Sabbatical, day 1

I just thought I would share some insights into my day today.

I have decided to take a little break from singing. It is funny, but a week ago, I would have never thought in a million years I would be doing this, but there it is. I have realized that I have sacrificed a lot of things in order to pursue singing, and I think it is time to take stock of things and live life to the fullest. Next week I am going to Europe on an impromptu trip.. I decided to do this and arranged everything in 2 days. I am accompanying a dear friend as she does some auditions. I am also staying with my friend's parents at an artist's retreat/farm in rural France. They have cows! I think I am scheduled to plant trees there, among other things! Other than that, I am going to go to Paris. And I have not planned anything else.

As my mom the university professor says, everyone needs a sabbatical. So, I know you are dying to know how I spent my first day... well, it was a very interesting:

I was going to go to the gym, but I decided to forgo physical torture... after all, this is all about new beginnings! Instead, I developed dance routines while listening to an internet radio station ("gay boyfriend radio" at live365.com... the most "Mary music on the net.) Then I vigorously
bleached the ceiling of my bathroom ( I am my mother's son) ... I think that burns as many calories as the stairclimber.

I then went to Commercial drive to meet my friend for lunch. We went to this Turkish restaurant/performance space called Rime. The food was delish and we drank sage tea and listened to experimental jazz. My friend is a "artistic decathelete"... she is silmultaneously pursuing photography and music, and all the ways those two interact. Of course, we were the only people in the restaurant (except the hip and trendy hemp-clad girlfriends of the band members alternately swooning in extacy and feeding their children morsels of baba ghanoush) so we had to feign interest, when really all we wanted to do was chat......

Turkish food is very interesting, and if you haven't tried it I urge you to.... The flavours are very complex yet subtle, and the use of spices is intriguing.

Then, I went to Value Village. I haven't been in a year. I had almost given up on le village, but I found a great ralph lauren windbreaker that went perfectly with my outfit. I now feel like a real Vancouverite... this is the first rainproof garment I have bought. I guess I was in denial.

After this, I went to my other friend's house in North Vancouver, and we ate Thai food and watched the superbowl. Mostly, I just counted the number of times the announcer said things like "tight end" and observed their cat.... but I always have a great time at their house. We always laugh and eat and are very silly.

On the way home, I was walking by Christ Church Cathedral, and I noticed all these people going inside... well, it turns out that every Sunday, they have the service of Compline, which is the last service of the day. So I went. My friends, this was my kind of church! Incense, bells,
processions of men in white robes with candles singing gregorian chant... the music was very beautiful..... I have always loved Gregorian chant... in grade 8 I used my Bar Mitzvah money to buy chant and Renaissance church music cds. I know. Well, this was the Chanel suit of church services, I'd say.. classic, timeless and quality all the way.

And that was my day!