My Second Blogiversary

Welcome to my Second Blogiversary Celebration! Come in. Find a seat. I've got a show planned that celebrates life as I love to live it. And I'm grateful to you, my blog readers and fellow bloggers, for sharing this life with me.

Photo by Hill Peppard

First up is Gene Wilder singing Pure Imagination from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. My life just wouldn't be the same if it wasn't fueled by imagination.



I just love Gene Wilder. He's one of my favorite actors, and he's way up there. I love his slightly creepy vibe in Willie Wonka. Really gray, as in The Gray Character - not the hero, not the villain, but Gray.

Next up - what else could it be but a ballet variation? After imagination, ballet is what I live for. If I make it to 130 years old, it still won't be enough time to see all the ballet I long for.

Here is Marcin Krajewski, dancing the role of The Slave Ali from Le Corsaire, a variation within a pas de deux. A variation is a solo dance piece.



Sigh. I could watch that all day. I think I'll watch it again.

Okay. Can't keep the next act waiting.

Following a ballet version of a noble warrior spirit trapped within a slave, here are young Shaolin monks going through their sword excercises. Beautiful, if lethal choreography along with swords - can't beat that combination for me.



Love it! And now - Spectacular Spectacular! Or should I say, Hindi Sad Diamonds from Moulin Rouge?



Oh, I love that part of Moulin Rouge. The music often goes through my head, and I love the unabashed lushness of the Bollywood homage.

The curtain's rising again. Let's join conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli as he leads us through a concert version of Verdi's Anvil Chorus from the opera Il Trovatore (The Troubador.)



I was lucky enough to sing this piece while I lived in Toronto and sang with Ryerson University's Oakham House Choir. We did a program of famous opera choruses, and this was so joyous to sing.

Here's another choir now - the Gregory Hopkins Gospel Choir, in concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina, singing O Happy Day. Brothers and sisters, this group cooks.



Oh Happy Day, indeed. I feel truly, truly blessed to share my thoughts, my poetry, my fiction, my photography, my love of art, films and dance, my delight in this life and in meeting all of you. Thank you for making these past two years so very special for me.

And here comes the big finale! Enjoy!