Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Dr. Stroumboulopoulos or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Don Cherry


My dear friend Hannah has been visiting Angela and I at our humble abode for a few days. When asked what she wanted to do in Toronto specifically, she only had one request: To see a taping of "The Hour". You may or may not know... But I go to a lot of these tapings. This was my fourth time there. Daniel, Hannah and I went, and we really didn't know what to expect. We had no idea who the guests were going to be, or how long it was going to take. Let me tell you, I could not have been more pleased when we found out who was going to be on the show.

The first enigmatic guest was (as you can see from this picture) A Mister Donald S. Cherry. I was thrilled when they announced that he was going to be the first guest. I am not exactly a die-hard-fan of Don Cherry. In fact, I would say the opposite is true. I am pleased to say that no matter how bullheaded, opinionated, inappropriate and crass he can be on TV, he charmed me in this interview. And his suit was easy on the eyes as well.

I was much more excited to hear from Divine Brown. I've only heard a few of her songs, and only fairly recently as well. I've never seen someone's eyes sparkle quite so much, and mid interview she belted out some Joni Mitchell lyrics in a way that I don't think I will ever hear Joni Mitchell lyrics again. It was marvelous.

What always amazes me about the shows, is that they are straight up interviews. There is little, to no editing, and I have never been there were they do a different take. George sits down, does some small talk with the audience - and then they go right into the show. He has notes, but he doesn't refer to them. He has a teleprompter, but that is to keep him on track with his ranting monologues. Sure he knows he is great... But that's the thing. He really is.


They give away free random-things on the show as well which is really exciting. In past tapings I have scored two books so far. This show, I secured myself a third. It is the new short book by JK Rowling. It's adorable. I won it by calling out: "Oh me, me please please please!" and raising both my hands. Ask, and ye shall receive.

Don Cherry also gave everyone in the audience a free copy of "Rock Em Sock Em Hockey #20". I can't wait to watch it. I'm thinking it will be great for some family bonding.

I will leave you with this charming picture of Daniel and I. All pictures are courtesy of a Little Mac.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Mom Was Right After All


When I was much younger, and went trick-or-treating, my parents had some ground rules. Before we were allowed to indulge in the "goods" collected in our pillowcases, Mom would sort through the heaps of candy and take out ALL of the gum.

The reason for the removing (and then discarding of) of the gum was that apparently, as children, we had an awful habit of chewing gum in the same manner as a cow chews its cud. I always thought the gum discrimination was profoundly unfair and would protest it year after year.

Coming home from school today, I was sitting in front of someone who was chewing... no, smacking, his gum. It was annoying, mind-numbing, gross and aggravating. I stewed and tried to drown it out. But then I realized...

Mom was right all along. Sorry Mom.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Who wants leg room and conversation?

This may end up reading like a plug for VIA Rail.

As you may or may not know, I am rather fond on trains. Some of my most loved memories involve trains, the tracks, the whistle, the sparks from the brakes and the "trackah trackah" sound that it makes as it whirrs along. A goal of mine in the next year or so, is to take the train across the Canada and stop off wherever and whenever I want. Summer, fall, winter, spring; when doesn't matter - I simply have to see more of this country.

I am headed home to see my friends and family for the holidays. I left it pretty late, but I still managed to get my ticket home just the other day, and I am (of course) taking the train. I have collected a couple different tricks from different people that reduces the cost significantly, making it a viable and relaxing way to travel. Who wants leg room and an everchanging and beautiful view of Eastern Canada? Oh! Me! Me!

Person to person and face to face experiences with VIA rail have never been anything less of wonderful. Buying my ticket at Union Station was no different. There were two ticket "wickets" open. One of the gentlemen at the counters had helped me out a lot 2 years ago when I was travelling out of Toronto. I was kind of suprised that I recognized him. The counter that I went to this time was staffed by a gentleman named Winston. He had an amazing calming presence and classic voice. We had a great conversation about trains, Elizabeth May, Toronto, Christmas etc. and I left, with ticket in hand, and a smile plastered on my face of such a happy meeting.

I was so happy that I walked off, leaving my bags.

Even my embarassment of returning to fetch my things couldn't ruin my feeling of pure happy.
I snuck back and got them moments later.

Countdown

I may be hitting the wall.
The semester is almost over.
The next nine days seem insurmountable.
Wish me luck.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

ECHO... Echo... echo...

I'm volunteering for a choir concert this coming Sunday. I signed myself up on a whim, not having any idea what the group sounded like, what kind of group it was, whether anyone attended the shows etc. All I knew is that they were different, and the only way I deduced this was that they said so on their website.

I went this evening to discuss my duties as a "Volunteer Ticket Coordinator", which is super official and important sounding (more important than it sounds), and to listen a little bit to the choir practice. As soon as I stepped into the office building I fell in love. It is an old, old, old, old, old house in the middle of the city that has been magically maintained. I felt SO at home there. It smelled like my grandmother's old basket store and brown sugar fudge. The walls were brightly painted, the floors were original, and there were happy piles of clutter everywhich-way.

In the the church where the group holds their practices there were incredibly high ceilings, wacky pews, and semi-tacky homemade banners that said things like "diversity", "peace" and "social justice". There were arm chairs and couches in corners. People parked their bicycles in the entry way. This was a very well used and lived in space in the best sort of way.

The choral director was a stout yet spritely man with a Rip Van Wynkel beard.
The administrator's name was Yaya...
There were old ladies with scarves and wild hair...
Lots of people on bicycles....
Some young moms....
Scattered here and there were a few girls my age....
Several "no-nonsense", community-organizer-type-w
omen who run the show....
And you know what the accompanying instruments were?
The piano.
The guitar.
.... and the BANJO

How perfect is that?

I'm on the waiting list to join, and will hopefully hear back from them in January. Me helping out certainly can not hinder my chances in getting in! Fingers crossed that I found something else to make me feel at home in Toronto....