Shirin Delsooz

My Life Adventures and Thoughts

Does being mature = boring?

What is it to be mature exactly? I get the impression from others that being mature = boring and not necessarily = wise and civilized.

Why does my mom think its a ridiculous idea to install a slide on our stairs? I argue that it’s a speedier and efficient way of getting downstairs. But no! We are adults- we are not allowed to add fun into our lives, even when its practical.

Why are children clothes designed to have vibrant, bright and deep colours while adults can only choose from dull shades? Luckily for me, I have a petite frame and I still shop at the children’s section from time to time.

Why are things like swings exclusively for kids? Does that imply when I’m 18 somehow the pleasure of soaring up and down suddenly disappears? Once in a while I like a good swing, there is a bit of an adrenaline rush I get from feeling like I’m being catapulted into the sky.

Why are children books and ‘adult’ books in the library mainly categorized by having images to having no images at all. Does that imply that as I get older I have less appreciation for illustration? Photography?

I like to indulge in pictures, and do all these other ‘childish’ things yet I can still fulfill my adult responsibilities, and always have been.

I don’t think these worlds should be mutually exclusive. I think having some colour in your life makes you human after all, don’t you?

I got pubslished on the latest issue of Spacing Magazine!

Dear Readers,

Spacing magazine has launched their latest issue today and can be found on news stands at Book City or the University of Toronto Bookstore.

And guess what? My article on BookCrossing was published. So for all you folks who are interested in good ol’ me and issues concerning public space and culture, get your hands on a copy. This issue’s theme focuses on rules from jaywalking, panhandling, bike helmets, to smoking and other fuzzy areas. You’ll find other local peculiarities that Spacing doesn’t seem to run out of writing. Did you know that Toronto has a look out point? And who are those people who camp out at the Don River and call it home? That and a whole lot more- 78 pages of in depth articles for $8 can’t go wrong! Or better yet $29 for 6 issues!

Watching Corpusse

Corpusse, Jaash and I

I like to keep an open mind. Anyone would have to if they want to understand why a large man with evil clown makeup painted on is bellowing out random thoughts over a droning synth on stage. They call Coprusse the “Leonard Cohen of Punk Rock Music”.

While watching him at Mitzi Sister last Tuesday, I could hear people asking their friends, “Is this a joke? Is this guy for real?”

Corpusse said in an interview once that his act should be taken for what it is. To me its an explosion of raw human emotion on stage. He bursts out occasionally into these operatic belts while passionately rambling phrases without any inhibition. It can also be puzzling. There is this one bit he does where he takes out a hammer and bangs it on the floor and says, “WAKE UP NEIGHBOUR! WAKE UP SUSAN SARANDON!”. Combine this with his long hair glued up right two feet high into a cone, and imaginitive props and decorations and you get a show. He’s been doing this for 20 years, and clearly puts a lot of works into it. Whatever you make of him, no one can disagree on his passion. And for that I respect him.

Check out his myspace at http://www.myspace.com/corpusse

Also, this video might lend insight to this “one-of-a-kind performer and mythological figure on the Canadian artistic landscape”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Bf8Drb2Ig&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Who is this shameless clown?

(A facebook note that I wrote)

So I get a facebook “friend” request from a random dude who is in the network of T.dot musicians I have been tangled into lately. Not the type to start burning bridges before making them, I begrudgingly ‘accepted’ this request and wrote a funny little message to him about making his acquaintance in the real world some day (messaged through e-mail, not on his wall).

I thought nothing of it, and continued on with my life. But then the facebook invites began flooding into my account. I can appreciate getting updated with the happening’s of the local music scene, but I don’t like when friendship starts off with shameless self-promotion. It makes me feel kinda… used.

Not the type to crack under life’s small blows, I moved on. Then the other day I get a request to…. HIS FAN PAGE! What… The … Kazoo?!

I spared no second into rejecting it. The audacity of some people! “FAN!”?! I don’t even know the freakin’ guy!

So if you are that guy, just apologize and I will forgive you and perhaps our friendship will be saved.

Oh and since it is so trendy to self-promote, I will not limit this tale to my facbeook friends, I will broadcast it on the WORLD WIDE WEB! That’s right. You can read this story and more on my blog, http://www.vansooz.wordpress.com .

The Cleanest Public Washroom in the World.

The new public washroom in the newly renovated Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto

The other day I stumbled across the public washroom in the newly renovated Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and my! what a pleasant surprise it was! Just look at how clean it is, just ready to be used.

If only this picture could convey how pristine and clean it was!