A tiger in the city

I took the day off of teacher-training intensity and wandered around with James (after waking up at noon).  We met up with one of my cohort, Daria, and ate crêpes and then went across the street to a coffee shop where I had one of those great French teeth-eating espressos.  And then it was on to our favorite English-language used bookstore down the street, S W Welch, which Daria had never been to but fell in love with on the spot.  We bought a number of books to upsize our downsized book collection at home.  We're incorrigible.

What books did I buy, you ask?  Two David Guterson novels (East of the Mountains, and The Other), a book Daria recommended (the curious incident of the dog in the night-time), and a book on Chinese astrology by Master Zhongxian Wu (The 12 Chinese Animals).  I find Chinese astrology much more compelling than Greek with its elemental system based on water, fire, earth, metal, and wood.  I spent quite a bit of time working with it at one point in my life and gained a greater understanding of myself through delving into those mysteries.  Whether I “believe in” it or not is beside the point.  It is a millenias-old tradition that carries the weight of time and provides another way in to the human search for meaning.  As a mystic, I believe in anything that speaks to the depth of experience here on earth.  If you're wondering, I'm a Water Tiger.

And then James and I walked around a little more in the Mile End neighborhood and I took a few photos.  My first time out with my camera this visit.  I have been totally consumed with lesson planning for the past week, and will be again next week.  It was great to have a break, and the weather was gorgeous.  A blessed day.