Walk in their shoes
Two Dalhousie professors have branched out beyond the usual means of getting their research noticed by posting an animated short …
Dispatches from the Colony of Losers
By Trevor J. Adams | Sep 22, 2010
Editor’s note: I didn’t know much about Michael Kimber (left), other than that he was the son of Hali-famous journalist Stephen Kimber, when he first approached me, pitching a story about Peter Stoffer’s possible mayoral ambitions. The story was a big success for Halifax Magazine, and as we worked on it, I realized: Michael Kimber is one interesting guy. In his mid-20s, he’s created a blog candidly revealing his struggles with mental-health issues. It’s raw, honest (at times, painfully so) reading and it’s making him one of the city’s hottest bloggers. In our October issue, he’s going to tell you how it all came together. But today, I asked him to tell our readers a bit about his story. His report follows…
This has been an excellent week in the life of Michael Gray Kimber. Before writing this I got a haircut and beard shave from Phat the Barber. He assures me this will get me laid. I have high hopes for the future and a date next week. Publicizing my life on the blog has had strange and utterly unpredictable side effects. For example I referred to a hawk like look I give to women when I desire mating. On my last date this look was identified and the proverbial jig was up. However you didn’t ask for a story about my love life, Trevor and I aim to provide what you need. Don’t worry the look hasn’t been employed before writing that sentence.
My blog, Colony of Losers, about the friends and family that get you through falling on your face to find your future has taken off. Most of this is a direct result of my online series “The Cure” detailing my nervous breakdown.
As a result, pardon the pun, shit has gotten crazy.
This week my website got 10,000 hits! Yes..I used an exclaimation mark. I use them sparingly but my enthusiasm was too much to contain with run of the mill punctuation. My cartoon “Birds” illustrated by Mike Holmes was in the Coast and has received international attention. I was named a mental health advocate by mindyourmind.ca , one of the largest mental health websites in Canada. Check out the interview here. The Gazette is using the Cure#3 as the cover story for its mental health issue. As a result I’m over the moon and wearing pajama pants to expensive restaurant in hopes of becoming an eccentric and as such more famous than Lady Gaga.
During the Atlantic Film Festival, I’m pitching my screenplay Sick in the hopes of getting funding to make my feature film. Picture what would happen if Charlie Kaufmann rewrote American Beauty from the depths of insomnia. I’ve never been so excited about a project as I am about this. Best thing I have ever done. I’ve also entered the pitch the publisher contest in Word on the Street.
My inner child is content and has stopped throwing Molotov cocktails at my house to encourage me to do better.
One way or the other things have been going well.
I’ve bought a dozen pairs of clean white socks in anticipation of writing the piece for your magazine explaining the origins of Colony of Losers. I do my best work in clean socks and I promise you the very best. As soon as a tiny bit of sweat occurs and the white turns gray I will throw them in the trash and don on a new pair.
I’m very excited to see where this takes us.
To madness and Halifax Magazine.
Look for Michael’s guest column in the Afterthought section of the October issue, on newsstands Oct. 3.
Trevor asked me to a do a slight follow up on these words from the trenches.
As I prepare for the Pitch Publisher Event on Sunday at Word On The Street and solicit Facebook for a straight jacket to use in my presentation, I have been hard at work selling Sick. Aided by my attorney, Master of Macintosh and young gun Producer Sean John Edward Mansell Kimmel III, I have made inroads in finding funding for the film. As talks are new and the hangover has yet to set in, I will keep my words brief. Progress is being made. Knowing winks have been exchanged, hands have been shaked and a couple furtive steps into the future have been taken. The slow waltz to seduction has begun. This week I will wear nothing but tuxedos and speak with a James Cagney accent. I’m ready to go Hollywood and get the plastic surgery necessary to make this face resemble James Franco or Macauly Culkin in his child like glory. This blond haired blue-eyed Jew is on his way to living his dreams. Much thanks to Trevor for the encouragement. To madness and Halifax Magazine.