Mmm, Educational!

Today I went to the Glenbow museum with my friend Matthew. This involved much hilarity, especially because I broke out my favourite old game "but not really." (eg: Your friend is eagerly telling you how cool Japanese swords are and you go "uh-huh.... but not REALLY", even though they are. They he defends himself, and you reply to every argument with a "yes *pause* but not REALLY." Yes, it's juvenile, but so much fun!!! "This looks just like Vegas... but not really." Okay, just trust me! Go play it!)

I haven't been to the Museum in years, although I have been intending to go for quite some time. What I didn't know is that they have been busy updating the Alberta History exhibit and have come up with some pretty fantastic local history. I was pleased to see that they'd even saved the old Telstar drug sign, and it now spins in all of its neon glory in the Museum! What fun! I actually learned a lot today about the Social Credit party and a number of philanthropic Calgarians. There's a neat new train exhibit (although it looks like it replaced that really creepy old train tunnel! I loved that thing!) But overall, it has been updated and really well done. Good job, Glenbow!

Yesterday I actually invested in a new Canon Powershot camera. I've been looking for a new small digital camera that I can carry around in my purse. My SLR is so heavy, and I miss a lot of good photos. I tested it out at the museum today and am really pleased with it :)

I stopped caring about minerals. Matthew was still excited... but not REALLY! :P

One of my favourite, favourite, FAVOURITE exhibits is the Asian Art exhibit. Sculpture blows my mind. They used to play really lovely, zen music in there, but no music today. A Buddha was out for repairs, though, so we thought perhaps it was him making the tunage (a la iPod docking station? No?)

This is my favourite Buddha. He always seems on the verge of opening his eyes and singing "Rubber Ducky" *** Nice camera, hey???

He is the ultimate in cool. Just chilling...

Really love sculpture. Really pleased with my camera.

So much fun :) Check it out if you have the chance.

Love,

Gillian

*** When Sculptures come alive and sing "Rubber Ducky":

Reviews and Updates!

Wow, blogger tells me that this is my 200th post! I talk a LOT!

I suppose a lot is new around here! I had a break-down the other day and spontaneously booked a week off work and bought a plane ticket to Nova Scotia for September. Even with the seat sales it's still a lot of money, but I just can't take it! I miss my darn parents!!! So I'm very excited about that. It feels better just knowing I'll see them soon.

Now for the reviews!

Calgary Folk Music Festival 2008

The Folk Fest this year was fantastic! Blue Rodeo was amazing live, they played so many great songs (including "Lost Together"!!!) Bedouin Soundclash was also fantastic, and played my faves ("Walls Come Down", "12:59 Lullaby.") Great Lake Swimmers did loads of workshops, so I got to see them about 4 times, and each time they played "Changing Colours." Tony Dekker is one fine looking young man, and one of my friends sent me a text message from across the field of tarps suggesting I use my Artists Lounge pass to "back on" him. Hahaha! I dunno what "back on" means, but I have a pretty good guess!!!

Of course, one of the best things about Folk Fest is falling in love with new bands! I am now a huge fan of The Weakerthans, Josh Ritter, Andrew Bird, The Duhks and others that I'm sure I'm forgetting right now. I spent a looooot of money, but music is so worth it :)

Here's a video to one of my FAVOURITE songs by The Weakerthans! Such delightful lyrics!!!

The Weakerthans - Our Retired Explorer (Dines With Michel Foucault in Paris, 1961)



The X-Files: I Want To Believe

Oh, I believe!!! I really enjoyed the movie! I think it helps that I went in with rather vague expectations, because it was rather more like a long episode of the X-Files than a movie, if that makes sense. They could have done a lot more, but I think they stayed true to the show, and the time lapse, really. I was just so happy to see Scully and Mulder again that I was grinning most of the time. They still ran off into dark buildings, still talked conspiracy, still walked the line between religion and science. I could have asked for a little more witty banter, and there was an upsetting scene with a dog, but aside from that I was pleased :)

Batman: The Dark Knight

Wow. This is one disturbing but fantastic movie. I was horrified but completely drawn in. Visually stunning, but creepy. I was gripping my popcorn the entire time thinking "this is MESSED UP!!!" Oddly enough, I was fine coming home alone after X-Files, but last night I totally left lights on in case The Joker showed up.

I was wondering if I'm just reacting badly to it because I've been really emotional lately, and because, of course, I kept remembering that Heath Ledger (who plays the Joker) died from an overdose after filming the movie, and because of the recent Greyhound bus incident. Maybe I was just taking it more seriously than I usually do with movies, but damn. Messed up. Have you seen it? What did you think?

I think that's it for now! Yay for lazy long weekends! (as I post, still in my pyjamas, sipping coffee at noon. Ahhhh!)

Love!
Gillian

Cute Song & Video

Hi all,

Folk Fest this year was AWESOME, but as I'm tired and sick, my post about it will have to wait.

For now, Folk music fans and hockey fans alike will enjoy this video. Lots of famous hockey players and announcers (I've been told) and even Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo! Enjoy :)

I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory - Kathleen Edwards



Folk Fest post coming soon :)
Gillian

Songs of the Month for July (yes, multiple!)

Oh my God, do you ever have those nights where you're like "My life is so off-track!" and you go into this mad, desolate crash? That's the kind of night I'm having. It's so not okay. So I went to YouTube for a little consolation.

There have been a TON of "theme songs" for me already this month, so I can't possibly narrow it down to one. Instead I'll divide it into two sections: New Favourites and Rediscovered Favourites. It's been an emotional month so far (don't pretend you haven't noticed), and these songs have all triggered me in different ways. Anyway, I hope you like them.

Rediscovered Favourites

Jolie Louise - Daniel Lanois

I was listening to "Sounds Like Canada" on CBC the other day at work and they re-played an old interview between Shelagh Rogers and Daniel Lanois. I remember "Jolie Louise" from my teenage years and the "Northern Exposure" soundtrack. Man I love this song and I'd forgotten all about it! So pleased to have found it again :)



Lost Together - Blue Rodeo

Rediscovered on a mixed CD I made ages ago that I was listening to in the car today. I'm SO excited to see Blue Rodeo at the Folk Fest this year, and this song is so beautiful, really. I listened to it on repeat as I drove home tonight, belting out the harmony (can't sing as low as Jim Cuddy) and wanting the kind of love they sing about. Oh Blue Rodeo, you destroy me, you really do.



"I want all the world to know that your love's all I need, all that I need."

Changing Colours - Great Lake Swimmers

Rediscovered today on a trip to Claresholm with Nathan & Sheila. The lyrics just hit me this time. Damn. Also VERY excited to see them at Folk Fest this year, though I may cry a little if they play this song.



New Favourites

Gravel Lines - Amy Seeley

A friend sent me this song, and it makes me feel all shivery. It is SUCH a beautiful song, and it makes me think of all sorts of strange, lovely and sad moments in my life. There's not really a "video" to this one, but heck, it doesn't need one.



If You Want Me - Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard - "Once" Soundtrack

An odd little movie, but an A-MA-ZING soundtrack. I can't get over this song!!! The Soundtrack! So good!!! Again, not really a "video", but you don't need one.



I hope you enjoyed my little "tour de musique" for July.

Love,
Gillian

Yikes, Y'all!

I know I haven 't posted in about a billion years, and I'm sorry. I'm really tired. All the time. I'd like to give you a better excuse, but I don't have one, soooo I'll make one up....

Sketchy business... angry kangaroo in the back yard... had to call in an Australian hostage negotiator who spoke "roo"... there was a ticker-tape parade... happy reunion, but then I had to clean the house. Yikes! Those Australians can PARTY!

Alright, I told you I was tired, it's your fault you didn't believe me. I'm so tired that only two things excite me right now, and I'm going to share them with you.

1. The new X-Files trailer. Honestly? I get so excited that I feel nauseous when I see this. I know that's really disturbing, but ohmygod. OH!MY!GOD!!! IT'S THE FREAKING X-FILES!!!!! ONE MORE WEEK, BAY-BEE!!!


2. The Calgary Folk Fest starts on the 24th. I'm SO EXCITED! It's going to be an awesome time :)

K I'll post more later, but for now? BED.
~g~

I Can't Contain Myself!

Me, worshipping at the Vitamin Water alter.

Last Friday, while elbowing my way through the Stampede Parade masses, I looked longingly toward a coffee shop and saw a beautiful vision hovering alluringly before my eyes! I didn't have much time to register what I saw, since there were 300,000 eager parade attendees jammed downtown, squirming like sardines. Had it been my mind playing tricks on me? Was it just a vivid, glorious dream? I waited impatiently through the weekend, and today at lunch I rushed out of my office and down three blocks to see if it was true. And it was:

Mojo Monk Coffee House sells Vitamin Water. ACTUAL, REAL, GENUINE, HIGH-MAINTENANCE-CALIFORNIA, FREAKIN', HONEST-TO-GOD-GLACEAU VITAMIN WATER. I'd like to say that I wasn't a complete sobbing grateful loser to the cashier as I took my delicacy to the till, but that would be a lie. I gushed. A lot.

Now I know what you're thinking. You're like "Gillian... it's water... you need to relax." And I admit that if you tried it, you'd probably like it, but wouldn't worship it. You might be inclined to buy stock in the company like Jennifer Anniston and 50-Cent, but you probably wouldn't blog about it. I admit that part of the allure for me is circumstantial, because it reminds me of California and Yoga School and happy times. It makes me remember realising that the electrolytes really DO help with muscle cramping, trips to Whole Foods, hummus wraps and a lot of hard, but rewarding work. Plus it's yummy! Plus it has 200% of your daily recommended Vitamin C (overkill? Can one OD on Vitamin C?) I'm happy about it, is all. I'd like to throw a Vitamin Water party. Thanks, Mojo Monk, for rocking my world today.

In other news, we had a weird storm today! The sky got all dark and ominous, so much that I asked a co-worker if it was the Apocalypse. He agreed that we were all going to die. In fact, we survived, but the weather network said that Doppler radar had detected spiraling cloud formations and that there was a possibility of funnel clouds! EEK! So obviously I kept my eyes open, but saw no witches on bicycles OR flying houses *sigh* We never have any fun.

And now, because I have no life, and I get bored and silly and consume a lot of sugar when left to my own devices... here is a picture of me upside-down!


Love,
Gillian

For What It's Worth: An Update

First of all, I have been soooooo obsessed with this song lately! I have listened to it about 4,000 times in the past week, I think.



Oddly, it seems that everyone and their dog has covered "Lamento Boliviano", but I like the Toke D Keda version best (because it's a bachata! Let's dance!) Really guys, tho, you need a new video.

Don't know the bachata? It's easy, just do this:



Not much is new, really. Stampede has started, in all of its glorified craziness. I've been extra sensitive and keep crying when I see dogs (I miss Belal!!!) and I'm really tired. Oh wait, is that new?

Mmmm, still not much to say. I have to clean the house. I'm starting to teach Yoga a bit in the evenings, which is fun. I still haven't named my Jeep. It's green. I'm thinking something Spanish (not Mojito, that's my iPod's name.) Thoughts? Suggestions?

Love,
Gillian