Camping - the good, bad and the ugly

Here's some photos of Beautiful BC on the August long weekend (top-beachfire, middle-the lake off Kilby beach campsite, bottom-Chehalis River: all in and around Harrison) when me and 2 of my galpals went camping. There was languishing in the sun, eggs made in pots, coffee brewed on propane (thank god for my Italian stove-top espresso maker), loads of laughter, sexual secrets revealed, friendly individuals who gave us directions, campsites, and firewood...and even a singalong!

There was also a crapload of mosquitos, girl-on-girl bickering over lost sleep and little patience, and the fact that we all feared for our lives on the Friday night when we were treated to a full-on onslaught of adolecent testosterone. They were really more like chained primates who for the first time were being let out of their cage - yelping and screaming until 3am - chainsaws giving way to illegal and dangerously large fires...sounds of retching vomit and loud indiscernable thumping bass coming out of their honky-tonk vehicles. I kept having visions of our ax being used against us to chop us up into little pieces and I'm sure everyone else in the campsite felt much the same - as no one, not one grown man or worried mother said anything to any of these kids - except my brave friend who went to try to reason with those on our side of the river to get them to quiet down and not egg on the more crazy ones across the river at the illegal site with the illegal fire. They were reasonable but continued to play their music for what seemed like an eternity - thank god I was a bit sedated with the bottle of wine that I had consumed.

This of course incited a mantra of hatred towards said individuals (needless to say we promptly left the campsite the next morning) and we had many messages we would have loved to give them and to whoever raised these children (actually in their early 20s I'm sure, but who clearly should not be allowed to actually go out and co-habitate in public, so therefore, children) ...something like:

'We're sorry your son did not make it home from his camping trip this weekend - we murdered him...rest assured that it was totally justifiable and we would recommend that if you have any other children exhibiting the same behaviour, that you cut their life short by doing the same'. That's not very Buddhist of me, is it? Well...it's probably best that karma get them in the end - karma is a bitch.

Spring Cleaning

So, it’s about that time where I totally reconfigure the entire apartment, thereby welcoming new energy into my life – right? I do this about 2 or 3 times a year. For me, looking at things from a fresh perspective includes cleaning out the dust bunnies literally and figuratively. Currently, I am stuck mid-clean. Could be psycho-somatic…I am currently stuck in life; therefore being stuck with my home decorating makes sense.

I am looking for something new, not sure what that is quite yet…so I am getting my feet wet in various arenas (speaking of arenas – saw 5 episodes of Season 1 of HBO’s Rome this weekend – highly recommend)….auditioning again…researching some different avenues, questioning friends and colleagues and generally trying to be open to change and pick up on signals. You just have to get out of your own way and then the world is your oyster right? Right.

the 3-month or year cycle

I used to think my life ran in 3 year cycles of renewal - i.e. every 3 years new and marvelous things would happen to me - in my career mostly. IN '96 I got my first professional theatre gig...By 1999, I had booked several film gigs including a recurring role on a series...which was promptly cancelled after NBC f^$cked up their airing schedule putting the World Series between episodes 2 and 3, killing the chances of anyone remembering to actually watch the show even if they liked it. The writing was pretty good, and I am not just saying that - better than a lot of schlock on TV right now...but I do have fond memories of the current husband on Gilmore Girls tucking me into bed. I digress...

SOoooo, this only lasted 2 cycles, because in 2002 nothing extraordinary happened - I had moved to Toronto in 2001 hoping to continue my successful climb, but it got stunted instead as I exchanged my fabulous one-bedroom in Van and pretty secure day job for a walk-up with 2 roomates and a serving job....and the occastional gig at Second City did not seem to compensate.

Accordingly, this theory fell by the wayside, when I went back to school in 2003 and finally changed careers in 2004. (Those of you in the know, are aware that I am slowly but surely trying to work my way back into the "BIZ" with an audition here or there...as you can never kill the beast)

BUT, as I reflect on it now - one can say that 2005 saw me back on the cycle- as I got my first and pretty spot-on industry-wise job in my new industry (that of managing culture and heritage) and moved back to Vancouver. At first, the first 5 months especially, I thought this perhaps a very bad move - missing the hustle and bustle and friends of back east, but in hindsight I believe the move back has allowed me to grow and reevaluate life goals in ways that being busy keeping the wolves at the door would not.

I had that kind of weekend - reflective, reevaluative, renewing...so I signed up for eharmony - yes I am paying the psychological internet gurus to help me find a mate...I have paid more for worse things - they are hanging in the back of my closet, unworn.

This came about by accident really. Not having any plans on a Saturday night, seeing an advertisement on the side of a vehicle while shopping for groceries lead me to the website - knowing 2 other sane individuals who had tried it with moderate to very good success...so why not? 2 hours, 200 questions and my friend on the phone to help me fill out the 'how do your friends see you' questions...I'm in...when does the offer I sign up for end? Curiously 3 months from now on the very day of my birthday...also the deadline I have given myself for creating professional karma...Suddenly, I have a very good feeling about 3 again.