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6- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 27, 2006 Commentary The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Guest Columnist Idol reflections Eryll McCaffrey Blakelock High School co-op student ou wait over five hours in a big theatre to get your shot at fame amongst thousands of other hopefuls, only to hear that you should come back next year and try it all Eryl McCaffrey over again. Welcome ladies and gentlemen to my account of the Canadian Idol Auditions. I arrived at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto, surprised that, despite my initial fears of standing in a line that wrapped around the whole city block, there were only a few contestants waiting around outside. I was told to walk into the building and register. I approached the administrative team, signed up, obtained a large white sign with a never-ending list of numbers on the front and pinned it onto my carefully thought out outfit. "This is it," I thought. I am going to give it my all, and walk out of here with the same confidence that I've just stepped in these doors with. But after five and a half hours of waiting around, walking to the Eaton Centre to shop and watch my friend pierce her ears for the first time, I was all tired out. There were contestants standing around everywhere, belting out their favourite tunes. I chose to "preserve" my voice for the actual audition, although the truth was that I just didn't want to embarrass myself in front of some of the most talented singers in Canada. I didn't audition for Canadian Idol with the die-hard dream of becoming a famous singer when I grew up. I simply like to sing as a hobby, so the blow to my ego wasn't too great. However, there were many hopefuls, who were crushed with the criticism and who left empty handed. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. From the start to finish it was completely fascinating to get an inside scoop on how the television world operates. I was especially interested to learn more about the Canadian Idol show. When watching a mix of the most horrendous singers and the most talented vocalists in the world, one wonders, what are these judges looking for? Unfortunately, I can not say that all of my questions were answered. After finally testing my luck at an audition with four other contestants in front of the producers, I wondered, "If she's not good enough, or if he's the next Canadian Idol, then where do I fit in this picture?" My turn came, and I was told to stand on the x-mark on the floor. I took one last deep breath and started to recite the first verse and chorus of the song There You'll Be by Faith Hill. The entire time I was singing, I kept looking at the faces of the two producers wondering, "What are they thinking of me right now?" When it was over,the five of us stood against the wall waiting for the final verdict. The producers decided not to comment on each of us individually, but told us as a whole that we were great but they weren't going to put any of us through. I couldn't leave this whole experience without taking something away from it, so I asked the deadly question, "What could I have done to improve?" The female judge told me that indeed I had a beautiful voice, much talent and that I was very close to being accepted, but the competition was stiff this year and they were looking for a more rock 'n roll sound. I was told to come back again next year and audition. With that advice I was sent on my way, and I mean really sent on my way. As soon as I left the audition room, I was literally ushered into hallway, put on the elevator and shown the exit door. I couldn't even take in one last look at the theatre. Despite the outcome, I found the experience interesting, humourous and eye opening. I look forward to watching the show air and seeing some of the talented, as well as some of the talent-less, people perform that I met and discovered while I was there. I encourage anyone who is even slightly interested in singing to put on their smile and come out to the Canadian Idol auditions because it is an experience that will forever remind you of who you are and how courageous you can be. IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS Business Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ROD JERRED Managing Editor WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian Y RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: ATHENA Awards United Way of Oakville TV AUCTION When challenges include plenty of preparation and pain She likes to throw down the gauntlet. Just the other night over dinner she intimated that we need a "new physical challenge" in our lives. "Beyond getting out of bed in the morning without tweaking a muscle?" I ventured -- because with my vulnerable, creaky old body, that's a real challenge. "Yes," she replied, "even beyond that." My wife is huge on challenges. She likes to push and test herself, place hurdles in her path, and continually raise the height of those hurdles, and she likes to include me ­ content and, at times, complacent old me ­ in her self-betterment schemes. When I'm not busy grousing about my inclusion, I have to admit that I admire her. To truly live you have to grab life by the horns, you have to be engaged and continually challenged. Honestly, complacency should never really enter the big picture. To quote Lady Bird Johnson, "Each day I try to do more than I thought I could." It was the former First Lady who also advised: "Become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid." It was at that point in our suddenly daunting dinner that my wife threw down the gauntlet. It was then that she challenged: we should run a half-marathon. And it was then that I nearly blew the beverage I was drinking clear through my nose. Let it be known that my wife is not a runner. She hates running. For her to suggest that we run a half-marathon would be like me suggesting we take up ballet (I know, I know, I'd look buff in a tutu). Or that we add Barry Manilow to our music collection. Or that we turn off the NBA playoffs on TV and talk about our relationship. Andy Juniper Admittedly my wife is in terrific shape, dedicated as she is to working-out and caring for the temple that is her body. But running ain't in her repertoire. Jogging ain't her bag, baby. Once yearly she sneakers-up for a cause, running 10K for Terry Fox. And for the following week she pays in pain for the virtue of her sacrifice. Then there's me. Let it be known that I am a runner. I've run off and on ­ way more on than off ­ all my life. And with that in mind, you might think that a half-marathon isn't such a crazy goal. But you'd be wrong. You see, by makeup and mentality, I was (and remain) a sprinter at heart. Before I got all old and creaky, I could run fast for very short bursts. To me, the 200meter dash was my marathon. These days, in futile attempts to stave off Father Time, I bike a few days a week and I run a few days a week. Those runs cover the monumental distance (for me) of (drum roll) four miles. Do I hear you clapping, readers? You should be! It took me forever to build that run up to four miles and it cost me considerably. In pain. Foot pain, knee pain (surgically repaired knees do not take kindly to the open road), and even some odd upper-body pain. And now the gauntlet gal has me contemplating multiplying my four-mile route by three, plus 1.1 extra miles just for fun! That's 21-K, for the kilometer crowd. I know there are marathoners and triathletes and extreme jocks out there who are either laughing at my gutlessness, or exhorting me on with the slogan of a shoe company: Just Do It! Suffice to say, I'm currently in negotiations with my body. To pick up the gauntlet or not pick up the gauntlet? That is the question. Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.strangledeggs.com, or contacted at ajuniper@strangledeggs.com.