The Toast of Birthdays Past.doc

So I've polluted my itunes playlist with Celine Dion, Alanis Morisette, and Shania Twain. That's right. I've gone all this time without any of their sultry vocals (with good reason I would add). I'm swallowing my pride and downloading some of their greatest hits for our Canadian themed party tomorrow night. We're gearing up for some stellar Canadian birthday celebrations. I think it's a pretty funny theme, and come to think of it, it will without a doubt be the only time I can get away with a Canadian themed birthday, or a Canadian themed party for that matter. How weird would it be to do this kind of thing in Toronto? So I say let Celine, Alanis, and Shania come (they've been requested). They'll just have to live alongside my much more privileged Arcade Fire, Tragically Hip, Trews, and Hawksley. I haven't been taking many photos the past month so tomorrow's party will be an occasion to get a little snap happy. The new MAIPRS are joining us as well so we're expecting a group of about 25 - our posh little pad will be packed.

The dissertation work has stalled a bit since the London venture. This happened when I got through the last chapter. On one hand I'm really happy to have chugged through it, but on the other I have no idea where to start with the next one. I mean, I have a rough context and an artistic performance, but as far as starting with the blank screen, it just takes a few days to ease into it. Unfortunately, the few days spent 'easing' into it will ease right into birthday celebrations and derail the momentum. I've decided that's alright. Come the Sunday after my birthday I can get back on the wagon and power through. Thankfully, my growing works citing is hitting all of the performance studies big names so I think that's a decent sign. You must be strategic of course - a dash here, a dash there.

I've developed a wee addiction while living in Leamington. It's one I never thought I'd acquire. I'm addicted to the gym. Saying it like that may sound that I'm bragging about my devotion and dedication to a task some would choose a lobotomy over, but it's really true. I've become a convert. If I go a day without going, I feel a bit less than myself. I've only really taken a day off if I've gone to London, had a visitor, or the odd night we've got a big one planned. The days that are busy I've usually been able to squeeze it in early in the morning or late in the evening. It has also grown into a gym visit rather than just a pop in - I spend about two hours a day in there. It's not that I'm pounding the weights looking for a crazy 180 transformation (far from it). It's simply that it's a place in the city I want to be each day. The people are friendly, it feels good to get exercise, the water facilities truly live up to the 'spa' in the latter part of the city, and I feel like a million bucks walking out of that place. I've never been in better shape physically. And I've learned a lot more about fitness - it's like a full time job for some of these guys. I've been blazing my own trail and learning some of the rules as I go along, but to build real muscle it takes insane dedication to a demanding routine. That's not really the schedule I'm looking for, you also have to increase your calorie intake immensely. I've also read that you shouldn't mix cardio if you're trying to bulk up, and I like my cardio. I've gone from being able to jog on the treadmill from 10 to 20 to 30 minutes at 10km an hour. My goal before leaving Leam is to be able to hit 10km in 50 minutes. Bottom line, the steam room after a work out is my favourite spot in Leamington.

On the eve of the celebration of my 25th year (that is just as hard to type as it is to say out loud) I'm reminded of some great birthdays in the past few years.

19th: Appropriately, I turned 19 in my first year of University. There's a fantastic photo of my floor from that year crowding in my room to sing me Happy Birthday before we all departed for Thanksgiving. I also received a very special pink birthday card by Meg and Emma who showed up in PJs and tams to celebrate. Emma drew the card and Meg has regretted giving her that job every since. I received the Thinker (my favourite statue) from my parents that year.

20th: This was a great celebration with some second year friends. I remember dinner and drinks with Meg, Emma, Colt, Devon, and Ryan at that swanky place on Wellington with great cocktails. I'm so old I don't even remember what it's called. We then went to Stages where I remember seeing Hinckster and meeting Bronwyn for the first time. It's always nice that my birthday falls on Thanksgiving, because I get to celebrate with family and friends.

21th: Third year was insanely busy, but I remember a cast celebration at Three Sisters when a cake was presented aptly during a rehearsal for the cast dinner scene. Unexpected, but a welcome surprise. We also went out on the town in Kingston before the annual Thanksgiving departure.

22nd: The timing of my birthday was not ideal this year. After celebrating with the family back in Thorold, I made my way to Kingston for rehearsals of Henry V. After loading into the car with Jono, Sasha, and Kat we suffered through a day of rehearsals on the Monday. Thankfully, the cast celebrated that evening with a joint Thanksgiving - Birthday party in my honour. That was a special year for a few reasons.

23rd: Before heading home for Thanksgiving this year, I was in rehearsals for Source of Gravity. Thinking I was heading home to a quiet night in with just Emily and Emma (with larger birthday plans for the evening), I opened the front door to over twenty-five friends who had convinced me they weren't around for a weekday celebration. It was like an out of body experience - a surprise birthday like that only comes around once, maybe twice, a lifetime.

24th: It was tough celebrating my birthday away from family and friends for the very first time, and with new friends I had only know for a month. But we had a great night at the Varsity - there were friends from over a dozen countries playing drinking games in my honour. How's that not great for new European experiences?

Wishing I could celebrate my quarter century with all of you back home, but I know that you'll be thinking about me on Friday. Miss you all.

Doc's Prescription of the Day: The office is closed in preparation for a landmark anniversary - get your prescriptions elsewhere. Open this Sunday!