Fringe Fest-In Cold Blood

Today was utterly depressing. It was gorgeous and sunny outside and my schedule was wide open. So what did I do? I sat in my armchair reading the entire day. (At least I preserved what's left of my precious and limited funds.) I drank a lot of tea and ate a lot of Ryvita crisp bread (endorsed by the Queen!), and all day long I read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. My friend lent it to me a few months ago and I wasn't sure I would like it, but once I got started I was kind of sucked in. Unaware of the book's phenomenal success I decided to google it. After doing that, I now reckon it is quite possible that every other person my age and older has already read this book. If you are one of the few exceptions like me, you should pick it up! Why should you pick it up? It is a well-written and engaging book. It also has historical significance. It was originally marketed as being a non-fiction novel giving a true account of the murders of a Kansas farmer and his family. It is full of very interesting characters and descriptions. As well, I find that the sections in which the murderers take a road-trip can be likened to a perverse version of On the Road. I enjoyed reading about the places that they travelled though it was horrible to think of the actions that preceded the trip as well as some of the things they did while moving about the U.S. and Mexico. I really don't know what I can say to endorse the book, there is so much written about it already and readily available on the Internet. You don't need to take my word for it, look it up!

After I finished the book I was still feeling too gloomy to step out for a stroll. Since I was feeling depressed and had spent the day reading a book that reconfirms 'life is not fair' I gave up on trying to shake the bad mood and also watched the movie Capote which is about the author of In Cold Blood. Watching the movie after reading the book really makes you think about how Capote got his information and how much of it he may have embellished.

So my dears, as you can tell, I am a bit morose tonight. Yes, I have said this is the case but I think my writing indicates it as well. My week actually started on a high note though. For the first time ever, I attended the Fringe-for-All event on Monday, June 1. The event at Cafe Campus included 2-minute preview performances from 45 of the performers that will be at this year's Montreal Fringe Fest. It was so much fun and there was so much talent in that room! I just love to see what wonderful things emerge when fertile creative minds are given a forum like the Fringe where they can show off their uncensored works. There were a couple of misses, but maybe they were just shows that could not be represented very well in such a short period of time. Also, the performers still have a few days of rehearsal left as it does not start until June 11. If you are anywhere near Montreal, you MUST attend. It is inexpensive and loads of fun! The festival runs from June 11-21. You can click here to visit the official Web site and get schedules, ticket info. and all that jazz.

Goodnight all!
kisses
xx

Tonight's song is 'Perfect Day' by Lou Reed.

Free Museum Day is Not a Piece of Cake...and Pie!

Here is the picture of the raw, vegan, apple pie as promised!

Yesterday was Sunday, May 31. It was also Free Museum Day here in Montreal. Each year I gleefully imagine all the fantastic (free) things I will witness on this day. Each year I strategically pick out which museums are the most worthy of not receiving my hard-earned cash. This years honoree was the 'Irish O'Quebec' exhibit at the McCord Museum. Ange came along to experience her first Free Museum Day. Just like every year, the museum was absolutely packed. We fought the crowd to see perhaps a quarter of the first floor of the exhibit. Reading each sign required a valiant effort as did each attempt to move through the crowd without getting bumped off course. As I do every year, I gave up after half an hour and left...

As Ange put it, museums just aren't the same when they are over-crowded. To really enjoy them you need enough room to proceed at your own pace and read as much or as little as you please.

Today's song is The Smiths 'Bigmouth Strikes Again'.

Ttfn darlings
xx

Imagine, Baby!

I shall start with tonight's song: Make the Girl Dance, Baby Baby Baby. This is not the style of music that I usually like but this one is stuck in my head.

I made raw vegan apple pie

Baby Baby Baby

It was so delicious I could die

Baby Baby Baby

I will post awesome pics soon

Baby Baby Baby

Probably at the start of June

Alrighty, enough of that. I am not a poet. You can find the music video for that song on youtube. Most men will appreciate it. Some ladies too.

I finally went to see the Imagine exhibition at the Musee des Beaux Arts here in Montreal. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, it is an exhibition about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I think it is intended to commemorate the honeymoon Bed-in for peace that they did at the Queen E. I love that it is free and people are encouraged to touch things, leave notes on tags hanging from trees, take pictures and upload them to a Web site, etc. I didn't like that even though I went on a Thursday afternoon, there were so many people that it was hard to really look at anything.

Now, as a poor artiste allow me to bitch a tad about art in general...a few of the pieces were testimonials to the fact that fame changes artistic standards. What I mean to say is that if an artist who wasn't famous had done the same drawings then they would probably just be dismissed. The fact that John Lennon made those sketches makes them interesting and historically significant. This is a half-hearted bitch because I am in awe of the longevity of both John Lennon and Yoko Ono's mystique. Modern day celebs try to move from music to art, acting, fashion lines etc. and though they might make a go of it, they probably will never reach the icon status or be remembered in 30 years. All the same, it would seem the key to life is fame. It can also be the key to destruction.

If you want details on the exhibition go to: Musee des Beaux Arts, Montreal.

Baby.

Good-night!

P.S. Omigod! I was watching Donnie Darko last night and even though I've seen it before, this time I realized that Seth Rogen was in it. He plays a bully. He's one of my favourite actors.

Hooray for Vegetables!

I have not uploaded new pics as planned so here is a picture of cake. Mmm cake. I bought that at Pekarna in the Old Forum (Atwater metro station). I love cake and that is one of the best places. Their prices are decent and they always have a nice selection of tempting treats. You can usually buy an entire cake or just a slice, whichever you prefer.

Today was Victoria Day. I’m usually very clever yet I don’t really know why it is significant. Queen Victoria’s b-day perhaps? I could simply google it to find out but I am feeling rather lazy this evening. In any case, most people that I know just think of it as an extra day off of work.

Since I was free all day, I went to the bookstore with Ange. I have been dying to get my hooves on a book called Rawvolution. It is an (un)cookbook with raw vegan recipes. If you are unsure as to what a raw vegan is, the really simplified explanation is that it is someone who is vegan (does not eat or use anything that comes from animals) but also does not use cooked food. If you want a better and more complete definition then check out Wikipedia! I am neither vegan nor raw vegan but I really want to try a couple of recipes that I heard about. I am intrigued by the raw vegan diet and how it makes me re-think food. I did find the book but decided it was too expensive. I am really feeling the pains of the starving artist lifestyle. If I had bought the book I would not have had money left to buy groceries! That would be silly. Instead, I shall try recipes I find free online. BTW, the cakes in the pic are most certainly NOT vegan…just delicious.

Whilst at the bookstore I also took a little looky-look at Russell Brand’s My Booky Wook. I have already read it (twice) but I got my copy in the UK. I like the UK cover better but the American edition has more pictures. Perhaps I have mentioned this book before? If not, it is an interesting read indeed.

Tonight’s song is Morrissey ‘I’m Throwing my Arms Around Paris.’ I love Morrissey’s music and the fact that he is such a curmudgeon in interviews. Also, see how I managed to mention two fellow vegetarians in this post? While I’m at it, Russell Brand is a fan of Morrissey and named his cat after him. My leap in logic has lead me to think of singing cats and now I have that damned ‘Jingle Cats’ song in my head…

Sweet dreams darlings!

Riding Through the Farm on my Hobby Horse of an Arm

Good evening my dears! You may have noticed the fantabulous photo of moi and the pineapple that I posted last time. I was going to include a story about the pineapple but decided it would be more fun if you send me your own conclusions about what it means! Give me your comments!

I recently returned from a trip to Alberta where I spent a few days on a farm. I always have mixed feelings about being on a farm…on account my vegetarianism and all. Perhaps you thought I was going to say it’s on account of my being a pig? There were not any pigs on this particular farm and although I think pigs are lovely, they are not really my kin. I am simply a hand puppet in the form of a pig (which if you are wondering, protects me from the swine flu as well!) I am very self-aware. I know that someone’s arm protrudes from my butt and controls my actions. See the pictures that I have included from my trip? See the arm? In fact, I highly recommend that each one of you do a little self-exploration. Is there an invisible hand up your butt controlling your actions?

Who controls your thoughts? Mine are my own.

Sleep well my dears!
xx

Tonight’s song is ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ by the Arctic Monkeys.

Mr. Piggles and Adventures Through the Pineapple

Exploration is the Key to Excitation (yes, pronounce the last word like in French...)

Have you missed me darlings? I was a bit deflated to see that I don't have any new followers but then again, it has been a long while since I updated. Faithful followers are so hard to find! After thoroughly feeling flat I thought about my lovely day and it pumped me back up again. Today I met with my delicious friend Ange at Cagibi cafe on St. Laurent at St. Viateur. I will certainly go back there again. It has an earthy, eclectic vibe complete with mismatched chairs, doorless cupboards and a fascinating golden wingback chair with carvings of busty topless ladies on the wings. Also, I do believe that the food is completely vegetarian. I have discovered many fantastic restaurants and cafes these past few months and I think perhaps I need to include a recommendations section.

At the moment I am very broke so I stay home most of the time. I am also very busy with my art. I guess I am the epitome of starving artist save for the whole hand puppet bit! I am also sad to report that my computer is still broken. I can't afford to buy a new charger for it and now I think it's ready to give up the ghost. Perhaps it is put out with having to function using an inappropriate charger, or maybe it is just a rubbish computer! I hope it doesn't read this or I may not be able to post again. It may decide to go on strike or commit suicide. I shouldn't think such gloomy thoughts...

I promise to TRY and update more often with better content. Yes, try.

Bisou,
MR. P
xx
:0)