Love: Powerful Lyrics and Skillful Whistling

   Good morning my dear readers!! How I enjoy Thursdays since it's a reminder that the weekend is just one day away. I can't believe how quickly this week went by. I spent Monday and Tuesday at a work retreat, and I've been knee deep in work since. It's hard to believe that almost a week ago tomorrow, I was heading down to Toronto with my friend Geneviève to see one of our favourite bands: Boy & Bear.

   We were fortunate enough to have a spontaneous road trip (and by spontaneous I mean we only planned it a week in advance). Still we managed to get there just in time, have a place to crash for the night and managed to be front row for the concert. AMAZING!!! Gen and I saw them this summer at Bluesfest in Ottawa (always front row) and I was thoroughly impressed. The band has this kind of energy that is completely mesmerizing. They're really relaxed and chill on the scene, and I'm so very proud to state that I locked eyes with the lead singer and he smiled at me.

What's cool about Boy & Bear (other than their amazing music) is that they're still a small enough band to play at these more intimate venues which only adds on to the incredible atmosphere. They had a really good opening act called Kobi, and his sound (though quite different than B&B) was quite cool. He had a blues/classic rock vibe about him. I also locked eyes with him during one of his guitar solos, but that proceeded to be a little bit too long, and a little more than awkward. The overall experience was still super fun.

One thing to know about Boy & Bear (other than the fact that their drummer is this adorable bearded ginger man) is that they have haunting melodies, powerful lyrics and mind-blowing whistle skills. I can usually hold my own, but on their new album, the notes they can hit and the tempo they can keep is like nothing I've witnessed before. Ever since I had the chance to see them in July, I've listened to their music while I write and it sets the perfect mood for my stories. They connect with their audience with their honest songs. I've put their song Big Man on repeat more than once, to remind myself that "if failure don't hurt, than failure don't work"; a saying worth knowing and repeating when you've chosen a career path plagued with rejections letters. Despite it all, I keep listening; I keep writing; and I keep checking their tours dates to see when they'll be back. Maybe one day I'll be able to see them in Australia where they have a live saxophone solo for one of their songs. Yes, you read correctly, and yes, that would be epic to see.

So I encourage you to take the time to listen to them, or to go on a spontaneous road trip to see one of your favourite bands. The experience is incredible; the rush is intoxicating; and the time, memorable. I'm just so blessed to be able to have a friend to go with, and a car that will take me wherever I hear the world calling me to. There's really nothing to lose dearest readers; nothing at all but the tight routine you've weaved for yourself.

K.P.H.

Literature: Brave Enough

   Good morning my dearest readers and what a morning it is! It's Friday!!!! Though most of us still have to work through the day, at least we have the weekend now to look forward to. Not only do I have great plans, but those plans involve a spontaneous road trip to Toronto to see an epic band with my friend Geneviève! In addition to that, I've also officially become part of the writing team for the blog thirtyish.me (yes, I am now a working writer) and I LOVE IT!! But this post isn't a Love post, it's a Literature one; so let's get to it!

   I've been cruising through one book after another since I've realized that my deadline to complete my fifty book pledge is only a couple of months away, and I'm just a little over halfway done. So I've started to read a lot more poetry, and short-story compilations because I feel like it's easier for me to finish those off while on my way home from work, or during my lunch break. And today's post is in regards to the book I finished yesterday, which is a compilation of quotes published by Cheryl Strayed (the author of Wild), and though I haven't had the chance yet to read her latter mentioned story, I'm more excited than ever now to read it after completing Brave Enough.

   Cheryl Strayed has a very honest and straightforward way of writing and reaching out to her audience. Her words ring true with the reader, regardless of the age. I found myself relating and nodding along to quotes about parenting and marriage (when I've lived neither of these things yet), but it's the promise of the future, and of the reality of it that resonates. After only a few pages in, I had to stop and read a few of the quotes out loud to my mom, and proceeded to tell her that I'd like one of the quotes framed and gifted to me at Christmas because it was just that good.

   The things with quotes (and especially this book) is that we relate well with other people's words, because they express things we feel but have been able to vocalize until then. We all express ourselves differently, and writers are the ones we turn to to find the outlet we are unable to fathom. It's to make sense of the little voices in our heads, and to identify them by putting a tangible voice to them. It then echoes in the words of another. The best part of this book, is that it gave me the boost I needed without even knowing that I needed it at that moment. Sometimes you just need a complete stranger to tell you how incredible you are, and to keep pushing through whatever it is your struggling with, and to shoot high because that's the only place you should be aiming for.

   So I hope that you will be Brave Enough my dearest readers to go after the life you've imagined, because you honestly deserve it. And if ever you would need a little encouragement (which we ALL do sometimes) let Cheryl Strayed be the one to give it to you!

K.P.H.

Laughter: It's All About That Game, 'Bout That Game, No Pressure

   Good afternoon and welcome back my dear readers from your wonderful Thanksgiving. Yes, this past weekend was that time of the year where Canadians get together and are grateful for what we have and who we are. Most people drove home, or had guests show up on the Friday to get the chaotic weekend started, but I postponed my departure until Saturday morning because Nicole and I had something really important to attend... a football game.

   Now for those of you who are oblivious to the fact that Canadians actually have their own football league, just know that the game is just as incredible, and our athletes are WAY less paid than the americans. We have just as many crazy fans, and just as many team rivalries, but we're just a little nicer to each other when it comes to our sportsmen like conduct. So the game we went to see was the Ottawa RedBlacks versus the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Those two teams are long-standing rivals which makes the match that much more intense. Furthermore, the Roughriders were having a pretty bad season so far, while the RedBlacks we doing pretty well for themselves.

   Now since Nicole is from Regina, Saskatchewan, naturally her team is the Roughriders (which I've adopted as my own since the last time we went to a game and the Riders won), but we weren't the favourite to win. We were mentally preparing ourselves for some friendly heckling, while Nicole called for a "nail-biter" of a game. That's exactly what we got. After a big lead, the RedBlacks caught up to tie the game and forced all of the exasperated fans and energized teams into overtime. As a last-ditch attempt to win, the RedBlacks overshot their field goal, but when Saskatchewan tried the same move, they manage to land it, thus winning the game. It was super intense, and every time I go see a RedBlacks versus Roughriders game, it's never easy on the nerves.

   Aside from all of this, throughout the game, Nicole and I kept our spirits light with jokes and funny cheers. Now you probably all know how ridiculous my laugh can be (especially when it morphs into other demonic laughs), but despite the roaring crowd, two younger girls who were sitting next to us couldn't help but listen and laugh along to my boisterous chuckle. They would quite literally stop their conversation when there was any indication that I would laugh. They proceeded to tell me that they loved my laugh and that they were laughing with me (and not at me) which made me less self-conscious. They were rooting for Ottawa (which was losing) but they didn't seem to care anymore.

   So another day, another game, and another explosion of laughter gone by, and Nicole is still nowhere close to recording my laughs to put them as her ringtones on her phone. I'm just happy that my carefree attitude and contagious laughter can brighten up anyone's day. Just know dearest readers, that if you go see a Canadian football league game, they can apparently be a lot funnier than one expects!

K.P.H.

Literature: The Things Stories Are Made Of

   Good morning my dearest readers! With the weekend fast approaching, it is time to look back on the one that just passed. I've been feeling a little under the weather lately but I'm looking forward to going home this weekend and visiting my family and friends for Thanksgiving. It might not be too relaxing since there's always something to do, but a change of scenery could be just the thing I need.

   With that being said, that is exactly what Nicole and I did this past Saturday. We've taken walks on the beach to talk and get some air, and I met up with Riles for dinner last night to catch up on what we've been up to. But sometimes, I find myself needing to go a little further away, and a little more secluded. So Nicole and I headed to Gatineau park and went to the site of the ruins of an abandoned building. Not only was it really interesting to stand there in the midst of it all, but I couldn't help but wonder all of the stories that place could have inspired. My imagination was running a million miles an hour just exploring upstream from it.

   I've always been someone to see unconventional things in plain sight; to notice things that others don't, and imagine things that people wouldn't. I count it as a blessing more than a curse. I've had morbid plots develop from sunny settings, or a remarkable touching moment from an abandoned site. With that, I guess I don't always want to see things as they are, but imagine them as they could be. Maybe that's why I'm always so optimistic about things.

   So if ever you find yourself exploring, or even just walking down the street, turn off your music, open your eyes and look around you. See things not as they are, but as they could be, and you will notice the magic that lingers in all things my dear readers!

K.P.H.