I'm just like, making new best friends all over the place.
So disappointed in not getting to jam today, I contacted Radoslav, someone who had responded to my post about musicians.
And it turned out he, his brother and his bro's girlfriend were heading for the jazz fest.
Meeting complete strangers is always a trial. But this wasn't. All three of them turned out to be complete darlings -- we met up at PDA metro and then inexplicably ended up at St. Hubert drinking semillon and mojitos. Talking about everything from Beethoven to the Beatles.
The Earth will live. The young people will save us. If these are who they are, have no fear. The kindest, most intelligent, pleasant people on this planet are who I encountered tonight.
Gods bless us all.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Green, Red, Yellow, Cream and Orange
Al Green last night was a blast. As you my know, Salle Wilfred Pelletier is not my favorite venue — I’ve listened to my friend Jacques Beaudoin play there in the OSM many times and though it’s “pretty” good for unamplified classical it just shuts down with rock or anything approaching volume.
Rain was hurtling down, the taxi company didn’t send the promised taxi and we had to wade into the torrent. Luckily we found one.
But the streets near the Place des Arts were all closed off. So we had to rush through a veritable deluge (we were late because of the taxi fiasco) and barely made it to will-call, drenched. Only to find there was an opening act, Lizz Wright. We were wet and exhausted from running, so we opted for another solution: sit out the opening act with a couple of scotches in the lobby. That worked. And we met Lizz Wright’s bus driver . . . he was sitting right next to us. Very cynical guy.
And then went out into the now-dry evening and sampled some wines at a tent near PDA. I must say, the whole area was packed. Unbelievable.
And then, Al Green. Who is Al Green? Apparently many people except me know, because the crowd was rapturous, devout. they knew all the songs and I knew not a single one except for Dock of the Bay, which was only performed as a snippet, but these people, mainly 50ish but not necessarily, knew all the songs, all the words, and just went into hysteria when one or another Al Green specials commenced.
And to tell you the truth, I was actually concentrating on the musicians. The show was seamless. Obviously extremely-well planned. Green would launch into some patter and some instrument would be playing gently behind it and even the patter was great. A master showman, this dude.
So I felt rather left out while everyone else was swaying to the tunes they knew, but it was very revival-like, very gospely. (If that’s a word).
Very nice show. After that we retired to some funky lounge nearby where EVERYONE was under thirty and the DJ actually came up to me and asked what I wanted to hear. He was using an iBook and turntables, or maybe they were fake turntables, but when I told him we had just come from the Al Green show he apologised for the awful hip-hop that was currently playing and in less than 20 minutes, lo and behold: Al Green.
So it was a Green, red (for the wine), yellow (for the scotch) cream (for the Kalhua and milk) and orange (for the Long Island Iced Tea) night.
Cheers all round.
Rain was hurtling down, the taxi company didn’t send the promised taxi and we had to wade into the torrent. Luckily we found one.
But the streets near the Place des Arts were all closed off. So we had to rush through a veritable deluge (we were late because of the taxi fiasco) and barely made it to will-call, drenched. Only to find there was an opening act, Lizz Wright. We were wet and exhausted from running, so we opted for another solution: sit out the opening act with a couple of scotches in the lobby. That worked. And we met Lizz Wright’s bus driver . . . he was sitting right next to us. Very cynical guy.
And then went out into the now-dry evening and sampled some wines at a tent near PDA. I must say, the whole area was packed. Unbelievable.
And then, Al Green. Who is Al Green? Apparently many people except me know, because the crowd was rapturous, devout. they knew all the songs and I knew not a single one except for Dock of the Bay, which was only performed as a snippet, but these people, mainly 50ish but not necessarily, knew all the songs, all the words, and just went into hysteria when one or another Al Green specials commenced.
And to tell you the truth, I was actually concentrating on the musicians. The show was seamless. Obviously extremely-well planned. Green would launch into some patter and some instrument would be playing gently behind it and even the patter was great. A master showman, this dude.
So I felt rather left out while everyone else was swaying to the tunes they knew, but it was very revival-like, very gospely. (If that’s a word).
Very nice show. After that we retired to some funky lounge nearby where EVERYONE was under thirty and the DJ actually came up to me and asked what I wanted to hear. He was using an iBook and turntables, or maybe they were fake turntables, but when I told him we had just come from the Al Green show he apologised for the awful hip-hop that was currently playing and in less than 20 minutes, lo and behold: Al Green.
So it was a Green, red (for the wine), yellow (for the scotch) cream (for the Kalhua and milk) and orange (for the Long Island Iced Tea) night.
Cheers all round.
No Jam. Toast.
Wrestled with the public transportation system today in order to get to the prodigal jam but just gave up in hopeless despair. Pointe Claire is VERY far away -- clear across the island -- and to get there there are dozens of options, none involving anything easy.
Add into that a hot day, hot sun, lugging a guitar, a three-hour wait for a commuter train (okay, I should have checked the schedule before I left), a nice bus driver's wrong directions and another wait for a bus that never came and I'd had it.
I'd have taken a $50 taxi ride but after 20 minutes, not a single taxi came by that was unoccupied.
So . . . just to jam with a bunch of guys? Verdict: not worth it. The dude who set it up must have known that there were many people near downtown without transport and could have set up some kind of carpooling but obviously didn't care very much.
So neither do I.
Add into that a hot day, hot sun, lugging a guitar, a three-hour wait for a commuter train (okay, I should have checked the schedule before I left), a nice bus driver's wrong directions and another wait for a bus that never came and I'd had it.
I'd have taken a $50 taxi ride but after 20 minutes, not a single taxi came by that was unoccupied.
So . . . just to jam with a bunch of guys? Verdict: not worth it. The dude who set it up must have known that there were many people near downtown without transport and could have set up some kind of carpooling but obviously didn't care very much.
So neither do I.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Chess (yet again)
Well, Corey and I duked it out till around 8 a.m. (neither of us had any sleep till then) but I lucked out and got in a lucky bishop pin. He got tired, but it was our first game and I sensed his skill. I have some very, very bad days playing the computer, but sometimes I cream it when I'm fired up and in condition. Just like anything in life . . . so . . . the game is in progress.
And I'm going to see Al Green on this miserable-weather day . . . doesn't bode well for BBQ backyard jamming tomorrow.
And I'm going to see Al Green on this miserable-weather day . . . doesn't bode well for BBQ backyard jamming tomorrow.
Chess (again)
I'm playing chess with Corey over Facebook. It's hugely more fun than playing the computer. You sense a huge intelligence, a warm intelligence, not a cold, impassive one. One who will laugh when you make a move. The computer will never laugh, just destroy you.
And he's doing very well . . . I haven't played a human in 20 years--only computers. Wonder how the training will serve me.
I'll tell you in the next post!
And he's doing very well . . . I haven't played a human in 20 years--only computers. Wonder how the training will serve me.
I'll tell you in the next post!
Not There Yet
It's taken human beings now over twelve years to master the Internet. You'd think by now they'd have it down. Like, people printing a newspaper--they had to develop the presses and figure out how to do it.
But the Internet is a total, unadulterated mess. You would think the biggest sites -- CNN, New York Times, Facebook -- would have it down by now. But there is no standardisation. Everyone has their own rules, their stupid password requirements, their stupid useless anti-spammer "captchas", their own tedious signup requirements, their ceaseless ads, their forms, their little legal agreements that you have to check just to track a package (how dumb is that?) the visual clutter. The ONLY site that seems to have got it right is google.
I hereby suggest that some kind of body be formed to standardise the Internet.
How would life be if for every different lamp you'd have to get a different light bulb? Screw in, twist in, push and hold, 240 watts or 110 . . . it would be absolutely intolerable.
And it is. I find my most major frustrations these days is figuring out what people were thinking when they put a website together. For every one that's well-organised there are 999 crappy ones. Ones that have you twisting your fingers in frustration and wasting SO MUCH TIME trying to figure out.
Well, it just goes to prove my prevailing theory: 95% of humanity is dumb beyond belief.
But the Internet is a total, unadulterated mess. You would think the biggest sites -- CNN, New York Times, Facebook -- would have it down by now. But there is no standardisation. Everyone has their own rules, their stupid password requirements, their stupid useless anti-spammer "captchas", their own tedious signup requirements, their ceaseless ads, their forms, their little legal agreements that you have to check just to track a package (how dumb is that?) the visual clutter. The ONLY site that seems to have got it right is google.
I hereby suggest that some kind of body be formed to standardise the Internet.
How would life be if for every different lamp you'd have to get a different light bulb? Screw in, twist in, push and hold, 240 watts or 110 . . . it would be absolutely intolerable.
And it is. I find my most major frustrations these days is figuring out what people were thinking when they put a website together. For every one that's well-organised there are 999 crappy ones. Ones that have you twisting your fingers in frustration and wasting SO MUCH TIME trying to figure out.
Well, it just goes to prove my prevailing theory: 95% of humanity is dumb beyond belief.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Shop Around
Wanna save $750? Then don't call Westmount Travel.
I'm desperate for a ticket (two, actually) to go get my son in July. It's getting closer and closer to the date--the 19th--and i put in my request with Westmount about two weeks ago. Never heard a word. Then today, after I finally called them, it was sadsack news . . . I'd have to leave ON THE 6TH and stay for a month . . . for $4,000.
"Just no spaces, Mr. Robinson . . . it's high season."
Then I lucked out and called Elie at Master Travel (514-381-1999) and in 20 minutes today he had my round trip leaving on the 17th, coming back with Taishi on the 21st, for $3,150, a $750 savings.
But I complained to my friend who turned me on to Westmount Travel and he immediately called the owner, who immediately called me--just got off the phone with him--and the owner is doing his damnedest to get me a better fare.
Just goes to show that if you shop around and are nice you can get immediate results.
I'm still looking at around three grand (THREE GRAND!!!)but there's nothing I can do. Gotta get my son.
I guess the credit card is going to be groaning . . .
I'm desperate for a ticket (two, actually) to go get my son in July. It's getting closer and closer to the date--the 19th--and i put in my request with Westmount about two weeks ago. Never heard a word. Then today, after I finally called them, it was sadsack news . . . I'd have to leave ON THE 6TH and stay for a month . . . for $4,000.
"Just no spaces, Mr. Robinson . . . it's high season."
Then I lucked out and called Elie at Master Travel (514-381-1999) and in 20 minutes today he had my round trip leaving on the 17th, coming back with Taishi on the 21st, for $3,150, a $750 savings.
But I complained to my friend who turned me on to Westmount Travel and he immediately called the owner, who immediately called me--just got off the phone with him--and the owner is doing his damnedest to get me a better fare.
Just goes to show that if you shop around and are nice you can get immediate results.
I'm still looking at around three grand (THREE GRAND!!!)but there's nothing I can do. Gotta get my son.
I guess the credit card is going to be groaning . . .
MySpace
God. All I want to do is to put my songs on MySpace but they make it SO DIFFICULT. And it's just so cluttered with crap--so much text, ads, windows, bullshit. Makes Facebook seem like a blank page.
Anyway, it's not working. Why can there not be a simple way to upload an mp3 that you MADE YOURSELF? Instead I had to do a google search to find out how. And that was a disaster. About.com is perhaps the most useless site on the Web.
Christ. Why can people not opt for simplicity and clarity? Nope, NOTHING works with MySpace. It's like Windows versus Facebook's Mac.
Well, I guess I'll be deleting my myspace account in the next ten minutes. What a piece of shit.
Anyway, it's not working. Why can there not be a simple way to upload an mp3 that you MADE YOURSELF? Instead I had to do a google search to find out how. And that was a disaster. About.com is perhaps the most useless site on the Web.
Christ. Why can people not opt for simplicity and clarity? Nope, NOTHING works with MySpace. It's like Windows versus Facebook's Mac.
Well, I guess I'll be deleting my myspace account in the next ten minutes. What a piece of shit.
NEW New Best Friend?
Spoke to Damian last night. He of the responder to my post on craigslist about singers.
Sunday I can't believe I'm going to drag my sorry ass to West Island and AUDITION for a classic rock band. List of tunes:
Robert Palmer - Bad Case Of Loving You
Bad Company - Can't Get Enough
Bad Company - Feel Like Makin' Love
Free - Alright Now
Deep Purple - Highway Star
Nazareth – Hair of the dog
Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way
Foreigner - Dirty White boy
Jeff Healy - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Steppenwolf - Born to be wild
Traffic - Dear Mr Fantasy
Beatles - Helter skelter
Beatles - Back in the USSR
Neil Young - Keep on Rockin in the Free World
Doors - Roadhouse Blues
Zeppelin – Immigrant song
Zeppelin – What is and should never be
Zeppelin – Rock n Roll
Billy Joel - You May Be Right
Trooper - Were here for a good time
Trooper – Raise a little hell
Janis Joplin - Piece of my heart
Vanilla fudge -You keep me hanging on
Well, we're all forty-somethings, so whatever happens it should be a blast.I'll try to get a recording (not guaranteed! but would be great).
Nicky/out
Sunday I can't believe I'm going to drag my sorry ass to West Island and AUDITION for a classic rock band. List of tunes:
Robert Palmer - Bad Case Of Loving You
Bad Company - Can't Get Enough
Bad Company - Feel Like Makin' Love
Free - Alright Now
Deep Purple - Highway Star
Nazareth – Hair of the dog
Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way
Foreigner - Dirty White boy
Jeff Healy - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Steppenwolf - Born to be wild
Traffic - Dear Mr Fantasy
Beatles - Helter skelter
Beatles - Back in the USSR
Neil Young - Keep on Rockin in the Free World
Doors - Roadhouse Blues
Zeppelin – Immigrant song
Zeppelin – What is and should never be
Zeppelin – Rock n Roll
Billy Joel - You May Be Right
Trooper - Were here for a good time
Trooper – Raise a little hell
Janis Joplin - Piece of my heart
Vanilla fudge -You keep me hanging on
Well, we're all forty-somethings, so whatever happens it should be a blast.I'll try to get a recording (not guaranteed! but would be great).
Nicky/out
Thursday, June 26, 2008
New Best Friend
I know I've babbled about my "new best friends" before, but tonight I went to dinner with Corey and Adam, except Adam didn't make it somehow.
But Corey did. What a hell of a guy. Only 27 but just a bundle of curiosity about everything. About Montreal history. About Leonard Cohen. About chess. This is a guy who will go someplace. Someone who SHOWS ME what I should do. And I'm almost twice his age.
He told me how shy he is but he's a dynamo in person, a fount of knowledge.
Astonishing when you're learning from someone half your age.
But it really isn't. It's what your legacy should be all about.
Nicky-out
But Corey did. What a hell of a guy. Only 27 but just a bundle of curiosity about everything. About Montreal history. About Leonard Cohen. About chess. This is a guy who will go someplace. Someone who SHOWS ME what I should do. And I'm almost twice his age.
He told me how shy he is but he's a dynamo in person, a fount of knowledge.
Astonishing when you're learning from someone half your age.
But it really isn't. It's what your legacy should be all about.
Nicky-out
日本人のために . . .
日本人の読んでいる人たちが少ないけれども、ようこそ。
もし何かが分かりませんでしたら、メールを送ってくださいませ. できましたら喜んで訳して上げます.
遊びにきてください！
ニコラス
もし何かが分かりませんでしたら、メールを送ってくださいませ. できましたら喜んで訳して上げます.
遊びにきてください！
ニコラス
Je m'éxcuse . . .
. . . d'être un "retard."
Il fait trop longtemps que je n'ai pas fait une poste en française.
Il m'arrivait que la phrase "ça marche" marche très bien. Quelqu'un qui fait des moustiquaires vient d'arriver et même qu'il parlait bien l'anglais j'ai dû me débrouiller comme un cochon.
Mais, "ça marche" marche bien.
Especialment quand il me coutera $250.
Il fait trop longtemps que je n'ai pas fait une poste en française.
Il m'arrivait que la phrase "ça marche" marche très bien. Quelqu'un qui fait des moustiquaires vient d'arriver et même qu'il parlait bien l'anglais j'ai dû me débrouiller comme un cochon.
Mais, "ça marche" marche bien.
Especialment quand il me coutera $250.
Male Bonding
I'm reading this book, called Tennozan, about the battle of Okinawa. It's really balanced for both sides, Japanese and American. And as you long readers know, I am intimately familiar with both. Everybody concerned just basically got trashed.
I keep feeling while I'm reading about Tadashi Kojo, who is putting up a fantastic but ultimately useless defense, or General Buckner, who gets knocked off by a sniper,
STOP.
STOP IT. Just stop it. What madness we have in this world can be stopped. We just have to say STOP IT. But the passages about the way the boys, on both sides, fighting, bonding with almost superhuman love were almost obscene. Who wants to bond with experiencing death? I can become an ER dude or a funeral home worker for that. A bit less stressful and more productive.
I think about my life and its eccentricities and how maybe I don't bond so well with others but that is no way to be bonded.
Join a band. It saves trees and is very green. (Less water, more beer).
I keep feeling while I'm reading about Tadashi Kojo, who is putting up a fantastic but ultimately useless defense, or General Buckner, who gets knocked off by a sniper,
STOP.
STOP IT. Just stop it. What madness we have in this world can be stopped. We just have to say STOP IT. But the passages about the way the boys, on both sides, fighting, bonding with almost superhuman love were almost obscene. Who wants to bond with experiencing death? I can become an ER dude or a funeral home worker for that. A bit less stressful and more productive.
I think about my life and its eccentricities and how maybe I don't bond so well with others but that is no way to be bonded.
Join a band. It saves trees and is very green. (Less water, more beer).
Oh God
I know it's bad.
I'm just too old.
I can't be in a classic rock band.
Or can I? Damian emailed me and said he'd call tonight. Christ. Can I do this? Can I be hanging out with three other guys and getting together every Wednesday at some dilapidated studio (or maybe really nice) downtown?
Part of me screams YES but most of me screams NO. It's like jumping out of planes. At this point in my life if you asked me along, I WOULD.
And maybe I should.
I'm just too old.
I can't be in a classic rock band.
Or can I? Damian emailed me and said he'd call tonight. Christ. Can I do this? Can I be hanging out with three other guys and getting together every Wednesday at some dilapidated studio (or maybe really nice) downtown?
Part of me screams YES but most of me screams NO. It's like jumping out of planes. At this point in my life if you asked me along, I WOULD.
And maybe I should.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Honor
Honor can be a double-edged sword. Killing your sister or daughter because with some guy they messed around is not honor.
I know about honor. I lived in Japan for five years and these people know all about honor. Sometimes honor is just too compelling, too demanding and just too strict. Humans just have a habit of obligating their kind to their way of thinking; it’s called religion or other words but basically all it means is BE TRUE, be wise, take care, be careful of everyone around you and that’s what I believe in. Radicalness in these things doesn’t work and will always ultimately fail. This is guaranteed. But honor prevails.
So, when these young Moroccan dudes last night listened to me ask them to protect their neighbour at all costs, I know they will do that. Their very honor is at stake. They promised me and I know I can trust them, though I know they’re twenty-five years my junior. Anyone who dared to invade the space of my friend would probably get a quick toss off the freshly-cleaned balcony.
Humanity is messy. Humanity can be bad. But most of the time, people are just simply nice.
That is what keeps me going.
I know about honor. I lived in Japan for five years and these people know all about honor. Sometimes honor is just too compelling, too demanding and just too strict. Humans just have a habit of obligating their kind to their way of thinking; it’s called religion or other words but basically all it means is BE TRUE, be wise, take care, be careful of everyone around you and that’s what I believe in. Radicalness in these things doesn’t work and will always ultimately fail. This is guaranteed. But honor prevails.
So, when these young Moroccan dudes last night listened to me ask them to protect their neighbour at all costs, I know they will do that. Their very honor is at stake. They promised me and I know I can trust them, though I know they’re twenty-five years my junior. Anyone who dared to invade the space of my friend would probably get a quick toss off the freshly-cleaned balcony.
Humanity is messy. Humanity can be bad. But most of the time, people are just simply nice.
That is what keeps me going.
Mistakes
I was in a situation last night where these Moroccan dudes--young rappers--passed me a joint.
This stuff ain't what it used to be. I did my usual professional inhale and they whooped but it was my mistake. Christ, almost instantly I was immobilised (how the hell do you spell that, anyway?) Luckily, a tiny bit of red wine revived me, as did the person I was with. Christ alive, the demon weed can really reduce you for all intents and purposes to a gibbering wreck. You have my word on it. But actually, when I'm with someone I trust utterly I can be quite happy, so luckily that was the case last night.
Ya know, you start to laugh uncontrollably, you start to wonder about that star up there and you start to get immeasurably hungry and music sounds like an aural IV.
Another time machine to age 20.
Christ. Do NOT give me a hit of acid. THAT I would no longer be able to survive.
This stuff ain't what it used to be. I did my usual professional inhale and they whooped but it was my mistake. Christ, almost instantly I was immobilised (how the hell do you spell that, anyway?) Luckily, a tiny bit of red wine revived me, as did the person I was with. Christ alive, the demon weed can really reduce you for all intents and purposes to a gibbering wreck. You have my word on it. But actually, when I'm with someone I trust utterly I can be quite happy, so luckily that was the case last night.
Ya know, you start to laugh uncontrollably, you start to wonder about that star up there and you start to get immeasurably hungry and music sounds like an aural IV.
Another time machine to age 20.
Christ. Do NOT give me a hit of acid. THAT I would no longer be able to survive.
Montrealmusic Blog
Why am I denying it . . . this has turned into a full-fledged music blog. Not that I'm complaining.
I can't believe it, but last night I was talked into seeing Al Green on Saturday. Who the hell is Al Green? And why does he cost $146 for two tickets? That's the price of a very nice suit at Moore's. Or a couple of cocktails at Globe.
And then Monday it's Strunz and Farah, but between all that I may have to audition for a classic rock group. As a lead stringer! (pun intended).
Food. I WILL blog about food, I promise. Just no particular projects in the works at this moment in time . . . but no doubt it will involve shrimpies. But I want to graduate to lobster . . . just the killing and cracking that gets in the way. I want it all to be clinical -- classic denial syndrome.
In other words, someone else will have to cook it. And crabs. Crabs are always good.
Except when they're down there. (NO THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN DOWN HERE THANK YOU VERY MUCH)
I can't believe it, but last night I was talked into seeing Al Green on Saturday. Who the hell is Al Green? And why does he cost $146 for two tickets? That's the price of a very nice suit at Moore's. Or a couple of cocktails at Globe.
And then Monday it's Strunz and Farah, but between all that I may have to audition for a classic rock group. As a lead stringer! (pun intended).
Food. I WILL blog about food, I promise. Just no particular projects in the works at this moment in time . . . but no doubt it will involve shrimpies. But I want to graduate to lobster . . . just the killing and cracking that gets in the way. I want it all to be clinical -- classic denial syndrome.
In other words, someone else will have to cook it. And crabs. Crabs are always good.
Except when they're down there. (NO THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN DOWN HERE THANK YOU VERY MUCH)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Why
. . . do I lose it when I talk to my 6-year old son in Japan. Parents aren't supposed to lose it. They're supposed to be these steel rods, these upstanding figures. But I cry, I can't not, when I hear his tiny voice, his tentative attempts to speak English to me because he hates speaking Japanese to me and I hate speaking Japanese to him (though I'm more than capable--my Japanese is better than my French)
And when it's been so long, a tenth of his lifetime, I just crumble. I haven't seen him for six months and it's just horrible. So it's not nice when Dad cries on the phone but there is nothing I can do. I just want to hug him and hold him and tell him everything is going to be all right but instead I just cry.
Why?
And when it's been so long, a tenth of his lifetime, I just crumble. I haven't seen him for six months and it's just horrible. So it's not nice when Dad cries on the phone but there is nothing I can do. I just want to hug him and hold him and tell him everything is going to be all right but instead I just cry.
Why?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Lazyass
There is someone I know who just won’t take no for an answer. Things demand to be done right now, not tomorrow or maybe. She wakes up and then stuff is happening right and left and you’re reeling. It’s like, I just woke up here, but for her it’s “Yeah. me too, and this is going to be the day and it's starting right now.”
I guess I’ve stoked my laid-back attitude for far too long, because people with all that energy are carbon emitters . . . loveable, but exhausting . . . but we need them so much. They balance out the laziness in the rest of us assholes.
I need people like her.
I guess I’ve stoked my laid-back attitude for far too long, because people with all that energy are carbon emitters . . . loveable, but exhausting . . . but we need them so much. They balance out the laziness in the rest of us assholes.
I need people like her.
Damn
Damn. This is turning into a major music blog. Like, 99 percent. My friend that I don't know sent me this file of a band that's so good it's turning my head, along with recently-discovered music mentioned in other previous posts.
I thought the stuff I was listening to yesterday was good, but this. is REALLY good.
I thought the stuff I was listening to yesterday was good, but this. is REALLY good.
Talking to People
I've said it so many times in this blog. So, so many times. Just be nice. Just be loving. Every human being wants love. No one wants hostility or anger.
People respond to unexpected kindness (because it's always unexpected--95% of the time people are complete assholes) so when you go out of your way to be nice they like, rebound from a torpor of being used to being treated like shit.
All right, maybe I'm too harsh. There are lots of good people in this world. Yep, lots 'n' lots. But there is never an excuse to be an asshole, however much you feel like it. Don't drive like a pig. Don't talk like a pig. Talk like you want to be talked to . . . lovingly.
Often, it's all we humans have. The alternative is very, very bad.
People respond to unexpected kindness (because it's always unexpected--95% of the time people are complete assholes) so when you go out of your way to be nice they like, rebound from a torpor of being used to being treated like shit.
All right, maybe I'm too harsh. There are lots of good people in this world. Yep, lots 'n' lots. But there is never an excuse to be an asshole, however much you feel like it. Don't drive like a pig. Don't talk like a pig. Talk like you want to be talked to . . . lovingly.
Often, it's all we humans have. The alternative is very, very bad.
Ben and Musick
Christ, I really regret not going to see Ben's band last night. These guys are SO GOOD!
Ben is so humble and I'm blown away that he would actually take the time out to email me in any shape or form. Sometimes human beings just surpass all the boundaries that you've imagined and that is this band.
This is incredibly complex music. It is not blues. I know how to play music and this is very hard, technically. And the dudes pull it off (just like Ben's other band, Kids Eat Crayons) just so flawlessly. Have to wonder what they do for their day jobs, because this kind of expertise requires COUNTLESS hours of practice. I've been there--I know. You can't just walk in and do it. Don't work that way.
I remember seeing a video interview with Jaco Pastorius (available on youtube) and just seeing how his superhuman bass playing was reduced to a much more mundane level . . . practice, practice, practice.
Ben's band (I'm ashamed to even not know the name of) is truly world-class and you MUST go listen to it here.
Ben is so humble and I'm blown away that he would actually take the time out to email me in any shape or form. Sometimes human beings just surpass all the boundaries that you've imagined and that is this band.
This is incredibly complex music. It is not blues. I know how to play music and this is very hard, technically. And the dudes pull it off (just like Ben's other band, Kids Eat Crayons) just so flawlessly. Have to wonder what they do for their day jobs, because this kind of expertise requires COUNTLESS hours of practice. I've been there--I know. You can't just walk in and do it. Don't work that way.
I remember seeing a video interview with Jaco Pastorius (available on youtube) and just seeing how his superhuman bass playing was reduced to a much more mundane level . . . practice, practice, practice.
Ben's band (I'm ashamed to even not know the name of) is truly world-class and you MUST go listen to it here.
George Carlin
Christ (plus seven expletives I can't mention) George Carlin is no longer with us.
I remember him as a killer comedian in the 70s and killer in Bill & Ted's Excellent adventure but mostly I remember him as the narrator to Thomas the Tank Engine, which I had to sit through many, many a day.
George, wherever you are, you made many a human's travels/travails on this earth a whole lot better. Please do rest in peace. You deserve it. I'm on my way--it's only a matter of time.
I remember him as a killer comedian in the 70s and killer in Bill & Ted's Excellent adventure but mostly I remember him as the narrator to Thomas the Tank Engine, which I had to sit through many, many a day.
George, wherever you are, you made many a human's travels/travails on this earth a whole lot better. Please do rest in peace. You deserve it. I'm on my way--it's only a matter of time.
Rainy
I didn't make it last night. Champagne derailed me. But I hope Ben made a good show.
Depressed . . . that and rum and good music tend to do that.
At LEAST the weather for once matches my mood. Cloudy, rainy. And tomorrow is a new day. Specifically, a root canal day. I have to turn in my records to the citizenship judge. Oh, wow, how much I am looking forward to that.
Christ, someone rescue me.
Depressed . . . that and rum and good music tend to do that.
At LEAST the weather for once matches my mood. Cloudy, rainy. And tomorrow is a new day. Specifically, a root canal day. I have to turn in my records to the citizenship judge. Oh, wow, how much I am looking forward to that.
Christ, someone rescue me.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Matt Bianco
Okay, new Male Singer. But this guy is REALLY GOOD.
Listen to the tune at http://www.montrealfood.com/goldendays.mp3 and then buy the album at Amazon, like I did. Sorry, Matt, for being viral, but I hope it will produce many more sales. You deserve it. This guy is hot.
Listen to the tune at http://www.montrealfood.com/goldendays.mp3 and then buy the album at Amazon, like I did. Sorry, Matt, for being viral, but I hope it will produce many more sales. You deserve it. This guy is hot.
Tomorrow
Ben, my favorite maniac (you'll remember him from Kids Eat Crayons) is performing tomorrow and you must go, as I shall. Here are details, see you there:
Subject: Responsibility Club @ Upstairs, Sunday June 22nd
Dear Friends, Friends-of-friends and those who's emails I have,
This is just a friendly reminder that my kick-ass band will be playing a most kick-ass show at Upstairs (1254 MacKay) this Sunday, June 22nd at 8:30.
There will be lots of new music that no one has ever heard before and it's our only show for a long time.
So here is a list of all the acceptable reasons for missing our show:
1) You are a lame dude/dudette.
2) You hate me and my music
3) You are busy and don't care about awesome jazz.
4) You don't care for Upstairs' elegant dining atmosphere.
5) You're going to see a different show.
If you any of these apply to you, please change now. We'll wait............. (Also note that if #2 or #5 applies to you, so does #1).......... Good. Now that you've changed, please put on your best slacks and head on over to Upstairs. Don't worry if you're there early, we're worth the wait.
The Responsibility Club is:
Jason Stillman - alto sax
Ben Henriques - tenor sax / composer
Jim Bland - guitar
Rémi-Jean LeBlanc - electric bass
Eric Thibodeau - drums
www.myspace.com/responsibilityclub
I hope to see you there,
Ben
Subject: Responsibility Club @ Upstairs, Sunday June 22nd
Dear Friends, Friends-of-friends and those who's emails I have,
This is just a friendly reminder that my kick-ass band will be playing a most kick-ass show at Upstairs (1254 MacKay) this Sunday, June 22nd at 8:30.
There will be lots of new music that no one has ever heard before and it's our only show for a long time.
So here is a list of all the acceptable reasons for missing our show:
1) You are a lame dude/dudette.
2) You hate me and my music
3) You are busy and don't care about awesome jazz.
4) You don't care for Upstairs' elegant dining atmosphere.
5) You're going to see a different show.
If you any of these apply to you, please change now. We'll wait............. (Also note that if #2 or #5 applies to you, so does #1).......... Good. Now that you've changed, please put on your best slacks and head on over to Upstairs. Don't worry if you're there early, we're worth the wait.
The Responsibility Club is:
Jason Stillman - alto sax
Ben Henriques - tenor sax / composer
Jim Bland - guitar
Rémi-Jean LeBlanc - electric bass
Eric Thibodeau - drums
I hope to see you there,
Ben
Friday, June 20, 2008
Dale
Dale hanged himself over Debbie. I still remember her name because I remember Dale. My friend (still today) Charles, who is the voice of Mario of the Nintendo game, found Dale hanging in the shower where they were roommates.
And I remember the last time I talked to Dale. He came over and I made a blistering curry and we drank wine and everything was so cool.
This was a long time ago; over 20 years. But I still remember him and try to puzzle through why a human being would sever his life because of love for another human being.
Maybe it's what Dale told me very close to the end; when he was a kid his mother committed suicide in front of him by downing an entire bottle of scotch in ten minutes.
I guess that tells you two things: you have a lot to lose but it's very easy to lose it.
And I remember the last time I talked to Dale. He came over and I made a blistering curry and we drank wine and everything was so cool.
This was a long time ago; over 20 years. But I still remember him and try to puzzle through why a human being would sever his life because of love for another human being.
Maybe it's what Dale told me very close to the end; when he was a kid his mother committed suicide in front of him by downing an entire bottle of scotch in ten minutes.
I guess that tells you two things: you have a lot to lose but it's very easy to lose it.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Lead Singer?
Odd. I like to sing. You can hear my efforts at http://www.montrealfood.com/dezyre but it's weird to think I could actually be in a band again ESPECIALLY as a lead singer. That is MAJORLY heavy.
Bass, I can do. Rhythm, lead I can do. But lead singer? That is very scary.
But I posted an ad on craigslist and someone responded. Can I do it? I really don't know . . . I'm listening like hell to the old tunes and trying to figure out if I've still got what it takes . . .
Bass, I can do. Rhythm, lead I can do. But lead singer? That is very scary.
But I posted an ad on craigslist and someone responded. Can I do it? I really don't know . . . I'm listening like hell to the old tunes and trying to figure out if I've still got what it takes . . .
Starring Role
Okay, so I am the absent Montreal singer for the Oakland band. My bad.
But you can listen to my tune, Starring Role as performed last winter. Me on vocals only, Bill on drums, Scott on piano, Michael on bass. Not horrible, could work.
But you can listen to my tune, Starring Role as performed last winter. Me on vocals only, Bill on drums, Scott on piano, Michael on bass. Not horrible, could work.
Starring Role
Okay, so I am the absent Montreal singer for the Oakland band. My bad.
But you can listen to my tune, Starring Role as performed last winter. Me on vocals only, Bill on drums, Scott on piano, Michael on bass, Matt on guitar. Not bad.
But you can listen to my tune, Starring Role as performed last winter. Me on vocals only, Bill on drums, Scott on piano, Michael on bass, Matt on guitar. Not bad.
Time
In dusting the premises, I found this post about time travel. I'll have to leave it alone for now, but I know I'll be waiting for myself in 20-odd years. I know I will have invented the Machine by then, so it's entirely plausible.
San Francisco
I found some files from my old (deceased) iBook and I found three different versions of I Left My Heart in San Francisco. It's really instructive to listen to the different interpretations.
Don't worry, RIAA assholes, I'll take the files down as soon as my innocent readers have listened to them.
http://www.montrealfood.com/sfo
Westlife (!), Dean Martin, and of course, the one, the only Tony Bennett. This is such a cool song.
Don't worry, RIAA assholes, I'll take the files down as soon as my innocent readers have listened to them.
http://www.montrealfood.com/sfo
Westlife (!), Dean Martin, and of course, the one, the only Tony Bennett. This is such a cool song.
Twelve Years Gone
Came across this picture of me taken in 1996 with a webcam. Weird. I've lost 30 pounds since then, but . . . I look so young. Can't get that back, eh?
Can you spot the two Siamese? One is no longer with us, I'm sorry to report.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Does This Not Offend You?
I'm not often a tireless anti-ad consumer advocate but this ad pissed me off. It's posted at my bus stop in 6-foot living color. It's a picture of the dog in this Fido ad and it says "On Danse?" (Shall we dance).
What were the assholes thinking? Black people have afros? They like to dance? What's next? Black people got rhythm?
I hate to be in the same business with these guys.
And what is the deal with the endless slew of animals to sell phone services? When will they get off it? Beavers, monkeys, dogs, lizards . . . don't these people have an imagination?
So many questions, so many fools.
What were the assholes thinking? Black people have afros? They like to dance? What's next? Black people got rhythm?
I hate to be in the same business with these guys.
And what is the deal with the endless slew of animals to sell phone services? When will they get off it? Beavers, monkeys, dogs, lizards . . . don't these people have an imagination?
So many questions, so many fools.
Pay Attention
At the dépanneur just now, while I was buying my beer, there was a young man in camouflage gear, just buying a couple of soft drinks.
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but thanks anyway,” is what came out of my mouth. He just nodded respectfully. Just what I expected.
Reminds me of about a year ago when I was having a Bloody Mary in an airport lounge in Newark, New Jersey. A whole bunch of kids came in, and though they weren’t in uniform, their conversation pointed straight in that direction.
So I just went up to the bartender and gave her my credit card number and said “Just get whatever is the next one for these guys.”
It’s not misbegotten charity. They’re not lost souls on the wrong path. They’re our brothers and sons, and daughters too, who are trying to make the world a bit better for you and me. So next time you see someone in uniform, do me a favour and buy them a drink. Tell ‘em it’s from me. And then tell me you did.
I’ll pay you back.
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but thanks anyway,” is what came out of my mouth. He just nodded respectfully. Just what I expected.
Reminds me of about a year ago when I was having a Bloody Mary in an airport lounge in Newark, New Jersey. A whole bunch of kids came in, and though they weren’t in uniform, their conversation pointed straight in that direction.
So I just went up to the bartender and gave her my credit card number and said “Just get whatever is the next one for these guys.”
It’s not misbegotten charity. They’re not lost souls on the wrong path. They’re our brothers and sons, and daughters too, who are trying to make the world a bit better for you and me. So next time you see someone in uniform, do me a favour and buy them a drink. Tell ‘em it’s from me. And then tell me you did.
I’ll pay you back.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Late Night Thoughts II
It's almost one and I'm listening to Kurt Elling. Just underwear and a T-shirt. It's still a bit warm for me. Melancholy mood. Late night thoughts. You know the routine. Tomorrow is another annoying day from this perspective. But as long as I am above ground and the tunes keep coming I guess I shall remain alive in one form or another.
Yes, I am alive.
Sometimes that is a revelation in itself.
Yes, I am alive.
Sometimes that is a revelation in itself.
Late Night Thoughts
Ahh shut up. You know you'll always get a post like this from me. After a few too many beers, scotches, champagnes, what have you. And the jazz is playing in a particularly melancholy vein . . . do you know why you cry during a movie? It's because of an artful combining of music and image. The little dying boy? It wouldn't bring a tear to your jaundiced eye unless it were accompanied by that string section.
Same goes for life. I find I am very affected by the ambient music around me; this is why I tend to choose jazz as a soundtrack for my life. It's relentlessly upbeat. Except when it's melancholy. Then the silent fist goes up to curse the world and wail "Why me?"
Which is what it's doing right now. I think what needs to happen at 3 a.m. is a warm bed. What do you think?
Same goes for life. I find I am very affected by the ambient music around me; this is why I tend to choose jazz as a soundtrack for my life. It's relentlessly upbeat. Except when it's melancholy. Then the silent fist goes up to curse the world and wail "Why me?"
Which is what it's doing right now. I think what needs to happen at 3 a.m. is a warm bed. What do you think?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Lure
Aaarghh . . . I was meaning to drink beer only today but the lure of the strawberry daiquiris is too strong . . . so it's off to the store for strawberries. Hope I snap out of this fad ASAP!
--Nicky out
--Nicky out
Band Names MXCCIVII
As you know, I like to think up names for my next mythical band. Here is the entire list so far:
Attack of the 5-foot-4 Woman
12 o’clock Hugh
Big Steel Package
Billyghosts
Bitterfly
Blinded by Lightning
Buttwing
California School for the Blond
Chaotic Godlings
Criminal In Tent
Hollow Delhi
Iftai Nai Effendi
Insomnesia
Invasion of the Gingerbread Men
Maid of Horror
MallWart
Mission Implausible
Quantum Dust Devils
Orbital Tzatziki
Rubberbaby
Sinflower
Smitefest
Spacey Trenser
Tennis Dopes
The Fœtals
The Pornnuts
These Are Not Small Rats
Toubabs Three
Youshutupnoyoushutup
If you have any good suggestions, I'd like to hear them. Should be catchy.
Attack of the 5-foot-4 Woman
12 o’clock Hugh
Big Steel Package
Billyghosts
Bitterfly
Blinded by Lightning
Buttwing
California School for the Blond
Chaotic Godlings
Criminal In Tent
Hollow Delhi
Iftai Nai Effendi
Insomnesia
Invasion of the Gingerbread Men
Maid of Horror
MallWart
Mission Implausible
Quantum Dust Devils
Orbital Tzatziki
Rubberbaby
Sinflower
Smitefest
Spacey Trenser
Tennis Dopes
The Fœtals
The Pornnuts
These Are Not Small Rats
Toubabs Three
Youshutupnoyoushutup
If you have any good suggestions, I'd like to hear them. Should be catchy.
New Tunes
Just added my last six tunes to my music folder. Check 'em out if you haven't already (they're the top six listed).
Friday, June 13, 2008
Languidity 13
Listening to Jazz.fm91 (Canada's premier jazz station) on a sultry-but-not-unpleasantly-so evening upon which the moon is trying to do a three-quarter.
Strawberry daiquiri in hand, party people come and gone. Swimming, daiquiris, virgin and not, and much mirth.
And then . . . solitarity. But I have a can of pineapple slices, a bottle of Bacardi light rum, some Cointreau, plenty of ice (well, I reminded myself that I didn't and just ran to the store) so life can't be so bad.
And got a new job today . . . and cleaned the house from top to bottom so that it no longer looks like someone's storage locker (first real time since the divorce four years ago) . . .
So, Friday the 13th is looking pretty good to me from this vantage point.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Montrealfood.com Vegetable Blog
Decided to create a blog about vegetarian adventures. It's called montrealfood.com vegetable.
This is not to be confused with Shelley's fantastic oneroastvegetable.com.
But since this is about pesco-ovo-lacto vegetarianism, expect equal amounts about fish, eggs or dairy.
Hasta la broccoli!
Nicky out
This is not to be confused with Shelley's fantastic oneroastvegetable.com.
But since this is about pesco-ovo-lacto vegetarianism, expect equal amounts about fish, eggs or dairy.
Hasta la broccoli!
Nicky out
A Little Moron Driving in Montreal
Today we organized the mountain of my-son-in-Japan’s toys into three LARGE boxes (can you say “27-inch TV?”) and were on our way to deliver them to the Salvation Army on Côte-des-Neiges when the horror occurred. We were going at a good clip, maybe 35 mph, when some woman out of the CLEAR BLUE SKY, who had many parking spaces free ahead of her, pulled directly out of her space and directly into our path. My driver pulled an amazing maneuver -- I thought in the half second or two that we were all goners, and foresaw the thud of crunching metal, but amazingly, she wrenched the wheel and we screeched to the left, going into the oncoming lane (no oncoming traffic, thank god!) and we came to a rest no more than a foot from the @#&%!?!@#$!!! woman's driver door.
She uttered an “Oh!” but immediately took off and we were so shaken that we lost her.
If we hadn’t turned as quickly as we did, if I’d been driving, we would have plowed directly with our right-front bumper into her driver’s door.
Would have been bad for us, but worse for her.
There are licenses to drive cars, motorcycles or trucks, but I’ve yet to see a category for morons.
She uttered an “Oh!” but immediately took off and we were so shaken that we lost her.
If we hadn’t turned as quickly as we did, if I’d been driving, we would have plowed directly with our right-front bumper into her driver’s door.
Would have been bad for us, but worse for her.
There are licenses to drive cars, motorcycles or trucks, but I’ve yet to see a category for morons.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
No News Is The Best
For the past couple of months I've been in denial; not watching or reading the news, or at the very least actively avoiding it. It's everywhere now, but one can still avoid it. I try to watch the evening local for the weather, and the local news is usually so vapid or feelgood that I wish there were some other source--maybe Dashboard--but their predictions are a lot like monkeys throwing darts, so I don't know why I even bother.
And let me tell you, it's been good. The endless litany, the chant of horror about the human race is turned off and I just don't have to listen to who murdered who or who hates who or what child was abused by some clergyman today. Wish I were in the 19th century, when the report of some foreign war took weeks to arrive instead of on cnn.com in 5 minutes.
Very refreshing. Hugely recommended.
And let me tell you, it's been good. The endless litany, the chant of horror about the human race is turned off and I just don't have to listen to who murdered who or who hates who or what child was abused by some clergyman today. Wish I were in the 19th century, when the report of some foreign war took weeks to arrive instead of on cnn.com in 5 minutes.
Very refreshing. Hugely recommended.
Free Sauna
It's been a three-shower day here, with the humidex probably at around 40 degrees (104 for you fellow Americans). I HATE heat so it's been miserable.
Hope it's not a harbinger of things to come . . .
Hope it's not a harbinger of things to come . . .
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Urgent Anagram For You, Sir
There's this really cool website by this poet/artist/designer that I stumbled upon (http://www.matthewhollett.com) on which he created anagrams of all the metro station names in Montreal. Apparently other people are doing it too! I particularly like "Trout Omen" (Outremont) and "Normal Toy" (Mont-Royal). Great band names, and I collect them! Let's see if you can figure them out.
Fascinating. His website is masterful, too, and his design impeccable.
.
Fascinating. His website is masterful, too, and his design impeccable.
.
Nuit Blanche
Went with a friend to check out a car to buy this afternoon, on a 30-degree day (91 for you fellow Yanks and other outcasts) and ended up at her friend (the seller’s) house. She is this incredible gardener. I wish I’d brought the camera, because her garden is just a vast jungle. Vast! Probably more square feet than my apartment. Probably more than 250 varieties of plants, shrubs, flowers, ferns, herbs, ivies and trees. And she knew the names of each of them. I was very impressed, to say the least. I’ll bring the camera next time.
And then we drove from Dorval to the Plateau and bought some amazing beer from a beer-import depanneur (who knew that existed?) maybe on Frontenac? and went to Sakeo, a “restaurant Asiatique” on Mont-Royal, clutching our beers (some organic stuff containing barley, wheat and oats — really weird but good and REALLY fizzy, like champagne — fountains of bubbles) and a bottle of good Portuguese red wine that seemed to morph along with what you ate, so at the beginning it tasted vinegary (after the beer) then became oaky after the spring rolls (uncooked) and then became progressively more sublime after the various sushis.
Presentation was good, service was spotty and Masako still rules, but it was pretty good.
Then it was Mont-Royal, and stumbling on the Nuit Blanche rue-barrée thingy (not really a festival, just road art and a band in a park) and had Cosmopolitans and nachos at a place called Bistro Etc. (I guess that’s a pun on & cie? Dunno).
So apart from the heat it was a pretty cool evening. Next time I will bring my camera.
Nicky out
And then we drove from Dorval to the Plateau and bought some amazing beer from a beer-import depanneur (who knew that existed?) maybe on Frontenac? and went to Sakeo, a “restaurant Asiatique” on Mont-Royal, clutching our beers (some organic stuff containing barley, wheat and oats — really weird but good and REALLY fizzy, like champagne — fountains of bubbles) and a bottle of good Portuguese red wine that seemed to morph along with what you ate, so at the beginning it tasted vinegary (after the beer) then became oaky after the spring rolls (uncooked) and then became progressively more sublime after the various sushis.
Presentation was good, service was spotty and Masako still rules, but it was pretty good.
Then it was Mont-Royal, and stumbling on the Nuit Blanche rue-barrée thingy (not really a festival, just road art and a band in a park) and had Cosmopolitans and nachos at a place called Bistro Etc. (I guess that’s a pun on & cie? Dunno).
So apart from the heat it was a pretty cool evening. Next time I will bring my camera.
Nicky out
Friday, June 6, 2008
Life
Today I was writing a letter on the balcony and a tiny insect landed on my pad. It was so tiny, I could barely see it. Perhaps .75 of a millimeter? But it crawled around and I resisted the impulse to kill it with a brush of my hand.
Because that tiny insect is WAY more complicated than the $1 billion B-2 bomber that crashed yesterday.
Think about that for a second . . . really think about that.
Nicky out
Because that tiny insect is WAY more complicated than the $1 billion B-2 bomber that crashed yesterday.
Think about that for a second . . . really think about that.
Nicky out
Blistering
'Nother marathon guitar session but the fingers still hurt, quite a lot. But what is amazing is that they seem to know what to do more and more, without me telling them. Really, I am not kidding. They seem to direct themselves and I'm sometimes surprised at what they come up with. I'm certainly not thinking "I'm going to play an a-minor flat-fifth scale" but they seem to know where they're going by instinct.
But just listen to Oscar Peterson or Joey deFrancesco and you will realise the capacity of the human mind to improvise without question, the sheer impossibility of the quickness of the thinking. How can our minds think so quickly? But it's not just music, for sure. It's just a general human capability. Born of what? A desire to survive, perhaps.
But . . . amazingly blistering and the fingers are telling me what to do now, not me telling them what to do.
Hope to show you soon.
Nicky out
But just listen to Oscar Peterson or Joey deFrancesco and you will realise the capacity of the human mind to improvise without question, the sheer impossibility of the quickness of the thinking. How can our minds think so quickly? But it's not just music, for sure. It's just a general human capability. Born of what? A desire to survive, perhaps.
But . . . amazingly blistering and the fingers are telling me what to do now, not me telling them what to do.
Hope to show you soon.
Nicky out
Enfin
Enfin, c'est très enmerdant de passer quatres ans en cherchant la citoyenetée Canadienne et puis être confronté avec des montagnes de bureaucracies.
Vaut-il la peine? C'est ce-que je me demande. Franchement, j'en ai marre . . .
MAIS je vais m'empecher d'abondonner tout espoir. Mais pourquoi je l'ai raté?
Soyez tranquilles.
Nicky out
Vaut-il la peine? C'est ce-que je me demande. Franchement, j'en ai marre . . .
MAIS je vais m'empecher d'abondonner tout espoir. Mais pourquoi je l'ai raté?
Soyez tranquilles.
Nicky out
Once a Vegetable
Barry questioned my vegetability. And that rankles. So, naturally I composed this haiku, in the little-known meter of the Ba'hai sectarian ancient style. Hope you like it. Learn it. Teach it. Live it:
Once a vegetable
Twice a vegetable,
Nice a vegetable.
Eat a meatable,
So defeatable.
Eat a greenable,
So amenable.
Harvest parsley,
Munching sparsely
Pluck some oregano
Go where you’re gonna go
Chop potato
Losing weight, oh
Once a vegetable
Never returnable.
Once a vegetable
Twice a vegetable,
Nice a vegetable.
Eat a meatable,
So defeatable.
Eat a greenable,
So amenable.
Harvest parsley,
Munching sparsely
Pluck some oregano
Go where you’re gonna go
Chop potato
Losing weight, oh
Once a vegetable
Never returnable.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Oh Say Can You See
Well, guess what, people? I'm still a dyed-in-the-wool, star spangled banner shouting, 100% American.
NO CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP FOR YOU!
It was ridiculous. "Young man," says the portly, chatty judge,"I see maybe ten people a week. And nine out of ten of them are trying to con me."
Encouraging, isn't it?
He wants PROOF that I was here from 2000 to 2004 . . . bank statements from closed bank accounts, affidavits from everyone from Abe to Zeke . . . I don't know. Is this worth it?
I just don't know.
NO CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP FOR YOU!
It was ridiculous. "Young man," says the portly, chatty judge,"I see maybe ten people a week. And nine out of ten of them are trying to con me."
Encouraging, isn't it?
He wants PROOF that I was here from 2000 to 2004 . . . bank statements from closed bank accounts, affidavits from everyone from Abe to Zeke . . . I don't know. Is this worth it?
I just don't know.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Late
Another marathon session on guitar. I'm really going to impress you guys. Hey, ya gotta figure two hours a day is going to produce results. I turn on Videotron's Galaxy jazz or blues channel and just wail. I've stopped looking at the fretboard--I just change with each song and close my eyes and let the fingers do the walking.
Just wish I could sharpen the guitar. But I guarantee the next time you hear my guitar playing it will BLOW YOU AWAY. I'm blowing myself away! And that can't be anything but good.
Nicky out (and very nervous about tomorrow)
Just wish I could sharpen the guitar. But I guarantee the next time you hear my guitar playing it will BLOW YOU AWAY. I'm blowing myself away! And that can't be anything but good.
Nicky out (and very nervous about tomorrow)
Sharpness
When I know I have a heavy session with the vegetables, which is often these days, . . . MANY varied and different vegetables . . . out comes the sharpening stone. I have a Kasumi chef's knife (Damascus steel, dontcha know) and it has been my faithful servant for close on 6 years now.
And the sharpening stone is a very expensive double-sided job. Forget where I got it, but it needs to be soaked before using. The one side is a bit coarse and the other side is very fine. It's very meditative to sharpen a knife, very relaxing. The sound of the blade gliding at just the right 30-degree angle is very pleasant, but you have to do it correctly; a moment of inattention means a lifetime of regret. But the pleasure is all in when you wash off the knife and start cutting.
Carrots are particularly tough and very dangerous; I have an almost-daily cucumber salad recipe that requires finely julienned carrots and woe betide you if your knife is not prepared to carve hairs from your chest (or other areas if you're not male).
And tomatoes: my knife soars into them like some albatross . . . a smooth "zing" and a tomato is dissected. I can cut a cherry tomato into twelve one-millimeter slices now.
But beware the wrath of the knife. Always know that you're holding a loaded shotgun in your hands. Because what can julienne a yellow pepper like butter can also reduce your thumb by a fingernail in one slice . . .
And the sharpening stone is a very expensive double-sided job. Forget where I got it, but it needs to be soaked before using. The one side is a bit coarse and the other side is very fine. It's very meditative to sharpen a knife, very relaxing. The sound of the blade gliding at just the right 30-degree angle is very pleasant, but you have to do it correctly; a moment of inattention means a lifetime of regret. But the pleasure is all in when you wash off the knife and start cutting.
Carrots are particularly tough and very dangerous; I have an almost-daily cucumber salad recipe that requires finely julienned carrots and woe betide you if your knife is not prepared to carve hairs from your chest (or other areas if you're not male).
And tomatoes: my knife soars into them like some albatross . . . a smooth "zing" and a tomato is dissected. I can cut a cherry tomato into twelve one-millimeter slices now.
But beware the wrath of the knife. Always know that you're holding a loaded shotgun in your hands. Because what can julienne a yellow pepper like butter can also reduce your thumb by a fingernail in one slice . . .
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Bailey's: Not Belonging in Allongé
Okay, people, you are looking at an official tree-hugging, sprout-munching recycling Green piece of redeemed shit here. I am simply not believing what we made for dinner last night, and how much we enjoyed it. How about Cheese Fyropitas (lots of feta, phyllo and baking) and Carrot Cashew Curry all accompanied with red and white quinoa?
Huh? Yep, that’s what I thought. I thought quinoa was a stinky Malaysian fruit. But it actually tastes (if prepared properly) kind of like mustard seeds without the mustard. Very odd, but VERY GOOD. An excellent substitute for rice or couscous.
We followed recipes from Mollie Katzen’s entirely hand-written “Enchanted Broccoli Forest” (sorry, no link again, no main computer yet) and I was amazed—usually I read recipes like a music score and decide quite quickly how they are going to taste, but this time I just shut up and did all the chop-chop-chopping, cut-cut-cutting, dice-dice-dicing and let SO do all the cooking, and the recipe didn’t make sense to me; cooking carrots before potatoes was simply SILLY! But I toughed it out (sitting on the cooking sidelines is tough for me, but I have a tiny kitchen and it’s tough to make symphonies of food with two people constantly banging into each other and getting burned on pans, ovens etc.) And as it should be, with SO even when there are only two people present, presentation is very important, so I cut the carrots on the bias (I am getting VERY GOOD at cutting vegetables without ending up in ER--almost better than I play guitar these days) and the plating was on beautiful white china with cilantro plucked directly from the balcony planter.
But amazingly, it all worked, and we ate on the cold balcony, and what’s even better is that the food tasted even better COLD! I will post recipes shortly.
And in other news . . . I will officially (I hope) become Canadian on Thursday, with my interview with the Citizenship judge . . . they actually gave me a third appointment after I failed to make the first two (and pleaded for one more).
So, wish me luck! No more Permanent Resident Card, HERE I COME!!!
And talked with Corey Urman of eatwellmontreal.com and will be organizing a meeting of minds with Adam Lazaris (you’ll be hearing a lot from him) on the redo of montrealfood.
So, exciting times. Too bad I dumped the Bailey’s into the allongé when I wasn’t supposed to. I guess we live and learn.
Nicky out
Huh? Yep, that’s what I thought. I thought quinoa was a stinky Malaysian fruit. But it actually tastes (if prepared properly) kind of like mustard seeds without the mustard. Very odd, but VERY GOOD. An excellent substitute for rice or couscous.
We followed recipes from Mollie Katzen’s entirely hand-written “Enchanted Broccoli Forest” (sorry, no link again, no main computer yet) and I was amazed—usually I read recipes like a music score and decide quite quickly how they are going to taste, but this time I just shut up and did all the chop-chop-chopping, cut-cut-cutting, dice-dice-dicing and let SO do all the cooking, and the recipe didn’t make sense to me; cooking carrots before potatoes was simply SILLY! But I toughed it out (sitting on the cooking sidelines is tough for me, but I have a tiny kitchen and it’s tough to make symphonies of food with two people constantly banging into each other and getting burned on pans, ovens etc.) And as it should be, with SO even when there are only two people present, presentation is very important, so I cut the carrots on the bias (I am getting VERY GOOD at cutting vegetables without ending up in ER--almost better than I play guitar these days) and the plating was on beautiful white china with cilantro plucked directly from the balcony planter.
But amazingly, it all worked, and we ate on the cold balcony, and what’s even better is that the food tasted even better COLD! I will post recipes shortly.
And in other news . . . I will officially (I hope) become Canadian on Thursday, with my interview with the Citizenship judge . . . they actually gave me a third appointment after I failed to make the first two (and pleaded for one more).
So, wish me luck! No more Permanent Resident Card, HERE I COME!!!
And talked with Corey Urman of eatwellmontreal.com and will be organizing a meeting of minds with Adam Lazaris (you’ll be hearing a lot from him) on the redo of montrealfood.
So, exciting times. Too bad I dumped the Bailey’s into the allongé when I wasn’t supposed to. I guess we live and learn.
Nicky out
Monday, June 2, 2008
Stuff
Went to see Up The Yangtze tonight at Outremont Theatre. Wish I could post a link but I don't have my link generator -- besides -- you know how to cut and paste!
It was good, but needed some serious editing. As a video editor, I know whereof I speak. But I was amazed -- the house was packed. With French Quebecers. And the movie was in English and Chinese!
Afterwards I went to a Senegalese place (Keur Fatou on St. Viateur West, http://keurfatou.com) and the food was awesome. I don't like cooked fish or yams but both were present and very good and the owner was a huge clown and we had a great time with our brought bottle of Domaine Chandon champagne and we dodged the raindrops and all was amazing.
I'm sure his name was Amadou Diouf (aren't they all?) but I'll go back and review it, because he deserves it.
So . . . 3 a.m. and a scotch and . . .
Nicky Out
It was good, but needed some serious editing. As a video editor, I know whereof I speak. But I was amazed -- the house was packed. With French Quebecers. And the movie was in English and Chinese!
Afterwards I went to a Senegalese place (Keur Fatou on St. Viateur West, http://keurfatou.com) and the food was awesome. I don't like cooked fish or yams but both were present and very good and the owner was a huge clown and we had a great time with our brought bottle of Domaine Chandon champagne and we dodged the raindrops and all was amazing.
I'm sure his name was Amadou Diouf (aren't they all?) but I'll go back and review it, because he deserves it.
So . . . 3 a.m. and a scotch and . . .
Nicky Out
D'oh
Finally figured out why my keyboard wasn't typing what I wanted to type. The defaults keyboard setup was set up for French-Canadian. Christ, to think I've been messing around cutting and pasting apostrophes and question marks for three days now . . . ready to throw this keyboard over the balcony (then probably follow it) . . . just because of some stupid preference that was staring me in the face all the time . . . well, what can I say? It's in the title.
Still no computers except this dinosaur. But the scotch tastes good . . .
Still no computers except this dinosaur. But the scotch tastes good . . .
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Nicky
In case you haven't noticed, I've changed my name. It's what I was called when I was a kid, and I think it's cool, in a mafia kind of way.
So that is my name now.
Dontchyou fuggedit. Could be repercussions.
Nicky Out
So that is my name now.
Dontchyou fuggedit. Could be repercussions.
Nicky Out
Jacques
Is the bass player for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. I don't know why I'm in this cool guy theme mode, but if ever there were a cool guy, it's Jacques Beaudoin. Just got off the phone with him, and he's simply so dynamic. Just reduces me to a quavering amateur in all things in life.
I mean, he knows the cream of the music world; for crying out loud, anyone who has had a long legacy with Charles Dutoit . . . has hobnobbed at L'Express with Alain Caron and Gino Vannelli . . . who is personal buddies with Michel Donato and Michel Cusson . . . well, need I go on?
So when I talk to him I have to divorce myself from all this, and he does a very good job at letting me do that. He is not some celebrity schmuck with an attitude—just the complete opposite. SO HUMBLE.
Always quick with a joke, always quick to put you at ease. Always quick to help you.
When, one very, very bad day back in the divorce era, I suddenly developed arrhythmia just EXACTLY on the day I had to pick up my now ex-wife and son (well, he is not an ex-son)at Dorval, I found myself at the Jewish in ER and I called Jacques. Guess who took the time out of his busy schedule on a dime and went and picked them up, then delivered them to my bedside.
Sometimes I shake my head.
I am so lucky . . .
Nicky, Out
I mean, he knows the cream of the music world; for crying out loud, anyone who has had a long legacy with Charles Dutoit . . . has hobnobbed at L'Express with Alain Caron and Gino Vannelli . . . who is personal buddies with Michel Donato and Michel Cusson . . . well, need I go on?
So when I talk to him I have to divorce myself from all this, and he does a very good job at letting me do that. He is not some celebrity schmuck with an attitude—just the complete opposite. SO HUMBLE.
Always quick with a joke, always quick to put you at ease. Always quick to help you.
When, one very, very bad day back in the divorce era, I suddenly developed arrhythmia just EXACTLY on the day I had to pick up my now ex-wife and son (well, he is not an ex-son)at Dorval, I found myself at the Jewish in ER and I called Jacques. Guess who took the time out of his busy schedule on a dime and went and picked them up, then delivered them to my bedside.
Sometimes I shake my head.
I am so lucky . . .
Nicky, Out
Umm . . . pseudo-francais
Je crois que c'est mon obligation d'ecrire en francais parfois. Il faut m'excuser les fautes de grammaire at les accents (putain de merde, les accents sont les pires) mais c'est tres important de communiquer avec ce qui de vous a Montreal (puta carrajo, cette keyboard MENMERDE) qui parlent le francais. Enfin, on est a Montreal! C'etais toujours dans le plan d'avoir montrealfood en francais mais c'est simplement qu'il n'y avait jamais personnes qui avaient les motivations pour faire les traductions. Il n'y a que moi . . . et vous pourrez bien voir comment CA va aller si je les faisait moi-meme.
Ben bon, c'est ma premiere poste en francais mais je vous promet des autres.
Pardons, mes plusieurs amis-es americains-es, mais je le reposterais en anglais pronto.
Nicky
Ben bon, c'est ma premiere poste en francais mais je vous promet des autres.
Pardons, mes plusieurs amis-es americains-es, mais je le reposterais en anglais pronto.
Nicky
Cool Guys
I don't make a habit of being gay, but sometimes, you know, you just LIKE A GUY. Well, of course it's without the sex in my case, but recently I've met two guys who are, like, really smart—just unbelievably smart. You know, you can go to lunch with them and in no time you realise you've been there for five hours.
In the case of Corey Urman, it was a snap decision today—he writes for eatwellmontreal.com (sorry, too lazy to make the link, but hey, it's called cut and paste!) I emailed him the other day and he emailed me back and I called him and it seemed we were doing nothing together today so he drove over, picked me up and we went to Beauty's. Amazing. He recognized at least two people who walked in off the street. Just a casual hey, man, what's up. And it's been a couple of years since he's been to Beauty's.
This guy seems to know every chef in the city— . . . they're all buddies.
DEFINITELY a good guy to know.
And there is Adam Lazaris, a dude so young and so talented, my mind reels. Currently we're in the process of re-inventing mtlfood, and he is so full of good ideas that it reminds me of when I actually HAD an idea. Both these guys are in their twenties. Both these guys are solid Montrealers, which is to say, just downright SMART. Dunno where it comes from, whether it's the education system or what, but these guys are so smart my brain hurts.
Yep, sometimes people restore your faith. Happens all the time . . . as I can attest.
Nicky
In the case of Corey Urman, it was a snap decision today—he writes for eatwellmontreal.com (sorry, too lazy to make the link, but hey, it's called cut and paste!) I emailed him the other day and he emailed me back and I called him and it seemed we were doing nothing together today so he drove over, picked me up and we went to Beauty's. Amazing. He recognized at least two people who walked in off the street. Just a casual hey, man, what's up. And it's been a couple of years since he's been to Beauty's.
This guy seems to know every chef in the city— . . . they're all buddies.
DEFINITELY a good guy to know.
And there is Adam Lazaris, a dude so young and so talented, my mind reels. Currently we're in the process of re-inventing mtlfood, and he is so full of good ideas that it reminds me of when I actually HAD an idea. Both these guys are in their twenties. Both these guys are solid Montrealers, which is to say, just downright SMART. Dunno where it comes from, whether it's the education system or what, but these guys are so smart my brain hurts.
Yep, sometimes people restore your faith. Happens all the time . . . as I can attest.
Nicky
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