Las Vegas (December 19-23, 2017)

This is the second time that I've been to Vegas. The first time was the summer of 2001. That was a long time ago. I have spotty memories about the strip, but I'd like to think that's more because there wasn't the strip like there is today rather than me not really remembering my visit. Truthfully, I think it's a little bit from column A, a little bit from column B. The only strong memory that gave me a sense of nostalgia was watching the fountains in front of the Bellagio Hotel.

Anyway, I've been wanting to go back to see some more shows and marvel in the spectacle of the strip. Because it really is a spectacle.
Just walking around the strip is fun. You can people watch, window shop, and explore different worlds in the different casinos. I'm not a gambler, but I enjoy them as an observer. The lights, the sounds...I'm repeating myself, but it's a spectacle!
I guess it's so much of a spectacle that I was just living in the moment of it all. While I did take some pictures, I kind of surprised at how few I took and most of them seem to be from the evening even though I wasn't actually out and about in the evening very much. And my strongest images of Vegas don't seem to be reflected in the pictures that I have so I'm not really sure what happened there.
The resources that have been invested into the resorts is incredible. From the casinos, the restaurants, the shows, the hotels, the shopping...it's unreal. The Vegas strip is another world. I mean, c'mon - they basically re-created a chunk of Venice and stuck it in the Nevada desert. There are canals outdoors. There are canals indoors. Only in Vegas. It's crazy.
But it's also a little (well, a lot) over the top. I like window shopping. And window shopping in boutiques that I wouldn't regularly shop in. But that's basically ALL that's there. I never thought I would get tired of window shopping, but I did. It's extreme. It's an overload. It's too much. It's Vegas. And again, Vegas is a different world.
Oh, I had a Rush Hour 2 moment when I saw the forum of Caesars Palace. That was funny.

For the most part, I stayed on the strip. I just wanted a couple days to get away from things. The semester has just ended, and I was feeling exhausted. This was a little escape before spending some time with family for the holidays and then having some more quiet time before starting back up for what I knew would be a busy start to the New Year.
On the trip, I fell into a nice pattern of sleeping in, taking my time in the morning, a quick check in to work (although I did didn't do anything work related for about two days at the beginning - which felt like an eternity, but quite nice in the end), and then heading out for relaxing stroll (I was staying on the north end of the strip) towards the main drag before immersing myself in the spectacle of it all.
I basically chose a different section of the strip to explore each day and wander around, window shop, and soak in the lights and sounds and scenes of it all. I'd find some random, silly places to get food that were either: a) places that in my head were so typically American (whatever that means) that I couldn't get at home...for example, In-N-Out Burger and The Cheesecake Factory, or b) something Vegas-y (again, in my head)...for example, Bobby's Burger Palace. I'd head back to the hotel just after dinner (unless I was going to see a show) for a quiet night in and an early bedtime.

For the time of year when the weather was already cold and I wasn't spending as much time outside, this trip was nice because I spent the whole day outside (well, expect when I ducked into the resorts to explore) walking...walking...and more walking. And during the day the sun was out. And the sun felt nice. It was about 10-15 degrees during the day. While this wasn't the warm beach weather that a lot of people go to at this time of year, this was perfect for me because I didn't want to sweat, I just wanted some warmth. It was like a warm hug. and I needed those. When the sun set, it got quite cold (desert, right?), to the extent that I ended up wearing my winter coat that I had worn in-transit. And I had my toque on every night walking back to the hotel.

I saw two shows. I was only interested in seeing Cirque du Soleil and I had no problems splurging on tickets. There was one show that I have always wanted to see: O. I had such high expectations, and was not disappointed. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, mouth-open in awe, totally mesmerized. I know the soundtrack inside and out, and I was finally hearing it in the theatre...and it was amazing. I'd seen scenes from the show, videos on their website and other places, and I was actually watching it live in front of my eyes...and it was amazing. It's great when something you build up in your mind, and have been waiting and waiting for is everything you imagined it would be.
The second show, I wasn't too sure of. I mean, I knew I wanted to see more than one show on this trip, but other than O, I didn't have something that I desperately wanted to see. After looking into all of the other Cirque shows, I decided to go with KA. I like acrobatic shows, so this seemed to be one that would fit the bill. I actually saw this show earlier in the trip than O, and as soon as I got to the show venue was getting giddy. There was an act in the lobby of the venue.
And the theatre itself was amazing. Other Cirque shows that I had seen were in the big top or arenas. This (as was O) in a legit theatre. And everything in the theatre was part of the show. Cirque shows usually have pre-show acts going on in the aisles, but this was taken to the next level. As you can see, the "wings" of the theatre extend out into the audience and there were performers everywhere. And the typically "in the aisles" interactions are as floor-level, but this took it literally to another dimension - there were sights and sounds coming from all around and at different heights.
The show itself did have some interesting acts, but as a whole, but there were some moments that I didn't enjoy as much. In my opinion, the show seemed more focused on the narrative rather than the acts. And it actually didn't feel like there were as many acts as I was used to in a Cirque show. In part, I think this was because I interpreted some of what the company might have identified as "acts" as "narrative". Remember, I like acrobatics and spectacle, so the acts that I didn't feel delivered, I probably just saw them as transitional. Yet, there were moments of the show where I was open-mouthed and/or beaming with excitement so I really can't complain too much.

Vegas has enough to entertain. It's a place (for me) to go just for 3 days. Walk around, get a couple shows in, marvel at it all...but then you're done. There's only so much, that I feel that you can do until you get bored of it. Unless you're there in weather where you can go to the pool (which I wasn't), love to gamble (which I don't), or take an excursion further away from the strip like the Grand Canyon.

There was one day that I did go off the strip. And kind of sussing out where I was going, it wasn't too far away, so I decided to walk there. So that's the crazy thing, the strip is a weird bubble. It's like thing that had clear boundaries. Not really in a physical sense with a fence or something like that, but this sense of, on one side of the street are LIGHTS! HOTELS! SPECTACLE! FLASH! SHINY! NEW!, and then the other side of the street are strip malls, poverty...reality. And no pedestrians. There are pedestrians everywhere on the strip. Yet, you walk the same distance (or literally even just one block) in the opposite direction and all of a sudden you're the only one on the sidewalk. In one instance, I was waiting for the streetlight to cross the street and a gentleman who was panhandling in the middle of the intersection came over and asking if I was lost and needed directions. I got confirmation of where I was heading to and felt (imagined, or real, it's unclear) eyes staring at me from the inside of cars driving by. I have a colleague from the US who jokes about Americans and on many occasions, he has spoken about how "everyone in the US drives". When I was walking off the strip, it was this interesting experience and, not really "realization", but I guess some sort of internalization of sorts. About a lot of things (not just about driving vs. being a pedestrian). Interesting emotions and thoughts. So I appreciated having that moment.

Mexico (Dec 22-29, 2015)

Perhaps it's the fact that I'm longing for a vacation that involves sun, sea, and sand. Anyway, I went to Mexico WAY back in December 2015. It had been about 25 years since I did one of those all-inclusive trips and almost the same amount of time since I visited the Yucatan Peninsula.

But, is was the first time that I went somewhere terribly warm when it was terribly cold at home. It was a shock to my system. For real, a 60 degree shift in temperature wasn't the greatest. I actually spent the first couple days sick. I think I arrived with a little bit of food poisoning (from home, sigh), and then I probably had a little bit of heat stroke, added with jet lag (which never really seemed to affect me previously, but you know...age and stuff). But it got better, and really - it's was such a luxury to be able to take this trip so I have no complaints.

Anyway, in addition to relaxing beach-side, I had the chance to take in some sights including some that I had been to all those years ago.

Chichén Itzá
When I lived in CH, I went back to Leysin - the place where my Swiss memories began. I hadn't been there in 10 years. It was magical being back.
In 1994, I went to the Yucatan Peninsula for a week. ON A SCHOOL TRIP. I was in elementary school. What school does that?
Point is, this 21 year timespan has been the longest timespan of me returning to a place. Who knows what I would remember.
I don't remember arriving to the site and the layout. When I got my first glimpse of the pyramid (El Castillo), I kind of thought, "Yeah, that looks about right".  But there wasn't really the emotional response that I thought that I would get. Something that gnawed at me (which I knew from doing a little research before arriving) was that the pyramid was closed off so that it couldn't be climbed. I remember climbing that pyramid back in '94. While I have the pictures to prove it, I physically remember it. I remember climbing up on the relatively steep slope. I remember the chain in the middle that could be used to support you on the way up/down. It was a funny feeling thinking of that while standing there just looking at it now.
Walking around the site didn't bring back a lot of memories. I wonder how long my memories typically last and what keeps some memories stronger than others. Nonetheless, it was interesting seeing the ruins for what felt like the first time. Everything was vaguely familiar because I remember learning about them, but nothing looked familiar. Do I remember learning about these because I experienced it (even though parts of the experience have faded) or the in-school learning experience was really powerful?
The most powerful moment I had was when I stepped into the Great Ball Court. I had this moment of, "Oh my gosh, this is EXACTLY how I remember it." It was a crazy moment. Seeing the hoops high up on the walls. Just being in that massive space. It was eerie. But awesome at the same time. I wanted to stop time. It made me pause. It made me reflect on my life, my experiences, and my good fortune. To have visited Chichén Itzá not just once, but twice...it's pretty incredible. And I've walked the site not just once, but twice. And all the people who have walked those same spaces between my trips, and even leading up to the first visit. To think about the people to didn't just looked around and marvel at the sports game that was played in that space (for example), but the athletes who played in that space all those years ago.

Tulum
I have even fewer memories of Tulum. Just that I probably have the exact same picture from '94. It's a picture that probably everyone takes and is found on so many postcards.
Again, I enjoyed visiting the site for what felt sort of like the first time. I enjoyed learning about the site, also for what felt sorta of like the first time.


Cenotes
In '94 we went to a cenote. My memory of it was that I wore my contact lenses, then went underwater, then opened my eyes underwater. Then my contacts fell out. And then the rest of the visit was pretty rotten because I couldn't seen anything.
This time, I still wore my contacts, but I also wore goggles. Huzzah!
This time, I visited two cenotes.
The first felt very much like the one I went to in '94. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the same one, but I don't actually know. Just a relatively small pool. Other than my memory about loosing my contacts, I remember it being dark. Looking down, I remember darkness.
The second was something completely different. Cenote Dose Ojos was like out of a movie. It was the first time that I wish I had a GoPro or some sort of underwater camera. It was crazy - I felt like someone pushed me into a 3D-underwater movie. Sounds silly, right? I was literally underwater, so what was so different about it? It seemed hyper real? I think it was the colours. The clear water, the blues. The rock formations and underwater caverns. The space that seemed to go on forever and ever. The cenote is popular for scuba divers (of which, I am not), so I would be looking at these masked creatures from a distance. Their slow motion and languid movements. So, which I've swam underwater before, this was the first time (that I can remember) that it was in a context such as this, scenes that I had only seen on a screen. Hence my connection to a movie. As such, I can only assume that in the future, if I have the good fortune of experiencing something similar, I will connect to this newer, lived experience, rather than to a lived theoretical knowledge.

Akumal Beach
One of the highlights of this trip was Akumal Beach. Again, an experience that could have benefited from underwater technology. Here, I had the chance to swim with turtles (another new experience). We didn't have to do anything special to encounter the beautiful creatures - just get lucky and keep our eyes peeled. Some were small - some were larger, but regardless of their size, they were elegant. Casually swimming about (or so it seemed), I too viewed these creatures from a distance above. In fact, I hovered above them, back up to the sky, head down in the water that I had a sunburned patch on my back. I so watched to get closer to the turtles, to connect with them, but there was no way of knowing whether they too wanted to connect, so it was better to leave them be, in their own space and place. But I thanked them for their presence and was so grateful for the experience.

Cancun
A day trip in to Cancun was disappointing. I mean, I was already uncomfortable with the reality of the sprawling tourist resorts. The stark contrast with the local communities. I get cabin fever at these all-inclusive beachy trips, so I do like the chance to go out and explore. In my mind, I guess I thought that going in to Cancun would give me a chance to see more of Mexico, but instead, I felt as though I was seeing more of the same. Instead of the isolated resorts near Playa del Carmen that seemed more scattered - here was a whole region of resorts gathered together creating a seemingly non-Mexican community of sorts. It felt like a vaguely familiar neighbourhood from somewhere else (in America?) just strategically placed near beautiful beaches.
But, I guess it is what it is, and what somehow something else that is, is Coco Bongo. A case is "once is enough", I realized quite quickly that this wasn't my scene. It was a spectacle (again, to experience), but only reinforcing my notion that I was in this strange, artificially constructed place. I can see how an outing to Coco Bongo would be exactly what they would be looking for in a trip to Mexico, but for me, no.
As I said at the beginning, it had been so long since I'd taken a "resort" kind of vacation. I was still a child when I last went. As a child, my priorities and interests on vacations were one thing, and this trip was a chance for me to discover what my adult self wanted out of such a trip. As much as I crave a getaway to somewhere warm, with water and sand, many of these locales bring a reality that in part, the point of this trips is to get away from - reality. I know that I would like to find opportunities that lend itself to a more balanced and authentic experience.

Isle of Dogs

I recently went to see Isle of Dogs, the newest (animated) film by Wes Anderson. I'm quite late to the Wes Anderson game. The first film of his that I saw was Grand Budapest Hotel. Afterwards, I went back in time and watched a couple other films of his and really enjoy the whimsical style with interesting character artists.
When I saw the trailer for Isle of Dogs, I knew I'd probably enjoy it. I was right.
The film takes place 20 years into the future in Japan. After an outbreak of canine flu, all dogs have been exiled to Trash Island. A young human ventures to the island in search of his trusty four-legged companion and some of the exiled pups help out.
It's hard for me to describe why I liked the film. I know that I enjoyed the soundtrack. I thought the animation was good. I enjoyed the quirky nature of the film. I liked the heart and life that the characters (canine and otherwise) had.
I think I'm going to fall down the rabbit hole of youtube now. Watch some Q&As and such to appreciate the film even more.

Picture courtesy of www.isleofdogsmovie.com

21 Balançoires

Why wait in the queue for the bus when you can swing? A couple times now, I've taken advantage of the 21 Balançoires in Place des Arts. With the big accordion buses, it's not like I would lose a spot on the bus. I've also gone there when I felt that I needed a mental health break. Unfortunately, they get taken out when festival season starts. I do like the festivals, but the swings bring me joy.

The perfect night...

...to sit on my balcony. It's the perfect temperature. Clear skies. Minimal foot/vehicle traffic. It's quiet. It's tranquil. Fresh air. Stars in the sky. I could take a nap out here. Or, just have a mindful moment before I head inside and to bed.

New York (April 12-17, 2018)

A perk of my current profession is that I can travel. In addition to having the flexibility of traveling for personal reasons, I can also travel professionally, but am not worked to the bone in these cases.
Recently, I was able to go to NYC for professional reasons. Prior to the trip, I knew that I would take some time out to indulge personally, but the ratio of personal to professional ended up being more skewed than I wanted - end of the semester burnout is real, friends!
This conference has a reputation of being so massive that it's often off-putting. But it's one of the conferences to attend, so I still wanted to go. The fact that it was in NYC this year made it extra enticing. But, I'm in the camp that typically doesn't enjoy the conference. It's just too large. It's a zoo, it's overwhelming, it just has a certain vibe that freaks me out. That being said, I did enjoy the (limited) parts of the conference that I attended. I got some ideas for things to work on in the future and some feedback about some things I working on now, so I guess that's good. So, the conference was palatable (which isn't always the case) and I also had a chance to take some time for myself.
I didn't realize until I got to NYC that I was running on fumes. I think there was one night that I slept 14 hours - and it was pretty great.What was also great was that for most of the trip, there was lovely spring weather (that we hadn't had north of the border - in fact, I missed a pretty nasty ice storm while in NYC). I took advantage of the great weather by walking. Walking a lot. I try to get to The High Line every visit I can. It's such a lovely space. But it had been a long time since I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. I'm not sure why I'd forgotten about it. It's a lovely stroll and gives great views of the skyline. I get impressed at the cyclists. To zoom across the bridge when the pedestrian traffic is intense. And most of those pedestrians are folks who aren't staying out of the cyclist lane and/or randomly stop to take pictures without first looking behind them to see who/what they will be blocking. Anyway, I'll have to make sure that I take that stroll more often.
I had looked into different museums and the exhibitions that were on display while I would be in town. Nothing really stuck out to me, so that gave me more time to do other things. Yet, I felt like I visited my own museum exhibit of sorts. Bergdorf Goodman was displaying their new collections for evening gowns. If they are not works of art, I don't know what is. In addition to appreciating the craftsmanship of the pieces, I can appreciate them for the stereotypical girly-girl factor. Dreaming of an opportunity to wear such a gown, which gown would I wear...that's pretty fun too. But really, going into Bergdorf's, Barneys and other boutiques is inspirational. How things are displayed, the combinations of pieces, the pieces themselves, it's incredible. Even just walking around the city and people watching is great. There's a different sensibility and aesthetic there.
I also decided to get one of those ridiculous instagramable treats, because, why not? I ended up going to Taiyaki NYC to get one of ice cream in a fish pastry things. I got black sesame ice cream, in a red bean filled fish, with condensed milk drizzle, and mochi and wafer topping. It was ridiculous and yummy, but ultimately not worth the hype. Ha.

And then of course, I saw shows. A bunch of shows.
The last time I was in NYC, I missed out on seeing Bette Midler (and David Hyde Pierce) in Hello, Dolly! Now, Bernadette Peters was in the starring role (with Victor Garber), and I was happy to be able to get a ticket. I enjoyed the show, but didn't love it. The singing was great, the acting was also great, but the show itself left me wanting more. I felt the plotline of the show was weak. There was just too big of a jump to the final scenes. It seemed like a show whose whole purpose was to showcase the leading performer and the story was just shoved in to try to tie things together. So, I don't know if there was anything that could have been done about it. I mean, it's not like this is a new show or anything. That being said, it was neat to have seen a legend perform. And I'd never seen that who before, so now I know.

The next show that I watched was The Band's Visit. I'm not SO into the Broadway scene that I know what the hot shows are. I typically either see shows that I know have done well in the past when they first came out so I feel that I should seen them, or check the recent Tony Award nominees and make my picks based on their lists. In this case, I was itching to see a show, and just on someone recommendation decided to give it a got. Literally, it was 5 minutes before showtime and I wanted to see a show and someone said, go to this one. And this someone wasn't even anyone that I knew. Now really a typical move that I'd make, but I'm trying to push outside of my comfort zone a bit. Apparently, this show is based off of an 2007 Israeli film by the same name (or, Bikur Ha-Tizmoret). The show was...I'm not even sure how to describe it.
The plotline is simple. An Egyptian band takes the wrong bus enroute to an Israeli town where they have been invited to play and end up in the smallest Israeli town where they have to spend the night. What happens that evening is the bulk of the show. Members of the band get split up to stay in local homes, and the stories of the locals play out and intertwine. The band members do contribute to the story, but moreso to the score. Songs start, and rather than an ensemble show band accompanying the singers, it's those band members who are onstage and those staying in other dwellings that are somehow effortlessly interwoven into the scene that join the singers. It's absolutely incredible. So, most of the band members play the role of musicians in the show, with only a couple as actors/singers.
I'm so glad that I took that leap of faith an watched the show. It was great. And, I enjoyed reading the bios of the cast. Lots of thanks of accolades, but many comments about being proud of their roots, and being part of this unique show.
I just went on the Tony Awards website and it's been nominated for 11 awards including Best Musical. Although I haven't seen the other nominees, I think this show is deserving of such accolades.

The third and final show that I saw was Hamilton. After many failed attempts to get a ticket, I somehow lucked out this time around. For the most part, still sold out, this show has been getting rave reviews since it started Off-Broadway. For all of the hype and media, I didn't know very much about the show going into it. I knew that there would be PoC and rapping. I have very little knowledge of American history. So, I learned a lot, and finally understood why it was a groundbreaking show. It was exciting, funny, tragic, impressive, thoughtful, creative, clever...I'm so glad I saw it.
While it would have been cool to see Lin-Manuel Miranda performing, the current cast was fantastic. The performance I attended had Alexander Hamilton played by an understudy and it didn't really bother me. I 'kind of' didn't like that some of the lead performers had two roles, but I guess given the scope of the show it would have required additional cast members and each only having half the stage time. I though Euan Morton, who played King George, was a highlight.

So, another successful trip to NYC. A well-timed trip to the end of the semester, allowing me to change my pace and recuperate from the year. It wasn't enough of a break though. Soon after, I totally shut down for a couple days and really vegged. I'm only starting to get back into the swing of things and am thinking about what kind of routine I want to maintain.
I've already thought about only working 4 days a week (yes, I know that I'm privileged to even entertain that idea), but I do want to be quite productive. The next year and a half will be important.

NYC

I really like NYC. My arrival coincided with a bout of warm weather. It was nice to go from winter coat and toque to mini skirt, tee, and sunglasses.
None of the current exhibitions at museums stuck out to me, so I visited my own version of an exhibition - Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys. Bergdorf's had showing of their evening gowns and if that isn't an exhibition, I don't know what is. The pieces are art. Wearable art. So incredible. I would love to own one, but I would first like a place to wear it. Not only are the items that are for sale incredible, but the people (customers and salespeople) are intriguing too.
Anyway, I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time since...the first time I came to NYC. Walked on the High Line. People watching everywhere.
I'm just taking a wee break before heading out again. Tonight, I'm seeing Hello, Dolly (Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber). I somehow got lucky and nabbed a ticket to Hamilton for Sunday. Wheeee!

Sort of like riding a bike

The only thing better than fresh ice is fresh ice that you have all to yourself.
This past season was the first time I skated in almost 10 years. It was a wobbly start, but it was nice to get back out there. I don't skate/train enough to really push myself. My bones are getting more brittle so I can't quite be as reckless out there as I used to be. Actually, I wasn't really "reckless" because I was in such better shape back in the day. Now I need to be careful and I'm just trying to maintain my skills, but in a responsible manner. I'm still stubborn and determined enough to do my 3s but I spend a lot of time on basic edge work now.
Hopefully I'll be able to skate again next season.

Book chapter status update...

Crazy trips down memory lane...CHECK.
Getting excited and thinking it should be a book rather than a book chapter...CHECK.
Debilitating fear and anxiety...CHECK.
Reading way too much about me and others like me...CHECK.
Debilitating fear and anxiety because I now know why I have debilitating fear and anxiety...CHECK.
Extreme procrastination...CHECK.
Starting on idea 1, no wait, idea 2, no wait, idea 3...CHECK.
Meal and snack planning for marathon writing sessions...CHECK.
Getting eloquent brainwaves and inspirational moments nowhere near a computer...CHECK.
Hanging out with my homies on the night bus...CHECK.

Book chapter status update...DONE.

(Let's be honest - I don't know if the stories that I'm most excited about with this project will ever see the light of day. Sigh.)

Hello, dear friend...

Oh, STM night bus, it's been awhile. The curious characters, the peculiar smell. Yet, you get me home quickly and safely, so I really can't complain. Another round of grant deadlines is here.

Montreal specials

The snow is here. It's time for me to start throwing my garbage bag from my balcony (ok, I've been doing it for awhile now). It's time to be woken up by the snow plow and removal convoy. The bales of hay have been put at the base of Mont Royal Park for the sledders. And I've already seen folks in full cross-country gear (still wearing their boots) getting on the bus with their skis just having come from the "mountain". You definitely don't see that in Toronto.

EX LIBRIS – The New York Public Library

EX LIBRIS – The New York Public Library is the latest film by legendary documentarian Frederic Wiseman. It is 197 minutes in length. And worth the watch.
When I told people that I was going to the screening, people laughed. Why would I want to watch a film that was that long? Well, I wasn't the only one. The screening was sold out (the rush line was so long that I doubt everyone in the line got in). And it's been showing at basically every film festival (e.g., Venice, TIFF, Zurich, Hamburg, Rio, Busan, Vienna...).
With a film this long, I wonder what could be cut. I wonder why the filmmaker decided not to cut more (because, obviously, there were more than 197 minutes of footage shot). I mean, 197 is a long time to be watching a film. But it's not the longest film that I've seen. At TIFF 2013, I watched At Berkeley (also by Wiseman) which was a whopping 244 minutes. I thought it was mediocre. I wanted more about academic life...less about their activism history. I also took a nap during the screening.
Full disclosure, I also took a wee nap during the current film, but I don't think it was out of boredom. It was a Sunday afternoon, it was a dark room and I was sitting in a comfy chair. The sound of the film was relaxing. On my way out of the theatre, I hear another person say that they closed their eyes at a couple points as well. So that made me feel better. I don't know how long I was actually out for, but I don't think I missed anything important. I guess that's the bonus of such a long film.
As I reflect on this film, I feel like I watched someone's PhD dissertation (which, coincidentally, can also be a product that the creator finds difficult to cut). I felt like, it was a product of a lot of research and exploration and synthesized into a nice package that gave me all the best bits and I have a well-rounded sense of the topic.
Simply put, the film lets the viewer in to the world of the New York Public Library and shares the wide variety of efforts, initiatives, events, programs that it has to offer. I think it might be a little strong to say it this way, but in some way, it does feel like a love letter to the NYPL. The film was caring, kind, warm...I felt good. There were many moments where I was smiling. That led to laughter. Filmed in 2015, we learned of book clubs, afterschool tutoring programs, afterschool robotics programs, carer and tot programs, active-for-life programs, speaker series (including conversations with Elvis Costello and Ta-Nehisi Coates), technology classes, job fairs, galas, meet the author events, art exhibitions, lecture series, internet access initiatives, musical concerts, and guided tours. We learned of specialist branches (e.g., Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture, Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library). Not only was the film about the NYPL, but it too let us explore New York. The diversity that exists, the different neighbourhoods. To see Harlem, Chinatown, and Midtown. We could compare and contrast the splendour of the 5th avenue location
to the warm and cozy, small neighbourhood location. We were invited to think about the different patrons, including (but not limited to): readers, tourists, students, learners, the homeless, parents, new immigrants. We not only saw what the public sees, but went behind the scenes too. From books being sorted for delivery to different branches, to Board of Trustee meetings and other admin and staff meetings to discuss the vision and direction of the NYPL. It was clear that the NYPL works closely with many organizations to provide what they believe will be the best possible product to patrons.
I was very impressed with everything that the NYPL has to offer. The efforts that it takes to be for the people. It makes me curious about what my local library system has to offer and why I am not taking advantage of their programs.
I thought it was a great film.

Picture courtesy of: www.ridm.ca

Maman Colonelle

Maman Colonelle (official website here) is a film about Colonelle Honorine, a member of the Democratic Republic of Congo's police force. Her specific role is to protect children and combat sexual violence. The film follows Colonelle Honorine for four months in 2015 on a new assignment in Kisangani, a region that is still reeling from the Six-Day War (2000) and where some community members believe in witchcraft. Colonelle Honorine, new to this community works to both support women survivors of the war who have lost their husbands and children, and care for children who endure physical and mental abuse as their parents try to rid them of their "wizardry".
Maman Colonelle has been quite successful and going around the festival circuit (e.g., Berlin, HotDocs). The screening that I attended (with English subtitles) wasn't sold out - the theatre was maybe 50% full.
The director was unable to attend the festival, but prior to the screening, we watched a video recorded message from Dieudo Hamadi to introduce his film and tell us a little bit more about the context and follow up information. He shared that he knew of Colonelle Honorine prior to coming up with the idea for the film and due to the sudden re-assignment and budget constraints, the film was shot quickly and simply. He shared that upon watching the film, Colonelle Honorine said, "c'etait bien", but that's it. It was difficult for him to tell what she really thought. Colonelle Honorine has recently been reassigned to a smaller locale, a post that the filmmaker shared seemed to be a demotion of sorts, relating to some of the struggles of his country and priorities.
The film is short and sweet. Unlike the other films that I've seen during the festival, there is a resolution at the end, which brings some hope to a challenging situation. I was able to learn about a culture and context that I otherwise would not have on my radar.
I would definitely recommend this film.

Picture courtesy of: http://www.andanafilms.com

A Modern Man

A Modern Man (official website here) is a documentary about Charlie Siem. I wasn't aware of him prior to the watching the film, but the topic seemed compelling and had just enough hint of "hits close to home" for me to be intrigued.
Some keywords that come to mind: drive, ego, emotions, giftedness, happiness, identity, independence, loneliness, perfectionism, pressure, recognition, relationships, reputation, selfishness, solitude, and success.
This film was in the documentary style of "getting to know a character" by following his life for a period of time but also with direct interactions through interviews. This is, in contrast to other documentaries (like, DPJ) where we're just privvy to the context/topic, but are silent/invisible spectators.
The Q&A with director Eva Mulvad, was great. A little bit too much of audience members giving commentary rather than asking questions (there was one gentleman who went on for awhile leading so audience members getting a little restless), but Ms. Mulvad did a great job of responding to each, describing what she found interesting in her protagonist and giving more insight into his world and character.
Although much of the Q&A centered around the issues of focus in the film, Ms. Mulvad implicitly spoke of her film making process and artistic choices that she made. While, for the most part, I'm more interested in getting more in depth into the topics of the films, I find it interesting when filmmakers talk about their craft. Typically, it's enlightening and I'm reminded of my naivety in that, of course, every choice the filmmaker makes is intentional and with purpose. Perhaps in reference or inspired by another film (e.g., Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation), to affecting the emotion of the audience in relation to the content being explored (e.g., starting with cold and seemingly frivolous opulence at the beginning of the film to closer, more intimate shots alongside violinist onstage during performances).
This film ended quite suddenly as well. It is a trend? Ms. Mulvad indicated that she had struggled with how to end the film. Ultimately, I think about some of the films that I've been watching and really there is no "better way" to end the film. Lives continue. There is no end point. There is no resolution. If the topic of the film doesn't naturally build to a specific event, moment, time...if the film is just a moment in time of something bigger...then, how else could you end the film?
Anyway, I enjoyed this film. Hard to say if the film was really that good, or that I just connected with the topic. Maybe a little of both. Ms. Mulvad expressed how she hoped that the audience would watch the film not as a spectator of someone else's life, but to be introspective and reflect on  the relevance of these issues in our current society. Based on the level of engagement of the audience during the Q&A, I think the film had an impact. Bonus - there's some great music in the film too. I'd definitely recommend the film to others.

Picture courtesy of: www://danishdocumentary.com/

DPJ

So I really don't know what was going on with the first film that I saw, but this one went rush, so people are definitely going to the festival.
This is a Quebecois film. I wonder if that has anything to do with it. My sense is that the topic of this film is also something that people are keen on. I noticed that there were some young adults in the audience who were talking notes during the film. Comments from audience during the Q&A indicated that there were quite a few folks from the DPJ and related organizations/fields/partners in attendance.
This film is about the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse, which is Quebec's child protection services. I'm undecided about whether the film is focused on cases, or workers of the DPJ. In the Q&A, the filmmaker indicated that he started the process focusing on the youth, but then turned his focus on the workers. I think he does both angles justice. The film provides a great "behind the scenes" look at what the DPJ does. From supporting the very young, to those nearing adulthood. It presents issues with compassion really not putting blame on anyone for challenging circumstances. And ultimately, I think that's what the DPJ is trying to do - support the youth and do what's best for them. Not pointing fingers, but creating solutions and finding the best plan for the youth.
The film ended abruptly. I wanted more. Or closure. But how else could the film have ended? It made the point very clear, there's no ending. The youth's journey goes on. The workers jobs continue. Cases are ongoing. There is no "the end".

So the intro to the film was in French. The Q&A was too. I mean, I have been wrestling with a lot of things recently and really reflecting hard about this and that, but the experience of going to this screening was another example of how things are different. It's hard to quantify how much I was able to comprehend. The movie have English subtitles that I read, but I also listened to the French dialogue. All of the questions asked during the Q&A happened to be asked in French. For the most part, even though dialogue was quick, I was fine during the Q&A but I was starting to feel a little fatigued and can't say for sure that I followed 100%. But was it that I wasn't following, or that I was picking and choosing what to take in. And living in this bilingual context is funny too - I find that if I have conversations in French or am in a French environment like I was for the screening, it's more challenging for me to recall it later on or even discuss it with someone else in English. In the moment, I feel like I am taking it in, but as soon as the moment passes, a part of it is lost. I suppose this might be an indication that I'm not fully fluent in French? Anyway, I think about belonging and access. I think about community. I think about a lot of things.

But ultimately, I liked this film and would recommend it to others.

Picture courtesy of: www.ridm.ca

Unarmed Verses

The RIDM fell off my radar last year. No idea why. It actually wouldn't have been on my radar again this year, but a colleague mentioned it in passing and I'm back on the bandwagon. Thank goodness.
I went through the entire list of films and narrowed down to about 20 or so that I was interested in. And as one does, I made an excel spreadsheet of the films in order to narrow down even further ruling out ones that conflict with other pre-existing commitments and then seeing how many overlap requiring me to prioritize which films I actually want to see. I'm thinking I'll end up seeing 4 or 5.
Two years ago, when I looked into seeing some films at the festival, I remember many of the ones that I was interested in already being sold out. I don't remember if I had waited until the last minute to get tickets, but I do remember being disappointed that I couldn't get tickets. I only ended up watching one film.
This year, tickets were still available for all of the films that I wanted to see, and the festival had already started. I don't know if there was something weird about the festival two years ago, or something weird about the festival this year (although, it's the 20th edition, so shouldn't there be a lot of interest in the festival this year?)...or even maybe the films that I'm interested in, but the fact that tickets were still available threw me off. Well, I guess it's more the fact that the film that I saw tonight had about 10 people in attendance. I was shocked and disappointed (for the festival and for the filmmakers - who were in attendance and expressed their slight disappointment).
Here are some facts: It was the second screening. It played at Hot Docs this past spring. There, it won the Best Canadian Doc Award. The screening was on a Sunday night. None of that helps me to understand why so few people were at the screening. I have never attended a screening of a film at a film festival with so few people.
Unarmed Verses is a film focusing generally on the Villaways community in the Sheppard and Leslie area of Toronto, but more specifically on Francine, a young member of the community. The film was subtle and I felt ended too early without getting deep enough into the issues, but keywords of: community, race, poverty, youth, and empowerment stand out. In Toronto (and I assume in other cities/towns as well), there have been many "revitalization projects" effecting (/involving?!?) Toronto Community Housing. This film focuses on one such case, but through the lens of a young member of the community. I'm unclear whether her growth is a byproduct of negotiating (for herself and her family) the changes unfolding (or about to come) to her community. Or, her participation in an arts-program that asks her to vocalize and make public her private thoughts, poems, and writing. Or, maybe it's both. And maybe it's the responsibilities that this young lady has thrust upon her, from family members, from other members of the community. It's clear that she not only has mentors to guide her, but she herself is a mentor to other younger members of the community.
It was a nice film, touching upon some important issues, and through voice and eyes of a lovely young lady.
I look forward to the next film that I get to watch as part of the festival.
 
Picture courtesy of www.nfb.ca/film/unarmed_verses/ 

Passing judgment

When an instructor at the gym doesn't mirror their actions/motions when facing the people attending class, I judge them.

Learning more about my neighbourhood

I live in a neighbourhood with a large Hasidic Jewish population. Prior to moving here, I was pretty much unfamiliar with this community. Little by little, I am learning more about Hasidism. I'm not always sure if what I'm learning about is accurate, but there are certain things that I have learned that I know to be true. And it's fascinating. Learning about different cultures, beliefs, traditions...I think it imperative to learn as much as possible about others.
In my neighbourhood, there is little interaction between Hasids and non-Hasids. At least on my part. While sometimes a hello or nod when passing by a non-Hasid on the sidewalk, I haven't had that interaction with a Hasid. But, I am curious and try to keep an open body language.
In addition to learning through observation, I have been told about some components of their culture, and more broadly, Orthodox Judaism (and even Judaism, in general). I have learned of the wigs that married women wear, men's payot. I occasionally snack on bubkas. I noticed mezuzah's in doorways. I look fondly at the beautiful skirts and dresses worn by many women. How siblings seem to take such good care of one another.
Each year, I've noticed a temporary structure erected around the doorway to a synagogue like, for construction purposes. And around the same time, something like parts of Christmas wreathes being thrown in the garbage. So different pieces of a puzzle that that I cannot decipher. But I recently learned of Sukkot and the sukkah. After which, on walks in my neighbourhood, I noticed sukkah's in various forms including structures in backyards and boarded up balconies. 
I also know of Shabbat. How a perfect day for me to go to the bakery is the day that it's closed. And word that people passing by will be asked to turn on/off an oven.
And it's true. This evening, on my way home from the bus stop, a gentleman, from his doorway asked if I could help turn off a light in his house. As perhaps my reaction reflected a well-ingrained "stranger-danger" belief, he started to explain his request. I told him that I understood why he asked this favour and he said that he was surprised, that most people did not know. I follow him into his home and turned off the light. There were other lights still on in the hallways, but he said all he needed was the one in the bedroom. He was very friendly and thanked me again for my help and wished me a good night. As he was on his way out of the house and we were walking in the same direction, I wanted to take the opportunity to engage in conversation with him. Although so curious, in the moment, I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't want to be too forward. Rude. But his body language seemed relaxed and open. I ended up asking him about the sukkah (as we were nearing the synagogue) and then about his hat. He told me about his shtreimel and I learned that only married men wore them, and on Shabbat. Hope he didn't find it silly or insulting that I asked if it was heavy. He responded that it depended on the brand/make. At this point, we reached the synagogue which was where he was heading to. I wished him a good evening and continued on my way. 
At a time when decisions (read: laws) are made because...well, for whatever reason they're made...I was happy to connect with a neighbour. A stranger. I learned about him and his culture. I value, appreciate, and accept him. Who knows if our paths will cross again. Previous to this evening I don't think our lives directly intersected. Other than some increased knowledge, a darkened bedroom, some positive emotions (hopefully, mutual), I don't think there have been any (negative) consequences.

Zumba

I took my first Zumba class today. I know I'm many years behind, but I wasn't really planning on ever taking a Zumba class. Because life happens, I got to the gym an hour earlier than I needed to. I thought about going to run some errands before the class that I usually take, or sitting in the common area and getting some work done, but I thought that maybe there was a different class on the schedule that I could try and then just head home earlier instead (never a bad thing).
The only option was Zumba.
I mean, I had always been slightly intrigued, but when people (who take Zumba) describe the class to me, I really can't imagine it being fun. When I watch youtube videos of it, I really can't imagine it being fun. But carpe diem, right? So, I took Zumba.
I'm not really sure how much of a workout it was (we'll see tomorrow if I'm sore or anything). My heart rate might have gone up a little bit? I'm not totally sure. But, it gave me a chance to observe and well, think some thoughts.
First, if someone wants to just try Zumba and decided to walk into a class like I did, I'd be very surprised if they didn't get overwhelmed. I think my background in dance (including some salsa training and rudimentary hip hop) really helped me out. My body awareness, coordination, and ability to pick up movements and patterns, I would assume gave me a leg up from the average person. I did fine throughout, but the class was essentially a series of varied repeated movements that changed from song to song. I'd be a little slower on the first pattern, but then it was pretty easy for me to follow the rest. It seemed like a lot of the people in class were regulars, so I assume they'd repeated the patterns many more times that I had and to the same songs no less (I knew this because some people were singing along). Even still, many people were turning the wrong way, forgetting when patterns ended, what patterns were, etc. I do give the instructor credit though. She was very good at giving cues. It really supported my ability to follow along, but I wonder for someone else who's just thrown into a situation like that for the first time, if they'd even be able to pick up on it.
I mean, when I've taken dance classes with different instructors that use a style of movement that I'm not as familiar with, it takes me a bit to catch on. I don't respond to their cues as easily, and quite frankly, I don't always pick up on them. It's like information overload at that point, where I just zero in on a certain part of their movement to master it, and forget about the rest. You know, like how dance teachers will tell you to forget about the arms (and/or head) and just concentrate on the feet for some more intricate exercises?
Anyway, I wonder how people who don't have the breadth of music/movement-type experiences as I do take in their first (or any) Zumba class?
Well, maybe they're not like me and don't realize that they were a half-count behind, or flexed their foot when it was supposed to be pointed? Maybe they don't get frustrated that they didn't do their rib isolation just so to get that hip hop vibe (me doing hip hop is no bueno).
Everyone in the room (not really moving as one) looked like they were having a grand 'ole time. Literally, there were people high five-ing each other between songs. There were different types of people taking the class as well and that was pretty lovely. Definitely people who, at face value, I wouldn't have expected to take a Zumba class.
I'm sure I was probably one of the more self-conscious people in the room. I was judging every movement that I was making. Critiquing each roll of the hip, shoulder, and wrist. I envy those who were able to let go, be in the moment, and just do their thing (that slightly resembled what the instructor was doing...).
That's not to say that it was a completely horrible experience for me. I enjoyed watching everyone else in the room. Their positive energy warmed my heart. I sort of got my salsa fix (I'd really been thinking about how much I missed taking classes and/or dancing). I moved my body to music, which is always good for the soul.
But will I take another Zumba class in the future? ...I'm not so sure.

Snow stories (addendum)

Awhile back, I wrote about how great Montreal was at cleaning up snow. The city is efficient and organized.

I have two more things to add:

1. "Part 1" of their grand plan (that I referenced in the aforementioned post) might not be logistically possible in other cities. It seems that they use a snowplow that drives on the sidewalk that pushes the snow out onto the road. Since the sidewalks is just beside the curb, this is possible. It would not be if they used the same system in the neighborhood where I grew up where there's a patch of land between the sidewalk and the curb often containing trees.

2. Not only do they put up signs the day prior to notifiy cars not to park on the street before they plow, but earlier in the evening before the plows come a truck drive around sounding a loud siren/honking noise to give warning that the tow truck will be coming around soon to remove vehicles still parked on the street.

Also, I guess the one unfortunate thing is that the plowing/blowing/trucking cavalcade often goes by in the middle of the night. It's sorta loud and contains a lot of flashing lights. (Small price to pay?)