here and there

i don't usually post photos of myself, but this one is an exception. we were at hand in hand in atlanta. there were a bunch of us there. i don't think it was for any occasion though although it might have been someone's birthday, i can't remember. it was mid april. the winter was almost over-- the winter i spent walking around piedmont park with cc, who kept me engaged physically and emotionally to keep the most severe depression i've ever been through at bay. it almost worked, too.  but this particular day above i remember because it started with the false promise of warmth. it had turned cold by late afternoon, but the sun was out and i think almost all of us were doing our best to pretend it wasn't cold. as if we could will the warmth out of a sun that wasn't ready to warm itself. 

it boggles the mind not even a year later that smile to the left of me would cease to exist. 

today i was reading the atlanta news from my friend's blog. none of it was good. apparently the crime has once again surged due to a lack of police officers. a lot of violent crime, etc.  i'll say this-- the crime rate in montreal-- and indeed the majority of canada- is nothing compared to places in the states like atlanta. it's definitely one thing i do not miss. i feel like in my neighborhood especially i can walk around really late at night and not worry too much. i rarely hear police sirens here. you hear something worse which is this crazy alarm siren sound when the snow plows are going by-- it's basically a warning for people to move their cars lest they be towed. montreal is kind of a loud, ugly town during the winter in that sense.  

that and the fact that your nose runs constantly from moving from cold outdoors to warm indoors. people are constantly blowing their nose. it's hot, i tell you. hot.