My favourite song, of all time, is Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". He himself has said that kd lang's version is the Definitive One... even though she skips verses. Whatever. She is a goddess. The End.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE
But see, then I joined this choir. This amazing, amazing choir. So here's something totally different but totally the same. Let it load before watching, because it's worth waiting a few minutes.
(And I am the brunette blob at the far left end of the third row. In case you cared.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guhr0Vh2hE0
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Thought for the day
"Parents put way too much empahasis on teaching their kids to read. Who cares? A kid who wants to learn how to read, will learn how to read. And that's what we hire teachers for, teach Johnny to read! Instead of focussing on teaching their kids to read, parents should teach their children to question what they read."
George Carlin
George Carlin
Friday, September 3, 2010
Please make it stop
I am watching Larry King Live! simply because the guest is Wanda Sykes, and I love her.
The conversation just came around to the fact that she is a legally married lesbian. His question??? "So, what do we call her? Your husband?"
"Umm, no, she's my wife. I'm her wife. We're both wives."
His next question. "Your 'wife' recently had twins. Were you present for the birth?"
I admire Wanda Sykes even more now, for not launching her body across the desk and punching his lights out.
WHEN will this neanderthal go away??
The conversation just came around to the fact that she is a legally married lesbian. His question??? "So, what do we call her? Your husband?"
"Umm, no, she's my wife. I'm her wife. We're both wives."
His next question. "Your 'wife' recently had twins. Were you present for the birth?"
I admire Wanda Sykes even more now, for not launching her body across the desk and punching his lights out.
WHEN will this neanderthal go away??
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Pretty feet
Tonight I went to a lovely barbeque for my immediate department. There were ten of us there, eight women and two men. Because of the lovely summer weather, I had ample opportunity to look at assorted sandal-clad feet.
All, on the women at least, were soft. Pretty. Pearly polish in soft, summer shades.
Perfect. You could serve meals on them.
Then there's me. I ruin my feet on purpose, swab them with rubbing alcohol to toughen the skin and reduce the occurrence of blisters. Remove dry skin patches only when it seems I must do so to avoid callous. I have ugly, ugly feet.
I have feet that climb mountains. I have feet that slog through puddles at 6:00 am. I have feet that totter sexily in four inch heels at work, and feet that pound the trail in boots once work is done. I have feet that take me places I haven't seen before. I have feet that are not afraid.
(and yeah, I haven't blogged in five months, and now I want to talk about FEET? Whatever, at least I feel like blogging again....)
All, on the women at least, were soft. Pretty. Pearly polish in soft, summer shades.
Perfect. You could serve meals on them.
Then there's me. I ruin my feet on purpose, swab them with rubbing alcohol to toughen the skin and reduce the occurrence of blisters. Remove dry skin patches only when it seems I must do so to avoid callous. I have ugly, ugly feet.
I have feet that climb mountains. I have feet that slog through puddles at 6:00 am. I have feet that totter sexily in four inch heels at work, and feet that pound the trail in boots once work is done. I have feet that take me places I haven't seen before. I have feet that are not afraid.
(and yeah, I haven't blogged in five months, and now I want to talk about FEET? Whatever, at least I feel like blogging again....)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Can I just say
that I am disappointed and bewildered by the fact that my brother's band, Automan.ca , was signed by Sony more than a year ago and there is apparently still not one corporately produced video or official ANYTHING out there.
Ok, I get it, they don't want to spend huge amounts of cash on a "new" band. But dudes are opening for Iron Maiden at the end of June, clearly SOMEONE has confidence in them.
My brother will freaking kill me for writing this, but he will also call me to point out how the music business works and that I shouldn't get my knickers in a knot, that this is all just the Way It Works.
But GAAAAAAAAAH, give me some love already!
www.automan.ca
Ok, I get it, they don't want to spend huge amounts of cash on a "new" band. But dudes are opening for Iron Maiden at the end of June, clearly SOMEONE has confidence in them.
My brother will freaking kill me for writing this, but he will also call me to point out how the music business works and that I shouldn't get my knickers in a knot, that this is all just the Way It Works.
But GAAAAAAAAAH, give me some love already!
www.automan.ca
Friday, April 23, 2010
OMG BBQ
Well, as of late this afternoon, it's official: my Mum is moving to China in August for at least a year. Mum is a highly accomplished teacher, and has accepted a position teaching French at an embassy school in Beijing.
So first? GO MUM!
And second?
FAAAAACK, now I need to pay for a trip for my little family to China. BAH.
China has figured large in our family for at least thirty years. During the 80's, when "Chinese" cooking became all the rage, my father turned away from electric woks and crappy North American ingredients, and chose to pursue the lonely road which involved rusting cleavers, perfectly rounded woks, cuts of meat no one else would eat, and ingredients in our pantry that no one could read the labels of. Your family might have gone through the Chinese food phase, but my family went through CHINA.
And still does today.
My mum currently has a perfectly normal "Canadian" home. Well, except for the fact that her house is decorated in a Chinese style. And disregard the framed pieces of Chinese embroidery. And please don't mention the teas in her cupboard, or the chop (name seal) sitting on her desk.
In MY house, we won't talk about the small riverstone that has the character "Forever" handcarved in to it (once upon time, a stone I gave my father to explain to him how much I loved him.) We won't talk about the pens, or the linens, or the inkstands which are all very definitely Chinese and all occupy places of honour in my home.
My name is Irma.
I am Canadian Scots Ukranian English Catholic Anglican Jewish.
And I can't wait to go home to China.
(please send money)
So first? GO MUM!
And second?
FAAAAACK, now I need to pay for a trip for my little family to China. BAH.
China has figured large in our family for at least thirty years. During the 80's, when "Chinese" cooking became all the rage, my father turned away from electric woks and crappy North American ingredients, and chose to pursue the lonely road which involved rusting cleavers, perfectly rounded woks, cuts of meat no one else would eat, and ingredients in our pantry that no one could read the labels of. Your family might have gone through the Chinese food phase, but my family went through CHINA.
And still does today.
My mum currently has a perfectly normal "Canadian" home. Well, except for the fact that her house is decorated in a Chinese style. And disregard the framed pieces of Chinese embroidery. And please don't mention the teas in her cupboard, or the chop (name seal) sitting on her desk.
In MY house, we won't talk about the small riverstone that has the character "Forever" handcarved in to it (once upon time, a stone I gave my father to explain to him how much I loved him.) We won't talk about the pens, or the linens, or the inkstands which are all very definitely Chinese and all occupy places of honour in my home.
My name is Irma.
I am Canadian Scots Ukranian English Catholic Anglican Jewish.
And I can't wait to go home to China.
(please send money)
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Too much going on to explain properly
1. I have embarked on a huge, daunting, impossible journey: turning a VERY sunny third floor roof at work in to a lush, verdant garden. I am not alone in this journey, I have five fellow FREAKS who are all itching to turn this nasty, shingled space into something beautiful and productive.
2.And, hellooooo? We are going to have bees. BEES. Although we will be contracting real beekeeper to mind our hive, I hve been reading about the topic obsessively, I want to understand these wonderful creatures and prepare myself for the day my Lottery Winnings (snort!) enable me to do whatever the hell I want.
3. Getting back in to Geocaching, a sport I truly love and yet neglect for (literally) years at a time. Tomorrow, Son and I are taking a group of virgins ("Muggles") out to teach them how to play. Can't wait.
4. Choir continues. I'm sorry, we are frigging fabulous. No really, we are. With each and every practice, I fall in love a little bit more. God, I love these women I spend every Tuesday with. I have no idea what any of their nmes are (except for one childhood friend I was delighted to find in the soprano section with me) but every Tuesday gets better and better, my enjoyment seems to expand exponentionally.
Our director....another friend from childhood, who welcomed me (and actively recruited me) with open arms. She is talented and funny and delightful on so many levels. She tried to recruit me as much as three years ago (I have the emails to prove it!) and I kick myself pretty much daily for waiting so long to join.
This bio of our amazing director is several years out of date, but at least sets the stage..
http://www.mta.ca/faculty/arts/music/faculty/gould.html
She then went on to form the choir Vocc' del Anima, the choir I am in. It is only three and a half years old, but has been judged to be the best women's choir in Canada TWICE in that time. We begin the competition season of 2009 in 11 days, I can't wait!!
2.And, hellooooo? We are going to have bees. BEES. Although we will be contracting real beekeeper to mind our hive, I hve been reading about the topic obsessively, I want to understand these wonderful creatures and prepare myself for the day my Lottery Winnings (snort!) enable me to do whatever the hell I want.
3. Getting back in to Geocaching, a sport I truly love and yet neglect for (literally) years at a time. Tomorrow, Son and I are taking a group of virgins ("Muggles") out to teach them how to play. Can't wait.
4. Choir continues. I'm sorry, we are frigging fabulous. No really, we are. With each and every practice, I fall in love a little bit more. God, I love these women I spend every Tuesday with. I have no idea what any of their nmes are (except for one childhood friend I was delighted to find in the soprano section with me) but every Tuesday gets better and better, my enjoyment seems to expand exponentionally.
Our director....another friend from childhood, who welcomed me (and actively recruited me) with open arms. She is talented and funny and delightful on so many levels. She tried to recruit me as much as three years ago (I have the emails to prove it!) and I kick myself pretty much daily for waiting so long to join.
This bio of our amazing director is several years out of date, but at least sets the stage..
http://www.mta.ca/faculty/arts/music/faculty/gould.html
She then went on to form the choir Vocc' del Anima, the choir I am in. It is only three and a half years old, but has been judged to be the best women's choir in Canada TWICE in that time. We begin the competition season of 2009 in 11 days, I can't wait!!
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