The end of safety?

Last night, I was supposed to meet a bunch of friends at Cafe L'Etranger on Ste. Catherine street. A few of us stopped off at Hurley's Irish Pub to wish Scott (Ceri's husband) a happy birthday and then we headed down to the Cafe.

Once again, going to the pub has probably saved my life and spared me a dishload of trauma. Half and hour before we arrived at Cafe L'Etranger, there was a shoot-out that left a 25 year-old man riddled with bullets. I heard on the radio this morning that the young man is expected to live.

Reports of these outbursts of violence are starting to crop up more and more. Shootings in local bars, violent protests at Concordia, knifings at Alexis Nihon, gangs roaming the streets.

As I was walking down Ste. Catherine street (after catching My Big Fat Greek Wedding at the Paramount) last week, I had to maneuver around two young punks dressed to the nines in their hip-hop gear and practically taking up both sides of the street with their swagger, daring others to cross their paths.

A young woman ahead of me hadn't noticed them and clumsily brushed against one as she walked down the street. Both men stopped, turned around, and flipped her the bird while making all sorts of idle threats (more to themselves than to the woman). One of them noticed me watching them, turned to me as I hurried away, and shouted "What the FUCK are you lookin' at?"

I don't know if it's because I've been reading the Gazette too much, but for the first time in nine years in this city, I felt unsafe. Is this the beginning of the end?

Corner Shot... with a touch of English

I went out last night for an evening of billiards with my friend J. After meeting up at the Second Cup next to the Faubourg, we came out onto Ste. Catherine street and were faced with a decision: Sharks or Fats.

• Sharks: this is a trendy poolhall that has more to do with Beautiful People than it does with pool. They've also got a Bubble bar and neon bowling. The pool tables are in good shape and all, but it's hard to concentrate on what you're doing with all the posturing going on around you. Not that there's anything wrong with posturing, but when it's done in skin-tight clothing and multitudes of package-enhancers (on both sides of the gender spectrum), I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or just stare incredulously.
  
  
• Fats: this is a bare-bones pool hall that has been around for as long as I have been in Montreal (9 years), although I think it may have been a bar called Station 10 or The Terminal at one time (It may have even been the spot of the legendary Toe Blake Tavern). It's dimly lit, slightly hazy, the ambiant music flits between the Jukebox and the Radio (with different volume levels), the pool tables are slightly scuffed and worn-out in spots, and the patrons tend to be average (maybe a bit more rough around the edges).
  

Maybe it's just me, but I'm more in love with the classic version of a pool hall. Dingy, out-of-the-way, slightly smokey, and populated by people who really concentrate on their game (with a furrowing of eyebrows and constant chalking of cues). Not that it helped me any; J kicked my ass with flair and grace.

Back in my college days, I used to skip class fairly regularly to hang at the local pool hall. I was getting quite good at the end and I could hold my own against most people. Now I only get flashes of Billiard Bodaciousness from time to time

Last night wasn't one of them. Still... I had fun.

Take many moments

Many people are observing moments of silence for the 3000+ who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks this time last year.

If you decide to take a moment to do this, don't forget to also remember the hundreds of thousands of innocent people who have lost their lives before 9-11 and since 9-11. This isn't only about the people who died on the planes, in the buildings, and on the ground in New York. There were also plenty of innocent people who have died in Afghanistan, in Israel, and in Palestine. In actual fact, no country has truly escaped unscathed from the ravages of violence, intolerance, and aggression. Even Canada suffered when four of her own soldiers were killed for nothing, the victims of a gloryhound with an itchy trigger finger.

Some of these casualties gave-up their lives freely, some were not given that choice. These people need to be remembered as well because their loss is just as tragic and needless as anyone else's.

At the same time, you may want to give thanks for all the blessings in your life. I'll be thinking of all of you, dear readers, as well as the many people who continue to make my life worth living, despite the bumps and rolls.

25 Lines From Star Wars That Can Be Improved if you Substitute the Word "Pants"

1. A tremor in the pants. The last time I felt this was in the presence of my old master.
2. You are unwise to lower your pants.
3. We've got to be able to get some reading on those pants, up or down.
4. She must have hidden the plans in her pants. Send a detachment down to retrieve them. See to it personally Commander.
5. These pants may not look like much, kid, but they've got it where it counts.
6. I find your lack of pants disturbing.
7. These pants contain the ultimate power in the Universe. I suggest we use it.
8. Han will have those pants down. We've got to give him more time!
9. General Veers, prepare your pants for a surface assault.
10. I used to bulls-eye womp-rats in my pants back home.
11. TK-421. . . Why aren't you in your pants?
12. Lock the door. And hope they don't have pants.
13. Governor Tarkin. I recognized your foul pants when I was brought on board.
14. You look strong enough to pull the pants off of a Gundark.
15. Luke. . . Help me take...these pants off.
16. Great, Chewie, great. Always thinking with your pants.
17. That blast came from those pants. That thing's operational!
18. Don't worry. Chewie and I have gotten into a lot of pants more heavily guarded than this.
19. Maybe you'd like it back in your pants, your highness.
20. Your pants betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for your sister!
21. Jabba doesn't have time for smugglers who drop their pants at the first sign of an Imperial Cruiser.
22. Yeah, well short pants is better than no pants at all, Chewie.
23. Attention. This is Lando Calrissean. The Empire has taken control of my pants, I advise everyone to leave before more troops arrive.
24. I cannot teach him. The boy has no pants.
25. You came in those pants? You're braver than I thought.

(thanks to Andrew for sending this to me)

Jab Jab... Swing!

My first season at Domaine du Createur is officially done and my character has been drowned and buried. If I go back next year, I'll have to create a whole new character. Drat! I was just getting into my old character and my defensive skill with my staff was just starting to improve. Maybe I'll come back as a mage this time.

The game weekend itself was pretty good, but it had its extremely frustrating moments. The way that the storyline ended -- the entire colony being wiped out by a Tsunami -- was a very weak plot twist that left many of us feeling cheated.

I brought my digicam with me to take photos of people in costume, but the digicam inexplicably went dead on the first day. Curses! A few friends has shared their photos from Domaine with me and I've put them up here. I'll be adding to this archive of photos as the pics become available.

And last night, I went to my first boxing class at the YMCA. What fun! Oddly enough, the toughest part of the class was the skipping of the rope. I've never been able to skip rope properly; the only thing I've been able to skip is class. Hopefully, with a little practice, I'll be able to skip rope like a Man.

I'm sure my mother has given up trying to predict what I'm going to say to her when she calls:

Me: Mom! Guess what? I've helped to organize a Storytelling Festival and I'm going to learn how to box!
Mom: Sainte-Benite! Qu'est-ce que tu fais la? Faites attention, pour l'amour de dieu!

French-Canadian mums... you gotta love'em.

Play the Music, Light the Lights

Not enough rock'n roll bands use the muppets in their videos. It's an untapped resource that is only now being explored.

So obviously I'm referring to Weezer's latest release "Keep Fishing" which features the long-dormant cast of the Muppet Show. If you've got 20 minutes to spare, check out the Making of the Gone Fishing video. It's in the Video and Archives section of Weezer's Audio/Video archive.

It's great fun. Enjoy.

Yulblog, September 2002

Another successful Yulblog was had by all down at La Cabane on St. Laurent. The pictures tell the whole story (or maybe they just pose more questions).

It's great to meet the people behind the blogs. There are so many great blog writers in this city and in this country. We rock. I mentionned that I was going to redesign the site, which I was surprised to receive cries of dismay. People like the Pooh Logs! Imagine! Blork even commented on how he liked my Archives being called Old Pooh.

Wow. I guess I'll hang on to this design just in case the new design isn't as good as the old one. Only time will tell.

I was a bit woozy yesterday (before the boozing at Yulblog!), but I'm feeling a bit better now. Of course, I would get sick the week before my camping trip. I'm scarfing down ibuprofen and vitamin C to combat it. Begone evil germs... Vamoose!

Flabio gets in Shape: Part VIII

OOooog... the muscles are stiff this morning! I've decided that I really do like the downtown Y better than the NDG Y. It's bigger, better lit, and the energy is higher. Plus they also have private showers. The shower room in the NDG Y makes me feel a bit too exposed...

I went back through my old routine and, for the most part, I've had to drop all the weights back 10 to 15 lbs. I'm sure I'll be able to get back to the old weight settings in a few weeks if I keep at it. Go me!

And it is now official: I will be prepping myself to be the new Grand Poohbah of Boxmentation! I managed to get the last spot in the Boxing class at the YMCA, so I'll be studying the Sweet Science two to three times a week (the Friday session can be a bit tricky to attend sometimes). The class itself is 1 hour long and it runs for two months. My friend Pam used to box and she says it's quite the work-out all on its own. Maybe if I'm feeling up to it, I'll be able to do my work-out routine after the boxing session. We'll see.

Put up yer dukes!

And a new season begins...

It has been almost 10 years since I left university to make it big in the city, but I always feel like a new chapter begins in September. Back to work after the long weekend, back to school for others, and the end of summer is swiftly on its way. I'll be keeping an eye out for the new colors in the trees.

So in keeping with the new beginnings theme, it's back to putting the gym back into my schedule. Flabio will be making his grand return to the sweatbox known as the YMCA! I've decided that I really do like the downtown YMCA, even thought the NDG Y is closer to home. The gym part of the NDG Y is too cramped and crowded for my liking. Although Jane complains about posers at the downtown YMCA, they don't bother me that much. I actually find them amusing.

Now if only I can remember the combination on my lock...

Better than expected

What a bash! My party went without a single hitch and almost everyone turned up! I spent most of Saturday cleaning up the pad and getting it ready for the guests that were set to arrive at 6 pm. The only thing I couldn't get to was the laundry hanging still hanging on the line. I received plenty of comments on a lovely pair of boxer shorts waving in the breeze.

With all the people who were coming and going, I'd say there were about 30 people who attended that night. Everyone mingled well, the wine/cheese/desserts were delicious, and everyone got on great.

Thanks to everyone who came! And to those who couldn't make it: I'll catch you next time!

I still can't believe how much fun that was. Now... when can I do it again?