Right, so the last time I wrote the heading was “Cuz It’s Summer”and today it’s November 15th. Why the gap? Disinterested or preoccupied? Nahh.Lazy? Only mildly. Wot then?
Busy! Man, I’m doing more now than I was BC (Before Crash).Everything is on the table, nothing is impossible. With so much time since mylast news I’ll have to settle for a few highlight items.
Last message I described the play in which I’d be acting, aHighlands Summer Theatre production of “Looking”. It ran two weeks inmid-summer and we made a success; acting was a new thrilling experience that Idare say would do again in a heartbeat. It finished up with great reviews forme and my capable castmates, and commitments to audition next season. Let’shope time permits because I am so there.
I’ve been busy with all kinds of gigs. Many shows were LuckyDog promos. My trio with Mark and Tim got a few gigs together, always groundingfor me; also had the pleasure of filling in for a few shows with my old friendsfrom Hotel California. Ahh, musicians; what good people. . I even played theTIFF gala (seen at left) where I met Sarah Polley and Liona Boyd. That samenight I met Federal NDP member for Rouge Valley Rathika Sitsabaiesan, animpressive young woman with whom I share the birthdate Dec. 23. Fun!
I’m still wrapping up my book, “Strange Way to Live”. To that end I had a meeting with a publisherwhich helped propel me to the finish line. Soon, I promise.
With Andy Steve and Dave I went to England to bring ConeyHatch to the mother country for the first time ever. At rehearsals we laugheduntil our heads and stomachs hurt; there are no friends like old friends. OurEnglish show at Firefest in Nottingham? Another success on the year’s ledger sheetand, coupled with the show at Burlington Boston Manor just before we left, thatweek reached a high water mark for Coney Hatch performances. Talk of a returndate and even of a record deal was uttered. Ssshhh….stop that now. That’s howrumours get started. Look for more from us next year.
My wife and girls met me in England after they’d had awhirlwind tour of Paris (one of my daughter Lauren’s showbiz connections). Onceunited, we had family holiday fun in England for about a week. It was a greattime seeing the sights of “Blighty” together: Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace,Big Ben, Sherlock Holmes Museum, etc.
I’m loving the Christmas album that I initially had to be talkedinto and am now claiming was my idea (thank you Betty). As the Yuletide seasonnears I’ve just completed the production of SNOW. My description is either “Awintery Christmas album” or “A Christmassy winter album”… or maybe “An albummywinter Christmas”.
Good clean fun, nobody got hurt in the making of it (exceptmaybe a few tins of Maxwell House) and the listening tells the tale. I get awarm sentimental feeling when I listen to the finished music, like the one Iget when I think about childhood Christmases. Find out more at carldixon.com.There are samples posted of all the songs so you can hear for yourself, and youcan order direct in time for the holidays. Pre-orders have begun thru the storeon my site. Songs like Let It Snow, Bring a Torch and Snow are creating aclassic sounding album that won’t wear out over the years.
Like I don’t have enough on the go; I will be staging CarlDixon’s Christmas Show on December 15th at the Northern Lights Pavilionin Haliburton. “A rousing evening’s entertainment”: I said that.
My radio show Carl Dixon’s Rock Garden on CANOE-FMhas been picked up for rebroadcast by four other stations in Canada and now, asa direct result of my appearance in England, it’s also on ARFM in the UK.People seem to like Rock Garden so I’m glad to do it.
An unexpected but lovely development has occurred. My oldhigh school, Barrie District North Collegiate, has made this year’s Wall ofHonour recipient (ahem) ME. It is a recognition of accomplishment by BDNCgraduates, so I am right chuffed about the whole thing (look it up). I hope Ihave something suitable to wear.
This month our family and this world bid adieu to mygrandmother Hella Magi, who would have been 101 in January. She will always beone of my heroes. My Aunt Mary, one of the finest of the Dixons, also left usthis autumn. Both ladies will be remembered and cherished.
The home stretch of 2011 lies before us, let’s makesomething good with it! My continuing best wishes to all of you,
