Finster Finds

This afternoon I went to the Winspear for a Pro Coro Canada concert. It was a fundraiser I think, but you had to buy an additional ticket for a reception and art auction following the concert. My mother got the tickets because Laurie Hawn, M.P. was singing with the celebrity choir. I haven't been to hear much in the way of choral music and it sounded like a lovely afternoon. It was good. I was surprised, however, at how empty the Winspear was. This is a phenomena I have noticed in Edmonton. I have been to a number of exceptional events (and been involved in them, too) and have noticed small audiences. There is a tremendous amount of good art happening in this city... why aren't there people in the seats? Is it the ticket prices? Well, some of the things I went to were very reasonable and some were very expensive so it is hard to tell. Is there too much to do? That's possible, because there always seems to be a lot to do and see in the What's On. But if th...

Last night Mark and I went to FIRE at the Citadel . I was a fictionalized version of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jerry Falwell (real-life cousins, but brothers in this story) and how one of them went the rock and roll route and the other became a TV Evangelist. There's a love interest thrown in between them, a complicated relationship with their father and a political agenda as well. It was really good. I even stood up (early) because it was done so well. There are parts when the script is a tiny bit repetitive, but the cast made it work and kept it moving and alive. The music is perfect. All of the Jerry Lee Lewis stuff is note perfect and the gospel stuff is gorgeous. I highly recommend this.

Sucks... Yes, that's all I really wanted to say. Something about the huge dump of snow and accompanying low temperatures that is sucking any energy I may have had out of my body. Got stuck in the YMCA parking lot yesterday and Mark had to come get me out. Good thing it was a Tuesday and there was overlap at the store so he could do it, otherwise I am not sure what I would have done. Apparently the roads are all ice today from the melt yesterday and I am staying in until it is time to go get Oliver. Wish me luck.

Well, I managed to count 5 out of 7 days last week and the success was on the scale today as I was down 2 pounds. I didn't manage to count yesterday so it might have been better if I didn't have pasta for supper (ha ha ha). This does not surprise me. I knew what the problem was. I just was having a difficult time actually counting. I was feeling mentally exhausted by the idea of doing it. So I put away the weekly counting books and started each day with a blank piece of paper and just recorded. The two days I didn't count I was running around and in the wrong place for meal times so everything went by the wayside, but that's okay. A single piece of paper to record doesn't stress me like a week long commitment. Stupid, I know, but at least I counted for 5 days this week and I am down. I expect to be in pain tomorrow. I went to Manuela's class at the Y and she worked us like dogs! What is with all the running? Ai yi yi! Oh, well, that's why I go. ...

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo! Here is how you matched up against all the levels: Level Score Purgatory (Repenting Believers) Moderate Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers) Very High Level 2 (Lustful) High Level 3 (Gluttonous) High Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious) Low Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy) Very Low Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics) Low Level 7 (Violent) Low Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers) Moderate Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous) Very Low Take the Dante's Inferno Test

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=495495&in_page_id=1879 My cousin Brian posted this on his Blog. Fine if you truly believe this (about kids and the environment) but to say it is selfish to have children is a little short sighted.

Okay, so this is what I ate today so far (as of 5:24 p.m. today): Slimfast Shake - 6 points (because I use more milk because it is way too sweet - I may be over-estimating) Teriyaki Rice Bowl - 11 points (lots of veggies and 1/2 the teriyaki sauce so it might be lower, but again I would rather over-estimate) Chicken Finger - 4 points Pizza slice - 6 points (may be as low as 4 but better safe than sorry) peanuts - 4 points (and that's a 1/4 of a cup) Carrots - 0 points Grand Total = 31 points --> That's all she wrote. It sure didn't feel like much. This is why I hate counting points. I really don't feel like it is a lot of food, but a few bad (or worse) choices and you are screwed. I hope I can last to bedtime on water and chewing gum.

This week was great. It was Spring Break and I had both kids enrolled in YMCA day camps. Gib can only go half days because of his age, but that was 3 hours a day which is more than I ever get so I took advantage of it. I managed to work out every day this week (Sun-Sat) and I mean good work outs. I did the drop in classes at the YMCA on Mon, Tues, and Wed. I ran on the treadmill on Sun, Thurs, Fri and Sat. I also did a stretch class at the YMCA on Thursday just to see what it was. It was not as rigorous as I would have liked, but I got a good stretch and it was good for my muscles. I also enjoyed a pedicure on Monday and I got the worst manicure in my life! Great hand and arm massage but terrible, terrible, terrible manicure. Oh well. Baby was fun on Tuesday night. We were discoing out and we sounded great. I am disappointed that I can see the writing on the wall for the show and the ensemble is going to be heard and not seen, but I am in and the people in the ensemble are...