all hallows eve

What did you do for All Hallows Eve? This year, I worked from 9AM to 4PM and and then celebrated with my parents and a bottle of Fireball (my new favorite liquor). I was challenged to drink the bottle. Its looking pretty good. Chances are I may do it.

As I said, I worked today and two people actually dressed up for it. I feel bad that I didn't. When I got home I quickly changed into my Leafs jersey and Senators t-shirt. Thinking back, though, I regret not going to work dressed in my hockey garb. Oh well, there's always next year...

Here are some pix of Halloween around my neighborhood.

Halloween '09

More bus stories...

On a wet and rainy day, I thought I had left in time to catch my bus. I was wrong... maybe.

I was walking down the street, (admittedly, talking on my phone), when suddenly the bus went by. Either it was early or I was late. (I still don't know which.) However, it just so happens that my parents don't live too far away, so I detoured and asked if either of them would give me a ride to work (or to at least help me catch up to the bus I missed). My mother begrudgingly agreed. We started on our way when suddenly she saw a bus in the distance. Seeing that the bus was about to stop, I got out of the car and waved her on. Half a second later, I discovered that this particular bus was "not in service".

The driver, however, looked at me and realized that I was stranded and then graciously asked where I was going and if he could give me a lift, so I got on board. He asked if I was going to work (which I was) and if I was going to be late (which I might have been if he hadn't decided to stop for me). Eventually, we caught up to the right bus and I jumped on board as if nothing had gone wrong this morning. I made it to work with time to spare, but I'm still having a hard time figuring out this supposed "time warp". I'm really not sure how I made it to work on time.

Name dropping? Yeah, thats right!

I was thinking about this the other day. There really aren't many people who I idealize and go gaga for, but if I ever got the opportunity I would have to say that I would want to meet Gillian Anderson of The X-Files and a slew of other TV and film. Her drive and determination to do whats right whether that be on film, stage or with any of her various other charity works is very appealing to me. Most notably, she is involved with various organizations in Africa as well as the Neurofibromatosis organization.

Here is a list of people I have met:
Brent Butt (comedian/Corner Gass) - Came into the store.
Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors) - Came into the store.
Kevin Laliberté (Spanish Guitarist) - dedicated a song to me on my birthday
Amanda Martinez (Jazz Vocalist) - brief encounter in the washroom at The Gate... no, I am not a stalker!!
Elizabeth Sheppard (Jazz Vocalist) - collected two autographs on two cd's (different occasions)
George Stroumboulopoulos (Much Music/The Hour) - said he thought he knew me from somewhere when I attended a taping... maybe in a past life?
Ron MacLean (Hockey Night In Canada) - toured the CBC building in High School and got an autograph before a tapingt.

Who have you met? Who would you like to meet?

Fireflies

Its amazing what you can find late at night when your surfing the interweb. I just found this site called "Project Opus". Check out this track by (Canadian born) Carrie Catherine, called Fireflies. Leave a comment. Let me know what you think of it!!

» Get your own FREE music player

riding the bus (part deux)

So, apparently I actually learned from my mistake. At the end of my work shift I now punch out and then run to catch the early bus. Yay me!! I have it down to a science. The irony is that my ride takes 20 mins. in the morning to get to work and an hour in the evening to go home from work and it has nothing to do with "rush hour". I worked it out that, even if I traveled the same way home as I do in the morning, I would still need an hour because I would have to wait 25 mins. for the right bus to get to the stop!! Blah.

Look To The Rainbow

Last night, I went to see Amanda Martinez in concert at Koerner Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Wow! I am so in awe of her. She is a fabulous Latin jazz singer/song-write and is definitely carving out a name for herself in the music scene.

I am fortunate to have a jazz bar in the neighborhood of where I live and even more so to have the privilege of seeing many up and coming jazz artist (Amanda included) there fore free. I have been following her career over the last 3 years as she has spawned two terrific albums entitled "Sola" and "Amor" and look forward to seeing where her career takes her.

photo credit: Marina Dempster http://www.amandamartinez.ca

'Look To The Rainbow' is the last track on her debut album "Sola". It is a song that she, herself has said, she loves to sing. She closed the show with it last night. Arranged by Kevin Laliberté, its a sweet song that deserves its props.

Look To The Rainbow
(B. Lane)

On the day I was born,
Said my father, said he.
I've an an elegant legacy
Waitin' for ye,
'Tis a rhyme for your lips
And a song for your heart,
To sing it whenever
The world falls apart.

Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.

'Twas a sumptuous
To bequeath to a child.
Oh the lure of that song
Kept her feet funnin' wild.
For you never grow old
And you never stand still,
With whippoorwills singin'
Beyond the next hill.

Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.

 Amanda Martinez's Album: Sola
 Look To The Rainbow (direct link)

Whats In A Name? Getting To Know U

"The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy is the most successful book ever to come out of the great publishing companies of Ursa Minor. It is about the size of a paper back book, but looks more like a large pocket calculator, having upon its face over a hundred flat press-buttons and a screen about four inches square, upon which any one of over six million pages can be summoned almost instantly. It comes in a durable plastic cover, upon which the words DON'T PANIC are printed in large, friendly letters."

~ Douglas Adams

What can I say? I am a fan of Arthur Dent and Ford Perfect's travels across the universe.

riding the bus (or not)

I have had to get use to a new hours at work. Today, I left at 5 PM and forgot to check the bus sched. before I walked out. I stood at the stop for a grand total of 5 mins. before then deciding to grab a quick coffee at "Mickey D`s". Obviously, it wasn't quick enough. When I came out, coffee in hand, the bus was already at my stop. In mid-sip of the foul tasting (and smelling) sludge, there was nothing I could do to make it wait. It took off without me and I cursed myself for being so impatient.

The Grand River Dinner Cruise

Well, this vid. is late in being edited... and uploaded. I can't remember exactly when we did the cruise. (I'm thinking August although it could have easily been July!!)... Anyways...

Whenever it was, I took a day off work during the summer to attend a dinner cruise with mum and dad. Although we all had a great time, I have to confess, I felt a little out of sorts... I was most definitely among the very few that didn't feel the need to colour their hair to hide any greys.

I had a great time, though. The food was good. The music was a great mix of old and newish folk songs. And the captain of our boat kept us entertained with his running narrative of Grand River stories. (One that comes to mind is of one little boy who accidentally tried to drawn his father's brand new sports car in the river.)


grand river dinner cruise from dontpanic on Vimeo.