Me am so dumb
All my plans are set and I'm going to Ottawa tonight to tell tales of boo and fright.
Except now I've just found out that the storytelling night that I thought was tonight is ACTUALLY next Thursday. So I'm going down to Ottawa a day early for nothing.
Drat. I'm such a idiot.
In the meantime, enjoy your Halloween/Samhain festivities tonight! Take a moment to remember the loved ones who have passed on, give thanks to the loved ones you still have with you, and kiss a witch if you can!
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
Spooky Stories
Halloween is nearly upon us, so in the spirit of the holiday, I invite you to take a listen to some spooky tales at The Moonlit Road. For those of you who have heard me tell the story of The White Dress, this is the site where I found that story.
Every month or so, there's a new tale on the website. You can either read the tale on the website or you can listen to it being told (via RealPlayer). The site specialized in scary stories from the southern United States, so you can guarantee a shiver or two!
In other news, the Dracula show that I worked on (and that the Midnight Players will be performing live on TV) will be airing tomorrow night at 8 pm. If you live in the Kingston/Toronto area and can get channel 13 (Cogeco Community channel), take a gander at it!
I'll be spending this Halloween in Ottawa telling frightful tales (probably The Dead Don't Pay). Hopefully I'll impress a few people and be invited to tell tales in next year's festival in Ottawa. Wish me luck!
Halloween is nearly upon us, so in the spirit of the holiday, I invite you to take a listen to some spooky tales at The Moonlit Road. For those of you who have heard me tell the story of The White Dress, this is the site where I found that story.
Every month or so, there's a new tale on the website. You can either read the tale on the website or you can listen to it being told (via RealPlayer). The site specialized in scary stories from the southern United States, so you can guarantee a shiver or two!
In other news, the Dracula show that I worked on (and that the Midnight Players will be performing live on TV) will be airing tomorrow night at 8 pm. If you live in the Kingston/Toronto area and can get channel 13 (Cogeco Community channel), take a gander at it!
I'll be spending this Halloween in Ottawa telling frightful tales (probably The Dead Don't Pay). Hopefully I'll impress a few people and be invited to tell tales in next year's festival in Ottawa. Wish me luck!
Monday, October 28, 2002
Fair Exchange
I've recently realized that in all of my friendships, I'm very much into meeting at the half-way mark.
There was a time when I would be bending over backwards to do stuff that would allow me to befriend someone, but those were more desparate days. Now in my curmudgeon days, I'm not willing to do all the work to make a friendship function. I'm only willing to meet half-way. I'll put in my two cents if you'll put in your two cents. I know this sounds like I'm keeping a detailed score, but I'm not. It doesn't even have to be an equal exchange. Sometimes, it's just the thought that matters.
I had to take this stance at one point several years because I suddenly realized that some of my "friends" were taking abusive advantage of my good and generous nature. The hard truth came to me through an off-hand remark an aquaintance had made in a discussion about possible Halloween costumes. I was saying that I wanted to find a costume that suited my personality, at which point he turned to me and said with a smirk "Why don't you go as a puppet?"
The weight of that statement came crashing down upon me, making me realize that I had let these people yank me around in the name of friendship and that for all I had done for them, I received very little back in return. It was at that point that I started taking note of who deserved my time and attention.
If someone does something for me, then I do my best to return the favour. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'll sit back and wait for other people to make the first move. If I can help you out, then I will and without hesitation. But I do so with the expectation that I will have this good deed returned to me in some reasonable form in a reasonable amount of time.
Sometimes a simply heartfelt Thank You is enough. Sometimes it's a helping hand when I ask for it. Sometimes it's a helping hand when I didn't ask for it. But if I keep pouring energy into someone and I don't get anything back from it, then it's promptly shut off and I wait for some of that energy to be returned. If it never comes back, so be it. The energy I put into it was needed at the time and probably wasn't wasted, but I can only put out so much before I need to be refueled myself.
This system has allowed me to filter out the True Friends from the Casual Friends and the Mooches. Of course with any filtering system, there's a downside. Sometimes I can be a bit paranoid about being taken advantage of, which makes me appear as insecure (Hell Bells... that might be the definition of insecurity!). This is problem that I'm always trying to stay objective about ("There isn't a conspiracy around every corner, Mulder") and for the most part, I keep a handle on it.
But for people who have proven themselves to be True Friends, I will still bend over backwards to help in any way they need me because I know they will be there when I need them.
And they have. And they are. And they will. And for them, I will more than cross the half-way mark because they were willing to meet me half-way. No regrets. No looking back.
P.S.: This post is not borne of a recent event. I've been tossing the explanation of this concept for a few months now. I thought I'd give it a stab at it today. Please don't feel like I'm directing this to anyone in particular.
I've recently realized that in all of my friendships, I'm very much into meeting at the half-way mark.
There was a time when I would be bending over backwards to do stuff that would allow me to befriend someone, but those were more desparate days. Now in my curmudgeon days, I'm not willing to do all the work to make a friendship function. I'm only willing to meet half-way. I'll put in my two cents if you'll put in your two cents. I know this sounds like I'm keeping a detailed score, but I'm not. It doesn't even have to be an equal exchange. Sometimes, it's just the thought that matters.
I had to take this stance at one point several years because I suddenly realized that some of my "friends" were taking abusive advantage of my good and generous nature. The hard truth came to me through an off-hand remark an aquaintance had made in a discussion about possible Halloween costumes. I was saying that I wanted to find a costume that suited my personality, at which point he turned to me and said with a smirk "Why don't you go as a puppet?"
The weight of that statement came crashing down upon me, making me realize that I had let these people yank me around in the name of friendship and that for all I had done for them, I received very little back in return. It was at that point that I started taking note of who deserved my time and attention.
If someone does something for me, then I do my best to return the favour. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'll sit back and wait for other people to make the first move. If I can help you out, then I will and without hesitation. But I do so with the expectation that I will have this good deed returned to me in some reasonable form in a reasonable amount of time.
Sometimes a simply heartfelt Thank You is enough. Sometimes it's a helping hand when I ask for it. Sometimes it's a helping hand when I didn't ask for it. But if I keep pouring energy into someone and I don't get anything back from it, then it's promptly shut off and I wait for some of that energy to be returned. If it never comes back, so be it. The energy I put into it was needed at the time and probably wasn't wasted, but I can only put out so much before I need to be refueled myself.
This system has allowed me to filter out the True Friends from the Casual Friends and the Mooches. Of course with any filtering system, there's a downside. Sometimes I can be a bit paranoid about being taken advantage of, which makes me appear as insecure (Hell Bells... that might be the definition of insecurity!). This is problem that I'm always trying to stay objective about ("There isn't a conspiracy around every corner, Mulder") and for the most part, I keep a handle on it.
But for people who have proven themselves to be True Friends, I will still bend over backwards to help in any way they need me because I know they will be there when I need them.
And they have. And they are. And they will. And for them, I will more than cross the half-way mark because they were willing to meet me half-way. No regrets. No looking back.
P.S.: This post is not borne of a recent event. I've been tossing the explanation of this concept for a few months now. I thought I'd give it a stab at it today. Please don't feel like I'm directing this to anyone in particular.
Oogly Boogly
We celebrated Halloween a week early this year at T and A's Annual Costumed Bash. E very graciously agreed to play Morticia to my Gomez, and quite frankly, she carried it off better than I did. You go girl!
Being a largely theatrical and dramatic crowd of people, the costumes were imaginative and carefully prepared. E was impressed by the quality of the costumes. It was obvious that people spent time and effort putting these costumes together. It was more than just cutting two holes in an old bedsheet. These people actually designed their costumes.
Check out the pictures I took and the pictures that Scott took and you'll see what I mean. Ceri also recorded a hilarious conversation that supposedly took place between these two characters.
This is going to be a big storytelling week for me. I told stories at the MPRC Samhain fair on Saturday, I'll be telling again at the CUPS Fair today, then again on Wednesday at the Frasier-Hickson Library, and finally in Ottawa for their storytelling festival.
And this is my last week at Softimage with no hope of re-extension of my contract. I'll miss the people, the technology, having my own office, and the free ice tea.
Onward and upward!
We celebrated Halloween a week early this year at T and A's Annual Costumed Bash. E very graciously agreed to play Morticia to my Gomez, and quite frankly, she carried it off better than I did. You go girl!
Being a largely theatrical and dramatic crowd of people, the costumes were imaginative and carefully prepared. E was impressed by the quality of the costumes. It was obvious that people spent time and effort putting these costumes together. It was more than just cutting two holes in an old bedsheet. These people actually designed their costumes.
Check out the pictures I took and the pictures that Scott took and you'll see what I mean. Ceri also recorded a hilarious conversation that supposedly took place between these two characters.
This is going to be a big storytelling week for me. I told stories at the MPRC Samhain fair on Saturday, I'll be telling again at the CUPS Fair today, then again on Wednesday at the Frasier-Hickson Library, and finally in Ottawa for their storytelling festival.
And this is my last week at Softimage with no hope of re-extension of my contract. I'll miss the people, the technology, having my own office, and the free ice tea.
Onward and upward!
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Bill's up to something
Last night, I was meeting E down at the Old Dublin for a pint and I couldn't help but notice a gigantic cocoon hanging in the parking lot. I looked around for Brian Denehey, but he was nowhere to be found.
Then this morning, it became a bit clearer. Up the street from Softimage I saw a giant butterfly hanging in a parking lot. I whispered, "It's Bill. He's up to something."
Anybody know what's going on? What's Billzebub Gatecifur up to in our fair city? I keep expecting to see the Blue Screen of Death popping up in the windows of the surrounding buildings, but to no avail.
It's only a matter of time though, right?
Last night, I was meeting E down at the Old Dublin for a pint and I couldn't help but notice a gigantic cocoon hanging in the parking lot. I looked around for Brian Denehey, but he was nowhere to be found.
Then this morning, it became a bit clearer. Up the street from Softimage I saw a giant butterfly hanging in a parking lot. I whispered, "It's Bill. He's up to something."
Anybody know what's going on? What's Billzebub Gatecifur up to in our fair city? I keep expecting to see the Blue Screen of Death popping up in the windows of the surrounding buildings, but to no avail.
It's only a matter of time though, right?
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Memory Drift
Autumn (the season, not the person (although she's cool too)) is by far my favorite season. The chill in the air, the colours, the crackles and crunches from falling leaves, and the crisp scent transition between summer and winter fills my senses.
This is when I become entranced with memories. Friends, family, lovers, mistakes, regrets, accomplishments... the memories of these snatches of time drift into my soul's eye in yellows, oranges, and reds. Sometimes they fill me with love and wonder. Sometimes I laugh at the craziness of them. Sometimes they can be difficult to relive.
But they are always colourful. Hand me that rake.
Autumn (the season, not the person (although she's cool too)) is by far my favorite season. The chill in the air, the colours, the crackles and crunches from falling leaves, and the crisp scent transition between summer and winter fills my senses.
This is when I become entranced with memories. Friends, family, lovers, mistakes, regrets, accomplishments... the memories of these snatches of time drift into my soul's eye in yellows, oranges, and reds. Sometimes they fill me with love and wonder. Sometimes I laugh at the craziness of them. Sometimes they can be difficult to relive.
But they are always colourful. Hand me that rake.
Monday, October 21, 2002
Beer, Blood, and Blah
Oooff.. I'm tired this morning.
On Saturday night, I met up with my childhood friend Lynn down at Hurley's Irish Pub. Solstice was playing, which guarenteed good foot stomping music. Lynn and I have basically known each other since Grade One, waaaaayyy back when we were just tykes at St. Vincent's Elementary School in Ste. Foy.
Lynn and I were never really close friends, but I liked her and she liked me (at least, as much as our Schoolastic Social Hierarchy would allow). She now lives in the West Island, but will soon realize her Haligonian aspirations sometime in the next year when she gets transferred out to Halifax. Oooooh... I'm envious! But at least that means I'll know one person out that way when I finally decide to move out that way.
Two pics from that night: The one Lynn begged me to delete (heh) and a pic of Lynn and myself.
Getting home at 3 am makes for a very bleary-eyed Dave who had to be ready at 9 am to speed off to Kingston with Arin, Ron (aka The King of Canada), and Taras. When we arrived in Kingston at 12:30 pm, we headed straight to the COGECO TV station to meet up with Anthony Mann (the founder of the Midnight Players). After a brief production meeting with the crew, we started to rehearse on the TV stage. You can click here to see the pictures from that.
Unfortunately, I'm not in any of these pics 'cause I was taking them. When we got around to my taping session, we forgot to take a pic of me. Drat.
We started with the reading of the play manuscript infront of the cameras, and when that was rehearsed a few times, we moved into a creepy part of the basement.
My contribution to this production was as Prof. Maximillian Shrek, a folklorist fully-versed on the history of Vlad the Impaler, the real-life persona behnd the Dracula legend. I was dressed in a thick gray sweater (the horse-blanket, as I like to call it) and I let my beard get a bit scruffy for a more realistic look. With a few well-placed lights, I began to tell my story of the history of Vlad III Dracula. I got too see the recording afterwards in the editing room. It came out better than I expected, if I do say so myself.
Looking back on it, I wish I could've been a bit more relaxed about the recording. I've never performed in front of a camera before. Having this cycloptic doo-hickey recording your every move can really be intimidating when you're not used to it. There was some unexpected noises coming from upstairs which threw me off, but I wish I had had the presence of mind to just incorporate them into the performance (by looking startled momentarily and then continuing cautiously, as if I were revealing secret information).
Oh well... hopefully I'll get plenty more chances in front of the camera to redeem myself. In the meantime, the taped and live portions of this show will be aired on October 31st on the COGECO station (channel 13 in the Kingston-Toronto area).
Very exciting stuff.
Oooff.. I'm tired this morning.
On Saturday night, I met up with my childhood friend Lynn down at Hurley's Irish Pub. Solstice was playing, which guarenteed good foot stomping music. Lynn and I have basically known each other since Grade One, waaaaayyy back when we were just tykes at St. Vincent's Elementary School in Ste. Foy.
Lynn and I were never really close friends, but I liked her and she liked me (at least, as much as our Schoolastic Social Hierarchy would allow). She now lives in the West Island, but will soon realize her Haligonian aspirations sometime in the next year when she gets transferred out to Halifax. Oooooh... I'm envious! But at least that means I'll know one person out that way when I finally decide to move out that way.
Two pics from that night: The one Lynn begged me to delete (heh) and a pic of Lynn and myself.
Getting home at 3 am makes for a very bleary-eyed Dave who had to be ready at 9 am to speed off to Kingston with Arin, Ron (aka The King of Canada), and Taras. When we arrived in Kingston at 12:30 pm, we headed straight to the COGECO TV station to meet up with Anthony Mann (the founder of the Midnight Players). After a brief production meeting with the crew, we started to rehearse on the TV stage. You can click here to see the pictures from that.
Unfortunately, I'm not in any of these pics 'cause I was taking them. When we got around to my taping session, we forgot to take a pic of me. Drat.
We started with the reading of the play manuscript infront of the cameras, and when that was rehearsed a few times, we moved into a creepy part of the basement.
My contribution to this production was as Prof. Maximillian Shrek, a folklorist fully-versed on the history of Vlad the Impaler, the real-life persona behnd the Dracula legend. I was dressed in a thick gray sweater (the horse-blanket, as I like to call it) and I let my beard get a bit scruffy for a more realistic look. With a few well-placed lights, I began to tell my story of the history of Vlad III Dracula. I got too see the recording afterwards in the editing room. It came out better than I expected, if I do say so myself.
Looking back on it, I wish I could've been a bit more relaxed about the recording. I've never performed in front of a camera before. Having this cycloptic doo-hickey recording your every move can really be intimidating when you're not used to it. There was some unexpected noises coming from upstairs which threw me off, but I wish I had had the presence of mind to just incorporate them into the performance (by looking startled momentarily and then continuing cautiously, as if I were revealing secret information).
Oh well... hopefully I'll get plenty more chances in front of the camera to redeem myself. In the meantime, the taped and live portions of this show will be aired on October 31st on the COGECO station (channel 13 in the Kingston-Toronto area).
Very exciting stuff.
Thursday, October 17, 2002
I'm going to be on TV, blah
This weekend, I'll be going to Kingston to shoot a staged interview for a TV special to be aired on the 31st of October. The plotline is that some lost Bram Stoker manuscripts were unearthed recently that revealed the true nature of his famed Dracula (otherwise known as Vlad III The Impaler).
Taras and Arin will be reading the newly revised play live on a TV set (in full period costumes on a set of some kind) on the 31st, but before this live performance takes place, there will be two "experts" who will talk about the history behind Prince Vlad of the House of Basarab. I'll be playing one of those experts.
This show is being produced by a TV station in Kingston and broadcast in a viewing area that reaches somewhere between Kingston and Toronto (a 75000 person viewership, I think). When this is all done, the whole TV special will be available on video and DVD, in case you're interested. Wow... my own DVD! Should I start building my display case for those little bald gold statues now?
So I'm learning all I can about our old pal Vlad and the notorious goings-on in Wallachia. While facinating, it's pretty gruesome stuff. Vlad was one sick puppy.
Still, some of the folklore is pretty interesting. Apparently Veracity Vlad valued honesty above all else and was particularly brutal with dishonest people. Here are two stories I found interesting from the Book of Vlad:
This weekend, I'll be going to Kingston to shoot a staged interview for a TV special to be aired on the 31st of October. The plotline is that some lost Bram Stoker manuscripts were unearthed recently that revealed the true nature of his famed Dracula (otherwise known as Vlad III The Impaler).
Taras and Arin will be reading the newly revised play live on a TV set (in full period costumes on a set of some kind) on the 31st, but before this live performance takes place, there will be two "experts" who will talk about the history behind Prince Vlad of the House of Basarab. I'll be playing one of those experts.
This show is being produced by a TV station in Kingston and broadcast in a viewing area that reaches somewhere between Kingston and Toronto (a 75000 person viewership, I think). When this is all done, the whole TV special will be available on video and DVD, in case you're interested. Wow... my own DVD! Should I start building my display case for those little bald gold statues now?
So I'm learning all I can about our old pal Vlad and the notorious goings-on in Wallachia. While facinating, it's pretty gruesome stuff. Vlad was one sick puppy.
Still, some of the folklore is pretty interesting. Apparently Veracity Vlad valued honesty above all else and was particularly brutal with dishonest people. Here are two stories I found interesting from the Book of Vlad:
- The Golden Cup
Dracula was known throughout his land for his fierce insistence on honesty and order. Thieves seldom dared practice their trade within Dracula's domain – they knew that the stake awaited any who were caught.
Dracula was so confident in the effectiveness of his law that he placed a golden cup on display in the central square of Tirgoviste. The cup was never stolen and rermained entirely unmolested throughout Dracula's reign.
The Foreign Merchant
A merchant from a foreign land once visited Dracula's capital of Tirgoviste. Aware of the reputation of Dracula's land for honesty, he left a treasure-laden cart unguarded in the street over night. Returning to his wagaon in the morning, the merchant was shocked to find 160 golden ducats missing. When the merchant complained of his loss to the prince, Dracula assured him that his money would be returned and invited him to remain in the palace that night.
Dracula then issued a proclamation to the city – find the thief and return the money or the city will be destroyed. During the night he ordered that 160 ducats plus one extra be taken from his own treasury and placed in the merchant's cart.
On returning to his cart in the morning and counting his money the merchant discovered the extra ducat. The merchant returned to Dracula and reported that his money had indeed been returned plus an extra ducat. Meanwhile the thief had been captured and turned over to the prince's guards along with the stolen money.
Dracula ordered the thief impaled and informed the merchant that if he had not reported the extra ducat he would have been impaled alongside the thief.
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Validation
I was chatting with a friend of mine about this burning desire aspiring writers have to be published. My friend insisted that getting published would validate his writing; it would validate him and his talent as a writer.
Maybe it's because I've spent over nine years in the professional writing business and I already know the thrill of seeing your work printed and bound. Don't get me wrong: it's a rush to hold the finished copy in your hands.
But the difference between being a professional writer and being a creative writer is, sadly, the money (and how regularly you get the paid). I was paid while I was writing the books I produced (and paid fairly well). Despite what you might have heard, even in technical writing, there's a fair amount of creativity that you need to employ to write a good User's Guide.
There a big difference between getting published and receiving acclaim for your publications. There are millions of published books out there, but only a handful of them get noticed by anyone with a critical eye. And often, when the publications do get some acclaim, it has more to do with politics than talent.
It gives that validation a bit of a hollow ring, doesn't it?
But even if you get published and acclaimed, you're still defining the quality of your work based on other people's opinions. If you don't believe in the quality of your own writing, then no amount of publishing, acclaim, or nice words will make you feel any more validated.
You have to believe that your work is good enough to be published. It's not in the act of publishing that your work will suddenly be good or that you will feel any more validated about your own self-worth (this is more of a warning than a prediction).
Once you believe this in some measure, the act of creating (whatever form that creation might take) will suddenly bring more satisfaction than the possibility of distribution to the masses. After that, if you actually do get published (and even noticed), this will add to your confidence rather than replace it, giving you the strength and motivation to continue.
Now go and create something beautiful. Not because someone else might think it's pretty, but because you know it's wonderous and needs to be expressed.
"Believe half of what your read, none of what you hear, and everything you write." -- Unknown
I was chatting with a friend of mine about this burning desire aspiring writers have to be published. My friend insisted that getting published would validate his writing; it would validate him and his talent as a writer.
Maybe it's because I've spent over nine years in the professional writing business and I already know the thrill of seeing your work printed and bound. Don't get me wrong: it's a rush to hold the finished copy in your hands.
But the difference between being a professional writer and being a creative writer is, sadly, the money (and how regularly you get the paid). I was paid while I was writing the books I produced (and paid fairly well). Despite what you might have heard, even in technical writing, there's a fair amount of creativity that you need to employ to write a good User's Guide.
There a big difference between getting published and receiving acclaim for your publications. There are millions of published books out there, but only a handful of them get noticed by anyone with a critical eye. And often, when the publications do get some acclaim, it has more to do with politics than talent.
It gives that validation a bit of a hollow ring, doesn't it?
But even if you get published and acclaimed, you're still defining the quality of your work based on other people's opinions. If you don't believe in the quality of your own writing, then no amount of publishing, acclaim, or nice words will make you feel any more validated.
You have to believe that your work is good enough to be published. It's not in the act of publishing that your work will suddenly be good or that you will feel any more validated about your own self-worth (this is more of a warning than a prediction).
Once you believe this in some measure, the act of creating (whatever form that creation might take) will suddenly bring more satisfaction than the possibility of distribution to the masses. After that, if you actually do get published (and even noticed), this will add to your confidence rather than replace it, giving you the strength and motivation to continue.
Now go and create something beautiful. Not because someone else might think it's pretty, but because you know it's wonderous and needs to be expressed.
"Believe half of what your read, none of what you hear, and everything you write." -- Unknown
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Foggy brain
I went to celebrate Tarasmas on Sunday night (Taras' birthday). It was a small party, but the people were fun. And to those who couldn't make it, we know who you are because you were missed.
There was something I was supposed to blog about (something to do with the lovely lady carressing Marc's cranium and a floppy rubber penis being waved about), but between the Scotch, beer, and Amanda nibbling on my neck, I can't remember what it was I was threatening to write about.
And damn me for not bringing my digicam. Drat!
I went to celebrate Tarasmas on Sunday night (Taras' birthday). It was a small party, but the people were fun. And to those who couldn't make it, we know who you are because you were missed.
There was something I was supposed to blog about (something to do with the lovely lady carressing Marc's cranium and a floppy rubber penis being waved about), but between the Scotch, beer, and Amanda nibbling on my neck, I can't remember what it was I was threatening to write about.
And damn me for not bringing my digicam. Drat!
Turkey Thanksgiving
After a phone call to my parents on Monday, I got all nostalgic (especially considering that I wasn't going to be seeing them this Yule).
I decided to blow off the work I was supposed to do and have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I invited a couple of friends over and I served up the following:
When I get my own house, I'm going to make sure it has a decent-sized kitchen. I have barely enough counterspace without having to juggle pots and pans constantly.
And a dishwasher. Definitely need a dishwasher. It's going to take me hours to get through the mess I left behind. Argh.
Still... it was delish and fun. I felt like I was having a Blork moment!
After a phone call to my parents on Monday, I got all nostalgic (especially considering that I wasn't going to be seeing them this Yule).
I decided to blow off the work I was supposed to do and have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I invited a couple of friends over and I served up the following:
- garden salad (with raisins and harvarti cheese, sprinkled with a homemade balsamic vinegrette)
- marinated turkey thighs
- veggies/mashed potatoes
- some bread and brie/blue cheese with Porto
- blueberry pie
When I get my own house, I'm going to make sure it has a decent-sized kitchen. I have barely enough counterspace without having to juggle pots and pans constantly.
And a dishwasher. Definitely need a dishwasher. It's going to take me hours to get through the mess I left behind. Argh.
Still... it was delish and fun. I felt like I was having a Blork moment!
Sunday, October 13, 2002
The List of Corruption
I have added another name to my list of Evil Undead Blogger Army: Kerri. I think she'll be using her blog to publish some of her poetry.
Other blogs I would like to take some responsibility (even if it's passive) are as follows:
Of course, I got my inspiration from Bill. She's my Blog Mummy.
I have added another name to my list of Evil Undead Blogger Army: Kerri. I think she'll be using her blog to publish some of her poetry.
Other blogs I would like to take some responsibility (even if it's passive) are as follows:
Of course, I got my inspiration from Bill. She's my Blog Mummy.
Weekend Reviews
I went to see two performances this weekend: King Lear (a la Godfather) and Spirited Away (the new Miyazaki film).
On Saturday night, the gang emailed me and said they were heading out to the Centaur to see Purple 9's interpretation of King Lear. The theme that made this production unique was that there characters were placed in New York in the 1940's and instead of being King, Lear is the head of the mafia (Don Lear).
The production was interesting. The writer stayed fairly true to the original work, peppering it with mobisms from the time ("whacking", "sleep wit da fishes", and "Whatsa matter?"). The acting was strong and passionate, but slightly uneven across the cast. The performances of Pontes (Lear), McCullough (Kent), McMahon (Gloucester), Courtemanche (Edgar), and George (Edmund) were powerful and believable, widening the gap between them and their fellow actors.
My only suggestion would be to slow down a bit with the lines. With the exception of McCullough and George, I found the other actors rushed through their lines. Unless you were intimately familiar with King Lear, you would not be able to follow the story fully. Maybe if I was sitting closer to the stage so there would be less echo, I would've been able to hear better. But I doubt it.
I would recommend that you go catch this performance though! It's playing at the Centaur this week only, so don't delay. For $15, you can't go wrong.
The other presentation I took in was Spirited Away, the new animated film from Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoké).
I was a bit disappointed with this film: there wasn't anything really outstanding about the animation and the story, while interesting and challenging, had its weaker points. I realize that I might not be able to appreciate all the symbolism in this film since I don't watch alot of Animé, but there were many loose ends that didn't seem to have much to do with the plotline. Still... the characters in this film are strong and bizarre,
I'd say this film would be a renter. If I had the choice between seeing this film and Princess Mononoké again on the big screen, Princess Mononoké would win hands-down (and I already own it on DVD!). PM is a tighter story and the animation is cleaner and more advanced. What I love about PM is that there are no clearly defined villains or heroes (except for Ashitaka). It's a finely crafted story.
Aside from that, this is my last week of work at Softimage. Hopefully, another contract will turn up soon to keep me out of the poor house (damn my addiction to Fabrege Eggs!).
I went to see two performances this weekend: King Lear (a la Godfather) and Spirited Away (the new Miyazaki film).
On Saturday night, the gang emailed me and said they were heading out to the Centaur to see Purple 9's interpretation of King Lear. The theme that made this production unique was that there characters were placed in New York in the 1940's and instead of being King, Lear is the head of the mafia (Don Lear).
Taken from the Fringe Festival program:
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S KING LEAR: A GODFATHER'S TALE
Purple 9 Productions (Fringe 2002)
Don Lear, the greatest Godfather the mob has ever known, is tired of his job and hands the reins of power to his daughters.
The production was interesting. The writer stayed fairly true to the original work, peppering it with mobisms from the time ("whacking", "sleep wit da fishes", and "Whatsa matter?"). The acting was strong and passionate, but slightly uneven across the cast. The performances of Pontes (Lear), McCullough (Kent), McMahon (Gloucester), Courtemanche (Edgar), and George (Edmund) were powerful and believable, widening the gap between them and their fellow actors.
My only suggestion would be to slow down a bit with the lines. With the exception of McCullough and George, I found the other actors rushed through their lines. Unless you were intimately familiar with King Lear, you would not be able to follow the story fully. Maybe if I was sitting closer to the stage so there would be less echo, I would've been able to hear better. But I doubt it.
I would recommend that you go catch this performance though! It's playing at the Centaur this week only, so don't delay. For $15, you can't go wrong.
The other presentation I took in was Spirited Away, the new animated film from Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoké).
I was a bit disappointed with this film: there wasn't anything really outstanding about the animation and the story, while interesting and challenging, had its weaker points. I realize that I might not be able to appreciate all the symbolism in this film since I don't watch alot of Animé, but there were many loose ends that didn't seem to have much to do with the plotline. Still... the characters in this film are strong and bizarre,
I'd say this film would be a renter. If I had the choice between seeing this film and Princess Mononoké again on the big screen, Princess Mononoké would win hands-down (and I already own it on DVD!). PM is a tighter story and the animation is cleaner and more advanced. What I love about PM is that there are no clearly defined villains or heroes (except for Ashitaka). It's a finely crafted story.
Aside from that, this is my last week of work at Softimage. Hopefully, another contract will turn up soon to keep me out of the poor house (damn my addiction to Fabrege Eggs!).
Saturday, October 12, 2002
Friday, October 11, 2002
Hanging on
I've been in a few relationships in my life. Some were good, ran their course, and then just fizzled out. Some were intense at the beginning and then burnt-out quickly when we realized we just weren't right for each other. A few ended in explosions with mucho high and mighty thunder and lightning.
But for a few weeks (or months, or years) after they end, I spend time in quiet reflection. I look at the relationship and try to figure out what went wrong. Sometimes the answer is obvious, sometimes it's a mystery, sometimes there just no explanation. I try to learn from my mistakes (and I've made a few doozies) and then I move on.
But I do not harbour any anger or hate for these people just because the relationshp is over. What's the point of that? We tried to build something and it didn't work out. If it ended badly, why hang onto to the grief and pain that drove us apart in the first place? It's useless and just weighs you down.
I don't mean that the transgressions should be automatically forgiven right off the bat... But harbouring a deep-rooted mad-on for the person just can't be healthy.
Then again, I've never been in a relationship where the girl destroyed my car, killed my cat, or put her cigarettes out on my body. That's a whole other ball of wax that I'm not referring to.
I've been in a few relationships in my life. Some were good, ran their course, and then just fizzled out. Some were intense at the beginning and then burnt-out quickly when we realized we just weren't right for each other. A few ended in explosions with mucho high and mighty thunder and lightning.
But for a few weeks (or months, or years) after they end, I spend time in quiet reflection. I look at the relationship and try to figure out what went wrong. Sometimes the answer is obvious, sometimes it's a mystery, sometimes there just no explanation. I try to learn from my mistakes (and I've made a few doozies) and then I move on.
But I do not harbour any anger or hate for these people just because the relationshp is over. What's the point of that? We tried to build something and it didn't work out. If it ended badly, why hang onto to the grief and pain that drove us apart in the first place? It's useless and just weighs you down.
I don't mean that the transgressions should be automatically forgiven right off the bat... But harbouring a deep-rooted mad-on for the person just can't be healthy.
Then again, I've never been in a relationship where the girl destroyed my car, killed my cat, or put her cigarettes out on my body. That's a whole other ball of wax that I'm not referring to.
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
Pre-Date Once Over
Now that I'm dating again, I am going to make this website a pre-requisite for any girl to visit before meeting me for coffee/pints/movie/dancing/smooches. I need them to be in the right psychological frame of mind.
So long before you become the next ex-Ms. Poohbah, make sure you take the Pre-Date Confidence Builder.
Believe me honey... we'll all be happier in the end. I'm only doing this because I care so deeply.
(it worked for Martine, it'll work for you!)
Now that I'm dating again, I am going to make this website a pre-requisite for any girl to visit before meeting me for coffee/pints/movie/dancing/smooches. I need them to be in the right psychological frame of mind.
So long before you become the next ex-Ms. Poohbah, make sure you take the Pre-Date Confidence Builder.
Believe me honey... we'll all be happier in the end. I'm only doing this because I care so deeply.
(it worked for Martine, it'll work for you!)
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Monday, October 07, 2002
Is that Christmas Turkey I Smell?
And speaking of fantastic storytellers: Stuart Maclean is coming to Montreal. On December 6th. At Place Des Arts. The show is called A Vinyl Cafe Christmas. 'Nuff said, as the man says.
Oh yeah... I've already bought my tickets (third row from the stage). You?
And speaking of fantastic storytellers: Stuart Maclean is coming to Montreal. On December 6th. At Place Des Arts. The show is called A Vinyl Cafe Christmas. 'Nuff said, as the man says.
Oh yeah... I've already bought my tickets (third row from the stage). You?
And so it ends, oh so bittersweet
The first edition of the Harvest Gala of storytelling is now over and I'm missing it already.
The last night of the Gala weekend was held at Hurley's Irish Pub and we had over 30 people in attendance and five storytellers to entertain them (myself, Jack, Dylan, Molly, and Angie). Each of the tellers were able to tell two stories; the evening started at 8 pm and finished at 10 pm. I even sold one of my CDs (thanks JR)!
So in all, we had over 200 people come out and listen to stories over the weekend. Not bad at all! After doing a quick calculation, taking all our expenses into account, we've come out about $500 ahead. A profit! We'll be squirrelling that money away to use the next time we hold this Gala weekend (in two years).
Why two years? Because next year is the Intercultural Festival of Storytelling, a week-long festival that has features tellers from all over the world. In the last four years, the English storytellers have been getting more and more attention in this festival, so that'll be something to look forward to.
I can only hope that our Harvest Gala helped to promote storytelling as an art form to a whole new audience.
The first edition of the Harvest Gala of storytelling is now over and I'm missing it already.
The last night of the Gala weekend was held at Hurley's Irish Pub and we had over 30 people in attendance and five storytellers to entertain them (myself, Jack, Dylan, Molly, and Angie). Each of the tellers were able to tell two stories; the evening started at 8 pm and finished at 10 pm. I even sold one of my CDs (thanks JR)!
So in all, we had over 200 people come out and listen to stories over the weekend. Not bad at all! After doing a quick calculation, taking all our expenses into account, we've come out about $500 ahead. A profit! We'll be squirrelling that money away to use the next time we hold this Gala weekend (in two years).
Why two years? Because next year is the Intercultural Festival of Storytelling, a week-long festival that has features tellers from all over the world. In the last four years, the English storytellers have been getting more and more attention in this festival, so that'll be something to look forward to.
I can only hope that our Harvest Gala helped to promote storytelling as an art form to a whole new audience.
Sunday, October 06, 2002
Saturday Night Concert
We received about 80 people to our Saturday night concert, which means (thank the Gods) that we'll be able to cover our expenses and even have a bit left over for the next Gala weekend (in two years). The tellers were in superb form and the stories were masterfully told. The stories were unexpected, meaning I didn't know most of them and I couldn't tell where they were going until the end.
I had also attended the Children's concert Saturday afternoon and there were 40 people in attendance (20 kids, 20 adults). Children's stories are much more interactive and the kids love to be able to move, dance, sing, and participate in the stories. Although many stories that we tell to an adult audience can be told to children as well, sometimes the adult stories can have themes or messages that kids just can't relate to (and sometimes adult stories can go on for longer than a child's attention span can handle).
The last show is tonight at Hurley's Irish Pub (on Crescent, below Ste. Catherine), which I'll be hosting. I expect that we'll be gettin 6 to 8 tellers (including myself) which should make for a 2 hour + show. I'll still trying to decide which stories I'll be telling tonight. I want to have one funny story and one deeper story. One of my funnier stories is Jack's Tall Tale, but I've told that one so often, I'm starting to feel uncomfortable re-telling it every time. I have another Jack tale called When Jack Cured the Doctor, but I don't know if I can have that one ready for tonight.
I hope you can make it out to the storytelling tonight! I can, without a doubt, guarentee you that you will enjoy the evening.
We received about 80 people to our Saturday night concert, which means (thank the Gods) that we'll be able to cover our expenses and even have a bit left over for the next Gala weekend (in two years). The tellers were in superb form and the stories were masterfully told. The stories were unexpected, meaning I didn't know most of them and I couldn't tell where they were going until the end.
I had also attended the Children's concert Saturday afternoon and there were 40 people in attendance (20 kids, 20 adults). Children's stories are much more interactive and the kids love to be able to move, dance, sing, and participate in the stories. Although many stories that we tell to an adult audience can be told to children as well, sometimes the adult stories can have themes or messages that kids just can't relate to (and sometimes adult stories can go on for longer than a child's attention span can handle).
The last show is tonight at Hurley's Irish Pub (on Crescent, below Ste. Catherine), which I'll be hosting. I expect that we'll be gettin 6 to 8 tellers (including myself) which should make for a 2 hour + show. I'll still trying to decide which stories I'll be telling tonight. I want to have one funny story and one deeper story. One of my funnier stories is Jack's Tall Tale, but I've told that one so often, I'm starting to feel uncomfortable re-telling it every time. I have another Jack tale called When Jack Cured the Doctor, but I don't know if I can have that one ready for tonight.
I hope you can make it out to the storytelling tonight! I can, without a doubt, guarentee you that you will enjoy the evening.
Saturday, October 05, 2002
First Night: Success!
To kick off the Harvest Gala, we received over 60 people on our first night (the monthly meeting of the Storyteller's Guild Story Swapping Ground)! Normally, we get about 30 to 40 people in attendance, so we were very happy (over half those people registered themselves as members that very night)!
We went a bit over our alloted time, finishing the night at 10:15 pm, but there were so many fantastic tellers! I told a new story that I had heard last year at a French storytelling (I translated it) called The Rose Bush. Although I still need to polish a few parts of that story off (it's one of my more complicated ones), it was well-received by the listeners and I was quite satisfied with it. That's one more story in my repertoire!
I made promise to myself to learn one new story every month this year (which would increase my repertoire to about 40 stories). The next story I'll be learning is a creepy one for Halloween called The Ticking Clock. You can hear the original version at The Moonlit Road.
To kick off the Harvest Gala, we received over 60 people on our first night (the monthly meeting of the Storyteller's Guild Story Swapping Ground)! Normally, we get about 30 to 40 people in attendance, so we were very happy (over half those people registered themselves as members that very night)!
We went a bit over our alloted time, finishing the night at 10:15 pm, but there were so many fantastic tellers! I told a new story that I had heard last year at a French storytelling (I translated it) called The Rose Bush. Although I still need to polish a few parts of that story off (it's one of my more complicated ones), it was well-received by the listeners and I was quite satisfied with it. That's one more story in my repertoire!
I made promise to myself to learn one new story every month this year (which would increase my repertoire to about 40 stories). The next story I'll be learning is a creepy one for Halloween called The Ticking Clock. You can hear the original version at The Moonlit Road.
Friday, October 04, 2002
Alternatives
I've always thought this was a better alternative to War and all of its useless death, just because two guys can't play in the sandbox nicely together.
Of course, you could even take this down a notch. Instead of a showdown between the two leaders, why not have a definitive game of Chess? And if that is too dry for you, conflicts could always be settled over a game of D&D:
George: Aha! Mah 8th-level Paladin just whooped yer ass... Tuh me go the spoils of war, hyuk!
Saddam: I do not understand how my Halfling Assassin could have failed in his task. Infidel! I will have him executed and his character sheet shredded.
V.Diesel: Quit yer whinin' Saddy... The battle was fair and square, according to the 3rd Edition rules. You shouldn't have opened that portal... Haven't you ever read the Evil Overlord rules? Never try to consume any energy bubble larger than your head.
Saddam: Bah... I despise you both. Your chips are stale and your soda pop collection shows no imagination. That's it... I'm off. Same time next week?
(I thought Davezilla was kidding)
I've always thought this was a better alternative to War and all of its useless death, just because two guys can't play in the sandbox nicely together.
Of course, you could even take this down a notch. Instead of a showdown between the two leaders, why not have a definitive game of Chess? And if that is too dry for you, conflicts could always be settled over a game of D&D:
George: Aha! Mah 8th-level Paladin just whooped yer ass... Tuh me go the spoils of war, hyuk!
Saddam: I do not understand how my Halfling Assassin could have failed in his task. Infidel! I will have him executed and his character sheet shredded.
V.Diesel: Quit yer whinin' Saddy... The battle was fair and square, according to the 3rd Edition rules. You shouldn't have opened that portal... Haven't you ever read the Evil Overlord rules? Never try to consume any energy bubble larger than your head.
Saddam: Bah... I despise you both. Your chips are stale and your soda pop collection shows no imagination. That's it... I'm off. Same time next week?
(I thought Davezilla was kidding)
Thursday, October 03, 2002
Hunt, hunt, hunt...
The intense editing part of my contract has begun. I'll be putting in the late hours and weekend time from now until the end of the month. Bye-bye regular life.
To give you an idea of what Technical Editing is like, imagine that you have to find a needle in a haystack. You search, and search, and search for hours on end. And if you do find it, all you have to show for your hours of search is a tiny needle (and alot of displaced hay).
In my case, I've got 3000 pages (bales) of hay to get though. Yikes! Fortunately, the guides are in good shape, so I'm not finding much (hence the needle analogy).
My eyes hurt. Gotta keep lookin'...
The intense editing part of my contract has begun. I'll be putting in the late hours and weekend time from now until the end of the month. Bye-bye regular life.
To give you an idea of what Technical Editing is like, imagine that you have to find a needle in a haystack. You search, and search, and search for hours on end. And if you do find it, all you have to show for your hours of search is a tiny needle (and alot of displaced hay).
In my case, I've got 3000 pages (bales) of hay to get though. Yikes! Fortunately, the guides are in good shape, so I'm not finding much (hence the needle analogy).
My eyes hurt. Gotta keep lookin'...
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
This Keeps Getting Better and Better
I just heard from one of my fellow organizers that the Montreal Gazette is going to put The Harvest Gala on the first page of the Entertainment section marked as their "Best Bet".
Wow. I have no idea how that happened. I'll have to get that page framed!
The Gala is only two days away. Please ignore the sound of chattering teeth.
I just heard from one of my fellow organizers that the Montreal Gazette is going to put The Harvest Gala on the first page of the Entertainment section marked as their "Best Bet".
Wow. I have no idea how that happened. I'll have to get that page framed!
The Gala is only two days away. Please ignore the sound of chattering teeth.
4 minutes of fame used... 10 minutes left!
The phone-in interview with Anne Lagacé Dowson went great! I got to plug the festival, talking about storytelling and its universal appeal, and even tell a mini-ghost story!
The request for a ghost story caught me a bit off-guard though. One of her researchers had called me in the morning to get some last minute info and to tell me what kind of questions I could expect. I specifically asked him if she would ask me for a story and he said no ("She won't put you on the spot like that"). Good thing I came prepared!
The ghost story I told was a Welsh tale and it's the shortest one I know (most of my stories are between 10 and 20 minutes long). It goes like this:
Click here to read and hear more fantastic ghost stories from the American South at The Moonlit Road.
The phone-in interview with Anne Lagacé Dowson went great! I got to plug the festival, talking about storytelling and its universal appeal, and even tell a mini-ghost story!
The request for a ghost story caught me a bit off-guard though. One of her researchers had called me in the morning to get some last minute info and to tell me what kind of questions I could expect. I specifically asked him if she would ask me for a story and he said no ("She won't put you on the spot like that"). Good thing I came prepared!
The ghost story I told was a Welsh tale and it's the shortest one I know (most of my stories are between 10 and 20 minutes long). It goes like this:
- Two men were working in a field on a hot summer's day, tending to the soil and planting the seeds. After several hours, one man stood up, leaned on his shovel, and said to the second man "Y'know... I don't really believe in ghosts."
The second man stood up, leaned forward on his shovel, and, looking the first man in the eye, he said "Y'know what? I don't believe in ghosts either."
And the second man vanished!
Click here to read and hear more fantastic ghost stories from the American South at The Moonlit Road.
Tuesday, October 01, 2002
CBC's a knockin'... Knock knock knocking on my chamber door
CBC will be a-calling tomorrow to interview me for the Harvest Gala weekend. I have a pre-interview in the morning and then the real interview will be in the afternoon at 4 pm during Home Run with Anne Lagacé Dowson (on Radio One).
Woohoo! It'll be my first brush with the mainstream media in a long time... Ye Gods, what will I wear?
Wait a minute... Radio. Right, right.
CBC will be a-calling tomorrow to interview me for the Harvest Gala weekend. I have a pre-interview in the morning and then the real interview will be in the afternoon at 4 pm during Home Run with Anne Lagacé Dowson (on Radio One).
Woohoo! It'll be my first brush with the mainstream media in a long time... Ye Gods, what will I wear?
Wait a minute... Radio. Right, right.
Do you know...?
Not much to report today. The flu seems to be on the run (good thing). I've been getting calls from the CBC, the Gazette, and all sorts of people about the Harvest Gala. I think we're going to be a hit!
Although now I'm starting to worry about the Saturday night show. We had to rent the Unitarian Church hall for the Saturday afternoon and evening performances, so I hope we get enough people in for those shows to pay our expenses. Most of the people I speak to though are telling me they are going to come by on Sunday night to see the show that I'm hosting. That show is free.
Don't get me wrong... I'll be pleased as punch if we get a solid turn-out for the Sunday show. Actually, as long as we get 30 people to turn up to the Saturday night show, it'll cover our basic costs. We got over 80 people the last time we did a storytelling concert in the Unitarian Church hall, so I shouldn't worry.
In an unrelated note, here's my favorite line from Shrek. I just felt like hearing it again today.
Not much to report today. The flu seems to be on the run (good thing). I've been getting calls from the CBC, the Gazette, and all sorts of people about the Harvest Gala. I think we're going to be a hit!
Although now I'm starting to worry about the Saturday night show. We had to rent the Unitarian Church hall for the Saturday afternoon and evening performances, so I hope we get enough people in for those shows to pay our expenses. Most of the people I speak to though are telling me they are going to come by on Sunday night to see the show that I'm hosting. That show is free.
Don't get me wrong... I'll be pleased as punch if we get a solid turn-out for the Sunday show. Actually, as long as we get 30 people to turn up to the Saturday night show, it'll cover our basic costs. We got over 80 people the last time we did a storytelling concert in the Unitarian Church hall, so I shouldn't worry.
In an unrelated note, here's my favorite line from Shrek. I just felt like hearing it again today.
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