Zero Degrees!!!

Oh yeah, it's positively BALMY :) or close enough. And such delicious sun, too. Assorted thoughts:

cleaning up Montreal: how about more public trash cans on St. Laurent? And yes, businesses and residents should clean up in front of their stores/houses. It's called a *community*. Sheesh.

um, stealing recycling bins: what-is-the-matter-with-people?

March: will be a travelling month for me. Denver, New Orleans, and Toronto, to hang out with The Amy.


Photo by Muffet on Flickr.

Did you know this?

Rarely does a link forwarded to me by a co-worker (or anyone else for that matter) keep ringing in my mind over a week after the fact. Actually, in case you didn't know, I often delete forwards without even opening them. This has been different.

At first, it was a surprise. But like a newly learned lesson, I started seeing evidence of it everywhere and THAT'S what really shocked me. Do these people know what they're partipating in? Would they do it if they knew?

You are secretly wearing your best friend's fur

The Work Date

How horrible. I'm as nervous as a little girl. After a two plus hour meeting -um, conversation- I left feeling the familiar but long forgotten elation of a fantastic post-date. Did he like me? Did I somehow secretly not do it right? Will he call? Does he like me?

Except it's not a he and I'm still not a lesbian. It's a job. It was a job interview. HaHA! Now part of my secret new year's resolution is revealed, for better or for worse. It's just that I need to share these silly giddy feelings that are way too reminiscent of the good old days of dating.

So, I was asked to send two things before our next, ehem, date: an informal email in French (eeegads, talk about nerves) and a sample of my writing in English. I sent the email pretty much right away... but didn't get a response. My reaction: subterranean freaking out. Does he like me? Why hasn't he replied? Again, no "he" involved. He=the Work.

And today I sent a piece of creative non-fiction (hello, mouthfull) that I wrote at Joel Yanofsky's workshop in 2003, when I had just returned to Montreal from Santiago, Chile. I'm only beginning to think of pressing the send button and I'm already worried it's not right, it's too long, it's not professional, it's too ridiculous, it's old, the Work will read it and say "oh no, I expected more/something different from Isabel. I don't think this is going to work out after all." Siiiiiiiiigh. Worry. Worry. Butterfly anxiety best directed at situations where other people feel the need to tell you "it's the best part!" and you think "shut up, shut up or I will kill you now. It's the WORST part."

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

Somehow, this picture comes up if you search for Ukraine (the Ukraine?) in Yahoo News Photos. I mean, I see the connection, but...

Anyway, SO WORTH COLD, TAXI FARE, DITCHING WORK, MISSING OTHER SHOWS, LISTENING TO SCALPER SHOOT HIS MOUTH OFF FOR 40 MINUTES, COLD, COLD, AND COLD.

It was James Brown style leave it all on the stage artist sacrifice at the hands of an audience who doesn't even deserve it. Amazing. I have also never seen people sweat so much in my life. Hallelujah!

Posthumous Pickle PARTY!

I just received a comment on an earlier post regarding the Posthumous Pickle Party movie I saw at Pop Montreal (and that the Young American, Adam shows up in). Here's what it said:

Hi!

I'm the director of Posthumous Pickle Party. Thanks for the great review of the film!

Just to let you all know it'll be playing at the Rendez-vous du cinéma Quebecois on Thursday, Feb. 22nd at 7:15pm at the NFB Cinema on St-Denis. See you all there hopefully.

Ezra

Ezra Soiferman
http://ezsezblog.blogspot.com/

****
So, yeah! Awesome. Everyone who enjoys beyond-quirky, funny, Montreal, mis-matched relationships, and stories about authentic pickle curing techniques should come. Especially now that Simcha's has finally transmuted into... some kind of store I can't remember at the moment.

Here's a blurb from the Pop Montreal site, explaining what the film's about:
"A month after the death of owner Simcha Leibovich, a motley group customers return to the legendary Simcha’s Grocery to reminisce about the enigmatic entrepreneur and eat his last batch of famous homemade pickles. Featuring legendary Main sculptor Stanley Lewis, Josh “Socalled” Dolgin, and li’l Danny Seligman." It's 40 sweet minutes of your life.

Canada's Out of Touch Government

Just wanted to drop by and say how much it makes my skin crawl when I have to read things like:

"Today, Canada's New Government is proud to launch our new Food Guide."

The answer is: a lot. Did they pay a pasty white media consultant to tell them to do that? How long will they be New (the capitalization is just... barf) anyway? It's probably the lamest thing I've seen come out of Ottawa since forever.

Mr. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada and all-around upbeat New Guy