Still My Man

Last night Taia and I went to the Leonard Cohen concert. What a surreal experience! Truly this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and many others, excluding the couple from Oregon who are rumored to be following him around. After last night I'd follow him if I could. Yes, the man is pushing 75, and he seemed a little frail and unsteady at times, but he's still sexy as anything. I'd go home with him, if he'd have me :-) And so would have most of the ladies (and likely some of the gentlemen) in the audience last night. It was a male voice that yelled out, "We love you, Leonard!" during the second half of the show. I had goosebumps when he sang my favourites: Tower of Song, Suzanne, and Hallelujah. But I nearly lost it all together when he recited "A Thousand Kisses Deep." Wow! Overall it was a great show. I expected greatness but it even exceeded my expectations. His voice was perfect. He was so gracious, humble and appreciative, frequently tipping his hat to the performers sharing his stage who played everything from mouth organ and steel guitar to sax and mandolin. His singers were fantastic. I simply loved everything about it, from the elegant dress to the simple lighting in deep purples, greens, blues, reds ... It was a night to remember and cherish forever. Totally worth the bucks. I'm so glad I came.

Before the show Taia and I went for a drink at C'est What, a pub which has been around forever, since the days of Rye High. After the concert we met up with a few of her friends for a drink at an Irish pub around the corner. It was a little loud for my taste, difficult to converse. Then we went to Ferro where Ian was working, had another drink and walked back to their place. Got to see some of Ian's sign and artwork along the way. Some really nice stuff.

True to form I woke every hour throughout the night and finally just gave up around 6:30, got up, made the coffee, showered and got ready for the day. Mad had a sleepover last night (her first!) and we're picking her up around 10 then heading out for brunch with another Rye High Alum I haven't seen since back in the day. Should be fun. This afternoon I'm off to Foch for a BBQ with the Hetheringtons. I've got a bunch of magazines for Isabel, I think she'll like that. I think it'll be nice to see MB and catch up on all the goings on. There are people I'm curious about, curious to know what happened to them, where they ended up. In the haste of the last visit I never got to inquire, so hopefully today will be more relaxed and conducive to this type of reminiscing.

Mood: alert
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: neighborhood waking
Hair: damp but drying

Payolas

Can I touch you to see if you're real? Gawd! I loved that song back in the day. I guess I still do. I remember listening to it on a cassette tape, one of those year-end compilation albums of Top 40 hits. I loved those albums.

So, I am beyond busy right there now as the countdown to Frye begins. Found out where I get my press pass when I arrive. Requested early check-in. Have not booked just a regular room, but one with some perks (it was all they had left) . . . not cheap, by any stretch of the imagination but this is me throwing financial responsibility to the wind and just going for it. Remember Toronto in 2006? Yeah, hopefully the hotel will be the biggest part of my indiscretion and I won't go nuts in restaurants, bars, shopping, etc. Because I only have a month to turn it all around in time for my trip to Toronto in June. Though this T-dot excursion will be more tame with many less swanky breakfasts and $15 martinis.

When all is said and done I'll likely find that I could have gone to the writers' workshop in Ireland or France for the amount I'll spend on these outings. I'll take a serious look at this in hindsight and if it turns out to be that way, then you'll see me crossing the pond in 2010 . . . 2009 will likely be a year of financial recovery, much in the way that 2007 was :-) And that's okay.

Maybe I'll win Eagles tickets and at least be able to avoid that expense this summer. Though now, I'm not sure I want to go to the concert. I'm up in the air. Because there is the family reunion happening that same weekend. And really Sam is the only major draw for me and he'll be on first and off like a dirty shirt and there I'll be . . . luckily with those big outdoor concerts there's no need to decide anything beforehand. I can decide that morning that I want to go and there'll be plenty of tickets. But if I won tickets, well that would be another thing all together, wouldn't it?

And now I've got a couple dozen candidates to sort through.

Mood: I know, I hate people, but I love gatherings, isn't that ironic?
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: catch me when i fall, ashlee simpson
Hair: settling into the new colour