Just thought I'd pop by the Internet Cafe on my way from the beach to my massage … 🙂
This morning = Canopy Zip Line Tour … amazing! There is a video if you follow this link that should give you a sense of what it is all about. Extra special bonus por moi … three months ago, I would not have been able to do this as I exceeded the weight limit.
Yesterday, we met up with my next door neighbours, B & C, and wandered around Viejo Vallarta, which was a trip. C calls Mexico functional chaos with beauty and I'd agree with that. Chaos with a sense of humour, I'd add. No one takes much very seriously here and I really need a dose of that in my life. On the other hand, the "not taking things seriously" includes a complete absence of awareness of road safety, no helmets while on ATVs and motor bikes, no guard rails, an enthusiasm for tequila …
Speaking of which … knock on wood … no food issues. Everything has been totally yummy and benign. Either that, or the tequila chasers are adding the appropriate amount of disinfectant to my system. Today, while S and I were out doing the Tarzan thing, J entertained herself wandering around the village and came upon a fish store that was just loading in the catch from the morning. S and I returned to a meal of freshly caught (and unbelievably cheap) red snapper and shrimp. Heaven!
The Christmas Eve seven hour trip that I mentioned before was the Sierre Madre Adventure and it was outstanding. We stopped at various spots about every 40 minutes, including a "farm" half way up the mountain. We had a short tour of the fruit trees and a termite colony before being treated to a snack provided by our hosts – homemade tortillas that we watched being made along with fresh homemade fillings for soft tacos – guacamole, salsa, beans, etc. It was the most delicious food I've had on this trip. I'd recommend anything that Vallarta Adventures does – the guides are great fun and very skilled and knowledgable, not to mention patient.
Note to wizzy: Your copy of On Beauty is safe and almost read. I'm warming it up for you. It might have a bit of sand between the pages when you get it back, tho …
OK … massage time … hasta la vista !
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Greetings from salt-encrusted, wind-burnt Venus, from beautiful downtown Bucerias, a fishing town just north of Puerto Vallarta! After the boat ride we took this a.m. out to the Marieta Islands, I even have salt in my ears!
Peak experience … Christmas Eve … barrelling down the "highway" (a paved road with double yellow lines that NO ONE pays attention to even on curves and hills) in the back of a glorified pick-up truck with other "adventurers", slugging back the local tequila and singing Christmas Carols at the top of our lungs. You haven't heard "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" until you have heard it at 60 miles an hour in the tropics …
Life is good … I hope everyone's holiday has been as jolly as mine!
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So I'm sitting here on a Friday night listening to Anne Murray. Not my usual Friday night pursuit.
This is one area in which I am decidedly against type. Here I am, a healthy, middle-aged, silver-haired (!) Canadian dyke and yet I cannot claim to have "always been an Anne Murray fan". This is not to say that Anne has not been on my radar. I think one of my first purchases with my allowance was the 45* of "Cotton Jenny" – the words to which, I discover tonight, I still remember. I also remember the harmony part which I can now sing along with Olivia Neutron Bomb Newton John on Anne's new Duets CD.
So there – I admit it. I bought Anne Murray's new Duets CD. And … I'm listening to it. More than once.
I have other Anne Murray memories. I remember buying an Anne Murray album in high school, the one that had "You Needed Me" on it. The song was a huge mega-hit … but it quickly became a song that I hated.
I cried a tear, you wiped it dry
I was confused, you cleared my mind
I sold my soul, you bought it back for me
And held me up, and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me
… what kind of rescue fantasy, co-dependent crap is that? Even at 16, I knew my gag reflex from my elbow.
So why am I listening to this album? More than once …?
Well, first of all, Anne has a very listenable voice, like a rich Riesling you want to roll around on your tongue for a few minutes before swallowing. Like that first moment you put on your favourite sweater in December and you snuggle in. The production values on this CD are particularly high, meaning, for me, simplicity. Not a lot of over effects, although why Shania (or Shania's handlers) thought she needed that Cher diddly thing on her voice in the aforementioned cut of "You Needed Me", I'll never know. Although everyone is doing it now, even the Dixie Chicks on their last album.
There are some outstanding cuts on this album … the song "Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye" (sung with Jann Arden) is a knock-out. Sadly, Amy Grant's voice just isn't up to snuff on "Could I Have This Dance", a song with a particularly personal meaning for me that I won't get into, this being a family blog 'n' all. The Indigo Girls appear on "A Little Good News" … an appearance rich in all kinds of irony for some of us. I can think of some "good news" some of us would like to hear from Anne someday. Come on, hun, if Jodie can do it … just take a deep breath … the water is fine.
But I digress … back to the album … This is the kind of album that taught me how to play guitar. Simple chord progressions that let me construct little leads, little riffs between lines and verses. I've had a bit of fun with that tonight.
One wonders if it was really necessary to put Celine Dion on this album or, indeed, on any album. Ever. Someone get that girl a sandwich. Although I like Nelly Furtado doing her own stuff, the combo with Anne is *not* something I'd recommend repeating or pursuing in any way.
Nonetheless, perhaps you sense I'm not really getting to the meat of it.
OK.
In the early part of 2004, I met a woman. Can I say we dated? No, not exactly. We did connect, quickly and, er, fervently. (It is still a family blog, so I am going to leave it there.) On a rather spur-of-the-moment decision, I wound up traipsing to the UK and then Spain to tag along on a trip she had been planning for some time. It was a fabulous adventure. It was also painful … but now, in memory, the pain has become a powerful teacher.
This woman was (actually, no doubt, IS) the biggest damn "hot-for-Anne-Murray" Anne Murray fan I've ever ever met. Fervent, evangelical and would brook no critical discussion or debate on the various merits of this or that song. And, as a result, it is well nigh impossible for me to hear AM's voice without seeing this woman's happy face before me. In my mind's eye anyway … we had parted ways by the end of September that year.
This is a chapter in my life filled with "what ifs …" Might have been … could have been … but was not. I'll always have Anne (and, I hope, a decent Riesling) to bring me back to this episode … mostly fondly. Thanks a bunch, Anne. 🙂
Here are the lyrics to a song I'd not heard before this album, the one Anne sings with Jann Arden … not only relevant to this little story … but simply well worth a listen if you have an opportunity.
Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye
Railroad station, midnight trains
Lonely airports in the rain
And somebody stands there with tears in their eyes
It's the same old scene, time after time
That's the trouble with all mankind
Somebody's always sayin goodbye
Taxi cabs that leave in the night
Greyhound buses with red tail lights
Someone's leavin and someone's left behind
Well I don't know how things got that way
But every place you look these days
Somebody's always sayin goodbye
Take two people like me and you
We could have made it, we just quit too soon
Oh the two of us, we could have had it all
If we'd only tried
But that's the way love is, it seems
Just when you've got a real good thing
Somebody's always sayin goodbye
Somebody's always sayin goodbye
*A 45 is like an mp3, only heavier, easier to break, and harder to play while walking down the street.
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So I’m sitting here on a Friday night listening to Anne Murray. Not my usual Friday night pursuit.
This is one area in which I am decidedly against type. Here I am, a healthy, middle-aged, silver-haired (!) Canadian dyke and yet I cannot claim to have “always been an Anne Murray fan”. This is not to say that Anne has not been on my radar. I think one of my first purchases with my allowance was the 45* of “Cotton Jenny” – the words to which, I discover tonight, I still remember. I also remember the harmony part which I can now sing along with Olivia Neutron Bomb Newton John on Anne’s new Duets CD.
So there – I admit it. I bought Anne Murray’s new Duets CD. And … I’m listening to it. More than once.
I have other Anne Murray memories. I remember buying an Anne Murray album in high school, the one that had “You Needed Me” on it. The song was a huge mega-hit … but it quickly became a song that I hated.
I cried a tear, you wiped it dry
I was confused, you cleared my mind
I sold my soul, you bought it back for me
And held me up, and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me
… what kind of rescue fantasy, co-dependent crap is that? Even at 16, I knew my gag reflex from my elbow.
So why am I listening to this album? More than once …?
Well, first of all, Anne has a very listenable voice, like a rich Riesling you want to roll around on your tongue for a few minutes before swallowing. Like that first moment you put on your favourite sweater in December and you snuggle in. The production values on this CD are particularly high, meaning, for me, simplicity. Not a lot of over effects, although why Shania (or Shania’s handlers) thought she needed that Cher diddly thing on her voice in the aforementioned cut of “You Needed Me”, I’ll never know. Although everyone is doing it now, even the Dixie Chicks on their last album.
There are some outstanding cuts on this album … the song “Somebody’s Always Saying Goodbye” (sung with Jann Arden) is a knock-out. Sadly, Amy Grant’s voice just isn’t up to snuff on “Could I Have This Dance”, a song with a particularly personal meaning for me that I won’t get into, this being a family blog ‘n’ all. The Indigo Girls appear on “A Little Good News” … an appearance rich in all kinds of irony for some of us. I can think of some “good news” some of us would like to hear from Anne someday. Come on, hun, if Jodie can do it … just take a deep breath … the water is fine.
But I digress … back to the album … This is the kind of album that taught me how to play guitar. Simple chord progressions that let me construct little leads, little riffs between lines and verses. I’ve had a bit of fun with that tonight.
One wonders if it was really necessary to put Celine Dion on this album or, indeed, on any album. Ever. Someone get that girl a sandwich. Although I like Nelly Furtado doing her own stuff, the combo with Anne is *not* something I’d recommend repeating or pursuing in any way.
Nonetheless, perhaps you sense I’m not really getting to the meat of it.
OK.
In the early part of 2004, I met a woman. Can I say we dated? No, not exactly. We did connect, quickly and, er, fervently. (It is still a family blog, so I am going to leave it there.) On a rather spur-of-the-moment decision, I wound up traipsing to the UK and then Spain to tag along on a trip she had been planning for some time. It was a fabulous adventure. It was also painful … but now, in memory, the pain has become a powerful teacher.
This woman was (actually, no doubt, IS) the biggest damn “hot-for-Anne-Murray” Anne Murray fan I’ve ever ever met. Fervent, evangelical and would brook no critical discussion or debate on the various merits of this or that song. And, as a result, it is well nigh impossible for me to hear AM’s voice without seeing this woman’s happy face before me. In my mind’s eye anyway … we had parted ways by the end of September that year.
This is a chapter in my life filled with “what ifs …” Might have been … could have been … but was not. I’ll always have Anne (and, I hope, a decent Riesling) to bring me back to this episode … mostly fondly. Thanks a bunch, Anne. 🙂
Here are the lyrics to a song I’d not heard before this album, the one Anne sings with Jann Arden … not only relevant to this little story … but simply well worth a listen if you have an opportunity.
Somebody’s Always Saying Goodbye
Railroad station, midnight trains
Lonely airports in the rain
And somebody stands there with tears in their eyes
It’s the same old scene, time after time
That’s the trouble with all mankind
Somebody’s always sayin goodbye
Taxi cabs that leave in the night
Greyhound buses with red tail lights
Someone’s leavin and someone’s left behind
Well I don’t know how things got that way
But every place you look these days
Somebody’s always sayin goodbye
Take two people like me and you
We could have made it, we just quit too soon
Oh the two of us, we could have had it all
If we’d only tried
But that’s the way love is, it seems
Just when you’ve got a real good thing
Somebody’s always sayin goodbye
Somebody’s always sayin goodbye
*A 45 is like an mp3, only heavier, easier to break, and harder to play while walking down the street.
As of this a.m., I'm down 37.2 lbs. By my calculations, this is roughly equivalent to:
- a small child
- a medium-sized dog
- several bags of potatoes
- an unspecified but significant amount of popped popcorn
Neat, huh? Imagine walking around with roughly four x 10 lb bags of potatoes throughout the store while shopping. And then imagine putting them down and walking away. Feels pretty good. 🙂
Addendum: No, I'm not promoting anyone's weight loss strategy. I've written about what I'm doing, which is supported by a commercial system that I *am* paying for, but will not promote in this blog. Whoever you are who has tracked me down and wants me to promote your rapid weight loss scheme – go away. That is not what I'm doing and not what I recommend. Read my lips – go away.
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Cross-posted from Facebook …
Dear Santa …
I'm presuming you are on Facebook. Or, at least, that you are privy to the data feeds provided by Facebook. I hope they aren't charging you too much, and that they are presenting the data to you in a useful fashion. If that isn't the case, call me – you have my number.
Facebook data will likely be fuzzy on the subject of whether or not I've been "good" this year. Of course, at my age, "good" becomes a bit subjective. This was easier to determine when I was seven and it was clear that "telling the truth" was "good" and "puncturing brother's basketball" was "bad" – although, as you will recall, I got around that one by telling the truth about it. Nowadays, things just don't seem quite so clear on the subject of good/bad. In any case, I hope that once you have reviewed the data, I come out fair to middling at least.
After you have analyzed and parsed my Facebook data, I'm sure you'll arrive at the following list of items for my stocking.
1. Meaningless and annoying software applications of every description
2. A new Scrabble board
3. Scrabble dictionary
4. A travel Scrabble board
5. Scrabble word lists
6. A Chinese Horoscope book
7. A big stick for poking friends
8. An iPod, loaded with Dave Matthews, Maroon 5, Foo Fighters and Suzie Vinnick
9. Friends
10. A mirror so I can continue this self-reflective online activity when offline as well
11. Season's tickets to the Leafs
In fact, Santa, I'd like to take a moment to clarify a few of these items because the data isn't always entirely accurate.
1. Meaningless and annoying software applications of every description
Yes, it is true that I find new applications hard to resist. Offline, I have been known to be a gadget queen (ssh) and this behaviour does seem to hold true online. However, few actually have any staying power online. Please don't waste your time and energy on this.
2. A new Scrabble board
3. Scrabble dictionary
4. A travel Scrabble board
5. Scrabble word lists
I could use a fancy new board, please. One of the ones that swivels and the letters snap in. But I have all the rest, thanks.
6. A Chinese Horoscope book
Got one.
7. A big stick for poking friends
See, the only time this happens is when someone pokes me online. I am ENTIRELY reactive in this regard. If you think I need this, then that is your call.
8. An iPod, loaded with Dave Matthews, Maroon 5, Foo Fighters and Suzie Vinnick
I have an iPod, thanks, and I've got most of what I need on it as well.
9. Friends
Actually, Santa, lately I've been thinking that you have arrived early as it has become quite clear to me that I'm amply supplied in this regard. Of course, the more the merrier … but I'm pretty humbled by the friendship that currently surrounds me.
10. A mirror so I can continue this self-reflective online activity when offline as well
It is true. We are all here on Facebook to catch glimpses of ourselves through the eyes of others. Figuratively and literally – there always seems to be someone lurking around the corner with a digital camera! Given this, I think I can make do without the mirror, thanks.
11. Season's Tickets to the Leafs.
Oh yeah, Santa Baby – this one is dead on.
Here, in fact, is what I really want for Christmas this year – I don't think that Facebook data would have revealed any of this.
1. Peace-loving world leadership
2. Earth-loving world leadership
3. Some help with my stereo – let me explain. Rogers sent me a digital TV box and now my tv signal is worse than it was before. They won't send anyone to help, even if I offer to pay. It has something to do with all the other components. So, if you could send someone by to sort this out, then I will actually be able to see the puck when I watch the Leafs. Thanks.
4. A new green composite hockey stick. I broke the blade on my old one last Saturday and now no one will recognize me on the ice. A Sad Day. I promise not to poke any of my friends with it, but I may poke check some of them.
That is really it. I'm pretty well looked after in most other respects in my life, which is something that I'm profoundly grateful for.
Oh, and Santa…? Do take this Facebook data with a grain of salt, ok? Do some qualitative interviews and focus groups in addition to reviewing the quantitative stuff. Sometimes, Facebook just gets it wrong.
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Amy came to visit this weekend – we both just need some time to hang out together and it was terrific. When we planned this weekend, I made two suggestions for Saturday night:
a) Come watch me play hockey.
b) Women's Blues Revue
Although Amy currently hails from Fonthill, ON, she is originally from Erie, PA. Let's just say that hockey is not part of her culture. Yeah, she has been to see me play before. In fact, the last time she visited and came to the arena, she witnessed me being cross-checked into the boards and nearly getting my neck broken. Amy is also a semi-professional musician with a keen interest in the blues, so I wasn't surprised when she expressed deep enthusiasm for the concert option. To be honest, I was relieved. Of course, attending the performance is a terrific choice. However, part of me wonders if Amy has bad hockey karma. The only time something violent / scary has ever happened to me was that one time she came to check out the game.
Of course, it didn't hurt that one of my fav artists, Suzie Vinnick, was taking over as musical director for the always kick-ass house band for the evening. This is worth giving up a precious night of hockey.
Clearly, the (33) stars were in alignment … the concert was amazing. Each year that I manage to attend this, I think "This is the best concert ever!" It really does just keep getting better.
I remember when I saw Serena Ryder in the show, back when it was held at the Danforth Music Hall. At the time, she was 19 and I thought, "Damn, how can a 19 year old know anything about the blues?" Of course, she knocked my socks off with her huge voice and amazing stage presence. Nonetheless, when I learned that there would be a 13 year old playing this year's concert, I was pretty skeptical. Well, I don't know what they are feeding kids these days, but Nikki Yanofsky's family should bottle and sell it. She's a pipsqueak with power in those pipes. Amazing. She opened the show with a bang. Sadly, however, she wasn't around for the big group closing number. Speculation on stage, and in the audience, was that it was past her bedtime.
Treasa Levasseur is one of those rich new discoveries that WBR is so good at presenting to a newer, wider audience. Her off-beat humour and wonderful voice have me hooked. I've ordered her CD.
Shawne Jackson, Roxanne Potvin, Layla Zoe and Dawn Tyler Watson all rocked in their own unique ways. In fact, DTW's performance of the Beatle's Come Together was one of the finest covers I've ever heard.
I had hoped that the show structure of the previous years would hold true and that the band, featuring Suzie, would do the opening number after intermission. I was not disappointed – Suzie did a selection from her album with Rick Fines called "He'll Never Know" – click to listen to a sample. Hun, never mind the front people … you and the band would do just fine filling Massey Hall and bringing the house down.
A suggestion for future shows … go with a single – female – host who can sustain the energy between acts. Maybe someone with a background in comedy. This would make the show a more complete "package" – a concept album instead of a series of high-energy singles.
Amy and I have decided to make this an annual pre-Christmas thing because, as it happens, right about now every year something about the stresses of the previous 11 months has built to some kind of breaking point for both of us. And we seem to be good at getting each other to chill. How convenient that the WBR will be appropriately timed each year – we are both so looking forward to the 22nd Annual Women's Blues Revue!
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