relay for life

Jeff and I went to see Sum Of All Fears last night at the Paramount, and both liked it more than we expected despite Ben Affleck not being as good a Jack Ryan as Harrison Ford.

I'm pleased to report that the bureaucratic loose ends in my life are gradually being tied up. I have a meeting this morning with my accountant to sign some papers re: my numbered account filing, papers that another lawyer had erroneously told me didn't need to be filed. I also recently received an apology letter from the Tax Services Department admitting that they were wrong about my owing them a late GST election filing penalty fee. Apparently they had marked down a U.S. cheque as being in Canadian funds even though they cashed it as U.S. They apologized for the inconvenience. It would have been nice if they had offered to pay my tax lawyer's fees to straighten out the mess, too.

None of the above were part of my audit, by the way; that remains a separate thorn in my side. I'm still waiting to hear more about that. Apparently they're focussing on the sale of Inkspot right now. I just want it to be finally over with.





Allison, Jodi and I are performing at Relay For Life tonight! Yesterday the entertainment coordinator e-mailed to ask for some bio info as well as whether any of us had been affected by cancer in our lives.

The latter question made me realize how much we had been affected. I've lost three family members to cancer (my mother, aunt, and grandmother...all non-smokers). Jodi's father was diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago but survived, and her aunt is being treated for cancer. My friend Christine Miller recently was declared cancer-free after a bout of treatments; she and Andy Beaton are throwing a party next weekend in celebration. Jodi, Allison and I all know friends who are being or have been affected by cancer or the threat of cancer.

Because of the prevalence of cancer in our family, Ruth and I both know we're at a somewhat higher risk that others. Other than going to physicals and trying to stay healthy, I don't fret about it too much; what's the point? But I did ask my doctor what I could do to reduce the risk. Since I'm already a non-smoker, she said the best thing I could do was to avoid contact with second-hand smoke. Easier said than done, though, what with corporate types doing their panic-puff breaks outside buildings during office hours in our neighbourhood.

I hate cancer with a passion I can't begin to describe. I've seen what it can do to people, both the victims and the ones left behind.

Which is why I'm particularly happy to be involved in helping out with the Relay For Life. Somehow, I think my mom would have been pleased, too.





Looks like Luisa and Reid and Ronnie might be at the event tonight! Yay, that means at least some people will actually be listening to us! Allison, Jodi and I expect that most people will be milling around, talking, watching the relay itself, but we're also hoping that some will be intrigued enough by our somewhat off-the-beaten-track (i.e. geeky) repertoire to listen. :-)

Here's our final playlist (which may be tweaked depending on how the timing goes):

Cuz He's A Guy - with some new guy lines
This Island Earth - Nylons song
Alien Jellyfish - song by Chris Conway
Marvin - ode to Marvin the Martian
Library Boy - was a birthday present for Rand
I'm A Believer - Monkees!
Friendship Song
Technonerdboy
Another Story
70s Song
I Want To Believe
Neurotic Love Song - I make a fool of myself
Twinkle In His Eye
Viewmaster - by Rand Bellavia and Adam English
Hockey Monkey Song - by James Kochalka


Here's the full schedule that I received in e-mail yesterday:

CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE 2002
TORONTO REGION
BIRCHMOUNT STADIUM, SCARBOROUGH (JUNE 7ñ8, 2002)

ON STAGE ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

Friday, June 7

5:30ñ6:30 p.m.	14 Carrots Sold Band
6:45 p.m.	Warm Up Exercise
7:00 p.m.	Opening Ceremony Note of Welcome Ms. Ayesha Khan & Ms. Laurie Dubrovac Event Co-chairs, Relay For Life 2002, Toronto Region National Anthem Introduce and Thank Sponsors and VIPS Mr. Bill Barley President, Canadian Cancer Society Toronto Region Remarks by: The Bay, Scotiabank Group, Rogers Television, Toronto Community News "Say A Prayer Against Cancer" Performed by Ms. Salome Bey Note of Thanks Ms. Sylvia Leonard Associate Director, Regional Operations Canadian Cancer Society Ontario Division
7:30 p.m.	Cancer Survivorís Victory Lap Remarks by Honourable Dan Newman, MPP "Survival" by the Moody Blues, played by14 Carrots Sold Reading of Survivorsí names by Mr. Ken Kostic
7:40-8:15 p.m.	Lucky Fool Band
8:20-8:40 p.m.	HIP HOP Dance Group
8:45-9:30 p.m.	Urban Tapestry Band
9:30-10:00 p.m.	Songs by Ms. Salome Bey
10:00 p.m.	Luminary Ceremony Remarks By Mr. Bobby Baun, NHL Alumni "Amazing Grace" The Red Hackle Pipes and Drums "Stone By Stone" By Mr. Harry Lewis
10:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m.	Beautiful 2000 Band
11:00 p.m.	Music & Karaoke with DJ

I'm taking a bus to Port Elgin tomorrow morning to hang out with Craig and other friends for the weekend; Jeff is driving up with Parki tonight.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	My niece Annie.
	I saw this in a pet store recently and thought it way too bizarre. Are ferrets really that common a pet?!
	I mentioned in a recent Blathering that I tried glassblowing at Marcon. Steve Scherer showed me how to create a little glass mouse. You can see his mouse at the top of this photo, and my mouse on the bottom. Mine looks a bit bloated and beaten, but I adore him just the same. His name is Tobermory.

jean-luc

(UPDATE: Just got an update from the Relay For Life people. Our timeslot has been changed to 8:45-9:30 pm, after a hip-hop band and just before Salome Bey)

The Real Diary Critic posted a review of my journal today. My score: 5 out of 10. :-)

Hey, Chow Yun-Fat is filming Bulletproof Monk in our neighbourhood this Saturday. The notice in the elevator says that this movie is a comedy adventure about "a monk that teams up with a thief on a spiritual quest to defeat evil". Sounds like a brilliantly original plot, doesn't it? I'm surprised Chris Rock isn't hidden away in the cast list somewhere.

Our neighbourhood seems to be a popular spot for movie companies, mostly for scenes involving cars: car chases, car crashes, people getting out of cars, people standing in front of cars and talking. Sometimes the film crew will scatter garbage along the street and the cabs will have New York plates.





Roy Thompson Hall and Metro Hall are also popular spots. The council scene in the first X-Men movie was filmed across the street, and sometimes I used to see parked spaceships and blue-skinned aliens in Metro Square from my office while scenes from a Gene Roddenberry tv series was being filmed (can't remember the name, sorry; I did try watching it once). Yes, PATRICK STEWART was within spitting distance of my apartment! (*swoon) Luisa and I brazenly infiltrated the set area one day but I did not catch a glimpse of my heartthrob, sadly.

The apartment down the hall was rented out to film a scene for a Vince Vaughn movie; I came home after doing errands one day to find a film crew huddled along the hallway, motioning for me to be quiet.

Practised with Allison and Jodi last night. We went to Swiss Chalet with Jeff for dinner. I've been in Chalet sauce heaven since a Swiss Chalet moved in a one-minute walk away from our apartment. Yes, I know...it's not fine cuisine. But I find something comforting about the sameness of the food, the bland mashed potatoes, the limp lettuce, the perkiness of the waitstaff. When I'm feeling melancholy or stressed, I always find myself craving a visit.





Last night, we had an especially perky waiter. He seemed to have a thing for Jeff, though Jeff denies this, and called Allison and I "darling". We gave him a nice tip.

My only complaint about that particular Swiss Chalet are the washrooms. First off, you have to wander down a winding and half-lit corridor to find them (I half-expected to be eaten by a grue). I hate that, when you spend more time looking for the restrooms than you do actually eating your meal.

Then when you finally find the restrooms, you discover that the stalls were built by anorexic contortionists. Finding a way to shut the door after entering the stall without climbing into the toilet bowl yourself becomes an exciting challenge.

Ok, maybe I exaggerate slightly. Having the smallest bladder in the world, however, I'm always aware of this sort of thing.





Anyway, we went back the apartment after dinner and shared some chocolates kindly sent by Rika Koerte and David Peek from the UK. These chocolates were AMAZING. The flavours included: Milk chocolate shell with Cardamom, Dark chocolate with thyme, Ivory Coast dark chocolate with aniseed filling, Vanilla and Colombian cocoa filling, Pink pepper filling, Milk chocolate shell with cinnamon, Sao Tome chocolate with ginger filling, Grenada dark chocolate with licorice filling. We each had one, and plan to ration them over the next few practices: I chose pink pepper, Allison chose thyme, Jodi chose the white chocolate. YUMMMMMM.

Thank you, Rika and David!

We ran through our entire set for tomorrow night, including the Neurotic Love Song in which I act like a fool YET AGAIN. For those of you are lucky enough not to have witnessed this song, it's basically about an obsessed Patrick Stewart / Jean-Luc Picard fan, and I use props while Jodi and Allison sing. Each time we do it, I swear up and down that I'm NEVER DOING THIS SONG EVER EVER AGAIN.

But then we do, just because it seems to be such a crowd-pleaser. Whether it is in a non-filk venue remains to be seen.

I can't believe it's already June.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Me.
	Jeff at Swiss Chalet, having just ordered his Chicken and Shrimp Combo Special.
	Allison studiously ignoring me. >:-)
	Urban Tapestry practice last night, in preparation for our Relay For Life gig tomorrow night.
	Me.

filk photos

(Preamble: There is lots of filk talk in this particular entry. If you want to know what filk is, feel free to check out The Dandelion Report)

So I've been missing some of my filk friends a lot lately. I only get to see them at a few conventions throughout the year. This used to be enough, but over the years I've grown closer to some of them. Geography really sucks sometimes. So do airfares, else I'd be spending a lot more time in Michigan and California and New York and the UK and Winnipeg and Ohio and Atlanta. :-)

I'm also finding that conventions themselves, while lots of fun, tend to be too hectic to spend any real time with friends. I always feel as if I'm getting snatches of conversation with many different people, with everyone being pulled in a hundred different directions at once.





Maybe it's an age thing. :-) When I first began attending sf and filk conventions, I enjoyed all the activity, hanging out with as many different friends as I could, wanting to absorb as much as possible within the limited time I had.

Unless I have Guest duties, I now far prefer a lower-key con experience. I realize it's unrealistic to try attending ALL programming and every concert, even if it means having to risk offending the person running the panel or performing in the concert. I also have realized that if I try to see everything and spend time with -everyone- I want to at a convention, I'll only end up frustrated and feeling as if I didn't get enough time with any one person.

So I have to make choices. At OVFF last year, someone I didn't know came up to me in the hallway and started reaming me out, saying that I was a hard person to get to know because I was always busy at conventions, that I never seemed to be free for conversations, that I should be making time to talk to people other than my friends.

At the time, I was too shocked to say much except a toned-down version of what I've already said in my Blatherings. Later on, though, I was angry.





I'm sure that's where some of the "filk elitism" stuff comes from in filk politics, to tell you the truth, when certain types get upset about some people hang out with certain friends rather than everyone all at once.

I once read a posting in rec.music.filk from someone who felt that once a filker released a CD or performed in public, that they had an obligation to make sure they were always accessible by the filk community at a convention, that they should always attend the open filk, avoid private room gatherings, and should focus on keeping the filk community happy.

This majorly ticked me off, I have to say.

If I've been invited to be a guest of the convention, then that's a different story. I consider Conchord in August, for example, to be a working con. I know Allison and Jodi do, too. We'll have fun, of course, but our primary obligation IS to the convention committee and those who are attending the convention. The people at Conchord are being kind enough to fly us out to California as well as paying our memberships, banquet and hotel fees.

It's fair and proper for them to expect to get their money's worth in return. Allison, Jodi and I work very hard to earn our keep when we're invited to conventions. At the risk of blowing our own horn, I think we do a darned good job, too.

If I'm paying my own way, however, I feel that I can spend my time at the convention however I'd like.

But I digress.





So I'm missing my filk friends and selfishly wishing that everyone would just give in and move to Toronto. No, really, I mean it. Toronto's a very cool city with lots of interesting things to do and see and eat. And we have FilKONtario!

I recently came across a great group picture taken by Beckett Gladney at FKO 2000.






Click on the above photo to get the bigger version. I'd love to be able to identify all the people in this picture (Update 3:24 pm: Yay, all the question mark names have all been filled in or corrected. Many thanks to Bill Sutton, Allison, Heather Borean, Rand Bellavia, Steve Brinich, Beckett Gladney, Sherman Dorn and Katy Droege for their help :-)). The bigger photo has numbers written on everyone's chests, and I've listed the names I know below. I would greatly appreciate any corrections or additions being sent my way!.

1. Amanda Snyder
2. Randy Hoffman
3. Dave Wheeler
4. Steve Brinich
5. John Caspell
6. Daniel Glasser
7. Gary Ehrlich
8. Paul Kwinn
9. Jodi Krangle
10. Phil Allcock
11. Me
12. Larry Warner
13. Lloyd Landa
14. Freddy Brown
15. Karen Linsley
16. Phil Parker
17. Susan Urban
18. Rennie Browne
19. Sheryl Gere
20. Shelby Bartellis
21. Melissa Glasser
22. Kathleen Sloan
23. Dave Clement
24. Crystal Paul
25. Gary McGath
26. Judith Hayman
27. Allison Durno
28. Nancy Freeman
29. Liam Browne
30. Mike Browne
31. Zander (Alexander) Amis
32. Maya Amis
33. Joe Kesselman
34. Wayne Borean
35. Persis Love
36. Talis Love
37. Diana Huey
38. Steve Macdonald
39. Heather Borean
40. Cecil Grubb
41. Scott Snyder
42. Lissa Allcock
43. Tim Walker
44. Dave Hayman
45. Trace Hageman (sp?)

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Me, Amanda Snyder, Allison & Lissa Allcock. Allison says this photo was taken at FKO 2000, where Scott Snyder was Interfilk guest. Photo by Beckett.
	Top row: Me, Allison, Paul Kwinn, Jodi. Bottom row: Rand Bellavia, Luis Garcia, Scott Snyder, Adam English. FKO 2000. Photo by Beckett.
	Rand shows Andrea the digital movie he just took of her as Mary braids Andrea's hair.
	I think this was taken at an OVFF. From left to right: Tanya Bellavia, Taunya Gren, Mark Osier, Beckett Gladney, Kathy Cogswell, Paul Kwinn.
	Click here for the bigger version. Photo by Beckett Gladney at FKO 2000.

running

Worked on my novel yesterday, for the first time in what seems like ages. CCRA audit stuff seems to have quieted somewhat, though I'm still gritting my teeth and waiting for the final blow.

I heard from someone working with the U.S. Forest Service who wanted to know if he could use my "famous wood stacking photo" in one of their publications. I'm assuming he means the photo at the top of my Woodpile Philosophy page, but I've written to confirm. I'm highly amused (and flattered, of course). Apparently the guy was doing an online search for any photos of properly stacked firewood.





Went for a run yesterday, and this time went as far as Ontario Place for my halfway point. I'm jealous of Reid's scenic running route; there aren't many trees along mine. Lots of water, though. :-)

I checked out the H.M.C.S. Haida and a swan family paddling nearby. My running music today: Elvis Costello & The Attractions, "All This Useless Beauty".

I still like running, unbelieveably. I never thought of myself as a runner; the sport had utterly no appeal to me until this year. And realistically, who knows? Maybe it'll have no appeal to me next year. But right now, I love it. I love the fact that I can go anywhere I want. I love the fact that I don't have to worry about dodging around downtown Toronto traffic (which I had to worry about when I was biking regularly), that I don't have to focus on the mechanics of what I'm doing.

This leaves me room to think about other things, to reminisce, to dream, or to focus on the music I'm listening to. No laptop, no cellphone; there's something incredibly liberating about being unreachable by anyone. I don't think I'll ever be a social runner.

Most of all, I like having the space to think. Sometimes it's too easy to let myself get caught up in the barrage of stimuli that is day-to-day life: e-mail, telephones, Palm scheduling, rush hour people and car traffic, the constant input and processing of information.

On a good run, I find myself slipping into almost meditative state. Work stresses suddenly seem very far away. I'm aware of the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement, my breathing, my heart pounding in my chest. I feel the breeze off the lake, hear the cries of the seagulls as they circle overhead. And I feel as if I could run forever.

Not every run is a good run, of course. Some days I feel like I weigh a million pounds, and every pound is inexorably pulling me down, sapping my strength. I don't feel as if I could run forever; I don't even know if I can make it another few feet before throwing up. ;-)

But as long as I'm having more good days than bad, I'll keep running.

:-)





Links/sites of interest:

Amazon is planning to launch a Canadian site on June 25th. Yay, hopefully this will get rid of the seemingly random duty fees we Canadians have to face with our Amazon orders.
(Source: Globe Technology)

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Today's Blatherpics:

	Lilacs in the Toronto Music Garden. I love the fragrance of fresh lilac blossoms. If I lived out in the country and had any kind of green thumb, I'd plant lilac bushes everywhere.
	Entering Ontario Place.
	Swans just outside Ontario Place and the Molson Ampitheatre.
	The H.M.C.S. Haida historic naval ship exhibit.

niecevisit

Went to my sister's place last night for dinner, and she showed me an advance copy of her newest book, I'd Know You Anywhere (Annick Press, text by Hazel Hutchins, illustrations by Ruth Ohi), which comes out this fall.

Annie was the model for the little boy, and Kaarel posed as the model of the father. She changed the facial features, of course, but you can still still elements of their expressions in her drawings. It's so wonderful to flip through the pages and see Annie's face peering out at me everywhere! Here's an example of the original photo where Ruth had Annie and Kaarel pose:





And here's the resulting illustration:





I have such a cool sister! Here's a picture of her from last night:





She hates having her photo taken, so I generally have to either take stealth photos, or so many in a row that she can't possible hide from all of them. I chose the latter route last night.

After dinner, Jeff and I put Sara and Annie to bed. The current ritual is for us all to pile on top of Annie's bed for bedtime story reading. While Jeff and Sara were talking, Annie started reading a picture book to me. She just started reading on her own within the past few months; I get such a thrill out of hearing her sounding out words herself.

It's hard for me to concentrate on her reading as she sits cross-legged beside me on the bed, though; I just want to hug her all the time, and kiss her head over and over. When she was younger, she used to let me cuddle her as much as I wanted but now that she's getting older, she's mastered the trick of making her body ram-rod straight when I hug her, so that she slides out of my arms. Triumphant in her escape, she giggles and runs away.

Sometimes, though, she'll clamber into my lap and lean against me. I hug her very gently, feeling as though I'm trying not to scare away a small bird that has hopped up to take food from my hand. Those are the kind of moments I treasure most.

I am crazy about those girls. :-)





Thanks to Margaret Bumby for letting me know that the name of the guy with the drum is David Rozian (also known as "Davroz" in techie circles). Supposedly he makes a great chocolate chip and cinnamon cookie. :-)

A couple of you have asked about Urban Tapestry's Relay For Life gig this Friday (a Canadian Cancer Society charity event). We're going to be performing from 9:15-10 pm at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough. Here's the full entertainment line-up for the event that evening:

7-Jun RELAY FOR LIFE
6:30 -7:00 Warmup
7 - 7:30 Opening ceremonies
7:30 - 8:15 Salome Bey
8:15 -8:30 Dance
8:30 - 9:00 Luck Fool
9:00 - 9:15 Comedian
9:15 - 10:00 Urban Tapestry
10 - 10:40 Luminary Ceremony
10:40 - 11:30 Beautiful 2000
11:30 DJ

Here's our tentative playlist, which will likely change during the performance depending on the audience and the timing (we've been warned that we may have our performance slot expanded or shrunk by 10 minutes):

Cuz He's A Guy
This Island Earth
Alien Jellyfish
Marvin
Library Boy
I'm A Believer
Friendship Song
Technonerdboy
Another Story
70s Song
(I Want To Believe)) -- may cut this
Neurotic Love Song
Twinkle In His Eye
Viewmaster
Hockey Monkey

We suspect the venue will be very casual, with people talking and walking around while we're playing, with the main focus being on the relay itself.