Well I had my Pilates class yesterday and enjoyed it very much. My teacher is very very nice and I love her studio. It's in her home! She has this really nice loft space with tons of plants and a studio space to one side. It just had such a wicked vibe about it. I felt immediately at home and I think I'm really going to enjoy working with her.
Already I feel a difference in that it did wonders to really start releasing a lot of tension in my back and shoulders. I think I like it a bit better than Yoga. [Sorry Guru. It's not that I don't like Yoga, but Pilates just has this Sesame Street factor with all the doo-dads you get to use. Given you know me so well, this will make total sense. :) ]
So, I'll be doing my monthly weigh in at the weekend but I know I won't have lost anything. I'm taking this in stride because I know for a fact it's because I haven't been exercising as much as I need to. But I was right. My Pilates class broke the spell and I'm now ready to hit the Rec Centre.
Ragdoll? Crack out them new sneakers. LET'S ROLL GIRL!!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Spare Me II
Here's a link to the article I was talking about. I tend to avoid this as The Star doesn't keep their articles up long, but for those of you who are interested, here it is.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Spare Me
Ah yes Dear Reader. Hell hath no fury like a musician ignored.
To wit, I present the latest rant from Canada's independent music scene featured in today's Star.
"I feel really sorry for those kids in Canadian Idol because they're going absolutely nowhere," singer Kevin Drew said backstage after Sunday's awards.
Oh really? Tell that to Kelly Clarkson oh bitter Broken Social Scene.
And I love this one:
"Collectively we probably have 200 years worth of gig experience. I feel only empathy . . . for the kids that are put in that position before they have those road scars," she [Feist] said Sunday.
Susanne Boyce was so right to point out that audiences connect with you or they don't. Some people have it inately. And some people need 200 collective hours to get it. Since when do Canadian independents have a monopoly on the fact that performance is work?
Here's the thing. I get what they're getting at and it's this: Canada has some of the greatest music period and it's independent scene is unbelievably diverse and exceptional. But as usual, record labels follow the almighty buck.
Uh...I'm sorry. This is news?
Twas ever thus, and I think if it's bothersome to some musicians, they should focus on that issue instead of trashing some twenty-somethings "livin' the dream" however impermanent or imperfect their manner of doing so will end up being.
Artists can be very supportive of each other. In fact, it's essential. But I get really really tired of the "we are the world" crap. Because more often than not, artists, musicians in particular, are some of the most competitive, petty, non-well-wishers you'll ever encounter.
And the fact is, most indie bands would give their nipples to have the kind of sales the idol kids do. Trashing them just comes across as sour grapes, because it is. Spare me the too-cool-for-school bullsh*t. You want to be hip and independent? Do it. Just don't bitch about the fact that not everyone will be into the music you make and your record sales will reflect that.
The fact is that it's about accessibility. Celine Dion is always going to have more record sales than a thrash metal band. But I think that if thrash metal is what that band wants to do then they should. Their music has no less right to exist than pop balladry. Because in the end that's what's important. It's about loving what you do and being true to it despite it all. You either love it or you don't. If you love it, the fact that you're "critical darlings" that no one else is really paying attention to won't bother you. [Honestly. The sense of entitlement is staggering.]
In the meantime, the Canadian independent scene should focus on the issue, which is that major labels need to wake up and smell the coffee so that they can really begin to work with their independent counterparts to bring new music to the fore. Even the biggest stars were independents once and trashing major labels won't win you any favours or friends.
That's life and the lessons are hard. The Idols will learn theirs and independents should remember the one about not biting the hand that feeds you. Instead, they should be calling their label reps to ask how many meetings they've had at the major labels to pitch them. That way they'll be ready when the candy confection that is the Idol house of cards comes tumbling down.
Because it will.
To wit, I present the latest rant from Canada's independent music scene featured in today's Star.
"I feel really sorry for those kids in Canadian Idol because they're going absolutely nowhere," singer Kevin Drew said backstage after Sunday's awards.
Oh really? Tell that to Kelly Clarkson oh bitter Broken Social Scene.
And I love this one:
"Collectively we probably have 200 years worth of gig experience. I feel only empathy . . . for the kids that are put in that position before they have those road scars," she [Feist] said Sunday.
Susanne Boyce was so right to point out that audiences connect with you or they don't. Some people have it inately. And some people need 200 collective hours to get it. Since when do Canadian independents have a monopoly on the fact that performance is work?
Here's the thing. I get what they're getting at and it's this: Canada has some of the greatest music period and it's independent scene is unbelievably diverse and exceptional. But as usual, record labels follow the almighty buck.
Uh...I'm sorry. This is news?
Twas ever thus, and I think if it's bothersome to some musicians, they should focus on that issue instead of trashing some twenty-somethings "livin' the dream" however impermanent or imperfect their manner of doing so will end up being.
Artists can be very supportive of each other. In fact, it's essential. But I get really really tired of the "we are the world" crap. Because more often than not, artists, musicians in particular, are some of the most competitive, petty, non-well-wishers you'll ever encounter.
And the fact is, most indie bands would give their nipples to have the kind of sales the idol kids do. Trashing them just comes across as sour grapes, because it is. Spare me the too-cool-for-school bullsh*t. You want to be hip and independent? Do it. Just don't bitch about the fact that not everyone will be into the music you make and your record sales will reflect that.
The fact is that it's about accessibility. Celine Dion is always going to have more record sales than a thrash metal band. But I think that if thrash metal is what that band wants to do then they should. Their music has no less right to exist than pop balladry. Because in the end that's what's important. It's about loving what you do and being true to it despite it all. You either love it or you don't. If you love it, the fact that you're "critical darlings" that no one else is really paying attention to won't bother you. [Honestly. The sense of entitlement is staggering.]
In the meantime, the Canadian independent scene should focus on the issue, which is that major labels need to wake up and smell the coffee so that they can really begin to work with their independent counterparts to bring new music to the fore. Even the biggest stars were independents once and trashing major labels won't win you any favours or friends.
That's life and the lessons are hard. The Idols will learn theirs and independents should remember the one about not biting the hand that feeds you. Instead, they should be calling their label reps to ask how many meetings they've had at the major labels to pitch them. That way they'll be ready when the candy confection that is the Idol house of cards comes tumbling down.
Because it will.
Operation Pudge Nudge: Pontius Pilates
So I have signed up for a Pilates class! It's a new studio that's opened just down from my office. I have classes at 1:30 p.m. on Wednedays. I really enjoyed Pilates when I took it before. It's kind of like Yoga and Sesame Street combined, which is why I like it so much.
Hopefully this will help me get over my aversion to the rec centre. For some reason, I just haven't wanted to go. But I need to get over that.
It's like I was saying to the Duke yesterday. I'm so sore from gardening and I didn't really even do that much. But I'm just too out of shape and I can't ignore it anymore. I suppose that's a big reason folks don't exercise. You don't want to feel incompetent or look that way to others. You don't want to do something that's uncomfortable and difficult and that really brings home to you how you really are.
But as I told the Duke, I'm just going to take lots of epsom salts baths and will crack out the ibuprofen as needed. I've resigned myself to about 4 to 6 weeks of just feeling tired and sore as I get my activity level up.
As Yazmar says, "Without struggle, there is no progress."
Hopefully this will help me get over my aversion to the rec centre. For some reason, I just haven't wanted to go. But I need to get over that.
It's like I was saying to the Duke yesterday. I'm so sore from gardening and I didn't really even do that much. But I'm just too out of shape and I can't ignore it anymore. I suppose that's a big reason folks don't exercise. You don't want to feel incompetent or look that way to others. You don't want to do something that's uncomfortable and difficult and that really brings home to you how you really are.
But as I told the Duke, I'm just going to take lots of epsom salts baths and will crack out the ibuprofen as needed. I've resigned myself to about 4 to 6 weeks of just feeling tired and sore as I get my activity level up.
As Yazmar says, "Without struggle, there is no progress."
Help Me Make It Through The Night
It's about 3:50 a.m. and I can't sleep. The Marine must of crashed on the couch because he woke me up getting into bed, which is very unlike him. I must of been in a light sleep. Funny, I was just thinking to myself in the evening how grateful I was to my naturopath because I'm finally out of that whole "Bing! You're wide awake and it's 4 a.m.!" thing.
At any rate, I know that if I just lie in bed my mind starts spinning. It's always better for me to just get up and go back to bed when I'm tired again. That usually takes about an hour or so, thus here I am Dear Reader.
It was quite an interesting weekend, despite the horror of daylight savings time. Why do we in the western hemisphere put ouselves through this twice yearly masochism? Honestly, "spring forward" and life in the central time zone sells itself really. "Come to Colarado, where the time never changes."
The fall is always a breeze because you go back an hour, but even that exercise leaves me puzzled as I trundle home from work in the pitch black, knowing that only the day before it was in daylight. As for spring, we all collectively endure imposed jet lag for a week while we adjust. I don't get it. WHAT is the purpose here? I'm all for helping the farmers, but give them my tax dollars. Let me keep my extra hour of sleep dammit!
Monday at work was a write off. I barely got through the day. Then towards the end one of the designers ["Esther"] and I just started getting the giggles because we were so punchy. I submitted to Esther that I could never be a spy. Just deprive me of sleep and basically, well what do you want to know? Or it's the other extreme. I get massive amounts of energy. So we're cracking up because I'm talking about how I'd be getting Chinese Water Torture and instead of feeling tormented I'd be all "C'moooooon maaaan. Let's go swimmin'!!!"
Well. Guess ya had to be there.
Still, this past weekend was the first really nice one of the year, with reasonable temperatures and blazing sunshine. I never cease to be amazed at what a miracle spring is, how the earth can be frozen and blasted by snow and wind for months on end, and then like clockwork everything comes back to life. My theory is that summer reminds you of how good living is. Spring reminds you of how good it is to be alive period.
This weekend I completed, in no particular order:
Backyard clean up - garbage and garden prep [Yay! Gladiolas!]
Basement clean up - a little bit every week as I head towards completing another New Year's Revolution
Got the rust stains out of my dishwasher - that Jet Dry descaling stuff really works!
Cleaned out the utensil drawers and returned them to a semblance of order
Went out with the Duke, my personal shopping consultant and got a whackload of new clothes with my birthday money. Thank you oh Duke, for taking me out of my Italian Widow look. Colour! Who knew?
Went to Canadian Tire and got cleaning supplies. Went to Rona and got yard bags [that's a blog in and of itself] and a window well cover. I also resisted the urge to buy aforementioned Gladiolas, not to mention Lily of the Valleys and Dhalias. I'll get those in a couple of weeks when all danger of frost is gone.
Made homemade pizzas.
I don't think I've done so much in a weekend in years. Seriously. I'm going through this weird phase where I'm pushing myself to do more and I can actually do it. Usually after a weekend like this I'd be bone tired until Wednesday, but other than some sore legs from gardening and my daylight savings jet lag, I feel perfectly fine. It's a mixed bag of blessings. I'm so happy to just get things done and not feel totalled for it. But at the same time, another part of me is angry that for so long, this basic stuff was just very hard for me to do at times. I get through chores in an hour that used to take me a whole morning or afternoon to do and I think that's it? That's all it took?
I'm like a cat taking some tentative steps out from under a deck after a rain storm. I'm finding what was once difficult, really isn't anymore and it's great, but strange. I'm beginning to think something I haven't in a very long time: What else can I do?
At any rate, I know that if I just lie in bed my mind starts spinning. It's always better for me to just get up and go back to bed when I'm tired again. That usually takes about an hour or so, thus here I am Dear Reader.
It was quite an interesting weekend, despite the horror of daylight savings time. Why do we in the western hemisphere put ouselves through this twice yearly masochism? Honestly, "spring forward" and life in the central time zone sells itself really. "Come to Colarado, where the time never changes."
The fall is always a breeze because you go back an hour, but even that exercise leaves me puzzled as I trundle home from work in the pitch black, knowing that only the day before it was in daylight. As for spring, we all collectively endure imposed jet lag for a week while we adjust. I don't get it. WHAT is the purpose here? I'm all for helping the farmers, but give them my tax dollars. Let me keep my extra hour of sleep dammit!
Monday at work was a write off. I barely got through the day. Then towards the end one of the designers ["Esther"] and I just started getting the giggles because we were so punchy. I submitted to Esther that I could never be a spy. Just deprive me of sleep and basically, well what do you want to know? Or it's the other extreme. I get massive amounts of energy. So we're cracking up because I'm talking about how I'd be getting Chinese Water Torture and instead of feeling tormented I'd be all "C'moooooon maaaan. Let's go swimmin'!!!"
Well. Guess ya had to be there.
Still, this past weekend was the first really nice one of the year, with reasonable temperatures and blazing sunshine. I never cease to be amazed at what a miracle spring is, how the earth can be frozen and blasted by snow and wind for months on end, and then like clockwork everything comes back to life. My theory is that summer reminds you of how good living is. Spring reminds you of how good it is to be alive period.
This weekend I completed, in no particular order:
Backyard clean up - garbage and garden prep [Yay! Gladiolas!]
Basement clean up - a little bit every week as I head towards completing another New Year's Revolution
Got the rust stains out of my dishwasher - that Jet Dry descaling stuff really works!
Cleaned out the utensil drawers and returned them to a semblance of order
Went out with the Duke, my personal shopping consultant and got a whackload of new clothes with my birthday money. Thank you oh Duke, for taking me out of my Italian Widow look. Colour! Who knew?
Went to Canadian Tire and got cleaning supplies. Went to Rona and got yard bags [that's a blog in and of itself] and a window well cover. I also resisted the urge to buy aforementioned Gladiolas, not to mention Lily of the Valleys and Dhalias. I'll get those in a couple of weeks when all danger of frost is gone.
Made homemade pizzas.
I don't think I've done so much in a weekend in years. Seriously. I'm going through this weird phase where I'm pushing myself to do more and I can actually do it. Usually after a weekend like this I'd be bone tired until Wednesday, but other than some sore legs from gardening and my daylight savings jet lag, I feel perfectly fine. It's a mixed bag of blessings. I'm so happy to just get things done and not feel totalled for it. But at the same time, another part of me is angry that for so long, this basic stuff was just very hard for me to do at times. I get through chores in an hour that used to take me a whole morning or afternoon to do and I think that's it? That's all it took?
I'm like a cat taking some tentative steps out from under a deck after a rain storm. I'm finding what was once difficult, really isn't anymore and it's great, but strange. I'm beginning to think something I haven't in a very long time: What else can I do?
Saturday, April 01, 2006
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