High School Confidential

So I felt the need to share some love for my high school today. I was having a conversation with an acquaintance about choosing a high school for her daughter and how it was such an important decision that will play a huge role in who she inevitably becomes in her later life.

On to the love . . . to everyone (staff and students - in particular to those who like me, lived in the music hall) at Etobicoke School of the Arts who taught me, helped me, listened to me, encouraged me, supported me, challenged me, and most of all - let me be myself, I am humbly indebted to you all for life.

There have been very few places in my life that I felt at home and like the people around me truly "got" me and ESA is definitely the winner for making me feel the most comfortable in my own skin. I acknowledge that I am indeed a freak, however, never before or since have I felt so 'normal' in my abnormality - my undying gratitude and love to everyone who had a part in that. You all resuscitated my soul.

On a related note, to North Toronto Collegiate Institute, a big huge fuck you for doing exactly the opposite and killing my spirit in the first place.

So to all those making such daunting choices for themselves or their children - I urge you to think carefully - because being OK with who you are is a powerful feeling not to be underestimated. Do your research, it's time well spent.

And finally, the thing I must thank ESA for the most is introducing me to the person who truly has been and will be my best friend for life. I could not get through a single day without her - and I thank ESA for every day that I will never have to try.

Stars & Sons (& clouds)

So this has been a very weird week so far for me. I have been working out of the same office for 7 years and recently got a promotion that has me moving to a new office tomorrow. It's not that I am not pumped about the new position and the new projects I will be involved in, but the issue is that I in fact abhore change with a passion and do everything in my power to make sure that nothing in my life is unplanned or 'out of control'. So that is where my head has been at for the past couple of weeks and with the move actually happening tomorrow afternoon, I think I may actually be having palpitations.

Having now gone into detail about my hatred for all events unplanned or unexpected, and in conjunction with the fact that though I will admit change is my number one nemesis, number two is other people being late for things, followed closely by precipitation of any variety, I had a rather wonderful, however unexpected experience as I came home today. I was walking home listening to BSS (shocking, I know) and I got caught in the rain.

For about 15 seconds, I was the Queen of all annoyed and pissed off, until all of a sudden my mood entirely changed. I was about to make a run for the nearest bus shelter when the song on my iPod changed and I was then listening to Stars & Sons (from Olympic Island 2006 - and yes, it does matter)and I stopped running and started walking again, getting totally soaked and not giving a shit, in fact, I think I started laughing. Then, I got about a minute and a half into the song (if you've ever seen them perform the song live you know what I am talking about) and I actually stopped walking all together and I stood still until the song was over. I've said it before and I'll say it again until I take my last breath - music is magical, live music is transporting.


For the uneducated . . .





Now I will go and sit on a wet and muddy lawn to listen to more fabulous live music. The things I do for music . . .

Reasons to love summer in Toronto

Most of the year, I am ambivilent at best about the city that I live in. I could really care less about it (except for the obvvious perk that I see more BSS than most people)and find that it has very few redeeming qualities. That all changes in June every year. These are just a few of the reasons that in the summer I actually love the city where I live.

10 reasons to love summer in Toronto:

1. The best thing about Toronto at any time of year is the Olympic Island Concert (though this years pales in comaprrison to past incarnations that have included BSS)
2. Beaches Jazz Festival
3. Kensington Pedestrian Sundays
4. Harbourfront Centre World Routes
5. The Dream in High Park
6. Luminato
7. The Fringe Festival
8. Caribana
9. Patios
10.Downtown Jazz Festival



Sadly, for the first time in years I will be missing what is possibly the best weekend in the city of Toronto - Caribana. But it is for a good cause - I will be off revisiting my childhood with my sister in Cape Cod and most importantly - seeing whales!!!