Johnny Cash Tribute with local Artists....

Ya know......

It sure has been a while since I had the time to chat with y'all...so, thought I would take a moment to mention One of my recent MC gigs....I met Johnny Cash when I was 4 and have always been a fan to an extent (I am always a fan to an extent :)...)

I loved the humour that Brian Moniz & The Oulaws brought to the stage! Just remind me to NOT wear a similar outfit next time! Ha ha ha!

Thanks to The Painted Wardrobe for the beautiful dress, btw! Another great Joseph Ribkoff fashion!

Singer-songwriter Jay Semko visits!

I tried to explain this to a friend (and, well,...she got "it")...I can be a huge fan of someone but not a fan in a usual way. Hard to explain.

I grew up with The Northern Pikes...I loved them, I played them...I probably still have their "cassette" somewhere?! They can be checked at thepikes.com

I had 1987 - Big Blue Sky & 1988 - Secrets of The Alibi. I just simply loved the music. I couldn't tell ya who the band members were, and unless we became friends...I could care less. I simple loved their music.

So, we are 2010 and I am an Emerging Artist Coordinator with Country 93...and we have a submission from Jay Semko. Wait a minute....I know that name! Ahhh...The Northern Pikes...well,... "a part of" returns to my life. And, now I am excited. This guy is talented...and branched into Country Music....and, well, he was the bass player for The Pikes. OMG! Check him out at jaysemko.net.

It's hard to explain what it is like to meet someone like that. And, yes...they are a human being like you & I....but, in my eyes...a very talented human being! And, without actually putting anyone on a pedestal...I still believe in letting someone know when they are appreciated!

So, now...here we are: June 2011...and Jay is making a stop in Owen Sound! He has a new song out with Patricia Conroy.... which BTW... She is fabulous, too!!! And, I finally get to meet Jay! I look forward to hearing more music come our way!

I know, I know...I had to pull him down to my level...but, it was FUN! Safe Travels, Jay...see you at the CCMAs in Hamilton this Sept!

Let me introduce you to someone special...

OK...so, I don't really know Joni...only through facebook...BUT...I have met her wonderful husband Troy through the music industry. Troy always spoke well of his (then, partner - they are married now) wife Joni when interviewed. I felt like I knew her just a little bit. So, we became friends on facebook.
Cancer has been in my life in various ways...and, each time: it scares me, pisses me off, and down-right makes me sad....sometimes mourn. I do not like cancer.
What I do like is how Joni opened up and talked about Mr Bad C.....this letter "still" makes me cry. I am so happy that Mr. Bad C did not rape her of life.
And, this is why I am sharing this with you - with her permission - and, please feel free to comment afterwords. Cancer is serious and it is everywhere. And, may it never take YOU from this world!

Dear Cancer...

by Joni Delaurier on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 6:07pm

An exercise I was given..."write a letter to your cancer". Because often we write what we cannot say, and often what we did not know we felt.

-----

Dear cancer,

It's now been four and a half months since we crossed paths. I have been talking a lot about you, but never to you. It's exhausting. And it's not fair for you to get off the hook so easily. It's time we sorted a few things out between us.

You don't get how you mess up people's lives and the kind of wreckage you leave behind. And I'm one of the lucky ones. Your sins against me are small compared to others. I have every reason to believe that this time, you won't get to claim a win and that 3 months from now, I will only have traces and memories of you. But while I am planning to survive you, I am still forever changed by you. And I will never again get to be someone who hasn't faced and feared you cutting my days short.

You want to know what should be on your conscience?

• Hearing scary words like "tumors", "malignancy", "recurrance", "prognosis", "metasteses" and knowing they apply to me now, too.
• Causing me to tell my husband of three months that everything was going to be ok, even though I had no idea if it would be. And knowing that he could read through the fear and the tears, and that he was scared too.
• Making my mom cry and my dad silent when they found out you had taken residence in their youngest child.
• Leaving a large, difficult to camouflage scar on my neck (not unlike the Nike sign - only more like "Just 'Don't' Do It")...a permanent reminder of our time together every time I look in the mirror.
• Making me want to do nothing more than lie around on the couch since we crossed paths. At first, because I was scared that you might start roaming around in my body if I got my heart rate up (you are irrational, so am I). Then, because of the surgery, and feeling like crap. And finally, once I was physically healed, because I was depressed and had a hard time leaving my house.
• Weight gain and medication mood swings.
• Having to write down YOUR name in my medical history. Getting denied for insurance because of our history. Taking two days to read 6 pages because I can only handle seeing your name so many times before it makes me tired and sad.
• Stealing my low range and highest range when I sing. (And if I don't get it back eventually, you and I will be having more words about this!)
• Knowing you are still sitting in a drawer somewhere with my name on it, in case we need to dig you up again for more testing.
• Fearing that you will want to come back one day.

If I am being honest and fair, I have learned from you. I don't want you to misunderstand this and have you thinking I am happy to have known you. I'm not. But what you've taught me is that:

• I need to slow down.
• I love yoga.
• My family doctor likes to high-five and hug when she gets good test results.
• My veins are resilient and strong, and can handle giving blood 19 times in six days.
• The human body is amazing. The human spirit is inspiring.
• I have the best friends and family. Ever.
• People that I didn't even know really LIKED me, LOVE me. And told me so, simply and freely.
• Some people you think will be there for you, aren't, while strangers will surprise you with their generosity and kindness.
• God is good, and He's everywhere. And if I really listen in unlikely places, prayers aren't just a one-way conversation.
• I will always love chocolate, even right after major surgery. And even if I'm starving, I will not eat tuna.
• My husband is unfailing in his love, even when I feel unloveable. And even if he's lying, he swears scars are sexy.
• Our health care system works when you need it to.
• There are so many sick people, but there's so many getting better too.
• You aren't always a death sentence even though you sure try.
• Even in my saddest, most fearful moments, music flows through them all.

So that's it. Do I feel better after getting that off my chest? Not sure. It needed to be said. I may never truly understand why you, and why me and why now but it doesn't really matter anyway. You happened. I can only hang on to the good stuff and try to let go of the fear.

What I want you to hear: it's time for you to go away for good now, and to leave me and my family and friends alone. I will never forget you, but I desperately hope to never see you again.

******

From Craig Moritz interview to Candi International

I was interviewing Craig Moritz today and found out that he has 3 dogs.....count 'em...3 dogs! I love dogs!!! Found out one of them is a rescue. OMG...this man has a heart!

He told me about Candi International: http://www.candiinternational.org/

No, it is NOT about candies, the ones you eat.....CANDi... saving the lives of stray cats and dogs through spay, neuter and adoption programs supported by the tourism industry, travelers and pet lovers.

So, thank you Craig! I am doing my part and spreading the news!!

It may be small to you.....

...but, it would make a difference to me!
Ah, Victoria Day weekend...a long weekend for most...a work weekend for me. I rarely see a long weekend, but I have become accustomed to that scenario.

This weekend may have started off on the wrong foot...but, turned out GREAT! So, I didn't get to see Tommy Gilham & The Chill Billy's. Disappointing, but I am sure to see them again! They have a new CD coming out - YAY!

Saturday...well, I was off until 5pm. Turned out to be hot/humid/and Sunny, and I was okay with that! Actually got to help plant some flowers...okay, I really just picked the stones to go into the flower pots, weeded, turned the soil, and chose the spots where to plant the flowers. I didn't actually "plant." Just to be clear!

4:30 rolls around and I head to the station where I will meet our Route 93 winners and travel to Casino Rama with them to see Lonestar [there are perks to working weekends!] Great concert, BTW. New lead looks and sounds great! And, getting to Rama in a Limo [which was upgraded] never hurts, either.

Sunday was an early start as I headed to Lions Head for a remote. Great people, funny and just all around normal folk. I actually very much enjoyed my remote. AND,...best part...I found SHORTS that actually fit me - ladies golf shorts...go figure - So....I bought 2. Oh, come on...I had to. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to find nice shorts that fit right?! Let me tell you...it may never happen again...that's how rare it is. Maybe I should be in their commercials?! LOL
Then...heading home, from what started off to be a raining down pour to fabulous new clothing find (from The Cottage)...I decided to take a short cut home. OK...it only cuts a couple of minutes, but, so what?! So, I turn onto 17B and come across a turtle crossing the road. I almost stop to pick him up, but thought twice. Didn't want to be hissed or snapped at...and the little buggers can move quite fast when they want to! Watch out Hare!....further up the road, I see something right in the line of tire tracks. Is that a camera. Oh crap...what do I do?! There goes my 2 minute lead on getting home! I pull over. Yes, it is a very expensive camera! I pick it up, feeling like a thief...looking in the woods for someone to jump out and accuse me! Nope...I safely pick up the camera and pray that there will be some sort of ID inside. Prayers answered, I left a msg to someone somewhere in Toronto. Please check your messages! I don't want to be holding this camera. Super long story short...I got a call from a beautiful lady that said her husband was frantic & upset! I even traveled to Inglis Falls (where they had stopped) and delivered their unharmed baby. *Footnote here: my son had a similar camera stolen from him a couple of years prior...so, I knew that it would be important for this person to get the camera back. My son, to this day, has not ever seen his camera again!
His wife took a pic of us - hopefully not for evidence ;) - and I gave them my business card. And, I left Inglis Falls with a swollen heart. He was so darn happy to get that camera back. :D THIS...this is a small thing in the whole scheme of life...but, to he and I...it was large and meaningful! So, Henry...enjoy that camera and hope the pic finds its way to Country 93!

To top the weekend off - got to watch a fabulous game between my Love..The Owen Sound Attack vs the ST John Sea Dogs (from my province of birth)...ok, so the Sea Dogs bit us in the chomp in Overtime...but, we will be back tomorrow night!!! Beware the Bear, the Attack are here! Go ATTACK, Go! Come on now...chant everybody: Go Attack, Go! Go Attack, Go! http://www.youtube.com/mix1065owensound

My name is Donna and I have a dog...

....ok, so, he isn't really my dog. He might-as-well-be, though! :) First of all, we have the same hair...the breeder said so. Yes, he has wavy dark hair, as well. And, he is a goof-ball,...apparently I am, too - according to the Creative Director at work. Difference is, I don't bite - but, I could. So, don't push me! ;)

To me: he is the cutest thing ever. And, it's a good thing 'cause I'd be tempted to throw him over a bridge and into a lake. Don't worry...not dog abuse...he is a water dag. He'd only swim back to shore and come back to annoy me!

He is a purebred Portuguese Water Dog. His Dad, Black Galaxy - is a champion. (Finn must get his DNA from his Mom ;) ),....and, his Mom is named Sea Breeze. Finn is definitely a combination of both.

He belongs to my friend, but I was in Finn's life right from the start...4.5 months. He is over a year now...just barely...& I love him very much!

So, today is raining, I took him for a walk and he becomes invigorated...he almost bucks like a Bronco...excited and geared up to go. I, on the other hand...look like a drowned rat! I, also...feel like a cat that was just thrown in water. But, like any good Mom...when we get home, I take him out back to play fetch with the ball. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be a "Mom" at 43. But, I love him...and I am happy to be able to share him. :)

I plan on sharing my stories of Finn right here. He is a doll, comedian, companion, and dawg! He makes me laugh on a daily basis ( I will at this time neglect to mention the moments when he pisses me off - like eating my flip-flop or barking in my face or the dirty pinches that leave a bruise.)

My name is Donna, and I have a dog named Finn, who really isn't my dog - I'll just pretend! "Finn...don't chew that stick!" Arf!

Just a Rant

I am sitting here on a Friday night....a little upset, and I know I shouldn't be. Never choose to be the victim. But, sometimes I get so frustrated and just want to be a normal person for once...

I, too, have feelings.

First of all....it takes a lot to throw me over the top...and, I'm clinging to the fence post or rock face with scratches from my fingernails right now! So many little issues - 'cause life isn't always roses and there are complications to hurdle - and, I seem to be running a Full-Fledge Marathon of Hurdles at the moment....

It's like I don't know how to jump track and take a breather...I feel like I am in a boxing ring taking one punch after another. And, reality is...I understand about affirmations and what-not...I must be dreaming this $h*t...'cause I truly believe I deserve better.

And, on that note...I take the time to reflect and show gratitude for the really good things in life: like the special friends I have - which I will not name,...you know who you are, my kids (regardless of the fact that they may be upset with me at any given time), a roof over my head, a job I love, and opportunities presenting themselves ( just waiting for them to bloom now.)

So,...movie producers out there...here is someone just waiting to act :), future lover...I'm ready, beautiful property ( I can move anytime),...and well...my friends have my #! You can always reach me...so...

Someone...please pull me off the track of hurdles...show me to the locker room so that I can shower and relax! :)