2009 Looking Back….
I usually give my year end reviews a theme, and as for the one that is passing me by I am not sure what title to give. I can say that this year there were several cool experiences, but I can also say that many of these experiences were not only experienced by me, but there was someone else right there beside me experiencing them with me. I guess you could call this the “Year Of Being Loved” because throughout it I couldn’t deny that is exactly what I was. It was awesome spending this year with Angela and going through the many experiences that we shared together. Here are some of the significant moments from this year that made 2009 a great year.
Meeting Angela’s Nonna
I remember receiving the immense privilege of attending Angela’s Nonna’s 85th birthday party on February 2nd. I had only been dating Angela for a short time, and only had met her parents once, and here I am at this huge family celebration to honour Nonna’s 85th birthday. I can easily say that from the first day that I met Angela’s family they have been nothing, but vibrant, warm, and loving people, and that has never stopped. One of the first things that made an impression on me though about Angela’s Nonna was that she not only showered me with a number of compliments that make my head swell, but Nonna is also a poet. I call her the original spoken word artist, because if there is a conversation that is in thematic line with one of her poems, she will just suddenly break into reciting the poem. She is a wonderful woman and meeting her was by far one of the most significant experiences of the year for sure.
Valentine’s Day
My name is Valentino, and many of my Italian relatives actually make a big deal out of my Saint’s name day, but when it comes to the North American celebration of Valentine’s Day for quite along time this Valentino spent it by himself. It was nice to be able to take Angela out for Valentine’s Day. We saw the movie “Coraline,” went to eat an awesome Italian dinner at Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Italian restaurant, drank a bottle of Bordeaux at 8 Wine Bar listening to some awesome music courtesy of Blue Venus, and then capped the night off with Scotches courtesy of our friend Glen Fiddich.
Marlies Games
The first time I took Angela to a Marlies game, I never thought that she would have liked it all that much, but it was cool to know that she was more than willing to go other games after that. She’s cool enough to actually cheer. and get into the game, and at the same time tolerate a loudmouth like me that’s constantly hollering during the game. I am glad this tradition continues for me, and I am glad that it now includes her. It’s awesome hockey, and it’s a wicked way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. We look forward to more Marlies games in the new year. Here’s to minor hockey.
Performing At The Toronto Poetry Slam Semi Finals And Finals
For anyone that keeps up with my blog, you’ll remember that I actually felt that I let myself down with result of these two performances. I look back though and when it comes to my more significant performances during a slam competition I can’t deny that my showings at both the semis and the finals of the TPS seasons were probably some of my strongest performances ever. There’s something that’s pretty electric when you’re firing on all cylinders and you reach the type of crowd that jams The Drake and Hugh’s Room. With or without these events leading to my showing at the Canadian Festival Of Spoken Word, I can safely say that I am proud of those performances.
Throwing The Frisbee To Aries
Angela’s Dad has a big German Shepherd by the name of Aries, and I remember the first time I met Angela’s family, I was more scared of meeting the dog, than meeting her Dad. When I was 18 years old I was bitten by a German Shepherd in Taylor Creek Park and ever since have been a bit nervous around the breed. The day I met Aries, to help subdue my fear, I bought a little football squeaky toy, and as it turned out Aries warmed up to me right away, the only problem was the toy was constantly squeaking with Aries playing with it, as I was trying to make conversation with Angela’s family. As the weather got better, Angela’s parents have a big backyard and one of my favourite new past times has been going back there and throwing the frisbee to Aries. What’s so cool though is, he identifies me with the frisbee all the time. Whenever I go there, he will go to the backyard and bring me the frisbee to throw to him all the time. I am glad I have made a new friend in Aries, and vicariously made peace with other German Shepherds….sort of.
Picnic On The Niagara Gorge
This was one of the days where I learned that there are such awesomely beautiful sights right here in the province of Ontario. Angela and I went for a picnic on the Niagara Gorge and it was beautiful. We drove through some cool wineries, and stopped off at Inniskillin which was really nice. Then we drove through Niagara and I had seen some cool things I had never seen before. Namely: Laura Secord’s house, and the Niagara Whirlpool which I actually found quite fascinating. I totally have to go on that boat that actually goes in the Whirlpool next summer, I totally do. But of course enjoying some nice bread, cheese, and olives on the Niagara Gorge, and just chilling reading was damn nice, wished it could have lasted a little longer, but hey capping off the day with a Toblorone Truffle Cake at a Cafe in Niagara On The Lake couldn’t have fit in more appropriately.
Longpoint
We set out in the morning with our hopes rather low because it was overcast, but we wanted to take our chances anyway. We headed up to Port Dover, and there was nothing but rain clouds massing, our spirits were nearly dashed. We were determined to get a taste of Ontario beaches. We asked each other if we wanted to try going to Longpoint even though there were still clouds in the sky, and we decided to do it. As we drove there we were listening to a friend of ours on CD singing old Italian folk songs, and the sun started to come out. By the time we hit Longpoint it was blazingly sunny. Even though it was a little windy, and there were bees flying around, I never thought I’d swim in Lake Erie and enjoy it. It was a nice chill drive back home, and we stopped off at this famous ice cream place, and sat on a picnic table dessert feasting while the sun went down.
Miniputt, Batting Cages, And A Lightning Storm
You know how sometimes, there comes a Sunday where you wake up, and you just don’t know what to do cause you have nothing planned? This was one of those days. We didn’t know what to do. There was a reading series in Toronto we were thinking about going to, maybe going to visit some family, everything was up in the air. All it took was someone to say “wanna go miniputting?” And that’s what we did, right along the QEW there was this place where you could go mini putting, and play batting cages, and a bunch of other stuff. We played eighteen holes, and then I took a shot at the batting cages, hadn’t done that in a while, and I hit nearly everything that came at me….it’s actually a good stress reliever. Afterwards we went to Confederation Park to just walk round for a bit. Confederation Park is a lot like Kew Beach with a lot less people, and facing the other way. We decided to grab a bench, and sit down, and what we saw was unbelievable. Toronto was experiencing a massive thunderstorm, and we had this awesome view of lightning bolts of every kind going off over the city scape. The storm was heading our way, but we spent a good half-hour watching it come over the lake and it was magnificent, I don’t think I ever saw anything like it, an endless field of lightning. Eventually though we felt the air turn from humid to cold, and ran for the car, we thought that we had beaten the storm, but as soon as Angela pulled the car into the driveway, buckets of rain hit the wind sheild. Yeah we got wet, on the way into the house, but man that was worth it, and it was easily one of the best days of the summer.
Kristan Anderson, Owen Sound, And Words Aloud
In 2009 I had the pleasure of going up to the Owen Sound area, not once but twice. The first time was when I was featuring at “Sounds.” Angela and I made a weekend out of it, and Kristan Anderson was generous enough to let us stay at his place. I remember that weekend we saw this really cool house that was off the grid completely built in the round (A Cord Wood Home). I performed at this great series called “Sounds” and heavily recommend it to my poet and spoken word folk, it is a really great series. The next time I got to go to Owen Sound was for the Words Aloud festival, and again Kristan being the guy that he is let us stay at his place again. I remember the first time I performed at Words Aloud two years ago, I was overwhelmed with how kind everyone was, and the great vibe from the festival. The next time around in 2009 was no different. The Words Aloud festival is amazing. By far one of my favourite places to perform, your work is given a lot of attention, and you meet some of the most fascinating people while you’re there. Kristan Anderson you and your beautiful family are so wonderful, and it was great to solidify our friendship that much more this year.
Having The Best Seats Ever For A Dave Matthews Band Concert
Yeah, I have seen the band something like thirteen times, but I have never had the seats that I had this year to see the band. Thanks to a family member being a musician and having played with one of the band members, I got to sit in the VIP section of the Molson Amphitheater to see them. It was a great concert. they played most of what I wanted to hear, and it was a loads of fun. All that aside it was by far the closest I have ever sat at a major concert, and it was phenomenal.
Eden Mills Writers Festival
I had always heard about this festival and was curious to attend it for years, but I actually got to perform at it this year, and let me say it’s one worth checking out for sure. It’s in this tiny little town, where the residences got together to open their places and put on this great festival. I got to go there with the Toronto Poetry Slam team to take on the Guelph Poetry Slam team. Before the slam though we took in some wonderful aspects of the festival such as this great gallery where they served home made peach wine. The houses there were old and had so much character, it was like you were in a cross section of Black Creek Pioneer village, but there was nothing synthetic about it. Where we actually performed was amazing too. To get on the mic you had to cross this little bridge over a river, and there was this little island that you performed on to a hill side of people across the way. Was a lot of fun, our first victory as a TPS team, and it was great to hang with the Guelph team afterwards at the banquet they had for us.
Canadian Festival Of Spoken Word, Victoria BC
What can I say? I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to a) be an actual participant in the national festival, and b) see Victoria for the first time. I realized full well that by accepting being on a team, and going to the festival that it is a heavy commitment, especially when you’re working 40 hours a week, but I wouldn’t have put myself through if the craft wasn’t a second religion. Working with Lara Bozabalian, Yehuda Fisher, Ariel Platt, and That Brown Bastard taught me quite a bit. Tbings about the festival that i loved were: Exploring the downtown parts of Victoria that i was staying at, walking out into the halls of the hotel, and hearing poetry being rehearsed left right and center, seeing kick ass performances night after night from some of the best spoken word artists in Canada, and of course getting to perform on the national stage, where I believe I delivered two strong performances. I think one of my favourite nights of the festival was on the Friday night. Even though we got eliminated, we got to see CR Avery and The Fugitives perform. There was plenty of drunken singing, followed by a poetry cipher at the hotel afterwards. I am thankful that I got to go to the Canadian Festival Of Spoken Word not only for the experience, but also because it puts into perspective the direction I want to head in as a poet and a spoken word artist.
Launching “Mske Our Peace With Rattlesnakes”
It took two and a half years to write, and piece together, and finally in mid November it came out. My fourth chap book of poetry, and my second with Lyricalmyrical Press. I dedicated the book to one of my very best friends Joseph Battista, because the poems surround memories of friendship, and how friends have been there for me in hard times, and he certainly has always been one of those friends. While I am proud of having four chap books of poetry, my latest project is now a full length book of poetry, and I hope can achieve the goal of one day having that published.
Top Five Movies Of 2009
1) Avatar
2) Capitalism: A Love Story
3) The Wrestler
4) One Week
5) Slumdog Millionaire
Most Memorable Spoken Word Performances
1) Toronto Poetry Slam Finals Night – April 25, 2009
2) Canadian Festival Of Spoken Word – November 12, and 13, 2009
3) Bam! The Toronto Youth Slam – August 12, 2009
4) Words Aloud – November 7, 8, 2009
5) Hot Sauced Words – February 19, 2009
Thanks to all of my family and friends for being so amazing, and being such a huge support network. I look forward to working, and sharing with you all in 2010, and wish you all the very best.
