Crazy Lady or Prophet?

I was on the subway today and a woman shuffled on and sat in the seat facing me. As I listened to my ipod, I only noticed her because she was carrying two large bags; one duffle bag and one shopping bag on wheels (you know, the kind you'd find in Kensington Market and would only use in Kensington Market). As she walked on, she was half tripping over these bags and was at the same time, swinging them into people's legs. All this while speaking very loudly to herself.

Having my prime spot right next to her, I took the opportunity to listen very carefully to what she said. Here it is:

"(Full voice) He tried to kill me! Don't trust black men in Toronto. If you see a black bus driver, get off the bus. I'm talkin' TTC here. Sure, he looks friendly but he is not. It was because of my faith. My faith in Jesus Christ. (whispered) Jesus Christ is coming. Judgement day is upon us. (full voice) I would never date a black man from Toronto! All black men from Toronto are bad. There are plenty of good black men in the United States. He tried to kill me because I have the faith. Jesus is the saviour. (whispered)Jesus Christ is coming. Judgement day is upon us."

This reel of a speech kept repeating through the short ride. I kept waiting for something new. Some new piece of the puzzle or new information. Perhaps a secret message that would reveal a deep truth. Nope. Just crazy.

Kelry

Michael Jackson

August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009


Hearing the tragic news today of the passing of Michael Jackson made me realize two things: 1) Despite how screwed up Michael Jackson became over the years, he had a much larger impact on me than I realized and this was only felt when I heard the news. 2) Just how different our world is with new technology.

I will remember the Michael Jackson from the Jackson 5. Aside from being the most adorable Michael Jackson, this was the one that inspired me the most. I have watched video after video of the Jackson 5, consistently amazed at how this young kid could show so much musicality, charisma and maturity on stage. I aspire to be that person even in adulthood. Most people from my generation were impacted the most by the Thriller Michael Jackson and while I never saw him in concert and only owned a few tapes and cd's over the years, who can deny the extent to which he permeated our lives through radio and music videos?

Finding out the news only hours after it happened while I was in my car is an amazing thing and as the news unfolded (it wasn't actually confirmed until later on), it amazed me the extent to which people have access to information. Yes, this sounds obvious but when so many people are seeking the exact same information at the same time, through numerous sources, it really shows the awesome impact of technology. As I got home, I did the same as everyone else and was updated within minutes that the death was confirmed (also through numerous sources). This news was then communicated instantaneously by millions of people through what can only be described as one big chat room. People could express and post their reactions in a public forum for all to read. We live in an unbelieveable world.

Kelry

Playing For Change

In a random forward that was sent to me of a youtube video, I came across the organization "Playing For Change". This is an organization that finds talented musicians (mostly street musicians)to contribute to a recorded production of a song. These musicians have never performed together or even met before. It is simply the music that brings them together. The goal of the organization is to bring people across the world together through the power and common element of music.

I just think it's really cool.



Kelry

Susan Boyle

What is the deal with the media and Susan Boyle? A contestant on the British reality show "Britain's Got Talent", she is now being dubbed an "unlikely heroine". Apparently shocking the audience, this grey-haired, round woman who claimed she had never been kissed sang a pleasant version of "I Dreamed a Dream".

Now, I understand that people were not necessarily expecting greatness from a woman who barely had enough stage presence to catch the attention of a captive audience, I am frustrated at the grand, superficial reaction of the media. Skill, talent and musicianship do not go hand in hand with society's portrayal of beauty.

I suppose the other thing that frustrates me is the fact that on two other occasions of which I am aware, there were similar situations on this very television show. The first being Paul Potts and the second being Andrew Johnston. Paul Potts first displayed a timid mobile phone salesman with crooked teeth, only to later reveal a marvelous operatic version of "Nessun Dorma".



Andrew Johnston, a meek 13-year old boy who had to be told to put the microphone to his mouth and then told of being bullied and later sang a tear-jerking rendition of "Pie Jesu".



I'm not sure what is more disturbing; the fact that these people existing continues to be such a shock to people or the fact that this show may in fact be looking for people to fit this bill, only to exploit them later.

The Runner's High

I run, but I am not a runner. That is what I tell most people when discussing my running habits. I am currently training for my second half marathon but that does not make me a "runner". I also tell people that I'm more of a "trotter". I run at such a slow pace, sometimes I think I could actually walk faster than I am running.

I was asked the other day if I really felt that the runner's high existed. I told this person that I was sure the high you would get off of other substances would be better. They laughed but I was pretty sure of my answer. Everyone in runner's circles talks about the runner's high that comes from the release of endorphins into the bloodstream from exercise. I suppose I imagined it feeling like a rush about 10 or 15 minutes into running. Suddenly you feel like you are lighter and stronger and faster than before. At least for me, this is not the case.

Allow me to take you through my recent 14k run through High Park (or rather, around and around and around High Park):

Even as I am walking from my car to the path, I'm dreading this but all the while trying to convince myself that it won't be so bad and that no matter what, I will be running for a long time.

The first twenty paces is a shock ot my system. I'm gasping already and nothing feels comfortable. I do my best to ignore all of this, listening to whatever is on my ipod and distracting myself with the scenery around me.

I get to my first big hill and realize that my breathing has settled. This quickly gets disturbed as I climb the hill all the while telling myself that this hill will be easy if I go slow and steady. The first half of the hill feels that way but I get about halfway up and my entire body wants to quit. I imagine just dropping and lying in the middle of the hill until somebody feels sorry for me, picks me up and carries me back to my car. I give up about three quarters of the way up, feeling like a 85 year old woman with Emphasema. The only thing more embarrassing than the fact that I am walking up this hill instead of running it, is my gasping and wheezing.

I get to the top and pretend to stretch while I finish catching my breath. As I start running again, things actually feel good. I drift off into my own thoughts and my music carries me halfway around the loop and down the hill. I then enter the leash-free zone and am bombarded by muddy, wet dogs who seem to get genuine entertainment out of acting like pilons for me to dodge.

I'm then distracted by the pain in my right leg. Is it my calf? No...it's my achilles. My achilles is killing me. Ok, I will just ignore it. I convince myself to run the rest of the loop with the promise of stopping to stretch my right leg at the start.

After a short stretch, I continue on for the second loop. Again, the first half is not bad until that dreaded hill. I even play games with myself to try to push myself to the next tree, or the part of the curb that is crumbling but it still doesn't help. This time, as I walk up the hill gasping yet again, I am less ashamed...or maybe just a little more desperate.

I get to the top and make it around the loop and down the big hill again and yes, my achilles is still killing me. I keep thinking if only my leg didn't hurt then perhaps this would be a good run. I realize then just how slow my pace is. I trot through the dogs once more, this time only being cut off by a golden retreiver and a slobbery big black dog covered in mud.

As I pass the parking lot this time, I'm tempted to just run straight to my car but my guilty conscience pushes me forward. The third time around the loop is much like the second but it all happens at a much slower pace. In fact, I think that if I were walking normally, I would be moving faster than my current running pace.

As I near the end of the run, my legs are hardly moving. They are simply shuffling and they not only physically feel tired but my body radiates with a dull pain that seems to stem from my joints. I push on through to the end, not even increasing my speed as I run the final 20 metres. Instead, my shuffling slows down to a walking shuffle and I get directly in my car without stretching, thankful to be sitting down.

The only satisfaction I gain out of that is knowing that it is done and that I didn't whimp out or cheat. Not much of a high if you ask me! Funny though, although there may not be a high that comes out of running, there is always something that draws me back to it.

Simply Kate Rusby

Kate Rusby is one of those singers with a simple, yet pure voice. With all of the fancy schmancy equipment out there that can make just about any non-singer sound like a "one hit wonder", I find it refreshing to listen to a genuine and sweet voice. What's even better, is that she is being accompanied by a brass quintet of some fine British brass band musicians.

25 From A to Z

With the flood of new notes that people are posting on Facebook these days, I thought I would take the time to combine two that I liked, and post them on here. The first of my faves is the "25 Random Facts". This allows the writer total freedom to share 25 quirky and interesting facts about themselves in no particular order. The second post I like is the A to Z one. I like this one because it was a post where the writer comes up with the names of people in their lives that begin with each letter of the alphabet. I like this one because it allows the author to say nice facts about the people they love. I choose to post on this venue rather than facebook for the simple fact that only the people I am close to have access to this blog. This begs the following questions: Who are these posts really for? Are they for the readers or is their real purpose an exercise in a bit of self-realization for the author? I guess we'll find out!

26 Random facts and special people from A to Z

1. A - Adam - A daily influence. The missing piece of logic from my brain. My brother.

2. B - Brad - An inspiration. Hilarious. Quirky, like me.

3. C - Chocolate - I can eat this at any time of the day. If it were socially appropriate and healthy, I'd eat it for breakfast.

4. D - Dancing - I tell people I don't like to dance but the truth is, I'm not a very good dancer and therfore don't really like it. I secretly wish I had the grace of a dancer though.

5. E - Evan - My favourite name.

6. F - Fire - There is something mesmerizing about fire. I, like many people become hypnotised by any open flame.

7. G - Gillian - One of my best friends. I like the way she throws herself into any story or problem I tell her. She doesn't just sit there and listen but asks challenging questions that make me see different sides of it.

8. H - Heart - I think with my heart. It gets me into a lot of trouble but I know no other way.

9. I - Impatience - My family accuses me of this - and rightfully so. It is a definite weakness.

10. J - Japan - I would like to travel to Japan one day.

11. K - Korea - I'm constantly amazed at how much I miss this place. A place I used to refer to as the "armpit of Asia". I miss it so much, it aches.

12. L - Latte. The greatest dessert/drink ever.

13. M - Mark - See "A" but without the logic bit. Mark's brain works like mine, except he is just a little more obsessed with food than I am.

14. N - New York - The last place I traveled and a city that made me believe that bigger really is better.

15. O - Obama - I love this man. No surprise there though.

16. P - Poo - I talk about it a lot. I do try to remember Regan's words of wisdom though: "Don't talk about poo in front of guys". Awww...crap I did it again, didn't I Reg...

17. Q - Quirky - I am quirky but what most of you don't know is that I'm quirkier than you all realize. I hold back a lot!

18. R - Regan - HUGE inspiration. Where do I start with this guy? The reason this blog exists. The motivation behind my current job and a breath of fresh air every time I talk to him.

19. S - Samantha - One of my oldest and best friends. She knows me more than I realize it at times and still has the same sense of humour she did when she was 8.

20. T - Travel - I miss it so much. Travel fills me up and makes me a better person.

21. U - Ukulele - Thanks to my little cousin, I'm now the proud owner of one.

22. V - Value - I'm learning to live my life with a greater awareness to the amount of value I place on things, situations and people. I believe this is one of the keys to finding balance and happiness in life.

23. W - Water - I love water. I love to drink it. I love to be in it. I love to be near it. The way it smells, the way it sounds. I love it.

24. X - Xana - I taught a student named Xana. A very cool name for a very cool teenager.

25. Y - Yoga - I don't practice it regularly yet, but I will realize in the future, that practicing it will be vital to my daily living.

26. Z -New Zealand (yeah, I cheated a little). The place I would most like to live other than here.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Last night, I attended a reunion of sorts. It was a get together of people I had once marched with in a drum and bugle corps. Being sixteen years since I had seen everyone, I was very anxious about the entire experience to the point where I almost didn't go.

Sixteen years is a long time. Many things have happened in my life that have shaped who I am today. What could I possibly still have in common with these people? I wasn't interested in subjecting myself to a night of awkward surface conversation. Realizing that it was my own insecurities that were coming forward rather than any real doubts about what the night would bring, I changed out of my yoga pants and long-sleeved t-shirt and got myself ready.

Pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant with butterflies in my stomach, I was relieved when I pulled up beside two old friends. It seemed everything was going to be alright after all. We settled into the table, greeting the friends that were already there. They were genuine greetings but ones that hung in the air of choked emotion. It seemed we all needed to order a drink.

I was struck by the vast change in physical appearance in some people contrasted with no change whatsoever in others. Many of the men, I wouldn't have recognized if I had run into them on the street but many of the women struck me as looking the same as their teenaged selves. As I observed the conversations though, familiar personalities emerged and suddenly I found myself in a room where I truly recognized everybody.

How does one start conversation with someone after sixteen years? You can't simply say: "So what's new with you?" Ummm...well, since the age of sixteen I've done quite a few new things. At the same time, how can you get into any real conversation without asking about a few things from the past? The initially disjointed conversations settled into a social rhythm with the aid of one thing. Mobile phones.

It seemed that the new common denominator for discovering some commonalities among us was a technology that barely existed (and which none of us had) in the early 90's. As things began to settle and conversation became a little more normal, I was struggling to pay attention as past memories swept through me.

I spent many nights out with these friends in my teenage years. Many nights out for dinners and many nights at various people's houses. We never really got into any trouble but there was always guaranteed to be adventure in some form with this group. Perhaps it was because we spent so many hours on buses travelling to parades and shows but we were masters of creating our own fun with very few resources. The smallest incident had us in stitches and laughter was always present on these occasions.

As this evening progressed, that same theme emerged as we relaxed and took comfort in taking the piss out of eachother and let more of our true personalities come out. By the end of the night, my face hurt from laughing and I began to remember why I had so many fond memories of my few years in drum corps. I also realized that none of us had truly changed. Sure, we are shaped by our experiences but the essence of who we are remains the same.

We said our goodbyes and left with promises of "doing this again" and "staying in touch" and "hanging out more". I left the night a little disappointed it had come to an end but for once, truly hopeful that something like this happens again in the near future.

Kelry

Plastic Covered Couches

So I recently decided to enter into the modern high-tech world by finally getting a mobile phone plan. Yes, I did previously own a cell phone, but was content to use my pay-as-you-go cards for those necessary phone calls and texts. As my life has been progressively getting a little busier, I decided it was time to invest just a few more dollars in this added convenience.


I walked into the Rogers store and explained what I wanted. They assured me that they could provide me with everything that I needed and for the right price to boot. All of this happened but not without a few surprises.


First of all, I was told that I would have to get a new phone if I signed up for a plan with Rogers. What? My phone is only a year old and it is red. I like that it is red. My phone was a gift and that also pleases me. I didn't want a new phone. Trying desperately not to sound ridiculously stupid and materialistic, I tried to plead my case to the Rogers guy. No deal. As he then tried to sell me a Blackberry instead for the low, low price of about $50/month, I reminisced about the early days of having my red phone. I was always very careful with it and even left the plastic protective sheets on it until they literally fell off. Once the plastic finally came off, I polished it and made sure there were as few fingerprints as possible on it.


When I finally snapped out of it, I looked down to see both a pink and a black Blackberry sitting in front of me. Luckily, I was strong enough to say right then and there that unfortunately, I didn't think I would use it since I was not in business. I then realized that I was being ridiculous and that this phone was a small material item for which I should not be placing that much sentimental value. I agreed to the plan and was then given the choice a variety of phones. I then had to go into another schpiel of explaining that it had to be a Motorola phone and that my old phone was a gift from a friend who worked at Motorola and the least I could do was continute to support that company. He did look at me in an odd kind of way. Perhaps it was my wording...I seem to recall saying I needed to protect my friend's job at Motorola. A little extreme I admit but I seemed to get my point across. I was given a choice of a black phone or a silver one. I chose silver secretly knowing that I could keep that one shinier than the black one.


The Rogers guy went to the back and returned with my new phone in the box. In one swift movement, he opened the box, pulled out the phone and peeled off all three protective wrappers. I gasped! How could he? How dare he? He clearly saw me gasp and looked at me with an eyebrow raised.


"Is something wrong?"


How could I explain this? The wrapping stays on until nature pulls it off?? I could protect that phone for at least a few weeks with the wrapping. Not wanting to share this latest and oddest piece of information I simply replied: "Oh nothing. It's fine."


Perhaps this was what I needed to A) realize that this was just a material item and nothing more and B) prevent myself from turning into one of those people that keeps the protective plastic on their couches.





Kelry

Obamarama

Since the build up to and the excitment following the inaugeration of Barack Obama, there have been a flurry of comments regarding the future of the Western world and the elusive man himself.

It has been interesting experiencing this important time in history but what has been even more interesting is observing people's reactions to it all. To me, and I believe to many others, this man represents far more than just a turn in the Western world's racist history. He even represents more than simply a right answer to eight years of absurdity.

To watch this man and how he carries himself is a lesson to us all. He has a quiet confidence that is untouchable yet very welcoming. His posture, his demeanor and his facial expressions all radiate this confidence onto others. Not claiming to be perfect yet comfortable with his great intelligence, he is a man who doesn't discount anything yet has the courage to come to his own conclusions. When he speaks, he commands an audience. Choosing his words carefully, it is obvious that the value he places on the English language, he applies to all other aspects of his life.

All of this, combined with the dreadful state of the Western world create the perfect conditions for real change. I feel the Western world is getting to its breaking point. Mass consumerism and misplaced values have left people exhausted and defeated. People seem to be yearning for a reason to break free from the throes of modern society. You can see it in their faces when they listen to his speeches. It is not just a general hope for the future they are placing in him but a desperate hope to save themselves. I think people are starting to realize they simply cannot keep up with the frantic pace of their own egos.

The hope lies not just in future policies and actions from this man but more in people's reactions to his leadership by example. People pick up on the fact that in spite of the mess he was left, he has already remained grounded and focused. If he can manage to continue being a strong example of someone who lives a life with true values, perhaps humanity has a hope in actively seeking that out for themselves and that, will create the real change this world needs.

Kelry

Escaping Winter

It seems that during this time of the year, everyone has some complaint about the weather. None of us, no matter how hard we try to embrace it, like winter. Take me for example. I've tried to embrace winter by trying what might seem like enjoyable outdoor activities. I've tried speed skating. Speed skating = numb bum. I've also tried skiing. Skiing = that nasty feeling of being sweaty and freezing cold at the same time.

While we all seem to be retreating into our homes in a state of half-hibernation, biding our time until the temperature rises to a more bearable degree, I've decided to put together a little list of things we can all use as a form of escapism from winter.

1. READ - It seems simple enough and while I read all year long, I feel fairly guilt-free for spending almost an entire Sunday afternoon lying on my couch reading. Escaping into the plot of a good book makes winter temporarily go away!

2. DRINKING AT A PUB - It warms you up and if you can find a pub with a little fireplace in it, even better! Cozying up with friends around one of those little wooden tables that realistically only seems to seat one and sharing a pint is, in my opinion, a very constructive way of escaping winter.

3. MAKING A MIXED CD - A timeless classic that is appreciated by all. While discovering new music and going through an extensive selection process not only are you in the process of escaping winter but create a concrete emergency escapist CD. When you are maneuvering your car through unplowed roads and using up an entire bottle of windshield washer fluid just to go to the grocery store, you just pop that baby in and *poof*, winter disappears.

4. STARBUCKS - If any of you read my "Ode to a Grande Non-fat Tazo Chai" post, you won't be the least bit surprised to see this on here. Seriously though, how is it possible not to get lost in that creamy, sweet n' spicy goodness that Starbucks serves up for a mere fiver?

5. MOVIES - Whether it is at the theatre or at home, who doesn't want to live vicariously through gorgeous celebs who all seem to find their happily ever after all in the span of two hours?


Kelry

Defunkified

For those of you who do not normally pay attention to my little seeqpod player in the top right corner, take the time now to play the song as you read this. This song is what motivated me to get off my butt and greet the new year in my blog.

It's an old song, but one that, when it comes on the radio, you just have to turn up really loud and move to. This song sounds the best when it is blaring through your car speakers in the summertime and you are driving with the windows down.

This is the song that makes me feel (even if only temporarily) like I can conquer the world and any problems that come my way. I feel tough and yet I always have a beaming smile on my face when listening to it!

It is amazing the power a song can have over a person. It can temporarily provide an escape from reality or in my case, bring a person back to reality.

Happy New Year Everybody!