The Birthday: In which our intrepid writer/drummer/illustrator sets off to enjoy, explore and be in the moment.

Nov. 15^th My Birthday. This is a day I usually treat as a meditative, exploratory day.

Unless it’s a big number I don’t bother with parties. I find the day is much more enjoyable and meaningful if I book it off and wander about and reflect on the day.

This year it fell on my day off, so it felt even more special. I’m up reasonably early, as I like to enjoy as much of the day as I can. My Birthday morning found me up at Eight and engaged in a brisk workout. After morning ablutions and dressing I was outside on the balcony enjoying a breakfast and coffee from the café Downstairs in my building. Strong black coffee and croissant, with some muesli and fruit juice.

I make the effort to write everyday on my YA Novel and so I banged out five hundred words. That was all I could manage. You see I was also a little intoxicated. I had opened a bottle of prosecco along with a dram of single malt. My wobbly-ness was countered by an intense dose of nicotine courtesy of the Cuban Churchill cigar I was also smoking.

Hey it’s my birthday, I can indulge!

My mom joined me in the celebrations and we chatted about art and life out on the balcony. The weather was unseasonably warm with the sun making an occasional appearance. I enjoyed watching the November clouds scud across the sky.

A short nap to clear my head and a hearty lunch of spicy daal and sourdough bread and we head out to the Gardiner Museum to see an exhibit of experimental ceramics.

I particularly enjoyed the work of Brendan Tang who fuses Ming pottery with Manga technology. It was just the right amount of visual stimuli without feeling overloaded.

At my mom’s suggestion we head over to the cafe at Royal Conservatory of Music and in the atrium there, we enjoy some vegan cupcakes with a strong cup of coffee surrounded by ancient musical artifacts and Victorian architecture. The mezzanine at the conservatory also affords a nice view onto the inner courtyard of the grounds; sun and trees festooned in orange and yellow leaves just punctuate the moment perfectly!

We spend the rest of the afternoon wandering around the old U of T campus and chance upon a bookstore I’ve not been in before, Crux Bookstore sells perhaps the most comprehensive catalogue of Theological books in the city. From an 1830 edition of the collected works of Thomas Aquinas to a very wordy philosophical discourse on Winnie the Pooh. Too wordy. I’ll stick with “Tao of Pooh” thanks!

We continue our walk through the city taking in the changing season. The cool breeze feels good on my face while I crunch fallen leaves under my feet. It’s been a perfect day so far.

We repair back to my condo and then head out to my favourite Vegan restaurant Fressen.

The food is always good here. And over the sumptuous fare I reflect on the changes in the past year. There have been some major ones and all of them good. For the first time in quite some time I feel positively charged about where my life is taking me.

Happy Birthday to me!

So what happened?

The fact that we now have a mayor that supposedly the majority of people didn’t want leaves a lot of us wondering what really happened?

What indeed? Some are already blaming the suburbanites for coming out and droves and voting Rob Ford in.

If this is the case, has the ghost of Premier Mike Harris come back to haunt us? After all, city amalgamation was one of his initiatives, which does indeed mean that the suburbs have a greater say in what is done in downtown Toronto.

Yet the figures for voter turnout are yet to be disclosed, and the fact remains Rob Ford is now Mayor of Toronto.

The fact that George Smitherman flinched halfway through his campaign, changed his tune from one of fear mongering to a “I’ll do one better,” message. Didn’t help him.

Despite Joe Pantalone’s “Local lad makes good, and I know how this city works,” strategy, his appeal wasn’t there and sadly, charisma and hard sell are determinant factors in an election.

To his credit Rob Ford ran a better campaign. He stuck with his message of “tax cuts, clear out the fat cats and let’s give the people what they want.” Loud and clear.

To our discredit, we believed or believe Rob Ford, and therein lies the problem, it’s not that simple. You cannot run a government like a business as Ford purports he can. We’re not dealing with a hard product, or hard sell. You’re not dealing with demographics or consumer trends, we’re dealing with real people and depending on your perspective, people are a real liability, or a natural foundation that shifts and evolves adapting to the changes that are an inherent part of life. Yet we continue to buy into election campaigns like misinformed consumers buying the package that looks and sounds the most appealing.

The fact remains though that Rob Ford is now Mayor of Toronto.

It is now no longer a question of, “what happened?” It is now, “what happens?”

Indeed what does happen? Rob Ford does command a majority vote, it was even said it was a landslide victory, but what does that say really?

Our previous mayor David Miller won a majority the first time he ran and was reelected for a second term. In each case it appeared as though it was a mandate; that the people were on his side for him to “sweep clean the city,” and make Toronto a healthy and vibrant place to live. Miller had his share of opponents in city hall though, and his plans were frustrated. Despite having the people on his side it was evident that the municipal machine has its particulars on how things are run.

This will be the case with Rob Ford, he will not be able to saunter in, wave a magic wand and expect council to acquiesce to his demands. If anything Mr. Ford has a far larger contingent of opponents at city hall, and the unions did not back him during this election.

Do you remember the grief the unions gave Miller over the garbage strike? Do you even remember the wrath exacted on Ontario Premier Bob Rae, by CAW union leader Buzz Hargrove? Unions can break a politician, no matter how noble and well intentioned they are.

There’s also what I call the “Dirty Dishes,” factor. It’s like moving into a new place only to find that the previous tenant has left you with a filthy apartment with dishes in the sink. You can’t move in till it’s clean. In the case of politics, the dirty dishes are comprised of left over issues from the previous administration, that no political stripe or mandate can ignore. If you want to run the city, you inherit an additional batch of problems and projects that you were oblivious to prior to you being elected.

There’s also evidence of Ford’s record, there’s clips on YouTube, showing how belligerent and antagonistic the man can be. Type in “Rob Ford in action,” and see for yourself. I had the opportunity to talk to some of the councilors and they all said Rob Ford, “does not play well with others.” One councilor went so far as to say he’s never, ever seen Rob Ford break bread with anyone on council; he always eats alone. It also remains to be seen if Mr. Ford can indeed cut expenses and taxes while still having sufficient funds to not only keep the city running, but to improve it as well.

So Mr. Ford, you may very well try and do away with programs and amenities that I feel are important to this city, you claim to have a fiscal strategy that will put money back into my wallet and that you will make yourself accountable to the people. I’ve outlined the challenges you face as mentioned above and who knows what other obstacles await you?

So Mr. Ford, you are now mayor of this city. Yours is not an enviable task, and you will indeed have to learn to cooperate with others and play nice in the sand box if you expect to get anything done. If you can indeed do anything good for the city, good luck, you’re going to need it.

The fact is Mr. Ford, you are now mayor of Toronto and you may very well have bitten off more than you can chew.

The Inadvertist Stalks!

inadvertist: (O.E. 16thC) one who habitually fails to take notice. Lacking in care.

Well I don't believe it's me who's the inadvertist. Though to some degree it feels like it. A number of glitches slipped into the equation this week. First being my video card on my Laptop going kaput, followed by some frivolity on Monday where I was invited to go see COVENANT.

I admit that was a lot more fun than I expected, But the added bonus was the company: CK, D and P are turning out to be a good bunch to hang with. But it threw my sleep cycle off.

Tuesday night no so good, sneeziness ensued which I relgate to spring and all its pollinated glory.

and an ache in my left deltoid that left me feeling like a cripple by Wednesday morning. I did not need this.

By Thursday the aches have all but disappeared and my Laptop is returned to me, costing me nothing as it's under warranty, a quick shopping run for staples, some writing done and all is not lost.

My illustration portfolio revamp is inching along, and I just have to go with that for now.

Fortunately, my creative energies concerning my writing and drumming are not being squandered. As a matter of fact our student troupe has 16 days left before we perform at the School Gala and I have another week after that before my SOLO DEBUT at MOKSHA STUDIOS JUNE 12th!

I should be nervous. I suppose I am, but it's tempered with confidence that I can do it!

Right Then cry "Yalla!" and let slip the beats of Doum!

It’s been a month since my last entry and that’s far too long to let a blog go dormant. Looking over this posting I admit it sounds very self-congratulatory. Yep it could be, and if it is well..... DEAL!

My sketchbook has scribblings for ideas that could be in one sense non-sequiturs. They’re not really, like most ideas that end up in my sketchbook the ones of late are leaning towards the direction I want them to. I know that sounds enigmatic, but please bear with me as this involves further experiments of where I want to take the illustration career and some commercial ideas that could be fun. Further bulletins as situation warrants. Oh, as for my YA novel I’m working on? I’m up to ten thoudsand words and heading into the ninth chapter!

Concerning my musical pursuits and musings, let’s just say I’ve had quite enough of people getting nostalgic about past music trends, especially this habit of clinging to the 80’s. Even though I enjoyed it at the time, the tunes being resurrected and over played are not indicative of what the decade was like, nor are they edifying. I find it just a tad reprehensible, that whether it’s out of laziness or the fact that we’ve allowed the record industry to hold our tastes hostage.

You know what I’m referring to: creativity killed by monetary obsessions. While there’s nothing wrong in making a buck, especially in the arts, it’s unacceptable that the strategies employed are old, outmoded and lack creativity. If you’re afraid of taking chances, then you’re not living. And for the love of anything good in this world please listen to something other than just western pop music! Granted this rant is informed by the fact that I'm actually playing a musical instrument again, but that doesn't mean you to listen to the" same ol' same ol'," again and again. C'mon, I'd really like to see you eat nothing but cheese-burgers, for the rest of your life and nothing else!

Closing thought for this posting: I was something of a hero two weeks ago; I found a fellow gasping his last in a hallway, and in the process of calling for the ambulance, etc. I began CPR with a neighbour helping out. It just happened. No real panic, I just realized that this was a life or death situation, and if I was going to make any difference I had to do it, and do you know what? It worked. Granted EMS still had their work cut out for them when they arrived, but it could have been a grimmer scenario if I had stood back and decided to let the paramedics do it. It was scary, exhilarating and in a very pragmatic way, the right thing to do. I won’t tell you to take a CPR course so that you can save someone, because as a dear friend of mine who’s a former paramedic told me that what I did was rare, as most people naturally freeze up in a situation like the one I was in; well if that’s the case then I ‘m grateful that I acted the way I did and to quote Christopher Robin from Winnie The Pooh, “…there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

VISITING THE MUSE

A month has just flown by.

Oh, to be ten years old again when time moved so slowly.

No. Not really no, not at all. I’m happy where I am in life. I just wish I had more time for the things happening in my life.

Oh! I’m sorry; did you want a maraschino cherry on your vegan sundae there sir?

Another mint? It’s “waiferre theen!”

All right I’m not complaining; really, I’m not. I am pleasantly surprised at where the inspiration is coming from though.

Or am I?

Well, I’ll try to keep this short. First Point: When I was ten, my Mom brought back a pair of Bongos from Bermuda-I played them incessantly, ad dementias. Then I took recorder lessons (like most kids) and in Grade 7 ended up in the school band playing Alto Sax. Which was cool, but that was it for quite some time, nothing. Then about two years ago, after dating a Belly dancer I take up the Dumbek: a hand drum that just ROCKS MY WORLD!

It’s opening up new opportunities and the visceral thrill of physically making sounds on a musical instrument. This is so much better than bopping around, listening to canned music on an ipod or stereo.

As for recorded music, you’ll find yourself listening to new sounds, your ears will prick up a when you hear your instrument on the street emanating from a club playing live music, or in the soundtrack of the movie you’re watching in the theatre and the new cultures I’ve discovered? The Arabic, Middle-East experience, Cuba, Senegal; it goes on and on.

I’ve always enjoyed drawing. I’ve always had some sort of writing implement be it crayon, pencil or designer brush pen in hand. Scribbling, blackening pages. I also wrote a fair bit. I was often asked in class to read my efforts aloud, clacked away on the typewriter in the family office, kept sporadic journals, but the drawing always took centre stage.

Two weeks ago at a CANSCAIP meeting, I run into a published writer, we talk, exchange email addresses, I pitch an idea I’ve had for a YA novel for about seven years; she tells me it’s a great!

“Now start writing it!”

Boom! I’m banging out about 600 words a day and it ROCKS MY WORLD!

Lesson here: not all the stuff you put on the backburner is inconsequential, it can enrich your life like you never thought it would. The trick is to go with it, even if you have some reservations, it might even frighten you. That’s good, do it! Oh do it! It rewards faster than you think.

Now I haven’t given up on illustration, as a matter of fact I’ve got a fresh perspective on it. But the writing is far more exciting that I thought it would be. I have another dream on top of my illustration career to pursue.

Yeah, it’s good, I like where this is going.

“First you jump off the cliff; then you build the wings.”

-Ray Bradbury

A Mentor and friend

My first thoughts online for 2010 and it's a doozy!

My start of 2010 hit the ground running; I spent most of January preparing for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Winter Conference in New York. During the conference, a Mentor and Friend died.

John Gould was not only one of Canada's finest draughtsman, he was a progressive creative entity whose work and ideas,embraced all mediums old and new-just look at the picture above for a sampling of his talent. His laureates include being elected to Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, official portraitist to Marcel Marceau; Commissions from the National Film Board of Canada and the National Gallery of Canada.

See the link below for more on John

http://www.robertsgallery.net/default.asp

His personal laureates include a passionate unrivaled love of drawing and the creative process, a devoted husband, friend and father, a fun-loving bon-vivant, who enjoyed good food, good wine and company; a raconteur and sagacious teacher.

Although I took formal drawing lessons from John, it was my informal time with him that I learned about art, an artist's life and life in general. It was an osmotic process, simply sharing meals, conversations and the like that galvanized my choice to pursue an artist's life. My music education was enriched by John as well. He was an accomplished saxophonist and clarinetist, reinforcing my love of jazz and I remember my first time hearing "St. James Infirmary Blues," was when John played it with his group: The Fig Leaf Jazz Band.

Take note: I'm going to come back to this.

Buddhism states that we are all interconnected and interdependent with all life and people; that their presence influences our own lives whether we are conscious of it or not. I'll go further and say that those who are close to us, have a sublime and profound effect that will manifest itself on a quantum scale; even metaphysically. Case in point, during the conference unaware of his death I spoke to many of my colleagues at the the conference of John's incredible talent and skill; later that week on the W14th subway platform, a busker played a haunting rendition of "St James Infirmary Blues," on her accordion. Coincidence? I think not. The universe was acknowledging John, and with this posting I acknowledge you John; thank you for everything you did for me.