the view from my office window...

I realize I never mentioned Priscilla. And since I really need to recognize some good stuff going on in my somewhat gloomy posts this week, Priscilla is AWESOME. Though some of the Australia accents are terrible but just ignore them and enjoy the singing and dancing drag queens.

You can't go wrong with singing and dancing drag queens.

The costumes are astounding - and there is one quick change sequence that is so fast, I couldn't figure out how they did it unless they are using doubles (actor doubles). It's just that quick. What I found strange was that the audience didn't react to that at all. It's like everyone is so used to movies, that you just think these things are easy. When it's not, it's really magic. Hard magic.

This show made me miss working on the big musicals - that work is not like any other. It's like 50% skill and 50% adrenaline - a mad dash to the finish line.

I also had a pink high heel sugar cookie at intermission. It was yummy.

Apparently miracles do happen. My friend in from the KC is now responding and showing brain movement which wasn't the case yesterday. They are saying that the chance of a full recovery is good. It's remarkable.

I got a call this afternoon from my theater peeps at the KC with some terrible news about someone I had worked with down there. Not only was I touched and saddened because of the news, but I realized that I had been a part of their team. A true member of their team, to the point where they felt it was important to call me and let me know. I wasn't just someone who came and went without leaving an impression. I miss that. I miss them. And I'm sad because of the news.

It's been a hard week.

D-Day

Today was my fundraiser. In theory, it wasn't a big deal - cocktail party, with a raffle and entertainment - but since I did pretty much all of it on my own, from selling tickets to arranging catering to figuring out the talent to getting things donated, well, it had become somewhat time consuming. And I was a bit stressed about the whole thing.

It was actually a huge hit. I have no idea if we made a dime mind you, but the night was fun and different and people enjoyed themselves. It was still weird to me, having it in a board members home (a big home, but still a home nonetheless), but this was a crowd that seemed to like that.

A couple of things happened that seriously ticked me off, however, I am trying to find my zen and just be glad it's over. I kept thinking, just imagine what I could do if I liked my job!!!

I am so fortunate to have such talented friends to help me. I mean the performances were amazing, truly amazing and made the night the success that it was. A standing ovation in a living room. Not bad I think...

(still glad it's over!!!)

Day one of the National Health Show. Freak show would be a better name. I had expected the patrons to be freaks (I fondly remember the Goats of the One of the Kind Show all those years ago...) but had not expected such freaky exhibitors. The booth next to ours was for a group of people who saw Jesus in the moon. Yup. I couldn't make this stuff up. I think that accepting that Jesus' image was in the moon was somehow supposed to heal whatever ails you. It was all a little unclear to me, but I didn't want to ask too many questions for fear of engaging them in too much conversation. There was also a fortune teller and a booth advertising Hereafter the movie. Odd.

Overall the show lacked organization and a good 1/4 of the booths were empty. And there were no people. Well in the morning there were some but by 2pm we basically had tea and twiddled our thumbs. If I'd paid for the booth, I'd have been pissed. But since we didn't, it was just a waste of my day but not much else.

So after the stressful and disheartening Twilight Zone episode at the gym this morning, the universe rewarded me with tickets to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Sunday afternoon.

I'm taking my friend Rob who says I'm his "next best gay" - which I like. So yay.

White Trash Wednesday

Stormed out of the gym today. Could not believe that what was happening was happening in downtown Toronto.
It was a struggle getting to the gym this morning, but I went. There were two women in already, who were loud and I just thought "ugh" but continued on.
Then the conversation turned to gay people and spiraled downhill from there. When one turned to me and whispered "I even saw two men kissing in a restaurant" . That's when I lost it.
Lost it. Completely lost my noodle. And stormed out.
So that was a good time.

You know what I love? I love Sunday brunch that turns in to Sunday afternoon coffee and a stroll along Bloor. Though whoever redesigned the sidewalk along Bloor really should have their landscaping scouts badge taken away from them. The ridges in the sidewalk are going to break more than one pair of heels. And I, even in my somewhat sensible footwear of yesterday, am doomed. I doubt I'll walk the block and stay upright again...

While I love the "It Gets Better" campaign and what it is trying to say to LGBTQ youth across North America, what actually needs to happen is for the STRAIGHT kids and teens (and adults) to grow a pair and stick up for the kids you see being bullied or mistreated - for whatever reason. Don't let them get picked on. Don't turn a blind eye. Don't walk away. Behave with humanity. Then it would get better.

Be the moderator. The peacekeeper. The protector.

Be someone you can be proud of being.

When I was a kid, I didn't know about homosexuality, but my best friends were Black and Chinese and it never occurred to me that there was anything different about that. They were just my friends. I was taught that everyone was equal and deserved to be treated that way. I was taught to stand up for myself and to stand up for others when they couldn't. This is how I try to live.

I hate bullies - and we've all had to face them. And that's the key, we have to face them, but it doesn't have to be alone. Be strong for someone else when they can't be. Raise your voice. Bullies are chickens - I know, I've stared down a few in my time. Teach your kids that just not being the bully isn't enough. It isn't enough if you let someone else get hurt.

Hey, so I have an article in the autumn issue of Dance UK! This is crazy because I didn't realize that's what I was writing. Full page and everything. In my second week here, they asked me for some thoughts on arts funding in Canada. So I sent them my thoughts - who knew? They edited one sentence weird so it's a bit run on, but otherwise, not bad.
It's not online I don't think, but if you see it, I'm on page 21 of the current issue "Dance and Philanthropy".
Neato.

I realized tonight that my foundation is a Howard Jones lyric.

I just saw HoJo perform for I believe the 7th time and found him to be just as inspiring as I did the first time in grade nine, those many years ago (though the audience was significantly more grey haired tonight).

I remember his songs getting me through high school. Don't get me wrong, I liked high school - I was good at it, had lots of friends - but it's still a hellish time. A cringe-worthy, unforgettable time and for me, Howard Jones was my touchstone.

Tonight I thought it would be appropriate to turn again to Howard for a little clarity. So in true high school fashion, I'm pasting some song lyrics.

So she had built her elaborate home
With its ups and its downs, its rains and its sun
She decided that her work was done, time to have fun
And she found a game to play

Then as part of the game
She completely forgot where she'd hidden herself
And she spent the rest of her time
Trying to find the parts

Hope you find it in everything, everything that you see
Hope you find it in everything, everything that you see
Hope you find it, hope you find it
Hope you find me in you

Last week was a long one. And not the best on record - a couple of weekend cancelations added to the work stressy stupidness and an overall feeling of blah. So here's hoping the one ahead is a bit easier. Fighting a losing battle with a cold, but Shoppers was open so I have medicinal aids to get me through the night.

I did have a lovely Thanksgiving dinner in Oakville from which I am still full today. Too bad there wasn't veggie lasagna though (JOKE that is a JOKE for my Oakville readers - there could not have been more food on that table).

It was a motley crew on my streetcar home last night - and every one of them on their cell phone. A couple of them were homeless, or at least transient, or at least smelled that way, with better phones than I have. And talking up a storm. Loudly. I know all about rooming houses and shifts at some convenience store and girlfriends. At least it's a short ride.

I love Skype. Just talked to friends in California and Indonesia with video so we could wave hello - all for free over the internets. And I love that Bell finally got my internet to work consistently allowing me to do so uninterrupted. (2 months free service to make up for the issues as well...not bad at all).

Gobble gobble everyone.

where to start with this day...

First, the celeb chef that almost said yes to doing my fundraiser for work, finally said no today. Though she was very nice about it and I now have had two lovely conversations with her so that's something...

Add to that the most annoying and at times condescending conversation with one of our noted arts councils. An arts council that is not as well looked upon as others and not known for its forward thinking funding plan, but still one that I would have defended as important and vital to the community. However, when the program manager basically laughs at me as I discuss our education programs for professional artists, she says and this is an exact quote "I suppose we might fund you one day when we have so much money we just don't know what to do with it" and "the Blank Arts Council's funding gives artists the resources they need to create their work", to which I responded, "so do we". I'm so frustrated to be treated as if the work we are doing is of no importance. Quite frankly, the exact opposite it true, but I need more money to double our outreach locally, improve the website and expand what we do across the province and yes, to other cities across the country. Anyway, it was a very demoralizing sort of day...

The 5th Nuit Blanche was last night and I have to say I liked most of what I saw. We only lasted 3 1/2 hours but saw about 25 installations, which I think is pretty good.

Creepy Clowns on Yonge St

Many things stayed with me (including the clowns above), but I even enjoyed some of the video art (I know, crazy - Eternal Encore being the favourite for me I think). This year was definitely an improvement on two years ago. I also really just love that for at least one night a year, art is cool and interesting to "normal" people. Even if some of the art is of questionable value and sometimes it doesn't live up to the expectations (hello rubber ducks on the Ryerson pond I'm talking about you) and the crowds can be intense and stupid. That is all secondary. It is the city committing to a festival which brings art literally into the streets and into the consciousness of a million people. And that is worth celebrating.

The new chair

So pretty...

Both my gym and the No Frills are in this pocket of the neighbourhood that has resisted gentrification. I think this blog may turn from stories of galas and celeb sightings (sigh) to tales of the manager at the gym and the somewhat colourful characters buying groceries.

This afternoon Amanda, the manager who is about 35, tells me that her 20 year old son is having a baby with his teenaged girlfriend. Oops. She was more concerned with being a grandmother than with the idea of teenagers having babies. I find this odd. No Frills was just a cornucopia of characters which made me long for the Forest Hill diamond and fur crowd at the grown up Loblaws down the street. Both crowds are unCanadian in their pushy-ness, but the Loblaws ones smell better.

My new chair is here! My new chair is here!

I am glad that I opted for delivery as it was a wee bit of a tight squeeze up the stairs. Makes me wonder if any sort of sofa would fit up...

It does make the rest of my furniture look a little drab I have to admit. But oh so pretty! photos will be forthcoming...