Sa-weet!

 [ happy, happy! ]

So, I guess all of my fretting over interview attire and cutting my Ottawa vacay short were not in vain! I landed the job! OK, it's not official yet - still waiting on the offer letter and am in the middle of negotiating a post-Fashion Week start date ('cause I'm covering it for blogTO!!), but it's probably safe to break the news. And, really, I've been unemployed/freelance/self-employed for a whole YEAR, so obviously it's big news that I'm dying to share (and I'm bad at secrets).

So, back to the 9-to-5. I wasn't entirely convinced, at first, that I wanted to work a full time office job, but it sunk in as a necessity over the holidays, and now? Now, I'm excited about it. Pencil skirts! Office coffee! Co-worker chatter! A sense of purpose? Yeah, I've had some lows lately, and I think that the working-from-home thing, combined with being pretty broke was getting to me. I'm the designated breadwinner for the next couple of years, while Sweet Thing makes their steady climb to music fame (*fingers crossed*) and the Mister starts bringing in some dough.

 

[ Alex soundchecks somewhere far from here. He'll be back. Photo c/o Sweet Thing ]

The challenge - and I'm ready for it - will be balance. I want to ride the momentum of Dudley & Bea and keep working at it in my spare time. I'd love to keep writing, too (Alex is somewhere out in the world frowning right now). It's ambitious, but I'm pretty adept at multi-tasking. Idle hands are not my friends.

This good news opened another door: since I'm no longer bogged down with job hunting, and I don't start work right away, I can spare a few days to hit the road with the boys on their mini tour south! First stop? New York! I'm hitching a ride and then staying for a bit to visit one of my bestest girls (a one-time Canadian transplant high-ranking in my favourite-people-ever list).

 [ getting in trouble in NYC is the most fun with Tabor ]

The guys will continue on to play some Austin, TX shows during SXSW. This little jaunt comes on the heels of their latest cross-country tour with Down With Webster. They play their final show tonight at Massey Hall in TO! So, Alex is back in the city after being away from me for 3 weeks, but I can't see him yet. I've been trumped by soundcheck. The truth: I took too long to get ready and missed a little window. He'll be on his way home very, very soon, though. FINALLY!

I have a feeling that this will be a good year for the band (and maybe bad for me, if that includes a lot of touring). It will all pay off, though. Right? Right? They just played Much Music AND Breakfast Television. Leah just heard Change of Seasons on a Disney program. We also heard it landed a spot on 18 to Life although I've yet to hear it. The little song that could.

2011 is looking up. My mom was right. "You'll be fine."

Survival

How do we do it? Easy. This is how:

Testing... 

 

Success!

We wouldn't survive without iChat and Skype. OK, we would. But this is waaaay better.

Alex called from his Calgary hotel room in between a radio interview and soundcheck today. We're lucky to be able to sneak these little moments. I miss him. More than you know.

Outta here!

[ Sweet Thing soundchecks for Strombo, and I'm there! ]

Alex is gonzo. Glad it's this week and not last week when i was in the middle of meltdown central. Not pretty. Not pretty at all.

 [ via Justin Blyth ]

Last week, he did all of the following:

• sweeping
• dishes
• dog walking
• breakfast-making
• sanity-keeping
• sympathy-doling

It was nice.

Now I'm on my own. I hired back our old dog walkers just to ease the burden this week. My pups are lovely but they are a big gigantic handful. Make that two.

But, well, he's gone for a very good reason. And I'm kind of getting used to this tour business now. I don't even cry anymore. I replace his space in the bed with extra pillows and two dogs (roughly resembling his shape under dim lit conditions), and go on with my life.

Sweet Thing is heading West to break more hearts and win over more radio big-wigs. I just can't quite understand why they're not ridiculously famous yet. Someone mustn't be doing their job. I mean, REALLY. (shut up, I am not biased)

Last night they slept in my home town - Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Yessiree, they did. Jealous. I said that they should go have coffee with Shannon or breakfast at Smitty's or a stroll in Island Park or tea with the Bird family. 'Cause that's what I would have done. But they're on a beeline for the coast, and I imagine that they probably didn't stay for sightseeing. There's not much to it unless you have nostalgia, anyway.

[ my old house, via GoogleMaps Street View ]

It's pretty rad that they're opening for Metric - their first stadium show! The tour opener is another  Down With Webster gig, then they'll be headlining it back across the country. They're playing another of my hometowns, Ottawa, on the last leg. (I was a military brat. "Home" is subjective) You can see the full list of shows here.

Oh, and I mentioned these two amazing videos on FB and Twitter, but thought I'd remind you again. If you missed the performance on George Strombolopoulos Tonight, you can watch it here. 

Aaaaand, Change of Seasons is featured in the trailer of a new Rachel McAdams/Harrison Ford/Diane Lane flick. Check out the trailer here.

[ still from Morning Glory ]

Also, stay tuned for a NEW video, possibly the best yet. I saw a rough cut, because those are the perks of bandwifedom, obvs. This is a hilarious still from the shoot:

[ via Sweet Thing on Facebook ]

Whew. Mouthful. I'm off to soak in the bath (definitely), eat something sensible for dinner (maybe) and then head out to cover an event for blogTO. 

 

Shows Announced!

Do you live in Western/Central Canada? Lucky you. May I please remind you that Sweet Thing will be in your neck of the woods AGAIN next month? Here's a look at shows booked so far. There are some other tentative dates they may be added officially to this list. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and if you live in Vancouver, you're extra fortunate. In addition to the November 13th show, the boys are in your great city TODAY. Free show @ Joe Fresh on Granville, 2-6pm. It's a celebration of the grand opening of their new flagship store. Go! 

 The next tour, so far:

13 Nov 2010 Shark Club Vancouver, BC, CANADA
14 Nov 2010 Save On Foods Memorial Centre w/METRIC Victoria, BC, CANADA Find Tickets
16 Nov 2010 SAIT Calgary, AB, CANADA
17 Nov 2010 Lyve on Whyte Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA
21 Nov 2010 Jack's Thunder Bay, ON, CANADA
22 Nov 2010 Loplops Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, ON, CANADA
23 Nov 2010 Townehouse Tavern Sudbury, Ontario, CANADA

---

Alex snagged me the Joe Fresh Bouclé jacket from my last post while he was on his little shopping spree yesterday. OK, so now I'm not TOO jealous!

---

Did you see these yet? So great. Morgan flexes his editing muscle again to make a fantastic making-of video from a whole whack of "useless footage" shot in LA last summer. Note: Alex's ridiculous "recording beard" and a special appearance by the incredible and lovely Sia Furler (and her dogs)!



 

So I didn't make a cameo (I spent very little time at the studio anyway), but there is a clip of Alex talking to me on the phone. :) It counts right?

 

Another one like this.

Just another dose of verbal diarrhea from yours truly. Nothing substantial/important/exciting to write about but I just need to share randomness.

I STILL haven't checked to see if my camera survived the little swim she took last week. Tomorrow, I've decided, my little heart will be able to handle the news - good or (most likely) bad. She's still lying in a box of rice. Like a mini coffin. Hm, I'm being so uncharacteristically "glass half empty", right? Will report back.

 [ I clearly need this (horrifically unsightly) contraption. via gadgetsin.com ]

I had two job leads today - calls in to some HR contacts. But, I do have to fire out a few more resumes tomorrow. I need to step it up. EI is so not cutting it, and dammit, I need new fall clothes!

 [ covet! covet! covet! Shoes: OlsenHaus Pic: edgeofurge.com ]

OH NO! I have some alarming news. Brace yourselves. OK, so back-story: Alex and I have done the SAME thing almost every Friday since we moved onto Brunswick 3 years ago. Our very, very favourite restaurant/take-out joint on the planet, Nataraj, is part of it.  Tonight, they were not answering the phone. I just did some investigating and the lights out and there's a "For Rent" sign in the window. Whhhhhhyyyyyy?!?! I really have no idea what we'll do on Friday nights anymore. I feel lost. We may have to move. Could this be the end of an era? *sniff* I ate Ghazale instead, which was technically good, but I was too bitter to really enjoy it.

 [ I will never be this food-happy again. Ever. ]

So Miss Mistletoe came over last night for some spontaneous midnight snacking/crafting. I was really grateful for the last-minute social interaction. Truthfully, I was getting a little stir-crazy with all of the sewing. I've got a little ad-hoc sweat shop set up in the living room while the Mister is outta town. I'm making goodies for my little pet biz while watching Felicity all over again from the beginning (just starting season 2). 

 [ via fanforum.com ]

M and I also talked until 3am, and started re-watching Freaks and Geeks (one of THE best shows EVER). Yeah, waaaay past my bedtime. But we had a great chat, which culminated in the following conclusion: we are both squares, but happily so. 

Oh and me and my best girls checked out this place last week: Snakes and Lattes, board game cafe! Genius! 

[ That's us, discovering Geoshapes. Too fun! photos by the lovely Ms. Shraya ]

Yes, and there is the subject of my health. My sister told me to call her first, so that she didn't have to find out details of my medical woes via Facebook again. But her phone situation in Costa Rica is sketchy right now. Sorry Jill - here's the update: lung scan OK, still taking a steroid inhaler every day and have a Dr. appt on Friday. No answers yet, but the pain seems to be less intense and less frequent. I think the inhaler is working, meaning that it probably WAS just lung inflammation due to asthma. *whew*

Alex and I have managed to iChat twice a day everyday since he left. I am grateful for the wifi on their tour bus. I'm missing him, of course, but it's actually been really easy this time. I guess we're getting good at being apart. Not that I love it. We're just adapting to this necessary evil.

 [ so cute, right? photo by Mark Cohene ]

The guys play Saskatoon tonight (right now, in fact) and Winnipeg tomorrow. Gawd, I want to be in Winnipeg SO badly. Lots of way-old friends will be there again. *sigh* Apparently Justin Nozuka's girlfriend is along for the ride (jealous!). One day, one day. I suppose when the boys have their own tour bus, i may be able to weasel my way on to it. Hey, if I can get into a Strombo TIFF party, I can do anything, right?

Alex is back Saturday!!! 5 days!! Woo hoo! One of my oldest friends and one of my very favourite people of all time is coming to Toronto this weekend too. She's my date for the Sweet Thing show at the Phoenix, and a party happening later in celebration of the 5-year anniversary of friends' amazing little company. Then Sunday... we'll be married for a WHOLE YEAR! Can't wait for the weekend.

Yeah, so, back to sewing and waiting for a text from my Little Husband on the Prairie.

G'night! xo

p.s. Oh gosh, I keep forgetting Yoko. And really, as simple as this quote may be, it's good advice for me this week: "I'm not going to doubt my life." - Yoko Ono

Deja Vu.

[ Golly, sometimes I wish i was a 50s housewife. Wasn't love just so EASY? ha. Image via: comicsmagazines.com]

We're apart. Here's how it see it:

Melodramatic girl-anxiety reality: I am rotting in an office while Alex leaves me alone and suffering to lead a glamorous rockstar life on the road. I am neglected and abused.

Actual reality: I picked up some pretty rewarding work from a generous friend and have an amazing week full of girl-dates while Alex is stuck sleeping on a bus far from home, missing me desperately. I am the luckiest girl alive!

[ soon, soon, we'll be toe-to-toe. photo via: josepharnone.com ]

I fluctuate my beliefs between these two, swapping one "reality" for another. But I'm in a good place today. Poor Alex. How IS he surviving without me?!

We were able to chat for a good half-hour yesterday (thanks to fortuitous time-difference scheduling) but we've only been able to interact today via a couple of hasty text messages. I have nothing to report on last night's show - a free show in Victoria that was not part of the tour. Today the actual tour starts, and they will be connecting with Justin Nozuka's crew today to play a Vancouver show (sorry Victoria for the mistake on my last post). 

This tour is almost identical to their last (headlining) tour in the summer, except that this time the audiences should be larger (hopefully), because: A. They will play to JN's fan base, and B. They should have their own draw now that the album is released and they're getting cross-country play on most (if not ALL) of the adult-contemporary/pop stations. So yeah, I hope this is not a complete deja vu...

Also, they get to sleep on a bus! Cool! OK, so maybe the novelty will wear off in a few days and Alex will be missing his bed (OUR bed). Is it sick that I hope this is true? 

[ gosh it's lonely without you. ]

Dog-date with Courtney (2 birds, one stone) after work and then i will hopefully be able to squeeze in a good long-distance love session with Alex. I will report on any new tour details later. Oh, and I'm making cilantro pesto and cleaning the fridge/dungeon tonight, too.

In the meantime, have you checked out the band's website lately? Ch-ch-changes! The splash page now features the embedded Change of Seasons video, and some news has been posted on the main page. Two of the guys are apparently serving lemonade in the MM parking lot this month. What? This is news to me, considering i thought Alex wouldn't be back until the 25th. Not so, my friends! Upon closer examination of the schedule, it looks like i MAY see him sooner. Yaaaaaay! There is a 3-day gap between the Winnipeg and London shows. 

(Did I mention that our 1-YEAR anniversary is the day after the tour officially ends? Huzzzah!)

---

p.s. Just a reminder of the upcoming shows:

Tuesday, September 14th 2010 Vancouver, Vogue Theatre

Wednesday, September 15th 2010 Kelowna, Mary Irwin Theatre

Thursday, September 16th 2010 Edmonton, Starlite Room

Saturday, September 18th 2010 Calgary, The Den

Monday, September 20th 2010 Saskatoon, Louis’ Pub

Tuesday, September 21st 2010 Winnipeg, Garrik Center

Friday, September 24th 2010 London, London Music Hall

Saturday, September 25th 2010 Toronto, Phoenix Concert Theatre


Ta-ta! 

 

Drive-by Nostalgia

I've neglected Your Yoko this week. For good reason: I was living the road life rather than talking about it! This is me resting in Calgary, after reuniting with my hubby on his X-Canada tour - he's thankful for this rare peaceful moment (and I think I might be prettier than his previous hotel roommate. Sorry Nick).

I'm back now and have lots to share, but other pressing activities must take priority. Like investigating the hamster smell in my house. And doing homework. And unpacking a whole lot of clothes that I didn't wear during my trip.

Hell, I'm sure I have time to say a few words, right? Despite unseasonable weather and missing my pooches, my mini-Prairie road trip had many highs:

• Prairie skies
• Sweet Thing stage presence awesomeness ("Owen is the next Mick Jagger." - Christine)
  
• Coffee(s) with Liz in random cities. It's our thing.
• Cruise control
• Prairie dogs & red-winged blackbirds
• Top-of-lungs sing-alongs to Lady Gaga
• Elementary school reunions
• Satellite radio... 90's on 9!  Toad The Wet Sprocket and Venga Boys? Please, this is clearly perfect road trip music.
• Guitar-solo-stage-kiss!
• "I'm a high-tech redneck!"  
• Drive-by hometown nostalgia
• More catch-up kissing :)

A full review will follow. Until then, my pets, enjoy some eye candy via my new SLR (yay!):

 [ big sky on the Saskatchewan plains ]

  [ pre-show dinner at Amigo's, Saskatoon ]

  [ Morgan belts it in Winnipeg ]

  [ somewhere outside Moose Jaw ]

  [ Art in Winnipeg? ]

  [ part-time replacement dog. MERMAN! ]

 [ yeah, uh-huh, that's my hubby ]

  [ making eyes with pretty girls ]

  [ Vicarious baby-love via Liz's sweet Annelie, Medicine Hat, AB ]

  [ Alex crunching numbers in Calgary. Who knew rock-stardom would involve so much math?! ]

  [ Winnipeg loves Sweet Thing ]

  [ prairie funnel clouds ]

Sweet Thing X-Canada Tour, Part 4

Even though our phone convo was cut short last night (damn dead battery), I managed to find out that the guys had arrived in Kelowna, a 14-hour drive from their last stop in Swift Current, SK. This morning, they took off from Kelowna hoping to hit Victoria early enough to hang out. There, they are catching up with Morgan, who flew out a week earlier (it's his hometown).

A text message update indicated van troubles and an unscheduled stop in Merrick, but they are en route again, I am happy to report!

The tour officially starts tomorrow!

More good news: a third major radio station has added Dance Mother to its rotation. Thanks to Vancouver's 99.3 The FOX! Yeah!

Sweet Thing X-Canada Tour, Part 3

Alex called from Swift Current, SK last night after a gruelling 15 hour drive from Dryden, ON. Apparently the weather has been sucky. Too bad, because it's 28 degrees and SUNNY here in Toronto! Finally! The boys were able to experience a beautiful Prairie sunset. I gush frequently about this bizarre phenomenon; yellow fields melding into yellow sky (then orange, then pink) with no clear horizon. It's amazing. *sigh*

I miss him lots and lots. I am so happy to have my other two little men to keep me company. Plus, of course, I'm busy. Miss. K says I'm the busiest unemployed person she's ever met. We have been trying to plan coffee for a week!

Sweet Thing X-Canada Tour, Part 2

The guys made more progress yesterday, almost making it to the Manitoba border before crashing in Dryden last night. They hope to make it to Saskatoon today - another 15 hour drive. Owen just tweeted: "First time in Manitoba today! Prairies here we come. Boy, roadside motels have got some comfy beds...er, cardboard slabs...er, beds." I hope that they stop in Portage La Prairie, where I spent a good chunk of my childhood. I can't wait to see it myself! One week!

I stayed up super late last night watching Murial's Wedding (this is a week of chick flicks!) so that I would crash; i was worried I wouldn't be able to sleep without Alex's snoring unless I was ridiculously tired. Funny the things you take for granted.

Skype chatting with my brother right now. He's in Japan living in a 157 sq.ft. (or 8 "tatami") apartment with one other person. This is the entire kitchen space:

Insane.

Must get this day started! On the agenda: smoothie-of-all-smoothies, gym, design work, dog walking, homework.

The Departed: Sweet Thing X-Canada Tour, Part 1

[ Day 1: Toronto to Iron Bridge ]

After more than 24 hours of pure panic, the boys were on their way. While they intended to leave in the wee hours yesterday to begin their trip across Canada, one blow after another meant that departure was delayed until late yesterday afternoon.

  [ Tyler drives a whopping 570 km in their first day ]

Everything was ready. Or so it seemed until the trailer that they intended to borrow from another band fell through. The boys drove all over the city and Alex held down command central calling every truck rental joint within driving distance. I scoured craigslist and kijiji hoping to find a used trailer as a back-up. Finally, the lovely boys of Arkells saved the day, offering to lend theirs. Honestly, so lovely. 

Thinking that the problem was solved, they then realized that their van's brake light cable connections were not straightforward and appeared to need fixing. Nick and Tyler crisscrossed the city, hitting two Canadian Tires and a GMC dealership. The second Canadian Tire location seemed optimistic, but their electrical guy was backed up all afternoon. So, they could only wait. Meanwhile, Alex hit the phones again, trying to secure a plan B, should the electrical problem not be fixable. No one had any large vans, or they closed early. Long weekend. Of course. FINALLY by 4pm yesterday, "Mike the Mechanic" at Canadian Tire was able to resolve the issue. YAY!

Was all of this a bad omen? Nah.

By this time, I was out with Leah and Oliveah, my weekend guests from Ottawa (at the Woodbine race track, of all places), and didn't get a true goodbye kiss. Better that way. I might have caused a mushy runny-mascara scene.

Last night, to take my mind off of my missing husband, the girls and I went rollerskating at Scooters in Mississauga. Best...fun...ever. A smidgen ghetto, OK, but way, way amazing! I might have mused about becoming a roller derby star after seeing Whip It, but after last night, I could be seriously considering a new career... not really.

Sorry, tangent. While at the "roller palace", I received a text from Alex saying that they had made it just past Sudbury (almost running out of gas on the way) and were staying at the Red Top Motor Inn in Iron Bridge overnight. They apparently saw two bears and a road-kill moose along the way. Yikes! I 'm totally glad that I opted to FLY to Winnipeg rather than drive it alone. I'm a white-knuckle driver in those parts - hitting wildlife is my worst nightmare. *shudder*

This morning, they were in the Sault by 9:30am and are hoping to make it to Dryden today (a 15-hour drive). I haven't had a chance to really miss my Mister just yet - I've been surrounded by great company, and of course the dogs help fill Alex's spot in the bed.

I'll be tracking their journey across Canada all week...stay tuned!

p.s. One week until I fly out west! I've booked my tickets and my car, so it's real now!