i'll always have a soft spot for jason mraz. i remember the first time i heard of him, he just released you and i both. the song struck me as sentimental and sincere. i was a smitten kitten.
when i was in london last year, i saw posters plastered all over the place promoting his newest album, we sing. we dance. we steal things. and from that album came a wonderfully laidback little ditty called, i'm yours, which made its debut may 3, 2008. this song is so sweet and romantic. and sincere. simplicity at its finest.
this song makes me want to be swinging in a hammock, under a shady tree in costa rica or hawaii, with my virgin strawberry margarita an arms-length away. mraz's "happy little hippy song" is the purr-fect song to end august and wrap up summertime.
the video makes me want to put a dent in my credit card and do all the things in the video: flying to some tropical paradise, riding in the back of a flatbed truck, surfing, motor-boating, jumping into a swimming hole right by a waterfall.
Official Video- Jason Mraz Im Yours
at 70 weeks (and counting), i'm yours just broke the record for the most consecutive weeks on billboard's top 100 chart. more than any other single in history. that's right. leanne rimes with your cheesy how do i live without you? song, you can suck it at 69 weeks. your record of 11 years has now been broken.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
children of the corn
last sunday, sean and i got to indulge the child within each of us at meadow maze in pitt meadows. we were city mice transformed into country mice for the afternoon.
and how could we not be?
meadow maze's attractions include a petting zoo, hay wagon rides, train rides and a huge labyrinth of a corn maze. each year the 17 acre field of corn would be landscaped into a different design. the average time to complete the maze is about an hour and a half.
sean and i wandered the 7 foot high mammoth corn maze for 20 minutes or so, taking pictures and walking in what seemed like circles. it reminded us of the scene at the end of the shining, where danny "redrum" torrance runs into the snowy labyrinth with crazed jack nicholson in pursuit. well, except for the snow. and the fact that we didn't leave any footprint tracks.
twenty minutes and we only made it to check point 2 in the maze. there are 12 check points.
and although we couldn't see them, we could hear other people all around us, trying to make their way through the maze. a bird's eye view would probably have us looking like rats in a maze.
although the maze is outside and the sky is right above you the entire time, i can see how people who are claustrophobic might feel uncomfortable in the maze. the path was so narrow that sean and i almost couldn't walk side by side. and the corn stalks are pretty high and tightly spaced. but if you lose your friend (or they ditch you as a really bad joke) and find yourself panicking and without a cell phone, there are roaming corn cops you can call out to for help.
of course being in a corn field, one inevitably ends up talking about the stephen king movie, the children of the corn. were it overcast, dreary, cold or at twilight, i probably would've put the kibosh on the talking about "he who walks behind the rows", the evil who gets the cuh-reepy children of a small town to murder all the adults, thus ensuring a successful corn harvest.
and you can't think of corn fields without thinking of "if you build it, he will come" field of dreams starring kevin costner. upon exiting the maze, i half expected to find a baseball diamond, bleachers and shoeless joe standing on the mound.
but enough of the corn maze.
the corn maze was nice, oh for about 20 minutes, (it is stalks of corn as far as the eye could see, after all) but what sean and i really wanted was some petting zoo action.
there were billy goats, bunnies galore, chickadees, pot-bellied pigs, a completely shaved save for the head llama (oh, the humiliation) and miniature ponies, amongst other animals. we were in kiddy heaven.
we had billy goats follow us around everywhere. one even finding sean's shirt too delectable to resist.
by happenstance, we found ourselves in the petting zoo right before feeding time. so we got to watch all the animals chow down on corn kernels or corn husks.
this little billy goat slept through lunch time. wonder if there'll be any leftovers for him?
the little chick chicks were adorable. i was so paranoid that i would step on them by accident, they were so teeny. it was so cute how they followed the mother hen around and pecking at the corn cob, each trying to get theirs.
but oh my gosh, the bunnies! the bunnies were my favourite at the petting zoo. they were just so darn cute. with their big stubby bunny feet. i just wanted to take all of them home with me, especially the one with the racing stripe down its back.
last but not least, we hung out with the miniature ponies. we grabbed handfuls of hay from the hay ride to entice the ponies over to us. they were so sweet, docile and had the softest fur. now i understand why little girls ask for a pony for their birthdays.
sean and i really felt like we hit the jackpot, getting to spend the afternoon with the animals. we both love animals. dare i say it? i dare. even more so than people sometimes.
we were both in our element and i had a lot of fun photographing sean. (especially when he wasn't looking) upon reviewing our pictures, one feeling kept coming through in all the pictures. that of joy and peace.
the wonders of animal therapy. i think they do more for us than we could ever do for them.
for more pictures of our day of fun on the farm, hit play on the slideshow.
and how could we not be?
meadow maze's attractions include a petting zoo, hay wagon rides, train rides and a huge labyrinth of a corn maze. each year the 17 acre field of corn would be landscaped into a different design. the average time to complete the maze is about an hour and a half.
sean and i wandered the 7 foot high mammoth corn maze for 20 minutes or so, taking pictures and walking in what seemed like circles. it reminded us of the scene at the end of the shining, where danny "redrum" torrance runs into the snowy labyrinth with crazed jack nicholson in pursuit. well, except for the snow. and the fact that we didn't leave any footprint tracks.
twenty minutes and we only made it to check point 2 in the maze. there are 12 check points.
and although we couldn't see them, we could hear other people all around us, trying to make their way through the maze. a bird's eye view would probably have us looking like rats in a maze.
although the maze is outside and the sky is right above you the entire time, i can see how people who are claustrophobic might feel uncomfortable in the maze. the path was so narrow that sean and i almost couldn't walk side by side. and the corn stalks are pretty high and tightly spaced. but if you lose your friend (or they ditch you as a really bad joke) and find yourself panicking and without a cell phone, there are roaming corn cops you can call out to for help.
of course being in a corn field, one inevitably ends up talking about the stephen king movie, the children of the corn. were it overcast, dreary, cold or at twilight, i probably would've put the kibosh on the talking about "he who walks behind the rows", the evil who gets the cuh-reepy children of a small town to murder all the adults, thus ensuring a successful corn harvest.
and you can't think of corn fields without thinking of "if you build it, he will come" field of dreams starring kevin costner. upon exiting the maze, i half expected to find a baseball diamond, bleachers and shoeless joe standing on the mound.
but enough of the corn maze.
the corn maze was nice, oh for about 20 minutes, (it is stalks of corn as far as the eye could see, after all) but what sean and i really wanted was some petting zoo action.
there were billy goats, bunnies galore, chickadees, pot-bellied pigs, a completely shaved save for the head llama (oh, the humiliation) and miniature ponies, amongst other animals. we were in kiddy heaven.
we had billy goats follow us around everywhere. one even finding sean's shirt too delectable to resist.
by happenstance, we found ourselves in the petting zoo right before feeding time. so we got to watch all the animals chow down on corn kernels or corn husks.
this little billy goat slept through lunch time. wonder if there'll be any leftovers for him?
the little chick chicks were adorable. i was so paranoid that i would step on them by accident, they were so teeny. it was so cute how they followed the mother hen around and pecking at the corn cob, each trying to get theirs.
but oh my gosh, the bunnies! the bunnies were my favourite at the petting zoo. they were just so darn cute. with their big stubby bunny feet. i just wanted to take all of them home with me, especially the one with the racing stripe down its back.
last but not least, we hung out with the miniature ponies. we grabbed handfuls of hay from the hay ride to entice the ponies over to us. they were so sweet, docile and had the softest fur. now i understand why little girls ask for a pony for their birthdays.
sean and i really felt like we hit the jackpot, getting to spend the afternoon with the animals. we both love animals. dare i say it? i dare. even more so than people sometimes.
we were both in our element and i had a lot of fun photographing sean. (especially when he wasn't looking) upon reviewing our pictures, one feeling kept coming through in all the pictures. that of joy and peace.
the wonders of animal therapy. i think they do more for us than we could ever do for them.
for more pictures of our day of fun on the farm, hit play on the slideshow.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
operamania 101: dy-na-mo!
raise your hand if you've watched an arnold schwarzenneger movie? raise your hand if you like at least one arnie movie? c'mon, i know you're out there.
i won't deny it. i like watching "save the day" action movies because of the imax sized screen, dolby/thx surround sound and the larger than life stars who are all about the kicking a** and taking names.
in 1987, a stephen king novel called the running man made its way to the big screens, starring arnie, maria conchita alonso, ex-wrestler jesse ventura and mr velveeta himself, richard dawson of family feud fame.
in the not too distant future, convicted criminals known as "runners" could seek a pardon by out-dodging/outwitting executioners aka "stalkers" in a gladiator-type, reality tv game show being broadcasted from underground.
influenced by the 80s popularity of WWF, i'm sure, these stalkers are outfitted in ridiculous costumes and weaponry, as well as having cheesy alias' such as sub-zero, fireball, buzzsaw, captain freedom and...dynamo, the opera-singing stalker.
click here to see dynamo make his entrance by singing the aria from act III of mozart's the marriage of figaro.
click play to hear the real deal, vedro, mentr'io sospiro.
dynamo is perhaps the most comical of all the hitmen. his gladiator-like costume consists of flashing lights, reminiscent of a christmas tree and a marvin the martian/hoplite helmet. his weapon of choice is the wainwright electrical launcher, a taser type gun. dynamo hunts down his prey in a dune buggy, all while singing arias from italian operettas.
in the pursuit of arnie, dynamo's dune buggy is flipped, pinning him inside the vehicle. arnie refuses to kill dynamo.
however, dynamo does bite it spectacularly in the end, in a laugh out loud electrocution scene when he tries to rape maria conchita alonso and she shoots up the sprinkler system above them thus short-circuitng his electrical power pack. but not before the viewer sees him in all his glory; the opera-singing dynamo in his granny panties.
you can't beat the 80s in action movies with its body counts and wisecracking one-liners. hello, bruce willis and sly stallone?
ah, they just don't make movies like that anymore.
thanks to sean for letting me know about this opera related find!
i won't deny it. i like watching "save the day" action movies because of the imax sized screen, dolby/thx surround sound and the larger than life stars who are all about the kicking a** and taking names.
in 1987, a stephen king novel called the running man made its way to the big screens, starring arnie, maria conchita alonso, ex-wrestler jesse ventura and mr velveeta himself, richard dawson of family feud fame.
in the not too distant future, convicted criminals known as "runners" could seek a pardon by out-dodging/outwitting executioners aka "stalkers" in a gladiator-type, reality tv game show being broadcasted from underground.
influenced by the 80s popularity of WWF, i'm sure, these stalkers are outfitted in ridiculous costumes and weaponry, as well as having cheesy alias' such as sub-zero, fireball, buzzsaw, captain freedom and...dynamo, the opera-singing stalker.
click here to see dynamo make his entrance by singing the aria from act III of mozart's the marriage of figaro.
click play to hear the real deal, vedro, mentr'io sospiro.
dynamo is perhaps the most comical of all the hitmen. his gladiator-like costume consists of flashing lights, reminiscent of a christmas tree and a marvin the martian/hoplite helmet. his weapon of choice is the wainwright electrical launcher, a taser type gun. dynamo hunts down his prey in a dune buggy, all while singing arias from italian operettas.
in the pursuit of arnie, dynamo's dune buggy is flipped, pinning him inside the vehicle. arnie refuses to kill dynamo.
however, dynamo does bite it spectacularly in the end, in a laugh out loud electrocution scene when he tries to rape maria conchita alonso and she shoots up the sprinkler system above them thus short-circuitng his electrical power pack. but not before the viewer sees him in all his glory; the opera-singing dynamo in his granny panties.
you can't beat the 80s in action movies with its body counts and wisecracking one-liners. hello, bruce willis and sly stallone?
ah, they just don't make movies like that anymore.
thanks to sean for letting me know about this opera related find!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
lick gold star. apply to forehead.
it's pretty frickin' fantastic when you find out that people are writing nice things about you and your work. more so when you weren't even aware that they watching you in the first place. it's kinda like finding out you're being stalked in a good way.
this week, we stumbled on 3 websites that showed VO some love regarding our use of social media.
"I was surprised and very pleased to read the front page of the business section of todays Times Colonist newspaper based out of Victoria British Columbia. The title "Social networking boosts bottom line" brought a smile to my face. The subtitle "Blogs pay off by enhancing websites and communicating with customers" just made me more excited. It's great to know that old media is recognizing the upside to new media. More and more these days the two are coming together and people are embracing the web and all it has to offer. The days of segregated media companies are over.
Victoria Times Colonist columnist Cara Wilson follows Ling Chan who is running the Vancouver opera's social networking campaign. Chan recently presented at Social Media Marketing in Action: Using Social Media to Build a Brand and Generate Leads here in Victoria BC."
stikky media
"I was reading an article in the Edmonton Journal yesterday and I couldn’t help but smile. The story was about how the Vancouver Opera is using its blog to make the opera “more accessible to people, educate them, increase awareness and make connections“. Wow! If the opera, renown for their tradition and history can turn to social media to spread the word, what’s stopping other industries? I know… that may be a bit too trivial, but you really have to hand it to the Vancouver Opera for enhancing their traditional marketing and communications vehicles with social media.
The Vancouver Opera also uses Twitter to pass along exclusive offers to their followers; another great idea. Kudos to Ling Chan, the individual at the Opera that is responsible for these initiatives; she deserves much credit for her outside-of-the-box thinking. The Vancouver Opera also deserves a tremendous amount of credit for trying something new and, some may say, risky. This case is yet another example of how social media is helping build strong brands and create dialogue with new and existing audiences."
communications reloaded
"Many of the big performing arts groups in town are making good use of Twitter, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and The Arts Club. But the leader of the pack may be Ling Chan at Vancouver Opera, who has been doing a bang-up job of extending the opera company’s reach beyond the usual classical-music suspects. The opera’s Twitter feed features fun & interesting opera news, as well as exclusive offers for Vancouver Opera fans. In related social media news, the organization has been reaching out to bloggers as well, through their innovative Blogger Night at the Opera."
raised eyebrow
going into this, i never expected to pop up on anyone's radar. i do what i do because i love it. but i'd be lying if i didn't admit that this professional validation from outside the company doesn't make me walk just a little bit taller.
this week, we stumbled on 3 websites that showed VO some love regarding our use of social media.
"I was surprised and very pleased to read the front page of the business section of todays Times Colonist newspaper based out of Victoria British Columbia. The title "Social networking boosts bottom line" brought a smile to my face. The subtitle "Blogs pay off by enhancing websites and communicating with customers" just made me more excited. It's great to know that old media is recognizing the upside to new media. More and more these days the two are coming together and people are embracing the web and all it has to offer. The days of segregated media companies are over.
Victoria Times Colonist columnist Cara Wilson follows Ling Chan who is running the Vancouver opera's social networking campaign. Chan recently presented at Social Media Marketing in Action: Using Social Media to Build a Brand and Generate Leads here in Victoria BC."
stikky media
"I was reading an article in the Edmonton Journal yesterday and I couldn’t help but smile. The story was about how the Vancouver Opera is using its blog to make the opera “more accessible to people, educate them, increase awareness and make connections“. Wow! If the opera, renown for their tradition and history can turn to social media to spread the word, what’s stopping other industries? I know… that may be a bit too trivial, but you really have to hand it to the Vancouver Opera for enhancing their traditional marketing and communications vehicles with social media.
The Vancouver Opera also uses Twitter to pass along exclusive offers to their followers; another great idea. Kudos to Ling Chan, the individual at the Opera that is responsible for these initiatives; she deserves much credit for her outside-of-the-box thinking. The Vancouver Opera also deserves a tremendous amount of credit for trying something new and, some may say, risky. This case is yet another example of how social media is helping build strong brands and create dialogue with new and existing audiences."
communications reloaded
"Many of the big performing arts groups in town are making good use of Twitter, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and The Arts Club. But the leader of the pack may be Ling Chan at Vancouver Opera, who has been doing a bang-up job of extending the opera company’s reach beyond the usual classical-music suspects. The opera’s Twitter feed features fun & interesting opera news, as well as exclusive offers for Vancouver Opera fans. In related social media news, the organization has been reaching out to bloggers as well, through their innovative Blogger Night at the Opera."
raised eyebrow
going into this, i never expected to pop up on anyone's radar. i do what i do because i love it. but i'd be lying if i didn't admit that this professional validation from outside the company doesn't make me walk just a little bit taller.
don on your mac
only ian mcculloch could do a cover of leonard cohen's lover lover lover.
being a HUGE bunnymen fan, dare i say it? i love it even more than cohen's version. sorry my fellow canadians.
being a HUGE bunnymen fan, dare i say it? i love it even more than cohen's version. sorry my fellow canadians.
Friday, August 21, 2009
top 10 fridays: hughes the man!
anyone who grew up in the 80s knew who john hughes was. the director's name was as recognizable as the stars he cast in his movies.
unfortunately, john hughes passed away on august 6 in new york from a heart attack.
so in honour of the man who brought us THE best teenage-angst filled movies, we dedicate today's friday top 10 poll to all the hughes fans out there and ask: what john hughes movie would you like to see turned into an opera?
uncle buck
why? because we ALL have a family member like uncle buck.
sixteen candles
why? sometimes birthday wishes do come true.
she’s having a baby
why? i personally would LOVE to hear an operatic version of kate bush's this woman's work.
ferris bueller’s day off
why? girls loved him. boys wanted to be him.
weird science
why? isn't it every boy's fantasy to build himself the perfect woman?
the breakfast club
why? because no matter which clique you belong to, we all share the same problems. so which breakfast clubber were YOU?
pretty in pink
why? the classic from the wrong side of the tracks love story. blaine may have had the car, but duckie had the style.
some kind of wonderful
why? another triangle. tomboy is in love with the sensitive artiste who is in love with the girly girl.
home alone
why? cheek pinchable 8 year old takes on dim-witted home invaders. bumbles and fumbles ensue.
national lampoon's vacation
why? because nobody does vacations better than the griswalds. and christmas for that matter.
wow, there is some great opera buffa material in here.
unfortunately, john hughes passed away on august 6 in new york from a heart attack.
so in honour of the man who brought us THE best teenage-angst filled movies, we dedicate today's friday top 10 poll to all the hughes fans out there and ask: what john hughes movie would you like to see turned into an opera?
uncle buck
why? because we ALL have a family member like uncle buck.
sixteen candles
why? sometimes birthday wishes do come true.
she’s having a baby
why? i personally would LOVE to hear an operatic version of kate bush's this woman's work.
ferris bueller’s day off
why? girls loved him. boys wanted to be him.
weird science
why? isn't it every boy's fantasy to build himself the perfect woman?
the breakfast club
why? because no matter which clique you belong to, we all share the same problems. so which breakfast clubber were YOU?
pretty in pink
why? the classic from the wrong side of the tracks love story. blaine may have had the car, but duckie had the style.
some kind of wonderful
why? another triangle. tomboy is in love with the sensitive artiste who is in love with the girly girl.
home alone
why? cheek pinchable 8 year old takes on dim-witted home invaders. bumbles and fumbles ensue.
national lampoon's vacation
why? because nobody does vacations better than the griswalds. and christmas for that matter.
wow, there is some great opera buffa material in here.
an epic drive for an epic opera
last week, selina, jen and i got to go on a little fieldtrip.
to celebrate their production of wagner's ring cycle, seattle opera's bravo club was hosting laser ring (a la laser floyd or laser zeppelin style) at the pacific science museum. so with the blessings from the higher-ups, we drove down to the states.
what should've taken 3 hours to get to downtown seattle turned out to be 4+ hours excruciating drive. you got to love the I-5 during rush hour.
we made it in one piece (barely) and was late 15 minutes to the one hour laser show. but we got there just in time for the ride of the valkyries!
shot with my little canon point and shoot
laser ring offered a condensed version of the ring, with the best of music handpicked by the general director, speight jenkins, accompanied with live commentary. the arias chosen came from different recordings, some featuring met opera and bayreuth festival.
as we were "fashionably" late, it was pitch black by the time we got inside the laser dome. we sat on the floor, along with the scores of other people. the seats were filled up already but i think that being on the floor was the better way to see laser ring cuz you could really spread out or kick back.
when the laser lights were especially bright, i could make out the silhouettes of people laying down on their backs, some with pillows and blankets. it was like a giant slumber party!
the commentator's voice and enthusiasm reminded me of the fieldtrips i took in elementary school, where us school kids would oooh and aaaah at what was being explained to us. there were quite a number of families at laser ring which i was glad to see. get those kids young with the appreciation for opera!
when the show was over and the lights turned on, i was delighted to see that there were tables down at the front of the auditorium selling chips and other snacks, along with pop, beer and wine. had we not been late, i would've totally indulged and am sure this would've added to the whole experience.
i risk sounding like a dork here, but i only wish that the sound was better. it may have been the recordings, (perhaps they were not re-mastered recordings) it may have been the speakers, but the music sounded a bit muddy and scratchy. it would've rocked so hard if you could hear the music THX, dolby surround sound style. Because it's all about the music, you know.
however, everyone looked like they had a lovely time. overall an enjoyable experience and a great way to bridge newcomers or the opera-curious to the world of opera.
to celebrate their production of wagner's ring cycle, seattle opera's bravo club was hosting laser ring (a la laser floyd or laser zeppelin style) at the pacific science museum. so with the blessings from the higher-ups, we drove down to the states.
what should've taken 3 hours to get to downtown seattle turned out to be 4+ hours excruciating drive. you got to love the I-5 during rush hour.
we made it in one piece (barely) and was late 15 minutes to the one hour laser show. but we got there just in time for the ride of the valkyries!
shot with my little canon point and shoot
laser ring offered a condensed version of the ring, with the best of music handpicked by the general director, speight jenkins, accompanied with live commentary. the arias chosen came from different recordings, some featuring met opera and bayreuth festival.
as we were "fashionably" late, it was pitch black by the time we got inside the laser dome. we sat on the floor, along with the scores of other people. the seats were filled up already but i think that being on the floor was the better way to see laser ring cuz you could really spread out or kick back.
when the laser lights were especially bright, i could make out the silhouettes of people laying down on their backs, some with pillows and blankets. it was like a giant slumber party!
the commentator's voice and enthusiasm reminded me of the fieldtrips i took in elementary school, where us school kids would oooh and aaaah at what was being explained to us. there were quite a number of families at laser ring which i was glad to see. get those kids young with the appreciation for opera!
when the show was over and the lights turned on, i was delighted to see that there were tables down at the front of the auditorium selling chips and other snacks, along with pop, beer and wine. had we not been late, i would've totally indulged and am sure this would've added to the whole experience.
i risk sounding like a dork here, but i only wish that the sound was better. it may have been the recordings, (perhaps they were not re-mastered recordings) it may have been the speakers, but the music sounded a bit muddy and scratchy. it would've rocked so hard if you could hear the music THX, dolby surround sound style. Because it's all about the music, you know.
however, everyone looked like they had a lovely time. overall an enjoyable experience and a great way to bridge newcomers or the opera-curious to the world of opera.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
hit the panic switch
someone please tell when did college girls start dancing as if having an epileptic fit? and when did college boys let themselves go and become sweaty, drippy, horny idjits? oh, wait.
and so went our night at the silversun pickups concert at the commodore yesterday.
don't get me wrong, sean and i enjoyed silversun pickups performance. the sound was bass-thumping, guitar solos galore and fazy billy corgan-like singing.
but the crowd was just so tempting to want to shove across the room due to their drunken jumping about, flailing their arms and elbows around and generally being oblivious to others around them.
how do i maintain my cool girlfriend composure by putting on lockdown the aggro grrrlfriend dying to get out, in front of le boyfriend?
thank goodness for small things. what irks me also irks sean. we saw eye to eye on the lunacy of the night.
we were lucky enough to stand beside the girl with the huge honkin' canvas tote (there is such a thing as coatcheck. look into it) dancing away and expanding her already big frame for more dance space. holding up her elbow and iphone to record silversun songs that probably none of her friends will want to watch as she tries to convince them that watching it is just like being there.
so we moved over to stage left instead.
all was fine until a frizzy haired short girl right in front of me broke out into a spastic frenzy of a dance. like she was trying her damndest to conjure up a rainstorm. nay, a flood. had i a drink in my hand, her unkempt hair would've been all up in my business. when she did dance to close for my comfort, i gave her a push with my water bottle to make her go into her quadrant. when what i really wanted to do was give her a bop on the head with it.
as the finale of panic switch was played, a paris hilton wannabe wearing a string of faux pearl necklaces and her boyfriend bumrushed their way in. because that's what drunktards do at the last few minutes of a show. followed by another blonde and her shapeless, doughy and sweaty boyfriend who was basically bum-frickin' grinding her from behind. and don't think i didn't see you, blonde girl who after the concert took way too long, reaching down the front of her tanktop to adjust "the girls."
t'is what happens when you're not part of the drinking or 420 crowd. you become an eyewitness to the drunken fugliness in all its glory. just try to suppress your urge to cringe.
i remember when i was that age, crazy and going all out. but somehow me and my friends were always cute in our lowered inhibitions. NEVER annoying.
what went wrong?
oh and those pushing 40 year old guys wearing graffitti'ed ed-hardy-like t-shirts? you really should know better.
and so went our night at the silversun pickups concert at the commodore yesterday.
don't get me wrong, sean and i enjoyed silversun pickups performance. the sound was bass-thumping, guitar solos galore and fazy billy corgan-like singing.
but the crowd was just so tempting to want to shove across the room due to their drunken jumping about, flailing their arms and elbows around and generally being oblivious to others around them.
how do i maintain my cool girlfriend composure by putting on lockdown the aggro grrrlfriend dying to get out, in front of le boyfriend?
thank goodness for small things. what irks me also irks sean. we saw eye to eye on the lunacy of the night.
we were lucky enough to stand beside the girl with the huge honkin' canvas tote (there is such a thing as coatcheck. look into it) dancing away and expanding her already big frame for more dance space. holding up her elbow and iphone to record silversun songs that probably none of her friends will want to watch as she tries to convince them that watching it is just like being there.
so we moved over to stage left instead.
all was fine until a frizzy haired short girl right in front of me broke out into a spastic frenzy of a dance. like she was trying her damndest to conjure up a rainstorm. nay, a flood. had i a drink in my hand, her unkempt hair would've been all up in my business. when she did dance to close for my comfort, i gave her a push with my water bottle to make her go into her quadrant. when what i really wanted to do was give her a bop on the head with it.
as the finale of panic switch was played, a paris hilton wannabe wearing a string of faux pearl necklaces and her boyfriend bumrushed their way in. because that's what drunktards do at the last few minutes of a show. followed by another blonde and her shapeless, doughy and sweaty boyfriend who was basically bum-frickin' grinding her from behind. and don't think i didn't see you, blonde girl who after the concert took way too long, reaching down the front of her tanktop to adjust "the girls."
t'is what happens when you're not part of the drinking or 420 crowd. you become an eyewitness to the drunken fugliness in all its glory. just try to suppress your urge to cringe.
i remember when i was that age, crazy and going all out. but somehow me and my friends were always cute in our lowered inhibitions. NEVER annoying.
what went wrong?
oh and those pushing 40 year old guys wearing graffitti'ed ed-hardy-like t-shirts? you really should know better.
operamania 101: big lucy
this is for all the sports junkies out there who may think what's opera have to do with football? and by football, i mean "footie" or soccer to most north americans.
well, perhaps prior to 1990, the 2 worlds went together like chalk and cheese.
but that was before luciano "big lucy" pavarotti stepped onto the pitch with his lung-busting performance of the epic show-stopper nessun dorma from puccini's turandot at the 1990 world cup in italy.
nessun dorma, which translates to "none shall sleep", became the signature tune for the bbc's coverage of that year's world cup as english fans watched their teams make it all the way to the semi-finals.
football and opera were pavarotti's passions. his father was a tenor and as a boy, pavarotti was a goalkeeper and winger of his town's football team. but his love for football was edged out when the choir that he performed with won first prize at the llangollen festival, an international competition in wales.
by 1990, pavarotti was a famous opera tenor. but his fame broadened to celebrity status when he performed as one of the three tenors during the world cup, thus entwining football and opera together and winning him legions of new fans. football fans who may have never heard opera before. football fans who have made the nessun dorma aria the most widely-played football song ever.
with closing lyrics of "vanish, o night! set, ye stars! at dawn, i will win!", it's no surprise this aria became an anthem of conquest.
for his final performance before his death in 2007, pavarotti chose nessun dorma for the finale of the opening ceremony at the 2006 torino winter olympics. the 35,000 strong crowd responded with a thunderous standing ovation.
the spirit stirring and heart soaring nessun dorma will forever be luciano pavarotti's signature song.
well, perhaps prior to 1990, the 2 worlds went together like chalk and cheese.
but that was before luciano "big lucy" pavarotti stepped onto the pitch with his lung-busting performance of the epic show-stopper nessun dorma from puccini's turandot at the 1990 world cup in italy.
nessun dorma, which translates to "none shall sleep", became the signature tune for the bbc's coverage of that year's world cup as english fans watched their teams make it all the way to the semi-finals.
football and opera were pavarotti's passions. his father was a tenor and as a boy, pavarotti was a goalkeeper and winger of his town's football team. but his love for football was edged out when the choir that he performed with won first prize at the llangollen festival, an international competition in wales.
by 1990, pavarotti was a famous opera tenor. but his fame broadened to celebrity status when he performed as one of the three tenors during the world cup, thus entwining football and opera together and winning him legions of new fans. football fans who may have never heard opera before. football fans who have made the nessun dorma aria the most widely-played football song ever.
with closing lyrics of "vanish, o night! set, ye stars! at dawn, i will win!", it's no surprise this aria became an anthem of conquest.
for his final performance before his death in 2007, pavarotti chose nessun dorma for the finale of the opening ceremony at the 2006 torino winter olympics. the 35,000 strong crowd responded with a thunderous standing ovation.
the spirit stirring and heart soaring nessun dorma will forever be luciano pavarotti's signature song.
Monday, August 17, 2009
walk of the undead
it's no secret that zombies scared the crap out of me when i was little girl. and by the by, what kind of power did i have over my parents as a tween to let me watch such movies as dawn of the dead/land of the dead/night of the living dead in the first place?!
oh yeah. my rebellious nature.
so i guess it would be smacking your fear in the face therapy that i went down to hang out at zombiewalk 2009 on saturday. zombies big and small made their way to vancouver art gallery downtown to start the annual walk. and as the brain-eating force arrived, i made sure to get all up in their flesh decayed faces to snap their photos.
all of them came in make up, some with peeling flesh, most bloodied and gored. there were asian zombies, which in my opinion, would be how i would choose to dress up as if i was one of the undead.
there were theme zombies: marilyn monroe, dorothy and scarecrow from wizard of oz and yup, michael jackson. i couldn't decide whether or not it was amusing or morbid, this little homage. i chose amusing as the thrill the world dance was happening at zombiewalk too.
kimli and her friends were out in full force promoting thrill the world, an october 25 event where world-wide zombies will participate in dancing the michael jackson thriller dance and raise money for various charities. and if kimli had her way, i'd be doing the zombie shuffle this fall.
when you encounter zombies that are downright nice and friendly and cute, you say to yourself, "gosh, what was i afraid of all those years?" then you let out a sigh of relief that as a logical thinking adult you can let go of the last remnants of any irrational childhood fear. it's silly to feel so scared when you see zombies re-applying fake blood on themselves and on each other or having a smoke and talking on their cell phones or having a hamburger and coke for lunch.
i had a great time and some good laughs being down at the zombiewalk. and fun regaling sean with the pictures i took and stories about my walk amongst the undead later that evening.
but then as i was going to bed, all i could see where scores of zombie faces (in all their b/w grotesquery a la george romero) coming at me when i closed my eyes. drat curses.
oh yeah. my rebellious nature.
so i guess it would be smacking your fear in the face therapy that i went down to hang out at zombiewalk 2009 on saturday. zombies big and small made their way to vancouver art gallery downtown to start the annual walk. and as the brain-eating force arrived, i made sure to get all up in their flesh decayed faces to snap their photos.
all of them came in make up, some with peeling flesh, most bloodied and gored. there were asian zombies, which in my opinion, would be how i would choose to dress up as if i was one of the undead.
there were theme zombies: marilyn monroe, dorothy and scarecrow from wizard of oz and yup, michael jackson. i couldn't decide whether or not it was amusing or morbid, this little homage. i chose amusing as the thrill the world dance was happening at zombiewalk too.
kimli and her friends were out in full force promoting thrill the world, an october 25 event where world-wide zombies will participate in dancing the michael jackson thriller dance and raise money for various charities. and if kimli had her way, i'd be doing the zombie shuffle this fall.
when you encounter zombies that are downright nice and friendly and cute, you say to yourself, "gosh, what was i afraid of all those years?" then you let out a sigh of relief that as a logical thinking adult you can let go of the last remnants of any irrational childhood fear. it's silly to feel so scared when you see zombies re-applying fake blood on themselves and on each other or having a smoke and talking on their cell phones or having a hamburger and coke for lunch.
i had a great time and some good laughs being down at the zombiewalk. and fun regaling sean with the pictures i took and stories about my walk amongst the undead later that evening.
but then as i was going to bed, all i could see where scores of zombie faces (in all their b/w grotesquery a la george romero) coming at me when i closed my eyes. drat curses.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
a shot of tranquility
probably one of the best things i've seen online in a long time. shot in okinawa churaumi aquarium in japan, this is the 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world. i could sit here for hours. days...
absolutely beautiful to watch. and the song purr-fectly complements the video.
some canadian love too. filmmaker, cinematographer and editor jon rawlinson is a vancouverite.
thanks jai for the find.
absolutely beautiful to watch. and the song purr-fectly complements the video.
some canadian love too. filmmaker, cinematographer and editor jon rawlinson is a vancouverite.
thanks jai for the find.
Friday, August 14, 2009
across the universe
to cap off our weekend, sean and i met my brother in seattle to go to... the depeche mode tour of the universe concert at the key arena!
the show was incredible. dave gahan STILL got it. he's always been hot, but now he's even hotter because the man underwent surgery this past may to remove a cancerous tumour from his bladder (while on tour) and after a brief rest is continuing with the world tour. troo-per.
we had great seats. up in the level 2 section, stage left and a completely unobstructed view because we were in the very first row, right down by the concrete railing. nothing in front of us to keep us from tumbling down onto the concertgoers down below.
the visuals were amazing and the show played like a best of depeche mode tour. there was even a bit of "adult" action during strangelove: toe sucking and bare breasteses on the jumbotron.
the playlist:
in chains
wrong
hole to feed
walking in my shoes
it's no good
a question of time
precious
fly on the windscreen
jezebel
home
come back
policy of truth
in your room
i feel you
enjoy the silence
never let me down again
encore #1
stripped
master and servant
strangelove
encore #2
personal jesus
waiting for the night (bare version)
to finish the concert with a stripped down version of waiting for the night was absolutely brilliant. and although you're left with wanting more (as with any dm tour), i think everyone left the key arena very satisfied and blissed out.
a purr-fect end to my 4 1/2 weeks off from work.
more pictures, click here.
welcome to twin peaks part II
what does one do after waking up in the land of twin peaks? why, go have breakfast at the double r, that's what. so we checked out and drove to twede's cafe on north bend way and taylor avenue.
twede's still retains old twin peaks memorabilia. while you wait for breakfast, you can check out the back wall with its framed pictures and magazine clippings from the show.
the diner also sells twin peaks coffee mugs, t-shirts and maps. course not so twin peaks-y were the stuffed tweetie birds and neon guitars in the front part of the diner, making it look somewhat like a 50s diners. diversification, i suppose.
it was good to see we were not the only peak freaks making the pilgrimage to the diner. i mean, the show is 19 years old. while waiting for our food, four tourists just about bought out the whole place of souvenirs.
we ordered your typical diner breakfast: strawberry waffles for me, french toast for sean. and of course we made sure to save room for the infamous slice of cherry pie, which actually pretty good. heated with ice cream.
outside the double r is "the" traffic light from the show. but damn if we knew exactly which light it is; as an intersection has 4 lights!
our first pitstop was the old snoqualmie winery up in the woods where the video of laura and donna was shot. it's now a look out point and probably a make out point too, having been leveled and landscaped since the show was shot. it looks entirely different from the show, save for the view of the mountains.
you can not drive around north bend without going past the gazebo, located smack dab in the middle of town. the huge log under the gazebo was used in the opening title sequence of the show.
next to that is the old railroad yard is the murder scene where agent cooper and sheriff truman found the half heart locket and note. the boxcars of trains were in various states of being rusted over. even though the trains looked dilapidated and completely ramshackled (one looking like it was riddled with bullets), there was a beauty to them. two sides to the railroad yard: one which you can get close or even climb the trains (sneakily, of course) and the more worse for wear were fenced off.
we went back to the salish lodge to see the breathtaking snoqualmie falls at the observation deck.
after that, sean and i used a picture we took of the twin peaks outdoor mural at twede's to find the exact stretch of road of where the welcome to twin peaks sign in the opening credits was shot. because we're square like that.
on the way out of town to go to seattle, we located the mt si hotel, the skeevy and sketchy motel that leland palmer did the despicable in. you think the exterior of the motel was intimidating with its residents, that's nothing to the downright creepy looking room #6. it could rival the motels on hasting street/downtown east side in vancouver. however, the owner's daughter saw us on the grounds and was nice enough to let us check out the room.
which twin peaks fans would be so hardcore as to want to book a night at the mt si? the owner even told us that no one is really interested in staying as a guest there.
we trespassed once again. this time at the twin peaks highschool which is the mount si highschool. geez, a highschool looks like a highschool anywhere.
the last stop on our twin peaks adventure was fall city. we checked out the roadhouse where jacques renault bartended and where julee cruise performed. (her singing the twin peaks theme song)
although a couple things have changed since the show, most locations remained the same. the spirit of twin peaks is still alive and kicking in snoqualmie/north bend.
for more pictures, click play.
definitely worth the visit to this sleepy town if you're a fan. course, living here would be a different matter entirely.
speaking of fans, i wonder if in 20 years from now there will still be tourists visiting the other hot new pilgrimage since last year? you know, the twi-hards descending onto forks washington. that will be the testament to the staying power of a movie/show.
on to part III of our adventure... the depeche mode concert in seattle.
welcome to twin peaks part I
being big fans of the 90s tv show, twin peaks, sean and i hit the road last weekend to immerse ourselves in the world of david lynch. that meant driving down to snoqualmie, washington to seek out all the filming locations. and of course, the trip would not be complete without a stay at the great northern hotel, which is the salish lodge and spa in real life.
we arrived in snoqualmie by mid-afternoon and checked into the salish, which is perched above the spectacular 268 feet high snoqualmie falls. upon check in, we were upgraded to a riverview room with balcony. and after decompressing for a few minutes after the 4 hour drive, we headed out on our adventure.
the salish is always going to be known as the great northern hotel to peak freaks, although it's obvious that they're marketing themselves as a 5 star property and and not as a theme destination. i'm sure everyone that was a guest there never even heard of or cared about the show. but not us. we were loud and proud twin peakers. we were given a small (not drawn to scale) hand sketched map of nearby twin peaks attractions.
we drove to the nearby location where the sheriff's office and the packard sawmill was filmed at; otherwise known as the weyerhauser administration offices. and although we were told by an after hours maintenance man that we were actually trespassing on private property, he was kind enough to let us hang out for a bit and take pictures.
after that, we familiarized ourselves by driving to the next town, north bend where we found twede's cafe, which is the double R diner in the show. it seemed the diner and the rest of the businesses were closing up at the obscenely late time of 7pm. (that's small towns on a sunday for you) so we headed on back for some r&r.
i am so not a steam room, sauna or whirl pool person because i always feel like i can't breathe, it's so hot. or that i feel like my organs are getting cooked from the inside. ling soup. but dang, the 2 swanky soaking pool with its mineral water and treetop views were just too sweet to pass up. especially when it comes along with some jet action in the stone pool, as well as a water fall faucet. talk about relaxation.
i remember floating back up to our room and getting ready for dinner at the attic lounge. but just minutes after we snagged a table overlooking the snoqualmie falls, the restaurant was completely smoked out because one of the servers lit the fireplace but forgot to open the flue.
what may have been a disappointing turn of events actually worked in our favour. we got dinner delivered to our room, where it was nice and quiet. where we could have our feast on the king sized bed, all comfy and cozy with the telly on.
hella starving by the time there was that knock on the door, we scarfed down with relish our $16-18 sandwiches with yukon gold potato fries (fire roasted chicken & bacon with fontina cheese on house made sea salt foccaccia for sean and salmon & avocado with basil aioli, lettuce and tomato on a house baked brioche bun for me), caesar salad with balsamic dressing and for dessert, lemon cream filled crepe with glazed blueberries. oh my god. so good.
i don't watch tv. heck, i don't even own a tv. so for me it was a real treat to curl up under the covers and watch some cable tv while the food in our bellies digested.
and may i say without going in so much details that the ginormous whirlpool tub has got to be one of the best things about staying at the salish. and did i also mention the peekaboo window that you can open up so that you can talk to the person in the next room from the bath?
the oversized 2+ person tub comes with a myriad of massaging jet stream action AND you have your choice of pink, blue, orange, green, pearl (or a combination) lighting up the water from the bottom of the tub. how very disco.
and so with that ends our first night in twin peaks. not quite the bizarro lynchian world (no dancing midgets speaking backwards or log lady flickering the lights on and off) but never the less, satisfying as a slice of cherry pie and a damn good cup of coffee at the double R.
top 10 fridays: opera movies
opera story lines are so rich in emotions, with its high highs and low lows. it's no wonder that operas are ripe for the picking in being adapted into movies.
in fact, you may have watched some of these movies without knowing they were based on very famous operas.
so for this week's poll we'd like to know which one is your favourite contemporary movie inspired by an opera?
m. butterfly directed by david cronenberg. starring jeremy irons and john lone. the 1993 movie is based on giacomo puccini's madama butterfly.
first name: carmen by jean-luc godard 1983. based loosely on bizet's carmen.
rent. the 2005 movie is based on giacomo puccini's la boheme. starring rosario dawson, jesse l. martin and taye diggs.
the 2001 carmen: a hip hopera starring beyonce knowles, mos def, wyclef jean, mekhi phifer, lil' bow wow. based on bizet's carmen.
the magic flute directed by kenneth branagh. this 2006 english adaptation film version was set during world war I.
the 1999 movie topsy-turvy tells the story about the creation of gilbert and sullivan's the mikado.
onegin starring ralph fiennes and liv tyler is a 1999 film adaptation of pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky's eugene onegin.
tristan and isolde based on legend that inspired wagner's opera. the 2006 movie stars james franco and sophia myles.
lovespell, the 1981 movie starring richard burton and kate mulgrew (yes, of star trek: voyager fame) also inspired by wagner's tristan and isolde opera.
the 2001 moulin rouge starring nicole kidman and ewan mcgregor. directed by baz lurhmann, the movie is based on giuseppe verdi's opera la traviata.
i haven't forgotten all you old time technicolour movie buffs! classic movies inspired by operas will be featured in a future top 10 post. stay tuned!
in fact, you may have watched some of these movies without knowing they were based on very famous operas.
so for this week's poll we'd like to know which one is your favourite contemporary movie inspired by an opera?
m. butterfly directed by david cronenberg. starring jeremy irons and john lone. the 1993 movie is based on giacomo puccini's madama butterfly.
first name: carmen by jean-luc godard 1983. based loosely on bizet's carmen.
rent. the 2005 movie is based on giacomo puccini's la boheme. starring rosario dawson, jesse l. martin and taye diggs.
the 2001 carmen: a hip hopera starring beyonce knowles, mos def, wyclef jean, mekhi phifer, lil' bow wow. based on bizet's carmen.
the magic flute directed by kenneth branagh. this 2006 english adaptation film version was set during world war I.
the 1999 movie topsy-turvy tells the story about the creation of gilbert and sullivan's the mikado.
onegin starring ralph fiennes and liv tyler is a 1999 film adaptation of pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky's eugene onegin.
tristan and isolde based on legend that inspired wagner's opera. the 2006 movie stars james franco and sophia myles.
lovespell, the 1981 movie starring richard burton and kate mulgrew (yes, of star trek: voyager fame) also inspired by wagner's tristan and isolde opera.
the 2001 moulin rouge starring nicole kidman and ewan mcgregor. directed by baz lurhmann, the movie is based on giuseppe verdi's opera la traviata.
i haven't forgotten all you old time technicolour movie buffs! classic movies inspired by operas will be featured in a future top 10 post. stay tuned!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
operamania 101: fire up the bat signal
still in a superhero kinda mood, this week's operamania 101 will spotlight the thinking person's superhero: batman. without any superpowers such as invisibility, wall crawling or superhuman breath, bruce wayne used his smarts, his infinite moolah and technology to kick some serious criminal butts.
but like all superheroes, there was a trigger that spurred him to don on a latex costume and fight crime.
in batman begins, the 2005 movie by christopher nolan, the young bruce wayne falls down a well and right into the nest of a bat cave, where he is swarmed.
wayne's chiroptophobia from the recent trauma strikes one fateful night when he goes to see the mefistofele opera with his parents. the bat costumed performers flapping around on stage bring back the memories of being attacked in the cave. bruce asks to go home and the family leaves the opera early to meet their doom in a desolate alley.
mefistofele is an opera based on the faust legend and written by italian composer arrigo boito. mefistofele aka the devil lays a bet with the heavens that he can win the soul of faust. instead of being terrified when faust meets mefistofele, he strikes a deal: his soul in exchange for worldly bliss.
the song folletto! folletto! as heard on batman begins is from act 2: the witches sabbath. it is here where mefistofele takes faust to witness an orgy on brocken mountain. faust then has a disturbing vision that his love, margarita is in chains with her throat cut.
not quite the appropriate viewing material for a young boy, yes? but then again, bruce wayne turned out to be not just an ordinary boy.
but like all superheroes, there was a trigger that spurred him to don on a latex costume and fight crime.
in batman begins, the 2005 movie by christopher nolan, the young bruce wayne falls down a well and right into the nest of a bat cave, where he is swarmed.
wayne's chiroptophobia from the recent trauma strikes one fateful night when he goes to see the mefistofele opera with his parents. the bat costumed performers flapping around on stage bring back the memories of being attacked in the cave. bruce asks to go home and the family leaves the opera early to meet their doom in a desolate alley.
mefistofele is an opera based on the faust legend and written by italian composer arrigo boito. mefistofele aka the devil lays a bet with the heavens that he can win the soul of faust. instead of being terrified when faust meets mefistofele, he strikes a deal: his soul in exchange for worldly bliss.
the song folletto! folletto! as heard on batman begins is from act 2: the witches sabbath. it is here where mefistofele takes faust to witness an orgy on brocken mountain. faust then has a disturbing vision that his love, margarita is in chains with her throat cut.
not quite the appropriate viewing material for a young boy, yes? but then again, bruce wayne turned out to be not just an ordinary boy.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
birthday at the sandbar
a surprise birthday party for our dear friend lil on friday.
photos courtesy of wilson
wishing lil every happiness in the world.
photos courtesy of wilson
wishing lil every happiness in the world.
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