Well Versed Episode 4

My radio show Well Versed for the week of October 22. Listen every Sunday at 9pm AST:

• 92.5 FM for those in Antigonish, NS
  
• CFXU Radio for those not in Antigonish, NS

On this show I interview poets Anne Simpson and James Goldie in a discussion about what it takes to become a poet in Antigonish. Also played:

• Resurrection -John Akpata
• Random Poem to the Electric Night - Phil Jagger
• Granite and Sarcasm - Nora Smithhisler
• Coffee Bean - John Akpata
• Potatoes - Tanya Davis
• Barreling Madly - Steph Berntson
• Fragment De Reflection Du Mirroir 2: Foret Vierge - Khyro

Update on the mind

It's been awhile since I've written much of anything about myself. You may be wondering what is going on inside my head. You may be wondering if I am dead. Well, I am not dead. I am doing quite well - physically at least.
In the past while I've been going through some difficulty dealing with emotions and school and feelings of being overwhelmed. 2 midterms, a paper, and multiple presentations on-top of my regular work at the radio and some financial troubles just really piled down. Now I am happy to say that I have a research position at the school, a possible office job, and am working hard in my courses. The key - take things by the day. I don't spend time thinking about tomorrow and just focus on the now.
So I am in a better spot. My friend Savanna is coming to visit, my radio shows are going well, and hopefully I will have some dough rolling in shortly. Here is a cool picture of a tree:

Cabot Trail

I saw the most amazing geographical beauty of my life on Saturday. At 5am I met my friend Dan for the beginning of a grueling yet rewarding photography road-trip. We set out in his friend's borrowed car with camera gear, homemade lunches, rain jackets (the weather was predicted to be poor) and energy drinks. At about 6am Dan entered Cape Breton for the first time of his life. By 7am we had reached the town of Baddeck. This was where the trail began and where we would take our first shots. We set up on a boat dock to see the sun rise over the ocean. While the fog may have prevented some of the glory of the sun, we still were able to capture some excellent images:



As we were packing up the rain started to come down so we decided to begin our north-eastern assent. As the trip went on Dan and I were rendered speechless by the natural beauty that not only surrounded us but showed no signs of stopping. The first stop we made was about 1/2 hour into the trip. There was a clearing from all the color-changing leaves that showed the ocean.
Soon after shooting the ran began to come down heavily so once again we packed up and traveled until we out ran the looming clouds. At one point Dan and I just lied in the middle of the road taking pictures of the mist coming over the small mountains in the distance.


At a river that ran into the ocean mist traveled into the valley and over the river like an avalanche of clouds.
After this next stop we climbed the side of a mountain into the fog until we could not see much of the road ahead. While the car twisted up and around the mountain Dan and I just became more excited about the entire experience. We took our last shots right before Highland National Park.

Well Versed Episode 3

My radio show Well Versed for the week of October 15. Listen every Sunday at 9pm AST:

• 92.5 FM for those in Antigonish, NS
  
• CFXU Radio for those not in Antigonish, NS

This week's show featured:

• Wearing You - John Akpata
• I Think of You - Amy Willans
  
• Only Stories - Lisa Hoffman
  
• The Shave Poem (read by Rosemary Wilson) - Kyla Coulman
  
• As I Lay Sleeping - Tanya Davis
  
• Love Song Of Roy G. Biv - Kevin Matthews
  
• I Am In Love With Garmamie Sideau - Madame H
  
• The Drums - Tanya Davis
  
• Sweetheart, What We Fight For - Billy Ruffian
• Sweetheart, On The Brink - Billy Ruffian
  
• Sweetheart, Walking Into Hell With Owen - Billy Ruffian
  
• Sweetheart, Pushing Up Against Fate- Billy Ruffian
  
• Sweetheart, Escape - Billy Ruffian
  
• My Pussy - El

Well Versed Episode 2

CFXU 92.5 coverage of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Listen to Well Versed every Sunday at 9pm AST:

• 92.5 FM for those in Antigonish, NS
  
• CFXU Radio for those not in Antigonish, NS
  

A track from CFSW Day 3

So here is the poet RadaR performing in the 2nd round of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Her poem is about being Jewish.

Canadian Festival of Spoken Word Day 2

Sometimes everything in a day just falls into a place that makes you feel happy. Today everything was falling to the right places for me. I didn't expect such a good day when I woke up and was greeted by my good friend Justin. I didn't even expect a good day when I felt so grateful to him and his roommates for letting me crash at their house. I started to think this could be a really good day when I went to the most interesting grocery store I've ever been to. I knew fate was aligning things pretty well when I thought "this grocery store looks like there should be a musical here" and then there was a well-dressed, fedora wearing, pianist high in the middle playing jazz on a baby-grand piano. Then, I started to appreciate the beauty of the day when Justin took me and my camera through the Halifax gardens. I felt at peace as I patiently snapped nature pictures of the ponds, ducks, geese, and giant gazebo. I openly spoke with the group of people sitting on the park bench who let me take pictures of them. I was plesently surprised when I found out they were part of the Toronto slam team competing that evening.
Later I would join up with them to hear the first round of slam poetry competitions after I had the best apple of my life and a great pizza. I joined 32 competing poets and many appreciative spectators and friends to observe some amazing poetry. I listened for over 2 hours and was reeling in delight and awe at the artistic talent and creativity.
Afterwards I had went to conduct my interviews and had the most touching part of the evening unexpectedly occur. I began an interview with one of the night's highest scoring poets about what she had performed. We spoke about poetry's responsibility to people and its power. Then, when the mike shut off she told me how something traumatic had happened in her life 5 years back. She told me of an event that could have crushed her entire being if she let it. She told me of how she would not be crushed. Right there I saw her honesty, her spirit, and her integrity. I saw a woman's beauty and strength and independence in a way that I was searching for. And I made a connection.
I thought about this, and family, and life as I talked with a new friend over coffee by the pier. And after I walked her home and strolled the streets alone I let this excellent night sink in.

Canadian Festival of Spoken Word Day 1

So this is my first audio cast ever. I am covering the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Halifax for CFXU Radio. Everything began yesterday, Oct 10 and will finish on Saturday Oct 13. A full broadcast will be available at 9pm AST on CFXU Radio or 92.5 FM.

**Click on the post title to listen to the broadcast**

Thanks to friends!

It's 2:06am, 8 hours past the time I left my living room for dinner with some friends. I'm listening to some of the most romantic music I've heard in awhile (Chris Garneau) and thinking about why it is I love this holiday so much. 

Maybe it is the fact that eating food becomes somewhat of an event. Maybe it is because fall colors are like Nature's way of saying it has the most beautiful matching scheme. Maybe it is because this entire holiday centers around a meal with loved ones. Or maybe, it is because the only consistent thing about this holiday is that every year we surround ourselves with family and friends and say "thank you" to just about everything. I appreciate that there are no gifts. I appreciate that there is no specific religion associated with any of the celebrations. I love that there is a great meal. 

This year I really felt the spirit of Thanksgiving. I got to cook for my friends. My friends cooked for me. I spent my time completely surrounded by people who really understand how gifted we are, and they made me remember how gifted I really am. This holiday makes me realize that I have endless things to be thankful for. It makes me feel good to look at the leaves on the ground as I walk to an apartment that will smell incredible with the scents of cooking food. It makes my heart reach out and touch the world, and have everything touch me back.

Almost Thanksgiving

Yesterday I celebrated Thanksgiving with a bunch of my friends. I spent the night before making loads of vegetarian stuffing and vegetarian gravy. Some of the stuffing would be used in the turkey, but most would be cooked separately so I could still enjoy. The recipe was one handed down from my Great-Grandmother to my Mother and finally to me. I added my own twists and flavors as any good cook does. The stuffing and the entire evening was enjoyed by everyone.
This really will be my Thanksgiving. Here in the Eastern corner of Canada, far from many homes and families, friends will leave for the weekend. I will stay in Antigonish, NS for my first Thanksgiving because my roommates mother is getting married. As a result this weekend will not be anything like a traditional Thanksgiving. Nonetheless it will be a weekend of family, fun, and thanks. There will be festivities, and of course, lots of love.
However, I will miss my family. I won't be enjoying the smell of cooking throughout the house. I won't have dinner in a low lit family room that will echo with excited chatter. I will miss helping my mom with the shopping and cooking. And yes, I will even miss the long bus ride, airport wait, and airplane fly to get home.

Here is a poem I read to my friends and now share for all the people I love:

To friends and family on this thankful day
I would just like to shout out, "Hurray!"

For all the blessed times we've played
To celebrate our love on this fine holiday.

True smiles and spirit are all that surround
Great memories and moments aren't hard to be found.

So with you all so close and so near
Let us celebrate this with some festive cheer.

We'll say our true thanks,
And mine starts right here;
It's to you that I say
My thankfuls most dear.

Your support and your love
Your greatness and care
Are deep in my heart
Real friendship to share.

So thank you my friends
For being who you are

Just like how we say
You are truly stars.

You're special and great
You're beautiful all ways
So now let us celebrate
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!!

Me and KD

Incredible. Absolutely incredible. This past saturday was beautiful, amazing, and just a great time. And...it had nothing to do with Homecoming here at StFX. No, I left the small town of Antigonish and headed into the big city (Halifax) on Saturday morning. I got a ride up with some of my fellow executive on the Orientation committee (yes we still hang out even though the first week is done) and did some much needed shopping.

We all went to the mall and they bought some clothes, while I just perused. Then we went to Build-a-Bear and had an amazing time buying a wedding present for Sara's sister and new husband. We bought a bride and groom bear with cute little outfits. We got to stuff the bears, put hearts in the bears, clean the bears, dress them, and even make birth certificates! After being uplifted emotionally by all this we headed to lush where I got to buy products to pamper myself physically. I got scrubs and soaps to invigorate the body and mind.

I then went to get my hair done at a nice salon, walked around town for awhile, and chilled out in a upstairs cafe. Finally my roommate Wil arrived in Halifax and we met up to party with some people before the concert. It was nice but all I could really think about was seeing Kevin Drew and a few members of Broken Social Scene in a few short hours.

Eventually we made it to the small bar on the outskirts of downtown. The Marquee was beautiful and intimate. There was great lighting, pleasant bar staff, and even pizza! There were no openers so Wil and I got a decent place by the stage right beside the people who were giving us a ride home.

Kevin Drew finally came on stage with the rest of the band and started to play. The energy in the room was overpowering and Wil and I just looked at each other in anticipation for all the music and dancing to come. And oh did we dance. They played most of the stuff off "Spirit If..." they played a few of BSS's hits (including Major Label Debut and Time=Cause). They played new stuff from unreleased albums and a few covers including closing the show with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name".

The show was so amazing. I danced with people in the crowd. Everyone had looks of youthful excitement and innocence on their faces. The band were just going nuts and looked as though they would never stop playing music. It was hours of fun and I never wanted it to stop. Finally Wil and I had a great car ride home with our new friends Katie and Jeff. We all reveled in what we had just witnessed.