Improv: Tales from a Sophomore Chump

I sit here basking in glee and rum. I just returned home from my improv troupe's student showcase, where our public workshop students get to show off what they've learned in front of family and friends. My sub-group Veal Skit gets to headline these shows. Some of my friends were in the classes this time, and I got as much joy watching them as I did performing myself. 

Like an improv junkie, I flashed back to that feeling of first getting to do this. The feeling of getting up in front of random people and doing random things. Almost exactly two years ago, I was up there doing my first student show. I felt that first jolt of adrenaline.  That rush I can't stop chasing. 

I've been wanting to write here about improv, but I keep dancing around it. I think I've found the subject a bit daunting. There is so much I want to say about it, that I haven't known where to start. Looking back on what keeps me coming back seems like a good choice, so here goes...

Why I love improv

-THE PEOPLE 

I'm sure that every subculture has some sense of camaraderie, and people of similar interests form bonds, but improv takes that to another level. It's all hugs, high-fives and support. All the time. Any negativity or judgement is so rare. The stressful situations that happen on stage and the vulnerability we display creates deep friendships. It's hard not to love that environment. 

-LOSING FEAR

I don't always show it, but I'm an anxious guy. New things and a change of routine freak me out. Improv has pushed me to look past those issues.  Attempting new things has gone from terrifying to exciting.  This week I joined in my daughter's silks dance class for parent's night.  The old me still would have attended, but would have been too self-consious to have any fun. I would have been looking around the room, afraid to look foolish in front of the teacher and parents. Now I look foolish all the time, and have learned that those times are the most fun.  

-THE MENTAL RE-WIRING

From the very first class, improv showed me a new way of looking at, well, everything. Every exercise, no matter how odd and silly, pushes my boundaries and perspective. Group mind, presence, positivity, acceptance and quick-thinking are the foundations of improv, and I find I apply them to so many situations daily. Everything from handling a difficult work conversation, to how I react to stress or talk to my children has completely changed. It's like mental yoga (although also similar to yoga, I've noticed that people who don't do it don't really want to hear about it). I'm more mentally flexible when life throws me curveballs now, and yes, I really do think I'm funnier (or at least quicker in getting to the bad zinger now). It's not automatic though, and I still struggle with aspects sometimes, especially being present in the moment. I really suck at that one. But I'm getting better all the time. 

-UNBRIDLED CREATIVITY

I haven't seen any other art form or performance that has the pure creative spirit of improv. Maybe jazz I guess, but even those guys need a pile of fancy instruments to make the magic happen. An improv troupe can perform anywhere at anytime with nothing to work with. I've really enjoyed performing sketch comedy as well, but they are such different experiences. Yes, in sketch, the laughs tend to be more consistent and you can expect a certain polish and quality to a sketch routine. In improv though, the laughs can be bigger and the highs much higher, as everyone in the room, on both sides of the stage, can share a moment so spontaneous and singular that it hits you somewhere deeper. Everyone in that moment knows how special and fleeting it was. The sad part of that magic is that you really did "have to be there". Telling the story the next day never has the same effect as telling someone a joke you saw on TV. It's also why improv doesn't normally succeed televised. The energy in the room is a huge part of the experience. It's just the best. 

That's just a sample of why this stuff is so great. Why I can't shut up about it, and why I keep coming back for more. 

Making it up as I go along

B 

Knocking the dust off my blog and myself

Hello faithful reader! Thanks for sticking around! I hope you weren't just sitting in front of your screen this whole time, waiting for your next serving of Wunderbrad.... You did? Oh. Awkward....

No, it's not pathetic. Really. I'm flattered! Thank you. And...sorry. I shouldn't have made you wait three months. Fortunately, I have so many handy excuses for you!

1. Christmas happened. I work in retail, and am a typical Western consumer. That tends to result in a derailment of the ol' routine for December. I also played Santa in a sketch show. And a staff party.

2. Once I let said routine derail, it kinda stayed that way. I'm starting to understand the power of habits, both good and bad. I seem to have more of the latter...

3. On the subject of bad habits, I now own a Playstation 4. If you feel you have too much motivation and find you're just too productive, then you should pick up a PS4. You won't have those problems anymore.


 On a more serious note, I think I got a little bit depressed for a bit there as well. Not sure what caused it, if anything. Could be the cold dreary weather, or the hectic schedule I was running, or the fact that my semi-regular yoga stopped in October. Maybe a little bit of all those things and more, if I wanted to keep looking. The point is, I wasn't feeling right for quite some time. I wasn't a complete mess or anything like that, but everything just seemed a little more difficult than usual, and nothing felt balanced. I let a lot of negative thoughts take up way too much room in my head. I started feeling hesitant and less committed to my improv. I wasn't giving my family the love and support they needed from me, especially Wifey. Any type of writing, be it this blog, comedy sketches, or comic scripts, seemed impossible to focus on.

Things have been getting better recently, mostly thanks to Wifey. We've been together for over a decade now, and she's gotten pretty good at figuring me out. I used to hit these low points a lot more often in our early days, and neither of us handled them very well back then. This time around, she has been amazing. I've been distant, moody and not very useful, while she's been patient, understanding and has kept me moving forward, even if I couldn't go full-speed.

I also came across a great new career opportunity that I HAD to take a shot at. My retail gig has been good to me, but I yearn for a 9 to 5 situation. It would make the family/improv juggling act much easier. So I got a resume together for the first time in 15 years and took a shot at it. I found out yesterday that I didn't get the position, but I'm not upset about it. I'm proud of myself for going for it. The next time something that sweet comes along, I'll be even more prepared for it.

The last thing that snapped me out of my funk was The Kinkonauts. They are a talented improv theatre company in Calgary that Bullskit has worked with on a few occasions. They were hosting a 26 hour improv marathon and I was able to join in the fun for the closing hours of the show. One of my big goals this year was to improvise with more people and stretch my horizons as a performer. This event was a great chance to do that, and I wanted to have the best experience possible. On the trip down with my partner-in-crime Scott, we got ourselves into a headspace where we could do our best. When I hit the stage, I was ready to play. I got to share the stage with folks I admire, and met several more that I can't wait to work with again. It all went even better than I hoped. The show reminded me why and how much I love performing improv, and now I'm chomping at the bit to get back to rehearsal.

Here's supposed to be the part where I boil down all that rambling into something coherent and inspirational right? Well it should be obvious by now that I don't have everything figured out yet. Sorry. Wrong blog. I am hoping that one of you readers finds a needle of wisdom in this massive haystack of a post. All I know is, I'm a better man now than I was ten years ago. I'm doing things that the old me would be terrified to try. I'm surrounded with awesome people at home, at work and on stage. Most of all, I'm starting to trust myself. Whether it's a resume, a blog post, or a parody song, I'm trying not to listen to the critic in my head that wants to convince me that everything I'm about to try is going to be terrible. 

I'll let you guys tell me that instead ;)

 It's OK to fall sometimes. Keep getting up. Knock that dust off.

B

Hope, Fear and Refugees

Sorry this post was so long in coming, but there's been so much rattling around in my head over the last couple of weeks. I really wanted to talk about how good I've been feeling about my improv this month. That would have been a pleasure to write about. But eleven days ago, the world changed. Several tragedies struck the world that day, but none rattled the West more than a terrorist attack in the heart of Paris. Over 130 people were killed by what appears to be ISIS agents. Like millions of others, this event shook me deeply. My assumptions of safety were cast into doubt. I was afraid. Throughout the conflicts that have occurred post-9/11, I have always tried to separate the actions of a few extreme zealots from the rest of the world's Muslims. But with the Paris attack coinciding with the flood of Syrian refugees looking for solace in the West, I've had to reconsider what I believed.

Have I been too naive? Am I a fool for trusting basic human decency? Is the "religion of peace" actually just teaching hatred and violence? Should I be painting all Muslims with the same brush just as so many others have been quick to do?

For a couple of days these questions these questions haunted me. As a husband, a father, and a Canadian citizen, can I be comfortable welcoming foreigners from the most volatile region in the world into my community without reservation? Can I push my fears aside?

Yes. Absolutely. Because of the above reasons, I have to. Because I am a father and husband, and because I'm blessed to live in a place that can easily provide a privileged life for so many. Because I can put myself in the shoes of a Syrian man, who's left his entire world behind. Sacrificed everything to keep his family safe. Someone who has nothing to rely on but the support of strangers. I can only imagine how terrible it would be to give a smuggler the last of your money, just in the hopes of surviving the trip across the sea to Greece. And if you're lucky to make it, you must find a country that won't turn you down at the border without hesitation. A place that won't send you back home, not caring that certain death awaits back there. And if your luck continues, you get the chance to beg for support. "Please, save us. Please, feed us. Please, allow me to support my family. Please."

How can I not feel for that man?

Yes, I get it. We're all afraid. We're afraid that there are ISIS terrorists hiding amongst the refugees. We're afraid that if we let too many Muslims in our borders, that they will only drain our resources and burden our infrastructure. We are afraid that their culture and strange beliefs will infect us. I'll admit that those risks are possible. I understand those fears.

But that Syrian man is afraid for his LIFE. For his children's lives. For his wife. For that man, the Paris attack was something he had to fear daily. In Syria, you were always a moment away from the side of your house exploding away, or a man threatening you at gunpoint to join one of the four different armies fighting over the corpse of your country. Those are his fears. I can't hold my fears up to his and justify inaction.

 I've learned this month that fear is a tool. The reason they call them "terrorists" is that their tactics are entirely based around sowing fear in their enemies. They wield terror more effectively than any bomb or rifle. But they aren't the only ones. Fear is a powerful motivator for Western groups as well. "Journalists" use it to sell newspapers or bait more clicks. Right-Wingers use it to justify xenophobia and to take away your freedoms in the name of safety. Fear lets racists justify ignorance and nationalism.

All this fear from all these different places has become a vicious cycle. Extremists attack somewhere that the West actually cares about. The West reacts by bombing the hell out of the extremists region of origin. The terrorists are really good at hiding, leaving innocent civilians as the main victims of the air strikes. The extremists exploit the victims' grief, rallying them to fight the Western infidels. The newly minted terrorists jihad all over a carefully selected Western target. Rinse. Repeat.

If we truly want to stop ISIS, and actually want to make the world a better, more peaceful place, than we have to break that cycle. More hate, fear, division and violence will only keep the wheel turning. As cheesy as it sounds, what the world needs now is love, sweet love. Seriously. We, as Canadians, Americans, Europeans, everyone who can help, need to commit to a better way. We can't expect the refugees to make the first move towards openness. They are shell-shocked, starving and broken. They need us to open our hearts and communities fully to them. We need to show them how good things can be. If we treat these desperate refugees with distrust or outright hatred, if we tell them we don't want them, than they will be driven towards the groups WHO DO. We create more terrorists by giving them something to fight. Yes, obviously, the key figures of ISIS need to be eliminated, but we need to change the way we fight them. As hard as it will be, ground troops will be necessary. Sloppy, untargeted bombing isn't efficient.

More importantly though, we need to be the enlightened nations that we pretend we are, and stop thinking that every brown guy is here to either kill us or ruin our society. In every religion, there are people who interpret the words of their holy texts in ways that make them better, and there are people who twist those same words into justifying horrible thoughts and acts. Don't let fear dictate your actions. Be better, and others will follow.

Please.



Whew. That felt good to get out of my system. Thank you for reading this if you're still here. I know there are plenty of people who would fiercely disagree with what I've said here, and for the first few days after Paris, I was happy to argue with them. What I've found though, is that there's no good way out of that rabbit hole. "Experts" on both sides will cherry-pick facts to back up their opinions, and in many cases, refuse to listen to the other side at all. So I'm pulling myself out of that game. I plan on living the words I wrote above, but I'm not going to constantly shout them at others. I truly DO thank those who feel the same way, but I'm done trying to convert the rest. The world has enough conflict and division already. In fact, I plan on taking a break from the heavy stuff for awhile and to focus on the good and positive things I have in my life. Less political posts, more comedy sketches and stand-up jokes. More fun with my kids. The world has some issues, but life is still wonderful. I'm not going to let fear and anger blind me from that. 

Peace (hopefully)

B

The Wunderbrad NBA Preview

Hi everybody. My name's Bradley and I like basketball. Especially the NBA variety. Mainly because, while the NBA is no less an evil corporation than any other major sports organization, they at least compensate the athletes properly for their skills and physical sacrifices. (I'm looking at you, NCAA and NFL.) It's also a great blend of skill, athleticism, strategy and showmanship. I appreciate those things.

The NBA has been riding high over the last few seasons, with the pool of talent being better than any other time in the history of the sport. That's right. I said it. The eighties put this league on the map, but the sheer depth of game-changing superstars that the modern era has to offer puts this group at the top. The Magic/Bird era that moved through the end of the century is widely considered to be unbeatable. After watching this league over the last couple of years, I can't agree with that anymore. I might defend this argument in greater detail in a future blog post, but my point is that we as fans are enjoying a golden age of this sport right now. This season in particular is looking like it could be the most compelling and exciting one ever.

Let's get started by breaking down how I'm going to approach this preview. There are other places to check out a team by team breakdown, but frankly, not every team is worth spending a lot of time discussing. I'll mostly be analysing the contenders, while also touching on a few teams who have very interesting narratives going into this year. I also realise that a "preview" should technically happen BEFORE the season starts, but if you're looking for timeliness from this blog, you're going to be disappointed. Sorry.

Here we go.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The East is still going to be the West's whipping boy, but the gap between the two is starting to narrow. The main reason for this is that the East will have fewer completely awful teams going forward. Boston, Milwaukee, Orlando and Indiana will be better to varying degrees. The only teams that will continue to brutally stink are Charlotte, Detroit, Philly and Brooklyn. Let's look at the most dominant or interesting squads.


Cleveland Cavaliers

Let's start at the top. Cleveland somehow cake-walked through the playoffs to the finals while also walking with a limp. Having the best all-around player in the world on your team helps I guess. Like I said above, the East has gotten better, and things shouldn't be as easy this year. But despite no major roster moves, this won't be the same Cavs we saw last year either. For one thing, David Blatt won't be coming into this campaign as a rookie coach. Yes, King James will still overrule him sometimes. That's guaranteed. But having experience dealing with Lebron and the rest of the team will cause James to meddle less often. Expect better late game play-calling, but more importantly, expect better rotations. There's no way Lebron plays more than sixty-five games this season, and Irving and Love will also get a ton of rest. This group will be taking a page from the Spurs and will be focused only on the last six weeks of the year. Say hello to your 2016 Eastern Conference Champions.


Chicago Bulls

Thibs is out. Hoiberg is in. Bulls management knows that the window of this veteran team is closing quickly, and are hoping a change in philosophy will get them over the hump. It won't. Pau Gasol is still underrated, but isn't utilized properly in their system, and can't compete at full potential over the full grind anymore. Joakim Noah is paying the price for his physical, aggressive style of play, and will probably be out of the league in two years. If you could splice Mirotic and Gibson together, you'd have the perfect modern NBA power forward, but each only really plays one end of the floor. Jimmy Butler is solid, but seems to be one of those guys who wouldn't have put up the numbers he did last year if you dropped him on any other team in the league that has actual scorers. Not to mention Derrick Rose, the most unlucky man in the league. Certain players would bounce back from his years of knee issues with an adjusted, but still functional game. But his skill-set was always based on speed, power and quick changes of direction. He'll probably never have those back. He isn't a dangerous shooter, and is only average as a playmaker. Sadly, his MVP form is history. Expect friction to continue between Rose and Butler too, although neither guy is good enough to lead this team to a title.


Atlanta Hawks

By far the surprise of the league last year, the Hawks showed people what a real T-E-A-M can accomplish when everyone plays within themselves, and with precision. Without a true superstar, Atlanta executed a system that maximized the skills of it's roster, and kept on out-playing other, more talented teams. They will still be solid this year, but expect some regression. Many experts considered DeMarre Carroll the most important player on the team last year. He's a Raptor now. The Hawks still boast the deepest group of bigs in the East, along with solid perimeter play from Korver and the guards. But everyone sees them coming this season, and will have plans in place to shut down the efficient Atlanta offence.


Miami Heat

If you want a sleeper pick for an Eastern powerhouse, look no further than South Beach. Wade has enough in the tank for one more run. The perennially undervalued Chris Bosh will be back from injury with his skill-set that no other big man in the league can boast. Dragic will benefit from a full training camp and more time running the Heat system. Most importantly, Miami comes into this season with something they haven't had at any time since the Big Three came in. Depth at every position. The Heat will be the team that benefits most from Chicago and Atlanta fading back. Plus, don't underestimate the Lebron revenge factor. They don't talk about it, but it's there.


Washington Wizards

Wall and Beal might be the best back-court in the East. This team also boasts solid veteran shooters and quality bigs. If Otto Porter ascends to an All-Star level, this team could finish second in the conference. Nobody's talking about the Wizards, but they should be.


Toronto Raptors

I'll be honest with you, I'm a Raptors guy. Just putting that out there now. I like the roster we have in place, but don't fully LOVE it, you know? The top eight roster spots stack up very well with any other East team, but there is a lot of uncertainty about "The Drakes" this year. Last season, they took advantage of a weak conference and looked like a great team on many nights. But come playoff time, Toronto's lack of rim protection, inconsistent perimeter D, and inexperience were exposed. The roster moves made over the summer were done specifically to improve those flaws. Scola is the last guy you'd expect to be a stopper in the paint, but he over-achieves. DeMarre Carroll was brought in to add shooting, toughness and defense. Hometown boys Anthony Bennett and Cory Joseph don't have to be amazing, they just have to maximize the opportunities they'll get to contribute. It seems like Toronto has everything they need to contend, but there are still questions. Will Lowry stay healthy and focused all season and into the playoffs? Will Derozan, Ross and Valanciunas take the next step and become stars? Will Carroll provide the missing ingredients to send this team over the top, or was he just the right guy for Atlanta's system? For any hope of dethroning King James, the answer to most or all of those questions needs to be a "yes".


BONUS TEAMS

Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic

Both of these teams will be the sweethearts of the hardcore NBA fan this season, but neither squad is ready to compete with the above contenders. Both of them have the largest upside of any team in the league right now, but don't quite have all the pieces in place. Orlando has Hezonja (a dark horse for ROY) and Harris at the 3, the best young bigs in the conference, and an unconventional, but athletic backcourt. The Bucks have Giannis, Jabari and Khris Middleton. That trio has the highest potential ceiling in the game, and the Bucks have surrounded them with solid journeymen from around the league. Both teams need seasoning and possibly a couple of trades to hit the next level, but they'll be fun to watch in the meantime.


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Never has the West been wilder. Five teams are being discussed as 2016 NBA champions, and all of them have a real shot at doing it. I'm going to be thankful for my PVR this year, as almost nightly there will be West coast games on late that will be must watch the next morning. As a whole though, the Western Conference has gotten a bit top heavy. Portland could finish dead last this year, although the Lakers and the Kings won't make that automatic. Over the last decade, the West has had a stranglehold over the East for wins. I don't expect that to happen this year.


Golden State Warriors

My other fave team, I've been a GSW fan since before the Raptors existed. Since the Run TMC days actually, so it was great to see them hold the Larry Trophy high this year. Many critics have been saying that the Warriors got an easy run through the playoffs last season, due to major injuries for most of the opposition. Those critics have a point, but let's not forget that Golden State did it ALL FREAKIN' YEAR. The most wins since a certain Micheal-led Bulls team. A huge point differential and shattering many offensive records (especially from behind the arc). The only player that moved on was David Lee, who wasn't a huge part of the current system anyway. Steph and Klay are one year older. Draymond and Harrison are too. This team shouldn't have been this good this early, but here we are. If they can keep this core intact, expect them to contend for the next five years or so.


LA Clippers

Nobody internally is saying it, but this year seems like it's "all-in" for this team. With all the veteran additions, and bringing Jordan back, this group is in salary cap hell. They are gambling that it will be worth it. Already boasting the best starting five in basketball, the Clips slapped some armor on their Achilles heel, the bench. Say hello to Prigioni, Lance Stephenson, Paul Pierce and Josh Smith. On paper, that lineup is a nightmare for every other team. The problem is, something has always prevented the Clippers from delivering on that potential. Jordan can't hit free throws, and you're adding some strong personalities, (one could even say "knuckleheads") to an already volatile roster. This much crazy on one team can't be ignored, but if anyone can rein in that aggression and channel it in the right directions, it's Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce. The last point that can't be ignored is that it seems like Chris Paul realizes that this is probably his best shot at getting a ring. He will never be surrounded by this much talent again, and he isn't getting any younger.


Houston Rockets

Finally the best team in Texas (which is kind of a big deal), Houston is the next biggest threat to a Warriors repeat. Harden is the best offensive player on planet Earth, and Howard is the best centre. If you can trot both of those guys out on most nights, you're going to win a lot of games. Adding Ty Lawson should take some pressure off of Harden and let him focus on scoring. Adding Ty Lawson to this group may also cause the team to implode. Houston isn't Clippers-level crazy, but they aren't much better. It sounds obvious to say that chemistry and physical health are vital to playoff success, but with the Rockets thin bench, it's even more important to them to keep everyone on the floor.


San Antonio Spurs

Every year people write off the Spurs, and every year they tend to prove the critics wrong. Last year though, the cracks and wrinkles finally began to show. Manu and Tim were still huge pieces, but can no longer bring superstar level play every game anymore. That was expected. The sudden decline of Tony Parker was less so. There's a chance it was temporary, and Parker will regain his form, but after two decades of pro and international play, his motor may be burnt out. Aldridge, Green and Leonard are the new core of this model franchise, but none of them are quite what the former core was at their peak. Sure, I'll concede that IT'S POSSIBLE that the Spurs have one more title in them, but I doubt it. Long live the kings.


OKC Thunder

Many people are predicting that a healthy Thunder team will steamroll the West and finally claim the championship that they deserve. At full gear, Durant and Westbrook and physical freaks, and Ibaka has a combination of athleticism and touch that are unmatched at his position. When they all share the floor, they are unbeatable. However, I think that they will never share the floor at full gear ever again. I have two words for people who predict Thunder domination. Grant Hill. Like Durant, Hill was a top three player when he went down, and suffered through multiple surgeries before getting back on the court. Hill was never the same after his nearly four year ordeal, and eventually reinvented himself as a utility role player who showed flashes of former glory. I believe the same fate awaits KD. I'd love to be proven wrong. Don't feel bad for Durant. Somebody will pay him a max deal just on the CHANCE that he gets it back someday. Do feel bad for OKC though, who can't shake off the Harden curse and will see Russ and Kevin both move on after this season.


BONUS TEAMS

Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans

Two teams heading in completely opposite directions. The Mavs have actually done a decent job surrounding Dirk with a decent team every year. Not usually a GREAT group, but solid. This year is no exception, as they are rolling the dice on a washed up, formerly great point guard, and a combo guard who looked like a future all star before suffering a serious injury. Even if those two perform as hoped, The Mavs just don't have enough talent to survive the playoff grind. The Pelicans, on the other hand, have the NEXT best player in the world, Anthony Davis. He's everything he's supposed to be, but all he has for help is Asik, a glut of combo guards and some marginal NBA players. To be truly great, Davis is going to need a fantastic point guard to work with. Until then, the Pelicans are grounded.


FINALS PREDICTION

I think that Cleveland is a 70% favorite to advance in the East, with Miami having a chance as well. Out West I think that the Clippers and the Warriors are the best options, with GSW having a better chance. If you have to pin me down for a firm prediction, I'll go with the Cavs winning it all, mainly because the West bracket will be a train wreck that will leave the winner too tired and banged up to win.

Predictably,
B

Kid problems.

My wife and I met up on her lunch break at the park today. While I was pushing Mr. C on the swing, Wifey and I chatted each other up about how things are going. It seems like we should be having those conversations on a regular basis. but our schedules are pretty far apart. Our time together is usually only at the end of a long day, where one of us falls asleep watching a show while we discuss all the immediate issues of the next couple of days. Often that's as good as it gets, so it was nice to just chat while both of us were awake.

Before long the subject drifted towards the older two children. Over the last couple of weeks, both of them have been having problems with bullying and just generally with other kids. Bear tearfully asked me in the van last Friday if I knew why the other kids don't like him. That's a heartbreaking thing to hear from such an amazing little dude. But he is a pretty unique individual, and his sense of humour doesn't always click with other people. Wifey added that Bug has been starting to have body issues, and is embarrassed about how she looks. She has started to grow a cute little Buddha belly, and she's not happy about it.

We're not used to dealing with this kind of thing yet, but now that they are twelve and nine, I guess we should feel lucky that these problems didn't flare up sooner. It's funny how some things never change, because Wifey and I went through the exact same things at that age. Kids haven't gotten any nicer over the years. Not that I'm surprised I guess. Those years between eleven and sixteen have always been brutal. The perfect storm of insecurities and creative ways to be cruel about them. It's so hard to explain to my kids that one day, none of this stuff will matter. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to pretend that those incidents don't affect a person. I know they changed me. Not all the ways that they did were bad though. I learned respect and compassion through getting very little of it. I hope my kids can come out the other end of these challenges in a good place.

More importantly though, I just hope my children don't let themselves believe the negative things they'll experience. Those things can come from other people, or from their own head. Confidence can be hard for anyone to maintain, especially at that age. I don't want them to stress out about not being perfect. I want them to feel good about who they are, and not focus on what they aren't. Awkwardness, or a couple of extra pounds, shouldn't hold them back from being the amazing people that they are, and will be.

I just hope they can believe that.

B

Seems like one of us is wrong about what a Canadian is.

For the last couple of weeks, I've been seething about this "niqab" situation. For those who aren't in the know, the reigning conservative government here in Canada has been fighting (and losing) to have the niqab banned from being worn during citizenship ceremonies. As the PC party is also behind in the polls with an election only days away, they have now decided to make their stance on the issue part of their election platform.

Before getting into the root of the issue, I first want to describe WHY the conservatives have done this. Both the niqab issue and the rhetoric against refugees are the brainchild of Lynton Crosby, an Australian political PR specialist who is an expert in "wedge politics". Wedge politics focus on using divisive social issues to garner votes, usually by prioritizing these issues with voters in place of the more important parts of their platform. In short, it's smoke-and-mirrors. Intentional misdirection. The conservatives know that they don't have voter confidence based on their track record. For details on why this is the case, Read this piece by Lester Lee. In short though, the PCs have had 7 years of deficit, all while weakening our global image, demolishing veteran's benefits, and moving towards dismantling our national health care system. Not to mention several instances of corruption, back-door corporate handouts, and pushing ahead with a controversial Pacific trade agreement. The Tories don't want you focusing on all of that. They want you talking about head gear.

The sad thing is, it's working. I see support of this littered over my Facebook wall, and in parts of the media. "Lose the niqab or go home!" and similar statements. There is a general anti-Muslim sentiment that says, if you come to Canada, you aren't allowed to bring your culture and beliefs with you.

I say to that..... SINCE WHEN?

Do all the people who feel that way forget that, at one point, their families were new here too? Regardless of what your last name is, your family didn't start out Canadian. First aboriginals obviously, but every Canadian has ties to another nation. Another culture. The blending and acceptance of that is the very thing that makes us Canadian. Our cultural identity has always been, and hopefully will always be, fluid.

The arc of a new Canadian citizen from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq or any other Islamic region will eventually be the same as any other. A century or two ago, as people from all over Europe and Asia came to Canada in hopes of a new and better life, they still identified heavily with their homelands. Germans, Italians, Chinese, Ukranians and more formed close knit groups where they could share their heritage together. Speaking their first languages at home and in their communities, they were often slow to embrace the myriad other ways of life Canada offered. But then they would send their children to school with kids from other cultures. Those children would learn to speak English or French to fit in with their new friends. Slowly the barriers between these different groups fell away. Their children, or their grandchildren, started marrying each other. Now, generations later, those people don't call themselves Polish-Canadian, or Irish-Canadian. They are just CANADIAN. The reason this happened is that these immigrants weren't pressured into adapting to any particular lifestyle. They were welcomed by this nation, and given the freedom to discover what being a Canadian is organically, and in their own way.

Is that something we don't do anymore?

People say, "we can't go over to their country and act however we want! They should have to conform to us!" But that's exactly the point. That's why they left! Canada has always been about tolerance, acceptance and understanding. Many parts of the world aren't. We have always been respectful to the beliefs of others, and value freedom over all else. Sure, you're free to say you don't agree with the niqab. But the wonderful thing about Canada is that they are also free to wear the garments of their choosing. The conservatives are trying to change that. I hope we don't let them.

Feel free to disagree with me on any of this. It's a free country after all. Right?

B

Good Times!

Whew! I am a mess today. Monday is being like, "alright. That'll do. Time to adult again." This week should be interesting, because by comparison to everything that just happened, it probably won't be. Let's recap shall we?


Last Sunday, I started work at 6 in the AM then met up with some friends and headed up to Edmonton to see ACDC. Saw some old friends, some of whom I haven't seen in eight years or so. It was great to catch up with the guys, most of whom are adulting regularly now. Definitely not like the old days. The concert was outdoors. September in Alberta is...unpredictable. It was cold, and it rained hard for almost the entire show. The crowd was soaked and so were the bands. A few people left early to go warm up. I thought about doing that too, but if a bunch of senior citizens can rock the hell out for 2.5 hours in those conditions, I figured I should cowboy up and stick it out. I'm so glad I did, because DAMN! ACDC was amazing. The last time I saw them was fifteen years ago. They weren't exactly kids then, so I had my doubts that they still had the goods. I've never been happier to be wrong. If this is the last ride for that epic band, then they are going out on top of their game. I salute you, ACDC.

Not a bad way to start the week, but it kept getting better. I took my last week of holidays so I could focus on Sketchfest. More on that later, but having more free time meant I could participate in cool stuff I normally don't have time to do. My favorite "bonus event" was heading down to The Hub to teach improv to a group of special needs folks. It's so inspiring to see people that struggle to do basic tasks push themselves to try to play along with us. Aaron has severe disabilities, and can't really move or speak, but he still worked hard to say something to keep our word association game moving. He didn't want to just sit back and watch. He wanted to play too. So he did. And it was awesome. He's also a ringer at musical chairs, and had the rest of us fighting for second place. Torin has Down Syndrome, and didn't fully understand everything we attempted. But that wasn't going to stop him from getting in there with us, trying his best and having a ton of fun doing it. It's impossible not to be inspired by such brave and honest people. That crew pushes me to improve in the best possible way. They are always ecstatic to see Jason, Scott or myself roll in for a session, and we are just as thrilled to be there. I can't imagine a better way to spend a Tuesday afternoon.

Two days after that, was the first night of Alberta's first ever sketch comedy festival, Sketchfest. Such a cool thing to be part of! Bullskit called in our extended family of comedians, and several answered the call. Not only did Bullskit and Vealskit represent, but we had three other sketch duos formed by current or former Bullskitters. Along for the ride was our favorite naughty ladies The Dirrty Show. Plus the two greatest groups in Calgary, The Kinkonauts and The Late Late Breakfast Show. Plus the funniest man in Calgary, Trevor Campbell! PLUS the handsome and talented duo known as .38 Delight, who joined us all the way from Los Angeles! That's right. Red Deer hosted an international sketch comedy festival. Suck it Edmonton!

Sketchfest ran over three long but amazing nights. Seeing how different groups approach the medium was really educational, and Trevor in particular lit off fireworks in my head about what comedy can be. And amazingly, they were all wonderful people! We had over 30 talented and creative people putting this show together all week, and there was not a hint of drama to be found. My Vealskit crew was voted best musical sketch, which was huge considering the level of talent we were battling. The event also included a special "Sketch-U-Bator" after the Friday show, where all the performers blew off some steam, had some drinks, and performed some stuff for each other that we aren't sure a "normal" crowd would be on board with. Indescribable fun. My big takeaway from the festival was "make the things you wish existed."  Matt Dale came back from Toronto with ideas of how awesome a sketch festival would be, so with the help of Jenna Goldade and Jeremy Robinson, he started one. It can be that easy.

I stayed up far too late Saturday night, getting to know the people that came out to create this thing with us. No regrets on that, but Sunday morning came early as Wifey and I packed the kids up to head up to Edmonton for the Comic Expo. All of us had fun and found things to geek out about. Mr. C had his first taste of comic-con fun, and he loved it. Nothing is cooler than watching a five-year-old experience seeing people walk around dressed like his heroes, and games, toys and books as far as his eyes can see. We left that night broke and exhausted, like you're supposed to.

And that was my best week since Baby C arrived. To quote Kanye West, (which is always fun to do),

"I'm dope and I do dope $#!t!"

Go be dope,

B