December 6, 1989

I was 18 years old. I remember coming home and hearing the news on CBC radio playing in the kitchen. If it happened today, it would have unfolded live on CNN, but this was before cell phones and before the 24 hour news cycle.

I remember my mom looking very worried and maybe hugging me just a little bit tighter that night. Montreal seemed very close on that dark winter's evening. One year later I would be away at university myself, away from home for the first time. These women were my peers, they could have been my friends. They could have been me.

I come from a line of educated women. Women who valued education and the right to have one. My grandmother was a nurse who kept working even after the war ended because she enjoyed what she did and was good at it. My mother was among the brightest people I have ever met - she could quote at length from the great works of literature, had an amazing memory for history and never lost a game of Scrabble. Both would have risked anything to protect their children. The idea of these women, separated for their gender, likely shared these qualities, still to this day is haunting.

Every year throughout university I went to memorials, sometimes missing class to do so. Even now, 22 years later, I still pause on this day to remember those 14 young women. Because history remembered is less likely to be repeated.

Banff Project

As some of you know, I am in a period of job transition. So part of the new job is a site specific dance project that will be happening next August in Banff National Park. I went out there at the end of October for a first look at possible sites.

Banff National Park is an interesting place. It is Canada's oldest national park and it faces some unique challenges. Within the park is the town of Banff. There are 7000 year round residents of Banff (most not original) but in high season (winter), it expands to over 40,000 and with them come fast food restaurants, fudge stores and plaid. The environmental concerns of so many people within the park's ecosystem is foremost in the park's mind and so they are a little concerned with us dancing in strange places (there is talk of helicopters taking performers and crew to remote warden's cabins in addition to using more easily accessible locations).

Here are some first pics...

The neighbours...

This is part of the Banff Centre, our hosts this visit and co-presenter of the project. Not a bad breakfast view...

And the money shot from...the golf course

and lastly, the little red dot is some dude climbing down the cliff face. Yeah, I'm so never going to be doing that...

Adam and I went for a stroll through the neighbourhood last night (perambulated as he would say) on our way for gelato. My apartment is surrounded on all sides by gelato and taking a loop a few blocks out of the way seemed like a good plan and preventative measure.

My neighbourhood is mixed - it was Toronto's first Little Italy (Corso Italia) and it fell on some hard times - years of streetcar track construction didn't help local businesses. Now with real estate prices being what they are it is on it's way back up. So there are first time buyers, renters (of variable reputation) and some original home owners. (They are the ones with the amazing rose gardens.)

I'm used to strange things that people do in their garages. Barbeques, sitting on lawn chairs until the wee hours, beer pong. But I think this was a first for me. In a garage - thankfully detached from the house but attached to another garage - was a very large green oil drum sitting on top of a propane burner. On high. We could smell the propane from the middle of the street (where we moved). I can't think of what the old Italian man whose garage it was (he was standing in front of it with his dog) was making. I mean you don't heat up wine or beer like that. Moonshine?

10 years on

I feel today very similarly to how I feel every year during the Toronto Air Show. When the fighter jets practicing for people's entertainment buzz low over my midtown neighbourhood, I'm always reminded to be thankful that we live, in general, in a peaceful country, because in many places around the world that one plane and the body shaking sound that comes with it would be hundreds of planes, and they wouldn't be there so a crowd could oooh and aaaaah at their power.

9/11 changed the way we live. But as much as the security and travel challenges are now commonplace, I am just grateful events like those don't happen more often and how lucky we are for that. How in general, in the West, in the "first world", we are removed from mass violence, war and terrorism. The horror of 10 years ago cannot be changed and we all have been changed and scarred by those events, but while we remember and reflect we should also find some room to be thankful. May we never see the likes of them again in our lifetime.

A couple more pics...

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater

This place makes everyone look like an expert photographer...

and yes, that is a staircase that goes from the river directly in to the living room...

Covered bridge in Woodstock, VT.  I believe this one weathered Hurricane Irene.  A couple of the others in the area weren't so lucky.  All the news coverage was on New York and New Jersey and what didn't end up happening, while huge devastation was felt in Vermont.   I believe Woodstock and the surrounding area were hit particularly badly.  My friend lives in nearby White River but fortunately is up a hill and so was spared.  I believe she didn't even lose power.

Okay so 9 days turned into 12 and 7 states into 10 (partly because the GPS took us to West Virginia more or less by accident and I'd forgotten about New Hampshire...) but we made it and lived to tell the tale!

I will share a few shots here over the next little while as I sort through them.

First, this is how I like to camp...

Road Trip!

For the first time in my adult life, I have taken two weeks off in a row. This may prove to be a life changing plan. I have usually been one of those workaholic types that don't use all their vacation (though I have always taken some vacation - I'm not completely insane).

Perhaps I've just gotten smarter, or age makes me more tired, but I decided that nothing at work or anywhere else was that important and I was closin' up.

This decision allowed Adam and I to hatch Road Trip 2011. I haven't done a long multi-day road trip since I was a kid and traveled across Canada and the US with my family. It must have been challenging planning those trips before the age of the internet and GPS, so kudos to my parents for figuring out the timing. The timing is the hard part.

You may not realize this, but I'm also quite Type A. (it's called sarcasm people! work with me here) This means that not having every detailed planned ahead of time is hard for me. I'm going with the assumption that this is also quite good for me as it allows for ...spontaneity. Crazy.

So roughly the plan involves 9 days, 7 states and 2 countries. And Dolly Parton. Everything in between is up for negotiation.

He hasn't told me his name yet...

But I have a feeling that it's Gnorman or Gnorton. He's quiet so far so no complaints from the neighbours...

There are many pluses to living in a very old Italian neighbourhood not the least of which is the beautiful rose gardens. I keep forgetting to take my camera out so for the time being you'll have to take my word for it - they are beautiful. It's like the whole neighbourhood has a green thumb. The house on the far corner of my street takes first place though. He has tomatoes along the side of the house with a system that would make professional farmers blush. And his daughter got married two weekends ago and the house is still decked with white bows - it was very sweet actually.

They are also it seems a very patriotic bunch. The flags came out in the dozens for Canada Day this weekend. The downside of that has been the fireworks - they are still going off tonight 24 hours late. There seems to be a tendency to buy sparklers, fireworks and other things that go bang, and just set them up in the driveway or backyard. This is somewhat unnerving as the bang bang bang surrounds the apartment. One just went off in the street actually. So far they've not set anything on fire but I wouldn't be too shocked if that happens at some point!

In the meantime, this visitor was spotted in a parking lot down the street....

Happy Canada Day!!

I know I've mentioned here before moments that have made me feel like I've succeeded on some level. Tonight watching the Tony awards brought two small moments like this. Tyne Daly, who I worked with last year, was presenting - and in fact the production with her that I worked on in DC opens on Broadway next week. So in a very small way, one step removed, I've worked on a Broadway play (though this could be said of some of the work I did with the Mirv too I suppose but this one feels more special somehow).

And capping the evening was seeing my friend Thom Allison, who is currently performing on Broadway in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, perform with the company on the broadcast. What a thrill to see his dreams coming true. I worked with Thom on RENT years ago and he is one of many Canadian talents I've worked with whose careers go along in a Canadian fashion, but our industry is so small and the opportunities so limited that no matter how good you are, it's hard to shine. And he's shining now. Way to go Thom!

I should really put myself on the waiting list for knee replacement surgery now as it's bound to be necessary and I might be at the top of the list by then. I'm not entirely sure how one actually bruises underneath one's kneecap, but hey, I've always had special skills in this area.

Anyway, it's not terrible, it's mostly annoying. No running, no squatting, no kneeling....at least I like my physiotherapist and can get some good gossip from the Mirv world while I'm there...

Full Body Scan

It was bound to happen at some point. Though I thought it more likely to be on my recent trips to New York City or Boston - big American cities with reason and interest in high security. But no, it was in Ottawa.

I know Ottawa is the Nation's Capital and all that but seriously, it's like a toy airport. Anyway, it was in Ottawa when returning to Toronto where first there was the hand scan for trace of explosives (this would potentially be a problem for my prop maker friends) and then being funneled into the body scan line. I was offered the full pat down but frankly that seems way more invasive to me than standing in a circular booth and having them take a digital picture of me. If someone really gets their jollies from that well, more power to them! Plus I'm not in as good shape as I was in 15 years ago or so when maybe there would have been something more interesting to look at!

Harold-ed

So I won this award tonight. It's called a Harold - named after this amazing/crazy old guy who used to attend all the plays in Toronto and heckle the performers (I, in fact, once was heckled by him in one of my very few on stage appearances back in the early 90s).

These awards are given by your peers and are sort of general achievement awards for members of the Toronto theatre community and reflect on your overall career rather than for any one thing. Typically I'm very skeptical of them since friends tend to give them to their friends but I suppose that doesn't mean those people aren't worthy. In fact, many very worthy people have won them.

One neat thing about them is that the award itself is always handmade and designed by a local artist. Mine is a tiara! (this was in keeping with the Royal Wedding theme...)

Anyway, my friend Katherine "Harolded" me. We met when we were both at Canadian Stage during a tumultuous time in that company's history. She said some very lovely things and I was really touched. More than I would have thought I would be under the circumstances.

As an arts administrator, we tend to just get the job done, you know? But it is nice to have a tiara to show for it...

Oh that walk down the aisle got me choked up. The music is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

I honestly don't remember the selections from the past ceremonies but this seems so much fuller somehow.

And I do have to say I love the little comments they are making to each other - I wish I could read lips, but I'm pretty sure William said "you look beautiful" when she first arrived at his side. They have to do all this, but it seems they are also trying to have private, special moments as well. And they are both glowing.

Bravo!

Also, love how she smiles when the crowd cheers. Cute cute cute!

(and hey, look at those crowds - the monarchy is doing just fine...)

Weddings Royal!

I feel I should live-blog this event! Up at 4:30 this morning, just missing the arrival of Posh and Becks to the Abbey. Pot of tea made. Fresh scones. All set.

It never even occurred to me not to get up for this. Of course it will be re-shown once or twice but that's just not the same. I've gotten up for every other Royal event my whole life and will likely continue to do so.

I do think it would be quite good to be either a member of a European Royal Family or a minor British Royal. You still get to wear nice frocks but without all the hassle. Perhaps for Denmark? They are very casual about their Royals...

First thing I saw this morning was the most amazing hat - turquoise blue in the shape of a rhino horn. Quite something! Not sure the person wearing it really had what it takes to pull something like that off, but well, good on her for trying.

The Queen is looking pretty darn good for 85. And I like the yellow!! Though she does somewhat match the Archbishop....it must be odd to have trumpets announce you everywhere you go.

OH! and first glimpses of Kate...Lovely! The dress is very much what I thought it might be - lots of lace and form fitting. Though she needs to practice her wave - she's a bit fast!

I wonder how many cars the Royal Family has?

The bridesmaids are super cute of course. Similar dresses to the ones from Charles and Di's wedding, but I suppose there isn't a lot of flexibility in appropriate dresses for little girls in such a ceremony.

London looks so beautiful and festive this morning. The flags lining the streets, the trees in the Abbey. Even with grey skies it is breathtakingly beautiful.

It's interesting that her sister is also in white. Beautiful Kate! Beautiful dress..lovely.

And now she is in the church, I will leave you for the time being...

The nice thing about living in the suburbs (now my Toronto friends will say that St Clair is not the suburbs, but it feels like it many days) on a quiet, deadend street is that there are birds.

This week alone I've seen a big fat robin hopping along the ground - is it our robins or the British ones that hop? - anyway it was on the grass, not at all disturbed by the war zone of children's toys left by my neighbours' children - and a very large blue jay. Maybe they stood out being so colourful in what is still a very dark and grey "spring", but anyway it was a treat for me in this city to see them.

There is also another bird of some sort that I hear every morning that sounds something like a car alarm going off. I've not been able to identify this bird, but I have determined that it is in fact a bird and not a car alarm - but it's that loud and consistent in its song. Wakes me up for sure...

So many things to rant about...

It seems like a ranty kind of day...

I could rant on Canada Post delivering a piece of mail to me OPENED that had gone to my old address - which I still have a change of address on by the way - with Not at this Address written on it so I guess they delivered it there first. God knows at what point in time it was opened.

I could rant about the TTC who had a line of SIX streetcars and about a million passengers tonight at St Clair W because, and I quote, "they couldn't find an operator" so the first streetcar was blocking all the others. How did it get there in the first place without a driver?

Oh and this wasn't information that they were sharing with the million passengers waiting (in very orderly lines). No, it was only when some guy in a relatively official looking EMS uniform asked that they said what was going on.

Maybe it was the constant concrete drilling outside my office all day that has lead me to feeling slightly cranky. But I don't know - TTC and Canada Post, the bar isn't set very high...

My lovely friend and blogger:

http://misstraceynolan.blogspot.com/

awarded moi a Stylish Blogger award! You can see the link if you go to her page.

Guess that means I have to post more...(I've been very lazy). I think that really my Stylish-ness applies to my posts from DC. Lately, I just post about soup. Not so stylish. I used to be somebody. Sigh.

This past Sunday in DC was the annual Spring Gala (Gail-a). When I saw friends posting about it on Facebook I thought "it's too early to be the Gala!". But nope. It's the prime cherry blossom viewing week. It's 20C in DC. It's just when I was there, it had been 20C for so long already that you forget that the somewhat northern climes do not get such spring weather. Yeah that's right. What did it do here on Sunday? Snow. Something about these turn of events seem unfair...

A bird pooped on me yesterday which I figure considering it was a Landmark Birthday, must be a sign of extra good luck. I am considering my Lotto Max options...

So far, being on the other side of a shockingly large number is just fine.

Yesterday was a full yet stress free day. Technically I had the day off, but had to go to the hospital for our monthly performance series. Not only did we have a few of the older folk dancing in the Atrium (and how can your day not be brightened by that sight in the middle of a hospital), a friend had flowers delivered to me while I was standing there. Kudos to that flower shop for finding me in the middle of a hospital when I'm not even an employee there! And when does that happen when you aren't on a reality TV show??

A good friend hosted a party where other good friends came and we had wine and ate cupcakes and various delicious dips. Such a lovely night.

And today I started by eating a cupcake -so that's only a good thing.

So far this new decade is indeed fabulous :-)

Joining Fever

I've decided to do the things that make Toronto a cool place to live. In January I become a member of TIFF (the Toronto International Film Festival). They opened their new building in the fall and the membership gives you discounts on films (largely documentaries and strange foreign films - some of my favourites) and free entry to special exhibits etc.

It's funny, as a theatre person, I've not had a subscription to a theatre in years (I was a Tarragon subscriber for a couple of years when I lived on Dupont), but would happily subscribe to a couple of the film festivals here. In part I felt it was important to support TIFF in their first year with a building and I just like their programming too.

Today I was a bit extravagant. As a Landmark Birthday is approaching, I decided to splurge and give myself a membership to the Toronto Temperance Society. I was lucky enough to visit it a few weeks ago with a friend who is a member and I just loved the vibe of the place. It is a private members club/bar which is basically set in Prohibition Era Toronto. The look of the place from what the bartenders wear to the music and the wallpaper all fits. The cocktails are all era appropriate and delicious. The rules of membership are also so civilized. No cellphones. No one under the age of 25. It just felt like somewhere I wanted to support. Plus the first time I was there was after seeing a concert at the Drake - the concert was amazing despite the crowd, who were not. The TS just seemed like an oasis of sanity afterwards.

I also figure I spend money on much more ridiculous things that I won't enjoy as much so why not? (I'm worth it :) )

More soup!

Apparently that's what I post about these days....
I had this delicious soup when visiting Oakville this past weekend and I have been thinking about trying to recreate it all week. Tonight is my first attempt.
It smells right so that's a good start....

It's basically a bunch of vegetables to which I will be adding cheese tortellini. Essentially it is just a vehicle to eat cheese tortellini and not feel guilty about it. However I have realized that I don't have the yummy Belgian bread that was consumed on Sunday. Boo. I think it won't be nearly as good without it...

Seriously, the next place I live is going to have its own laundry!!

Today I made soup.

From scratch.

This is the first time I have attempted such a thing -ever - which is why it is worthy of a post after many weeks of idle blog activity.

It is sweet potato soup - sort of a puree really as it isn't especially soup-y - and while I suspect that it is not quite the appropriate colour, being a tad on the brown side with an orange tinge, it is quite tasty. I mean I could almost serve this to other humans I think.

This soup required the purchase of an hand blender which I got yesterday on a very frustrating excursion to The Bay. I swear the service in there gets worse and worse. Even though I believe they are now owned by Americans, which I would have thought would have solved that. However, since everything is always on sale on the weekends at The Bay, sometimes it is worth the desperate aggravation.

I'm not sure why I didn't own one of these things before now - they are awesome. Mine came with a chopper attachment so I zipped the onions in about 30 seconds. Feels a bit like cheating really. I'm clearly not an expert at this yet as there are a few solid bits in the soup but that's okay, this was a test run.

Will I do this often? Probably not as I know myself and it is time consuming. But for a -20C day like today, it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

If someone could now just come over with some crusty bread, that would be perfect.

Waiting for Ikea

I wonder if waiting for Ikea will prove to be something like Waiting for Godot. Especially today with all the snow and my street being a dead end which I doubt ever gets plowed. All I need is Ikea having a lame excuse for not being able to deliver.

As of yesterday at 4:30 I did not have a confirmed delivery "window", so I called them. I was told between 9am and 1pm. Good enough. 30 minutes later I got a phone call from the transport company telling me it was actually 12noon to 4pm. So which is it? I asked. She assured me that it was the new timeslot and Ikea had just told me the "default" time. So of course I'm basically here all day waiting since I don't know who to believe. And with the snow, likely they'll get to the end of the street and not bother.

So much for trying to get settled and buying furniture!

A photo of the Xmas gift I sent my boys in theatre programming down at the KC. It took almost a month to get there - I could have walked it faster. Seriously. The winning combination of Canada Post and the US Postal Service.

When I said that I wanted to send them something to go under their tree (that would be in "my" spot), Max wrote, "There wasn’t a tree beautiful enough to replace you, so we did without."

Enough to bring tears to my eyes!! And you wonder why I miss them...

Gah!

I think my gym has gone bankrupt! I got a message tonight from one of the girls who works(ed) there saying it was closed. She didn't even get a call from her boss (the owner) but from another co-worker. I'm going to go by in the morning to see if there is a sign up or anything...

At least I have until the 15th to put a stop payment on my direct withdrawal but what a pain in the ass AND how frustrating since I was completely in the rhythm of going. Blah!