Welcome to the Gaybourhood

I know it was a comment made in passing last time, but it's true - Leah and I bought a condo. But not a condo condo, more like a little slice of Toronto history, built in 1908, in the heart of the gay village, one of the best hoods in the city. Wanna see some pics? ok.

Hideous lime green kitchen. The door leads to a tiny (like 4 sq.ft) patio...


Sax not included.


Count the windows!


Huuuuuuuuuuuuggggeeeee!!!!


This pics of the bedroom are kinda blah, so I'll spare you those...BUT NICE HUH? I'm hella stoked. We take posession July 1st. It's old and colorful and full of character and 'good energy', as the current-soon-to-be-former owner told us. I think it'll suit our couple+cat life jes'perfect. It'll cut my commute to work in half, gives Leah a more direct route to her job, and puts us smack-dab in the middle of all the excitement of downtown. I'll miss my current house and roomie Caitlin dearly - it's been so nice to have family around and support when I need it, but growing up means moving ahead, and this is a step I'm happy and excited to take.

Things keep coming up Eli.

Oh Em Gee

It has been WAY WAY WAY too long, friends! I've been SO busy! It's true!

Lets work backwards, shall we?



I got in late Sunday night from Edmonton, where I spent all weekend rocking the fuck out. I was mostly there for my Mom's 50th birthday, the party of which was a blast. Arriving on Thursday, I beelined to Da De O for amazin' cajun eats, and then straight to the Black Dog for pints. The power of smell never ceases to amaze - it's definitely the most underrated sense. River and I had a great talk about just that - memories can flood back, familiarities intact. It's a beautiful thing to smell a freshly poured Grasshopper and the smell of Black Dog's booze-soaked pub wood. Or the elevator at my old job. Or the (very surprisingly) unique smell of the Edmonton LRT. Scents contain love, bitterness, fondness, excitement...and I'm missing it.

Not overly though - it was amazing to see what (because it wasn't ALL) has changed - some people, some buildings, some parks...otherwise, home was left as I remembered it. I told Edmonton to stay rad, it did. Thanks to everyone who made the weekend what it was. The shaker at kHz on Friday was particularly amazing - solid tunes, sweaty dancing, excessive drinking and yelling at traffic. Y'know, fun. Mega extra special thanks to Greg and Cam for throwing said shindig.

I have lots more to report, but I'll give you this for now. I'm loving my new job, I just bought a condo (!!!!) with Leah tonight, I saw an incredible band last night, and I bought tickets to DAFT PUNK W/THE RAPTURE this morning.

OH, and Justice is playing tomorrow.



Life is good. Smile like you mean it.

the employment diaries: day 3

I know it's been a while. Things have been crazy, it's true. Unfortunately, this is going to be brief for now.


Thanks to BlogTO for the pic

I last time I left you was just over a week ago...since that time I've been working. YES, WORKING. Last weekend I was acting as the stage manager for Lee's Palace, during CMW. 21 bands in 3 nights. It was fucking exhausting to say the least. What kept me going was the thought that starting Monday, I had a brand new job to look forward to, as confirmed in a smokey hotel room the previous Friday. I know, it sounds sketchy, but far from it. I'm the new assistant to Rob Zifarelli at The Agency Group, a job which I didn't know I wanted until I was being interviewed for it. To get a job at an agency is a rare rare thing - in fact, in almost 8 years on being in the industry, I've know TWO people to become agents, and one didn't last longer than 6 months.

So the long of the short is that I'm happy as a clam, in a job that feels progressive and important and like my participation counts and is appreciated. Things with Leah have never been better, and aside from the asshole cat who keeps me up at night with her scratching at my carpet, things are hella swell. I'm going back to Edmonton next week for some reunion time with old friends, pints a'plenty and to shake shake shake it this way and that. Get ready, hometowners. I'm gonna rock you.

Silent majority for peace

Despite their (and my own) best intentions, The Decemberists have finally won me over.



The last 3 minutes completely fucking rule.

I am beat the hell down. Remember the crazy weekend I told you about? Yeah, it was crazy, as expected. Tiga kicked my ass to the curb, SO4 brought the Edmo Repra to the kids here, and I forgot to mention that I got to see TV On The Radio on Sunday as well...they were somewhat underwhelming, if not a tad boring. Despite excellent musicianship, their presence didn't quite fit the Kool Haus vibe, and it came off as a little forced and exhausted. I forgot that Subtle opened, and I missed all but one of their songs - can't say I'm a fan of this project, though I *love* Dose One's early Anticon stuff, but the label too kinda took a dive when the opted for all the psychy-folkhop bizzarity like Themselves & Why?...it was never bad, just kinda...wack, as the kids say.

What's NOT wack is my man Rollie getting signed to a different Cali imprint all together, Anti. Check his new vid...Shout Out t-shirt, Rampage references...I'm loving it. Edmo Repra indeed.


I have a feeling that my unemployment situation is winding to a close, and thank god. I never knew boredom could be so paralysing. Things are finally, slowly, but surely, falling into place. I think the new few years of my life might be the best yet, if I keep my shit together and work hard at life. I hope I'm good at it.

Leah, in her infinite wisdom and awesomehood, sent me this tonight. How poignant.

Click image to zoom


I wanna hear how YOU'RE ALL DOING. COMMENTS, NOW!

ciao, friends.

ps: Two movies to see before you die - The US Vs. John Lennon, one of the best documentaries I've perhaps ever seen, and the new David Fincher film Zodiac. The latter is a complete kick to the gut, but the slow and painful kind which drags your emotions and fears in every direction. Brilliant suspense, perfect(?) ending...anyone else seen either of these?

Do they speak english in what?

I read an interview with Samuel L. Jackson recently, and he said he makes movies, "cause (he's) got bills. And when they need to get paid, (he) goes to work". I love the nonchalance.


I wanna see it. The trailer makes me wonder if it's going to raise questions about misogyny in film. Have you ever seen In The Company of Men? Now that's a movie that hates. It's even in the top ten most misogynist movies ever...the time people take to make lists. sigh.

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120 Days are a band I srsly cannot get enough of these days, and lucky for me they're playing this Saturday w/The Two Koreas and ma boyyees in Tha Shoutset.

It was so good to see some familiar faces when they came out last night to see TTC with me. No, the french rap group, not the transit system.


yeah, those guys. The show was IIILLLLL. The raps were guttural and mean-sounding, throaty and demanding - heavy booty beats spliced with deep bmore breakdown carried it along. Their DJ played out afterwards, and dropped insane 90s shit like Ace of Base, Technotronic (further proof that everything old becomes new again.) and that DJ Funk Remix of Justice that I love so much.

Chillin' tonight.
Tiga tomorrow.
Shoutset on Saturday.

I'm loving my Toronto life. Things keep coming up Eli.