Hanging out with my friend Linda from the Winnipeg ghetto was fun

January 19, 2009 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Tonight I had the chance to hang out with one of my oldest and dearest friends from the ghetto. We talked about our lives now and then, and we had a great time. I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of long-lasting friendships that still feel current. Though we talk about our history, our current friendship isn’t dependent on our past lives and is strong on its own merits.

Some of our conversation reminded me of how I was when I was younger: absolutely fearless and in my own world. I didn’t even remember that I used to carry around a butt pillow (yes, a butt pillow) around the university and would take it out of my bag and sit on it. I was so in my own reality, that I truly didn’t care what others thought. I wish I had that type of total abandon now.

The visit came at a great time, as I am delving into my past Winnipeg life as the centrepiece of my hour-long set that I hope to have completed before the end of this year. I was contemplating whether I should go back to Winnipeg for a few weeks in the spring or summer to help bring back the emotions to jump-start my writing process. I think after tonight, though, I’ve decided to hold off.

I think the best method would be to complete the writing process while I’m alone in Toronto. I would then go to Winnipeg and do a private performance to only friends and family, where I would ask for input.

I used this strategy back when I was preparing for my first ever comedy show in Calgary, Alberta. Since my family and friends know my stories by heart, seeing as how they lived through them with me, I was greatly helped by the comments last time. In fact, the whole part of my first set regarding “magical powers” came from a simple comment from my engineering friend, Erin.

Filed under: Living, Performing
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A stand-up comedian’s Christmas can be a lonely affair

December 25, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Another year, another Christmas spent alone, thus is the the life of a stand-up comedian. I ended up having a somewhat boring day, but at least there was some great NBA basket ball on television; Celtics vs. Lakers is always a fun matchup (unfortunately, my Celtics lost).

I suppose a bit of loneliness is never too terrible a thing. Being alone today reminded me of the sacrifices I’m making to pursue my career out in Toronto and be separated from my friends and family. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m having a great time in Toronto, but today reminds me that I have to focus on why I am here in the first place, otherwise I’m separating myself from my family for no good reason at all.

I got quite a few updates done to my website. I re-intregrated Twitter feeds and fixed a few of the WordPress and Facebook interactions. I’ve also been researching Podcasting and will be introducing those into my blogs hopefully very soon.

The most important part of today, though, is that I’m finally going to get off my ass and start writing again. I’ve been resting on the material I wrote while in Calgary, and as proud as I am of that material, I know I can be much, much better.

I’m sure everyone makes lots of New Year’s resolutions, but I think my re-dedication to comedy in the new year will stick. All it took was a bit of loneliness to remind me why I’m out here.

Filed under: Performing
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2009 MCC Christmas concert at Roy Thomson Hall produced great musical performances

December 24, 2008 by vongsundara · 1 Comment 

So I went to the annual MCC Christmas concert tonight at Roy Thomson Hall, which is a beautiful hall by the way. It was nice being back at the concert, as it was one of the first events I attended when I moved to Toronto last year.

The service was pretty religious, but I suppose that makes sense since it was a church service. Haha. It’s strange because I’m normally not much for the praying thing, but once you set that stuff to music, I am all over it.

It was nice seeing my old roomates, Lindsay and his boyfriend James. They were both so great to me when I first moved to Toronto, and it’s always nice reconnecting with them.

That’s all for now. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas day. Celebrate with family and friends and have a merry old time, yo!

Filed under: Gaying
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Business humour is difficult to grasp compared to stand-up comedy

December 23, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

So I’ve been in quite a few meetings lately for my day job, and I’m noticing that I’m having difficulty loosening up. In my comedy and around my friends, I’m quite loose, but in the world of Toronto business, I’m seen as quite business-like and somewhat boring too.

At first I thought it was just a case of me getting more comfortable, but now I think there’s an actual divide in humour. The humour I bring to stage is not exactly appropriate for office chatter, and the “business” humour is so far removed from what I find funny that I have difficulty relating.

A co-worker of mine today said it came down to just being more fake. I don’t completely agree. Sure, I certainly laugh along with whatever’s being said, which I suppose is being fake a bit, but I don’t think the business people making the jokes are being fake. I think they genuinely find what they’re saying to be funny.

There’s not much I can do except hope that the humour eventually rubs off on me. Humour is a good way to be disarming and to relate to people quickly. Hopefully I can learn this new style of humour before too long.

Filed under: Performing
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Top nine random reflections of 2008, my first year in Toronto

December 11, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

My first year in Toronto has been a wild, wild ride for sure. There are a number of things that stand out, though most of all would be the sporty gay Asians who’ve welcomed me with open arms. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever found a city so initially welcoming in my entire life. Within my first two months of living in Toronto, I was off to Montreal to play volleyball with a great group of guys.

My dayjob has gone extremely well, having been promoted twice since working here. The only part of my life that hasn’t gone according to plan would be my comedy career, though most of that is my own doing by not focusing enough on it.

1. Toronto is the most welcoming city I’ve ever lived in
2. Changing cities means basically starting over in the comedy business
3. Montreal is a great city, but how long will I love it if I go there five times a year
4. Business people are much more in shape than in Calgary
5. Nintendo’s Wii Fit is the best game ever
6. Politicians are kind of hot lately
7. Toronto’s gay community is a lot like the cast of Gossip Girl (in a good way)
8. The more expensive the haircut, the less chance that they’ll shampoo your hair afterward
9. Baskin Robbins is dangerously close to my new house

Filed under: Living
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Welcome to winter in Winnipeg as well as in Toronto

November 20, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Snow has officially arrived in Toronto. It feels kind of strange to be welcoming in winter, as I already welcomed winter a couple of weeks ago in Winnipeg. I quite enjoy a bit of a chill, but that’s probably because I grew up in Winnipeg. A bit of frost makes me feel good after playing sports.

I’ve got to shop for some new winter clothes. My sweater collection is starting to run a little low, and I need to find warm clothes that are business appropriate. I usually shop a season behind when clothes go on sale, but I suppose I’ll have to make an exception this year.

Filed under: Living
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Vongizzo from Winnipizzo returns to the ghettos of Winnipeg for vacation

November 10, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I’m on a quick four-day visit to my old ghetto in Winnipeg. It’s been about a year since I have been back, and I always love coming back to visit. All my family and friends are here, and I’m reminded of just how lucky and loved I was growing up. I was able to build up such a large network of life-long friends here, and I would definitely be living here if Toronto hadn’t beckoned me for career reasons.

I arrived just after a huge winter storm. I guess it’s for the best, as this is how I remember Winnipeg anyhow. I have been on a whirlwind tour of family and friends, and I’ve just about fit in everyone I was hoping to see, especially my newly born nephew Jack.

The kind of sad part of my trip is that I also came here to grab my karaoke equipment for my upcoming party in Toronto. I’m about to go into my sister’s storage to look for it. I hope I don’t get charged extra for bringing the equipment with me on the plane.

Filed under: Living
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I like you, but . . . Just hate me all the way already

October 13, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I visited one of my dearest friends while in Montreal this weekend. We were very close when we both lived in Calgary and were on many committees together.

It’s always great to hear your life reflected through the eyes of someone who knows you so well. Our conversation reminded me of just how far I have come in my short time in Toronto. In fact, I feel more accepted in a few months in Toronto than I ever did in Calgary in five years.

The bitterness and anger in my heart and in my comedy has been replaced with joy. It goes to show that sometimes you just have to follow your heart and take a chance.

VS

Filed under: Gaying
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Super Power Tuesday, the new TSVL season begins

October 7, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Tonight I’m playing volleyball with my team, SuperPowerBottoms. We are a part of TSVL (Toronto Spartan Volleyball League), and tonight is our forth week of league play. We started out ranked 32 out of 32 teams. We’re currently ranked 31!

We actually have a lot of potential as a team. I genuinely believe that we can be a Top 20 team by year’s end.

We have a big tourney in Montreal this weekend. I’ll blog and send photos while I’m there.

Bye for now.

VS

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