Patience … a virtue that often escapes me

Hey ya’ll,

I’ve been away from blogging for a bit but I really haven’t had much to say.  And when I do write/think, its usually negative and since I am trying to pull myself away from that … well you get what I’m trying to say here.

Last night I hit up Chapter’s to continue my book buying binge.  I have amassed quite the collection thus far. 

I will be busy for the next little while reading these:  Rebel Sell, Hey, Nostredamus, The Gum Thief, Lullabies for Little Criminals, Lolita, Everything is Illuminated, (Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs), A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Bell Jar and Blackbeard

Quite the list non?  A nice mix of witt, pop culture, politics and debauchery.

The idea of starting a book club has been summersaulting in my mind for some time now; and I dont mean one of those lame, knitting circle and tea sandwhiches types either.  I’m talking more along the lines of a cool, diverse group of folk getting together for wine/cocktails to debate, discuss and laugh over some great finds!  Sounds aiight in my head, not sure though how to go about setting something like this up. 

Nonetheless, books and film have been my drug of choice lately and have, in part, contributed to the reason for my absence.  Delving into someone else’s life and story has been a nice deviation from looking too much into my own!!

Oh, and I forgot to mention … I saw The Dark Knight and it was everything they hyped it to be and more! 

Go see it immediately!!

Check in later and hopefully I will have laid down some thoughts.

Sex Report …

Sunday night Lora, Sabrina and I gave in and finally went to see the much talked about and overhyped “Sex and the City, THE movie.”

Let me start by saying that I was not a regular viewer of the series, but did on occassion catch an episode here and there.  Now I am not a fan of drama, nor do I buy into the “fake” hollywood friendships that are propogated on the show, but I am a complete fashion whore and well … Carrie’s clothes the show appeals to the senses. 

I love fashion and everything about that fast paced world; the colour, the non-colour, the deadlines, the runway, the shoes and the list can go on for an eternity.  It is a world that excites me.  Having been in the industry myself, I can say that seeing my work strut down a long New York, Paris or Milan runway is a dream that I will forever aspire for.  This of course would be accompanied by inhabiting the most awe inspiring home/studio loft.  The point I’m trying to make here is that the movie stirred up all those feelings in me once again.  I have been away from that world for a little over three years and something Sunday night rekindled in me.

Going back to the movie …

So out of the theatre we come, almost three hours later and much to my surprise, I liked it!  I laughed, I cried, I wondered, I yearned and I understood.  I understood that friendships are not really like that.  I am sure that a closeness between friends is not unheard of as I am fortunate enough to share closeness in my own circle, but the extreme measures that these fab four go to to be there for one another, I think, is a little “Hollywood.”  Call me cynical, but girls will be girls and at some point or another the green envy monster debuts.  Life happens and its not always that easy to drop everything on a dime to run to a  crying friend (especially one that may have very well ruined your would-have-been-fabulous wedding).  Don’t get me wrong here, I would do anything for my bestest of friends, but its just not always that easy.   Furthermore, the fact that everyone gets their happy ending is both dumb and predictable.  The final wedding to Big was even more assinine and completely unnecessary.  The realization that Carrie and Big came to was that they didn’t need to be officially married to be happy, but they did it anyway! argghhh… Needless to say, I hated the ending.  I guess I’d be foolish to expect anything else, it is afterall, Hollywood … the land of perfection. 

Ultimately, what came out of this in the end for me was a moment of self-actualization.  What is funny is that the greatest lessons for me were learned from Samantha and Miranda; the two least perfect of the four.  I took away that it is so easy to stay on a path that feels comfortable and safe; but I feel that this is a path that leads to a slow and inevitable death as it is here that we lose a sense of who we are as individuals.  Remaining in a situation that no longer challenges the heart, mind and body does injustice to all those involved.   As cliche as it sounds, life is short and we have one stab at it.  There is no chance to go back and do it all over again.   We need to live and take risks and aspire for all those things that may not be achievable … but in that chase, “we live.”

Lastly, forgiveness.  A concept that I struggle with in my own life.  I often find myself so quick to hold a grudge against someone that has faulted me.  For most of these situations I am able to forget, but to forgive is something different altogether.  You see, I do not think I could have forgiven Steve like Miranda did.  But then I realized that we all make mistakes.  We are beautifully flawed by nature.  It is what we learn and how we act after those mistakes that is a true test of character.  I hope to have a more open heart after this. 

 Anyhow, who would have seen this coming? Hmmph. I’m amazed myself.

Go out and see it, you may be as surprised as I was!

Week Wrap Up

Okay, I’m back … late of course, but my connection has been quite tumultuous all day.  Cut me some slack already!

I have lots to report as my week has been a busy one.

On the movie front, I had the pleasure of enjoying “August Rush” and “The Other Boleyn Girl”.  Talk about great storylines.  Two great movies befitting of the rather crappy, dreary, cold rainy weather we’ve been having. 

First things first: August Rush

The film was both refreshing and uplifting.  I must say I was moved to tears.  Now, yes I’m quite the emotional and grant it I was, at the time, putting a dent in a bottle of pinot noir; however, there was something about the story line that I identified with in my own life; and that is the power of music.  Music, in all its glory, is capable of healing; and I have been healed folks.  As some of you have read in a past post, the brilliant music of a certain artist noticeably impacted my life.  I actually had the pleasure of enjoying a “healing session” this past thursday at Massey Hall (but more about that later!)

I do not want to reveal too much of the plot for those of you that have not yet had the opportunity to see it, but I will say that its simply about an orphan with an exceptional gift whose life, through belief and music, is restored.  Keep some kleenex nearby because you’re a stone if it doesn’t bring you to shed at least a tear! 

Next: The Other Boleyn Girl

All I can say is wtf? Okay historical inaccuracy aside, this storyline was twisted, but equally captivating.  The story that takes place in Tudor England in the 16th century.  It is a tale of two sisters whom, pressured by family (in the name of greed and political advancement), vie for the opportunity to grant King Henry VIII a son.  Albeit common sounding, the plot is quite lusty and incestuous; and deliciously enjoyable in a very bizarre way. 

This week I will be revisiting an oldy: “The Big Lebowski”…. stay tuned on that

And now for my favourite day:

Thursday of this past week, I enjoyed an evening of indulgence … a night that touched the senses if you will.  I, from the fifth row centre, took in the ever so sexy and brilliant MG at Massey Hall.  The show was out right incredible and I actually struggle to find words to describe the experience. This night touched my soul in a way that even I cannot comprehend.  His musical wizardry accompanied my Alize and “other” buzz quite nicely.  I also was able to meet the infamous and ultra cool Raymi whose blog I am completely addicted to.  So altogether, thursday night was a force to be reckoned with!

Friday, I was a complete and utter write off.  Devastatingly tired and hung!

Saturday I brought little miss C to the Ontario Science Centre and while what seemed as a good idea turned out to be a grave disappointment.  It was the first time I had been there since I was eight and I, for some reason, remembered it being so much more interesting and enjoyable back then.  We walked two floors of nothing (which totally set my mood for the day), one floor of pure boring germ kid craziness and another floor of semi-cool things that clearly did not interest my now-ancy one and a half year old.  Perhaps, I’ll take another stab at it in seven years and hope that some much needed funding will restore its “cool factor.”

And this brings us to Sunday….  lazy, lazy and more lazy followed by complete frustration over my terrible and pretty much non existent internet connection.

Phew. That was a mouthful.