Interesting

Now if you have Hindi friends who want to read this blog, they can do - it's now available translated.  Where? I am not quite sure.  Oh wait, I just figured it out . . .

To everything . . . there is a season

Of all the seasonal transitions, I suspect summer into fall is one of the saddest.

I always feel slightly melancholy near the end of August when the leaves are starting to smell like autumn and the night air becomes slightly chilly.  New York is so much further south that I expected summer to last past Labor Day long weekend, which for the most part it has.

But even if the days are still warm now, there is that slight bite in the air that says 'summers over' friends.  I think as Canadians we truly embrace summer as those two precious months free of snow and ice, and as soon as the fall air comes or the sun sets earlier, we feel a burden on our shoulders.  We know what's coming.  Six months of winter.  Wether it's the horrifying, yet proudly surviavable, deep freeze temperatures of the rest of Canada or the constant grey and rain of Vancouver, we enter into it kicking and screaming.

This summer was a good one.  I had not one, but two heatwaves.  I got to jump in a lake almost every weekend.  A big thing for me.  And I drank my weight in iced coffees. Oh iced coffees, I think I shall miss you most of all. 

As much as the darker evenings and colder air disheartens me and I must face that the blasting sun of summer is truly over, I have another stress that overhwhelms me most of all:

Layering.

Oh god. I am a horrible, terrible, frightful winter dresser.  Sure, most people I talk to just LOVE turlenecks, scarves and sweaters.  Phooey to you.  I suck at layering.  I feel it shouldn't be a hard concept.  But I am a virgo.  We like precision, crispness and above all, co-ordination.  I am not very good at co-ordinating more than three things.  

Spring, now there's a season.  Simple dresses with cardigans.  Cute little strappy wedges.  I should be able to do that in reverse right?  Nope.  I get all flustered.  This scarf with this sweater. Wait, what about this belt?  AAAAAAAAAAAAH!  I can't do it.

The hardest part of all is saying good bye to my flip flops.  Tim Gunn hates them (and I love Tim Gunn) but I think he has them all wrong.  They are just so magical and freeing, like walking in bare feet on the grass.  Okay, not that awesome but they do rock.  Just slip them on, and voila!  You are flip flopping around town.

Now I have to think about tights, socks (ick), rain, cold toes . . . the list goes on.  I have to wear pants again.  The worst are the boots.  Every year those tricky shoe people come out with walls of pretty boots.  But it's like being a diabetic in a candy store for me.  NONE OF THEM FIT MY FREAKING CALVES!!!!!  It's not like I am an elephant for crying out loud.  I simply have muscular calves.  And for that I am relegated to the 'extended calve' section that only have two boots and they are both plain and ugly.  I have the kind that stretch over but then I have muffin-tops on my calves and that's just plain wrong.

So yes, fall is now here.  Summer is just a happy faded memory that we will revisit in another nine months (that's right, we could make a baby in the time it will take to be summer again).  The evenings are darker, there are pumpkins on the stoops, the leaves are falling and the air is crisp. 

And I am left wondering . . . can I wear socks with my flip flops?

A Home in Two Cities

To many I think my life appears pretty swell.  I live in two amazing cities and can call both coasts home.

Yes, it's awesome.  

But it has it's drawbacks.  For example, I am never 100% in one place. I try my best to live in the moment, but often in Vancouver I wistfully wish I was back in the Big Apple.  While in New York, albeit not as often, I feel guilty at not being in a place where I can actively pursue my career.  IE. work for money.  Granted, New York gives me time to actually write without all the distractions of home (i.e. friends and good cable) and I can take classes in my field that are some of the best in the world.

I think today is a homesick day.  I am actually sick for my home.  I think because my home does not include sloping floors, a random hole, and the odd cockroach (I discovered they could fly, this was not a pleasant discovery).  My home also has a dishwasher, washing machine/dryer, and a view of the mountains.

But here I can lose myself in the Met for hours, go see an opera for $20, and then have my book signed by a favorite author at the local Barnes & Noble.

See?  Torn apart in two.

Living bi-coastally is an art that I am starting to finally understand.  You have to turn on different sides of yourself in different cities.  Here I am 'writer girl' who actually writes my 2000 words a day.  Vancouver, I can pursue acting and actually legally be allowed to work.  Different hats for different cities.  

I am not done with this city yet, but I feel our time is coming to an end.  The Engineer is off to London next semester (yes, stick around for tales from Big Ben) and then  . . . .  New York?  Toronto?  Calgary?  Laugh, but I am actually hoping for the latter.  So it makes me sentimental.  And realize that there is still so much more to see!  GAH!  Oh god, back to power mode. 

At least Vancouver offers less stress.  You know, because there isn't so much to do.  Which, I've come to appreciate, is a good thing.

The Things We Do

I realize in all of these postings I rarely talk about what I do for a living.  Although most of the times], it isn't a living per se.  But what I do is such an integral part of my life, that everyday I'm doing it.  Does that make sense?

I'm an actress.  Not a flakey one, I didn't wake up one day and decide this is what I should do for fun.  Because it is NOT fun.  Okay, fine, it's tons of fun.  About 10% of the time.  It's really hard work because everyday, we (actors) work to get work.  Exhausting, heartbreaking, make you want to cry, WORK.  The pay off?  Seeing yourself about 20 feet high in a Heath Ledger movie opening this weekend at VIFF.  

The other day was a prime example  Part of the deal I have with my agent in Vancouver is that I submit myself on tape.  In cities like Vancouver (where I simply walk into my agent's office), Toronto & LA, this is easy peasy.  In New York?  Anyone want to start a business?  Get on board the 'make it easy for actors to put themselves on tape' train.

I thought I had found somewhere to do this.  Simply.  For $25.  When my agent emailed me with a fantastic 7 page audition the first thing I had to do was re-arrange my friends and mine bus tickets to Philly. Annoying, but do-able.  This was step one.

Lucky for me, I had two of my favorite actresses in town who could be readers for me the next day.  Oh yes, and operate camera.  Check.  Call studio.  Book space.  Co-ordinate with friends.  Print script.  Easy.

Practice script on subway with friend.  Fine.  People stare with smiles on their faces (probably other actors) or scowls (old man trying to read paper).

Go into studio (arrive 30 minutes late by the way) all sweaty and gross.  I don't know why this happens.  Each time I have an audition I have to BLAST the a/c in my car, even in the dead of winter.  Nerves I guess.  But here I am, in muggy NYC Times Square with Bare Minerals running down my perfectly make-upped face (just at FYI, we have to pack on so much make-up to show up natural in the horrible lighting that is the audition room that I feel whoreish walking down Broadway.  Then I see a woman from the South and feel better).

Plug in camera, record, and done. With great direction, feel good about the scenes, etc.  Oh did I mention I walked in on another casting session to grab a light?  Whoopsie daisy.

Rush now because people waiting for room.  Throw everything into bag.  Walk out.

Realize three blocks later that my water cap wasn't on correctly and now my laptop is soaked.  Super.  Walk down 44th drying computer with cardigan and dodging annoying tourists.  Pretend I not panicking.

Walk around Midtown for a bit.  Show friends Macy's and Victoria's Secret.  Drink some Starbucks.  Audition does not have to be emailed for another five hours.  

Take friend to fake hair store.  While she peruses the wigs, decide to check out water damage and edit scenes.  Find my screen mottled.  Minor freak out but still can see screen.  Check out scenes.  Discover there is NO SOUND on half of them.  Panic.

Call Vancouver and talk to another iMovie user and ask what I have done wrong.  She just learned how to send attachments with email so unhelpful. Call agent.  Tell her link will be late.  No problem, she quips.  What about 'Breakdown Services'?  she asks.  They do taping everywhere else.  Gives me number.  Call them.  Nope.  Never heard of doing that.

Fuck.

Now panicking.  The chance of me landing this role is so slim, but must try or will never know right?  And last time I went to crazy effort I booked it, so must try.

Take taxi back up to Times Square.  Rush into previous studio.  No one working.  All in meeting.  Tiptoe around desk, take firewire and sneak into room.  Set up.  Bad lighting, no time, fuck it.  Teach other friend how to record on my computer.  Do one scene.  

Then sneak out again.  Convinced I have some sound, head to Apple store in Soho.  Cab goes too slowly.  Countdown is on. 

Rush into Apple store.  It's packed.  Obviously.  Beg someone for help.

There are no more appointments available so I have six people in short bursts help me.  Turns out my hard drive is full.  Buy new external hard drive.  $150.  Transfer all video files (which are there WITH sound, thank god, but won't work together on my drive because no room) to new drive.  Glance at new computers as fear I might need new one.

F Train it home and book it up to my apartment.

Yell at dogs to shut-up.

Transfer all the video files onto my friend's macbook (thank heavens she was staying with me).  Edit clips.  Upload to me.com It takes half hour, email link to agent with two minutes to spare.

Email takes forever and she only receives postage stamp size version.  Call Vancouver and tell her to check email again.  And again. And again.  She gets it.  

Breathe a sigh of relief.  Have auditioned in New York and thanks to technology am superstar. Look at clock.  I realize it's four o'clock Vancouver time, not five.  Oh well.

Exhausted?

An actor's life for me.

PS.  If you should happen to spill water onto your mac and screen goes wonky, don't worry, it evaporates!

Essential visit #1

It's that time again. Summer's over and it's back down to the serious business of home renovation on the island.

However good the planning, once in a while it pays to take time out to capture other people's ideas and see what's new.

October 16-18 sees the 20th annual Nanaimo Home Expo at Beban Park Auditorium, 2300 Bowen Road in Nanaimo.

The show's open 6-9pm on Friday; 9.30am-5.30pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Admission is free. See you there!

BC Community showcase from YVR

Today, Vancouver Airport Authority premiered 15 films commissioned to showcase B.C.’s diverse communities to help welcome the world to British Columbia in 2010.

In June, 2009, each community was presented with $10,000 funding from the Vancouver Airport Authority, and filmmakers were selected with help from the local Spirit of B.C. Community Committees.

The 15 three-minute films were screened for the first time today before a crowd of community dignitaries. The films will play on select video screens throughout YVR and online at http://www.yvrconnections.com/ leading up to and during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games period. The following 15 B.C. communities participated in the program.

Click on the links below to watch each video.

Campbell River
Castlegar
Cranbrook
Fort St. John
Kamloops
Kelowna
Nanaimo
Penticton
Port Hardy
Prince George
Prince Rupert
Terrace
Tofino
Victoria
Williams Lake

Parents: Do NOT Attempt

My parents are currently in Australia.

They are retired and therefore travel as much as they can.  Or, in other words,  my mother drags my father to some far off destination.  The only place he will really go willingly is Australia (they lived there when they were young and cool.  Before me.) and to the Maritimes.  Also, the odd cruise to Alaska.  

France? No, he hates French people.  Italy?  No, he hates Italians.  Well, I don't know if that's true but I sort of suspect it.  

He has now told my mum if she wants to go away, to go without him.  I think he's going to regret that one.  

On their travels, they sometimes do things that I wish I could witness for myself.  These are the things I call, 'Parents:  Do NOT attempt'.  No offence to parents, it's just that there are some things I know you ain't gonna like.

Kayaking off the coast of Tofino is one of those things.  

When my mum announced they would be doing this I believe I laughed because I thought she was joking.  Obviously offended by my scorn, she wondered just why I thought it was so funny.  Ummm, it's hard and you have to paddle. Oh, and it's on the sea.  My mum is sort of a wuss.  And even though she is a regular at Curves, I wouldn't exactly commend her on her upper body strength.  Plus, she gets seasick.

As predicted, they hated it.  Not only because it was hard.  But because they had to wear wetsuits.  Both parents were appalled.  My mum is not exactly a size 8 - which I am, and I hate wetsuits.  Pulling them up makes you feel like a sausage-cased whale.  My mum hid behind the bathroom as she attempted her wet suit.  The horror.  Poor woman.  My dad?  The only one they had left that would fit his shorter and stout figure was pink.  That's right.  My 64-year old retired farmer and foreign diplomat was forced to wear a pink wetsuit.  God, I wish I had been there.

My parents have done other wacky things.  Like rent a motorcycle complete with sidecar.  I wish I had a picture to share with you because the idea makes me giggle every time I think of it.  My dad just revving the engine and my mum sitting sidecar, her head bobbing along the highway.  

But I am proud my parents did attempt these things now that I think about it.  So what that it didn't work out?  They were brave enough to try.  And in life, you never know unless you try.  

Except, I feel my parents really should avoid any jumping off things.  Or driving off-road vehicles.  Or deep sea fishing.  In fact, I think they should stick to what they know:  wine tasting and long strolls.

Coq au Ick

I like to consider myself a good cook. Albeit, I need a recipe, no, 'whip it up off the top of my head' here, but I am able to follow a recipe with often delicious results.

Luckily, the Engineer will eat pretty much anything and often praise me. Once I attempted meatloaf.  This was a disaster.

Firstly, it's meatloaf.  I mean really.  The staple of the 50's housewife?  I made a three-layer torte with handmade chocolate crust last Thanksgiving, I think I can handle this.  I know it's not 'gourmet' per se, but I wanted to make a wholesome meal complete with creamy mashed potatoes and peas.

Several things went wrong.  

Number One: my mum was away in England.  You might wonder how this complicated matters.  Well, I like to talk to her when attempting recipes.  And seeing as I was attempting her meatloaf, I needed her help.  Who did I talk to instead?  My dad.

Sure, dad should be able to handle meatloaf.  He told me that he made a really good meatloaf the day after my mum left.  So he gave me instructions.  And his secret weapon:  salsa.

This should have been easy.  I followed the directions to a T.  But not only did my loaf not stick together - so it became 'meat roughly held together in a loaf pan'  - but it refused to cook in the centre.  The outside was getting dry and burnt, but the middle refused to cook!  Curses!

The Engineer ate around the raw beef, bless him, and told me it was good.  I was nearly in tears.  I did not eat my own disaster.  Sometimes I think the Engineer should be a bit more discerning, after all, he was upset that I threw the offending uncooked beef away.  Really Engineer?  You would eat uncooked beef?

Anyways, upon my mother's return she apparently got upset with my dad.  "HOW could you teach her how to cook a meatloaf when you can't cook one yourself?"  The drama.

Anyhoo, my meatloaf is not the point of this entry.  It's my Coq au Vin.  Otherwise known as Coq au ICK.

The Engineer has a ton of frozen chicken thighs, so it is my mission to use them.  I decided it was time to try this time honored recipe.  I chose my standby Martha Stewart because not once has this lady failed me.

I followed the recipe.  But I should have followed my instincts.

Firstly, it called for chicken livers.  This idea disgusted me.  I must admit that I cannot eat strange animal organs.  It just grosses me out.  I can eat them disguised as yummy pate, but not as blatant organ.  

I was going to do this recipe right though.  I ordered 8 slices of delicious smoked bacon (read: expensive) and then asked for a chicken liver.  The meat man smiled and asked what I was making.  I told him.  He asked if it was because of the 'Julie and Julia' movie.  The nerve!  Most certainly not, I retorted, I simply adore French cooking.  

Fine, I was sort of inspired by the movie to find my inner-French cook but that is neither here nor there.  I was using a MS recipe after all.

He pointed to the livers.  I think I actually threw up a little in my mouth.  But felt I should honor the recipe.  I thought that the livers would give the stew a richness, a certain je ne sais quois.  I didn't think they would make me gag.  Listen to your intuition people!  If your stomach says NO chicken livers, DO NOT PUT chicken livers in your Coq au Ick.

My friend little K puts liverwurst into her dishes, from spaghetti sauce to stuffing.  It's remarkably delicious.  It adds this lovely quality that you can't quite put your finger on.  I should have used that instead (which really, is just liver right?).

The recipe also said to let the chicken sit in the red wine overnight.  Done.  Unfortunately, this makes the raw poultry turn a weird shade of purple.  So they look like human organs.  Gross right?

So here I am, cooking away.  The bacon?  AMAZING.  Onions, garlic?  The smell is divine.  But then the addition of the gross-purple chicken and squishy liver?  Oh god.  The smell.  The colour.  The horror.

The Engineer, bless his heart, ate two servings.  Then he said, 'It's not so bad if you can't smell it'.  Great. 

I couldn't even eat it.  The flavor was all wrong, the colour, so gross, and the knowledge that bits of organ floated around the concoction made me physically ill.

Needless to say, my first attempt at a 'Julie and Julia' night has failed.  My French cooking is getting a 'D'.  I do have a recipe for chicken braised in white wine that I love.  Maybe I should just substitute the wines?  Or should I attempt Julia's recipe?  I know I like Coq au Vin, or the idea of it, but I failed miserably.  

Damn you liver.  Damn you and your horrible smell and texture.  

And yet I love fois gras.  Messed up.

Congratulations to crew of "Silent Sound"

When Fred Amor, founder of Gabriola boatbuilders Amor Marine, set the design of the Amor 40 to paper in the 1970s, he could not have imagined that this 40-foot cutter rig sailing boat could one day navigate the fabled Northwest Passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

Since the discovery of the New World, the Northwest Passage had been an elusive dream for explorers and mariners alike. Throughout the grand age of exploration, it remained the ocean's one unattainable prize, luring young men who were seeking wealth and fame to sail north in search of this frozen passage.

Now, "Silent Sound", built 30 years ago by Amor Marine, has completed the Northwest Passage and is heading south for home. The crew left Victoria, BC on June 6 for a west to east transit of the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic. They took the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert then cut across the Gulf of Alaska, sailed the Bering Sea and entered the Arctic in mid-July. Since then they have been sailing east, stopping in communities such as Sachs Harbour, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven along the famous Northwest Passage. Silent Sound’s final port will be Halifax, Nova Scotia in early October.



The goal of this carbon-neutral voyage is to use written word, video and photos to tell the story of how climate change is affecting Arctic communities and describe modern Inuit culture and lifestyles. Scientific research provides us with facts on how the earth is changing, but our goal is to tell this story in a more creative and emotional way to reach a wider audience.

Expedition leader and captain of the "Silent Sound", Cameron Dueck, kept a Blog of their epic journey. The entry for September 15 records their successful passage out of Arctic waters:

September 15, 2009
We’ve sailed the Northwest Passage!

Silent Sound crossed the Arctic Circle early Tuesday morning local time, marking her official transit of the Northwest Passage! We entered the Arctic via the Bering Sea two months ago to the day, and since then we’ve sailed some 3,400 nautical miles, seen a lot of ice and learned a lot about the Canadian North. We’re far from the first to make this journey, and we’re not home yet, but we do feel a real sense of accomplishment. I’m proud of how well Silent Sound has carried us through the seas and the teamwork and dedication of the sailing crew and shore crew which has brought us this far.

There are several definitions of where the Northwest Passage begins and ends, but using the Arctic Circle is certainly the most encompassing, so we’ve been holding our breath until we crossed this line. The Arctic Circle (66 30N) marks the lowest latitude at which the midnight sun is ever seen.

By far the most impressive feature of the Arctic has been its people. In every town we visited we met complete strangers who offered us help, welcomed us into their homes and provided us with hot showers and food. So many people showed genuine interest in our journey and generously told us about their lives, and we left nearly every town with a few fish or other wild game in our fridge. We are leaving a lot of new friends behind as we officially exit the Arctic.

We are passing miles of beautiful coastline that we’d love to explore, but time is tight. Each fjord and harbour looks tempting, and we’ve discussed stopping in many of them…but we need to push on. We are far from done this epic journey. Silent Sound still has some 1,800 miles to sail before reaching Halifax. We’re looking forward to the welcome from girlfriends, family and friends who are awaiting our arrival. We hope to drop anchor in Halifax on October 10.

Silent Sound is currently sailing along nicely in about 15 knots of NW breeze!!!!!!, and all is well on board. We’re still seeing the occasional iceberg, and are keeping a sharp eye out for growlers. I’ve recovered from the tap to the head I got last week during stormy conditions, and now we’re focused on ticking off the miles. We’re not sure where we’ll stop next…it depends on wind conditions.

Cameron

Support ALTRA at VIU

Great to see the following article in the Nanaimo News Bulletin!

Vancouver Island University is helping encourage alternative forms of transportation during ALTernative TRAnsportation Week (ALTRA) Sept. 21-24. The event is organized by VIU students who share the belief that cycling, busing and walking is a critical component of a healthy transportation system and promotes a healthier lifestyle and community.

“We want to educate and encourage commuters at VIU about the benefits of alternative transportation,” said Rebecca Martin, a bike enthusiast and organizer of the event. “Taking the bus, riding your bike or walking to work is a positive choice for so many reasons. Not only is it better for the environment, it can help you save money, reduce stress and create a healthier lifestyle for yourself and for your community.”

As a campus that serves 19,000 students, staff, and faculty, VIU has a significant environmental impact due to its commuter demographic. The university wants to reduce its impact and become a greener campus, as well as promote the idea that sustainability starts with the individual. Activities during the week-long event will include a bike wash/tune-up station, interactive games, the ALTRA parade, and Bikers Breakfasts (Tuesday to Thursday from 7-8 a.m. in front of the Students’ Union and free to all ALTRA commuters or by donation). Participants can also ride their bikes and take part in Critical Mass to increase drivers’ awareness of bikes on the road and ride as a group to the Bowen Park Farmers’ Market, meeting every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., at Fourth Street and Wakesiah Avenue.

There will be prizes including bus passes and bike and running paraphernalia. The week will conclude with a “bike-in” movie – Veer – an inspiring film of twists and turns of urban bike culture.

Details about the event are available online at www.solutions.viu.ca or e-mail viusolutionsnetwork@gmail.com for more information.