Day 323 - DevinFest 2010

Today Jaco & I went to Brooks for DevinFest. What's that you ask? Well, DevinFest is a day of family fun, a fundraiser & a tribute to a really amazing young man. Devin is the brother of my best friend, Collet. Devin passed away two years ago from a brain tumour that he battled for most of his teenage years & all of his adult life. He was 25 years young when he passed away. I never had the chance to get to know Devin like so many others did, but what I do know is that he was an incredible individual. I was amazed to hear the stories at his funeral about his positivity, his determination to survive & his gentle, passionate, fun loving ways of living life. A true tragedy & nothing can replace the empty space where he used to fill up so many lives. 


His parents decided to have a celebration of his life each year & raise money for local students wanting to pursue music or arts. They have a silent auction, dancing, activities for kids, live music for adults only in the evenings - a lot of hard work goes into organizing the day's events. 


Jaco & I decided we would go for the afternoon, as I didn't want to be traveling home late at night. We arrived just past 1600, of course, only after a near death experience from a driver backing out of his parking spot on the side street. I seriously saw my life flash before my eyes! 


We took the little dogs with us. Last time we visited Dave & Collet, Ezra was CRUSHED to find out that 'Nini' wasn't with us. I was crushed to see the disappointment on his face! So, along came the dogs! He was quite happy to play ball with Valentina, although it was a bit of a nightmare with Valentina on a leash & a 2 1/2 year old throwing the ball! (Add in tables, chairs & people everywhere!) 


We visited with Dave & Collet & checked up on little Zeke. He's changed a lot already! We had a nice chat with Collet's Mom & Dad. They are truly wonderful people - Collet is very blessed to have such amazing parents. 


While the dancing was happening, Jaco got to visiting with Collet's Mom's friend, Jacqui, who is a Nurse at the local hospital. She offered to walk Jaco over to the hospital (a few blocks away) & introduce Jaco to one of the South African Doctors on call. Away we went. I think Jacqui was hoping to recruit Jaco to Brooks. No comment. In any case, Jaco had a great chat with Dr. DeWitt. He seems to be enjoying life in Brooks. It was fun for me to hear the Afrikaans accent again, and Jaco enjoyed the 'inside' information on applying for work in Canada.


We left Brooks around 2000. Here's to you Devin! 


xxxx MJV&O

Dancers from In-Sequins & Tweet Pea madly searching for her ball!

Dave, Collet, Ezra, Zeke & Peggy & Chris

Awesome little bunch of Michael Jackson dudes!

The guy on the left was my favourite - he had SOUL!

The Rec Centre had beautiful flowers all around the building.

Jaco gets the inside track from Jacqui

Collet gets her DC tattoo from Chelsea of Licious Lines (DC are Devin's initials & also one of his favourite brands)

Wow! Crazy talent! Chelsea also airbrushed a guitar for the silent auction.

The finished product!

Three generations & a whole lotta good looks! Aren't they beautiful girls!?

Today was the black wig - Lara Croft style.

No backseat drivers here. Oceana was insisting we turn left. 

Day 143 - Bellydancing!

This morning came early! I sure felt the loss of one hour. Even Valentina didn’t want to wake up! But I was very excited to see the dancing today!

I used to take bellydance classes when I was in college & they were some of the best times I had! When I was a kid, we lived so far from town that driving to ballet, tap or jazz was simply out of the question. (Google Bracken, Saskatchewan & head south – we were one mile from the US border!)

So when college came around, I found myself at a trade show & there was a bellydance performance. I was hypnotized! I immediately knew I had to sign up! Of course, it didn’t end there I took flamenco, African tribal, hip hop, samba, Brasilian, & latin dance classes. (Hey, I got good grades in college too!)

Anyhow, I haven’t danced in a long time, but I was pretty pumped to see Peggy dance! She had been describing the costumes to us the night before & I knew it would look phenomenal!

Collet & Ezra had been to church that morning, so I met them at the school. We went to see the girls getting ready & then it was time to find a seat! I picked a seat where I could get a good view of the stage & checked my exposure. Done. I was ready! Bring it on!!

Of course, before Peggy & her group came on stage, there were several other dancers performing. A wide variety of dancers, ranging in their teenage years, danced some incredible numbers! Sticking out in my mind  - the contortionist (for sure!), the gal who did the ‘Born to be wild’ number on a kids quad, the ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ number with Frankenstein, there was a lot of talent in the room!

Finally it was Peggy’s turn! They looked stunning in their costumes! White tops & white skirts with crocheted sparkly hip scarves & jingle belts. Each woman had a different colour of hip scarf. Their routine was impeccably choreographed! Wow! They were awesome! I could have watched them dance for days! I happily snapped away throughout the performance! Peggy had told us she was planning on retiring after this performance, so I hope I have a few good shots to put in her memory book!

I went out to the car afterwards & took Valentina in to the school. She was pretty excited to see all those people! They were just as excited about her!

I was talking to Collet & her Mom when I overheard someone saying, ‘What’s that smell? It smells like food. That’s gone bad.’ Oh dear. It’s me. The DMSO. So I piped up, ‘It’s me. It’s the medication that I take. It makes me smell. I’m sorry!’

She tried to back paddle & deny that it was me, but of course, I knew it was me! I can’t smell it, but others sure can! I told her the next time I saw her I promised I wouldn’t smell!

When I was in the Yuen Class, someone seated at the table in front of me said to her friend, ‘It smells like cream corn. Do you smell it?’

I smiled & piped up, ‘It’s me! It’s the DMSO.’ To my surprise, she replied, ‘Do you have cancer?’

‘They think so.’

‘I work with the cancer patients at the Children’s Hospital & they treat them with DMSO. It always smells like cream corn.’

So, that brings my total list of scents to:

1.   Cream corn

2.   Rotten food

3.   Garlic

4.   Bad breath

5.   Oysters

6.   Rotten sardines

7.   Carrots

8.   Broccoli

9.   Water chestnuts

Interesting how the scent is different to different people. I am officially out of DMSO now, so hopefully I’m not near as potent anymore!

We headed back to Peggy & Chris’ for lunch. We had another great chat & then it was time to go. I was hoping to stop by my brother’s today, if I could get in touch with him & I was also dropping off some Serrapeptase for Alma.

I didn’t hear from Jeff until I was already on Deerfoot – he was an hour too late! I motored to Planet Organic to pick up the stuff for Alma & then made my way to her house. She wasn’t home, so I still didn’t get to meet her, but hopefully I will soon!

When I pulled into the yard, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Gross. Sick. Ugh. My Mom likes to compost, but doesn’t have anywhere to put the compost. She used to take it to a friend’s, but doesn’t go there anymore. She still keeps the compost & puts it into a black garbage back until she takes it away… somewhere??

She left 2 bags of compost on the deck, along with a bag of garbage & some critter had come along in the last 36 hours & scattered rotten fruits & veggies & garbage ALL over the deck. The stench was bad enough, let alone the mess! I ended up sweeping it into this old wheelbarrow & leaving it behind the she for her to sort out when she returned. Yuck.

On that note, I washed my hands three times & decided to get to bed early. Well, sort of. By the time I sorted through emails & did a little blogging, it was late, as usual!

Sweet dreams & see you tomorrow!

Maria & Valentina

xoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

This girl had personality! She was awesome!

Talent runs in the family - these 2 were sisters!

Born to Be Wild! (And flexible!)

Puttin' on the Ritz with Frankenstein

Wow! Hello Cirque du Soleil!

Sigh. A lifetime of yoga & I'll probably never get this far.

Ta-da! 

Pretty feet...

A little bit of hip..

Hey Sister!

Wide hip circles...

Gorgeous girls!

A little Egyptian hands...

Final Pose!

What a troupe!

Peggy demonstrates how to move 'dem hips!

Collet, Chris, Peggy & Ezra (Baby Stephan is hiding in the picture too!) :o)

Day 142 - Cora's, Sylvia's, Collet's & Peggy's

Up & at it early this a.m.! I was off to Okotoks to meet Sylvia for breakfast at Cora's. Neither of us had ever been there, so we were excited to discover it! I had been told it was quite healthy, so I was especially looking forward to that!


I left a little late, as usual, and when I started the car, the fuel gauge read 1/4 tank. More than enough to get to Okotoks, where the fuel was always cheaper. Well, didn't I just know it. I wasn't even half way there & the low fuel light was already on! Grrr! I'd taken the back way, so I had to try & get to Millarville for fuel. I didn't even know if Millarville had fuel, but I was sure hoping they did! 


Yeah. They did. For 99 cents a litre!!! Argh! I put $10 in & boogied on over to Okotoks. Fuel was 88.9. Ouch. Oh well! Live & learn!


Sylvia met me in the busy little diner & we had quite a time perusing the menu! Wow! Everything sounded good! And pretty much every dish served came with a side dish/garnish/art creation of fruit! What a great way to spice up breakfast & make it that much healthier! 


We enjoyed a wonderful chat & she informed me that her brother had just given Drayton, her son, a puppy for his birthday! Drayton was very excited, but Mommy & Daddy weren't quite as happy, seeing as her brother & his wife hadn't cleared it with Mommy & Daddy first! Whoops! They weren't sure if they were going to take it or not...


I said farewell to Sylvia after I stopped by to see Drayton, Gary & the new puppy... Sure is cute! An 8 month old toy Yorkie! He was the boss! He had Valentina pinned several times!


I filled up with cheap(er) fuel, washed Contemplate - Valentina didn't know what was happening - and then hit the road to Brooks.


I took a 'scenic' route which incidentally led past my brother's place. I texted to see if he was up for a visit, but there wasn't a reply. He's headed to SK for the summer, so it would have been nice to have stopped in & seen him in action! 


I made good time to Peggy & Chris'. Collet was there waiting for me with Ezra. Oh boy. It was a busy household! Peggy was babysitting 2 other kids, 2 & 6, along with Ezra. Adding in the excitement of a puppy & it got pretty crazy! But everyone was having a good time, Valentina included!


Chris & Peggy don't have any pets, so I was very grateful they allowed Valentina inside the house. I put a diaper on her (Valentina, not Peggy) just to err on the side of caution. Luckily, no accidents! We enjoyed Peggy's famous chicken for dinner & had a great chat about this, that & everything in between. Before we went to bed, Peggy showed us her routine. She is a very talented bellydancer & I was so excited to see her perform tomorrow! 


When she finished her dance, I realized that the clocks were moving an hour forward & I had instantly lost an hour of sleep on an already late night, leading into an early morning! It was off to bed! 


Goodnight & here's to a day of rhythm & entertainment!
Maria & Valentina
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Sylvia at Cora's

Okay, so they make this crepe/panini with banana, peanut butter & bacon. Yup. The bacon is in the crepe with the peanut butter & bacon. Eew?

Drayton's puppy, Pitou, & Valentina - she looks like a giant next to Pitou!

Going through the carwash - she was a little nervous!

Collet setting Ezra up on the jiggle machine!

Clearly Ezra enjoys it!!! What a cutie!