Topic of the Day: Challenges.....

Life certainly is full of challenges. Why do I have to have all them at once? There's a lot that can't be said yet. So I have to be rather cryptic. Family, Health, Love, Money. I'm fairly glad there aren't really any other TYPES of challenges, because my hands are rather full at the moment. You get a moment's reprieve and then more gets loaded on. Makes me wonder if my life will ever be smooth; even if it's for just a little while.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Blood...

Got a call a few days ago for a follow up on the blood work I had done about 2 mths ago. Totally freaked me out. I've never been called back before. Every year for my annual, I ask the doctor to test EVERYTHING; I figure, I'm getting blood sucked out of me anyway, might as well get as many answers as possible. Which meant, that I could be getting called back for anything from High Cholesterol to HIV.
So my appointment was yesterday, and all day it was all I could think about. I almost forgot that I had dinner plans! Braced for the worst, I went in for my appointment. My sister was nice enough to keep me company while I was in the waiting room, if only via my BB MSN. =)~

I was pretty sure that I was being called back for high cholesterol because I've had highish cholesterol for several years now, which....while is a bummer, would have been totally manageable. Turns out tho, that my cholesterol was fine. As a matter of fact, it went down! So the reason I was called in was an abnormal spike in Creatinine Levels in my blood. My Creatinine levels have always been fairly stable, but yesterday's level was almost double what my usual number is. Doc said he's pretty sure that it's a lab mistake, but needed me to squeeze out more of the red stuff for them to re-test.

I've been granted a moment's reprieve I suppose.... But what if that number is true?! *gulp*.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Winterlude....

Went with a couple of friends to Ottawa this weekend for Winterlude. I'll be posting pictures soon on Flickr. So stay tuned.
We left Friday night after work, arriving in Ottawa around 2230h. The first thing we did when we go there?! Late night run for POUTINE! Mmmmm.....Brilliant way to clog the arteries just before bedtime.

In the morning, we got up, and started the Winterlude festivities. Going down, arms linked, on ice slides. The first slide, we barely made it down halfway because of our "adult clothes". But since I was wearing a ski jacket, the next ice slide, the second we hit the ice, i laid on my back and let my jacket take us all the way down. That was fun.
Then it was off to the Canal. Since Ky is an Ottawa native, he knew the best places to park. We found a secret spot JUST off of the canal. We put on our skates and off we went, skating down 8km of ice (16km) both ways. The weather was perfect. Not too cold (-5C) and not too warm. The ice got a little soft around 1430h, but other than that....just perfect.
We had Beavertails on the Rideau. They gave us the "special" - OBAMA TAIL - Beaver tail topped with whipped cream, chocolate, and maple syrup (I think). Whatever. It was yum. haha.

At night, we went to this little Regional French restaurant in the middle of the forest in Quebec. L'Oree du Bois. I say regional because it really isn't traditional French. It's like Quebec French. Canadian French. Had a Game Consomme and a Lapin in blueberry sauce. Quite yum.

We also went to this Organic coffee place where they served coffees in Bodoms.

Topic of the Day: Go Bold...

It's been a little while, but life's been rather busy, and I've been rather lazy. But towards the end of 2008, I finally gave in and got myself a Blackberry Bold. While I hate the fact that I have one, I wonder how the heck I was ever able to survive without one before. I'm totally a crackberry addict. Not only was I able to upload photos to Facebook WHILE I was on a mountain skiing, I'm also able to check to make sure my customers were taken care of while I was in Halifax doing a Trade Show.

Of course...the social aspects of having a crackberry is great too. Sending Instant Messages to friends, checking into blogs and tweets, and even facebook updates where ever you go so you don't have to be glued to a laptop. Very liberating. Well...not so much. I've just transferred the chain around my ankle to another ball.

Other than that...nothing new to report. blah.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Taiwanfest 2008 (Part III)

So photos are starting to trickle in from the evening, here's more:
http://www.panggallery.com/photo/David/content/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2423386&id=28129035

Enjoy!

~Cheers

Topic of the Day: Taiwanfest 2008 (Part II)

So today was the big day (click here for photos). The show didn't start until 2030h, but by 1830h, my hands were starting to tremble. Parked my car at E&V's place, and the three of us walked over. Saw some street performers and we joked that that the side of the boardwalk would be our stage.

We got to the stage and I checked in with the rest of the members of Casa Futuro. I started to forget the lyrics. All of a sudden, I forgot what the song sounded like. I was weak in the knees. My throat was dry. My hands were shaking. I felt good. This is what ALWAYS happpens before I get on stage. It's been over 10 years since I've had to perform, but it was good to know that nothing had changed.

As I stepped on stage, I could feel the heat of the lights; beads of sweat starting to trace my forehead. The song started and everything else went quiet. I don't know if it was because of the lights, but I didn't see anyone. I sang my song, introduced the next vocalist, and left the stage. My knees melted. Almost. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears. I relaxed. Relived that it was over.

Until they told us that it wasn't. Our set wasn't long enough and we needed to extend. Next thing I know, we're all back on stage belting and adlibbing cos we had nothing else prepared. After another song or so, they finally felt sorry for us and let us get off the stage.

All in all? It was fun to be on stage again. Maybe I'll do it again.......in another decade or so. It wasn't any of our best performances. But we seemed to be able to entertain.

Topic of the Day: Taiwanfest 2008 (Part I)

A little over a month ago, a couple of friends asked me to record a song for them. A couple of 80s techno junkies that writes songs on the side. I figured it would be fun and agreed, thinking that...well, if I'm using a pseudonym, no one will know who sang this song. All I would have to do is crawl into a little corner of Attic-Electric Studios and belt out a song for them. So I agreed, and started practising a song called 冷火 (Cold Fire).... They translated it to Frozen Fire tho. *shrug*

Anyway... 3 weeks ago, the following dialogue took place:
Ray: You ready?
Me: I suppose......................
Ray: What do you mean you suppose? You cannot 'suppose'
Me: I'm sure I'll be fine... If not, we'll just record again.
Ray: Record? That's LATER! You're going on stage in 3 weeks!
Me: WHA-------------?!?!?!??!?!?!

He filled me in on details. His group, Casa Futuro, was going to be performing on stage at Taiwanfest on August 23rd, 2008. Tonight. To showcase some of the songs that they'd written. Unbeknownst to me, but beknownst to them, I was in the lineup. So tonight, without the darkness of a Karaoke room to hide me, without the din of drunk people to drown me out, I will... for the first time, be singing LIVE. On Stage. In a public theatre. Where people can see me.

Last night, we were again (click here for photos), at Attic-Electric Studios rehearsing. I THINK, that if I'm able to hear myself, I should be ok. I hope. I pray. SHOULD. We'll see. 3 hours until showtime. I just hope I don't get boo'ed off stage.

~Cheers.