Anti-Blathering

Just came back from the Olympic Bid Announcement party. As you probably already know by now, Toronto lost. Even though this was the all-round prediction before the bid, I felt compelled to check out the party anyway, just for the people-watching opportunities. Plus I can never resist an opportunity to attend a gathering in which Torontonians are so openly united in cheering for something.





A ton of media were milling about, interviewing and filming, as well as being perched on various vantage points along Front Street. There were free pancakes, but I opted out of standing in the mega-line to wander around instead. Volunteers were handing out free flags, lemonade, Olympics bid fridge magnets. Bands and dance groups entertained the crowd, which was growing increasingly restless as the bid announcement time approached. Many in the crowd had gone out of their way to declare their support, painting their faces, draping Canadian flags around their shoulders, wearing Toronto Olympic bid t-shirts and caps. I wore my Solitudes cap and Waiting For Frodo t-shirt. Someone complimented me on my t-shirt. :-)





Everyone's hopes were raised, of course, when it was announced that the bid would go into a second round. Only to be dashed a short time later when it was announced that Beijing had won the bid. The crowd's spirit quickly deflated after that, though most seemed to want to wait around for a few minutes as if they were half-hoping that the IOC would change its mind. Ex-Mayor Crombie tried leading the crowd in another rendition of "Expect the World" as people started to drift away.


Up to recently, I was somewhat neutral about the Toronto Olympic bid. I just didn't want Beijing to get the Olympics because I have real problems with their handling (past and present) of human rights issues. Despite my earlier ho-hum attitude, however, I couldn't help but get excited along with the rest of the crowd, cheering and frantically waving my flag on cue. It was fun. :-)


But just imagine the party we would have had had Toronto won....





If you missed yesterday's late-posted Blathering, do check it out for updated photos of Lissa's and Phil's new baby. My Wasaga Beach trip report will be postponed until later this week.


Some friends of mine, Parki and Neil, recently complained about how consistently cheery and perky my Blatherings are. One even challenged me to write an Anti-Blathering entry, just to see if I could do it. I actually did consider this, but abandoned the attempt early on. Fact is, it's just not in me right now, especially not since I moved home from Philadelphia. I'm happier now than I have been in a long time (unemployed, but happy :-)).


One of these friends (Parki) decided to go ahead and create an Anti-Blathering anyway. I'm going to include the link here, but first be warned that if you're easily offended or if you don't know me that well (and will therefore not get the irony), you should probably not click on the link.


Here's the link.


I've been in contact with my lawyers, of course, and will file as many lawsuits as I can possibly squeeze in (and having very nearly filed another lawsuit in recent months, I am dying to exercise my newfound legalese knowledge) before Jeff and I leave on our hiking trip.


That is, as soon as my stomach stops hurting from laughing. ;-)

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll:

Did you (or do you plan to) read the "Anti-Blathering" mentioned above despite the dire warnings?

REAL Alexander pics

Jeff and I just got back from our visit to Wasaga Beach with Ruth, Sara and Annie...report and pics tomorrow! I'll also be wandering down with my digital camera to Front Street (3 minute walk away) tomorrow morning to check out Toronto's 2008 Olympic Bid Announcement Street Party. Everyone I know in Toronto predicts that Beijing will get the Olympics in 2008. If they're right (and I suspect they are), the festivities will be winding down VERY fast...but hey, they're offering free pancakes. :-)









Many thanks to Phil for sending me these photos of Alexander so I can replace the rather feeble ones from the last Blathering.









For those interested in discussing babystuff and parentingstuff, by the way, I have set up a Babytalk discussion forum for those interested. I know some of you are already members of private lists, but this forum is open to anyone who may be interested. Even though I'm not a parent and have no interest in becoming a parent, I do confess that I actually am interested in what's going on in babyland (I know there are quite a few new parents out there).

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll:

Have you ever been in the labour room watching a baby being born? (yes, giving birth to one does count)

oh baby!!

(Please note: I'll be out of town and offline for a few days.)


A hearty welcome to Alexander Matthew Allcock, who made his debut this morning!


Phil posted the following message in the Blatherchat message board:




Just a brief message as it's 10 past 3 in the morning... but Lissa gave birth today at 00:34 (by C-section after ineffective labour after her waters broke (2 weeks early) on Friday). Mother and baby are fine, his name will be Alexander Matthew Allcock and he's 8lb, 1oz. Lissa will be in hospital for 4-5 days, but if you send congrats to Lissa@oreos.org then I'll print them off and take them in for her.


World - live in dread! We have spawned!


Phil




Many congrats to Lissa and Phil!!









Lacking a current photo of young Alexander, I combed my photo files for any earlier pictures in which he makes an appearance. In most cases, Lissa is also in the photo. :-)









Here is Alexander enjoying truffles and a hot tub in Toronto in March:









Can't wait to meet Alexander! I'll have to keep an eye open for seat sales to the UK next year...

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll:

Are you comfortable enough with babies to be able to change the diaper of a newborn for the first time without guidance?

Watergun Fun 2001

The thunderstorm would have thwarted any ordinary outdoor bbq but had little effect on "Watergun Fun 2001" since we were all planning to get wet anyway. :-) Everyone had at least one watergun of some sort, and Reid and Luisa stocked extras.


Everyone admired my umbrella-shield set-up (or at least I like to imagine they did)...Jeff had cut two panels out of the open umbrella and covered with a clear plastic. We thus had one for shooting through, and one for peering through. It worked pretty well, especially when it began raining! Pumping up was a bit awkward, but well worth it for the overall effect.





'Twas interesting to compare the different strategies of watergun attacks. Some chose to unload all their water/ammunition at once, with the goal of drenching the opponent as fast as possible. Some chose strategic sniping locations, or ganged up with others to launch an attack. "Safe" zones were the children's tent in the corner of the backyard, the covered deck, and the hose area where people were reloading.









After the watergun fight, we all went swimming. Some brought swimsuits (Bryan's was especially festive), some jumped in with all their clothes, still with their waterguns. Luisa and Reid had cranked up the heat in the pool. From time to time we'd create a whirlpool (see above photo, taken through a screen window) by swimming/wading quickly around and around in one direction. Everyone should try this sometime; it's way fun. Done correctly, the resulting whirlpool action actually creates a dip in the center of the pool (those who prefer quieter waters stay here). The force of the water motion is surprising...I tried grabbing hold of the pool ladder as I was swept past to see if I could, for example, was pulled away despite my best efforts.









A ton of yummy food...barbecued chicken, sausages, hamburgers, hot dogs, fruit, vegetables, cookies, pie, more. After pigging out, I snuck away and took a brief nap in Ronnie's room before going back for another swim. Reid and Luisa turned on the pool lights when it got dark; the steam rising from the water created a wonderfully other-worldly effect, especially Luisa brought out a big air mattress and the smaller kids piled on top the improvised raft and Jeff Kesner pushed them around the pool.









Great party, great group of people, and the kind of event which appealed equally to adults and children alike..mainly because all the adults there were kids at heart themselves. :-) One of the things I enjoyed most about the party was wandering around the house and yard, checking out what the various clusters of partygoers were up to. Some spent the entire time outdoors with waterguns and in the pool; others went downstairs to play computer games. There were pockets of interesting conversation going on all over the house. No smalltalk. :-) This is my favourite kind of social party, with nuggets of good memories to take away and savour for years after. I've never been much for the formal "mix and mingle and smalltalk with people you'll likely never see again" type of gathering.


Many hearty thanks to Reid and Luisa for hosting this event!









Today's Blatherpics:


Photos from Reid and Luisa's "Watergun Fun 2001" party. For more pictures, see this photo gallery.

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll:

Do you own a watergun?

Gwyneth Paltrow and me

Allison and Jodi came over last night. We worked on two new songs I wrote at the cottage..."Obsession" (Harry Potter song) and "Dot Com Survivor". It's -very- cool for me to see a song come together in the group. They even learned all the counterpoint melody and harmony bits, and we put a rough version on tape. Not sure when we're going to be able to perform these songs, though, since it's possible that the three of us may not be able to attend the same convention until FilKONtario next year. :-(





I've been doing a lot more harp playing lately, some improvisational stuff. I'm also starting to compose some vocal and instrumental pieces. I still owe Diana Huey a children's song but have gone a bit nuts and am writing several for her instead (mainly because I feel so guilty that it's so late!), at least one with the aid of GP. It is -such- a pleasure noodling about on the harp.









My harp's name is Gwyneth Paltrow, by the way (hence "GP"). For those of you who didn't read that Blathering, this name came about after conversations with several harpers who told me that my instrument would eventually tell me its name. So I waited for my harp to suggest something lovely and Celtic-sounding, like Morganna or Rowan...but instead it gave me "Gwyneth Paltrow". Allison even made a cross-stitch in GP's honour.


Sure wish some of you UK harpers would move to Toronto, at least long enough for us to do some jamming together and so I could pick your brains.









Today's Blatherpics:


More photos from the archives, this time of some of my filk/music friends. The photo at the top is of Jodi, Allison and me back in 1993, near Sound Techniques studio during the recording of our first album.

Feel free to suggest a daily poll question.


Today's Poll:

Are any of your close friendships at least twenty years old?