God bless you and thank you. You've left a legacy few can attest to.



George Harrison died today at the age of 58 (of course it was cancer).
Whatever I was going to write about today seems trite in comparison, I can wait until tomorrow.
So until then...

Here comes the sun (du du du du)
Here comes the sun
And I say
It's alright

Well... since we're talking music, I have a comment. The future is not streaming, the elite are. They say only 51% of the US population have computer access with internet in their homes, so you can imagine how low that percentage is world wide. Radio is alive and well my friend. It is the only free public information access medium in the world and it doesn't require a password or a $40.00/month cable modem. Feel free to rebut.

Just a friendly reminder: 12pm - 2pm (90.9 FM or www.cjsw.com)



Come join me for lunch.

This weeks's event: Waking Life. I've heard mixed reviews about this one but I want to see it before everyone does and talks it to death in front of me, sorta like Memento. If anything, I'm fascinated with the aesthetics and that alone is worth the $6.00. Truly beautiful, I dream of dreaming like this.

oh... and I know this isn't an art exhibit or live performance, so we're not exactly supporting the local scene but we are supporting a local rep theater, so it kinda counts.

And speaking of shopping. All this x-mas talk got me surfing for ideas and I came across this gift set. Am I crazy or is a man in a creme turtleneck sweater not the sexiest thing ever? Guess what somebody's getting this year?

It's beginning to feel a lot like.... this time of year is very complicated. I got an e-mail from my Dad telling me he's starting his christmas shopping and was writing to ask me where he should send the gifts. That's right folks, he doesn't even know where I live. We're real close. Horrific images of christmas presents past come flooding back. My father has no idea what I like (not that he would ask) and he's certain I'm a size 16 (or alternately Size L), so he buys me whatever he's into at the given time - in gigantic proportions. Last year I got a really nice running vest that came down to my knees. Of course, when I told him I liked it but asked if I could exchange it for a Size S/P, he told me I couldn't because he bought it on sale. Who buys gifts on sale, especially clothes? So for the ??th year in a row, I gave my present away (this year it raised $200.00 with a CD accompaniment for CJSW). Heh Dad, I have an idea... how about instead of gifts, you make some time for me when you come through town in two weeks? Maybe I could join you for a drink or two after a day on the slopes? It won't cost you a thing and I promise it'll fit.

Eric Cameron

Danish Pastry, 1979
5040 half coats of gesso
21.5 x 33.0 cm

Sorry, what was your question? I attended a book launch "English Roots" by Eric Cameron on Saturday at the Triangle Gallery. I was one of 10-15 people there. Sad really. One of Canada's foremost artist living and working here in Calgary and no one cares. He had the first solo exhibit of the National Gallery of Canada among countless others around the world over the past 25 years but he can't generate enough clout in his own town for a decent showing. Your loss, he is steeped in so much theoretical, philosophical and historical knowledge of art, which he shared with us on Saturday - over and above talking about his own work. I feel fortunate to be able to take in these kind of experiences now, his Parkinson's appears to becoming increasingly worse. He's now a two hand holder of hot beverages.

Successful Dinner Party Woo Hoo! I always feel as if I've accomplished a major feat after hosting a successful dinner party. Successful, meaning everyone thought the food was edible and they even actually liked it. It only takes one poor dinner party to spoil any novice chef's confidance. Just one attempt at making the Blueberry, Banana, Kiwi Fettucine a la Barbary Coast, (an entree they have since replaced) from memory. That's it. One single incident can damage a host's sense of adventure forever. You see I thought, "How hard can it be?" "It's fettucine alfredo with fruit and it's wonderful." No, my friends it is not. Alfredo sauce has garlic in it and that does not marry well with fruit, especially when you don't have blueberries or a kiwi and think bananas, apples and pine nuts would probably work just as well. But then you discover that it's awful. It really is. So how can you fix it? Cinnamon is an apple's natural companion and maybe that will save the dish, but it doesn't so you add brown sugar and well... you sprinkle and mix and add until you can't really decipher what's good and what isn't anymore, so... you serve the dish feeling very haute cuisine and experimental, only to have the entire table take one bite and declare with tremendous enthusiasm how absolutely revolting your entree is. So, you have to order chinese in lieu and vow never to cook another meal without a recipe in hand. Following a recipe may be like sight-reading but when you compose as poorly as I do, it takes many live performances before you can start improvising free-form cooking. God Bless Moosewood. What would we do without you? And thank-you to Catherine and Jonas for being such a great audience. And thank-you to Jon for knocking over the plant in front of our guests and then blowing up the vaccuum while trying to clean it up; you were thoroughly entertaining Sweetie. Anyone want to come over and watch us plug up our toilets? I promise I won't make fettucine.

Reminder: Regineau Stitchie tonight. 9:15pm. Uptown Stage and Screen.
Come see low budget shorts from around the world.

Eeeek! New Belle & Sebastian single CD just out. "I'm Waking Up To Us" available in 7"/12"/CDEP (Matador/OLE511) Three new tracks not on the upcoming album, Storytelling (Soundtrack). Sources say it's wonderful. [Hint: if you buy it through Amazon you can get them both for $19.95US] Exciting stuff. Thought you'd like to be the first to know.

I look like that? You know how you have a certain mental perception of what you look like? Maybe this image is based on fantasy but it helps you get up and face the world everyday. Personally, I think I have a sort of cute yet stylish and sexy look about myself. Not thin but respectably curvaceous. A pin-up with a brain and a sense of adventure. So... when someone sends you an image of how they perceive you, it can be a little deflating.



Just for the record: I do not have a barfy fushia handbag with matching shoes.

This week's event: $100 Film Festival. Nov 15. Uptown Stage & Screen
Feature: "Regineau Stitchy: An Epic Tail of Love and Betrayal."
Directed by Calgarians: Mark Hamilton & Shawna Harper.
If you have a strange fascination with sock monkeys or just don't have anything better to do on a Thursday night at 9:15pm, GO SEE experimental film! What fun... oh boy... can't wait.
Support the local scene and say you were there.
See local listings for times and prices of the festival's events.



...And the cat pillow is still suprisingly disappointing.

Today I renewed a bunch of library books on time, for the first time in 5 years.
There's hope for me yet.

Today I need to get a grip.

Arrrgh It is becoming increasingly alarming to me the growing lack of responsibility people are accepting for their own behaviour. If you make a mistake or misunderstand a rule (dumbass or otherwise) - accept it. Don't complain and force an administrative policy change on a bunch of people, who are only there to accomodate your needs in the first place, because you were unconvenienced due to your own negligence. I don't care how much money you have or what position you used to hold. Grow up. Your ignorance is not my fault.

And... What the hell is the name of this show? It's driving me crazy!!!

Visiting Artist Lecture Series. Every second Friday morning I attend this lecture series. For about an hour to two hours, various artists come to the Nickle and talk about themselves and their work. They show slides, tell stories and make jokes. It's a great way to end a week. What I find most fascinating is the process most of these people disclose about how their work comes to be and it makes me realize, it's not much different from my own process. It always surprises me when I discover people are all relatively the same. We all have fears and insecurites about what we're doing. Sometimes I feel like I'm faking my way through art school and that one day someone is going to expose me for the impostor that I am. Going to these lectures brings to focus a certain reality of how we're all struggling to survive and still stay true to our ideals. Definitely the most depressing aspect of these talks is that none of these artists have been able to support themselves by their art alone. None of them. They all had "day jobs" and some still do. Most of them are now teaching in some post-secondary institution. Teaching art. That makes me think why am I studying to teach art when it is so clearly a compromise from what most would rather do. Maybe you have to do both, so by studying curriculum design and teaching methods, in addition to a major studio discipline, I'm preparing for the inevitable. I don't know, it makes me wonder why I've chosen this path. It, clearly, will never support the lifestyle I grew up with and yet it's the only thing I'm happy doing. I need to be making things, not just now but for the rest of my life. I really related to Kelly Mark, an installation artist from NSCAD, her work reinforces my own efforts. She's currently showing at the Stride Gallery, if you have time - check it out. If you don't, have a look at this.

He who hestitates is lost. Turns out they did play "Been Waiting" but because we were all too cool to stand around and wait for the show and opted to wait downstairs while enjoying a few beverages instead - we missed it! We missed two bloody songs, of course one of them had to be the only song I was dying to hear. Story of my life.

Kids carry germs. In the past five weeks I've had two colds. TWO. Until this recent outbreak I hadn't had a cold in six years. My motto has alway been: "I don't get sick. I don't have time to. I have mental toughness and that prevents me from getting sick." The only thing that has changed in my daily routine has been my heightened exposure to small children. I better build up an immunity fast or those little fuckers are going to kill me.

The Flashing Lights are on! Review of this week's event in one word: Wow! What a show; even though they didn't play "Been Waiting" (Such an injustice). It was great to see Gaven - he did not disappoint sporting winter white cords, a white jean jacket and royal blue scarf to finish the ensemble (all very retro). He's got a style all his own and the reddest lips I've ever seen on a man. Sloan were less enthusiastic (The Chris Murphy High Kicks rated low on the KA POW meter.) but they finished strong with an all-star jam of Money City Maniacs turned Jumping Jack Flash, sharing the stage with the Lights. Can't knock Sloan's design sense though, beautiful visuals accompanied each song and they even showed the infamous "Spin The Bottle" movie made back in 1991 when Chris Murphy, Matt Murphy and Andrew Scott went to NSCAD. Of course, Jon and I played pseudo-groupies letting Gaven lead us backstage for a couple gin and tonics while watching the tail end of Sloan from restricted quarters. Fun night, and my voice is getting better, thanks to Gaven and the various remedies he pumped me with. It's so nice when Rockstars care, isn't it?

Calgary breeds new generation of Shut-ins
I thought maybe the reason most events around town (ie: art openings, performances, live concerts, pro-sports) are poorly attended is because people simply don't have the disposable income they used to. A few weeks ago I attended an art event featuring a very bad "recycled entertainment" collective (read: sappy lounge cover band) at the Art Gallery of Calgary. The design of the ad for the event was fantastic. We decided the campaign would probably reflect the event and we had to go. The tickets were $20.00 a piece (promo for us), a few drinks were purchased and parking alone was $5.00. We ended the night short (thankfully) due to our expired time in ??? parking lot. Still feeling a little restless, we hit a small cafe for a nightcap and were home in bed by 12:30pm. Not a typical Thursday evening for us, increasingly domesticated cats, but it felt great to be out - taking in the city's offerings. Needless to say the event's attendance was embarrassingly low. And I can understand why; if we had paid for the tickets it would have been a $70.00 night for us. It's not difficult to comprehend that if it takes close to $100.00 to go out, people will pick and choose more discriminately what they attend. More often than not, most choose to stay home, surf the web, rent a video, etc. I can admit I'm guilty of it too. It's funny, every week I go on air and tell people to support the local scene. It's the only way to generate the enthusiasm required to bring in worthwhile entertainment. Yet even when big acts (big acts in my mind) come to town they lose their shirts! This, this, and this all lost money - and so did CJSW during their funding drive. It's no wonder you have to go to Vancouver to see a decent show. I know, some of us are a little tired seeing Hot Little Rocket headline at the Night Gallery every second week, but come on. Get out there! Bring your family. Go see cheap stuff, free stuff, whatever. That night, Jon and I made a pact that we would make more of an effort to get out once a week to see an art show or some sort of live performance. (So far so good but...I'll keep you posted).

I don't know where and when this "shut-in" mindset developed and how long it will continue, but it doesn't only pertain to paying events. When someone kindly invites you to their place, is a friend/ friendly acquaintance and has offered to have your favorite whatever on ice waiting for you - you go. Got it? Like Dave Eggers says," Saying NO isn't fun." It just isn't. Thank you to all who have invited us to their various events over the past couple of Saturday nights (and Sunday nights, come to think of it). You got us out of house, dressed up, and a few much needed drinks into Jon. Thanks, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

This week's event: the Flashing Lights!! (Wednesday Nov 7, 8pm - MacEwan Hall) ***** Highly recommended. Certainly an "At Least They Tried" candidate. And heh, maybe Gaven'll wear his white pants. Now if that isn't incentive, what is?

Two parties in one night.
Oh boy. oh boy, oh boy.
Congratulations Sean!
Happy Birthday Laura!
We'll see you later.

Y'all Get Scared Now, Ya Hear.
More tasty treats from friends of Belle & Sebastian. Mmmm.

For a pretty talkative and gregarious gal, who rarely has an unexpressed though (or so I'm told), it's amazing how difficult it is for me to get a 10 page essay completed. And this is an essay on art, AND I picked the topic. Yet, as soon as I know I have to sit down and write the damn thing, I have nothing to say. Oh, it's such a painful process. If I had to do this for a living, I'd slit my wrists.

Yay! I got my car back tonight. Cacomixl saved the day again. Sure wasn't easy though, between waiting for Campus Security to write out a receipt in Interview Room #1 (25 minutes!! It's like writing a cheque, how long does that take? Really.), then waiting for another set of Campus Security officers at the compound that's located 2 minutes away from their office (20 mins) and then having to boost my car TWICE (15 mins. Okay, sometimes I have monkey brains), can you believe the whole process took an hour? There wasn't even a line-up. See what I mean about PR problems?! They'd never last in the private sector. Even the city compound is faster and they deal with a zillion forms and people every day, and I'd know, I've been there a couple of times too. Ah well, my little cabriolet is now home safe and sound, and for the bargain price of $60.00. Now... I've just got to figure out how to elude Parking Services while attending class, since I've lost my privilege to park on campus. And what a privilege it is.... those Nazis.

I finally heard from the Constellation boys: " hello rory. we'll get to your questions as soon as we can." Thanks, the paper's due TODAY.