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Lorna's Interests
General
Music is a BIG part of my life. But I also enjoy writing, reading a good book and watching movies. I love to cook when I have the time - mostly cos I love to eat! And I love to play with my grandchildren - it keeps me young!
Since I set up this page... wow, was it only last August?!! - I've been a lot more active on the net... and it takes up an amazing amount of time... mostly in the wee small hours of the morning. I've joined Facebook and Stumbleupon, I've also been exploring the fascinating world of free podcasts, both video and audio. Who knew there was so much free stuff out there. I've listened to many and here are my two favourites. Two fellow Canadians, Rod and Chrystal, produce a really fun show... it's definitely worth checking out some of their episodes. You can check them out on their blog website The Life of Spaguyswife
(and just so you know, the phishing message is a security feature that I just can't get around. Thanks, Tom!)
The following shows are my personal favourites are #3 One Tequila, Two Tequila, #7 Pushing Buttons and #12 Call of Duty Widow... watch this space, I could add more ;)
(What was that guys...Podcast groupie?)
I've been listening to more and more of a wide range of podcasts... so many... so little time. You can subscribe and download any of these shows directly from iTunes.
These are some of my favourites that have captured my interest...so far. I've lifted most of the descriptions directly from their sites... heck of a lot easier for me!
Shelly’s Podcast, the juggernaut of all podcasts, winner of the Spring 08 podcast peer award, features Shelly Brisbin and her husband Frank. It's a (mostly) weekly personal podcast by writer Shelly Brisbin. Topics tend to include technology, life observations, restaurant reviews, and politics. Shelly has been writing about technology (including 12 books) for 20 years, and makes her living as a writer and editor in the trade publishing world. Shelly is editor-in-chief of Blogger & Podcaster magazine.
The Redboy Podcast features Redboy, and Absolute Amy podcasting from the cornfields of central Illinois. Join them every week for fun, games, and news of the weird. They say they give absolutely no guarantees on quality or that you will get any entertainment value from this podcast.....but you never know.
For Whatever Reason
features Tim and Nannette, who say “What happens when you find yourself nearing 40 and you listen to far too many podcasts? Easy - you convince yourself that you’re interesting enough that other people would actually care enough to listen to what you have to say. It’s an illusion, but it’s our illusion.”
Love Long and Prosper: You’ll Laugh ‘Till You Cough! is a Podcast Peer Award winning show about the hosts love for one other, laughter, and Star Trek. Dan and Cj, new parents from Arizona talk about life, the universe, and everything.
Each episode they review an episode of Star Trek, a Star Trek movie, or have a guest on to talk about various aspects of the series. For each season of each series, they host an awards show, appropriately named the LLAPPys, with winners in various categories, including “best newly discovered race”, “best weapon”, and “most homo-erotic moment”.
Barely Podcasting Podcast is all about Barely. The show is either an AudioBlog, or a Comedy. Most likely it is a bit of each. It makes sure everyone knows what it is like to be Barely, and really what it is like to be a Dork! Come along for the ride.
2guys1brain... 2 guys, Andy and Randy, work for the Sheriffs Office, and on this podcast we discuss life behind bars with some of the country's most interesting citizens... the criminals.
One video favourite is Diggnation, with hosts Alex Albrecht and Kevin Rose. Their weekly show, available on iTunes, is both informative and bloody hilarious at the same time. Here's a small clip... Alex totally losin' it over some remark made by Kevin.
diggnation guinea pigs .. Add to My Profile | More Videos
Music
Yes, music... still a big part of my life. It's always been the voice for me. It gets me before anything else... the first thing that holds my attention. So loving artists like Sam Cooke, Etta James, Ray Charles, Freddie Mercury, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone was second nature.
But slowly worries clouded my focus, my husband got sick, and my life was suddenly filled with other stuff... trying to keep my head above water, running our business... and the music started to disappear... My life long romance with music died and I found myself in a total music rut.
But then one day I heard a voice that stopped me in my tracks... Elliott Yamin was singing “Moody’s Mood For Love” on a TV show that I’d honestly never bothered with before. American Idol had been a distraction… a bit of a laugh, something playing in the background. But hearing him sing that song, I knew I’d be a fan for life.
Music once again took on a new dimension, and for reasons I cannot fathom, I’ve completely changed the way I hear the notes. I can't explain it. It once again lifts my soul. This whole experience has led me to rediscover music and singers I'd forgotten about and through the friends I've made since, I’ve been introduced to some amazing artists. It's been a wonderful journey so far.
Here’s Elliott performing at his first solo concert in Richmond, Virginia in October 2006 Elliott Yamin
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I’ve had a wonderful time discovering exciting new artists like Anthony Hamilton, Amy Winehouse, Divine Brown and the wonderful Paolo Nutini - I went to see him in Vancouver last year. He's really good!
I’ve recently found the amazing James Hunter! Just listen to him. I'll be looking out for his next tour here too.
James Hunter EPK
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And don't know if we'll ever see a CD from Amy Belle. She was so amazing in your first concert performing with Rod Stewart at the Albert Hall in London. It totally blew her away... just a week after he heard her singing on the streets of Glasgow!!
Rod Stewart & Amy Belle - I don't wanna talk about it
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I’ve loved so many different artists over the years… The Beatles, Sting, Rod Stewart, Bjork, Georgie Fame, Nina Simone, Crowded House just to name a few, but it never ceases to amaze me just how much talent is out there waiting to be discovered. And when I do find them, they deserve to be promoted as best I can. Though I very much doubt if there will ever be another Freddie Mercury!
Movies
I have way too many favourites to list them all here but memorable films I love include Crash, Children of Men, Kinky Boots, The Philadelphia Story,The Crying Game, Funny Girl, French Kiss, Witness, Murphy's Romance, Witness, Of Mice and Men (with John Malkovich) Shawshank Redemption, Shirley Valentine, A Star is Born (with Judy Garland and James Mason)
Oh, and I love pretty much anything with Hugh Grant - Notting Hill, Love Actually and especially Four Weddings and a Funeral. Although I love this film for the humour I found this scene so incredibly moving. John Hannah is wonderful!!
Oh... I could go on. I'm constantly amazed at just how much joy I get out of the movies.
Television
TV?... When do I have time!? OK... BBC stuff first - Judge John Deed (Martin Shaw is brilliant!), Silent Witness (love Tom Ward!), Spooks, Ballykissangel (first time I ever saw Colin Farrell). I also like So You Think You Can Dance, Cold Case, CSI Las Vegas, Shopping Bags, ER, Grey's Anatomy, Friends, Medium, Lost, House...
Books
Some favourites are David Niven's "A Moon's a Balloon", Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Yes I Can" "Exodus" by Leon Uris, "Class: A View from Middle England " by Jilly Cooper On Writing, a Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. Anything by Ken Follett
Heroes
My lovely mum... She's always been so strong and I've desperately tried to emulate her courage and persistance. Mum found herself suddenly single again at the age of 60 and decided it was time to start travelling. She has always found a lot of joy in not letting anything get in her way and her journeys to places as far flung as Rome, Rio, and Rangoon have been inspirational. Her spirit has always been amazing and I'm hoping I will be following in her footsteps.
I've been thinking about this and I realize that I look on my whole family as heroes. We've all been through so much and have stayed so strong supporting each other and kept me sane. My family!!
About me:
So… this is about me... Hmmmm... where do I start?
I used to put my birthdate in here... but thought the better of it! But Leicester General Hospital is a good place as any to start my story... although I was conceived in Malta… (what’s that? TMI?) So, I worked out a while back that I’ve moved seventeen times in my life… so far. Let’s see: from Leicester to Portsmouth, then Singapore (Dad was in the Royal Navy) back to Portsmouth, then Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, Crawley, Sussex (ran a hotel there - ever seen Fawlty Towers? hmmm... I'll have to write a few stories about that place. Our son was born here... then we got married there. Wrote about that. Then on to Southampton, then Gosport (daughter was born there), Portsmouth (damn, just couldn’t stay away! Life is good anywhere near the sea and the Solent is first class for diving, sailing and generally messing about anywhere near the water.)
Padstow, Cornwall - absolutely amazing place. Lived in a cute little furnished cottage over the winter there. But then when spring came around the rent quadrupled. Moved into another house, shared with another couple, two more friends, two dogs, two cats... all in three bedrooms but NO furniture! One of the friends was supposed to be picking up a few things at an auction. She came back with... a bloody piano!! Crazy woman. But we had some great times with the piano. Hmmm... sounds like another story coming on. I'll get working on that...
Then came Grimsby, only for three months, thank heavens... horrible, depressing place.
Then it was finally time to make the break and leave our homeland. We'd been working for an American diving equipment company... which went tits up after a year in business... So, with no job and little hope left for us in England, we decided on Canada and moved to Richmond, British Columbia. Probably cried for the first six months... but eventually got over it. 5 houses later we found ourselves in Tsawwassen, B.C. Yes, finally, and maybe for the last time, we've put down some roots. Until the wanderlust takes over again.
Yep, pretty much all done with moving. I could write a book about it! Hey! Sounds like a plan...
I'm glad we've finally settled here. British Columbia is beautiful so I thought I'd show you some photos I've taken over the last few years of this amazing place.
..
changing things up here with some pics of my boys...
I keep pretty busy with our business and having fun with my grandsons and living life in general, but one day, maybe when I retire from the rat-race, I hope to go back to my painting. When the time, the inspiration and the inclination all click in together.
Who I'd like to meet: update: February 2008... I've been taking a lot more notice of the American political scene this year. Can't honestly say I've felt the same about the political scene here in Canada. Guess I'm the first to admit I'm not a political person, But this race seems different somehow. I really like to meet both Democratic candidates, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (read Hillary's book... AND enjoyed it!) I'd like to ask them both a few questions.
Even more interesting would be to meet Bill Maher, and hear first hand his thoughts on everything. I just love that guy's take on life! Sorry if this offends... don't play it if you don't like him... I'm not holding a gun to your head.
Bill Maher - Patriotism .. Add to My Profile | More Videos
Others I'd add to the list are Sting, Bono, Hugh Grant, Hugh Laurie, Sydney Poitier, Paul Newman, Harry Windsor. I've always felt a connection to young Prince Harry.
We lost one of the greats in the music world last year... Pavarotti. Actually, two greats as we also said goodbye to James Brown a couple of years ago too. So, to honour them both I thought I'd post this amazing duet. Probably one of the most unlikely I've seen in a while. Take a look.
I also think it would be fascinating to meet Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey,
Oh and I just love Sandra Bullock. It would be a total hoot to meet her!
Of the folks who have passed on I would have loved to have met David Niven, Sammy Davis Jr. and Diana, Princess of Wales. And here's a few of my favourite quotes... it would have been interesting to meet any one of the following people:
Dorothy Parker -
"That woman speaks eighteen languages, and can't say No in any of them."
Oscar Wilde
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
Nick Diamos –
“Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by stupidity.”
Jimi Hendrix –
“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.”
Aldous Huxley –
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”
Quincy Jones -
"Not one drop of my self-worth depends on your acceptance of me."
I think they'd kick me right off the stage at American Idol. That British guy would hate me. I don't like him very much. I can't believe you actually put my song on your site. I recorded it on my back porch by myself. No one else played on that one. I'll be changing stuff out all the time. You are welcome to it. Glad to have bumped into you.
