There’s something about throwing yourself so deeply into a project that you become immersed in all aspects of it, isn’t there? It’s intense and wonderful to be so consumed with something, especially something you create. Watching pilgrIMAGE at Cinematheque this past weekend made me think of that feeling, that feeling of being taken over by [...]

I have this thing about one-man shows. It’s not that I don’t like them, exactly. It’s just that…they can get a little grating. I mean, listening to one person talk for two hours isn’t very exciting. It’s like a school lecture, only you don’t have to take notes. Lawrence and Hollowman at Prairie Theatre Exchange is [...]

I’m feeling rather subdued today after writing about my snowmobile experience last week. I’ve received some very colourful emails from both motorized and non-motorized outdoorsy types. What a divisive pastime. The emails were good, bad, and, upon occasion, downright nuts. Phew – thank goodness I’m back on my own frozen turf (and on my own [...]

“…Blackbird singing in the dead of night/Take these broken wings and learn to fly/All your life/You were only waiting for this moment to arise…” Blackbird. That’s one of my favourite Beatles songs.  I grew up listening to the pop super group, as both my parents are fans too. I learned to feebly strum out the [...]

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Gemini Writer’s Retreat here in the city. There were eight writers there, and two well-known Manitoban authors – David Elias and Susie Molony – who acted as our teachers/guides/therapists. I applied to go because of a book I’m finishing. This past summer, I traveled across Canada [...]

If you recall, I signed off on my last post with the ominous comment: “On Louis Riel Day I’m going snowmobiling with a couple of friends. Did I mention snowmobiles and I don’t always see eye to eye? Stay tuned…” Well I’ve been to the other side and I’m back. I’m the kind of person who chooses [...]

I think I’m starting to come around to this art thing. And I don’t just mean in an I-feel-sophisticated-and-worldly-when-I’m-in-an-art-gallery kind of way.  I mean in a real, hey-this-piece-evokes-emotion kind of way. I’m not trying to say I’ve turned into an art aficionado, but I can notice a difference in how I view art pieces. Some [...]

My sister’s boyfriend is visiting from Sweden (I know! Sweden!) and in an effort to show him all the cool things Manitoba has to offer, I suggested we all head out to Festival du Voyageur.  Okay, if you must know, I wanted to go to the Festival anyway. Where else can I get the awesome [...]

Date nights are tricky. If you’re a new couple, where do you go that’s comfortable and lets you talk and get to know each other, but still has enough “activity” to keep the conversation moving? If you’re a long-time pair, where can you go to keep things fresh and exciting, to try new things? More [...]

I’m so in love with Dine About Winnipeg. So in love. I mean, in the spirit of adventure you go out and gamble your dinner. You could end up with a terrific meal at the fraction of what it would normally cost, or you could end up with something you wouldn’t feed to your dog. [...]