There are times when I substitute this...

What of course the photo above doesn't show is of course the larger context of where that bench is located, nor does it allow you to hear the sound of the water feature nearby or demonstrate how one might approach a project a little bit different than when one is confined by cubicle walls. Of course, as far as cubicles go, mine isn't that bad. As far as views are concerned,

However, I take particular delight in working in different locations. It's not only good for me mentally, but it also adds a bit of variety to my normal routine. Also it allows me to see things that I might not otherwise get to experience if I were to spend every day during regular working hours in the same spot.

I realize that my work mobility is a huge luxury and may cease to exist at some point. But it's not like I'm taking advantage of this mobility. I just happen to work really well under these type of circumstances.

After spending the most of the day in the office, I packed up my laptop, camera and notebook(s) to work from home for the rest of the afternoon (and now evening). But as I walked past Enterprise Square (the downtown campus of the University of Alberta) I was lured inside by the memory of the last productive afternoon I had spent there, sitting on a bench with my laptop, editing blog posts and drafting up various presentations, accompanied by the gentle sound of falling water (yes, that's the water feature I referred to earlier).

The one downside to my impromptu decision to work al fresco (psuedo al-fresco since I was under cover and could only see the sky through a skylight) was that I forgot to carry a powercord so I could juice up the super computer. Thankfully though, I've got some mean cursive skills and not afraid to put pen to paper when required. And friends, that was required.

I've decided that the view from my bedroom window is much more romantic than my old apartment. I like the trees and the brick of the neighbouring building. Unfortunately that same building has windows that provide a direct line of sight into my apartment, but I'm trying to deal with that in a sort of Alfred Hitchcock fashion, but more Rear Window than Psycho, contrary to what the photos below might suggest.

I ran into a friend on my way to work this morning (we both work in the same building) and during our trip up the elevator I jokingly mentioned that I was becoming a bit of a workaholic. Unfortunately this is shockingly true. I've found that I have work on the brain constantly and on there have been days where I've woken, started editing something almost immediately, and worked steadily until I went to sleep in the evening (with the exception a few intermittent snack and bathroom breaks). Obviously, I don't spend every day like this, but it's happened frequently enough that I've realized that it's becoming more of a habit. A habit that I don't want to continue.

I was once in a class with this girl who declared "work is my salvage." I'm pretty sure that she meant salvation, but anyhow, at the time it was pretty ridiculous. She was maybe 22 and was extremely intense. She lived and breathed for her job, but within a few months she was so burnt out that she quit her job and moved across the globe to do something else that was clearly less stressful and allowed her much more time to do things outside of work.

Now, I'm not saying that I think my behaviour is anything like this girl. I love the work I do, but it's not the only way that I find fulfillment in my life. I need breaks from work in order to keep an even perspective on what I do. Like all of the other things I do (photography, knitting, reading, writing, cooking, popping and locking), breaks are necessary to prevent resentment and dreaded burnout. But for some reason, maybe it's because I like what I do so much, maybe it's the company I keep - the gentleman being a bit of workaholic, this job has the tendency to eat up more of my time than any other position. Maybe it's because the projects I work on don't really have an end date. They are self-fueling, which is something I like, but it's also something that means at the end of the day you could just keep working. Maybe it's this sort of sense of pressure I feel to prove myself so my contract is extended. But working all hours of the night is not going to prove that.

It's during times like these that I think about ambition, something that I wrote about back in March.

I often wonder about people and their aspirations. Do they dream big or dream small? Are they concerned with making a big splash, having whale sized ambition... or are they interested in more ordinary successes, performing small acts that might someday amount to being remembered even by a few as a great person.

I suppose that we all have the occasional dreams of fame, fortune and influence, but celebrity is fleeting and what we perceive as real influence is not always so. Sometimes our opinions are popular because they speak to the current trend of collective thought. The underpinnings of our ideas already exist and we just happen to communicate them more loudly then others.

Is it important that your impact on the world be widely known and you be recognized for all that you do? Or do you prefer a quieter, more intimate success? For me, a smaller and more ordinary existence seems to be the more realistic choice. I want to be influential, but I don't think I mind as much if that circle of influence has a smaller circumference than some.

Most of the time I think that I am quietly ambitious. But that doesn't mean that on occasion I wish for something a little bigger. But if the road to that sort of success can only be reached by fundamentally changing who I am - jockeying for recognition, forgetting to do all the other things I enjoy - well that's not something I'm interested in. I think that would be straying to far away from what makes me enjoy my work in the first place, which is to quietly contribute to projects that help shape our understanding of what is going on in the community.

The next big project (other than to finish painting) is going to have to be the closet. The main bedroom of the apartment actually has a fairly large walk-in closet, but currently the fixtures do not provide maximal clothes storage. This move is providing me with ample opportunity to go through a clothing purge, but even if I were to get rid of a large portion of my wardrobe, the closet still warrants an upgrade... think a Carrie Bradshaw style walk-in that leads from the bedroom to the bathroom.

The gentleman was dreaming of such closet improvements long before I came along, so thankfully this project is not a hard sell. The problem now lies in how we will outfit the space, since it doesn't exactly lend itself to off-the-rack Ikea solutions. No, this space needs something a touch more custom.

For now my clothes have a temporary home in a large pile on the daybed and hanging on a small rack that I will later use to hang laundry to dry. The majority of my hangers are lined up in the closet, shoulders bare, waiting to serve.

We're still a few months away from having a fully functional closet however. I don't expect it to be finished until April. I guess that gives me plenty of time to finish painting the rest of the apartment.

This weekend I had planned to finish continue unpacking in the new apartment, but I don't seem to have accomplished much. The past month has been busy and stressful and I need some quiet time. I feel like I'm procrastinating though. The shelves the gentleman and I picked up yesterday at Ikea have yet to be installed. And the work projects I purposely stayed home to finish this afternoon instead of going to a meeting are not done. I know I'll finish them before the end of the night, but right now all I want to do is relax, knit and watch a movie.

I haven't knit anything in ages. My wrist is probably up to the challenge now, but every now and then I will turn it in such a way that sends sharp shooting pains up my arm. But I miss knitting. Winter will be over by the time I finish the two projects I've had on the go since summer and early fall. I'd probably feel less stressed if I actually took time to knit, since it's one of those activities that I count as being relaxing. I packed my bags and took a little trip down memory lane today after I logged into ravelry and responded to a comment on my minimalist cardigan project. Oh how I missed knitting when I looked at the photos of that cardigan.

But I'm finding it difficult to find the energy to pick up and finish those projects. I don't think I'll be able to concentrate properly until the house is settled. But accomplishing that is proving exhausting as well. I had forgotten how much work it takes to sort out new living arrangements.

The household being in disarray does provide excuses for socializing outside of the home of course. The gentleman and I escaped for brunch with the siblings today, and we argued like brothers and sisters do. It was delightful. I'm trying to convince my sibs to rent a unit in the same apartment building as I live in so I can see them more often (and then kick them out when I'm tired of them).

After a weekend full of moving I bid farewell to my old apartment, leaving behind the shiny floors, high ceiling and western exposure. I left behind some plants, bookshelves, and a couch with upholstery I never liked. It was a long weekend in Alberta, Family Day to be precise, so I had an extra day to recover from all the packing and all the stress related to moving.

It can come as no surprise that my chosen method of relaxation involved my camera. It was a particularly beautiful winter day, a vivid blue sky and a temperature so mild that one could wander around gloveless and not suffer from fingers frozen from adjusting camera settings and pushing the shutter button.

My chum Tom and I decided to wander somewhat aimlessly around downtown, starting first with a stroll to Ezio Farone park to admire the High Level Bridge and frozen river, before venturing through the underground tunnel that connects the Legislature Grounds to the Grandin LRT station.

We arrived at the Legislature while volunteers were still preparing for Family Day celebrations. The tunnels are a bit hilarious in how dated they look. Display units for brochures and pamphlets have this classic look to them, so much so that you sort of doubt that any of the information available is up-to-date. One sort of expects there to be a thick layer of dust on everything.

Tom and I wandered as far as we could in the tunnels without requiring security access. There were a few happy surprises along the way, like this bunch of balloons locked in silent combat with the concrete ceiling.

Eventually we surfaced from the tunnels, randomly choosing a set of stairs that led to a view of the Legislature building. The tint and curve of the stairwell ceiling gave a sort of natural holga effect to the view. Tom and I both stood and admired the scene for a few minutes before carrying on our photographic stroll.

Last week I had gone for a stroll during the City's annual Winter Walk Day, and the selected route had offered numerous photographic opportunities that I wanted to go back when I had more time. Although I had been to the leg grounds many times, there were still numerous buildings that I had not photographed before. One was the Legislature Annex, a boxy mid-century modern structure whose turquoise panels are both hideous and beautiful.

We continued from the leg grounds to photograph buildings on the south side of Jasper. I don't usually have much reason to wander in that area on a regular basis, and other than the winter walk it had been almost a year since I had spent any amount of time in that neighbourhood.

One rarely encounters another soul in that part of the city outside of regular work hours. I realize that it is not exactly a sign of downtown vibrancy and I should wish that more people would be out and about at all times, but there is something nice about the solitude, especially when I'm photographing. It's like I have the buildings all to myself and there's no pressure to get moving because I'm blocking someone's path. I like the unobstructed view, the unfettered access. Sure I would give that up if it meant that downtown could be more lively all the time, but for the time being I'm taking advantage of the quiet.

So quoth Charlotte Bronte.

Despite the recent addition to my photographic family of the beast (the 5D MkII) I have not forsaken the iPhone. It has that added fun element of allowing me to instantly process images and upload them to flickr, and by virtue of it being so small in comparison to the beast, it still gets used rather frequently. I have a few camera apps that I tend to use on a regular basis and today I discovered yet another one that I think will become part of the editing rotation.

It's been a long time since I've had a real polaroid camera. I just don't have it in my budget to afford a film habit on top of knitting and my SLR so this will just have to do.

I met the new owners over the weekend and I was most pleased to discover that they do not own a car and are avid cyclist. They were also so complementary about the design and decor of the space which made me feel infinitely better about leaving it with them. The one owner even remarked that the prospect of living here was going to make her enjoy her time more in Edmonton. And that pleased me even more. I felt the same way when I first moved in here.

I will cease to bore you with tales of my move for the time being. It's not the only thing that's been on my mind lately, I even have another blog post in the works that is completely unrelated.

When I first moved out on my own I did not live in apartments. I lived in houses, first a duplex, then a basement suite, then a split level. I don't know why I chose these places over an apartment, since I've always entertained certain romantic notions about apartments. It wasn't until I moved to Edmonton that I lived in my first apartment. It was nice and clean, but it didn't exactly have any character. It did however have a balcony. A balcony that was almost never used, save for summer barbecuing. One afternoon I tried to read outside, but the view from the balcony was not at all exciting. It looked out over the parkades that joined the block of buildings and there was no privacy whatsoever. It was loud and not an inviting space at all.

The loft had no outside space. The lack of balcony was initially the reason why I thought we shouldn't buy the space, but the high ceilings and wonderful light quickly won me over. I don't know if I would have wanted a balcony over such a busy stretch of road anyhow. A rooftop patio that was accessible by all the residents would be an amazing addition to the building, but since that wasn't available then I had to make do with making my time spent indoors feel like part of the outdoors. In the summer I would spend time in the nearby park reading, but there were still times when I wished that I could just step outside for a little snooze without having to pack up and carry all of my stuff down the street. Although the ten minute walk is not a hardship, there were times when I wanted to not care about what I looked like when all I wanted was half an hour in the sun.

The new apartment, which I call new but is only new to me, does have a balcony. It's a rather nice balcony. Spacious, not the most glamorous view as it overlooks two gas stations, but it also looks over the bike path that leads to the nearby park. It'll be a touch quieter than my first balcony and it's only open on one side so you can get some semblance of privacy.

Right now the balcony is being used for temporary storage while the gentleman and I complete painting the rest of the apartment. Since this photo was taken some of the furniture was moved back in, the couch against the back wall and two armless chairs on either side of the room. Eventually art will go up on the wall and perhaps an area rug if we manage to find one we like and can afford. But I'm more excited for what will happen on the balcony. Maybe it's just my current mood, I'm tired of winter and I'm dreaming of summer and all its sunstroke potential.

I'd like to find a nice chaise, that's not too big or bulky so I can come and stretch out with a book and the gentleman can take a nap. Is there room enough for a table so we can eat al fresco? Maybe I'll find some herbs that will grow nicely in the shade.

I am a bit sad to leave my current apartment. But I'm actually more excited than I thought I'd be about the new apartment. Both spaces are very different and the balcony is just one of those differences. The new apartment is charming. It's smaller, the ceilings are lower, but it has a special sort of charm because of the walls and doors. Sure, open concept living has been grand. But it also has its drawbacks. In the new apartment if friends stop by unexpectedly I don't have to make my bed. I can keep some spaces private instead of everything being on display all the time. If I want to have a private phonecall I don't have to go into the bathroom. I can clean up the living room and feel like I've accomplished something even if the kitchen is messy. I've accepted the idea of living with rooms again. It's something that I'm gladly anticipating. Indoor, outdoor, these rooms are going to be a great place to live.

Tonight we picked up a few items from Ikea, including a lamp, bedside table, cheap light fixtures for the ceiling (ridiculously low price of $3.99!), and two armchairs for the living room. A few shelves for display and a new light fixture for over the dining room table and the main room of the house will be nearly complete.

I'm looking forward to the new photographic opportunities in the new apartment. The northeast orientation is going to present very different light than the old place, but I think I'm ready for the challenge. There will be entirely new angles for self portraits and documentation of my daily domestic life. Photographing the place so far has been fun. I didn't really take any photos of the apartment before we started painting, but I don't think it's going to be something I regret. The old colour wasn't horrible, it just wasn't my taste. Plus it was difficult to capture the right shade. Sometimes it was more orange, other times it was more pink. Sort of the colour of that indeterminate flesh pencil crayon. Sounds sort of gross I know. That's why I didn't photograph it.

It's not all renovating and moving though. There's plenty of other things going on in my life. Work is busy and if I didn't have to go to the office then I would probably be staying up all night and packing my belongings. However, when I really think about it, it's not the packing that I'm worried about. It's the unpacking. I don't know where everything is going at the other place. I have a feeling my stuff is going to sit around in boxes for a bit while we start to sort out what goes where. I should keep that in mind. Even though I feel rather stressed out today, this is actually the calm before the storm.