This past weekend I shaved my head, completely. For anybody who knows how much I love my hair, this would probably come as a shock. I did it to keep a promise I made to someone I love very much. And as I told my good friend Airdrie Miller, I so often thought of, and wanted to shave my head in solidarity to her husband, the late Derek K. Miller, but never got around doing it.
Coincidentally the day I shaved my head, my good friend Mat Wilcox (who is a cancer survivor) decided to cut her hair too. Such an amazing and beautiful coincidence. Mat and I had a wonderful chat about embracing change a few months ago, and we came full circle on our conversation recently when we met up for a glass of wine at Goldfish with a few other friends. I do feel different after having shaved my head. Not only in the silly, irrelevant elements (I cannot flick my hair and let it flow with the wind) but also in the most profound elements, as Minna indicated: I am letting go of one of the elements of my physique that I cherish the most.
By being ok with shaving my head, I have also tacitly and implicitly decided to be ok with giving up some things I love. I also equate shaving my head with shedding and shaving some of the irrelevant things in my life. I am, again, making my circle of friends smaller, tighter and closer. And I am quite ok with it. Embracing change, one little element at a time.
The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one. — John Maxwell
I firmly believe that the best (though perhaps the most painful) way to grow is to learn from our mistakes. I often have pondered questions like “what if I had done my Masters and PhD in Chemical Engineering as I had planned all along instead of taking the career path I took with an MBA and a PhD in Environmental Studies?”. Or “should I have ever fallen in love, considering I have been heartbroken?” To Raul of 2011, maybe those decisions were (in hindsight) perhaps probably not the smartest ones. But those decisions made me the Raul I am today.
As I was growing up, I was a child prodigy in many ways. I won many “Youngest Ever” awards. I prided myself in being “the first to achieve X, Y or Z”. This fast-paced, grow-and-adapt-quickly-to-ever-changing-conditions behavior has been a consistent pattern for me. It’s one of the things that makes me realize that the hummingbird is, indeed, my spirit animal (or bird, in this case). I’ve always tried to do more things, faster, quicker, first, before anybody else. And of course, at some point, you grow old enough that you can’t win any more “Youngest Ever” awards. I reached that point when I was a PhD student, in fact.
So why have I always raced to the top, why have I always ran to achieve many things? Well, I have always felt that I will not be part of this living world to grow old. Not sure why but that’s something I have always felt. When I first expressed this to my parents, they were worried. My family and close friends get worried when I remind them that I can’t conceptualize myself in say, 30 years. And no, I absolutely have no suicidal tendencies. I just don’t seem to have the ability to think of myself as growing old. And because I have no idea how much time I have borrowed on this planet, I work incredibly hard to achieve as much as I can in the short time span that I have to live. Because let’s admit it, human beings don’t have precisely very long life spans (80-90 years old max in modern societies?)
But being a grown-up doesn’t necessarily equate with growing old. In the past few weeks I’ve been reflecting on how much more grown-up I feel, in particular as of August 2011. That doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes. I still do. But I do feel a certain calm. I feel absolutely no need to chase after blogging topics, projects and events. I feel that my blog is moving in a different (and much more focused) pathway. And so am I. As Cathy Browne put it when we had coffee recently, I look and feel older. Not older in the physical aging sense, but in the “old soul” sense. I feel like a veteran. In particular, I feel like a veteran blogger. And my friends seem to agree with this. On three separate occasions I have manifested this “I feel I’m a veteran/an oldie” sensation.
The first time was when I had the chance to hang out with my lovely friends Kate Trgovac and Rosemary Rowe (Kate gave me a laptop bag from her review stash as she knew I needed one) a few weeks ago. I told Kate and Rosemary that for some reason, I feel like I’m one of the veterans, the old guard (let’s face it, I’ve been at this blogging thing for more than 5 years). My peers and friends are many of the “old bloggers”, the established ones. Kate, Rebecca, Tris, Lorraine, Tanya, Airdrie and Derek, Rob and Alex, Arieanna, David, Darren, John, Gus, Isabella, to mention just a few. I told Kate and Rosemary that I didn’t feel in the same kind of “rat race” to achieve success in the blogging sphere as I might have felt a few years ago. For the most part, for whatever is worth and whoever reads my blog, I’m an established blogger.
The second time I thought about this was when Arieanna and Jessica and I had a drink at the Taphouse at the Village in Park Royal a few weeks ago after the Rogers Chocolate store opening. I told Arieanna that I felt older, more established. Like I had achieved with Hummingbird604.com much of what I had set out to accomplish. Many of my dearest and best friends came out of meeting them through the Vancouver Blogger Meetup or at meetups/tweetups/tech events. At drinks with Arieanna and Jessica, feeling that calm sensation of “yes, we were at a media event, but I’m here with a very close and old friend of mine from the blogging world“. I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I just felt… calm.
The third time I thought about this “being a veteran” was this past week at Launch Party Grow. Newer readers of my blog may not know that I owe much of my blogging success (particularly in the early stages) to tech-focused events like Launch Party, Northern Voice and BarCamp. I blogged about and liveblogged these tech events and became friends with the Vancouver tech/startup community and my readership grew by leaps and bounds. This week, even though I was extremely busy with other things, I made a point of attending Launch Party Grow. I felt that I owed it to Maura and Danny, Sonia and Tina to show up to an event that I had never missed and that tries to build community and shine light on the local startup scene. Much of what we do at The Network Hub has a very similar approach and goal. So, yes, I made time in my extremely busy calendar to show up and take photos, say hi to many of my tech friends and blog about Launch Party Grow (post forthcoming).
And recently Cathy Browne also told me that she saw me more poised, focused, calm and “as though I had grown older”. I think I have. And no, I’m not writing a 1,200 word self-praise manifesto. I am just reflecting on the fact that I do, indeed, feel that I’m at a completely different stage in my life. I am nowhere near where I was in 2007. I’ve grown a lot and I have many people to thank for that. Particularly from the blogging community in Vancouver. In fact, I can’t think of myself without adding “blogger” to the definition, despite the fact that my main activity is academic and consultant. Blogging is way too much of a passion and a way of living. It’s too ingrained in my nature. I also think that working on projects with friends (like Jay, John and Minna, Grace, Arieanna, Lisa, Kate and Rebecca) has really changed my view of how much I have in fact accomplished in a short period of time. I feel definitely like a veteran.
Let me give you first the YouTube trailer and a synopsis from the VQFF 2011 site (and by the way, this year’s programming has been rock solid).
Last year director Casper Andreas brought his charming “fag-hag” comedy, Violet Tendencies, to the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, selling out two screenings and making news on CityTV’s Breakfast Television. This year Casper is back with an impressive foray into dramatic filmmaking.
Based on the novel by Andy Zeffer, Going Down in LA-LA Land is a no-holds-barred look at Hollywood. Adam, a baby-faced New Yorker, moves to Los Angeles to—you guessed it—try to break into acting. He and his theatre school chum Candy move in together, but their non-existent careers don’t pay the rent. Candy seeks older, wealthier bachelors, while Adam slips into gay porn and escorting. New to and naïve about the gritty world of sex work, Adam is lucky enough to find a steady trick who also happens to be a famous television dad on a family sitcom. It isn’t long before their affair is swept up in whirlwind of Hollywood gossip that puts Adam in a spotlight he never bargained for.
Going Down in La-La Land is the story of your everyday, wholesome, beautiful young boy (typical surfer look with perfect physique, gorgeous blue eyes and awesome blonde hair), Adam (the impossibly beautiful Adam Ludwinski, who shacks up with his best friend Candy (Allison Lane. also flawlessly perfect in her role) to save money while he attempts to “make it as an actor in Los Angeles” (the goal of just about every other individual who moves to Los Angeles).
Adam, flawed as he is, can’t find a steady job until he finds a p0rn store that will give him a job as a production assistant. Casper Andreas in the role of Nick is your typical p0rn director who does his job powered by crystal meth and goes on sex-crazed binges for days at a time. Andreas does an amazing job in his directorial role and makes all of us hate him in his role as Nick, the even-more-flawed-p0rn-inducing new boyfriend of Adam.
Adam turns to, well, “turning tricks” (aka escorting) to make a living, until he finds John (Michael Medico in a performance that really melts hearts as the closeted high-end actor who falls madly in love for rent-boy Adam). I would give away the ending if I spoke more about the movie, and unfortunately I saw the SECOND performance so I’m not sure you’ll be able to catch any more showings at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011 but if you can, and if by some miracle, VQFF opens one more showing, you should TOTALLY see it.
Casper Andreas, you’ve made me addicted to your movies. Well done, buddy.
My fascination for urban form is well known both in academic circles (I have done extensive research on industrial/urban restructuring) and social circles (where people know that I always have been amazed with the little corner stores within neighbourhoods like Cardero Bottega, and with houses within a condo-transformed area such as Coal Harbour). I have a great ability to be amazed and marveled by little things.
And one of those little things I totally adore is a cute restaurant that is totally off the beaten path. Embedded in a fully residential neighbourhood (West of Denman), Adesso Bistro is a wonderful gem of urban restaurants who are little gems. I had been wanting to try Adesso Bistro for years, but for one reason or another, I hadn’t gotten a chance to visit. So last night I took JT there for dinner.
The exterior patio is wonderful, and while I felt minorly bad for taking photos when people were having dinner, I felt really great about the fact that their patio was packed. Located one block west of Denman and Haro, Adesso Bistro is a modern-Italian, elegant restaurant that is a must-try at least once in your lifetime. And the martinis menu sounds really fun. Plus they have a great Prix Fixe for $28 per person. Moreover, Adesso Bistro focuses primarily on Ligurian cuisine.
At Adesso Bistro we take a modern approach to traditional cuisine of Italy’s Ligurian region, a refreshing return to food made with love, tradition and soul. Our goal is to create an experience for our guests that will capture the essence of adesso italian cuisine. Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and food.
We couldn’t make good on the Prix Fixe because we went on a Thursday, but what we ordered was fantastic. We opened palate with a shared Cimelio di Pomodoro ($12, heirloom tomato salad, buffalo mozzarella, basil and balsamic). The salad was delicious although I think it’s slightly on the higher-end of the price scale for salads, I think. Next time I come I have to try the Arancini (risotto croquettes).
The tomatoes were exquisite, I have to add. And I’ll apologize for the horrible quality of my photos. I just didn’t seem to find my “groove” nor the proper lighting. We were offered complimentary olives that I quickly disposed of as I love very strong flavours. Probably a mistake as I ordered Aragosta (at $25, pretty much in the range of what you normally would pay for lobster dishes, I think.
The Aragosta had poached lobster, risotto with lemon and ricotta, lobster sauce and it was absolutely exquisite. You may notice that I decided to ask for them to get the meat out of my dish (I don’t work for my food, my food works for me). While I’m someone who loves their food with strong flavours, and lots of spice, the risotto was delicate and just the right amount of citrus with the lemon. The lobster sauce kept the lobster flavour in my mouth for a long time, which I enjoyed.
Overall, I really enjoyed Adesso Bistro. I must come back to try their Prix Fixe. It’s not extremely expensive (bill came to about $80 or so after tip and taxes, which for 2 people seems to me VERY reasonable for a higher-end restaurant like Adesso Bistro). I’d definitely recommend it. And I really want to check the martinis.
We also had the pleasure to chat with a family (Mom, Dad and son) who were visiting from Michigan and thoroughly enjoyed this hidden gem. AND they took photos of their food, just like I did. It seems it’s now the norm! And I’m glad Adesso Bistro’s staff was so wonderful and accommodating not only to my requests but those of every customer in the restaurant.
Disclosure: I paid for both JT and my dinner’s on my own dime. I am neither expected nor required to write a review. In fact, I don’t even think the owners realized I blog about food even after we took photos, because another family did the same thing: take photos of their food. At any point, I retain editorial control of what’s published on my site.
As my blog has become more popular and I’ve grown my networks of friends (both online and offline), my birthday has turned out much more into an all-out party. I usually have a “Birthday Season” that begins around September 12th and ends around Sept 26th (because I’m lucky to have so many diverse groups of friends that I end up having to celebrate for 2 weeks in a row).
This year I’ve decided to make my birthday a bit more meaningful. While it’s almost sure that I’ll have smaller celebrations with groups of close friends, I want to make one big birthday bash by doing some charitable work. I have plenty of ideas, but I’m also accepting more (so that’s what this post is for, your suggestions, my dear readers).
So far I have thought of:
Serving meals for A Loving Spoonful, Friends for Life or United Gospel Mission or a similar organization.
Sharing some time and offering mentorship/skills training/talking to clients of institutions and non-profits associated with mental health and/or youth like Covenant House, or with women empowerment like WISH, Beauty Night, etc.
Packaging food baskets and/or gathering food for Vancouver and Lower Mainland Food Banks.
All of the above are front-line volunteering activities (something I’m used to do since I was a child, walking around dangerous, gang-riddled neighbourhoods teaching adults how to read and write). But there’s also the other side, which I could also do (but involves way more logistics and becomes more cumbersome): organizing a fundraiser for my birthday (which involves seeking sponsors, raffle tickets, etc.)
I’ve already helped organize fundraisers and it’s A LOT of work. And my birthday is right after Freelance Camp Vancouver 2011 (which I’m helping with). So I’m not sure I would want to get into the logistics of a fundraiser. But I think it’d be super cool to do something with my friends (from the online and offline world) where we could make a difference.
SUGGESTIONS? Go all out, please. No suggestion is too crazy. PS – in case you wanted to know, my birthday is September 19th.
If you’re looking for something to do on Saturday (and you’re not at Live At Squamish or all the other million things that are happening in this city), you should probably head out to the Rocky Mountaineer station to help raise funds for the Red Cross and St. John’s Ambulance (Summer Blast Party). Presented by the Brian Jessell Autohaus, the show will feature Red Bull’s party truck, live DJs, fashion shows, a performance by electro musician Eric Solomon and hip hop dance crews. The party will be hosted by Tara Lett.
Entrance is 25$ and all the proceeds will go to the Canadian Red Cross and St. John’s Ambulance. Don’t miss this chance to attend a great party for a great cause!
Where: Rocky Mountaineer, 1755 Cottrell St., Vancouver When: Saturday August 20th, doors open at 8h30
Finding time, money, motivation, and energy to get some exercise into daily life has been a struggle for many Canadians. It’s definitely a critical part of a healthy lifestyle for British Colombians, so luckily there is a fantastic new resource called Healthy Families BC.
A variety of resources on eating healthy, fitness, and all aspects of family health can be found on the website. Given that the internet can be somewhat daunting with the huge volume of information, this online resource from the province of British Columbia provides a one-stop-shop for resources and information for households to focus on living healthy. One key point of the program is that it is intended to build an entire network and online community via social media. Through the use of blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Healthy Families BC purports to build a strong network of information and resources, and to connect it back to the user. A variety of things including nutritionists; blogs, pregnancy and parenting information, cancer care and support, healthy recipes and more can all be found on the one site.
Photo credit: Mike Baird on Flickr.
To celebrate the launch of Healthy Families BC, we (Hummingbird604 in partnership with Healthy Families BC) are giving away a $250 gift card to Mountain Equipment Co-op to help families equip their healthy lifestyles. Here are just a few ideas for some healthy, active things to do around Vancouver with gear from MEC:
-Camping (with kids)
-Climbing: In a Gym, or Outdoors.
-Hiking: Paths, trails, or up mountains.
-Paddling
-Cycling
-Seasonal sports: snow-sports in the winter, water-sports in the summer.
Photo credit: Take A Hike in Arizona
The benefits of these activities integrated into an all-round active routine are enormous. Not only could any number of these activities help with fitness, but it also creates a chance for families to take active weekend getaways, afternoons exploring greater Vancouver, or even just spending a few extra hours together.
EDITOR’S NOTE: To enter the giveaway all you need to do is tell us what’s your favorite (healthy) family activity? Growing up (me, Raul) I was raised to exercise with my family so we played basketball together (I’m one of five boys), and we played tennis together. We camped together. Even though my Mom wasn’t that keen on camping, she always came with us. So, tell me – what’s your favorite family activity?
I’ll include 2 entries if, in addition to commenting you also post the following on Twitter:
Shared favorite family healthy activity w/ @hummingbird604 & @HealthyFamilyBC 2 enter 2 win a $250 @MEC card http://is.gd/1zvKhw Yours is?
I’ll draw a random winner from all entries on September 1st, 2011 at 2pm. Good luck everyone! Make sure to check Healthy Families BC, it looks like a really interesting resource.
Oh dear God. Who doesn’t know the trouble boy? The handsome, charming heartbreaker who comes to your house knocking after 3 years of not talking to you, after breaking your heart, after abandoning you and leaving you for an adventure? We all do, let’s admit it. I have known one many Troys (the name of the main character in August) who have wanted to come back to my life after being the heartbreakers. Coincidentally the boyfriend of Heartbroken Boy (Jonathan) is also named Raul. Oh, the ironies.
August (showcased tonight at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011) presents you with a strange cinematic approach (back-and-forth-without-really-knowing-much-about-where-the-heck-this-movie-started-or-finished) to telling stories of deception, “sex with the ex”, lies, threeway relationships where the ex always interferes in the idyllic life of the “supposed-to-have-grown-up” heartbroken boy and his Latino charming, loyal and a-tad-too-understanding boyfriend.
While the end will catch you COMPLETELY by surprise, the complex and twisted storyline of inextricably intertwined lives of Troy, Raul and Jonathan is very nicely told in August. My only complaint is that much of the movie’s development happens at Jonathan’s 30th birthday party and the setup to get to that point was WAY TOO LONG. But the movie itself is totally worth watching. And I’d love to hear from you as to what you think was the meaning of the ending of the movie. Totally open to interpretation.
You should also read the synopsis from the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011:
Is there anything more tempting and troublesome than “ex sex”? Israeli-American writer/director Eldar Rapaport unflinchingly probes this question in his new romantic drama. Jonathan and Raul are on the brink of moving in together when Jonathan’s ex-boyfriend, Troy, returns to LA. Their well-meaning attempt to all become friends quickly turns into a triangle of desire, jealousy and old memories. While this might sound like the making of a melodrama, Rapaport’s thoughtful direction reveals the precarious quandary of discerning lust from love.
August also offers lots of eye candy. For cinephiles who appreciate beautifully framed shots, Rapaport puts his European filmmaking sensibility to good use. And for those who appreciate beautiful men, the three lead characters—Troy, Jonathan and Raul—will not disappoint. To top off this visual delight, the film is set in LA’s Venice Beach during a heat wave (hello, glistening abs!).
Eldar Rapaport / USA / 2011 / EN / Total time: 100 min
Who loves Broken Social Scene, even though they don’t follow me on Twitter? ME, OF COURSE! (I know, I’ve always joked with my good friend Jay Catalan, cofounder of The Network Hub, that Canadian indie band Broken Social Scene, one of my absolute favorites, follows Jay on Twitter). At any rate, I’m sure I’m not alone in being an absolute lover of Broken Social Scene. “Forced To Love” is one of the songs I walk with and exercise along.
Lucky for a reader of mine, I have a pair of tickets to give away to the upcoming (September 24th, 2011) concert presented by Live Nation West and co-produced by Sealed With A Kiss, presented by 100.5 The Peak and The Georgia Straight, with special guests Ra Ra Riot. The concert will take place on Saturday September 24th, 2011 at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Doors open at 5:30pm, and the concert begins at 7:00pm.
You can get tickets through Charge by Phone 1-855-985-5000. Tickets also available at Zulu, Red Cat Records, Highlife, all Ticketmaster Outlets and Rogers Wireless Box Office. Tickets (incl. HST) $35.00 (Plus FMF & Service charges). And through TicketMaster of course. This concert is for general admission lawn and for all ages.
Some more information about the wonderful Broken Social Scene:
In the time that elapsed between the release of Broken Social Scene’s 2005’s self-titled opus and the 2010 release of Forgiveness Rock Record, fans were more than tided over by the 2007 release of founding member Kevin Drew’s solo album, Spirit If…, followed a few months later by co-founder Brendan Canning’s own solo set, Something for All of Us… both of which were released under the “Broken Social Scene Presents” banner, both of which were supported by tours that featured career spanning set lists, and both of which featured pretty much the same group of players you hear on Forgiveness Rock Record. In hindsight, Broken Social Scene’s period of supposed inactivity was arguably their most productive stretch yet – yet another contradiction that makes up the byzantine BSS myth.
Some 10 plus years after Drew and Canning first started laying down ambient instrumentals in a Toronto basement for their debut BSS release Feel Good Lost, the ever evolving group are returning to Vancouver to perform at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park on Saturday, September 24th.
I love Malkin Bowl and I’m sure it will be an extraordinary concert. And to enter my giveaway all you need to do is post the name of your favorite Broken Social Scene song. If you want to gain an additional entry, you can tweet the following:
Posted my favorite @bssmusic tune on @hummingbird604 http://is.gd/2CjWff 2 enter 2 win tix @livenationwest concert at Malkin Bowl. Yours?
I will draw a random winner on September 3rd, 2011 at 2pm. I will count a comment AND a tweet as 2 entries, and comment/tweet separately as one entry each for a maximum of 2 entries.
All photos on this post used with permission as provided by Live Nation West
Like anyone who has lived in Vancouver long enough and who has had the opportunity to enjoy this city as much as I have, and who has fallen in love WITH the city and with SOMEONE from this city, I am always looking for familiar references of Vancouver on film, TV shows, and theatre plays. Heck, even in my teaching and research, I get a little excited when my students analyze local policy issues. That’s who I am.
Since I got TV cable again, I have been watching re-runs of Cold Squad, a Canadian forensic science show (that the US Cold Case was modeled after, apparently). I get an extreme (and perhaps kind of stupid) sense of pride and excitement when I hear the names of streets, or references to stuff I know about this city. To the actual location of City Hall, to zones riddled with drug wars and crime.
I know of a few shows who are about Vancouver, like Cold Squad. I remember Da Vinci’s Hall and Da Vinci’s Inquest. I remember Robson Arms. But since I’m not a TV show buff, I’m not really sure about other shows. Which ones do you remember are ABOUT Vancouver (and yes I know Dark Angel, the Fantastic Four, Supernatural and Smallville have been filmed here. I’m more interested in shows, movies, theatre plays ABOUT Vancouver).
Talking about depression still seems to instill fear in people. For one reason or another, it always feels as though people eschew the topic. I have been around people who have experienced severe clinical depression long enough to know that there is a lot of mis-education, mis-information and mis-interpretation of what being depressed means. I can’t claim to have answers, myself. I have never experienced clinical depression, at least not according to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (which is to be administered by a clinician). There’s an online calculator (as there’s almost always is) for HAM-D (the other acronym for the HRSD).
I have been in really down moods at some points during my career (heck, not even that far ago, last week was a really down week). And for all the work I’ve done in the mental health field, I’m still very much a newbie. I usually defer to Isabella Mori, my co-organizer for Mental Health Camp, when I need to talk with someone about depression or mental illness. I defer to my friends who have spoken openly about having faced depression or bipolar. I can reach out to folks who have survived those bouts of extreme depression, of extreme manifestations of mental illness.
And every time I come across articles that mention depression, particularly in the mainstream media, it strikes me as though there’s still a lot of misinformation. Take the example of the recent passing of Rick Rypien (whom it has been indicated had been suffering from depression, or Amy Winehouse‘s decease). People still talk about depression very much “in the background” rather than acknowledging than no dose of fame, fortune or success will be enough if the depressive (or any other mental illness) symptoms aren’t identified and treated.
Photo credit: Thomas Lieser on Flickr.
You can certainly be a very successful singer or hockey player and still face depression, bipolar, eating disorders or any mood disorders too. Mental illness is pervasive. And we need to learn more about it. Even more, we need to learn to TALK about it. We need to educate people and educate ourselves. In that effort, here is a summary (PDF format) on the realities of mental illness in Canada by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Read it. I urge you. Share it with your networks. Share it with your friends and loved ones. And if you know of someone who might need help, please direct them to resources. Depression is very real, it’s an invisible illness and it can take a loved one away from you. Don’t let this happen to your loved ones.
Full disclosure: All four organizers of Breathe Now 2011 are very good friends of mine. Another very close friend of mine (Airdrie Miller) has been invited to speak. And I love Bif Naked, who will be a keynote speaker. Now that we’ve got that one out of the way…
I’m all about female empowerment. Both of my interns are women. Several of my closest collaborators (research, particularly but also in my consulting) are women, and I have always made it part of my job to encourage my female students to shoot for the stars. I devote a substantial part of my teaching time to advise, educate and empower young women, at all points. And as you may know, one of my biggest role models is a fantastic woman: my Mom.
So, when I got wind that my friends Angela, Janni, Janice and Yukari were organizing Breathe Now (September 30th through October 1st, 2011), I figured I had to blog about it. So you may wonder what is Breathe Now, and why now?
Breathe Now hopes to achieve 2 things through bringing women together: to educate, enlighten and inspire Canadian women through lifelong education, friendship and partnership in a warm and inviting atmosphere and to empower women to take care of themselves as a foundation for personal and professional success.
To celebrate the 100 years of Parks Canada, I currently have a Family Discovery Pass to give away. This pass gives full and free access to all National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites in Canada for a year for a family.
Here’s a summary of the history and scope of Parks Canada’s work to preserve our natural beauty and remember our history:
In 1911, Canada showed foresight and leadership in becoming the first country in the world to establish a national service entirely dedicated to parks. One hundred years ago, few Canadians realized the impact of this decision, but they soon would come to know the iconic places that were held in trust for them, places such as Banff and the Fortifications of Québec, that would become world renowned symbols of Canada.
Today, as we embark on a second century of caring for our nation’s natural and cultural heritage, Parks Canada manages an impressive network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites and 4 national marine conservation areas. These fascinating places protect what is fragile but vital: the unique, unrivalled and irreplaceable places where Canadians can connect to their heritage and the wildlife, landscapes and waters that represent the very essence of Canada.
To enter my giveaway, comment on this post with one Parks Canada park or historic site that you would like to visit. For an extra entry, tweet the following:
I told @hummingbird604 about a @ParksCanada site I’d like to visit for a chance to win a Family Pass http://is.gd/hrO4ye What about you?
I will draw a winner on Wednesday August 31st at 2pm, so check your tweets and email (or also check back on this post). I will count a comment AND a tweet as 2 entries, a tweet as one entry and a comment as one entry (for a total of 2 entries maximum). Looking forward to reading your comments!
Oh. Dear. God. How I love chocolates. My intern (and Project Manager) Anabelle recently gave me a box of Rogers Chocolates because she knew I was having a really rough time. And as it turns out, they did pick me up (thanks Anabelle).
Photo crop from the Rogers Chocolate website. Nom. Nom. Nom.
When I got invited by Rogers Chocolate to their opening, I met up for a drink after the opening with my good friend Arieanna Schweber. Arieanna lives really close by to the village at Park Royal, also attended the opening and already has posted something about the event itself. I was slow with my blog post, because I’ve been pretty overwhelmed. Anyhow, I love Rogers Chocolates. And I’m glad we went to the opening because I got some sample treats. I would totally trek up to The Village at Park Royal for chocolates if I am in need of a “pick me up”.
The first Rogers’ chocolates were made in 1885 by Charles “Candy” Rogers in the back of his grocery store in Victoria, B.C. He quickly became a popular man. In 1891, Rogers expanded his chocolate operation to the company’s current heritage storefront on Government Street in Victoria and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, we have 8 retail stores, several hundred wholesale outlets ship to over 50 countries, and a 20,000 square-foot factory. [Rogers’ History Page]
Rogers’ Chocolates Park Royal Unit #C – 6 Village at Park Royal
900 Main Street
West Vancouver, B.C. V7T 2Z3
phone (778) 279-2462
fax (778) 279-7172
Disclosure: I was invited to the media opening and received a swag bag of chocolates but that in no way affects my review. I am neither obligated nor paid to blog about this store’s opening. As always I retain editorial control on anything published on Hummingbird604.com.
To celebrate the fourth annual Pirate Pak Day on Wednesday, August 17, $2 from the sale of each kids and adult Pirate Pak and contributions received in lieu of Pirate Paks will be donated to the Zajac Ranch. Zajac Ranch is a longtime B.C. charity dedicated to giving children with life-threatening illnesses and chronic disabilities an unforgettable summer camp experience. With more than $105,000 raised over the past three years, White Spot has sent a total of 50 kids to Zajac Ranch since 2008.
A traditional White Spot menu favourite since 1968, the Pirate Pak was first created by Nat Bailey to provide a unique dining experience for kids age 10 and under. The children’s Pirate Pak costs $5.99 and is available in a range of delicious options including two slider burgers, a regular hamburger, grilled cheese sandwich, Pirate Pals crispy-coated chicken, macaroni and cheese or lightly battered Pacific Cod. White Spot’s special edition ‘Adult Pak’ will be available Wednesday, August 17 only, and starting at $10.49, features a choice of four mouth-watering burger options including the Legendary Burger, Bacon Cheddar Bigger Burger, Provolone Veggie Burger on a multigrain bun and the BC Chicken Burger. Each meal is served in the iconic boat and comes complete with fresh-cut fries, a soft drink, a scoop of ice cream and a chocolate “gold” coin.
Exactly 775,592 Pirate Paks were sold last year.
Since 1968, more than 22 million Pirate Paks have been sold.
With the option of one per cent milk, juice and new sides like veggies and dip, grapes and steamed vegetables, there are more than 675 different Kids Pirate Pak combinations.
The Pirate Pak boat is 100 percent recyclable.
The most popular Pirate Pak item is the Pirate Pak Hamburger made with 100 per cent fresh Canadian beef and famous secret Triple “O” sauce.
Some facts about White Spot
Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, White Spot is a B.C. legend. Founded in 1928, when Nat Bailey launched Canada’s first drive-in restaurant at Granville and 67th, the 83-year-young chain now sees more than 17 million guests annually at 121 White Spot and Triple O’s locations throughout B.C., Alberta and Asia. Bailey’s original vision was to build a restaurant that served the highest quality, unique tasting food and White Spot remains committed to continuing this tradition in each and every meal.
I probably wasn’t prepared to love Mamma Mia (the Broadway Across Canada musical, on their North American tour) as much as I did. I also wasn’t prepared to see a crowd that would not sing along (or at least, not loudly enough) or dance along. The ladies behind me did not even stand up to dance, even with the wonderful encore of 5 (yes, you heard, 5) ABBA songs that made just about everyone else in the theatre stand up, clap and vociferously sing along loudly (yeah, the crowd ended up electrified and singing along, but for most of the show, they were just simply enjoying the musical in their seats).
The North American cast of Mamma Mia. Photo credit: Joan Marcus. Used with permission.
I’m not used to this. When I see a musical of the caliber of Broadway Across Canada’s Mamma Mia, I am used to seeing crowds yell, cheer, loudly clap and sing along. Vancouver crowds must be tough or ice-coated, frankly. For me (and for JT, who came with me as my Plus One), the opening night of Mamma Mia was an absolute delight. Not to say that there weren’t ‘opening night technical issues’ as most shows I’ve seen have.
The premise is, for the most part, known to just about anybody, but for those of you who haven’t seen the movie or known about ABBA’s fantastic songs (where have you lived, by the way, under a rock?). A free-spirited mother raises a young daughter in Greece without any mention, for the most part, of her father. She grows up to 20 years old and is about to get married, but she wants to be given away at the altar by her father who may be one of three men. So she invites them to her wedding. Hilarity (and lots of wonderful musical numbers) ensues.
I expected Chloe Tucker (Sophie) to carry more of the show, despite the fact that the actual centre piece of the musical is her Mom, free-spirited, somewhat whimsical Donna (aptly played by Kaye Tuckerman). But what I did NOT expect is to see Alison Ewing blow away everyone else with her vocal prowess and ability to channel cougar-like Tanya (one of Donna’s “kind-of-sisters” and part of the Donna and the Dynamos trio). I also did not expect her to be such a great supporting cast member to Tuckerman. Despite the marked difference in voice power, Ewing remained the supportive sister, rather than outshine Donna. On this note, I must add that at the beginning of the show, it looked as though Tuckerman’s microphone was not loud enough, because during several of her songs in the first act (including, sadly, Mamma Mia) her voice was overpowered by the background music. Not the case with Ewing, who just simply blew me away.
I think the technical team must have conducted a quick technical check on Tuckerman’s sound system as she came back in the second act with a vengeance. Tuckerman (as Donna) carried herself beautifully as she sees her daughter grow up into a rebellious and independent young woman who finally comes to understand that she doesn’t need her father to be there, just her mother and her strength. I couldn’t help but shed some tears when I witnessed their interaction, as I happen to be extremely close to my own mother (but, of course, I’m a male so there’s a substantial difference). And you could see the transformation of Tuckerman herself as her voice powered through the rest of the songs. I cried with “The Winner Takes It All”.
Fast-paced, witty and loud (and at the beginning of the second act, EXTREMELY loud I might add), this cast gives us a Mamma Mia that made most of us reminiscent of the wonderful songs of ABBA. I sang along and danced in my seat (sorry to whoever was sitting behind me) and couldn’t help but yell a loud BRAVO! when the cast began their encore songs set.
Photo credit: Joan Marcus
.
Happy Mahaney (Sky, Sophie’s fiancee) was a delightful surprise to me too. I didn’t expect to like him as much as I did and I think it was helped by his honest-to-a-fault depiction of Sky. It also helped that he dances, sings and courts Sophie throughout the show. And spends a substantial amount of the show semi-shirtless 😉
Honestly, I’m sad that the Mamma Mia engagement at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre only runs until Sunday August 21st, because I wish there were more people who would be able to see this wonderful show. The winner takes it all, and last night, clearly the winner was the Mamma Mia cast that gave it their all to satisfy a rather demanding Vancouver public, which in return gave this cast a standing ovation. Much deserved. You can still get tickets to Mamma Mia at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre by clicking through this hyperlink.
You MUST check it out. Bring your ABBA lyrics with you.
Video of The Winner Takes It All with Meryl Streep is here for your listening pleasure.
Disclosure: I attended opening night of Mamma Mia thanks to media tickets. I am neither paid for, nor expected to write a review. As always, I retain full editorial control of anything published on my site, and can be contacted via my Contact Form if you have any questions or comments.
I’ve written about theArtworkHub project before on this blog. It’s one of the many community-minded projects that we do at The Network Hub (we, not really me – I just show up and look pretty – the curation of each and every artist’s showcase is done very aptly by my good friend Chet Woodside and the rest, including promotion and setting up, we do at The Network Hub as a collaborative). We have previously showcased artists such as Scott Sueme and Jonathan Taggart and this time theArtworkHub project showcased Jason Athen’s excellent artistry.
I was unable to stay for most of the inaugural reception (however, both of my interns, Ana and Jess did), but have been able to enjoy Jason’s amazing work through being at my office in these past weeks. Challenging, vibrant and thought-provoking, Athen’s artistry is an evolving body of work that, from what I read in his artist’s statement, emanates from an evolutionary process that has taken him for a ride. Athen’s work looks beautiful on The Network Hub’s walls and has been admired by hundreds of visitors we’ve had at the office. And I just got word that my friend Alisha Mann and her company AMV will be hosting a closing exhibit.
AMVentures is honored to present artist Jason Athen. His newest work focuses on Art therapy “Using art to improve mental health.” Jason will be showing his Artwork this Sunday, August 21st, 2011 from 5-8pm at The Art Work Hub, 422 Richards Street. The Art Work Hub graciously donated their space for the evening.
The purpose of Art therapy is one of healing. Studies have shown this as a effective treatment for mental health issues, disease and disorders, addictions, etc. “Art Therapy combines the creative process and psychotherapy, facilitating self-exploration and understanding. Using imagery, colour, and shape as part of this creative therapeutic process, thoughts and feelings may be expressed that would otherwise be difficult to articulate.” says the Canadian Art Therapy association
“Through my paintings”, he said, “I have been able to purge the negative thoughts while learning more about himself and how to deal with SAD. What comes out of this in the end is always something beautiful.”
Please join us for this one night exhibit. admission is free we ask you bring wine or a beverage to share.
I did not expect to like Judas Kiss as much as I did, quite honestly. I knew that it was written by my Twitter friend Carlos Pedraza, that it had at least 2 of my favorite actors (Charlie David and Shawn Lockhart aka Brent Corrigan, in a former life). The premise, however, was kind of strange. And it was at points hard to follow the logic of the film. But despite the intricate elements and overall eye and brain candy, I think Judas Kiss succeeds at doing what Pedraza and JT Tepnapa (the director) wanted it to do.
You can still catch Judas Kiss once more, on Thursday August 18th at 9:30pm. A quick summary (focused on Canadian star Charlie David) is shown below. You should judge for yourself this cinematic analysis of past mistakes and lives turned upside down. I think the main question that Judas Kiss tries to answer is what if I hadn’t made the mistakes I made before and how could I solve them?.
Charlie David takes on the lead role of Zachary Wells, a failed filmmaker who returns to his alma mater to judge the annual student short film contest. During his first night on campus, an anonymous hook up with a student triggers an emotional, and rather metaphysical, journey into the past. Charlie David is aptly teamed up with 20-year-old Vancouverite Richard Harmon and gay porn star-turned-actor Brent Corrigan (aka Fox Ryder).
Directed by JT Tepnapa / USA / 2011 / EN / Total time: 107 min
Disclosure: I attended Judas Kiss with my Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011 media pass. I am neither obligated nor expected to write a review, but wanted to do so anyway. At any time, I retain editorial control of what is published on my site.
The Prints Show has been put together entirely by the joint efforts of North Vancouver photographers Andy White and Leon Kozlov. The whole idea behind the show was a fundraiser for cancer research in loving memory and honour of Linda Rosetti.
The goal was to accumulate 100 pictures from local photographers, amateurs or professionals. The fundraiser happens in Lynn Valley on August 18th as a silent auction for the prints: one copy of each is up for grabs, with the hopes of raising $3,000 in one night. The benefit money goes towards Inspire Health: Integrated Cancer Care for attention and care to support cancer patients.
This is Anabelle’s first theater review for HB604.
Early in July Raul was invited to attend a new local play titled Party This Weekend. Since his mom was in town during the whole month, the pleasure fell to me to attend this original and entertaining play on July 29th.
Derek on Party This Weekend. Photo credit: Matt Reznek on Flickr.
The story is… well, there are actually four stories, but I only had the possibility to see one. Here’s the blurb from the Party This Weekend website:
Experience a house party you will never forget, through the eyes of four pivotal party guests. Mingle, eat & drink, following one of these characters through the house each night.
I got to follow Lara around as she made sure that the party for her best friend Gen went smoothly. As the night goes on, the characters and story lines cross each other. As a spectator you become one of the guests, allowed to interact with the characters and participate in the party by hiding (shhh!) or singing Happy Birthday.
The complexity of Lara’s (played by Laura Hope) plot mirrored the life of a mid-20’s professional woman: ex-boyfriends and breakups, attachment to old friends and difficult life choices. Funny yet touching, hers is a story of growth, maturity and the art of letting go. As she meets with other characters Cameron (Andrew Baker), Vivian (Maggie Ma) and Derek (Matt Beairsto), she needs to make sure that the birthday girl is celebrated in style and gets the perfect gift.
The actors were convincing despite a few fumbles in the first minutes. I have to commend them for their ability to improvise and ad-lib around the guests’ interventions; the setting (in a private house in East Van) makes it all feel intimate, like hanging out with a bunch of friends, and acting in that setting must be quite a challenge. The supporting characters bring color and interest and serve as bridges between the four main plots.
It’s a shame that I won’t get to see the whole story. However, if you’re curious, you can always ask the actors as you hang out with them in a nearby bar after the play. It’s this mingling of acting and viewing, passivity and participation that makes this play such an original one.
Party This Weekend is on on Fridays and Saturdays until the end of August. The last weekend will be licensed for beer and wine; otherwise it’s pop, water and hot dogs for a moderate price. Showing up is risky as the spaces are limited, so it’s better to reserve in advance.
Don’t miss this original concept play written, directed and acted by Vancouver talent.
Hummingbird604.com was given a complimentary ticket for Anabelle to attend and see the play but was not required or paid to write a review. As usual, Raul keeps editorial control at all times. You can read more of Anabelle’s writing on her blog.
To Faro (Mein Freund Aus Faro)
2008, Germany
Queer Film Festival 2011
I was very excited to get to attend this year’s Queer Film Festival! I had absolutely no idea what I was in for since I had never really even seen a queer film (besides the major blockbusters) let alone been to a festival gala.
Whatever I might have expected in terms of quality, acting, and even storyline / content were pretty much blown out of the water. This German film, To Faro, is definitely worth seeing. Not only was it beautifully shot, but the charming little German town and ways were very dear to me. Tomboy Mel (Anjorka Strechel) fakes a relationship with an attractive man to please her family, while falling for a girl who thinks Mel is Miguel, and ends up caught in a web of lies. As teenaged-drama as this may sound, the film is actually hilarious and clever. It’s a classic story of a first crush, sexual confusion, and living up to others standards, but told in a very endearing way. The crowd definitely went through an emotional whirlwind, laughing at reoccurring jokes of Portugal, yet cringing at awful lies two minutes later. The indie style is totally natural and realistic, which serves to make it that much more heart warming and heart breaking.
To Faro plays next on August 19th at Empire Granville 7 Cinemas at 5PM.
This post was contributed by Jessica, attending the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2011 on media passes for Hummingbird604.com. We are neither obligated nor were we paid to review the film. As always, I (Raul) maintain editorial control at all times. You can read more of Jessica’s writing on her blog.
“There’s only one way to succeed in anything and that is to give everything.”
– Vince Lombardi
Every year, JT and I climb The Stawamus Chief in Squamish, not only as a tradition (we used to walk through Shannon Falls until they closed the trail right besides the falls. It’s not a bad hike, but it does require some effort to make it all the way up to the top, and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge. It’s particularly challenging to climb it when you’ve injured yourself, and yet the last time I went all the way up, it hurt.
My wrist wasn’t in good condition, neither was my physique. Yet I persevered and I climbed all the way to the top. I love the view from the top of the Stawamus Chief. It’s a feeling that I don’t think has matched any other of my accomplishments, not even when I walk up the Grouse Grind (note, walk up, not run up). Climbing a mountain has more than one particular meaning. It is also a metaphor for surviving.
The kind of challenges I’ve faced in the past few weeks, and in particular the last one, are nothing like the challenges some of my other friends are facing/have faced AND survived AND thrived. Some of my friends have lost family members, their beloved partners. Me? That’s not the case. Yes, I’ve lost friends, but for the most part, I am doing perfectly ok.
This past week was particularly rough on me as I have been missing people from my life. And no, having other friends available doesn’t really soothe me. It’s an ephemeral proposition. The energy to keep going needs to come from WITHIN me, not FROM anyone else.
For the most part, I give everything I do my all. And then there’s that point where I get tired, overwhelmed, overworked, and I feel miserable and alone. And I complain. And then I realize I have no reason to complain. Life, as I know it, is grand for me. Yeah, the weather has been less than stellar (with the exception of today), but, seriously – is there anything wrong with my life? No, there isn’t. Challenges, I’ll always be facing them. It’s the very nature of life.
But sometimes I’m afraid of making mistakes. And then I realize (as Lorraine said), that not making mistakes means I’m playing it too safe. And I didn’t get to where I am by playing it safe. It’s time to take more risks, perhaps more calculated (and more carefully measured) risks, but not to stop risking.
“Yesterday’s failures are today’s seeds that must be diligently planted to be able to abundantly harvest tomorrow’s successes.”
– Author Unknown
I hope I planted enough seeds this past week, because I am looking forward to more successes. It’s time to getting back to giving it all my all.
Vancouver theater is remarkable for its variety, and there is yet another play that you should see before September comes: CATIVO.
Produced by Hardline Theater, this play promises a different theater experience to spectators. Here’s a bit of the synopsis (because we don’t want to give away too much):
Jason Weights is an ex-staff sergeant now making his living as an architect in the city. Rodrigo Silveira is a cab driver who immigrated from Brazil after being held and tortured by the U.S. military. Be it providence, fate, or unfortunate coincidence, Jason takes a cab today. Rodrigo’s cab.
Hardline has a reputation to produce “theater that punches you in the face” (that’s their Twitter bio), and CATIVO won’t disappoint.
Entrance is by donation, 15$ suggested. CATIVO is on from August 18th to August 28th, with a free preview on August 17th, at the Hardline studio in Gastown at 68 Water Street. Check the Hardline Productions website for specific dates and showtimes. Anabelle will be at the premiere on August 18th (say hi if you see her!) and will provide you with a review.
Every year, for the past 4 or 5 years, I’ve been covering the Vancouver Queer Film Festival. From what I recall, this wonderful festival that celebrates and educates folks on queer life and queer cinema is the second largest film festival (just behind the Vancouver International Film Festival, which is happening next month). This year an excellent series of event we’ve had are the Celebrate Queer Vancouver 2011.
Celebrate Queer Vancouver is part of the Vancouver 125 festivities. You can buy Festival Passes here and tickets here. I must admit that the lineup of films looks really amazing. Doing something really innovative and fun, making use of ScribbleLive technology, my good friend Mark Robins is capturing on GayVancouver in real time everything related to VQFF. Check his post here.
I will be covering the VQFF this year again and providing you with reviews of several of the movies, from August 11th to August 21st. Hope you have a chance to enjoy! This is a most wonderful festival and you should totally check it out. For coverage of previous years, check my VQFF tagged posts.
GIVEAWAY:
One lucky winner will get a cool Six Pack with two tickets to three different films:
The String – Aug 17 When Malik, 30 and gay, returns home to Tunisia after life in Paris, childhood anxiety and cultural tensions quickly surface.
Going Down to LA-LA Land – Aug 19
After turning to sex work to supplement his non-existent acting career, Adam is swept up in a whirlwind of Hollywood gossip with his TV star trick. Director in attendance.
The Wise Kids – Aug 20
In a Baptist church community Tim, the open-hearted son of a single father, confronts his homosexuality for the first time. Winner of two top awards at Outfest.
To enter my giveaway all you need to do is check the lineup of films and tell me which one you’d like to check the most. Post your choice here and for an additional entry, post the following text on Twitter. As usual I will draw a winner from all randomized entries. I will leave my contest open until August 15th, Monday, at 2pm. The winner will have to pick up the tickets from my office at The Network Hub (we can make arrangements).
Told @hummingbird604 which @queerfilmfest films I want to check out to enter to win a Six Pack pass http://is.gd/N74uP3 You can enter too!
This past Pride Weekend (at the beginning of August) I committed a really bad mistake, particularly considering that my Grandmother had skin cancer and her skin tone was very similar to mine. You’ll see, despite being Mexican, my skin tone is much lighter than your “average” Mexican, and as a result, I have to think about always being careful not to over-expose myself to the sun. At the beginning of the day, it was dark, cold and cloudy and thus I didn’t consider that I needed to put sunscreen on my arms, or body. Then I went on and put a spray-on hummingbird tattoo on my arm, near the shoulder.
I will admit that I did not want the sunscreen to have a negative effect and erase the temporary tattoo, so even when the sun got shining, I wasn’t really very well protected. I mentioned on Twitter that I was the poster boy for the Save Your Skin Foundation, and I asked them to comment on my burn. Below is a short blurb that David Barnard, the Executive Director of the Save Your Skin Foundation prepared to comment on my burn. I love what this Foundation is doing.
We just saw Raul’s picture of his sunburn! Ouch! Make sure to take a look at your daily UV index report and pack that sunscreen to protect yourself from those harmful UV rays. After all, none of us want to end up as burnt as Raul after a day fun in the sun.
The Save Your Skin Foundation was created by family, friends, and colleagues of Founder Kathy Barnard, who is currently battling melanoma. Save Your Skin is a Canadian based not‐for‐profit Foundation. Through events and other initiatives, the Foundation focuses on raising funds for education and awareness, providing emotional and financial support to those dealing with skin cancer, and on supporting the ongoing research and treatment of skin cancer. Funds raised go towards providing critical and timely treatments, as well as ongoing education, research, and awareness initiatives.
You can learn more about the Save Your Skin Foundation by following them on Twitter too. Thanks David for answering my request for more information on the Save Your Skin Foundation! I’m keen to promote causes that are associated with preventing and treating cancers of all types.
This past weekend I shaved my head, completely. For anybody who knows how much I love my hair, this would probably come as a shock. I did it to keep a promise I made to someone I love very much. And as I told my good friend Airdrie Miller, I so often thought of, and wanted to shave my head in solidarity to her husband, the late Derek K. Miller, but never got around doing it. 
Coincidentally the day I shaved my head, my good friend Mat Wilcox (who is a cancer survivor) decided to cut her hair too. Such an amazing and beautiful coincidence. Mat and I had a wonderful chat about embracing change a few months ago, and we came full circle on our conversation recently when we met up for a glass of wine at Goldfish with a few other friends. I do feel different after having shaved my head. Not only in the silly, irrelevant elements (I cannot flick my hair and let it flow with the wind) but also in the most profound elements, as Minna indicated: I am letting go of one of the elements of my physique that I cherish the most.
