The Boots of Doom

Anthem

2010-06-10T22:08:00.002Z

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.

-l. Cohen

I Got In

2010-02-03T22:41:00.002Z

It's official. As of October 5, 2010 I will be an MA graduate student at the University of Sussex.

God help me!

Consequences of Gay Marriage

2010-01-13T22:04:00.002Z

'nuff said.

Whoops! I Did It Again

2010-01-04T20:09:00.010Z

Back on November 16, 2006 (more than three years ago now!) I wrote about my application to OISE at the University of Toronto and my intention to study in their new Student Affairs M.Ed. programme. Though I got into that programme, I chose to accept my current job instead and delayed entering back into the world of student-y things. I have since finished more than half of the courses I need to complete the certificate in Student Affairs and Student Services at Seneca College. Ten minutes ago, however, I took a deep breath and hit submit for my online application to study in the Person-Centred Education MA in Education Studies at the University of Sussex. I'm not going to lie: I'm a little light-headed right now.

In the spirit of that blog entry three years ago, I will share my letter of intent once again. You will notice some similarities, but hopefully some differences, too. Those differences are a sign, I think, of the changes I have undergone and the learning I have done. Three years ago, I knew choosing the BISC over OISE was not a mistake. Let this blog entry stand as proof.

January 4, 2010

Department of Education

School of Education and Social Work
University of Sussex
Brighton

BN1 9RG

To Whom It May Concern:

As soon as I read about the collaboration between the University of Sussex and the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, I felt certain I had found a unique programme that not only fits my personal philosophy, but also my professional philosophy and intellectual goals. I believe that each student at our institutions of higher education comes with his/her own stories, aspirations, motivations, and struggles; what goes on outside the classroom inevitably affects how he/she performs inside the classroom. Moreover, I believe that the person-centred approach of this MA programme is likely to fit well with my own hands-on, relationship-oriented style of learning, or what educational theorist David A. Kolb calls an “Accommodating learning style (2008)”. Through the MA in Education Studies, I would like to explore the pedagogy of Community Service Learning and the role of the university in creating active citizenship amongst the post-secondary student population. I very much hope the Person-Centred Education programme at the University of Sussex will be the next major cornerstone for my career in Student Affairs and Higher Education.

Please allow me to share a series of events that have greatly influenced my career thus far, and led me towards my current educational goals. During my last year of secondary school, my geography teacher took a small group of students to hear former Canadian Ambassador to the UN, Deputy Director of UNICEF, and UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, speak at the University of Guelph for our “World Issues” course. At the time, I didn’t really know who Mr. Lewis was; but I left that event profoundly moved and inspired by his passion to make the world a better place. A year later I travelled the road back to the University of Guelph as a first year undergraduate student, excited to learn and experience new things. Fast forward another twelve years and I am at the helm of a brand new speakers’ series run out of the University of Guelph’s student housing department. Knowing what kind of impact Mr. Lewis could have on students and how extra-curricular events like this were a catalyst for learning during my own undergraduate education, I was determined that he would be the first speaker in our series. The night that Stephen Lewis spoke to 600 students, staff, faculty and community members in War Memorial Hall was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life, both professionally and personally.

I have been involved in the field of Student Affairs since my final year of university fifteen years ago. Back then I was the Residence Assistant for Eco-House, one of Guelph’s four Living-Learning Centres. This meant that, as an upper-year student, I was given the opportunity to mentor other students and create educational extra-curricular experiences for them in a themed residence community. Through that job, I gained critical community-building skills, met interesting people, and discovered a great deal about myself in the process. Most importantly, I got to experience the immense value of Student Affairs work first–hand, and that was life-changing!

Since that initial road trip to Guelph, past the other signposts (both large and small) along the way, I have come to discover that I thrive when I work in an environment that values the acquisition of knowledge, celebrates diversity, fosters a sense of community, and has a vision for the future. I am committed to social justice and the creation of positive communities. Furthermore, I work to learn constantly, so that I can better serve the communities to which I belong. I have discovered all of this and more within Student Affairs.

I believe the purpose of colleges and universities is to create informed, civic-minded, engaged global citizens who think critically and act constructively. A university or college education is not merely a vehicle to a higher paying job or something to do after high school graduation; I believe we have a responsibility to communicate this message to our students. As recipients of and participants in higher education, they need to realize that they have a responsibility to contribute to society and, to paraphrase John F. Kennedy (1961), ask not what their communities can do for them, but rather, what they can do for their communities. This, for me, is at the heart of higher education.

During his convocation address at St. Francis Xavier University in May 2003, Stephen Lewis told the graduating class:

“What is clear as you graduate is that this world, rife with social injustice, needs you…And the discipline, the field of study, the profession, they matter not. You bring such a wealth of background and talent that when it combines with commitment, there will always be something you can do…You’ll never regret it, or ever feel more useful (Lewis, 2003, para. 21).”

As a Student Affairs professional, I want to develop and implement programmes that help students understand the importance of Mr. Lewis’ message. Those programmes must allow students to explore their interests, discover their passions and build their capacities. I want to create meaningful extra- and co-curricular programmes so that students can reflect upon what they are learning both inside and outside the classroom, and thereby integrate that insight with their life goals. I want to enhance my abilities to develop learning and service communities with and among post-secondary students, so that they increasingly can find their own signposts. In truth, Stephen Lewis’ assertion captures the essence of what brings me to this particular programme.

I hope very much that I may be admitted to the Person-Centred Education MA at the University of Sussex. I thank you for your time and consideration

Sincerely,

Rachel Barreca

REFERENCES

Kennedy, J. F. (1961, January 20). John F. Kennedy inaugural address. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm

Kolb, D. A. (2008). Kolb learning style inventory summary report. Retrieved October 5, 2008, from http://www.haygroup.com/tl/lsi/SummaryReport.aspx

Lewis, S. (2003, May 4). Convocation speech by Stephen Lewis, St. Francis Xavier University. Retrieved November 29, 2009 from http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/news_speech_item.cfm?news=1102&year=2003

New Year Uke

2010-01-03T08:12:00.004Z

OHANA CK-50G Concert Ukulele

Isn't she beautiful? My lovely parents gave me the gift of music for Christmas this year and I am beyond grateful. The sound that come out of this instrument is incredible and makes me want to play all of the time. If only there were that many free hours in the day.

I enjoy the fact that I can share the excitement and affection for the ukulele (specifically) and for music (generally) with my parents. They have enjoyed learning how to play it very much and my mother is REALLY good. She doesn't brag about it and would never get up in front of a large group and play on her own, but I'll say it: she's REALLY good. I like that she can teach me things and I enjoy the way she lights up when she talks about playing the uke.

I just discovered (according to Wikipedia) that the word "ʻohana means family in an extended sense of the term including blood-related, adoptive or intentional. It emphasizes that family are bound together and members must cooperate and remember one another." In my experience, that describes my experience of picking up the ukulele to a T.

The power of the small, but mighty jumping flea strikes again!

A Return to Writing with a Review

2010-01-02T17:38:00.004Z

It's time to write again.

After almost a year away from this blog (other than my Twitter feed), I am inspired to start writing again. Actually, I was guilted into writing again, though the guilt is only internal. Today a CD review I wrote for a brand new web site called Roots Music Canada was posted. At the end of the review there is a small bio that one of the editors of the site (my friend David Newland) wrote for me, and it says I'm a blogger. Good grief! "If that is true, I better start blogging again", says I.

So, go read the review here. While you're there, check out the rest of Roots Music Canada. They're doing some important and exciting work there.

I'll be back again soon.

Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Julia Nunes!

2009-01-13T01:18:00.004Z

I got to see Julia Nunes live in London on the weekend and I took this video. It was a great moment, mostly because I enjoyed her enjoying the moment.

Help My Cat Twinkle, Please!

2008-11-11T19:55:00.003Z

I need some help. My family needs some help. My beautiful cat Twinkle needs some help.

Twinkle is 18 years old and is a generally healthy cat. She is small, isn't as spry as she used to be and is going deaf, but she sleeps well, eats well, drinks enough water, and still uses the litter box properly. She purrs, sits on people's laps, shows affection. So, what's the problem?

She literally caterwauls all night long. She is exceedingly loud and she sounds distressed and deranged when she meows like this. We don't know why, but it is keeping everyone up at night, which is highly problematic. It is affecting my family's health and wellbeing, and they don't know what to do. They have tried sedatives on her and it just made her worse. They've tried catnip and therapeutic touch and still nothing has made her better. We don't know what to do but my parents and sister are living with this day after day and are at the end of their ropes.

I'm wondering if anyone has heard of something like this before, or has any suggestions of what we can do to help Twinkle. We don't want to have to put her down, but we are afraid that the vet will say that is the only option if we bring her in again with this problem, and things can't continue the way they're going right now. We are getting ready to say goodbye to her, but it will break our hearts. Perhaps there is someone out there who is willing to take good care of her for us. Or maybe someone knows about other options to cure this problem.

If you or anyone you know can help, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thank you.

God bless, Pete!

2008-10-04T22:37:00.002Z

Pete Seeger, at age 89, is doing, saying and singing what needs to be done, said and sung.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-01T22:10:00.002Z

gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Music Meme

2008-06-27T22:47:00.005Z

The rules are these:

a) List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring summer.

b) Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs.

c) Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Here are my seven songs:

Lothlórien from the musical of "The Lord of the Rings"
Wonder from the musical of "The Lord of the Rings"
Beautiful World by Eliza Gilkyson's new album of the same name
The Hurlers by Seth Lakeman from his new album "Poor Man's Heaven" - released tomorrow!
Sound of the Drum by Seth Lakeman also from the new album
Matthew by John Denver from his live album "An Evening with John Denver"
This Old Guitar by John Denver from the same album

Okay, now you try it. Put it in your own blog and let me know by leaving a note in the comments, or just leave your songs in the comments.

RIP George Carlin

2008-06-23T07:47:00.004Z

When I was a kid my sister and I used to fall asleep on Sunday nights to CHUM FM's late night comedy show "The Sunday Funnies". It would run from 10 - 11 p.m. and I'm sure my parents could hear us giggling away as we listened to classic routines from Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Woody Allen and the like when we were supposed to be sleeping. It opened up a whole world of humour for me and I looked forward to it each week. George Carlin was rarely featured because his language was quite "blue", but "The Sunday Funnies" definitely introduced me to his crazy, word-obsessed, language-loving style of comedy.

This morning I woke up to the news that George, at the age of 71, has died of heart failure. I wasn't necessarily heart broken to read it, but I was a bit wistful for a time in my life when I first became friends with George. He was angry, quite messed up, fought a lot of demons, loved animals, and was very, very clever. My favourite routine of his was "Wonderful WINO" but I thought it was most appropriate to share the routine he's probably most famous for: "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television".

Warning: the language is strong, but it is marvelous. I think it is important to remember the context in which he first started doing this routine. Life - and broadcasting in particular - was quite different in the 1970s than it is now!

I know he didn't believe in any god, so I will just say "rest in peace" George. Thanks for the laughs.

For REAL?!?

2008-06-20T22:37:00.001Z

Jab

2008-06-03T08:36:00.007Z

Dear Lovely and Friendly Nurse Practitioner Who Took My Blood This Morning:

Thank you very much for your approachable and kind demeanour. I am very grateful for the National Health Service and the free health care it provides. Now, I know that in this country we use the term "jab" when referring to needles, but I was wondering whether you had to take that word quite so literally today?

Sincerely yours,

Slightly Bruised

Only God Knows His Evil Ways

2008-02-04T17:07:00.000Z

My buddy Hal in First Life is Forsythe Whitfield in Second Life.

Check out his first music machinima video:

The world is an amazing place, it is.

Look At What I Bought!

2008-01-31T00:08:00.001Z

Isn't she cute? I got her when my new friend Shannon (who is teaching Children's Literature here this term) and I went to Eastbourne on Monday and got sucked into Bonners Music Shop. We both walked out with ukuleles. We have decided to form the Herstmonceux Ukulele Chamber Orchestra (HUCO) as a way of bringing some culture to these parts. More information about tour t-shirts and other such merchandise coming soon to a blog near you.

I'm learning how to play "Something" by George Harrison and "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra to start off. It is so - much - FUN! And now I can jam with my Mummy and David and Hal next time I see them all.

For those who are wondering, here are her vital stats:

MODEL: VUK20N
TOP: Mahogany
BODY: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
FRETS: 12
BRIDGE: Rosewood
MACHINES: Open Geared
FINISH: Gloss

Haven't named her yet. Any thoughts?

To All the Parents and the Children of the World

2008-01-30T08:48:00.000Z

Oh my lord, that was fun!

Effin' Insomnia

2008-01-29T01:19:00.001Z

I want to sleep.

I cannot sleep.

I have to be awake again in less than six hours.

gah!

The Humans Are Dead

2008-01-23T08:17:00.000Z

All Hail The Flight of the Conchords!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

2008-01-18T22:48:00.000Z

Dear Students,

Please be quiet during Quiet Hours. They're called Quiet Hours for a reason.

Also, please stop tampering with fire safety equipment. If it doesn't work because you have used it as a toy it is no longer equipment that will keep you and your fellow residents safe. This is a bad thing.

If you stop doing this stuff my staff and I will have more time and energy to do things that will make your time here much more pleasant.

Thank you,

The Management

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Asylum Street Spankers

2008-01-15T23:15:00.000Z

I Remember When...

2008-01-14T21:05:00.000Z

OMG

2008-01-10T17:08:00.000Z

My birthday is in two weeks, so just in case you were wondering...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/mp3/90a0/

I am SO not even kidding.

Growing Up

2007-12-11T16:32:00.000Z

Lately I've been missing my friends who get me and see the world the way I do a lot. I had a tough conversation with someone about queer issues the other day and it really challenged me.

It hurt me

and scared me

and forced me to know exactly where I stood

and to listen to understand rather than change this person's mind

and to back down when I would have pushed before

and to not be dualistic in my thinking when that was my knee-jerk reaction

and to realize that I can never be as close to this person as I would like to be even though I'm trying to still respect and like the other parts of them

and to realize we have so much work to do to bring love into people's hearts when it comes to the queer community

and that, once again, religion has closed a heart rather than opened one

and that we might be on a futile quest for equality and respect and love

but I will not give up.

Things I Saw in London This Weekend

2007-12-04T22:42:00.000Z

1. My cousin Jennifer. Willenbrock, not Barreca. The one married to my cousin Nick Willenbrock. Maybe I should call her my cousin-in-law?

2. The Star of South Africa diamond (a.k.a. the Dudley diamond) at the Natural History Museum's "Vault".

3. Rolf Harris. Yes, he of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" fame. Lovely man. Very gracious and let us take his photo with the two Aussie's in our group. One of them was my cousin(-in-law?) Jen. She's the one on the right.

4. A woman wearing flourescent green leg warmers.

5. Duran Duran at the Lyceum Theatre. Okay, it was on Monday night, but it was so amazing it deserves an addition to this list as it completed my weekend off quite nicely. Also, I am still in love with Simon le Bon.

Did I mention the fact that they did an electro set as an homage to Kraftwork that included the most interesting version of "Last Chance on the Stairway" I've ever heard (and the only time I've heard it live)?

The best. Absolutely the best. I am one very happy moxywoman!

(Thanks to Keith Willis, Duranie extraordinaire, who took the photos posted above from last night's gig.)

Me

2007-11-28T10:01:00.000Z

I came across this the other day and I was delighted by how well it described me. It is taken from an introductory post I made on another web site minus one reference to something I was experiencing at the time but did not describe the real me. In fact, I'm happy to say that things have changed so much for the better that I no longer have to include that reference.

me:

friendly

opinionated

left leaning

a big geek

filled with song (most of the time)

loving

happy to be here

autumnal bliss

2007-11-05T23:41:00.001Z

leaves of brown and honey
solitary firey red
woodsmoke perfume
rays of sun – god’s embracing light
melodies that soar over rolling sussex hills
and you,
my quiet companion,
with whom i share this autumnal bliss

nov. 3/07
rb

MCMXIV

2007-10-30T20:15:00.000Z

Those long uneven lines Standing as patiently As if they were stretched outside The Oval or Villa Park, The crowns of hats, the sun On moustached archaic faces Grinning as if it were all An August Bank Holiday lark;

And the shut shops, the bleached Established names on the sunblinds, The farthings and sovereigns, And dark-clothed children at play Called after kings and queens, The tin advertisements For cocoa and twist, and the pubs Wide open all day--

And the countryside not caring: The place names all hazed over With flowering grasses, and fields Shadowing Domesday lines Under wheat's restless silence; The differently-dressed servants With tiny rooms in huge houses, The dust behind limousines;

Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word--the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages, Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again.

-Philip Larkin-

Warm are the Still and Lucky Miles

2007-10-29T23:43:00.000Z

Warm are the still and lucky miles,
White shores of longing stretch away,
A light of recognition fills
The whole great day, and bright
The tiny world of lovers' arms.

Silence invades the breathing wood
Where drowsy limbs a treasure keep,
Now greenly falls the learned shade
Across the sleeping brows
And stirs their secret to a smile.

Restored! Returned! The lost are borne
On seas of shipwreck home at last:
See! In a fire of praising burns
The dry dumb past, and we
Our life-day long shall part no more.

-W. H. Auden-

It's Pronounced ED-in-bruh NOT ED-in-burg!!!

2007-10-28T11:48:00.000Z

Just got back from the Fall Mid Term Trip with the students. We spent a few days in Edinburgh and a day in Liverpool. Both cities are fantastic and I want to go back, though they are very different cities. Went down an old coal mine in Yorkshire on the way up to Scotland, saw the Scottish Parliament buildings, went on a ghost walk one night, visited Stirling Castle and the site of the Battle of Bannockburn, went to a section of Hadrian's Wall (my favourite part of the entire trip), drove through part of the Lake District (which is SO beautiful), had a walking tour of Liverpool and saw many Beatles-related sights including The Beatles Story museum.

For more details including photos I took, visit this URL.

Submission to the Queen's Gazette

2007-10-15T09:32:00.001Z

As I write this, it has already been almost six months since I arrived at Herstmonceux Castle and began my tenure as the Student Services Manager. Tempus fugit. My steep learning curve has flattened out quite nicely, and whatever sense of homesickness I experienced dissipated months ago. Actually, moving my life over to the UK and starting a new job has mirrored, in many ways, what our students experience when they first arrive at the International Study Centre. Let me tell you: it has been a great lesson in empathy.

What has made the difference and eased my transition? Without a doubt it is the people who live and work here. They have offered me a sense of belonging to something important, something bigger than myself; they have welcomed me into a community that cares. A major part of my job is to ensure that our students also get to live in a community that cares. So, back in August my staff and I created a vision statement to guide our work in Student Services.

We aim for the students, staff, faculty and guests at the International Study Centre to be active participants in the creation of a strong, safe and supportive community where we will all challenge ourselves to pursue our passions and find balance in mind, body and spirit. By building a community that fosters academic success, trust, acceptance and mutual respect we will become engaged global citizens with a desire for life-long learning.

We believe that our students will learn many important things while they are at the I.S.C., both inside and outside of the classroom, and we are here to assist and support them in this process. Here are some of the ways we have worked, and are working, to make our vision statement a reality:

· We welcomed 152 students to the Castle in September and ran a five-day Orientation programme to introduce them to each other and to life here.

· We facilitated three very successful and well-attended “Laundry 101” seminars during the first week of classes to teach students how to clean their clothes properly.

· We offered almost 50 spots for our students to volunteer in the local community – helping in local schools, with the Brownies and Beavers, with horses and cats, and at the Village Information Centre.

· We run weekly intramural dodgeball and football (soccer) games, and coordinate athletic classes in aerobics, kick boxing, circuit training, swing dancing and hip hop dancing.

· We have supported a student-run rock climbing trip, an Amnesty International information session, an Herbal Walk on the Castle grounds, a French movie night and two Study Skills seminars.

· We took almost 100 students on a day trip to Stonehenge, ran an Open Mic Night with more than 25 performers, and are going to see the opera “Carmen” with the Musicians in Residence in November.

· We have run awareness campaigns about the effects of drugs, hand-washing and the spread of germs in residence, and poverty issues.

· We are planning a ‘War & Peace’ awareness week in November that begins with a community concert and ends with a trip to the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France on Remembrance Day, closely followed by an International Night to celebrate the many countries and cultures represented at the I.S.C.

We also advise the Student Council, offer guidance for students’ personal problems, staff field studies trips, refer them to local health services, uphold the I.S.C. rules and regulations, and coordinate special academic accommodations.

It is a bit exhausting to look at that list, but it is also enormously satisfying to know that we are doing important work that will improve the lives of our students. In so many ways the Castle is truly a special place, and the Student Services team – Angela, Jen, Liz, Shannon, Tom and I – are honoured to go on our students’ educational journey with them.

Part of the Solution

2007-10-12T09:19:00.001Z

I'm feeling better about the results of the Ontario election and referendum with 24 hours of perspective behind me and an inspiring lunch with students who want to start an Amnesty International chapter here at the ISC. The answer isn't to give up, is it? The answer is to be part of the solution. If Buddhist monks and regular people are willing to die for democracy in Burma/Myanmar, surely I can do a little bit to ensure that my home has a more inclusive and better representative electoral system at some point in the (hopefully near) future, right?

A+

2007-10-03T19:56:00.000Z

It has been 8+ years since I have been in school, but a few weeks ago I began an online course called "Student Development and Student Experience" through Seneca College. It is the first course of five for a new certificate programme they're offering - a Student Affairs & Services Certificate - so I'm part of the guinea pig cohort, I guess. The ISC is kindly paying my way which is great because it so directly impacts my work and it is my hope that this experience will prep me for graduate school when I eventually get there. I handed in my first assignment (a small one just worth 5% of my final grade) last week and yesterday I received my grade back. I got 20 out of 20. I guess I still have it in me after all. Honestly, my undergraduate student experience was such a disaster that I have a lot insecurities about my ability to be a good student, but this makes me feel good.

Go me!

I Miss Hosers

2007-09-22T19:08:00.000Z

Two of my most favourite people in the world.

I Care. I Vote.

2007-09-20T08:25:00.001Z

OMG

2007-09-17T13:53:00.000Z

I'm weeping right now.

Just a little bit.

On the inside.

I was just looking through the music collection of one of the students here. There is a function on iTunes that allows you to share your music with others if you are on a network and the ISC is on a shared network, so I can look at and play (though not copy) the music collections of anyone connected to that network.

I was impressed to see one song by Duran Duran in the collection of a student we'll call Eric - just Eric -to protect his identity, of course. Impressed, that is, until I saw the following information associated with the name Duran Duran:

Name of Song: Relax, Don't Do It

Artist: Duran Duran (you're starting to see the source of my tears, aren't you?)

Album: Relax

Genre: Euro-Techno

I weep.

Copious amounts of tears.

What are they teaching kids in school these days?!?!?!?

In and Out

2007-08-28T12:41:00.000Z

Today I watched the earth breathe.

Well, DUH!

2007-08-09T10:12:00.000Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Police Dept. said on Wednesday it was investigating an allegation of sexual assault at the Playboy Mansion, the famed site of unabashed hedonism for more than 30 years.

Gosh. How could this happen? Not at Hefner's beloved Playboy Mansion! Not at the place where objectifying women is part of everyday life. Say it ain't so, Hugh!

Yeeucchhhh.

That's One Busy Stork

2007-08-07T10:23:00.000Z

It occurred to me today that I hadn't posted about the birth of Rory Eiji Parsons-Sheldrake. I think that might have been because a) I was away from home when it happened and b) there was a bit of drama related to his arrival so I was more focused on his recovery. Anyway, yesterday I got an e-mail from an old high school friend who has had a recent addition to his family and it has prompted me to share information and photos about both babies.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:

Rory Eiji Parsons-Sheldrake

Born July 10, 2007, at 11.21 am, weighing in at 8 lbs, 8 oz

Parents: Cheryl and Jeffy

Siblings: Neva and Hugh

Michael Anthony Cheng Yip

Born July 30, 2007, at 11.04 pm, weighing in at 8 lbs, 13oz

Parents: Paul and Doris

Siblings: Jasmine

And now everybody says 'awwwwwwwwwwwwww'.

A Song for Sussex

2007-07-22T18:55:00.000Z

Today, as I took a walk over the Pevensey Levels, I started singing a song in my head. Soon, I began to sing it out loud and, before I knew it, I started making up my own verses to the same tune. It's not anywhere near the simple brilliance of the original, but it just came to me and it expresses what I saw and felt during my walk.

(to be sung to the tune of "Pebble in the Water" by Eve Goldberg from the album _A Kinder Season_)

Pebble in the water / Pebble in the water / Pebble in the water, water

Pebble in the water, water, water / Pebble in the water

Here I am and I'm walking in the tall grass
Here I am and I'm walking in the tall grass
Walking in the tall grass, tall grass
Walking in the tall grass, tall grass, tall grass
Walking in the tall grass

Life is good and the sun is on my shoulders
Life is good and the sun is on my shoulders
The sun is on my shoulders, shoulders
The sun is on my shoulders, shoulders, shoulders
The sun is on my shoulders

The sky is blue and the wind is in my hair
The sky is blue and the wind is in my hair
The wind is in my hair, hair
The wind is in my hair, hair, hair
The wind is in my hair

The trees are green and the birds fly above me
The trees are green and the birds fly above me
The birds fly above me, above me
The birds fly above me, above me, above me
The birds fly above me

I'm full of peace and love is all around me
I'm full of peace and love is all around me
Love is all around me, 'round me
Love is all around me, 'round me, 'round me
Love is all around me, 'round me

(The picture of me is for YOU, Jerome!)

Rep by Prop

2007-06-22T16:06:00.000Z

Have you heard about the referendum that is coming up in Ontario this October?

http://www.fairvotecanada.org/en/Ontario

Fait attention, mes amies. This is both interesting and important.

7 1/2 Weeks

2007-06-13T21:44:00.000Z

Sooooooooooooooooo..................

It has been awhile, hasn't it? I have been very busy getting into the groove at the new job, meeting and getting to know the people I live and work with, discovering the area surrounding the Castle, going on Field Studies trips with the students, and trying to fit some sleep in there when it is possible.

So, rather than tell you the story in a lot of words, I'm going to share the photos I've taken.

This is where I live - The Castle Grounds:

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2117120&l=94bee&id=120801680

Here are some of the events we have run for the students at the Castle. This includes a Heroes theme night at the pub, a bonfire night, a Chinese culture night run by the students from Fudan University studying here, and a student dramatic production of 'The Lottery':

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2116829&l=573a2&id=120801680

We took the students on a bus tour of London on May 12th:

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2116827&l=2db92&id=120801680

And then we went to see 'Othello' at the recreation of The Globe Theatre. It was incredible to stand in a theatre set up exactly as it would have been in Shakespeare's time and see a play performed (almost) as it would have been done when he was alive (minus the men playing women, of course). It was a powerful performance of a powerful play. I've never seen it before and I must admit that I was quite moved. Iago was played by Tim McInnerny whom you might recognize as Percy/Darling from the Blackadder series. It was strange to see him in such a strong and evil role. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was magical to watch the faces of the students standing in the front row, enraptured by the whole thing:

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2116835&l=039bf&id=120801680

Oh yeah, and then I got to see the Mozart opera 'Così fan tutte' at the famous Glyndebourne opera house on May 18th. Um...for FREE! Holy crap! What a thrill! It was a dress rehearsal, but it was great.

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2116832&l=6abcb&id=120801680

The next day I visited a town near here called Lewes (pronounced Lewis) and saw the Anne of Cleves House Museum on May 19th. Anne was Henry VIII's fourth wife. She never actually lived in the house, but it was part of the divorce settlement she received from Henry in return for her...shall we say...cooperation in the matter? Yes, we shall say. She wasn't married to him long, but she did get a number of properties in the settlement and so I got to visit this one. It has been turned into a museum to showcase the history of the region and it was quite interesting. Also, Thomas Paine (of the American Revolution fame) also used to hang out in Lewes a long time ago, so I saw the hotel where he used to drink and speechify.

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2116833&l=686d9&id=120801680

On May 25th I went into London on Field Studies trip with the students and it was the last day there was some sod laid down in Trafalgar Square as a part of a tourism exhibition. It was so strange to see grass in the Square but also really cool. I walked a lot that day, travelling from Covent Garden, along the Strand to Trafalgar Square, then up the Mall to St. James' Park, through the park with a little break where I sat by the duck pond, then up to Buckingham Palace, down the other side of the park, along Whitehall and Parliament Street and back to Covent Garden. Phew! I was tired at the end of that day, but I had a great walk and a good time.

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2116836&l=cd7d4&id=120801680

I've also been watching the progress and growth of the Castle's goslings. They grow so fast and they're dead cute. I compulsively count to six each time I see them with their mummy and daddy to ensure no fox or badger has eaten any of them.

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2116825&l=970f5&id=120801680

Back on June 3rd I had a lovely visit with my cousins Nick and Charlie. They came down for a day and we went for a brilliant hike along the coast between Birling Gap and Beachy Head. There are cliffs along most of the coast around these parts and they're made of chalk. You may know about the famous white cliffs of Dover. They're white because of the chalk and that extends right along the coast into Sussex, so that's where we walked. It was sunny and warm, but there was a constant fog rolling in off the Channel which you will see in the pictures. The clouds were level with where we stood at the top of the cliffs. Also - those cliffs are very, VERY high. They stand more than 500 feet above the sea at some points, so looking over the edge (which we did very carefully, I promise) was a bit scary. You will also see that there are no fences in sight most of the way along the walk. (Sorry, Cheryl. We can't bring the kids there when you visit, I guess, eh?) Oh, and, not surprisingly, Beachy Head is a popular suicide spot. Good times.

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2118206&l=49739&id=120801680

The next day (June 4th) one of my new friends here, Peter (who is a professor of English literature), and I visited the historical town of Battle. Can you guess what happened there? Think 1066. Think William, Duke of Normandy. Think King Harold of England. Yup! The definitive battle between the Normans and the English took place there almost a thousand years ago. You can walk around the actual battle site and listen to an audio tour that tells you about the order of events that fateful day and background information on the two leaders and armies. You can also walk around the ruins of the Abbey that William (now better known as the Conqueror) ordered to be built on the site as an act of atonement for the bloodshed of the battle. It was absolutely fascinating and interesting to realize how important that battle actually was in the history of the world.

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2118205&l=8d6b3&id=120801680

Finally, last weekend we took the undergraduate students to Dieppe, France (June 8-9th). We took the ferry across the Channel. I slept through most of the journey, so I only have pictures of us coming into the harbour. Scott, the History professor, took us all on a tour of the town and talked about its strategic importance and its connection to Canada. This is, of course, the site of a disastrous battle during WW2 where the Canadians were slaughtered. It was so sobering to stand on the pebbly beach and realize what those young Canadian men experienced on August 19, 1942. For example, when you stand on the shore you can't see the town which sits in a valley (hence the sloping beach). The Germans, however, were positioned on the cliffs on either side of the main beach and could take down the Canadians in a crossfire. The pebbles on the beach were deadly in many ways, too. First, they jammed the wheel mechanism of the tanks, so many just got stuck on the beach. Second, when shells were exploded on the beach, they also exploded the pebbles which turned into shrapnel. The hill up the beach that the Canadians had to run up with their 60 pound packs on their backs is extraordinarly steep, too. Brutal!

Needless to say, the people of Dieppe are extremely fond of Canadians and you can see evidence of this all over the town. There are war memorials everywhere. You can also still see the medieval fishing village across the harbour, and cobblestone streets, and lots of patisseries and boulangeries and chocolate shops and tiny green grocers and restaurants. The French know how to eat! On Saturday morning there is a giant market throughout the core of the town with local farmers and vendors selling their wares. Jerome, you would have been in heaven! Cheese and vegetables and fruits and fresh breads and...oh my goodness! It was so great. I bought some Normandy honey and some French cheeses that were so cheap and I got to use my French which, I discovered, is not as bad as I thought it would be.

On Saturday afternoon, I sat on the beach for a bit and relaxed in the sun (with sunscreen on, I promise). I listened to my iPod as it seemed appropriate that I had to listen to the following songs: 'On a Beach in France' by Katherine Wheatley, 'Peddling Poppies' by David Newland and 'The War Bride's Waltz' by Aengus Finnan. I resisted the temptation to use my work cell phone to call someone back in Canada to recreate that famously poignant Bell Canada commercial with the young guy who calls his grandfather to thank him for fighting in WW2. That commercial took place on the Dieppe beach. It would have been too expensive and too cheesy, but I did consider it for a brief moment.

Anyway, we drove through the French countryside to get to Calais and the Eurotunnel entrance. The coaches drove up onto big train cars and the train took us under the Channel to England which was an experience. It only took about 40 minutes. Then it was on from Dover to Herstmonceux and home. A great trip. I would love to go back for a holiday and would recommend it to anyone. It is a delightful French seaside town.

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2119561&l=1cda0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;id=120801680

Well, that's all for now. Our big end of term party is tomorrow night and my friends Wanda and Az are visiting me this weekend, so I am sure there will be more adventures and photos to share soon enough. Until then...

Equality Now! (Or How I Learned To Love Joss Whedon Even More)

2007-05-15T09:42:00.000Z

I love Joss Whedon. I have for some time now. I think he is a talented and creative man who has created some of the best moments in television's history. His writing is tight and witty and insightful. He has doctored many movie scripts that would otherwise, I'm sure, have been complete stinkers. He's best known for creating 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and its spin-off series 'Angel'. My favourite of his TV shows is the lesser known but totally brilliant 'Firefly'. But did you know he wrote on 'Roseanne' and scripted 'Toy Story' and re-wrote the script for 'Speed' though it went uncredited? Did you know that he's writing 'The Astonishing X-Men' comics now? Or that he is a third-generation Hollywood writer? (His dad wrote for 'Alice' and 'Benson' and his grandfather wrote for 'Leave it to Beaver' and 'The Donna Reed Show'.)

But that is not why I'm writing this post. I want to share something extraordinarily powerful that I was sent yesterday by my friend Sandy. (He is the person who introduced me to the wonderful world of the Whedonverse.) It is a speech Joss gave at an Equality Now event last year. This is an organization that was co-founded in 1992 by Jessica Neuwirth who was a high school student of Joss' mother, Lee. It works for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Last year Joss gave this speech when Equality Now honoured him for his outstanding contribution to gender equality in film and television. I think the brilliance of this speech is how he combines his sense of humour with his passion to get his message across.

Anyway, check it out here on YouTube:

...or here in text and mp3 format.

"...equality is not a concept. It’s not something we should be striving for. It’s a necessity. Equality is like gravity: we need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition; it is life out of balance and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and women who’s confronted with it. We need equality, kinda now."

My Flat

2007-05-13T14:22:00.000Z

Hello. It's been awhile. It has been busy here. Now that I have a bit of time off today, I thought I would share some pictures of my flat here in the Castle.

That is a picture of my front door...from the inside, of course.

And here is the view of my little sitting area from the front door. I have a little TV/VCR and a loaned laptop and the couch and a chair. Note my new guitar in the little alcove. Yay!

Then the room opens up into where the bed is. There are three large windows and ceilings as tall as they were in my place in Guelph.

It is a little sad how few books there are on my bookcase, but I am sure they will slowly fill up over time.

I have two wardrobes and two chests of drawers for my clothes...

...and a fireplace. It doesn't work but it looks nice.

As you can see, to the left of the fireplace is a door which leads to my bathroom.

Of course, here is the not so standard view from the bathroom window:

And finally, the kitchen.

It is fully equipped, though I don't need to use it much because I get all of my meals covered in the dining hall.

Quite honestly, the most useful part is the all-in-one washer/dryer.

And, of course, it wouldn't be my kitchen if there weren't lots of magnets on the fridge!

So, that is my new home.

I'm the Queen of the Castle

2007-04-28T20:46:00.000Z

It’s Saturday afternoon, the sun is shining, the bees are buzzing around the giant wisteria plants that grow around the cloisters, the ducks and geese are swimming in the moat and – as the MC in Cabaret says – life is beeyooooootiful. The Queen’s law students arrived yesterday and are settling in quite well so far, so the Student Services staff is having a relatively quiet day. I hope this posting will catch you up on my adventures since I left on Monday night.

My sister Sarah came over to my place in Guelph last Saturday and stayed for the weekend to help me pack. Let me tell ya, there is an art to packing suitcases efficiently and I do not excel in this area. Sarah, on the other, has learned well from the master – my mother – and was a huge help. We managed to pack my life into three suitcases and one rucksack (note English word usage) and clear out the condo before leaving for the family home in Dundas on Monday morning. Other than running a few errands and spending some time together as a family, Monday was uneventful right up until the trip out to Pearson International. Sarah had to work that night so it was goodbye to her and Twinkle and then off for a quick drive to the airport with my parents.

The line-up to check in at beautiful Terminal 3 was long but I didn’t have to wait too long because half way through I was brought around to another kiosk and was first in line. Though I did have to pay $175 for the third suitcase, the attendant kindly didn’t charge me for the overweight bags (phew!). My parents and I had a quick meal together and then it was goodbye to them at the security checkpoint. Though it had the potential to be a teary mess, I think all three of us managed to make it through with only a few tears in the eyes. No use in prolonging and drawing it out, right? I had a two-hour wait at the departure lounge but it passed by quickly as I read The Life of Pi. Next thing I knew I was sitting on the 767 and we were taking off.

I sat beside a nice young man from Clearwater, Manitoba who was flying to England to meet his older brother who was on leave for three weeks from his tour of duty in Afghanistan. I did manage to sleep for a few hours, even though “Dreamgirls” and “The Red Violin” were the movies offered. We landed early, I arrived at the baggage carousel just as my bags came out, I managed to lug all three onto my trolley and NOT break my back in the process, and then met the taxi driver sent for me within five minutes of walking into the arrivals area. He was a nice man named Barry and he took me to the Castle via some less travelled roads that meandered through lovely towns and fields. Even that journey didn’t seem long and I stayed awake through the whole thing. Of course, I was a complete sack of hammers by the time I got to the Castle but I did manage to eat some lunch before I napped for a few hours. I even unpacked completely that night before I went to bed.

Since then I have started to read through policies and e-mails and get familiar with the way things work around here. I have been meeting the staff and faculty too. There’s Andy, one of the Security Guards, who showed Melissa and me (the outgoing Student Services Manager) around the Herstmonceux church last night. He’s a real storyteller, knows a lot about the area and clearly loves it here. He gave me a CD today of photos he’s taken of things all over the estate. There’s Sandy (the Operations Manager) and his wife Shirley who had me and Melissa over for dinner on Thursday night. They live in the West Lodge on the estate, a lovely little cottage right by the church, with their two dogs – Misty and Cara – and their cat, Kitty.

I’ve seen so much wildlife in the past five days. There are a lot of ducks and Canadian geese around the moat, as well as big carp and koi swimming around by the entrance to the Castle. They’re smart. They know they’ll get fed there.

The first time I went to look at the Castle’s gift shop it was closed so I just peeked in the windows. As I was peering in I could hear a little scrambling sound above my head and when I looked up, I saw three baby squirrels just a few feet from me on the roof. They were adorable. I’ve been told there are very cute ducklings around, but I haven’t seen them yet. I have, however, seen some ducks up close and personal. They’re so cheeky! They are so used to humans feeding them that they will eat right out of your hands and when you don’t feed them they follow you around and nag at you. It’s hilarious. There are two males and a female that hang around a lot inside the quad. I’ve taken to calling them our polyamorous ducks. I’ve seen swallows and robins and magpies and lots of jackdaws. There are a ton of rabbits around. In fact, there are so many that we had a rabbit cull two days ago and we were warned not to walk in the gardens or orchard after 8:30 p.m.! I’ve heard an owl, but not seen it and the other day I saw a heron up close as it sat by the moat.

I went on a tour of the grounds today with John, the Head Gardener, and it was so beautiful. I thought about my parents a lot today as I was on the walk because they would have loved it. There are the kept gardens – the Elizabethan Garden (which isn’t really Elizabethan but includes a sundial from the days when the Royal Observatory was housed here), the Shakespeare Garden (which contains every plant mentioned in all of Shakespeare’s plays), the Rose Garden (which will be stunning in a month or so), and the Herb Garden. There is a peacock pen and they are often allowed to roam free during the day. You can hear the peacocks all day long with the funniest birdcall you’ve ever heard.

Beyond that it becomes wilder. There are trails through the woods and at this time of year there are carpets and carpets of bluebells all through the trees. It smells wonderful and there is a lovely purple-y blue as far as the eye can see in the woods. It has been unseasonably warm in April so the bluebells are about to finish their season, so I’m glad I got to see them and inhale their scent. There are some very old trees on site – some more than two hundred years old – and they have a lot of character. In fact, on my walk today I met some Ents. I didn’t get to talk to Treebeard, but I did chat with some of his friends. “Baroom hrum hrum.”

I also went on a tour of the Castle; two tours, to be exact. One was the official tour given to our new students yesterday and one was an unofficial tour given by Andy to me, the Student Services staff, Chris (the maths prof) and the daughter of Gillian (the Law Programme administrator). The best part of today’s tour was walking under the Castle in the tunnels and seeing the Crypt (which isn’t open to the public). I have yet to run into any of the Castle’s ghosts but who knows? Maybe one day I’ll run into the Headless Drummer as I walk to my flat late at night.

I’m sure there will be more to come in the days ahead. Tomorrow morning I speak to the students as my first official act on the job. Here’s hoping I don’t screw it up.

So Long and Thanks For All the Fish

2007-04-23T02:12:00.000Z

"All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go..."

Well, almost. There are a few final things to pack in the third of three suitcases I'm bringing over to England with me, but other than that everything is packed away. I've said my goodbyes except the final ones to my family. I have taken care of as much business as I'm going to be able to before my departure and I've left the rest in capable hands. I'm exhausted but excited. I'm totally overwhelmed. I am hoping for a safe and comfortable journey. I'm hoping homesickness won't set in too badly. I am looking forward to working with a whole new team of interesting, intelligent and fun people.

I have nothing eloquent to say today.

Until next time.

T-minus 7 Days

2007-04-17T00:39:00.000Z

In seven days I will be on an Air Canada flight to Heathrow Airport, London, England.

gah!

Bobby

2007-04-07T02:11:00.000Z

I just finished watching Emilio Estevez's movie "Bobby". It's about Robert F. Kennedy and the day of his assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in June 1968. Actually, it is a fictional account of the lives of several people present during Bobby's final hours and the ensemble cast is dynamite. Holy cow, it packs a powerful emotional punch! I sat and cried through the last 15 minutes or so....I couldn't stop sobbing, it was so moving. I know I was probably manipulated emotionally, but it still had an impact on me.

It was interesting because as I was watching it I became wistful for something I never experienced, ya know? I wasn't alive when Bobby Kennedy was alive and yet the movie made me feel nostalgic for that time. I'm not even sure it was nostalgia, now that I think about it. I was just struck by the fact that in my lifetime, I've never experienced a leader like that. They used a lot of real footage from the news and from his speeches and I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. They were so positive and hopeful and peaceful and they were all said during a time of great strife and conflict and war. Who talks like that now? No one! It amazed me.

We put people like RFK on pedestals and expect them to be our saviours which they never can be, of course. But I have to wonder how different this world would be today if he hadn't been killed 39 years ago. I am sad that our world doesn't have positive political leaders like that now, but I am also determined to do my part in creating the better world that people like Bobby Kennedy envisioned all those years ago.

"Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation ... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Robert F. Kennedy, University of Cape Town, South Africa, N.U.S.A.S. "Day of Affirmation" Speech June 6, 1966

SOLD!

2007-04-04T17:28:00.000Z

Yesterday I sold my condo.

phew!

As of August 1st I will no longer be a home owner.

Good. Gone. Dead.

2007-04-02T00:57:00.000Z

Back in 1976, when Dave Bidini, Martin Tielli, Tim Vesley, Dave Clarke and Michael Phillip-Wojewoda were just a bunch of hoser kids jamming in their basements in Etobicoke, Ontario, Martin Scorsese filmed the very last concert The Band ever performed together. "The Last Waltz" has since become an iconic film and important historical document in the world of western popular music. On Friday night, along with my friends Kenji and Jeffy, I feel like I experienced my cohorts' equivalent to that last waltz when The Rheostatics took to the Massey Hall stage for their final show.

Though they had been making music for a number of years before I first heard them on CFNY, my introduction to their unique sound and creativity wasn't until the early 1990's when I first went off to university. "Melville" will forever be associated with the freedom and mind expansion of my university days, but for more than 20 years this band has continued to compose and perform some of the most interesting Canadian rock music of all time. You will never hear a band sound quite the same as The Rheostatics.

They played for three and a half hours straight on Friday night. It was obvious that they wanted to stick around and play as many tunes as possible for us as much as we, the audience, wanted them to. Tielli's usually melifluous voice was raspy and his high range was gone due to illness but he still sang with a passion that was admirable and inspiring. We just helped him out in the high, falsetto parts and it was magical. If you want details about the set list you can visit this web site that has been set up to document that final show.

Jeffy and Kenji and I just couldn't believe how they kept going and they must have been exhausted when they finally left the stage after two encore sets, the first of which was an hour long and the second of which was acoustic and done at the edge of the stage and finally right in the middle of the audience. The final notes of the evening came at the end of "Record Body Count". Tielli sang to us: "Joey stepped up on a block of ice, put a rope around his neck". We sang back to him: "Fell asleep before he died" and that, as they say, was that. It somehow seemed a fitting end to the night.

Thank you for the music, guys. You done good.

I Got Into Grad School!

2007-04-02T00:51:00.000Z

I officially received an offer of admission for the Master of Education in Higher Education program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto starting in the summer of 2007. Obviously, given my relocation to the UK for the new job, I will not be accepting the offer right now, but I'm exploring my options for a deferred admittance. Either way, I'm pleased as punch that I actually got into graduate school and at the U of T, no less!

Go me!

Reductions

2007-03-26T00:40:00.000Z

For the past year or so I have been slowly shedding layers from my life. I have reduced:

1. the number of CDs I own
2. the number of VHS tapes I own
3. the number of books I own
4. the number of pieces of clothing I own
5. the number of pounds I weigh
6. the number of jobs in which I was totally unhappy

All of those things are material in some form or another, but the net effect has been to open up a space in my life - in my head and in my heart - for good things to happen. I think I have also shed layers of old, negative attitudes about myself.

For the record, I am going to continue to get rid of things before I move in four weeks. And I am, for sure, going to continue to shed the pounds from my body. I am one third of the way to my goal weight already and I keep feeling better and better. Truly, the burdens of material objects only weigh us down.

What I have gained in place of those material things is:

1. a real sense of how much I am loved

2. more self confidence

3. a clarity of mind and spirit beyond anything I have ever experienced in my life so far

I should change jobs and move thousands of kilometers away more often!

I Have Decreed

2007-03-22T13:50:00.000Z

Hotness is a state of mind and a relative thing and, in the end, doesn't matter as much as the world makes it out to be.

I'm just sayin', is all.

Lists, Lists and More Lists

2007-03-21T18:14:00.000Z

Okay, who knew that I was going to have to do so much STUFF to prepare for my move to the UK? Fess up. Who knew and didn't warn me? Truth is, I did know there would be a lot to do but I still can't believe all of the tasks on my plate. Changing my address with banks, bills and the like will take me forever and that is only one items of many on my list of things to do.

On the bright side, I freakin' LOVE making to do lists. And this one is a doozy! It includes such items as:

Getting Power of Attorney for my parents to sign forms
Completing a will
Calling my bank to inquire about change of address, currency exchange costs and reciprocal agreements with UK banking institutions
Applying for a long term absence exemption from OHIP so I can still use its services abroad
Applying for additional health insurance
Applying for dental insurance
Inquiring about my coverage under the National Health Services in the UK
Applying for permission to vote in Canadian and Ontario elections from abroad

Yeah...that's just a start. Luckily I have started this process already and the countdown to my departure date is on in earnest. I believe, as of today, there are just 33 more days left.

Do you see anything missing from my list? I would love to hear suggestions. What would you be doing if you were up and leaving Canada for three years?

I'm Moving to England!

2007-02-18T20:50:00.000Z

Okay, I can talk about this publicly now. I’m moving to England. I got a job at the International Study Centre for Queen’s University (Kingston, Canada) which is located at Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex, England. How crazy is that? After years of wanting to move to England and live there for awhile I am finally going. The fact that I get to do this while still working in my professional field and in a job that is a step up in responsibilities is an added bonus. Living in a castle is icing on the cake.

My condo has been on the market for about a month in preparation for this move or what would have been a move to Toronto had I not been offered this job. No bites yet, but here’s hoping I can wrap things up before I go at the end of April. Do you know anyone who wants a beautiful loft condo apartment in Guelph?

I’ve been overwhelmed by the supportive e-mails and phone calls I’ve received so far from family and friends. I’m going to miss them all so much, though I do have some family and friends over there, too and I know I will make new friends along the way. It is a funny headspace to be in – to have realized one of my life’s goals and feel as wistful as I do right now. I’m sure it is normal. Part of my preparation for departure has to be the recognition of what I’m leaving behind and getting ready for the separation. As my friend Emily S. said to me, I am going to have to deal with preparations, separations, travel, arrival, adjustment, immersion, discovery, and growth. What a great way to put it, eh? But, as Tannis said to me earlier today, I will just be stretching not cutting my ties here. That thought, that way of framing it, has brought me a lot of comfort.

The fact of the matter is that there will be many ways for me to maintain my relationships and connections here in Canada. This blog will be one of those ways. E-mail will help a great deal. There are lots of ways of keeping telephone call costs down. An old fashioned letter in the post probably wouldn’t hurt either. And I also get one return ticket home to Canada each year as part of the deal, so that is fantastic.

Today I got rid of a whole bunch of clothes and books that I won’t bring with me and don’t want to put into storage. The next task will be to separate what I’m keeping in my storage locker and in my kitchen. Then I will have to find a storage unit to rent. I still don’t know what day I’m leaving but hopefully I’ll have that finalized by the end of this week. I also hope to do something social where people can come and hang out with me before I leave. I don’t know what that will be or when, but we’ll see. Sounds a bit egotistical but I don't mean it that way. I would just like to see as many people as possible before I leave for a long stretch of time.

I’m 36 years old and I feel like I’m experiencing a bit of a re-birth. I’m not recreating myself and I’m not drastically changing who I am and yet, this is the start of a whole new chapter of my life. Not quite a phoenix from the flames, but perhaps it is more like…I dunno…Dylan going electric? Hahahahahahaha!

Here I go!

Bailey Is With Pocha Now

2007-02-15T03:33:00.000Z

My family and I have had to say 'goodbye' again - this time to our youngest kitty, Bailey. She was just eight years old, but had diabetic neuropathy and was losing sensation in her back legs and tail. The vet said she'd have to take two needles a day, live on one level of the house only and would eventually become incontinent. Not a good standard of life, is it?

When my father and I brought Bailey home she was a tiny little thing. She got a head cold soon after coming home and sneezed like crazy. Flying cat snot - yay! She was a simple cat. She looked for a little bit a love from us and gave back a whole bunch more. She loved to eat. She had a quiet little meow for being such a big kitty. She had a beautiful shiny black coat of fur with a little white bib on her chest. She was a gorgeous cat.

We're all in a bit of shock because we didn't know she was sick. One day she was fine, the next day she was at the vet's and a few days later she was dead. I didn't get to be there when she was put to sleep because she was in Hamilton, so my parents and my sister were with her and they told her that we loved her and that she was going to be with Pocha and they asked her to say hello to Pocha for us. I really hope she didn't suffer too much.

Bye bye Bailey. You were one heck of a kitty! We miss you.

Grocery Store Wars

2007-02-07T18:19:00.000Z

This is so clever. I totally enjoyed it:

May the farm be with you.

Here It Goes Again

2007-02-02T19:31:00.000Z

Have you SEEN this?

MTV had rejected the idea for a music video for this song, so instead, OK Go improvised a video using eight treadmills from the local gymnasium free of charge. The music video was done in one take and was uploaded to YouTube, where it has received well over ten million views. Crazy! Apparently it was choreographed by one of the band member's sister.

They have since performed the video live (no - NOT the song live) on the MTV Music Video Awards:

Crazy! And I love it!

Gord at Hugh's

2007-01-23T00:02:00.000Z

Yup. This past weekend it was that time of year again when we celebrated the music of Gordon Lightfoot. More importantly, I've realized, we created a community space for people to come together and experience something greater than the sum of its parts.

Mr. Lightfoot visited us backstage at the Friday night show just so he could lend his support. What a guy. The line-up was stellar...again! After five years we were finally able to get Stephen Fearing to play - again, only on the Friday. He did the Canadian Railroad Trilogy with David Woodhead on bass and BOY was it awesome!

Beaucoup de thanks to: Jory Nash, David Newland, Rick Fines, Suzie Vinnick, Anne Lindsay, David Woodhead, David Matheson, Jason Fowler, Lori Cullen, Brian MacMillan, Ron Nigrini, Kurt Swinghammer, Sheila and Amanda from Dala, Michael Johnston, Stephen Fearing, Dan Kershaw, Aengus Finnan and Mr. Lightfoot, of course, for an amazing weekend.

World Trade Center

2007-01-22T02:57:00.000Z

I went to New York City last week with some colleagues from work. We were researching how student services were delivered on other urban campus in order to prepare a report on behalf of our division to Ryerson's Master Planning Committee. We visited Concordia in Montreal before heading down to NYC in a blizzard and then we went to New York University once we arrived in the city.

On the morning of the day we left to come back home four of us went to the World Trade Center site. Just before we left the hotel, the concierge asked us what we were going to do that day and I said we were going to visit Ground Zero. I was swiftly told in no uncertain terms that it was not Ground Zero, but rather the World Trade Center. "We are moving forward, thank you very much, so let's call it what it is: the World Trade Center".

Chastened, we headed there via the subway. As we got off the train at the last stop - WTC - I couldn't help thinking and remembering that the buildings collapsed on top of the subway station and that some people's lives were saved because of the pocket of space it created. We climbed the steps to the surface and reached street level to face a cold wind and a bright sunny day. There was a lot of activity in the area. The new building and memorial is under construction. Security is everywhere. There is a viewing platform for visitors and a makeshift memorial for the Port Authority P.D. inside the fences, plus a display of photographs from September 11, 2001 complete with a timeline of that day. I kept thinking, as I walked around the site, that the dust and dirt on the sidewalks and streets in the area are particles of memory; that they could contain the DNA of those who died that day. Life and death was all around us there. The truth is, it is all around us all of the time, but it was very present in that moment.

The photos were moving. One in particular sticks in my mind. It was an image of a crowd of New Yorkers standing in the street, staring up into the sky. Their eyes are wide open in horror, the mouths large O's as they gasp and cry out at what they're witnessing. What struck me the most was the fear in the eyes of the men. It was the men in the picture that look the most horrified, the most terrified and I've never seen anything quite like it before. It was the image that made me shed a few tears.

It was a haunting experience to be there, but I felt compelled to go and bear witness to what happened more than five years ago. There is much healing left to be done. The site is still like a giant open wound, but it is slowly but surely healing itself. I am sure the process of re-building is a healing one for the men and women working on the site. I have mixed feelings about the nationalism and bravado that gets thrown around when people talk about the new building and I was saddened to see a sign in a local shop that read: "We will never forget. Support our troops in Iraq!" Some people just don't get it, I suppose. That's the saddest part of it all for me. That what created the tragedy in the first place - the greed and empire-building, holier-than-thou attitude of the Western world - is continuing. It is only a surface level response - a band-aid - and that is not what is needed when a wound goes that deep.

Peace.

Blessed Be

2006-12-21T16:46:00.000Z

Tonight at 7:22 p.m. EST the Winter Solstice will begin.

Though Christmas is most prevalent in our North American culture's celebrations at this time of year, there are (of course) many more sacred celebrations in religions and cultures all over the world and back through time.

What a powerful time of year it is.

Tonight I will light some candles and send blessings to all of my loved ones. What will you do to mark this ancient celebration? How will you draw light into your heart and shine it back out to the world around you?

What a deal!

2006-12-19T01:47:00.000Z

While shopping in the Toronto Eaton Centre on Saturday afternoon (what was I thinking?! I must have been drinking!) I quickly stopped and peaked in at the Nine West shoe store. I was curious to see how much the beautiful new Boots of Doom I bought in Arizona at a Nine West outlet store were going for in Canada, eh? Well, turns out that I saved about $130.00! When I turned over the shoe, the price tag said $175.00. Yowza! Who knew I was such a fashion bargain hunter?

Seth Lakeman Live!

2006-12-15T14:31:00.000Z

This weekend I'm going to write a post about my trip to Arizona, but for now, I wanted to share these videos. When I got home, my friend Aengus had posted my two Seth Lakeman CDs back to me after having borrowed them since the spring. It was like coming home to two old, lost friends. Suffice it to say, they have been in heavy rotation on my CD player ever since. This then inspired a visit to YouTube to see what Lakeman goodies I could find. These three clips might just give you a sense of the energy and spark I hear in his music.

The first is a performance of 'Kitty Jay', the song that kicked off my love affair with Seth's music in the first place:

The next is a performance of 'King and Country' live in the Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea, Portsmouth on 13th December 2006:

And finally, a performance of another one of my favourite tunes, 'Lady of the Sea' – again, live in the Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea, Portsmouth on 13th December 2006:

Enjoy!

Letter of Intent

2006-11-16T15:57:00.000Z

November 16, 2006

c/o OISE/UT Registrar's Office
Graduate Studies Admissions Unit, Room 4-485
252 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6

To Whom It May Concern:

When I was in my last year of high school, my OAC Geography teacher brought a small group of us to hear Stephen Lewis speak at the University of Guelph for our World Issues course. At the time, I didn’t really know who Mr. Lewis was; but I left that event profoundly moved and inspired by his passion to make the world a better place. A year later I travelled the road back to the University of Guelph as a first year undergraduate student, excited to learn and experience new things. Fast forward another twelve years and I am at the helm of a brand new speakers series run out of the University of Guelph’s student housing department. Knowing what kind of impact Mr. Lewis could have on students and how great a difference extra-curricular events like this made during my own undergraduate education, I was determined that he would be the first speaker in our series. The night that Stephen Lewis spoke to 600 students, staff, faculty and community members in War Memorial Hall was one of the proudest moments of my life, both personally and professionally. It stands clearly as one of the major signposts in my career as a Student Affairs professional.

I have been involved in this work in Student Affairs since my final year of university twelve years ago. Back then I was the Residence Assistant for Eco-House, one of Guelph’s four Living-Learning Centres. That job taught me more than I ever could have imagined. I gained critical skills, met interesting people, and discovered a great deal about myself in the process as well. Most importantly, I got to experience the power of Student Affairs work first–hand, and that was life-changing!

What I have come to discover since that initial road trip to Guelph, past the other signposts (both large and small) along the way, is that I thrive when I work in an environment that values the acquisition of knowledge, celebrates diversity, fosters a sense of community and has a vision for the future. I am committed to social justice and the creation of positive communities. Furthermore, I need to learn constantly so that I can better serve the communities to which I belong. I have discovered all of this and more within Student Affairs.

I want to study at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto because it is the next major signpost in my career in Student Affairs and Higher Education. As soon as I heard that OISE had created a Masters of Education with an emphasis in Student Development and Student Affairs I began preparing my application because it is time for me to put all of my practical skills and experiences into a consistent theoretical framework. I want to learn more about the organization and administration of Student Affairs in post-secondary education; I want to gain more skills in the areas of research, assessment and evaluation. I have learned a great deal about these subjects on the job and through professional development opportunities. I want to deepen my understanding, however, so that I can achieve my next career goals and enhance my abilities to develop learning and service communities with post-secondary students.

I believe the purpose of colleges and universities is to create informed, civic-minded, engaged global citizens who think critically and act constructively. A university or college education is not just to be a vehicle to a higher paying job or something to do after high school graduation. We have a responsibility to communicate that message to our students. As recipients of higher education they need to know they have a responsibility to contribute to society and, to paraphrase John F. Kennedy, ask not what their communities can do for them, but rather, what they can do for their communities. This is the heart of higher education.

During his convocation address at St. Francis Xavier University in May 2003, Stephen Lewis told the graduating class:

“What is clear as you graduate is that this world, rife with social injustice, needs you…And the discipline, the field of study, the profession, they matter not. You bring such a wealth of background and talent that when it combines with commitment, there will always be something you can do…You’ll never regret it, or ever feel more useful.”

As a Student Affairs professional, I want to develop and implement programs that help students understand the importance of Mr. Lewis’ message. Those programs must allow students to explore their interests, discover their passions and build their capacities. I want to create meaningful extra- and co-curricular programs so that students can reflect upon what they are learning both inside and outside of the classroom and then integrate that with their life goals. I want to work with Dr. Tony Chambers to focus my studies at OISE on topics such as civic engagement amongst the post-secondary student population and the role of the university/college in creating active citizenship. I want to be able to help students find their own signposts.

I thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Rachel Barreca

Acronyms

2006-11-14T22:03:00.000Z

Just a wee update to let the world know that I have:

1) lost a total of 18.8 pounds on WW so far, and

2) decided to apply to OISE for the summer of 2007 to get my Masters of Education in Student Affairs and Student Development

Yowza!

Thank You OCFF

2006-10-19T23:22:00.000Z

Another annual OCFF conference has come and gone. I spent last Thursday to Sunday in Ottawa surrounded by friends (old and new) and great music. Coming back to the day job on Monday morning was hard, as it always is when I spend time immersed in the world of music.

So, what do I want to share about that weekend?

Well, Rachel Jagt, David Newland and I hosted a guerilla showcase room in the Zen Canadiana environment of The Rachels' Room on Saturday night. Our official line-up featured Eve Goldberg, Janine Stoll, Jonathan Byrd, Yael Wand and Angie Nussey. We knew they were going to be great, but as we listened to their stories and songs (including the one Jonathan wrote in the room right before he started his set!), even we were knocked out and thrilled by what they gave in their performances. The late additions of Mike Ford and Philippe Lafreniere to the line-up were truly a gift. For the second year in a row we made the decision to create a space for people to relax and make music in a communal kind of way and, for the second year in a row, it was magic. True, we do it in part for selfish reasons. Who wouldn't want to sit in their hotel room and hear some of their favourite musicians perform? But, mostly, we do it for the sheer joy of sharing and to support the music and the people who make it.

One of those people who made music in our room that night was Jonathan Byrd from North Carolina. I had never heard his music before, but Rachel J and David had and they were both enthusiastic about us inviting him to play in our room. He did not disappoint. He sang this heart-achingly beautiful song called "Father's Day" that left not one dry eye in the room. It isn't released yet, but as soon as it is I will be getting a copy of it. I will never forget hearing that song for the first time. Jonathan will actually be playing in Toronto on November 24th at the Cameron House (408 Queen Street) with Corin Raymond of The Undesirables opening up. Check it out if you can at all.

And let me share a bit more about this character Philippe Lafreniere. He's a young francophone man from Ottawa who won two awards at the conference this year: the Galaxie Rising Star Award 2006 (Francophone) for "Je pleure et je perds" and the Songs From the Heart Song-Writing Award in the Political Song category for "American Dollars". You can hear both of them at his Myspace site. Mike Ford was the judge for the Political category and wanted to give up part of his time slot in our room so Philippe could get some air time. Well, I think we could all trust Mike's judgement so we just gave both of them full time slots. Holy COW! Philippe blew me away with his honest and raw performance. This is a person who totally gives of himself when he sings. It's a blues/jazz-world music fusion like nothing I've heard before and it is still floating around in my head and heart days later.

I spent a lot of time that weekend with David and his band-mate/friend Sean McShane (from The McFlies, their folk/acoustic 80s cover band) and Rachel J. We hung out, getting ready for our room on Saturday night, talking, laughing, being silly. Though I didn't go to as many sessions as I normally would have, I am glad I chose to spend my time the way I did. Do you know that euphoria you get when you feel yourself becoming friends with someone? Or when you know your exisiting friendship with someone is going to the next level of intimacy? Do you even get that sense of euphoria, or is that just me? I really felt it this past weekend and it felt good. I'm a lucky, lucky person.

I had a fantastic conversation with Eve, my guitar teacher, over breakfast on Sunday morning. We are on the same wavelength in many ways, and it was a relief for both of us to hear the other person articulate what we were feeling/thinking. I can't wait to learn more from her as a teacher and as a friend.

And on Sunday morning, just before breakfast, a short, precious, stolen moment of conversation with Mike that I will never forget. When I experience genuine moments of human connection like that, I feel so damned privileged to be the trusted receiver of...god, I don't even know what to label it, but I am grateful.

I also remember a moment on Saturday night during our showcase that stands out as special. I was sitting at the far end of the room by the windows, I think Eve was playing her set (or maybe it was Janine) and all of a sudden I saw Aengus sitting down near the door, listening and watching me. As I looked over at him and caught his eye he gave me a great big smile and nodded his head. It was an incredibly familiar moment and interaction and yet it was different because that night the tables were turned. That night, I wasn't the one beaming with pride at a friend who was creating a space of creativity and beauty and community. In that quick moment of a smile and nod, I knew exactly what Aengus was thinking and it was almost heartstopping to realize that it was for me. I think I felt a bit like I had arrived, ya know?

Can I also tell you about the jam that happened around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday that included Allison Brown, Corin Raymond, Old Man Ludecke, Dan Frechette, Candace Shaw and LORD knows how many more people? We sang Justin Rutledge's tune "Jellybean" and "Molson Dry" by Andrew Neville and the Poor Choices at the tops of our friggin' lungs, led by Corin in a way that only Corin could lead us. Absolutely crazy and terrific moments.

Next year's conference is a year less a week away in London, Ontario and I can't wait.

Hilarious LOTR Videos on YouTube

2006-10-06T18:32:00.000Z

Okay, I just had to share these. I just spent my lunch hour laughing out loud at these hilarious videos:

LOTR – How it should have ended
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xWBnzxZPGk

LOTR Orgy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zllxr1_-CMA

They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3XBEEdgqOY

The Lord of the Rings by George Lucas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv4Potdpjhw

This series of ads from TBS are right funneh!

Gollum Has Issues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CymzT0Xwko

The Hunks of Middle Earth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_pjyY4s9S0

Very, Very Gay Hobbits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1GXhYXLsdQ

The Wizard of Orc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3qCFQpdGJE

Sucks to be Frodo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqlg7VlUI2Q

Bweeeheeeheeehooohahahahahahahahaha!

It's A Deal-Breaker

2006-10-05T13:25:00.000Z

On the way into work this morning I walked by a young couple holding hands. When they were about 15 feet away from me I heard the tell-tale sound of an impending hork coming from the lone male of this couple and I knew I had to brace myself. As he spat his gift to the world onto the sidewalk in front of him, his girlfriend didn't even bat an eye and I wondered to myself, 'How in god's name does she handle that kind of thing?' It was at that moment that I realized that horking big loogies in any context is a total turn off.

Oh yes, indeed, it is a deal-breaker for me.

yeeeeeuuuucccchhhhhh!!!!!

Free Hugs

2006-10-04T15:47:00.000Z

A man in Australia is doing an amazing thing.

Weight Watchers and Me

2006-10-04T03:33:00.000Z

It was just about four weeks ago that I joined Weight Watchers online. After a lifetime battle with weight and food issues, of low self esteem, of being judged as something that I am not, of hating my body, of feeling tired, of dieting and disappointment, of tears, of binging, of a series of gut-wrenchingly painful unrequited loves, of envy, of rage, of missed opportunities, of physical pain, of anxiety that I'm going to die of a heart attack before I'm 40, of fights with my mother, of shopping excursions for clothes that have ended in tears and self-loathing, of fighting an eating disorder, of...

It is time.

I've always said to those who have asked why I don't try to lose weight that it is a mental battle more than anything else. And that it will only happen when I'm ready.

I'm ready.

I want to ride a bike again. I want to be filled with energy. I want to feel sexy. I want to be healthy. I want to love myself even more than I already do. I want to lose weight.

I have no doubt this is going to be a hard road and that I won't be perfect as I focus on my goal. I want to weigh half of what I weigh right now within two years. I'm already nine pounds closer to that goal than I was a month ago. Go me! This is not a diet for me. This is a lifestyle change. And I would appreciate any and all support I can get as I climb my own personal Mount Everest.

Step by step...

Seth Lakeman - your music has captured my soul

2006-09-20T14:09:00.000Z

It was while listening to an internet radio station called Radio Britfolk a year or two ago that I first heard the music of Seth Lakeman. I was at work and had the station on in the background when all of a sudden this incredible fiddle music and gripping voice came over my speakers and I had to stop what I was doing to listen. You know those moments when music just stops you in your tracks because it is so good/unique/moving? This was one of those moments. The song was "Kitty Jay", a tale about a servant girl who killed herself on the moors of Devon, and it is the title track of his 2004 album. Much of Seth's music focuses on the history of Dartmoor and his home county. It's atmospheric, melodic, and passionate and since that day I have just devoured his music.

Seth worked with Kate Rusby, Kathryn Roberts and his brothers in a band called Equation prior to setting out on a solo career and Kitty Jay was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005. Pretty amazing for an album that cost only 300 pounds to make in his brother's kitchen. He now has a new album out on Relentless Records called Freedom Fields and he's starting to create quite a buzz over in the UK.

I never thought I'd get the chance to hear Seth perform live, given how far away he's situated from my current living arrangements in Guelph/Toronto but in just three days I will be seeing and hearing him live in Ottawa when he opens up for Mr. Billy Bragg. I am so thrilled, there are just no words to express my excitement. Suffice it to say, I am looking forward to that evening bunches and bunches. Perhaps I will have the chance to let Seth know how much his music has touched my soul. Here's hoping.

So, go and listen to his music on iTunes. I promise it will be worth it.

Six String Nation Guitar and Me

2006-09-20T01:46:00.000Z

I just got this picture in my e-mail inbox tonight. That's me strumming the Six String Nation Guitar. Have you heard of it before? No? Well, check this out. The Six String Nation Guitar combines pieces of wood from Pierre Trudeau's canoe paddles, Paul Henderson's hockey stick, the Golden Spruce, the St. Boniface museum where Louis Riel went to school, and the Bluenose II, as well as dozens of other pieces of Canadian history. For a full description of its components and construction, plus information on all of the people who have played it so far, go here. It was pretty cool to hold it in my hands, if you can't already tell that by the look on my face.

The Face of Kindness (beta)

2006-08-24T12:46:00.000Z

C G C
How old do you think I am?

Am G F
I’m eighty-four and I live next door.

C G C
(With a) tired heart and tired hands,

Am G C
But I see the face of kindness.

How long do you think I’ll live?
Will I have time to make my mark?
There’s so much love I want to give.
Will I know the face of kindness?

How long will these towers stand?
What stops the sun from rising?
Clouds and shadows on the land.
Reveal the face of kindness.

c 2006 (S. Atkins, R. Barreca, R. Davis, C. Lang, R. Moore, D. Newland)

Pictures of Pocha

2006-08-11T15:17:00.000Z

Baby Pocha approaches mouse

Killer Pocha!

Chubby Pocha in denial about her size

Awwwww - isn't she cute?

That's our Pocha. Just wanted to share.

Our Cat Pocha Has Died

2006-08-09T16:40:00.000Z

Yesterday my sister, mother and father took our 17 year old cat Pocha to the vets so she could be put to sleep. She had been weakening for awhile and about a month ago we were told that she probably wouldn't see the year out. Her heart was giving out and over the weekend she hardly slept because she couldn't get comfortable. By yesterday morning, she had made it to the water bowl in the basement and was lying beside it, but she could not really move any more. So, they took her in, the vet gave her a sedative as she lay in my sister's lap, and soon after she stopped breathing.

This is a hard time, especially for my sister, as Pocha was really her cat. It's funny how much a pet becomes a part of the family. I'm glad she didn't suffer a lot and that she was surrounded by love when she died. I only wish that I could have been there, too.

Sleep well, little Pocha. We love you.

John, Paul, George and Ringo do Bill

2006-07-17T21:28:00.000Z

hee hee hee

They're so bloody charming, it hurts.

Kathaumixw 2006

2006-07-13T23:34:00.000Z

For a report on my trip out west last week, check this out:

http://www.digitaldewdrops.com/2006/07/kathaumixw-gathering-together-of.html

And for photographs, you can go here:

http://uoguelph.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2021757&l=b2a32&id=120801680

Enjoy. I certainly did.

CSNY @ ACC 07/11/06

2006-07-12T14:41:00.000Z

Effin' eh!

OUCH!

2006-05-22T14:27:00.000Z

It's funny how the human body is a good barometer for what else is going on in a person's life. For example, about ten days ago my neck glands on the left side of my body were swollen to what felt like the size of basketballs and I was running a fever. That dissipated about five days ago just in time for a small crick to show up on the right side of my neck. Today I woke up at 5:00 a.m. in excruciating pain and hardly able to move my head, neck and arms without shooting pain all through the right side of my upper torso. Well done, eh?

I guess the fact that I have been trying to wrap up my whole portfolio at work just as I would normally be heading into the full-time planning for Orientation Week, not to mention dealing with all of the emotions of my departure (my own emotions and others') and the anticipation of my life going a bit topsy-turvy over the next months MIGHT have had an impact on the state of my body these days. I'm a bit pissed off at myself about what has happened, to be honest. I am trying to clean my apartment, do laundry and pack up my office today. Tomorrow I am supposed to be doing seven interviews for START Online podcasts. The day after that I'm heading to Toronto to get my life there started. le sigh.

Must slow down. Must take it easy. Must not get stressed. Must go to my happy place.

Did I mention that it really hurts?

Ouch.

Blurry Good Sangria

2006-05-21T04:14:00.000Z

okay
just got home from Jerome's
laughed a lot
ate a lot
drank a little bit
he made a really potent sangria. ouch.
had a good time
now home and ready to relax before bed
going to watch The West Wing Season Two.....love POTUS
LOVE Josh, Sam, Toby, CJ, Donna, Leo
love Aaron Sorkin
have you ever watched Sports Night?
Sorkin at his most under-rated
looking forward to Studio 60 on Sunset Strip
woohoo!
okay
must go

yah!

Last Day/First Day

2006-05-19T16:20:00.000Z

Okay, so today is the last day at work at the University of Guelph. It feels really weird because I'm quite busy today and it feels like any other day. At the same time, I know there is a big change about to happen. I feel like it is the first day of the rest of my life. Weird.

I Got A Job!

2006-05-12T03:11:00.000Z

I got a new job. I am leaving the University of Guelph after five years (almost to the day) of working there as a professional in Student Affairs. As of the end of May I will be working at Ryerson University as the Peer Support Facilitator, running the orientation and first year experience programs. Today I told my staff, which takes a great weight off my shoulders as I felt like I was living a lie with them for the past week. I've actually known since Friday, but I didn't want to write anything here in this public forum until I had told my staff myself.

This is a bittersweet time for me. On the one hand, I have been looking for a new job for over a year and had been particularly restless in the past four months. On the other hand, I was just getting a handle on the orientation week program and really liked my staff and peer helpers. I will miss people, but not the politics (though I'm sure there will be some wherever I go). I will miss certain places on campus and the incredible sense of community that is fostered at the U of G. However, this is a great opportunity for me, to head to an institution that is growing at a rapid place and looking forward into the future. I am also hoping that the workload will be more reasonable so that I can enjoy my life outside of the job, too. I get to work with my friends Glen and Tony - this is a huge plus. And, I get to hang out in Toronto more, which means more music and more time with my music friends. I feel good about this change.

I am so grateful to my friends who have been incredibly supportive as I struggled with my unhappiness at work and my job search that had been fruitless for quite some time. And to my parents for helping me figure out the investment side of things. I'm keeping the condo (for now).

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and tired these days, so luckily I have enough vacation days banked that I will be able to have a week off between jobs. Phew!

More updates to come as things progress. Here goes nothin'!

Lachrymose

2006-05-07T04:05:00.000Z

I cry.

I am a crier.

I cry when I am sad.
I cry when I am happy.
I cry when I am angry.

I cry at that Bell Telephone commercial where the young guy calls his grandfather on the beaches of Normandy to thank him for fighting in the war.

I cried when Michael Guider and Neva Parsons-Sheldrake were born.

I cry every time I read "The Mists of Avalon", "A Traveller in Time" and "The Silver on the Tree".

I cry every time I watch the last episode of M*A*S*H, the episode of The X-Files called "Memento Mori", and at the end of "The Message" from Firefly.

I sobbed the first time I heared "O'Shaughnessy's Lament". Each time I listen to "Changed for Good" from 'Wicked' I get choked up. And, almost every time I hear Gerald Finley perform live, I end up weeping a little (okay - sometimes a lot).

I cry every time I watch "Dead Poet's Society", "Gladiator", "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Truth About Cats and Dogs". Cripes. I even cry each time I get to the scene where Goose dies in "Top Gun".

Call me schmoopy, but these are true statements.

I like crying. It feels good. Cathartic. Cleansing.

What makes you cry?

I'm Singing on the Radio Tonight

2006-05-03T15:15:00.000Z

So, in three hours I hop on a bus for Toronto.

In five hours I will be doing a sound check in the Glenn Gould Theatre at the CBC Broadcast Centre with the University of Guelph Women's Choir.

In seven hours or so we will be singing live to air as participants in the CBC Choral Competition FINALS!

WHAT?!

How crazy is that?

I'm starting to feel a little bit nervous, but I am really trying to look at this as a chance to sing our best, make some beautiful music, and have some fun in an incredible venue. I'm trying not to think of it in terms of winning or losing.

Soooooooooo - fingers crossed, breaking legs, toi toi toi, merde and all that stuff. We'll see what happens.

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Gratitude

2006-04-24T21:15:00.000Z

thank you
for the food I eat
the air I breathe
the ground beneath my feet
my grounding friends
the love they give
my mother
father
sister
support and challenge
their gifts to me

thank you
for each day I live
alive on this good earth
to do good deeds
as good as I can be
help the woman in the bus depot
smile at the man on the street
mentor a young person
spread the word about peace
little deeds

thank you
for the privileged life I lead
a degree on the wall
a home where I sleep
so much food to eat
clean water to drink
nurses and doctors
to care when I'm sick
clothes on my back

so much sadness
so much pain
so much illness
so much death
and yet
dewdrops of light
shimmer
islands of peace
and love
and life

comfort to those who are sad
care to those who are pained
grace to all
grace for me
thank you

Today is a Sad Day at Work

2006-03-22T21:13:00.000Z

It's days like today that remind me of two things:

1. I need to not be in this job anymore.

2. I need to work on me a whole lot more.

Today I am angry and sad. Mostly, my anger manifests itself in tears. So, I am mostly sadmad.

I ask for strength.

Tired Little Bunny

2006-03-14T03:46:00.000Z

I believe the word I must use for my current state of mind is 'panicked'.

I was sick last week and lost at least three good days of work at a time of year when I cannot afford such a loss. As I sit here at work having just finished my tasks for the day (and I've been here since 7:30 a.m.), I remember why it is that must find a new job. I've been in a bit of denial about work load since my holidays in December, but reality is setting in again. It is totally impossible for one person to do my job.

On the bright side, in a month, it'll all be over for the next few months (before the madness kicks in again). I suppose I wouldn't whinge so much if I liked my job.

Honestly? You can ignore this. It is only the ramblins of a tired little bunny.

Tributaries

2006-02-24T16:25:00.000Z

In 15 minutes I get on a bus and head to Toronto for what will be my final stint with "The Way We Feel". For the past three years I have been invovled with this tribute project for the words and works of Gordon Lightfoot. After this weekend, Live Tour Artists takes over the role I have played and the project that Aengus and Jory started moves into its next phase. It is bittersweet for me, of course. I would love to continue on but there really isn't a place for me. I am thrilled that it has become successful enough to warrant a professional company taking over. I hope this weekend will provide me with the closure I'd like to have before I say goodbye.

And my next steps will be.....?

To follow my own tributaries, I suppose.

Interview with Justin Trudeau

2006-02-20T23:28:00.000Z

Just thought I'd share the interview I did with Justin Trudeau last month. Forgive the poor sound quality, please. The equipment I had to work with was not great.

If that link doesn't work, try here and look for the link to the podcast.

Does Anyone Want to Hire Me?

2006-02-09T00:23:00.000Z

I'm looking for work. I want a new job. Anyone want to hire me?

It's Not Easy

2006-01-24T00:04:00.000Z

I have cast my ballot and I feel good about it. I mean, I don't feel good about the potential outcome tomorrow (happy birthday to me...NOT!), but I felt good, nay, one could say 'elated' as I put my ballot through the slot into the box. I cheerily marked an X beside my candidate of choice's name. I felt a surge of pride that I had done my duty, made an informed decision based on my own morals and beliefs, and that I am lucky enough to be part of a country where I could do all of this in a safe manner.

As my friend David would say: "Go Canada!"

And if you were wondering what's not easy, take a wild guess.

Justin Trudeau - He's Just a Regular Guy. Honest.

2006-01-22T04:29:00.000Z

Justin Trudeau visited the University of Guelph campus on Thursday to speak to the community about making a difference and how each of us can change the world. He was our keynote speaker for Citizenship Awareness Month. (Past speakers include Craig Kielburger, Judy Rebick and Rex Murphy to name a few.) Since my department runs this event we decided to invite our student staff and peer helpers to a reception where they could meet one another and chat more informally with Justin before his speech. Let me tell you, this guy knows how to interact with people. As I hung back and now and then watched him talking to our students, I saw him really listen and make eye contact and respectfully respond to their questions and requests for photos and autographs.

Later at the keynote he continued to work his magic. The speech itself was a little light on content and only ran about 35 minutes, but he said he wanted to interact with the audience and answer their questions for as long as possible, and so he did. His answers were, for the most part, thoughtful and showed his intelligence and humour. I can't say it was the most intellectually stimulating speech I've heard and he definitely needs to work on researching local opportunities to use as concrete examples, but there was still something there. I think what I saw was potential.

He is charismatic as a speaker and has an extremely magnetic personality. This is not surprising, of course. Just look at where he's come from. He is smart and respectful and warm. I found myself thinking at one point in the evening, despite my resolve to treat him like an ordinary person (for that is what he is, folks), 'If this guy runs for office, he's got my support!'

I'm not prone to hero worship. Though I do celebrity crush quite easily (my latest is Nathan Fillion, in case you were wondering, and for good reason), I know these to be flights of fancy and don't take them seriously at all. I can count on one hand the number of people I consider to be my heroes (one of them happens to be Justin's father). Given all of this, I'm not sure where that irrational burst came from. I don't even know what to call it....'political crushing' perhaps? I've briefly experienced this feeling to a lesser degree only once before after watching Pierre Ducasse at the last federal NDP leadership convention. Normally, the political realm saddens, frustrates and sickens me. And yet, there I was (and here I still am, come to think of it), feeling a surge of excitement and optimism at the thought of this principled, smart, informed and real person taking a leadership role in serving this country I love so dearly. He doesn't have to run for political office to make a difference in the world in which we both live, and I'd be okay with that, too. All I am saying is what I saw on Thursday was something that is missing from politics, and the brief glimpse of it was a bit intoxicating.

Going home later that night and lying in bed, my thoughts spun around for quite some time. I suppose soaking up all of the excited energy that followed him from the moment he stepped foot on campus didn't help me in the sleep department. When I did fall asleep, my dreams were restless. I woke up feeling emotionally raw - a weird combination of giddy and sad that still hasn't dissipated very much as I write these words 48 hours later. I've spent much of today thinking about Justin and his family and about the impact they've had on my life. I've thought about what it means to have privilege and the responsibilities that come with it. I've thought a lot about service and where that fits into my life. I've pondered the future - of my career, my relationships, and my country. Where am I headed? What am I supposed to do? What sacrifices will I have to make to get where I am going? I know there is something out there for me to do and I know with a fierce certainty that I'm not doing it yet. I want to inspire people to be the best they can possibly be and then use their gifts to help others. I want to empower and collaborate and celebrate. I want to feel joy - a joy that I help to create through my actions in my communities. I just don't know how I will do that.

There were plenty of comments about Justin's looks prior to his arrival, throughout his stay and on into the next day. Oh yes, there was plenty of giggling going on. And though I was ambivalent about that stuff before he got here, even I was a bit of a convert by the end. (It's his eyes, my friends, just in case you were wondering. Well, that and the charisma. Well, maybe it's the whole package.) But that isn't what has stayed with me. Sure, he's handsome, but more than that, from what I could tell, he's passionate and full of vision for a better world that you, he and I are going to create one step at a time. He isn't a Stephen Lewis or a Roméo Dallaire and he may never be but, much like them, he did challenge me to continue my quest for the path I'm meant to follow. And, he gave me hope.

p.s. I'll let you know when the interview I did with him is podcast.

Listed

2006-01-17T13:57:00.000Z

It's really official now, folks.

http://www.rlproyalcity.com/listings/?row=2552&search=y

Agent open house today and my agent told me yesterday that she's already had one inquiry. They come through on Friday.

Fingers crossed.

I Aim To Misbehave

2006-01-15T20:11:00.000Z

Y'all got on this boat for different reasons, but y'all come to the same place. So now I'm asking more of you than I have before. Maybe all. Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave.

-Captain Malcolm Reynolds-
Serenity

Who You Gonna Call?

2006-01-13T13:28:00.000Z

Okay, I have to admit it - I am curious.

http://www.digitaldewdrops.com/2006/01/greetings-starfighter.html

Would you call?

Freedom '06

2006-01-08T19:23:00.000Z

Well, it has been swell, but the time has come for me to move. I have taken the step away from davidnewland.com and I am now at home at moxywoman.blogspot.com instead. Change your favourites and links, ladies and gentlemen.

Isn't this a bit symbolic? Who knows? In a few months, you could be changing my other address in your files. Meeting with my real estate agent on Monday.

Hmmmmmmmm...................

Silent Night

2005-12-24T23:59:00.000Z

I'm here in Dundas with the earth family, enjoying a quiet Christmas Eve. My aunt and uncle were over earlier today. The presents are wrapped and under our forest of trees. I think we're going to watch a movie in a bit. All is well.

Tonight I'm thinking about all of my loved ones around the world and praying that James Loney, Harmeet Singh Sooden, Tom Fox and Norman Kember are alive and not suffering too much.

Peace on earth, goodwill towards all people.

Winter Solstice Blessings

2005-12-22T03:06:00.000Z

I have been sleeping a lot these days. Today was day #12 on my holidays and I have been quite sloth-like for most of those days. I feel like I've been hibernating. That might have to do with the fact that there will be a lot of running around for the last week of my holidays and I'm taking advantage of the quiet time while it lasts. It might also have something to do with the very short days and long nights. It's amazing how the human body knows what it needs and tells us in no uncertain terms, innit?

Last night I watched David Duchovny's movie "The House of D". It is a really special little movie - a coming of age fairy tale about a man coming to terms with his youth. It features a great cast, but the two stand out performances don't come from the well known actors. Anton Yelchin plays the young Tommy Warshaw and he's beautiful. Erykah Badu plays Lady - the woman in the the House of Detention who befriends Tommy - and she is a revelation. Both are really natural. I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it.

I've also been watching the first series of "Little Britain", an hilarious sketch comedy show from the Beeb starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams. It is supposed to showcase life in Great Britain, and in a weird way it sort of does, but with a huge twisted perspective. I'd heard it on the radio before and it is just as funny on the TV. Not for those without a dark sense of humour. Anthony Stewart Head guest stars as the Prime Minister and Tom Baker (yes - the Tom Baker of "Doctor Who" fame) is The Voice. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much fun. I think my favourite character is Dafydd Thomas, the 'only gay in the village' of Llandewi Breffi.

Tomorrow, Barry and I are going to watch the extended versions of all three Lord of the Rings movies. We survived Trilogy Tuesday a couple of years ago when "The Return of the King" came out and back then we talked about watching all three in their longer cuts. After tomorrow, we will have brought that idea into reality (and probably have huge bags under our eyes and sore butts to show for it). Bring it on!

Christmas shopping is done. Home is decorated. Getting caught up on e-mails and blogging. Cleaning and laundry is getting done. Christmas cards are sent. Life is trucking a long at a slow but steady pace.

I hope we all have a peaceful holiday season. May the lessons of the winter solstice fill us. I pray that the Christian Peacemaker Team hostages are set free before Christmas so they can be with their families. That would be the best gift of all this year.

Blessed be.

Brokeback Mountain

2005-12-20T01:31:00.000Z

I just got back from Toronto. Barry and I went to go see Ang Lee's latest film, "Brokeback Mountain" at the Cumberland cinemas because its only in limited release until the 23rd. The movie is based on Annie Proulx's short story about two cowboys who fall in love in the summer of '63 while herding sheep on said mountain and, my word, it is absolutely stunning - visually and emotionally.

Alberta fills in for the landscapes of Wyoming and it looks beautiful. Mountains and prairies and wide open skies. Jake Gyllenhal and Heath Ledger play the two main characters and they draw you right into their story. Kudos to Michelle Williams who portrays the love, anger and excruciating pain of being married to Ledger's Ennis Del Mar to a fine point. Watching Ennis and Jack Twist fall in love is enchanting and yet a bit like watching a car wreck because you know it isn't going to end well. Despite that fact, this is truly one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever seen or read. Love is love, no matter who you are.

And now I sit here and I can't stop thinking about it. I am haunted.

10 Random Facts About Me

2005-12-18T19:07:00.000Z

Here are ten random facts about me:

I've been to two (yes, I said two) New Kids on the Block concerts.
My favourite colour is purple.
I have dual citizenship (Canada and Great Britain).
I am the only one of my high school friends yet to be married.
My friend Barry calls me his 'fairy princess'.
Whenever I read 'A Traveller In Time', I always cry at the end of the penultimate chapter.
I've been a welfare recipient.
I once chased my sister around the house brandishing a knife.
I am taking african dance lessons.
Though I am not one to hero-worship much, i greatly admire Stephen Lewis, Gillian Anderson, Pierre Trudeau, and Cheryl Rose.

Okay - now it is your turn. Tell us ten random things about YOU!