my life

It’s Midnight. Honesty Hour.

I say it all the time but balance, my goodness, if I didn’t believe in it I don’t think I’d stay sane. I’m happily overwhelmed by new responsibilities and challenges as the NBA season kicks off and the last two weeks have been a true test of that word. Engulfed in a world that comes at you with a knife some weeks, dodging criticism and judgement posted on the interweb, you need to learn how to shake the shitty stuff. And function on four hours of sleep. So balance is my happy place because I fill those moments with incredible people and sometimes all we talk about is that funny clip on youtube or leaving on a jet plane or that one time where we danced like crazy in the livingroom to Calvin Harris at 2am. And that is more than enough. “So what do you do?”. That question shuts me down sometimes and not because I’m not happy and blessed to be where I am. It’s just so refreshing to just be plain old you for a minute. Jobless and homeless and raw. I just dropped the line “Everybody’s got their somethin'” to the boy and he asked what my somethin’ was. I’m going to sleep on this. But Nikka Costa says it’s supposed to make you smile like an itty bitty child and that there’s a time for every star to shine. So by balance I mean staying out a little too late with the people that make you glow after kicking off your show shoes even though you have a 9am shoot. Or closing the laptop on a seven hour work-a-thon Saturday even though you’re not near complete for laughs and warmth at a dive bar in the west end. Or going to a concert with your crew after a full day of basketball even though you passed your pillow on the way out and thought, damn, I’m neglecting you my friend. That was my weekend. A perfect balance. -k

Instagram my Life. 11.

 

 

Work. Play. Boogie. A combo of all of that and more. Host. Dance. Blog. As I sat in the corner booth last night between show sets in my dance heels, surrounded by so much support and the people I adore the most, sipping on a vodka water and laughing at my frisky friends, I thought, damn, I’m a very lucky lass. I am thankful everyday for my blessings. The people, the passion, the predictable and unpredictable. The support. All topped with a little love. -k

The Spaces Between a Dance Floor and a Basketball Court.

My acting teacher used to tell me that my extremely animated facial expressions were both a pro and a con. A pro for stage life. A con for the way I really felt about a situation or moment when I wanted to lock it as an inside thought. I’ve learned to live with it. 

This was the truth written all over my face the moment I dropped my bags inside my apartment door and sat my tired self down on my couch Sunday night,  roomie in tow. I’m thankful for her because she understands the hustle because she does it too.
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My current calendar is full of intimidating excitement. Porcelain has been getting big bites in the city and we’ve got a set of shows coming up in the next few weeks. Somehow it’s easy to go to rehearsal instead of bed.

We’re performing this Friday —> Porcelain at Cube Nightclub

 Saturday, we hit the stage at a 20’s themed Halloween event for Remy Martin. The four of us had a moment where we nodded in agreement that we didn’t care that we were missing Halloween parties or that we wouldn’t get home until after two or that sleep was a foreign word because we were exactly where we wanted to be. Performing. It’s a pretty incredible feeling and it’s pretty dope to feel a similar buzz from the people surrounding you.

<Insert four hours of sleep and my alarm clock going off at 7am Sunday morning right here>

 

I was on a bus watching the flying by scenery change from concrete jungle to fields and farms. There is something uber comforting about the escaping into the great white north. The Raptors took the game to Casino Rama for a scrimmage for fans.

For myself I’m involved in a variety of areas when events like this are put together, both in the game aspect and social media/television coverage and it’s really cool to see the power of teamwork bring the game closer to the fans.

It also marks the marked the completion of the preseason and we’re ready for the everything to count. The bumps and fumbles of the dress rehearsal mode are left behind. Time to get the show started!

This morning I masked tired eyes with a ball cap and my tired brain with coffee and an honest smile and put forth some prep for the big home opener on Wednesday. Looking forward to making magic with the wonderful people I work with again.

Time to disappear for a couple of hours and get my yoga fix. Balance. -k

Pause.

Hi. My name is Kat. This is a a rare picture of me sitting down this week. This is a rare picture of me at home this week. This is what I change into the minute heels off happiness commences as I walk into my apartment. I am le tired. But the good kind.

I have not posted in a while because life is a spinning whirlwind of business. I have not documented my outfits because my livingroom has been full of drying laundry, packed bags that need unpacking and a kitchen table flipped upside down that I’m building but don’t have that special wrench type piece from IKEA so it’s on hold.

Someone flipped the switch from zero to sixty overnight. I believe in moments to pause. This is it.

This week I am thankful for being tired. I am thankful for the whirlwind that sucked me in. I am thankful to dance and host and write and travel and take pictures. I am thankful for the unpacked bags and studio time and a good glass of bedtime wine while memorizing lines. And I’m thankful for the shoulder that let me lean against it when I needed a quick moment to regroup. And the voice that said keep going. -k

“The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work. Keep going. ” -Oprah Winfrey

Just another day at the office.

As the calendar strikes October and I sit here prepping for another busy day on the work front and the pace of my days speed up down a new post summer Main Street, I once again reflect on the moments that keep me ticking. These are the ones where the label “Taking you past security for the Toronto Raptors” that I’ve placed on my twitter bio comes into effect. The ones that people will remember forever. The great ones.

As we countdown to the first tip off of the new NBA season, the wonderful team I work with did a little ticket delivery ambush to a seventeen year season seat holder. Bob was beyond words to receive his tickets in person via Landry Fields instead of the mail. And the rest of us all left the scene of the crime saying that was one of the great ones.

Here’s the story through the camera lens and the talented crew following the day. Everybody made it what it was. A great one. -k

Save Your Strength For Things That You Can Change.

Hanging high in a moment. Kissing the last months stars. I love flipping the calendar to a new month. A fresh start and a change of pace.

I’m sitting at the computer in my childhood room after an incredible long weekend of unexpected extremes with wonderful company. It’s oh so quiet except for flashes of washed out rain through the open window. Morrison the cat is fighting tired eyes atop the fluffy duvet and as I sip my second cup of java, I’m thinking about all that has changed.

Change. It seems to be the theme of my breathing hours over the last year. Change of residence, career duties, hair, life rulebook, twitter handle, priorital focus, relationship status, intentions, strength and happiness meter. Change of pace.

And I would be fluffing the truth if I said that I wasn’t overwhelmed. But the good kind of overwhelmed where you smile and your heart beats above your shoulder line and you can’t concentrate on the now because you’re anticipating the tomorrow. I think everyone goes through an adjustment peak; sometimes multiple sky high rides and drops. Recently it’s been a heavy conversation starter, like we’re all on the same flight. Another plane, another destination, another tickling full of motivation, stirring hopeful moments through our veins. 

So as the leaves drip with leftovers from the morning rain this is what I’m sipping on as I sit in the room that saw every transition:

I have been a friend, a lover, an enemy and a mystery. I have shared my love, my wrong doings, my secrets and my wishes. I have fought for respect, status, understanding and compassion. I have walked the line, ledge, open road and into a wall. I have juggled choices, visions, what ifs and fairytales. I’ve made people laugh, sob, love and heal. I am accepting my mistakes, edginess, battles and weaknesses.  I’m accepting all that has changed.

Someone said to me “Katherine, you need to trust in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” Change is the only constant. So save your strength for things that you can change.

Happy new month. Wishing you wonderful things. -k