Apparently, this Ira Glass person, who is "famous" in some circles (he has a radio program on the public radio service in the United States), saw John Lithgow in a performance of "King Lear" and he thought Lithgow was "amazing" (I sure would like to see him play King Lear -- he has the combination of craziness and pomposity that would be just terrific) but that Shakespeare sucked. And then, apparently the internet exploded with people refuting the "Shakespeare sucked" thing.
Okay, so can I first say, I don't get the tweeting thing. Usually my first response to anything is that I don't want to comment, but the tweeting thing seems to work in the opposite way. You come out of a movie or a play and the first thing you do is react on Twitter for all the world to see. Or maybe you react WHILE THE THING IS STILL ACTUALLY GOING ON. (It seems excessive to capitalize that, but I just mean I'm saying it louder and slower than the rest of what I'm saying -- Elaine Benes, forgive my punctuation.) One of the things about tweeting is that you want a lot of people to "follow" you. Am I right? But that just reminds me of that Gain commercial where the guy had his shirt washed in Gain and he's at a basketball game, and the people around him are smelling his shirt. They're smelling it passionately because he smells so darn great. Now, do you want that? I don't want to be smelled and I don't want to be followed! But I guess, if you do, you have to say shocking things, so some people are suggesting that this Glass guy is "trolling" (see how my vocabulary is expanding?). Now, in my day, "trolling" meant that you were in a boat with your fishing line out and it was dragging behind the boat, hoping to attract a fish's attention. And I guess that's what this kind of trolling is, too. You're trying to catch a fish's attention, so he'll follow you! I guess Ira Glass has been successful, because a lot of metaphorical fish are reacting to his Shakespeare remark.
My second comment is "who cares?" I don't know anything about Ira Glass, but if he didn't like King Lear, I don't care. Lots of people don't like King Lear, I suppose. Lots of people would go to see it and like John Lithgow and not understand the play. My understanding about Twitter is that you don't get much room to give an analysis of what worked and what didn't in any given production, and maybe Ira Glass couldn't give an analysis anyway (probably not, if he's saying something "sucked" although I think he did add that it wasn't "relatable" whatever that might mean). I'm really tired of having the words of famous people (and their actions and what they wear and where they eat and what their houses look like, blah,blah,blah) being reported as news.
And in Ira Glass's defense (I defend his right to say stuff and everybody's right whether I disagree with them or not), Shakespeare says, in King Lear, "Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say".
Wednesday 30 July 2014
Tuesday 29 July 2014
"Coolness" is in the mind
I heard this discussion on the radio yesterday on "Q". There was a guy who writes for salon.com (never read it, never will) talking about "Normcor" which is apparently a trend among "hipsters" whereby they dress like "people who get their clothes at Walmart". "The ultimate cool is to be purposefully 'uncool'."
Oh, there was a great hew and cry about what "cool" is and how, in this case, the coolness is in the mind, because, of course, if you are successful in dressing like someone who shops at Walmart, you should look just like them and apparently, they are "uncool". (I'd say perhaps they are, since the employees aren't paid a decent wage and the clothes come from sweat shops (but that's not just Walmart), but then again, it's rough to try to make ends meet, so people have to shop where they can -- for me, it's Value Village all the way!) I don't know what to think about all of this. Some of you have tried to describe to me what a hipster actually is, but I just get an image of someone with "hip hugger" jeans and a thick belt, and maybe long hair hanging in the person's eyes. Or a bunch of people in a smoky basement club reciting poetry in expressionless voices. Then to apply "Walmart" on top of that gives a really great image.
To me, it's cool to have a passion and be committed to it, but obviously it can't be an evil passion (like developing liquified natural gas -- the more I learn about fracking, the more vile it sounds). To be willing to put yourself out there and take a risk. To embrace life and not be afraid to try new things. It doesn't have anything to do with clothing, but then I would never be cool if it did, and let's face it, I'm SUPERCOOL!
We went to Stanley Park yesterday. I had free passes to the aquarium and so we went in. I like a lot of things about the aquarium, but animals in captivity bother me a lot. The little aquariums with all the colourful fish and jellies are beautiful and I appreciate that the aquarium does a lot of good work -- educating people about animals that they probably could never see otherwise and also helping injured and sick marine animals, but I find it upsetting to see the belugas in that small pool and the little penguins just standing there on some rocks looking like prisoners waiting for their yard time (which never actually comes) and the sea turtle swimming back and forth across the glass where in nature he would have the whole ocean. Last year, we went to Monterey and they don't have whales and they are hugely successful. I know they're having a debate about it now in Vancouver. If I had the power, I would say that they should phase out the whales at least. Of course, as a global community, we have to commit ourselves to making the wilderness safe for animals like whales and chimpanzees and lions and elephants and all these iconic animals. That's a lot harder than keeping a few poor "examples" in aquariums and zoos.
Oh, there was a great hew and cry about what "cool" is and how, in this case, the coolness is in the mind, because, of course, if you are successful in dressing like someone who shops at Walmart, you should look just like them and apparently, they are "uncool". (I'd say perhaps they are, since the employees aren't paid a decent wage and the clothes come from sweat shops (but that's not just Walmart), but then again, it's rough to try to make ends meet, so people have to shop where they can -- for me, it's Value Village all the way!) I don't know what to think about all of this. Some of you have tried to describe to me what a hipster actually is, but I just get an image of someone with "hip hugger" jeans and a thick belt, and maybe long hair hanging in the person's eyes. Or a bunch of people in a smoky basement club reciting poetry in expressionless voices. Then to apply "Walmart" on top of that gives a really great image.
To me, it's cool to have a passion and be committed to it, but obviously it can't be an evil passion (like developing liquified natural gas -- the more I learn about fracking, the more vile it sounds). To be willing to put yourself out there and take a risk. To embrace life and not be afraid to try new things. It doesn't have anything to do with clothing, but then I would never be cool if it did, and let's face it, I'm SUPERCOOL!
We went to Stanley Park yesterday. I had free passes to the aquarium and so we went in. I like a lot of things about the aquarium, but animals in captivity bother me a lot. The little aquariums with all the colourful fish and jellies are beautiful and I appreciate that the aquarium does a lot of good work -- educating people about animals that they probably could never see otherwise and also helping injured and sick marine animals, but I find it upsetting to see the belugas in that small pool and the little penguins just standing there on some rocks looking like prisoners waiting for their yard time (which never actually comes) and the sea turtle swimming back and forth across the glass where in nature he would have the whole ocean. Last year, we went to Monterey and they don't have whales and they are hugely successful. I know they're having a debate about it now in Vancouver. If I had the power, I would say that they should phase out the whales at least. Of course, as a global community, we have to commit ourselves to making the wilderness safe for animals like whales and chimpanzees and lions and elephants and all these iconic animals. That's a lot harder than keeping a few poor "examples" in aquariums and zoos.
Monday 28 July 2014
Nothing, like something, happens anywhere. "I Remember, I Remember" by Philip Larkin
When I was doing my masters degree, we were talking about death (one of those topics you always end up with - no irony intended) and what scared me most was the "not being", which Lucretius says shouldn't bother you -- you didn't exist for most of history and you didn't worry about that. But now I know what it's like and I never want it to stop! It's glorious (life, I mean)! The professor, June Sturrock, directed me to Philip Larkin's Aubade (which means "morning song") which expressed exactly what I feel. It's a lovely, terrible poem and does address that terror that he finds somewhat alleviated, but never cured, by the coming of the morning. Take a look at it.
Most things may never happen: this one will,
And realisation of it rages out
In furnace fear when we are caught without
People or drink.
My buddy from Kelowna did some internet searching and found an obituary for an old boyfriend of mine who called me on my thirtieth birthday and whose phone number I lost and so, couldn't phone back. I've always felt guilty about it, because he didn't have a very easy time of it (of course, a lot of his troubles were self-inflicted, but they're hard to bear, no matter how they come) and I certainly didn't intend to be a source of sadness or regret for him. The obituary was very sad -- it was short and didn't say much about what he had done with his forty three years and said he was survived by some siblings and "several friends". I am picturing him now because Myrna sent me a photo of him to go with the obituary. He was a thoughtful, gentle person and I wish I could talk to him once more and tell him about how I wanted to phone him back and tried to find out where he was after my carelessness about losing his number.
Rikki, don't lose that number
It's the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home
(That's a song by Steely Dan)
Most things may never happen: this one will,
And realisation of it rages out
In furnace fear when we are caught without
People or drink.
My buddy from Kelowna did some internet searching and found an obituary for an old boyfriend of mine who called me on my thirtieth birthday and whose phone number I lost and so, couldn't phone back. I've always felt guilty about it, because he didn't have a very easy time of it (of course, a lot of his troubles were self-inflicted, but they're hard to bear, no matter how they come) and I certainly didn't intend to be a source of sadness or regret for him. The obituary was very sad -- it was short and didn't say much about what he had done with his forty three years and said he was survived by some siblings and "several friends". I am picturing him now because Myrna sent me a photo of him to go with the obituary. He was a thoughtful, gentle person and I wish I could talk to him once more and tell him about how I wanted to phone him back and tried to find out where he was after my carelessness about losing his number.
Rikki, don't lose that number
It's the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home
(That's a song by Steely Dan)
Saturday 26 July 2014
With my lighnin’ bolts a glowin’ I can see where I am goin’ to be when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.
I listened to the Arcade Fire song which was on that list. (The title of this post is from the song.) I liked it -- didn't love it. Listen to any of David Francey's songs, especially "Skating Rink" which should be on that list (ahead of "Seasons in the Sun" (yuck!) or anything of Celine Dion's singing {does she write songs?})
Every once in a while something just strikes you, doesn't it? Last night, when the house was very quiet and everyone had gone to bed (even Daisy, my late night companion), I realized that I probably have twenty years left to live! (Hence the quote from Arcade Fire's song.) That's a lot less than I have already lived, and of course, they won't be as agile or frisky as the years I've lived already, since I have developed the aches and pains of late middle age (I'm 57, and nasty people point out that few people live to be 114!) although I will hopefully be increasingly wiser as I go along.
There are a lot of things I would still like to accomplish (they say that's good if you want to keep mentally and intellectually alert). I'd like to get one of the novels I've written published (I've finished two to my relative satisfaction, but have made little effort to see if anyone would be willing to publish either one -- I know you have to be persistent -- I'm persistent in the writing, but not the sending out part -- and I know you can self-publish somehow, but that doesn't satisfy me). I would like to visit China (maybe when I retire, if I ever can). I'd like to walk the West Coast Trail (maybe that's my version of the camino). I'd like to read the entire Remembrance of Things Past (there are so many things to read and so little time).
I'm reading a lot of stuff about the camino, of course, and it is interesting that along the way, you pass a cemetery (well, several) and at the gates of one of the cemeteries it says "you are what I once was, and will be what I am now". That's scary and terrible, I think.
Every once in a while something just strikes you, doesn't it? Last night, when the house was very quiet and everyone had gone to bed (even Daisy, my late night companion), I realized that I probably have twenty years left to live! (Hence the quote from Arcade Fire's song.) That's a lot less than I have already lived, and of course, they won't be as agile or frisky as the years I've lived already, since I have developed the aches and pains of late middle age (I'm 57, and nasty people point out that few people live to be 114!) although I will hopefully be increasingly wiser as I go along.
There are a lot of things I would still like to accomplish (they say that's good if you want to keep mentally and intellectually alert). I'd like to get one of the novels I've written published (I've finished two to my relative satisfaction, but have made little effort to see if anyone would be willing to publish either one -- I know you have to be persistent -- I'm persistent in the writing, but not the sending out part -- and I know you can self-publish somehow, but that doesn't satisfy me). I would like to visit China (maybe when I retire, if I ever can). I'd like to walk the West Coast Trail (maybe that's my version of the camino). I'd like to read the entire Remembrance of Things Past (there are so many things to read and so little time).
I'm reading a lot of stuff about the camino, of course, and it is interesting that along the way, you pass a cemetery (well, several) and at the gates of one of the cemeteries it says "you are what I once was, and will be what I am now". That's scary and terrible, I think.
Thursday 24 July 2014
"If we go to war, we could lose all we've built." (Caesar, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes")
I just saw "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes". Wow! I loved it. We saw "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" last week in Kelowna and that gives the background to this new movie. It is visually eye-popping (the scenes of the derelict San Francisco and the battle scenes and the subway and the tower -- all just stunning), and the performances are terrific (especially the apes!) and there's so much going on. When they show the apes' camp in the redwood forest, it really reminded me of Animal Farm (because Maurice, the orangutan, is teaching the ape children things about ape not killing ape {which, of course, like Animal Farm, foreshadows some of the terrible events that take place later in the movie}) and "Apocalypse Now" because the compound is very reminiscent of Kurtz's compound in Vietnam. One of the surviving humans keeps his sanity by drawing and they show drawings in his sketchbook that underscore what happens in the movie and of course, there is that epic battle between good and evil in both the ape world and the human world -- good and evil in both worlds.
The character of "Koba" is the tragic one. He was a lab chimp in his past and he carries the scars in his psyche and on his body. He can't escape the pain that he has experienced and it manifests itself terribly and he bears the consequences for his actions, but you can't really blame him. It always comes down to us, and our responsibility for the damage we inflict on the natural world.
I'm thinking I'd like to remember more clearly the earlier "Planet of the Apes" movies, but I think they wouldn't hold up technologically to this -- the apes in those old movies really did look like people dressed up and in these new movies (thanks to CGI apparently), the apes look like actual apes. There is one scene between Caesar (the leader of the apes) and his son, Blue Eyes, which was beautifully acted. Blue Eyes can't really speak but his face said everything and Caesar's face is also very expressive. They didn't need to say too much to make you understand what they were feeling and thinking. The essence of great movie acting.
The character of "Koba" is the tragic one. He was a lab chimp in his past and he carries the scars in his psyche and on his body. He can't escape the pain that he has experienced and it manifests itself terribly and he bears the consequences for his actions, but you can't really blame him. It always comes down to us, and our responsibility for the damage we inflict on the natural world.
I'm thinking I'd like to remember more clearly the earlier "Planet of the Apes" movies, but I think they wouldn't hold up technologically to this -- the apes in those old movies really did look like people dressed up and in these new movies (thanks to CGI apparently), the apes look like actual apes. There is one scene between Caesar (the leader of the apes) and his son, Blue Eyes, which was beautifully acted. Blue Eyes can't really speak but his face said everything and Caesar's face is also very expressive. They didn't need to say too much to make you understand what they were feeling and thinking. The essence of great movie acting.
Wednesday 23 July 2014
The Way
Some of you know I'm working on a play about the pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, which is a walk from a variety of points in France or Spain (it seems like you can choose where you start to a certain extent) to the shrine of St. James in the Cathedral in Santiago, Spain. You don't have to walk, you can cycle and of course, there are no real rules, because you do it on your own hook, but you follow a basic route and get stamps along the way (like these events for kids where, if they visit certain places they get a stamp in a book! Maybe that's where they got the idea!) and you push yourself physically and spiritually along the way and hopefully have an epiphany that teaches you something about yourself and your place in the world and the meaning of life.
I saw a movie yesterday called "The Way" which is about a middle-aged man (Martin Sheen) who embarks on the pilgrimage after his son (played by his real life son, Emilio Estevez) dies while trying to do the pilgrimage himself. Emilio Estevez wrote and directed it and it wasn't a great movie -- it had lots of cliches, like the people he befriends along the way are representative types and the things that happen to them are things you are expecting long before they happen -- the loss of the backpack, the revelations of the various characters, the burgeoning friendships, everyone's personal epiphany, but it kept me watching, because it was beautifully filmed and I liked the music and it was sort of experiential, in that I feel like I know more about the camino now than I did. I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to see Martin Sheen in a movie, see "Apocalypse Now", which is also about a pilgrimage (a very different one) and is a stupendous performance and a magnificent movie. If you want to see Emilio Estevez in a movie, see "The Breakfast Club" which is not magnificent, but is entertaining. It uses stock characters, too, but the actors are really good, I think, and there's a lot of energy there that keeps things going.
Did I say I have been cast in a play called "Momma Don't Fly"? I am playing Momma! It is also about a pilgrimage, of sorts. Momma and her daughter and daughter-in-law-to-be embark on a cross-the-USA trip to California to Momma's son's wedding. It is a farcical comedy and Momma has another southern accent so I anticipate that it will be lots of fun to rehearse and perform. Those days when I felt depressed about being in comedies because I WASN'T FUNNY are gone now. I think, in my own opinion, that I'm much more likely to take risks now that I'm older and that is the fun of comedy (or one of them).
I saw a movie yesterday called "The Way" which is about a middle-aged man (Martin Sheen) who embarks on the pilgrimage after his son (played by his real life son, Emilio Estevez) dies while trying to do the pilgrimage himself. Emilio Estevez wrote and directed it and it wasn't a great movie -- it had lots of cliches, like the people he befriends along the way are representative types and the things that happen to them are things you are expecting long before they happen -- the loss of the backpack, the revelations of the various characters, the burgeoning friendships, everyone's personal epiphany, but it kept me watching, because it was beautifully filmed and I liked the music and it was sort of experiential, in that I feel like I know more about the camino now than I did. I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to see Martin Sheen in a movie, see "Apocalypse Now", which is also about a pilgrimage (a very different one) and is a stupendous performance and a magnificent movie. If you want to see Emilio Estevez in a movie, see "The Breakfast Club" which is not magnificent, but is entertaining. It uses stock characters, too, but the actors are really good, I think, and there's a lot of energy there that keeps things going.
Did I say I have been cast in a play called "Momma Don't Fly"? I am playing Momma! It is also about a pilgrimage, of sorts. Momma and her daughter and daughter-in-law-to-be embark on a cross-the-USA trip to California to Momma's son's wedding. It is a farcical comedy and Momma has another southern accent so I anticipate that it will be lots of fun to rehearse and perform. Those days when I felt depressed about being in comedies because I WASN'T FUNNY are gone now. I think, in my own opinion, that I'm much more likely to take risks now that I'm older and that is the fun of comedy (or one of them).
Tuesday 22 July 2014
Both Sides Now
Well, something's lost but something's gained,
In living every day.
"Both Sides Now" - Joni Mitchell
The CBC did one of those polls to choose the best Canadian song and the results are out. I guess the list is a bit skewed because most CBC listeners are older, but the top five are good songs (although I'd be hard pressed to say they're "the best". Tom Petty said, in an interview with Jian Gomeshi the other day, that it is ridiculous to compare pieces of art -- how is one better than another?) This is what made the top five. If you haven't heard these songs, give them a listen. If they're not "the best", they're iconic and express something essential about being Canadian.
#1. Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
#2. Helpless - Neil Young (I believe I tried to sing this in class last semester. Neil Young and I have comparable voices!)
#3. Wheat Kings - The Tragically Hip
#4. The Weight - The Band
#5. Wake Up - Arcade Fire
I'm not familiar with the music of Arcade Fire. Of course, I've heard of them, but I haven't really listened to them. That's why these lists can be good, because they can encourage you to discover artists that you haven't paid attention to before.
I think there are a couple of oversights, but I didn't look at the whole list, so I imagine that these songs are further down, because they could not have been left off. Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is an epic song that I think really expresses the origins of Canada and how those origins help create the Canadian identity. The same can be said for Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage". (I have looked at the whole list now and they WERE. Stan Rogers and Gordo have songs on the list but not these songs. Unbelievable!) (I'm reading The Last Place on Earth by Roland Huntsford about the race to be 1st to the South Pole. The Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, learned a lot about dealing with killing cold and remote treks through snowy conditions from an earlier venture to sail through the Northwest Passage, which he did.)
There's another list on the CBC site of "essential Canadian books" which is interesting to look at, but also doesn't include some of my favourites (like Anne of Green Gables, Lives of Girls and Women, all of Margaret Laurence's books, just to name a few, but then these are classics, I guess and the list I saw seemed like it was listing books you might not have read and encouraging you to try them over the summer). I guess the idea of these lists is to get people talking and it works in that respect.
I'm off to listen to Arcade Fire!
In living every day.
"Both Sides Now" - Joni Mitchell
The CBC did one of those polls to choose the best Canadian song and the results are out. I guess the list is a bit skewed because most CBC listeners are older, but the top five are good songs (although I'd be hard pressed to say they're "the best". Tom Petty said, in an interview with Jian Gomeshi the other day, that it is ridiculous to compare pieces of art -- how is one better than another?) This is what made the top five. If you haven't heard these songs, give them a listen. If they're not "the best", they're iconic and express something essential about being Canadian.
#1. Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
#2. Helpless - Neil Young (I believe I tried to sing this in class last semester. Neil Young and I have comparable voices!)
#3. Wheat Kings - The Tragically Hip
#4. The Weight - The Band
#5. Wake Up - Arcade Fire
I'm not familiar with the music of Arcade Fire. Of course, I've heard of them, but I haven't really listened to them. That's why these lists can be good, because they can encourage you to discover artists that you haven't paid attention to before.
I think there are a couple of oversights, but I didn't look at the whole list, so I imagine that these songs are further down, because they could not have been left off. Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is an epic song that I think really expresses the origins of Canada and how those origins help create the Canadian identity. The same can be said for Stan Rogers' "Northwest Passage". (I have looked at the whole list now and they WERE. Stan Rogers and Gordo have songs on the list but not these songs. Unbelievable!) (I'm reading The Last Place on Earth by Roland Huntsford about the race to be 1st to the South Pole. The Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, learned a lot about dealing with killing cold and remote treks through snowy conditions from an earlier venture to sail through the Northwest Passage, which he did.)
There's another list on the CBC site of "essential Canadian books" which is interesting to look at, but also doesn't include some of my favourites (like Anne of Green Gables, Lives of Girls and Women, all of Margaret Laurence's books, just to name a few, but then these are classics, I guess and the list I saw seemed like it was listing books you might not have read and encouraging you to try them over the summer). I guess the idea of these lists is to get people talking and it works in that respect.
I'm off to listen to Arcade Fire!
Monday 21 July 2014
And now for something completely different . . .
The surviving members of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" performed their final show together last night in England. (Graham Chapman died in 1989. Look him up in Wikipedia -- John Cleese gave him the best eulogy ever!) I grew up on "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and my first performance of note (my English teacher said that "some of us had real talent" {that left him with an out -- was it me or someone else?}) was a knock off sketch with the character of "Timmy Williams" played by me! They were an extraordinarily funny group -- of course, we all know the "dead parrot" sketch and the "ministry of funny walks" and the "complaint department" and the "world class twit contest" and the "summarize Proust competition" and so many more great sketches. Some of you have performed "The Top of the Form Sketch" from In Character (and for those of you who missed doing it, I'm sorry, because it's a killer). If you haven't seen any of these sketches, look them up. They are belly laugh inducing and wonderfully inventive.
One of the funniest movies of all time is "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and as I recall "The Life of Brian" is also a laugh riot (although I haven't seen it for years). All the Pythons are in their 70's and I guess it is hard to mount a show and perform every night (well, I know it is) so I understand the desire to hang up the fancy dress and the lumberjack suit. The glory of nowadays is that you don't need them to keep performing because you can probably access most of their great material on Youtube.
We spent a few days with my buddy in Kelowna. We actually saw flaming forest fires on the way there. The fires were what seemed like inches away from people's houses. What would that be like? We had a super time swimming and talking (that would be Myrna and me) and go-carting and driving around in all Kevin's fancy automobiles (that would be the fellas). Myrna is in this book club and they are reading a very complicated, dense and meandering book (called Infinite Jest -- I would say I was fairly well read and know quite a bit about books, but I had never heard of it, even though it is apparently some sort of big "cult" read). She has taken on the reading of the book as a bit of a project, but she's not really enjoying it much and is afraid to comment on it for fear the other people think her comments are stupid. I got a great idea for a story that I should write (but it's got to sit in my head for a while because I think it would be complicated itself) about this kind of Machiavelian woman who puts together this book club to read this complicated postmodern tome and gets the people to meet in a hipster bar (this part has actually happened) and the people are all really varied and you could include their posts about the book and the woman's initial invitation and you could even include parts of the so-called book itself! Maybe this will be my life's work, if the government continues the lockout past the summer. (I hope that doesn't happen.)
One of the funniest movies of all time is "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and as I recall "The Life of Brian" is also a laugh riot (although I haven't seen it for years). All the Pythons are in their 70's and I guess it is hard to mount a show and perform every night (well, I know it is) so I understand the desire to hang up the fancy dress and the lumberjack suit. The glory of nowadays is that you don't need them to keep performing because you can probably access most of their great material on Youtube.
We spent a few days with my buddy in Kelowna. We actually saw flaming forest fires on the way there. The fires were what seemed like inches away from people's houses. What would that be like? We had a super time swimming and talking (that would be Myrna and me) and go-carting and driving around in all Kevin's fancy automobiles (that would be the fellas). Myrna is in this book club and they are reading a very complicated, dense and meandering book (called Infinite Jest -- I would say I was fairly well read and know quite a bit about books, but I had never heard of it, even though it is apparently some sort of big "cult" read). She has taken on the reading of the book as a bit of a project, but she's not really enjoying it much and is afraid to comment on it for fear the other people think her comments are stupid. I got a great idea for a story that I should write (but it's got to sit in my head for a while because I think it would be complicated itself) about this kind of Machiavelian woman who puts together this book club to read this complicated postmodern tome and gets the people to meet in a hipster bar (this part has actually happened) and the people are all really varied and you could include their posts about the book and the woman's initial invitation and you could even include parts of the so-called book itself! Maybe this will be my life's work, if the government continues the lockout past the summer. (I hope that doesn't happen.)
Wednesday 16 July 2014
"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet. "Even longer," Pooh answered.
We are going to Kelowna tomorrow, to stay with my friend, Myrna, and her family for a couple of days. Myrna and I have been friends for over fifty years. Most people think they will stay friends with people forever, but that doesn't happen very often. It is quite an extraordinary thing and a great comfort at this time in your life. Myrna is one of the only people I know who remembers my parents and remembers me through all the stages of my life.
When we were babies, our mothers were friends and introduced us at a playdate. When we were just starting school, we were there for each other -- at the "Grade One party" when I was crying (didn't like social events, even then), the teacher said, "you know Myrna. Do you want to sit with Myrna?" and I did. Then on the first day of school, I heard hysterical crying from way across the playground. It was Myrna and her mom. Mrs. Patrick dragged Myrna up to me and said, "Myrna doesn't want to start school today, Jeanie. Can she go in with you?" and she did. Of course, it hasn't all been sweetness and light. When I first got glasses and showed up at school wearing them, Myrna ran up to me and said, "you got glasses!" Yeah. "You look so UGLY in glasses!" she said.
We've had our ups and downs over the years, but when push comes to shove, we're a constant in the other person's life. I organized Myrna's second (and successful) wedding, she helped organize my mom's funeral. Last year, she came out to see "Woman in Mind" -- very sweet of her. Myrna has a real talent for keeping in touch with people -- she knows where everyone is from our graduating class (almost -- there are a few mysteries I'd like solved, but even social media doesn't seem to help there).
When we were babies, our mothers were friends and introduced us at a playdate. When we were just starting school, we were there for each other -- at the "Grade One party" when I was crying (didn't like social events, even then), the teacher said, "you know Myrna. Do you want to sit with Myrna?" and I did. Then on the first day of school, I heard hysterical crying from way across the playground. It was Myrna and her mom. Mrs. Patrick dragged Myrna up to me and said, "Myrna doesn't want to start school today, Jeanie. Can she go in with you?" and she did. Of course, it hasn't all been sweetness and light. When I first got glasses and showed up at school wearing them, Myrna ran up to me and said, "you got glasses!" Yeah. "You look so UGLY in glasses!" she said.
We've had our ups and downs over the years, but when push comes to shove, we're a constant in the other person's life. I organized Myrna's second (and successful) wedding, she helped organize my mom's funeral. Last year, she came out to see "Woman in Mind" -- very sweet of her. Myrna has a real talent for keeping in touch with people -- she knows where everyone is from our graduating class (almost -- there are a few mysteries I'd like solved, but even social media doesn't seem to help there).
Monday 14 July 2014
I've always had to depend on the kindness of strangers
That's a line from "A Streetcar Named Desire" which is a wonderful play by Tennessee Williams which you must see if you ever get the chance and even if you don't get a chance to see the play, be sure to see the movie with Marlon Brando (yes, the GREAT actor) and Vivien Leigh (who is great and I won't say "as well" because she's just great, not in addition to anyone else, but all on her own). Blanche (played by Vivien Leigh) says that line after having a nervous breakdown after going through all sorts of terrible cruel things perpetrated upon her by people she knows. It is one of those iconic lines from great movies that people often quote and it's one of those lines my sister and I say a lot. I had to depend on a kind stranger this morning when I dropped my keys into the bear-proof bin at the park. Daisy and I were there before 7 for our walk and usually I put my keys in my pocket, but I didn't have a pocket and was throwing away her poop bag and fumbling with the lid and didn't my keys fall out of my hand and then deep down in the bin! It is bear proof but also human-proof and I couldn't reach them although I could see them down at the bottom of the bin. Without my keys, I couldn't get back into my house (everyone else was sleeping) or drive myself to picket in Richmond. So I saw a guy sitting in his truck, smoking and looking out at the water, and I went over and asked if he had a coat hanger and explained my plight. Coincidentally, he had lost something in a different garbage bin at the park. He had put some money into an empty cigarette package (which doesn't seem like a great idea, but I don't smoke so I don't really know what one usually does with an empty pack) and his friend had inadvertently thrown it out. So he was waiting for the people from the city to come and open the bin. He found a coat hanger in his truck and he used it to hook my keys and pull them out for me. So thanks so much to that kind stranger.
Later I was picketing in front of the school board office and we were handing out leaflets and a nicely dressed lady with very well coiffed hair walked by and one of the other teachers said, "may I give you some information about our dispute?" and the lady shook her head gruffly and muttered, as she walked away, "shame on you" which I thought was UNkind. If she had an imagination, she would realize that it is not a picnic to stand outside of your employers' office handing out leaflets, especially after such a long time on the picket line. Walk a mile in the other person's shoes before you try to shame them and make them feel badly. That's the beauty of theatre -- it gives us that chance.
Later I was picketing in front of the school board office and we were handing out leaflets and a nicely dressed lady with very well coiffed hair walked by and one of the other teachers said, "may I give you some information about our dispute?" and the lady shook her head gruffly and muttered, as she walked away, "shame on you" which I thought was UNkind. If she had an imagination, she would realize that it is not a picnic to stand outside of your employers' office handing out leaflets, especially after such a long time on the picket line. Walk a mile in the other person's shoes before you try to shame them and make them feel badly. That's the beauty of theatre -- it gives us that chance.
Sunday 13 July 2014
Everyone's a winner!
The World Cup is over and Germany has won. I believe that they were the best team although I'll confess that I was cheering for Argentina (after my second choice, the Brazilians, went down to defeat, I decided not to announce the team I was cheering for, as I appear to be a bit of a jinx). My sister and brother-in-law love Lionel Messi and think he's a great ambassador for the sport because he doesn't do those dramatic dives in order to convince the referee that he has been fouled (like Arjen Robben of the Netherlands . . . just saying . . .) I read a little article about Miroslav Klose (who plays for Germany and has overtaken Ronaldo's previous record for most goals scored in World Cup play). He is a great ambassador as well -- he refused to take a free kick when he felt the referee had penalized the opposing player incorrectly and on another occasion, admitted to having scored with his hand not his foot -- he has been given an award for fair play for this sort of behavior).
As with many of these big sporting events, the cost to put it on is really disgusting and especially in a country like Brazil, which has so many people living in desperate poverty, it is unconscionable. I think they really must come up with some other, more reasonable and economical way to stage these huge sporting events. I think the Olympics should always be held in Greece (for the summer and maybe somewhere like Lillehammer in the winter) and the competing nations should pay into a fund that supports the venues and pays for all the other expenses like security. I guess the FIFA World Cup could do the same. Apparently one of the stadiums built for this World Cup is in the middle of the jungle and is virtually inaccessible and will probably never be used again. What a waste. Think of all the hungry children that could be fed and all the homeless people in the streets of Rio de Janeiro who could be housed with the money they spent on that one stadium.
But that being said, I certainly have enjoyed watching the football and will miss it dreadfully now that it's over. I always say, after the World Cup, that I should watch more soccer, but I never do. I guess the stakes aren't high enough in regular league play.
The impasse continues as far as the government and teachers go. It is very horrible to be caught in this stalemate with no ongoing attempts even to make progress. Apparently in the last-ditch talks at the end of the school year, the government refused to engage with the mediator until teachers accepted a number of conditions which involved us giving up all the things we've been trying to negotiate. Several of us will be picketing the school board tomorrow from 9 to 11:30 if you want to pop by and honk your horn (if you're driving) or give us a thumbs up, if you're strolling by.
Hope everyone's enjoying the lovely summer weather. Daisy and I walk down to the water early every morning before it gets really hot and then we come home and she lies in the sun out in the backyard until she is well and truly baked and then and only then does she seek out a shady spot under the trees!
As with many of these big sporting events, the cost to put it on is really disgusting and especially in a country like Brazil, which has so many people living in desperate poverty, it is unconscionable. I think they really must come up with some other, more reasonable and economical way to stage these huge sporting events. I think the Olympics should always be held in Greece (for the summer and maybe somewhere like Lillehammer in the winter) and the competing nations should pay into a fund that supports the venues and pays for all the other expenses like security. I guess the FIFA World Cup could do the same. Apparently one of the stadiums built for this World Cup is in the middle of the jungle and is virtually inaccessible and will probably never be used again. What a waste. Think of all the hungry children that could be fed and all the homeless people in the streets of Rio de Janeiro who could be housed with the money they spent on that one stadium.
But that being said, I certainly have enjoyed watching the football and will miss it dreadfully now that it's over. I always say, after the World Cup, that I should watch more soccer, but I never do. I guess the stakes aren't high enough in regular league play.
The impasse continues as far as the government and teachers go. It is very horrible to be caught in this stalemate with no ongoing attempts even to make progress. Apparently in the last-ditch talks at the end of the school year, the government refused to engage with the mediator until teachers accepted a number of conditions which involved us giving up all the things we've been trying to negotiate. Several of us will be picketing the school board tomorrow from 9 to 11:30 if you want to pop by and honk your horn (if you're driving) or give us a thumbs up, if you're strolling by.
Hope everyone's enjoying the lovely summer weather. Daisy and I walk down to the water early every morning before it gets really hot and then we come home and she lies in the sun out in the backyard until she is well and truly baked and then and only then does she seek out a shady spot under the trees!
Tuesday 8 July 2014
Type A vs. Type B
Okay, I looked up Type A personalities (and also found Type B in the Wikipedia article -- I know we trash Wikipedia, but in this sort of respect, I think it gives me what I want, which is a short pithy description of something that flitted through my brain and has flitted through a couple of times since then). Here is Wikipedia's take on what a Type A personality is:
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In his 1996 book, Type A Behavior: Its Diagnosis and Treatment, Friedman suggests that Type A behavior is expressed in three major symptoms: free-floating hostility, which can be triggered by even minor incidents; time urgency and impatience, which causes irritation and exasperation usually described as being "short-fused"; and a competitive drive, which causes stress and an achievement-driven mentality. The first of these symptoms is believed to be covert and therefore less observable, while the other two are more overt. [5]
********************************
As is often the case with personality labels like this, some of the things apply to me and some don't. I do multi-task, of course (although scientists dispute whether it is actually possible to multi-task -- they suggest that if you think you're multi-tasking, you're probably neglecting one of the tasks to the benefit of the other), I'd say I am organized (hence the list-making) but not rigid and I am not "highly status-conscious" and I actually embrace ambivalence. I'm not a relativist, but I do think there are a lot of grey areas, especially in the arts. And of course, we all agree I have the patience of a SAINT. I guess I am much more a Type B than a Type A, but the list-making certainly fits the A, as I said last time.
I have continued to make lists, which resulted in me making two phone calls, and if you know me, you know how I HATE to make phone calls, so the list making has been a good thing. I continue to search for a job, with no success at all, to this point. It is a bit discouraging, but then my years as an actor have prepared me for rejection -- I'm just out of practice after 20 glorious years of teaching!
We went to a wedding on the weekend. Remember that Mike's best friend, Colin, died last September of colon cancer? It was his son's wedding. It was a really lovely event and reflected the married couple's personalities beautifully. They got married outside in a lovely grove of trees near the water and then we went into the hall for the reception and were offered ice cream bars when we first arrived and then a lovely meal and dancing and a photo booth (!) and for the midnight snack, they had McDonalds deliver cheeseburgers and McChicken burgers! Colin knew about the engagement before he died and his wife read a letter he had written which he wanted to have read at the reception. It was a dear sweet letter in which Colin shared his thoughts about marriage and it really felt as if he was there with us, which was what all of us wished. You can imagine, there wasn't a dry eye in the house after the letter was read. The bride and groom did just what Colin would have wanted -- they thought about him and missed him, but they seemed to have a terrific time at their wedding (you'd be surprised how many people don't -- it can be so stressful and exhausting) and we all wish them the very best for a long happy life together.
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Type A
The theory A individual as ambitious, rigidly organized, highly status-conscious, sensitive, impatient, take on more than they can handle, want other people to get to the point, anxious, proactive, and concerned with time management. People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving "workaholics" who multi-task, push themselves with deadlines, and hate both delays and ambivalence.[4]In his 1996 book, Type A Behavior: Its Diagnosis and Treatment, Friedman suggests that Type A behavior is expressed in three major symptoms: free-floating hostility, which can be triggered by even minor incidents; time urgency and impatience, which causes irritation and exasperation usually described as being "short-fused"; and a competitive drive, which causes stress and an achievement-driven mentality. The first of these symptoms is believed to be covert and therefore less observable, while the other two are more overt. [5]
Type B
The theory describes "Type B" individuals as a contrast to those with Type A personalities. People with Type B personality by definition generally live at a lower stress level and typically work steadily, enjoying achievement but not becoming stressed when they do not achieve. When faced with competition, they do not lose their minds and either enjoy the game or back down. They may be creative and enjoy exploring ideas and concepts. They are often reflective, thinking about the outer and inner worlds.********************************
As is often the case with personality labels like this, some of the things apply to me and some don't. I do multi-task, of course (although scientists dispute whether it is actually possible to multi-task -- they suggest that if you think you're multi-tasking, you're probably neglecting one of the tasks to the benefit of the other), I'd say I am organized (hence the list-making) but not rigid and I am not "highly status-conscious" and I actually embrace ambivalence. I'm not a relativist, but I do think there are a lot of grey areas, especially in the arts. And of course, we all agree I have the patience of a SAINT. I guess I am much more a Type B than a Type A, but the list-making certainly fits the A, as I said last time.
I have continued to make lists, which resulted in me making two phone calls, and if you know me, you know how I HATE to make phone calls, so the list making has been a good thing. I continue to search for a job, with no success at all, to this point. It is a bit discouraging, but then my years as an actor have prepared me for rejection -- I'm just out of practice after 20 glorious years of teaching!
We went to a wedding on the weekend. Remember that Mike's best friend, Colin, died last September of colon cancer? It was his son's wedding. It was a really lovely event and reflected the married couple's personalities beautifully. They got married outside in a lovely grove of trees near the water and then we went into the hall for the reception and were offered ice cream bars when we first arrived and then a lovely meal and dancing and a photo booth (!) and for the midnight snack, they had McDonalds deliver cheeseburgers and McChicken burgers! Colin knew about the engagement before he died and his wife read a letter he had written which he wanted to have read at the reception. It was a dear sweet letter in which Colin shared his thoughts about marriage and it really felt as if he was there with us, which was what all of us wished. You can imagine, there wasn't a dry eye in the house after the letter was read. The bride and groom did just what Colin would have wanted -- they thought about him and missed him, but they seemed to have a terrific time at their wedding (you'd be surprised how many people don't -- it can be so stressful and exhausting) and we all wish them the very best for a long happy life together.
Thursday 3 July 2014
A rose is a rose is a rose.
Summer is well and truly here. It doesn't feel like summer yet for me -- I guess we really didn't get closure at the end of the year. For grade 10's and 11's, I want to let you know that when your report cards come sometime in mid-July, the marks might not reflect what you are expecting. We were ordered by the Labour Relations Board to "review" grade 10 and 11 marks, but the instructions after that were vague. For my part, I did not feel that I could verify the marks that admin had given me, since all my paperwork was in the school. Lots of other teachers felt the same and we were unsure about how to proceed. And still are! This is, as I said in class, uncharted territory for everyone.
I have been putting out tentative feelers to see if there are any jobs out there for experienced (read: old) drama teachers! The last time I looked for work, you looked in the want ads in the newspaper but that doesn't seem like a very good option nowadays. I know that "networking" is worthwhile, but I'm not very good at that stuff -- it takes me years to work up the courage to ask people for help or advice. My neighbour teaches art and yoga and all sorts of things at our community centre and she said, if there is no summer school, they might be looking to add programs to fill the needs of parents and kids around here. I'm wondering if my experience with high school students could translate into teaching really small kids. My theory is that a kid is a kid is a kid (look up Gertrude Stein) and so it should be okay. Now all I have to do is convince the people who do the hiring!
What are your plans over the summer? For some of you, it will be your last summer of relative freedom. When I have unstructured time ahead of me (I think this is a type-A personality trait, but I don't think I'm a type-A person -- I'll have to look it up), I like to make a "to do" list. I put something on it that I have to do (walk Daisy), something I like to do (read "Twelfth Night", which I hope we'll do next fall), something I should do (apply for a job), and something I really don't want to do (phone Will's piano teacher -- I'm phone-phobic and would much rather email, but she doesn't use email -- who doesn't use email anymore?) Once it's on the list, I feel compelled to do it and I get such a feeling of satisfaction to cross it off the list. The thing is -- you can't lose the list -- otherwise, you lose all motivation!
I have been putting out tentative feelers to see if there are any jobs out there for experienced (read: old) drama teachers! The last time I looked for work, you looked in the want ads in the newspaper but that doesn't seem like a very good option nowadays. I know that "networking" is worthwhile, but I'm not very good at that stuff -- it takes me years to work up the courage to ask people for help or advice. My neighbour teaches art and yoga and all sorts of things at our community centre and she said, if there is no summer school, they might be looking to add programs to fill the needs of parents and kids around here. I'm wondering if my experience with high school students could translate into teaching really small kids. My theory is that a kid is a kid is a kid (look up Gertrude Stein) and so it should be okay. Now all I have to do is convince the people who do the hiring!
What are your plans over the summer? For some of you, it will be your last summer of relative freedom. When I have unstructured time ahead of me (I think this is a type-A personality trait, but I don't think I'm a type-A person -- I'll have to look it up), I like to make a "to do" list. I put something on it that I have to do (walk Daisy), something I like to do (read "Twelfth Night", which I hope we'll do next fall), something I should do (apply for a job), and something I really don't want to do (phone Will's piano teacher -- I'm phone-phobic and would much rather email, but she doesn't use email -- who doesn't use email anymore?) Once it's on the list, I feel compelled to do it and I get such a feeling of satisfaction to cross it off the list. The thing is -- you can't lose the list -- otherwise, you lose all motivation!
Tuesday 1 July 2014
We stand on guard for thee!
Happy Canada Day! We've got a lovely day weather-wise ahead of us. The birds are singing and there is a nice breeze blowing. Our little Canadian family is going to go down to Rocky Point Park and sing "O Canada!" and have a piece of cake to celebrate Canada's birthday. They are having a "mayor for a minute" booth, where you can say what you would do if you could run Port Moody (for a minute!) I've been thinking about what I would do. One thing that bugs me about Port Moody (although I really love Port Moody, there are still things that bug me about it) is that the city council has decided to call it "the City of the Arts" but I don't see why it is more artsy than anywhere else. I guess if I could be the mayor, I'd put my money where my mouth is and implement policies that would really put the arts first. And with my bias, I would have a little theatre built that could be used by local groups for very little money. A theatre with a scene shop, costume storage and rehearsal space. Stage 43 (where I sometimes perform) is always struggling to pay for rehearsal space and storage. The older I get the more convinced I am of the efficacy of the arts. Years ago, a couple of kids at Steveston-London made a video about how we can prevent war. They asked a bunch of teachers what we thought. It is hard to think of a good answer, because I'm not sure it is in our power -- we seem to have a propensity for fighting. But Mr. Akselrod had a great answer. He said, "make art".
Whatever you decide to do today, think about how lucky you are to be here in Canada. I think it is mostly luck that makes this such a good place. We don't have a huge population, so we have managed to hold on to some of the natural environment and not destroy our air and water and soil. We are relatively free and live in a peaceful and fairly tolerant society. Thanks to great Canadians like Tommy Douglas, we have been able to hold on to a sense of communal responsibility which gives us great institutions like medicare and public education. We must make sure that we value and preserve these institutions that make our country one of the safest and most liveable in the world.
Make sure you put on some sun screen if you go out in the sun today (and every day). Yesterday we were in Richmond for the Ship to Shore festival (which was great fun -- we got to go on a bunch of different boats and explore them) and I got a bad sunburn on my shoulders. You'd think I would have learned that lesson in my long life.
Whatever you decide to do today, think about how lucky you are to be here in Canada. I think it is mostly luck that makes this such a good place. We don't have a huge population, so we have managed to hold on to some of the natural environment and not destroy our air and water and soil. We are relatively free and live in a peaceful and fairly tolerant society. Thanks to great Canadians like Tommy Douglas, we have been able to hold on to a sense of communal responsibility which gives us great institutions like medicare and public education. We must make sure that we value and preserve these institutions that make our country one of the safest and most liveable in the world.
Make sure you put on some sun screen if you go out in the sun today (and every day). Yesterday we were in Richmond for the Ship to Shore festival (which was great fun -- we got to go on a bunch of different boats and explore them) and I got a bad sunburn on my shoulders. You'd think I would have learned that lesson in my long life.
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