Art Gallery of Ontario
In the #EdPien (2022) Present: Past/Future exhibition, furniture installation has signs encouraging visitors to sit and become immersed. Secondhand items were sourced from individuals in Toronto, reminiscent of the repurposing of found objects from 13 elderly members of San Agustin suburb of Havana, Cuba who were recorded and interviewed. Showing newcomer from Vietnam how Canadians share time together indoors despite the season, when inclement conditions make outdoor cafes impractical. (Art Gallery of Ontario, Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20221228

Matty Eckler Community Recreation Centre
Casted vote in last hour of advance polls for Toronto municipal election. No line up, showed voter card and ID, received ballot, filled in 3 bubbles. My preference is to judge the candidates from a bigger picture, rather than focusing on last minute promises and pleas. (Matty Eckler Community Recreation Centre, Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20221014

Mustard Seed
In downstairs atrium, Christmas Tree to celebrate the season. Short visit with DY on Movie + Pizza program, not really a participant. Afternoon walk around the neighbourhood, near freezing temperature clear of snow. (Fontbonne Ministries, Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20221220

Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital
Behind the secure door, there's a small children's play area before the operating room corridor where only hospital scrubs are permitted. After the patient and family are briefed on the procedure, adults are normally asked to go to the waiting room outside the secure door. Normal scheduling aims for surgeries to finish off around 4:30pm, but urgent cases may see the doctors still onsite at 11pm. (Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital, Ellesmere Road East, Scarborough, Ontario) 20220907

SFO International Terminal
We brought a plane down from Toronto to San Francisco, so that NPI and CL could fly home. Tightly coordinated visits to the Bay Area so that we don't overload all of our California-resident family at the same time. After deplaning, another connection with one automobile headed south on 101 to Sunnyvale, the other going north to Oakland. (SFO International Terminal, San Francisco, California) 20220422

Onsite Gallery
Moose skulls @Artist_JBennett (2022) Netukulit on wall made from gift, (2022) Embrace on floor from three antlers harvested in community. Color patterns inspired by quill boxes and sear covers in Mi'kmaq community. Gallery is dedicated to solo exhibition titled Souvenir. (Onsite Gallery, Richmond Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 2022110

On The Rocks
Reunion of the #SystemsThinking TO meetup founded by @DerailleurAgile, that I joined 2018-2020. The group went on hiatus, just before pandemic shutdowns, and meetings in person have since become the exception. The planned place for tonight was the after-meeting drinks venue Betty's on King, but its impending shutdown has attracted swarms, leading a staff member to suggest walking south and west. (On The Rocks, Front Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20221220

Tim Hortons Airport Road
One 10-pack of Timbits, please! Waiting near the airport, as one of our holiday visitors is seeking the luggage that wasn't unloaded off the plane 3 days ago, deadheading back westward. I'm not a frequent customer of this Canadian institution, as I don't drink coffee, and would buy donuts for others to enjoy. (Tim Hortons, Airport Road, Toronto, Ontario) 20221227

Woodbine Beach
Brightly coloured lounge chairs facing Lake Ontario, but cold winter winds discouraged a long stay. Educating a newcomer to Canada on dressing tips in a 35-degree switch drop from Vietnam last week, includes the use of a hood when a toque isn't desirable. Winter fences have led to an off-leash area where dogs are overjoyed to be playing together, while their masters are calling for them. (Woodbine Beach, Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto, Ontario) 20221225

Vinh Nghiem Buddhist Temple
Devout workshippers in main hall praying to Buddha, along with Bodhisattvas on left and right sides. Wasn't expecting stacks of material offerings in front of the altars, some with cash layered between tiers. Temple completed in 1971, using modern concrete material, follows traditional style more common in ancient japan. (Vinh Nghiem Buddhist Temple, Phường 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) 20231008

Platja de la Barceloneta
View from Barceloneta Beach down the coast south slightly after dusk might not have been improved 10 minutes earlier, because the set doesn't set when facing east. The seaside neighbourhood is a peninsula, with restaurants and hotels ringing the waterfront. Coming from a hotel on the west side, the bus route took us by two large cruise ships at port. (Platja de la Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain) 20221003

War Remnants Museum
Guillotine brought by the French in the early 20th century for use in the jail, and transported during the U.S. war with Vietnam for decapitations until 1960, beside a tiger cage used for inhumane imprisonment. Inside main building, compelling history of munitions used, lives lost and number wounded. Some exhibits showed reconciliation amongst war veterans, while others showing injured survivors were too depressing to watch. (War Remnants Museum, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) 20231003

Bliss Chinese Cuisine
Family weddings are a rare occasion to catch up with extended family, convening from around the province. Stories related about unfortunate scheduling, recent births, and infants sequestered away from crowds. The increased height of children is a reminder that we should visit more frequently. (Bliss Chinese Cuisine, Mississauga Road, Mississauga, Ontario) 20221210

Italian Colors
Relaxed dinner at initiation of a new joint writing project. Deep thinking needs unpacking time to contemplate ideas approached from multiple angles. Arrived on early flight from east to west, were should be sharper after a good night's rest. (Italian Colors, Montclair Village, Oakland. California) 20161016

Reading 1967 "Pattern Manual" by Christopher Alexander et al. The 21 page manual is preceded by a 6 page description of the incorporation of the Center for Environmental Structure, of which the first 2 pages and title page missing in the Wurster Library
Historic document at the beginning of the pattern language movement is available on the open shelves of the library of the University of California at Berkeley. Significant artifact at a durable institution.