What a fantastic fool I was.

Left my cousin's house in Surrey (England, not BC) for a bit of a walk. Just after I walked out the door, I thought, I'd better check the number just to be safe. After I walked back to check the number, (9), I went walking along High Street. It's like Main Street of shops. Walked back, and both cars were there, but no one was home! I rang and rang, and even rang their neighbour Wendy's door at Number 10, too, but to no avail. Double checked I was at 9 and rang some more.Went back out and discovered the library. Went online and e-mailed my cousin to say I was locked out, and that I was at the library. Stayed online a while. Walked back, and still no one was home. Went back to the library and read for a while. Walked back and rang and rang, and watched someone coming home that I did not recognize, to number 10. She said no one was home. I asked her if Wendy lived there, and she said, "No...., Wendy who?" I said I didn't know Wendy's last name, and she asked me, "Is she from the states?" Well that I knew and I said "yes" and she said "number 12"!!! So I went over to number 11 and found everyone there waiting for me, and wondering where I'd been all day.

...and all these threads culminate in the bitter sum.

I've been directed to England for my cousin's funeral. Okay, everyone knows the story, here it is, one more time for posterity!

I was reading a magazine on my way to meet with the brilliant minds of GSD (to Get Stuff Done) and I was reading an article about a producer, who mentioned doing some work with Derek B. I thought, Hey! Maybe he did work on Derek's stuff that I helped him on! But that was way back in the 80's! Reading on a bit further, this producer mentions that his first taste of success was the stuff he did with Derek B back in the 80's and 90's (!!). I was very inspired, because I had helped him on that stuff way back, so here was my past self sending some encouragement to my (then) present self!

I told the members of GSD and then told Olja when I got home. She said I had never played her any of Derek's music, so naturally I googled it right then and there. I found an article that said that Derek B was "...the first British rapper to achieve pop success...", a "...bad young brother" indeed! I was so proud and inspired.

A week and a half later, my Mom phoned me and told me that Derek had passed away. I hadn't even called him to tell him how he had inspired me! So here I am to attend the funeral.

...and so, sum is both the end and the beginning...

Katy Harmer's Blog is the best! http://hellokaty.blogspot.com/

Katy Harmer's blog is the best!

Short and always entertaining, and with those friendly flickr photos right beside it. So here I am, posting to my own 'cause she's inspired me.

This morning what a run I had; thought I'd run for a full 45 minutes, and the time seemed to be passing so slowly, till I checked the time and realized the 45 minutes was about to arrive, so I had to turn around and head for home!

Outlook's calendar has failed me. Google's offline accessory GEARS seems unreliable, conflicting with some mysterious background program that I can't find. So it's back to paper and I'll try Outlook 2007, but I don't think I want to buy that. PS don't tell me to try Corel Central (which I have, why else would you suggest it to me or even know that it exists!), 'cause I've tried it and it has the same failure as Outlook (believe it or not!).

jungle!

rushing,

in the night,

falling.

Green Trees echo a familiar strain.

In the distance there are drumbeats.

I see browns, all hazy in the distance, sun is rising, surrounded by a circle of red,

the land is shimmering.

Friday the 13th, in Salt Spring Island, BC

We just had a great rehearsal for the concert that's coming up in about an hour. Yesterday we had a concert in Courtney, BC, and it was well appreciated by the crowd. Graham (Robinson) had a lot of friends in attendance, and really brought it, but everything went well, including, and especially Brian Tate's Africa.

This morning I had a little bit longer run, then tried to go to the Acme (in Nanaimo) but it wasn't open for breakfast I guess, so I went to a place called, I think, Tina's Café, which was just like Mimi's on Bathurst at Queen, but was a little larger and less busy. Excellent. Then returned to the hotel to discover that we had a $15 breakfast voucher! So I ordered a second Benedict, this time a one they call a Charlotte, which is smoked salmon, as the first was the traditional with ham (not back bacon, so ALMOST traditional!)

I also stopped at a couple of bookstores, and found it difficult not to buy anything. I got a text from Olja today to remind me that I'm supposed to buy jeans.

But no more journal, as I would like to note check go down death.

d

Kelowna

So,

This morning I managed to be up at 7am and go for a brief run before breakfast. Makes me feel like I've already accomplished something. Martin the bus driver then proceeded to take us on a beautiful tour through the Banff area, and let us actually get out and walk around by a hotel where there were ice sculptures, a hockey/skating rink with an Ice structure, and a breathtaking view which we got pictures of.

I also took a picture of me dead there, and we sang Breaths, which I thought was very moving, particularly when the ladies come in. Missing my family, so I want to call home tomorrow, and I need to also call Cleon, to make sure he knows about Wednesday. We stopped at a Tim Horton's in Golden for lunch, but I was not hungry, what with breakfast, pistachios and cookies that the hotel gave us; I just wanted some coffee to wash down more cookies!

When we did reach Kelowna, I immediately decompressed and skimmed through the first 6 tutorials in Sonar 8, stopping to go through the tutorials on editing midi and on editing audio, and then paying particular attention to making a loop. Then I watched a producer masterclass with the Brooke Brothers, dnb producers. They didn't give me what I wanted which was the rapid steps the experienced use to put together a track from scratch. But they had lots of tips and tricks. I'll just have to give the demo I want myself!

Calgary

Well,

I'm on the road, and I need to journal more consistently, so that's what we've come to.

Friday we performed in Edmonton at Festival Place in Sherwood Park actually,
and Saturday we had a workshop and rehearsal at St. Matthew Church in Calgary, now, today we sang at St. Andrew Church (in Calgary) with many of the same people that were at the workshop at St. Matthew's, in the morning worship, and then rehearsed in the church, and then sang a concert that evening.

After the Church service, who should appear but Shannon! It was great to see her, and meet her boyfriend Jake, and her friend from Toronto Christine. Had great conversations with her. Sounds like her life is shaking her up for the good! I will try to support her in that good. Before seeing her at Loco Lous, and having such great conversations, I had great conversations with Kate McGee in the hot tub - no singing was done, which is a violation of hot tub rules, so we will have to figure out some punishment.

Treetop lookout

Far beyond the sea and sand,
Up above the trees I stand,
looking out. Looking out.
Looking out for wisdom.

Curiosity performs,
sharpens, stimulates, informs.
Figures out, figures out.
Figures out this system.

Imitation then relates,
clarifies & separates,
Fleshes out, fleshes out,
fleshes out my vision.

Ego comes to criticize,
measures size, tells me lies,
rooting out, rooting out,
rooting out division.

Faith then brings me confidence,
extra sense, sure defense,
Casting out, casting out,
casting out all demons.

Miles to Go

and now the slow march to competence.
Passing through the town
of confidence and willingsess,
and with me laying down.

But I must leave off all this quest,
and though it makes me weep
I must de-stress, rest, de-compress,
let go, and go to sleep.

The Hills are Calling

Oh!

The hills are calling me -
They aren't even hills, just a bit of a pit.
They're saying "come down, come down..."
I've got a sled, that isn't it.

I'm just supposed to be getting things done.
I'm here at the appointed hour,
Or so I thought. No time to sled,
Or walk, or smell a flower.

And just as I am questioning,
'Is this the time? the place?'
In walks that most comforting elixir,
A familiar face.

No Time!

I'd so like to write something long and engaging,
but I've got much to do, and haven't stopped aging!

Time's a flying, as must I, I hope you'll understand.
And, and I'll screed a line or two when I'm back on dry land.

The challenge for Jeanette

What a puzzle!

How to be the me that I would like to be?

Is it by a rule that I could find in some book?

Is it by a membership? A wish? A smile? A look?

Maybe knowing what I want, forever will to try,
And presence of mind to get a yardstick to measure by.
And if it fails, then faith to start the whole thing o'er again.
And then to speed up time, I need a mentor, or a friend.

Happy New Year!

New year!

doppler noise maker fast-detuning as confetti's raining down.

Well, some days have past.

Nonetheless. Here I am. Take a photo, write a line. Sing and make a miracle!

Already the year is wonderful! When I refresh my mind;
I hardly recognize the place
it has a couple rooms I never entered.

Just imagined!

I never entered my mind!

d