After another hour of my life spent on the phone with Bell tech support about my internet, I got the magical phone number. This number is to customer service of the VPs office. Oh yes. It's THE number. This number will lead me to getting my internet thus far in this apartment supplied for free - oh just watch me, it will.

I'm going to post it here so that when any of you have Bell issues (and if you have any services with Bell, you will have Bell issues) you can give the ol' VPs office a heads up.

1-866-317-3382

Your welcome.

just another day at the theatre...

Last night I was lucky enough to go to my friend's opening at Buddies. It was a strong choice for the new season by their new AD, though perhaps not for why people would think. Blasted by English playwright Sarah Kane is harsh and hard to watch, violent and pushes limits - even years after it was written. But there is more to the story and what it is saying about human nature than just a series of violent acts. Anyway, it was a well made show, beautifully designed, strong acting. It's good to see Buddies grow up.

At the after party a friend showed me her bra by lifting up her shirt. It was then I felt that I'd really come back to theatre in Toronto.

Cute bra though. Bright pink.

so tired...

Standing for 8 hours straight on concrete two days in a row is exhausting.

We launched our Art in the Atrium project at the hospital this week as a way to increase our presence in the hospital community, start integrating art into the daily life of the hospital, and perhaps make artists feel more comfortable coming in to the building to use the clinic.

Our mini-art exhibit the Art of Health was a big hit. After a bit of the what I imagine is usual resistance from some hospital staff ("you can't put that there" "you can't do that here") (there is a reason I have no interest in hospital administration), we won everyone over and I think, for two people who had never curated or set up an art show before, it looked good! 3 pieces in particular captured people over and over again (one by a friend of mine I'm happy to say). I gave out a lot of cards so hopefully something will even sell.

Standing around for two days with the clinic's coordinator gave us a lot of time to come up with other plans. One of which is to have a rotating art gallery that can circulate through the patient units where people have to spend longer periods of time - long term stay or dialysis treatments. Anyway, there are logistics to work out but I think it's a really good idea. (I would of course having thought of it!). It's one of those things that doesn't have a downside. It benefits the patients, staff and the artist.

The second part of the launch was lunchtime performances by my friend Jim's jazz trio. It was the perfect choice for the start of the performance series. High quality performance with mellow musicians who could roll with whatever happened. Since I didn't know how it was going to go - I can't actually control all the elements at the hospital which is offputting actually - I wanted people I could depend on to kinda roll with it. Fortunately the most challenging moment was the Druxy's woman who said the music was giving her a headache. Um....okay Marvin Gaye played on the vibes is giving you a headache? I think this is a perfect example of someone whose life is very small. Anyway, all the hospital staff were thrilled and loved it. The clinical director was particularly impressed and started chatting with me about the idea of having an artist in residence at the hospital. So, I guess I'll end up doing some good here whether I want to or not...

My old peeps launched their season Thursday night. I'll not say much as well...I guess I don't understand why they are doing a misogynist German play from the 1990s. So much money was spent and honestly, it was just too boring to be offensive. I did love the polar bear though. People worked so hard on this too - many challenging hours - and I'm disheartened that my fears for the direction of the season seem to be founded.

Last night I was at the Tarragon for their owning show. And it was excellent. Of course. Charming, well acted, interesting, challenging, slightly odd and simple. A well made play, telling an interesting complete story.

It's been a full few days and I am pooped. Today, I sit around!

So this whole working out thing really does make you feel better. Who knew? I went before work this morning again and it didn't tire me out and I actually felt invigorated (or something). Must be the endorphins...

Bell has come and gone in decent time this morning thereby not taking up another entire Sunday, which is a good thing. Apparently my internet line was crossed with someone's phone line (well done Bell installation dude!) and so whenever that person picked up the phone, my internet connection died. So theoretically, problem solved. Fills one with great confidence though doesn't it?

I'm going to get out for a stroll this afternoon as this week is going to be a marathon. Much much to do and craziness at work with the launch of our Art in the Atrium series at the hospital (yes, when one doesn't have enough to do one starts a monthly performance series at the hospital and for fun, adds an art exhibit to start it all off...) Anyway, that and a bunch of opening nights will make this a busy week...

Dance break!

I had a tap lesson this afternoon at work. Both my staff were in and they are both dancers. The office was deadly quiet, the phone wasn't ringing, the girls we share the space with were being totally silent, it was driving me nuts. So tap dance! Just another day at the office.

Speaking of normal, my internet has been intermittent at best this week so I called Bell to get it sorted. Of course they have to send a technician Sunday morning. Seriously it's like the universe doesn't want me to get sleep.

Well it's finally happened. I've joined a gym. Actually I've belonged to gyms before but it's been a while and after a year of American super-sized everything, I am in need...anyway, tonight was night #2 and I am feeling it. Good though, but I'll be sore in the morning. I had a full fitness assessment and everything and I am so not writing here what percentage of my body is fat. Ick! Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to stick with it and get back to being a little less soft than I am currently. The good thing is that it's about five minutes from my apartment and is full of women who make me feel skinny. And I know it's not about the other people, but it's just like when I did aquafit with all the little old ladies - I'd rather feel like I'm in somewhat better shape than work out with a bunch of twinkies in LuLuLemon.