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Friday, January 27, 2006

A recent comment post raised a valid question... Do I guarantee placement in the competition?

Where as I feel that is a fairly obvious question, it is one that therefore needs to be addressed.

I am unable to commit to the aforementioned statement because I am a private voice teacher not affiliated with Canadian Idol, CTV or their subsidiaries. Much like the voice teachers hired by the competition, I too, cannot guarantee placement.

However, I can guarantee that you will learn key techniques that professional singers employ to get the most out of their voice.

My incentive for doing this is watching and hearing of voice teachers who charge an obscene amount of money for lessons, yet, teach inappropriate techniques that is ultimately damaging to young voices. For me, it's saddening and frustrating and I wish to be able to affordably offer lessons that are unique and custom to the individual I'm teaching.

My email me to make an initial appointment to sit and talk about your goals so I have an idea of what you're looking for and how I can help you out.

email: marieann@rogers.com

Thursday, January 26, 2006

You are a Canadian Idol hopeful:

- with natural talent and a lot of spunk.
- with little to no vocal training, but, you know you have it in you.
- who needs a little bit of style, audition and vocal advice.
- wants to get help and have a lot of fun.

I am:

The gal that'll help you get there!

For $15/half hour or $25/full hour I will give you tips, tricks and everything else you will need to make a positive and strong audition at Canadian Idol. My experience on and off stage combined with my vocal performance degree will give you the edge you need.

My bio? I've won awards for opera, classical and musical theatre performance. I've appeared on tv, been heard on the radio, appeared in professional stage productions from Dinner Theatre straigh to the Canadian Opera Company and besides being a Punshine Girl I also was a Canadian Beauty Queen.

I'll help you to develop your personal style and maximize your vocal talents for the best chance to get that golden ticket.

Email me at: marieann@rogers.com

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

I know you're all waiting for some cutting and witty political commentary based upon yesterday's election?
Well, I have nothing to say, I went home, I voted, I ordered Swiss Chalet and then I went to bed around 11-ish.

I woke up, I took a quick gander at the polls and I said "Thank God, they aren't a majority"

There you have it. I did my civic duty, what more do you want?

Okay, fine, I can tell you're dissatisfied and you want more:

Voter turn out in Toronto Central = 59,340 of 85,287 registered electors (69.6%)

You have a problem with the results, then why the heck were the other 30.4% registered voters in my riding? Bitches, get out there and vote, then come to me with your complaints.

Otherwise, hush!

I'm outtie!!!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

It's come to that time... My futon was assembled incorrectly and now I want to make amends.

I'll post a photo of the offending futon and the pieces that were not included so that maybe there's someone out in the abyss who knows how it fits together!

I need your help!

Tuesday, January 17, 2006


See, this vintage ad proves that computers have always been sexy.

This woman is basking in the after glow of digitization with a nice glass of red wine and her satisfied Equinox 100 looking on.

I came across this website after trying to find a suitable dumping ground for my old Dell Dimension Desktop. It's so sweet, it reminds of days gone by and car races on my friend's Commodor 64!

Monday, January 16, 2006

It's over. The warm weather has officially been escorted outside of Toronto.
It's now time for the featured performer: WINTER COLD!

yay.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Walking home, night is dark.
Phone is ringing.
Flip.
"Hello?"
Breathing is fast, air is cold.
Philosopher's Walk.
"Hello, is Mrs. or Mr. Cock there?"
"umm... I'm Miss. CAKE"
"I'm calling on behalf of Lewis Reford. He is the conservative representative running in your riding of Toronto Central. He is an honest man and a loving family man and has done something or another for 40 years. Can we count on your support during the upcoming election?"
"Well, I felt that he's been invisible to me since the onset of the campaign. Does he have any meet and greets scheduled in the next week or so?"
"There is only one answer to this question. Maybe you didn't understand: Yes, No or Undecided"
Shocked, belittled, humiliated.
Alone on philosopher's walk.
"...Undecided I guess."
CLICK

Now you know why I am not voting Conservative this election. That was just MEAN!

Who's running in Toronto Central. Take note of the interesting parties.


This list of confirmed candidates was issued on Thursday, January 5, 2006. For more information, select a candidate from the list.

Johan Boyden (Communist Party of Canada)
Philip Fernandez (Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada)
Bill Graham (Liberal Party of Canada)
Michel Prairie (No Affiliation)
Lewis Reford (Conservative Party of Canada)
Michael Shapcott (New Democratic Party)
Chris Tindal (Green Party of Canada)
Liz White (Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada)

Thursday, January 05, 2006

My Celebrity Sisters Are Paris and Nicky

Wild, infamous, and stunningly gorgeous.
You cause a scene wherever you go
& I would have never guessed this in a million years. I would've suggested Blossom... remember her? I used to get "YOU LOOK LIKE BLOSSOM" when I was younger. That doesn't happen so much anymore. I did get Penelope Cruz once from a friend of a friend's husband. It really it made my night. I even got JLO once and Selma Hayek... but, never Paris and Nicky Hilton.
Things change fast when you make a home on the world wide web.

I finished my first day at work.
It's very slow since I don't really know what exciting things I have to really do as of yet. But, I'm hoping I'll have an opportunity to learn lots!

However, during the day, I discovered a fun activity:

Your Inner Retro Girl Is

1950s Doll


I wouldn't have called myself a "Doll" but, any port in a storm?

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Say goodbye to high stress lives and hello romanticization of rural life! I promise that adopting a few small town rules will make all the difference when it comes to dealing with big city pressures.

No joke.

Step 1. Get to Know Your Home Town! In small towns, like Summerside, PEI, the vast majority of residents know the city's rich shipbuilding history. Wandering the town you'll see community supported efforts to restore the city's traditional Victorian architecture and social customs. This makes for great affordable outings, summer or winter!

Toronto's history runs deep, and there are a number of great city run museums and parks. Knowing your town, I find, helps to create a sense of belonging AND helps to avoid weekend apathy.

Step 2. Learn to Make Bread. This has to be one of the only skills I think everyone should learn before they depart. Baking bread is an amazing experience that really awakens every sense! From the physical kneading bread to the sense of warmth you feel when the smell of fresh bread fills your home, bread makes you feel good!

What better way to spend a few hours on a Sunday morning than making a simple, delicious, aromatic white bread? But, I mean make it from hand, my mother makes a million loaves a week so she turned to a chrome plated industrial looking bread machine. The first thing my friend, Cathy said when she walked in "Your house!? It doesn't smell like bread anymore!? What happened?" She was a little crushed.

Step 3. Fish is Awesome! Don't believe me, then hook up with a Maritimer and watch them cook! We (Maritimers) move from the city and refuse to buy fish from the grocery store. No way, no how, that fish is days old. Even when you purchase fish from the Superstore in in the Maritimes, it's a day or two old.

How do you avoid this?

You:
a) ask a friend to ask their cousin, who happens to be a fisherman, to supply us with fresh fish.
b) you go to a fish market/fish monger
c) you befriend a Native Canadian with off season fishing rights.
d) you hit the internet
e) any of the above as long as it results in fresh fish.

If you answered "e" you are absolutely correct-a-mundo!

So how do you suss it out in the T dot? I've used Internet, the fish monger across parking lot of the Summerhill LCBO and gone first thing in the morning to Saint Lawrence Market. All of which yielded gorgeous, fresh fish!

Did it break my bank? No. Here's the key: When buying shellfish like lobster over the internet from an Island supplier, it is possible to get a bulk discount. So tell everyone, your coworkers, your friends, anyone who might be interested!
Next, you need to line up a courier to do a direct delivery of your live frieght if you can't go and pick it up yourself. Make sure, you have someone home to receive the lobsters, because it's likely they will arrive early in the day.

Keep them fresh with cold damp newspaper while you prepare your cooking stations and that's pretty much it.

Now, here's the reality check: Cost in Toronto to purchase a single 1.5 lb lobster = Approx. $30 unless you buy them old then they may sell them for less.
Cost to ship up 1.5 lbs lobster from PEI, including Courier costs = $11/lobster. Now, we purchased about 40lbs worth of lobster amonst me and my friends! But, here's the kicker, this lobster was fished and delivered within 24 hours.

Only a few hints, but, they really will help you out. I'll add up a few more tips and tricks as I go along!