Martyn Joseph in concert in Nanaimo!

October 14, 2011
As I was preparing to come out for the conference in Vancouver Iknew that I wanted to come to the Island to visit. Then when MJ announced a concert tour  with a stop in Nanaimo I jnew I had to be here for that one. He was also touring with a friend Stewart Henderson a spoken word poet. I spoke to KO and she was as excited to see them as I was.

The day started off as another bright blue sunny day and remain that way through out the day. After K&K went off to work I took a walk first along the seawalk then up into town. From a great little stop for coffee and sausage rolls. Carried on down the street to a fun little shop Lux that sold nice little gifts. Bought a couple of little things. Next stop was a book store that the owner was retiring and selling his stock at 75% off. I found the Canadian history section and bought 13 books. One in particular is a 1st edition on the History of Railroads a beautiful book. I then had to abort my mission of finding the grocery store and head back home. I went up Fitzwilliam and ended up in the gardening store. I bought a couple of garden stakes one of a hummingbird for K&K and one for myself of a Pegaus. Then it was a home for sure because I could hardly carry what I had.

It was a warm day and I was overdressed. So by the time I go back I was cranky and overheated. I cooled off and had a short nap. When I woke it was already time to get ready for the evening. K got home and changed then we walked over to the Fox & Hound Pub. We arrived first and got a great table at the back of the place. It wasn't to crowded yet. Bonnie and Ross arrived about 10 minutes after us while I was at the bar ordering drinks. It was so good to see them again. Ross gave me his big old friendly smile and a hug. We all had great fun ordering food. It is a quirky low key atmosphere you can not be in a hurry. We had lot's of time. It was good food with great friends.

After we had finished supper it was off to the concert. We got to the church and walked into to no more than 30 people in attendance. I was so shocked. The 1st 3 rows were not occupied so we bee lined it down there. We sat in the 3rd row and no one sat in front of us. I could reach out and touch MJ if I really wanted too. Stewart Henderson was a surprise. He recited some of his own poems also a lot of Martyn's songs. It was a very beautiful combination of talents. Some of Stewart's poetry was funny some of it was sad. I should have bought his book and didn't. Instead I bought an live MJ CD. Couldn't help myself. They did a great version of Working Mother a song I don't really care for. MJ did a new very sad song that made K & me wonder if he has spilt with his wife. How sad if that is the case. Stewart was a very dry funny fellow and had Martyn in stiches many times through out the night. it was great fun. After the concert we walked Bonnie and Ross to their truck and then we when off to K & Ks place, An absolutely wonderful evening.

Back on the West Coast

October 13, 2011
Out here again to visit yet again. I will be attending the Access 2011 - the library is open conference in Vancouver next week. I tacked on a few days of vacation. Left a beautiful sunrise in Calgary. Took the bus from Crowfoot to the airport. Took an hour to get there but I had the time and it only cost me $2.75 as opposed to a $60.00 taxi fare. The airport wasn't too busy. However the plane was full do to a possible strike by Air Canada. The woman next to me was moved up to a front seat because she had a close connecting flight.  We had the only extra seat on the plane between the young girl and I. She was coming home for a visit from McGill. She was so happy to be back in Vancouver for a week. Took the Canada LIne Train into downtown. Wander around a bit found the bus to Horseshoe Bay. It wasn't the express. It gave me an interesting ride through the residental streets. The weather was sunny and warm.

As we sailed across the Salish Sea to Nanaimo the day got cloudy but I holed up in the far corner with my luggage and had a snooze. Talked with a nice woman who lives in Parksville. She told me about the joys of living on a rural property. I still think it is more work than joy. Kathryn and Kevin picked me up. went back to their place, got beer and take out from a new place that has opened up close to them. Good day for travelling.

Thanksgiving weekend was Fabulous

What a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend. I spoke to both daughters and both of my brothers. Took Mom on an outing. Spent time with friends in person and on the phone.

Saturday was a beautiful day to take an early morning walk along the Douglas Fir Trail.
First I was out early and got some sunrise pics form Ranchlands Hill. I thought that I should check out the Bow River. I had a great walk with the beautiful Alberta blue sky. I then went to Costco and pick up some stuff. Some for Christmas but most for when I return from vacation.Then it was over to Deni's. Brian helped me take the canopy apart and then transported it in his truck to my place. He is an odd duck but a good worker. He had been in the bush all summer and is getting use to being around people again. As I was coming into the house I had an invite to join neighbours for Shepards Pie. Yummy!

Sunrise Oct 8, 2011

Bow River looking westward

On Sunday I took Mom to Heritage Park. It is always fun to take her there and listen to her tell people about how she once lived. I always learn something interesting or funny. She was telling one woman stories about her family and everyone was laughing. We went into the print shop and talked about Armstrong Press. I have such intense memories of the smell of the ink and playing with pieces of type as a child. It was good to get her out and walking in the fresh air. I came home to watch the Winnipeg Jets. Great to see hockey in Winter-peg again. They sure deserve it. Even PM Harper was there to watch the home opener. I went over to the neighbours to have a delicous Ham Thanksgiving supper. It was a nice evening with Tim, Jocelyn and Dani. Jocelyn's sister, Jackie and her boyfriend Rich. They are a nice family and it was a great evening.

Sunrise Oct 9 2011

Mom at the front desk of the Wainwright Hotel

Holiday Monday I got to work early and did a big clean up of the house. I even managed to get the wallpaper up in the bathroom after having it around for years. I got all the laundry done and clothes are packed for my vacation to start on Thursday. I took a break and went to Jane Roberts' place. We were going to watch Doctor Who but somehow it had been earased off here PVR. We watched something else not as good of course but she feed me a turkey sandwich and homemade turkey soup. Came home to finish house work and get ready to go to work for 2 days. Then it is off to Naniamo for a week vacation and then Vancouver for a library conference.

September is done. Bring on October

I am so very glad that September has ended. It is the month of contradictions for me. On the good side I left home at 19 years of age, drove across the country in a van with a guy and 2 cats to start my adult life in Calgary in 1975. We arrived during an Indian summer similar to the one we are currently having. We explored the mountains and lived at Restwell Campsite in Canmore like a couple of gypsies. I wish we could have settled in Canmore bought property and we would have been millionaires by now.

I married Sandy on Sept 23,1983 that was a good thing to do at the time. It gave me my 2 girls. I also had a great friend for 9 more years and then 5 years of WTF. In 1989 in Sept I had a mis-carriage in my 2nd trimester. I sank into a terrible depression when I didn't know or recognize what depression was. Every winter after that until I knew what SAD was I suffered. That was one of the contributing factors on my part for the mariage breakdown. That happened in Sept 1994. From 89/94 was a very long 5 years of turbulance.

On the good side again I started my classes at SAIT in 1996 for my library tech training. In 1998 I started my career at Mount Royal College. Every September we watch a newby batch of students arrive and wander around with that dazed but awed look on their faces. 

It is again time to enjoy Sept. This year has been a very blessed year. I had Shauna stay for awhile. I have heard from Laura that she will soon leave work to take it easy before the baby arrives. Glad she has stopped working at the bar and will soon stop at the greasy spoon job. There has also been the most glorious fall weather for everyone to enjoy. 

However I am getting ready for the change in the season. October has always been a good month. There is football, Thanksgiving, Octoberfest and best of all Halloween!

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. Fabulous days!

To start the day there was the most spectacular sunrise to take photos of. I thought when I went out the door at 6:30 that there was a huge fire off to the east. It was pitch black out expect for the orange glow on the horizon. It was so dark because of the billowing cloud cover. Once I realized it was the sunrise I went back in to retrieve my camera and got up the hill to take photos on the dusk/dawn setting. I started to drive to work and had to stop and take more pictures because It was continuing to get more and more beautiful.

Work was actually fun. TGIF! I meet the most beautiful student who we may hire to paint a mural on our entrance window. I had emailed him on a reference from the bookstore. He walked up to the desk and asked where he could find Debbie Henson. Damn near fell off my chair. It was one of those instant attraction moments. He is in his 30's alas just a baby. I told Judy T. that she has to be there for the next meeting when he brings in his portofolio. I couldn't concentrate on much of what he was saying. Danger danger!

Rest of the day was good as I finally finished the inventory on the 40 new laptops, labeling and re-labeling is done! They have been flying off the shelves. Got home and had my 30 minute power nap. Took Shauna to the Fish Creek Folk Club. It was a funny fabulous evening with a group of 3 women, The Refugees. One had played with The Nitty Griitty Dirt Band, another had played with Bob Dylan and toured with Elton John, the other had been in a trio with 2 guys from the Police but not Sting. I loved their harmonies and humour!

On the way home we stopped in and picked up a case of Grasshopper beer because Jocelyn was coming over to visit. She brought Tim with her and we had a great evening until 2:15 a.m. for me they partied until 3:30.

Today I am off to see a speaker talking about food and hunger in the world everyone who has heard her speak raves about her. Name is Dr. Vandana Shiva. Then this evening I am off to a huge Drumming circle at Canada Olympic Park.

Tomorrow I may need to rest up! or I might just head down to the Calgary International Film Festival. I haven't gone for a couple of years and I always feel like I am missing out on something special. Or I might go to Bowness Park with Kootenay for the Responsible Dog Ownership Day.

My 1983 Wedding Day

Today would have been my 28th wedding anniverary. I woke up and thought about that for a milli second. Shauna is going to visit her Dad today which I find kind of ironic. He no doubt doesn't even remember the date. The Historian that doesn't remember dates that always made me laugh. I think it is selective memory. I am off to a busy day at work trying to finish up stuff that I have been to busy to get done and people need done! Tonight is the 1st night of Fish Creek Folk Club concerts series for the year. I will pause briefly at 2:30 on the this day the 23 and recall 1983. Then I'll get into the car and drive home have a nap and head out to enjoy a night of music!
As I wrote this my favorite Dylan song has been on in the Folk Roots station, Forever Young. "May you stay Forever Young. May you grow up to be......"

This has been one very wierd week

This is always a strange week for me. Between the marriage break down and the wedding anniversary. I am often dragged back into the past at the oddest times. For example I have just discovered that I get the music stations now on cable. I love the Galaxy Folk Roots channel. I came into the house and turned it on to hear Roads to Moscow by Al Stewart. A very obscure tune that Sandy loved because of the historic content. I haven't heard that song in decades. It took me right back to the piano bar we all sat in one night in 1978 and when the piano man asked if anyone had a request. A very drunk Sandy yells out "Roads to Moscow it's my favorite song."  "Sorry fella I don't know that one" the piano man answered back. "I'll play Feelings for you instead." We all laughed hysterically. That was before we were even dating. I remember thinking he was a nut case. It has been a great week to have Shauna here. She reminds me that something great did come out of all the pain and suffering I went through to be done with him.