These are from one of my last two rolls of film. I shot them all in the late afternoon. The Blue Willow china, the tumbledown house, and the fruit are from the Queen Street-Niagara neighbourhood and were shot the day I thought I lost my camera. The sunflower and the Grecian porch columns were shot in the South Annex - on Major near College St, I think, but I'm not sure.
08/19/2012
08/14/2012
Run off my feet
I'm ill, I said to a coworker today, in answer to How are you? Because I'm one of Those People, who almost always tells you how I am, even if you just want to hear "Fine, and you?" Ha.
Ill? she said. What happened?
What happened? I replied. Nothing happened. I'm a human. I came into contact with a virus. That's what happened.
Maybe it was that lunch meeting on Monday, she suggested.
I don't think she was being sarcastic. She's too sincere for that. Still, it was funny.
All I know is that I've felt pretty crummy for the last 32 hours. It started with a hacking cough. Then my hips and knees and feet started hurting. Then I felt really weak. I got up this morning, still coughing and feeling really weak.
But I went to work. I worked. And I came home. And I feel slightly better now, more alert. But it sucks. This has thrown my schedule off. I haven't been running in two days, for one thing. This is an eternity in Running Time. Tomorrow I can't run because I'm meeting up with the other Special Librarians for beer and networking (can't wait to see how that pans out - I might wake up on Friday morning with a fistful of business cards, two interviews, and a hangover broad enough for a See Also citation). Friday I can't run because I'm meeting up with two colleagues from Library School for beer and gossiping. Sigh.
Saturday I have to buy a new pair of shoes because I've worn a hole into the right sole of my work-shoes (black leather, pointy-square-toe with a two inch heel), only because I insist on walking everywhere. Maybe I can run after that - my running shoes are still newish. And Sunday I'm meeting my sister - mother of my unborn nephew (we're not 100% sure yet but I've started thinking of "It" as "He" and "Him" and "My Nephew" so hopefully that's what "It" is) - for lunch, before she catches a train back home to Montreal.
Then it will be Monday again. The time - ca passe vite.
07/10/2012
Stuff I notice: British invasion
I must confess, I did a double-take when I saw the display at the Shopper's Drug Mart in the Eaton Centre. I'm a soap and water girl myself, but due to my consumption of British popular culture (largely in chick lit and chick flick form), I instantly recognized the logo and the product. (Ain't globalization something?) Boots No. 7, now available in Toronto. Well, according to the linked flyer, Willowdale (do they still call it Willowdale? really?) and Scarborough - but it seems to have migrated to the downtown core.
This interests fascinates me. From what I can piece together, it must be related to the marketing phenomenon of masstige, also known as cheap chic. It is especially prevalent in the marketing of beauty products. Boots is a store brand, but the No 7 brand is marketed as a premium product, an affordable higher-end alternative to a name brand prestige product. And here in Toronto, I guess it has the added cachet of being from the UK. More about that in a minute.
From what I can see, prestige is very in right now. A lot of people want to be associated with luxury brands. For example, if I had a dollar for every real or knock-off (mostly knock-off, I'm sure) Coach and LouisVuitton handbag I see being carried on the subway and the bus in a year, I could probably hire a driver and a TownCar to take me to work every day and I'd never have to take transit again.
Another, almost certainly related trend I've noticed in the past few years is the number of Harrods shopping bags women are carrying around. Yes, that Harrods - the posh department store in London. The posh department store about 6,000 miles away from Toronto. I see mostly the tote bag variety, in canvas or in vinyl, but last weekend I saw the real deal - the distinctive dark green plastic "carrier bag" that you get when you actually buy something at Harrods. Evidently, there's a lot of women in Toronto who want to announce to the world at large that they are Harrods shoppers.
Like I said, I find all of this fascinating. Heh.
Maybe they'll bring back Marks and Spencer.
12/13/2011
Waitress: "Diabetic Coma Pie"
**Spoiler Alert**
Think: Como Agua Para Chocolate meets The Nanny. I just got around to seeing the well-reviewed film, Waitress, and I'm not entirely sure it holds up to the hype. An uber-cool sociology student in my knitting class recommended that I see the film because of its counter-cultural presentation of motherhood. So, I headed off to the Quad cinema.
The first 3/4 of the film is a combination of sweet Southern suffering as Jenna, the protagonist, is crushed under the weight of an oppressive marriage and the knowledge that she is pregnant. Her husband is infantile, controlling, and at times, abusive. In retaliation, Jenna bakes pies for the pie diner she works at. Jenna's power comes both from her love of baking and the names she gives her pies. The creamy (and sometimes mildly disgusting confections) have names like "Leave My Husband Pie" and "Bad Baby Pie", all inspired by what Jenna is thinking or feeling. Her great plan, to win a pie bake-off and leave her husband for good, is spoiled by the fact that she is pregnant.
The film features many shots of Jenna watching other mothers, horrified by the children and their behavior. She tells her Ob-gyn that she is not happy about having the baby and does not want to be congratulated. Each ensuing month of the pregnancy, Jenna becomes more and more miserable as she moves closer to being stuck in her life forever. The children she observes are bratty and wildly out of control. The mothers are long suffering. In short, the only real happiness in the film comes from baking pies, the friendships Jenna finds at the restaurant, and "love" as all three waitresses embark on new relationships. For Jenna, that includes a fling with her doctor.
And here we arrive at the two parts of the movie that serve, ultimately, as its demise. The affair with Dr. Pomatter is destined for failure and serves as nothing more than a creamy and dangerous confection (think: diabetics eating "Falling in Love Chocolate Pie"). The class and education differences, along with the fact that Pomatter is "happily" married (that is, not facing any of the
challenges Jenna faces in her own marriage), are early clues that the relationship will end badly. In a none-too-hidden inspiration from Como Agua Para Chocolate, Jenna's pies make her wildly attractive to Dr. Pomatter.
And then the movie ends with Jenna giving birth and falling, instantly, in love with her baby. A deus ex machina ending arrives and she is given a financial gift from one of her regulars at the diner that allows her to leave her husband. She buys the old pie diner, spruces it up, and lives the matriarchal fantasy of loving baby and making pie. It's some kind of Lesbos (without the sex) paradise with pie.
I can't help but compare it to Sherrybaby, the heart-achingly real portrayal of poverty, abuse, and motherhood. Waitress is too unrealistic, and too over-the-top sweet to really deliver any compelling commentary about motherhood and the ways in which women continue to struggle with social roles and expectations. Waitress suggests that in the end, all mothers really do want to be mothers, really will love mothering, and will be somehow naturally fantastic at it. Some mothers love their roles. Some mothers are fantastic at mothering. Some women really, really do want to be mothers. And others? Call it "Big Liar Pie".
Authors personal gratitude
Our blogging site works with FoxyStilezArticles, this is a group of modest and talented essayissts who have contributed some of their work and ideas in anticipations of obtaining a job. Below is a cv of the newest author to join their group, for more freelance writers just take a look at the posts further down. Hola! I am one of many team leaders of FoxyStilezArticles, a famous article writing combine. We can craft in English for multinational web readers, and are ready for article development for your web-site. Below you may read my resume, and you should be able to check out other team leaders and writers' resumes on this internet site. At the bottom of my resume, you are going to find some good examples of our written and published posts. For work inquiries, please mail us using the form on this web site and we shall follow up as soon as can be.
CV
Stasia Johnson
9998 Briar Loop
Oklahoma Oklahoma City
stasia_1985@gmail.com
Summary
Graduated With Special Honors from Northwest University
11 years of composing experience (in particular for Internet readers)
Stunning fluency in Spanish and Latin
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Business Experience
FoxyStilezArticles, New York City USA
2002 - Present
Publishing Team Supervisor
Answerable for setting up a worldwide team of internet writers to meet a demanding set of assembly aims.
- Set records for output, raising output by 19% throughout the world
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Fluent in Spanish and Latin
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Leo Brown CV
Greetings! I'm one of many writing team organizers of FoxyStilezArticles, a worldwide web writing collective. We can create articles in English and French for international online visitors, and are available for article creation for your webpage. Listed below you can find my curriculum vitae, and you should be able to find other writing team organizers and writers' resumes on this internet site. At the bottom of my curriculum vitae, you will look at some samples of our written works. For employment enquiries, you should email us with the contactform on this website and one of us will respond as soon as can be.
Curriculum Vitae
Leo Brown
10618 Kids Court
Oregon Salem
leo_1994@gmail.com
Summary of Qualifications
Graduated With Honors from Columbia University
10 years of article writing experience (specially for Electronic visitors)
Great competency in English and Latin
Dependable, team-oriented worker with a talent for specifics
Employment Experience
FoxyStilezArticles, London GB
1999 - Present
Crew Organizer
Answerable for coordinating a international staff of copy writers to fit a challenging set of production aims.
- Set new records for productivity, raising output by 35% globally
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Violette Brown Resume
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Resume
Violette Brown
12645 Carl Street
Virginia Richmond
violette_1995@gmail.com
Summary
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from York University
10 years of writing experience (exclusively for Web visitors)
Superb competency in English and Spanish
Professional, company-oriented worker with a flair for details
Business Experience
FoxyStilezArticles, San Francisco USA
1998 - Present
Crew Supervisor
Responsible for planning a international workforce of freelance writers to fit a demanding set of growth aims.
- Set records for efficiency, growing productivity by 19% throughout the world
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- Managed quality control for international creation across a significant workforce of copy writers
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Competent in English and Spanish
Innovative competence using a full selection of office software
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David Taylor Resume
Aloha! I happen to be one of many team managers of FoxyStilezArticles, a world-wide web writing collective. We are able to create content in Spanish and English for worldwide web viewers, and are on the market for articles and other content creation for your blog. Below you can see my CV, and you may be able to see other team managers and writers' resumes on this internet site. At the bottom of my CV, you're going to find some illustrations of our publicized works. For job enquiries, you should mail us with the form on this web page and one of us will answer as soon as we can.
Curriculum Vitae
David Taylor
10254 Golden Eagle Court
Virginia Richmond
david_1996@gmail.com
Summary of Qualifications
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth College
10 years of freelance writing experience (especially for Internet viewers)
Great competency in Latin
Dependable, staff-oriented staff member with a flair for details
Employment Experience
FoxyStilezArticles, Dallas USA
2001 - Present
Staff Manager
Answerable for organizing a worldwide team of authors to meet a challenging set of production aims.
- Set records for production, improving output by 30% worldwide
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Fringe NYC Well Under Way!
So, Friday started two weeks of interesting, provocative, and surprising theater in NYC. The Present Theatre Company is hosting the annual Fringe NYC. I'll be seeing a number of plays over the next two weeks. Since many of these plays are experimental & edgy, sometimes they don't work. Frankly, it's what I love best about Fringe--it's a total indulgence in the intellectualism of theatre. So, I've decided that I will only write about plays I really like. I am totally sympathetic to writers, directors, and actors who take a chance on something that doesn't work & I don't want to "bash" them because I admire their willingness to take chances.
So, only "must see" recommendations will follow over the next two weeks. First up: Hillary Agonistes. It's already been sold out twice, so get your tickets early!
HILLARY AGONISTES
Playwrights' Arena in Association with Frantic Redhead Productions
Writer: Nick Salamone
Director: Jon Lawrence Rivera
Spring 2009. Hillary in the White House. 65 million people disappear. Is the Rapture upon us? Pat Robertson, Stephen Hawking, Chelsea and the Antichrist weigh in. Can Madame President avert Armageddon. Starring Priscilla Barnes as Mrs. Clinton.
Hillary Agonistes is what I would call a perfect Fringe NYC production. It's politically edgy, timely, and provocative. It's what I go to Fringe for (and why I avoid Broadway like the plague). Hillary Agonistes was very well written. Salamone pulled together a tight script with interesting twists and challenges. Borrowing from the literary tradition of Milton's Samson Agonistes (and followed by Eliot's Sweeney Agonistes and Wills' Nixon Agonistes), the premise is that early into her first term in office, Hillary Clinton wakes up to find that 60 million people have disappeared. Inexplicably. What follows is an exploration of how to explain the inexplicable. It's about the tenuousness of reality and the everyday dominant portrayal of something called "truth" that is often more fabricated that real.
This play is why I like to teach political literature; it's always timely and comments on the contemporary moment. Good political literature leaves the reader/viewer with questions both philosophical and practical. And, while the contemporary moment may dissipate, meaning that the particular piece (in this case a play) won't always be relevant, that's okay. Our society isn't static and our art shouldn't be either. This piece speaks to our current cultural crisis. We don't actually know how to talk about difference and everyone envelops themselves in a coat of "truth" that shields them from hearing or talking to or understanding other people. Hillary Clinton's fierce intellectualism makes her the ideal protagonist for this play: leading the country towards "truth" in a time of confusion and mystery.
If there's going to be one overwhelming criticism of this play, it will be that it's didactic. And, that's kind of its genius. Salamone embedded in the play the exact kind of arguments that people use everyday, thus didactically exposing didacticism. It's an interesting move.
Salamone's play is essentially a meditation on religious difference and the ways in which the United States is often consumed by a hegemonic Christian fundamentalism that doesn't accurately represent the national religious picture. Cameos, (all played by Salamone himself) from Pat Robertson to Stephen Hawking to Mike Bloomberg, all present opportunities for Salamone to explore the ways in which institutions from science to religion to economics all seek to use their institutions to explain the disappearances.
And, of course, since it's a play, it's not all about the writing. Salamone's performance is brilliant. He plays a general, Mike Bloomberg, Stephen Hawking, Pat Robertson, and a cardinal from the Vatican, among others. His transformation of each character is fantastic. It's the kind of breadth and depth you want from an actor. Priscilla Barnes, Rebecca Metz, and Jean Gilpin all give solid performances that make the entire show a delight to watch. They work well together--really comfortable in their roles, in their transitions and in their lines.
This show is a real treat and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you're in the NYC area in the next two weeks, this is a must see.
Cleora Lee
Hi there! I happen to be one of the staff organizers of FoxyStilezArticles, a well-known web article writing company. We write in English and Spanish for world wide net readers, and are readily available for article development for your web-site. Down the page you may read my resume, and you might be able to see other staff organizers and team members' resumes on this site. At the end of my resume, you'll read some examples of our written works. For job enquiries, you should contact us using the form on this website and we will react as soon as feasible.
Resume
Cleora Lee
1537 Indiana Street
Connecticut Hartford
cleora_1996@gmail.com
Summary
Graduated With Special Honors from Utah State University
10 years of crafting experience (exclusively for Web readers)
Stunning competency in Spanish and Latin
Focused, team-oriented staff member with a talent for particulars
Business Experience
FoxyStilezArticles, London GB
1998 - Present
Group Senior Officer
In charge of planning a international staff of copy writers to meet a complex set of growth targets.
- Set unprecedented records for efficiency, boosting output by 19% throughout the world
- Properly kept absolutely consistent logs of project distribution
- Conducted QC for international output across a large staff of copy writers
Additional Skills
Fluent in Spanish and Latin
Sophisticated proficiency using a wide selection of office software programs
Samples of Published Articles
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