Procrastination

The title says it. Apparently, I'm quite good at it. Did I have a costume ready for Halloween this year? I actually did. I did; last year, as well. Probably the year before. Did I go out in it? No. Did I mean to? Yes. It's comfy at home. It's familiar, me and the cat. And a big bowl of popcorn.

Do I like people? On the whole, yes. Yes, I do. I like being with people, I like having good conversations. I love the exchange of ideas. Working on projects together.

But I do procrastinate. When it comes to going to an event, sometimes I lie awake the night before until the wee smalls of the next morning. Anxious. Fretting. What if this? What if they don't do this, act that way, etc. What if I say something awful without meaning to? Sometimes it makes me too exhaustedto even go. Or I come down with a cold or my intestines have twisted themselves into pretzels. Or I will have a major thing to do that I REALLY want to get done that day but I will do a million tiny other things that fill the day up with, essentially garbagy little things ( well, at least I got the spice rack cleaned and the spice jars wiped clean…and true confessions, no, I got HALF the spices done, then went to putter at some other thing….)

There is ONE system that I found will work for this. There's a fellow who wrote a book called “Essentialism “. His name is Greg McKeown. He has a podcast, and his guests are people from every walk of life. He's in search of what is essential in life. You settle on a primary goal and you do one thing towards that goal each day. It's your focus. Two other secondary goals and a step towards those. Then 3 things that are like “maintenance “ things. They maintain your health, or just your lifestyle in general. So, it's as easy as 1,2,3. Using this, checking, essentially 6 things off each day, is satisfying. When I focus on this, I progress. You might wanna check out his podcast. And that's all she wrote.

Bodhran

There is a Celtic drum, called a bodhran. A person sits with it with part of the rim on one thigh ( usually your left) and the drum braced against the player's body. A tipper, a small wooden stick, is used to play it.

And now I am the owner of one ( with 2 tippers!) Do I know how to play it? Not yet. But I listen to a fair amount of Celtic style music, and “Can we be Wildflowers?” could really benefit from a bodhran track as part of it.

Which leads me to ponder my present philosophy. If you're curious about something, go do it. Maybe you do it slowly. Maybe you think you're a dolt because you aren't perfect right off the bat. Don't listen to that. It's nonsense. If Margaret Atwood tells people that your wastebasket is your best friend, in writing, I believe her.

You're bound to improve. Who cares if it isn't “pretty “ right now? Were you an expert walker the moment you got up on your chubby feet at the tender age of 12 months or older? But did someone cheer you on? Yup.

Find those kinda people. Then cheer them on, too. We ascend together.

Halloween

I do love Halloween. Mostly the costume part of Halloween. The “taking on a persona” kind of vibe. I am working on a pair of outrageous bell bottoms, myself.

(Also, I do buy “rockets” candy because, hey, Halloween candy isn't just for kids…)

When I lived in Port Moody, I mentioned to a friend that I missed having “trick or treaters” come to my door ( I lived in a condo. Still do.) She invited me over, on Halloween night, so I came in a long, multicolored skirt and billowy top and a million scarves. She was dressed as a witch, and was generous with the candy, as kids of all sizes came to the door. There was a skeleton in her yard, having tea on a metal filligree chair and a couple of jack o’ lanterns on the porch.

This autumn 🍂 I am aware of the shedding of things; leaves from the trees, the opinions of others. A loosening of the grip of my own beliefs, in the allowing of a gentle conversation with people who have a vision of a different way of being in relation with others. A more collaborative and playful kind of society, and economy. I'm curious. And hopeful. It's much warmer and more like family.

Happy Thanksgiving this weekend. May conversations around the table be gentle and full of good collaborations.

( Halloween Costume conversations?) ✌️🥰🎃

Sky Song

My most recent piece of art has been a long time coming. It began a couple of years ago. But it wasn't finished. I added something. That was a move in the right direction. Still not right.

Until I wrote my most recent song, “Can we be Wildflowers?” ( Spoiler alert; yes. ) The song features barn swallows, probably my favorite bird. I love that they travel far, and make it all the way up to Prince Rupert, BC. They swoop, soar, and generally enjoy life. They revel in their capabilities.

So I wrote the song for a friend's birthday, as some of it references bits of his life, just a tiny slice of what it's like to bask in the presence of offspring. That richness, fullness of being that one experiences. Or as I put it in the song, “full enchilada joy!”

On top of all that, it's autumn; my favorite season. Sweaters, warm drinks, books, blankets and comfortable conversations.

Small journey, travel through time

I have never been to a high school reunion. I was class of ‘72. It's been a minute. Technically, I graduated from LaSalle Secondary, in Sudbury, Ontario.

Whereas I did have friends in Band and in Art classes, as well, somehow I felt more attached to folks on the Sunshine Coast. Our class was the last to graduate from old Elphie (Elphinstone Secondary, in Gibsons. ) Due to faulty wiring above the stage in the auditorium, the place burned down.

We heard The Poppy Family there.

And I went to watch my classmates graduate, as that happened in September, and I was already in first year at UBC. Did I cry a little? Uh, yeah. Did we have a glass of champagne at a friend's house? We did.

Went on some adventures, that night, running past the cemetery hands clasped together, having told ghost stories on the way.

A fellow I knew in band class who played trumpet then, Douglas Campbell, will be providing music for our meet and greet. It will be a great time.

I'll be visiting my sister in Mission, as well, so we'll be catching up on all the news since last December.

Creatively, I just finished recording a “ rough draft” of a song written to the song prompt, (in the Write Songs You Love Community, hosted by Michael Averill) “ Write a song from the point of view of an Inanimate object “.

Enter Kundalini Matt.

I'm hoping to get this one out there in the wide world soon, ‘cause it's fun and relatable.

That's all she wrote.

Udderfest 2025

I am on the Board of Directors of Harbour Theatre. I love these folk. They are magical. Each year, Prince Rupert's very own quirky fringe festival is hosted by Harbour Theatre at theTom Rooney Playhouse. This was its 25th iteration. A cause for celebration.

This year there were 8 (very) different productions , including the ever-popular War of Wits.

I was involved in a free presentation from 5 members of the Playwrights Circle, (spearheaded and led by Miranda Baker, a young local playwright who is working on her Master's degree in Creative Writing. ) Castor Angus, Shala McCarthy, Paula Loroff, Natasha Dover and I asked other actors ( plus ourselves)to do staged readings of excerpts from what we've written over the last 2.5 months. It was enjoyable, and the audience feedback sounded positive. I had written 2 songs for an ( eventually) musical. Sung by Tristan Higginson and Paula Loroff.Ellory Clayton coached them. Shala read the nurse’s role.

Hopefully we will be having more staged readings.

It is always an exciting time, Udderfest; we get to meet up with friends and fellow theatre types. We share ideas, resources, and it strengthens our mandate to celebrate theatre and the performing arts. And our shared humanity. 🥰✌️🎭

Cats and other musings

This week I finished a London Drawing Group class on drawing cats. It was enjoyable and relaxing. There were some drawings of cats as examples, and students were encouraged to use a variety of materials, which I do anyway. I had not used matte medium with pastels before, however. It was a new treat. The lower image has some of that, as well as markers and coloured pencil. The weather has been dreary, but life doesn't have to be.

This weekend, I recorded two friends, each singing a song I wrote for a musical I’m in the process of writing. It's early days, but I've been absorbing information and watching other musicals like mad, observing structure of songs, how they fit in scenes, choreography, listening to orchestration, and harmonies with voices, counterparts… oh, my goodness! Lots to absorb.

This coming week will be 5 days of Iced Teacup Challenge with Michael Averill and the Write Songs You Love community. Beginning this Wednesday is Udderfest at the Tom Rooney Playhouse. It carries on through Sunday, with plays, musical performances and improv, as well as the famous War of Wits. I'll be volunteering for front of house duties for part of it, and my two friends, Paula Loroff and Tristan Higginson will be singing those songs for two short scenes during the Playwrights Circle scripted readings at 1 pm this Saturday. Admission for this particular event is free. The rest of the shows are $15 admission. More information at https://harbourtheatre.ca .

If I have time this week, I may work on Pride Bird, who has been feeling neglected. I was watching Chris Fraser on social media, painting with headphones on, listening to Classical music. ( They were, not myself, though I’m fond of quite a bit of Classical music. ) I felt inspired.

Cheers. Enjoy your week.

Relaxing (kinda)

This last week I've been focusing on recording, learning enough piano keyboard (and modifying it in the computer after recording it, so that the duration of the notes is correct), to plonk out a melody line.

It's a steep (sweary) learning curve, trying to translate that into music notation. I don't sightread music very easily. With any luck at all, I may be able to do it for at least some of the two songs I’m trying to write out.

In other news, I had purchased quite a bit of gold sateen fabric. I want to make something like a cross between a blazer and one of those Oscar Wilde type jackets. I found a pattern ( also in the Sally Anne; they have everything!) that will do for the front, and I’ll modify the back. Feeling rather smug. People seem to have either left town today to go out fishing or headed to Terrace. I think it's Riverboat Days. Beautiful weather, at any rate.

Analyzing musicals

I joined a Playwrights Circle group. It's spearheaded by Miranda Baker, presently working on her Masters degree in Creative Writing.

The goal was for each of us to produce a scene or a One Act play, with an eye towards next year's Udderfest. We will be able to have a staged reading ( each) of 10 minutes of what we've written.

I have written short plays before and worked with a dramaturge on them. But I've never tried writing a musical. I know that musicals are “in it for the long haul “ projects. “Hamilton” took years of research in order to produce a historically accurate production, to say nothing of knowledge of stagecraft and musical chops.

I had the opportunity this Saturday, to listen to a fellow on Zoom whose musical will be going into production in New York City. He spoke about the ways that the playwright/songwriter collaborates with the person who coaches the singers, adjusts key signatures according to vocal ranges. They also consult with the choreographer , as some lines would be extremely difficult to sing while dancing, so the melody has to be given to another character. Hopefully, for Udderfest, I will be able to have the 2 songs in the scenes I want to use, sung. I’m looking forward to it, at any rate. This feels out of my depth, but I am wading in anyway.

Cheers.

Celebrating a friend's success

I’m not totally certain what year I met Nancy Robertson. We met through Prince Rupert Writer's Group, back in the early 80's.

We all met every second Wednesday, discussed and critiqued each other's work, made suggestions, and shared about submission opportunities. Nancy's work found it’s way into several anthologies and literary journals.

Nancy is also a photographer. Often her photos are closeups of water, oil puddles, rust, focused on patterns and texture.

On top of that, she's a quiltmaker. I am not certain of her first efforts, but the ones that are presently hanging in the Museum of Northern BC's Ruth Harvey Gallery are as abstract as her photos and the small paintings that hang beside the quilts.

I am so proud of my friend! She's led an interesting life, full of travel and deep observation, both visual and the observation of human nature that results in a thoughtful, gifted writer.

Congrats, Nancy.

If you're in town, be sure to catch this show of quilts, small paintings and photos.

In other news, about 10 minutes of a musical I’m working on, will have a staged reading, along with several others at Udderfest on Saturday, August 16th, in the afternoon.Miranda Baker has been leading us in a Playwrights Circle. It's been a valuable experience. I’m learning formatting for musicals and have been playing a bit of “carch up” by watching a bunch of modern musicals on YouTube on my own. I hasten to say that the full production might be ready In about 4 or more years. Never tried anything this ambitious before. But. There's always a first time…

And that's all she wrote.

More bird

I have gotten a bit more done on the Pride Bird. Very pleased that the colours are richer in his head and shoulders.

This week focused on a lot of housework (boring/necessary) more music, exploring musical theatre, catching up with a friend at the pub, a cruise ship ambassador stint, and a bit of recording.

I am focusing next week on recording another song, brushing up on some songs for open mics and learning a few new ones. Hopefully I will get substantially more finished on Pride Bird, if not entirely. I would like to get this website viable as a site for sales , as well.

And a partridge in a 🎵 pear tree…🎶

A scattered week and a Pride Bird

This week I spent a lot of time at home. Some of it doing the day-to-day cleaning stuff, but also hooked up my MIDI keyboard to BandLab ( an online DAW: digital audio workstation) in order to plonk out a melody.

I never really learned piano. I left that up to my composer stepfather and my older sister, who plays quite well. I did try. When I was 5. I had the attention span of a gnat at that age. I might be regressing back to there…I don't have large hands ( at five, they were a good deal smaller!) I have a one-octave reach now, and that's it. But I digress. I’m about halfway through recording the melody for a song I wrote; Truebluesman. So that's cool

Did I do art this week? Yes. Yes, I did. This is Pride Bird. How this bird will turn out, only they know. Flamboyant. Strutting. And enjoying their colourful life.🌈

May you enjoy yours.✌️🥳

My kid

My kid turns 40 today. I am gobsmacked, kerfuffled and in a bit of awe. HOW???

She's still outstanding in her field. (C'mon; I can't resist the pun).

Our birthdays fall on each other's half-birthday. It's fun.

This week has sailed on by so fast! Only a bit of creativity happened. Unless you call figuring out a few Zoom features “creative “.

My cat Willa discovered that camping chairs are also comfy for cats. Who knew?

This week I will be focused on relearning a Potato Song, inspired by a song prompt by Diana Barbarash for Michael Averill's Iced Teacup Challenge. ( write or start a song in the time it takes to brew and drink a glass of iced tea.) Fun times! I’m also trying to figure out my MIDI keyboard. I’ll keep slogging away at it.

Enjoy your weekend!

In praise of less

Generally, I don't enjoy busy. Effort, yes. Whirlwind busy, not so much.

I've piled up experience after experience, yet some of the best times are the slower times. Sometimes it's watching a sunset on the patio with my cat.We slow blink at each other, content with the moment at hand.

Sometimes it's a spontaneous phone call for a thrown-together picnic at Diana Lake.

It might be a walk to the corner store for ice cream, passing by the old rusting bits of truck, the nodding dandelion. Sitting on the steps down to the high school, another sunset.

It's the slow moments.

My grandson taking me to see how their strawberry plants are doing. A mug of tea with my daughter and building things with magnetic tiles. A game of “ go fish”. Depending on the mood there is triumphant gloating, or solicitous concern.

And there's art. A Pride Month bird, because. The Earworm of two sad songs, because sometimes you need tears. Bruce Cockburn's “Pacing the Cage” and a brand new one from Jesse Welles, “Pilgrim “.

And now the longing to write a morose kind of song. Because sometimes you have to sit with sorrow and sunsets.

Deer in spite of everything

At last this fellow is finished. It was a long journey, begun last fall. In the meantime, my grandson turned 4, I turned 70, and my birthday present to myself was a Deering banjo. I am really enjoying it. My first vivid memory of hearing a live banjo was hearing Ron Walter’s in Petaluma, California performing in a variety show. I was mesmerized. The kids sat in the front row of the gymnasium and our parents directly behind, poised to give us a poke or to “shush” us if we started whispering.

How could anyone ever pick an instrument that fast? Anyway. Now I am slowly learning.

In other news, I have been writing more songs. But now some feature the banjo. One is called '“The Long Way Home “. The other banjo song is called “Old Folks “.

Old folks sittin at the corner store

Playing Keno

Thinkin ‘bout Reno

In their future…

My future entails snoring under a comforter. Goodnight!

New laptop, new energy

I have been remiss about blogging on here. Mainly because everything is not yet up and running, and I have altogether too many interests! Always another shiny thing to distract my corvid brain.

This week I will be moving data from the old dinosaur laptop ( that I, more than once, longed to hurl into the harbour.) to a new, sleek, quicker one. Giving brachiasaurus the boot and moving along.

Last month I was thoroughly immersed in Poetry Month.

During the worst of Covid lockdown, I had discovered another visual artist on Tiktok, Scott Geraci, who lives in Florida. Apart from doing interesting drawings of trees, he decided to read aloud a poem each day of April. Then he decided to take requests. I requested “Love after love “, by Derek Walcott. It was a great reading, so I wanted to do something for Poetry Month, as well.

If you're interested in having some poetry prompts, I set up a group page on Facebook called “Poetry Rising “. I can invite you into the group. I plan on keeping the group page open indefinitely for talk about poetry, video clips of people reading favorite poems, a place to talk about writing in general, etc.There are 30 prompts for your use to wwrite your own poems. I managed to use 21 of them. If you find just one that sparks the muse, that's cool.

On the creative side, I am working on finishing a piece that I started last fall. That would be the deer, a bit further down. I’ve been focused this last week on getting my studio space back to being not only useful, but efficient.

I also have a song that I hope to “bring across the finish line” ( ie: record and release) by early June. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

For right now, this is my life. Kinda artsy. Kinda fun.

Oh, and I have some seedlings coming along, too.And a cherry tree in full bloom when I look outside.

Life is sweet. 🥰

First blog on the new site

I've been wandering around the website space, trying to decipher how it works. I’m learning. It isn't quite what I expected, but I’ll get more comfy soon.

Having my artwork online and for sale again is exciting. I've been enjoying working in a square format with the 10"x10” small format, but I like rectangular format as well and somewhat larger. I’ll be having a wider variety of art cards printed soon, and possibly a line of stickers. Stickers are just fun.

I now have two songs out wherever you listen. “Peace” (a capella and djembe) and a much more full-out version of “Last Sweet Love Song “, featuring Mandolin Kahn. (My mandolin!) I’m enjoying my songwriting journey. I have a fabulous instructor who knows how to bring out the best in people and in their songs. And I now have a very supportive singing instructor.

I’ll be up to some new artwork, as well.

For now, though, sleep.