It's the end of the world as I know it, and I feel?

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Canadian Thanksgiving

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It's Thanksgiving in Canada. We celebrate 3 weeks before the States, because our harvest on average ends earlier, due to our higher latitude.

I'm sick and thankful.

P.S. I don't know how to sound balance to save my life.

Love Delivered

My wonderful friend (whom I've never had the chance to meet), Lozza, sent me a little sumthin sumthin to make me feel like a million bucks, and a million pounds.

You are awesome!

P.S. You can still see the hospital band on my arm.

http://thorntons.co.uk

This video is licenced Public Domain

I won a hat...

...and my name is massacred by CBC Radio3 host Grant Lawrence. Or is it?? You be the judge. More on my name genocide later.

Here's the copy of my entry. I knew that I was too late to win, so I decided to earn bonus points by going all out.

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Sure, anybody can whip out google earth and draw a line from Edmonton to Easter Island, but let's get serious. Lines suck. Road trips are better. So here is the realistic roadtrip to Easter Island from Edmonton Alberta. Taking into account wind, and stopsigns.

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2987km to Edmonton to Brawley, California. This scenic trail avoids most major cities, most major trafic delays, and sends it's occupants through major world biosphere reserves. Warning. Air Conditioning is required in Utah. Brawley is the perfect location to relax for the day, as it's close to the Mexico boarder and holds all the conveniences of North American life. Stock up, because mexico is a whole other world! And pay attn to the sky...it's been said that "Mysterious Aerial Bars of Light" have been seen by local residants from time to time on the horizon.

1491km from Brawley to La Paz, Mexico. La Paz is the ideal place to launch on a boat on this journey. It's beautiful location on the Gulf of California protects from most storms and allows time for the road-sick sailors to gain their sea legs before any serious sailing is to be had.

805km from La Paz to Isla Socorro , which is occupied by the Mexico Military but helps a sailor in need any day. Stock up and avoid the dodgey burritos.

1003 from Isla Socorro to Clipperton Island. This leg of the trip was a little longer, to gear up for some greater lengths ahead. Clipperton Island is uninhabited, but has a wealth of delicious crabs. The boat will be docked and fresh crab meat will be consumed in great quantities. Don't forget the butter. And don't jump into the Lagoon, whatever you do.

2315.75km from Clipperton Island to the Galapagos. Ahh the Galapagos, a volcanic paradise of biologically unique souls. After spending some awkwardly intimate moments on the head (bad crab) our travellers can add some fresh fruit to their diet and see the turtles.

3702 from the Galapagos to Easter Island. At long last! Tired, sundried, and happy our travellers emerge unscathed and deeply moved to the scenic blah blah blah blah.

Grand Total = 12303.75 km if the wind is good and no body get's lost.

My address is below...I hope I won a cooool hat! (crosses fingers and toes)

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Jeremy's short lived visit comes to an end.

Montreal and Mixed CDs

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I take off from work and pick up Cooking Kitty Corner, and we drive all night to visit Montreal and finally meet the world famous Des.

Tags: tyas, montreal, cookingkittycorner, michaeltyas

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STRANDED!

I was driving home from Orangeville to Shelburne this evening when the weather got the better of me. Whiteouts. 50 kmph winds. Falling snow. Falling? Falling is relative. I actually saw no falling snow. Horizontal, gravity defying snow whipping in every direction? That's a better description.

I prayed to God to give me a sign. God's usually good with things like that. I believe it was HE who declared:

"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust?" Matthew 7:7-9

So I prayed and asked for a sign, with none of that funny buisness, like "I'll pray every day if you spare my life, Lord.". And at that very moment, the wind doubled, the snow tripled, and I had some asshole in a hemi riding my behind. "Am I on God's shit list or something" I pondered, and I didn't really think of sawdust at all but this translation makes me laugh. Who would try and pass off sawdust as bread?

Then, suddenly, as I'm just about to start crying, the weather clears for one moment and I see the sign that I asked for. "Sideroad 22"

That's where Michael Sumner lives, at the unnamed retreat facility. I made an emergency right turn that would have made a stunt double blush and weaved through farmer's fields and a little ravine to seek some shelter in the storm. Now I'm sitting in his warm office while he's working. It's not fair, really.

He has Marmite on his desk. Have you ever tried this stuff before? It's a yeast extract that you spread in a thin layer onto buttered, warm toast. So British. And also very good for you. I got into it when I was living in South Africa. I wish I had toast right now.

British Columbia

This is an older post, from back yonder in the days when my hair was shorter and I was unhappy in Los Angeles, and not as good at vlogging as I am now. But I like to bring back the golden oldies every once in while.

The video is pretty self explanitory. Kid friendly. And fun.

Roadtrips rock!

Jill's Story

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It was a beautiful September day when Jill, Darryl and I took a short trip to the streets of Brampton so Jill could talk about what it was like to be homeless for four days as a teenager.

Why is this a story? Four days on the street in September isn't that long to suffer any setback, is it? But imagine if she was there for five days. Or two weeks? Or three months, growing more desperate and willing to give up anything for the necessities of life.

This is a first hand account of a rescue operation. Jill was saved from taking the wrong path in a fork in the road, a road that if she had continued down would have ended in tragedy. Instead, the experience has made her stronger and ignited a passion for social justice.

Today Jill leads a ministry in my church called 'Bags of Blessings', a Christmas time initiative that delivers care packages to the homeless in Toronto.

French Studies, week 3

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After being plagued by poor weather for the past 2 weeks, I behold what the day has in store for me.

Notice anything different? Let me know what you think!

2005, To Toot My Own Horn

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It was at 6:32 this morning, as I lay awake in my bed unable to return to sleep, that I remembered. Remembered, that is, how much I've actually done this year. Of course, lots of people can do lots of things in a single year but that's not my point at all. It again occurred to me that the quality of said events was astronomically entertaining and interesting, not to toot my own horn too hard.

"Oh Come On Michael, You're Just In Love With Yourself!"

NO, really, look for yourself!

In January I started this blog off with a secret. My friend Jeremy and I were going to be moving to Los Angeles to work on a 'reality TV show' In the end it didn't work out, but I'm so happy that I went anyways because there were a great many memories and people that I wouldn't have ever been able to have had I not entered the Giant's Lair.

On our first attempt into the USA, we were turned around at the boarder. We were almost blacklisted. Let this be a note to all who read these words. If a company with a lot of money is going to hire you to work in their country, and the plan to get you into said country involves 'lying,' tell them to kiss your ass.

We did eventually make it across, but not before I swallowed my pride and took my job at Wal*Mart back for 3 days.

In Los Angeles I discovered WiFi.

And Costco.

And the Supernatural.

It was indeed different from Southern Ontario where I've grown up, and we did enjoy the ocean about 8 times.

Downtown Los Angeles is a complete waste of time. Never EVER go. Unless you want to see a ghost.

I got to see snow capped mountains for the second time in my life.

We were given a bike budget. I did appreciate the daily workout, because I sat on my ass all day long and would have gotten terribly obese. I was hit by an Asian driver while crossing the street with a walk signal. I also ended up in a bush once. And I unfortunately realized the extent of my uncoordination.

February~

I got to meet David of San Diego for the first time ever. I had only ever known David off the internet, and we had met through his girlfriend who I went to school with in South Africa. It was a great experience, and paved the way for many new and wonderful experiences and people I would encounter along the way.

I began audioblogging while I was living in California. This one is my favorite.

This is a secret that I have kept for a while, but I guess there's no harm to tell it now. I almost lost my job because my work looked at my blog in February and thought that I was spiritually unfit to be working for their company (Christian). Fuckers! I had to change my URL to http://seeasilverlining.blogspot.com to get them off my trail. Coincidentally, the inspiration for seeasilverlining came when I was trying to explain my actions in my blog. It's then that I realized that my blog really is about the silver lining of my life. It's not like I post all the shit that's going on, who cares about that? Not me, I certainly don't want to be reminded of it years down the road. So for all you die hards who have been around since shangao, I'm glad you're still here. They didn't like this photo at all.

March~

Jeremy and I had quite the problem making friends in Los Angeles. I prayed about it to God, and He helped us out.

Although we never got to visit Disney Land, Dave did take Jeremy, Clint and I to Magic Mountain for Clint's going away present. I audioblogged from a rollercoaster.

In My Country was one of my favorite movies of the year, and I bawled.

APRIL~

I had the pleasure of helping Erin Manning break onto the big scene by helping shoot a promotional resume. This is Me holding the Camera, and Jeremy.

2005 was a good year to take a step back and re-evaluate my life. I made some decisions about my faith that I had been putting off, in two posts. 1 and 2.

I met up with Deborah in Hollywood. Since I've returned in 2003, she is the second person I've visited who was with me at school in Africa.

Jeremy and I broke into Botanical Gardens. That's also been a secret up until this point.

May~

I have never been so happy to be Canadian. What a difference perspective can make! With 3 months behind us, Jeremy and I visited British Columbia partially to renew our health care, and partially to get out of the USA for a few days. Our trip coincided with my blog's first anniversary, and I took this new photo on May 14 to grace front page of my blog. I also began dabbling with vlogging around this point, although I wouldn't know what 'vlogging' was yet, if you asked me on the street.

This is also around the time I met the rhetorically cunning Valancy Jane and her past life caper Therese. These two woman have forever changed my life in ways that I myself can no longer find definition. I would later stay with VJ when I had no where else to lay my head, and I'm planning on going to school on Therese's turf in September.

June~

I found myself mentioned in the newspaper for a video I helped Kate Ryan, a friend, produce for a school project.

I also had the chance to instant message Jen while she was going into labour!

July~

Things began to change this month, which would steer my life into the direction and destination I find myself today.

The first thing to mention is that I vlogged for the very first time. And it was a lie vlog, where I made it seem like Jeremy was the cause of all my household woes. A vlog nonetheless. I haven't looked back.

I also didn't really look back when I found out that my contract wasn't going to be renewed at the end of the month, and I was going to be returning to Canada. That was all going to change suddenly, but I didn't know it yet.

Saying goodbye to Dave was really difficult. Dave moved away to South Africa, probably permenantly, at the end of the month. Saying goodbye was difficult and I still miss him today. He was, however, one of the last things keeping me from quitting my job. I really wanted to be there to see him off.

August~

Two days after Dave left, I decided that I wasn't going to be treated like Mexican labour any longer and decided to quit. I was actually fired. After determining that I would like to be fired instead of quitting. I became an illegal alien in the United States. It was quite exciteing. The earliest flight I could book out of the country was more than two weeks away, and I found myself homeless. Thankfully, wonderful people like Valancy Jane exist in the world and I had a place to stay within 24 hours, in sunny San Diego. I love that city, the people are so friendly and warm and intimate, unlike L.A.

I couldn't very well sleep on VJ's couch for the next two weeks though, so I decided it would be in both our best interests if I went on vacation. Oh how I needed a vacation. You have NO idea. I was burnt out physically, mentally, and spiritually. I chose Portland, Oregon, to get my book Blue Like Jazz autographed by Don Miller, one of my favorite authors, and to visit the church he talks about so fondly in his writings. And I vlogged the whole thing. Naturally.

After such an intense month, I really needed the time to sit down and reflect on everything that had happened this year, leading up to that point. And what to do with it all.

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This is where I'm going to stop the concordance of the year 2005 for Michael Tyas. I realize this is a really long post which, combined with the total running time of any vlogs you will encounter, equals ridiculous. And the remaining four months of this year aren't nearly as interesting as the first 8, although you will find my favorite time of the year in October, as well as some beautiful photography.

So long 2005! You've been interesting and entertaining. Parts of you I would never like to repeat. But if I hadn't suffered, I would never have experienced some joys or met some magical people that have changed my life. I guess I'd do you all over again if I had to.

Happy New Year!

Why I was in Lesotho

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I recieved a comment yesterday asking about my interest in Lesotho, and why, how long, and where I was in that mountainous country. I'm going public on this issue.

As part of my school in Cape Town, South Africa, I was required to go on a three month long Culture Tour. The reason for this culture tour was to expand my world view through exposure to different cultures, learn different beliefs and ways of life, and an opportunity to share our own beliefs and culture. I know it was beneficial to everyone involved. We stayed in Southern Africa, visiting the Muslim and Indian communities of Benoni, and Florida, Johannesburg, for three weeks.

Afterwards, we moved on to the beautiful country of Lesotho. I almost wasn't allowed into the country because it was about the time that the SARS outbreak was an epedemic in canada. I only made it through because I could prove I had been out of the country for three months prior, thus I had no chance of spreading the virus.

My group of twenty was first stationed in Maseru for 2 days, where we had an orientation to the country, it's culture, it's basic language and structure. Cultural DO'S AND DONT'S!!! Afterwards, my group was split in half and ten of us journeyed to the heart of Lesotho, to a small village called Hanoha Valley where we stayed for 45 days.

We arrived by a very unsafe bus, traveling over very unsafe roads and mountain passes safely(Modimo! Kealeboha...ok, i can't remember the spelling...but that means THANKYOU GOD!) and stayed in a school/church. There was no electricity or running water where we were. We had to cook by gas stove, collect water which was a quarter kilometer uphill...and deal with harsher than normal elements like the snow that was on the ground ever day, and the constant cold. We were there between May and June. July is apparently their coldest, snowiest month. (Go figure, the Canadian get's stuck in the coldest part of Africa..."I" was prepared)

Despite all that was against us, I had one of the most wonderful, peaceful times of my life. For the first ten days, we had no interpereter other than our host pastor, who didn't speak english fluently. That left the days open to new possibility's for exploration, greeting new people, and day long quiet times of reflection and conversation with the creator.

Once our interpreter arrived, we were climatized, energized, and ready to take full advantage of our communication link between those facinating people and our dull selves. When I say climatized, I do mean it took us days to get used to the altitude. We felt weak and dizzy...gotta love it!

We quickly made contacts and formed new relationships in the community. We gave the pastor a six week sabatical by taking over the preaching and invested in new youth programs every other saturday, which drew over 30 kids and young adults every time. We enjoyed regularily going out and visiting families in the community, introducing ourselves and offering community service. I loved the people there so much, and getting to know them was an honour.

While we were there, a woman named Matuso died of AIDS. We had visited her previously on many occasions, offering words of encouragement, prayer, and bringing gifts of fruit and other nutritious "get well" gifts. We didn't know at the time she had aids, only that she was very malnourished and unhappy. We were invited as honored guests to the funeral and had a wonderful opportunity to share with the people how we knew Matuso. There was a feast afterwards; a cow was killed and it's hide was placed on the casket to keep the body warm in the afterlife, as well as a jug of beer was placed beside casket in the grave.

One of my best friends was Noha. He was heir to be chief of the village, but couldn't take on the responsibility as he was only 22. He spoke a little english, so that allowed us to move freely away from the group and spend time together, talking about life, love, future plans, and what home meant to us.

Noha guided a small group of us up the tallest mountain in the region on a day trip, which was fantastic! I had really felt God showing me that I should invite Noha to take us up the mountain, and upon reaching the top, we were to settle down for a rest and small devotional about commitment and following Jesus. So I followed God's direction and put the plan in motion. Everything seemed to come together as if guided by His spirit, there was sunny cool weather, little breeze, and Noha brought a friend Johan (both of whom showed up on time, which is miraculous in Africa). The hike was breath taking, and upon reaching the top we settled down for the small devotional. I spoke, along the lines of comittment, that we are to place our trust in Jesus and persevere, no matter who or what opposes or threatens us, to live lives that are noble and true. We are to live and love with one purpose; to futher the Kingdom of God and his Glory.

It turns out that those words really spoke to Noha, and that day he decided (he, not we for him) to re-commit his life, to live born again. He had been a Christian before, but had decided not to follow because of pressure from the community and inner struggle. It was truly God who directed me to speak on the subject that day on the mountain.

By the time we left, Noha's english had improved so much to the point where he was able to accuratly interepret what I was saying to his friends and family! There are so many other wonderful stories and experiences about my time in Lesotho, but alas, I don't think anyone would read them all. I do have many pictures though, and you are invited to check them out at my MSN photo albumn.