Alright, so my well-intentioned plans of writing on this thing every day have clearly not worked out. So it goes. I'm alright with it.
Not surprisingly, I've been busy, busy, BUSY! Turns out that simultaneously assistant directing the Peace Theatre Camp production and producing/stage managing Two in the Bush for the Fringe Festival was maybe not the wisest undertaking. But I made it through! The Fringe ends today, we had our final Two in the Bush performance this afternoon - that is, until we perform at the "Best of the Fringe" hold-over series at the Diesel Playhouse at the end of this month! Woo Hoo!!
What's kept me going, (although I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't had the time to properly acknowledge this by returning phone calls & emails) have been the lovely, often totally unexpected, and rather out-of-the-blue phone messages and emails (and blog comments!) from various people out there, simply sending me their love, support and thoughts. Truly, these have always arrived just when I need 'em the most, and have given me the hope, strength and inspiration to keep going... even in the face of total exhaustion and frustration.
Thank goodness for a little help from my friends!
I have to say, amidst all of this (great, important, and meaningful - to me atleast) work, I have felt a little bit lost... Lost in the sense that I've felt like I've been working so hard on other peoples' projects that I've forgotten a little bit about who I am, and what I want... But now that the Fringe is over, and Peace Camp will perform, and wrap up, at the end of this coming week, I am feeling as though I will have a little more time to focus on projects of my own, and I am feeling determined that I must do this.
At the top of my list of things to attend to are:
* My move to NYC - I gotta make this happen!!! I know that I owe it to myself!!!
* Research and writing of my book, and...
* A return to the writing of MY next show???
Okay, so there you have it my friends, the goals for the coming days & weeks, more updates to follow. Sooner rather than later. I promise.
XO,
MMM
Showing posts with label peace theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peace theatre. Show all posts
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Monday, July 9, 2007
It's Gettin' Hot in Here!
Maybe it's the heat... Maybe it's the fact that I have (yet again) over-extended myself in some ways... Maybe it's just the natural ebb and flow of life, with ups and downs, and lots of all over the place and in-between...
But today was kinda a hard day. I must say, I'm super-thankful that I have tonight and tomorrow night off from the Frige Festival show... because today, Peace Camp was MORE than enough to wear me out...
It's kind of ironic (and yet not) that Peace Camp is so full of conflict... It's just really, REALLY challenging to put together a play with a group of about 65 people... A combination of professional artists (complicated enough to collaborate with these!) as well as kids, teenagers, young adults and elders! Oh my! And I'm really struggling to find MY place in this big melting pot, as the "assistant director"...
Anyhow, today was a tough day. And the fact that's CRRRRRAAAAZZZZYYYY hot here in the T-dot didn't help much either. I'm not so great in the heat.
Anyhow, so that's where I'm at right now. Hot. And tired. And busy. And gettin' ready to head to bed. I realise that I haven't been posting on here daily, as I intended to, but so it goes. I'm okay with that.
And for now, that's all I have to say.
*NAMASTE*
But today was kinda a hard day. I must say, I'm super-thankful that I have tonight and tomorrow night off from the Frige Festival show... because today, Peace Camp was MORE than enough to wear me out...
It's kind of ironic (and yet not) that Peace Camp is so full of conflict... It's just really, REALLY challenging to put together a play with a group of about 65 people... A combination of professional artists (complicated enough to collaborate with these!) as well as kids, teenagers, young adults and elders! Oh my! And I'm really struggling to find MY place in this big melting pot, as the "assistant director"...
Anyhow, today was a tough day. And the fact that's CRRRRRAAAAZZZZYYYY hot here in the T-dot didn't help much either. I'm not so great in the heat.
Anyhow, so that's where I'm at right now. Hot. And tired. And busy. And gettin' ready to head to bed. I realise that I haven't been posting on here daily, as I intended to, but so it goes. I'm okay with that.
And for now, that's all I have to say.
*NAMASTE*
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
"Rainbow Warriors", Small Fires & Standing Ovations
What a day!!! (Day 2 of Peace Camp and Opening Night of Two in the Bush!)
Three things I want to tell you about...
1. This afternoon at Peace Camp for our "Global Perspectives/Guest Speaker" session, we had two women from Six Nations come in and do an amazing Native ceremony with us. They concluded by telling our group of children that they were Very Special becuase thousands of years ago a prophecy was made: In the time of change in Mother Earth a generation of young people would be born with the spiritual gifts to ensure that the earth will be alright. They will come from a variety of cultures, countries, faiths, etc. And so they were named The Rainbow Warriors." Inspiring.
2. I arrived two hours prior to showtime for our opening night show tonight in a total whirlwind of various "small fires" (last minute changes to, and then the printing of, our program, followed by the collapse of our set, computer difficulties with our slideshow... oh my!). It was INSANE. And I really thought that disaster was impending, but... we managed to makeshift our way out of these disasters and eventually (5 minutes before curtain) we were ready to start the show (without having had the time to do anything we planned to do, like a Cue to Cue, or a testing of the sound levels, light focusing... I barely had time to put my make-up on before I performed) and...
3. Our first show (performed to a nearly sold-out house!) was SPECTACULAR! Tracey was amazing. The audience loved it. And we got a standing ovation. I am THRILLED. Totally proud and totally impressed. With all of us.
AND, I'm exhausted. So to bed now. Another day at Peace Camp tomorrow, followed by another show. It's ON!!! And I'm pumped!!!
NAMASTE
Three things I want to tell you about...
1. This afternoon at Peace Camp for our "Global Perspectives/Guest Speaker" session, we had two women from Six Nations come in and do an amazing Native ceremony with us. They concluded by telling our group of children that they were Very Special becuase thousands of years ago a prophecy was made: In the time of change in Mother Earth a generation of young people would be born with the spiritual gifts to ensure that the earth will be alright. They will come from a variety of cultures, countries, faiths, etc. And so they were named The Rainbow Warriors." Inspiring.
2. I arrived two hours prior to showtime for our opening night show tonight in a total whirlwind of various "small fires" (last minute changes to, and then the printing of, our program, followed by the collapse of our set, computer difficulties with our slideshow... oh my!). It was INSANE. And I really thought that disaster was impending, but... we managed to makeshift our way out of these disasters and eventually (5 minutes before curtain) we were ready to start the show (without having had the time to do anything we planned to do, like a Cue to Cue, or a testing of the sound levels, light focusing... I barely had time to put my make-up on before I performed) and...
3. Our first show (performed to a nearly sold-out house!) was SPECTACULAR! Tracey was amazing. The audience loved it. And we got a standing ovation. I am THRILLED. Totally proud and totally impressed. With all of us.
AND, I'm exhausted. So to bed now. Another day at Peace Camp tomorrow, followed by another show. It's ON!!! And I'm pumped!!!
NAMASTE
Monday, July 2, 2007
Do You Realise?
Random (scattered) thoughts at the end of a very full day...
...Sometimes when you're a perfectionist, and harder on yourself than anyone else is, you can get sooooo consumed with your drive to be perfect and do everything that you end up projecting all of your own self-doubts onto others, ultimately tricking yourself into thinking that it's them that is/are demanding so much from you (when really, it's you). This never results in goodness. Actually, it just puts a whole big ball of negative energy out into the universe around you. So if you're like me in the above-mentioned "perfectionist/harder-on-yourself-than-others-are" kind of way, be aware of this... and be careful not to do it...
...There's a beautiful story that Tracey recounts in her new show (Two in the Bush! - Opens this Wednesday night - woo hoo!!!) about Joan of Arc. Apparently, when she was burned at the stake, she asked a man in the crowd to hold a cross so that she could see it, and asked him to shout out assurances of salvation so that she could hear them above the roar of the crowd and the flames. In the show, Tracey's character reminds us to make sure that when the roars of life get loud, make sure that you always have a friend to shout out assurances above the flames... I think this is my favorite part of the show. And I am thankful for those friends that I always seem to have, that shout assurances loud enough for me to hear them above the roar in my own head....
...Peace Camp starts tomorrow and Two in the Bush opens on Wednesday night - EXCITEMENT!!!
"Do you realise???
that you have the most beautiful face... we're floating in space... that happiness makes you cry... that everyone you know, some day, will die...
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know you realise that life goes fast, it's hard to make the good things last, you realise the sun don't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning 'round"
- The Flaming Lips
...Sometimes when you're a perfectionist, and harder on yourself than anyone else is, you can get sooooo consumed with your drive to be perfect and do everything that you end up projecting all of your own self-doubts onto others, ultimately tricking yourself into thinking that it's them that is/are demanding so much from you (when really, it's you). This never results in goodness. Actually, it just puts a whole big ball of negative energy out into the universe around you. So if you're like me in the above-mentioned "perfectionist/harder-on-yourself-than-others-are" kind of way, be aware of this... and be careful not to do it...
...There's a beautiful story that Tracey recounts in her new show (Two in the Bush! - Opens this Wednesday night - woo hoo!!!) about Joan of Arc. Apparently, when she was burned at the stake, she asked a man in the crowd to hold a cross so that she could see it, and asked him to shout out assurances of salvation so that she could hear them above the roar of the crowd and the flames. In the show, Tracey's character reminds us to make sure that when the roars of life get loud, make sure that you always have a friend to shout out assurances above the flames... I think this is my favorite part of the show. And I am thankful for those friends that I always seem to have, that shout assurances loud enough for me to hear them above the roar in my own head....
...Peace Camp starts tomorrow and Two in the Bush opens on Wednesday night - EXCITEMENT!!!
"Do you realise???
that you have the most beautiful face... we're floating in space... that happiness makes you cry... that everyone you know, some day, will die...
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know you realise that life goes fast, it's hard to make the good things last, you realise the sun don't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning 'round"
- The Flaming Lips
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
It's ON!
The last few days have been CRAZY... C-R-A-Z-Y!!! Worked overnight at the restaurant on Saturday and Sunday (and Saturday night was a particularly tough shift because the girl I was supposed to be working with went home very early because she was sick). Following my overnight shift on Sunday, I hopped on the subway and headed directly out to the east end of the city to the Peace Theatre, for the first day of our two day Peace Theatre Camp "Guide Training" session. Needless to say, at the end of this 24 hour period of being awake and working constantly, I was pretty exhausted. And being in the beautiful, natural "oasis in the city" that is the Peace Theatre (a gorgeous heritage home and outdoor amphitheatre nestled amidst Taylor Creek Park), I was also suffering some serious allergic reactions. And the hot sickly smog of our city's current atmosphere didn't help much either.
So I'm lucky that Tracey was so understanding when I showed up for our rehearsal yesterday evening (yes, I came straight from the Peace Theatre), wearing the same clothes she had seen me in the previous evening at our last rehearsal (from which I went straight to work at the restaurant afterwards), an allergic and exhausted mess. I am so thankful that she told me so firmly to go to Shoppers Drug Mart, get some Benadryl and go home to bed. Which is what I did. Although despite the four spoonfuls of Benadryl that I took in Tracey's presence before I headed home, I was still a sneezing and sniffling mess all the way home on the TTC. It was actually quite embarrassing - I could not stop sneezing! And I felt like everyone on the subway & bus must've thought I was just a really inconsiderate sick person. I wanted to stand up and declare - "IT'S JUST ALLERGIES!!!" But I didn't. Instead I arrived at home, my face and eyes actually swollen with red, allergy-induced grossness, and I downed another four spoonfuls and promptly passed out in my bed.
I slept for what felt like hours and woke up in what I now realise must've been a Benadryl-induced coma or something, because it was only 8pm and I thought it was 8am. So I called my good friend Mark, to whom I am "assistant director" for this summer's camp, and had a strange, foggy conversation full of insanity that I'm not quite sure he realised was exhaustion & benadryl-induced. You see, I thought it was Wednesday morning and that I was late, and I felt so sick and foggy and kept apologising for not being at the peace theatre... It's funny now, in retrospect, though at the time I think he was quite worried about me.
Moral of this story:
1) No more working for 24+ hours straight with no sleep, and
2) No more liquid Benadryl (it's non-drowsy LIFE brand pills from now on!)
In any case, I am feeling super-pumped about this summer's Peace Camp - and about my life in general! I am feeling excited, inspired, motivated... all of that good stuff!
I've also decided that I am going to experiment with updating this blog more regularly (I am gonna *TRY* for every day), if not always so "thoroughly". For example, sometimes I may just record random thoughts in point form, or even just write a sentence or two as my "thought for the day", and save the long-winded storytelling and updates for the moments when I have more time and motivation (the way I have been keeping this blog to date) - sound good to y'all? Yeah! Me too!
On that note, I shall sign off and say... 'til tomorrow... We'll see what happens!
In love and gratitude always,
*NAMASTE*
So I'm lucky that Tracey was so understanding when I showed up for our rehearsal yesterday evening (yes, I came straight from the Peace Theatre), wearing the same clothes she had seen me in the previous evening at our last rehearsal (from which I went straight to work at the restaurant afterwards), an allergic and exhausted mess. I am so thankful that she told me so firmly to go to Shoppers Drug Mart, get some Benadryl and go home to bed. Which is what I did. Although despite the four spoonfuls of Benadryl that I took in Tracey's presence before I headed home, I was still a sneezing and sniffling mess all the way home on the TTC. It was actually quite embarrassing - I could not stop sneezing! And I felt like everyone on the subway & bus must've thought I was just a really inconsiderate sick person. I wanted to stand up and declare - "IT'S JUST ALLERGIES!!!" But I didn't. Instead I arrived at home, my face and eyes actually swollen with red, allergy-induced grossness, and I downed another four spoonfuls and promptly passed out in my bed.
I slept for what felt like hours and woke up in what I now realise must've been a Benadryl-induced coma or something, because it was only 8pm and I thought it was 8am. So I called my good friend Mark, to whom I am "assistant director" for this summer's camp, and had a strange, foggy conversation full of insanity that I'm not quite sure he realised was exhaustion & benadryl-induced. You see, I thought it was Wednesday morning and that I was late, and I felt so sick and foggy and kept apologising for not being at the peace theatre... It's funny now, in retrospect, though at the time I think he was quite worried about me.
Moral of this story:
1) No more working for 24+ hours straight with no sleep, and
2) No more liquid Benadryl (it's non-drowsy LIFE brand pills from now on!)
In any case, I am feeling super-pumped about this summer's Peace Camp - and about my life in general! I am feeling excited, inspired, motivated... all of that good stuff!
I've also decided that I am going to experiment with updating this blog more regularly (I am gonna *TRY* for every day), if not always so "thoroughly". For example, sometimes I may just record random thoughts in point form, or even just write a sentence or two as my "thought for the day", and save the long-winded storytelling and updates for the moments when I have more time and motivation (the way I have been keeping this blog to date) - sound good to y'all? Yeah! Me too!
On that note, I shall sign off and say... 'til tomorrow... We'll see what happens!
In love and gratitude always,
*NAMASTE*
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The Top of the World?
So, I had a really great meeting tonight, with this exceptionally amazing young woman that I am going to be collaborating with this summer on the "movement & meditation" element of Peace Theatre Camp (but more about all of that later!), and at one point we were just chatting (or rather, I was going on and on) about what else we do with our lives, and I was telling her about all my various jobs and projects and volunteer endeavors and she started to get this look in her eyes... This look that kind of made me want to stop rambling on and on with such enthusiasm and gratitude. And when I finally stopped, she paused in a reflective moment, and then commented on how great my life seemed, and how listening to me, it made her realise that there were all sorts of things that she really wanted to do and she feels worried that she is sacrificing those goals too much these days in lieu of social time...
SOCIAL TIME?! I asked incredulously. "Well from the girl who is known among her friends for being too busy to show up for almost everything," I began, "let me just say, social time is indeed very important, and perhaps now I envy you a little for the amount of your life that you seem to presently dedicate to fun time with your friends..." Social time, and friendship time is indeed, very, very important.
Now, that being said, I think I have been able to find a workable balance lately. I'm sure all you blog-readers out there will agree that I do seem to be socialising enough these days - yes? But it bears reiterating that work, and projects, and goals, and all of that, are all really important, but at the end of the road (of life)... what will YOU want to look back on, and re-live, and remember with fondness?
(PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT RIGHT NOW AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOURSELF)
So anyhow, I kinda feel on top of the world right now. Maybe it was just a really good day, or maybe some things are really and truly starting to come together in reward for all of my hard work and dedication lately... In any case, I am feelin' good (and of course, THANKFUL) again...
An update on "The (My) Good Life" in brief, is as follows:
- some recent developments have made my move to New York seem closer and more realise-able, or maybe I have just brought that particular goal more into focus as of late... But in any case, there is a possibility that I may be moving there as early as September!!! (Fingers crossed that I get accepted for the internship that I am applying for - or offered some other amazing and/or lucrative theatre-releated job, and that living situations work out... Fingers and toes and ankles and... everything CROSSED!!)
- Peace Theatre Camp is drawing nearer and I am feeling so pumped about it! I am excited to be the Assistant Director to two of my favorite theatre artist/educators (and friends!), as well as the co-leader of the movement and meditation/journalling element with a really amazing girl who might just be one of my new favorite people! Not to mention the fact that Peace Camp is always an amazing experience and I am just so looking forwarding to being back in our little natural "oasis" in the city, with all of the kids and youth that I know (and the ones that I don't know yet), and the other amazing artist guides that I know (and the ones that I don't know yet!), for the first three, sure-to-be-glorious weeks of July! YESSSSS!
- The Toronto FRINGE Theatre Festival is also drawing nearer, which means Tracey and I are getting closer and closer to premiering the also sure-to-be-glorious sequel to The Burning Bush show - Two in the Bush! We start rehearsals later this week, and I have been dilligently working on the choreography for our opening dance number (to my all-time favorite Madonna song - Lucky Star!), which it looks like I will also be dancing in, as well as doing my best to keep all "production-related" balls in the air in my role as artistic producer... And I feel like all of my work is coming to fruitition. I really feel like this is going to be a great production! One of my best acts as producer to date, I feel, is acquiring my "assistant stage manager" - a 19 year old girl that I met through the AMY Project last year, who is just so motivated, and dedicated, and truly fantastic... we are indeed SO lucky to have her on our team! Yay!!!
- It would also appear that all of my (albeit somewhat reluctant and/or resentful) hard work and dedication to my volunteer work for Real Food for Real Kids is starting to pay off... Today I had a meeting with Hope and another workshop facilitator, finalising our educational workshop plans, and it looks like once I'm done with the crazyness of my life in July (Peace Camp for the first three weeks with the FRINGE overlapping and happening during the first two weeks - oh my!) I will be able to return to my "day" (or rather night) job at the restaurant and also do a bunch of educational food/body awareness workshops with little ones at daycares in August - FUN! And I will get paid to do these workshops - BONUS! Also, I have been working closely with a high school student volunteer at RFRK to prepare some grant applications & proposals to get funding for RFRK's Educational Lending Library, and FINALLY, these proposals are ready to go out... Fingers crossed again, for generous funding!!! In any case, I feel great because my "supervisor" at RFRK seems to be feeling really great about all of this, and also really grateful and acknowledging of my efforts... so that makes me feel great too!
- I started riding "Boyfriend" (calm down! I'm referring to Thea's bike that she left in my care for the summer. The bike is named (by Thea) Boyfriend - ahahahaha, awesomeness!), and although it still feels harrowing at times to ride a bike through the city streets of Toronto (don't worry - I wear the helmet religiously!), I am persevering, and it feels good. Both to persevere AND to be active. I've also resumed my morning yoga routine, albeit in a strange sort of way... You see, I was finding it hard to be motivated to do my sun salutations when I wake up in the afternoons, as I do most days now (thanks to the overnight restaurant job). But now, on the days that I work, I do my routine in the mornings when I return home from work and before I go to bed... Kinda backwards, I know, but still, it feels good to be working my body in this way again. Really good. I also started going to Moksha (Hot) Yoga classes again, which is super challenging given my serious aversion to the heat, but I think ultimately good training for me... Both in terms of being able to be more flexible (physically) as a result of the heat relaxing my often incredibly tense muscles and me getting more used to the heat... training that will definnitely be useful this summer at Peace Camp, and in the future if I end up spending any summers in NYC... Phew!
- I have also been watching a lot of romantic comedies lately. And ya know what? I highly recommend this. They are often cheesy, inevitably imperfect, but light and easy to watch (and fall asleep to), and every now and then kind of uplifting and inspiring. My favorite recent rental (and possibly a new addition to my list of favorite movies) is "50 First Dates", starring my all-time favorite actress: Drew Barrymore, and one of my fave males: Adam Sandler. (NOTE: I am also a big fan of "The Wedding Singer"). Other recent romantic comedy watchings include "Music & Lyrics", "Failure to Launch" (both not as bad as I'd heard they were), "Love that Boy" (an indie-canadian film that I own, and LOVE, and highly recommend), "Amelie" (a french one that I also own and also ADORE and also INSIST that you watch, if you haven't already). I also finally got it together and had a long-overdue date with my good friend and former roomate, Reesa, last night and watched MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOVIE... Dirty Dancing, of course! *Sigh*
"I carried a watermelon?!" - my all-time favorite movie line. Who can't relate to that moment?
On that note, I shall sign off. Perhaps find another romantic comedy to watch, and fall asleep to. Or maybe I will do some work before I log off for the night. Or maybe I will check Facebook. Most likely, I will do all of the above.
Until next time my dears...
*NAMASTE*
SOCIAL TIME?! I asked incredulously. "Well from the girl who is known among her friends for being too busy to show up for almost everything," I began, "let me just say, social time is indeed very important, and perhaps now I envy you a little for the amount of your life that you seem to presently dedicate to fun time with your friends..." Social time, and friendship time is indeed, very, very important.
Now, that being said, I think I have been able to find a workable balance lately. I'm sure all you blog-readers out there will agree that I do seem to be socialising enough these days - yes? But it bears reiterating that work, and projects, and goals, and all of that, are all really important, but at the end of the road (of life)... what will YOU want to look back on, and re-live, and remember with fondness?
(PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT RIGHT NOW AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOURSELF)
So anyhow, I kinda feel on top of the world right now. Maybe it was just a really good day, or maybe some things are really and truly starting to come together in reward for all of my hard work and dedication lately... In any case, I am feelin' good (and of course, THANKFUL) again...
An update on "The (My) Good Life" in brief, is as follows:
- some recent developments have made my move to New York seem closer and more realise-able, or maybe I have just brought that particular goal more into focus as of late... But in any case, there is a possibility that I may be moving there as early as September!!! (Fingers crossed that I get accepted for the internship that I am applying for - or offered some other amazing and/or lucrative theatre-releated job, and that living situations work out... Fingers and toes and ankles and... everything CROSSED!!)
- Peace Theatre Camp is drawing nearer and I am feeling so pumped about it! I am excited to be the Assistant Director to two of my favorite theatre artist/educators (and friends!), as well as the co-leader of the movement and meditation/journalling element with a really amazing girl who might just be one of my new favorite people! Not to mention the fact that Peace Camp is always an amazing experience and I am just so looking forwarding to being back in our little natural "oasis" in the city, with all of the kids and youth that I know (and the ones that I don't know yet), and the other amazing artist guides that I know (and the ones that I don't know yet!), for the first three, sure-to-be-glorious weeks of July! YESSSSS!
- The Toronto FRINGE Theatre Festival is also drawing nearer, which means Tracey and I are getting closer and closer to premiering the also sure-to-be-glorious sequel to The Burning Bush show - Two in the Bush! We start rehearsals later this week, and I have been dilligently working on the choreography for our opening dance number (to my all-time favorite Madonna song - Lucky Star!), which it looks like I will also be dancing in, as well as doing my best to keep all "production-related" balls in the air in my role as artistic producer... And I feel like all of my work is coming to fruitition. I really feel like this is going to be a great production! One of my best acts as producer to date, I feel, is acquiring my "assistant stage manager" - a 19 year old girl that I met through the AMY Project last year, who is just so motivated, and dedicated, and truly fantastic... we are indeed SO lucky to have her on our team! Yay!!!
- It would also appear that all of my (albeit somewhat reluctant and/or resentful) hard work and dedication to my volunteer work for Real Food for Real Kids is starting to pay off... Today I had a meeting with Hope and another workshop facilitator, finalising our educational workshop plans, and it looks like once I'm done with the crazyness of my life in July (Peace Camp for the first three weeks with the FRINGE overlapping and happening during the first two weeks - oh my!) I will be able to return to my "day" (or rather night) job at the restaurant and also do a bunch of educational food/body awareness workshops with little ones at daycares in August - FUN! And I will get paid to do these workshops - BONUS! Also, I have been working closely with a high school student volunteer at RFRK to prepare some grant applications & proposals to get funding for RFRK's Educational Lending Library, and FINALLY, these proposals are ready to go out... Fingers crossed again, for generous funding!!! In any case, I feel great because my "supervisor" at RFRK seems to be feeling really great about all of this, and also really grateful and acknowledging of my efforts... so that makes me feel great too!
- I started riding "Boyfriend" (calm down! I'm referring to Thea's bike that she left in my care for the summer. The bike is named (by Thea) Boyfriend - ahahahaha, awesomeness!), and although it still feels harrowing at times to ride a bike through the city streets of Toronto (don't worry - I wear the helmet religiously!), I am persevering, and it feels good. Both to persevere AND to be active. I've also resumed my morning yoga routine, albeit in a strange sort of way... You see, I was finding it hard to be motivated to do my sun salutations when I wake up in the afternoons, as I do most days now (thanks to the overnight restaurant job). But now, on the days that I work, I do my routine in the mornings when I return home from work and before I go to bed... Kinda backwards, I know, but still, it feels good to be working my body in this way again. Really good. I also started going to Moksha (Hot) Yoga classes again, which is super challenging given my serious aversion to the heat, but I think ultimately good training for me... Both in terms of being able to be more flexible (physically) as a result of the heat relaxing my often incredibly tense muscles and me getting more used to the heat... training that will definnitely be useful this summer at Peace Camp, and in the future if I end up spending any summers in NYC... Phew!
- I have also been watching a lot of romantic comedies lately. And ya know what? I highly recommend this. They are often cheesy, inevitably imperfect, but light and easy to watch (and fall asleep to), and every now and then kind of uplifting and inspiring. My favorite recent rental (and possibly a new addition to my list of favorite movies) is "50 First Dates", starring my all-time favorite actress: Drew Barrymore, and one of my fave males: Adam Sandler. (NOTE: I am also a big fan of "The Wedding Singer"). Other recent romantic comedy watchings include "Music & Lyrics", "Failure to Launch" (both not as bad as I'd heard they were), "Love that Boy" (an indie-canadian film that I own, and LOVE, and highly recommend), "Amelie" (a french one that I also own and also ADORE and also INSIST that you watch, if you haven't already). I also finally got it together and had a long-overdue date with my good friend and former roomate, Reesa, last night and watched MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOVIE... Dirty Dancing, of course! *Sigh*
"I carried a watermelon?!" - my all-time favorite movie line. Who can't relate to that moment?
On that note, I shall sign off. Perhaps find another romantic comedy to watch, and fall asleep to. Or maybe I will do some work before I log off for the night. Or maybe I will check Facebook. Most likely, I will do all of the above.
Until next time my dears...
*NAMASTE*
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