1. Where are you currently and why?

I am sitting at my laptop, it is early morning. Toronto, Canada. I sit
looking out at the street, through my front garden which is a wild leafy
place. It is cool out which is good because we are into our second week of a
garbage strike and if it's hot, it is getting really disgusting outside. I
am going to leave town, and the garbage and go kayaking for a while. I just
bought a Pelican case to store my camera. Now if I just don't tip while
using it...

2. Tell us your moblog story, how did it all begin for you, and do you have
any favourite posts?

I was looking for more news about the bombings in the London subway and I
stumbled on moblog. I lurked. When Alfie posted 'No Fear', I was enchanted.


I will never forget Alex Saville. Today it looks like we're going to have
another blog baby. We seem to be having lots of babies. And they're all good
looking and way too smart.

I have some favourite moments: alfie's no fear, the jump months, steve and
helen's trip to India, Xalieri's honeymoon in Hawaii, late night Mandy
conversations, JXL bouncing off the side of his truck, being bfish's friend,
rooting for various people to stay sane while doing exams, enjoying their
victories, SLG's oneaday, actually all the oneadays, Seaneboy patrolling the
driving-while-blogging, and the pixie dance, OJ's fabulous black and white
dress, Hildegard's Oscar, Spiderbaby and Crickson's eternal festivals in
Minnesota, almost anything Nige does, Liltiger's hardware store, Caine's
Almont, Mat's Lemmy, those Taniwha kids, the completely original
construction projects at the Rich/Mat estate, learning curious UK culture
like mushypeas and Jaffacakes, Viv's bathroom view, Minushaben's and
Maggie's political solidarity, Paintist's postcards and inspiration....and
many more.

3.How did you get into taking photographs?

Someone gave me a camera when I was a kid. I have a basement full of my
photographs. Once I talked myself into a job as a newspaper photographer
even though I didn't know how to develop film. I learned to develop film on
the phone with a friend, in the dark, eventually loosing the spring of the
roll and making a terrible mess of it. Eventually I got it. I like being in
situations where I am in over my head. Speaking of which, I have been going
to school, Ryerson University, for photography and I guess I am going back
this fall. I got into a Magnum workshop in May with Mark Power, of Brighton,
and it was probably the best thing I did in a while. It was brutal, the
daily critiques from other photographers and Mark were painful but
necessary.

4. What are you currently reading?

I read everything. I like a good junky book as much as something that I
think about for a long time. Last three books were 'Last Watch" by Sergei
Lukyanenko, 'Ring' by Koji Suzuki, and 'The View from Castle Rock' by Alice
Munro. I love science fiction, and non-fiction books about plants, and there
is a library on my corner where I spend a lot of time looking at expensive
art books and graphic novels. I loved "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry,
"Cat's Eye" by Atwood, and kid's books with Oscar. Current favourites are
'Scaredy Squirrel' and 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus'

5. What makes you happy?

my bike, having a lot of people in the house, fires, chaos, being outside,
honesty, tall men, avacados, cheese, good bread, food in general, taking
photos, making things, growing things, music, movies, animation, really big
rocks, my kayak, dogs, most people, the circus, public art, puzzles, trying
to figure out things, old clothes, big snowstorms with the fat big flakes,
my family and friends.

Last year I raised Russo, a puppy for Guide Dogs Canada. I am proud to
report that she has turned out to be a star in training and they really like
her. I can't do another puppy right now because I want to travel, so I am
keeping Guide Dog puppies when they need a place to stay. So far Garnet has
been here and at the end of the month, the truly adorable Frizzle will be
staying.

For those of you who followed Russo's buddies, Nikkita and Pel--both just
graduated, and are now working as vision companions to young university
students.

6.What's your strongest childhood memory?

I don't know. Montreal where I grew up, the ocean, my parents, nothing
important. I had a great childhood, a really interesting adolescence and
early adulthood. I did it all. no regrets. great memories.

7. What is the last thing that made you laugh?

my friend Laurie is always late. she arrived late and the annoyed chair of
the meeting said 'Why don't you get a watch?' Laurie replied: 'Then I'd just
know how late I am."

8. What are the 3 most valuable lessons you have you learned in life so
far?

I don't seem to have learned much over the years. I admire qualities I don'
t have--black curly hair, patience, listening, being tall, mysterious. I am
pretty much WYSIWYG.

9. Your house in on fire - what's the first thing you grab?

My house on fire? I have such a great old house here. Full of memories and
stupid little things we all like. If it went up in flames, there is nothing
and everything to save, so I'd grab any animal I had and run for it. Of
course, being old, this house is a continual money pit and ongoing repair
project, so I'd not have to deal with that anymore. Does anyone know a good
electrician?

10. So it's Desert Island Discs time and we're now choosing that one record
that remains after the hypothetical storm. What is that one record?

This is not a fair question. Too hard. It would not just be music, but film,
art, all kinds of good things. turtles. dogs. people. is there enough surf
for a board? I'd like to learn.

Posted by swamprose