the pod bay door

:: I am a Canadian living on my home soil, but many of my friends and family are Americans living in the USA, and will be voting in the upcoming election. One of my good friends, Cindi T in California, has written a disturbing, passionate, heartfelt plea for a change in government in America on November 2nd, 2004. The rest of the world may see Americas as myopic, unable to see past their own borders. After you read “Our Growing Unease“, you will see that this is not always the case:

I’ve tried not to pay attention to government, trusting that the people seated there are good people and have good intentions, even if they don’t agree with my beliefs. I no longer believe this. This is no longer a simple philosophical difference; the future of our country and of our very way of life depend on things changing. We can no longer simply hope that they do; we have to make it happen.

:: In today’s NY Times is a short piece revealing that Kerry and Dubya are related – 9th cousins, twice removed. Good grief.

:: There was a weird ending to the Emmys, which finished about five minutes ago. The Sopranos won for Best Dramatic Series, and after David Chase finished his acceptance speech, James Gandolfini interrupted the closing music to add something, but the producers cut him off, to his dismay. Meanwhile, James Spader won an Emmy for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series for his work on The Practice; Reuters confused him with Anthony LaPaglia, however, by announcing that he won for Without a Trace.

:: I haven’t been posting this week, mostly due to lack of energy. I’m not feeling 100% these days. A tickle in my throat, which began on August 26th, became a prolonged cough by the long weekend I spent in Vancouver, and it still hasn’t left my chest and throat. As such, I haven’t been exercising either, and I feel like a complete slug. I’m hoping it subsides this week so I can get back on the cross-trainer again, and I have to teach eight classes next week – coughing is not an option! Also, my left lower jaw has been quite sore for a while, as if a wisdom tooth can’t decide whether it wants to pop through my gums. It feels like I’ve been punched on the left side of my face. So…I’m a hurtin’ unit.

Last weeks Sunday NYTimes featured its annual fall look at the arts – music, movies, dance, theatre, etc. I read through the list of upcoming musical events and albums, and was surprised to learn that Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone had reunited and earlier this year, released As Far As I Can See…, The Zombies’ first album since the band broke up in 1967. The Incredible String Band, with two original members, are touring for the first time in 30 years. The Clash’s London Calling has been repackaged for its 25th-Anniversary edition, including extra tapes from the recording sessions found by guitarist Mick Jones, plus a DVD. Brian Wilson is releasing a newly rerecorded version of the most famous album that never was, Smile. British music fans weigh in with their opinions. Based on a few tunes from album made available for listening online on his web site, I like what I hear. Purists may ignore it, wishing to hear the original versions recorded in the mid-60s.

R.E.M.’s new album, Around the Sun, appears in October. The video for the new song, Leaving New York, is available on the VH1 site. I like the song. Helmet, a band I thought was long gone, releases Size Matters, after a seven-year recording hiatus. Rob Halford has reunited with Judas Priest after 12 years, and yes, a new album follows, so lock up your parents. U2‘s new album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, is out in November, and includes a track called Full Metal Jacket. Tears for Fears new album, Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, reunited Roland Orzabal with Curt Smith, after a thirteen year split. You can see TFF’s live performance of Everybody Wants to Rule the World, taped for KTLA Morning News on Monday, Sept 13, 2004, by visiting KTLA’s web site – once there, click on “Music” in the upper left hand corner, then find “Tears for Fears” at the bottom of the screen. I’ll get this album.

Many other artists were listed in the article. It’s overwhelming. I’m waiting to buy Folker, the new Paul Westerberg album, maybe in two weeks, after payday. Interesting article in the Mpls Star-Tribune about new albums being released almost concurrently by Westerberg and Tommy Stinson, both members of The Replacements in the 1980s. It’s pouring rain outside.

:: I am fortunate to call Leo & Diane Dillon friends. I have known them since 1989, and each time I go to New York, I take the F Train to Brooklyn to visit them, over wine and dinner. They are my favorite illustrators, and those who have visited my home know that my walls are covered with their prints and posters, in addition to some of my Dad’s paintings.

My last visit with them was in June 2003, and have been negligent in checking out their latest work. Two new illustrated picture books have appeared since that time, with a third due in October, 2004. Between Heaven and Earth: Bird Tales from Around the World, is the title due out next month. The author is Howard A Norman, with whom they collaborated previously, on The Girl Who Dreamed Only Geese, and Other Tales of the Far North.

Margaret Wise Brown died in 1952, yet her poems and stories continue to reach new generations of children and preschoolers. Leo & Diane previously illustrated her wonderful poem, Two Little Trains. They have collaborated again on Where Have You Been?, a poem that answers a child’s questions about animals and how they live.

Their other recent work is One Winter’s Night, a story by John Herman about a cow named Martha, on a cold winter’s night, searching for a safe and warm place to give birth to her calf. A parallel story is told in “art spots”, about a man, woman and donkey making their way across the same fields, in the middle of the cold winter night. Martha follows a star, that leads her to a shed, where the man, woman and donkey have also sought and found shelter.

Forthcoming, also in October, is Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes, by Susan V Bosak, with illustrations by 15 internationally acclaimed artists, including the Dillons: “A celebration of living and dreaming for all ages, Dream brings together remarkable artwork, inspiring quotations, and a beautifully poetic story.”
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:: In 1956, when I was 3 years old, my family moved to 564 Gareau Street, in St Boniface, Manitoba, then a separate city, east of Winnipeg. Our next door neighbours were Mr and Mrs Leeder, or as I called them, Auntie Phyllis and Uncle Bill. They were wonderful neighbours, and my Mom and Auntie Phyllis became good friends for a lifetime. Her son, Ron, and I, were also friends when we were little.

Yesterday, Auntie Phyllis passed away, from congestive heart failure and other complications. Earlier, she asked my Mom to deliver the eulogy at her funeral. Some years back, Mom had done the same for Uncle Bill at his service. My mother is now working through the pain of losing a dear friend while composing a reading that will honour her memory.

Two years ago, when visiting Winnipeg, I asked my mother to arrange a visit with the neighbours with whom we had become good friends, when we lived on Gareau Street from 1957-1969. It was nice to see them again, all my adopted “Aunties” from the old ‘hood, including Mrs Leeder.

A life well lived, she is now at peace, and reunited with Uncle Bill. God Bless always, Auntie Phyllis.

:: I am still fighting the cough and sore throat. I stopped in at the U Health Centre before work this morning, and the doc prescribed a few codeine tablets to help surpress my cough. At 3:00 pm, I lectured to 155 Chem Eng 200 students, and was able to get through without too many interruptions. I used a lapel microphone, and each time I had to cough, I hit the “Mute” button on the display console. I think the codeine helped as well. I am not a happy puppy right now.

Tomorrow I see my physician, and will discuss this and other assorted ailments with him. Lovely stuff, getting old. *grumble*

:: I’m in Vancouver for one more day, leaving tomorrow at 7:00 am. I’ve had a nice time, the weather has been good, and I’ve visited with old friends. The surprise birthday party for my friend Lea was a blast. She was totally blown away by the event, completely caught off guard. I’ve been fighting a bad cough I developed last week in Edmonton, and my rib muscles are sore from coughing all day and through the night. I’m looking forward to healing from this latest episode. I hope the coughing subsides in the next 48 hours, as I am lecturing on Tue afternoon at 3:00 pm.