Western Washington Clips

Star Wars Changed My Life!

You have to laugh, but you know - I do exclaim this every now again, because - it's true. Not so much the Wookies, or the Banthas - but more the Jedi Knights, the force - lol. The movie expanded my horizons, it gave me a lot to think about on all fronts - special fx, movie making, history, relevance, vocabulary, music, composition, concepts - a lot to chew over when your 9. I once knew someone who worked as a researcher at Lucasfilm. Georges office was down the corridor. I asked her to tell him this story from me. She did. Ace!

So, 9 years old in North Manchester. I used to head downtown with my friend. It was pre-arcade obsession, so we'd check out the best sellers section of books. Small town man. I noticed a book - "Star Wars". I was really intrigued by the movie prints in the centre. I checked it out for a few weeks, before telling my brother Renaissance Man about the book. "Can you go and get me a copy?" . I headed back downtown, got it for him, brought it home - and was impressed he read the first chapter! LOL! I think from this moment - it become huge for me.

Renaissance Man- entered a competition to check out the premier in Manchester. I did the same. It was a spot the difference deal, me and my Dad debated over the difference in rocks on the wall in the picture "mmm-G didn't pick them". Renaissance Man - won tickets to the premier, and come back with rave reviews. I couldn't wait to see it. A few weeks later he took me and B's brothers to watch it. It was such a big deal, my mum made me wear the suit I wore for my cousin's wedding. hahhaha. I felt really unfcomfrtable catching the bus downtown in a tweed suit, and polyester polo neck shirt.. hahahhahha. Anyways, I met Renaissance Man and off we headed into Manchester..

The line wrapped around the block, past the famous Oxford Rd chippy and around the bend. I picked up a 'programme' which I still have.

The movie started, I was gripped (sorted)- completely blown away. Erm, I even got all emotional when they got their medals at the end. "They really deserve them" HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA.

.. And so there it was, I got my Star Wars mates at school .. we'd banter about Jedi Knights, buy imported US Sci Fi Mags, dream of getting a Darth Vader helmet for Xmas -- rationalize in true modern economic terms how $200 was worth 10 minutes of Star Wars with no sound in black & white imported from the US. We'd dream of watching the film in in your own house -- and later look back on these days through VHS glasses - in fascinated complacency.

To summarize, like a meeting in the war_room - the take_away items were huge - they transformed my imagination, interest, focus and experience. All 30 years ago today. Wow.

Whistle Stop Washington!

Here's a few pictures from the weekend....

M's dads rhodys in his garden

Cold Birch Bay

The Saddest Christmas Tree Ever

Herons & Seals At The Beach




We took a nice long walk along the beach. We spotted some kool herons and a seal.
sdd

Captain KormaCurry

Long story - short I've aquired a sailboat. I traded Captain Marco a piano and some cash for a 16 foot sailboat. There's a summer sailing class at Jericho beach where I can learn how to sail . All being well, we'll be on the high seas later this year. What to call the new boat? SV (Sailing Vessel) KormaCurry? SV Mandu? SV Interstella Overdrive? .. lol ... mmmm.

Grandpa J In The Area

It's a Canadian long weekend, so we've headed down to visit M's family. This morning we went to visit Grandpa J who's moved from rehab, into a care home here in Olympia, WA.

He was on fine form, which was great to see, telling us about the ride down to the care home - how loved to see the Hood Canal, the Mountains and forests along the drive. We had a long visit. He was told us about his days in Alaska.

We're now at Captain Marco's, M's brother spending time with him and our adorable neices.

POW-WOW

We headed down to a pow-wow at the local community centre today. There was a bands of natives from all parts of the Indian Nation - local Pacific Northwest coastal, plains Indians from Alberta/Montana regions, South West tribes.

Here's To Love ...

Our neighbours (Mr Montana & Mr NYC) married yesterday. We were honoured to be invited to their garden wedding - to celebrate and witness the event.

Friends of theirs from all over the US and Canada flew into, some by surprise, to a perfectly sunny day. Everyone was in a fantastic spirits as the celebration ooozed with love and admiration for these two great dudes.

After the ceremony friends made their speeches and announcements - all joyous.

In the evening we headed to the waterfront for a celebration dinner ...

... in the lovely wine attic, at C Restaurant.

Good times on the western frontier...

Virtual Bearchell

Here's my mate and fellow super-geek Gary. Check his blog out, it's great. He took a leave-of-absence from EA ~7 months ago and is travelling the length of Africa. His blog is just brilliant. We salute you!

CLICK HERE FOR GARY'S BLOG

Visiting Grandpa J




M and I headed over to visit Grandpa J this weekend. It's a 6 hour drive from here, but only on a small distance on the map. He's a fantastic man, 93 years old and an a inspiration. The other week he decided to do some maintenance on his land, took out a small axe and headed over to fell a 8 foot tree. The tree came down, but he ended get stuck outside and having a fall. He's been in re-hab so we went to check him out.

Grandpa J was glad to see us, in good spirits and as sweet as ever. We had a long visit before heading over to meet M's Mum and spend the night at Grandpa's house. His house and land is up for sale to cover his care, a harsh reality in the US where healthcare comes from your own pocket, or if you've got nothing -- they'll cover it. It's a tough time for everyone seeing the house up for sale. That was probably one of the last times we'll hang out there.

Onto chirpier notes ... the drive there was great. Leaving BC, heading over the border all the way over to the Olympic Peninsula is a great drive. Lovely forests, islands, a ferry ride, nice little towns ... and onto the Olympic mountains. Doing that twice warms yer cockles ... and you feel the spirit of the land.

Deception Pass. Washington State, USA

Port Townsend. Washington State, USA

Mount Angeles. Washington State, USA

Grandpa's Barn. Washington State, USA

Grandpa's Chalk-Board. Washington State, USA

An Evening With Sir George ....

A few weeks ago I was sat outisde in the garden when Oz leaned over the fence dangling a full page ad in the Global & Mail ... 'Sir George Martin - An Evening With Famed Beatles Producer' .... "Oh yes, we have to go to that!".

Oz and I love The Beatles, and fully grasp the gravity of George Martins involvement in the epicness of The Beatles. Myself, I've always found Sir George engaging and really wouldn't miss the chance to see him in person.

So this week, we headed out to the Chan Theatre on the UBC campus, joined the masses ... and ... waiting with excitement to see him. On he came, to a standing ovation - well he deserves it -and rolled right into about 2 hours of stories, film shorts and sound-clips from over his career. He's such a great dude.
He recounted the time he signed The Beatles. Brian Epstein had come around and pitched their act. George wasn't impressed. Brian sulked. George felt bad and said "Bring the band down, and I'll check them out", not knowing every label had turned them down. The rest is history ...

Imagine if they hadn't hadn't been signed by George Martin -- how would things have turned out? It's hard to imagine .. not only is he a visionary producer, but and incrediable mixer. Dip back into some of their songs and listen ... it's hard to imagine the beautiful "I'll Be Back", of Hard Day's Night ... sounding 1/1000 as good without him. It's not a complex song, but the mixing and balance of the sounds create such depth. I was saw a clip of him in the studio with Brian Wilson. Brian digged out the masters of a Beach Boys song and George mixed it up . Brian was blown away .. "I've never heard that song as good"

Anyways, we had a great night with Sir George.