I feel a song coming on...

This afternoon I was driving home, and the sun was finally being successful at peeking through the dreary rainclouds that have been dominating the skies. My window was down, the wind was in my hair and good ol' Rich Terfry played this song, and it was perfect.

So I signed on hours ago to write what would likely have been a lengthly, quasi non-sensical entry about my day, or my life, or both.

Then I got distracted.

Now I'm sitting in my bed, finishing off last night's apple crisp, struggling to stay awake and so instead you are stuck with this measley musing:



Today I got a manicure. I felt pampered and they looked lovely. I say looked because I had to go directly from esthetician back to work where I may have smudged the tip of one or two (aargh!) but all in all my nails look right purdy. Oh, and the colour may be my new favourite neutral: a darkish yet subtle taupy grey tone entitled You Don't Know Jacques. It's from OPI's "Collection de France" and the name is amazing. I'm sorry, but being the person who's job it is to come up with names like "Monsooner or Later" or "Miami Beet" (both of which are fab toe or summer-fun colours) or "I'm Not Really a Waitress" (which is just plain glorious, regardless of what the colour is) would be pretty darn fun, if you ask me. That or being the person who names crayon colours. When I was a kid I used to think that was the coolest of dream jobs.

I'm distracted again... and rambling about nail polish. Sorry.

Suffice it to say that I have been awake for 21 of the past 24 hours, I am leaving the day after tomorrow for Toronto for what is currently an indefinite period of time and I have not begun to prepare, one of my best friends just got engaged (!!) and the other is apparently very upset with me (??). Oh, and remember the boy I mentioned on the sly? I went to visit him about a week ago and I think something went awry but I don't know what.


Tomorrow will be better. ...or at the very least the day after that..



So to make up for all of this rambling, here's a photo I found on a new-to-me site called Photography Served. It's from a gallery entitled 'Nightscapes'. Very cool.

Life's Simple Things

I am having yet another uber-relaxing Sunday morning. I just finished a delicious asparagus and smoked salmon omelet, and am just sitting down to a cup of coffee. As my espresso maker bubbled, I thought "that is is perfectly lovely, comforting sound".



So as I enjoy my coffee, allow me to list off some of my favourite sounds:

- the ocean
- a symphony orchestra tuning up
- fall leaves crunching under foot
- hard rain on the roof
- the quiet, deep breaths of a loved one who is sound asleep
- the distinct lack of noise in the middle, or just after, a heavy snowfall (does that count as a sound??)

aww what the heck, how about some favourite smells as well..
- the ocean, salty and refreshing
- the inside of a book, either new or old
- lavender...and vanilla, that may be a tie
- wood fire, especially indoors on a cool, damp day
- salt & sun on skin after a day at the beach
- hot milk cake, fresh out of the oven

I could probably go on... it's nice to stop and think about the tiny things that comfort and bring enjoyment to one every now and again. It's funny too how a certain smell or sound has the ability to instantly transport one to a very specific place and time.

Next time you sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of good wine (all of which are also good smells), try pausing for a minute to think of some of your favourites, it's a rather calming thing to do.

I don't know why or how I have never before heard of Melody Gardot before, but my word she is fabulous. Don't believe me? Watch this video. It is everything I wish my life could be.

Aaaand while I'm at it...

...this movie is going to be amazing.




AMAZING.

In case you needed another reason to check out this tv show:

Exits are here, here and here.

Last night I impulsively bought a one-way ticket to Toronto.

I couldn't help it! There were 36 hours left in a seat sale, it cost $89, two of my dearest university friends just happen to be headed into town the weekend I booked, I couldn't figure out when I should return so I just clicked 'Select This Flight', entered my trusty Visa number and am now headed to Toronto for an indefinite period of time, departing in a mere 6 days.

Cue panic.

This is exactly what happened in July when I left my job to move to Toronto, bought a one-way flight at the last minute, spent the night before I was set to depart avoiding packing and instead sitting on my back porch listening to music, making pro/con lists and drinking tea all night long whilst having a semi-meltdown slash severe personal crisis. [Whoa run-on sentence.] Next morning, instead of embarking on my new Toronto life, I called the airline and cancelled my ticket.

Point is, I am not entirely sure I will be able to avoid the same scenario this time around. I don't seem to be as terrified as before, and this time my trip includes immediate excitement and reward however I am still as ill-prepared, have no long term place to stay or job to sustain myself.

Huh.

Nothing says fabulous like black patent pointy toes.

from Ciao, Chessa

I really need to start taking more photos.

Wordplay

Today someone told me that the words on this blog cheered them up in the midst of a bad day.





That's pretty wonderful. I am humbled and honoured at the very thought that what I do here could affect someone...anyone. Thank you to the magnificent person who told me that - you made my heart swell and my eyes smile when I needed it.



It's funny, the power of words. Think of all of the lives changed and transported, all of the relationships started or deepened, the hearts broken and mended. History has been made and told with and through the power of words.



...But what about the words that are unsaid? Perhaps it's bad to think about the "what ifs" of life, but I imagine a lot of lives and relationships would have been altered, and hearts could have been saved, had someone had the courage to say the words that should have been said.



I don't say a lot of things. I have a tendency to internalize my feelings and bottle up my thoughts. I label myself a "shy girl", I dwell inside my head, listen to other peoples problems instead of vocalising my own, I'm not big on telephones, I'd much rather debate (okay argue about) nothing than reveal something. It's really rather a horrible personal trait - one that needs work, I know.



But back to my point - I sometimes wonder how life would be different if people said aloud all of the words that came into their head, or more importantly that they felt in their heart. Think about it: a simple "yes" or "no", "I love you", "I've missed you", "I'm sorry", or "I'm here"; those are the smallest of words but oh, how immensely powerful...when told to those people in our lives that deserve to hear them.

I am a Material Girl

Juuust realized how excessively long Swayze's press release was... sorry folks!

MOVING ON: I spent today at the mall. I was reminded of high school, I ate at the food court and most importantly I purchased this:



(Pause for adoration)

.

.

.

I bought it to wear to the opening gala of the Atlantic Film Fest on Thursday. (One of many benefits of having talented actor friends...) Original plan was to find a fab dress that wouldn't break the bank and that I could wear at something other than a gala. Instead I bought said beautiful top only to realize upon my return home that I have no suitable bottom. Damn.

Any suggestions?

Sad News

Publicist: Patrick Swayze dies at 57
By CHRISTY LEMIRE (AP) – 57 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES — Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into moviegoers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," died Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57.
"Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," said a statement released Monday evening by his publicist, Annett Wolf. Swayze died in Los Angeles, Wolf said, but declined to give further details.
Fans of the actor were saddened to learn in March 2008 that Swayze was suffering from a particularly deadly form of cancer. He kept working despite the diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting "The Beast," an A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot.
Swayze said he opted not to use painkilling drugs while making "The Beast" because they would have taken the edge off his performance. The show drew a respectable 1.3 million viewers when the 13 episodes ran in 2009, but A&E said it had reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season.
When he first went public with the illness, some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was "considerably more optimistic" than that. Swayze acknowledged that time might be running out given the grim nature of the disease.
"I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking," Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters in early 2009. "Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it."
C. Thomas Howell, who co-starred with Swayze in "The Outsiders," "Grandview U.S.A." and "Red Dawn", said: "I have always had a special place in my heart for Patrick. While I was fortunate enough to work with him in three films, it was our passion for horses that forged a friendship between us that I treasure to this day. Not only did we lose a fine actor today, I lost my older `Outsiders' brother."
Other celebrities used Twitter to express condolences, and "Dirty Dancing" was the top trending topic for a while Monday night, trailed by several other Swayze films.
Ashton Kutcher — whose wife, Demi Moore, co-starred with Swayze in "Ghost" — wrote: "RIP P Swayze." Kutcher also linked to a YouTube clip of the actor poking fun at himself in a classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch, in which he played a wannabe Chippendales dancer alongside the corpulent — and frighteningly shirtless — Chris Farley.
And Larry King wrote: "Patrick Swayze was a wonderful actor & a terrific guy. He put his heart in everything. He was an extraordinary fighter in his battle w Cancer." King added that he'd do a tribute to Swayze on his CNN program Tuesday night.
A three-time Golden Globe nominee, Swayze became a star with his performance as the misunderstood bad-boy Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing." As the son of a choreographer who began his career in musical theater, he seemed a natural to play the role.
A coming-of-age romance starring Jennifer Grey as an idealistic young woman on vacation with her family and Swayze as the Catskills resort's sexy (and much older) dance instructor, the film made great use of both his grace on his feet and his muscular physique.
It became an international phenomenon in the summer of 1987, spawning albums, an Oscar-winning hit song in "(I've Had) the Time of My Life," stage productions and a sequel, 2004's "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," in which he made a cameo.
Swayze performed and co-wrote a song on the soundtrack, the ballad "She's Like the Wind," inspired by his wife, Lisa Niemi. The film also gave him the chance to utter the now-classic line, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."
Swayze followed that up with the 1989 action flick "Road House," in which he played a bouncer at a rowdy bar. But it was his performance in 1990's "Ghost" that showed his vulnerable, sensitive side. He starred as a murdered man trying to communicate with his fiancee (Moore) — with great frustration and longing — through a psychic played by Whoopi Goldberg.
Swayze said at the time that he fought for the role of Sam Wheat (director Jerry Zucker wanted Kevin Kline) but once he went in for an audition and read six scenes, he got it.
Why did he want the part so badly? "It made me cry four or five times," he said of Bruce Joel Rubin's Oscar-winning script in an AP interview.
"Ghost" provided yet another indelible musical moment: Swayze and Moore sensually molding pottery together to the strains of the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody." It also earned a best-picture nomination and a supporting-actress Oscar for Goldberg, who said she wouldn't have won if it weren't for Swayze.
"When I won my Academy Award, the only person I really thanked was Patrick," Goldberg said in March 2008 on the ABC daytime talk show "The View."
Swayze himself earned three Golden Globe nominations, for "Dirty Dancing," "Ghost" and 1995's "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," which further allowed him to toy with his masculine image. The role called for him to play a drag queen on a cross-country road trip alongside Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo.
His heartthrob status almost kept him from being considered for the role of Vida Boheme.
"I couldn't get seen on it because everyone viewed me as terminally heterosexually masculine-macho," he told the AP then. But he transformed himself so completely that when his screen test was sent to Steven Spielberg, whose Amblin pictures produced "To Wong Foo," Spielberg didn't recognize him.
Among his earlier films, Swayze was part of the star-studded lineup of up-and-comers in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 adaptation of S.E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders," alongside Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez and Diane Lane.
Other '80s films included "Red Dawn," "Grandview U.S.A." (for which he also provided choreography) and "Youngblood," once more with Lowe, as Canadian hockey teammates.
In the '90s, he made such eclectic films as "Point Break" (1991), in which he played the leader of a band of bank-robbing surfers, and the family Western "Tall Tale" (1995), in which he starred as Pecos Bill. He appeared on the cover of People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991, but his career tapered off toward the end of the 1990s, when he also had stay in rehab for alcohol abuse. In 2001, he appeared in the cult favorite "Donnie Darko," and in 2003 he returned to the New York stage with "Chicago"; 2006 found him in the musical "Guys and Dolls" in London.
Swayze was born in 1952 in Houston, the son of Jesse Swayze and choreographer Patsy Swayze, whose films include "Urban Cowboy."
He played football but also was drawn to dance and theater, performing with the Feld, Joffrey and Harkness Ballets and appearing on Broadway as Danny Zuko in "Grease." But he turned to acting in 1978 after a series of injuries.
Within a couple years of moving to Los Angeles, he made his debut in the roller-disco movie "Skatetown, U.S.A." The eclectic cast included Scott Baio, Flip Wilson, Maureen McCormack and Billy Barty.
Off-screen, he was an avid conservationist who was moved by his time in Africa to shine a light on "man's greed and absolute unwillingness to operate according to Mother Nature's laws," he told the AP in 2004.
Swayze was married since 1975 to Niemi, a fellow dancer who took lessons with his mother; they met when he was 19 and she was 15. A licensed pilot, Niemi would fly her husband from Los Angeles to Northern California for treatment at Stanford University Medical Center.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Love All

I'm not sure why, but I love watching tennis matches on tv.

...actually I am sure why:

Reading, Resting, Relaxing

It is grey and rainy outside, which is just fine by me, because I am holed up inside.

I woke up early, made a pot of tea and sat down with a china tea cup and saucer (one must be proper on Sunday mornings) today's paper, yesterday's Globe, a pencil for the crossword puzzle, a new book to read and a CD of Mozart piano concertos to play in the background.

Perfection.

Now my blissful morning has passed, and despite plans to have a productive afternoon, I find myself lazing on my unmade bed, reading blogs, listening to Ella and Louis (whom I kind of wish were my friends) and putting off cleaning my rather atrociously untidy room.

I may even take a nap... and I won't even feel bad if I do because naps are what rainy Sunday afternoons are for.

Hope everyone is getting in a little R&R before another week begins! (I highly recommend it)

The body is a house of many windows: there we all sit, showing ourselves and crying on the passers-by to come and love us. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Tangobaby, you know what's up.

You DO exist!

Due to my blogging ineptitude, I just noticed the lovely comments that have been posted (some an embarrassingly long time ago).



Severe lack of blogging manners aside, this is AWESOME. I actually and honestly grinned from ear to ear and yelled "People read me!" while pumping my fists in the air.





Thank you! thank you! thank you! dear commenters, you have made my day.

HOME SWEET (vastly expensive) HOME

So I just spent far too much time looking at prospective houses/condos/lofts online.

Mother phoned this morning and told me to look up Red Door Reality because one of our neighbours had put his house up for sale (for a cool 3/4 million, if you don't mind) and needless to say, I got carried away.

I then decided to see what a quaint house for one would cost 'round these parts, and then what a new condo would cost, and then what a summer home in Mahone Bay would set me back, and before you can say 'fixed mortgage' an hour (ok maybe more) had gone by and I was on TorontoLofts.com looking at the floor plans of $600,000 condos.

Lately I've been thinking that I would really like to invest in real estate. I figure if I'm going to spend $X hundred in rent every month, I might as well put it towards owning something of my own. Ahh what a wonderful notion - an entire space that is mine and only mine. It is probably the only "grown-up thing" that doesn't freak me out. Marriage? Eek! Long-term career? OHGod.. Children? (look of utter shock/mild nausea) House to call my own? Alright..

Sadly, I am as green as the basil on the caprese salad I had for lunch today when it comes to real estate and realistically there is no way I can currently afford anything close to my dream home. Anybody want to go splits on an overpriced, slightly minuscule yet grossly fabulous loft in an old Toy Factory?? Anybody??

Just a pretty little somethin' I found here.

Well what have we here...

I think I've already mentioned the great Sunfiltered blog. I check it periodically and every time I do I make a mental note to tune in more frequently. For example, today I discover the Full Frontal Fashion Blog, which looks way cooler than I could ever hope to be...

FULL FRONTAL FASHION blog launch!

September 9th, 2009 by Sundance Channel

Announcing the launch of FULL FRONTAL FASHION, an all new style destination offering insider access to the highly creative world of contemporary fashion. Meet the designers, influencers, artists and trends at the forefront of international style and glamor. FULL FRONTAL FASHION will unveil the craft, creativity and passion of the most authentic artists working in, and around, the world of fashion today.

Rarely is fashion considered purely as an art form — it’s more of a publicity tool, a shopping opportunity or status symbol. Yet, behind the label, in a small warehouse or atelier somewhere, designers put their pens to paper, take a 2-dimensional inspiration and make it a 3-dimensional work of art.

We want to celebrate that process with FULL FRONTAL FASHION — and show all the exciting underpinnings of putting together a collection. We hope to start with inspiration, which as we all know can be anything, and explore construction and ultimately how and why clothing gets sold and worn.

We have gathered a diverse group of creative writers, photographers, artists and stylists to write about their fashion perspective each day on the FULL FRONTAL FASHION blog.

Log On. Tune-In. Buckle Up!

TV Dorkiness

Glee premieres tonight and I am essentially planning my evening around it. I am pumped.

1 hour PrimeTime Musical Comedy??
SIGN. ME. UP.

My blogging, Myself

I freakin' love stumbling upon new (to me) blogs. Whenever I come across a new photo blog or inspirational blog or rambling blog that is interesting, entertaining and well put together I get a feeling similar to that when you find an old photo album buried at the bottom of a storage box: "How long has this been here?" "How exciting!" "I had no idea this existed" "Look at all of the great stories in here!" etc.

Today I finally remembered to get my best friend's blog address from her. I've...

HOLD THE PHONE A MOUSE JUST RAN ACROSS MY KITCHEN FLOOR!!! GDAMMIT! FRIGGIN' RODENTS... IF IT ISN'T A FAMILY OF OBNOXIOUSLY LOUD SQUIRRELS IN MY BACKYARD OR AN ALLEGED RAT ON MY BACK PORCH (that's right, a rat was apparently spotted chasing said squirrels off my back porch today.. not a welcome solution to the squirrel problem) IT'S A BLOODY MOUSE (not so) CASUALLY SCURRYING FROM THE OVEN TO THE DISHWASHER....


(Ahem). I digress.

I've been trying to find her blog for ages et voila I now have access. It's wordy which is not at all bad but very interesting to me because throughout our entire friendship she has been the open, effusive, talkative one and I have been the inward, private, sit-back-and-take-it-all-in one. This is exactly how our blogs are. She writes (in her lovely way which is exactly like she talks aloud) about her day to day life, her personal thoughts and opinions and the people surrounding her who affect her the most. I borrow blog entries, share photos and videos, comment assertively yet objectively on various things I find, and share information from other people but rarely about myself.

I sometimes hate (and I use this word deliberately) my inability to open up. It is a truly hideous trait to possess when at a party or meeting new people or on a date (especially the latter) and the amount of effort it takes me to make small talk, or share stories or divulge information is truly exhausting. I must say that I feel I am getting better at this...at the very least I'm a work in progress. (Sharing a personal blog with the world has got to count for something in this regard am I right?)


P.S. On the subject of newly found blogs, did you know that Gwenyth Paltrow has one?! Truth be told, I haven't quite figured it out yet, but leave it to JMac to put me on to that one..

I think this is awesome!

So What Do We Think About This?

This month Glamour magazine ran this photograph which has created quite a stir here in the US. It seems women desperately want more images that highlight the variety of beauty that the female form has to offer. If that is true, then this should become one of the biggest selling issues in Conde Nast history. Actually it just might become the biggest seller. When we wanted to do a post about this Tracy went to three different shops to find the magazine but all three were sold out. We had to scan this from the NY Post. When I am shooting on the street older women and larger size women often say "no" to my request to shoot them. Actually, much more than any other category of people I shoot. I think they have a real suspicion about how the image will be used. I also think there continues to be a growing disconnect between the fashion community and "average" women in general However, do you think that this economic crisis has forced the fashion community to open it's eyes a little bit to what the customers want?
posted by The Sartorialist

I think Sunday is my favourite day of the week..

Today was a perfect fall day. The sun was bright and warm, the air was crisp, there was a slight breeze - just enough to russle half-green leaves on trees - the kind of weather that calls for deep breaths and thoughts of new possibilities.

I took advantage of this wonderful day: took my faithful dog for a long walk at PPP, then I met my grandparents and godmother for lunch on the boardwalk (vegetable gyoza followed by sirloin steak sandwich with oriental house salad accompanied by a Stutz apple cider - divine), went for a drive, did [yesterdays] crossword on the back porch while listening to Amelia Curran, dinner, and now amazing Mediteranean lemon yoghurt for dessert.

Oh, and I also encountered one of my favourite things about a Haligonian September, which I am shocked I neglected to mention the other day: cute college boys. Yes folks, the universities are back in session, the students are back in town and the cute boy quotient has increased exponentially. Talk about bliss...

Psst...

Okay, so at the risk of feeling like I'm on blogger overload, may I just blurt this out:

The other day someone told me he loved me and every time I think about it I can't help but smile.

So two friends of mine are getting married this weekend. Well, they're not so much "friends" anymore as they are just people I've known since I was 10 years old. I'm not going to the wedding. Both my mother and I were invited, as my mom is good friends with the bride's mother. Mother is going, but I couldn't justify the trip (the wedding is in Ontario).

ANYHOW my point is that this morning I wrote a card for the happy couple. And it was corny. We (mother and I) couldn't figure out what to say so I ended up writing

Live well. Laugh often. Love much.
Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.
Congratulations!

Lame-o!

When my sister left for Mexico, I wrote her a much better note, which included not Emerson, but a quote from Nehru which said

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” - Jawaharial Nehru

I found it in this article and I think that it is true.

Visions of Autumnal Bliss

Somehow it is September. I'm not sure how that happened, or why Mother Nature felt it fair to bestow a mere 2 weeks of summer on us vitamin D deprived Nova Scotians, but there you have it.

That being said, Halifax is a pretty awesome place to be in September. Today the Atlantic Fringe Fest starts (yay affordable theatre!!) and in two weeks time the Atlantic Film Festival gets underway. Plus the weather is usually fairly agreeable and the city is bustling with the influx of university students back for another year.

I tried really hard to get a job with the Film Fest this year, but to no avail.

Ok so perhaps that's a lie. I didn't try that hard. But I did look into it, make a resume, email some people whom I new were hiring, tell my friend who actually works there to drop some hints, and still nothing. Ah well, guess that wasn't meant to be.

Every year I promise myself to participate in/attend the Film Fest, and usually I fail to hold up my end of the deal but last year I managed reasonably well and this year my bestest friend is in three movies! That's right three. How amazingly exciting right?? I feel especially invested because I helped her prepare for her auditions, and I ran lines with her, and some of the clothes which she borrowed for me may have made it into a few scenes. (That and of course she has worked her tail off and deserves to be a Halifamous movie star).

Festivals are amazing because they give the community a unique opportunity to be exposed to something which they may not ordinarily have access to as well as giving local artists an avenue through which to showcase themselves. Plus there's an influx of people in town, there are always parties and events happening and... well it's just awesome. Festivals are the shit. Music (a la Stewart Park I attended in July), Film, Fringe or otherwise.

All in all, September holds promise. Lots of artistic/cultural excitement, a trip to Toronto to see one of my dearest friends whom I haven't seen in 3 years, and a bit of a new start. Hopefully by the end of this month I will be in the midst of a grand adventure somewhere, and come cold, dark winter I'll be able to look back on September and smile at how fantastic a time I had.