So here’s the most amazing potato salad. I just opened the fridge, got inspired and creative and thought I’d share:

You need: eggs, celery (heart is better), green onions, mayo (I prefer salad dressing (Kraft) to regular mayo (Hellmann’s), relish, soft creamy goat’s cheese.

6-8 boil eggs (depending how hungry you are),
Once boiled, let cool down and remove the yolks
Take the cooked egg whites and dice them.
Chop 1 celery stalk and 1 green onion.

In a large bowl, mix ½ cup of mayo with a 1 table spoon of relish, 1 table spoon of soft creamy goat’s cheese. Once well mixed and smooth, then add the yolks, celery and green onions and continue stirring.
Once mixed, stir in a bowl with the diced whites.

…et voilà!

LOOK!, a short film produced and directed by Peter Conrad is screening at the WILDsound film festival at the NFB Cinema in downtown Toronto (corner of John & Richmond Streets) on Saturday March 28th. The evening run of films gets underway at 7 pm sharp (doors open at 6:30 pm). Niv Fichman from Rhombus Media will moderate a Q&A after the films. There’ll be seven short films from various parts of the world altogether. LOOK! will screen last.

Here’s a link to a podcast of an interview I did with the festival organizer to hype the event:

Check out the bio and event

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Here’s a link to a page that outlines the evening’s films and points you to tickets:

Purchase tickets

Hope to see you there.

March 18, 2009 – The historical Bookshelf & Ebar, Guelph, ON. I was there. I played it. This is such an inspiration. Great guitar Doug. I chose to be part of this historical musical legacy.

Story:
Doug Larson crafted the guitar from a variety of materials to represent area history, and similar to the Six String Nation guitar that was built by Nova Scotia luthier George Rizsanyi from 60 pieces of Canadiana ranging from Pierre Trudeau’s canoe paddle to Lucy Maud Montgomery’s house.

Start with chunks of wood salvaged from windfall trees. Add a tiny fish fossil, pieces of stone, shells of turtles and mussels, and bits of ivory and ancient cedar and what have you got? It’s a made-in-Guelph guitar, one that its maker hopes will play music and tell tales.

Next Event: April 23, 09 at The CornerStone Café in Guelph, ON. See you all there.

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This will most likely be of no interests to you but I need to get it out… If there’s a God out there; please listen to me… this is all I’m asking for!

I have been feeling so frustrated today and as usual for no valid reason. First off, I woke up way too early. I woke up around 6:50 a.m. which is completely wrong. I can’t wake up this early and be functional. My body just wanted to go back to sleep but it didn’t work. On average; getting up at 7:30 a.m. is a struggle. High five to the ones getting up at 5 am to go to work. Anyhow, so I just got up and thought to myself that if I got up early and got ready quick, leave for work early then I could leave the office early and chill out before heading out to my band’s rehearsal later on tonight. Well, amusingly enough, somehow, the more time I seem to have to get ready, the longer it takes me to walk out of my house. I managed to leave the garage at about 8:20 a.m. I thought I’d be fine driving a certain route but I wasn’t. Usually, to get to the main intersection to get to Leslie and drive up to work, takes me about 5 minutes. This morning, it took me 15. Then traffic was heavy so I thought I’d use a short cut… short cut my arse. Instead of 30-35 minutes to get to the office, it took me over 3000 seconds. I was much aggravated by the time I got to my office.

In addition to all of this, everything was bad news over bad news. Damn radio and news papers. Unfortunately, we can’t just blind fold ourselves and ignore what’s going on in the world. Mind you, when I do that for a while, I usually end up less disturbed and sad. At the moment, it’s all about the election this and election that, and rampage, shootings, and injured child (which horrifies me; I can’t understand how one could hurt a child). Anyway, I’m trying to tell myself to think positive. Still, it continues to haunt me. I decide to phone a good friend of mine to chat a bit and get that crap off my mind. Well, there he is telling me I’m the one putting myself in this state of mind and I’m the one choosing to drive to work and this and that… All I can think of is that, yes, I do understand that I’m the one making those decisions, however, I’m calling you to talk my frustrations out and get it over with. I know dwelling on negative is bad but not acknowledging it and repressing it isn’t any better.

Anyhow, I have this great friend at work and she brightens up my days. Just too bad she isn’t a man…lol – She has this wicked sense of humour, she is brilliant, beautiful inside and outside and just to make her laugh makes me laugh. I pray there is a man out there kind of like her… someone simple, smart, special, very funny and obviously attractive (at least to my eyes).
The good thing about today is that she and I had a good laugh this morning and the thought of rehearsing with my band tonight puts a smile on my soul.

That’s it for now!

Last night was so strange. My first dream was interesting. I was flying over a lake in between 2 cities. I was not a super hero or anything along the lines of that but I had the ability to fly. Then, you know how dreams can be weird, I was in a grocery store and ended up landing on this huge piece of ham. I hate ham!! Ha ha ha

My second dream is the nightmare; I was in a pool which somehow was inside kind of an industrial factory. Then I felt shadows around me. After a few moments I realized they were friends of mine arriving. I couldn’t see them but I could feel them. I kept swimming but left shortly after. The water was clear so I have no worries about that part. Then I walked down the metal staircase and somehow ended up in a hallway of a house. I was just about to go up the stairs when I felt someone behind me. I slightly turned around to see who it was but I couldn’t tell. The person was built and robust so my take would be a man. The yellowish light was shining from behind the man and his face was all shadowy. It was very somber. I offered him to go up first and he waved at me kind of saying “no you go first” but without saying a word. Then I started walking up the stairs when I felt him grabbing aggressively onto my legs to pull me down.

I woke up screaming and freaked out my cats!! Ha ha ha It’s so weird isn’t it. I’m 33 years old and still having nightmares. I must have quite the troubled soul…lol

Do adults still have nightmares or is it just me?

Chief Inspector Hugh Coghill, a 30 year veteran in animal welfare, spearheaded the Society’s input into the development of the Bill. Proposed changes will have the single greatest, positive impact for animals in the province since the Ontario SPCA Act was enacted in 1919. Currently the Ontario SPCA lays more Criminal Code of Canada charges against animal abusers than any other provincial organization, because the Society does not have adequate provincial legislation to effectively deal with animal abuse.

Passage of Bill 50 has become more critical since amendments to the Criminal Code (Bill S-203) were approved by the House of Commons on April 9, 2008. Although Bill S-203 makes some amendments to increase penalties for animal cruelty offences, it fails in a number of critical areas, including closing loopholes in the Criminal Code that make it difficult for enforcement agencies and the courts to convict animal abusers.

The Ontario SPCA looks forward to working with the government in this positive new direction and applauds the Ontario government for its historical commitment to improving animal protection in Ontario.

To support Bill 50, please contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament today! For more information, visit www.ontariospca.on.ca.

Sincerely,

http://www.wspa.ca/news.asp?newsID=140

F*king Olympics!

I have to stop reading this because I’ll ruin my morning good mood!

I find it quite embarrassing. There has been animal cruelty since the dawn of man. Enough is enough. Aren’t we a civilized society? So many of us have little furry companions; one would think that it is time society and politicians work together to make a better tomorrow for our buddies. Where has respect for life gone? This is why Canadian Politics pisses me right off. The UK has some of the strongest laws against animal cruelty and even our fellow Americans are way ahead of us. What the F*ck is going on up here? I recently forwarded a petition to my friends; a list of close to 400 email addresses. Lots of them responded. I was totally pumped until I got an email from NDP explaining the following:

On April 9th, 189 MPs voted in favour of passing Bill S-203 despite strong opposition from every animal welfare group in the country. This weak and ineffective bill retains all of the loopholes in our century-old law, allowing most animal abusers to slip through the cracks unpunished. While the bill establishes stiffer penalties, it will not address the fact that less than 1% of animal cruelty investigations result in a conviction under the Criminal Code.

Needless to say I was more than disappointed. I was hurt. I took a look at my 2 cats and couldn’t imagine someone hurting them. That would be unbearable and I think I could become aggressive myself. I kicked somebody out of my house once for pushing my dog with his foot. Even thought my dog wasn’t harmed, it literally angered me like there’s no tomorrow. I’m very passionate when it comes to animals; sometimes even more than for humans.

Here’s one case amongst hundreds of them why we have got to do something:

Animal cruelty provincial offense charges pending on puppy mill case in Bancroft-area

Newmarket, ON, (April 7, 2008) – Provincial offence charges are pending in a suspected puppy mill case, involving a Bancroft-area resident. 166 dogs of various mixed small breeds, including: poodles, pekinese, terriers and beagles were seized on April 2, 2008.

A search warrant was obtained as a result of an ongoing animal welfare investigation. The Ontario SPCA has been receiving complaints regarding this resident for 12 years. During that time, many orders have been issued and the resident has complied with said orders. Some animals have been seized over the years, but returned as a result of compliance. The Ontario SPCA executed the search warrant in the company of a veterinarian and the OPP.
Upon inspection of the residence, the animals were found to be in very poor condition, some suffering from dehydration, anemia, lethargy and parasites. Some required immediate medical intervention and were removed to a local veterinary clinic for treatment. Additional medical tests are being performed. The facility also lacked proper ventilation and had extremely poor sanitation. The investigative team was unable to enter the facility without proper protection due to the lack of ventilation. The animals were also wading in liquid feces.

Thanks to the Ontario SPCA’s network of over 50 shelters across the province; the animals have been placed in York Region, Napanee, Brockville, Bellville, Renfrew, Kingston, St Catherines and others. The investigation has been a collaborative effort between many Branches and Affiliates, both in the seizure and placement of the animals.

Provincial offense charges under the current Ontario SPCA Act are pending. It is likely that the Animal Care Review Board, a voluntary committee set up by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, will determine the fate of the animals. If the seizure is determined to be justified, the accused may be required to surrender the animals who will then be available for adoption. If convicted, the accused may face up to two years in jail and a fine of $60,000.

About Puppy Mills

Puppy mills and kitten mills are a concern because of the mass numbers of animals involved and the degree of cruelty that these animals are subjected to through filthy living conditions, malnutrition, mass breeding and lack of veterinary care.

Mills are not reputable breeders. They are profit driven, clandestine operations that are not concerned with the welfare of the animals. Many mills are located in remote, rural areas, where their activities can be more easily hidden. Mill operators manipulate an unknowing public who think that they are buying animals from reputable breeders.

To report animal cruelty, please contact the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-668-7722 or visit www.ontariospca.ca to learn more about critical animal welfare issues.

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Let’s keep on putting pressure for the government to do something about it. Click on the link below and find out whether your MP voted for or against the bill. If your MP voted in favour of passing Bill S-203, send them a nice note to let them know how much you are disappointed.

http://www.wspa.ca/index.asp

In a box of treasure
You buried your smile
In the land of misery
You sent your mind into exile
But don’t hide away
Show me your bruise
I can help you mend
Just stretch out your hand

Spring rains
Wash down the plains
Soon will come brighter days
Let your tears pour away
Like spring rains

Days are warming up
Flowers blooming everywhere
Feel my skin on yours
I know you know that I care
Don’t hide away
Show me your bruise
I can help you mend
Just stretch out your hand

Spring rains
Wash down the plains
Soon will come brighter days
Let your tears pour away
Like spring rains

Your trust’s been poisoned
They stole your freedom
But look around,
I’m solid ground

Spring rains
Wash down the plains
Soon will come brighter days
Let your tears pour away
Like spring rains

This song is dedicated to my friend Susanne and my sister Julie for their strength and determination.

www.numberonemusic.com/pascallabillois

You’re more than beautiful
I can’t find the words
So I’ll grab the dictionary
While you’re looking at the birds
You’re like a photograph
That fits in any frame
Your smarts can twist the usual
And put a clever mind to shame

You don’t see it
You don’t see it

Each night you ride alone
Your heart and soul at ease
On the train of thoughts you roll
You are fulfilling a dream

You don’t see it
You don’t see it

Your clever eyes
Rhyme with hypnotize
If dark clouds fell on you
I swear you’d shine through

Oh I see it
Yes I see it.