Phew! Finally... a moment to breathe.

Happy Easter everyone!

This week has been a tiring week. Because of Easter, the newpaper production had to be compressed into one less day...thus meaning an extra hour's work every day.

Today, I am cleaning the flat. See? I told you my life in Canada was glamourous.

Luckily, in Canada the "Sunday" papers (big, multi-sectioned, half-a-rainforest's worth of paper) come on Saturdays so I have a diversionary tactic (aside from blogging).

Last weekend was fun. I spent Friday and Saturday as a set decorator/production assistant on a music video for a band called The Used http://www.theused.net. You can't see the actual video yet but there are others (which in fact are very similar)...As soon as the video is made, I will put a link here!

The shoot took place in this huge, freezing cold film studio in a rather desolate suburb of Toronto called Mimico (the name is the only good part).

My first day on set, I had to help saw a sofa into 2 parts.

Then we had to lash ropes to trees so they could be arranged artistically behind a big screen, with strobe lights backlighting them. We also had to tie bin-bags creatively round the tress to make them "more gnarly". (Set designer: "I want gnarly! Gnarlier!! GNARLIER!) I can safely say that is something I will probably never do again (as was sawing the sofa up, actually).

The next task was building a set piece, the bottom of the sofa, which had to be built from scratch. There is a part where a band member dives through the sofa into an aquarium and you have to see the bottom of the couch on the bottom of the tank (or something... I got confused at this point). Anyway, it was fun, we carved up a mattress to get springs, built a wooden frame and my friend taught me to use power tools!! So much fun...

Finally, we had to create a trolley to wheel one of the band around while his head is in a bird costume (at this point I was still confused).

I am so excited about seeing the final product. Sadly I missed the shooting part because I had to work on the shooting days. But that means that seeing the end product will be all the more intriguing.

Well, probably you have all stopped reading this seeing as I never ever update it. Susan told me off recently for being neglectful of my blog. So, here is news!

News item number 1: I got a job! I am a features writer and page layout artist for the Toronto Community News, a group of 9 newspapers, 3 monthly local thingys, a magazine, and a bunch of random custom publishing. Mostly I write advertorial... sometimes I get proper writing assignments. And I'm getting pretty good at InDesign (I knew it would come in useful one day). I only work 4 days a week so I am leading the easy life... except for the fact that my commute to work is 2 hours. Eek.

News item 2: Springtime in Canada! This week the weather reached the weirdly dizzying height of about 17 degrees. Considering about 6 weeks ago the temperature was somewhere in the region of minus 30 with wind chill, this is clearly no mean feat.

News item 3: Small Madeleine is coming to visit! Yes, in 2 weeks time the air shall be full of the cries of reunited siblings. I am making a long list of entertainments. Any Torontonians out there, please feel free to make suggestions. Non-Torontonians, suggest things Madeleina can bring me by way of gifts.

News item 4: Random lucky streak! Recently I won 2 competitions, one for free tickets to films, the other free shampoo and $100 courtesy of Herbal Essences. Clearly, it pays to be bored and spend far too much time entering online competitions. I highly recommend it.

That may be it for news, actually. Right now I am devoting lots of time and energy to finding crazy volunteer stuff to do in my free time. Sadly I can't continue with the Burl-Oak Theatre Group due to time/transport troubles, but the rest of Toronto is my oyster and I am cracking open the shells .

I think I'm tired....

So... what news?

Well, not a lot. Still searching for that elusive break into the Canadian media, although currently engaged in a subterfuge operation - working undercover doing data entry at a big magazine publishers while scoping out weak links and forging a plan of attack...

Soon, my friends, soon.

Also, we are puppy-sitting! This involves feeding, walking, stroking, being licked continuously, pampering, and generally acting as slaves to two small black yapper-type dogs who go by the names of 'Tux' and 'Bonnie'. Innocent enough names, to be sure, but ill-suited to this pair, who are clearly set surely on the path to world domination.

Thanks to my newest toy, the digital camera (I predict great things for these nifty little gadgets, which operate entirely WITHOUT FILM! You may laugh, but soon everyone will have them), I can share with you some pictures of these infamous hounds.

This camera was donated to the Canadian Maple cause by my good friend Susie, to whom I shall be eternally grateful, forever.

In honour of the newly-arrived cold weather, here are three cold Canadian things:

fig. 1: President's Choice Candy Cane Ice Cream

This has to be a contender for best ice cream ever, or at least best limited edition ice cream. Vanilla ice cream, with mint dark chocolate pieces and bits of candy cane run through it. However, due to the lurid colours of the candy cane, which comes in a rather festive green and red combo, it is best to eat it under cover of darkness, lest you be sick.

fig. 2: Ice Skating at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto

Fig. 3: The Polar Bear Dip

This needs some explanation. Essentially, hundreds of crazy people gather every year on the shores of Lake Ontario to freeze their asses off in the cold water. The money raised goes to charity. Some people dress up, while others stay on the bank laughing evilly. A good time is thus had by all.

I'm sure you're all dying to see evidence of my thespianity so take a look at the photos from my show. Also, the mystery of the nine little piggies will be revealed.

tech rehearsal:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/randy_smye_pics/main/ocpa_rehearsal_december_14

dress rehearsal:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/randy_smye_pics/main/datos_dress

So, the great job search begins again.

Sadly it is taking up all my free time thus leaving not much time to continue this blog. Rest assured, once I find some kind of money source, I shall be as desperate to procrastinate through these pages as ever.

Just to keep y'all in t'loop...

Recent adventures:

Montreal!

(in which Daisy and Kevin gain two clothes sizes, transcend the cultural divide through their combined linguistic talents and are seated in a variety of gloomy corners)

Rollerblading!

(in which Kevin demonstrates his fighter-pilot reflexes by effecting a dramatic wheel-borne rescue of his speeding girlfriend)

Amateur Dramatics Extraordinaire!

(in which Daisy discovers just how many props can be fashioned from a combination of apple juice and tin foil, sends nine little piggies to their deaths and glues a sandwich together with PVA all in the name of art)

It's all over!

I have finished my stint of gainful faux-employment.

In honour of my 3 months at an actual workplace, I will introduce you to some actual workers:

Aren't they pretty?

Left to right: Paul (assistant art director), Linda (associate editor), Me, Anne (editor), Flannery (managing editor) and Linda (fellow intern/partner-in-crime)

If you look carefully you can see WHERE magzine. Sniff. Edging its way in to the picture, far right, the Christmas tree.

Now off to Dundas for some festive cheer (and to do a week's worth of laundry)

Happy holidays!