Calories

No.  This isn't a diet blog.  In fact, it might be the opposite of a diet blog.  Last night I went to a restaurant called Calories for a going away party for coworkers.  This was not hosted by the school director and was a "gathering" instead.  There are actually about 5 coworkers/teachers who are not returning for the 2012/13 school year but this party was really only for 2 of them.
  

Calories is located on the artsy-fartsy street of Broadway.  Yes, there is a Broadway here and it's not even New York.  Broadway is known for places like The Bulk Cheese Warehouse, the Broadway Theatre, The Better Good, The Mad Hatter and so on.  I managed to find a parking spot at the end of the block and around the corner. 

I arrived on time.  I was the second person there.

I had made the faulty assumption that this was for dessert since the meeting time was 7:30.  I had my face fixed for their famed cheesecake.  But upon finding out others had not eaten dinner yet I decided to order a plate called Fromage.  Fromage was a tray of three cheeses, seasonal fruit, and a baguette.  The baguette was so tough it could have been used to take someone's eye out.  But the tray itself was a fantastic work of art.  I wanted to take a picture of it and I should have......but I didn't.  Fail.I had a Saskatoon Berry Lemonade for a beverage.  The waiter said "ohmygod it's so good."  So I thought I had made a good choice.  Others were having wine because it was Wine Wednesday and 20% or something.  The lemonade was good.

We had a table to ourselves in the back of the restaurant.....there were about 12 of us.  It was HOT.  Now, I know that my hormones are playing tricks on me and sometimes I don't feel the temperatures accurately......but man, oh man, I needed a fan.  Not cool.

About half of our group left around 9pm and I really should have too, but I wanted that cheesecake, dammit!  I picked out the Oreo Cheesecake.  It took what felt like an hour to arrive at the table.  Not cool.  The cheesecake was good alright.  But was it the amazing-OMG-you-gotta-go-here type of cheesecake?  No.  I was expecting mind blowing orgasms of cheesecake.  Didn't happen.  Cannoli....seriously....cannoli would have blown it out of the water.When I finally pulled away from the table and hugged my goodbyes it was 10:30pm.  I was so happy to be out on the street in the cool air.  The company had been fine but I was the oldest person there but by no means did I feel that old.  But the conversation wasn't even anything.....like.....interesting.....plus I couldn't hear everyone.  Ugh!  Once I was out on the street my immediate thought was "I'm too old for this crap!"  Also,  I just kept feeling like something was missing and several hours later....because the cheesecake kept me awake until 4am......what was missing was Hubby.  This experience would have been much better with Hubby and Hubby alone.  That's what made me feel most disappointed.

Today I found out one coworker who has been really great to me also isn't returning and I wasn't able to say goodbye to him last night as he didn't come to the farewell.  His classroom is next to mine and we've taught similarly as well.  I guess it's time for him to move on.  We can't all be fixtures....as I was reminded.....I am a fixture at the Academy.

An Evening With SUPERTRAMP

I did not have the easiest of work days yesterday.  I was thankful I was only working half the day.  I had a student come who was obviously sick and had in fact stayed home from school and yet her parents thought her well enough to come to lessons.  Thank goodness for hand sanitizer.  I had the pleasure of teaching [although with this student the term "teaching" is used loosely] a girl who I've had issues with for a long long time.  I hate to generalize but I know there is something very not right about this girl.  Then I had a student who I thought was out for the count due to a broken collar bone.....and yet she showed up yesterday.  Finally I was free.....a little cranky.....but free.

At 7pm Hubby and I set out for the concert.  I was really amazed at the lack of traffic and the ease of parking.  Other concerts we've taken a bus shuttle but they were not offered this time.  Now I know that's because it was not a complete sell out.  It saddens me.  Talent of this caliber deserves a sell out crowd. 

The audience was a diverse one.  All ages.  We had tickets for Row 5, seats 18 and 19 which turned out to be terrific seats and almost mid-stage.  I had the luck, as I always do, of sitting behind someone whose head I couldn't see around [as you'll see in my video].  The woman beside me kept jiggling her leg.....not in time to the music, but in a nervous-I'm-putting-in-my-time kind of way.  Oh.....and when she wasn't jiggling she was texting.  Her friend got up and left half way through.  I may add our tickets were $150.  Why you'd pay that money to sit and not pay attention is beyond me.  *shrugs*

There wasn't an opening band.  They simply took the stage and performed.  There weren't any flashy pyrotechnics.  They simply did what they were meant to do.  And what that was.....was entertain.

On our way home, which wasn't the long way, I commented "what a great way to spend $150."  Hubby agreed.  "Now THAT is music."

Saskatoon Rock City

We have learned from past traffic jams - we are seasoned concert goers - that it is best to take a bus to the concert venue mostly to alleviate a certain driver's parking lot rage.  We catch the bus just a few blocks from home at the Confederation Park Mall Bus Terminal.  The KISS concert was no exception.  The other times we've done this, its been standing room only, but this time we lucked out.  Or maybe it was because no one wanted to ride with the Paul-Stanley-Wannabe. 

This ride was more eventful than the other bus rides though.  There had been a truck/semi accident that cut off the highway out of the city - the main route to Credit Union Centre.  Traffic was creeping along and down to two lanes.  The CUC is right beside Costco.....imagine if you were just going out there for some Costco buffet treats?  Anyhow, we arrived in plenty of time to wait for the opening act.

During this free time I was able to bond with the Lady Sitting Next to Me.  A spiky haired dude walked towards us.  Lady's Husband says, "OHMYGAWD, it's the statue of Liberty!"  If only I knew her name - I know we would be great friends.  I wonder if she likes donuts?

The opening act was BuckCherry.  Lady and I agreed we most definitely would not be running out to buy that cd.  They played entirely too long although the Two Girls who sat in front of us seemed to enjoy them.  But then they were the type who were in and out of their seats the entire time. [Washroom breaks?  Beer runs?  Smoke breaks?  I dunno]  This gives me a terrific topic for a future blog.....so be on the lookout for that one!

Moments before KISS took the stage there was a large amount of cheering as a group down below us entered the floor seating.  It was Shannon Tweed!  I'm pretty sure her sister and lot's of family were with her.....I didn't see if Sophie or Nick was there though.  The reason for this is that Shannon is from Saskatoon!  She turned and waved at the audience, paused for pictures and shook a few hands.  Then it was time for the real show.....

This was the best stage show I have ever seen.  It didn't leave me a ranting and raving lunatic like the Eagles concert did, but WOW!  There was amazing lights, pyro's and sonic booms.  There was a drum solo in which drummer Tommy Thayer complete with drum set lifted off the platform and the platform turned around.....all while he was drumming!  There was the moment that Gene Simmons spit fire and drooled blood then flew up into the rafters.  But the best part for me was this.....  Paul Stanley talked about being in Tim Horton's and said they have the best donuts!  He said that someone asked him what its like to be up on stage and he replied saying that sometimes he wishes he could be in the audience too.  That's when he said, "I'm coming out there with you!" and he jumped on a trolley and glided to the center of the arena to a rotating stage reminiscent of a 45 record.

After seeing an amazing encore we were able to find our bus to head home - a bunch of happy KISS concert goers with our ears a buzzin' from rock and rollin' all night long.

The Day the World Kept Turning

Through my early morning grogginess I could hear the newscast. My brain was foggy and just before I moved to slap the snooze mutton I heard the following:

A plane has hit the world trade centre.

There were no details – just the phrase and it didn't make any sense in my sleepy head and I finally reached out to push snooze.

Ten minutes later, the radio alarm sounded again and this time I did wake up - Wake up to confusion – that is. The radio still had no details as I quickly got ready for my retail day. It was another time and place. Once ready I descended the stairs to the main floor of my dream house. I switched on the television to more confusion. It took the clues from the radio and TV for me to comprehend some kind of story of what had happened on that beautiful sunny autumn day of September 11^th, 2001.

I phoned Hubby who was working.....commuting weekly.....an hour and a half away. “A very bad thing has happened.” He said leaving a pause. “I can't talk right now.”

I called my parents after that.

I left for work at the Gateway Mall. Everybody was talking about what happened and trying to make sense of it all. Mall traffic was really low and sales were slow. The UPS man brought us our shipment and he gave us an update from the news. There was someone from the bookstore who brought in a printout from a Nostradamus book.

What you have to understand is that September 11^th has a different meaning to me. Yes, this was a horrific event in America's history and it left our souls forever changed. Yes, I felt immense sadness for the lives lost. Yes, it was incredibly shocking. But for me and my family September 11^th is a day of celebration. It is my Mom's birthday.

That evening at my parents house CNN was on TV and we kept watching the buildings fall. It was all so overwhelming. And here we were to celebrate a birthday. We turned it all off. We ceased talking about it. We opened presents and ate birthday cake just as we would on any other birthday.

Ever since I have mixed feelings on this date. This big bad event happened and amongst the sadness, remorse, and guilt we kept living. We kept living while other lives were abruptly halted. The world grieved as others lived. On that September 11^th, 2001 there were babies born, anniversaries celebrated and family birthday parties held.

Its just a date. A date that so easily could have been September 10^th or September 12^th.....but, no, it wasn't – It was my Mom's birthday.

This year, as we remember the anniversary of those lost in that terrorist attack, also know that for many the world did not stop.....know that it kept revolving.....and keeps turning.....on that beautiful autumn day.

The Concert to End all Concerts ~ The Eagles ~

I am never going to another concert. 

 

The reason?

There will never EVER be another concert that could possibly live up to what I saw and heard last night at the Eagles concert. 

I am ruined. 

I was extremely excited for this concert since it was first announced. I remember my gasp at the radio when it was broadcast. Hubby thought something horrible had happened. Then I proclaimed that we were getting tickets even if it killed us. When tickets went on sale on Ticketmaster I went online....6 minutes in line scored me nose bleed section tickets but I didn't care. The two concert dates sold out in 11 minutes. Later on a 3^rd date was added. Never in the history has the Eagles played 3 consecutive dates in the same city. Never mind, little Saskatoon Saskatchewan, population 225,927+.

The Eagles are special to us. My friend and piano teacher Karen Berard's husband had bought Hell Freezes Over. He didn't like it so she gave it to me. Hubby and I played it on all of our road trips. It wasn't a road trip without the Eagles. When I got my Oldsmobile and the cassette player died the road trips were not the same. Last spring, when we were planning our Oregon-buy-a-new-car trip we bought Long Road Out of Eden at Walmart and saved it for the Honda drive home. It did not disappoint. Traveling with the Eagles is what we do.

I had heard that driving to Credit Union Centre was not recommended. It's got terrible parking. I've done it before. At the Elton John concert it took us over an hour just to get out of the parking lot. I am not good driving in crowded places. For a toonie [$2 coin for you south of me] we could hop on the bus 4 blocks from home and be delivered to the concert via bus. We opted for that. It turned out to be the best and fastest and most convenient way to travel. I'd sure do that again.

Our seats were in section 19 row 18 numbers 1 and 2. So we were 1 row from the ceiling! We luckily had isle seats because it was hot up there! The stage was to our left. The Eagles were about 2 inches tall when they appeared on stage. It doesn't matter.....I was THERE.

The concert was to start at 8pm but like most, didn't start on time. The opening song was How Long from the Out of Eden CD and one of my favorites from that album. Glen Fry called themselves the "assisted living tour" and commented that they are the band that wouldn't die. He is such a funny guy! There was a short intermission after an hour and a half. They wore black suits and ties for the whole concert only taking off the jackets towards the end. Joe Walsh came out in a Roughrider cap with a camera on it and took shots of the crowd. 

I can't even comment on who performed the best. How can you choose a favorite? How many people can play drums and sing at the same time? How many people have the falsetto of Timothy B. Schmit? How many people can play guitar like Joe Walsh? Every song was incredible. I've never heard such tight harmony at a live performance. I've never heard any live act with such amazing clear and crisp sound. I've never heard anything like this.

I've seen lot's of live acts. Last November we saw Elton John. Sir Elton couldn't hold a candle to the Eagles. This concert was 100 times better. Hubby saw George Strait 2 years ago. The Eagles were better he said. They didn't dangle over the crowd like I saw Jon Bon Jovi do in 1990. The acoustics weren't loud like Bryan Adams in 1991. They didn't jump off a piano like Elton did in 2008.

It was just freakin' amazing.

I'm still trying to get my mind around the whole experience. Its hard to even fathom that I was there. Was it worth the $150 a ticket....hell yeah! Knowing what I know now....I would have gladly paid $300+ a ticket. The experience was priceless. 

Today it is back to reality. Back into my teaching world. Forever changed. I was welcomed into the Hotel California.....and, well, you know, you can never leave!