Summer...where did it go?

Happened pretty quick didn't it...I won't lie, I'm a little bummed out that the weather has gotten cooler and the sun is setting quicker. People are getting sick easier. Still, it's fun to see all the new students, bright-eyed and bushy tailed walking through the McGill ghetto, getting to know the city for the first time. It's time for change.

This is the portion of my blog I am calling "Random Pics of Summer". So many amazing things happened and I just didn't have time to talk about them all. Here are a few of them:

This is my friend Mat (www.matjash.com) I have known him since I was nine years old. Mat continues to have a wonderful, adventurous dance career. He's an amazing Choreographer and happened to be in Montreal performing with Marie Chouinard. We don't see much of each other these days but when we do it's as though little time has passed which says to me that our bond is strong.

This picture was taken at the "W" Hotel. I met Kafi when I was doing the Lion King. She is a talented dancer with a beautiful spirit. I wouldn't say we were ever really close when we worked together. And while I lived in New York she was performing on Broadway in Bombay Dreams. But New York has a way of keeping everyone busy and I never really saw her while I was there. She was on tour with Cirque du Soleil's Delirium and was only in Montreal for a short while to learn Dralion. I remember that when we met up for dinner, I had party all night (and all morning) so I was pretty shot. But it was so great to speak with her and share everything we had gone through over the last five years. We only had the opportunity to hang out twice while she was here but it was really special for me to hang out with her. In this picture she's with her friend Anika.

"Go Alouettes!" Marie-Eve, Julie and my sis Liz watching and away game. I am so excited to spin for the Gey Cuy this year!

Steve Lawler @ Tribe Hyperclub.What can I say? I was so excited to see him spin in Montreal. I was disappointed that I couldn't make it to Toronto to see him spin at Guvernment but his set at Tribe was on point and everyone was feeling the vibe. Good night.

This man is my heart. Brendan and I don't speak that much anymore which is why it meant so much to me that he texted me while he was in Montreal for an audition. We got to hang out a little bit and catch up which was beyond special to me. We just hung out, walked around, chatted and ate. I love this guy.

Hanging out with Mistaya in Old Port Prior to this photo being taken I made Mistaya try on a pair of Crocs that we both agreed were the ugliest things on the planet. The minute she tried them on her entire expression changed. "Mark, you don't understand. They are SO ugly. But I feel like I'm walking on clouds." We have a date to go to the Crocs store to buy a pair. Don't tell anyone.

On a rainy day in August, this many people and then some congregated to Parc Jean Drapeau to watch one of the best bands on the earth, Radiohead. I admit, I don't know their new album very well. And even though it was raining and everyone's shoes were covered in mud, nothing beats hearing Thom Yorke sing Fake Plastic Trees while Fireworks were going off in the distance for the final night of the Festival of Lights. Coincidence? I think not. An amazing moment of the Summer.
My sister, Frances who came with me to the concert





Of course I wish there were many more days to just hang out with friends and explore the city but even just looking at the pictures makes me think that I had a pretty good summer overall. I did have a chance to go to Toronto for a few days (which I will blog about soon, I hope!) and me and my sister just moved to a new apartment. All in all I am still enjoying my life here in Montreal. Of course it has its ups and downs but more often than not I feel extremely blessed. I can't wait to see what the next few months brings...

(thank you all for being patient with my blog. I wish I had the time to write more and I promise to do so in the future)