Category Archives: My mother

Study Acting with Cynthia Ashperger

Posted on January 17, 2024 by barczablog

This is both a trip down memory lane and an attempt to promote some acting classes. When I saw that Cynthia Ashperger is offering acting classes my first impulse was to check my schedule. I’ve worked with her before as … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, My mother, Press Releases and Announcements, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Telling stories of dogs and gods

Posted on January 19, 2023 by barczablog

Anecdotes are one sort of story. For example I heard that in 2020 COVID caused a surge in canine adoptions. Later I heard there was a flood in reverse, dogs being given up when people changed their minds. No I … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, My mother | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rebuilding Janise: Andrew Smith’s labour of love

Posted on July 24, 2022 by barczablog

The cover picture is a disturbing metaphor for its subject. In 1992 Andrew and Janise were married. This poem “What Once Was”, is by Andrew Smith, posted in July 2022 on Facebook. what once was; is so long ago.two fools, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Food, Health and Nutrition, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Toronto Choral Society – Mozart Requiem

Posted on May 26, 2022 by barczablog

I had my first experience with Toronto Choral Society last night at Eastminster United Church on Danforth. Holly Chaplin’s page on Facebook (where my review of the weekend opera was shared) told me that she and Joshua Clemenger (also in … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Music and musicology, My mother, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons of the Paralympics

Posted on March 9, 2022 by barczablog

As usual I’ve been watching tv with my mom when I visit her to bring her lunch and dinner. During the Winter Olympics she would sometimes get up in the night to watch opening or closing ceremonies, given the time … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Sports | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Chatting with Bruce McGillivray about the German bow, music and rehabilitation

Posted on February 28, 2022 by barczablog

After a short stay in Mt Sinai after collapsing in early September, my mother went to Bridgepoint Hospital for rehab, gradually seeking to re-cover her mobility with the help of physical therapy. The beautiful view through the window lifts patients’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Interviews, Music and musicology, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2021 False starts and #BellLetsTalk

Posted on January 26, 2022 by barczablog

That may be the goofiest headline I’ve ever written. I waited to post my review of 2021 until today for a couple of reasons, although the main one is simple. 2021 was not a normal year, not one where I … Continue reading →

Posted in My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception | Leave a comment

Things we do for love

Posted on January 15, 2022 by barczablog

This is a brief tale of tail, concerning two things that really happened to me recently. Event #1 was on Thursday when I was at my mom’s giving her lunch and dinner, as I will do a few times per … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Missing church

Posted on January 1, 2022 by barczablog

The last thing I posted had the word “missing” in the title. A few days ago I wrote a rambly thing as I thought about a canceled show and one of its canceled performers, pushed off the stage by contagious … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Levity in Longevity  

Posted on October 23, 2021 by barczablog

I’m not a philosopher although I do enjoy asking questions. “Longevity” has nine letters, including the six letters of “levity”.  Is a sense of humour the secret to a long life? All I know right now is that I’m confronted … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , | 6 Comments