Monday, January 23, 2012

Gettting Rubbed the Right Way

Dear Madonna,

I barely had time to unpack my suitcase after ACC in Houston, do laundry, and re-pack for SwingVoucour in Vancouver.  More than just a dance trip, I was overseeing the delivery of the event (as I'd booked the hotel), and took the time to conduct site inspections at six other hotels, both downtown and in Richmond. I took a client to lunch, met a colleague for dinner, and saw Bob Saget of all people perform at the Rver Rock Resort & Casino. My night at the beautiful Hotel Georgia afforded me the opportunity to swim in their saltwater lap pool, and have their driver, Jim, chauffeur me around in a Bentley! I got to get together with my first dance instructor, Graeme and his wife, Elizabeth, and was invited to help teach a couple of classes, but opted to get to the airport early and get some work down before my red-eye back to Toronto.

I knew I'd be feeling rough after a weekend of dancing, lack of sleep, and sitting all cramped up on a plane for four+ hours, so I'd booked a massage that the Stillwater Spa in the Hyatt - paid for in part by a gift certificate from one of my favourite sales people.  My massseur, a tall, Eastern Eureopean man, introduced himself and - even after asking him to say his name again - I swear he said Steely Dan.

Steely Dan had some smooth jazz playing in the treatment room and asked me if that was okay. He thanked me when I said yes, and didn't ask for "frogs and waterfalls".  I went for the eucalyptus-scented oil, even though I couldn't smell it, and gave the go-ahead for both scalp and glute massage.

To tell you the truth, I'm a little nervous about getting massages - not about being touched - but perhaps being touched too deeply.  On more than one occasion I've started crying during a massage, and afterward I sometimes feel sick. 

But Steely Dan did an amazing job. I swear he pulled out some moves I've never experienced before. And, of course, I've been a basket case ever since - but in a good way.





  

Thursday, January 12, 2012

2012 - Bring It On!

Dear Madonna,

I was in Montreal just before Christmas and I picked up a copy of the free newspaper Metro (Métro in French, with an accent aigu). *You* were on the cover, and inside there was an article:  Le retour de Madonna - all about how you were going to dominate the news in  2012. I was able to read the piece, even though it was in French, and actually noticed a few similarities.

Une nouvelle tournee    A new tour?  Me too!  I'm starting the Masters Tour this weekend with my new partner, Larry (since The Meat lost all interest in competing or dancing West Coast Swing at all).  Larry and I have been working together on a beautiful routine since last February and we're putting it on the floor for the first time competing against our peers at the America's Classic Championships (ACC) in Houston. Wish us luck!

Un nouveau film    W.E., which premiered at TIFF, I think, will be released in 2012. Congrats! I expect to be working with my Diva Productions partner, Shelley, on a cool corporate Flash Mob project (building on something we did last year) which will be filmed and shared through social media sites. I'll keep you posted.

Une nouvelle fragrance   Well, you've got me there. I stopped wearing perfume about three years ago, when I lost my sense of smell. :(

Une novel album     It's been more than three years since Hard Candy came out in 2008 - the same year as JulieFest. I'm sure that's why you couldn't make it to my party....

De nouvelles amies     As part of "Project Snowball" (inspired by Parker Dearborn's "Project Swing") I started offering free beginner classes, with Shelley's help, on the first Tuesday of the month. The momentum is growing and I'm developing strategic relationships and exploring exciting new marketing opportunities all the time. 

ET LE SUPER BOWL!     With Cirque de Soleil? Sounds like it's going to be awsesome! If you want to watch *me* this weekend check out the free UStream link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/americas-classic-free-channel (We're in Texas, so the U.S. Central Time Zone, or GMT - 6:00)