Music To My Ears

I just heard the mating call of a Black-capped Chickadee outside my balcony. It might've awakened me from a lingering winter funk. A sure sign of spring, it was music to my ears.

Earth Heart

I like this Valentine picture and think it's worth sharing here.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day ... Or Not

It's Valentine's Day. Based on some of the articles I've come across these past few days, that's almost a loaded statement. Too bad.

Although I'm somewhat wary of the consumerism surrounding Valentine's Day (as I am of the consumerism surrounding Christmas or Easter for that matter), and there's a part of me that really likes these Vinegar Valentines, I think pure and honest Love in any form, or any day highlighting it, is worth celebrating.

Amidst all the heart-studded hype and hoopla, maybe today's a good day to reflect on all Love present in our life whether from family, friends or even a pet! It's all good.

So whether you loathe Love day and are part of the anti V-Day movement, or like me, are a big suck for Love and all things related, may your February 14th be a pleasant one. Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Pay-What-You-Can Nights at the NAC

In January, I attended a pay-what-you-can night at the National Arts Centre to see a play called Frida K., about artist Frida Kahlo. I promised you then that I'd list any upcoming pay-what-you-can plays. Turns out there are three:

The Unanswered Question (March 5, 20:00)
7 Important Things (May 7, 20:00)
Copper Thunderbird (May 22, 19:30 - This one is about Canadian painter Norval Morrisseau. If I remember correctly, he had an exhibit at the National Gallery not so long ago.)

Pay-what-you-can night is the play's last dress rehearsal before the main performance run. There's a risk they may have to stop along the way to adjust certain things, but at Frida K. they didn't have to. We got great spots, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into production, and an evening at the NAC for less than the regular ticket price. Certainly sounds like a good deal to me.

My Window on the World - Winter Edition

Back in November 2006 I posted one of my favourite things: my window on the world (you'll have to scroll down to the November 7th post, I don't know how to link to the post itself using the "new & improved" blogger).

I often stand at that window observing the world around me. The view is different in the winter; I like looking at the snow-covered rooftops. This picture was taken on a grey snowy morning from the comfort of my warm apartment as I indulged in the smell of fresh coffee and slightly burnt toast. Can you see the snowflakes in the foreground?

The Stories of Us

The time: Every Thursday from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

The place: A city-sponsored meeting room with three beige walls and a fourth one full of windows covered by silver venetian blinds.

The people: Ten individuals sitting around a table, each one of us lost in our own little world. Some type furiously on a keyboard, others write in old-fashioned notebooks while others stare into space.

Meet my weekly writers group.

It's only my third week and I already love it. Not only does it force me to sit down and write for three hours, it serves as a source of insight, education and inspiration. Without being intimidated, I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from the variety and depth of experience around the table. Whether crafting fiction, poetry or blog posts we're all there to do what we love best: shape words into stories.

I've always been fond of stories; it's important to keep writing them. To surround myself once a week by a group of like-minded people dedicated to doing so serves as my gentle reminder.

A Post Of Lists

I've been feeling uninspired to post on my blog during the past few weeks. I'm just not sure what to write about. Today I spent time surfing some of my favourite creative blogs and was inspired by this blogger's process of creating three specific lists at the end of each year:

• Things I learned this past year
• Ten things I'm grateful for this past year
• Ten things I intend to create in my life in the coming year
  

Since it's still early, I figured it wasn't too late for me to create my own lists for the transition from 2006 to 2007. Here's what I came up with:

Things I learned in 2006

1. I can be athletic if I want to
2. Parallel parking isn't so intimidating once you've done it a few times
3. Pole dancers need a lot of upper body strength
4. I need self-imposed structure and order to achieve my goals
5. Old movies often had a lot more plot and wit to them than today's
6. I can't always do it alone, sometimes I just need help
7. There's no set time frame to mend a broken heart, but there's usually regular progression
8. I love being able to walk to the grocery store, the video store, the florist, the coffee shop ...
9. I don't like street parking in the winter
10. It's ok to care

10 things I am grateful for in 2006 (These are from a running list I've created - I'm up to 204 Gratefuls. They're in no particular order.)

1. My apartment and the process of making it a reflection of myself
2. My multiple circles of friends - I love them all!
3. Discovering old movies
4. Learning to love again, and learning to recognize and appreciate the love that was already in my life
5. Hiking, camping, enjoying the outdoors
6. My family and roots, including ancestors that have long passed away but live through letters, memories and pictures
7. My solo trip to New Brunswick
8. The many live concerts that made me rock, bop & sway - Sam Roberts, Trooper, Jamie Cullum, The Hip ...
9. The vibrancy, proximity and variety of experiences that come with living downtown
10. Being off (on a sabbatical) from June to December

10 things I intend to create in my life in 2007

1. Order
2. Financial stability
3. Art
4. Community
5. Health
6. Beauty in my surroundings
7. New experiences
8. Fun and laughter
9. Travel and exploration
10. Peace and love

It's a neat process to go through; I encourage you to try it. If ever you feel like sharing, leave me a comment with your three lists. I'd love to hear from you!

Winterlude Is Here

It's Winterlude again!

Tonight's opening night at the Snowbowl features Randy Bachman and I plan to be there. It's free; it's walking distance; heck I might even strap on the skates for a glide on the Canal. As of this morning, it's open from the National Arts Centre to Dow's Lake and ice conditions are good.

Oh, and did I mention that the Snowbowl shows are free?

Check out Winterlude's Web site for more info on all activities and shows, then bundle up and catch a few!