Aug 4th: Home Sweet Home #2!

I'm not going to sugar-coat the fact that long-distance relationships can be tough, but sometimes I think a lot of good can come from them.  In my case it has given me a chance to be with someone I love while still having lots of time to focus on a lot of the other things that I love.  And it has also given me the ability to have a second city to call home.  Though I guess in my case I have a few cities to call home (as I still consider Ancaster and even Montreal to be like homes to me), now I have the privilege of adding Victoria to that list. All thanks to a Mr. Luke Timmermans.  And I couldn't have asked for a better second West Coast home.  While the trip over might be a long one it is an absolutely beautiful one when you are on the ferry traveling between the islands.  If you're lucky (which I have been) it can even double as a whale watching tour.  There were no orcas on this trip but I was fortunate enough to enjoy a gorgeous sunset.  And of course what waited for me at the ferry terminal was pretty awesome too!  Here's to enjoying a second home and the journey it takes to get there!

  

Aug 3rd: Some music to heal the soul!

I have a confession to make.  On Monday while at the beach doing work (which was awesome), I had a bit of a mini-breakdown while listening to my iPod.  I was listening to my Vancouver playlist, which includes local artists like Adaline, Dan Mangan, The Left, and Sheree Plett - who I used to go see live quite frequently.  With theatre being such a huge focus these past few months, I really have not been able to go to any concerts since the early spring - which in my mind was REALLY sad and needed to be fixed asap!  Fortunately almost immediately after my breakdown, Sheree Plett mentioned on facebook that she was going to be performing at Kits Beach this evening before the fireworks!  One of my favourite artists, performing live, at the beach, before the fireworks display, which I was already planning on attending??? YES PLEASE!

Needless to say, Sheree did not disappoint.  I even had the privilege of running into some other friends at the concert.  And of course because I was already planning on sticking around for the fire in the sky, I stayed to hear the other performances and ended up being blown away by The Matinee, who are now one of my favourite local bands, for many reasons, including the following:

•  Stand-up Electric Bass
•  Banjo
•  Drum Circle
•  Stomping
•  Style
•  Talent and Passion - always a winning combination

These guys were awesome and I can't wait to add their songs to my Vancouver playlist. Suffice it to say, that I definitely feel better after attending tonight's concert.  Now I just need to make sure I don't go too long until I see the next one!

Aug 2nd: Wait ... I like sports?

Tonight I had the privilege of going somewhere I haven't been in at least a decade - THE BALLPARK! My friend Tina invited me out to see the Vancouver Canadians play at Nat Bailey Stadium and I was so happy to take her up on her offer.  Not only was it a great chance to catch up with her, but it was just a great way to spend a summer evening.  Everyone was so happy to be there, baseballs were flying everywhere, hot dogs were being eaten, a sushi race took place, and the sky became filled with phalic/sperm-like balloons after singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!"  And it was just a great game of baseball!  We missed the first run in the 2nd inning because we were getting our hot dogs and after a number of innings of nothing happening we were starting to get concerned that we would leave the game missing the one major thing that happened all game.  Sure enough, by the 8th inning the game became more exciting when the umpire made a bad call, quickly followed by the batter hitting a line drive down centre that brought our guy on second all the way home.  I'll admit, there was some squealing, but I just couldn't contain the excitement.  By the end of the game, the Canadians had won 3-1 against Spokane.  I know I'm no athlete and have never really been into sports (unless of course my brothers were playing in a game) - but tonight was an interesting revelation that perhaps the sports gene I never thought I had, isn't as absent as I think it is.  I really couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my night.  I'm sure I'll be making it out to Nat Bailey again at some point to catch more games.  But I think I would love my next sports outing to be a BC Lions game - ideally playing the Ti-Cats if I can manage it.  Now that's a cat fight I would LOVE to witness!

Aug. 1: Just another day at the office!

On today's statutory holiday I spent the day working because I will be taking the day off on Friday.  Fortunately for today I was relocated to what I am claiming as my new office.  Behold!

I hadn't yet had a day at the beach this summer (proven by the fact that my skin tone matches my dress - though has since become a little darker and frecklier).  So I decided to take the opportunity to make up for lost time.  When the stat holiday came around and I knew I still had stuff I needed to do, I planned my day around things I could do somewhere other than a basement office with very little natural light.  And you know what - it was actually one of the more productive days I've had this summer.  Instead of being mopey being in an office by myself wishing I could enjoy the sun, I actually got to enjoy the sun and managed to accomplish a few things in the process.  Not bad for a hard day's work!

To those who wonder why I am not eager to move back to Ontario anytime soon, I hope this post might shed a little light on my reasoning.  I still love you, but doing the things I love in an environment like this is kind of hard to give up!

July 31st: "What the?"

Today's blog is dedicated to confusion in its most awesome sense.  My first bout of confusion has to do with how the heck to format my blog.  Should it only be about the things that I do and/or experience?  Or should it be about the random acts of awesome that I witness frequently?  I think the answer is both - but when I have to choose to write about one over the other, which should take precedent: the intended awesome, or the random awesome? ... well, because I can't yet choose - today we get both.

INTENDED AWESOME:  After a very long but amazing week, I was really looking forward to a night off, but instead I invested my time to go and support some friends who were performing in a show called The Gas Heart.  Well worth the investment!  Any show that has me asking, "What is going on?", "Did that seriously just happen?", "What's with the body parts?", and "How many endings does this show have?" - is amazing.  If you want to know what it's like to see the show just furrow your brow, then lift one (and only one) of your eyebrows, and smile a big goofy toothy smile and laugh.  That's pretty much the state of the show.  I'm sad that it's over and I can't tell more people to see it, but I'm glad that I at least made it out to see it.  Thank you Gas Heart!

UNINTENDED AWESOME:  Right after watching The Gas Heart I started heading home, and while walking down the street, some guy rode by me on his bicycle.  Why is this awesome, you might ask?  Good question.  The answer lies in the convention of the bicycle he was riding.  Here's what the bike looked like.

Needless to say this bike had me asking "What the?" all over again.  Why would someone ride a bike like this just to get them around?  It hardly seems practical.  Well, the answer is simple: because they are awesome.  Want to know what the best part is?  This wasn't even the first time I've seen someone use an unconventional mode of transportation like this.  I've actually seen someone riding a bike just like this down Vancouver streets before, during Critical Mass. Though you generally expect some weird bicycles to show up there.  But there seems to be a good number of people out here in Vancouver who also ride unicycles as their chosen vehicle to get them from A to B.  Yeah - you know the things that jugglers ride on while throwing bowling pins in the air and trying to balance something ridiculous on their nose?  Yeah - people use those just to get around.  And I love it!  To these people who choose their unconventional and awesome modes of transportation - thank you!  For reminding us that our daily commute does not have to be boring!

http://www.thal.ca/shows/gas-heart

July 30th: Closing, After Midnight!

Has anyone noticed that my last few blogs have generally been posted around or after midnight?  Ever wonder why that is?

It's not because I'm lazy and procrastinating.  It's because on average over the past month (at least) I've been spending a solid 12 hours outside of my apartment and have been busy either working, rehearsing, performing, directing, box officing, or celebrating with friends my doing any of these things. Some people might think this is crazy - and you know what - I might even agree with them.  But considering how amazing this past month has been with all of the artistic ventures that I've been so privileged to be a part of - I'm truly grateful for my departure from my apartment and all of the socializations that came with it.

It's sad knowing that we're done Compassion For Killers now especially since it was a production that I feel like I was heavily involved in from beginning to end.  It was very much Christopher Cook's baby - but he definitely made the project feel like a team effort - so it's really sad knowing that it's over. I am EXTREMELY grateful to everyone who helped with the show, everyone who came out to support the show, and to all of the reviewers who helped to plug it.  Here are a bunch of links to those who helped to promote it.  I couldn't be more proud.  Thank you!

EMME ROGERS
BIZ BOOKS
TASTE & SIP MAGAZINE

Maybe my next blog post will actually get written in the day I am writing about.  Though it might be too weird and logical for me, so we'll have to see how that goes!  For now - we'll just enjoy the after midnight blog posts!

July 29th: Two Words - Checo Tohomaso!

I have been privileged to have had a number of mentors in my life who not only made me realize my passions, but have encouraged me to let those passions lead the way I live my life.  Not surprisingly two of these people were my music mentors: my high school music teacher, Toni Clement (may she forever rest in peace) and my current choir director Checo Tohomaso!

I cannot think of anyone who better understands what life is all about than these two.  They understood/understand that life is too short, and that being negative and complaining is just a waste of time - particularly when there is SO much to be thankful for.

This evening our choir performed in what has always been my favourite concert venue - on the waterfront at Panorama Park in Deep Cove.  The area is so cute and quaint, and is sheltered by these gorgeous forests and mountains.  And fortunately enough for us - the weather was beautiful.

The reason why I love performing at this venue so much is because it always makes me feel that at my core, I truly understand what life is all about.  Singing these beautiful songs, with the most enthusiastic choir director (who I am convinced doesn't know how NOT to smile), while looking out at this group of people who are all there to have fun and be moved by the choir, just somehow sums everything up for me - to the point where I was literally moved to tears tonight.  We had a guest show up and he sang "A Change Is Gonna Come" without any of us knowing - and during the song a former choir member (who had to quit due to health problems) stood up with her husband and started slow dancing.  Suffice it say that it reminded me so much of Toni - that I couldn't help but cry.

I used to think that the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir slogan of "We'll activate your soul!" was kind of cheezy.  Now I think that it couldn't be more accurate!  I don't think I've ever left a single choir rehearsal or performance without a huge smile and the overwhelming desire to be a happy and helpful person.  Some of that is due to the songs, and just the opportunity to sing.  But a lot of it is thanks to Checo and his infectious enthusiasm!  We need more Toni's and Checo's in the world.  I guess this blog is my best effort at trying to be one of them.

Here's a video of our choir singing at the Folk Festival a couple of years ago.  It's a glimpse of Checo at his more understated, but it definitely gives you an idea of what our crowds are often like.

Enjoy!