I'm Wide Awake

Magic night in God's Country

2009-10-27T01:17:00.013-06:00

23 October 2009 ~My evening hosted by U2 + 40,000 fans.

I flew out of Edmonton with such excitement I thought I might burst! 5 long hours later as we flew into Vegas the plane changed direction, came around, and from the right hand side of the plane you could see Sam Boyd stadium and the 360 stage inside! The people on the plane commented they'd never seen any one so excited to come to Vegas! It was a party atmosphere.

On concert day as I rounded the corner onto Broadbent drive there ahead of me peeking over the stadium was the massive claw! It looks greenish in real life...like fluorescent green tarp with big orange buttons. Its sheer size was phenomenal. I had 'claw awe' and in the car I let out a huge OH MY GOOOOOD! It was a special moment for sure and it hit me...I am really going to see this concert soon! Many U2 fans were already in line at 6 am when I got there at 2 p.m. There were about 800 people lined up.

I joined some of the Zootopians in the tailgate party and we had a blast. I took some beers and walked up to the front of the line, took photos, talked to all the peeps in line, gave them water if they were out, and they had a merch table right at the front. I met lots of fans, they were all fun and everybody shared in the excitement I felt. It is great to be around people who are as excited as you are. It was electric!I made my way back down the line as everybody was packing up to get ready for the line to move up. We spent more time dancing and listening to U2 in the tailgate section and when the line started to move at 4 we walked our coolers and whatnot over and joined the line...I imagine there were about 2000 of us by that time.

We met so many great people in the line. Amnesty International came by and we got a picture with their sign and signed their petition. ONE was there giving out bracelets and taking pictures of people kissing.We slowly moved forward until about 5:30 when the GA line was consolidated and then they opened the doors and let groups of about 100 or so in at a time. They wrist banded on the way in. There were tons of media trucks from all the major news stations, they asked us where we were from and there were so many Canadians near us. They interviewed us and then we got the line up singing ISHFWILF. Amazing! Then we were moving up to the front and I thought I might pee my pants I was so pumped to FINALLY be getting in!

I flew (floated) up the giant staircase and ran into the venue and there to my right the stage stood in all its glory! I was amazed how it filled the stadium from side to side, top to bottom! I ran to the front and ended up about 3 deep back from the outside rail, dead centre. Then I sat down for the first time in about 4 hours and rested my feet. whew! It was going to be a long wait. It was hard to stay patient.

About and hour later the Black Eyed Peas took the stage and pumped us up. They were better than I thought they would be and the "tonight's going to be a good night" song was their last and we were all bouncing up and down in GA, a mere glimpse into what the energy was going to be for the concert. Once BEP was off the stage the crowd had grown and we all got a little closer together and waited to hear Space Oddity, to signal the beginning of the concert…it was the longest 35 minutes of my life. My feet hurt and I was so thirsty but I was afraid to leave my spot just in case I couldn’t get back there…so we waited and the uber U2 fans in the crowd threw up a HUGE cheer when the familiar sounds of Space Oddity began…We all counted down with the song…5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and then the giant mast down the centre of the claw belched forth huge clouds of smoke and we knew lift off was moments away.

The butterflies in my tummy made me jump up and down with glee and then there he was, Larry, walking up to the drum kit and wearing that classic white T in his sexy way…then came the drum beats and the sounds of Breathe…and I had to remind myself to breathe…and the crowd erupted again when The Edge appeared, then Adam! Breathe sounded amazing, you can feel the beat in your chest the sound is so clear and crisp…and then the crowd erupted as Bono struted out…It was magic..total lift-off…he sang to us, we sang back to him…”Breeeeeeeaaathe, I can breathe…” It is phenomenal live!

Bono told us the future needs a big kiss and then The Egde fired up Get On your boots and the guitar exploded in front of us and we all gave the future a big kiss! Bono knocked it into high gear, but it is really Adam who shines with the bass in that song. I was right down front and could not believe every time they came within about 10 feet of me!!! Boots got the whole pit jumping up and down in unison…the energy lifted us all up!

Bono moaned rather seductively a few times...then the familiar sound of Mysterious ways came on and the whole place went nuts….Bono strutted around with his best dance moves, The Edge walked around the stage in front of us. Beautiful Day made me break out in Goosebumps…ATYCLB is one of my favourite albums and very emotional…when it started the whole place sung right from the beginning and I noticed Bono give The Edge a look like, “wow they are loud!” and it was such a beautiful day…It was not windy, not too hot, not too cold, it was like we were indeed In God’s Country, so Bono sang a snippet of that, “dream beneath a desert sky…” perfect for Vegas and the crowd knew it. The whole stage is lit up green a blue…for obvious reasons…it was very cool lighting!

Then….impossible to believe we could be louder…the beginning of I Still Haven’t Found What I’m looking For started and Bono just let us sing…he turned his mic around, motioned to the boys to quiet it down and we all sang…“I have climbed highest mountain, I have ruuun through the fields only to be with you…..only to be with you….” it was very powerful and the emotion in that song, from the whole audience was tangible in that moment…Then Bono took us up into the atmosphere and we all held out our hands to him when he sang “held the hand of the devil…it was warm in the night…” I can’t explain that part any better…there are no words in that moment…only feelings….Love, anticipation, longing, sadness mixed with great unbelievable joy…as Bono likes to Say God was in the room. So was Elvis. LOL!

Bono started with Stand by me, which EVERYBODY sang to him…(it is like all our voices pooled there adding to the volume of it…) Then Bono put on his best Elvis Swagger and led us along to Viva LAS VEGAS! “Vivaaaa, VIVAAAAA LAS VEGAAAAAS!” Hilarious. Huge applause!

Then Larry and Adam took a break and Bono and the Edge moved closer together and sang Stuck together. I LOST it. Tears streaming down my face and we all sang…”Oh LOVE look at you now…stuck in a moment…” The Harmony of the last verse with Edge on lead with Bono together…it sounded amazing.

My favourite song on the new album, and THE moment I have waited for since first hearing it, No Line on the Horizon…it was better live than I thought…the crowd in front wanted to bounce and when they launched into it, it builds and builds intensity and BAM! It was awesome! Straight into “ELEVATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOO WoooooOHooooooo! Woooo! Woooohoooo!”And we were Elevated there…never been in GA before and now I know why it is so amazing….when the whole audience jumps as one, we are a team with our only goal: SOUL! The place just lost it…it was the most incredible feeling!I think next came “In a Little while” which was special to me because this whole time waiting to get to Vegas I thought the lyrics were perfect….”Friday night running…to Sunday on my knees…” There was a really sweet bit in there from the ISS…Bono stopped to watch the big screen with us and it was a pure moment of awe. VERY cool…

Then Unknown Caller, which is such a great song for a big audience because they did it like Karaoke…and you now how U2.com asked everybody to send in video of themselves singing…they use those images up on the screen…juxtaposed against a huge map of the world…it was brilliant. “Ooooooh oooh oooh, oooh oh oh oh!” It is such a fun song! Then Bono put out his hands like a conductor at the end and had us all sing, “bum, bum , bum bum bum…ba bum bum bum bum…as it build to Edge’s solo…which proves why he is the best guitarist ever. LOL! Great rock song!Then Until the end of the world started up and Bono and The Edge play off each other big time…remember when they used to the bull fight…Bono the bull trying t gorge the Edge? Well…(Oh I wish I had a photo) they use the two bridges that circulate around the stage to get closer and closer to each other as the song builds up steam at the end and just as they are about to reach each other the bridges move away from each other…incredible climax and they had it timed to perfection! I will always remember that moment as they came so close in front of me …Then came the visually most stunning bit of the set…starting with Unforgettable Fire, which is such a heart wrenching song…the screen descends and lights up the whoooooole arena! The swirling lights mimick movement in a way that is truly exceptional. Kudos to Willie Williams.

Bono pulls a kid on stage and they break into COBL! The screen almost touches the tops of their heads…I have seen photos…I KNEW it was coming and it still took my breath away…And then just to crank it up VERTIGO. Now I have never seen COBL or Veritgo because I missed that tour and HOLY SHIT! I think I even said that out loud a couple of times…again being in the GA for Vertigo was something incredible. 1, 2, 3, 14! And the pit went CRAZY! I started to laugh…it is a feeling like nothing else I can explain!

Bono gave a shout out to The Killers with a bit of All these things that I have done…The Killers may have been there, they are from Las Vegas..so that was cool. Oh and Bill Clinton was there too…that was pretty sweet. My friends walked past him and his security on the way to their seats, they said he was having a great time with a huge smile on his face!

Then came Crazy Remix and Bono spent most of the next two songs right in front of me!! Here is a wee video for your viewing pleasure...and a break from this long ass review:

He was right there… AMAZING. The crowd loved it and I would say, of all the new material, it seemed like the crowds fav. I lost it at the end and had to put the camera down just so I could bounce...too funny! Sorry about the singing!

The whole arena went green for SBS! Bono knelt in front of us. Is that the most powerful song? It really blows your hair back I tell ya. I have seen it a couple of times but this time I could see the emotion on Bono’s face and he is transported elsewhere for that song… he is transformed. How do I explain it…it’s like he’s in a dream and when we sing it with him it only drives him further into it. Then a bit of an irish Lullaby, MLK, before Walk On I pulled out my mask and wore it and felt overwhelmed by Bono’s words about Aung Sun Suu Kyi, he is so eloquent…at the very end the ONE campaigners come onto the stage and stand for her, as if we all were her for just a moment…it was very beautiful and touched me greatly.

There was a break and I braced myself because I knew it was going to be ONE next…and from the end of the Tutu speech I felt the tears well up as that song filled the desert night with love. That song gets me every time. The part about “I can’t keep holding on to what you got….when all you got is hurt..’. So intense and wondrous and emotional for me. We were all swaying together…Bono’s voice lifting us up….I know now it is not what U2 songs mean to U2 that make them exceptional but instead, what all of us as fans find them to mean…that song to me is very powerful because it takes me back to a specific time in my life. I realized that I also bring power to it…

For a week I have been thinking about being in GA for Streets and when the time came it did not even compare to what I had imagined…what is it about that song that is like the power of a jet taking off? That guitar riff that caused me to forget everything else around me -- was like I was part of something so intimate so natural and base...elemental. The smell of the earth was in that arena at the time, wafting up from the powerful air conditioning coming out of the stage for the band…it was ethereal…I am pretty sure my feet never touched the ground that whole time. It exceeded my expectations and blew me away and after I felt lighter….connected and right with the world. At the end when we sing, “Love, Love, love” with the crowd all singing…”love, love, love…..” Can anybody explain that? That feeling? That moment? I am struggling to and well…it is something I will cherish as an experience.

Then the band said bye…but it’s like everybody knew there was more…there was no ridiculous cheering to beg them to come out…it was almost as if everybody needed a moment to collect their thoughts after Streets.Enter Bono in his super cool laser coat of lights. The steering wheel mic drops and Ultraviolet floods the stadium with brilliant flecks of red laser. It was an incredible performance.

It leads right into WOWY and the mirror ball on the top of the mast lights up all of Vegas casting out sparkles & twinkles while Bono belts it out. At the end he slowly removes his coat of lights and hangs it on the mic as it ascends to the heavens…it was a very sad moment the way he watched it go…as he bid it adieu it dawned on me…Moment of Surrender was next marking the end of the concert and I felt a flood of emotion…it was almost over…so I gathered myself and my new friends around me.

Let me tell you…it is some feat that Bono can sing that powerfully at the end of 2 hours….and it is powerful….the first line elicited a “WOW” from those near me. We were immersed in a milky way of lights, all surrendering to this incredible band and singing, “oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh.” Incredible way to finish the most incredible show.

They thanked us and stayed up on stage long enough for me to convince myself they might sing another….and then they slowly walked away to massive cheers. We all stood, somewhat stunned…like we all had to take it in for a second. Like a U2 haze that clouds your head with love and fulfillment. What an incredible feeling! I walked about feeling a bit tipsy having consumed no alcohol for hours…my feet hurt, my knees ached, my calf muscles felt like they might rip…but none of it mattered. I had to sit and catch my breath before I fell to my knees . Worth every second of waiting, worth months and months of planning, worth every cent I spent that I really don’t have. The U2 fans, the people I met the fun times in line all of it together…well it was magical!

Song/video Du Jour: Where The Streets Have No Name - Las Vegas 10/23/09 - Sam Boyd Stadium October 23

"I won't regret saying this, This thing that I'm saying..."

2009-07-13T15:32:00.004-06:00

Another wicked shot from the Greenday concert...I have decided it should be my job to go to concerts full time. Where do I apply?
I have also decided that trains should not be allowed to run during rush hour...period. Or at lunch time.

Sonic just announced a huge concert at Northlands for Sept 5th...hosted by this dude, who --until just this second --was "last nameless" to me...he's always just "Jay" or more to the point will always be to me - "JayandsilentBob". I am so excited to get my tickets tomorrow! Leave it to Sonic to bring us some sweet modern rockness.

Song Du Jour: Call it off by Tegan and Sarah

"The rage and love, the story of my life, The Jesus of suburbia is a lie..."

2009-07-07T10:31:00.005-06:00

Concert hangover for sure today. F'n hell Green Day play a sweet show. I won tickets from Sonic and got VIP passes to the soundcheck---a once in life time chance to see them up close with just 18 other fans. Sadly I only have the snapshots in my mind to remember...no cameras allowed.

The Sound check (nutshell): So we arrived outside at Wayner's statue and hung out with Sarah from sonic who is awesome by the way-- and we chit chat and wait for the punk rock stars to organize themselves.

There were some "winners" who were complaining about the wait, but not me...ummm they are Greenday you morons!
We get escorted indoors....wait a bit...go downstairs...wait a bit by the giant oilers locker room door. A large man who resembled Mussolini, so we nicknamed him 'Moose', came out and told us when we hear music we can come out and he'll show us where to sit. We wait a bit. We mill around sad the bar is not open. There were 20 of us in total and it was pretty big range...young-uns to mid thirties, mostly chicks--except for the 15 year olds "always making out couple". ugh.

Then we hear a drum beat. We all looked for Moose, but no, that was not "music".

We move closer to the entrance to the arena....excitedly we wait a bit. We hear a guitar squeal...we all look around anxiously...we heard music...can we go? Can we go? We wait a bit. More sounds of music blasts in. Moose comes and gets us and out we walk...onto the Visitors Bench...and there they are...pocket sized punk rock stars; BJ is in a toque wearing all black.

They are all in their spots (just like later at the concert) running through some 21st century breakdown...We awkwardly stand on the visiting players bench...awed by seeing them and hearing them, but somewhat self conscious voyeurs.

They acknowledge our group and Billie Joe claps his hands, wants us to clap, (indicative of the upper body work out to come later) we clap with him, we woo hoo! The band motion for Moose to let us come out on to the floor. They herd us out... I pretend to knock the whole group over rushing past them to the front---others hang back not sure where to stand in all this space---I bust up and park right in front to the left of the ramp out into the auduence at centre stage. I imagine the feel of the crush of people that will be there in mere hours--I take a mental snapshot of them with the american flag up in the rafters above them while they play. The band works on getting American Eulogy worked out... The Dude and I try to mosh (hilarious to us, we are being silly)...we jokingly slam dance into each other. We figure 20 people is just not enough. We laugh and I look up to meet the eyes of Tre Cool at the drums he laughs with/at us too. He's drinking a Miller Light. not sure what to think of that.

Billy Joe stops...the roadie gets him the the TP launcher (the one he used between Brain Stew and Jaded at the concert) and BJ tp's us from the stage. They sing BLVD...or more the work on the transitions between it and Minority...Mike Dirnt looks up at one point right near the end and points out to the band, "uh oh---We're in Oil Untry"....noting the broken sign in the rafters...they all chuckle. The saxophone dude plays King for a day...they bust out the accordion. We all cheer...they tell us we have to go...we say bye and float out. One of the girls shouts out a mandatory "We love you!"

In 3 words...Awkward yet amazing. Thanks Sonic 102.9 for the fun times...I will never forget it.

The concert you ask? Brilliant. It was filled to the brim with punk rock goodness. I waved my arms (like I just don't care), I pumped my fist in the air and Hey Ho'd...I sang " are we we are the waaaaiiiting, unknown" at the top of my lungs. It was bliss *with pyrotechnics. Here is the setlist.

Song du Jour: Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day, of course. (my fav of the night-that link is to video of them live in Vancity 05.07.09)

"You left the sweetest taste in my mouth, You're a silver lining the clouds"

2009-06-19T09:17:00.011-06:00

I am still a bit elevated from the concert last night. Honestly...it ended at 11 p.m. and I floated for about an hour...Coldplay certainly delivers an emotionally packed show. It was top notch. I have heard people compare it to the Elevation tour and that it is on that level and I would have to agree. They have the u2 like rock anthems--songs you can sing along too and that just made the whole experience so amazing. I love it when I can sing at the top of my lungs. My favorite parts were Lost, Yellow, The Scientist...Lovers in Japan was....in a word, amazing.

When Chris and Will performed "the hardest part" I cried, it was so lovely....what a beautiful song. Yellow just about tore the ceiling off Rexall place. They had all these yellow balls...coool!
Then they moved to the other end and did Green eyes and daydream believer.

My photos are so blurry. Stupid camera.
Snow patrol was phenomenal. I loved them, they were engaging and funny and they sang all my fav's! They said we were a gorgeous crowd...only irish men can call a crowd gorgeous. LOL! I felt like they'd be awesome to have a pint with, I wished it could have gone on forever. Here are shots of SP..they did Hands Open:

Crack the shutters, chasing cars
And finished with You're all I have. I loved it...what an awesome concert. But still can't nudge U2 out for best live performance. I thought it was the closest I have seen though and that is saying something. Hope you like the photos.

Song Du Jour: Strawberry Swing by Coldplay
I never really loved it until I saw it live...it was such a perfect day!

"Out with the cold, in with the woo" ~ E. Marshall

2009-05-06T06:07:00.000-06:00

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Do you feel it too? The first of the pussy willows have arrived, I had to take this photo as proof of Spring. Yup, it has been that tough a winter...

Song Du Jour: Help I'm Alive by Metric

Nature smiled.....

2009-05-05T18:01:00.004-06:00

Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war. ~Loren Eiseley

Your boyfriend's passed out at the Sev again.....

2009-03-05T20:27:00.002-07:00

This dude was passed out cold in front of the 7-11...it was Sunday night at 7:40. Classy. I thought he was dead. The store clerks seemed completely indifferent....totally not concerned in the least.

Song Du Jour: Zero by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Recess! Yaaa..ummm booo?

2008-12-04T12:49:00.004-07:00

Well, shocker...GG Jean granted the PM his early recess to prolong the inevitable. I am disappointed, I think if the government loses the confidence of the house it's done. There should be no time out, no time to get their fear machine fired up and scare us all to death with a lie about this being a unity issue. On the other hand I don't agree with bailing out the car manufacturers so on that issue I don't support the proposed coalition either. Hm, what to do?

I will be writing the leaders of the Liberals and NDP and requesting they call an election and not shoot themselves in the foot (or the leg ala Plaxico Burress) with this coalition. Am I the only one who thinks the coalition partners (save Gilles Duceppe who wins either way) will end up worse off in the end? As far as I can tell Harper might be done but this will only help the Conservatives in the long run, especially given the reaction from the Canadian people. I am not sure that most Canadians realize that Harps really brought this on himself. You have until January 26th to get your letters in to tell them what you think should happen. And only those of you who got off your lazy asses and went and voted should bother to spout forth your opinion.
Next time go vote and maybe this kind of shit would not happen. Lesson learned?

Please keep in mind:

"The coalition sprang up after the Tories released an economic statement that was lambasted by the opposition parties. They accused Harper of doing nothing to address the current economic crisis and slammed what they saw as ideologically driven measures such as the proposed elimination of subsidies for political parties, a three-year ban on the right of civil servants to strike and limits on the ability of women to sue for pay equity.
Yes, Harper has since backed down on those contentious issues, but the opposition has pushed forward with the coalition.
The coalition — which would have a 24-member cabinet composed of six NDP and 18 Liberal MPs (all legally elected members) — has vowed to make an economic stimulus package a priority, proposing a multibillion-dollar plan that would include help for the auto and forestry sectors.
With 77 Liberal MPs and 37 New Democrats, plus the support of 49 Bloc members, the three parties have more seats than the 143 held by the Tories." This is being touted as a 62% majority in the press.

Song Du Jour: Use Somebody by Kings of Leon (best song of 2007 IMHO)

Am I the only one loving the spectacle?

2008-12-03T15:50:00.008-07:00

There is no precident for what is happening up in the bubble, ummm I mean Ottawa.

And yes I worry about the "crisis" and it's impact, I'm not oblivious to that bit...but personally it is like watching one of those disaster movies like Deep Impact or Twister...you just know disaster is coming and you can't look away when the deadly effects finally come crashing through!

The amount of misinformation is amazing, holy rhetoric batman...and the blame game is hilarious...Harps did it! It's Dion, he's to blame! No it's Gilles he's the antichrist! Puh-lease. Pull your heads out of your asses dudes and get it together. I love the reaction of the uber conservatives here in the blue province, they are equal to none in pure entertainment value! Stop freaking out and making it seem like Conservatives had a majority in the first place. This might be a minority governments worse nightmare but for a nerd like me...I love just watching it unfold, what jackhole manoeuvre will our political parties pull next? I have to admit I have been watching CPAC every night; with popcorn.

I have to say the best "blurb" I have read so far (that kinda matches my opinion)comes from Todd Babiak:

He notes in the Edmonton Journal that the Alberta capital has been largely ignored by the Harper Tories and finds no reason to fear the coalition. “Attempting to cripple the opposition [by proposing to revoke campaign subsidies], and therefore debate and criticism, is a much more profound assault against democracy. As the national portrait gallery debacle demonstrated so fluently, conditions have not improved for Edmonton since 2006, when the Conservatives swept Alberta and took control of Ottawa. Why would they? According to the Conservative war room, we’re a strategic void.”

This one just made me giggle:

"The Calgary Sun’s Rick Bell says it’s one thing to hate the idea of a crippled téphane Dion and inexperienced Jack Layton teaming up to govern the country while relying on the Bloc Québécois to act as a crutch. It’s just not all that useful right now: “We know everything is spinning out of control. Premier Ed yesterday urges all parties to ‘put Canada first and stop the nonsense’ and deal with a financial meltdown he calls ‘the biggest elephant in the room.’ Unfortunately, it’s tough to hunt an elephant when you’ve got the guns squarely pointed at each other.”"

What will the GG do? Oh how I would love to be in her shoes! What a cool time to be in her position! There is no reason (I can think of, no precedence anyhoo) why she would say "no" to the Prime Minister if he asks for recess so I imagine they will get an early Christmas, but I don't think Harps will survive this. Stick a fork in him peeps.

Sad way for him to end it all...I really do mean that. I imagine the Conservatives 3 weeks ago sitting about, like villans rubbing their hands and grinning, evily, and saying, "I know lets revoke campaign subsidies just to fuck them!" and then they all laughed and laughed...

I wonder if any Conservative could have imagined that little jab at the other political parties would have had such an detrimental effect. I bet the wish they had a "takeback".

Song Du Jour: I'm a Pretty Lady by Pinback

"...If the letter is found, please set it on fire, It will ease this pain, end this thing..."

A song for the Conservatives

Livre Du Jour: Holidays on Ice - David Sedaris

There are now 33 million people living with HIV worldwide

2008-11-28T16:46:00.002-07:00

World Aids Day is December 1st ~ Click here for Information

(RED)Wire is (RED)'s latest initiative: a digital music magazine that allows you to discover new music while providing medicine to those in Africa who need it. For $5 a month, every Wednesday you will get two DRM-free songs (one will be "exclusive" from a major artist), an extra (video, slideshow, or something similar) that is "inspiring," and updates about those receiving the medicine you're paying for. Subscribers will receive their new music via the (RED)WIRE player, which also puts each song into the iTunes media player. $2.50 goes directly to The Global Fund, an organization that buys and administers medicine to women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Song Du Jour: U2 - If God Will Send His Angels

Intelligence is relative

2008-09-18T08:15:00.009-06:00

So I went to see the movie Burn After Reading and God love the Coen Brothers. At least you can rely on them to throw you a curve ball. Totally unpredictable....you never know what will happen next...horrific and hilarious. I was laughing so hard...the only thing is that I don't think other people in the theatre thought it was as fricking funny as I did. I love that they gave Margie a big shout out from Fargo and in the end I wish William H Macy had played the role that was so William H. Macy.

It is hard for me to believe that they wrote the screenplay for this whilst writing the screenplay for No Country For Old Balls. They say they alternated every other day between scripts. I can't even imagine that.

All of the previews before the movie looked abysmal and the lights kept coming on during the show...which was pretty funny...thanks the volunteers who got up and went and told the 70 year old lady taking tickets to figure out the light situation.
I can't wait to see what the Coen Bros. come up with next:

Suburbicon (2009) (in production) (writer)
Gambit (2009) (announced) (screenplay)
Hail Caesar (2009) (pre-production) (writer)
A Serious Man (2009) (filming) (writer)

Song Du Jour: Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event

"Decision to decisions are made and not bought...."

2008-09-17T08:15:00.000-06:00

Why do American politics seems so much more compelling? There is an election going on here in Canada. Yeah, there is. No really...it's on October 14th. I will be voting NDP...but because my vote doesn't count it won't make any difference. The leaders of the 2 largest parties know my vote doesn't count either which is why they haven't come west of Guelph this whole time.

I've grown tired of our defunct electoral process. And I love elections! I'm tired of hearing what a jackass Dion is and what a jackass Harps is (and his Agriculture Minister who made a joke and lost his job, say it with me...what a jackhole...Note to politicians; yes, still too early to make cold cuts jokes....) ..blah, blah, blah...can they start talking about the issues that actual effect us? Fuel prices, affordable housing, the growing global economy issues?
No. The media and the party "spokespeople" and ministers want to sling mud. Awesome.

So to the people of Canada I ask you to please vote. Take an interest. Call the freaking media and tell them you want to hear about the issues instead of the politics. Call your local candidate and volunteer. Engage, in the words of Jean Luc Picard....Engage!
ay, ay Captain.

Song Du jour - Kids - MGMT
Update: Okay so one of the federal leaders is coming west!

Rally 4 Change: Edmonton
Jack Layton and the New Democrats
Start Time: Saturday, September 20 at 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Where: Winspear Center

UPDATE: Harps is coming
Ramada Inn - Harper is supposed to be there between 5:30 and 6:00 but show up early. Thursday, September 25th
11834 Kingsway
Edmonton, Alberta

"At the end of the line I will be there for you while you take the time, in the burning of uncertainty I will be your solid ground..."

2008-08-07T09:16:00.006-06:00

Life is so unfair. My friend Ashish passed away.
The memorial service is Friday, August 8th.

The service will be held at the following location:
McInnis & HollowayPark Memorial Chapel
5008 Elbow Drive SW
Calgary, Alberta

Song Du Jour: Rise Above This - Seether

"We're facing the worst financial and economic crisis since the end of World War II and nobody in Belgium seems to care'' ~ Mark Eyskens

2008-07-15T17:35:00.005-06:00

Anybody else enjoy watching states fail as much as me? God, I am such a nerd! I know I could get on here and blather on about music (which I do already) or my boring life or my horrible work day...but no.

First the Zimbabwe government takes corruption to a whole new level with *seemingly* complete international impunity and now in Brussels --the shit has hit the fan! It is always a gamble to make change, which is what the coalition government tried to do, but now it is incredible to watch the different interests battle it out. What are they fighting about you ask? Language (not a new fight) and self rule. The home of the EU and NATO might just go kaput. It's hard to wrap my head around.

The hardliners in the national party are advocating the breakup of the country to solve their differences and yesterday the Premier offered his resignation to the King.

In a statement, the royal palace said its decision had been suspended. Meanwhile, the king began consultations that included, for the first time, the most senior regional politicians from the different language communities. That raised the prospect that they, rather than national political leaders, may be asked to help find a way out of the impasse.

Can a country divided by language keep it together or should they split her down the middle and call it quits? (a very Canadian question too...hm.) Further proving that regionalism can be a real beotch. Can a constitution designed around separating people based on language and location result in a harmonious state? I'm afraid of the Belgian answer and even more interested in the Canadian answer to that question.

Song du jour: The Stakes Were Raised by Slow Runner

"All of my hoping just turned into lying
Kidding myself without even trying
I should have noticed the whole thing was dying
But the stakes were raised
And so I looked the other way..."

Happy Birsday Dani!! I love ya!

Mark Eyskens is a member of Leterme's Christian Democratic Party who served in Belgian governments from 1976 to 1992 and was prime minister in 1981-82.

Happy 141st Canada Day!

2008-07-01T11:54:00.007-06:00

"Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future" ~ Lester B. Pearson

Working on Canada has become the norm in the last few years so no funtimes for this lady today...just the crack of the whip. Happy Canada Day to the rest of you lucky bums who are off today!

Song Du Jour: If You Could Read My Mind by Johnny Cash (written by Gordon Lightfoot)

"We turn away to face the cold, enduring chill, As the day begs the night for mercy love...."

2008-06-22T09:43:00.003-06:00

2008 marks the 35th anniversary of the death of Victor Jara. They just re-opened his murder case and the courts appear to be willing to listen to new evidence.

I'm not sure when I first learned about Jara but his story stirs emotions in me I am unable to find words for. He was a popular folk singer who poltically supported Allende in Chile. After Pinochet took control in 1973 Jara was captured, his hands were injured (cut, crushed, broken, burned, even severed...the reports are not clear) and then he was forced to play his guitar by the military. He sang. He played with broken hands and sang to his captors. He sang his popular songs of freedom through his torture and was killed for it.

Bono wrote about Jara on a song called One Tree Hill....arguably my favorite song off of Joshua Tree. The song itself is dedicated to another man, Gregg Carroll, a close friend of the band, who was killed running an errand for Bono. Bono wrote the lyrics at at One Tree Hill in New Zealand where Carroll was later buried. I am often amazed at the source or meaning of the lyrics Bono writes and how they carry such emotion; love, loss, grief and the power of song.

Bono sings:

"And in the world a heart of darkness

A fire zone

Where poets speak their heart

Then bleed for it

Jara sang, his song a weapon

In the hands of love

You know his blood still cries

From the ground

It runs like a river runs to the sea

It runs like a river to the sea"

I understand why Bono was so moved by his story. I hope Jara's family finds justice.

"The cultural invasion is like a leafy tree which prevents us from seeing our own sun, sky and stars. Therefore in order to be able to see the sky above our heads, our task is to cut this tree off at the roots. US imperialism understands very well the magic of communication through music and persists in filling our young people with all sorts of commercial tripe.

With professional expertise they have taken certain measures: first, the commercialization of the so-called ‘protest music’; second, the creation of ‘idols’ of protest music who obey the same rules and suffer from the same constraints as the other idols of the consumer music industry – they last a little while and then disappear. Meanwhile they are useful in neutralizing the innate spirit of rebellion of young people. The term ‘protest song’ is no longer valid because it is ambiguous and has been misused. I prefer the term ‘revolutionary song’" ~Victor Jara

Song Du Jour: One Tree Hill by U2

"We will never allow an event like an election reverse our independence, our sovereignty, our sweat and all that we fought for ..." ~Robert Mugabe

2008-06-21T12:31:00.006-06:00

A world away "democracy" is taking a beating friends.

"Democracy" in Zimbabwe is like Apollo Creed in Rocky 4 and I wonder... has Mugabe just landed that last fatal blow. What comes next?

PHOTO1: Main opposition Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai (C) is greeted by supporters during a visit to a Harare suburb June 21, 2008. Despite signs of growing African discontent over bloodshed that has escalated since Zimbabwe's March 29 general election, President Robert Mugabe vowed never to hand over power to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, whose leader Tsvangirai is his rival in the run-off. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo (ZIMBABWE)

"The MDC (opposition) plans to meet on Sunday to consider whether to contest the June 27 vote, with the party claiming that about 70 of its supporters have been killed since the first round of voting in March."

70 people dead. Many more injured and jailed. Should the MDC give up? I've been a part of elections first hand and I have marvelled at how difficult they are for candidates and how much work goes into running for office. And that's here in Alberta...so the very thought of the position the MDC find themselves in today is hard to wrap my brain around. What kind of person stands up to the violence and intimidation to take Mugabe down?

I am riveted by these events. What will Mugabe do next? It seems like western nations have no idea how to offer assistance.

At least Zimbabwe made it on to the agenda of the UN's Security Council meeting thanks to Condi Rice. Will anything come of it?

Today I am not taking my democracy for granted.

Song du Jour: Lost by Coldplay

PHOTO 2: A supporter of President Robert Mugabe holds an election poster as she cheers during a rally at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo June 20, 2008. Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is considering whether to pull out of the June 27 presidential run-off election, fearing it will be a charade, a spokesman said on Friday. REUTERS/Emmanuel Chitate (ZIMBABWE)

"Thank you for fan...I want speech longer but my English short" ~ Selke winner, Pavel Datsyuk

2008-06-13T11:08:00.005-06:00

That was a pretty good show last night. My favorite bit was Datsyuk accepting his trophies.

His first speech, accepting the Selke Trophy, he read off a peice of paper and although he struggles with English he was great.
As they were listing off the nomminees for the Lady Bing I wondered does he have another speech prepared if he wins? They announced his name and once he took the podium he looked up sheepishly at the crowd and stated, "I got nothing..."
Fall down funny!

Song Du Jour: Jigsaw Falling Into Place by Radiohead

I think this is my favorite song off In Rainbows, but I'll need a few more months of listening to the disc to be sure....

"And we were dressed from head to toe in love... the only label that never goes out of style"

2008-06-11T11:36:00.002-06:00

Went to see Sex and The City with the ladies and it felt like seeing a whole season in one sitting so it really translated well from TV to the big screen. It felt like stepping back into your favorite slippers, very comfortable. However, I was disapointed because it was too freaking predictable. I'm too cynical and jaded to believe that shit so I think my attitude ruined it really..it's a good movie and I enjoyed it on one level. My ladies were all verklempt at certain points and I was all...whateva.

The idea that these women are in their 40's and 50's and are still not able to understand men makes me wonder what advantage age has when women are still making the same mistakes they made when they were 18? That resonated with me for sure. I guess I enjoy watching the relationship the 4 main characters share because it is amazing how important friends are in life and that was represented well. All the other crap...meh.

I've heard rumour they will make 2 more sequels, "Cattrall says, that a sequel is likely"(there are some spoilers in the link...)

Song Du Jour: Strength in Numbers (that's the name of their new album too)by The Music

2008-06-10T11:31:00.001-06:00

Today sucks.

"This scar is a fleck on my porcelain skin..."~Stars

2008-06-08T10:42:00.002-06:00

It's Sunday and I am totally missing the NFL.....sigh....

I'm reading a book called Seeing by Jose Saramago. It's a what-if type of story, and a follow up to a really great book he wrote called Blindness. Right now I am at this part about a long cabinet meeting that makes me laugh. That's good satire Mr. Saramago! I can't tell if he's just being totally sarcastic though...It's hard to pin down the tone of this novel. I bet a lot of people would find this book really boring. It's all about elections, government meetings and power. Poli Sci nerds rejoice!

Song Du Jour: Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars

"We'd like to turn it around and make the stories about opportunity and the adventure of the African continent, not the burden and the obligation"

2008-06-07T08:49:00.002-06:00

Dr. Bono! He was just in Japan...getting an honourary law degree from Keio University. His first lecture marks the commencement of the 2008 G8 season....and all he wants is more aid for Africa and he's only been fighting for that since 1985. He was a busy man in Japan.

Tree planting with kids in Tokyo.

He got to be Guest editor at Japan's second-largest newspaper, the Asahi, with his mate Bob during an annual conference on African Development. He was also presenting/advocating at the MTV Awards...He's everywhere!

Song Du Jour: Love and Peace or Else by U2

"I don't know if I can make it, I'm not easy on my knees"

"...the controversy and debate created by a contest wouldn't necessarily be bad" ~ Scott Moore

2008-06-06T18:09:00.002-06:00

CBC reports that err...CBC may not use the theme to HNIC.

"Scott Moore, the executive director of CBC Sports, told Newsworld on Thursday that negotiations for a new licence fee are ongoing with the representatives of Vancouver composer Dolores Claman."

And everybody is freaking out. I love Canadian hockey fans. Some people think it is a publicity stunt but I don't know if the marketing peeps over at the Mother Corp. were savvy enough to dream this one up. Who knows...

I just hope they come to their senses and pay Ms. Claman what she's asking for, which is $575 per use instead of the $500 per use they've been paying her for over a decade. I simply can't even imagine any other song...that song has been a part of my life since I was 5 years old. It's a personal thing I think a lot of people can't explain, but just want it to stay the same tradition it a has always been.

Song Du Jour: Intergalactic by Beastie Boys

"Robbie is in California working on his strength to get to that next level.." Coach Bucky on Schrempf not being here

2008-06-04T10:22:00.010-06:00

Go Falcons!

The Edmonton Oilers Development Camp is in full swing this week. It's like a conditioning camp for some of the young draft picks and a chance for them to get to know one another before playing together in Springfield for the Falcons. I'm wondering if Bucky will be able to turn them into a great team this year? He sounds pretty positive.

If you can go --you totally should. You get the chance to see these young players show off their talent before they get to be huge stars. I love this stuff. Now I am just trying to figure out how I can take a really long lunch hour tomorrow! You're last chance to see the kids...

Thursday, June 5, 2008 (Millennium Place; Sherwood Park)

10:00 am to 12 Noon – Final Scrimmage Game

Song du Jour: Tesselate by Tokyo Police Club

"was it all a joke? Never had control, I'm not better on my own..."

2008-06-02T23:18:00.002-06:00

The Red Wings were (barely) up 3-2 in the game of their lives tonight and then the crowd, with about 6 minutes left in the game, started to chant. "We want the cup, we want the cup..."

The hockey gods took note. As soon as I heard them start the chant I knew it was over and that we would not see Lord Stanleys Mug this day. Talbot and Sykora (former Oiler, Mr. -20) were the hero's, sure, but I am firmly placing blame for the loss at the feet of the chanting fans. ;P
The Penguins haven't won in Detroit since Dec. 10, 2000!

Take note hockey fans....the chanting of "we want the cup" = bad things. It's a proven fact! Therefore, I move to abolish the use of the chant effective immediately.

And congrats to Sykora on his apparent promotion last night! LOL!

Song Du Jour: - I'm Not Over by Carolina Liar

photo by Matt McNulty