Today I signed up for a 10k run, which takes place in less than 3 weeks... I should start running, I think.
I also posted some songs, for your listening pleasure, at immigrant design.
Monday, April 14, 2008
weekend
On Friday night we went to the wood's place to hang out with them and the Cumbys, which was fun.
On Saturday we made a trip to the dentist... and then went to Bradley's for a thesis practice. His thesis presentation is tonight, at 7, at the Music Gallery/church at Grange park.
We also did loads of laundry.
Last night after church we watched Hot Fuzz. I had heard a lot of hype about it, so I was nervous that it might disappoint.
It did not. That movie is hilarious.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Weather
Today is dreary and grey. It is also rainy and blustery and cold... It is supposed to be this way for most of the weekend.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Mulholland Drive
Leah and I watched Mulholland Drive on Monday.
It's been a long time since I last watched a Lynch movie, and I'm never quite sure what to make of them... His ability to blur the line between everyday banality and freaking insanity is definitely compelling! As is his incredible tight-rope walking between making sense (at least in this movie!) and not making sense.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Weakened
Don and Jessica came over for dinner on Friday night...
Saturday was a day of thesis and church related meetings.
Sunday - Leah played at an Anglican church in the morning. I went to BMV and sold them some old books. And then we went to church in the evening, as per usual.
In other news, it is finally getting a bit warmer...
Saturday was a day of thesis and church related meetings.
Sunday - Leah played at an Anglican church in the morning. I went to BMV and sold them some old books. And then we went to church in the evening, as per usual.
In other news, it is finally getting a bit warmer...
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Weekender
The rundown...
Friday night we went to JFL for dinner, and then to the Freedomize coffee house...
Saturday I went to Bradley's to work on his thesis project for a bit. Afterwards I went with Leah to a Presbyterian youth gathering in Etobicoke. This was the first in a continuing series of youth services organized by Andrew Rennie and some district Presbytery that has realized that young people don't go to church anymore. The FT band supplied the music, the Presbyterians provided the pizza...
That night we went to Lee's Palace to see Basia Bulat. She and her band are fresh off of a US tour, and it is very evident in how much tighter they are. She seemed delighted to be playing to a very enthusiastic crowd - and it must have been a great thing to come home to. There was also a guest appearance by the Mecija sisters, who sang backup on the first song.
Sunday - Leah and the FT band played music at an Anglican church in High Park. I did laundry... and skipped both the Anglican church service, and the evening FT service. I ended up going for a walk, purchasing the live Mark Kozelek album, and renting A Scanner Darkly (which was average).
Yesterday I had a pretty sweet headache, so I didn't go to work. I slept on the couch all day.
Friday night we went to JFL for dinner, and then to the Freedomize coffee house...
Saturday I went to Bradley's to work on his thesis project for a bit. Afterwards I went with Leah to a Presbyterian youth gathering in Etobicoke. This was the first in a continuing series of youth services organized by Andrew Rennie and some district Presbytery that has realized that young people don't go to church anymore. The FT band supplied the music, the Presbyterians provided the pizza...
That night we went to Lee's Palace to see Basia Bulat. She and her band are fresh off of a US tour, and it is very evident in how much tighter they are. She seemed delighted to be playing to a very enthusiastic crowd - and it must have been a great thing to come home to. There was also a guest appearance by the Mecija sisters, who sang backup on the first song.
Sunday - Leah and the FT band played music at an Anglican church in High Park. I did laundry... and skipped both the Anglican church service, and the evening FT service. I ended up going for a walk, purchasing the live Mark Kozelek album, and renting A Scanner Darkly (which was average).
Yesterday I had a pretty sweet headache, so I didn't go to work. I slept on the couch all day.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Across the Universe
We watched Across the Universe last night... by which I mean I watched, and Leah half watched and then fell asleep.
Overall it was pretty bad, and sort of Leah's worst nightmare (she generally hates musicals that aren't Annie). I actually enjoyed it!
I couldn't help but wonder how the generally dangerous idea of writing a story around pre-existing songs might actually be pretty amazing, in the hands of a Tom Stoppard/Umberto Eco level genius. Of course, these guys generally busy themselves wrapping stories around things like Shakespeare's entire canon, or the history of western civilization...
It also seems like the (quite profitable, I assume) trend of turning much-loved music into musical theatre is probably going to continue... and that begs the question: Which music from my generation is destined for the stage/screen treatment?
This question is sort of frightening.
Overall it was pretty bad, and sort of Leah's worst nightmare (she generally hates musicals that aren't Annie). I actually enjoyed it!
I couldn't help but wonder how the generally dangerous idea of writing a story around pre-existing songs might actually be pretty amazing, in the hands of a Tom Stoppard/Umberto Eco level genius. Of course, these guys generally busy themselves wrapping stories around things like Shakespeare's entire canon, or the history of western civilization...
It also seems like the (quite profitable, I assume) trend of turning much-loved music into musical theatre is probably going to continue... and that begs the question: Which music from my generation is destined for the stage/screen treatment?
This question is sort of frightening.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Happy Easter
Indeed.
The weekend was not too eventful...
Friday we pretty much did nothing all day. That night we went to watch Persepolis (one of the good things about living in a big city is that you get the chance to see pretty much any movie in a theatre if you want to). The movie was good, although Leah was a bit bored, having just read the books. I have only read the first book, and that was a few years ago. The story is crazy, and a lot of bad things happen... but there is also a sense that some people are able to remain human and civil in spite of ridiculous circumstances - and this adds a bit of hopefulness to an otherwise sad movie. And the drawing is great.
On Saturday we went to Brad's, and played a couple of his thesis songs. Afterwards, Leah had a rehearsal for Sunday, and I bought groceries and wasted time. That night we did laundry.
On Sunday I ran sound at church, so I had to be there pretty early. It was kinda fun, although it always feels like I am observing church, rather than participating. It was a crazy Easter service, with ridiculous decorations, chocolate, and a large, large band. Working the sound board was a little like trying to control a wild beast - but I think it sounded pretty good.
Afterwards, we attended the annual Easter Feaster, and ate our heads off.
The weekend was not too eventful...
Friday we pretty much did nothing all day. That night we went to watch Persepolis (one of the good things about living in a big city is that you get the chance to see pretty much any movie in a theatre if you want to). The movie was good, although Leah was a bit bored, having just read the books. I have only read the first book, and that was a few years ago. The story is crazy, and a lot of bad things happen... but there is also a sense that some people are able to remain human and civil in spite of ridiculous circumstances - and this adds a bit of hopefulness to an otherwise sad movie. And the drawing is great.
On Saturday we went to Brad's, and played a couple of his thesis songs. Afterwards, Leah had a rehearsal for Sunday, and I bought groceries and wasted time. That night we did laundry.
On Sunday I ran sound at church, so I had to be there pretty early. It was kinda fun, although it always feels like I am observing church, rather than participating. It was a crazy Easter service, with ridiculous decorations, chocolate, and a large, large band. Working the sound board was a little like trying to control a wild beast - but I think it sounded pretty good.
Afterwards, we attended the annual Easter Feaster, and ate our heads off.
Monday, March 17, 2008
People Don't Blog No More
It's true...
The weekend was OK. On Friday night we went to watch Persepolis - except the theatre was having power outages, so we ended up NOT watching it...
On Saturday, we went to Brad's for the afternoon, and then Katherine's that night. It was fun, but we ended up going to bed some time around 3 or 4... (Luckily, we had a pretty decent nap before we went).
On Sunday, I bought some groceries, and then there was church...
Afterwards we went to Hosu, where Leah and Andrew had a meeting with a guy from a church they are going to play at...
Oh yeah - it's St Patrick's Day. Better drink green beer and hunt for leprechauns.
The weekend was OK. On Friday night we went to watch Persepolis - except the theatre was having power outages, so we ended up NOT watching it...
On Saturday, we went to Brad's for the afternoon, and then Katherine's that night. It was fun, but we ended up going to bed some time around 3 or 4... (Luckily, we had a pretty decent nap before we went).
On Sunday, I bought some groceries, and then there was church...
Afterwards we went to Hosu, where Leah and Andrew had a meeting with a guy from a church they are going to play at...
Oh yeah - it's St Patrick's Day. Better drink green beer and hunt for leprechauns.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Weekend
Leah spent the weekend sick and on the couch.
The weather spent the weekend snowing some more. I was at the laundromat and noticed an article in the paper about how the last time there was this much snow in Toronto was some time in the 1930's.
It was also Canadian Music Week, which means pretty much nothing to most people, as far as I know. I did make it out to a free in-store appearance at (the other) Criminal Records, to see Julie Doiron, Canada's leading lady of nineties alternative music, play some of her solo songs. Opening acts where Calm Down Its Monday (with Julie on drums), and the Superfantastics. I left before the last band (Dog Day). Overall it was pretty fun - and I couldn't help but notice that even the kids were sounding kinda 90's. Some guy took some pictures...
On Saturday evening I hiked through blizzard conditions to support friend Kate, and her ongoing efforts with DreamNorth... her friends' theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare plays to parts of Canada that I hope to never experience (at least not in the winter). The event was a fundraiser at Fort York, and the snow seemed somehow appropriate...
Sunday was church - where I got to try my hand behind the sound-board. I hadn't run sound for quite a while, and it was a bit frustrating at first. Once everything was finally working, those in attendance where at my mercy, as I aligned levels to my own personal preferences...
Today I am a bit sluggish, given that it is Monday, and that the time change means waking up in the dark again. Luckily, Delvyn (I miss my family), sent through the pre-release version of the Sparrow Love Crew EP, for my listening pleasure.
The weather spent the weekend snowing some more. I was at the laundromat and noticed an article in the paper about how the last time there was this much snow in Toronto was some time in the 1930's.
It was also Canadian Music Week, which means pretty much nothing to most people, as far as I know. I did make it out to a free in-store appearance at (the other) Criminal Records, to see Julie Doiron, Canada's leading lady of nineties alternative music, play some of her solo songs. Opening acts where Calm Down Its Monday (with Julie on drums), and the Superfantastics. I left before the last band (Dog Day). Overall it was pretty fun - and I couldn't help but notice that even the kids were sounding kinda 90's. Some guy took some pictures...
On Saturday evening I hiked through blizzard conditions to support friend Kate, and her ongoing efforts with DreamNorth... her friends' theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare plays to parts of Canada that I hope to never experience (at least not in the winter). The event was a fundraiser at Fort York, and the snow seemed somehow appropriate...
Sunday was church - where I got to try my hand behind the sound-board. I hadn't run sound for quite a while, and it was a bit frustrating at first. Once everything was finally working, those in attendance where at my mercy, as I aligned levels to my own personal preferences...
Today I am a bit sluggish, given that it is Monday, and that the time change means waking up in the dark again. Luckily, Delvyn (I miss my family), sent through the pre-release version of the Sparrow Love Crew EP, for my listening pleasure.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Frozen
The weather people say we have more snow coming this weekend.
Check out this video (I'm not sure how old it is, so you may have seen it before) of the coolest thing ever.
Check out this video (I'm not sure how old it is, so you may have seen it before) of the coolest thing ever.
Monday, March 03, 2008
The weekend...
...was fairly action-packed.
Leah and I rented Stalker, and managed to watch about 15min of it on Friday night. If you're kinda tired - don't rent a 2 1/2 hour long Russian movie.
On Saturday - I went to Bradley and Andrew's for most of the day, to work a little on Brad's OCAD thesis. Afterwards, Brad and Leah and I went to Tim Horton's.
On Sunday, we went to Marche (or whatever its called now) for Evelyn's birthday. We hadn't really hung out with folks from the church that we used to go to for about the last 4 years or so - it was fun.
This morning, I found this PSA type campaign, which informs parents about spotting delinquent graffiti related lifestyle signifiers.
I am also having a hard time this morning downloading the free portion of the new NIN album. Generally, I can't stand NIN - but I suspect that an instrumental album might actually be totally sweet. Also - I like the idea of publishing music with a creative commons license.
Leah and I rented Stalker, and managed to watch about 15min of it on Friday night. If you're kinda tired - don't rent a 2 1/2 hour long Russian movie.
On Saturday - I went to Bradley and Andrew's for most of the day, to work a little on Brad's OCAD thesis. Afterwards, Brad and Leah and I went to Tim Horton's.
On Sunday, we went to Marche (or whatever its called now) for Evelyn's birthday. We hadn't really hung out with folks from the church that we used to go to for about the last 4 years or so - it was fun.
This morning, I found this PSA type campaign, which informs parents about spotting delinquent graffiti related lifestyle signifiers.
I am also having a hard time this morning downloading the free portion of the new NIN album. Generally, I can't stand NIN - but I suspect that an instrumental album might actually be totally sweet. Also - I like the idea of publishing music with a creative commons license.
Friday, February 29, 2008
friday
Last night, Leah and I went to the Eaton Centre... for no real reason other than a combination of boredom, and a resolution to finally procure a copy of the 'new' Radiohead album...
We just kinda ambled around the mall sort of aimlessly, and picked up the CD at HMV... They were out of the Once soundtrack (I think maybe the Oscar win caught their stockers by surprise), so that is all we got.
We also went in a couple of shoe stores, since I will need some new dress shoes pretty soon (I still rock the ones I bought for our wedding..!), and realized that the mall is where you go for totally boring shoes.
Also - Leah tried on a couple of bathing suits... The whole time we were in the store, some idiot was sitting outside on one of the benches and periodically whistling at girls walking by. I asked the (visibly annoyed) staff if there was some mall security they could call, which they seemed more than happy to do once I suggested it...
Also, we went in the Apple store. Surprisingly, I have never been in an Apple store before. For someone who is not exactly a gadget-phile, I thought the new skinny metal laptops were pretty sweet... also, the touch iPods are cool too, if only for the stupidly impressive ability to pinch-zoom pictures.
In other news, if it isn't freezing... it's snowing. My mood with regards to winter is currently defiant. Yesterday I went for an hour long (-17ish) walk at lunch... I'm sure this will change to defeat soon enough!
We just kinda ambled around the mall sort of aimlessly, and picked up the CD at HMV... They were out of the Once soundtrack (I think maybe the Oscar win caught their stockers by surprise), so that is all we got.
We also went in a couple of shoe stores, since I will need some new dress shoes pretty soon (I still rock the ones I bought for our wedding..!), and realized that the mall is where you go for totally boring shoes.
Also - Leah tried on a couple of bathing suits... The whole time we were in the store, some idiot was sitting outside on one of the benches and periodically whistling at girls walking by. I asked the (visibly annoyed) staff if there was some mall security they could call, which they seemed more than happy to do once I suggested it...
Also, we went in the Apple store. Surprisingly, I have never been in an Apple store before. For someone who is not exactly a gadget-phile, I thought the new skinny metal laptops were pretty sweet... also, the touch iPods are cool too, if only for the stupidly impressive ability to pinch-zoom pictures.
In other news, if it isn't freezing... it's snowing. My mood with regards to winter is currently defiant. Yesterday I went for an hour long (-17ish) walk at lunch... I'm sure this will change to defeat soon enough!
Monday, February 25, 2008
weekend
On Friday, Leah and I met Jeremy for dinner in Koreatown.
On Saturday, we went to an elders' meeting for church - we also had dinner with the Cumbys.
On Sunday, I went grocery shopping, and then went to church early for super-setup.
After church, we had pancakes for dinner.
On Saturday, we went to an elders' meeting for church - we also had dinner with the Cumbys.
On Sunday, I went grocery shopping, and then went to church early for super-setup.
After church, we had pancakes for dinner.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
update
FAITH
HOPE
LOVE
I have been thinking a little recently about how these three things will remain. This implies that nothing else will remain, which is a pretty crazy idea.
That means that all the things that you do each day that are not about faith, hope, or love, are ultimately insignificant - they will pass away.
Last night I went to meet with the pastor at the Salvation Army, and I noticed that these words were hanging on the wall... which is funny, 'cause I had just come up with the idea of hanging them on the wall at home.
In other news, I am losing most of my faith, hope, and definitely love for the TTC. I know that the weather hasn't been helping, but this IS Canada... so snow shouldn't take anybody by surprise.
And speaking of snow... I had just finished showering this morning when I noticed that the guy that parks behind our apartment was totally stuck. Since he was still there by the time I got dressed, I figured I'd go out and help. It took at least 20 minutes to get him going - every time we managed to move his car a few inches, it immediately got stuck again. We took turns at pushing and driving, and eventually got the car going while I was driving. I managed to get all the way down the alley... at which point he promised to buy me beer - and then took of to go to work.
HOPE
LOVE
I have been thinking a little recently about how these three things will remain. This implies that nothing else will remain, which is a pretty crazy idea.
That means that all the things that you do each day that are not about faith, hope, or love, are ultimately insignificant - they will pass away.
Last night I went to meet with the pastor at the Salvation Army, and I noticed that these words were hanging on the wall... which is funny, 'cause I had just come up with the idea of hanging them on the wall at home.
In other news, I am losing most of my faith, hope, and definitely love for the TTC. I know that the weather hasn't been helping, but this IS Canada... so snow shouldn't take anybody by surprise.
And speaking of snow... I had just finished showering this morning when I noticed that the guy that parks behind our apartment was totally stuck. Since he was still there by the time I got dressed, I figured I'd go out and help. It took at least 20 minutes to get him going - every time we managed to move his car a few inches, it immediately got stuck again. We took turns at pushing and driving, and eventually got the car going while I was driving. I managed to get all the way down the alley... at which point he promised to buy me beer - and then took of to go to work.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Poor people can be bad for the environment...
Check out this article about the Nano - the poor man's car coming to India...
It's interesting that a pretty ecology efficient vehicle could have a really negative impact, simply be meaning more cars on the road... Meanwhile, if the rich drive expensive gas-hogs, the limits of privilege mean that the overall damage to the earth is not as severe...
It's interesting that a pretty ecology efficient vehicle could have a really negative impact, simply be meaning more cars on the road... Meanwhile, if the rich drive expensive gas-hogs, the limits of privilege mean that the overall damage to the earth is not as severe...
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Superserious
I know nobody really cares too much about R.E.M. - but just in case, you can hear a new song of their's here.
I haven't listened to it much, but my initial response is kinda whatever... That being said, I kinda feel that way about all music right now. Perhaps I am getting too old..?
In other news, we watched Jesus of Montreal over the weekend. I liked it a good bit.
I haven't listened to it much, but my initial response is kinda whatever... That being said, I kinda feel that way about all music right now. Perhaps I am getting too old..?
In other news, we watched Jesus of Montreal over the weekend. I liked it a good bit.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
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