“Artist are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.” - Donald Woods Winnicott

P R O S E

The heat broke this morning, and I made myself the first hot coffee I’ve had in a week. I became an efficient ice maker during this recent heat wave. The heat up to 30C inside this little cottage, the fires too close to my people on all sides of the country, the law mockery of the politicians, and my own perplexing ailments have been keeping me up at night. It’s of no real concern, for I have no work to go to today except for that of my own volition. I am eternally grateful for this quaint abode steps from the lake. I have lost count how many times I swim because as soon as I get out, I’m overheated again. Each time giving up a little more modesty, as the neighbours in our little bay have gone back to the city for the week.

“Yook like you were born in the water” says mom. Weren’t we all? She comes up occasionally for the day with supplies and similar needs to mine: to think, to write, to read, and of course to swim. We both love quiet, which is a rare privilege in this world. I had a similar solitude stint here in July right after I was laid off from my job. The one I thought was going to offer me stability, a “future”, some freedom to afford the things I need, and health benefits. “Not a fit” they said and gave me 15 minutes to leave, two days before my probation ended. I guess that’s what you get for standing up for yourself – but that is a story for another time. Having the summer off isn’t so bad – my EI has finally come in so I can breathe a little better.

If anything, this year, I’ve learned the ability to experience joy and pain simultaneously with peace being priority. Grateful for my yoga practice that has brought me back to my body, has eased my chronic pains, and allows me to stay grounded among all the uncertainty. Have I told you I’m working towards teaching? Grateful for my people, friends, and family, who SEE me, despite a tough past that affects my mind and emotions in ways some days I’m not proud of – a work in progress, if I got paid for this work no doubt, I’d be rich. And eternally grateful for the natural world. Up here – squirrels, chipmunks, feral cats, loons, cicadas, grebes, herons, eagles, vultures, blue jays, woodpeckers, grackles, dragonflies, spiders, beetles, mosquitoes, sun, moon, stars, clouds, lake keep doing their thing. I swear a few days in, we start talking to each other, no words needed. Like me, a lot of them are content to spend time on their own. I find comfort in that reassurance.

A fella and his golden Labrador motor by in his aluminum boat, usually he’s blasting dad rock accompanied by his loud smokers cough, and I can smell his cigarette. A regular in the mornings and evenings. Sometimes I smile, sometimes I say “Va T’en La!”. It’s the only motor, besides the fan, that I’ve heard in hours. Sometimes I say “Va T’en La!” because he’s interrupted the quietude. But he can’t hear me over his motor, blaring dad rock, and smokers cough. And I laugh to myself, for who am I to interrupt his peace? It’s the only motor, besides this old fan oscillating back and forth, that I’ve heard in hours. Spoke to soon… enter neighbours chain saw…

A west coast friend of mine who grew up in Ottawa, asked if I would send him some photos of the city to feed his nostalgia. “Send me a camera” I said. he delivered. The photos in this issue are from that roll. Shooting film is something I will be continuing to pursue as a pleasureful activity. I’m sorry this is late. Despite my free time, simple activities have been a struggle for me as I work through some internal sludge. Moving through, as we must do, and already feeling better on the other side. Much love to you all today, I hope this finds you safe, cozy, and perhaps offers a friendly reminder to say hello to a non-human creature today.

S H O W S + S O N G S

I will be in BC from August 27th-September 10th and have a window for more shows. Do get in touch if you’d like to hear me sing near you!

+ SEPTEMBER 17th @ The Island Cafe, Toronto

And an oldie but goodie. My brother and I made this video for “Lake Song” up at the cottage one fall…

F E A T U R E D   F R I E N D 

FRANCIS AREVALO

Where are you? What'd you have for breakfast? And what are you up to today?

I'm currently sitting in my home studio facing a window lit up by soft morning light. I haven't had breakfast yet, but I have had a smoothie made of vanilla protein, peanut butter, dates and cinnamon, and black coffee, as always. I just went for a nice 2 hour walk to Central Park, as is my daily morning route. I've got a bunch of music and admin work to do through the day. In the evening, I'm going to continue my birthmonth celebrations with some of my cousins at a local restaurant.

What three things in your life are you most grateful for right now?

My loved ones

Living in Vancouver

The clarity that has brought me back to being an artist, first and foremost

What have you got on the go artistically at the moment?

I just released a new single called “Clarity” this past week so I'm promoting that, which has been fun. I've got a new EP called “Heartwork”coming out this month. I'm also working on a full-length album for release next spring 2026.

If I passed you an instrument, what song would you play us right now?

I'd play one of my songs called “Love Looks Like This”.

What's been on repeat on your record player/streamer/tape deck/CD player/ et al.?

I made a playlist of songs that all capture the energy I want to embody and attract throughout this next year on earth. The first few songs are my song Clarity, BOY SODA's Lil Obsession, Anderson .Paak's Celebrate, Kimmortal's Sunniest of Days, and Brasstracks' Kool Aid.

If we want to find your work, where can we go?

The first place I'd direct you to is my WEBSITE

And here's the link to my latest single.

Give Francis a follow on the Gram.

M U S I C

Check out Francis Arevalo’s playlist above!

And a song to listen to while you peruse this newsletter…

G O O D   O C E A N   N E W S

Underwater voyage finds sea creatures thriving in the deepest parts of the ocean

Researchers traveling along the Kuril–Kamchatka and Aleutian trenches in the northwest Pacific Ocean used a manned submersible to find tubeworms and mollusks flourishing at over 31,000 feet deep. The deepest part of the ocean goes down to about 36,000 feet

Scientists had surveyed this area before and had hints that larger creatures might live at such depths. The new discovery confirms those suspicions and shows just how extensive the communities are, said Julie Huber, a deep sea microbiologist with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

R E A D I N G

on my nightstand…

“There's a fine line between thinking about somebody and thinking about not thinking about somebody, but I have the patience and the self-control to walk that line for hours - days, if I have to.”
― Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad

“Everybody sounds stoned, because they're e-mailing people the whole time they're talking to you.”
― Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad

S A S S T R O L O G Y 
with s.o.

Leo - see that sun? it belongs to you

Virgo - treat yourself to some new back to school supplies

Libra - find the medium between joy and pain, there you will find peace

Scorpio - think about an obstacle, then forget it, then wait for the solution to come

Sagittarius - have you gone for a skinny dip yet this summer?

Capricorn - bring intention back into your daily minutiae

Aquarius - remember, what you put your attention on, grows bigger

Pisces - you’ve got some newfound clarity, use it to your best advantage

Aries - do your best to balance the pain of discipline with the pain of regret

Taurus - if you can’t fix it, you’ve got to stand it

Gemini - it feels so good when it stops, doesn’t it?

Cancer - have a thought about a women in a mans world vs. women in a mans mind

Stay Tuned In & Turned On

x.o.
Love
S.O.