December 25, 2003 Regina, SK
Christmas Day. Shall I pull out some philosophy for our loyal readers, or just let flow the joy that I am letting into my life? There is a concern of getting too personal in these diary entries -- it is true that once fame is achieved, information that you give, or snippets of yourself, may come back to you as ammunition from someone who is desperately searching (as so many are) and unfortunately looking within commercial society for the answers. We are given up these images of stardom to worship as once humans were given images of gods...
Here I am letting flow something quite unlike the joy I seek (and seek, rightfully I believe, from myself and from my family). Such is the way I write.
"Are you writing about me?" my niece asks as she flops down in a chair beside me, "Shall I?" I reply...
December 23, 2003 Regina, SK
So it's been a while... more computer troubles, even less time than usual and now I'm here for Christmas, typing a diary entry on my little laptop and getting ready to conquor phase I of my mountain of work. Tonight is work night, and tomorrow and the next are fun fun fun.
Lots to do for the special, for the band, for life. I am very happy to have some time here with my family. Hope eveyone else is having themselves a Merry Christmas.
December 14, 2003, The Rosebowl Lounge
It was yet another Santa's Anonymous Benefit and Painting Daisies were there to rock it out for the kids. I was craving the thick second hand smoke and the pizza so I went a little early to get my fill. There were the usual people whom I have grown to love so much. Johnny, the 70 something year old alcoholic, was in prime form and I was surprised to see him walk through the door with such finesse. Kenny Rotten took the stage first with his band "Uberhack" with talented Kim as drummer. He hasn't missed an open stage at the Rose Bowl for 4 years i think. "The Elevators" were really fun and catchy. Jen Kraatz played her
great, country tunes with Chris Smith playing back up guitar. The MMP Band was solid as usual. Wow, my descriptive English sucks. We had a great set and I think it had to do with the fact that we hadn't played together in so long. I
personally was really looking forward to rocking out all electric. I had to hop up on IB Profin because I pulled my groin while skiing. It is hard to do the moves if you can't move your leg. Thanks to everyone who gave for the kids. Until next year.
December 12, 2003
Edmonton, AB
Busy busy busy. It's all meetings and action in the world of PD. We're planning our media prescreening of our CBC special. Randy Bachman will be coming in for it. We're scheduling interviews, publicizing, and even catering the event. We're also busy working on our re-vamping website; recording, designing and distributing a "lately" single (so the radio has something to play after our special airs; incorporating (yes -- there's going to be a Painting Daisies Inc. now), and so much more
December 8 , Edmonton, Alberta
Hi Everyone. Well I thought I should say something, because it's been a while. I am very happy to be working with Taye drums. For all you drummers out there, I would love to hear from you. I am preparing myself for our CBC show. The family will be watching it in Edmonton, as will all my relatives that are scattered throughout the world. Well, I am a woman of few words, so keep on movin', and don't bother losin'. Talk to you soon.
December 4, 2003
London- South Bank - Royal Acadamy of Music
Daisy cannot escape famous people.
Jazz is taken very seriously in London, for all you 'bo's out there. Emily Watson (Punch-Drunk Love, Gosford Park, and Red Dragon) likes it a lot as I ran into her a few days back while catching live jazz. Today on the ride home I ran into Margot Kidder in Dorval, Montreal. She's quite tall. This is curious how this happens. Brian Dennehy was eating a sandwich in Minneapolis and the only thing I could think of was the poor lines they gave him in Presumed Innocent and the fact that 1) he used to trade stocks with Martha Stewart on Wall St. 2) When on her show he couldn't mince garlic to save his life. These little gems shoot thru my brain when I'm engaging with these people and it's hard to keep it together and not laugh my ass off.
Travel tip: Do not wear anything studded in the airport, this gives you the air of "bad-ass". Do not swagger, do not wear a toque that says "lost" on it (with a skull substituting the "O"). This excites customs and immigration.
Apparently to functioni internationally I need a long skirt, long jacket, a broach, my hair pinned back, a scarf, and sharp-toed boots. OH MY GOD, I'M ITALIAN! Good on me. Or a stewardess. Good again.
Margot liked my hat, so all is not lost. I'm home again jiggedy-jig. Thank you to my family for picking me up in Calgary as who knows who I would have met on the Greyhound back to Ed
December 3, 2003 Edmonton, AB
I have just been inspired to become a rock star. I ate my supper in front of the television this evening (a rare occurence), and caught some of Wayne's World and Jessica Simpson's show. The portrayal of women on television is insane. Beautiful toys... I hope that with this band of ours we can give young girls something more to look up to than sexy, skinny women... not that there's anything wrong with being sexy or thin, but seeing these near unobtainable standards for the female body, and seeing women judged on their body shape does a number on a girl's self esteem. I even found it affecting my own self esteem, and I consider myself to be a confident person.
I guess I am, in my own way, a feminist. That's something I never thought I'd say (let alone broadcast over the internet). I have argued long and hard with feminists over the validity of the feminist cause -- over the necessity of drawing attention to the plight of women in what I view as an essentially equal society. I am a strong person, and perhaps that is why I feel that I have never felt discrimination for being a woman (I would never give them reason to discriminate, as I could do everything the boys do).... Oh... this is such a huge subject. I don't know if I can really broach it in the confines of this blog. Hmmm...
I guess what it comes down to is respect. I hope that I can help people learn to respect one another and themselves as different and equally valid individuals. A huge undertaking, perhaps, but the ball is rolling. I know that positive change is happening because I see it in myself. If I can be free of hatred and bigotry, I'm sure that other humans are capable of the same feat. If I get a bit of the popular media on my side, so much more is possible. I hope that I will be a good role model... I hope that I never find myself caught up in the nets of the American media's beauty myth; that I'll be able to portray true beauty, and give people (especially young people) a positive model to consider. Some rather unlikely aspirations coming from a post-punk cynic like me.
December 2, 2003 Edmonton, AB
I think I may have finally met my match. I had my first lesson on a stand-up bass today. I started working on my bowing when I got home this evening, and wow, I'm going to have to start pumping iron if I want to really get into this instrument. I'm in love...
Today was great. It started with an Alexander Technique class that really helped me get back to myself (I don't know how else to explain it -- it's an Alexander Technique thing), and progressed with a doctor's appointment (I seem healthy -yay!), a nice cappuccino and some time to read Romeo & Juliet and write in my journal, a meeting about the press screening of our upcoming special, a bass lesson, a trip to a friend's house to drop off some Christmas presents (I did my shopping early this year), and a band meeting over dinner. I didn't cry once, therefore this day was a smashing success.
I think I love Mondays.
December 1, 2003
Edmonton, AB
Just came back from an event at Convocation Hall. The Berlioz was nice... as nice as Berlioz gets (to my meager experience)... Smetana, Paganini and a debut piece by local prof Guillaume Tardif were also performed.
Bedtime again.
December 1, 2003
London, England
Daisy sees the Queen Mum blow by and Other Stories
Hello from Covenent Gardens. Yes, yes "Ms. Last Minute" has done it again and hopped a 330 AirBus to London. I've been here 3 days and already it's competing for my love of New York. Both are quite similar except I dig the NY accent better. I saw the Queen this morning as they're opening parlaiment. I stood in the rain for half an hour to see the whole kit-and-kibootle -- the best part was the torrential downpour just as she drove by. I haven't tried the fish n' chips yet but the Indian Food's great as well and the - you guessed it - red wine. I've "minded the gap" on the tube and made my way thru Heathrow quite successfully. Design and fashion are the name of the game here and shoppping is king. Also, DIDO is the queen -- today I will be attending a musical called "anything goes". I've seen the Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, London Bridge, many pubs, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and lord knows what else. I expect to make it to at least one show but Blondie and Fleetwood Mac are sold out. I'll settle for Eryka Badu. Simple Minds, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Duran Duran are all here. Level 42 still gig here as well for all you serious 80's types. And all the lights are up on Oxford St. for Xmas. There is nothing like corking a bottle of TVINI on top of the double decker and tooling around town.