danielbaylis.ca

C’est lundi!

That’s French for “Oh, crap!”

I’ve gathered up my office (laptop, iPhone, scooter), and headed up to Le Dépanneur Café in Mile End (corner Bernard & l’Esplanade) for an afternoon of writing and listening to the live music. I need more live music in my life.

As you can see, behind me there’s a man. This man’s name is Adam, and he’s groovin’ along on the bass. He also plays alto sax, and has looped some interesting beats, creating a layered one-man jam.  I’m digging what he does. Our creativity is only limited by our imaginations.

It was indeed a busy past few days for Mr. Baylis (that’s me). I was lucky to be the “able homo-guide” to one of America’s most celebrated and influential gay bloggers, Joe Jervis from Joe.My.God. We bounced all around the city, riding bixis and scooters, sampling some delicious eats (Garde-Manger & O’Thym), hiking on the mountain and checking out the action at Divers/Cité.  I believe I was able to seduce him to the charms of Montreal.

I’ve decided to take the day off from my official work with Tourisme Montreal, as it has been many weeks without ‘unplugging.’ I can’t underemphasize the importance of stepping away from time to time. Plus, I think it’s important for my Facebook and Twitter crews to not always be bombarded with ‘Daniel Baylis’ updates. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.

Hold on, someone’s waving at me.

[five minute pause]

Wow. Small world. At the table next to me was an old acquaintance from my early days as a treeplanter. I spent four summers in my early twenties, re-foresting massive stretches of land that were logged. It was challenging, unglamorous work. Anyway, the fellow at hand, Devon, has been in town for the weekend’s Osheaga Music festival. While I had my nose in my computer, apparently he was staring at me trying to remember how he knew me, then decided to grab my attention. And I’m glad he did.

I am fascinated by the fluidity of life, how we meet and bond and drift and reunite.

Anyway, I’ve got a new project brewing that I wanted to share. As many folks know, I am quickly reaching the end of my “twenties” – on November 24, I’ll be turning thirty. I approach this with a certain sense of optimism. Most of my friends are in their 30s or 40s, and attest to the greater amount of self-confidence and pleasure that age is bringing them. And they laugh at me when I raise the subject of the impending big three-oh; I run the risk of  infantilizing myself by even talking about it this minor milestone here.

But I’m going to mention one age-related project that I’m about to endeavour upon. I want to run a marathon before November 24. It is a desperate attempt to obtain one last pin on my twenties merit badge. I’m in the process of deciding which race I will run, or how I might incorporate some sort of partnership to raise money for a charity. But stay tuned. Now that I’ve put it out to the universe, there is no turning back.

Yes. No turning back. I will curse this moment at some point in the near future, I am sure.

So Adam has finished his hour of saxin’ and bassin’, and now J.B. has taken the stage with his acoustic guitar. He’s got a deliciously raspy voice and some talented fingers, and he’s singing folky standards: Angel From Montgomery (John Prine), Bad Timing (Blue Rodeo), Cannonball (Damien Rice), Jolene (Ray LaMontagne).

It’s like J.B. has the recipe for reducing me to tears. I’m a bit in love with him at this moment.

Have a lovely week. And if you can, take an hour to enjoy the music.

xoxo

Daniel

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