:: one for the records ::

The Cruise. I have been home from The Cruise (& best vacation of all time) for over 2 weeks now. I know, so shut up already. It's just that this was such an amazing trip, my first in multiple areas, so I can't quite seem to shake it. The nice thing about travelling with so many people is the friendships that spark up as the week progresses. There was a few of the association staff that I got to know and adore, we ate together, played together and travelled about as a pack. Many cameras were toted. I lovingly received a whole batch (being 233) pictures from one of said crew who works with the bub, this morning. Holy wow, I was in a whole wack of pictures. I usually escape behind the camera, so I'm not terribly used to actually looking at myself. So, I have been able to relive The Cruise all day long.

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I also promised I would share some of ME. I chose 3 of the 12 or so of me alone, that hide my face. Awesome! And my hair is vacation crazy (think Monica in Friends).

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Here goes. I'm shy. Be nice.

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:: in the bahamas (duh) getting ready to swim & be freaked out with the stingrays ::

:: chillaxin' in the bahamas. it's true. it IS better there. ::

:: Caribbean Night & dancing under the stars on the ocean. Not pictured: one dancing jamaican bobsledder. true story. I know! ::

♥ leel

Music Monday :: Matt Good

Last week I found myself digging through youtube for music from my 20's, music from the 90's. I mean, it's just too great to forget. Most of it is Canadian bands I saw during those years, bands now defunct. One artist I can't seem to ever shake is Matthew Good. I have loved him as the lead singer in the Matthew Good Band, who people branded an asshole after a weird publicity stunt gone sour, and today, as Matthew or Matt Good. I mean, his name is Good. He represents to me, a meaningful working artist. He speaks loudly about mental illness and for global justice, he blogs as well.

So, how bad can a guy named Good be? Or is that the irony? Or is that just his name and I'm being a weirdo? One of those sounds kinda right. I digress. I love his lyrics. I love his passion. I sing the words to these songs at random times, they pop up all the time and right now they are stuck in my mind. So put on some earphones (or not) crank up the volume, press play and enjoy them with me ::

I am currently cycling the lyrics to Everything is Automatic, over and over and over in mind, so it seems like a perfect place to start:

say hey, say hey, say, how ya doin'

Next Up: let's go back to the early days. Symbolistic White Walls. Perfection, all of it.

Next, and lastly: Born Losers. (the winning video entry, actually) Maybe my fave, as I listen to the lyrics now. Dripping with awesome, actually.

"Born Losers"

Well there ain't nothing to this but your daughter
and the life you would not give her break your plans
traipsed across the continent a squatter
for your lies at night to sleep between my hands

When the lights come on this whole place gets ugly
but when they're out strangers fall in love
she could never say that flat out she don't want me
cause I could never say that half way ain't enough

New Order's on the turn table we're dancing
cause what else do you do when you don't talk?
crucified to crawl into your mansion
Ya, that's why I learned to crawl before I walked

We're back where we belong
straight back where we belong
no days for nights, no cocaine cons
just back where we belong

Take me out back to your piranhas
And beat me until I can't even stand
your whole life a plane without no landing gear
so if this is it then come on let me land

That trailer trash pedigree is calling
it rats you out when you're down on all fours
me I like to cast my death on yesterday
cause what doesn't kill us now just makes us better whores

We're back where we belong
straight back where we belong
no days for nights, no cocaine cons
just back where we belong

Go put it in the ground
go bury it some place it can't be found
go put it in the ground

Well there ain't nothing to this but your daughter
and the life you would not give her break your plans
traipsed across the continent a squatter
for your lies at night to sleep between my hands

Happy Music Monday :)

♥ leel

April Heatwaves Bring Early April Flowers? Is that the saying?

Wow: Um, question? Where has the time gone? It felt like it was winter, we went on our cruise, came home to no snow and crocus buds, and now it's like August out there. In early April? WTF universe? I tweeted something to the effect of "if I have to turn my air conditioning on in the month of April, then I call it: Apocalypse." I mean it. (And by Mean It, I mean I am only 15% kidding and 85% serious this time.) Ok, so, what I Mean is: if this weather continues, and the Swiss keep doing weird things that break new grounds for the entire field of Physics, I propose we sell our shit and travel the world together (blogging about it all as we go) until 2012, when we then just call it a day, sit back on the beach or ocean, and watch some weird galactic shit take place. And if it doesn't end? We become expert freedom travelling journalists or some junk or publish books about the whole weird experience or something. It would be awesome! It'll be fine... Win, Win, Win. Who's in?

Seriously though, the Air Conditioning thing, it was a close call 2 nights ago, kids. I was forced to pull out the oscillating (and very creaky and annoying, I might add) floor fan. With 82 degree weather 2 days in row, the house was humid and warm. In April. In Canada, don't forget. I went to bed with straight hair the first night, tossed and turned all night long, and got up with curly hair. Now, I am known to be a tad of a night sweats person to begin with, but never this early, it was seriously, just like August this entire weekend. Nice. I have loved every second, don't get me wrong, but it is weird. Easter weekend in New Brunswick, when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's at least, usually included snowbanks and winter coats. Very different from today, is my only point.

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So, where have I been? My excuses include that I've been busy working away cleaning up the junk that constantly blows into our yard, raking and cleaning up the yards and uncovering the plants and fleurs in the gardens (see picture below), busy finishing my 2 journal pages for my nerdfighter traveling journal project, busy working with a film festival, and busy reading for my little book challenge. You know, general spring/life busyness.

With the wonderful weather comes time to get to upcycling some more suitcases. I have pulled them out and gotten some Before shots and am looking very forward to finding time to get some actual sanding, priming and painting going on. I have an Art Deco sort of buffet-thing in the garage awaiting a nice sanding and fixing up. It will be going into our ever-evolving living/dining room we have. I hate the layout. This piece of furniture (fingers crossed) will help solve some of the *issues* I keep having with that, and be something fun to blog about. My point: stay tuned for some creative fun!

Now that I have shipped off the traveling art journal pages to the next contributor, I can get back to focusing on some new journal pages in the Upcycled Journal I shared a while back. I love this journal. I love working in. I love that each page is different. Fun. This in turn has led to new inspiration to move from journal to canvas and I can feel a new series starting to peek through the fog. I am excited to move back to larger scale pieces and will be sure to share some once they show themselves.

What else? Busy with family, enjoying life after vacationing, and hanging with one special little man I talk about sometimes on here. My 3 year old nephew. I love every stage, but 3 & 4 for me are the best. I love this age. My nephew is no exception. Smart, thoughtful, polite, hilarious, and somewhat of an old man since birth don't even begin to describe the personality of this kid. He is adorable. People stop in stores to listen to his chatter. He never stops making me smile. Today was no exception. He and I had a wonderful time playing in the park near where my uncle jj & mom live while visiting for easter. He was quietly playing with a new tractor thing while I took the opportunity to snap and snap away as he figured this new toy out in the sand. It was quiet and warm in the sun, sitting there together, and I smiled to myself for this time with him. As he drove his tractor he turned his tiny body around so we were facing one another. He looked at me and said "auntie keeley? Can we stay here forever?" I said to him "Levi, if I could somehow make it so we could stay here forever, I would." And I meant it. What a blessing children are. Never under-estimate what impact they might have on a member of the family. I mean, check him out? See that? That sweetness?

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Yup, I am ruined. What a gift.

I hope you all enjoy your days as spring (and or/summer!)/(or fall for my Aussie friends!) arrives. What a great time of renewal and growth Spring is. I love it!

♥ leel