Mimi's LJ

Just 'cause

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:12:22 GMT

http://www.mindyourmind.ca/personal-stories/blog/images/lovebegets.jpg

Callin' it : Boxing Day Tea

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:22:51 GMT

Labyrinth house officially declares Boxing Day Tea!
a VERY loose 11 am- 3pm

Yay for safety

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:20:23 GMT

I dropped my wrench today. It's been years since I've dropped anything while working overhead. The tool wads tied off to my belt as usual, so no harm happened. It was so weird having my heart jump back in my throat like that. Just a little fumble, and there were people below. But it got me thinking again about the little purse-style tieline to the wrist thingies that people use around here. They really don't fly. A piece of metal on a four story drop could have killed someone, or at least put a permanent dent in the floor.

My fellow stagehands, I urge you, use the east coast style tool safety tie off. I don't care if your prof says "telephone chord is stupid", or "they get in the way". Just tuck the extra up into your pocket when you're not using the tool, K'

Have a dark christmas

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:36:06 GMT

Christmas Carol logo

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Written by Charles Dickens and adapted by Fiona Revill.

Directed by Michael Cope.

Dec. 9-12, 14-19 and 21-23, 2009 at 8pm
Matinées on Dec. 12 & 19 at 2pm
at The Jericho Arts Centre

for ages 8 and up

Vancouver's Spectral Theatre Reveals Darker Adaptation of a Christmas Classic.

Vancouver BC: Be it mistletoe, stockings, or rum and eggnog; the holiday season is rich with time-honored traditions. One such Christmas staple is Dickens' beloved tale of Yule-tide redemption, A Christmas Carol. Two hundred years since first being penned, the haunting story of greed and ghosts continues to strike a poignant chord, and its message of charity and good-will is perhaps more relevant than ever.

This Christmas season, the camp-horror veterans of Spectral Theatre Society are giving this classic yarn their own grisly twist. Utilizing a surprisingly elaborate collection of low-tech props and special effects including masks, shadows and giant puppetry, their (mostly) faithful rendition digs into the gritty underbelly of this oft-told tale, and revels in it.

"We're committed to honoring the rich themes and textures of this well-loved story" remarked Blake Drezet, Spectral's Artistic Director, "Of course, we intend to indulge ourselves in the tale's more fantastic elements, but our main desire has been simply to deliver this classic as it was written; thematically rich, unabashedly moral, and downright spooky."
Christmas Carol 2
Adapted by Vancouver's talented graduate of the Douglas College Acting Program in Vancouver and Creative Writing Major at UBC in addition to a Dougie Alumn, A Christmas Carols' Fiona Revill remains faithful to the Dickensian standard, "this including the really spooky moments alongside the happy Christmas scenes. This juxtaposition gives us the magic that Dickens blended together so seamlessly in his classic tale, and gives Spectral a chance to put on an adaptation doing what they do best: spectacle, humour, and full-on scary."
Spectral Theatre Society has spent the last 7 years chipping away at the foundations of the Vancouver arts scene, producing original and imaginative theatrical works from science fiction to horror to supernatural thrillers. A Christmas Carol is the largest production of this scale for the local theatre society, taking its brand of cult storytelling to the next level whilst representing their efforts to build bridges within the small theatre community.

What dark designs await in their upcoming stage production remains to be seen, but Spectral Theatre promises it'll scare the Dickens out of you.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
At the Jericho Arts Centre - 1675 Discovery
December 9th-12th, 14th-19th and 21st-23rd, 2009
Nightly at 8pm. Saturday matinées at 2:00pm
Tickets*: $20, $15 for students and seniors,
$10 for children under 12.
*On the 9th and 17th all tickets are $10
CLICK HERE for tickets or 604-224-8007 extn 3

SPECTRAL THEATRE SOCIETY
http://www.spectraltheatre.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PIANIST NEEDED

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:02:21 GMT

PIANIST NEEDED
'Harlem Nocturne', a wonderful much-loved group that entertains our seniors is looking for a pianist. If you can help them or know someone, please contact Villoo 604-875-6709 and leave a message. She will get back to you at the end of December.

Thanks, Corinne

Looking for a pianist to accompany 4 singers. Mainly singing in Senior's Homes in and around VANCOUVER. Renumeration for weekly practices and gigs. Would suit a retired person. If interested please call 604-875-6709.

Help from my Seattleites?

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:21:49 GMT

I'm catching a flight at Seatac, Tuesday Morning 8:45 departure, and cant find an early- morning bus that will work out. I am seeking crash space, and guidance on how to get my bum to the Airport before rush hour. I'll probably get in to Seattle for Monday evening, and will have the burden of luggage with me.

So much love,
~Mimi

Why so sweet?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:57:40 GMT

1 large clove Garlic, minced
2 cubic inches of ginger, minced
1 medium Onion
Fried up in some Oil
Added 2 tsp Coriander, browned gently
Added 4 smallish tomatoes (skinned, seeded and blended - might be easier to just buy tomato pulp)
Let that simmer for 5 minutes

Spice it up:
1 TBS Tumeric
1 TSP Black Mustard Seed
1/3 Tsp Cloves
3 Curry leaves
1 TBS White Pepper
Pinch Cayenne
Salt

The Veggies, all cubed
3 potatoes
4 carrots
3 Acorn Squash, peeled and seeded

Barely cover with water and simmer for 20 min

Probably could have replaced the spices with a conventional curry powder, but I was having fun.
Came out pretty good, but surprisingly sweet. I always figured that acorn squash were not sweet since I've always had them filled with syrup or brown sugar, like baked apples.

Also had a long forgotten favorite; Sweet potato pie (It's a southern thing). Recipe needs more honing before posting though.

Jack o Lanterns for Jen and Steve

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:45:15 GMT

http://www.break.com/pictures/this-is-a-jack-o-lantern594039.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/buechners/1806803679/

Dancing with Spirit:

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:09:06 GMT

Hello Friends,

Bettina and I are very excited to offer this workshop again. In this time of chaos and creative possibility we celebrate guidance from our ancestors and spirit by dancing their wisdom into the world to manifest our highest intentions.

Bright Blessings,
Tannis

Dancing with Spirit:
Ecstatic Body Postures and 5Rhythms

With Bettina Rothe and Tannis Hugill

Saturday, November 28, 2009
1:00 to 7:00 pm
St. Paul’s Labyrinth, 1130 Jervis St. at Pendrell St. in Vancouver
Cost $95

No Previous Experience Necessary
Register early as space is limited

Open to the wisdom of the body, the earth, our ancestors, and spirit.

Learn to journey to the realms of Non-ordinary Reality using ‘Ecstatic Body Postures’. Dance the ecstatic into this world with the 5Rhythms®.

Discovered by anthropologist Felicitas Goodman, ‘Ecstatic Body Postures’ are a sacred technology used by our elders thousands of years ago to commune with the world of spirit for healing, divination, and ritual celebration. Felicitas Goodman discovered that being deprived of ecstatic states of being is one of the causes of today's addictions. To regain access to expanded and transformative states of consciousness, practitioners hold a body posture from an early indigenous culture. Accompanied by drum or rattle, they enter a visionary trance state.

Transform and integrate your trance experience with 5Rhythms® dance. Movement in this practice is the medicine and the doorway to the soul.

Bettina Rothe has studied healing movement arts, meditation and shamanic practices around the world. As a licensed 5Rhythms® dance teacher Bettina has been facilitating movement and meditation classes and workshops nationally and internationally since 1998.
www.5rhythms.ca <http://www.5rhythms.ca>

Healing artist Tannis Hugill, is a certified teacher of Ecstatic Body Postures. Also a dance and drama therapist, spiritual director and creator of ritual theatre, her passion is witnessing the healing wisdom of spirit as it moves through our amazing bodies.
www.awakeningbodywisdom.com <http://www.awakeningbodywisdom.com>

For more information and registration contact Bettina Rothe (604) 647-1099, bettina@soulfulsteps.com

Autumnal food

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:52:25 GMT

So this was supposed to be a roasted veggie dish, but ended up a stew because the roast would not have been done in time for me to leave for work.

In a stock pot::

Fry in olive oil until leeks are clear:
Large hand full diced ginger
2 cloves garlic diced
2 leeks chopped finely (whites only)
1 Large apple, cubed (I used honey crisp, use an apple suitable for cooking or you will end up with applesauce)

Add 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 2 tbs salt, 1 Tbs pepper
Let that sit for about 1 minute

Add:
1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
6-8 large sage leaves chopped
6-8 stems of thyme
2 large tablespoons of honey (not the measure, the large clump that happens when you dunk a spoon in a honey jar)

Barely cover with hot water and 1 dissolved cube of Bouillon ( I use Mc Cormick chicken, contains no animal product)
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then cook until the potatoes are done . Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

If you want to try doing it in the oven: Do the first part, then mix in the second part into the stock pot. Omit the "Chicken" Bouillon and water and add a good second coat of olive oil. Pour out into a baking pan. Use 400 F to get a good golden on the potatoes.

Also, Help! this food needs a name.

Success with the brownie recipe at joy of baking:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/brownies.html

Mendelssohn

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:27:58 GMT

Hi,

On Saturday, November 28, 8:00 pm, the Peretz Centre is very proud to be
presenting a concert that brings together two great Jewish maestras:
Vancouver pianist Rena Sharon--called "one of the finest musicians of her
generation" , and Mexican soprano Susana Herner, a regular recitalist in
Mexico City. The concert, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the
birth of Felix Mendelssohn, will feature several of Mendelssohn' s settings
of poems by Jewish-German poet Heinrich Heine. The second part of the
program will consist of Mexican songs.

Tickets: $18. Please call me with your reservation- we're expecting a large
audience.

Donna Modlin Becker

At the Peretz Centre: 604-325-1812 or info@peretz- centre.org

Memory at the Havana

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:03:49 GMT

This play is very powerful. Come with a tissue and a good friend to go with to coffee after. It takes you on an unusual journey.
http://www.vanarts.com/events/performance-memory-live-drama

Geek Smile of the theatre tech variety

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:17:18 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2SKhRPq6gk

Crazy world

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:30:19 GMT

Seems like contrary goals:
Reduce materials and energy use, general consumption.
Improve an economy that measures based on the value of goods produced and moved.

Looks like the only place to grow in that model is non-tangibles; efficiency planning, education, entertainment. That won't go too far though. Maybe time to re-analyse the value based on something else.

Emerald City

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:17:52 GMT

Riding down Cambie Street 6:15 pm or so today. The sunset caught the buildings in a supernatural glitter. Green glass towering in the near distance. Reminded me of my impressions of the Emerald city from the wizard of OZ. More so it reminded me of how I imagined it as a child.

Intoducing the Foodie

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:38:13 GMT

Be warned: Posts in the future may contain Pavlovian stimuli.

For anyone who doesn't already know, Anthony is working at Green Earth Organics. One of the job perks entailed is getting to raid the fridge on Fridays of any fresh produce that won't be up to grade for the next week's deliveries. As a result, I've been doing alot more home cooking nand getting some awesome- style creative results. Which I will be sharing.

Today was Roasted Bell Pepper Soup.

Cut bell peppers ( 6 ) in half, grill with a brush of olive oil and sprinkle of salt
Toss a head of garlic on the grill while you are at it

Let the peppers sweat a few minutes after they are done, then remove skins
Food processor the peppers and roasted garlic goo

In a stock pot:
Sautee an onion in butter until It's clear
Fill your pot 2/3 of the way with diced potato ( I had new reds and yukon golds on hand)
Add:
1 1/2 cubes chicken bullion ( I like the mccormick all veg "Chicken" bullion"
2 stems thyme (fresh)
2 sprigs of rosemary (Fresh)
a large hand full of Italian parsley
1 Tbs Sea Salt
Fresh ground black pepper

Barely cover with water, let it cook until potatoes are done
Add Bell pepper paste
Simmer 15 min
Done, like dinner.

So the glee for me is. That it is all stuff around the house that had to get used up (Except the stock garden herbs). Creative and tasty.

I might also consider adding a cup of cream at the very end and/or sprinkling some cheese on top.

Also today, Plum tarts. But I just pulled a recipe from the web for that. Red plums look like bloody guts when they are over ripe and cut up together. Anyone see the episode of Tue Blood where Mary Ann eats the heart? Kinda like that.

Hookey

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:55:48 GMT

I played hookey for the first time in my life yesterday. It was awesome. Gav and I watched the fireworks from one of the little parks a long West Point Gray Rd. It was awesome.

Being able to hear the music on the clear radio of the people ahead of us along with the visual effects was a new experience for me (I'm usually close enough that the boom boom makes it too lout to appreciate). I experienced a blending of lighting design and dance principles in one medium. Maybe I've taken it for granted. Maybe the vancouver competition is just of that caliber of quality.

It was awesome.

Please post your opinion...

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:38:25 GMT

Do you consider LARP (live action role play ) to be a form of art / form of self expression? Does art by definition require an audience?

This momet broughto you by Vancouver Theatre Sports League

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:19:05 GMT

Setting: Cinderella as it would be told in the 70's

"Hi, It's me, your fairy-Barry White"

Rent

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:02:03 GMT

directed by Ryan Mooney

musical direction by Sarah Jaysmith

starring Jacqueline Breakwell, Tyson Coady, Craig DeCarlo, Amanda Engel, Cesar Erba, Nick Fontaine, Erin Kanygin, Arne Larsen, Anton Lipovetsky, Sean Parsons, Christine Quintana, Hal Rogers, Jenn Suratos, Kholby Wardell and Cathy Wilmot

stage management by Liz Wilton-McMahan

set design by Mimi Abrahams & Tracy-Lynn Chernaske

lighting design by Graham Ockley

Presentation House Theatre
333 Chesterfield Avenue
North Vancouver

fightingchanceproductions@gmail.com

Unclaimed reservations will be released for sale at 7:30pm

We do overbook the theatre to ensure capacity, the ONLY way to ensure you have tickets is to arrive by 7:30pm

Tickets are NON-TRANSFERABLE

1980's Aids epidemic

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:22:43 GMT

So, another show that I'm working on is the musical Rent. In an effort to bridge the understanding gap of how things are perceived around Vancouver, I asked my housemates about their experience growing up in Nanaimo and Delta and how it affected them. It almost didn't. The've never known anyone (outside of the context that Alisha works in a blood lab) who they have been aware to be HIV positive.

It's lead me to realize something important.. 1980's New york as a growing up experience, the cultural climate, and rough world attitude are highly personal. My focus right now is that I can't seem to convey the sheer indignity of being a person living or dying with aids or combatting the social stigma of being queer at the time to people who have grown up with socialized medicine and a cultural mosaic ideal. It's frustrating because it's so close. It's frustrating because I've taken for granted that we've grown past a certain level of ignorance. The end goal of acceptance is definately there, and that's good, but the growth and scarring and challengin is not. I guess it's not really ignorance in the traditional way, but I'm feeling a rift of coming from different places for something that has participated in shaping my identity so much.

Feeling about 10-15 years older than my peers and collegues right now.

If you haven't read them yet: Shirtlifterbear's 19 funerals by nineteen
http://shirtlifterbear.livejournal.com/tag/nineteen

Thanks.

Saltwater Moon

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:54:37 GMT

Salt-Water Moon

by David French

directed by Michael Fera

with Abby Creek & Joel Grinke

JERICHO ARTS CENTRE
Jericho Beach, Discovery & NW Marine
Thursday July 16th, 2009
at 8pm
followed by a reception
Please RSVP by Wed July 15th to

info@hoarseraven.com or phone 604-224-8007 extn 3
Unclaimed reservations will be released for sale at 7:45pm

It's a splendid moon-filled night at Coley's Point in August, 1926. Eighteen-year-old Jacob Mercer has returned from Toronto to the tiny Newfoundland out port, hoping to win back his former sweetheart, Mary Snow. But Mary has become engaged to wealthy Jerome McKenzie, and she is still hurt and bewildered by Jacob's abrupt departure a year earlier. She will not be easily wooed.

Bringing these poignant characters to life are Vancouver-based actors Joel Grinke and Abby Creek.

Salt-Water Moon

At the Jericho Arts Centre
1675 Discovery
July 15 - August 1, 2009
Tuesday through Saturday, at 8 pm
Tickets $15 - $20 (2-for-one Wed July 15 & Tues 21 & 28)

ONLINE RESERVATIONS or 604-224-8007 extn 3

Hoarse Raven Web-site

Soliciting

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:29:00 GMT

Soliciting for setup help at the masquerade. From 1pm on at the hall. Will buy you dinner :-)

The quest for paper cups

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:15:32 GMT

Would you believe that I'm having a hard time finding paper cups? Styrofoam and plastic abound but my eco- compromize is being thwarted. Booo. Back to the search.

Scary

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:57:30 GMT

My living room is scary,
Tea will be in the back yard