"We Like To Party ... "

"I've got somethin' to tell ya, 
I've got news for you,
gonna put some wheels in motion,
get ready cause we're comin' through.
Hey now Hey now Hear what I say now
Happiness is just around the corner
Hey now Hey now Hear what I say now
we'll be there for you ..."

~ Vengaboys ~ We Like To Party ~

***

This year for Russell's birthday I bought him tickets for Shambhala Music Festival.  For those of you that don't know what it is about, Shambhala is a celebration of music, art and life.  It is an annual electronic music festival held during the first week of August at the Salmo River Ranch in the West Kootenay mountains of British Columbia. The festival lasts four days and three nights and offers a mix of music and art in the middle of nature.  It is an amazing event!

So after a bit of planning, Russ and brother Tim head out on the road early this morning.  With encouragement to have a wonderful time, and even though I bought the tickets, deep down I wish I had not.  Yeah a little odd no?  Well, being selfish, I wish I was heading down the highway with them to one of the biggest events in Canada.  Shambhala has been going on for over 10 years, its a community and it is one big dance floor ... and those that know me ... I LOVE to dance.  So I am a bit jealous, and a bit sad ... but I know that it's a great gift for Russ.  He has been eye~ing this event for some time.  He even thought about volunteering when we got back from the clinic and I wasn't too keen on the idea.  Mainly because he would be gone for a week or so.  Yes, selfish I am, but not knowing what physical or emotional state I would be in, I didn't want to be alone.  Now, closing in on 6 months of therapy, I am able, god willing, to make meals and prepare juices, and take medications.  

And although I have family and friends offering to stay over, get groceries, make meals, do whatever I need or what (they are amazing aren't they?) ... and I thought that this would be a nice break for Russ ... the truth is I just miss him.  I miss his presence, his laughs, his silly jokes, his smile, his music, his voice ... *sigh* yeah I know suck it up, its only for the weekend ... but I think you realize once someone is away how much you really miss them.  We spend a lot of time together and yes we do have disagreements and no we don't spend EVERY moment together ... but when you know that they are there, maybe in the other room, but there if you want is a beautiful thing.  I am so blessed to have so much love in my life.  I am so blessed to have Russ in my life ... counting down the moments when he gets home ;)

So this weekend, as I go through my usual therapy schedule ~ 16 hours a day, 7 days a week ... I will be at the festival in spirit.  I know they are going to have an amazing time, full of stories, ideas and experience.  And as I drink my carrot juice, take my meds, eat my vegan meals and complete my coffee treatments ... my soul will be dancing with my love seven hours on the dancefloor ... 

"We Like to Party, We Like, We Like to Party, 

We Like to Party, We Like, We Like to Party"

"Marchin On ..."

"For those doubts that swirl all around us, 
For those lives that tear at the seams, 
We know, We’re not what we’ve seen, 

For those days we felt like a mistake, 
Those times when love’s what you hate, 
Somehow, We keep marching on. "

~ OneRepublic ~ Marchin On ~ 

***

Well, we are into week 20 and "marchin on" with the therapy.  Recently we have had a bit of a change as our days have been busier with Russ's Mum and her husband Ron visiting from New Zealand.  They are staying with us for three weeks during their cross country tour of Canada.  We have good conversation, board and card game nights, visits from friends and just time to relax with each others company.  It has been nice to have that change of the daily routine with family visiting ... allows us a bit of a break from things feeling the same yet different.  

We did go down to the Stampede Grounds on Sunday which was loads of fun.  We had to pack my foods, juices, meds and prep for the "outing" ... sort of like a day pass really ... LOL!  With the sun shining bright, and the day full of humidity and heat, we made our way to see the sights.  You could feel the energy and the excitement ... there were some crazy things for others to try ... donut burgers, deep friend pop tarts, colossal onion rings, mac and cheese pizza, taco in a bag .... and really the list goes on ...just wild!!  Not sure if I was even off the therapy if it would tempt me ... although there is something about the smells that pull you in.  I am sure one of our friends will have a fun story on their food ventures over the 10 day event.

Here's some quick videos Russ took, unknown to me, at the grounds with the marching band passing by and some fireworks at the end of the night ... awesome fun!!!

" Fire ..."

"Sometimes I'm hot sometimes I'm not
Tonight I'm ready ready to rock
No sitting home all alone not tonight tonight I'm in the zone
Cuz I'm on fire fire fire fire fire tonight
I'll take you higher higher higher higher higher tonight"

~ Raghav ~ Fire ~

***

This is the best time of year in Calgary.  Seriously, summertime in Calgary is beautiful.  We have so many events, festivals, concerts and activities on the go ... there is quite a selection ....  And to top it off, the Royal couple are in town, Will and Kate, and the hype is big, real big.  But an even bigger HYPE in town is the Calgary Stampede.  The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features the world's largest rodeo, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing and First Nations exhibitions.  And I am a HUGE fan, and not because I enjoy country music (uh, negative) but because it is one big party environment.  Everyone is on FIRE!!  

The streets are filled with people dressed up in country wear, ahem some not wearing much and with different agendas, but hey whatever works for ya ... giddup!!   From memory, most people "check-in" the office in the morning, you know making an appearance and then ... off to the races - beer chuggin', vodka drinkin', flapjack flippin', baileys and coffee sippin', sausages eatin', egg scramblin' ... and thats just before NOON! ... hmmm think I covered it all - but the best part, if you play your cards right, it is absolutely FREE.  Yep, F-R-E-E!  Almost every shopping mall, community centre and church in the city has free food for the entire stampede duration.  The Stampede spirit is wonderful, besides a few party poopers who state "ugh, I just hate the Stampede!", people are generous and just looking to have simple, plain, good ol' fashion fun.  The party lasts for about 10 days, and afterwards the city is usually experiencing a massive hangover.  And this refers to those of us that don't even drink ... seriously, the high is SO high, that afterwards, it is just down-time ... until the next festival, street party or event is on ... which is usually the following weekend?!

This year we have an opportunity to experience the events in a different way ... besides working around my therapy schedule, which goes without saying, we have an opportunity to see a talented musician, RAGHAV.  Raghav is a Canadian born singer, raised in Calgary and a family friend.  He will be performing on Friday, July 8th at the Whiskey niteclub in Calgary.  And we have the pleasure to be there and cheer him on.  His debut CD "Storyteller" sold an impressive 1.3 million copies.  He also won a MOBO Award for Best Collaboration, and two UK Asian Music Awards for Best Newcomer and Best Single.  And in 2005, Raghav also won an Urban Award for Best Chart Act.  And if this wasn't enough to impress, Storyteller was the 6th best selling international album of all time in India and his CD, Indentity, had a #3 charted single that won a Southern Asian Music Award for Best Artist and an Asian Achievers Award ... yes, we can all give a collective WOW!  To state how proud we all are would be an understatement.  

So with the city is in full Stampede swing, concerts are planned, parties are set and people are buzzing and on ... FIRE! ... I decided to try to enjoy the aforementioned as much as I can.  Making sure not to push myself too much, but try to live it up as much as possible.  And it takes a lot of planning on our part, if it is a day trip, making sure soup, potatoes, juices and meds are packed ... if it is an evening event, making sure the therapy is complete for the day, monitoring my energy levels, etc ...  Some days I get excited to do things only to find out at the end of the day, I am just spent.  So, for tomorrow nights gig my plan is to REST UP, DRESS UP and just ENJOY THE SHOW!  

"Tonight I'm ready ready to rock 

No sitting home all alone not tonight tonight I'm in the zone"

Raghav ~ www.raghav.com