Today's wedding was at an unexpected and delightful location. Berkeley Castle at 2 Berkeley here in Toronto is a complex of fortunate office employees around a stunning courtyard. Like the Distillery district, but with grass, trees, no tourist and a $75/hr really cheap rate. Sound carried well and neither myself not the volinist were mic'd. It threatened rain at several points before the bride was ready; I begged back and it seemed to listen. The violinist was used to performing in the subway and so was ready for anything. The bride found *everything* online, including her dress and looked absolutely radiant, like a Hindu Marilyn Monroe. The groom looked quite spiffy too, and when they looked at each other it was obvious they knew their good fortune and did not take it for granted. I love all weddings, but especially those for couples in their 30's and 40's - where each step forward is deliberate and known, the idealism and hope of youth replaced by the surety and intentions of maturity. It's nice. I like it. The love they bring down the aisle is more like that of an oak than a rose bush.

So I'm looking at a job change very soon. It's less money and I'll be on hiatus from benefits for another 3 months, which is scary, but it looks like a good opportunity for growth. Because I interview exceptionally well, this job (which I'm really not sure I qualify for) put an offer in right away. Another job gave the post to someone "more junior" and is keeping me in mind for something higher up later on. I've been tweaking peoples resumes like crazy for them with interesting results - most of them have prospects, head hunters, or full on better jobs. I'm wondering about the long term of this - could I get a gig tweaking resumes and coaching for interviews? Is there such a position out there, helping others with the actualization of their potential? If not, could I create it? Not time to do something like that now, but somewhere down the road that would be interesting.

I'm working on a wedding ceremony for some excellent friends getting married this fall (hi guys!) and realized as I was working on the close that this reading didn't really fit. I'd love to shoehorn it in, but until I speak with them and we start tearing apart what's there. There's no room. So I'll put it here - Buddhist scriptures, no idea if Buddha said this but it's pretty cool:
“Do not deceive, do not despise each other anywhere. Do not be angry of bear secret resentments, for as a parent will risk their life and watches over their child, so boundless be your love to all, so tender, kind and mild. Cherish good will right and left, early and late, and without hindrance, without stint be free of hate and envy, while standing and walking and sitting down, whatever you have in mind the rule of life that is always best is to be lovingkind. Gifts are great, founding temples is meritorious, meditation and religious exercises pacify the heart, comprehension of truth leads to Nirvana, but greater than all is lovingkindness. As the light to the moon is 16 times stronger than the light of all the stars, so lovingkindness is 16 times more efficacious in liberating the heart than all other religious accomplishments taken together.”

My horoscope this week, under the mantal of "Passion - Imagine asking fundamentalist nutcase Jerry Falwell to evaluate a book about evolution by a renowned science writer like Richard Dawkins. Imagine handing poet Allen Ginsberg's masterwork Howl to a janitor in Bangladesh and paying him to write his opinions about it. The effect would be similar to an event that actually occurred recently. The New York Times invited ex-Marine sniper Anthony Swofford, author of the Gulf War memoir Jarhead, to review a subversive metaphysical experiment penned by visionary philosopher Daniel Pinchbeck. As you might expect, Swofford's screed was 85 percent hallucination. Let the Times' gaffe serve as a warning beacon, Aquarius. It's now crucial for you to gather a range of discriminating opinions about yourself and the possibilities you're considering. Don't rely on people who have no familiarity with, understanding of, or respect for the issues you want feedback about."
Now that's fucking interesting.

It's an intensly grumpy making sort of hot out. Damn, is it ever hot. And it's hot inside too, as our puny mortal air conditioner is on the first floor. Oi.
In the past few weeks I've tweaked no fewer than three resumes for friends and coworkers. Apparently, I've done a really good job of it. Apparently I've done a good job of my own as every 2 - 3 days I get another call from a headhunter. Maybe I should have *that* job - tweaking resumes. Hmmm.

There's a scene in "Pushing Tin" where one rival air traffic controller tells another he's got planes "lined up like rockette's". Not my favorite way to do weddings but occasionally an awesome experience. The weddings today were all down town and 1.5 hrs apart, each a very different circumstance.
The first featured two beautiful and devoted brides from the US. As usual, there was joy at the wedding feathered with a small bitterness that it couldn't take place in their home country. Unusually, many of their family and friends were able to make the trip up which made for a small but supported ceremony. As I waited with family and friends for the brides to walk down the stairs of the inn they stayed at, I was struck by a statue on the bottom most post. It was a two foot bronze of armed Justice, scales balanced and blind folded, one foot firmly on the ground and the other almost leisurely placed on the head of a writhing snake. Sunlight through stained glass on young and hopeful shoulders as they walked past the statue and into a lawfully recognized future together. Have to say, I misted up a bit.
Second wedding was of the ambush variety. I'm currently writing a guide book on weddings (will likely put it up on Cafepress or something) and including a section on these since it's my forth and after comparing notes with the caterer, a growing trend. Want your wedding your way, without any familial interference in the planning stages? Don't mind skipping the whole shower and presents thing? An ambush wedding is like eloping with your friends and family - you simply tell them they're at the party for a different reason, like a birthday or a housewarming. Expect to hear about it for years. In this case, everyone had received an invitation to attend an engagement party where they would watch the groom propose to his intended bride. I'd conducted the grooms brothers wedding years before, so I walked in dressed as a waiter with my over coat in a tote bag with regristrar and ceremony. Some glances but no recognition as I ducked in the back near the food prep area to start filling out the legal bits on the license. When the bride arrived she was was greeted at the door by her groom and they announced that actually, it was a wedding as I walked out with coate on and book in hand. Two second pause for shock, and then (thankfully) howler monkey like shrieks of delight. Shortish heart felt ceremony, closing with a traditional Greek bread breaking. The space was an open and bright venue on Richmond St, and the caterer was a genius. I've seen soup shooters before, but creme brulle in esspresso mugs? The crown jewel in the sparkly thingy of finger foods. By the end of the ceremony at least his parents recognized me, and his step mother said as I left "thank you, that was lovely...you could have called me, you know!" I pled a vow of silence and ran part way to the third.
Mingling before dinner, the bride and groom of the third chatted up their guests at a posh restaurant on King St, specially closed for the event. The head table was off to the side to allow space for the ceremony. A second marriage for both of them, they walked toward their vows (which they'd written themselves) with eyes wide open and the known world before them. After the ceremony the music was played for their signing, but during the applause and love they started to dance instead, the groom holding his brides hand like a delicate orchid. "It's a Wonderful World" has not had a more passionate and spontaneous display of affection set to it, in my eyes. It was a bit before we got to the signing as after their dance the floor turned in to not so much a receiving line as a receiving scrum, and guests felt moved to come over and offer immediate congratulations. Freaking brilliant, loved it.
Then I realized I had my other purse with me, the one that doesn't tear up the brocade as much as the one that's made out of a tire. While I had my metropass, I didn't have my wallet and called beauteous husband to wait outside with cash so I could take a cab home. After that many groovy vibes in the day, I didn't want to waste a minute on TTC that I could spend in his company because I am a total freaking mush. Sofa, TVO, Chinese takeout and time with geriatric cat. Perfect evening closing off a totally awesome day.

Well over a year since the series of injuries (and subsequent months of hiding in pain) that stopped my fledging running participation, I'm looking at it again. For all the discomfort and such that it caused me, I really liked running. So now I'm looking at shoes, actual running shoes since the ones I have are freaking ancient. (yes, V, it's the ones I bought at that Run For The Cure event when the earths crust was just beginning to warm) Two things about shoes - first, they are bloody expensive and I am cheap. Secondly, when the hell did all running shoes start looking like cartoon feet? I don't think people have actually got faster since the 80's, and there's plenty I know who've been running since then with no mention of having had their feet fall off, or turn into gooey tentacles as new product labels warn. And don't soldiers run in combat boots? It's all bloody ridiculous.
And yet. I'll likely get myself some cartoon feet, for the very strange reason that I don't want my friends to have any more "I told you, were you not listening or were you stupid that day" moments. Question is - what kind of cartoon runner am I. Hmm.
At least there's Ebay.

Ian and Kara certainly are married, and congrats to them both. Really never thought our tai chi teaching friend would take such a plunge, but having met Kara it makes complete sense - they are right for each other in all ways obvious to the eye and heart. Before heading out I made the obligatory trip to farmers market for the weeks eggs and cheese, checked in on the oracle (nothing to say this week, just great sax) and came home to check on location of the church in Orillia and pack a small bag. Drive north Saturday was exciting, noobs abounded and littered the sides of the hwy's with debris and surprised expressions. Wedding itself was the first time either of us had been in a church in ages, made more entertaining by the fact that Jesus seemed to be wearing a life preserver on his head in all the stained glass windows. Ceremony was the first I'd just attended, not done, in over 5 yrs I think. Brilliant stuff, onward to the reception which included speeches (with either deliberate or accidental comedic genius) until about 11:30pm. Before dinner wondrous husband and I caught up with the couple to present them with the most appropriate gift we could think of - the tai chi sword from our collection. Groom plotz'd, bride plotz'd, all manner of plotzing. High five with husband. Onward the next day to familial visits at familial ground which husband renamed the "aunt farm". I need a head shot for publicity purposes and don't have any where I'm not posing with a bride or sticking my tongue out or both, so aunts take turns attempting to take my picutre. Does not go well, but provides much amusement for venerable grandmother.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNEKE!!

AND CONGRATS ON THE SHINY CD: no power in the verse can stop you. I post this image of our friend the green fairy raising a glass to your honour.

Early this morning I went out to a yoga class and it was stretchy bendy blissful hell for over an hour, which I thought would be invigorating. Turns out I must be tightly wound the rest of the time because yoga in the morning? Leads to napping. Which then leads to being invigorated but perhaps not a good way to start weekdays, when work happens. Next I'll try yoga at night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG!!!!!!

And (belated and amended)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIELLA!!!!!

Happy Canada Day everybody!!

I love the trillium (not the new one), the maple leaf, the flag, the old flag, syrup, people appologizing and saying please all the freaking time, chesterfields, hockey, and the mightly grilled cheese sandwich but you know what? It's the love that I love best about Canada. The reverance and gratitude with which I've seen couples together for 40 years finally legally approaching their vows is a quiet sort of anthem, but powerful none the less. So happy Canada Day, everyone. Go out there and get yourselves some good old maple sugar.