July 28, 2005 (Happy Birthday, Dad!)
I've been working on 3 commissions and a demo. Looking forward to painting outdoors again once the humidity is gone.
I've been hanging out down by the lake, too. Nothing like a campfire, stars, and a bottle of red Zinfandel to make you content.
on my iTunes as
I type: a Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys anthology!
June 27, 2005 (Happy Birthday, Grandma!)
Been busy writing to my incredibly brave friend P in Italy, the one enduring the bone marrow transplant this week. She finishes her chemo pre-treatments today. Keep your good vibes coming for her, I am grateful!
It;'s that time again, the "snakepit of excitement" that is NXNE.Had a great ol time at the EMI rooftop party, where Bobby snapped me with Canadian Idol Kalan Porter for my dear friend Heather, who is nuts about him - hee hee hee! (Hi Head!)
It was damn hot up there. I kept pouring bottled ice water on my head and then shaking like a wet dog, to the delight of Beau Randall. Hi Bo'!
Like my hilarious dress? It's so Wilma Flintstone. It is actually a circa 1981 Guy Laroche sarong from France, with a slit up to there. Font font font, eh?! Collecting and wearing vintage clothing is a passion of mine. Just found a new place to shop, too - Hooked On Vintage. Check it out!
I am in Vermont on a painting trip! (see allaprima for the results.)
OMG I'm moving to Vermont. (just kidding) but seriously, I adore it there. Overnighted in Burlington and felt so at home. Everyone was so NICE and interesting! No chain stores! No hideous WalMart!! Every shop is a bike shop or cool sports store or art supply place - dogs welcome everywhere. Restaurants, oh the FOOOD... Gorged myself on Mexican and beer at a waterfront cafe. They made me some REAL, AUTHENTIC lime-marinated ceviche! Gaaa!!
Then there's the countryside. I painted my heart out for one afternoon in the Champlain Islands. Lots of neat bogs and strange plant life. I wanted to paint in the mountains, however, it was drizzling there, and that doesn't bode well for watercolours unless you are painting Niagara Falls and you WANT the happy accidents that the mist in the air produces!
I am going back there as soon as I can, bringing my bike and my white shepherd, Gorjuss, too. The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center encourages guests to bring their dogs. They have 52 acres of dog walking trails on the land. Wowowowowow!!!
On Sunday night, snapped Aimee Mann at South Burlington's Higher Ground. This is a fabulous venue - if you get a chance, see a show or 3 there. They pour heavy if you order a nice Scotch. ;-))) I can also highly recommend the friendly take-out pizza stand at Marco's (? I'll have to check the name) a couple doors down.
I have seen Aimee before, but this was the first time I truly connected with her work at a live performance. It was magical, honest, personal and unhurried, and she was in a pretty good mood, able to laugh with the audience about having lost her luggage earlier that day. I think she felt pretty comfortable in Burlington, and the audience was very appreciative.
In Montreal at the Fairmont Queen-E for various work-related activity. Quebec is a whole 'nother world, with wonderful old buildings, amazing culture, and real CROISSANTS!!! But the best part was tonight's Cafe Campus show, with my favourite band in thewholewideworld, The Raveonettes. They were incredible, and I was, as always when I see them, a very happy Pinkie. Snapped a few shots. Afterwards, it was Jagermeisters for all, single malt for yours truly, (and a lime wedgie for the bassist...) and a hang-out at the Copacabana on St. Laurent. These are really nice, super talented people, please support them. Sharon is a very cool, stylin' kitten, (check the shoes!), Jakob is a sweetheart, and Sune is a freaking genius, drawing on musical elements that are legendary riff and vocal-wise, combining them with his own brilliance, and making em even better. I know, it sounds like I am gushing, but I really am a fan, even with all the music in my daily life - these cats stand out.
Yeah!!! Tonight it was Tegan & Sara with The Killers. T & S were fabulous, their voices in top shape. "So Jealous" should have been recorded live that day, it was that good. Backstage was a scene, complete with cute, sweaty boys in make-up carrying teddie bears. Don't ask.
My friend Rafael Alfandary has passed away after a long battle with bone cancer, and I am off to the wake this afternoon in Toronto. Raf is the person who made all that big, artsy "Rafael Canada" jewelry that I have collected since the 1980s. Those who know me may recall the huge rings and dramatic chokers, and the wild clocks in my home. I will wear some today, too. A special piece - a huuuge sterling silver ankh from the 60s, that he re-signed for me in 2000.
We became fast friends when he contaced me out of the blue a few years ago after having seen my little ol web site devoted to his art. He had just arrived in Toronto after having lived in an ashram in India for many years, out of the public eye. After having designed jewelry for countless celebrities in the 60s and 70s (Liberace, Liz Taylor, Maggie Trudeau, etc.,) no one knew where he was or if he was even still living! I had tried to find out info about him for years
and NOTHING! Imagine my shock at having received an email from him, very excited and ALL CAPS... he had just discovered the net, a technology he was soon to embrace with gusto.
His wife Eriko is also a jewelry artist, and a lovely, kind person. You wouldn't believe what a good cook she is, too. Can whip up Japanese delicacies with her eyes closed. Every trip to their home was an incredible adventure in culinary delights. I feel so sad for her, as she and Raf were bonded at the soul. I plan to invite her up here to SMC if she needs a getaway.
He was a real character, brilliant and extroverted. Being in the room with him was like being in the presence of Picasso, with similar masculine enthusiasm and passion for life, business, and art, but with less misogyny. He'll be missed.
Fly high, Raf!
Vernal Equinox. Snow is melting. I love winter, but am freaking ready to see a crocus bloom, as my friend Holly says.
Been perusing the seed and bulb catalogues, too. I wonder what is already out there in my yard? No idea as I came here in late autumn. Hopefully tiger lilies! I do know there is a hedge of purple lilacs. Can't wait to get out there and paint that!
Just back from Canadian Music Week 2005, a conference that I look forward to every year, extroverted schmoozer that I am. Unfortunately I got very ill and spent most of it watching the ceiling spin in my lovely room at the top of the Fairmont Royal York, and lovingly tweaking my iTunes library while listening to others' music on their computers via the hotel ethernet. So cool. It is interesting to see what folks have on their playlists. One obvious Dad had a whole section of Barney songs for kids beside his folder of Slayer tunes. I didn't listen to those, but to ones in his library I had never heard of; a novel way to discover new ear candy. Thank you, unknown hotel dj, and thank you, Steve Jobs!!
However ill, I did get to snap Manitoba's Driver on the Friday night, and talented BC singer/songwriterChristineEvans on Monday at her First Canadian Place show. Chris is so sweet and genuine!
Also took a series of pics of Erin and her charming bandmates in A Girl Called Eddy. I really connected with their live show. Considering the music-heavy weekend it followed, 'was great to see a good turnout at her Soundscapes in-store and Horseshoe concert.
I really regret not being able to see Japan's Guitar Wolf on the Saturday, and I missed Limblifter, too. *sulk*
Arun of Driver is gonna be a huge star. He has charisma charisma charisma!
E's painting is finished! Off to the gallery for framing it goes.
On iTunes: The wonderful Ditty Bops. Tegan Quin introduced us to them, what a gorgeous sounding band.
Here I am, spoiled brat Birthday Girl with "Happy Birthday Kitten" cake, and a wand and tiara compliments of Paul & Matt. To my left is one of our dear friends John Punter, who showed up for a surprise brunch thrown by Bobby at the Waring House. I am so lucky!
Wicked birthday. :-)
Working on Elizabeth D.'s painting, commissioned by her friend Claire. I have the most wicked new brush to try... a Davinci Maestro Number 18 from Germany! ***Homer Simpson drool***
:-) Sorry, no links yet... she has to be surprised!
On iPod: Tom Verlaine "Storm", into "Mockingbirds" by Grant Lee Buffalo, and some Madviolet is in the mix. I snapped them last week at the Mod Club, wth Ember Swift. Grrrrrreat bands, interesting, talented people! Brenley and Lisa are off to Australia to tour and record (and surf) for several weeks. Wheeee!!
Now playing on my iTunes as I type: Devo "Snowball", segueing into Tegan & Sara "City Girl"
In my glass: Carmen 2002 Reserve (Chilean Cab)
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