365 Degrees of Something: Day 141- August 8- Kenneth Warner

I couldn't resist. I had to find some of my favourite photos of my brother, Kenneth, to go along with this, even if some of these pics were from a few years ago. I love Kenneth a lot. He's zany, unpredictable, funny, reliable and really quite whimsical. Of course, he has as many vices as the next guy- sometimes undisciplined and irresponsible, but really they all work together in his charm. He and Paul are really polar opposites and that makes it fun for me, since I love them both in very opposite ways. Where Paul is sensible and you can discuss more serious, complex situations with him; Kenneth is more liberal (and I say that in the non-political, little "l" liberal sense), enthusiastic and sensitive and and you can do more creative, unpredictable things with him.

I wasn't around for Kenneth's high school years. I was off to Germany and then university in Ottawa when he was just entering grade 10. We became closer moreso after his post Christmas visit to see me the year I couldn't manage to get a flight home for Christmas. He arrived the 27th (or something like that) and stayed with me until Jan. 3. We spent time sightseeing, and discussing his post high school plans. It turned out two years later that he had fallen in love with Ottawa on the trip and decided to attend Carleton as a result. We would meet up occasionally while he lived there, but I left for the north a couple years later leaving him to maintain a Warner presence in the capital.

Kenneth was the first of the family members, who came up north too. We had an incredible time. It was during a sort of low point for him, having just finished a very tough year at school and just breaking up with a girlfriend. I co-ordinated Aeroplan points from a friend and money for the Air Inuit ticket for him to come up for a week and a bit. It was incredible timing for him and will always be a very fond memory for me as well, despite our "getting lost in a snowstorm" experience on the way home from camping. Over the last few years, and especially during my year off, we've really bonded over the arts. We both really love making art- whether it is in photography, movie, music, written word- and being creative. We discovered an incredible musical chemistry for making zany and spontaneous songs together. We can sit down with no plan, find a beat inspiration on the computer or drum machine and play for hours without getting bored. I wish we lived closer for those things! When I spend time with Kenneth, it is normally light, easy going, enjoyable times of unpredictable fun. Almost always accompanied by a few pots of coffee, and sometimes ends with cooking, or baking, or creating new things in the kitchen as well.

Kenneth is quite possibly the most skilled salesperson/ public service person I have ever known. Put him in front of people and he is in his element- people LOVE him and he always seems to enjoy them. I am anxious and excited to see where and what he will find himself doing in the future. I wish him all the best as he navigates the opportunities and choices ahead of him in the next few months. I hope he can decide on the best path for himself and the best timeframe to make it happen! Enjoy the pictures, if you don't know Kenneth, hopefully the pictures can give you a hint to his vibrant personality.