I used to be a night owl. I used to do my best work between 9 pm and 4 am. That was probably the biggest problem I had when I was working full time. But since I did research in an R&D centre, I never had that problem. Or at least I didn’t, so much. But I’ve been reflecting on early mornings, discipline and routines for a while.
My routine every morning, without going into much detail is usually as follows: I wake up around 4:45am to 5:00am, I check Twitter, my email for anything urgent, prepare my gym bag, head to the gym, workout for a solid 30-45 minutes or more, walk home, check Twitter again while I have breakfast and my coffee, read the news, then head to the university (or my office downtown), and start working on projects.
I usually devote my evenings to social events, arts performances, or seeing my friends. And then I do a bit more work when I get home. I try to be in bed by 10pm, but sometimes I have so much work I stay up, and I don’t get enough sleep. But what I have realized is that having these routines and staying disciplined has actually had a very, very positive impact on my life.
And I like that.
Are you a morning person? Do you follow routines? Do you stay disciplined? Have at it on the comments section!
Ah, the re-tweet (RT). That good ol’ friend. I would say “long time, no see” but truthfully, I can’t stay that. My stuff gets re-tweeted all the time, and I am extremely grateful for that. That people will think of my stuff relevant enough to share it with their own networks makes me happy. The way I have thought about retweets has evolved quite a lot, though. I am pretty sure that’s this evolution is result of the fact that my 5th year of blogging is soon over (April 2011) and that I have thought about this topic quite a lot.
In my two most recent speaking engagements in the field of social media (WordCamp Fraser Valley and the Canadian Public Relations Society Student Chapter in Vancouver Social Media 101), I indicated that one of the easiest, fastest and best ways to contribute to building your own community online was retweeting people’s stuff. I often do that, intermingling my own tweets (pre-scheduled, for the most part) with retweeting stuff from other individuals.
But the interesting thing is, not everybody thinks this way. The reason why I retweet what I read, mostly, is because either (a) I find it valuable (b) I agree with it and/or (c) I think there’s a reason to share it with my broader network. I retweet Translink’s stuff because my own online network is fairly large and well connected. I would (and probably will) do the same for the Vancouver Police Department (which is now on Twitter, and YouTube – and apparently Second Life?).
I look for ways to make my relationships bidirectional, and I think retweeting other people’s stuff is one way. But some folks might disagree with me. What is YOUR take on retweeting?
As you may know, I’ve been in the Top 10 Reviewers of UrbanSpoon for over 4 years now, and I was ranked #1 for a solid 1.5 year (I’m currently located at 7). I’m part of the Vancouver food blogging scene (which is quite different from your traditional social media/event circuit scene, I might add), so I take it seriously to find new restaurants to try out. I’m going to fully admit I’m a big fan of small, hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurants, or Mom-and-Pop. I’m a big fan of “rooting for and promoting the underdog”.
So here is a display of where I have dined out in the past couple of years. I’m looking for restaurant suggestions in areas not normally very promoted, like South Fraser, South Main (the southern part of Main), maybe New Westminster, Burnaby, Surrey, Delta, etc. Places that you enjoy and that you think could use a promotion boost. Leave a comment on this post (for the love of God, don’t just tweet me your suggestions – I won’t see them, chances are!). I appreciate any and all suggestions.
Thanks to one of my current students, Jon Chiang, I found this video of James Franco “seducing” himself. Very fun. Love him or hate him, James Franco’s acting has defined 2010. I can’t wait to check out 127 Hours.
It was my first time seeing The Arts Club’s White Christmas and JT’s second (he attended last year). But it was our first time seeing it together, and this will definitely rank as one of my best nights out ever, for many reasons, but one of them is, because I absolutely adored The Arts Club’s rendition of White Christmas.
Set in the post-war, 1944 era, White Christmas tells the story of two former soldiers (and best friends) who have become singers and perform an act together. Bob Wallace, a heart-of-gold man who doesn’t seem to believe in love, sees the silver lining in a botched match-making process (aided by his best friend, Phil Davis) and finds the perfect opportunity to help his retired general who has now become an inn-keeper. I won’t give away the intricacies of this delightful musical’s plot, but suffice to say that this beautiful tale of love and friendship will make you shed a couple of tears while admiring amazing dance and singing performances.
I loved absolutely every single one of the songs (and for a 2.5 hour affair, trust me, I did not feel tired once at all). I was especially touched by “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep”. Starring Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Monique Lund, Todd Talbot, Jeffrey Victor, Susan Anderson, Allan Gray, Mark Weatherley with Robert Allan, Scott Augustine, Adam Charles, Brennan Cuff, Anna Kuman, Jeremy Lowe, Kristie Marsden, Marianne McCord, Laura McNaught, Keri Minty, Shane Snow, Fiona Vroom, Rachael Withers, with Director Bill Millerd, Musical Director Bruce Kellett and Choreographer Valerie Easton, White Christmas is a must-not-miss.
“Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” made me shed a tear every single time. I have always had an amazingly close relationship with my parents, and the first thing they’d tell me whenever I would go to bed hurt or sad, they’d say “count your blessings… there are people out there who have a rougher life than you do… you will always have US”. So the song touched me profoundly.
The combined dancing/singing ensemble performances absolutely rocked, but I Love a Piano was the one that thrilled me the most. And of course, White Christmas is absolutely beautiful. I would strongly recommend you to get tickets for White Christmas, I know many of their performances are already sold out. And you don’t want to miss it.
I am giving away a prize package that includes dinner for two at the beautiful Seasons in the Park and tickets for two for the December 17th performance of White Christmas. Enter my giveaway now!
Disclosure: The tickets to attend White Christmas for myself and my +1 as well as for the winners of my contest were sponsored very generously by The Arts Club. They have made it explicit that I have no obligation nor commitment to write a review at all. I am not paid to write the review. In any review I write, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.
I was having an online conversation yesterday with Lisa and Terra and I was pondering on which songs do people use for cardiovascular training/running. Here is a very quick sampler of what I listen to on my iPod:
– Where Are We Running (Lenny Kravitz)
– I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On (Dino)
– Deliver Me (INXS)
– Physical (Olivia Newton John)
– Alive (Black Eyed Peas)
I recently read a tweet by my good friend Michelle Evans that reminded me of how much I love Celine Dion‘s music. I know that many people in Canada (ironically, as she is Canadian) don’t really like her music, but I do. Celine, in fact, to me represents Canada and all that is great about being Canadian. Whenever I have spent extended periods of my life away from Canada, I listen to Celine’s music and I remind myself that despite not having been born here, I am as Canadian as they come. This is her first song I fell in love with, Falling Into You. Coincidentally, the person I fell in love with (and who later would break my heart) also loved this song.
Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with us!
Normally, I would post my slides on SlideShare, but this time, I think all I’m going to do is post my 20 tips on how to build an online community through blogging on WordPress. Hope they are valuable to my readers.
0. Say thanks. Always.
1. Write your blog in WordPress.
2. Never forget to put the social in social media.
3. Write with pretty visuals.
4. Tell a good story.
5. Link, attribute and thank people.
6. Respond to comments on the blog.
7. Rise above the trolls.
8. Stop worrying about your stats.
9. Meet other bloggers in real life.
10. Cross-link your content through your social platforms.
11. Promote other’s stuff just as much as you do yours.
12. Write for you, before you write for others.
13. Spell-check and good grammar are your friends.
14. Optimize your blog for mobile reading.
15. Re-blog with a purpose.
16. Encourage your readers to stay in your blog and read other posts.
17. Write often, and write well.
18. Remember that content is king.
19. Maximize your use of the minimal number of WordPress plugins.
20. Go self-hosted.
And a key one that I just remembered: Your blog should be your home base. Don’t ever direct people to Facebook. You should have a website or blog, and all of your directionality should point out to the blog.
I am having lunch with a good friend of mine this coming week and I have NO CLUE as to where to have lunch that is within 3-5 blocks of a Canada Line (Richmond-Brighouse and all the Richmond-based Canada Line stations). I have a very large readership based out of the Lower Mainland. Please help! Leave your recommendations, please (do not just tweet them!).
No, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with my life right now, so it’s not out of being sad. I just have been so insanely busy it’s been absolute hell to try to juggle everything (my social media life with a full-time academic, teaching, research and consulting load). I finally had a 4-5 hour nap today to compensate for only having slept 3 hours in the last 48, and as I read Twitter, I felt I needed to get emotional stuff out of my system.
So, naturally, I blogged.
I completely understand my students when they tell me they are stressed with finals, term papers, their own jobs, etc. Trust me, I *do* understand them. And today has also been emotional for all sorts of reasons. They’re about to hand in their last paper of this course for me. I may not see them again (as some of them are moving to different countries, and graduating).
I’ve heard all sorts of positive feedback with regards to my teaching, from “I absolutely loved this course” to “I wish I could continue taking courses with you for the rest of my life” to “you inspire me”. It’s been hard to say goodbye to them.
I teach because I love it, not because I need to.
And knowing that one day, those amazing individuals will come back to me to say “Dr. Pacheco, can you write me a letter of reference” and being able to help them succeed in their careers is something that continues to inspire me to teach.
And the next semester starts on January 4th, 2011. Two courses next term, on top of my research and teaching.
If you’ve read my blog long enough, you’ll know that I am a fan and lover of my laptop. Yet, with its 17 inch monitor, and the additional numeric keyboard on the right hand side, my Acer laptop is just TOO big for me to schlep around and I know that most people have turned on to netbooks. I’m glad to inform you that Best Buy Canada has partnered with me again (you may remember my external hard drive giveaway earlier at the beginning of the school year).
Inside its high-end, stylish design the N145 is loaded with:
Intel Atom processor and 1GB system memory
160GB hard drive
Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n
Pre-installed Windows 7 Starter
VGA, USB and memory card connectivity options
Turn it on and the N145’s 10.1″ LED-backlit display will bring your digital world to life. At just 1.2kg, it’s the ideal secondary PC that lets you store up to 160GB of important files, toss it in your bag, and access the Internet and perform basic tasks just about anywhere. Built-in Wi-Fi gives you the power to connect to your online universe at any place a wireless network exists. Plus, the webcam and microphone help you stay connected to friends, family and colleagues.
I was thinking of what to ask for the comment on this post, as when I gave away the external hard drive I asked for your stories of horrible storage data losses. This time, I think it’d be good to read your stories on what use would you give your netbook. Tell me a story of where or how would you use it (maybe write a final paper at the library, or write your novel seaside in Tofino, you name it). You tell me your story of why you should win this netbook and where would you put it to good use.
I’ll draw (as I usually do) a random winner from all entries. Your first entry will be a comment, and you can earn a second one by tweeting the following (I will count the second entry only after you have posted a comment, which is your first entry).
Entered to win a Samsung Netbook from @hummingbird604 and @bbycanada – read how I will use it if I win! http://is.gd/ijkEH #hb604xmas
I love reading all these stories and can’t wait to hear how you will use your netbook. If I were given one (which I am not, as it’s only for the contest), I would totally take it with me on a writing retreat in Whistler or Qualicum Beach or the Thompson-Okanagan region. You have until December 20th at 5pm to enter my giveaway. Good luck!
The netbook I’m giving away to my readers is sponsored by Best Buy Canada and has a retail value of $299.99. I do not receive any monetary compensation, nor do I receive a free item either. I just thought it would be great for my readers to learn more about what Best Buy is offering for the holiday season through their Holiday Gift Guide 2010. Should you have any questions about this contest, feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.
I am a chemical engineer, and within my group of peers, there were 5 women (40 men and 5 women). Interestingly enough, 4 of the 5 women (and yours truly) were always at the top of the class when it came to grades. I’ve always believed in women equality (my Mom is an academic, also a PhD and a very strong woman). In my brain, I can’t really fathom how someone could, in 1989, open fire at Montreal Polytechnique and kill 14 women. Just because they were women and because they wanted to be engineers. It just boggles my mind. Some of my best female friends are chemical engineers. I learned to love chemical engineering because of my Separation Processes professor. So, for me, women can be just as good engineers as men.
I was pleased to see a number of elements and events at UBC memorializing and paying tribute to the young women whose lives were cut short by a senseless act of violence. It made me very proud of being a faculty member here. I hope this tragic event never, ever repeats itself.
My good friend Christopher Parsons alerted me towards a case that is to be heard on December 7th on linking and libel. Please see below text of Chris’ email:
I wanted to alert you to an incredibly important case that is scheduled to be heard Dec 7 in front of the Supreme Court. Crookes v. Newton revolves around whether it’s libellous to simply link to another website. We link/footnote to other sources in our own writings all the time – news articles, other books, journal articles, etc – and the freedom to do so is in the crosshairs. This case is *not* about what you write around the footnote; Crookes isn’t accusing Newton of writing libel material himself but just linking to what Crookes perceives as libellous speech. Given how commonly academics refer to facts that they may subsequent disagree with or dispute, often facts that could be seen by some parties as libellous, this is an incredibly important case for academic freedom and freedom of speech in Canada more generally.
Link to interview about case: http://www.cbc.ca/spark/2010/12/full-interview-can-a-hyperlink-be-libellous/
I am, quite obviously, concerned for the outcome of this case. I’ll be following the case closely.
I was amongst a group of select bloggers and media personalities invited to the launch of The Helm in downtown Vancouver (fear not, the restaurant is open now and you can come down and enjoy whenever you want). It was nice to see many of my fellow bloggers and mainstream media friends as well as meet some other great people (amongst them, Jillian Harris, who you may remember from The Bachelorette).
The drinks were spectacularly good, the service was great, and more importantly, The Helm is a very nice and welcome addition to the downtown life. And it’s SO well located (near Davie on Howe). Separate from the busy night life of Granville Street but close enough to Davie and to crossing the bridge. And even more importantly, I am running a giveaway right now with them and Pacific Theatre (head over here to drop a comment and enter my contest).
In the Fall of 2010 four young friends came together with a shared vision and passion to offer a vivacious dining experience in the heart of downtown Vancouver, that is the Helm. Mere steps away from the infamous Granville strip, the Helm feels a world apart from the neon bustle with its treed patios and open, airy space. Inspired by the supper clubs of Montreal and New York, they sought to create something with a similar energy but with a local sincerity that is true to Vancouver as a city. Serving farm-to-fork plates in an elegant urban setting, the food sits at the heart of it all but the Helm is more than just a dining experience. It is a place to share cocktails infused with home made syrups and preserves, a carefully selected wine list in a warm, inviting atmosphere with friends, colleagues and family. Beginning with afterwork drinks, the Helm transitions into a dinner hour then shifts into a stylish nightclub featuring live music, DJs and dancing
I’m not really a music band critic, there’s people out there who do that better than I do. But I had a chance to see The Tainted Lovers live at the Movember Closing Party, and they were AMAZING. Excuse the really bad sound quality (as my digital camera isn’t really designed for video in these conditions), but suffice it to say, I loved the covers this band created. AND the fact that they have a blog earns them brownie points for me.
Undeniably one of Vancouverâs best-drawing party bands, The Tainted Lovers are veteran musicians who have been entertaining wildly enthusiastic audiences in Canada and the US with their brand of retro madness since 1996.
The Tainted Lovers are in demand for private and corporate parties. Their stylized, non-stop retro show offers a refreshing change from the usual party bands. Let them bring all of the energy and excitement of their live show to your private party.
They have performed for companies big and small, from high-techs to Fortune 500s, and have been hired to perform all over Canada and the US. The Tainted Lovers are also proud to have taken part in numerous charitable fundraisers for organizations such as the BC Cancer Society and Afro News.
Their mission is simple: To keep you on the dance floor all night long.
Most of the time, you’re a typical party animal. You know how to have a good time.
You’re a friendly, fun drinker. Drinking usually brings out the best in you.
When you drink a little too much, your flirtatious ways can get you in trouble.
You really up your sex appeal when you’re super sauced. Drinking totally lowers your inhibitions.
You may have noticed that I’m doing a few fabulous giveaways this holiday season. The second one of my Christmas (well, let’s face it, I was raised Catholic, so I *do* celebrate Christmas) giveaways is a gift certificate for dinner for two at the wonderfully amazing Seasons in the Park (at Queen Elizabeth Park) and immediately after, the almost sold-out show White Christmas at the Stanley Industrial Alliance, produced by The Arts Club.
Based upon the Paramount Pictures film written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin Book by David Ives and Paul Blake, this tap-dancing delight brims with tunesâincluding âBlue Skies,â âSisters,â and the ever-popular âWhite Christmasââthat will fill you with the joy of the season.
I had wanted to have dinner at Seasons in the Park at the Queen Elizabeth Park ever since I moved to Canada. This year, I finally went to Seasons as the wedding of one of my absolute best friends was there. Amazing service, beautiful location and stunning, breath-taking view. And the food… oh my, the food. You need to experience it for yourself. You can make reservations at 604.874.8008m. Located at Cambie St & W 33rd Ave in Vancouver, BC, Seasons’ hours are Monday – Saturday from 11:30am and Sunday from 10:30am.
Enjoy Vancouver’s best panoramic view from every seat in the house, along with award-winning cuisine and exceptional service.
For a chance to win this great package (dinner for two on Friday December 17th at 5:30pm, and tickets for two for the Friday December 17th performance of White Christmas, at 8pm), please drop a comment on this blog post and tell me what makes the person you would like to enjoy this package with so special. It can be a friend, your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, your Mom, Dad. Whoever you would like to take to Seasons in the Park for dinner and then enjoy White Christmas, tell me – what makes them so special in your life?
I will draw a random winner from all entries up until December 14th, 2010 at 7pm (opening night of White Christmas for media is that Wednesday and I will be asking JT to draw the winner). Comments on this post count as ONE entry, and if in addition to commenting on this post you post the sample tweet below, I will count it as an ADDITIONAL entry, e.g. you can earn up to two entries in total, the first one by commenting and the second one by tweeting about the giveaway.
Entered to win dinner @SeasonsInQEPark & White Christmas tix @TheArtsClub from @hummingbird604 #hb604xmas http://is.gd/i9Mne – you can too!
You can follow Seasons in The Park on Twitter as well as The Arts Club. They are both two fantastic organizations and steadfast supporters of mine, and I am delighted and grateful that they have partnered with me with this holiday giveaway. Enjoy!
I judged the Hyatt Regency Vancouver’s Gingerbread Lane a couple of years ago, and while I didn’t judge it this year I totally love this cute exhibit.
While I am not going to gloat about the quality of my photos, I think that for the kind of online work I do (I write for the web) I think the quality is decent enough. The rest of my photos on Flickr.
I was browsing through my corner store recently and reached to look into refrigerator to check the So Nice soy beverages. Strange as it may sound, checking these out gave me a strange warm-and-fuzzy feeling, because I am actually one of the judges of the So Nice Contest, which captures ideas on greening our world.
In promoting their contest (and judging it), the kind folks of So Nice (Canada’s largest sustainable, organic soy beverage brand) gave me a pack of goodies for one of my lucky readers to win. I will be giving away a “Soy-At-Home” prize pack containing:
The Legacy by David Suzuki (compliments of Greystone Books: Suzuki, one of the planetâs preeminent elders, explains how we got where we are today and presents his vision for a better future)
Sapadilla rosemary/peppermint Counter Spray (plant-based, biodegradable and earth friendly cleaner)
Simplicity natural vegesoy candle (made with soybeans and all natural vegetable wax-petroleum free)
Green Zebra 2011 Savings Guide (over 250 coupons, $10,000 in savings on eco-friendly products, restaurants, organics, health-fitness, cultural activities and getaways)
EcoJot: 100% recycled paper journals made in Canada
So Nice product voucher (1.89L carton, as shown below) (This product needs to be refrigerated, hence the voucher)
The So Nice “$5,000 Towards a Better Organic World Contest’s deadline is December 31, 2010. I will keep my giveaway running until December 27th, 2010 at 5:00pm. The contest’s eligibility is for Canada residents only.
To enter my giveaway:
FIRST:
âLikeâ the So Nice Facebook Page (- while you’re there take a look at their Green Contest where I am a judge)
AND THEN do one of the following:
Tweet your favorite green tip and include @soniceorganic and the hashtag: #sonice-rpv
OR
Comment below with your favorite “green tip”. Something that you do to reduce your ecological footprint, for example. Your green tips can be anything from how you conserve water, to linking to your favorite vegan recipe. Just be sure to keep your idea clean đ
About So Nice So Nice only uses certified organic, non-GMO soybeans that are grown in Canada and the US.
The So Nice âA Better Organic World Contestâ
The So Nice âA Better Organic Worldâ contest on Facebook runs until December 31 and asks: âHow would you spend $5,000 towards a better organic world?â . Answer in 300 words or less for a chance to win $5,000 to put this plan into action! Check it out here. You can submit ideas of how you would go about making the world (or even just your corner of the world) a greener place.
For more information about the So Nice Facebook contest, visit the link above or view the âMedia Roomâ.
Disclosure: The bag of goodies was generously sponsored by So Nice Canada, and it’s a token of appreciation for me as one of the judges of their “A Better Organic World”. I am neither paid to run the contest, nor do I get any other form of monetary or in-kind compensation. I just think So Nice is a very cool green brand that is working towards greening our world. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do feel free to contact me via email.
Dearest Arieanna: I am guessing that you’re probably awake already because Aiden has been waking up early too, so I scheduled this blog post to go live right about when you would see it (thank you WordPress for scheduling capabilities, hehe). I just want to say publicly what I have told you in private as well: I value your friendship enormously.
Moreover, I feel privileged to be able to share the evolution of your family as you and Ianiv grow into parenthood. When I see the dedication you have for Aiden and how much you strive to be a great mother to him, you remind me a lot of my own Mom (whom you’ve met). You’re an amazing woman and a great friend, and your dependability and reliability not only with me but also with all of your friends has always reminded me of how important it is to be dependable and reliable.
I’ve learned a lot from you, not only about friendship, but also about blogging, social media and in general. I’m blessed to have you, Ianiv and Aiden in my life. Much love today and always, and I can’t wait to celebrate your birthday!
Three years ago, I Blogathoned for A Loving Spoonful, a fantastic Vancouver charity that provides meals to patients afflicted with HIV/AIDS. I learned about the fact that November was officially proclaimed Red Ribbon Month through the We Care Red Ribbon Campaign. The red ribbon symbolizes the continuous fight against the deadly disease. Vancouver is home to one of the world leaders in HIV research, Dr. Julio Montaner. And recently, A Loving Spoonful celebrated it’s 20th anniversary. According to the Joint Programme of the United Nations on AIDS (UNAIDS), 56 countries have either stabilized or achieved significant declines in rates of new HIV infections.
An estimated 2.6 million [2.3 millionâ2.8 million] people became newly infected with HIV, and while the rates of infection are declining, there’s still much work to be done. Today we celebrate World AIDS Day and the We Care Ribbon Campaign.
The Red Ribbon is the symbol of hope and solidarity for those affected by HIV/AIDS and was developed by the Visual AIDS Artist Caucus in 1991.The We Care Red Ribbon campaign intends to base its efforts around this integral symbol to promote the themes of the campaign and encourage the Vancouver community to Spread The Love, Stop The Virus! HIV/AIDS: Together we can protect each other.
One of the things I have always felt incredibly grateful for is that I have the right support infrastructure to succeed. I am successful not only because of the fact that I work hard and put in long hours. I am in fact successful because of all the fantastic people who support me. As I approach the end of the year, and I reflect on my 2010 Manifesto, I realize that I couldn’t have arrived where I am now if I didn’t have the right support infrastructure for success. I was asked once how often do I say thanks, and I answered rather curtly “all the time”. And it’s true. To this day, I still thank my friends without whom I would not have succeeded, even those who are no longer in my life.
I have the support and friendship of the cofounders of The Network Hub, a formidable platform for entrepreneurship, a launch pad and a safe haven where I have grown as a consultant and entrepreneur.
I have the support of my home department (Political Science at UBC) for my teaching
I have the friendship and support of The Network Hub community and alumni, for my entrepreneurial career
I have trusted partners in the different areas that I blog about, PR/marketing folks in the restaurant and food industries, in the theatre, dance and arts communities, and in the non-profit world
I have had wonderful mentors in the evolution of my blogging
I have wonderful clients who partner with me in fantastic projects.
I am able to count on wonderful friends who pass on leads for new projects or partner with me in joint ventures.
And in a surprising twist of events, through the years, I have counted with my family and offline friends’ support to my blogging
.
This last point has resonated with me lately quite a lot. My offline friends and loved ones often try new restaurants “because who knows, Raul, you might want to blog about it”. Or they join me in social media functions, like my brother did in his recent visit (we went together to the News 1130 Tweetup). My Mom went with me to many social media functions this summer. And JT often buys tickets to shows he knows I might want to blog about in the future. And tolerates it when people stop us as we go for walks and they recognize me as “OMG you’re Hummingbird604”.
To all the folks who partner with me and provide me with the right support infrastructure for success, my eternal gratitude and love.
I’m again lucky to be able to give away a pair of tickets for the December 9th, 2010 at 8pm show (preview), this time to an all-time favorite: Annie, put together at the Gateway Theatre. Playing from Dec 9 to 31st, 2010, Adult/Senior tickets go for $43.00, Students with valid ID $27.50, Group $39.00.
Separated from her parents, on the run from a tyrannical orphanage mistress, and accompanied by her only friend, a stray dog, red-headed optimist Annie swears that âthe sunâll come out tomorrow.â
Simon Johnston, Executive and Artistic Director Simon Johnston indicated that they â(we)re celebrating twenty-six years at Gateway by producing Annie, the musical we started with, Annie.â
Our cast of thirty includes eleven-year old Michelle Creber as Annie, acting alongside her real-life family dog Max, who plays Sandy. Last seen on Gatewayâs stage in the hit comedy I Love You, Youâre Perfect, Now Change, Timothy E. Brummund returns to play all-around softy billionaire Daddy Warbucks.
Described as someone with âa voice that could hit Surreyâ, weâre thrilled to welcome long-time veteran of both Shaw and Stratford Festivals Nora McLellan as Miss Hannigan. Gatewayâs favourite âPlaidâ Matt Palmer returns to us as the opportunistic Rooster, while former Gateway Artistic Associate Barbara Tomasic is Daddy Warbucksâ assistant Grace, with Pippa Mackie is Roosterâs love-interest Lily.
Director Johanna Wright is the director and leader of the creative team of Musical Director Allen Stiles, Choreographer Kennith Overbey, Set Designer Drew Facey, Costume Designer Carmen Alatorre, Lighting Designer Ereca Hassell, Sound Designer Chris Hind, Stage Manager Lori Parker, and Assistant Stage Manager Jaimie Tait.
To enter this contest, leave on this blog post a transcription ofa quote that inspires you. I have too many to list here, but some of the best ones (and the ones I like) are usually the ones that inspire me to be a better educator. You have until Tuesday, December 7th at 2:30pm to enter my giveaway.
Mental health is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. It’s a topic that continues to be stigmatized yet mental illnesses are pervasive in Canada (statistics show that 1 in 5 Canadians will be affected by mental illness in their life time). That’s 20% for those who are counting. And yet we continue to stigmatize the topic. I take offense with this stigmatization and thus am happy to promote charitable events that are dedicated to bettering the lives of people afflicted with mental illness.
Patti Schom-Moffatt, the general manager of Edelman Vancouver, informed me about the work of the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, and their intention to fill the Christmas stockings of residents this holiday season. I asked Patti to send me some information, which I quote below.
The Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction is run by Vancouver Coastal Health, has been operating for about two years and serves complex concurrent disorder clients who are challenged by severe mental illness, chronic addiction and significant physical health issues. About 75 percent of residents (it has beds/rooms for 100) were homeless or at significant risk for homelessness prior to being admitted to the Centre.
The clinical program is strength based, which is very unique in Canada. It focuses on what people can do, instead of what they can’t. On their assets rather than deficits. The first 30 days are intense and used to help stabilize the person — go through detox, get their meds right, begin the process of engagement. Then they spend the next many months learning the skills they will need to live as independently as possible once they leave the Centre.
Some will need permanent care. Some will need palliative care because their physical health issues are profound. And some will return to community living with the right supports. Everyone will need some support.
While there are operating dollars available through the health authorities,there are no dollars for things like clothing or in the case of Christmas, gifts. And because of the circumstances of complex concurrent disorders, the majority of residents have lost the support and connection to their families, so they are alone.
Patti mentioned that they’d like to provide a memorable Christmas and are looking for individuals and/or businesses to consider sponsoring the residents. The Centre has 100 residents so need $10,000 or $100/resident. The money would be used to buy them a gift and some warm clothing, pajamas, a sweater, a jacket. The basics. Tax receipts would be available through the Vancouver Coastal Health Foundation.
I would like to encourage my readers to consider donating to this worthy cause.
