There are bios, and then there are spiritual journeys:
“Andrew Paul is a pen-for-hire who splits his time between the weird world of journalism and non-profit communication departments. As co-founder of The Gypsy Church, a PR company that focuses on local arts organizations, Andrew fills his days promoting the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, Rapid Fire Theatre, Theatre Network, Mile Zero Dance and the Edmonton Community Foundation. Andrew is the former features and online editor of SEE Magazine, and when he used to have spare time he would spend it on spontaneous fishing trips to the mountains and shooting propane tanks with high-powered rifles on his friends’ farmland.”
If I ever needed to say the phrase, “Quick, go in there and dazzle them with your gracious smile and uncanny wit while I release the giraffe-sharks from their cages!”, I would want to be saying that to Andrew Paul.
Reason one is because he’s dependable. Two, his wit cannot be canned; and three, after uttering such a phrase he would probably make sure that I didn’t take anymore of the pills I found on the ground. He would then take me home, make me a salad and tuck me into bed. See what I mean about dependable? He hasn’t even done it yet and still I feel the need to thank him for it.
I have worked with Andrew on a few things and was always excited to. Even the ones that didn’t pan out I still think they were wonderful ideas. It’s weird in life when you connect with someone both creatively and in a business sense. Those two ‘crossed streams’ usually lead to tumult but with Andrew I always felt a respect for my work, for his work and for our involvement in whatever collective/project we were working on. Edmonton is lucky to have someone so dedicated to art in it’s midst. I consider myself lucky to know him.
Also, happy belated birthday you bastard.
ANSWERFLASH:
If you would give yourself a nickname what would it be?
Lyle Bombay. He was the weirdest, most unpredictable bastard I knew before he disappeared. His name should live on.
If you could switch one body part with anyone else in the world living or dead, who and what would it be?
Hemmingway’s right fist.
In five words, describe your most uncomfortable dream.
Driving naked with no brakes.
What is your favourite word?
Why.
What does that word smell like?
Hunger.
What is your spirit animal?
A bear.
Lyle’s was a tapeworm – true story.
If ghosts existed, would you want to meet one? If so, what would you ask it?
Definitely! What does a guy have to do to get possessed around here?
If you could share a bottle of alcohol with anyone who has ever existed, who would it be and what would you drink?
A fifth of bourbon with Tom Waits. Sipping laudanum out of a human skull with Lord Byron is a close second.
What would you rather have as a pet: A dragon, a unicorn Pegasus or Ezra Levant?
Definitely Ezra Levant. I’ve been looking for a practical use for this abandoned well on my old acreage for years. A monster like that would thrive down there for sure – plenty of beetles and drowned mice for him to gnaw on.
Finally, if you could live your life over again with guaranteed success, what would you do?
I would learn stuff about math and physics and become an astronaut.
The Trent Wilkie 