Lest We Forget

Today was met with a surge of pride of being Canadian and a sense of nostalgia. As it was Remembrance Day today I took part in the ceremonies in Ytown along with other members of the band. It has been a number of years since I was part of the ceremonies, something I had forgotten until I was sitting with my fellow bandmates watching the RCMP dressed in their full Serge, Veterans, Cadets and the rest of the contingent marching in to the beat of the drums and drone of the bagpipes to take their place around the cenotaph.

After waking to a fresh blanket of snow that had fallen over night, I quickly turned on the old ‘puter to check on the road conditions. Ytown is only a half hour away but it can seem a world away when you have to drive through snow drifts, swirling snow, ice pack, or just plain old fashioned, unplowed roads. (Huge kudos to my homeland for the excellent snow plowing and road clearing that is done at all hours of the day, not 3 days after a massive snowfall. But that is a story in itself and for another time!) The roads were labeled “winter conditions, use caution” so I picked up the mamma and off we set for Ytown. The roads were snowy, I used caution and I am pleased to say the mamma didn’t scream at me to slow down! We made it safe and sound with plenty of time to figure out where we needed to be. After getting the mamma settled in her seat I quickly joined my fellow band people and found that there were quite a few of us who didn’t want to brave the roads. After my little panic attack that there were just 2 of us flute players, one of which who hasn’t played for over 40 years and yours truly, I put on my big girl panties, and prepared to play our songs, Oh Canada, God Save the Queen, a few Hymns to name a few.

As the ceremonies progressed I had an instant flashback to my Girl Guide and Pathfinder days when we used to muster at the King Eddy and march to Turn-Around-Park for November 11th. All of a sudden I could hear Mr. Larson as he opened the service, us singing O Canada, the laying of the wreaths, I could hear Sheldon playing Taps on his trumpet and then the eventual hot chocolate that was waiting for us at the legion.

It was such a happy memory, something that I haven’t thought of in years! I am so glad that I made the drive so I could be a part of the Remembrance Day Ceremonies today. It was a chance to ponder and remember and be a part of something so much bigger than you and I. While I sat with my memories of those happy days I was humbled to think of why I had those memories. So many men and women have given their lives for us, even to this day they are. Because of them we have so many freedoms that they never had the chance to enjoy.

Ya Gotta See It Live!

I am a Disney girl through and through!  I grew up with the best of them, the Little Mermaid, Lion King, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast to name a few.  For over an hour you were transported to a land of make believe and imagination.  Life was perfect, the princess always ended up with the prince! And then there were the songs, I knew the words to every one J (still do!).  I admit I have all my old VHS tapes and have been known to pop one in on a blustery day and curl up on the couch. There is just something about the stories that seem so magical that make you want to be a part of it.

Today I was transported to a world of make believe, the parents and I headed to the city to see DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon, the live show.  It was amazing!  For 2 hours I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next (and yes I have seen the movie!).  Live productions have come a long way, to take an animated show and make it live is pretty cool in my books.  Depending largely on the backdrop screen which projected images to go along with the show you felt like you were there.  And the dragons, they flew, they breathed fire, they walked around the stagefloor, they felt real and in the moment I wished I was a Viking on the island of Berk and had a dragon to ride too! 

I had forgotten how much I enjoy live shows and decided that I am going to make an effort to see more, from supporting the arts in my area to bombing off to the city for a large production.  It will be nice to escape reality for a couple hours!  That being said I am counting the days until the end of the month when I get to see Celtic Thunder live!  They are an Irish singing group that make me stop what I am doing to listen whenever I hear them!  I am obsessed and swore if they were ever in the area I would go see them!  If you haven’t heard them get out your googler (as my friend calls it) and search them up!  Beautiful voices and not that hard to look at either!

Until next time, keep singing! 

PS:  Here are a couple pics from todays show!

                    

 

Jumping Outside of the Box

Do you ever get the feeling that life is the same old, same old and you are stuck in a rut?  Get up, go to work, come home, go to bed, wash, rinse and repeat?  I had a case of the doldrums last year so decided to step outside of my box and join the community band.  It had been more than 10 years since I had played with a group of people and most of my music was from high school which was basically memorized!  I remember going to the first practice, sitting in the flute section with 30 other band members and thinking what was I doing here?  Here some small town girl was trying to fit in with a group of people who had been playing together for years.  But after we tuned to the customary B Flat concert scale and when the conductor raised his arms for us to start playing, my fingers took on a mind of their own, making me realize how much I missed playing in a band.  I thought to myself wow! I can do this!

It can be very scary when you are staring at new music with a gazillion 16th notes to be played in half time! I discovered that when I used to be able to site read new music I now play by ear.  I suppose that came from not playing with a group for so long.  You Tube is my new best friend as I tend to search for songs I am practicing to find out how they should sound, not how I think they should!   But once you master that new piece there is a sense of pride and accomplishment.  And there is something to be said about preparing for a concert, I love the feeling of sitting on the big stage, under the bright lights waiting for the conductor to raise his arms for us to start playing for a full house of expectant listeners!

As I sit here, my flute is calling my name.  We have a concert tomorrow and this is the piece I need to master:

Not sure if I will have it perfected for tomorrow but I am working on it and I am OK with that. I know that if I don’t get it tomorrow I will eventually as long as I keep on pushing myself.  So wish me luck for tomorrow…I am excited but at the same time have a few butterflies in my tummy.  But that is what makes it fun don’t you think?!

Is this thing on?

Well, here I am…my first blog ever.  Here it goes!  Not sure what I am going to be blogging about…everyday happenings, my adventures, cooking creations (or disasters!) and be sure of it that you will hear about my furbabies…When you live with a Hugo, my 11 month old pug, there is always a story! 

So who am I?  What do I do?  Why should you read this?

Let’s start at the begining:  I am a B.C. girl at heart who is living on the Saskatchewan flatlands.  I work in Early Childhood Education and love what I do.  Every day is a learning experience!  I have 2 dogs and 1 cat who keep me smiling everyday!  Why should you read this? not sure, to keep in touch if you know me, to kill 5 minutes of your day or just to get a giggle or two while you drink your morning coffee…what ever your reason I hope you enjoy 🙂