SO I GOT "CARRIED AWAY"!!! ("SEX AND THE CITY" DVD), by TICKLEBEAR

so i finally got the DVD of "sex & the city".

what a shocker....

:D~

i can't say anything wrong.

i don't care about the naysayers

that bitch against this movie,

or the series itself.

it's not about sex or labels,

it's about friendship.

& this is quite a celebration!!!

the extra minutes on the DVD bring a little more depht

to the storyline.

(it gives a new meaning to director's cut...)

so much focus is put on carrie,

but think about it:

we get to see charlotte

as a mother & a blissful wife.

we get to see miranda becoming forgiving.

the brooklyn bridge scene!!

the damn brooklyn bridge scene...

what a heartwrencher!!!

(kleenex moment here!!!)

oy ve!!!

:D~

we get to see samantha finding herself anew,

understanding she loves "smith",

but she loves herself more,

& that's just fine.

& we see carrie going through a rollercoaster of emotions.

(don't forget the vogue photoshoot:

VERA WANG,

CHRISTAIN LACROIX,

i'm SO DIOR & OSCAR DE LA RENTA...)

:D~

but basically,

we see the girls sticking together!!!!!!

"sex & the city" is about one thing (for me!!):

friendship,

friendship,

friendship!!!!

& i am SO fortunate to know something

about friendship.

(think when samantha feeds breakfast to carrie...)

(i think of when lucrecia drove from the north after i burried my mom)

(i think of when linoue came with me to see some damn chinese lanterns...

when my head was reeling...)

nothing is more precious to me than friendship.

there's no family nor any men to beat this.

may i propose drinks at my place,

watching this DVD????

lets celebrate friendship as it should!!!

(no extra paper work involved here!!!)

i give it SO an absolut 5 stars!!!!!!

(is anyone surprised?...)

what a beautiful movie!!!

a 'butterflies in your stomach",

"rock your world",

"breathtaking" movie.

JUST SAY YES!!!

HECK!!!

i'm gonna watch it AGAIN!!!!!

it's mine after all!!!

i'll do AS I PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(a "samantha" moment here...)

TWICE IN A ROW!!!!!!!!!!

it's my DVD,

& i'll do what i want with it!!!!

:)~

BTW

did you know?

i've hit over 300 000 viewers with this video on youtube

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes i did!!!!!

who knew????

YOUPPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D~

HUGZ

& don't call me cheap:

my favorite song in the movie,

"kissing"!!!!!

yes!

you can color outside the lines.

that's life!!!!

:)~

come on people!!!

you must find love!!!!

EVER THINE!!!

EVER MINE!!!

EVER OURS!!!

:)~

P.S.

canada rates it 18a.

quebec rates it 13.

what the heck does the USA rates it

????????????????????????????

50+???

gosh!!!

i love quebec

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D~

JACK JOHNSON: SLEEP THROUGH STATIC, by TICKLEBEAR

jack johnson,

with his recent CD,

"sleep through the static"

proves to be interesting.

i am not part of his target audience,

as i'm not keen on male singers,

nor naturally attracted to this style.

but nonetheless,

i reacted the same way i do with JEWEL,

as i'm willing to let him take me by the hand

& drag me into a fabulous journey.

sober, introspective, candid,

it speaks to the soul very simply.

a gentle ride,

like having a drink with your best friend.

no fuss,

just casual conversation,

no pretension.

i might get into this.

:)~

a cute guy,

with good values,

as he is much involved

& an advocate for a greener planet.

i surely can appreciate that.

:)~

if you need to listen

to something nurturing,

this will be a good bet.

if i like it,

there must be something about the guy

& what he does.

:)~

HUGZ

NETHERLANDS 12- ENGLAND 1, by TICKLEBEAR

so i went to my local store

to grab a few brews,

given i'm not working tomorrow...

grolsch,

from the netherlands,

is a premium lager

that runs smoothly in your mouth,

giving your tastebuds a run for their money.

great beer!!

:)~

john bull's ale,

a blonde lager,

claiming to deliver

the "tang" of this "london-style" ale...

if this is what the brits drink,

i honestly feel a pang of sorrow for them.

it is not just boring,

it's even annoying.

something in the aftertaste

makes me loathe the moment

i'll drink the 3 others

i have left...

(if i ever actually do...)

thank god

i know there are other british beers.

this one doesn't suit me at all.

i hate it!!!

:(~

HUGZ

as for the video,

it's not what i was looking for,

but i thought it was fun...

McCroquet's.

let's drink to that...

CHEERS!!!!

:D~

reHUGZ

DEXTER: DAMN HOT!!!! by TICKLEBEAR

watching on movie network

as the new season of

DEXTER

is kicking off,

& it is damn hot!!!

a coroner & serial killer,

specialised in killing other serial killers,

who got away from the justice system...

unexpected turn-outs...

& we like those,

now,

don't we??

i'm SO excited!!!

as usual,

on the movie network.

:D~

HUGZ

TRUE BLOOD, TRULY INTERESTING, by TICKLEBEAR

i was given the first episode DVD of
TRUE BLOOD

& i liked it very much.

the idea of vampires going mainstream

is not totally new,

(angel & spike, ring a bell???),

but this series shows vampires mingling with mortals,

based on the fact

they don't need to feed on us anymore,

due to the creation of some synthetic blood...

but is it as good as the real deal?

i guess i'll have to stay tuned to know that for a fact...

:D~

suki (anna paquin) is a mortal

but definitely not ordinary

as she's spent her whole life

listening to other people's thoughts...

but she can't hear what her vampire friend is thinking,

much to her relief,

& her delight...

how can this be happening in the middle of nowhere?

(bon temps...)

alan ball,

creator of "six feet under"

must really be having a "ball" with this one.

drenched with sex & ambiguities,

it is anything but boring.

i guess i'm gonna like it on DVD,

but i'll settle with watching it on movie network

in the meantime.

did i mention this was an HBO series???
what a surprise!!

N-O-T !!

i'm really enjoying this.

:)~

HUGZ

METALLICA: DEATH MAGNETIC, by TICKLEBEAR

metallica,

this american band which i've liked since the '80s

is now hitting us with

"death magnetic".

if you like trash metal,

you'll love this.

the material is relevant,

the music is simply maddening.

i feel like putting on my boots

& stumping the floor

or slamming in some walls.

but i don't think my neighbors would appreciate

even one bit.

the concept for the CD is interesting,

what with the coffin.

& the music is even more so.

you'll find 10 tracks:

that was just your life

the end of the line

broken, beat & scarred

the day that never comes

all nightmare long

cyanide

the unforgiven 3

the judas kiss

suicide & redemption

my apocalypse

their lyrics have always spoken volume to me,

& the music takes me out of my usual comfort zone,

something i enjoy occasionally.

:D~

i've highligted what i consider as my new favorites.

& BTW:

i still have a crush on james hetfield...

just can't help it.

is it SO wrong???

i'm only hoping

they'll give us many more like this.

it rocks

in the best of ways.

:D~

HUGZ

"the day that never comes",

not one of my favorites,

but it'll give you some idea.

:)~

MYLENE FARMER: POINT DE SUTURE, by TICKLEBEAR

mylene farmer,

one of my alltime favorites,

strikes back with "point de suture",

which translates as "stiches".

"degeneration" was our first look at this new CD.

not much on words,

but the beat is catchy,

& the video (shown below) is very much

in the tradition of mylene's videos:

impeccably produced

& definitely provocative.

you'll find 11 tracks on this CD:

degeneration

appelle mon numero

je m'ennuie

paradis inanime

looking for my name (duet with moby)

point de suture

reveiller le monde

sextonik

c'est dans l'air

si j'avais au moins...

plus one hidden track,

ave maria

the familiar voice,

evoking the usual moods

through the lyrics & the music,

it is not too different

from what she has delivered in the past,

but it sounds fresh & engaging.

you cannot remain indifferent

to her charms.

she will once more seduce you,

singing about pain, angst & despair,

hopeless love & crushed dreams,

but on a very upbeat sound.

i expect there'll be sufficient remixes

to keep people dancing

until her next CD...

:D~

HUGZ

THE MAGIC OF LANTERNS (MONTREAL'S BOTANICAL GARDEN-2008), by TICKLEBEAR

since i had previously expressed interest in this

i proved true to my word

& went tonight to montreal's botanical garden

for the annual festival

of the magic of lanterns,

despite the rain & the wind...

:D~

(i should work for post canada,

because,

rain or shine,

i'll be there!!)

it was as enchanting as last year,

though i noticed many pieces WERE from last year,

but instead of being on the water,

they were featured in the gardens.

the pond featured new pieces

with a circus theme.

the ensemble still had this magic

that brings peace,

despite the screams of the too-many children there...

(too many to my liking, that is...)

:D~

still,

i've enjoyed this moment

& taken a few pictures.

some are good,

some not so much...

i'm still shaking the camera too much

& the wind really didn't help.

but if you find the time,

this makes for a nice stroll in the evening.

i don't give them the laughing smiley (4),

but the smiling smiley (3),

as i was expecting everything to be new.

otherwise,

i highly recommend this.

:)~

HUGZ

HOW TO QUICKLY SUMMERIZE THIS SUMMER AT THE MOVIES? by TICKLEBEAR

i found on youtube

something that summerize

this season at the boxoffice.

with the new batman movie

taking in major earnings,

& leaving others in its dust,

i found this parody quite apropos.

i give it 5 stars

for the concept & the pertinence.

enjoy!!

:D~

HUGZ

MY TREAT TONIGHT: CELINE SUR LES PLAINES, by TICKLEBEAR

as i've been a good boy lately,

& those who know me

will understand why i say this;

therefore,

i felt i deserved a little something.

so,

after work,

i grabbed some beers,

a cake,

& settle for some leftovers,

nothing wrong with that...

:D~

& my treat tonight?

"celine sur les plaines",

celine dion's performance on the plaines d'abraham,

last friday.

as i wasn't home on friday,

i missed the live broadcast,

so today,

i went to-de-go on illico

& ordered it .

a nice feeling to get celine to show up,

when "i" decide...

(only in my own sick mind...)

:D~

she gave this show

to celebrate quebec city's 400th anniversary,

while she is herself touring the world,

delivering a unique show

for the occasion,

with some guests

& sticking to her french repertoire only...

(this is decidedly a recurring theme

this week,

first a french tv series,

now a french concert.

what's next:?

no-no-no,

not a french movie,

N-O-O-O !!!

but i'd go for a french restaurant,

you know...)

:D~

the production was impeccable,

the crowd was immense & enthousiastic,

(reportedly a quarter million people were there);

the guests were familiar & well received:

garou,

who sang one of my favorites: "seul"

marc dupre,

i didn't know his stuff but i think he did well.

nanette workman,

"lady marmelade" with celine was most fun.

dan bigras,

who went from "tu m'tueras" to "carmina burana" to "les 3 p'tits cochons",

but also reciting a poem he wrote for sarajevo.

a man with convictions.

i like that.

mes aieux.

le clan dion,

whose rendition of "il y a longtemps que je t'aime" was beautiful.

zachary richard.

eric lapointe,

who joined celine for "l'amour existe encore",

than sang "mon ange",

his best song ever,

i think...

claude dubois,

"si dieu existe" with celine
tended to prove maybe god does exist (?)...

jean-pierre ferland

who sang with celine

celine & rene's song,

"une chance qu'on s'a"

& then went on with

"un peu plus haut, un peu plus loin"

only to be joined by

ginette reno.

celine & ginette's duo was spectacular.

why, tell me why,

these two never sang together before

????????????????????????????

i don't wish,

i demand,

NO!!

i command

that these two sing together

not one song,

but a whole album,

N-O-W

!!!!!!!

don't wait 'till someone dies

to think that maybe you should have...

DO IT NOW !!!!!

that's an order,

with luv',

but an order nonetheless.

if certain moments left me nonplussed,

the ending was well worth waiting for it.

oh, wow!!!!!!!!!!

now i pray,

since paul mccartney declined the offer

to have his concert in quebec city turned into a DVD,

that celine & rene on the contrary,

have accepted &

we will soon see it in store,

as it makes for a most memorable moment.

come on

"productions J" & "feeling productions"!!

get your act together.

hey!!

i'm willing to buy a french DVD!!!

better do it soon

before i change my mind!!

(as if ever...

it is celine,

after all,

we're speaking of here...)

bravo celine!!

bravo la gang!!

c'est un maudit beau cadeau

que vous avez fait a la ville de quebec,

mais aussi a tous les quebecois.

UN GROS MERCI

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)~

HUGZ

BTW

it is still available through illico,

& we could still make pressure

on the powers-that-be

to release a DVD

pretty soon,

before xmas maybe?

it'd make for such a lovely gift...

:D~

********************************

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 11TH 2008

the DVD is now available!!!!!!

:D~

*********************************

HELL'S GONNA FREEZE OVER !!!! by TICKLEBEAR

yes, hell's gonna freeze over!!!

ticklebear has acquired (legally...)

the DVD boxset of the first season of

"les etoiles filantes",

a quebecois comedy

running on radio-canada...

alright people!!

pick up your jaw from your desk

& put back your eyeballs into the sockets...

:D~

written by francois archambault

& directed by ricardo trogi,

it is the collision of two lifestyles

of two men that used to share things together,

both playing in a band

& living on the wildside;

now they both live in two totally different worlds,

& drag everyone into a whirlwind experience

where all are exposed to unexpected sides of themselves.

it's a crazy world out there

when you let it in...

suburbia will never be the same.

i'm halfway through the first season,

& i'll admit...

(awh, shut up!!!)

it is quite good.

some things made me laughed out loud.

if i had watched it on tv on a weekly basis,

i don't know if i would have stuck with it,

but to see it like this,

one chapter after another,

(no commercials...),

it makes for a pleasant time,

where we see the opposition

between freedom & conformity,

between obligations & being carefree.

what do you think happens???

H-mmm???

as the saying goes:
the shit hits the fan...

i don't know

if i'll watch the 2nd season on tv this fall,

but i'm likely to grab it on DVD

when it comes out.

the characters are well-defined,

the storyline is interesting

& it reflects somehow

what our society has been through

& what it's all about now,

with a touch of humor.

yup,

i like it!!

:)~

HUGZ

(is everyone still breathing???...

come on!!!

get over it...)

:D~

HUGZ

****************************

UPDATE: AUGUST 25TH

the main character,

"jacques prefontaine" just lost his mom,

just like me,

not so long ago...

a moving moment.

should i expect one too?????

nevertheless,

an excellent series,

& looking forward even more so,

to the 2nd season.

:)~

*******************************

MONTREAL HAS ITS PRIDE, ITS GAY PRIDE !!!

the weather was nice

& the crowd anxiously waited

for things to start.

the parade this year

was under the theme of the circus,

& some really took it to heart.

it was a lively, noisy & colorful parade;

with its clowns & acrobats,

a bit of leather,

a bit of glam,

& a whole lot of energy.

it was a great parade,

like we hadn't seen for a while now...

nothing too shocking happened,

but issues about family, health & human rights

were raised.

we also saw some lambda groups,

as well as some retiree group.

talk about contrast!!

but we can't ignore the fact

that everyone deals with his/her homosexuality

at any age.

also,

the presence of some ethnic groups

reflecting the true diversity of montreal

was heartwarming.

community groups & local businesses

did their best to put on a good show,

some having more means than others,

but it was all done with heart.

best floats are the "circus sky"

& "mado's circus".

the best hat goes to "madame simone",

with that reptily-thing on her head.

very circus lady, my dear!!

:D~

the "studbar" didn't have a spectacular float,

just a structure,

but the acrobatics done there were most enjoyable to watch.

wasn't that mario going up & down???

:)~

best business award goes to TD bank,

not because it was spectacular,

but the crew was having a good time

& it was contagious.

worst business award goes to?

it's a tie,

between "vitamin waters" & "guru",

for showing up with their promotional trucks,

but lacking any sense of marketing:
couldn't they have distributed some samples of their products??

the refreshments would have been welcomed

& it might have introduce their brand

to new customers,

& showed some spirit too...

sorry guys!!

you missed on that one.

best swimsuit/underwear award goes to:
the guys on the "parking" float.

a really sexy bunch over there.

the parade ended on a sour note though...

the "stockbar" float...

the concept was pretty nice,

but just like last year,

the dancers wouldn't really acknowledge the crowd,

& didn't perform any form of entertainment,

just standing there,

talking among themselves.

(again, just like last year.)

i saw only one who tried,

but he looked pretty lonely there.

i guess these guys are only good for one thing:

bouncing their dick left & right when you throw money at them.

don't think guys

that because of your look,

that's all it takes.

:(~

so "stockbar",

you get the award for the worst show,

or should i say no-show??

totally boring...

:(~

but that aside,

a most enjoyable afternoon,

watching a parade

that was mostly entertaining,

minus a few things.

congrats to all participants & sponsors!!

good show!!

& see you all next year!!

(except the "stockbar" guys...)

:D~

HUGZ

Radiohead, Montreal 2008

"Just as they play your favourite song, as your bad day disappears"
Yes it was rainy, gray, muddy & crowded, but as they played my favorite song they made it all disappear.

MTL-2008 video not there anymore, so here is the official one!

I am a Radiohead fan, no I do not like crowds nor the rain. But it will be engraved on my hard drive... brain that is... unfortunately did not take video & audio. Souvenirs from that muddy wild evening among true fans is now part of my neurones.

I was closer to the stage for the first band (Grizzly Bear...my totem name & I must say they were rockin'), but having to go eliminate a prior beer & getting a new one...could not find room to see the stage (umbrellas were aparently allowed). So I climbed up the hill, tried many times to convince the STCUM staff to let me on their show bus roof top (even asked for an emergency escape demo, that did not work)...so I watched the show on the top of the "butte".

Radiohead was generous, their playlist, 15 songs + 2 encores...that's more songs than my actual I-pod battery can handle... they were live & they were on fire! Even when the fireworks came...(please watch this clip, you can hear Thom Yorke adding the word: "Fireworks" to the lyrics...GÉNIAL!). Must have been disturbing for them, 'cause it got my attention. That was for a short few seconds, Radiohead's performance blew away any other occuring phenomena at that time. Every song I love was there (except "Pyramid song" & "Dollars & cents" but I can live without that).

What a great time I had even though I could not see the band clearly, the stage & it's lights + Montreal's unrentless menacing skyline... WOW, WOW &RE-WOW.

Too old to be a groopie but for ever will be a music lover & Radiohead fan.
on my chart that is:I am still surprised they let me in the subway after what I looked like... Fell twice in the mud going down the hill, once one the left, once on the right... washed my tub 3 times, still mud in there... but everytime I wash it I am singing a Radiohead song out loud, to my neighbors' delite, "it's gonna be a glorious day!"

MONTREAL'S FIREWORKS 2008: PANZERA S.A.S. & FINAL RESULTS, by TICKLEBEAR

so,

this was the final tonight...

panzera s.a.s. delivered a performance

that was not jaw-dropping,

since i found the music selection rather traditional,

be it classical, jazz or mainstream,

BUT!!!

their interpretation was most engaging,

even intriguing at times.

i was riveted!!!

& one good thing,

they were MOST generous!!!!

it never lacked,

it just kept on coming!!!

what a great show.

no rating as they were not competing,

but it was SO worth seeing!!!

alright, alright!!

so you want to know who won the competition?

GOLD JUPITER GOES TO U.S.A.'S PYROTECHNICO!!!

SILVER JUPITER GOES TO AUSTRALIA'S HOWARD & SONS!!!

& THE BRONZE JUPITER GOES TO CHINA'S SUNNY INTERNATIONAL!!!

& i could not agree more!!!!

the competition was SO fierce this year,

you'd think

they all had to win or die...

i wish to thank every company that participate this year,

as they gave us the ultimate experience.

this jaded spectator was entranced more than once.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU ALL!

in my heart,

many have earn a gold jupiter.

& i'm sure i can safely speak for everyone here:
come back any ol'time!!!!!

thanks, grazie, danke...

(& that's the extent of my knowledge...)

THANX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D~

HUGZ

Escapade à Ottawa

La Fabrique de l'Homme Nouveau :
Bon là, c'est pas pour me vanter, mais... je viens de voir une des plus belles expositions qu'il m'ait été donné de visiter ces dernières années.

Je voulais absolument y aller, j'étais plus que due pour une visite de musée. Le sujet ne me disait rien de spécial, mais avec un tableau de Dali comme appât, j'ai mordu comme morue affamée et m'y suis précipitée!




Qu'est-ce que je m'y suis délectée!! Tout d'abord, les années 1930 et leurs lot de crash boursier, de temps de régimes politiques rigides, la folie d'Hitler, Staline, Mussolini et cie et de développement dans le domaine des recherches biologiques ne me semblaient pas synonymes de "plaisir". Ils ne le sont toujours pas, mais furent une source d'inspiration incontestable de la part des artistes de l'époque. Que ce soit par les découvertes au niveau des cellules vues par microscope, qui ont inspirées des oeuvres très intéressantes par Wassily Kandinski, entre autres, ou que ce soit par opposition à une forme d'esthétisme imposée pour une race parfaite, ou encore comme témoignage des ravages de la guerre, les oeuvres présentées sont toutes poignantes d'une façon ou d'une autre.

En fait, j'ai tellement apprécié ma visite, que j'y suis retournée le lendemain! Au diable la dépense! Et j'ai autant apprécié.

J'y ai fait des découvertes merveilleuses d'artistes qui m'étaient totalement inconnus. J'en retiens les noms de : Ivan le Lorraine Albright, Pyde Koch, Stanley Spencer, Balthus (qui sait si bien rendre cette période d'adolescence des petites filles), Charley Toorop, Alfonso Ponce de Leon, Tullio Crali, Philip Guston,...

C'est une grande exposition, qui nous explique très bien le contexte de ces années pas très joyeuses. Une exposition généreuse (plus de 200 oeuvres) et diversifiée. Je recommande chaudement cette visite. Ce sont des heures de plaisir en perspective.

Et en plus, pour le même prix, l'exposition permanente du Musée des Beaux-Arts du Canada vous attend... en ce qui me concerne, ce sont les pochades de certains membres du Groupes des Sept, Tom Thompson en prime, qui m'ont fait grandement plaisir de revoir.

Allez, il vous reste à peine un mois pour en profiter!



In Your Face :
Alors là, tant qu'à être à Ottawa, pourquoi ne pas aller visiter cette petite expositon gratuite des plus charmante, à la Bibliothèque des Archives du Canada.

Il s'agit d'un projet initié par AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario de Toronto) qui proposait à la population de l'Ontario de lui envoyer un portrait de 4" X 6". La réponse fut telle, que des portraits d'un peu partout dans le monde lui furent envoyés!

Ils sont tous exposés dans une mosaïque impressionnante sur les murs d'une seule salle. Mais quel résultat! J'ai ADORÉ regarder tous ces portraits. Certains naïfs, d'autres de mains plus expérimentées.

C'est la créativité des gens qui m'a vraiment réjouie.

Jusqu'au 1er septembre.

FIREWORKS 2008: CHINA, by TICKLEBEAR

last night was the last contestant,

sunny international co. inc.

in what was a most anticipated firework.

it was china after all...

but mother nature quickly proved uncooperative

as we could see all of the fumes

stagnating there due to a lack of wind.

the music was charming though quite conventional,

but they did throw in there some edith piaf.

as for the firework itself,

the various pieces looked amazing,

but we rapidly lost any visibility,

ending up on missing what might have been a grand finale.

pity.

i was SO looking forward to their show.

i hate when that happens...

but with the weather we had been having all day,

it came as no real surprise.

still,

the little we could see from my place

looked very good.

let's hope the judges saw more than we did.

:(~
HUGZ

(just a few pictures of what might have been great...)

GRACE JONES: THIS IS LIFE, by TICKLEBEAR

la bloggia may have beat me to the punch,

about grace jones,

as i hesitated

about posting "corporate cannibal"

& decided to post something else,

but here's something else,

that she ain't got:

the soundtrack of "this is life".

some source told me this may not be the final track

from the wall of sound...

that remains to be seen,

but in the meantime,

i think this is already a great track.

so,

i did a little video

to enhance the experience.

some old & more recent pics,

with her new sound.

can it get any better"

only the people at wall of sound can answer this...

:D~

HUGZ