http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2wvlIowUTs

The late Great Rockin' Ray Condo & the Ricochets in fine form on Jimmy Roy's Birthday during the best boogie nights at the fabulous and now sadly defunct Marine Club, Vancouver BC- playin one of my favourite songs! YEAH!With Michael Van Eyes on pianie, Jimmy Roy, Stephen Nikleva, Jimmy Roy Kinloch, Pete Turland, and Steve Taylor! EH,MEN!

Bonjour, Mes Amis and Miscellaneous Others!

One more blog from Bon before the borrowed computer leaves my abode,
Thank God! Shorter blogs and emails for all, Amen, Bon-Bon, My Goodness, you are verbose!
I am feeling alot more at home and relaxed, perhaps makes sense according to the stars( I really love astrology; you gotta watch for the Good astrologers!) Big changes have come and gone, or are coming and going- I am so grateful; but most of all thankful for my dear friends' love and support.

Lil pussycat Gris-gris came back to visit me today, he is just wonderful! So elegant! and Hardcore, tough streetcat! anyway, very glad he is allright; but I have to kick him out when he starts scratchin'- don't want none of those puces francaises (French fleas)! hahah
Here are a couple of funny little stories, for those who are interested after my last psyche-circular blog- hey what's life without some ups&downs!:


Montmartre Bean-Counters

One of the nice things about my little neighbourhood of Abbesses are the fruit and vegetable shops; serving only in fruits and veggies; the attendant scoops 'em up, weighs 'em, and bags 'em up for you, all fresh and nice. Makes me feel like a queen; ordering me veggies! I am particularly enjoying the haricots vert (green beans); for protein, good in salads; with garlic, etc - well, one day I went out to get me haricots vert
and I went in to a new stand, eyed up the haricots, and was offered help by the attendant. He wanted to bag 'em up for me. "No," I replied, "Your beans are too small;" (in my weak french). Well, the gentlemen who ran the shop were quite taken aback-
Their beans too small! ?
Now I cannot return there, and I receive scowling looks everytime I pass by the shop whose men I told 'their beans were too small." heeehee I try to look apologetic, because afterwards I discovered- most of the haricots in every shop are petit! Ah, body language- what would we do without? hahahaha live and learn! well, they WERE small!

Créme Fraise

Well, the first days here I was staying in hostels and hotels and mostly eating out and on the run. I was trying to eat healthfully and frugally; and so for brekkie I would often buy a small yoghurt and some fruit, mix it up and eat it.
I would go to the nearest petit 'alimentes genérale' (convenience store) and get the yoghurt they carried, hit the fruit stand and buy a banana or some strawberries. Well, I found the BEST yoghurt, so yummy, nice and sour with no sugar added, as I like it,
and with the strawberries I added, YUM!
I did this for a few days. SO
Recently in a bigger grocery store, I found this yummy brand again. I took it home to eat and discovered that it was tasting a little funny this time. So I went to the store and looked on the shelf where I got it- all the rest of the yoghurt was in another aisle-
finally, after utilizing my brilliant tourist survival deduction methods, I discovered that the
'yoghurt' I had enjoyed, one container at a time, was actually what we call 'Sour Cream' ( which, by the way, is known to go nicely with strawberries)!! hahahahaha!
If anyone knows any good sour cream recipes? I have two containers of it sitting im my petit refrigerator, threatening to go double sour in a couple weeks. HA!HA!

BIG HEALTHY MAMA

Well, my dear friends know that I've put on some weight in last few years, as humans do, especially when dealing with life stress ( either lose it or gain it) and I left town in heaviest weight I've been in years. Anyway, Montmartre is a good gymnasium, stairs and uphill everywhere, both ways!
So I have been happy to get exercise and started using the stairs as cardio workouts; the best way, and a heckuva challenge! Well, I am getting better at it, and today I decided to run up one set of escaliers (stairs) to La Butte ( top of Montmartre, which houses the Sacré-Coeur basilica) for good exercise!

Well, with my head down and puffing hard, I run up a smaller set of stairs with intense determination and drive. Suddenly I hear cheering, and it is increasing in volume-

I look up, and there are dozens of teenage boys, running down to meet me, grinning right in my face, cheering GO! GO!GO! GO! GO! GO!!!! en francais, of course! well it was quite hilarious but it made me run up those stairs! I tried to take ' em two at a time, but alas, I had my limits today. anyway, thanks, boys, it was quite moving-
do you hire out on a regular basis? Ahh, French kids! I am still laughing!

FINGER BANDITS

Well those of you who have visited Paris know- DO NOT give your finger to anybody!
The young men who surround Sacré-Coeur in throngs (throngs, not thongs, unfortunately- thongs are so out they are in again, anyway)

anyway! I digress. These tourist vampires/ men hold up a loop of lovely colourful embroidery thread, very innocent and crafty-looking, and they ask you to stop and give them your finger-
'just look, see, be happy,' they say, 'Everybody says yes!!'.
THEN THEY LASSO YOUR FINGER WITH THE THREAD AND WEAVE A NICE LITTLE BRAID AND THEN THEY HAVE YOUR FINGER IN A HASSOCK UNTIL YOU GIVE THEM MONEY!!!

and Then - You are a Tourist on a Leash!
Argh;; Clever, but I hate these guys! especially when they say 'Be happy' and all that shit!
and they are VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE- they surround Sacré-Coeur like a moat of alligators.
so anyway, lucky I remembered this from my last visit when I was harnessed and rooked for a couple euros-
and So I started freaking out and said 'why does everyone want money, I have no money, I just want to enjoy the view, etc etc '-
Don't believe for a second that this aggressive urban cowboy was fazed, he said , ' so your boyfriend or your family will give you money, why you do not want to talk to me, Canada?, etcetc bullshitbullshit
So I freaked out saying, 'everyone is grabbing me! I am happy to be alone! I just want to enjoy the view! etcetc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and he got it! Lucky, cuz next step would have been Bon-Bon lasso-ing his neck and then my trip would end early.
So there you have it-
NOW, I have a new line I use - ' You want my finger? Sure, I'll give you a finger!' and you can guess which finger I give them! But I put it away quickly- these boys are fast!
hahaha!

TURBIGO MARKET en anglais

I happened across a great street market, the Turbigo marches, even better than the marches aux puces, if only in that it is cheaper and lots of vintage goods! but you have to search,
anyway I found several petit gifts and goodies there, and I saw a gorgeous old Hohner Harmonica in a lacquered leopard wooden case for my friend and stellar player Powell Street Slim, who gives me so many gifts! and stuffed ducks and things!

So I looked and looked at it; but just HAD to try it, what's the point if it doesn't work at all or is totally screwed and out of key? SO I asked the lady if I could try it and she said Bien Sur (of course) and told me a bit about it, it had belonged to her husband and he played in an orchestra and so on...

So I geared up and took a big ole haul on that thing and just about coughed up the Rime of the Ancient Mariner- I am certain I got the first breath on that dinosaur in about 30 years or more- a huge windbag-full of mold and must. I spent the next few minutes coughing and saying 'Whew!' and trying to expel the crime from my lungs ahahahhha! oh, it was bad! I felt that haul all day; I almost searched for a cigarette just to dry out.
Anyway, I checked it out, decided I could open it up and clean it right out (harmonicas are much like accordions inside) and so I bought it and happily took it home to dry out.
Later, in recalling Madame Harmonica's words with the help of the dictionary, I realized she said her husband had died. Gee, I hope it was not from tuberculosis!
Don't anybody tell Slim! He doesn't have a computer, and I'm rubbing alcohol-ing the hell out of it; and giving it the Bon-Bon virgo hardcore once-over hahahahahhahahaa!!

Well those are my stories that I can remember right now!
there's more, but the only other goofy story I can think of right now is this -
When I told a man in place PiGalle that I would not give him my phone number, he got angry and said, "yeah? WHY NOT?"
hahaha!
It's funny now....

Anyway, thanks for listening and reading, thanks alot!
I am getting comfortable at last and workin hard
and just having Bon-Bon time, to get grounded
Amelia visits next week from Istanbul YAYYY!!!!
Missing our gorgeous coast,
but not sure how long I'll be here yet, at least early August. Still have work to do,
and master those stairs...
Love ANA
Ps posted a few new pics on myspace albums
pps to all friends and acquaintances- sometimes I do not reply right away or at all-
I do not own a computer here or at home, not ever, and my technological resources and time are often are very limited and archaic. This is the last apology I will make for this. love you , it's not personal- soon as I make some good bucks will buy a nice laptop- and probaby still neglect it! ha supposedly no real blues artist owns a computer anyway, I can dig why...
XOXOXOX BON-BON

Well let's cut the BS, Bon-Bon, and tell it like it is! I am missing all my beautiful friends and the great musicians I know and 'Supernatural British Columbia' (remember those ads and when they were still what was loved and aspired to for BC?) oh my I can hardly think about it, my heart, my deep spiritual love. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO KEEP BC SUPERNATURAL
BUT I do not want to rush back ! - what I am experiencing here in this big foreign city is relative isolation and absolute creative freedom-
I was melting in Van, hit my spiritual ceiling temporarily for a couple years (had some life stuff to deal with; and poorly) and here I am breathing and learning. thank goodness the stars saw it and sent me the great blessing to be here for a bit and pull my head out of my cheap sparkly handbag.
Getting loads of work done- keeping pretty low but me fiery spirit only needs its serious intervals of downtime then reaches back out to be part of the world.

anyway I saw a Patti Smith show that blew my mind- I cried when I saw her letters about Rimbaud; and her lveo and longing letters to Mapplethorpe and I bawled when chancing upon her gorgeous secretive honorarium to R.M.Mapplethorpe, who died in '89, and her words came through the curtain behind me, with the images of silvery blue waves floating behind the honorarium: "... the pain of disappearing; and you, gone,gone,gone..disappearing pain..."
I felt deeply the poignancy of her words, and the gorgeous artpiece spoke volumes;
I have been thinking alot about death; I guess it's natural, from loving life so much, and so dearly. She also did a beautiful cover of Nirvana's 'Nevermind'.

and I can't believe she was here à Paris; as am I now - she traced the footsteps of Rimbaud - the 'streets he hated; she loves, because he hated them.' Violently painful.

She is here, now, I believe; to host the Nomadic music shows at the Foundation Cartier.
The Fondation Cartier for art contemporaire is in itself an oasis; with a forum yard with daisies and natural grasses, des fleurs, and the smell of forest; in the middle of Paris. I loved it and was so happy to be there when I saw it- true hippie nature.

When I left I remembered we cannot always be in a deep dark space- it's okay to come out, and to go back in at times- like a shaman or a magician, with and without control,
grappling with the forces- one must recognize and possess one's own force to be able to do so, or be lost.
This is why I am here; to know and recognize my own force- to enable me to further grapple with other life forces that I am addressing; naively or not so.
it cannot be all thinking - physical rationality must be present-
I had a moment which I will not explain here- suffice to say some very old energy was released from a very deep-seated situation in my body - to make way for action.
the fact that I am posting this is a big step- private information beginning to become public in the trust that I am an artist. I need not hide myself any longer- life is too short and exposure may expand the sense of time in order to propel this experience into varying levels of existence...
But I say too much! Those of you who know me as burlesque Bon-Bon are wondering what's in the pastis here that makes me talk this way - those of you who know me on other levels are wondering when I will get to the point!
the point is I am very thankful and very happy- to my beloved friends for being so frickin' cool, to my amazing parents for ensuring my safety here; to Canada Council for giving me a break I so Desperately Needed; and to Patti Smith for being the voice in the dark, the very oraculous and poignant voice in the dark, and to the gorgeous universe for being...just gorgeous, even in its ugly human form at times, it is shameless.
And to me, for sticking it out and working so hard for a lifetime so far!
What else can I tell ya? Big Joe Louis has been very helpful to me and you oughta check out his wicked recording of 'Go-Go Train' on myspace.
YAAYYYYYYYYYYYYEEAHHH!!!! I am lonely and loving it.
If you're feeling rich; send money!Bon fetes des revesthanks for reading meLa-ti-da for now my loved ones , Warmth and kisses!Ana Bon-Bon XOXO

HOWDY GANGAROONIE!!!
How's life in Our Gorgeous BC!!??

Boy do I miss the ole Wild West; hey let's try to keep it that way; okay?
bbqs and beer and good ole roots musak! AND SUPERNATURAL BRITISH COLUMBIA- keep it REAL !!!!!!!!
I am in no rush to come back from Paris, yet, mind you!!!
I am getting lots of creative time, and me time, and downtime, and explore the arts time-
and it is a GODSEND lemme tell ya!!! wowowowow
I'm sad to miss BC summer; for those of you who didn't guess, I've had a lifelong Mad Love Affair with British Columbia, and I'm praying if I work hard and get lucky here I can buy me little creekside plot and build me a little wooden shack under the stars once fer all! and have my dream roadside installation art shack for passersby who love art; and you could come visit and drink my raspberry wine-
and then once in while, hit the big city for some hijinks in my classy apartment!
haha okay enough about that, back to Paris!!
after initial adjustment harsh period-
settled into groovy shadow of the Sacré-Coeur

LOVELY (and obvious) THINGS ABOUT PARIS

-walking up to La Butte at night, being under the stars there and feeling above the rest of the city! (really Montmartre and Paris like separate cities, and were so, not too long ago)

-all the great little shops, seafood, meat, cheese, caves aux vins et biéres!!!
YUMMY!!!! and strange traditional concoctions of heavy homemade mayo and crevettes (shrimp) and patés and bread looking like rocks and heavy sweet creams and sauces, cidres!

-people are very relaxed

-people are very relaxed!

-the gorgeous African and Senagalese women's flowing and brilliant outfits

-teenagers seem hip here, groovy clothes!

-the very friendly exotic happy men à les marches

-the smell of crépes (below my window)

-people sneeze alot here

-lots of music everynight, and people in cafes, packed everynight; young and old, children, retired folk, middle-age; EVERYBODY hangs out, man;

-very tasteful and quaint restaurants

-strange art not so strange; people love music- crowds for all the buskers

-CCCCCHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESEEEEEE!!!!

-CRAZY PEOPLE riding their bicycles, no helmet, la-di-da, right in the middle of the busiest traffic circles and alongside huge buses and crazy drivers

-there's always somebody up - even if it's you!

-the stores are often closed.

-the rain comes down like gangbusters and then it's gone

-THE BEST movies on French TV

-people expressing themselves; yelling at a proprieter or their lover or such- and they really drag it out, too- yelling and crying- everyone comes out to watch, then it's all over and back to biz

-The Sisters (nuns) at Sacré-Coeur are by far the grooviest women in Paris

-the Best thing about Paris IS- THE CHILDREN !!- there are many, and they are often out with their fathers and/or their mothers- they run ahead and play and speak their adorable little French and I have NEVER SEEN ONE kid on a LEASH ever! yay French kidlets!


NOT SO LOVELY THINGS-

-very dirty air and dirty streets, especially sad ole depressing porny Place Pigalle and such

-the very annoying desperate men; Desperados, I call them

-gettin the Stinger from the odd service worker!! most people have been VERY Courteous to me, tho.

-the men seem a little backwards in regards to women (don't tell I said so)- but I retract this- until I know more about them... hee

-not much countrified music

-touristified places such as La Butte which COULD have the best in music and be the coolest most elite spot! but they pander to tourists by having tortured artists playing the most death-ridden standards on fleabag pianos - I have NO IDEA why!?

-tiny little expensive and uncared for suites

-creepy attachment to old dead myths- but we all have that! Let's make some new ones!!!!


So there ya have it, folks- my not-too-exciting second blog on Paris!
I have been finding great grounding being alone here, and the Bon-Bon is Almost BACK!! In the pink; they say!! HOT PINK !! Met some very excellent folk and musicians and have been treated most kindly- including Le petit Cafe du Montmartre & Guy, Juju Child, Moe Seagers, Kym Court, LouPascalou, the Rhythm&Spectones, Francois! !
Am writing alot and finding what I want to go for-defining my dreams and artistic goals

Heard Amelia my best fiddler buddy had a rough start in Istanbul; too
although I know she has been playing alot and studying with some serious Balkan violinists, and DOING IT; and getting out and rockin', as she does, crazy wonderful Scorpio mama! You can see her myspace site under my friends-The Red Boot Quartet !
We're going to meet hopefully in Berlin, Prague, and Ukraine;
we'll see what's up
MERCI BEAUCOUP FOR READING MY SORTA BORING BLOG-thanks for indulging me
more later; I guess
Thanks for all your support, my friends; keep on rockin in the free world-
and one more thing-
even though Europe is lovely and open for art;
there's nothing here that we don't have easily on par or even better at home
Our government needs to just loosen up a little-
So There-
Rock On Little Creatures of the West Coast Variety!!!!
MUCHO BISOUZIS !!!!!!!! yer friend Bon-Bon XOXOXXO
ps will qdd some pics tonight, happy holidays

Bonjour, Mignons!
heehee Bon-Bon here; hailing from Paris! I spent hours a week ago writing a blog
( and it was a masterpiece!) and accidentally erased it- so here goes, attempt number two, I'll see what I can remember! Hope you're interested, it could be a longie!

First off, prior to leaving was the wild and crazy 'Bon-Bon Voyage' party! put on by Michelle Janze at the Cottage Bistro blues oasis in Vancouver BC!
My dear friends and the amazingly talented POWELL ST. SLIM, SANDY 'BONE' SMITH, RENE 'HEIDY-HO' HEIN, PHIL 'RATTLIN' ADDINGTON, and DAVE 'LIL OTIS' WEBB!!! rocked the house, worked hard and held down the show for most of the night! Thank You fellas; a true fantasy! Also played, special guests Amelia Rose Slobogean, Russell Scholberg, Burcu, Jimmy Roy, Big Joe Burke, did Howard Rix and Janice Dunbar play? and we got to have Linda McRae and James there from Nashville, and WICHITA Trip, the whole slamboodle!!!
WHOOOO!! and members of the Eastvan Expos ball team showed up; the only thing that almost kept me from Paris (baseball season). vraiment

Please forgive me if I have missed anyone because I personally was a total absolute wreck that nite, completely exhausted ; showed up late, wet hair and all, and had to get up at 5 am next morn to fly out.
Was still pulling stuff out of my bag, even though I had been packing for two weeks, and now I am missing some of those early morning leave-behinds! C'est La vie!!

Big Joe Burke, Gorgeous Glynis, and Margery, and Line? made the most luscious, juicy cherry-licious bonbon gateaux (cakes) made with beaucoup d'amour from their own hearts and pockets-MERCI BEAUCOUP- yyyyuuuuummmmm!!(see myspace photos)
BUT the thing I will always carry in my mind's eye and in my heart is the image of all these beautiful people who came out to share their music and hearts and bid me farewell and 'bon-bon voyage'!!! I felt dearly loved and supported and that is the most amazing feeling in the world- THANK YOU; I was a little embarrassed to discover that Eugene had passed the hat for me; but now that I am here and the euros and magically disappearing; I am very thankful for the extra support- you were Very Generous XXOXOXOXXX!!!
A BIG THANKS to Glen Wilson, who actually got up with me at 5 am after the party, and drove me to the airport! and then went to work! MWAH! X very appreciated

Okay so first I actually hit Montreal to visit my dear friend Ryan Eugene Newman
( remember the rawkin' guitar player from HARD CANDY and the Panic ?- that's Ryan!)
and thanks to his lady Anna, we went to a HOT CHIP show! Whoo free and on the town!
There I got my first taste of living within a foreign language that I've had for a few years, so it was a good segueway to Paris!
Well after some double whiskeys, Newman and I hotly argued literally all night about inherent male behaviour versus societal conditioning- until Ryan ended up sleeping out in his van while I got the bed!! NOW that's a good buddy, I must say!!
We had an incredible brekkie on St. Hubert; me thinking 'I am in Big Trouble' with my mauvais francais;
and I was off to the airport with Amelia(the Fiddler)' s Mother, the Fabulous Alexandra; who drove me to the airport and had a visit and saw me off! And that really meant alot, to be seen off on my big tripola by a special family/friend.
So I was feelin Pretty saucy on the plane; a midnight departure, dancing to the funky tunes on the plane and making nice with the other passengers.
so we were off; yeehoo! I hardly slept a wink all night, and they played movies and I didn't want to miss the free drinks and meals I had paid extra for!
Luckily I didn't, and managed to stash the food I didn't eat in my bag because the next day was a long and food-less journeé.

I emerged on the Champs-Elyseés midday with red disbelieving eyes. And headed for the place I was to stay at first, again thanks to Glen Wilson for setting me up with a friend who hardly knew me!
It's a good thing I removed those 3 pounds of very important items from my bag because now I only had about 100 pounds of baggage to drag around all day while I couldn't find a working phone or computer place to contact my hosts from.
And I tried. And I'm pretty resourceful- but I guess I'm here to get whooped into shape! So I hung around trying to look like I knew what I was doing but really being very frustrated
and By the long day's end, with several days(actually weeks but that's another story)of only a few hours' sleep, I gave up and made my way to a hostel I remembered from my visit four years ago;
As soon as I stepped into the lovely Marais everything felt a little better from Champs Elyseés consumer madness; luckily it was still there and of course they had One Room Left ! and they set me up in the very last little perfect virgoan monk-like room on the top floor (no lift). AMEN

Me big plan- to get food and wine and eat in front of the nearby Notre-Dame Cathedral.
So I manage to score some grub with my very quiet French-like mumbling and head for the Dame! Well In case you didn't know, the Seine is a very curvy Dame herself,
and bridges look alot alike in the dark, not that I remembered to bring my map from the room anyway! So I got lost. Not a little lost, but like backwards upside down just-keep-em-cool-Bon-Bon!-lost!
Picture famished underslept just-stepped off the boat little Bon-Bon with her French Chinese takeout baggie and wine (refusing to eat til I reach the Dame!) and ending up first at Gare de Lyon and then- AUSTERLITZ!( Gare d'Austerlitz, that is) awww!!
- So after walking up and down that very long street and very much away from Notre-Dame and home sweet bed)
about three times, and probably crossing the same bridge a few times too, I managed to find some signage and begin the long trek towards home a few minutes before midnight, a little freaked, freezing, no food or sleep, a few pictures and no wine in me yet! Boo!! Still it was lovely to reach bed at last and I cozied up in my loft and fell deeply asleep in my chair while writing in my journal. And I saw the French-Chinois man gave me a little bonus bun in my baggie, despite my poor french! Ahh, day one finis! contente

Next day, made my way avec baggage back through miles of subway, almost maiming several people with my sacks full of french-worthy duds and Nina Simone and Cab Calloway and Neil young cassette tapes and oh yeah, my ACCORDION-
then shuffled 'round the 8 arrondisement all day with my bodybags waiting for the concierge, who was having lunch all day long, I guess!
Oh Yes, And I was really trying to look glamorous and wore my high heeled boots all day! I was tres glamoreux!! and so were my blisters, very glamorous! and the poisoned darts shooting out of my eyes were a very unique touch! couture d'enfer!

At last! the luxury villa, Chez Philipp and Linda, who so kindly put me up while they were away! And it is in the House of Givenchy! aha! All to myself, a few days and time to rest and gather courage and muscle. and have a bath. and begin to feed an endless cheese and bread addiction. and I LOVE FASHION! So the House of Givenchy and the rue de tout de l'Haute couture AND Crazy Horse was a very special bonus.

So the next two weeks were spent getting completely lost on a regular basis, even with map! but it was more fun this time, eating massive amounts of tarama,
basically getting around and out of my shyness in communicating and really learning how to ask for what I want and need- and that you Have to Do this to Survive;
sometimes even breaking boundaries or being assertive, or finding creative solutions and making them happen- this was all very good for little soft fat pyrohy me that I've become in the homeland.
The next weeks were quite difficult as I looked for a place to live, and had a trying time of it. Everyone wants huge money up front; it's illegal to sublet, and the affordable little hotels are not that habitable for decent creative work. But the little pyrohy prevailed and with luck, perserverance, mucho prayer and the most ridiculous amount of moral and other support from the most incredible groovy parents in the world, and I'm settled in temporarily . I moved my bags from hostel to hotel; in and out of a prositute's lair in about two hours time span, and basically all over parts of Paris and it's literal underground looking for Chez Ana.
THE ONLY THING that kept me here at times was the thought of all those smiling faces at the Bon-Bon Voyage party! cheering me on, 'GO BON-BON!' and I would also owe THE COUNCIL a bunch of dough, not the baguette kind.
Sincerely; my parents were and are always the greatest support in my life- they, and Linda and Amelia, Saveria and Glen heard my rants and fears in those first weeks! I was a deflated little Bon-Bon. THANK YOU , MY LOVES XXOO

But now I am safely tucked in for a bit, and with some lovely shining moments in between, noteably the wonderful gentlemen at Hotel Audran who helped me more than once. Merci!
As soon as I stepped onto rue abbesses I wanted to stay here, à Montmartre.
It is really like a separate city from Paris; lots of artists and musicians and slightly above the smog and with more light and air. Much fabulous history is here, including the lapin agile where Picasso, Apollinaire, and Max Jacob drank ( I walk through montmartre at night and pretend I am Picasso walking home drunk, grabbing at dirt and making conversation with prostitutes- don't worry I only imagine it)
although I did drink a beer with a clochard named Didi to the consternation of all the tourists, until he got lewd and I left- he wouldn't take a cent for the beer I didn't finish.

Also here à Montmartre I stumbled upon the Place Emile-Godeau at the site of the Bateau-Lavoir; the studios where Picasso and Braques and Jacob lived and worked and THE VERY SITE where four years ago I sat on a bench (not knowing where I was) and had a deep feeling come from my guts saying ' I must be here for awhile to blossom as an artist . for six months'- NoKidding- those exact words just went through my head; SO here I am!
I am trying for three month$, as it stands now!!
It is interesting now to become aware of the resources around me- in my first weeks I blindly walked past things that are right around the corner from me! I love it here, you can walk up La Butte and even see stars here. the fiery kind.
Although a nice local man I chose to get away from quickly told me that the famous singer Dalida lives in the Bateau-Lavoir now. Maybe someday it will be me- although I hope she moves out first! but I'd rather up at the top of La Butte!
That dream did come true for me one night- I took the advice of my well-travelled Uncle Winston and stayed in the Sacré-Coeur convent- right inside the Cité de Sacré-Coeur! I felt so lucky to be inside while the tourists roamed outside- I was facing the big beautiful bell tower in my little chambre! During my first weeks of gay Paris hell, this was an absolutely amazing sanctuary and restful respite.
The Sisters knew my name upon arrival (one Soeur getting a kick out of my Eastern European ancestry, because in Eastern Europe 'Anastasia (my real name)
means the 'Ressurection of Christ', we chuckled over that

anyhoo thanks for indulging me thus far!
I got to be one of five women to join the nuns prayer service and admire the incredible altar piece of copper by Jean Touret ,and very poignantly tender and moving singing of the Sisters to their Lord, only 9 Soeurs, so intimate . they wore wedding rings, as they are married to Christ. And Soeur Odile-Marié played a beautiful table-harp/tsimbale-like instrument. I hope to go back and join them once more. Speaking of joining; they teased me to join, as I think we got on well. When I was a child, about 7, I used to go to the churches in town, I tried many, the Alliance, the United; and got abducted for a few years by the Pentecosts- my point is, I am a seeker, too, and easily open to suggestion at times!
But I understand reverence and irreverence, they are similar. thanks again for indulging me
Anyway, Les Soeurs fooled me- they fed us copious amounts of food, and I got a little drunk on the excellent wine, and they are truly the hippest, grooviest gals in Paris- very self-possessed and with great spirit, Merci, Soeurs, for the fantastic sanctuary!
Had to be in the couvent by 21h, so I zipped out to catch a few minutes of harp music and spoken word on the 'Croiseés' at the St Pierre 'round the corner ( felt very special amongst the tourists! heheeee) and rushed back to my little room in absolute peace and quiet; only to eat more the next day with the nuns ( none of us ever saw the Sisters eat! hmm) and the two fabulous ladies I met also staying there- Margheurite and Mulleta- we had to communicate with very little mutual language; it's good when that happens( alot) I am forced to learn.

I only have a borrowed computer for May- I have to get it all out now!
Hopefully by then I will be too busy to write anyway!
So only a little more, I have been trying to get out more, hit an open mic and trying for some gigs, and have met a few musicians, it is happening slowly, I have to be patient;
I am feeling pressure to get gigs so that I can earn money to stay, but really I am feeling very low-key and thoroughly enjoying a bit of relative isolation!!
It is the first time in a long time that I have my time and schedule completely for myself, I answer to no one and feel little obligation, except to create music and Bon-Bon, and meet some locals. I am truly finding myself again and feeling hugely blessed and tired after a
sort of burned out slump I was feeling in recent years.
I am writing songs, lots of blues and some strange stuff I'm not sure yet.
I'm seeing tons of art including a Pete Doherty show, and there is great music everywhere.
I have met a lovely player Estas Tonne, a travelling musician who gave me a spirit lift with his words of support; and Amelia is just over the hill in Turkey doing same or similar!! We will try to meet and search our roots in Ukraine in July.
So things are slowly unfolding like a butterfly's wings, and I just chug along and have tons of dramatic and private ups and downs and madness and tarama.
As I find my breath again; I will begin to get out more and meet more folk, but I am trying to find the work/enjoy balance. I love to just walk and observe, esp. at night.
I would rather just lay low, but I am pushing myself to get out a little more and I have approached some venues I Really want to play; and met a couple of very interesting artists who have been very helpful already. OH YES. the French people have been most courteous to me I might add! I learn to discern the 'desperados' (men) that Glom onto you (icky).

I did meet some neighbourhood locals and they greet me with kisses on the street now and I feel very welcome and lucky to feel like a nouvelle 'Montmartreuse' !!!
Now if you read this whole diary you are either a diehard Bon-Bon fan or friend or there is seriously nothing on the telly! heheee
Thank you so much did that make any sense at all?
Promise a much shorter blog next time, guess I miss you guys!
Missing our/my beloved and GORGEOUS BC, but not going to rush back too quickly!
Thinking of you rootsies rockin the beautiful pioneer coast!
MEAOW from the little grey parisian stray that jumped in my window to join me for dinner!

Thank you so much for your time BISOU XXXOXOX!!!
LOVE ANA Bon-Bon
ps lots of wonderful dreams at night

howdy little dogies!

I am back from a recent trip to Edmonton, where I was playing at the

Capital Ex Fair (formerly the Klondike Days- how very sad they changed the

great theme/name to - Nothing!)

anyhoo I was playing at the fabulous DOC BAILEY's country bluegrass stage on the Midway with four Winnipeg bands, all here on myspace!

these were; STONYPOINT, DAN FRECHETTE, THE KITCHENEERS, and ANDREW NEVILLE & THE POOR CHOICES, and ME- ANA BON-BON

though I found it to be a tough gig ( lots of noise and machinery to compete with) it was a great experience with several rockn bands- and a lot of people enjoyed the live music venue that was set up entirely on the whim of Mr. Earl Tustin / Doc Bailey!! GO EARL!!

fans and friends, I have a BRAND NEW SPANKIN' ALBUM out!

I recorded in June, finished it in July! It is called BARE NAKED BLUES

because I produced it myself in a stripped down Bon-Bon manner. I wrote all the songs on it and I really poured my heart into it. I'll be having a CD Release party (tba) in the Fall 2007! It has a variety of styles (like me) in the cabaret, blues, and spirituals genres. It will be available at Red Cat Records on Main St & 27th in Vancouver BC VERY shortly.

also: I finally received the Canada Council grant that I have been vying for

for the past three years!! Looks like I'll be going to Paris for a few months this year to write new songs. I am very excited to unleash myself on Paris!!!!heheh

anyway here it is summer, let's all enjoy the hell out of it!!!

Be good to yourselves and your loved ones. Be kind to people and animals,

and celebrate life!!! LOVE ANA BON-BON

Dear Peeps -

I hope you are rockin thru the winter- it has been a gorgeous winter

in Vancouver - lots of snow and sunshine, both of which I love !

A note to all: I do not have a computer, so I am as of yet unable to do much surfing on the site, and it takes me a while to answer or accept friends sometimes,

as I am usually on limited computer time. I hope to change that later this year. Thank you for your understanding.

I am still writing a new solo album- it is long overdue and it will be another

month before I start recording. I am making good progress and really pulling out some friendly demons! heheheeheh! I am entering those blessedly deep creative spaces, doing a lot of weeping and generally behaving quite insanely, all in the privacy of my little home. What fun.

I have, however, started taking regular shows again. February has three shows in the burlesque and cabaret vein , and then in March I will be playing concert-style. I will be posting all of the new shows next week.  I am very happy to be playing again, tho I still have lots of creative work to complete after I spent several years floating and touring around. I'll be around all spring, for once, plus baseball season is coming and the Eastvan Expos are going to kick some butt!

Make sure you get out to see the live shows in town- there is a lot of fun and inspiration going on!!

Thank you to my friends Gus Horn and Stephen Nikleva,

each of whom gave me the gift of a Beautiful Concertina! I now have one for each hand!! Yayyyyyyyyyy!

Remember to love and forgive, especially yourself!

LOVE Ana Bon-Bon

 

HI everyone ! I am heading off to Penticton this weekend and

Victoria next week, but mainly I am around and in hiding (except when I go out heheh) writing a new album and going through quite a process. Progress IS being made, however, and life is sweet. I forgot- be sure to check out www.iwantswank.com, click  on "media " and see the fabulous video that the fabulous fellas of SWANK

made, and I got to sing duo on the lead. I really love it, and I really love them, too.

I will write more very soon and update the peeps on what's hop!

Stay loose, you people, keep rockin in the free world

LOVE ANA