Jazzy_T Newsletter

Well hello again everybody.  Welcome to Version 6.2 of the «Jazzy_T Newsletter»

Many of you may not have heard from me since Christmas, so I hope and trust the family is well, and that you had a prosperous first half of 2003, a Happy Easter, an Awesome Canada Day, and all that jazz.

Others will not have seen an edition of this Newsletter since last August (or ever).  Welcome (back).

Basically, this is a biennial newsletter to keep all you wonderful people up-to-date with my life.  I encourage you all to do the same -- or at least write back and keep in touch.

In this edition of «Jazzy_T»

The Latest News.

Well... Since last August I've finished yet another rewarding year at the University of British Columbia studying Chemistry (apparently).  But I'd rather say that I have another year of incredible experience under my belt!  I took a Music History course which I found fascinating, but incredibly difficult: memorising the chants of the medieval catholic mass.  Also I took an equally insightful history course covering western European history since the Black Plague.  Of course, I also took plenty of chemistry and mathematics of equal enlightenment.

But, the most important educational endeavour that I undertook this past year was that of holding the position of House President for my Dormitory.  I learned all about policies and protocols of councils (and you thought that Canada Post was slow!)  I must say that I have a much greater appreciation for and grip on politics.  I learned how to properly organise and run a dance party and beer gardens, as well as manage fiscal budgets, etc.  But most importantly I gained more leadership qualities than I could have ever hoped for, or thought were possible to achieve.
Through my initiatives as a representative on the Place Vanier Residents' Association, I was afforded a spot in the UBC Residence Life Delegation that travelled to the North West Residents Life Leadership Conference hosted this year by Western Washington University.  More on this subject in the next section.

Also-- as another part of my undying addiction to Rez Life at Place Vanier, I performed in my first Musical Theatre Production in March.  I played the part of Barnaby in the Musical Comedy The Baker's Wife.  It was here, as part of this cast, that I learned not only how to sing, but dance too!  Cool, eh?
So, ya.  Rez Life is my thing.  It's all about Rez Life, as my next column suggests.

Exam period was the worst ever, but thems the breaks, eh?  THEN, the Canucks disappointed us yet again.  But at the very least, after exams, my first week of May was spent on a true vacation.  I didn't start work until May 9th...

My dad and I took off in his Motorhome, and hit the road due east; we let the wind take us wherever it blew.  Through Manning Park and past Princeton we trekked. We camped at the Stemwinder Provincial Park in Headley.  Then off through Keremeos, Osoyoos, Greenwook, Grand Forks, Trail, and Castlegar to Nelson where we spent a couple days camped on the lake and touring the little city.  Then out to Balfour, around the Kootney Glacier through Kaslo and New Denver, up to Nakusp and then down to the Needles Ferry and across Arrow Lake back into the Okanagan.  We stayed at the Washtock Family Dairy Farm in Grindrod-Enderby, outside of Salmon Arm for a few nights before returning to Maple Ridge and reality via Kamloops, Merrit and the Coquihalla.  The Kootneys were an incredible eye-opener to me.  A part of our own backyard I had hardly been aware of.  A truly Canadian region in all respects I found.  Wonderfully friendly people and splendidly beautiful natural scenery.  Any road trip should include these charming towns.

Well, the vacation did end, and work started, but not before a couple incredible dramatic performances.  Mission Secondary took on Shakespeare this spring in the best form yet.  Twelfth Night; or As You Like It was the most delicious comedy to grace the stage of the studio theatre so far in its ever-growing history.  Bard is back, and better than before.  And if two weeks of that wasn't enough to satisfy the appetite of the avid theatre-goer like myself, than the following week's performance of Daniel McIvor's Never Swim Alone, set on the same stage, sure did!  More on this topic to follow...

So you can see that I always find a way to maintain a busy schedule.

Yo, Ho! Yo, Ho!  The Residence Life for me!

Ya so did I mention how much I love Rez Life!?  Honestly, either they shouldn't give out degrees to people who didn't live on campus at least one year of their degree, or residents should graduate with some sort of honours or special suffix after their name as part of their diploma.  e.g. Trevor Barry, B.Sc., R.L.
So I mentioned earlier about how I really got involved in Residence Life this last year.  I had always had an outside interest in pursuing a career in Advising, but nothing could have confirmed this thought in my mind as much as having gone to NWRRLC, which I also mentioned earlier.
So I applied to be an advisor, and I got the job... but let me explain...
Let me indulge some of you a little further into the facts and figures of this fortunate finding...
As a resident living under UBC Housing authority on Campus, you are bind by certain rules and regulations outlined in your residence contract as to how you can operate and behave in "rez".  There are certain "standards" which are expected to be upheld.  Basically these standards touch bases on a few important themes.  The property, privacy, and dignity of others are to be protected, i.e. no one shall steal, bother, or harass another person in residence.  There are certain social standards to be maintained in rez including no smoking, no possession of drugs, weapons, or other "contraband".  There are limits on the use of alcohol in residence, i.e. where it can be handled or consumed, and under what circumstances.  As well, there are certain academic protocols that need to be met by students living in rez, the most popular one being sure that noise level is at a reasonable volume so that others can study, and that during "study hours" or "quiet hours" there is no excess noise being made while others may need study or sleep.
As an advisor, it is your duty to enforce these rez standards by being accommodated in residence alongside regular residents.
Basically I am paid a salary (which is designed to cover my costs of rent and dining which I will still pay) to live alongside other residents and maintain standards.  I am also there as the name "advisor" suggests, as somebody that residents can come to if they have a concern with something, or just need a shoulder to lean on so-to-speak.  Of course, contrary to popular belief, this is not a "military police" nor "hallway monitor" position: there is much more to it than that.
In Place Vanier, where I will be advising (where I have lived as a resident that past two years), most dorm houses have about 100 people over 5 floors.  I will be living on one floor of a house and be responsible for that one plus an additional floor (may be male or female).  This group of people will be "my residents" and I will be "their advisor".  A symbiotic relationship, really -- or so I felt between myself and my advisors over the past couple years.
I will work with a team of other advisors in my house to plan events and rez life activities for our residents, as well as be part of the Place Vanier Rez Life Team devoted to making all of our residence community a safe, fun, and motivating place to live.  Running educational activities, social programmes, and leading a strong example will consume my past-time. 
It's really a great gig:  In essence I receive free room and board while I attend university, while at the same time demonstrating leadership and making Rez Life the best life their is -- something I would do, and have done, anyways!
I go to training camp on Aug 20th for two weeks, and then I'm back to welcome in all the residents over Labour Day Weekend.  The first week is the toughest one I suspect, but likely also the most challenging, rewarding, and fun too.

Go RezLife!    --    Yo, Ho!  Yo, Ho!  It's the REZ LIFE for me!

Summer Student II:
This time, it's not Summer Student 1.

To understand this spoof title, you will have to be familiar with Homestarrunner.com.  Allow me to tangent for a moment about this remarkable website.  Basically its a couple of brothers who liked making animations on their computer.  They posted it on a website, and slowly but surely it has become the most popular site of its genre on the internet.  The characters make the site what it is.  Satirical humour is the style, and random witty lines make these 2-minute weekly cartoons even better than (dare I say it?) 22 minutes of The Simpsons.  I have spent a few pennies on this website as well -- T-shirts, coasters, keychains, bumper stickers, and window cling-ons...  "Check it out!  No seriously check it out."
At first my initial response was:  what is this rubbish?  But I have come to love this ingenious cultural icon in the making.
Seriously.

Anyways...

As last year, I have been fortunate enough to have two fantastic summer jobs:  A Famous Player at the Mission Silver City Movie Theatre, and a Summer Student in Research and Development for the Abbotsford-Mission Community Services Recycling Programme.  Both of these jobs have supplied me with ample work, fair pay, great experience, professional development, leadership roles, and most importantly: copious amounts of Pepsi Points!  That's right folks.  I have now collected enough Pepsi points to take my pick from the 2003 Summer Pepsi Stuff Catalogue.  By October I should be fit with the latest fashions and electronics:  A Sony NET MD Walkman mp3 player/recorder, a Timex TMX Grip Clip watch, and some cool Reebok Union Jack Attire.  So you see... it's all about finding motivations in your job.

But seriously... these employment positions have been truly outstanding.  Everyone I have worked with and under has been great to me, and have taught me a lot.  To John, Richard, Lisa and Sam at Recycling; Matt, Colin, Kim, Margaret, Blaire, Alisha, Meagan, and all my supervisors at Silver City -- A Big Thank-you.  And to everybody else: have a great autumn!

...which reminds me.  Every week you should all be filling up your blue bags, and going to see a movie in Mission.  Rinse your milk jugs before you throw them out; and order the large drink and popcorn: they are refillable.

Favourite Movie of the Summer:  Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

It's been a great run in Mission, but next year's blockbuster will probably be shot on location in Vancouver.
Remember to watch out in May 2004 for Summer Student 3:  The Chemical Projective, at UBC!

Jackin' Around in Penticton, BC.

As I mentioned earlier, I was in a musical this year.  And it was great fun, and all that.  But we must face it: it was a Rez Life Programme designed to creative involvement for all people in residence, and despite incredible performances, amateur at best.  Meanwhile, by buddies Peter Harris and Kapil Sharma had more professional endeavours to tackle.  Pete, as a first year student auditioned for UBC Theatre's staple production of the year -- The Falstaff Project -- and was casted in multiple roles, one of which that stirred up quite a critique in the Vancouver Sun.  Kapil, continuing to fight past all obstacles found himself in the lead male role in UCFV Theatre's Production of That Summer, as well as a role in 1000 Cranes at the directors' festival.  But that wasn't enough for these Two Jacks...

Before I go on to tell this story, Peter has designed a very good website that could tell you much more than I could, so perhaps you would like to click on either of the above links.  http://www.freehomepages.com/thetwojacks/home.htm

So anyways... Pete and Kapil started their own theatre company, and auditioned for, rehearsed for, directed for, and presented their first professional theatre production.  Never Swim Alone played at the MSS Studio Theatre 20-22 of May, and then they presented it at the Regional Fraser Valley Zone Theatre Festival.  Well... these underdogs placed First and were sent off to Penticton with $1000 to perform at Theatre BC's Mainstage.  Well, they did, and they came in 2nd in the Province, acquiring the prestigious Burnaby Trophy while also earning to plaques themselves for their personal achievements: Youth in Drama.

I was up the first weekend of the BC Festival camping with the Jacks in Penticton.  I watched their show -- participating in one of only two standing ovations that week -- and also hung out with them for their festival cast party that night, and witnessed their coffee critique the next morning with the 2003 adjudicator, and Arts Club Theatre Artistic Director, Bill Millerd.  What a weekend!  and indeed, Penticton has got to be one of the nicest summer destinations in this beautiful province of ours.  I think my 4th sequel should be shot on a cabin on Okanagan Lake, during the Peach Festival!

As for Peter and Kapil, you will find the former struttin' his stuff for UCFV next year; and as for Kapil -- well -- that Jack takin' off to New York City as the first Indo-Canadian to be accepted into the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Bravo Jack, and Jack.  Who is the First Jack, and which Jack has the gun?

For a DVD copy of this play, as performed by The Two Jacks Theatre Company,
please send $20 plus shipping and handling to:
Jazzy_T Ent. Ltd.
c/o Trevor Barry
Place Vanier Residences
1935 Lower Mall, UBC.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6T 1X1

Jazz Fest, Folk Fest, Renaissance Faire, Agrifair, and other Fun Stuff.

Yep!  It really has been quite the summer.  Its not like me not to be busy.  But to be cultured...

The Du Marier International Jazz Festival Vancouver was incredible.  Absolutely Fantastic.  Dare I say it?  An Eargasm!
We watched Spacious Couch Live, hung out for some other free music, then Lois and I went out to O'Doules on Robson for dinner and candle-lit entertainment by applauded jazz vocalist Alita Dupray and her trio.

Folk Fest was really cool.  My fourth year as a volunteer at the Mission Folk Music Festival.  Running the parking lot gives you a great tan, and leaves you thirsty for music at 9pm when the bands at mainstage start kickin' it.  It was an awesome exeunt for the summer for the Brown-Evans, and Lois moving to Montreal for school at McGill.  The music was memorable, and the times were great.  Camping was cool, and the volunteer dinners were well received.  But there was nothing as cool as hearing a Gospel Choir lead a faith singing work-shop Sunday morning.  Halleluiah!  The cubano band fueron muy excelente también!

The Mission Renaissance Faire was a pleaser this year.  Harper and I took to the street like true Medieval Trouveres.  Making fun of jousters, and taking in a play starring the MSS crew was especially exciting.  And like any typical English summer carnival, before making the pilgrimage back to Sean's, at the strike of four, it poured down rain.
Some people say that God was on vacation during the dark ages.  If you ask me, I think he was just suffering from a little bit of writer's block... our Creator and playwright has an obsession with dramatic irony!

And of course Agrifair!  The Abbotsford Agrifair must be the coolest "county fair" in the world.  I helped set up the Community Services tent through work.  Also, I was able to get in for free through work as well.  Sandra and I parked for free, got in for free, got free food samples, free water samples, free entertainment, free pepsi samples, free jolly ranchers, and free hats (good quality) for signing up for no obligation Mastercards.  We hung out, went on some rides, saw Richard's Races with the Pigs and Ducks.  You can't go to an event like this and not eat at Dori's Donairs!  Yum!  Plus fresh lemonade... whatta great day... even bumped into some people I hadn't seen in a while.

On top of all this, I've been to some other little community events and such this summer, and wow!  Summer is awesome.

Van Boyage. $1000 obo.

*sniff*  ;'(

This is more of a bitter and sad column than the rest.  I regret to announce, that after 3 years of most excellent service, and even better good times (I'm certain everyone receiving this newsletter has some memory), I will be retiring my 1989 Ford Aerostar XLT.  It truly breaks my heart to see her go.  I grew up in this van:  The Much Ado Boys in Summer 2000: Drew, Pete, Kap, and Trev pulled their capers in this van; I've been across the line in this van; up to Williams Lake in this van (my first "road trip"); Kapil and I had our one and only falling out in this van; I asked Lesley to prom in this van; I've slept in this van; I've camped in this van; I skipped class in this van; I've had to rip a seatbelt out to remove Ella from this van; I've been ticketed in this van; cast parties in the van; I've had my stereo stolen on my birthday from this van; Midnight runs to Denny's for the Mawds Boys in this van; Supplied Dorm Parties with this van; been trapped downtown in a locked parkade with this van; beat Warren to Tim Horton's after Band Concerts in this van; driven the Volleyball Team to tournaments and ran over Screech (Mike Faria) with this van; done doughnuts in the snow with this van; had pranks done to this van; experienced a New Year's kiss in this van; transported nearly a metric tonne of personal effects to and from rez in this van!  In short: I have loved this van.  And like any good relationship, she has loved me back in return.

Thus it is with great pains that I must give her up.  Reason being: I no longer require a vehicle.  With my new position of Residence Advisor (see above) I will not leave campus much at all.  And when I do go out... it will only be into town, and then I shall take the bus which will be free for me as a UBC Student.

So, the old girl is for sale.  $1000 obo.  This really is a good deal.  It is indeed a Van for a Boy Age and now that I am (starting to try to become) a man, it is time for me to say good-bye.

She has a few bumps and scratches from over the years.  But as the son of Maple Ridge's finest mechanical automotive technician, I can assure you that her mechanical aptitudes surely outweigh her slight physical blemishes on the outside and interior.  If you are looking for the bunny-bus for friends, or just another van to load stuff into... this is your van.

    Call 328-3170.

TREVOR's ANNUAL AUGUST INVITE
(Pool BBQ Party)!
(headings and graphics completely ripped off the last two years' invitations).

Sunday the 17th of August 2003, I would be delighted to have you -- my very close friends -- gift me with your company for an afternoon preceding our destined departures back to school, work, bed, et cetera.

Maple Ridge, British Columbia

The show starts around 11 o'clock or noon, so as to get as much pool-time as possible.
Food, drinks, and entertainment will be provided -- Towels, lotion, and suits will not;  Remember to bring these things.

 Yours Truly,
~ Trevor A. Barry ~
à CELL @ 604.328.3170
home @ 604.826.7709
email @ [email protected]

Otherwise, I post all these issues as HTML docs on my homepage.

Basically, after you've passed the Maple Ridge Baptist Church on 220th heading West on the Lougheed Hwy (Tommys is on your right when you are waiting at the light), look out ahead for the PANAGO Pizza mall (small) on the left (218th)... If you can find a parking spot there -- in the back -- just walk down the street and the last house on the LEFT is the place!  Big Green house, lots of big plants, carport. Behind it is the pool, at the back of the carport, left side of house. Call me it you have any concerns. The number there is 604.467.2024... but only call me there THAT DAY... better thought: call my cell phone, 604.328.3170 ~Trevor~ 604.328.3170 [email protected] Door to Door Directions   from Tommy's on: Use Subject to License / Copyright Start 32290 Lougheed Hwy mission, bc Destination 11696 218th Maple Ridge, BC From: Lougheed Hwy Mission, BC To: 11696 218th Maple Ridge, BC Directions Distance 1: Start out going East on LOUGHEED HWY. 25 km 2: Turn LEFT on the HANEY BIPASS, follow towards HWY. 2 km 3: Turn LEFT on the LOUGHEED HWY. 1 km 4: Turn LEFT onto 218 ST. 0.1 km Total Distance: 28.1 km Estimated Time: 40 minutes