Halloween Street Party

What a blast! Every year Church street closes between Isabella and Alexander for a massive costume street party.

Here are some of the highlights.



Em and I



Bert and Ernie



Awww!



Alf!



Creepy guy from the Saw movies



This guy's costume was fabulous! Orange fleece pants and black duct tape, orange work gloves and an actual traffic cone with a working yellow light on top.



Facebook fun!



Obama and a drag Sarah Palin



Your furry lovable pal, Grover!



Davy Jones

I'm looking forward to going next year, although based on what I saw, I'm going to have to jack up the creative juices for the costume. D says he's going as the Pet Shop Boys character from the video of "Can You Forgive Her". That'll be cool!

Mark it for next year and come on out!

October 2008 Books and Movies

Burn After Reading

Excellent movie! John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney and the Cohen brothers are a good combo. Funny as h*ll and quite dark. I enjoyed it thoroughly from beginning to end, and that is saying a lot, considering some of the movies I've seen lately. Highly recommend it, go see it!

Goodnight, Nobody
Jennifer Weiner

Well, no one is perfect, so I knew there had to be a clunker in there somewhere. This book was just bad. The heroine was one of those really annoying klutzy, always saying and doing the wrong thing all the time, types that I really can't stand. Maybe it's because they just make me so uncomfortable thinking about real life situations while making those kind of gaffs. The worst part was, the plot dragged on and on, then didn't actually satisfactorily resolve! Bad author, bad! It's about a housewife who investigates the murder of one of the neighbourhood "perfect mommies" while recounting flashbacks to her single life in NYC. Give it a miss, there are others that are much better.

Meaghan Smith, Lori Cullen, Ron Sexsmith

Great night at Massey Hall. I've always loved the venue, the acoustics are wonderful. Meaghan Smith is a fantastic up and comer out of Toronto, looking forward to getting her full length album when it comes out.

Lori Cullen didn't quite win me over with her look and first song, but after a while she started to get in. Great lyrics and expressive singing.

Ron Sexsmith is someone I didn't know much about before I went. I knew he was a singer/songwriter and had written a number of tunes for other artists. He touched me so much, I came home and immediately downloaded one of his songs. Really reflective, wonderful melodies, great guitar and piano playing. A real treat.

Fashion Week Party

I went to my first fashion week party! It was the after party for Evan Biddell's show, the winner of Project Runway Canada. It was a fun night, people watching at its best. No one paid much attention to Em and I (we're not industry people or models, and weren't wearing quite the right clothes - case in point, apparently tights are quite big right now, and we both had bare legs between our skirts and boots.) which was fine with us. The lighting was interesting, because everyone wants to see what everyone else is wearing, so there were lots of lighted parts of the room, where people could preen and be seen. Everyone posed for everything! Pictures, friends, alcohol shots, whatever. It was pretty funny. Most of the men were gay, no one else could pull off those outfits. The straight men were fashionable, but I wonder how many of them were dressed by their significant others? Hmmmm. :)

Bike Riding on the Island and in Tommy Thomson Park

Three separate bike rides, three excellent adventures. Tommy Thompson Park is a big nature reserve just east of downtown. There's lots of paths to explore, although some of the roads are a bit dicey. The Islands were fantastic as usual. I love the quaint other world feeling of Ward Island, and the light off the water, through the clouds was stunning. Hanlan's Point Beach was quite warm for fall. My second foray into the park was more exploratory, all the way to the lighthouse. When I was on Ward Island, I could see the lighthouse in the park, and I was hoping that it would be vice versa, but the fog was so think, I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of myself. Oh well, maybe next time. I'm busy researching more places to bike ride, although I'm partial to being near the water. :)

Veritas

Unbelievably good restaurant. All organic, locally sourced food, innovative combinations and display, truly a unique gastronomic experience. I had the Arctic Char sourced from some little farm in Kleinburg and D had Mennonite farm raised chicken with wild rice fritters. We shared a gorgeous chocolate ginger cake with caramel creme fraiche. The cappuccino was slightly disappointing, but that's ok. I've been meaning to try it for a while, and it was well worth the wait!

1st Bike Accident

Owie, owie, owie! In two years of regular commuting, I have never fallen, not even a wobble. But yesterday, I hit a streetcar track half buried in water, and went flying over my handlebars. I'm pretty banged up, with my left shin and right shoulder taking the worst of it. I even have a scrape on my chin, just like a scrappy kid. I'm glad I was wearing my helmet and that my instinct was to protect my head, that I didn't land under a car or transit vehicle and that I'm basically ok. Not riding the bike for a few days though. I have to get the alignment checked out, it actually feels funny. Ok, that's it, no more bike accidents!

Spamalot

Great show based on a greater movie! Very funny, I laughed my way through most of it. The actor playing Lancelot was really good, and had unbelievable gams. Wow! The Lady of the Lake character was pretty annoying, but she was written that way. The actor playing her had some pipes on her. Fun costumes, cute sets and great jokes, an awesome way to spend a Tuesday night.

September 2008 Books and Movies

Ten Canoes

Wow...it's really hard to put into words how I felt while watching this film. It's really a time capsule, depicting Australian Aboriginal life as it was before the Europeans. It's beautiful and strange in so many ways, the cinematography, the artistic shooting, the diverse culture, it's quite breathtaking. There are so many layers to the story, it's at once a parable, a cautionary tale, an exciting adventure story and a living history. Wonderful, and well worth watching.

Good In Bed
Jennifer Weiner

This was a really good novel. I've read a few of Weiner's books now, and although I feel she basically recycles the same heroine over and over, (plus sized, witty with a swimming mother and absent father) they are infinitely readable. I'm definitely thinking that either Jennifer stole from SATC or vice versa, because there are just too many similarities for it to be a coincidence. Perhaps she wrote for the show? This novel's plot about breaking up with someone and feeling you made a mistake, when every one around you is telling you that the person is not right for you, resounded very clearly. Especially the eventual resolution. (Look Ma, no plot spoilers!) The twists and turns are interesting, although towards the end it's pretty dark. Apparently there's a somewhat recent sequel following up on Cannie's story, so I'm looking forward to reading that as well.

The Matchmaker

Cute premise, bad screenplay. Loved the Irish setting, and Janeane Garofalo but the movie was, at times rather slow. The ending was telegraphed from a mile away, but the leading man, David O'Hara is really pretty. So that more than made up for it. Take a look if you love Ireland and want a few laughs. Just don't expect to be rolling in the aisles or sniffling delicately into a hanky because of the swooning love story.

Mallrats

I generally find Kevin Smith movies much the same and this was no exception. I did like it better than clerks, mostly because of a trip down memory lane courtesy of Shannen Doherty. The lines were funny, I actually didn't want to kill Jay and Silent Bob and the ending was cheezy and romantic. I laughed quite a bit, so I would definitely give it a watch.

Little Earthquakes
Jennifer Weiner

I've come to really like this author. Her books draw you in, I wasn't expecting to read it so quickly. This topic, about 4 mothers to be, didn't really grab me at first, as I can't relate as much as some, but I was soon addicted to the zany characters and funny situations. One thing I did notice though, were some disturbing similarities to plot lines from Sex and the City. They seemed out and out copied. There was nothing like this is in the other Jennifer Weiner books that I've read. I'm looking forward to the next one, Good in Bed, that expands on a nominal character from the book of short stories I recently read.

Vicky, Christina, Barcelona

Being a Woody Allen film, I figured it would be funny in parts, if not all. And it was, although the constant dead pan narration got on my nerves. I really want to go to Barcelona now, as I'm sure most people who see it, who haven't been there want to as well. The leading man is very sexy and the whole film had a wonderful sensuality to it. Pretty good, go see it!

August 2008 Books and Movies

Perfect - Young Women Talk About Body Image
Helen Hines, Editor

A lovely collection of true life short stories out of Britain on body image. A really useful school or youth group resource, as it deals with all different shapes and sizes, image problems and their solutions to them, both negative and positive. It's also a great way to encourage young writers as the contributors themselves are budding writers. An excellent resource.

Brunelleschi's Dome How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
Ross King

As always, Ross King has written a fabulous book about an extremely interesting part of history. As usual, it took me an age to read it! The cupola of the main cathedral in Florence is an architectural wonder. The first of it's kind to be raised without centering, it's absolutely massive. If you love history and architecture, this is the book for you. I'm looking forward to more from this author.

The Guy Not Taken {Stories}
Jennifer Weiner

Great collection of short stories! Wonderfully written, obviously somewhat autobiographical. Many of these could be fleshed out into full novels, and made into movies. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

X-Files: I Want to Believe

Uggg! Completely disappointing! I was such a fan of the show, and even liked the movie that came out after the series ended. This movie was pure drivel, and badly acted to boot. I really expected more from Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny (well maybe not Duchovny :) so much) and Chris Carter. The plot was completely devoid of anything alien like, and the romance between Mulder and Scully was far fetched to say the least. Did anyone else notice that when Mulder went to phone Scully, the name programmed in the phone was Gillian? I thought that was pretty funny. Give it a miss, not worth even a rental.

Big Fish

A lovely, whimsical film about a son trying to understand his father, who always embellishes the truth in his storytelling. I was surprised that Tim Burton directed the "regular" scenes so well. Both Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney were fantastic, and I thought their southern accents were pretty good. The British always seem to have a better time of learning accents, likely because there are so many different accents in Britain, and a big part of drama training in Britain is dialectal class. The tall tales were fantastic, and it was great to see that at the end, they had a ring of truth. I laughed and cried a few tears, so it was a great movie for me.

Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power
Ross King

This was a good read. To examine Machiavelli as a person, to see what his everyday life was like, was incredibly eye opening. Previously, all I really knew about him was his "eye of the beholder" reputation, which, to be honest, isn't very flattering. The Oxford dictionary defines the term "machiavellian" as "an intriguer, an unscrupulous schemer", but this is based on how he was portrayed by dramatists such as Shakespeare and Marlowe. Of course, his writings, especially The Prince, are a reflection of his thoughts and do contain some of those elements. I found Ross King painted a fairly likable character, and it's made me want to learn more about Machiavelli.

Avenue Q

Fantastic!!!!

Absolute must see for anyone who grew up with Sesame Street. With songs entitled "What Do You Do With a BA in English", "The Internet is For Porn", "If You Were Gay" and "Schadenfreude" how can you go wrong? Excellently written, wonderfully acted and puppeteered, this show puts a grin on your face for practically the duration of the show. It's only playing until Aug 31st so hurry if you want to see it. I'm so glad I was able to catch the show!

Oakville Jazz Festival

Or what would have been, if it hadn't been completely rained out and cancelled. Luckily for me, I was able to have a lovely time in Oakville in spite of the change in plans, with spending time with a dear friend, watching the Olympics, seeing a bad movie, a nice dinner and a trip to Chapters before taking the Go Train home. Hopefully next year the festival will be back on!

Fergus

I've always loved doing this gig. Fergus is a small town in Ontario that hosts an annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Nowadays I only perform in the tattoo that opens the games on Friday night, but I used to stay up for the whole weekend. There's so much to see, the dancing competitions, caber toss, tug-a-wars, piping competitions, not to mention the beer tent with live music. But it's not a place for sleep, which would explain perhaps, why I'm not so keen on staying on the Fergus grounds anymore. There are a number of campsites and B&B's outside the grounds, so maybe one day, I'll go back to going up for the entire weekend. Because it's a yearly event, it really gets you thinking about where you were the year previously and what has happened to you since. The tattoo went very well, afterwards we had a little tailgate party, went to the beer tent to listen to Seven Nations, a cool celtic rock band out of NYC. Good times!

July 2008 Books and Movies

Deal Breakers: When to Work on a Relationship and When to Walk Away
Dr. Bethany Marshall

Good topic, not dealt with very well. The doctors speaks of 5 personality types (Scriptwriter, Little Boy Lost, Man in Charge, Man Without Fault, Invisible Man), how to recognize them, when to work on a relationship with them, and when to walk away. It seemed to blame the man exclusively, with only one tiny paragraph stating that if you found the book didn't resonate, to re-read it with yourself in one of the roles. Blanket statement much? There were some good ideas there, but deeply submerged in a ton of gobbledygook. I'd give it a pass.

Sybil
Flora Schreiber

Excellent read and very hard to put down. Even with the controversy surrounding the validity of the MPD claim, this book shines as an example of overcoming a demonic childhood. The details of abuse were horrific, but the ending was very uplifting. A great read for anyone interested in psychology or an interesting story.

Born Into Brothels

Amazing documentary! The kids are heartbreakingly beautiful set amist a horrendous backdrop of crime, poverty and prostitution. It was really nice to see the updates at the end, even though not all of the children got out of the brothel. It's too bad that so many people have negative things to say about the filmmaker. I think she has worked tirelessly to help in anyway she can, without judgment or superiority. An excellent film.

The Stepford Wives

This updated version of the 1975 movie was good, but more of a black comedy than a horror flick. I decided to read the book first, so I wouldn't picture the movie while reading the book. They changed a lot of things, some good, some bad, but I'll need to see the original movie before I can make a true comparison. I enjoyed it for what it was, and thought the casting was very apropo.

The Stepford Wives
Ira Levin

Creepy! But what do you expect from the man who wrote Rosemary's Baby? This is an excellently written novel, a deceptively easy read, that packs a literary punch firmly within the time frame in which it was written. A searing commentary on a typical male reaction to the Women's Lib movement in the 1970's, a twisted concept (perfect women robots replacing the freshly killed real wives) and thrilling to the end.


State and Main

Really good movie! Love David Mamet as a playwright, so was pretty sure it would be good with him as director and screenwriter. There were a few weak links, ever since SATC, Sarah Jessica Parker just seems to channel Carrie in everything she does. This movie was filmed in the middle of SATC madness, so I understand why she had a little trouble losing Carrie. I am also not a big Alec Baldwin fan. But I loved so many others in the film, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Stiles, Rebecca Pidgeon, just to name a few. This movie was definitely over looked in 2000 and well worth seeing.

Summerlicious

Blink and you will miss it, Summerlicious is almost over! Twice a year 4 and 5 star Toronto restaurants put together a set menu for the "plebs" to enjoy. Today I had lunch at Jump with a couple of friends. It was really good! I would definitely go there again for a proper meal. Their Summerlicious menu had a lot of choice. I had 10 mushroom soup (not cream based) to start, red snapper for the main and lemon creme for dessert. It was delish! Very hard to make up my mind though, there was an interesting avocado and tomato salad, shrimp pasta and chocolate torte as well, among other things. Loved the decor and the skylights, but the bathrooms didn't match the upscale feel of the restaurant. The bar is beautiful, very old school. All in all, a great experience!

Staying +++

I must say, it's been tough these past couple of weeks. My grandmother is still in the hospital recovering from spinal surgery. My mother has had another bout of vasculitis, but is thankfully back on the proper medication. My volleyball has abruptly and extremely rudely been terminated. My course for work is supremely time consuming. My arthritis has acted up on 3 separate occasions, causing me to freak out a little about the validity of my drug related remission. I seem to be either at a standstill or crossroads when it comes to my heart. I'm a touch down in the mouth these days.

Deep yogic breath, in then out, through the nostrils.

Yoga is great, I'm really proud of the small but steady progress I've been making. I am getting stronger in mind and body everyday. My meditation is richer and I feel that I have been seeing clearly through my third eye. I know I am flying in the face of all sound advice from friends, but I feel I am going against my intuition if I ignore what my gut is telling me. Maybe I am just listening to what I want to hear, maybe not. Time will tell. Yoga has definitely increased my patience, something I was horrible at before. I managed to hang my drapes! Yay! I know it doesn't sound like something major, but considering there was a surprise metal sheet in behind the drywall, it really was an accomplishment that took way too long to complete. The drapes really make the place look great. I still have to drill the holes in the bedroom for those curtains, which is going to be the same hassle as the living room, but having done it once, I'm confident that I can do it again. My friends are fantastic, especially after the volleyball fiasco. My family is really pulling together to be there for my grandparents. My sister and her boyfriend are really happy, and have just come back from a wonderful Mediterranean cruise. I'm being asked to do a number of paid gigs, one of which is out of town in upstate New York.

So the bottom line is, the more you think positively, the more positive things come your way. The corners are starting to raise! :D

7 Months

There's a great line from Charlotte York in SATC:

"It takes half the total time you went out with someone to get over them."

The other girls have varying opinions about whether or not she is right, and can't come to a unanimous conclusion.

So this is where I'm at now. The halfway mark. All I can say is that it must be different for everyone. Granted I've done a few things to keep myself in a holding pattern, but it is the path my heart and "third eye" (yogic centre of knowledge and intuition) has instructed me to follow. I continue to listen and adjust as necessary.

My heart chakra is very open, which is what allows me to feel and receive love so fully, but it also keeps my emotions very close to the surface, where they can overflow, if I'm not mindful.

My next step is to work on my root chakra, which will keep me centered and grounded, helping me live a balanced life. In keeping with this approach, I will stop creating a blog entry for each month that passes. This is not to say that I will forget, but I am going forward in a different way.

I can't predict the future, but I can learn from the mistakes of my past to ensure I do not repeat them. I empathise with those who are on a similar journey and wish you all well.

June 2008 Books and Movies

Hunting and Gathering
Anna Galvada

This is an English translation of a beautiful French novel entitled "Ensemble C'est Tout". It has recently been made into a movie starring Audrey Tatou as Camille. Of course it has very limited release here in Canada, with practically no advertisement. I'm glad I read the book first and am looking forward to reading it in the original French as well. Most movies change the book, and I'm sure this is no exception. The characters are so finely drawn, so quirky, so engaging. I practically read it in one sitting and it's over 400 pages long! There's no narrative, so sometimes the dialogue is a bit difficult to follow, but even if you need to re-read a passage you will get more out of it. I highly recommend this book, it's absolutely stunning.

Get Smart

This was really, really funny! Best line in the movie was the Alan Arkin "Swordfish" line. I kept laughing well after it was over. Steve Carell has the best dead pan. Ann Hathaway, whom I've always liked a lot, held her own really well. The Rock was a lot of fun as well. A fun couple of hours, definitely go see it!

The Importance of Being Earnest

How could I have missed this gem when it first came out? I love the plays of Oscar Wilde and Colin Firth! Excellently done, with a great cast. Apparently the director, Oliver Parker has also done a version of An Ideal Husband, which, of course, I now have to see!

13 Going On 30

Cute chick flick take on the 80s movie Big. I don't generally like Jennifer Garner, but she was very convincing in this movie. The fashion from both 1987 and 2004 was spot on and of course, I love any movie genuinely set in NYC, not Toronto or Montreal masquerading as NYC. Although the love interest was pretty weak, there was the requisite "happy ending" so all turns out ok.

In Her Shoes

What a wonderfully funny, heart-wrenching and beautiful story. I've loved Toni Collette ever since I first saw her in Muriel's Wedding. I was impressed with her very realistic American accent. I'm not always a fan of Cameron Diaz, but she was really great in this. I love shoes, so all the pretty shoe candy was a big plus. Francine Beers (who was Mrs. Cohen aka Ol' Lightning Rod in an episode of SATC) had some of the best lines. Although a touch predictable in places, I really enjoyed it.

Toronto Jazz Festival

Once again I volunteered at the Toronto Jazz Festival and saw some great performances while doing it.

Sunday, June 22

I saw the Geri Allen Quartet. Great pianist with wonderful phrasing. Loved the added synthesizer sound. Another big highlight was her tap dancer, he was phenomenal! They were followed by the Alto Summit (Red Holloway, Donald Harrison, Greg Osby, Bobby Watson) who were exceptional. Alto Sax has never been my favorite jazz instrument, but I was moved to pieces by a soulful, smooth ballad. They also played Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island to great applause.Great show!

Monday, June 23

Tonight I caught a tiny snippet of Ahmad Jamal. Another great pianist, with a fantastic band. I was sorry I couldn't get there sooner to catch Oliver Jones and see a few more tunes from Jamal.

Wednesday, June 25

Tonight I worked my first volunteer shift. What a night! Saw The Blind Alabama Boys, they were absolutely amazing. The highlight of the night was their version of Amazing Grace set to The Animals "House of the Rising Sun". My shift was in the Green Room, so not only did I get to see the Boys up close, I also met another great, the pianist Robi Botos. The night began with the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, who were very good as well.

Thursday, June 26

I was late to this concert due to a rehearsal, but what I saw was phenomenal! Roy Hargrove, Frank Wess (great flute!), Paquito D'Rivera (holy cow can that man play the clarinet!), Roberta Gambarini (love her voice!) and many more. The crowd was electric and the musicians were incredible. Very nearly my favorite performance of the festival.

Friday, June 27

Worked my 2nd shift of the festival tonight in the Green Room for the John Abercrombie/Mike Stern/John Scofield show. Wow, those are some serious music fans that came to that show. There was no room, even to stand, so I had to listen to the show from outside the tent. The evening ended with an impromptu duet between Stern and Scofield, which was awesome. There were big crowds looking for autographs at the end of the show. I was pleased to see that the kid with the guitar was able to get his instrument signed by both Mike Stern and John Scofield. He was so happy!

I also caught a snippet of the lunchtime Galloway's Surprise Swing Session, luckily, when Guido Basso (!!) joined the fray. It's so great when you get a treat like that, I was blown away.

Saturday, June 28

By far, my favorite show of the festival! The show was sure to be a sell out, so I bought a ticket to ensure admission. Hilario Duran started the night with his trio, which included Mark Kelso on drums and Roberto Occhipinti on string bass, playing a few world premieres in his set. Wonderful, I always enjoy Hilario when I see him. Then came Arturo Sandoval. I was absolutely blown away. This man just kept pulling rabbits out of his hat. Trumpet, piano, vocals, percussion, keyboards/synthesiser, the man can do it all. I was flabbergasted by the high and low range of his trumpet, he literally sounded like a tuba at one point. His band was fabulous, especially the bongo player. Roberto even came into the tent to watch Arturo's bass player do a solo. The night ended with getting my ticket signed by both Hilario and Arturo, a wonderful keepsake from a brilliant night.

Sunday, June 29

First up was the Sapporo Jazz Orchestra, a teen big band from Japan. They are all studying at a jazz high school and they are good! Definitely look for some of them in 10 years to be playing the circuit!

The DMBQ lunchtime concert blew me away. Co-fronted by Tara Davidson, Mike Murley and David Braid, they also played compositions by all three. I had been told by many people that I had to see Mike Murley play sax, and they were right. The control, the overtones, simply amazing. David Braid's compositions are so lyrical, so melodic, especially the tune "Interior Castles". Mike and Pete enjoyed the show as well, it was a great way to pass the afternoon.

Looking forward to next year!

Dirty Dancing: The Stage Show

Just got back from seeing this, what fun! Totally cheesetastic, it followed the movie pretty spot on, with a few added scenes that didn't really enhance the basic story. The coolest part was to see how they used amazing technical theatre devices to show scenes such as when Johnny and Baby practice lifts in the water. I found the plot extensions to be quite indulgent, so I'm curious as to the dramaturgy behind them. The girl playing Penny was an unbelievable dancer, she had the most amazing legs! Johnny was played by an understudy tonight, and flubbed his line 3 times, so that kind of took away from his performance. I wonder what the "real" Johnny is like. Of course, no one can top Patrick Swayze in the movie! I've seen it over 30 times, thanks to countless sleepovers in Junior High. :) What a fun way to spend a Thursday night!

An Emotional Day

Whew, sometimes life can throw you a doozy. Between my grandmother is in the hospital recovering from emergency spinal surgery, my mom is not doing very well, and work, the stress levels are rising. Which is why I do yoga, but today, my emotions just wouldn't be subdued. We had to do some partner work today, and while the instructor was demonstrated, I guess I decided unconciously that I wouldn't be able to do it. So when I tried, that's just what happened. And then everything just came pouring out. The instructor has seen everything, and was very supportive. It was a little embarrasing to cry in front of the other yoga goers, but I'm not sorry it happened, as it was a new experience and I learned something from it. I know I'm sometimes more than a little frustrated at my limitations in yoga, and it does seem that, often times, I'm the only one who isn't able to do a move. It's a huge challenge to try and accept my body the way it is working on any given day, and not pass judgement or compare myself to others. The day was rounded off by visiting my grandfather, which was a bit sad because he is really living a life of isolation, with his increasing deafness, and my grandmother in the hospital. I'm happy to report that she is doing better, although she is still on bed rest. They can't move her to rehab until her wound has healed. I feel quite drained, but hopefully I'll sleep well tonight.

ETT Annual Dinner

Went to my first ETT Annual Dinner this evening at the Royal York. It was pretty fun, good food (pistachio crusted halibut in a lobster bisque with lemon dill risotto and chocolate pecan tart with melon gelato for dessert) and dancing. They showed the completed 10th anniversary DVD that the Communications Committee I was on worked most of the year towards. I'm looking forward to the next event, a boat cruise on the Northern Spirit.

May 2008 Books and Movies

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Not quite as good as the first one, but still, really enjoyable. They've upped the ante with the CGI and the New Zealand landscape is breathtaking. Throw in a good looking cast and some very impressive battle scenes and you have an enjoyable 2.5 hours.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Beautiful Italian cinematography, great cast and some very funny moments are the good points. Bad writing, choppy plot transitions and far too much emphasis on how terrible it is for a late 30s woman to be *shocked gasp* single were the bad points. It was really 50/50 for me, I spent just as much time liking the film as I did not liking the film.

Snow Cake

Quite literally, one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a long time. Dealing with a quite rare topic, adult autism, Snow Cake is very very special. Sigourney Weaver gives one of the most amazing performances I've seen and Carrie Ann Moss and Alan Rickman are wonderful with just the right amount of pathos. It was funny, in a poignant way and made me cry buckets towards the end. It's a joint venture between the U.K. and Canada and shot in Wawa, which in itself made for some stellar cinematography. I can't recommend it enough, really worth seeing.

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling
Ross King

Again, took me a while to get through it, but another great read from Ross King. I love the way he incorporates conjecture to make the drier bones of history come alive. I finshed this book with a burning desire to see the Sistine Chapel in person, it's on my list!

Dan in Real Life

Quite enjoyable, much like Little Miss Sunshine, a dark comedy. Made me laugh out loud and brought tears to my eyes. Love Juliette Binoche, although I think it's really interesting that North American movies are the only ones where you see someone speaking English with an accent. In foreign language films, people hardly ever have an accent, I don't think they would even be hired if they didn't speak near flawless French, Italian, German etc. But all things foreign translate into better North American box office returns, I suppose. Steve Carell was excellent, he really has wonderful poignant comedic timing. The family dynamic was fantastic, loved Dianne Wiest as the mother. The house was just as much a part of story as the characters and the music tied it all together. The plot plodded somewhat in the middle, but overall, a good film.

Remember Me?
Sophie Kinsella

Love Sophie Kinsella, but she's gone back to using a Becky Bloomwood character, klutzy and constantly inappropriate in every situation. I'm not a fan of her characters that I get frustrated with while I'm reading. Her best character to date is Samantha, from the Undomestic Goddess. I liked Lexi too, even more when she she wised up to the fact that her "perfect" life was a crock. Still a fan of Kinsella's tight writing style, although this one was not quite as funny. That being said, I couldn't put it down and was finished in 2 days.

Sex and the City: The Movie

Of course this movie deserves it's own blog posting! :)

Though no movie, no matter how great, can replace the familiarity of one's favorite TV show, I can safely say that I was pleased with the end result last night. Were there some cheesy lines, liberties with characters and full out plot holes? Absolutely! But it was great to catch up with the "girls", see some amazing fashion and fall in love with NYC all over again. I wouldn't be sad if they decided to relaunch SATC as a show about women in their 40s, but then again, they do already have Lipstick Jungle for that. I'm definitely a Big and Carrie fan, so I had a good cry at several intervals. A lot of critics are saying that Jennifer Hudson was weak, but I quite liked her and the soundtrack she contributed. I consider myself to be almost a devotee to the show, and was quite prepared to hate the movie if it paled in comparison to the show. I was pleasantly surprised and will be buying the DVD to add to my collection and of course, for the extras. For die hard SATC fans, this movie will slightly disappoint, but over all, Michael Patrick King did a good job, and hopefully we'll see a sequel soon.

Or a second run of the show....please, pretty please with a cherry on top? :)

6 months

I write this, feeling extremely sentimental, after shedding more than a few tears at the opening of Sex and the City, the movie. (More on that under separate cover.) I feel so many things 6 months in. I still believe in love, although some days it's harder to believe than others. I believe in myself, although being kind and forgiving to myself is really hard sometimes. It's easy to beat yourself up for your mistakes, but only by forgiving yourself can you really move forward. I am trying my best not to drive myself crazy by wondering where anything is going and want to concentrate on living my life day by day, moment by moment, remembering that each element "is what it is".

Dental Damages

Ok, I've pretty much had it with these root canals! I sure hope that this is the very last one I ever have to experience. Something about the part of my mouth that was affected didn't take the freezing, so it was pretty painful. Not to mention the expense, ouch! Anyway, I'm glad to have it all squared away, and hopefully (as I've just taken a codeine) I'll be able to sleep well and will awake tomorrow with minimum tooth discomfort.

Eat Pray Love

I've decided to give this book its very own blog entry because of the sheer impact it has had on me while reading it. To date, Eat Pray Love is the most influential book I have ever read. It spoke directly to my stomach, brain and heart. Elizabeth Gilbert's writing style had me laughing out loud and crying gut wrenching tears. There is something for everyone here, and certain parts of this book spoke to me so clearly, I actually book marked them, (page 65, pages 148-151 and page 178) something I have never done before. It's inspired me to continue with my yoga, embrace daily meditation and experience fully the simple pleasures of life. Although I wouldn't consider myself to be searching so much for a spiritual experience with God the way she did, it has brought up more and more questions of that nature for me. I've been very comfortable for over 15 years with my agnostic borderline atheist beliefs. I wonder if it's a temporary by-product of reading the book, or if this will kick start a deeper spiritual study. The book has definitely solidified some plans for my year off. I will go to Italy to see all the parts I have yet to see, and I will go to India. I'm so glad I read this book, for me, it is a bookshelf classic, destined to be read again and again.

Back in the Sand!

It feels great! I'm so happy I can play volleyball again. I actually did better than I thought I would do! I signed up for individual intermediate 6s (which is always a crap shoot) but I was so lucky tonight. My team is loads of fun and best of all, good players! We won 3 of our 5 games tonight, and the losses were by a small point margin. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season!

5 Months

When I initially thought about today's date, I felt somewhat disappointed in myself. I'm just not where I thought I'd be at this point. I know I have to be kinder and gentler to myself, accept my limitations and strive to move past them. All I can do is redouble my efforts and move onward and upward with love in my heart and a cool head in the driver's seat. I have made all kinds of progress, and the best part is that I feel better, even though I sometimes slip back into old patterns. It's really great that I can recognise when it happens, and redirect. This is a huge step for me. One minute at a time changes to one hour at a time, to one day at a time. Patience is a hard lesson, but one I'm determined to learn.

I remain, a humble student of life.

Namaste.

April 2008 Books and Movies

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story
Leonie Swann

This book has a great hook. They find their shepherd lying in the meadow with a spade stuck in his chest and decide to solve the murder. You really get into the characters, pausing only to remember...these are sheep! It's pretty funny. The downside is, the story is far too convoluted to make for really good reading. Too bad, I really enjoyed it until about halfway through.


The Darjeeling Unlimited

Not so good. I was expecting to like it at least a little, as I really enjoyed The Royal Tenenbaums, but not so much. The best thing about it was the gorgeous Indian cinematography. Anjelica Huston was another highlight, she's fabulous. I found Owen Wilson's character really annoying. Makes me want to visit India even more now, so that's a plus.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Not the best movie I've ever seen, but not the worst either. The blood looks like red paint, but it's the concept that's really gross. Typical Tim Burton, creepy, weird and starring Johnny Depp. I'm not surprised he's married to Helena Bonham-Carter, she's weird too! Loved the sets and costumes, 1840s pre Victorian...there were lots of boobs hanging out of dresses which wouldn't have flown when Vicky was queen. :) The music was great too, it would be interesting to see the stage show.

Prime

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It was a funny, poignant romantic comedy. I put it on as I was doing some housework, and all of a sudden, I wasn't working, I was watching. Meryl Streep is one of my favorite actors, and it was the type of movie that suits Uma Thurman to a "T". Enjoyable couple of hours with a non traditional ending.

The Amber Spyglass
Philip Pullman

Wah! I didn't want this series to end. It was that good! Best book of the three, Lyra and Will's character development is stellar. The ending is so sad, but you know it's the right one. The Mulefa were a bit weird to wrap your head around, but really added a layer to the story. Pullman puts his views forth plainly in our world view, whereas before he hid them in Lyra's world view. So glad I read these books, they were excellent!

Music Musings

Just got home from the third and final recording session. There were three flutes and one piccolo booked on the gig, so I wasn't very exposed by any means. One of the flute players couldn't attend yesterday's session, so there are at least two pieces on the upcoming CD that you will be able to hear just me.

I do feel I am growing as a player, but I still have so far to go. I'm a little torn about what direction to follow. I attended a symposium for work today, and it was very enlightening. There are so many things I could do, work on my classical singing, take my singing in a whole new direction with jazz, work on my piano chops for work, increase my ability on other instruments and of course work on my flute/piccolo chops. I'm quite inspired by my dear friend, who is hard at work on his own musical endevours.

I had a good concert on Saturday, the pic solos went very well. It was very cool to have Dave Devall (the weather guy from CTV) as the announcer, he was very good. The summer looks busy musically, but we'll see how much I actually do. It's all about the balance!

New Trailer for the SATC Movie

I am so super excited for this movie. I love love love Sex and the City. Have done ever since I found out about it while it was in its 3rd season. I own the DVDs, can quote it backwards and forwards and can watch it again and again without getting bored. I even have the SATC trivia on my Facebook page that I've won 1800 points and counting. I just saw the new trailer on the movie website. Very interesting! It would seem (although trailers always mislead) that Carrie is finally going to marry Big, but something happens to stop the wedding. Also there's a funny moment with Miranda and Steve. He says something about something being "just the one time", which could mean that he cheated on Miranda, but I don't think so. I think it has something to do with Brady, either he left him alone, or hit him or something. It seems that Sam is getting bored of Smith, and is coveting other men, and Charlotte is finally pregnant after adopting the Chinese girl. It all looks very glam and movie ish, but I wonder how it's going to translate, 4 years after it ended. I've been invited to a very girly night out for the movie premiere. Dinner and cosmos (of course) before going to see the movie. I can't wait!

2008 National Jazz Awards

My first experience going to the National Jazz Awards. Something that struck me was, how small the jazz world really is. I recognised a lot of people from the last three years of volunteering at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival.

My favorite vocalist, Emilie-Claire Barlow, won in her category. Unfortunately, she wasn't performing.



I love, love, love Hilario Duran, so was super excited when he won in two categories. Sadly, he wasn't performing either.



I wasn't able to see all the acts, but here's a few I did catch:

Nikki Yanofsky



Sly Juhas, doing double duty with both Brandi Disterheft and Elizabeth Sheppard:



The Brandi Disterheft quartet, including her vocalist, Sophia Perlman, whom I really enjoy after listening to Autobeauties on Brandi's CD, Debut:



It's a type of event that's better to go to with other people, so you have someone to talk to during the speeches! Some were very, very long, especially Jim Galloway's introduction of a lifetime achievement award for Geoff Chapman.

The tributes to Doug Riley, Jeff Healey and Oscar Peterson were extremely moving. Video clips, family member speeches and musical tributes were lovely, especially Reg Schwager's guitar tribute to Jeff Healey.

A nice evening out, although it would have been much better on the weekend!

Jackson's Christening

There's a new baby in our family, my cousin's son, Jackson.



He's very cute! Today was his christening.





Afterwards, there was food and very sugary cake, yum!

First Bike Ride of 2008!

What a beautiful day for a ride. It was really fantastic! I biked along the Martin-Goodman trail to Cherry Beach, then to Tommy Thompson park (a man made conservation peninsula) then to Woodbine park. It felt so good to be on my bike, I'm so glad it's finally spring. Looking forward to biking to work on Monday!

March 2008 Books and Movies

The Subtle Knife
Philip Pullman

The second book in this trilogy was even better than the first one! The story keeps getting more and more intriguing and the allegory and philosophical discussions are very profound. The addition of the new character of Will and the doorways between worlds added an extra demension (no pun intended) made this book impossible to put down. I immediately reached for the Amber Spyglass (the third book in the series) just as soon as I had finished the last page!

4 Months

I was wondering why I felt so restless today, and then I realised what day it was. I was listening to my iPod today in the subway when Emilie-Claire Barlow's version of Blame It On My Youth came on. I was fine at first, but as the song played on, I got a distinct twinge of pain in my heart. It's a different kind of pain than before, because of what I've discovered through my process. Listening to the lyrics, they symbolise a growth spurt, which may be the reason for the pain. Here's hoping that tomorrow brings an ease of pain and more peace of mind.

New Hair!

It's been a long while since I've had my hair cut. After loosing much of it when I was on the Areva, it was hard to feel good about my hair. The good news is that it's growing back slowly but surely. I thought that if I cut it shorter, it would mask the regrowth process a bit. I like the cut a lot and have been getting lots of compliments as well!

2nd Annual QOR Band Mess Dinner

Big improvement from last year. Not to say that last year's dinner was bad (although the food poisoning wasn't so fun - apparently another person from the band also got sick!) but this year's was closer to a traditional mess dinner. It was held in the 48th Sargeant's Mess and was table service instead of buffet.



Our guest speaker was some big general dude from the Air Force. He was no Bobby Harriett, but he was pretty funny.

Teddy O'Halloran (the only WWII vet left in our band) and I.



He landed on Juno Beach, June 6th, 1944, and was one of the few lucky enough to survive. An amazing gentleman, he loves to call us all his "girlfriends". :)

The band has decided to make this dinner an annual event. I'm looking forward to next year!

Great News!

I've just returned from a very positive rheumatologist's appointment where my doctors told me that I was pretty much in drug related remission! The only way to measure progress is through how you're feeling, and I know I've been feeling better for a while now, but it's great to hear it from a professional. They have given me liscense to play with my drug dosages a bit to try and reduce some of the more harmful ones, to lessen the side effects. The no drinking hasn't caused much of a problem, as I don't drink excessively normally, but being at an all inclusive resort and not being able to drink was really a shame! I'm hopeful that one day I'll be able to to achieve drug free remission. Fingers crossed!

Cuba

Having never been to the Caribbean before, let alone to an all inclusive resort, I had no idea what to expect when I took off for a 7 day, 7 night trip to Cayo Santa Maria on Cuba's north coast.

What a trip!

Pictures say more than words, so I'll let them do the talking.



The beach is on the Atlantic side so a smidge colder than the Caribbean side, but still amazing. I love salt water! Well, except when it gets in your eyes.

The resort was quite nice.


Our poco hacienda was called:



Each "bungalow" (that's what they called it) had 16 rooms on two floors.



The rooms were quite big.





The swim up bar was cool!



There were shows every night featuring really wonderful dancers. I was amazed at the sheer amount of talent giving it their all every night at a resort for tourists.



My favorite dancer was Roberto. He was gay as gay can be (a risky business in Cuba) but danced with such passion and integrity I was drawn in. I got to dance salsa with him at the club later, and he actually picked me up in a lift! That was a highlight of my trip for sure!

Roberto on the stage:





Roberto off the stage:





My trip to Havana was another absolute highlight.

I took a day trip by plane.



Varadero by air!



Old Havana









I was amazed at the amount of propaganda everywhere. There is no advertising in Cuba, the billboards laud state policy instead.







Che Guevera is a national hero, and figures heavily in the rampant propaganda.





Havana is an amazing city. It's so old and rich with architecture and historic places to visit.

Congress:





The National Theatre:



Revolution Square:



Castro's tank! (In front of the Museum of the Revolution...of course!)



The University:



Hemingway's Bar, the Floridita:





Me with the great man himself! :)



I'm looking forward to exploring some of the other great cities in Cuba. Santa Clara, which is where the remains of Che Guevera are buried, Trinidad, which is apparently a great example of baroque architecture, Cienfuegos, Holguin, they all sound fantastic.

There were cats everywhere at the resort, including some really cute kittens. Feeding them was not a good idea, because then they wouldn't leave you alone, but I took some pictures.









All in all, it was a good trip. I highly recommend staying all inclusive if your main goal is to relax. I found that one excursion was enough for the week.

Viva Cuba, Cuba Si!

3 Months

Almost forgot to post because of the shortened month - was waiting for the 30th when it dawned on me that it would never come! :)

Time is the Master.

That and taking one's life by the horns and deciding you are the boss. It's exhilarating, empowering and extremely exhausting (but in a good way) work and I'm pleased with my progress.

I can report that I am happy, healthy and thought not absolutely pain free, much, much better.

I'm looking forward to potentially stepping through an open door when the time is right.

February 2008 Books and Movies

Sexual Intelligence
Kim Cattrall

An ok book, made better by amazing pictures, artwork and inspirational quotes. In some parts it felt like the book was wholly excerpted from Kim Cattrall's documentary by the same title. It was a quick and easy read, but not completely satisfying. Hmmm, interesting analogy! :)

Jumper

It's really a shame, because this movie could have been so much more than it was. Woefully miscast (except for Samuel L. Jackson) and containing very little plot, it seemed the director was more interested in the special effects than anything else. The ending was frustrating because they are obviously leaving it open for a sequel. Loved the locals, very cool, especially the Valley of the KIngs.

Kiss of the Spider Woman
(Scarborough Musical Theatre)

Ok, this isn't technically a book or a movie, but I went to watch it, so it counts! My cousin was playing in the pit. I've never seen this musical before, it's pretty interesting. Set mainly in an Argentinian prison during the 70's dictatorship, it tells the story of two very different men who develop a unique bond in prison. The Spider Woman is Death, her kiss, the scythe. The songs are catchy in the moment, but not very memorable. I'm curious as to how the Broadway run was received. It was very long, but a nice evening, supporting the artistic pursuits of a dedicated group of amateur players.

Uganda Rising

An absolutely eye opening documentary about the plight of children in northern Uganda. To live in fear of being abducted to become a child soldier or a sex slave is a horror beyond imagining. I saw it as a professional development workshop in support of the Toronto Gulu Walk. Check it out at word that will be link! Not for the faint of heart, but the more people know about it, the more hope and help will come to those who suffer.

Atonement

Was slightly disappointed in this film. While the costumes, settings and historical accuracy were stellar, one the whole, it just tried to be too "arty". Weird shots that weren't tied to the film, minimal dialogue and a jarring trip to the present time disrupted the experience more than enhanced it. The beginning exposition dragged on and on and the ending was somewhat dissatisfying. I wouldn't say say give it a miss, as everyone has different tastes, but just be prepared for what you see.

Juno

Wow! This movie was freakin' fantastic! Laughed all the way through it. Quirky and fun, loved the one liners from everyone. It actually made me feel like I was glad I wasn't in high school anymore. Loved the boyfriend! This film had the cutest ending ever. It's an absolute must see.

The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman

Loved it! Even better than the movie, no surprise there! Can't wait to read the other two books in the trilogy. You just get sucked into the world that seems so like ours, but with strange differences that pull you back into this alternate universe. I did picture all the actors as the characters in the book (not that I mind picturing Daniel Craig ;) at all) which was a bit confusing. Why did they change Mrs. Coulter's hair colour from brown in the book to blonde in the movie? This series is right up there with the Narnia Chronicles. Great read!

A Good Weekend!

Friday night was a good opportunity to have some quiet time, something I desperately needed after the work week. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Saturday was spent going to the St. Lawrence Saturday market for my weekly fresh veg, going for regular groceries, doing a wonderful Hatha class at my Yoga studio, getting in some gym time and then attending a lovely choir and orchestra concert. I also really enjoyed time spent with a dear friend afterwards.

Sunday morning Vinyasa with Camille, my favorite Yoga instructor, a little more grocery shopping (strawberries, 3 for $5!) and a visit to the grandparents and mom (still in hospital) followed by the Oscars rounded out my weekend.

Happy Heart Day!

Well it's Valentine's Day again. And I'm single again. It's funny, two years ago I was single and non-plussed on Valentine's Day, last year I was in relationship and had a wonderful, thoughtful, romantic celebration on Valentine's Day. This year, I had a pretty good day at work, got some cute valentines and some chocolate and thought about how I feel about the day. I'm ok. I'm happy for those who have found the one that they love, and am glad I am working on my relationship with myself. Do I miss him? Absolutely. Am I sorry and sad? I'm happy to report no, as per my last post, that thing I mentioned has done what I had hoped and confirmed that I am on the right path.

A weight has been lifted

I did something tonight that will be very useful to me soon. Any way it plays out will be beneficial in some way. I feel a big sense of relief as thinking about when and how I would do it has been weighing on me quite heavily. Hopefully I will rest easy tonight now that it's done.

A fantastic arts weekend!

Rob Campbell Quartet

Rob Campbell - Guitar
Doug Watson - Sax
Mike Milligan - Bass
Greg Pilo - Drums

It's been a while since I went to the Rex, so decided to go on Saturday night to see whomever was playing the 9:30 show. Turned out to be these guys. I've only recently started to get into jazz guitar, and I'm loving it! What a great sound. I'm not generally big into alto sax (I prefer tenor) but Doug Watson was phenomenal. Rob Campbell is so laid back, everything except for his fingers that is. Great music and an enjoyable evening.

Habobo Toronto

This is a group of Toronto based teachers and musicians who all have been taught by Kwasi Dunyo at one time or another. I've worked with Kwasi in two different schools, both times it was a really great experience. Apparently the group has open nights once a month, so I think I'll go check it out. Another surprise was that one of the itinerants from school was a part of the group. I didn't expect to know anyone in the performance. It ended with an invitation to come up on stage and participate. A very inviting, engaging and inclusive experience.

The Burning Bush

Absolutely stellar! Hilarious, thought provoking, clever and fun. Tracey Erin Smith is a powerhouse. I highly recommend you try and see the show or its sequel at some point because I couldn't begin to describe it to you. I'll leave you with two interconnected thoughts from the show. Rabbinical school and a stripper's pole. See? Go see it!

Sisters of Sheynville

This was the group that performed with Tracey. Wonderful musicians especially the clarinetist who was absolutely incredible. Lovely harmonies and great jazz elements to this all female Yiddish sextet. They did a set on their own after the show, and it was a great ending to an arty weekend.