It's Hip Day!!!

First of all, I must apologize if my blog post yesterday froze your computers.  My mom told me when she tried opening the post in her browser, it took forever because I posted 25 videos.  Perhaps that was a bit excessive... but I thought everyone had fast enough internet these days that it wouldn't be a problem.  If I froze your computers... I'm sorry.

Also, she told me she didn't think anybody would even watch even ONE of the 25 videos I posted.

She's probably right, but I don't even care because... IT'S HIP DAY!!!!

Two weeks ago, I didn't think this day was even going to be happening for me.  I didn't have tickets, and I was just waiting for the Saturday night show in Kingston so I could watch it on TV.  But then a little miracle happened... a text from my BIL... they just released more tickets if you want to try... and that was all she wrote.

I'm so excited and nervous that I feel physically ill.  Like, I've literally spent all morning trying to decide if I have the flu or if it's just nerves.  I'm pretty sure it's just nerves.  But I legit feel like I could puke at any second.

This is a big one.  I have never been to a show so important in all my life, except maybe the very first show I ever went to.  Guess who it was?  Oh yeah, it was The Hip.  I remember people telling me at the time that I would be spoiled now because I would probably never see another concert that good.  They were right.  It was amazing.

But I'm willing to bet that tonight will give it a good run for its money.

I'm nervous because it's bound to get a bit emotional tonight.  This farewell tour is bittersweet, as we all know Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer and this is his last hurrah.  I kind of can't believe that this will be our last time getting to see the band together live.  They have been such a staple in the Canadian music scene, coming through town once every year or so - if you missed them last time, no worries, they'll be back again next year...

But this is it.  This is the last time they will be in Ottawa.  The last time we'll get to see Gord's crazy on-stage antics and to hear his unique and incredible voice raising up to he rafters.

And we get to be there.  It is an honour and a privilege, and I'm not taking this show lightly.  There are so many fans who didn't get tickets, and I was almost one of them.  I feel very lucky. I'm going to soak it all in, stand and dance and sing and watch Gord weave his magic.  I'm not going to watch it through my phone... I'm going to put the phone away, and just live in this special moment.

Tonight.

“He sang ‘I’ll die before I quit’And this guy’s the limit”

My dream set list for The Hip

Sorry we're going a little heavy on The Hip posts this week, folks, but holysonofabitch, only ONE.MORE.SLEEP.  I can't even wrap my head around it yet.  I'm still in a slight state of disbelief that I'm actually going.

Today, I thought I'd share my dream set list for the show.  They have changed up their set list for each show on this "Man Machine Poem" tour, so none of us really know what we're gonna get.

This is likely the last time any of us are going to get to see them perform live, so of course we all want to hear our favourites.  Not going to happen, judging from the set lists I've seen from the previous stops on the tour (they have to play some of the newer stuff, of course, it can't all be old faves) - but hey, a girl can dream.

It appears we're going to get about 25 songs.  I know that sounds like a lot, but do you know how hard it is for a die-hard Hip fan to whittle their song list down to 25 favourites?  It's hard.  I just tried.

But I did it.  So here, in no real particular order, is my dream Tragically Hip set list:

1. Courage (for Hugh MacLennan) -  Gotta start things out with "Courage".  The classic Hip song kind of defines this whole tour.  The courage Gord is showing in the face of his terminal diagnosis, the courage the band is showing in digging deep for one last tour... the song was written for someone else, but it's now a symbol of their very own courage.  God bless them for it.
2. New Orleans is Sinking - This is the song that started it all for me, way back in Grade 7.  A boy on the school bus, listening to it on his walkman, telling me it was the best song ever.  I listened to it, and a Hip fan was born.
3. Blow at High Dough - Such a good jam!  Makes me think of dancing with the girls at Gavan's, must've been the Rivals that played this one?  I can't remember, but it's a fun song to dance around to.
4. At the Hundredth Meridian - "If I die of vanity, promise me, promise me, if they bury me some place I don't want to be, you'll dig me up and transport me, unceremoniously, away from the swollen city breeze, garbage bag trees, whispers of disease and the acts of enormity, and lower me slowly and sadly and properly, get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy!" ... it was a good day when I learned these words and could sing along without fucking them up. ;)
5. 38 Years Old - Possibly the least likely on the list to be performed tomorrow night - do they EVER do this one live? - but definitely one of my faves from the vault.  It is a fictional account of the real-life escape of 14 inmates from Millhaven Institution in the band's hometown of Kingston, Ontario on July 10, 1972.
6. Fully Completely - You can't have a Hip song list without Fully Completely.  It's iconic.
7. Little Bones - It's fast, and it's fun...one of my favourite songs to listen to in the car, driving fast, singing along.
8. Cordelia - I doubt we'll get to hear this one either, but man, I love this jam.
9. Grace, Too - This one is a gem to hear live.  Especially when they replace the line "He said, I'm fabulously rich" with "He said, I"m TRAGICALLY HIP, c'mon just let's go!"
10. Long Time Running - Ah, one of those songs that can transport me back in time.  This one takes me back to a Youth Group dance, in the darkened Lions Hall; to a certain boy who finally asked me to dance; to a time when I was so happy, I had tears in my eyes.  It was a long time coming... well worth the wait.
11. Nautical Disaster - "And the screaming filled my head all day"... kind of how I've felt ever since I realized I actually have tickets to The Hip!!!!
12. Poets - It's fun, and catchy, and easy to sing along to.  I remember the first time hearing this one on the radio, after so many hits and huge albums, wondering if Phantom Power could live up to the legacy - and thinking, "yep...they still got it!"
13. Something On - Another great jam, that's all.
14. Scared - Honestly, I'm almost afraid of them playing this one tomorrow night.  The few times it has appeared on the tour thus far has resulted in some pretty emotional moments, so I've heard.  The last line: "I gotta go, it's been a pleasure doing business with you" - can't leave a dry eye in the house.  I'm worried I'm going to cry.  But I suppose it's OK if I'm surrounded by Tragically Hip family all doing the same...
15. Ahead by a Century - This one was a hit with Hip fans the moment it was released.  We didn't need time to warm up to it, we didn't need time to get used to it.  It was just an instant classic.  Love it.
16. Fireworks - Another fun and catchy one that I just love to blast loud.  Oh, and I love fireworks, so... fitting, right? ;)
17. Lake Fever - I really like the melody of this song, the way it flows... a lovely song. 
18. Fiddlers Green - This song holds a lot of emotion; a lot of memories.  It makes me think of two young men who are no long with us, and makes me miss them even more.  It's the "other" Hip song I learned to play on guitar, but I don't play it often since the summer of 2010, 'cause it's hard.  It hurts.  And when a song can tie into all of those feelings, you know it's an amazing one.
19. The Darkest One - I admit most of my favourite Hip songs come from earlier albums; their stuff in recent years hasn't captured me quite as much.  But this one did.  This one definitely did.
20. In Sarnia - While this tour is, in our hearts, a farewell tour for our iconic Canadian band, they are still out promoting their latest album, which came out in June.  After I got my tickets, I made sure to buy the "Man Machine Poem" album to study up.  After a first listen, this one stuck out as my favourite on the whole album.
21. Machine - ....Followed closely by this one.  While I haven't been a huge fan of their last few albums, I think some of their best stuff in recent years is on this one.  
22. Bobcaygeon - Oh, how we Hip fans love us some "Bobcaygeon".  It's romantic and sweet and melodic, and you haven't lived til you've heard an arena full of people belting "and their voices rang with that Aryan twang"... and I don't even know what that means, but who cares.
23. Fifty Mission Cap - One of those awesome Canadian history lessons from The Hip, telling the story of Bill Barilko, the player for the Leafs who went missing on a fishing trip and whose body wasn't found for a decade.  A fun song about a kinda creepy story.  Only this band could pull it off.
24. Boots or Hearts - It's one of my absolute all-time favourite songs, ever.  Stripped down, acoustic, amazing.  God, I hope they play this one tomorrow night.
25. Wheat Kings - What can I say that I haven't already said about this song?  It's always been my favourite.  The first time I heard my cousin Troy play it, I fell in love with it.  When I finally picked up the guitar and learned to play, it was one of the first songs I taught myself, and is still my "go-to" when someone asks me to play something.  And it's another one of those Hip Canadian history lessons, weaving the true tragic tale of David Milgaard, a young man from Winnipeg who was wrongly convicted of a rape and murder that he spent 20 years in jail for.  I'd give anything to hear Gord sing it live.

I'm so pumped.  I'm so excited.  I can't even contain myself.

One. more. sleep.

Random Tuesday: Trying to focus

• I'm feeling totally goofy this week.  Can't keep focused on anything.  I'm blaming The Hip and the concert coming up Thursday night.  So close, yet still sooo far away...
  
• Example of my goofiness:  Monday night is Laundry Night at my house.  Always.  Last night, I started my first load when I got home from work.  Made supper.  Put first load in dryer, second load in machine.  Ate supper.  Fell asleep on couch and didn't wake up until 11 pm.  Went upstairs to go to bed and realized, dammit, I totally forgot about the laundry half-way through the process. *sigh*
• Thanks to my evening nap on the couch, then I couldn't sleep.  Tossed and turned for what felt like hours.  So now I'm not only unfocused, but also fuzzy and tired today.
• I really don't enjoy feeling outta sorts like this.
• What I DO enjoy is that I made a macaroni-tomato-cheese casserole for supper last night.  Felt like I needed some comfort food for a change.  Also, I needed something different for lunches this week.  Yum.
  
• It's not really macaroni-tomato-cheese casserole season yet, but my heart has already leaped ahead to fall I guess.  
• It's supposed to be a rainy afternoon/evening in these parts, and this morning, I was relishing the thoughts of a rainy night in - making popcorn, cozying up, watching Olympics, watching Netflix... then I remembered.  Hair appointment tonight.  Frig.
• Oh!  The Olympics!  It took me a while, but I'm finally on-board.  The first few times I tuned in late last week resulted in our country's first two gold medals - Penny Oleksiak in the 100 m Freestyle swimming event, then Rosie McLennan on the Trampoline - so I was kinda feeling like Canada's lucky charm.  And hey, I'm all about "girl power", so I thought it was kinda cool that our first 12 medals at the games were all won by women - but I don't know if I've been more excited about a bronze medal ever in my life as I was when Andre De Grasse came in third in the Men's 100 m finals Sunday night, becoming the first (and only, so far) man to medal for our country.  There's just something about that 100 m race... visions of Donovan Bailey in '96 dancing in my mind... it's a special night at the Summer Olympics.
  
• Did I mention The Hip is on Thursday?  The Hip is on Thursday.  oh. my. gaaaad!!!
• And I know I have mentioned that I'm fuzzy and tired this morning.  Hence why it has taken me three hours to write this post.  Just. can't. stay. focused.

In one week...

... my dream of the summer will be coming true.

I still can't believe it.  It still feels surreal to me.

But it's really happening.

In one week, I'll be going to see The Tragically Hip!!!!

I, along with all other die-hard Hip fans, was devastated this spring when the band delivered a message stating that lead singer Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer.  Now on limited time, the iconic Canadian band that is so beloved in this country decided to dig deep and go on one last cross-country tour while Gord is still able to perform.

I knew it would be a hot ticket - obviously - but I was naive and gullible enough to think I'd be able to get seats.  Not only that, Lindsay and I even had this brilliant idea to reach for the stars and try to score tickets at their final show in their hometown of Kingston (a two-hour drive from here).  We were already making our plans, thinking about booking a hotel room, wondering what other sights we could see in the Kingston area...

But those plans came to a grinding halt the morning tickets went on sale.  I was trying for Ottawa, Linds was trying for Kingston, but we both were sadly disappointed.  Tickets sold out in seconds.  We joined the legions of Hip fans across the country who were crushed by the realization that it just wasn't gonna happen for us.  We weren't going to get to see Gord and the guys one last time.

I tried to console myself with the fact that I've seen the Hip three times already in concert - at least I'd have those memories.  But I was still really disappointed.  They were the first band I ever fell in love with.  I remember being in Grade 7 and a boy on the bus telling me "New Orleans Is Sinking" was the best song ever, and I decided to check it out.  A Hip fan was born.  Thus began a love affair with the Hip that has lasted 20 years.  I bought all their CD's, I listened to them religiously, and they were my first concert.  Wheat Kings was one of the first songs I learned to play when I picked up the guitar.  The Hip have provided the soundtrack for my life.  I was more than crushed that I wasn't going to get to see them one last time.

Like many Hip fans who missed out, I refused to seek out tickets from scalpers, who are being blamed for stealing the tickets out of the real fans' hands and forcing them to pay a pretty penny for them.  I thought about having a big Hip party, even considered having it as a fundraiser for our Relay for Life team.  When I heard they will be broadcasting the last show live and uninterrupted on CBC, I took solace in that as well.  I might not get to be there in person, but at least I'd still get to see the show.  Plans began to take shape in my mind for a different Hip party - I was thinking of having some friends over to watch the last show with me...

I hadn't given up entirely.  My brother-in-law Chris is also a big fan of the band, and he'd told me there was a lottery I could enter through thehip.com for tickets.  On the day of the show, 50 people would be randomly selected and given the opportunity to buy tickets that day.  I figured it was a long shot, but last Wednesday morning, I went through the steps of entering that lottery for the Ottawa show.

A few hours later, I got a text from him telling me he'd heard they'd released more tickets.  I quickly zipped over to the Ticketmaster website.  I had no hope.  Zero.  None.  But I had to at least try...

Bam.  Just like that.  Two tickets, reserved for me.  They were nosebleeds, and rear view, but who the fuck cares?!?  I HAD TICKETS TO THE HIP!!!  And I only had 2 minutes to make up my mind if I wanted to go through with the sale.

I scrambled to the basement to check with Linds (yes, she was in the basement of the office at that exhilarating moment, of all places) and without asking any questions, she said, "Yes.  Buy them. Do it."

So I did.  I literally felt like my head was going to explode, that is no joke.  I couldn't believe it.  I had a brief meltdown when, for about 30 seconds, I thought I had accidentally bought tickets to a show in Montreal (Lindsay's response:  "So what.  We go to Montreal."  she's so much more calm than I am in intense situations...)  But once I had established that I had, in fact, purchased the correct tickets for the correct city, I literally felt like I could melt into a big puddle of mush.

I had all but given up on my dream of getting to see The Tragically Hip one last time in concert.  But that dream is actually coming true.  I can't thank Chris enough for the tip (and have promised to "go easy on him" for a while, ha!)...

I still can't believe it.

I have tickets to the Hip in Ottawa on August 18th.

We willl be there.

In just one week...

Some Wednesday Rambles

It's been so long since I did some random rambling on the blog... time to catch up!

• On Saturday, I decided to pick up some of this new gel nail polish I keep hearing about.  It was a pricey treat for myself - I would normally never pay more than a few bucks for a bottle of nail polish, but with this Sally Hansen Gel Nail stuff, I paid $9.98 for a bottle of colour, and another $9.98 for the top coat - eeeek! - but I think it just might be worth it.  Normally my finger nails start chipping 12-24 hours after I paint them.  I painted my nails Saturday evening, and they are just starting to show signs of wear today.  I know 4 days isn't that long, and a far cry from the 14 days the advertisement promises, but it's like a record in my books!
  
• I've been MIA for a few weeks, which means you haven't heard me babble about my love for Jim from The Office in a long time.  My gosh, you guys... I love him.  And I'm starting to worry.  I'm in Season 8 now... only one more season to go after this.  I know I've gotten over other fictional TV characters in the past... Michael Scofield, Danny Castellano, Coach Taylor, Harvey Spector, and so on... but I'm just not sure there's any way I can rebound from Jim!!
  
• Anyone else into Big Brother this summer?  It is definitely my favourite guilty pleasure of the summer.  I keep thinking one of these years I'll grow out of it, but it hooks me in every year.  This year, I'm Team Paulie... Cody's little brother, how could I not love him?!
  
• This week feels like it's lasting forever.  I kept thinking yesterday was Wednesday.  I went to a ball game last night, and when I got home, I sat down to watch my PVR'd episode of Big Brother... only to realize it was only Tuesday, and not a BB night.  *sigh*
• So, as I said, last night I went to watch the Flyers first playoff game of the post-season.  I was sitting in the bleachers between my mom and my friend Brenda, and at one point, I realized I had a little bumblebee crawling on my pant leg.  I tried shaking him off, but he was a sticky little frigger.  Wouldn't let go.  Then he crawled around to the under-side of my leg and I couldn't see him anymore.  My mom - clearly not paying attention - told me he was gone, just relax.  I was holding my leg up in the air trying to see where he was, and Brenda - clearly embarrassed to be seen with me with my leg stuck up in the air - told me to put my leg down.  So I did, and then the little sonofabitch stung my arse.  Not once, but twice.  I was doing quite the little bleacher dance there for a minute!!  My thanks to Brenda for finally getting the bee off my butt and smushing it for me, a risky move for someone who is allergic to bees!
• We have a new kid on the block here at MVT! One of the owners (and my friend) Jared and his wife Holly welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their family while I was on holidays.  I couldn't wait to get back to work to meet Baby Grace!  In the past week and a half, I've had a few newborn snuggles, and man oh man, does that ever stir up the longing for a baby of my own.  She is SO sweet!
• You know what song I'm STILL not sick of?  JT's "Can't Stop the Feeling".  Seriously, I could listen to it 20 times a day and it wouldn't be enough!!
• I kind of can't believe it's August.  July flew by so fast... it's been a really great summer, but I've reached the point when I start to feel torn.  Part of me doesn't want the summer fun to end, but the other part of me can't wait for fall and all the things I love about it.  I can't wait to make a big pot of soup, snuggle up in blankets, bust out my cozy fall clothing, get into pumpkin spice everything... I LOVE FALL!!
• But there's still some fun to come this summer... not rushing it away just yet!

Happy Wednesday, gang! :)

Vacation Photos

Hey friends!  I'm back!  Well... I've been back for a week now, but man oh man, getting back into routine after a week's vacation is rough business.  I felt all outta whack all last week.  Kinda still feel a little outta whack, if I'm being honest.

But I finally got my pictures uploaded and worked on some edits last night!  My vacay was awesome, - lots of time spent with family and friends, had a blast at the revival of the Quyon Tractor & Truck Pull, an awesome four days at the Camp, celebrated a birthday, and just really soaked up my week off.  Here are a few of my favourite pics:

1st up... the return of the Quyon Tractor & Truck Pull!  This used to be a huge event in our town, but the last one was held over 20 years ago, when I was just a kid.  My memories of it are vague, but so happy to now be making new memories!  It was SUCH a fun day!!

 Ellard Kennedy in "Blue Bye U" - this pull was a highlight of the day for me!

 Ben, Ellard, and Randy with "Blue Bye U"

 Brenda, Sue & I wanted a pic with Mark's "Canadian Outlaw" and a cute little fan of his jumped in for the pic too!

 The Pull was held in memory of Donnie Campbell - this is his son Jeff starting things off with an honorary pull

 The second pull of the day was also an honorary pull, by Donnie's daughter Shelly

 The more we drank, the more fun I thought it was to try and get Adam and Wayne to wave at us when they were out grooming the track.  And the more I tried to get them to wave at us, the less waving they did. ;)

I could go on and on about the tractor pull... I have a million more photos that I'd love to share, but I have to draw the line somewhere!  The next morning, though a little groggy from the day before, I was up and at 'em fairly early, because we were off to my happy place for a few days... The Draper Camp!

 Not sure this is what Aunt Marion & Uncle Eric intended when they bought two child-sized kayaks for this year, but at least they were having fun, right? ;)

 Surprise birthday celebration at the camp courtesy of Aunt Marion & Co!

 Camp sunsets take my breath away :)

 Danica caught the biggest fish of the week!  Thankful I got a picture of him before he flopped off the dock into the water, hook & all, never to be seen again...lol

 One morning, Uncle Eric was out doing camp fly-bys, which caused a lot of excitement and stir... far too early in the morning for me. lol!

 This picture of Chris & Kara makes me giggle... sit a little closer together, why don't ya? hahaha!

Once we returned from the camp, birthday celebrations began!  On Thursday, my actual birthday, I took the kids to Boston Pizza for lunch and then we went to see The Secret Life of Pets at the theatre.  That evening, I went to Norway Bay Golf Club with Lindsay for supper and drinks, and after the Quyon golf gang came in from their round, they surprised me with a cake!  So nice of them!!  I wasn't expecting it at all.  The next day we had a family celebration, with a BBQ, Mom's homemade ice cream cake, and presents!  I got a new Blue Jays cap, money to go shopping and towards my art investment, and... dun dun duuuuuun!!! -  A BREAD MAKER!!!  I think I've had a bread maker on my Christmas Wish List for five years, and I finally got one!!  Woo hoo!!!

I rounded the week out with a beach day on the Sunday with some wonderful friends and their adorable kiddos.  It was the perfect way to cap off a great week of vacation!

As I said... there are a million more photos from my vacation week, but I think that's enough for one day... Happy to be back!  Hope you're all doing well!!  Looking forward to getting back in the bloggy groove :)