CHLOE IN THE AFTERNOON

There is something very soothing about finding a Cafe that you feel comfortable in.

If you live in some insane Metropolis like I do, it can often feel like a steel rod is subtlely being placed up your rectum every day. Where can you take refuge? The Cafe.


Today I have the pleasure of spending some time at Balzak's in the afternoon. It is a restored 1890's warehouse with a cozy open aired loft on the second floor. This is where I am dwelling for the day.


(Two other great Cafe's in Toronto are Rooster Coffee House overlooking Riverdale Park, and Dark Horse Expresso Bar, on Spadina and on Queen)


I am taking out my writing book and placing my Nikon camera on the table beside my Latte. I should probably use this camera. The lighting is divinely inspired.


What could I photograph? Well there is always the table, then the room, the art on the walls of course, the girl sitting by herself.


Hmm. The girl sitting by herself. She looks......monumental and Zooey Dechanel like.

(I just saw the film 500 days of Summer and can't get a couple of scenes with this woman out of my monkey mind)


That is one thing about Cafe's. If you have honesty and integrity and are not too pushy, there is a fairly good chance at a conversation with an attractive woman, if that is your thing.


I realize now I have placed myself in an uncomfortable position. If I don't go over to this total stranger and politely ask her if I can photograph her, I will be disgusted with myself.


Lost opportunity based on what......fear of rejection. This is a great photo opportunity, be polite and....don't fall in love (haha) ...............oh I think I am going to move over there now.....


Later


She was very sweet and said she was surprised that I noticed her.....What?
I took some great shots, we talked for a brief minute and now I am going to send her them by email. See, life is not that bad.



Cafe's.........



I might be slightly influenced by this Alain de Botton book I am reading. Profound and insightful book on the "love" experience or lack of it... All about CHLOE..Hmm Chloe....... (Thanks Cory by the way for the author suggestion)


Chloe and this girl Samantha across from me and Zooey, and the spring...........What are they putting in my Latte?



Excerpt:


"The Island was packed with tourists, but we rented motorcycles and....CHLOE's holiday story was dull, but its dullness no longer counted against it.

I had ceased to consider it according to the secular logic of ordinary conversations. I was no longer concerned to locate within it either insight or humour, what mattered was not so much what she was saying,
as the fact that she was saying it-and that I had decided to find perfection in everything she could utter.

I felt ready to follow her into every anecdote (there was this shop that served fresh olives....), I was
ready to love every one of her jokes that had missed its punchline, every reflection that had lost its thread.

I felt ready to abandon self absorption for the sake of consummate empathy, to catalogue every one of CHLOE'S memories, to become a historian of her childhood, to learn all of her loves and fears. Everything that could possible have played itself out within her mind and body, had promptly grown fascinating."


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There are many great intangible things that come with renewed mental and physical health. (Qi gong class today) I got a call from Stephen my close friend today, who just rang to say that the Positive Thinking mp3 that I sent his way, had made a big impact on his day.
Pretty cool.



It's good to be alive and in this Cafe. Do I really have to leave? Maybe I should get a real job.......But then I would have to miss Samantha and dealing with my fear.




Rick