So far today I have:

• Caught up on my blogging
  
• Installed a secure wireless router
  
• Surfed on my new Pocket PC from my living room couch
  
• Cleared out my closet of old clothes and donated them to the Salvation Army
  
• Caught up on my magazine subscription reading
  
• Washed dishes
  
• Did a couple of loads of laundry
  
• Went to pick up corn on the cob, potatoes, mushrooms and steaks
  
• Pulled out the BBQ so we can have our firsty BBQ of the year
  

Al Green was wearing a white tuxedo and passing out red roses to all the women who flocked to the stage. He kissed one woman on the cheek and she was just bouncing euphorically. It was great. The band was TIGHT. There were two drum kits, a horn section, rhythm and lead guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, organ, two backing singers and two young men dancers. The band was amazing and dynamic and were all grooving and watching Al's every move like hawks. One tidbit - Al was drinking Gatorade. Oh, I will never forget the way he flicked the sweat off his brow - very sexy.

The only thing that was a little disappointing is that at times the sound was too "bassy" and "boomy". The bass drum was too loud and the vocals, guitars and horns not prominent enough in the mix. It kind of reminded me of listening to loud rock music in a basement. But Al Green's vocals cut through despite it. He sounded great and still has IT. He performed the most soulful version of Amazing Grace - I will never be able to hear that song again without thinking of him.

The set consisted of a mix of gospel songs, songs from his new album "I Can't Stop" and older songs from the 70s. The evening finished with "Love and Happiness". Most everyone was grooving and dancing in the aisles. The crowd gave a hearfelt and 10 minute long standing ovation but Al Green didn't came back for an encore. The crowd though was energized and in good spirits and eventually drifted off.

It was a great show - not too miss!

The music was great - the lineup included Maple Creek, Emory Lester Set, Hungry Hill, Restless Lester, Homefire and Black Lightning.

Maple Creek

Hungry Hill

Restless Lester

A highlight of the weekend for me was hearing Marion Linton play the fiddle with the Emory Lester Set. It was perfect - beautiful, inspired and full of emotion and passion. Unfortunately I was too busy soaking the sounds up to take a picture. It was also wonderful to see Kene Hyatt again (he was my instructor last year at Sorrento) and Emory Lester.

Morgan and Debbie - two fun loving and sassy gals

There was an open stage every evening which gave a lot of people a chance to perform a couple of tunes. Marshall even got up and played a few blues numbers. The jamming was OK but not great - or at least wasn't for me. When I woke up Saturday morning my cold had turned into some sort of laryngitis - I could barely talk let alone sing. By Sunday it was still there so instead of performing in the band contest we performed in an open stage with Sheila and Jeannette singing harmonies and playing banjo and guitar, me on bass and Marshall on mandolin. Marshall came up with a good nane - the Froggy Mountain Gals. Guess I was croaking like a frog or something.

Al playing on the rocket. Al was kind enough to lend me his bass so I wouldn't have to lug mine. Thanks Al!

I played a little bit of mandolin and Matt Hotte gave me a short lesson on picking. I love Matt's playing - he's a very tasty and talented player.

I call this one "Wildwood Flowers on Mountain Side"

We had a great time - we've already booked our room for next year. Maybe we'll see you there.

A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to the man's 15,000. The wife replied "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men"...the husband turned to his wife and said " What ?"

___________________

A man said to his wife one day "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time." The wife responded, " Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me" God made me stupid so I'd be attracted to you."

___________________

A couple drove down a country road for several miles not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. A they passed a barnyard of mules, goats and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, " Relatives of your ?" "Yep" the wife replied, "in-laws."

The Wilwood Flower Bluegrass Band

This weekend's adventure includes going to the Canadian Rockies Bluegrass Festival.

Prairie Dawg

Restless Lester

Black Lightning Bluegrass Band

Gun Fight

Homefire

Jamming

On Saturday we will have an open stage and a band scramble. The charge for Saturday is $5.00. Again you will be able to stay overnight for free as long as you are off the grounds by 10:00 AM Sunday (this does not apply for those staying on for the Katie's Crossing Bluegrass Festival).

On Sunday June 20th, Katie's Crossing will host their 2nd annual Bluegrass Festival. The festival starts at 1:00 PM. Featured bands include Restless Lester, Home Fire, the Black Lightening Bluegrass Band, Wildwood Flower and the Hotte Family Band. The charge for this festival is $12.00. This event is not part of the NBCMS Solstice and not sponsored by the NBCMS. Another option is to purchase a weekend pass for $19.00 which includes the NBCMS Solstice jam, the Sunday Bluegrass festival, a pancake breakfast on Sunday and (rough) camping for the extra day.

Katie's Crossing is located 5 miles east of Highway 21 at the corner of Range Road 221 and Baseline Road. An easy way to get there is to depart from Edmonton east on 101 Avenue (Baseline Road), continue on Baseline Road all the way through Sherwood Park, continue on that road past Highway 21 and on past RR 222 (the road that leads into the town of Ardrossan). About 1 mile east of RR 222 you will come to a railroad overpass. Just before the overpass on your right, you will see a caboose and a few railway coaches. That is it.

For more details http://www.bluegrassnorth.com/pages/1/index.htm or phone Carolyn at 922-4204.

When I got home and checked on her she had half of her splint soaking in her water dish. I know the instructions say to keep her splint dry. Must be hard the sit all day on one leg with the other outstretch behind you. Not fun.

Here she is with her tape splint. There dried blood on it from when the vet put it in her leg. She actually ate today which I think is a great sign. M and I work together every evening to give her drops to prevent infection (yes it takes two of us). M uses his skill in catching and holding small birds (from his grad school research days) and I try to put the drop in her beak. The second night I think I even got most of it in her instead of on her. Like I said she is fierce.

Gogoi better watch his back cause I have a feeling she has been spending her days plotting revenge.

Keyboard without a key cause someone decided to do something stupid like vaccuum the keyboard.

So I spent an hour going through the vaccuum canister's gunk trying to find the lost key. It was gross and bad news. Very bad news. Plastic gloves and garbage bags bad.

I finally found it. Of course it had to be the letter T.

Crazy day!
So the plan was that we would be making our way to Slave Lake for Helen's Memorial Jam for the weekend but that didn't pan out. I feel so sad that I am not there.

So I was working tonight (which went really well thank goodness) when I got a phone call from my sweetie. I guess I forgot to close MoiMoi the budgie's cage this morning after feeding her. M was screaming in the phone about giving him the vet's number cause there was blood all over. MoiMoi flew out of her cage and as she loves to do flew to GoiGoi our amazon parrot who is about 25 times bigger than MoiMoi. She probably landed on his cage and he bit her leg. We couldn't get her to a vet tonight but have an appointment at 9:45 AM. Her leg look terrible and I just got finished cleaning up - I am surprised she survived. She is in the bedroom which is quiet and away from the noise. I hope she lives through the night. Goigoi is all wired and weirded out too.

On my home from work I stopped at a walkin clinic to get the pain in my side checked out - turns out it's probably either a kidney infection or kidney stones. I am hoping for the infection. I just took another couple of ibuprofin and after this blog am crashing. I am feeling burnt out and feeling very bad about MoiMoi.

So big day tomorrow - vet then medical lab. And here I thought I would be jamming all weekend.

Please tell 10 friends to tell 10 today!

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman .

It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle). This does not cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

www.thebreastcancersite.com

AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS TO TELL 10 TODAY

- via Kathy

Our apple tree is in full bloom - looks like we are going to have an amazing harvest this year.

The Steep Canyon Rangers: http://www.steepcanyon.com

The Reeltime Travellers: http://www.reeltimetravelers.com

Sierra Hull (12-year old mandolinist): http://www.sierrahull.com