Waiting Until the Time is Right
February 8th, 2010
Dear Blog
Don’t take it personally that you were the last person I told. I still love you. (I know you won’t take it personally… you aren’t even a person! Barely even an inanimate object!)
The News: Julie and I are engaged and will marry this summer.
This new “engagement” chapter of my life has been educational, to say the least. I’m struck by how the kids of my generation don’t seem to understand the “need” to get married. ESPECIALLY, having an engagement less than a year. No, she’s not pregnant. Yes, people have asked.
“Yeah, and we’re planning the wedding 8 months from now. That will be perfect timing.”
Well then, why get married? Why not… just… live together… for a long time, until the time is right. And then just see what happens?
I love Julie deeply, with all my heart. I want to spend the rest of my days at her side. She is in the dreams I chase. And I want to support her dream-chasing. We want to grow a family together.
(Is there ever a right time for kids?) Crickets.
The time is right, because I don’t want to let another day go by. And all the little demons: wedding cost, planning, organization – will sort out. They are small peanuts compared to the love we share.
Regularly scheduled blogging can now continue.
Posted in Unbelievable Until It Happened | Comments (3)
Echo Echo on Myspace
December 13th, 2009
You must go and check out the Myspace page of Echo Echo, a brand new Toronto-based electro pop duet. I find this music very exciting. Perhaps I am partial: I make up one half of the band!
Yes, Echo Echo has been my secret creative project, along with the lovely and talented Andrea Caswell. I’m thrilled to share the music with you.
Andrea and I met years ago when we were both cast in a Queen’s Players production. We later teamed up to co-music direct our own Queen’s Players production. Our paths went in opposite directions after Queen’s. I toured, stayed a while in Montreal, then New Zealand before landing in Toronto. Andrea contacted me in New Zealand and asked me if I’d be interested in a collaboration.
Yes! It was perfect to have a creative project in the works before I even moved to TO.
We have been meeting regularly and writing/recording demo material here in Atlas Studio. Andrea is incredibly talented, and it is so much fun to record her. I really believe in the music we’re creating. We’re working away on our debut album, with a release ASAP 2010.
I’m VERY excited to get these tunes on stage. How? Well… That’s a beast yet to be tamed. Andrea will be playing keys and singing, of course. I’ll be playing my laptop, predominantly Ableton Live with a Launchpad. But there’s lots of room for more interactive programming with either MaxMSP or Reaktor. And I plan on keeping my acoustic guitar within reach. You know, in case we blow a fuse. (Or a laptop. Tfu tfu tfu!) I assure you, we are planning an exciting and risky live show. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m SO sick of watching bands that look BORED on stage. Bored of their own music! Quit wasting my time and money. If you aren’t kinetically ecstatic to share your music, get out of my way. And I promise, I will waste no one’s time with music that I am not on fire about.
If you haven’t yet, go check out Echo Echo’s Myspace page.
Tags: Echo Echo, Listening, Music
Posted in Spotlight | Comments (1)
“Sexting” is a Problem
December 11th, 2009I know I just claimed there are no problems. I’m balancing my frou-frou with a gut-wrenching reality check. This is a chilling story about a 13 year old girl who committed suicide after on-going school-wide bullying that began after she sent a boy nude pictures of herself via her cellphone.
I am really worried about the discrepancy between the advances in technology/social media and the lag in developing education for ethical behavior, online and off. Do kids get the rammifications of what happens online? I doubt it. Stories like this break my heart.
Via Dan, who is always a great source of interesting links. Subscribing to hundreds of feeds so that I don’t have to.
Tags: Education, Internet Ethics
Posted in Spotlight | Comments (0)
There Are No Problems
December 11th, 2009There are no problems. Only situations – to be dealt with now, or to be left alone and accepted as part of the present moment [...] until they change or can be dealt with.
~ Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now
Of all the frou-frou, self-dev books I’ve collected over the past 3 years, none have had such a profound impact on my perspective as Tolle’s The Power of Now. Here’s a nice little interview on the Hour that introduces his philosophy.
This idea that I quoted above has been rattling around in my head the past couple of days. I find my life has gotten a lot by readdressing problems as situations. I like to think of the story of my life. And I try to be “one of the good guys,” in my story and as many other stories I’m featured in.
Actually, The Power of Now reminds me a lot of being an actor and making honest choices grounded in the moment. I’m not talking about being dramatic, I’m talking about listening to your scene partner and reacting appropriately to carry your role in the situation.
There are no problems, only situations. This makes the bills a little less scary. It makes me less critical of others. It eases my fears for tomorrow and my frustrations with yesterday. Tomorrow and yesterday are unimportant next to what is happening right now.
Tags: Quotations
Posted in Ponderings | Comments (0)
Donkey
December 9th, 2009
Posted in Photographs | Comments (4)