Saturday 26 March 2011

Musings

...Man, it takes a silly girl to lie about the dreams she has
Lord, it takes a lonely one to wish she had never dreamt at all

Oh look now, there you go with hope again
But I'll be sure your secrect's safe with me
Oh you're so sure
I'll be leaving in the end
Treatin' me like I'm already gone

But I'm not
I will stay
Where you are
Always

I will stay
I will stay
I will stay
I will stay
I will stay
I will stay (oh look now, there you go)
I will stay (oh look now, there you go)
I will stay
I will stay (oh look now, there you go)

(not my work...it's from a Dashboard Confessional song)

Monday 14 March 2011

News and things

So yes, I haven't blogged in ages! Between school and work, it's all a little crazy to try to have a life. But I have just quit one of my jobs and I'm feeling pretty good about that. I stayed up late last night and got up early this morning to finish a paper analyzing Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt"...it's worth about 40% of my mark in a Structure of Music course. Class was short, so I came home and took a nap! That was so nice. I love naps and it was my first one in a long time! Now I should be preparing for a Spanish in-class composition that is tomorrow morning, but it's open-book and I'm not too worried. I should also be doing some cleaning around here, but it's kind of nice to re-enter the blogging world.

I have a new niece, Lian. Here I am with her and her brother.
Notice how Ezra and I are bundled up: we headed out to explore Pickering's Waterfront Trail with Max the dog. It ended up as quite an adventure, with Ezra landing himself in the freezing lake!

I have applied to spend a semester of my degree at Université François Rabelais and over the next couple of months, I will likely need to make the decision about whether or not I will go. I would really like to, but I am not sure if the timing is right when it comes [once again] to the health of my parents. So for those of you reading, prayers for guidance, peace and wisdom are appreciated.

Regarding good music...

...I just decided that CBC is my favourite source for introducing me to new, appreciable music. In addition to Geneviève Toupin (see previous blog) who I heard on CBC Radio One's program "À propos", I'm also digging David Myles who I first heard on a CBC's Heartland episode! (Yes, I watch Heartland and it always has an amazing soundtrack! I've enjoyed hearing Brooke Fraser on there too and I've finally got myself a copy of her "Albertine", a little late, I know.) And then there's the Radio One program Q which is always so informative and great for introducing me to musicians.
Yes, having only a tape deck and radio in my car and not having cable at home is resulting in me listening to a lot of CBC (radio, podcasts) and watching a lot of their shows online (Being Erica, Pillars of the Earth, 18 to Life, and Heartland)! Thanks tax-payers for your contributions to my entertainment.

La rivière Tarumã: un voyage unique.

This is my current desktop photo...in the eternal Canadian winter, this memory of the Amazon warms my heart. In French class this term, we had to write a "portrait" of a place and the following is my short story of the Tarumã River.
Might I also recommend listening to "L'hiver" by Winnipeg's Geneviève Toupin about our never-ending winter ("Je crains que l'hiver soit sans fin")

Au pays le plus grand de l’Amérique du Sud, loin des battements de carnaval de Rio de Janeiro et situé profondément en plein cœur de l'Amazone, on trouve une rivière particulière au-delà du grand fleuve Negro. À la différence du fleuve noir vaste, ce ruban d'eau crée un refuge pour la voyageuse lasse et pourtant aventureuse. À côté du Rio Negro, on ressent l'humidité gluante de la ville et il est difficile à éviter les bestioles invisibles qui se glissent furtivement sous les moustiquaires, laissant leurs victimes avec des marques rouges innombrables. Ainsi, les basses eaux crient à l'étrangère, à partir de la capitale, de commencer le vrai voyage.

S'embarquant en le petit bateau, l'exploratrice serpente le fleuve fin pour découvrir le frisson et la détente de la forêt tropicale. Bien que cette maison flottante sente du diesel et son moteur baratte bruyamment, elle est bien équipée et se transforme en demeure confortable. Un hamac oscillant devient le lieu favori pour la passagère et dans sa patrie, elle continuera à l'utiliser pour se reposer quand le temps est agréable; mais à ce moment, elle regarde le ciel comme une peinture et racle une guitare dans ce lit mobile sur la rivière Tarumã. La chaleur suffocante, les moustiques agaçants et les anacondas méchants sont oubliés et la visiteuse s'émerveille du monde. Le bateau passe sous une arche d'arbres anciens et elle connaît un calme absolu.

Tout d'un coup, le batelier lui appelle. Elle se lève et voit pour la première fois les sujets d'un folklore indigène, « les botos », ou les dauphins de rivière. Quelle grâce! Ils l’intéressent de même que les autochtones eux-mêmes. Peut-être que demain, elle débarquera de cette place de solitude pour visiter un village, peut-être; mais aujourd'hui, elle a besoin de se détendre et comme la nuit tombe et le bateau s'arrête silencieusement, l'équipage et la voyageuse s'installent et partagent un magnifique dîner brésilien. C'était la journée parfaite pour lui rappeler les raisons pour lesquelles elle continue à revenir à ce cher endroit éloigné.