Well my fellow readers, the main reason for this blog was to use travelling experiences and music as a healing path from a breakup...I have promised myself that every month I'd go away even for a weekend, to explore new territories alone in preparation for what it would be my trip at the end of the year...so far the recount
January: The Dominican Republic
February: Montreal
March: (nothing here)
April: Venezuela
May:...........NYC
Yes, I'll be going to NYC from May 21-23, got my bus ticket and I am booking a cheap hostel as I write this post. Although I have been in NYC twice it has been just stopovers and never to enjoy the city and what it has to offer. Now I have the opportunity of spending 3 full days and 2 nights in the city that never sleeps.
I will be writing a full post on it as I go but things I am planning on doing while there so far...
- Catch a concert of Esperanza Spalding Bass virtuoso hottie and have a night of fine jazz
- Go to the Yankee Stadium and watch the Yankees play while having a stadium hot-dog
- Wander around the music stores, Harlem, Bronx and Hell's Kitchen
- and much more.....
I couldn't believe it, I have never booked a trip so fast and without months and months of planning in advance...it didn't feel like myself, but at the same time...it felt great! Not having much time to debate if I did ok or not....in 3 weeks, I'd be off to Venezuela for 9 days to see my family and friends with the excuse of spending my dad's 70th birthday back home.
But, I went to work on a friday, half day until noon. Said goodbye to the co-workers and took off home on the subway/streetcar to go get my backpacks and go back again by subway/bus to the airport. (travelling on a budget) a $70 taxi ride came down to a $10 all-day-subway pass...call me cheap but hey, I'll spend the money where it needs to be spent.
Airport at 4ish, my flight leaves at 7pm. At the counter checking my bags, a mexican girl clerk started conversation, I told her I had been in Mexico 2 years ago for 2 weeks backpacking all the south of Mexico, she was happy to hear I wasn't one of those "boring resort guys" and we ended talking for about 15-20 minutes while a big line was forming behind me. I took that as a good sign, as a signal of encouragement of travelling alone is a good cure.
Waiting for the boarding call I stopped at the Duty Free stores to get some more candy for the people I might have missed on the "gift list"
- "Passengers on the flight 076 going to Caracas, Venezuela........"
- "That's me!"
On the plane I was like a kid (I always get nervous on planes) but they had movies and TV shows to relax me a little bit and distract my mind of what I was going to encounter back home. I read a bit of my book and catch up with all season 2 of Nurse Jackie.
Arrived to Caracas around midnight. A good 5 hours 25 minutes direct flight without any issues. My mom and 2 friends were waiting for me at the Airport, she was happy to see me! Even if I had long hair and a 2 week beard.
We jumped on the car and went straight home.
What came after for the next 9 days it is hard to describe, happiness, joy, laughter, I saw friends I haven't seen in the past 2 1/2 years, but have been my friends since at least 15 years or more, and that they will remain my friends for the longest time to come...
I managed to live a rush Toronto life in Caracas, a city where everyone takes their sweet time to do everything and you should only try to aim for "1 chore per day" I managed to wake up at 6am (with no alarm clock) and go to bed at midnight to make the most out of my day.....
Spend time with my family and at least 3-4 friends a day, some of them knew each other so the blending was easier but some of them didn't so the networking began...lawyers, veterinary, unemployed, all joined together by happiness and cheap beer. (5 BsF/Beer = $0.65/Beer)
I wont describe the day by day routine but just the highlights of what I learned in this short trip....
1) Tuesday night, I am at a restaurant with 2 of my best friends. The waiter comes and ask us for drinks, we order 3 beers....as he leaves I keep on looking at the menu to be ready to order when he comes back..it is past 9pm and I have the Canadian mentality of good use of the time...when he comes and pour the beers on the glasses I rush to say: "I think we're ready to order" and he says...."That's OK but take your time, make a toast first..."
WOW! It hit me like a tons of bricks...for a waiter to tell me to chill and enjoy with my friends, the friends I haven't seen in 2 and a half years and toast that we are all there, celebrating my comeback...damn right, fuck it! Let's toast! This is a wise advice I'd keep with me for years...enjoy the moment!
2) I got to eat and sample every single dish I missed from back home. Eating healthy and in good portions. But everything fresh made and tasty. I tried things I never imagined go well together like Tequenos with cheese and chocolate...simple amazing.
3) Not to be afraid...everyone kept on warning me about crime, and Caracas is now one of the most violent cities of the world, but a managed to walk, take the subway and bus with the equivalent of US $1000 in the front pocket of my jeans. That's like 4 minimum monthly wages over there...I could have taken a taxi and got safe home, but it is my country after all and if I can't feel safe at home, then....where can I feel safe. So I walked, fortunately nothing happened and it might been a stupid thing to do but, is part of living!
4) This one was a tough one. Remember who I am and that there are people who love me for it. After the separation I was devastated and ended believing most of the things I was accused of, I doubted of myself or my capacities as a human being, I felt like I had failed at 34, and my friends and family proved me wrong. Im on the right path. I am doing good and that's why people remembered me with so much appreciation and love, there was a night where we went back to how did we knew each other and hearing those stories again, what they had to say about me, things I didn't even remember I have done for them, things I have done that have been a learning curve for them and changed their lives at certain point. It was uplifting in every single way....The smile on my face never fade out..
5) Learning that I am human too and I can be wrong. I have always been a firm believer of not keeping in touch with any of my ex girlfriends. Why? there's no point, if it didn't work as a couple there's no way it will work as a friendship.....wrong! I saw my ex, the one I left behind when I decided to come to Canada 10 years ago. It ended on a sad note, with a fight, we never spoke with each other again. She like myself, went through separation, she has a kid. We went out and my first reaction towards her was a hug, a long 5 minutes uninterrupted hug. The type that says, everything is OK, no more fighting, let's put stuff behind us, and that's how it went. We walked and talked for 5 hours. We made peace. We turned the page and we're ready to move on with our lives...
We'll we see each other again or hear about each other again in the future? I don't know. No one knows. The only thing I am happy to know, we no longer have a grudge with each other and we're both OK.
6) Gathering almost all my friends at my parents house, for a whole weekend, they never seemed to have enough of me, wanting to treat me all the time and spend time with me, we'd start the get together in the morning and end at 11pm eating street hot-dogs. The'd go out of their daily routines to stop and see me.
The last day I had to leave at 7pm in order to be at the airport 4 hours previous my flight and there were at least 15 people in my parking lot. Taking pictures, laughing, crying and waving goodbye. Many promised to come and visit me, others asked when I was going back....I don't know....I just wanna live the present....and the present is GOOD!
I came back straight to work, re-invigorated, re-energized and super happy. And for that I am very lucky to have the people I have around me. So, on an ending note.......
Lorenzo, my friend from elementary and musical partner for almost 25 years
Lenin, my buddy from first year of university and almost brother for the past 17 years
Jose Ramon, my friend who shares with me the passion for U2 and friend for 17 years
Allan, another great friend, who was my alter ego during university years and friend for 17 years
Amaluz, my friend whom I have reconnected with recently and known for 16 years
Cristina, the family vet who I met thanks to my monkey pet and I'd never imagine we'd turn so good friends for the past 11 years
Carlos Albornoz, my boss from my last job as an English teacher in Venezuela and friend for the past 6 years
Jackie, well, after 13 years of knowing each other and sharing a past, thanks for making peace with me.
And everyone else I saw very quick or shared with on that wonderful week...
THANK YOU! For bringing back the happiness in me, to help me find who I was in the first place and sending me back with hope, happiness and smiles all the way back to Canada. I will cherish them and keep the memories alive, to stay in touch and come see you guys as often as I can. You are the best friends anyone can have and are very special to me...
I can't think of any other song since I came back than INXS's "The Stairs". I don't know how to attach the meaning with you guys but it just feels like the right song...and for someone who's ready to live life at a 100%, there are no rules to follow, I just make them as I go.....
"Storey to storey, building to building, streets to streets.....we pass each other on the stairs"
So, back to the "Bucket List" I might add that I have never (ever) been drunk (shit-faced) in my life after 34 years. I have always been a Soda guy over Beer and I am totally ignorant when it comes to Wine or Hard Liquor, but.....St Patrick was around the corner and why not make this one of the things on my Bucket List. To go out and drink (or outdrink) an Irishman on St Patrick's.
I got the call the day before St Paddy's from my friend "J" just to confirm a promise I had made to him last year and I had forgotten all about it.
- So, what's up man? are you gonna back out on me?
- Errr, no...are you?
- No, I finish at 4, can you meet at 4?
- I finish at 5 but let me see what I can do....
- What? are you some kind of pussy? You'd boss won't let you?
- Errrrrr, I'll see you at 4!
You can't call chicken a man with a bucket list, hahaha, I gather some people and went to have 2 pitchers of "green beer" at a pub nearby and came back to finish my 3 hours in the afternoon, happier, with a big grin and more relaxed....it was on!
At 4 I left to meet my friend and brought my own backup from Venezuela (my friend "A") and headed to King and Yonge, where we had a Hero Burger (now I know why the name, you become a fucking Hero after you eat one of those, nasty tasting burger, I'd never eat there again) and we headed to PJ O'Brians. Line up and we waited for almost 45 minutes and the line didn't move an inch. Plus other cute girls were skipping the line and meeting friends before us and making our chances to get in closer to none.
"Fuck this!" - J said, "Let's go closer to were I live, there's an Irish Bar there and no line-up"
Let's Do It!
And that's how we got to meet "Galway Arms Bar and Restaurant" the bar packed with at least 100 irish or irish descendent and 2 venezuelans..
We started with a round of Guinness (we were 5 now including J's wife and her cousin K) I must add this was my first Guinness Beer ever and after the first sip I doubt that I could have more than one. Very thick and strong. (remember I am the coke guy...right, so even coffee tastes strong to me)
We got onto the second round thanks to the girls, and by this time the bar was getting packed and the music was about to begin, 2 guys on acoustic guitars playing Irish tunes. Joke of the night: "So, is this your first Guinness ever?", No J, this is my second one! at least 3 people laugh...
The third round was on me, so I got to the bar and asked the bartender:
- "What's the name of that drink on the movies where you drop a shot in the beer and drink it fast?"
- "The Irish-Car-Bomb"
- "The what?"
- "The Irish-Car-Bomb!"
- "What's in it?"
- "Guinness+Bailey's+Irish Scotch"
- "Perfect! Gimme 5 of those puppies"
Came back and I must proudly say not even my irish friend knew what the fuck that was, so I didn't feel as much as a "drunk virgin" anymore. We did them (except for the girls, you know how the say women are smarter than men...there you go)
I swear the moment I finished drinking it I felt like I have woken up. If the 4 previous beers I have had got me tipsy this one was the cure, killed the effect and got me sober, I even told "A"
- Dude! I am perfect, nothing happened
- Yeah, give it 5 minutes....
Done! 5 minutes after everything went in slow motion and my smile was bigger than the cheshire cat.
After that 2 more rounds of Guinness and I was dancing and hitting on "K" cousin and toasting my glass with every single girl it passed by, I even was practicing my "Irish" accent and passed by "J" older brother that just came from Ireland last year's, ohhh mannnn. Good thing we were in Canada and not Ireland
- "We're in Ireland are you from lad?"
- "Caracas"
- "Fuckin' Eejit"
(and that's how the fight would have started.....lol)
11:55pm and like Cinderella I needed to split before I turned from Irish back to Venezuelan. I checked the bus times and got the last round of Irish-Car-Bombs (3 this time) got them really quick and grabbed my stuff and left for the bus stop.
I slept every single inch of the way back home and I had to take Bus-Subway-Bus and walk about 5-6 blocks to get to my bed. I was aware but funny. Got home, went to take a piss, got back to my room, took of my jacket and fell on the bed! Next day the alarm woke me up at 6:30am....ohhhhh did I mention all this was done on a thursday? and that I had to go to work the next morning? ok now you know.
I enjoyed my hangover, got drunk the night before, didn't do any stupid thing I'd regret the morning after.
I worked out ok! So I can scratch that thing from my Bucket List "Outdrinked an Irishman"
Next thing on the BL, go see my parents...I booked a quick flight to Venezuela to go there for my dad's 70th birthday. I'll be visiting family and friends for 10 days and then coming back. Looking forward to it.
Probably on my next post!
That's it for St Paddy's my dear followers....I leave you with the Pogues and "If I should Fall from Grace from God"
Hello followers! Yeah, it's been a long time, I was away but now I am back and this is a long one so you better get comfy...
If I remember correctly my last blog was about the "V-Day" and how it was my first one alone in a long long time...once that feeling passed I decided to take a escape to Montreal, the city that I called home for 7 years and I ran away from 3 ago.
I was shopping online for bus tickets and what seemed to be a good idea it started to get darker because of the ticket prices, over $150, meaning that weekend would cost me probably over $200 (not in the budget)
So I went on craigslist to see if I could get one from someone who got one and got cold feet and now he/she is selling it half price or something...no luck!
So I got that risky adventure lil' devil on my shoulder talking to my ear...
- "what about ride share?"
- "Yeah, what about it?"
- "Why not check it out?"
- "Isn't that for crazy people and serial killers?"
- "Not really, but if that's the spirit you won't get too far on your Round The World Trip"
- "Very true!"
Click on rideshare, let's set the dates I was planning on going, leaving friday, coming back monday...there was one. Leaving friday at 6pm and coming back from Montreal at 2pm on Monday, and it leaves 2 blocks away from my work. It couldn't be better, it meant I just have to come with my backpack on friday and after work take off..we will be in Montreal around midnight.
Now I just was an email away from this "serial killer" who was going to either chop me into pieces or bore me to dead with stories..it turned out to be a girl, from Pakistan who works in my same building (what are the chances?) So after a couple of emails we arrange to have a coffee together and once we met each other we were set for take off on friday
Friday, 5:50PM I am at Wellesley subway station (the meeting point) and there she comes, with a rental car and as I am throwing my backpack in the trunk, she tells me 2 other guys are coming..and there they were...
A car with a Pakistan girl, a guy from Tanzania, a guy from Paris and myself from Venezuela..all with different backgrounds, all connected in a ride share, going to see friends/family or loved ones in Montreal for the weekend. Let me tell you we NEVER ran out of conversation subjects or jokes, we had just met but it seemed like we knew each other from years...they had all been travelling parts of the world and I felt it like such a wicked way of learning. The weather started getting nasty and it delayed our arrival, plus our holy search for Wendy's so Chris (the french dude) could have his first ever Baconator and know what life was all about....no baconator was found!
We arrived there after 5-6 hours driving and my friend Carlos was there waiting for me at 1am (such a great friend) He is the same one I went to the dominicans with. He had the weekend off. We went back to his place about 45 minutes outside Montreal and went almost straight to bed.
The next day we woke up and went out to do some chores, we had lunch at "La Belle Province" (man how I was craving those unhealthy hot-dogs and poutine) then we came back to his place where I helped him with some computer stuff....He had already contacted his girlfriend and a friend to go out to Montreal.
They picked us up around 6ish and we drove to Montreal, we were looking for a place to eat as we were starving, then it hit me, part of my trip was to re-encounter the city where I had arrived 10 years ago, so why not go to that place where I had my first General Tao chicken ever, it was a cheap eat and the waiters are almost rushing you so they can use your spot to serve the next customer but it was great.
They all agreed and we went there, the place (Soup et Nouilles) has changed a bit. Good start. After telling them the story on how I found this place we ordered and I asked for the General Tao, when it got to the table, it looked as appetizing as 10 years ago, and it tasted exactly the same way. Time Machine right there.
We were supposed to go out and party but I think when you hit 35 your body does different stuff than what your mind thinks so instead we got some beers and wine and we went back home to watch a movie, still fun and not so cold.
The next day we woke up and have breakfast, and then we went off to meet a friend I had about 8 years or more of not seeing (silly fight between us) but it was all behind now and he was going through the magic word...yes....divorce and he has 3 kids to make it more difficult..
He was alone in Montreal with no friends, so the chance of going for some peruvian BBQ chicken was a good excuse to catch up and exchange ideas, there we were, 3 divorced men, eating chicken, telling stories and giving each other support and suggestions on how to carry on.
I think I ended convincing him to take a trip I consider it was VERY necessary for him, I realized I needed to go soon enough to Venezuela to visit my parents. Even when it means I will probably be $1000 short from the budget for my dream trip it also means I'll spend 10 days with them that will make them very happy and me too after 2 years of being the last time I went back home. I figured $1000 I can get in any moment of my life but time with my parents and friends is limited in life.
After that we went for a coffee and then back home with Carlos, where we meet the girls again for another movie and wine session. Talking with this girl it shook me to hear her saying that she had no regrets in life....mmmm....how about that? Can you imagine that? Living a life where you don't regret anything that happened to you, good or bad, sad or happy cause it was all part of a learning curve and an experience that in some way will enrich your life and teach you something...
Sign me up! Thank you blue eyed girl for that useful thought. I promise from now own, every time I feel sad about not getting something I want or having a bad moment, the No Regret Rule. So far I have been doing it and if it was an optical illusion the worries leave my mind as quick as they arrive.
Monday Morning I joined my friend for a bit of work and then he drove me to Montreal, he dropped me at St-Viateur Bagels (I had promised myself to buy a dozen to take back with me for the co-workers in Toronto) as I packed the bagels and waved goodbye I figured I had still an hour to burn so...I walked
Walked by Parc Ave, passed in front of Mont-Royal, tons of places I recognized and brought me memories, Cinema Du Parc, all the way south to the subways station where I was supposed to meet with my ride share gang, some girls smiled at me as I walked by, I smiled back, would it be I felt radiant? reinvigorated? or just the fact I was a backpacker walking around the city? I don't know but it felt good. I couldn't wait for my "dream trip"
Arrived to the station and there they were. All three of them, big smiles, a bit tired after a weekend of fun but smiling. We talked all the way back and exchanged stories. Found the Wendy's for Chris to have the Baconator. He went for a triple one and couldn't finish it. The he regretted eating it after all....
The guys felt asleep in the back and I started talking with the Pakistan girl who told me she had broke up with her 7 year fiancee right before getting married cause he had found another girl. Then I learned about The Bucket List
So far all I knew about the bucket list was there was a not too good movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman under the same title, 2 old folks about to die decide to to all the stuff they ever wanted before they...kick the bucket. Of course it helped Jack Nicholson was a millionaire....
In this case, no one was about to die or had a terminal ill but what if it was looked at from another perspective? What if........
After a bad relationship or a nasty break-up you decide to take a year off, to do all the stuff you ever wanted to do while being alone, trips, adventures, everything before entering in another relation that with luck will be with the right person and then develop into marriage and kids....family, house, car, dog, etc...
You would enter that next step with No Regrets because you have done everything you wanted (or pretty damn close)
So, imagine how my mind came back of that trip.....it was pretty much meant to be..all the learning.
With this I can say I am working on my "Bucket List" and not having regrets in life. I made peace with Montreal and I know every time I go I will be welcomed and have something different to see or learn.
I think I will share a bit more about my Bucket List but that will be in my next post..
For now, ta-taaa! I'll leave you with a song I think it represents what this trip meant to me and How Damn Lucky I am....the explanation, well, let's let Dave Matthews do the introduction himself
Yes, I must admit I was nervous, the V-Day, February 14th, how was it going to be?? First Valentine's Day alone in a long LONG time, I didn't have to buy flowers, chocolates or gifts to anyone...
Well...not as painful as I thought. Just another day.
I went to work, 9-5, I left work and went straight to have a haircut (just tips cause I am planning on letting it grow) and then I went to the movies by myself. I went to see "Cedar Rapids" (which was a wrong choice) because it wasn't as funny as the trailer promised it to be.
Sneaked some junk food in the theatre (Chips, white chocolate and pop)
In fact, I am more excited about taking off to Montreal for the long weekend and seeing again some old faces I haven't seen in a while. I'd be my own tribute to celebrate my 10 years in Canada and the places I used to go...the itinerary includes (food wise)
General Tao at Soupe et Nouilles
Smoke Meat Sandwich at Schwartz's
St-Viateur Bagels
and that's just a start of what it looks like an interesting week
On Wednesday and Thursday night I'll be hitting some open jams with the band trying to get some bookings and at the same time having fun playing some covers
Then on friday after work I'll be leaving straight to Montreal and coming back on Monday night.
As I am writing this post tonight, 10 years ago I was arriving to Canada for the first time in the middle of a snow storm. Little I knew this would be my home for the next ten years....
I was 24 and all I had back then was a backpack full of clothes, a computer and an Eric Clapton signature guitar. I see myself today and I am 34 and all I have is a backpack full of clothes, an iMac computer and a Warwick Bass....
So I will start listing all the things (good and bad) that have happened to me in these past decade and since we're talking about Canada, and if I must choose a Canadian song to accompanying your reading it would have to be The Tragically Hip cause after all....it's been a Long Time Running.
So click play and enjoy your reading!
After 10 years in Canada 02/06/2001 - 02/06/2011
- I learned French after a year in French School
- I lived in 2 major cities (Montreal & Toronto)
- Visited 3 provinces Quebec, Ontario & British Columbia
- I played at Cafe Campus in Montreal
- Worked at the SPCA in Montreal (it was my first job in Canada)
- Meet 2 of my best buddies Carlos and Piero
- I realized family is not as great and nice as when they are far from you
- Missed my parents almost every day
- Worked at HMV and got fired for supposedly not understanding a french customer when I thought he was looking for an "Al Green" CD when he really meant a "Halloween" CD
- Learned french people don't pronounce the "H"
- Meet my first wife
- Ate plain white rice for 2 weeks in order to save for U2 tickets
- Saw U2 first row and got both, Bono's and The Edge's guitar picks
- Lived with $400/month for a year
- Saw snow for the first time in my life
- Got my long hair braided
- Work at Safari Pet Centre at the Rockland Mall
- Answered the most stupid questions about fish to customers in the store and over the phone.
- Discovered I don't love animals but for some strange reason they DO love me
- Became a "cat person" when I was really a "dog person"
- Found out about General-Tao chicken
- Went tobogganing on Sundays to the Mont-Royal park when I had no money and spend the day there
- Worked at a Canada Post outlet with a girl with a wicked sense of humour and the finest sarcasm ever and had an asian couple as bosses which were fantastic. Also got to meet this guy that would come every week to buy a stamp with his debit card and then make a rant for us not wanting to pass his card for $0.43
- Learned I don't have Customer Service Skills
- Saw a good amount of concerts while making friends with the scalpers by bringing them sandwiches and coffee so they'd let me be always right behind them on the line-up no matter at what time I arrive
- Got a borrowed bike and biked around the city once spring came
- Worked painting and fixing apartments in order to make some extra cash
- Played with more bands in Montreal in Bars and Pubs, some of them good some others not so good
- Got a standing ovation playing Comfortably Numb at Pub-St-Paul in Montreal's Old Port
- Went to Vancouver to visit my wife's family
- Ate Poutine
- Tried the best smoked meat ever in my life at "Schwartz's"
- Got really fat
- Worked in a courier company tracking international parckages
- Went back to Venezuela for a couple of months and to teach english while staying with my parents
- Worked at Steve's Music Store in Montreal in the warehouse where I got to meet really nice people and talented musicians which whom I still keep in touch.
- Studied Audio Recording Technology at Cegep Vanier, a six month program where I became an Audio Engineer and got to learn from 3 great teachers, Pat McNeil, Glenda Rush and Nick DiTomaso
- Moved up from working in the warehouse at Steve's to the bookstore where I also got a great boss who was really nice to work with and easy going, Norm.
- I got an internship after graduating in a TV station called Nuevo Mundo TV where I worked as a Sound Editor, Sound Designer and Composer for some of their shows and promos.
- Got my first and only Mac computer (same one I am using to write this post)
- Decided to leave Montreal behind and move to Toronto
- Got transferred to Steve's in Toronto where I met my supervisor a really sweet girl with the most amazing voice for singing.
- Rented a basement apartment for 2 years
- Had to throw away bed, mattress, sheets and treat the cats because the previous apartment owner left a piece of carpet FULL of fleas from his dog that spread all over the apartment and tortured us and the cats
- Started working in an Audio Visual company called AVW-Telav
- Went to see many many concerts: U2, The Police, Van Halen, Van Haggart, The Commitments, James Brown, Morris Day and The Time, Ozzy, Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, INXS, Gogol Bordello, BajoFondo Tango Club, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Genesis, Supertramp, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, etc....
- Sold my Eric Clapton signature Fender Stratocaster guitar which I had since 1998.
- Got a Warwick Thumb Bass (valued $4800) for $1250 because the store was doing a bankruptcy sale
- Joined an original Latin Rock band called Gardenias and played with them for about a year with a CD release included
- Got my own website up and running
- Did some work as a Composer and Sound Recordist for some documentaries and shorts
- Discovered "King Noodle" in Chinatown, my favorite place for chicken n' chinese mushroom noodles
- Got transferred to work as an in-house technician at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel
- Played with some other bands and projects around Toronto
- Got a part time job in a bar as the Sound Technician mixing bands and doing lighting
- Went to my first musical "Evil Dead - The Musical"
- Lost my job at the bar thanks to a "friend" who took it and learned who are my friends really
- Got transferred to the Metro Convention Center as an in-house technician and became part of an Union for the first time.
- Went to Vancouver for 2 weeks to work at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and visit my wife's family at the Okanagan Valley
- I was part of a wicked play called "Einstein's Wife" where I did Sound & Lighting design for the play and meet 3 really cute girls also very talented actors for a 2 week sold out run at the Fringe Festival
- Got a my first House
- Got separated and soon to be divorced
- Sold my first house
- Started working at the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Association (CMRRA)
- Turned 34 years old last October
- Put together a band with 4 of my best friends whom I enjoy talking to and playing music with
- I am renting a room in order to save money to take a 6-8 month trip to celebrate my 35th Birthday
This is it, pretty much in a nutshell. Ten years of apprenticeship and constant learning. The best part as always I think it is all the people I have met in these past 10 years and that either had some influence in my life or mine on theirs...lots of good and bad memories but memories at the end.
Has it been good or bad? I still don't know how to answer that question. Somedays I miss Venezuela and my friends and family, somedays I am happy to be in Canada and somedays I'd wish to be somewhere else exploring. 10 years in the same place seems like a bit too long. Maybe it is time for me to pack and keep on wandering the earth and this was just a resting stop, after all...
It's been a Long Time Running..........it's well worth the wait
-
It might have taken a while but yesterday I got back on stage to play 5 songs with the cover band I've been rehearsing for the past 3 months, it didn't matter if it was an open jam, or if there were about 10 people in the crowd, or if the bar owners never showed up to check us out and arrange a booking.
We all 5 were there, eager to play and the chemistry was amazing!
Songs we played:
Give me one Reason
Fortunate Son
Bad Romance
Creep
Message in a Bottle
People were happy and having a good time (yeah all 10 of them) but the most important thing, I felt great. I felt like a big load was taken off my shoulders, no worries for those 20 minutes, we even made some mistakes and they were no biggie, good saves from the whole band to make them unnoticeable to the audience...
Two Venezuelans, one Shri-Lankan, one Asian and a Polish. Weird blend but the best results.
We'll start hitting some more "Open Jams" around the city to test skills and take off some rust plus it might be an opportunity to get some paid gigs and get back in action as a part time musician. Just what I need!
Also at work, I think in an involuntary way I kinda created a game. It's called "the song of the day" and it all started by talking with my supervisor about my passion of scoring for films and how music and moods go hand by hand or you can describe your mood with certain song...not only we tested each other but she managed to get the rest of the department involved. There was some Kings of Lion, Carmina Burana and some other choices...mine....?
Can't you Hear me Knocking by the Stones
I can't get enough of those congas and that latin vibe jam at the end with the sax..the chorus is the best.
Snowstorm today but it wasn't as bad as everyone predicted it'd be, kinda made me think some more about my trip, where would I be if I get stuck in a snow storm. It made me realize I really need to plan where it is going to be "Point A" and "Point B" depending on the season I choose to travel.
Well, that sounds like material for another post so you'll have to take a rain check on that one.
Feeling good again guys/girls...thanks to music and friends' support as always
Next time I promise I'll have some pictures or videos to share with you
