Music Nova Scotia Week

Last weekend my buddy John and I made the trek to Yarmouth for Music Nova Scotia Week. Music N.S. is kind of a musician's union/networking/collective and this was their big conference/awards weekend.
Yarmouth is nice enoough.

But the weekend was about the music...oh the music! I'll post a longer entry later with some pics and narrative, but for now here's a list of the acts I saw (that I can remember):
Alert The Medic
THe Stanfields
Black Moor
Shelter With Thieves
Matt Mays
Coco Love Alcorn
Charlie A'Court
Richard Aucoin
Kim Wempe
Andrew Hunter And The Gatherers
Norma MacDonald
Stephen Bowers
Joel Plaskett
Matt Minglewood
Ryan Cook
Ghettosocks
Jenicide
Three Sheet
Classified
Tom Fun Orchestra
I know there was a lot more but I'll have to look em up...

Stay tuned for some more stuff on this.

ahhhhhhh

Ok, that shit is all over with....no more whining about it. She's history. I drew a line with a text that said "WTF?" when she flaked and she balked in the end. And all I can say is good. Tired of the emotional bullshit that I put myself over this woman. No more. I will not mourn over somebody who was not that interested in me in the first place. I would have respected her more if she had had the guts to do it sooner though, and in person. But she didn't and that makes me not feel bad over the end of whatever little thing we had. Not a relationship, just a few dates and the possible beginnings of something. I'm more angry with myself over wasting energy on this whole thing. Ahh, fuck it, baby....
The next post will actually be something interesting.

ergh part 2

Ok so after a week of working my ass off at work...I am exhausted. Ergh.

On top of that I'm feeling very disappointed,disrespected,and annoyed by this girl I was dating. All indications are that she was pretty straight up. All indications to this point were good. We were connecting. We spent most of last sunday together working on our respective projects at a coffee shop. When last we talked the plan was to get together wed or thurs. I called a couple of times to confirm. Wed and thurs came and went and I sent couple of text messages. And nothing. No replies of any sort. Nothing. Zilch. WTF? Has she been horribly maimed? Is she out of cellphone range? Or is she just a bitch? thoughts?

I have the absolute worst luck with women and relationships. Unbe-fucking-believable.....

re: last post

Ergh, that was something I told myself I wouldn't do with this blog...anyway, apologies if any of you are reading this. But I'm going to continue as I need to work some stuff out and putting it out there into the ether and in digital type is cathartic.
Just feeling very insecure and not confident as of late. It happens everytime I get involved with a woman (which I'm not sure I am anymore...).
Full honesty that explains 99% of it all: I am adopted, as some of you know. I was also engaged at one point and that was a 5yr relationship. So, besides my adoptive mother (who is a saint btw), the 2 most prominent women in my life abandoned me with no explanation. Those are deep psychic scars to carry. And they affect every encounter I've ever subsequently had with women. I'm a walking vessel of rejection. I'm about to turn 38 and they's tough cookies to swallow.
It has to change, I know that, or else I'm doomed to be alone and isolated. It's a tough reality, but it is a reality. But reality is only perception

posting is slow

Not much new happening lately. Such is my life as always. I was dating someone for ~3weeks but I haven't heard from her in days so I think that's probably over. That's the way it goes I suppose. Should be used to that by now after about 20years of empirical evidence suggesting that's the way its supposed to be for me. Just not in the cards for me to be with someone even though I want to be.
Nothing's come easy for me. I just wish something, for once, would. Oh yes, it looks right and rosy from outside! Yes indeed. But really I've never got what I really wanted out of life so far. I'm in the career/job because I can do it, not because it's my dream job. Yes I have money and am relatively healthy. Blah blah. I'd give it all up in a flash to have a normal life with an active social circle and more of an opportunity to date.
Ok, enough bitching for now....going to the bar. Beer doesn't care if you are good-looking or are socially-adept or interesting....

Encounters with Werner Herzog

So, those who know me know I love the films of Werner Herzog (crazy German bastard he is). Couple of weeks back I bought his latest doc "Encounters At The End of The World" on DVD. It's a film about the Antarctic and the dreamers who live there. I've been saving it for the right moment to watch it. As I've learned, Herzog's films are something to be savoured and contemplated. You don't just throw one on for kicks. It must be placed in the DVD player delicately and meditated upon like a fine wine or Japanese Zen koan.
So, I watched it tonight. The moment seemed right but for no tangible reason other than I was ready.
In one word: extraordinary. In many words: breathtaking, mindblowing, an alternate reality. Its hard to sum up. The people living there include a scientist more comfortable living with the penguins he studies than other humans, a philosopher who drives heavy machinery, a linguist on a continent with no human language, a machinist who is a descendent from Incan royalty. I watched a deranged penguin walk away from his colony, away from the ocean, inward to the center of the continent, 5000 miles on the path to certain death. I saw undesea creatures that are alien to our experience. Scientists laying down and placing their ear to the ice to listen to it move and the call of the seals transmitted through it. There were volcanic vents through the ice that created cathedrals of frozen water.
Rent or buy this movie. Buy a great bottle of wine or roll a nice joint. Dim the lights. And watch this movie. I am in awe ... thank you, Werner. I still believe in the magic of film.

p.s.-and he dedicated it to Roger Ebert the film critic and one of his biggest fans...(the scientists listening at the ice segment was definitely for him)

Georges Island

So today I went to Georges Island. gi is a small island in halifax harbour normally clsoed to the publice. Parks Canada opened it up for 2 days this year and are working towards opening it on a regular basis. Here's a picture of it from the air (not taken by me):

(that's Halifax to the left)
Here it is on the ferry ride:

The fort constructed on the island was one of the defensive fortifications of the city built by Price Edward. THe little fort was called Fort Charlotte after his mother. Incidentally, Edward's daughter would be known as Queen Victoria.
The entire island is basically one big fortification with old gun turrets pointing out to the mouth of the harbour ready to blow any shop to smithereens. THe island served as the last line of defense into the inner harbour.



Of course there is a lighthouse, now automated. THe last lightkeeper and his family left in '75 I believe.

If there is one thing Nova Scotians love its their "historic reenactors". This guy posed for us (he's hiding his very non-1800s hot dog behind his back):

And then we went down into the tunnels. These were underground storerooms for amunition and black powder (and piss off; I like my sepia tone...I think it really works with the dark and dankness of the tunnels...as well making me look all artsy ^ creative & shit).





Coming out of the tunnels you walk into a moat which separates the main fort from the outer defensive structure that housed 4 BIG 10 inch rifled muzzle loaders. These faced out to sea and could fire 400 pound shells up to 3 miles. Yeh, that's a big deal.




Here's a view of those turrets from the sea looking back to the island:

Those cannons were part of the lower battery. The upper battery consisted of a another bank of cannons above ground. This bank had a wider view of the harbour and could hit ships as they passed the island.


You also got a great view of McNab's Island from here. MI is a larger island (400 hectares) that sits further out towards the ocean. It was also fortified. Its more difficult to get to but I plan to this summer.

Halifax from the island:




ANd you can't have a blogpost about Nova Scotia without including a picture of sailing boats:

Or a fishing boat:

More reenactors (I love these fuckers):


The guy with the hacksaw was describing the process of amputation during wartime, while the cute little child was playing at his feet and I was eating a hotdog. Awesome:

Another of McNab's Island:

The red building is a horrible dank little stone building for the married officiers. Really, I can't imagine living in that cramped place; it must have been to remind them of marriage:

The white building is the lighthouse keeper's residence:

Annnd one last panorama of Halifax from GI:

Annnd two last views of the island on the way back:


And me:

God, what a fucking tourist I am....

Patio Season

Patio Season has officially begun. Yesterday and today have been fantastic out and this past week the bars in town have started getting their sidewalk patios ready. Leave it to Halifax to take bar patios to another level. This isn't just a couple of small tables crowding the sidewalk in front of the bars. This is complete military takeover of the sidewalks. Most places build, really build with carpenters and the sort, sidewalks extensions that move out into the street so they can maximize the size of their patios. It transforms pedestrian and car traffic on the streets where there are a lot of bars. I'll throw some photos up when I get a chance.

in addition....

Where I come from is fuckin brilliantly beautiful....I forgot how stunning this part of the country is. When I was younger I never appreciated it, but now when I look around I am astounded by the natural beauty of it all. Did you see those pictures in my previous post? Yeh, them's just everday pics, baby. No effort involved. Damn, I'm glad to live here.

p.s.-ok, maybe I am a decent photographer too...

Nova Scotia in the air

Work's been busy so there....

That said, my half-brother came for a visit couple weeks back. We never grew up together and I've only met him a few times. Our father is quite ill so I think that was part of the reason he decided to come now as opposed to later.

It was a good visit. He's a pretty cool dude. He's from B.C. and is definitely a west-coaster. Bit of a hippy, big hockey fan, and travelled a LOT when he was younger. I think he got that from Dad for sure. We're bothe BIG movie and music fans too. It's kinda neat to talk with him and realize that we like the same bands. There isn't anybody else in my family that I can talk to about that sort thing. Here's him in front of the Hockey Heritage museum in Windsor:



We spent a few days with the folks and went over to the Bay of FUndy. Much like myself, he needs the ocean near him.





On the cliff in the background is a cottage that my aunt had when I was younger. I spent many summer days up there and in the area, either at cousins who lived there or at campgrounds.



And another one of John:



And of course this is the Annapolis Valley with my hometown of Bridgetown:

the zip that makes the soul zaz

If things feel shitty (and/or are...) great music always makes me feel glad to be alive. Especially great live music. Damn, I love the Carleton. Newest band I saw there tonight is Telfer: http://www.myspace.com/telfermusic

Repeat Sighting

Just saw Sam Losco again. This time having a smoke in front of the Oasis, a divey bar. Somehow that seems more appropriate....

Trailer Park Boys count is 3

Halifax, as you may or may not be aware, was the home for the Canadian cult series "Trailer Park Boys". Think "My Name Is Earle" except funny, with guns, lots of dope, plenty of alcohol abuse, and shitloads of swearing. The main leads were Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles. Sadly it is no longer on the air, but it survived 7 seasons on Showcase.

Most of the cast are from the Maritimes and are still in the area. So, one runs into cast members all the time. I've seen 3 since I've been back. It's weird because it makes me feel as if I'm on the set, which of course was Halifax and its surroundings. It's also odd because when any of them used to do appearances or interviews they stayed in character. The lines between fiction and reality were in a constant state of blur for the cast.

First was Cyrus: criminal and bastard. He tried to take over the park, wrote his grade 10 exam with Ricky, and started a major shootout in the park after the boys stole all his hash. Plus he had a bitchin' corvette.

I saw him in the lobby of a hotel. I was scared at first but then realized he probably actually didn't have a gun.

So next we have Sam Losco: veterinarian and slob. He got Bubbles cats sick and was always enlisted to extract bullets whenever somebody got shot. Also he ran agains Jim Lahey for Trailer Park Supervisor.

I saw him in the restaurant Mosaic downtown. I think he's one of the owners. After the hotdog incident with Bubbles kitties I don't think I'll eat there.

Last was Tyrone: part of J-Roc's Rockpile, co-director of greasy porn videos, rapper, luggage thief, drugdealer. Pretty much sums T up. He's never far from J-Roc's side and corrects him when he starts sounding like white-rapper cliche...which is to say all the fuckin time.

I saw him coming out of a used CD store. No doubt selling CDs that he and J-Roc had stolen.

Music and stuff

Went to the Carleton last night with a friend from work. Kelly Joe Phelps was playing a solo acoustic gig (http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/index.htm). Damn. Double damn. That guy was in a world of his own. Face contortions, rolling eyeballs, little soft vocalisations. As if possessed by some devil from the crossroads itself. Folk-blues through the fingers of a guy who used to play jazz.

Great venue too. The old Carleton was built in 1759 and some of the stones in it were from Fortress Louisbourg when the English razed it in 1758. The place was built by Sir Richard Bulkeley, an Irishman, (http://www.blupete.com/Hist/BiosNS/1700-63/Bulkeley.htm) who was very prominent in settling Halifax and the goverance of it in its early days. Now as a music venue and resto, they have a "no talking" policy when the musicians are performing. Proper stuff if you ask me.

Randomness....

Well, I've started work. Yee-fuckin-ha. Actually it's not that bad. Much more civilized than the last job. I'm actually getting home by 6pm!

Halifax feels good. It's a familar city and I feel comfortable here. The people are friendly, the food is good, the girls are pretty... that said, I've noticed how hard it is for me to try to connect with women. I'm so out of practice (not that I was ever any good at it to start with) and I'm just stumped, resigned to the present situation, convinced that this is the way it is to be. Not embracing but accepting with a dark fatalism that that's the way it is to be. I dunno, I'm not getting down about it, honest I'm not, but I do realize that I'm 37 and things are most likely not going to change, no matter how much I wish they could. Hell, I don't even really know how to try. My social arts with the ladies are sorrowly lacking. Like many other things in my life that I wish I could do, but I know I'm incapable of doing, this is one of them. I've wasted too much energy over the years with only heartbreak to show for it. I don't think I'm even capable of falling in love anymore.

Apologies for this posting being a downer. With friends all married and other friends getting married, or all coupled up, it's just been on my mind a lot. And before you think it: I'm not looking for sympathy. Just waxing philosophically on the place of this stumblebum in all this hullabaloo and what he's capable of anymore ...

Here's what to expect over the next couple weeks: dumb tourist shots, history lessons, impressions of the city, movie reviews, etc. I'll smile for the next posting, honest.

Nova Scotia is fish

There has been an explosion in the diversity of restaurants in this city. Lebanese,Turkish, Thai, Persian, and Japanese. When I left N.S. in '95 there were no sushi restaurant in Halifax. You don't make much sushi out of haddock, cod, and lobster, the main seafoods out here. Us Maritimers kind of have an aversion to eating raw fish. You're supposed to cook it damn it!
So, now in Halifax 2009 there are at least 11! In a city of 370,000! Within a five minute walk of my apartment:













Shit, apparently we love out raw fish after all.