| Half in, half out. |
[Aug. 21st, 2008|09:44 am] |
I have returned from a last minute trip to P.E.I. and Montreal. Whirlwind indeed. Now I am in a total and complete rush to get my apartment packed and ready for tomorrow night's going away shindig. Here's a post I was working on before I left Vancouver last Tuesday, enjoy!
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Recent hi points in my life:
- Jessie and Adrian's wedding was incredible. They were married on the St.Roch, a decommissioned RCMP boat that used to sale the arctic, but is now encased inside the maritime museum in Vanier park. They were on the boat and all the guests watched from the museum floor, which is roughly water level. The decor was lovely and all sea-themed, including their INCREDIBLE light house cake. Jessie look positively brilliant in her gown and I got a little over-whelmed when watching them embrace as the photographer took their picture against the background of sunset over the water. I made a small speech during the reception which, to give you the main point of the thing, was about how Jessie and Adrian are an excellent couple that I know will do well because they share enthusiasm for each other's adventures and get involved in each other's shinanigans. Had fun DJing the dance party, perhaps a little too much fun. The dance floor was the lower level of the museum, basically all around the hull of the St.Roch, which was an amazing backdrop. Prawns, Rambles, Tobi and I basically took over the dance floor by the end of the night. The acrobatics were legendary.
After the party ended, we didn't want to go home. Prawns, Rambles and I took a couple bottles of white wine and found a spot in the park outside the maritime museum, with a view of the water and downtown. By the light of the downtown hi-rises and the now-closed museum, we drank and played music on my laptop. Eventually prawns got naked and tried to climb the museum, but settled for climbing a 2 storey submarine next to the museum instead. Eventually I got home with all my possession in tow, although my glasses were broken.
The hangover was epic.
pictures!
Me, dancing under the boat.
Rambles looking sultry.
Me, Tobi and Rambles in from of the St.Roch.
Hopefully I'll get my hands on a bride and groom picture soon! Oh and I have yet to tell the tales of the stagette!
- I went to Under the Volcano yesterday and I believe it is one of the most incredible festivals I have ever been to. I feel incredibly inspired by all the amazing activists that I spoke to and all the projects that I learned about. It renewed my motivation and has set me firmly on a path of deeper involvement once I land in Montreal. I am thinking that I want to check out No One Is Illegal when in Montreal and work some more on projects related to land-based struggles (i.e. issues relating to indigenous rights and Immigrant rights here in Canada and worldwide).
The other fantastic thing about UTV was that so many of my very good friends were there and it made me so happy to be there. And there was ridiculously good food (VEGAN TOFU PIZZA JERK! VEGAN CHI-CAKE!) and lovely crafters. I purchased a lovely writing book and some very beautiful head bands
- I have been spending a massive amount of time with Graham and that is so good. So very very good for my soul.
- My landlord is a very scary person, completely motivated by greed. The market in Vancouver is so inflated that he is just giddy about me moving out since it means that he can increase the rent he charges for this place, after 4 years being stuck with me at $884, to $1100. After seeing the big response he got from folks positively desperate for housing he lamented to me that he should have asked $1500 because he likely could have got it. UGH. What a doucebag. He is also extremely controlling and always ends conversations with comments that re-assert the power dynamic of our relationship, i.e. that he is THE BOSS. Dealing with him right now is immensely un-pleasant and it's taking a very negative toll on my mental health. It is basically the worst part of this entire move. It is also driving home to me the fact that I MUST work towards a state of self-determination that gets me out from underneath the thumb of people like my landlord. I am tired of living in a home owned by someone else who is only interested in taking advantage of me and exercising power over me. I also need to stop working under people like this and get into a place of complete self-employment.
- I am departing tomorrow on a 7 day trip to Prince Edward Island, as I do every August. I am looking forward to the relaxed pace of life and hope that this will stop the terrible anxiety and stress that I have been having these last 2 weeks. Spending time with my family will hopefully calm me and re-affirm my commitment to this move back to Montreal.
- Work and money continue to be stressful and confusing but manageable.
- Went to the Project 8 screening at VIVO new media arts centre on Saturday night. I was completely romanced by the gorgeous super 8 short films that people had made. I am suddenly really interested in trying to make one of my own. I already have a couple ideas that I hope to explore this fall. Now I just have to get my hands on a camera....
- My tattoo is one session away from being finished. This will be the end of over a year's worth of work (from drawings to realization), at least 7 sittings and over 18 hours of tattooing.
- I am DJing a party at a bath house next week. How fucken rad is that?
- I did my last shift at spartacus books this past week. Spartacus was where I made my first connections to this community. It will be one of the most important things I will miss when I leave Vancouver. I wish I could watch it grow even more, but it's time to let go. At least I know that the place is in excellent care... the collective is full of amazing folks. |
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