triumphgal

August 10, 2025

Up at 7, got ready and headed to the arena. I am a little stiff and last night it was hard to sleep as my ankle burned and ached and I couldn’t get comfortable. I did manage however to get a good start on things before Will showed up around nine to finish setting up the rooms with me. We had four rooms today instead of three so that much more to do. He really was a good helper, and according to his mom, he’s having a great time doing it. It’s nice to spend this time with him.

A lot of the day is just a blur of getting things done. There were some great moments in it for sure.

1. Trevor Thor, who works for the city and Is the, I suppose, promoter for this event came and sat out with Rae-Anne and me where we had a very good discussion about what should happen next year. Rae and I had already been talking about it how we will do it different. I think part of her was surprised that I said I do want to do it again. It’s a lot of hours for how much my contract is, but that is also the way it was for music fest. I prefer not to count ours and worry about it. Just be grateful that I’m getting paid for doing something that I am good at it and enjoy. It is worth the physical pain and mental drain ha ha I was happy that Trevor thought the coffee station was a great idea, and I said that I would like to set up a nonalcoholic beverage station as well instead of putting the same things in every room and then bringing them all out again at the end of the night. He thought that was a great idea.

2. I personally paid for some items for a couple of the bands that I wanted them to have and not blow the budget for the bidder. I am very pleased to say that the entire 54 40 crew was blown away by the brown M&M jar that I made with the help of Ashley Mainville at Ground Floor coworking space

3. Layla, who works for one of my clients in the same space I am in, ended up volunteering because I sent her information to do so and it was awesome to see her enjoying herself. I also really appreciated that she posted how happy she was to see me in my element. Isn’t it weird how strange it is to feel seen.

4. 5 Man Electrical Band. They had some awesome humans that were very grateful and respectful… and that was before they even played!

5. Men Without Hats. What’s there to say, they still put on a great show and were also very sweet to me

6. The Trews. What’s to say, their road manager, Brandon Bliss, lived up to his name. I super enjoyed working with him. Just after they hit the stage he asked if I could order a Dominos pizza for when they were done. I recruited Gene to go pick it up and was able to introduce him as the small boy who saw them come to TM Roberts elementary school 14 years ago to sing Highway of Heroes with the gym full of kids. They were so sweet meeting him.

7. 54•40 Full stop.

8. 54•40 is the band I have seen the most times in my life. I was so happy to finally see Matt come down the hall towards me and then watch his face as it clicked. I am very out of place for him and we haven’t seen each other for years even if I’ve seen him play. I met him when our boys, now 29 and 31, were in daycare together on Salt Spring Island. I was part of his host team for many events on SSI and once held a regular spot on the band’s guest list. I miss and treasure those days.

9. Once again, Roy the night guy at the Rec Centre helped me clean up the last green room so I could go home. He is a good human

10. The security guard let me know there was only one person left in the last green room and as I went to push the door open, it swung open and Matt wrapped me in his arms and didn’t let go for a long time. He said I love you as he strolled off. What a perfect 10 ending to a wonderful day.

August 8, 2025

I met Rae at Encore before 9 and Will helped me load up the trays, and buckets of ice. The morning was a bit frustrating as there were no tables in the green rooms so we couldn’t get set up. They finally arrived and we moved the mountains. Will is a good hard worker. I do love the time during sound check when the air is palpable with anticipation.

Unfortunately there was no security downstairs so I hung out down there reading for a few hours. At least I am reading the Bruce Springsteen biography which is on point. I met each of the tour managers and gave out wristbands, a welcome and all the details they would need.

Odds were first to inhabit their dressing room and enjoyed the provisions. They did say they should shorten their rider as they didn’t need everything like 20 years ago. I appreciate that and we had a good laugh. It is funny that when you are younger it seems like the bands you enjoy must be quite older. As it happens, they are now my peer group. I was glad I had time to go up and enjoy. I had a great talk with the lead singer who’s from Port Moody and played lacrosse against the salmonbellies back in the day but figured that we wouldn’t have run across each other because he was so much older than me. He did not look so much older than me and was shocked that there is only a year difference and we graduated in the same year. Not going to lie that made me feel good.

Odds were truly the most fun!

Next up was Streetheart and they always put on a good show.

The numbers were down this year so far, but the crowd was seemingly very happy whenever I managed to pop up from the dungeon

Honeymoon Suite were also a lot of fun and I was so happy when one of the members mentioned that the only thing he ever asked for on the rider is chocolate bars, and I had supplied them. I did have to kick them out in the end told them to take the food, etc., back to their hotel room as I have to be back at eight in the morning. As soon as they left, a couple of the guys from the arena helped me empty the room so the janitor could do his thing and then I left and got home by 11:30.

A very satisfying day and my ankle survived it. It’s only aching a bit in spite of 17,571 steps.

August 7, 2025

I started off the morning at the office. I submitted the temporary food permit for Ed Fest by fax and by mid afternoon something that it said might take two weeks was done and permit is in hand. I received an incredible email from Brad at Key City thanking me for what I do and how I do it and how much they appreciate me. It really really really meant a lot.

I modelled my tiara at the office

I was standing out on the sidewalk when I heard a woman say hey bitch and I looked up from my phone to a wonderful surprise of Marlisa Keyes from Sandpoint, the district governor’s wife, walking down the sidewalk towards me. She and I enjoyed spending time together at our conferences and we had a big hug eager to spend more time together at lunch.

Ashley and I went together to Rotary lunch and I loved sitting with my friends listening to David’s talk, which I filmed for our archives and getting some good quality visit time and conversations in with Marlisa. She brought up the sad end into the conference and expressed clearly that she was as disappointed as I was when the booing began. We also had a good long talk about the show that I’ve watched about the college students that were murdered in Moscow, Idaho. She said it was such a ripple effect that her family had connections with the loss. I wish she lived closer and we could hang out more. Al Dyck, the assistant Governor introduced David. I always enjoy chatting with him.

After the meeting, we had a short board meeting with David and he is really stoked about how great our club is.

I dropped Ashley off at the office and picked up William who came with me to pick up my cider that had been bottled, drop it off at my place, empty the water out of my kayak and cover it with a tarp, and get my folding table to bring to the arena. We spent three hours organizing all the food and beverages by band and day, ready for tomorrow. He was such a good worker. I am glad he is my hired helper. We partially set up the coffee station and I hung a piece of art that my friend April had done for one of the music fests. I think it looks great.

After I dropped Will off at home, I went to Encore and created the final schedule of pick up for pizzas for the bands and shopping list for Saturday and Sunday for any perishables.

I then came home and dug out charging cords and things to bring with me and I am surprisingly tired already lol.

I also got a tiara for Rae

August 6, 2025

I don’t know why I didn’t sleep well last night. It felt like there may have been noises that woke me up, but I am unaware of them. 2:11 AM., 5:14 AM and then finally seven something when I just got out of bed. I know I should’ve gone on the treadmill as I committed to it only yesterday, but I was tired and discombobulated so I worked a little on my puzzle and had my coffee and was at the office at a decent time.

I did get many things knocked off my list today in anticipation of not being available for the next few days. Some of my clients make me laugh because they think they are bookkeepers but when I ask some questions, they don’t understand the lingo and I have to honestly dumb it down. However, it was really funny today when after many weeks of communicating about something and finally getting it solved for her, she called me a queen. This was just after I had showed Keri the tiara that I bought to wear for the weekend as the hospitality queen. It literally made me laugh out loud when I got her email. I let her know this and we had a good chuckle. Wayne brought his puppy, River, to visit just as I had received my ‘potentially last’ of my Star Wars collection Lego and there was a similarity.

At 5 o’clock, I was at Key City Theatre for a meeting about ad Fest and I can tell you that it wasn’t a award winning performance for me as when I walked in I found myself sharing a table with the person from my previous board who created the situation of me leaving. He said hello I said hello. It was all very polite and then it was very clear when I mentioned something addressing him politely and his rude response that I could not work with him in any capacity. I was so disappointed because this was supposed to be in my safe place. After the meeting , I asked the organizer why he was there and he seemed as baffled as I was and said that he did not know any tension between us so I had done a good job to hide it. I do know that should that person continue to be involved I would not want to be. Does that mean he wins? No I think it means that the event loses.

I was happy that given a problem today I was able to solve it within a couple hours which brought tears of gratitude from the organizers.

I did go to Encore afterwards to meet with Rayann as I thought tonight I was going to be organizing the things that were dropped off today at the arena however it seems a better plan is to bring Will there with me late tomorrow afternoon as he is on payroll and we will get things done.

I had a lovely visit with Rae’s best friend Dee-Anne and there was a funny moment when I recognized a guy and couldn’t place him so I finally just asked him how I knew him. He is the partner with my friend Kyah, and it’s so funny how my brain didn’t place him as a single human in the environment. I always knew him as a couple with her. He was there to pick up their food and we end up having a great long conversation. Ryan is a lovely human and it was great to get to know him better. Lord, please let me remember his name next time I see him.

I did start off with the oddest weedeater

This amazed me greatly during the meeting

August 5, 2025

I was filing all my remittances and PST when the morning was suddenly shattered by the sound of squealing tires and a crash. I leapt to my window to see two white cars careening on the street outside. Neither car was drivable and fortunately I was not parked where I was usually as they would have hit mine. I went outside to make sure they were ok and it turned out the woman who pulled across in front of the other was from out of country and driving her brother’s car. She asked me what to do so I called the police non-emergency line and requested RCMP attendance.

Just as I was finished I received a call from Rae asking if I could meet her at the arena to clarify the dressing room set up. We met with Sherri and Paul and can start loading tomorrow night. It’s good that we were there and I now know better what the layout is.

Back at the office I arrived to find an ambulance and the police. It turns out that the driver with the right of way had had fairly recent surgery and needed to have his back checked out. I spoke with the RCMP member and he said although it was clearly her fault because she was related to the owner of the car and ICBC has no fault insurance, they would both just have to pay their deductibles and get their vehicles fixed. Unfortunately, hers had to be taken away on a flat deck, and his was limped around the corner as he was almost home. I warned his friend that they shouldn’t drive it at all because the radiator had drained, but they took a chance.

The rest of the afternoon was less eventful and productive and at 5 PM. I had a lovely long pedicure appointment. I have even made an appointment for two days before I leave for my holiday. Afterwards, I start back at the office and completed the still to be bought list by day so that Rayann can schedule shopping trips for perishables the days of.

This evening, I did a little bit of puzzling and I am watching Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? It is very entertaining. 

August 4, 2025

I was in the middle of removing clothing from all of my dressers and shelves and purging when a big storm hit and the power went out for over an hour I think. So I sat and read my book. I am reading Bruce about Bruce Springsteen’s life. It was a nice break. And once the power came back on, I finished the job while I watched Empire State, which was entertaining.

I have been watching the next in the shiny happy people series, this one about the teenaged holy war. I suspect a lot of what is going on south of the border stems from that generation.

I did work a little bit on my puzzle and fell down the rabbit hole of true stories. One was about the murder of the four college students in Moscow, Idaho, which is far too close to here and the one I’ve started now is Amy Bradley is missing. I didn’t see myself being a true crime person, but maybe I am.

I had to take a bit of a break from the puzzle

Stepped outside to see how the weather is now and was glad I took the time today to fill the hummingbird feeder as I got some cute pictures just with my phone

It surprised me how fearless it was sweeping around Missy, as she just sat there, ignoring it, and even landed on a branch across from the feeder and looked around. They are truly amazing creatures.

August 3, 2025

Today was very full. Mowing the lawn, sorting my shed, laundry, cat box (ick), and much more. In between, I puzzled of course. Finished one and accepted the challenge given to me by Rae

It was different to do the Schitt’s Creek one sideways as it was easier than turning my puzzle table lol.

Tracey did me a solid by taking away my yard trimmings and branches. She’s a good neighbor. I was fortunate to get the things done in between rain, clouds, and storm.

It feels good to be whittling away at the piles of sort of mess.

August 2, 2025

I was up at a decent time and managed to get quite a few things done today even stopped and checked on Rae’‘s house brought in her parcels and water her hydroponics and played with the cat, Leia who was very lonely. On the way past Bill and Desai saw that their gate was open so I stopped and walked around to make sure no beer were in the yard before closing it. Just managed to get home before the sky opened up and dumped. Thunder and lightning again so strange for August. My seven and 8 foot tall hollyhocks are hanging way low from the weight of the water. I listed my camping toilet, which I had never used, for sale and had an almost instant response and other people came and picked it up in short order. I do like that about marketplace.

Between chores, I puzzled I think I will now have an enhanced beverage and a good long nights sleep..

I saw two interesting things when I stopped at Safeway earlier. One was terribly odd and the other terribly cute.

August 1, 2025

I happen to look into my blog stats today and I’m humbled at how many countries and visitors they show

I had a calm and productive day at the office, which will allow me to have the long weekend off. On the way home I saw a micro car. I should’ve pulled over when I first saw it as it was actually drive thing on the sidewalk and then when I was getting closer, it drove off and continued on down the road. I am curious to see it again up close and find out what runs it and if it is actually licensed for the road. I am sure it is not considered a scooter and shouldn’t be on the sidewalk.

I have been tucked in and doing my puzzle and watching a new series on Netflix called Leanne, which is a little bit lame but I am engaged now. It pounded down rain and thundered and lightning for a while. I probably should’ve mowed when I got home.

I did bring a big stack of the Ravensburg puzzles that my friend Kelly gave me to the Ground Floor to create a community puzzle station. People seem to appreciate it and it’s a nice break in a workday.

July 31, 2025

Today was very very very very very full. I accomplished a great deal at work, and for the festival. Rotary lunch was lovely as the meal was very good and two of the young ambassadors gave a talk about what they have learned in the program of spirit of the Rockies.

After that, I headed to Encore where $1300 of grub and a great deal of alcohol had been brought in and Ryan and I sorted by band into totes. A couple things were paid for but not with the order from superstore so I headed back there to get them and had no problem at all.

I then went to Brett and Jill‘s for some dinner and several games of Outsmarted. It was a very nice time and they have a lovely home with an incredible yard. I enjoy seeing how my friends live and hope to have them here sometime soon.

July 30, 2025

I got it this morning and put on my pretty new dress that I bought and for the first time since my ankle injury, a pair of wedged heels. I was pleased to see at the end of the day that there wasn’t a lot more swelling than usual so that’s a good sign. There was a barbeque at the Ground Floor today for our member mingle. Had some nice visits and made plans to play trivia at Brett and Jill’s tomorrow night.

I did manage to finish all of the must do things for July in spite of information coming in even last minute today. Tomorrow will be busy, so that is a relief.

At 6 o’clock, I attended a free workshop put on by Association for science and technology. KAST does these fairly regularly, but this is the first one that I was able to attend. It was about dreams. The guy who put it on has developed an app called dream well which helps you to lucid dream apparently in a way that will stir your creativity and goals. We’ll see.

I finished my cats and shoes puzzle and it was enjoyable, starting now on a Schitt’s Creek one which should be fun.

I also want to recommend the Netflix limited series about Kalief Browder. It really is something.. I am now starting Who Killed Malcolm X

July 29, 2025

Today I got a lot done and then picked up Mom’s pills and dropped them off before meeting Sven at Encore for a meeting about a Rotary newsletter. While we were there, my earthquake warning went off that there had been an. 8.8 off Kamchatka, Russia. It is the 6th strongest ever and there is now a Tsunami advisory in place along the BC Coast as well as Japan, Hawaii, etc. I mentioned to Sven that this would happen and he scoffed, clearly a flat lander having come from Ontario.

I remember when I was in Shearwater in the central coast when the big one happened in Japan. I was on a small boat and we crossed the ripple that was the tsunami. It was unnerving, even if it was small by the time it reached us.

I had worked on the puzzle I was in the middle of and then realized I hated it so why was I doing it? I put it all back in the box and put it in the donation box I have going and started on another. This one makes me happy, Shoes, and Cats!

After my meeting with Sven, I did stop at Walmart to look for a tiara and some Halal style outfits which I knew Layla had bought there. I didn’t find either of those.

I did come home with some on sale Lego and a bag of cherries though. And a pretty dress. 

Yesterday cousin Donna dropped off the Lego sorting head that I bought on marketplace and that she picked up for me in Marysville. I like it very much.

July 28, 2025

Sometime mid afternoon, the sky opened up and pounded down so hard. It sounded like hail and then less than an hour later I went outside to find there wasn’t even a drop on my car or the sidewalk or anywhere. It was dry as a bone. my flowers are ridiculously blooming though, so they love it.

After my regular office hours, I worked on the updated riders that had not been forwarded to us. Fortunately, there were only a few changes. Then I went to a Rotary merchant committee meeting where seven women sat around and discussed member retention, which was very enjoyable.

Came home and worked on my puzzle for a little while before relaxing in my chair winding down. There’s a lot to accomplish this week so I need to go to bed before midnight tonight. 

July 27, 2025

I deep cleaned a few areas that well needed it, puzzled, and finished White Lotus. It was a good day

July 26, 2025

It was decently cool this morning, so I got out and mowed my lawn. If I didn’t do it soon I was going to need to bale it. So I had a coffee and sorted my puzzle pieces and headed out.

I came back in had some food worked on my puzzle, then showered and got ready to head to Rotary on the rocks at the Popoff’s house. They have such a lovely spot which held almost 30 of us and Ron had done incredible barbecued ribs, mac & cheese coleslaw, and Johanna’s delicious desserts. It was a nice turn out lots of good conversation and laughs. I was tasked by our social media crew to take pictures and at least one video for them to use.

The problem of course with all that good food was, I was beginning to fade and need a nap and I hadn’t even been drinking! I did come home and finish a big chunk of the puzzle as I started season three of White Lotus. I can see what all the fuss was about as it is very very well written.

I stepped out at one point and saw that I had a visitor.

Maya sent me pictures of her son today but I still don’t know his name

July 25, 2025

I was disappointed to learn that Jake didn’t receive his package yet for his birthday. It was sent on Monday from somewhere in Canada. I hope the guy told me the truth that he did send it then.

I knocked three big things off my list today so that felt good and I believe that was left on it of must use. I can accomplish early next week.

I came home, continued working on my puzzle and made some delicious turkey tacos before finishing the puzzle, having one of my enhanced beverages and watching a bit of White Lotus before bed the puzzle was harder than some, easier than most and there was one piece missing

July 25, 2025

I was in the middle of the trivia night when my brother called that his youngest daughter, Maya, had her baby boy. No name yet. 8 lbs 2oz. Mom and babe are doing well. I was sure it was my news to share but…. It is my first experience as a ‘great’

July 24, 2025

Today was actually pretty great. I gave my Rotary convention PowerPoint presentation at lunch and it was very well received. Unfortunately, I couldn’t eat lunch and the smell was incredibly overpowering enough to make me feel a little icky afterwards as they served up roasted peppers. Rick told how he got back our gravel that had been taken when Steve Roberge visited. He in turn stole their gavel. It was a fun meeting.

I got a lot of work done as well as finished off the non-perishable food and beverage order as well as the alcohol order form.

And then headed to Encore in time to reserve a booth where Brett and J D joined me to become Forrest Grump

We got our best score ever 52 out of 60 and won $155 which was great. It will be our last time until September as none of us feel confident with the Harry Potter one next week and there is none in August.

July 23, 2025

Hmm. Today was full of meetings and work and Rider follow up. I also took the time to make a special edition item for one of the bands. Shhh, Don’t tell them.

The Ground Floor community manager is quick and efficient creating things for the cricut. And I think it turned out brilliant.

Once Home, I probably should’ve mowed the lawn, but it still had rained so much that it was pretty wet for how tall it is. Supposed to get sunny from now on so it won’t hurt to wait till Saturday. Instead, I did Lego. Well, a Lego puzzle that is.