Memories: John Caspell

(Photo I took of Brooke and John at OVFF in 2006)

Brooke Lunderville (John's music partner and close friend) has posted an update about what happened yesterday. She says that if people post happy memories of John in her journal, she'd print them out to show his family.

Here's what I posted:

- I remember the first time I heard John perform in open filk. I had the impression he was quiet and shy, but then he opened his mouth and out came a bawdy/funny song I had never heard before. I never thought he was quiet and shy again.

- When John started smiling with an evil glint in his eye, you knew you had to watch out.



- At FKO last month, I enjoyed hearing John help out in Juliana McCorison's concert. I remember thinking that I had the impression that John was more of a loner type when I first met him and that obviously I had been SO wrong back then. He seemed to really enjoying himself on stage, and it was a joy to watch that.



- I loved seeing John's goofy side -- this tended to come out way more when he was with Brooke (she has that influence, y'know :-D). I remember being surprised but delighted when he clowned around for a photo I took at OVFF back in 2006, which I've posted at the top of this entry. I was flattered when Brooke and John decided to use it for their group webpage.

John, you will be deeply missed.

John Caspell

(Above: photo of John and Brooke by Alisa Garcia)

Just heard about the sudden and unexpected passing of John Caspell; I mentioned a few days ago that he was in a motorcycle accident, but he seemed to be recovering well. Thanks to those in the Filkhaven IRC for additional info.

The filk community is in shock. I last saw John (also known as Dr. Filk) at FilKONtario last month. I can't believe he's gone.

John Caspell and his music partner Brooke Lunderville were scheduled as Interfilk Guests at Concertino next month. [Update: madfilkentist says that Brooke will still attend the convention as the Interfilk guest: "By convention tradition, a guest who dies before the con is still a guest. Brooke said she's still coming, and honoring John's memory will be an important part of the con."]

My deepest condolences to Brooke, John's family and his close friends.

Info being posted at:
Brooke's LJ
Filk LJ community
Pondside's LJ

Healing vibes

Above: John and Brooke at FilKONtario.

Ack! Just found out from Allison that John Caspell was in a motorcycle accident a couple of days ago. Apparently he was hit by an SUV running a red light. :-(

He has broken some ribs, a tibia, and his foot; he's waiting for foot surgery right now, I think.

You can find out more info in Brooke's journal.

Suburban Travesty...on YouTube

As I mentioned before, my music group (Urban Tapestry), were the Toastmasters at a local filk convention called FilKONtario. Part of the convention is devoted to "one-shots", which are basically mini-concerts by anyone who wants to sign up, singing one song.

One of the sign-ups was a mysterious "Esty", which turns out to be "S.T.", short for Suburban Travesty. Apparently Dave Clement, Tom Jeffers and Walter had been conspiring for a while. The little sneaks.

Dave was Jodi, Tom was Allison, and Walter was me. Well...Walter carried out his threat of putting this on YouTube, and you can also find the lyrics to "Pretty FIlkers" (words by Walter! his first filk song!) at this YouTube page as well as on Flickr.

To Dave, Tom and Walter: you guys are SO doomed.

>:-)

Giant Squirrel Invasion In Toronto!

So I woke up this morning and sleepily went downstairs to get some breakfast, but something caught my eye as I passed the living room, so I turned....and then saw THIS:



At first I just stood there, blinking like a cartoon character, wondering if I was still asleep.





I went into the kitchen, where two more Evil Squirrels peered in:



And another as I headed down toward my office:



Jeff's still asleep, so I'm here trying to figure out who was responsible. Hmmm....someone who knew our house well enough to cut each squirrel picture to fit our windows ALMOST EXACTLY. Someone who rarely sleeps like a normal person so was able to drive up to our house and sneak around at 2 or 3 am when everyone else is asleep.

Someone who has played April Fool's and other scarily well-planned jokes on us before, maybe?

And someone who is, without a doubt, unaware that my capacity for seeking creative retribution is unmatched...

See LJ comments here.