I’ve processed and uploaded a batch of photos from Uncle Mat’s memorial service. (I’m about halfway through the ones I selected for upload, so if you check back later, there will likely be more.)

The photo album of the memorial can be viewed several ways:

1. as thumbnails
2. a slideshow
3. or in the Pictobrowser below. Just click on the picture to advance to the next one.

I gave out a bunch of my MOO Minicards to relatives and friends of my uncle over the weekend so they can view these photos. If that’s how you have arrived here and would like to have any or all of these photos, please email me and I’ll send you a URL where you can download the whole set in a zip file.

I was running an errand at the Apple store in Eaton Centre when I came across this scene in Dundas Square this evening: tango dancing as the tunes of a band filled the heavy summer evening air.

http://www.luminato.com/festival/eng

Today my uncle’s memorial took place in the outskirts of Chicago and resembled a family reunion, as these occasions tend to do. Last time I’d been to Chicago was a spontaneous trip at the end of 1999 (I woke up on December 24 and decided to fly the next day), when my uncle was still in good shape, before my cousin moved to Colorado, and before his grandsons were born.

My father and I each spoke a bit as representatives of our Canadian branch of the family tree, and I became the de facto photographer to document the afternoon. At least my dad was able to speak before the slideshow, because the collection of photographs made everyone emotional, including the rest of us who were due to speak.

My cousin’s boys, super cute and smart enough to type their own names under their photo in Flickr. The two-year old needed only a bit of help: I sounded out the letters and he pressed the correct letters on the iPod Touch.

I got lucky today — the flight before and after mine got cancelled. My flight was the only one bound for Chicago that left Toronto tonight, albeit two hours late.

Waiting at the gate on standby for a less-delayed flight. Severe winds at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport have reduced capacity to TWO runways (from four). The flight to Chicago before mine just got cancelled, and it remains to be seen if mine will be able to leave the tarmac at all!

This update brought to you via mobile picture messaging and iPod Touch. (I wish I’d brought my computer.)

Sam, Nadja, and Neesa on Centre Island, Toronto

Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
- Albert Einstein

I had to erect this makeshift barrier out of drying racks on the landing because Xena and Beano were BOTH repeatedly peeing at the bottom of the stairs. Twice while I was away last weekend and once after I got back!

Bad kitties!

Hopefully they won’t look for new spots to pee on.

An ambitious nomad, spotted in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Maybe his goal for today is to eat, and tomorrow it’s world peace. Some things can wait until tomorrow, right?

Me, I’m on a steady diet of Ricola (green tea with echinacea), orange juice, and whatever I can pull out of the fridge and eat without cooking. Last night my neighbour gave me some Tylenol cold remedy for nighttime, and it knocked me out cold — which is one way to deal with it, just sleep through it!

Thanks to all for your well wishes. At least I can communicate with you without passing on any of my nasty germs!