Evidence of Heading North

See the feast laid before me?? This is the cuisine that Air Canada dishes out for their short haul flights.  A 14 gram bag of mini pretzels (half an ounce for those still in pound mode) delivering a whopping 60 calories worth of energy.  Fork out $6 for a crisp white wine to wash it down and you have a lovely pairing to occupy your restless self for about...15 minutes if you really stretch it out.

Then...what to watch...what to watch...
Apparently the only thing 'on' right now is an episode of The Dog Whisperer.
Cartoon curtesy of TwinB
I wasn't even aware that airplane seats normally come equipped with media screens until about 2 years ago when I finally flew east on a standard plane rather than just south to Vancouver.
And we get to pay about twice as much too.

Little Gems

So, like, here I am in Calgary...those are the Rockies as I flew in a week ago.  Whatta week!
Celebrated my birthday:

My ersatz son-in-law purchased this lovely cake seen here in the morning light but couldn't attend my little birthday event as he was working a side job after hours last week.

No Photo Available *

TwinB 'n me attended the annual Poetry Slam on Thursday where she opened the show being the first person to read for the Open Mic portion of a very intense and jam packed evening. She got a rather good response from a completely cold crowd (not warmed up) and I suspect folks would be surprised to discover that this was her inaugeral public reading.  Ever.

I's a proud Mama. 

*no chance to record my baby since she suddenly went on first and all I could do is enjoy.  She asked them only minutes before so they were very gracious to give her any spot at all.



The following morning mah boy and I travelled to Grande Prairie to put in an appearance at my Uncle and Aunts' 60 anniversary.  For some reason I figured on about 6 hours of travel...wrong!!  Between construction, getting lost and it being 800 kilometers in total we were on the road for 11 painful hours.  This is from the trip back a mere 38 hours later.  Travelled through a massive thunderstorm; this would be the end and look what's at the end of the rainbow!! 

Stampede is coming up so the Ctrain stations are alive with the sound of buskers.  Threw a loonie in guitar case then decided I liked his sound so told him I was sticking around for a whole song.  He did an amazing job of singing about divesting himself of various household goods in order to move to Victoria. Haunting even.  We then chatted for quite a while: so, please meet Tyler Cameron, singer/songwriter heading to UVic to take sports psychology. 

I however am hoping that his musical career takes off. 

Look him up online at cbc radio 3









Rotary Dinner

A couple of nights ago I attended the year end Rotary Club dinner since someone needed to be present on behalf of Kitimat Arts For Youth because we were receiving a donation and I was the only member willing and able.  Rotary had also invited a brand new - two month old - Indian dance group to perform for the group and in the photo above they had encouraged various audience members to join in.  It was entertaining, almost as entertaining as their name: Curry In A Hurry.
Ahhh...when young folk name stuff! 
This was almost the end of my season; had to put away the panels we'd used for Dance Impressions then attended the final assembly at Nechako school yesterday where I was presented with a lovely thank you from the PAC and students that included a gift certificate to SeaMasters restaurant, right on the Douglas Channel.  It was in honour of the work I'd done with the Nechako centre mural last summer.
A quick hike/walk that I'm guiding tomorra morning then it's almost time to head to Calgreee!!
w00t!

Big Blue Hall

Here's the Blue Jungle, all set up with lights 'n everything.  The Theatre manager made sure she took photos with her big expensive camera so I hope those show it at it's best.
Five hundred square feet, base coat to touch up: 20 hours.

Arts Festival 2011: Final Event

Spent a good chunk o' Monday striking the On Cue exhibit at the library then taking the various pieces back to their respective homes so I really wasn't planning on attending the final performance which was the Naden Band.  They're the Canadian Navy's west coast band so I was expecting marching band/military type stuff.  As I ran through the theatre I caught some very nice sounds while they rehearsed and warmed up so it seemed a shame to miss the closing event.  I cleaned myself up a bit, dressed in theatre black just in case I was pressed into service at the Front of House (and I was).
As I listened to the incredible music they were producing it occurred to me that I've never been in the presence of a real, professional live band before.  A Big Band, not a drony little marching band.
It. Was. Epic.
They played music from popular movies, jazz and swing, with a jaw dropping full length version of Sing, Sing, Sing featuring...well... what I can only describe as some ultra masculine drumming.
I'm glad that I went and I'm glad that it's over!
http://youtu.be/iInxEWAy8A4  ( here's a link to them on Youtube)

Dance Impressions; Installed at Last!

Just a tad behind original schedule, I finally installed all the artwork that the students produced for exhibit today.  Hurray!!  My fave - on the bottom left - would be 'The Sun Is Dancing', created by a grade 3 with Downs Syndrome, however I was impressed with all the kids and their fairly effortless grasp of the concept. 
I love this particular project.  *sigh*

Arts Festival 2011 (aka: WeekFromHell)

The students here were participating in the workshops I instructed a while back for Dance Impressions which always proves to be a very delightful activity hence definitely not part of TheWeekFromHell.  It's the resulting exhibit that I'm slowly piecing together at the mall that has become part of an overwhelming and gruelling amount of work.

On Cue for 30 Years is exhibiting at the library all this week meaning we have to find people to sit there in shifts or be there the entire week our (two) selves.  Took 5 people 6 hours to set this up last Saturday.  The other exhibit  requires that all the artwork be mounted by Thursday at 4 when there is cake and coffee happening.   I attended the Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir last night and it became a challenge to keep my eyes open.  Not because they were lacking in any way; it's a testament to their enthusiasm and skill that they kept me awake the entire concert!

Finally, I have been working on That Backdrop.  500 square feet in 15 hours.  Lots of other crap involved with it though.  I'll have to pack it up tomorrow, haul away the paint I no longer need, put aside the paint I do need for next week when it's installed and I will perform touch ups geared towards the lighting available. 
Oh.  Must disguise the paint I got on the wall of this newly renovated classroom...
shhhh...