Mixed Moods - Short Stories and Music

Sun and Clouds - But No Rain

My mood this weekend was like the weather - mixed. We had sun and clouds and some threats of rain - and even rain in the distance - but happiliy, no real big storm. I dare say we certainly have had enough rain and could use a few weeks of dry and hot weather.

My mood matched - happy and then for some reason a bit less so...

So, moods mixed this weekend. Don't get me wrong, I had a great weekend... I went up to Lake Simcoe to visit my friend Alex at his cottage on Saturday and had a fabulous visit. Alex just got back from 3 months in Spain. He was doing a "semi-volunteer" job of assisting in the schools with English language classes. I say "semi", as he was provided with accommodation and a very small stipend each month. I got the low down on his time there and some ideas for my Cuba trip next year.

Alex introduced me to the concept of "couch surfing", something he learned about from his son and he has "couch surfed" in a few different destinations. Go here to learn more about "couch surfing".

We trucked around Jackson's Point and up and down the Lake Simcoe Lakeshore Road and did some sight seeing at a Historic Church which had a lakeside location and happened to be the burial sight of Stephen Leacock. I took some photos which will be the topic of a future blog.

Last night I watched the 3rd and final installment of the Symphony of Fire fireworks and it was as spectacular as expected. Today I did not do as much on my novel as I had hoped to, but I am plugging along with the ideas and am still forging ahead with enthusiasm. I got a bit sidetracked with another bit of a short story plot which has been swirling in my brain - but it must be put aside as I can only birth one baby at a time.


I did get tied up with a Mavis Gallant short story which set my mind thinking and hence probably both the ensuing dip in mood and the genesis of another story idea. I have since decided that Gallant deserves all the glowing accolades on the back cover - including the praise leveled by Michael Ondaatje "...one of the great short story tellers of our time".

I have decided my favourite story - actually included in each of the two books I have by this author (the 2nd is an anthology), is "In the Tunnel", which was written in 1971. While the story's main theme is one of cruelty and exploitation, it is written in an engaging manner and you are both sympathetic with and amused by what you are reading, well at least for the first 2/3rds of the story. I like a story which can be enjoyed on several levels and this is one such story, which left me thinking...

There is an interview with Mavis Gallant in the Walrus Magazine in which she discusses In the Tunnel. The interviewer also offers some interpretive commentary comparing Gallant's style to Ann Munro's which I believe rings true. To read it go here.


I heard a new young singer tonight on the CBC Radio 2 Concerts series. Her name is Niki Yanousky and she is 15 years old. Listening to her sing on the radio, I had no idea how young she was, except she was singing a song with the lyrics "too young for the blues". When the song ended and she started with the between song banter, I could tell she was quite young by the sound of her voice and the references to Mom. She was born in Montreal, Quebec and has been singing professionally since she was 12. I bet she will have a long and successful career.

This You Tube features an interview and a song. If you want to hear her first before deciding to listen to the interview, skip to 3:39.



If you want to hear the CBC Radio 2 Concert featuring Niki Yanasky go here.

Short Story Authors, Levi Blues and the David Wilcoxes

First, the Novel Report
I don't think I mentioned that I headed out to the library and bookstores to get research material for my novel. I have several books on order at the library and have sussed out a line of research that will pave the way to keep me from venturing too far out of sight of the possible in my story line. While I wait for these books to arrive, I am doing some thinking. I believe that some authors let their characters tell the story and lead them through the plot. I on the other hand, at least for this particular novel, believe that the plot (and subplots) must be carefully conceived and thought through so that I can figure out which characters I need to progress my plot. Having said that, a good story must necessarily involve people who propel you through the story and who keep you interested because you care about what happens to them. So carefully constructed characters are essential.

Mavis Gallant
I listened to an interview with Mavis Gallant on CBC Radio 1 on Wednesday as I drove up to Collingwood. Mavis Gallant has been the preeminent international author of short stories since the 1950s. She is 82 and just recently published her latest book of short stories. From the interview it became clear that she still very mentally agile and writes daily.

Interestingly, if one asks about a notable Canadian author of short stories it may be that Alice Munro's name comes to mind. Actually, Gallant is the more Internationally renowned author. She has in the last 50 odd years rarely given interviews - she has made it known that she likes her privacy, which may explain why Munro is better known. Gallant was born in 1922 in Montreal, Quebec. She moved to Paris in 1950 to pursue her writing career.

You can hear the interview here on the Wed July 1st CBC Radio 2 Program called Q:


In any case, listening to Gallant talk about her characters and her immersion into the settings of her stories was very compelling. In the interview she recounts on one occasion in the 1990s, when she was writing a story set in the 1950s she went outside and was momentarily confused to see modern cars and clothes on the people in the street. Now that is focus.

I need to figure out who is in my novel and then get to know them as well as I know myself. I need to put myself into the setting sufficiently that I can experience it myself in my minds eye. This will take some imagining and doing. I have given myself to the end of August for this and then September through October to do the chapter summaries before November 1st, which is the day I start my draft. My journey there is just beginning.


Levi Blues
I am a sucker for feel good songs. There are a lot of them out there. I woke the other morning to the sounds of Dala and their new song "Levi Blues". I jumped out of bed and wrote down the song and the artist. As I was clearing up my scraps of notes from my dining room table today I came across it and it led me on a wild chase.


Firstly, let me tell you I really like the song. I like the easy laid back tune and I like the simple message and lyrics. But it isn't poetry. It is just feeling. If you read the lyrics below you will agree. Girl likes guy, girl goes traveling, girl keeps him in her heart and plans to always come back to him. Nice feel good song and lyrics. I have plans to do some extended traveling and hope when I do there is someone special to keep in my heart to "always come back to"...

Levi Blues by Dala 2008
I always come back to you
I've been waiting for a guy like you
You've been waiting to be my guy too
I'll go to Paris see the lovers in the park
Try California walk the beaches in the dark
I'll see the world in my Levi blues
But I'll always come back
I'll always come back to you

I've been waiting for a guy like you
You've been waiting to be my guy too
I'll go to China, write "I love you" on the wall
And maybe London, catch a show with Albert Hall
I'll see the world in my Levi blues
But I'll always come back
I'll always come back to you
I'll always come back to you

He loves me He loves me not
He loves me He loves me not
He loves me He loves me not
He loves me
Yeah yeah yeah Yeah yeah yeah

I've been waiting for a guy like you
You've been waiting to be my guy too
In the big Apple where we both take a bite
We'll have to hurry 'cause we always miss our flight
We'll see the world in our Levi blues
We'll see the world in our Levi blues
'Cause I always come back
I always come back to you ...

Two Levi Blues???

When I looked on the internet there is another song called Levi Blues which is quite different. I know the raunchy style of blues that the Canadian musician David Wilcox sings so I was anxious to find what I immediately thought was his song - another titled Levi Blues - on the internet. No luck - there are only a handful of David Wilcox songs on You Tube and other internet sources came up blank.

I did find the lyrics and you will see this version of Levis Blues has a cute idea behind it.

Levi Blues by David Wilcox 1996
I was doing my laundry baby
I thought I'd do my new jeans too
Yeah, I was doing my laundry
I threw my new blue jeans in too
And when the spin and rinse was over
Every single thing in there was blue
Well blue on my bedsheets
To wraparound like doom
Blue on my sweatshirt
Blue fruit of the loom
I went to the laundry
I did what you're never supposed to do
I washed a brand-new pair of Levi's
Every single thing in there was blue
I had the blues
You see, turned my reds to purple
Yellows gone to green
Even all the browns and greys
Got blue that can't be see
Yeah the blues got me surrounded
No matter which outfit I choose
Because I just went to the laundry
And got the brand-new pair of Levi blues

Interesting lyrics, also not poetry. LOL

Two David Wilcox???
The next double take was, having looked on Wiki for David Wilcox I discovered there are 2 David Wilcoxes who are musicians - (neither of which have many of their songs on You Tube and both of which have a dozen albums noted on Wiki). There is the Canadian David Wilcox (born 1949) who is a rock-blues musician and another who is an American Folk-blues Musician (born 1958). His Levi Blues was released on his 6th album in 1996. I found a cover of the song on You Tube and will report that it is a typical Blues style song.





Canadian David Wilcox who did not write nor record Levi Blues (as near as I can tell although he is a blues/rock musician.
The American David Wilcox who did write and record a Blues song called Levi Blues (Sorry, no tune found to give you a listen to)...