Black Eyed Peas - Fergalicious - Committed

Matt loves the Black Eyed Peas, so off we toddled last night to the concert. We rarely go to concerts, so this was kind of exciting. We had dinner with Ambi and Joe first and then they (blessedly) drove us downtown. We actually had somehow managed to procure decent seats and thank goodness that Matt has been making me listen to the CD's since last fall, because it was fun to know all (or almost all) of the songs.

Not sure if this turned me into an overnight fan, but I did enjoy Fergie a lot. I don't really know enough about rap to appreciate the guys' rap skills, and some of the songs that seem more like they are being shouted than sung make me wonder how on earth these people got so famous (oh, the wonders of marketing). Fergie's got a powerful set of pipes though, and all-in-all it was just good, clean fun. Lots of junior high aged kids with their moms, which I think is so cute. The little girl two seats down from me was crying, for goodness sake. The whole show was surprisingly positive, despite some of their song lyrics which would make you believe otherwise. They instructed the audience to make the world a better place, never give up on their dreams, as long as those dreams contribute to the world rather than destroying it or anyone. I was surprised. No gangsta.

I had a little chat with a security staffer (Saddledome employee). I asked him which crowds are the worst for events and he said by far "metal". He also said that people his age (mid 50's +) are by far the worst behaved at events. To quote, "They are accustomed to smoking whatever they want, wherever they want, and drinking as much as they want wherever they want, from the 70's. They don't like to be told different, either. Younger generations don't think that way at concerts. They do what they are asked." Interesting since everyone always blames teenagers for everything.

We came straight home and bought tickets to Lady Gaga in Edmonton on Thursday night. As this is someone I am more prone to listen to than BEP's, I am STOKED. I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas. I just read the Vanity Fair with Gaga on the cover. I can't wait for the outfits and insanity, though I don't suppose her touring show will contain pianos that are part of her outfit, but I can dream...

Lastly, I borrowed Elizabeth Gilbert's newer book from the library. As a huge fan of Eat, Pray, Love (no, I haven't seen the movie) I have been wary of "Committed" as I feared I would not like it as much. I get why it won't be the mega-hit that EPL is, but it is really good. I recommend it to anyone who is married, divorced, thinking about getting married, or thinking about getting divorced, or anyone that ever was married or divorced, or anyone who says that they will never get married or divorced. Basically anyone. It is less inner journey like EPL, and more historical and cultural information that I find absolutely and totally fascinating.

Radium, BC

A couple of weeks ago we loaded up the dog and headed out camping. We did not have a clear idea of where we wanted to go, but we totally scored. I have not been to Radium in years, but it is marvelous. We camped in the National Park at Redstreak Campgound. They charge for fires, but the 8 bucks a day includes ALL THE FIREWOOD YOU CAN BURN. This is significant because hauling firewood is not fun and can be expensive for us urbanites who don't have trees to hew down. Which remindes me of a redonkulously funny quote from Glee to the real estate agent: It's always been my dream to cut down my own Christmas tree. How many Christmas trees will we have in our yard?
Anyhow, our campsite had a gorgeous view of the town, it is close to the hot springs so we went to the hot springs every morning, it had showers (miracle), and was only a 15 minute drive from Invemere. Now apparently if you are disgustingly wealthy and have money to burn, you move to Invemere. There are literally palaces ringing the lake. Several people have private docks with MULTIPLE boats, wave runners, and one that I can only describe as a speedy-looking yacht. I would like to become close personal friends with the people who own the castle that four of the mega-structures around it could have fit into. I would love to go and stay with them each summer. If anyone knows them, please pass on my name to them. I don't eat much and I could easily get lost in that fortress of theirs, so they wouldn't even know I was there.
If you are in Radium and looking for a healthy lunch (because for some reason all the restaurants serve schnitzel exclusively), go to the Prestige Inn. Their restaurant has a "house" salad that is to die for. It is inexpensive, huge and full of delicious ingredients, more like a chef's salad. Also, for breakfast the Melting Pot is delicious AND has gluten-free bread.
Also I plan to go back to that area in the summer to go to Fernie. That place has exploded with small town charm and BC tree-lover lifestyle that I love. There is an organic cafe that is outta sight.

In Search of Summer

I have been looking for summer for weeks now. To my American and Australian and Mexican freidns who live in places where it is warm: attention must be paid. Do you know how hard it is to find summer in Canada sometimes? And I do not understand it because when we were kids it seemed like summer was hot.

The weird thing is that the time we spent on the coast this year was some of the best weather we have seen. Calgary has been rainy or cold almost every day. The mosquitos are out of control.

Now anyone who knows me, knows that there are two things I hate: Cold and Mosquitos.

We tried to go to Moyie with Mom and Ethan. It seems like a nice place, but the day we got there, in rolls a storm and rain.

I swear to you that I am attracting this crap weather wherever I go. It has been happening for years now. I should go to the Kalahari. I'll make it rain in torrents. I have rain karma. Now some people might see this as a good thing, but not me.

If you are lucky enough to live somewhere that you can get to sunshine fast or inexpensively, declare your gratitude today! Personally over the past seven years I have spent...5 digits or so trying to snatch a few weeks of sunshine. I am off to go sun-hunting again. "Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, Please shine down on me!"