Blog Guelph: Hillside Inside Out

Stage, Hillside Inside, Guelph, ON, originally uploaded by oliverstreetphoto.

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.

-Bob Marley-

The 5th annual Hillside Inside is returning to warm the cockles of your February hearts, rock the core, and in a very Hillside fashion, offer you community-livening activities sure to feed your lovely, lovely souls.

Sadly for some, tonight's River Run show of The Wooden Sky, Dan Mangan and Guelph's own Lowlands is sold out; but fear not, lovers of all things Hillsidey - there are some tix still available for the St. George's Church event tomorrow afternoon. The brilliant Kim Churchill plus Harry Manx will fill the Sanctuary with shockingly gorgeous sound.

It doesn't stop there, Festival of Moving Media folks are playing this film Saturday night, also at the River Run Centre, and if you're wondering what to do with your day, there's a dizzying array of NFB Shorts for Children, Curling at Market Square, learning how to make pasta, and so on, and so on....
Do consult this, the festival program .

Culture does indeed live in Downtown Guelph.

-Downtown Lynn-

Blog Guelph: Hillside Inside Out

front row seats II, originally uploaded by oliverstreetphoto.

Blog Guelph: Hillside Inside Out

Hillside Inside, originally uploaded by rbhamjee.

Blog Guelph: Hillside Inside Out

Delhi-2-Dublin, Hillside Inside 3, Feb 2010, DSC_1917, originally uploaded by sidrguelph.

Blog Guelph: Hillside Inside Out

Hillside Inside: Xavier Rudd, originally uploaded by downtownlynn.

Blog Guelph: Hillside Inside Out

Faithful Sidekick, originally uploaded by peterkelly.

Blog Guelph: You Are Not Alone

The Water Whisperer, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

My dog was having some trouble breathing this morning. He’s ten and I guess, despite being in top mental and physical shape, his heart is failing him. But he’s been my friend for a decade and the thought of not having him there someday is something I don’t know how to even think about.  I can’t imagine what it will mean to find myself without him.

But I know. I know that there are other people like me out there that have dogs. Who love them just the same. And so, I also know…

I am not alone.

Later this morning I attended a panel discussion on how to make the culture of innovation more present in our community. The discussion was led by Mayor Farbridge, Lloyd Longfield, Kirk Roberts, and Erin Skimson.  The conversation of innovation was clearly about collaboration; about overcoming roadblocks and reaching out across divides; about caring enough to take someone’s hand when they have offered it. About having the courage to create deeper relationships.

Creativity and love are not so different. They both require communities, participants, dedication, risk. But they do not thrive when they are not shared. And I know that operating as individuals, we are alone. And so, I also know that in being part of a strong community…

We are not alone.

I have lost friends to depression - they felt so deeply alone.  And I have lost friends to drugs and to alcohol. Not because they were the life of the party, but because they felt alone.

Aloneness is a deeper issue than I can even begin to touch on. It has so many faces and levels. A human river - it runs through us all. But in so doing, it builds the banks and tributaries of our communities and defines our human possibility. It drives us to connect with the vaster waters; to be part of the bigger sea.

Yes, we will face challenges today and tomorrow and thereafter. Life is hard. For everyone.

But please know. No matter what.

You are not alone.

Hey and I hope you'll join the Community Bear Hug on Monday, February 20 at 2pm. I’d like to see you and to share in a few moments of Guelph joy and comradery.

~ Aidan M.D. Ware

Blog Guelph: You Are Not Alone

Her name is Dusty, a photo by Dom Cruz on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: You Are Not Alone

Everybody Loves Their Grandma, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: You Are Not Alone

Captive Audience, a photo by Dom Cruz on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: You Are Not Alone

New Friend, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: You Are Not Alone

Resistence, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Please ring the doorbell to gain entrance

Please ring the doorbell to gain entrance, originally uploaded by thomevered.

It's the 'better late than never' Wednesday blog post brought to you by Sue - due to the fact that our sweet Bunny is under the weather!

And what crappy weather to be under....

Be well fair Guelphites! Be well Bunny.

Sue Richards

Blog Guelph: Macdonell Street

Macdonell Street, originally uploaded by felixtrio.

Blog Guelph: A Moment Brought to You By Sister Mary Louise

A Moment Brought to You By Sister Mary Louise, originally uploaded by Karen Brodie.

Blog Guelph: Red Red Window

Red Red Window, originally uploaded by Krista Kruger.

Blog Guelph: Winter At Last!!!

Snow day, a photo by kim/ber on Flickr.

Happy Tuesday!

A late one for me too. It seems that some weeks, Tuesdays sneak up on me from out of nowhere. Today, was one of those days.

While searching for inspiration, I was taken by the incredible images of winter Kim has captured with her iphone.

I love each and every one of them, because they convey the cold, snowy winter I have been longing for. The bluish tones and sparkly snow, remind me that even on a day like today (when the temperature was close to 10 and sunny!) there is still a lot more winter to come.

See you all next Tuesday :)

Krista

Blog Guelph: Winter At Last!!!

The new Guelph Civic Museum near the Church of our Lady, a photo by kim/ber on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Winter At Last!!!

Goldie Mill Park, a photo by kim/ber on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Winter At Last!!!

The river today, a photo by kim/ber on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Winter At Last!!!

Goldie Mill Park, a photo by kim/ber on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Winter At Last!!!

I'm always drawn to the river, a photo by kim/ber on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Promise

This is a bit far ahead but I'm thinking that folks might make plans for Family Day ( February 20th ) so I'm tooting my horn early. Is this self serving - why yes, yes it is.

Dr. Frances Turk hosts an Annual Family Dodge Ball Tournament Fundraiser for me at her Rockwood clinic that is very fun and most helpful. I'd be pleased if you joined us.

Monday February 20th,
noon - 3pm.
$5.00 per person plus pledges
Rockwood Naturopathic Clinic
4200 25th Side Road, RR#2, Rockwood,
Tel: 519-853-2443

If you do Facebook, check in here.

You see, I'm currently unable to work due to illness and I have not been able to collect any disability insurance. My career as a community artist was rich but not so much in the monitory sense. Friends set up the HelpingFriends.ca website for me a couple of years ago - people subscribe and make a regular monthly payment of $10.00 or $20.00 dollars to my PayPal account - and somehow I manage to keep a roof over my  head and the wolves from the door. It's a friggin miracle and a strong example of why Guelph gets top Canadian dibs on Most Caring Community. I'm deeply grateful.

Today's lead image by Doug England struck me by it's simple contrast - the permanence of the brick wall and the promise of a clear blue sky. Following this - I dug up some old winter photos for you to frolic through.

Happy Monday.

Sue Richards

Blog Guelph: Snow Wave

Blog Guelph: Memories

Blog Guelph: Snowing Again....

Blog Guelph: Guelph Snow

Blog Guelph: Snow Cat

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

22:366 blurry girl on a bright, cold January morning, originally uploaded by M Pod.

The irony of today's blog, Moving Forward..., is that I've been hijacked, waylaid and sidetracked all day. This often happens in my line of work.

I was going to tell you about how I believe the fact that I've spent a good chunk of my younger years travelling through various continents in the back seat of a stationwagon - facing backwards no less- has shaped who I am.
Not defined me, but shaped me.
And I think for the better.
True, I glimpsed what my family also did but after they had seen it.
I saw what they saw but from a different perspective.
Just how was this beneficial?
It gave me a unique take on the world.
Offered me time for my thoughts, a safe solitude, a great sense of independence.
Head space. Reading time. Dream time.
Reflection.
That said, I'm a big believer in moving forward. I just don't think one is capable of doing so without looking back for clarity.

As I've said ad nauseum, we're going to boogie on down in the downtown tonight with a Fourth Friday Disco on Ice party at Market Square. Weather permitting, Spank! the band will be playing authentic disco tunes at 8pm. Truth.

In other downtown news, our beloved Bookshelf is leaping into the future.

Yet again.

Moving forward, straight ahead.

-Downtown Lynn-

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

Dreaming of a warmer place, originally uploaded by Dom Cruz.

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

In My Dream, I Can't Run Away, originally uploaded by PhotoFinish001.

Blog Guelph: Move Forward, Straight Ahead

lace 'em up, originally uploaded by D J England.

Tonight!

Disco on Ice at Market Square for our very first Fourth Friday of January!