Mika-licious

The world is full of wonderful things that are the catalysts for fantastic memories. Sometimes you need an anchor of inspiration to give you motivation the edge it needs. Lucky for me, I was able to put these two things together in a Mika moment of greatness. With the start of 2008 I discovered the original and creative pop-stylings of Mika. His album has become the soundtrack of my year of renewal. In a year devoted to balance, it has been this record that has kept me on the positive edge I need. It generates a happy twist to any day and I welcome that joy. I am singing in my head at all times and life is lovely. So when the chance to see Mika in concert arrived I could not let it go by. The cosmos were on my side. Yes, it sounds crazy and impulsive and impractical and, well, awesome. So I got on a flight to Toronto and joined my friends Jodi and Cindy and my sis-in-law Kat for the event. Everything fell into place. Cheap flights. Time off from work. A chance to visit friends and family. Arriving at the venue at EXACTLY the right moment. And then the music began. I understand that Mika is a "love him or hate him" kind of artist. But he is an artist. A musical talent and showman that is rare these days. His voice is incredible. The show was fresh, creative and spectacular. And, as one of the gals put it - "I doubt there is a straight bone in his body, but if there was ... I do it!" And so, by proving himself sexy beyond his expected awkwardness, a true STAR is born. Glad I took the time to revel in the entertainment.

Good-Bye Mr. Ledger

Almost 10 years ago I made a group of my girlfriends watch a movie called 10 Things I Hate about You. I promised them that they would fall in love with the star ... a young actor named Heath Ledger. Since then I have seen every movie Heath has made (save his last two recent releases) and I remain stoked for his fight with Christian Bale in the upcoming Dark Knight.

So when I opened my internet today and read the headline that he had died ... well ... I really didn't know what to say. My instant thought was "No Way". And my second was a stunned deja vu of that moment on Halloween 1993 when River Phoenix left us all behind. Heath joins him now in the hall reserved for talent taken away. May he rest in peace.

Thanks to punklegolas on YouTube for this tribute.

Gone Globes Gone

On its 65th birthday the Golden Globes did not celebrate. As the first major awards casualty of the writer's strike, the cancellation of the Globes highlights the integral role that writers play in ALL our entertainment. I mean, the very fact that an awards show cannot be presented because the banter and introductions cannot be written astounds me! But in the end I don't think this was the problem as the hour long "newsconference" went along just fine.

The issue was the refusal of Hollywood stars to cross the strike line and for this reason I find the writer's strike an intriguing experience in the unions vs. management debate. It should be noted that the SAG awards have been given a waiver by the WGA to go as planned thereby illustrating union solidarity between the scribes and stars. And this is as it should be since the WGA agreement will set an valuable precedent for the actors negotiations come June. Hold onto your hats everyone, this year will likely change the entertainment industry forever. And then, hopefully, the awards shows will be back (cause I really like the Globes with its champagne on the tables and half-drunk speeches and prom/dinner party vibe!)

But political commentary aside you may have noticed a lack of movie reviews on this site as of late. This of course would have been combined with the fact that I missed the Globes newscast completely and didn't even remember to look up the winners until late the next day Iyou can find them here). And so, for the first time since I began my blog there is no Globes commentary. And if there had been it would probably have been about how many of the films I had not yet seen and TV series not available in my area. What has become of me? I promise I am not on strike. I'm just working a bit more on my "real" life rather than the reel ones.

Globes 2006 ... Globes 2007

MIKA - Likey

Every once in awhile I hear a new tune that just sticks in my mind for ages and makes me all smiley when I hear it. At the moment that song is "Grace Kelly" from Mika. For the life of me, I don't know where this guy came from (ok, apparently it is London by way of Beirut) and the song doesn't make a lick of sense but it is SO fun. A trip to his website will have you humming to the rest of the tunes and wondering why music isn't always this zany. He actually reminds me a bit of some of Hawsley Workman's early stuff with its random poetry, melodious riffs and pop culture referencing. Now I am sure I am late to some bandwagon here because I know nothing about music and I am usually the last to find out about about some singer/group/movement that everybody else is on to .. but, well, whatever. I like it. Try it out here.

2008 Awaits

I woke up in a new year to a world painted in white. The trees were slip-covered in snow and the air was still, sleepy. In the country's largest city it felt as if the world has stopped and truly taken a moment to savour the new beginning. My recent memory cannot recall a more perfect, more pristine, entrance for a year. It put my mind at ease to think that all would be well.

But truth be told the arrival of 2008 puts me into a bit of a panic. A pure tummy-butterfly panic! On the one hand I am happy to be moving forward. I have a portion of a plan again. I have my health, good friends and a wonderful family. I am not on the brink of emotional turmoil (2006) or embarking on an ill-fated romance (leading to emotional turmoil - 2007). I am calmer than I have been in ages. But then there is the panic.

You see, 2008 is also a year of big choices which lead to big changes. It is a turning point year. And although that sounded all rosy and optimistic in 2007 when I was planning it out, the actual ACTING on it is rather scary. In the first place I have negotiated a new work situation that enables me to spend more time on my studies. It also compacts my responsibilities and reduces my wages thereby stressing my pocketbook and limiting my social (shopping?) life.

Secondly, I have made a commitment to graduate in May. This goal of course demands the completion of two courses and a major research paper in the next four months. It also puts forward the question of what I will do AFTER I graduate causing all types of job-related issues to emerge.

Lastly, I have decided that I should leave the east coast and relocate near my brother's family in order to be near my niece & nephew and enhance my work opportunities. After years of deliberately being away from "home" I thought it would be nice to go back - on my own - for a spell. And this means organizing a move and finding a place to live elsewhere and goodbyes and ... well, whew. It won't even be September yet. And so, butterflies.

How to fight the butterflies? In the past couple of years I have adopted a theme for my year ahead. 2006 = Clarity. 2007 = Breathe. This year the theme is Balance. It is not about getting rid of the butterflies but about balancing the panic with the exhilaration of momentum. It is about struggling through those classes AND planning my graduation party. I can do this.

On the day I decided that I was going to approach work about changing my situation in order to make all my other plans possible I had a portentous horoscope. So as the new year dawns I must remember it:

Today is a good day to take chances, dear Pisces. You will be quite successful, if you are ready to defend the things you really care about. Pretend that you are the director of a film and that you have just met a potential producer for your movie. You just happen to have your script in hand. Are you ready to move up in the world? Are your ready for success?