Included Below: Gadsby Redux / Home Alone / Kuper Island / The Accidental Detective / The Walking Man. Click HERE for further information about this newsletter. To those from before and those who are new-
I. WELCOME!
Gadsby Redux.
I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by many amazing people. I might not have a traditional family and I might not be the most social person in the world (surprised?), but I’d like to think there is an understanding between my friends and I, that we might not see each other all the time, but I hope they know there is a part of my brain that holds a space that is just for them.
A few newsletters ago, I included the new book by Hannah Gadsby called 10 Steps to Nanette. Coincidentally, one of the people mentioned above had an extra ticket to Gadsby’s Toronto show and inquired about whether I would be interested - shoutout to SB, thank you and you’re the best!
Afterwards this friend asked if I found the show inspiring. The show was hilarious and a big fuck you to idiots that dismissed her as a comedian (cough cough, nudge, nudge someone whose name simultaneously rhymes with Blow Hogan and dumbass at the same time). Also, it’s just really incredible to see someone so in control of their craft. I ended up walking the two hours home and wrote two Stories We Don’t Tell stories (for when we return soon) in my head (plus getting them down on paper before forgetting).
Yes, I was inspired. And just for the hell of it, here’s a TED Talk by Gadsby that is about how she discovered comedy was a way she could organize her thoughts and communicate them. As always, fascinating stuff.
Q - Have you ventured out into the world to any fun events?
II. TALES FROM THE DREAM ROOM
Each month welcomes an exclusive story from a parallel world.
The Dream Room is a place that where everything is interconnected. The sights and sounds and people that inhabit this world feel familiar. The tales pulled from the Dream Room are sometimes true and sometimes fiction, they may scare you or make you laugh. The Dream Room is a place not to be taken lightly and if you’re ready to enter, read the excerpt below and click on the link for the full story.
HOME ALONE: On his last night in the empty house, I did a video call with John. As we were talking, I heard a loud noise, like something was dropped from a tall height. John said he’d be right back and put the phone down. There’s something unsettling about watching a screen pointing up to the ceiling, not knowing what’s happening. After a few beats, John returned but there was a distracting look in his eyes, like he saw something but didn’t want to tell me about it.
There was another noise. John stood up, this time he took the phone with him. He walked through the kitchen and stopped to survey the room. He turned the phone back to his face and when he did there was a large burly figure behind him. The phone got knocked out of his hands and fell to the ground with the camera facing the floor. After about half a minute, the phone went dead like someone had stomped on it.
Now what do I do?
Read the whole story at this link.
Q - Have you ever been home alone and got a little scared?
III. PAUL’S PICKS
A recommendation of something watched, read, or listened to.
Kuper Island is an 8-part podcast series that tells the stories of four students: three who survived and one who didn’t. They attended one of Canada’s most notorious residential schools – where unsolved deaths, abuse, and lies haunt the community and the survivors to this day. Hosted by Duncan McCue and produced by McCue, Martha Troian, and Jodie Martinson.
All I am going to say about the content is that it has become increasingly important to me to learn about these stories and the people behind them, in order to listen and honour those involved and to understand my responsibility to them. The producers of the show handled the material with sensitivity while not shying away from the realities of this horrible history. I was especially moved by the patience of Duncan McCue and learned a lot just from how he dealt with the interview subjects. You could feel the pain in his voice but also the need to ask these extremely difficult questions. And just get to that last episode…
Listen to the podcast at this LINK. Learn more about Richard Thomas, one of the main storylines of the podcast, HERE.
Q - Any podcast recommendations that focus on Indigenous stories?
IV. FROM THE ARCHIVES
An old story from my blog brought to you in a new way.
THE ACCIDENTAL DETECTIVE (NOVEMBER 2019): I was restless. Squirly. Like I was running out of time. Worried that each wasted day brought me that much closer to the grave. Which, I guess, was literally the truth. After all, what did this all amount to? What have I actually accomplished in my life?
Spent most of my spare time hanging out in the underbelly. The other side of the city. The section where the invisible people lived. I had spent too much time between and behind buildings, where the darkness collects and the threat always looms of truly and finally losing myself, giving up, giving in to my primitive side. The side that lives in all of us.
The problem was that if I was honest with myself, I belong in those dark corners of the city. It was where I was most comfortable. I knew the rules of engagement. I knew how to deal with people. I knew my place.
I hadn't a real case in months. Not since Monica, my partner in crimefighting moved to Montreal, The Emerald City. She was the brains of the operation. And the muscle. I was just usually along for the ride.
Read the whole store at this link.
NOTE: This is what I refer to as ‘the lost tapes’ - it was a podcast concept that I had and even recorded some episodes. I ended up pulling them off the feed because it was just too labour intensive and I’m only one person. Maybe I’ll revisit this sometime soon…?
Q - Who is your favourite fictional detective?
V. WATCH, LISTEN, READ, OR DO
Something to take with you.
Speaking of live performances, I’m still kind of proud of this one, or at least the concept of it - I don’t know how it stands up. But, it was a solid idea - a live show supporting my first book, The Walking Man, by doing the whole performance on a treadmill. Get it? So I could walk the entire time. Brilliant.
My co-star was singer/songwriter Arlene Paculan (who I still work with to this day) on the keyboards and me on the treadmill. Plus, my mom was there in the audience which was pretty cool. There are a few videos from different events over the last few years over on my YouTube Channel. It’s fun - a running gag for each event is that I lie and pretend a big Hollywood studio has optioned it, turning the book into a blockbuster movie. All the fake trailers are there. The Walking Man is available wherever you buy books.
Q - What’s the longest distance you’ve ever walked?
You’ve probably noticed that I’ve included a question at the end of each section. No, this isn’t required homework. However, if you are compelled to write to me with your thoughts, I would love to hear from you. Who knows, I might even share some of the answers in future newsletters (anonymously, of course). Email me here: jpd@pauldore.com.
June 2022 Edition: We’re Back / The Last Train Trip / Sea of Tranquility / The Hum / SWDT Podcast.