.
My name’s Gabriel, and since I was thirteen I’ve been a stone picker, farm hand, hunting guide, street punk, daycare manager, bouncer, large-installation landscaper, photographer, award-winning newspaper columnist and reporter — mostly I covered Internet Privacy Issues.
I was born in Montreal and since then I’ve had more than fifty addresses. [Relatively] recently I signed my first book deal and have already spent all three pre-published advances on hockey tickets, rent, whole wheat bagels and some very nice towels so consider this my resumé. I’m usually about six feet tall.
My advice to anyone who asks: spend at least three years between high school and university; drink a lot of pure orange juice; learn one song on the harmonica; never take nude photos of the woman you love; at least once get really baked on high quality hash, and; for at least a year live somewhere a thousand miles from where you feel safest.
This is a new “edition” of my Aboot Page, the last one had two hundred responses on it. That’s aboot it, feel free to leave a comment below or you can email me here:
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34 responses so far ↓
WILF // June 24, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Oh! Oh! A Blank page. Goody.
I just can’t help myself.
‘Puter is fixed. Hooray for mothers who work on technical help desks.
:-)
Still waiting on half sent email.
Justin Mohareb // June 24, 2007 at 3:13 pm
You should have titled this one “Brute”.
feartheseeds // June 25, 2007 at 5:53 am
Ahhh… a blank page no more. I was getting worried. As happy as I am to see you here Puddle/WILF, your ghost is a little freaky. Just so you know, when you post with this avatar/account the link takes us to a deleted blog.
I pretty much sent you everything I had in that email… I was trying to save it as a draft but it got sent instead. Twice. I will, when I am able to open my email (long story involving avoidence issues), send you a nicer letter. But that could be another few days.
Bitter Dude: I can’t spare the letters for “brute”, once my photo page is back up I’m right at the space limit for my title-bar. One more “.” and it turns into a two bar mess. I missed the last 2/3 of BSG so I’m not sure which skinny chick you’re referring to, but if it’s Nicole deBoer then I’m in.
puddlejumper // June 29, 2007 at 7:45 am
Is this better?
*crosses fingers*
I need to get back to some blogging. Have been somewhat all over the place. But in a mostly good way.
By the way. That kid in the picture looks like I do when I’m wearing my t-shirt.
Send me some email or a real letter even.
That way when we are both old, decrepit and incredibly infamous there will be some correspondence for the historians to pour over…
feartheseeds // June 29, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Much better. I have a great postcard I’m going to send you… my sister and I were at the National Gallery last week and I picked up a bunch of postcard-paintings by classic Canadian artists. I saw the photos on your Flickr account, looks like you two had a great time.
I was thinking of you when I first saw that photo on my computer… I was actually pissed off at first that the kids wouldn’t get off the Senators Head, but then I saw the shot on the viewfinder so I grabbed it.
puddlejumper // July 1, 2007 at 11:20 am
I do that too…!!!
(picking up postcards from everywhere and anywhere-I especially like the free ones they give away in big cinemas)
I’ve actually managed to get myself a proper wee cubby-hole-come-office set up under my staircase and have decorated it with said postcards. It’s where I’m sitting just now.
We did have a great time.
But I have to admit I’m back to drinking and indulging in pharmaceuticals too much at weekends again. I have a shrink appt next week and I’m going to try and get help to calm it down a bit. The hangovers are getting too much (though thankfully I’m mostly up at the moment)
Hmmm…looking to see what I might you in return.
Ah. The perfect one!
We’ll see how long it takes your fast and efficient postal service to wing it to you.
x
stickynotetheatre // July 2, 2007 at 10:21 am
Hey-o…
Honestly, I like the link image you already created! A self-portrait wouldn’t do my rugged bad looks justice. But, if a future stickynote somehow resembles me in some way, I’ll send it your way! Thanks for the link and traffic…
Justin Mohareb // July 10, 2007 at 9:24 am
I thought you would like to see this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6287126.stm
feartheseeds // July 11, 2007 at 5:49 am
It’s the logical conclusion or destination for “The God Machine”… plus, according to the dude’s headshot he’s you.
Justin Mohareb // July 12, 2007 at 10:06 am
That particular batch has flourished, yes.
aikaterine // July 17, 2007 at 10:48 am
This might not be the best page, but I really want to get an answer from someone who grew up in ‘hockey’ country. Why is it so popular? All of my girlfriends’ husbands are starting to like it. And they, largely, live in countries where hockey is a fairly new mainstream sport. I have been taken to more than a few games, but just don’t get it. Am I missing something?
feartheseeds // July 17, 2007 at 11:05 am
It definitely sounds like it… I’ll put together a package for you, I’ve already convinced half of Scotland and England that they’re “less than” without hockey. This is definitely the right page though.
Actually, I guess this would be a good place to start… “The First Ten Things You Need To Know Aboot Canadians.” It’s my ‘most linked to’ page…
aikaterine // July 17, 2007 at 1:37 pm
yeah, I read “The First Ten Things You Need To Know Aboot Canadians.” when I showed back up a month ago. It is what made me decide to ask you about the hockey thing.
I am kind of stuck going to hockey games with a girlfriend and her husband. I thought it would be nice to try and understand what is so attractive about it if I have to sit through every game of the season.
feartheseeds // July 17, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Did you watch the YouTubes? I’m not sure I can explain hockey any better than you watching Darren McCarty beating the shit out of Claude Lemieux.
Is there a summer league in Texas, or are you preparing for the upcoming NHL season (training camp opens in ten weeks)? If you go to a game you’ll be converted (don’t sit in the lower bowl unless you have a private box, upper second or lower third rim is best). When the period ends, wait a few minutes before hitting the concession stand or the washroom. Always get to the arena an hour before the game so you can watch the warm-ups and get a feel for the arena.
I’m not sure which sports you like, but hockey is faster than anything you’ve seen before (unless you, like me, also like NASCAR), and there’s an amazing amount of skill involved. I’m guessing you’d be going to see the Dallas Stars, they’re almost an elite team… maybe top ten anyway. The Western Conference has the best teams in the League right now. If you have a choice you’ll want to see the Calgary Flames, the Colorado Avalanche, the Vancouver Canucks, the San Jose Sharks and the Stanley Cup Champions, Anaheim Ducks.
The rules are, kind of, similar to soccer and football. Holding, offside, tripping, roughing… unlike most other sports, however, fighting does not result in an automatic expulsion. A real fight will result in each player getting a five minute penalty. A second fight, or a fight in the last few minutes, will get a player kicked out.
Most penalties will be 2minutes and are served by the player while the team is short a player for the duration. If a player is truly vicious they’ll get 5min + 10min + a game misconduct and a hearing for possible suspension. But that’s a flagrant attempt to injure, they don’t happen often.
These guys are some of the best trained athletes in the world, they can move 20mph, they can shoot the puck up to 100+mph, and they collide with each other and the boards at full speed… and, unlike basketball (another Canadian invention), hockey is a REAL contact sport.
Believe me, after your first game there’ll be no “have to” aboot going to see the next one.
aikaterine // July 17, 2007 at 8:18 pm
o.k., I did my due diligence and watched the you- tubes. By the way, there are a few that are no longer valid. I’ll email them to you so we save space here.
I am preparing for the upcoming season, we have season tickets to the Aeros (which is an IHL leauge – did I say that right?) And I will see half of the Stars home games (sharing season tickets).
As far as sports that I normally like, only boxing. But I don’t even think that should count, because all a really like is watching well-toned half naked men jump around and get sweaty. I don’t like it when they actually hit each other. Which is sort of the point. So I guess I don’t like any sport.
Now, I have been to more than a few hockey games. Many stars games (I dated one of their marketing heads once). I had season tickets to the San Jose Sharks when I lived in San Francisco (my clients loved them). And I have seen more Aeros games than I care to remember. And most of the time I sit right behind, but to the right or left of the area where the players sit. I am going to assume that this is not called a ‘dugout’. So I am on the glass. I would not waste your time if this was a sport that I knew there was no way in hell I could like it (nascar). But I have always felt that the hockey players are uber-talented, more than any other sport. So, I think there is the potential for me to like hockey; because I actually think that the game requires skill and intelligence. But I am just missing something. Maybe I am not in the right area. Maybe the guys wear too many clothes. Maybe I just don’t know enough about it to appreciate just how difficult it is.
Do you think the fans in Canada are different than the US fans? I am wondering if it might be more of a ‘fan experience’ in Canada.
Nita // July 25, 2007 at 11:57 am
Hey, I tagged you for an intellectual blogger award. I guess I should have come here and told you myself. Well, you know why I tagged you. I think you have one of the best blogs going (I made a mistake about saying three blogs, I realise now because I have just this one on my surfer) but that doesn’t matter. This blog is the best. I like the your take on the stories you pick…
Also I like the way you have laid out your blog. That is very important. I am quite deficient in the technical department although I am learning.
Is is possible for you to put that intellectual blogger image on your blog? I have no idea how to ofcourse.
This is an award from India btw. :)
Enjoy.
feartheseeds // July 25, 2007 at 5:16 pm
It is possible, I will definitely put it on my blog, and I will be glad to show you how. I’m really touched by this Nita, I don’t know what to say…. except thanks so much.
aikaterine // July 25, 2007 at 5:44 pm
yay! I am doing the happy dance. Oh yes, yes I am. Crap, I just dropped a diamond…
Nita // July 26, 2007 at 1:25 pm
You are welcome…
Anyway, I thought I might as well learn how to do this image thing so I went to wordpress forums and found out how. Dunno why I didn’t do it before, it was surprisingly easy. However if in the future I have any technical glitch and don’t find it in the forums, I am planning to ask you.
vickik // July 30, 2007 at 2:43 pm
well I can’t find your email address just in case you’re wondering why I didn’t write.
feartheseeds // July 30, 2007 at 3:51 pm
feartheseeds At YahooDot CAnada (not ‘featherseeds’)”
gabrielae // August 2, 2007 at 7:26 am
Hi Gabriel. Like the name. Your blog is cool and Canada rocks. Thanks for your Paul Anka contributions on my blog…
feartheseeds // August 2, 2007 at 7:41 am
Welcome to my little place on the web. Your name’s pretty awesome as well… is the “e” an add on, or did it come with the package? Either way it looks fantastic.
uhm… I couldn’t help but notice on your ‘about page’ you have a relative from Chile… just so it doesn’t come as a surprise if you’re reading some of my site, I’m a little hard on Chilean soccer players on my most recent post… actually I kind of swear at them a lot.
Thanks for coming around and for the kind words…
puddlejumper // August 20, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Hi Gorgeous, just thought I’d drop in and say hi.
Things are quite frantic for me just now (hence the temporary suspension on WWILF) but in a good way. Very busy with coursework and we have a “thing” going with a guy too.
Due my checkup with the disabilty folk soon. Think they might sign me back as fit to work. In truth I am just so much better so it might be time for me to get back out there.
Guess I just wanted to say thankyou for being there when I was so totally lost and to say I’m still about, you know the email address. We don’t need to be having a crap time to keep in touch I hope?
All the best mate, talk soon?
x
Gabriel. // August 20, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Hello beautiful. I’ll send you an email later tonight, and I’ve got a bunch of postcards with your name on them… literally.
justinmohareb // October 17, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Come back, seeds guy. It’s so dull without you.
gingatao! // January 2, 2008 at 1:29 am
Canada, just like Australia, but cold.
sugarsmacks // March 10, 2008 at 3:30 am
Hey Gabriel, just seeing if my new avatar works! And I want to say, I really enjoy this Aboot bio, very much.
Thanks
In Canada It’s Not Called Summer It’s Called The Off Season Unfortunately The Off Season Started Far Too Early This Year « …cultural sn:afu. // April 18, 2008 at 10:27 am
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Nita // April 30, 2008 at 9:49 am
Gabriel, I tagged you for a meme but the pingback didn’t appear here. Anyway do the meme only if it inspires you too! Just fun.
Qween Minx // May 2, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Gel, I am having a 40th doo … want you to come. It’s on my birthday … in Autumn (do Canadians call it Fall? And, why do Americans call it Fall (?) … just coz the trees drop their leaves? – yes, it derives from an Olde English word, but why do English people call it Autumn? … because of the French, that’s why, funny that eh?)
I don’t know many French people … I suppose it’s because after they invaded England (or should I say tried?) they realised they weren’t too keen on us, so they buggered off back to France – and, I’ve only been to France once; I liked it … they all spoke French, but it’s kind of expected (it is fucking France after all) but, counting on one hand … I know, personally, one French person – I don’t know how many is considered a cool amount, yanno (love that word, nicked it from LadyDee) an impressive amount like ‘yeah, I know fifteen fucking French people, and four of ‘em are just kids … do French dogs count? coz, one of the kids has a dog.’
Maybe, I just don’t know enough French people, but then I wonder, why do I have to? So, to all the French people I don’t know, hi.
Fuck I can waffle can’t I? yes. i know.
Anyway Gabe, I’m celebrating my 40th with a party. I would love you to come. It’s plus one, so bring someone with you. I’m gonna post the proper details on FB .. do like an event .. woo, say you love FB coz I know you do really.
big kisses matey … see you in the Fall. ;)
xx
absolut.folly // May 6, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hi. Seems I’m banned from the photo blog. Where can I get them viewing privileges? How are things? Here we finally have spring, not that we had any winter, but still. It’s finally green, and sunny even. I work and study and have no life. Hope you are well.
Gabriel. // May 6, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I’m doing not so badly, thanks for asking. You haven’t been banned, I just changed the address… http://saltedshambhala.wordpress.com/
The updates should start again soon.
A blogging tag about some favourite things « A wide angle view of India // May 31, 2008 at 9:22 am
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