equivocality » Daily Life

Will you sign my banana?

Jeff — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:09:03 +0000

No better place for a bachelor party than in the market, where people see you in a giant banana costume and assume you’re either getting married or lost a bet.

Before going out drinking, they went paintballing, though this still didn’t preclude the groom-to-be from having to wear the bright yellow costume in the field.

One of several bachelorette parties we ran into that night.

Banana job. Notice the expression on the guy peering behind the costume.

I can see the moon from here.

This is going on Facebook.

Cheers.

Oh So Good.

HWAAAAAAARGH.

This was a coincidence: running into two people on the street dressed as monkeys when you’re dressed like a giant banana.

Peed a bit.

I ran out of banana jokes.

My cousin Chris

Jeff — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:23:48 +0000

I’ve only shared about two conversations in my life with Chris — the last of which was about seven years ago — owing to the fact that we live on opposite coasts of the country. But Darren and I recognized him as one of us: someone who thinks for himself and doesn’t buy into the whole Chinese culture unquestioningly. This is in contrast to many of our other cousins, who seem to love their parents simply because they were birthed by them, not necessarily because their parents are good people.

Chris happened to be passing by for a wedding, so I hosted him for two days. It was interesting to meet him at this point in our lives. I wonder if I’m actually more similar to Chris than I am to Darren, mainly because of how our creativity defines us. It was so easy for me to relate and talk to him. And as with Darren, I actually felt like Chris was family, closer to a brother than a cousin, which is all too rare among my blood.

As an industrial designer he does amazing drawings, full of vibrant colours that pop-off the page. I asked him to draw something on my dry erase board because drawing is a creative ability not in my possession, and I find the process fascinating. It was a logistical challenge because he would smear his existing work every time he rested his hand on the board for stability.

He’s my exact opposite when it comes to health. He’s a vegan, while I’d find it impossible to give up meat, let alone butter and ice cream. He just literally biked 100km a day across Canada, while my lifestyle could be considered sedentary at best, with only Tai Chi and some mild calisthenics in my exercise routine. And yet we’re the same weight and shape. It’s sort of eerie to see him drawing in this video; aside from a shorter haircut, it’s almost like I’m watching myself.

The time he spent here passed quickly, as I introduced him to the ukulele. Aside from catching up and learning about each other, most of the two days were spent experimenting and playing together. Eventually, we went to a music store and bought him his own Mahalo ukulele, which filled my heart with glee. Darren and Jeff are coming up for a visit next week, and hopefully Chris will be able to hitch a ride with them for our ukulele band before we all head back to Toronto for Crystal’s wedding.

Transplant

Jeff — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:37:42 +0000

I got the chance to work with Team Emily to document their latest artist vision, titled Transplant. The brilliant concept:

This summer, Emily Comeau (a fibre artist from Quebec) and Emily Cook (a book and paper artist from Ontario) will be collaborating to create an immense and interactive tunnel book made from local plant materials to install in a barren patch of city.

Transplant is an outdoor living book installation. Constructed from found natural materials both living and dead, this installation is subject to the whims of nature and the designs of man. Each page of this book resembles an arch inviting the audience to enter the immense tunnel book. Within the pages are paper pockets where seeds will begin to sprout as the structure is gradually beaten down by the weather. Additional arches/pages will be added throughout the exhibition as the evolution of decay and growth take over. This evolution speaks to the ebb and flow of construction and decay as the manmade world interacts with the natural one. The story of this project is one of transformation and reclamation of the urban landscape by nature. It is the story of a cycle of decay and rebirth and of a balance that can be achieved when nature’s collaboration is desired rather than fought

The sunlight coming through the seeded paper is such a wonderfully striking image. This is just the first archway, constructed on the lawn at the Ottawa Arts Court, which is a very high-profile place (you can see the Rideau Centre right across the street). More details and ornaments are planned as the project continues over the next year.

My desire to record things comes from the fact that most things in this world are so ephemeral. This being a structure that can dissolve in the rain, as well as being an area frequented by drunks¹ and homeless people, meant I was pretty adamant about documenting the whole process.

As we were leaving the area at the end of the day, some guy just up and peed into the bushes next to us.

Protected: The Process

Jeff — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:47:36 +0000

second show

Jeff — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:25:30 +0000

I was supposed to hang out with Jesse last weekend. We were going to jam and talk and throw around ideas, and I was really looking forward to it because we always seem to be doing something when we’re together instead of just chillin.

See, it’s right here on his schedule, between Floors and Dinner.

Unfortunately, I developed my annual case of strep throat that day and had to stay away from everyone.

Then, on Friday as I was going back through our e-mail correspondence, I realized that Jesse inviting me to play ukulele meant playing a house party on Saturday. We met up about two hours before we were on and had a very quick rehearsal to work out some parts without Nic being able to back us up, as well as extra bits and pieces of songs I figured out over the week. Being so rushed was probably a good thing; it kept my mind off the nervousness.

Turns out it was an outdoor gig playing to a group of hipsters at a barbecue, and we were opening. It didn’t go terribly well. At one point in the middle of Write Protected I screwed up the strumming so badly that we had to stop the song and restart, but we quickly picked up on a count of four and went on without another hitch. Jesse remarked that it was good practice for next time, because problems come up that you never think of when you’re in a new environment.

This time it was a tuning peg that somehow got knocked in the middle of the set. I only discovered this once the song had started — and I was the only one playing so I couldn’t stop. It must have been off by an entire semi-tone cause it totally messed up my senses and I had a hard time telling if I was even playing the right chords. It was also night by the time our set ended, and I had a hard time seeing the frets, which only added to the confusion.

Note to self: strum once to before each song to make sure the instrument is in tune.

I did, however, learn from the last show to bring a side-table to use as a stepping stool. Usually, I sit when practicing, but at the 160 Workshops show I had to stand; not being used to the posture meant I was constantly adjusting the uke in the arm between verses and coming in late in the bar as a result. I brought a little Ikea side-table this time, and it worked really well.

Even with all the glitches, as rushed and under-rehearsed as we were, it was a fantastic time and a great experience.

The next set was in the basement, with a girl and guy looking like they were kids dressed up and pretending to be Ziggy Stardust, singing to generic electronica. And people were loving it in their slow-nodding, hipster kind of way, although the weed and booze may have helped (Audra would later remark to me that it was hard to tell how into it people were cause of how cool everyone was trying to act).

I also missed seeing a very drunk Tina corner Jesse. I could totally see this being her scene.

Check out Audra sporting her stylish Hurley cap.

Jesse was being interviewed later that night and also wanted to stay to see Matt play, so the girls and I headed to grab a bite to eat. Audra bought us all pizza and drinks at a nearby pizzeria, which had the BEST CRUST I’ve ever tasted.

Before the end of the night, in a good mood and feeling safe, I admitted to Em my crush on her boyfriend. She took it well.

© Jeff @ equivocality, 2010. | 6 comments
Post tags: experiences, interesting people, music | Categories: Daily Life, Photos

Friends from France

Jeff — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:25:42 +0000

Frédéric and Misun were briefly in Canada. They went on a short cruise with Misun’s parents and made a quick stop in Ottawa so naturally I took the chance to see them. It was a lovely evening for a barbecue and eating out in the sun.

It’s so interesting to hear about everything they’re doing with their little art gallery studio, adding to my excitement of visiting them in a few months.

Seeing the new baby. Mommy barely looks like she was pregnant, and Frédéric looks like he’s been eating well in France.

Miric tests out the paper airplane launcher I bought the boys. It was one of the few non-violent toys I could find in Toys R Us.

Caramelized onions make the potato salad.

Akio, with long hair, is now a spitting image of his brother.

First born.

Stephane has a large collection of toys. The boys were in heaven.

There was an entire cabinet of sorted Lego parts, such as this creepy compartment of Lego heads.

Explaining how the submarines lights can move independently, and how it’s going to find all sorts of treasure.

you got to hold on

Jeff — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:38:25 +0000

I have all this stuff I mean to write but when it comes to typing it out, it seems pointless. I don’t mind feeling this way anymore. I’d much rather come off as witty or interesting, but I can settle for honest.

My policy nowadays is to act the way I feel. Instead of trying to cater to other people or fit into social norms, I do what I want. It takes some trust in myself to believe that I’m generally a good person, but everything seems to be working in my favour.

With another wedding booked next year, I was able to justify a new lens. The final one in my lens path: Canon’s 70–200mm f/2.8 IS II USM. It lets me take pictures like this.

I have something major going on each month until December, at which point I’ll probably hermatize for three weeks until another round of holiday craziness.

Download audio file (hold-on.mp3)

The summer has been warm and fuzzy, and it’s filled me with contentment. I don’t care about the future anymore. I’m living in this moment, and thankful it’s a nice one.

© Jeff @ equivocality, 2010. | 4 comments
Post tags: happiness, reflection, self-evaluation | Categories: Daily Life, Photos

Fell in love with a beard at 160 Workshops

Jeff — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:48:19 +0000

I could explain how awesome this night was, but I think this beard speaks for itself.

It’s a custom-made piece by Emily Comeau — named the Smirkin’ Merkin — and a prototype for Jesse’s merch. As a person who’s never even come close to having a beard, I wanted to keep it SO BADLY even though it was brown and didn’t match the curtains (or the carpet, for that matter). I wore it for the first song I played, but it got way too warm to keep on in a house full of people.

One of the openers was Catriona Sutton, who won everyone over with her charming songs and clever lyrics. She used to be in the band Plumtree, whose indie hit inspired the naming of the Scott Pilgrim comic, now made into a major Hollywood movie (Michael Cera is wearing a Plumtree T-shirt when he does the knockout punch shown in the trailer).

Jesse’s song No Brainer demonstrates exactly how good he is with arrangements. His album is usually bass driven, but for live performances he plays guitar over Nic’s beatboxing (with some harmonica thrown in), and Audra on clarinet. Audra also had a small part rapping at the end of No Brainer, and it was awesome; she’s a natural. Nic’s also got a new little box which drops anything he sings an octave lower, so he can do real bass lines.

I played ukulele for four songs so Jesse could play other instruments like glockenspiel or the wind organ on Make Hymn Cry. I was a little nervous at first, but eventually I forgot everyone was there. My cheap laminate soprano ukulele doesn’t project sound very well, so I had to strum so hard I was afraid of breaking a string or enlarging the crack that’s already developed at the bridge.

At one point during the last track Jesse all of a sudden said, “UKULELE SOLO”, and I tried making a silly picking pattern based on the chords of the song. I don’t think anyone heard what I was doing over all the other instruments though, which worked in my favour really.

It was such an amazing night that I’ve decided to quit my job and sing and play ukulele full-time. Well, maybe not yet, but SOON.

The premature exit

Jeff — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:10:52 +0000

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

I barely stayed for two hours. It wasn’t the game (though it did prove to be as frustratingly random as I remember it) or the people (who were quite nice and refreshingly intelligent). When I told Jess, she said, “But it’s so early.” I just shrugged my shoulders. As an introvert, she understood.

Sometimes I wonder if I come off as an extremely anti-social person. I tend to be the first one to leave parties, and sometimes so early that the host will ask me if everything is alright. When it comes to being around people, I’m definitely a high-maintenance person. I’m much happier in one-on-one situations, and even more often I prefer being alone.

As much as I’ve grown and changed, I’ve always needed the world in small doses.

Friday confessional

Jeff — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:26:50 +0000

I’m feeling overstimulated. This is the only night I’ve had alone for the last week, and I haven’t caught up with John in even longer.

Fridays nights always make me feel restless. I never want to do anything after a full day of work, and at the same time I want to be out. I feel so alone, yet I don’t feel lonely. Maybe I’m just too busy to feel anything. Or maybe I’m just getting used to the solitude.

It’s a self-imposed exile, so I can’t complain. There are so many things I could do, opportunities I could take, people I could see, but I never end up following through. Everything is so stable and comfortable when I’m by myself.