I've used the open letter format on Siteway before. To nil effect, I think, and yet here I go with another one. Dear Carling Canada Brand Team: I think it is high time you were given more money from Molson Coors to develop a marketing relaunch of this great Canadian lager. Thomas Carling seems to me like an interesting guy. I'd like to humbly propose that we might work together on a project that would perhaps include the look and feel of my portrait of this early Canadian settler. Maybe you'll find this and read it from a Google search. That would be great. Cheers (I'm enjoying a cold Carling as I type this on an early September Sunday). ¶ Please send me your suggestions for Visionary Canadians. This is not a CBC-type of list. I'm talking about real underdog types. Invisible heroes. Anti-heroes. ¶ Pauline and I have had such a big year. There's so much that has happened—between us and the world—it's hard to say with any degree of certainty what it all means. We were recently re-married in my hometown, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and it really couldn't have come at a better time. A timely celebration. It was in part due to my older brother getting married, and as a result, it was something of a major family bonding moment (for lack of a better term). I have had so many successes in 2008, and so much to be grateful for. I typically look back and forward around the fall season because so much of my spirit is caught up in the academic one (or at least my romantic vision of it). I'm excited about some future prospects. I hope you'll join me on these pages for the trip. ¶ Pauline and I are roasting a chicken tonight. I've brined it, which is an exciting prospect. First time. Then we'll be watching Westworld which she hasn't seen and isn't expecting. I look forward to interviewing her afterwards. ¶ I hope you enjoy the new portrait. I mean it about sending me your suggestions!

Labels: Cinema, Family, FeaturedIllustration, SitewayWorld

¶ 11:44 PM

Pauline celebrated what's known in my group of friends as "birthday week" (def: either as a result of a milestone and/or an imperfect placement in the week, a person in a group of friends has a week or near to a week of sanctioned birthday fun.) She had a blast. I had a blast. Myself in Toronto is on-deck, swinging two bats, and keen on the game. ¶ I was pleased with my Mike Myers illustration on the weekend, although I wonder if I could have been kinder. Ah, such is nature of reflection. It was a great layout and, and I liked how the green turned out so nice and May-like. ¶ Speaking of May-like, as I write this I can feel the warm and comforting breeze on the right side of my body and it's having a curing effect. Not that I need a cure. I've been feeling good for a few days now. The anti-Samson, I seem to gain strength from a Number 1 grade haircut as spring comes to Canada. More importantly my body seems to have finally defeated the chest cold that had overstayed its welcome.

Labels: Family, NationalPost, Toronto, Vague

¶ 11:14 PM