am in the morning - and the wind was so fierce that it (literally) froze my face and groin area. (Wait what? why?) <- I was just wearing thin pj's and my mickey mouse pj shirt and my old blue sweater. That was my getup for my first term at Imprint - but generally I had a sweater and "wind" pants for the bike with me - but if I recall, I was able to snag a ride from my landlord's brother, and it was above 0° at that time, so i had nothing really). Thankfully however, I was able to (finally) hitchhike a ride from Sobey's to where I live - so I was only walking for 20-25 minutes. (longest 25 minutes walking of my life - except maybe any given segment on my first day of my 35-day hike)

and I think showering. I need to shower less. And it's handy that I shower at night - since giving up showering won't affect "waking up" in the morning. Besides - I can smell, look, feel just as fresh without showering every night. Ie. if you hadn't read this - you would have never noticed - because there wouldn't be really any change anyways). And no - I'm not turning into a dirty hippie, I'm just turning into a more rigourous (and clean) hippie.

Addendum - maybe I'll just cut my showertime by a third or quarter, rather then cut it out altogether