I'm getting excited for:
- Songwriting time while my BH is house sitting. Oh, to be able to play guitar without a puppy howling outside the door! It's going to be like Christmas but I'll be alone and there will be no snow. So... Nothing like Christmas at all. But at least there will be music.
- A wedding coming up in a few weeks that promises to TOTALLY KICK ASS. No catty bitches this time, just love sweet love. And pie. You know how I feel about pie. We've also been encouraged to wear something colourful, which means I get to break out my fuchsia silk dress from a couple summers ago.
- Bluesfest. I'm going to give it another try, because the lineup is calling my name. I cannot resist. In fact, I'll be there tonight! Iron and Wine, anyone?
- This Saturday in Toronto. I haven't played a gig in Toronto in a long time, and I've never played at this particular venue. A bunch of folks are coming out for the show too, so it will be great to see them! I shall issue myself a challange to stay sober and behave. HAH! Just kidding. That would be completely out of character.
Turns out I have a lot of pictures just sitting around on my camera. Why not show them to you folks, am I right?
This is me taking a picture of my sister whilst drunk in Peterborough. That's why you can see my finger instead of her lovely face. Beer is a dangerous thing. So are fingers!
This is Mark holding Lucy like a baby on Canada Day. She licked him in the face right after this picture was taken. Speaking of which... Happy birthday Mark! I promise my BH and I won't lick you in the face. Come to think of it, I can't really speak for my BH... Watch out!
This is Heather and I wearing sparkly wrestling masks in the kitchen. Then we went and drank White Russians with our neighbours across the street. I love living where I live.
(I also love goofing around in wrestling masks)
(And I also love Heather)
Morty's ass, natch.
And that concludes today's photo update!
Last night I got this insane idea that I needed to make a gigantic dinner and use up just about everything we had in our fridge.
I guess this isn't really so unusual... I love to cook, and I especially love to cook stuff I know my BH will enjoy. I tend to give myself a mental high-five when I make something that gets the "this is reeeeeally good" reaction (hint: using chipotle increases the odds significantly).
But dudes, I think I spent three hours cooking and cleaning. There were potato wedges, roasted beets and radishes, a giant green salad, and about thirty mini-quiches. I was toast by the end of it. Remind me to read this post next time I tackle a four-course meal for two. I did four effing sink-loads of dishes.
In other news...
I recently joined zip.ca, and have been loving the random movies that show up in my mailbox every few days.
Yesterday, I finally got around to watching Shut Up And Sing, which was surprisingly excellent and made me want to run out and buy every Dixie Chicks album I could get my hands on. If you want to see a nasty side of the music industry, and an even nastier side of "redneck bullshit" (my favourite line in the film), I recommend this little movie. You don't even have to like the band to watch it, but I bet that you'll think pretty highly of them by the end of it.
Peterborough wasn't so bad.
This time I was actually there on a Saturday, when shops are open. Usually I am there on a Sunday, when church is open. I am not terribly church-y.
I scored some sweet buys. BodyGlide, as recommended by a blogger friend. Two sparkly wresting masks, which I have no plans for.... I'll either give them as gifts or use them at Halloween. They are crazy awesome. I also spent an hour in an antique store perusing their collection of vintage Playboy and Penthouse magazines, although I ended up buying a washboard instead. That store had to oddest collection of antiques, including a lunchbox in the shape of a sandwich. Probably should have bought that too.
Now I am back home and full of dim sum. We took Morty to the park and he ran his face off. We were also planning on going to see the new Transformers movie until I let it slip that I actually wasn't nuts about the last film, and now my BH is refusing to go in protest.*
So basically a normal Sunday.
I have a gig in Toronto next Saturday that I'm really pumped for, because I get to visit Shawna and wander around some of my favourite Toronto neighbourhoods. Do you live in Toronto? Come to the gig! It'll be rad.
*Although, in retrospect, I never made it a secret that I didn't like the movie.... I distinctly remember making barfing sounds throughout the screening.
So it looks like I'll be driving to Peterborough with my mom this evening, driving back tomorrow night after we've cuddled some adorable new baby cheeks brought into the world by my cousin and his wifey.
Can I be frank? I'm not the biggest fan of Peterborough. I like to wander around the downtown, but that only takes about five minutes, and then I want to leave. Once I tried to find a place that sold coffee on Sunday morning, thinking I would surprise my BH. Nothing was open.
The town is entirely the wrong size for my brain - Ottawa is GOOD small, but I tend not to enjoy cities that are any smaller than Ottawa. I like to move up in size. Montreal. Toronto. My memory of Vancouver is a bit fuzzy, but you get the picture. Although I really liked Halifax.
The fact that I have a good deal of family in Peterborough is about the only reason I don't go mental when we visit. Even then, I go a bit mental.
Luckily, I'll be staying with my sister tonight, and she has two newly-adopted kittens for me to play with. Although I grew up with cats, I've gotten very used to my giant, growly bulldog. I'll have to remind myself to be delicate with the kittens. They are not made of steel, as is Morty, and his Ass of Danger.
Oh, I will miss him this evening. He is such a cuddle bunny when he's tired.
*Stella digresses into visions of her giant, drooling puppy*
After the show, Stuart, Hawksley, myself and just about everyone else was backstage chatting. There was talk of real estate, Toronto, family, inspiration, the CBC... Stuff that made for interesting conversation.
I was nodding along, jumping in where I could. But in the back of my mind, there was a timer ticking away.
Have y'all met my dad? He's a special guy. He's worked in theatre his whole life, and he's not afraid of muscling his way backstage if he wants to chat to the folks in charge. I also needed someone to help me take all my gear home, since I am without car. As always.
This is why I knew it would only be a matter of seconds before my dad talked his way past the security guard. He would use my instruments as proof that he needed to be back there. He would probably bring my BH, who would be quietly squirming while my dad does his smooth talking. My BH prefers not to muscle his way backstage, but wouldn't deny my dad the pleasure.
I didn't doubt that my dad would show up; I was just hoping that he didn't stroll in while this great conversation was happening. How many times am I going to get to chat with folks like that? Not often, that's for sure. I was soaking it in.
Stuart finished his story, we all laughed, and then I heard it. My dad patting the security guard on the shoulder and saying, "Thanks, I'll just go in for a minute and find her!"
I just shook my head and said, "Guys, I think you're about to meet my dad."
Yes, my dad met the whole gang backstage, as did my BH. When my dad informed me that he had all the goods on the number of CDs I had sold, Hawksley looked over with wide eyes and said, "He sounds just like my dad. They should meet!"
*******************************************************
Today I'm feeling a bit worse for wear. I didn't drink much on Canada Day, but I was exhausted and still managed to stay up too late. Now I'm doubly exhausted and I don't know when I'm going to get a nap in. I may even be leaving for Peterborough after work tomorrow. Triple the tired.
To be honest, I'm feeling a bit sad. The show may have been stressful and crazy, but it was a wonderful experience. It was amazing to meet such an inspiring songwriter. It was humbling and exciting. Now that it's over, I can't help but feel that I won't be able to top it. We were listening to a Hawksley CD in the car yesterday and I got all choked up. I'm too broke to record and I can't seem to make time to write songs. It's a bummer to remember that after such a high.
I think I'll just have to focus on some aggressive grant writing, and make sure I have the space I need to keep the songs coming. If my next album does as well as my last one, maybe there's a chance I could do this sort of gigging a little more often. I love music and I'm not planning on stopping, ever. I'm going to keep working for every step forward. It's the way I've always done it, and it seems to be working.
I was nodding along, jumping in where I could. But in the back of my mind, there was a timer ticking away.
Have y'all met my dad? He's a special guy. He's worked in theatre his whole life, and he's not afraid of muscling his way backstage if he wants to chat to the folks in charge. I also needed someone to help me take all my gear home, since I am without car. As always.
This is why I knew it would only be a matter of seconds before my dad talked his way past the security guard. He would use my instruments as proof that he needed to be back there. He would probably bring my BH, who would be quietly squirming while my dad does his smooth talking. My BH prefers not to muscle his way backstage, but wouldn't deny my dad the pleasure.
I didn't doubt that my dad would show up; I was just hoping that he didn't stroll in while this great conversation was happening. How many times am I going to get to chat with folks like that? Not often, that's for sure. I was soaking it in.
Stuart finished his story, we all laughed, and then I heard it. My dad patting the security guard on the shoulder and saying, "Thanks, I'll just go in for a minute and find her!"
I just shook my head and said, "Guys, I think you're about to meet my dad."
Yes, my dad met the whole gang backstage, as did my BH. When my dad informed me that he had all the goods on the number of CDs I had sold, Hawksley looked over with wide eyes and said, "He sounds just like my dad. They should meet!"
*******************************************************
Today I'm feeling a bit worse for wear. I didn't drink much on Canada Day, but I was exhausted and still managed to stay up too late. Now I'm doubly exhausted and I don't know when I'm going to get a nap in. I may even be leaving for Peterborough after work tomorrow. Triple the tired.
To be honest, I'm feeling a bit sad. The show may have been stressful and crazy, but it was a wonderful experience. It was amazing to meet such an inspiring songwriter. It was humbling and exciting. Now that it's over, I can't help but feel that I won't be able to top it. We were listening to a Hawksley CD in the car yesterday and I got all choked up. I'm too broke to record and I can't seem to make time to write songs. It's a bummer to remember that after such a high.
I think I'll just have to focus on some aggressive grant writing, and make sure I have the space I need to keep the songs coming. If my next album does as well as my last one, maybe there's a chance I could do this sort of gigging a little more often. I love music and I'm not planning on stopping, ever. I'm going to keep working for every step forward. It's the way I've always done it, and it seems to be working.
******************************************************
PS, The show will be broadcast in October. I'll let you know the exact date when I have it!
Oh, people.
I wanted to write a big post with pictures, but alas, the pictures from last night are not on my camera. Until they get mailed to me, you will have to just imagine it. Besides, I am about to run off to do some Canada Day celebrating, so I'll have to be brief.
Last night was like the first night but 100 times more amazing. I performed better, I felt more at ease, I talked more with Stuart and Hawksley, and I sold more CDs than I have ever sold in one night. It was a transforming experience, and dudes, the audience really seemed to like it.
Also, I baked Hawksley some cookies. Hey, I figured this was my one chance to get him to remember me, and I figured that fresh chocolate chip cookies and a card with a bulldog on it are both winning ideas. It worked out very well, other than the fact that the cookies didn't rise and looked like creepy chocolaty lumps. I apologized in the card, obvs.
There was a strong blogging contingent in the crowd, including Jo, Zoom and the GC, Milan and Evey. Am I missing anyone? That was the best audience I've ever played for, and I mean it. Even my grade 7 computers teacher was there! Holy assballs!
More soon.... I am being ushered out the door. For now, beer is in order.
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