Summer Festivals

This has been the longest break from posting on my blog since I started. I've been
preoccupied with making videos...and other things. Among them...eight days ago I sang
in the Summer Dreams Literary Arts Festival. The day of the festival was one of the days in the longest rainy day stretch...in July...in this part of the world. I was happy for the organizers...who are friends...that the rain threatening all day...with it sometimes drizzling...held off enough to allow this outdoor festival...in beautiful Stanley Park...to happen. Yesterday...I attended two summer festivals. The first was a Caribbean one...on Vancouver's North Shore. I must have been smiling most of the time...as I took in...the Caribbean faces around me...reminding me of my country of origin...Guyana...and the musical voices...and the music from the main stage...compelling some present to rise up and dance. The second festival was in the
evening...the Illuminares Festival...which has been my favourite Vancouver festival for some years now...with it's rich display of creativity...imagination...playfulness
...humanity and beauty. Speaking of beauty...today's picture...was taken there...along with many others...from a lovely summer evening at Trout Lake.

Pleasant Sailings

This last Sunday...I was invited by some friends...to go with them...and others on a
cruise out on English Bay. From the moment the boat left the dock...a special peaceful
feeling came over me...as the boat under us...glided smoothly out to the wider water. It was wonderful to look at the city I live in...from a perspective I don't
usually have...i.e. from out on the water. It was a pleasurable change of pace for us
all...for a short while leaving our stresses and burdens on the shore. That feeling was
palpable...I think we all felt it...although we all knew we'd be returning to shore
soon enough. I was very refreshed by my little trip out on the water. I can see how
people can get hooked on spending more and more time out there. Pleasant sailings to all who can.
................Quester.

A Gift From The Heat Wave.

Today has been hot...part of a heat wave that Vancouver is going through right now.
I went downtown this mid-afternoon. On these trips I usually include a trip to the
water...but decided to head home after the reason for my trip was done...with the heat pushing me to do so. Close to 9 p.m. tonight...I went for a neighbourhood walk. It was still very warm. Through the years in Canada...as I've walked the evening streets...I've always wondered where the people were. In Georgetown...Guyana...where I spent my teenage years...you always knew where the people were...you could hear them through your window as they went by...or gathered nearby to socialize...
you could hear their laughter...or teasing...or swearing...or giving and receiving verbal abuse. Added to this were traffic sounds...with the braying of donkeys...and the clatter of the wheels of the carts they were pulling. All in all...making for a vital street life...which when absent from your life...you really notice. Tonight...on my walk I was reminded of all this...as I passed families hanging out in their front yards or steps or verandahs. One man sitting on his steps actually nodded a hello my way. I cannot remember having experienced this before...in Canada...perhaps it's just that I've lived in the wrong neighbourhoods. The heat might make some people uncomfortable but I welcomed this wonderful gift of the heat wave we're in...and headed home feeling hopeful.............Quester.

Only When It's Too Late

[Words from song "Only When It's Too Late".
Copyright-SOCAN]
"If only you had known...
This love was like a budding rose...
Needing your light to help it bloom...
Before the life force goes...
But it's an old...old...story...
This love that has to wait...
To be told in praises...
Only when it's too late..."
...................Quester.

777th Post On 7.7.07

Just noticed that before I started typing this entry...that I was at 777 postings...and
have been at that figure all day long on 7.7.07. I read the other day in the newspapers
that people were choosing this day to get married on...it's supposed to be such a lucky
day. I am wondering whether I should scrap this post...and wait until after midnight
to post it to maintain the 777 symmetry all round. Well...I'm not one to tempt fate...
but I think I'll just post this when I'm finished writing it...and hope the lucky powers...smile on me...if I happen to be slightly early with my 778th posting. Let's
just wish the best for everyone and me too...coming out of this special day...
.............Quester.

Something About Summer

This early evening I went for a walk along the sea wall path by English Bay. It's been a real hot summer day...which usually calls me "down to the water". I had the feeling today...that after a lot of cool days...it's finally...really summer. I was also trying to put my finger on what the difference is to the other times of the year...with this "summer feeling" you get. It is among other things...a feeling of liberation...from all those layers of clothing you've been wearing...so much of the time. Your skin...inevitably with the increase in the temperature...gets more exposed to the sun than usual...and the skin of those around you becomes more visible than ever. But there is still something...that's elusive to pin down. What is it?...the sense that this is as good as it will get...so...what are you doing about that?...i.e. should you be trying something more dramatic than usual...perhaps...a trip to somewhere exotic?...or trying something you've never done before?. Something about summer...nudges at our status quo...I think...pushing us to do something different...or even unpredictable. Who knows?...I have a few more weeks to really figure out what it is...before it will be all gone. Yes... there's certainly "Something about summer"..........Quester.

When There's No One Around

[From song: "When There's No one Around"
Copyright-SOCAN]
When there's no one around...
In the deep of the night...
That is when she comes shining...
Like a soft golden light...
Calling me to return...
To a time that is gone...
Calling me to be with her...
Come the light of the dawn...
......................Quester.

State Of Flow

I've been on a tremendous...long...video making streak...and with that kind of focus...something is likely to suffer. My blog is one of the main casualties...looks like I've just missed four days...with no postings. Today...I completed another video...for a song that is difficult for me to play my guitar arrangement to...given the accmpaniment is always shifting under the singing. When I've completed recording a song video like that...one of the first things I check for...is whether there were any grimaces done...as I focussed on playing the right notes on the guitar. Come to think of it...that's one of the plateaus someone who accompanies him or herself on an instrument...has to reach...i.e. to not look like it's a life and death struggle playing the instrument...but to seem in command. It does take a long time to arrive at the point...where your playing and singing all seems effortless...regardless of how you are feeling as you sing and play. It's when you're not properly warmed up...that the voice and fingers can do strange things sometimes. On the other hand...when you are really warmed up...and in a state of flow...you can arrive at playing and singing in a fluid way...with all of it feeling easier to do. On that note...I wish all a state of flow...in whatever it is they choose to do......Quester.