The 29th annual Keane Bbq-Bocce Tournament-Jam session-Bring your own Birthday Cake event was held last night at the picturesque Keane Estates. Despite an interruption by a vast horde of killer bees, the night went off with great success. Exquisite food, wonderful conversation, and many laughs were had by all. All the problems of the world were solved as the moon set, but alas all solutions were erased with the rising of the sun. A personal highlight for me was doing the dishes.
As a side note, good thoughts and mojo are sent to Chris and his wife, who I will always think of as "Kong", as they endure a 22 hour flight beyond the boundries of the known world. "Here there be Dragons."
Nod
ps. How does someone as ugly as Keaner end up with such attractive offspring? lol
Friday, July 27, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
"They keep pulling me back..."
So I was supposed to be playing less music this year and especially this summer, with leaving the show band and Kevin Coates taking his summer off, but like the mob guy said, (who was it in that Mafia movie?) "They keep pulling me back..."
Monday I had session work in the afternoon with bass player/song writer/singer Doug Maceachern at producer/engineer/gtr player Mike McDonald's studio to play some saxophone. They didn't like the bass on a track and asked me to have a go at it, and they liked what I did, so I'm playing both (the magic of the studio - you can play sax and bass at the same time).
Monday night I rehearsed with Mike Boltz and Vanyah Venhuizen (new band) for a wedding gig on the weekend. Tuesday did some woodshedding between unpacking and laundry, and Wednesday was like Monday. Thursday, in the studio again in the afternoon.
So focusing on fiction writing, this summer's goal, has not been going as well. Oh well...there are some emptier weeks coming up that may allow for more writing.
And the music has been fun - which hasn't always been the case in the last few years.
"They keep pulling me back" but at least I'm liking it!
NOD
Monday I had session work in the afternoon with bass player/song writer/singer Doug Maceachern at producer/engineer/gtr player Mike McDonald's studio to play some saxophone. They didn't like the bass on a track and asked me to have a go at it, and they liked what I did, so I'm playing both (the magic of the studio - you can play sax and bass at the same time).
Monday night I rehearsed with Mike Boltz and Vanyah Venhuizen (new band) for a wedding gig on the weekend. Tuesday did some woodshedding between unpacking and laundry, and Wednesday was like Monday. Thursday, in the studio again in the afternoon.
So focusing on fiction writing, this summer's goal, has not been going as well. Oh well...there are some emptier weeks coming up that may allow for more writing.
And the music has been fun - which hasn't always been the case in the last few years.
"They keep pulling me back" but at least I'm liking it!
NOD
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Victoria - toria, toria... (as the song goes)
Here's the oft requested (at least 3 people!) travel-blog of my sojourne to Victoria!
After a night of playing, I took off from the airport, laid over in Calgary - talked to some very interesting guys - and arrived in Victoria. The first night I caught a couple bands, including an Irish guy singing Celtic tunes with a nice fiddle player (I thought this was the WEST coast). Great night!
I did a whale watching tour. Saw a pod of orcas, some of whom breached while feeding on salmon, seals, a bald eagle, porpoise, and more! A deceptive overcast and bombing along at 70k in a wide open Zodiak combined to give me a tragically red sun/wind burn. Needless to say, I was red faced and red faced to arrive at the literary conference for the inaugural cocktail party.
Monday I found myself in a conference subsection with wonderfully - and imposingly - literate writers, lead by award winning novelist/writer Billie Livingston. The week continued with daily readings, lectures, and informal conversations with writers of all levels, ages and varieties. Good food, good company and inspiring experiences were the order of the week. Among the conference participants, for example, could be found lawyers, a hitch-hiking ex-snowboarder carpenter, a librarian, a past university president, a conscientious objector from the late '60's, a writer from RIM, teachers of all levels, high school non-finishers, a guy who narrowly survived attacks by both pigmy elephants and sloth bears, a house flipper...I could go on. Deer and rabbits were common on the private school campus and the final bbq was in old growth forest in a 120 year old cabin.
That exhaused and exhilerated me, but I still had the final days in Victoria. I found Mile Zero on the TransCanada, sat at the sea to have 3 baby sea otters play within arms reach, watched a mariachi band in the park, ate noodles in Chinatown, and watched a few more bands before coming home.
Much inspiration for writing was gained. The Isle of Nod will feature some chunks in the coming weeks.
Overall, this was a wonderful experience. And I was ready for one!
NOD
After a night of playing, I took off from the airport, laid over in Calgary - talked to some very interesting guys - and arrived in Victoria. The first night I caught a couple bands, including an Irish guy singing Celtic tunes with a nice fiddle player (I thought this was the WEST coast). Great night!
I did a whale watching tour. Saw a pod of orcas, some of whom breached while feeding on salmon, seals, a bald eagle, porpoise, and more! A deceptive overcast and bombing along at 70k in a wide open Zodiak combined to give me a tragically red sun/wind burn. Needless to say, I was red faced and red faced to arrive at the literary conference for the inaugural cocktail party.
Monday I found myself in a conference subsection with wonderfully - and imposingly - literate writers, lead by award winning novelist/writer Billie Livingston. The week continued with daily readings, lectures, and informal conversations with writers of all levels, ages and varieties. Good food, good company and inspiring experiences were the order of the week. Among the conference participants, for example, could be found lawyers, a hitch-hiking ex-snowboarder carpenter, a librarian, a past university president, a conscientious objector from the late '60's, a writer from RIM, teachers of all levels, high school non-finishers, a guy who narrowly survived attacks by both pigmy elephants and sloth bears, a house flipper...I could go on. Deer and rabbits were common on the private school campus and the final bbq was in old growth forest in a 120 year old cabin.
That exhaused and exhilerated me, but I still had the final days in Victoria. I found Mile Zero on the TransCanada, sat at the sea to have 3 baby sea otters play within arms reach, watched a mariachi band in the park, ate noodles in Chinatown, and watched a few more bands before coming home.
Much inspiration for writing was gained. The Isle of Nod will feature some chunks in the coming weeks.
Overall, this was a wonderful experience. And I was ready for one!
NOD
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Back in KW
Just made it back a couple hours ago. Had a great time.
When I'm less tired I'll add a more detailed entry - or 3.
For friends who know him, Doriano's dad just died and our thoughts and good vibes are directed his way.
Peace to all.
Don
When I'm less tired I'll add a more detailed entry - or 3.
For friends who know him, Doriano's dad just died and our thoughts and good vibes are directed his way.
Peace to all.
Don
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Summertime and the livin'...
Greetings from the Isle of Nod. Yet ANOTHER update. Summer...time to do fun stuff like this.
Played a great gig with Kevin Coates on Friday. A fun with with Alisha Brooke on Saturday. Had a wild post show part at a campfire. Drove to the cottage.
My awesome nephew Dan and I spent Monday together. Pizza, a couple hours at the beach, and an afternoon of paintballing - it was too cool.
Friday is Kevin Coates final gig of the summer at the Duke of Wellington. Should be a blast!
The livin' is easy!
Nod
Played a great gig with Kevin Coates on Friday. A fun with with Alisha Brooke on Saturday. Had a wild post show part at a campfire. Drove to the cottage.
My awesome nephew Dan and I spent Monday together. Pizza, a couple hours at the beach, and an afternoon of paintballing - it was too cool.
Friday is Kevin Coates final gig of the summer at the Duke of Wellington. Should be a blast!
The livin' is easy!
Nod
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Gotta love summer.
Great gig last night with Kevin Coates. We played some cool tunes. The crowd was slow at first, but it was busy from 10pm on. Great crowd for the summer. Lovely scenery. I stretched a bit on sax and bass to some applause and had a fun time.
Playing in Erin tonight with the country band. An after party is planned with Bryce, who lives there and used to play in the band. Apparently, it could get ugly. Hoping to hit the cottage for the hot days forcasted for Sunday - Monday.
Writing is going great. Novel is well organized and writing is coming. Some networking opportunities are happening, too.
Rented the apartment out, too. That's good news.
Summer on the Isle of Nod is very cool.
Nod
Great gig last night with Kevin Coates. We played some cool tunes. The crowd was slow at first, but it was busy from 10pm on. Great crowd for the summer. Lovely scenery. I stretched a bit on sax and bass to some applause and had a fun time.
Playing in Erin tonight with the country band. An after party is planned with Bryce, who lives there and used to play in the band. Apparently, it could get ugly. Hoping to hit the cottage for the hot days forcasted for Sunday - Monday.
Writing is going great. Novel is well organized and writing is coming. Some networking opportunities are happening, too.
Rented the apartment out, too. That's good news.
Summer on the Isle of Nod is very cool.
Nod
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Multicultural Fair - Victoria Park
Here's me and Kevin's lad Dillon at the awesome Kitchener multicultural festival.
Monday, July 02, 2007
SUMMER's HERE!
Ah, let the teacher bashing begin - I don't care! I'm on holidays! June was crazy with end of school year, a good number of gigs and studio work, and Sandra moving out (yes, we've split up), but now there's lots of time to unwind, regroup, reorganize and move forward.
Some good gigs with Kevin Coates and Alysha Brooke in the last little while. 2 more this weekend coming.
Putting the house in order and writing fiction have been my main activities so far.
Looking for a renter for my house's apartment - new floors, paint, windows, appliances - if you know anyone, let me know!
Time to go soak up some sun - one scientist says don't go near it, another says you need some...who really knows? Moderation, I suppose, is the best answer.
Let the summer holidays begin!
NOD
ps. the Isle of Nod is finally updated, too - www3.sympatico.ca/donfeatherstone
Some good gigs with Kevin Coates and Alysha Brooke in the last little while. 2 more this weekend coming.
Putting the house in order and writing fiction have been my main activities so far.
Looking for a renter for my house's apartment - new floors, paint, windows, appliances - if you know anyone, let me know!
Time to go soak up some sun - one scientist says don't go near it, another says you need some...who really knows? Moderation, I suppose, is the best answer.
Let the summer holidays begin!
NOD
ps. the Isle of Nod is finally updated, too - www3.sympatico.ca/donfeatherstone
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