Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, Z is for Zodiac.

Zamboni, Zydeco, Zombie, Zeppelin. All words I think of before I remember that the word for the cool boat with the big rubber sides that I loved riding in when going whale watching was zodiac. The same word as for all those fancy symbols for birth months or whatever. I’m a Scorpio, but that has nothing to do with the fun boat…

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter Z.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, Y is for Youth Choir, National.

Do you ever remember doing something with a vagueness that creates flashes of memories in your mind that make you wonder, is that the memory of that event or something similar I have since forgotten?

That is my memory of the National Youth Choir of Canada.

Did I do this once? Twice? Was it in Regina or some other city? I remember rehearsing in a private high school in Regina and hanging out in the cafeteria there, but I also remember piling into a car too small for four (me and three others) and driving around a city that was not Regina. And all these I associate in my mind with singing in a choir.

There is a picture somewhere of me in the National Youth Choir (I don’t think I was much of a youth, remembering that I was probably in university at the time), and I don’t recognize the church as being in Regina. So probably I am conflating two choir-related events.

Maybe in the end it would have been better for me to find a different Y…sigh.

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter Y.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, X is for X.

I can finally just do the letter, X.  No trying to figure out what word beginning with X is going to work for this challenge.  Of course, this should have been posted yesterday, but I think I can still squeeze it in…

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter X.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, W is for Writing.

I have been a writer of sorts for many years. And I’ve had one of those on and off again relationships with writing where I get addicted to writing for awhile, then can’t seem to make the time for it (I am the ultimate procrastinator) and then can’t stop.

As a kid I wrote poetry…as many kids do. I even won a prize once for a poem in grade 8 I think it was. Or nine? I don’t remember. Anyway, I wrote poetry even into university age and had a poem set to music by a composer friend of mine.

Most of my writing in university was for papers, go figure. Although I did collaborate with my father once on a children’s opera – I wrote the libretto and he wrote the music. It’s even been performed!

Fast forward to recent times when I began writing more for work. I have written tutorials (technical document) for students and faculty on how to use the tools we support for years, but more recently I began writing other things. When COVID forced everyone to teach online, I began interviewing faculty and sharing their stories of how they moved their teaching online. And to feel better about what I was doing, I began to take creative writing classes online from the University of Toronto. I had taken the odd online writing course from various writing organizations over the years, but this time I decided to work towards a certificate.

Anyway, I have written 60 or 70 stories for work, and have more ideas for writing projects. I am working on more memoir like pieces and my next writing class is specifically on the memoir. I am looking forward to it. And the next course I take will move me back to my roots as a poet.

My goal has always been to write more on this blog, so stay tuned for me to continue the kinds of stories I’ve been sharing this past month on a more regular basis year-round.

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter W.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, V is for Veterinarian.

It will be short today – there isn’t much to say about this and I am feeling a little out of sorts today.

I wanted to be a vet when I was in grade school. I studied all the right classes when I got to high school and started Pre Vet Med when I got to university. I even spent a couple of days at a large animal clinic somewhere in a small town in the province – weird that I remember that, but little of the specifics around it.

Then, I realized sciences, and in particular, physics were hard and I moved on.

I am happier I think just having cats and not having to take care of all kinds of animals all the time. I think being a vet would be a very hard job sometimes.

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter V.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, U is for University.

I’ve been to a few universities. I kind of grew up in the University of Regina as my dad was a Composition and Theory professor and my mom taught flute at the Conservatory that was associated with the U of R.

Growing up I knew I would go to university after high school, and while I prepared myself for going into Pre-Vet medicine, as you may already know, that path did not last long. In fact, it lasted a year and a half, when two things happened: I started to play the bass, and physics. Physics happened. And I almost failed it. So, enough sciency stuff for me, and into music I went.

I graduated with my first degree in 1987, a Bachelor of Arts in Music. And off I went to Ottawa to study bass, and eventually to get into the University of Ottawa Master of Music program. Ottawa for three year, no degree to show for it, and back home.

After a bit of time off, I went back to the U of R, this time taking language classes, and eventually falling in love with Linguistics. Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, Honours, came in 1994 and then the Masters degree in 1997. Then I just hung around at the U of R working as both an instructional designer in distance learning, and also as a sessional instructor in Linguistics.

At one point I thought I would get a Masters of Distance Education and took some classes from Athabasca University. But eventually I decided I wanted to try for a PhD in Linguistics and went to the University of Manitoba for a few years before I skipped out and we moved to Victoria for Kevin’s work.

I taught a class at Royal Roads and got a job at the University of Victoria as an instructional designer. And then moved to Camosun College, where I still am as an instructional designer.

I take classes from the University of Toronto in Creative Writing now, and I am also finishing up a Diploma program in Open Education from Kwantlen Polytechnic University – both these programs are, not surprisingly, online. I will actually finish the Diploma this summer, and will eventually look into applying for the Creative Writing certificate at U of T once I get around to it. I definitely have enough classes now…

Oh, and I have also taken photography classes at Camosun and U Vic over the years. More lately, the UVic classes have been in Zoom, which works well for me considering I am pretty lazy about wanting to go out at night in the dark and often rainy winter nights.

I think my days of formal education are behind me though. I will keep taking classes I am interesting in (that’s what Continuing Studies departments are for) and when courses are offered online, the sky is kind of the limit!

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter U.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, T is for Tai Chi.

I used to teach Tai Chi, which is something I keep forgetting since I have not taught or done any Tai Chi for almost 20 years I guess.  

I first heard of Tai Chi from my yoga instructor who also taught Tai Chi and thought it would be something I would enjoy. And I did. After taking classes for a couple years, my teacher asked if I would be interested in teaching Tai Chi myself as she found she was too busy for the number of people interested. I decided, what the heck?

So I began teaching. First through the Conservatory of Music, which is where my teacher also taught. I remember our classroom was in the tower. Literally. Up about a million flights of stairs (not so accessible for some people I know) to this big open room that had a 350 degree view. The tower room was supposed to be haunted, but I never sensed anything . Even on the one Hallowe’en night I taught. It was dark and stormy outside and I remember getting there early and wondering if anyone would show up, or if I would encounter spirits or perhaps an axe murdered braving the long climb. But students did come and we had a fun spooky class.

After a few years, the Conservatory decided that Tai Chi did not belong with them. I taught for the Seniors’ Education Centre for a few years, modifying the lessons for a less mobile group (and sadly, although not for the seniors, no longer in the fabulous tower). I also taught a few classes for the University, which was interesting as it was a fitness course and students needed to pass in order to get credit (didn”t have to make them do exams at least). Then the last classes I taught I taught in a downtown church. It was an ok space except the organist practiced during some of our classes.

A few days ago I pulled out the book that was the basis for the Tai Chi form I taught (there are several different forms – and if you didn’t know, Tai Chi is actually considered to be a martial art form too.). I think I am going to try and refresh my memory of the form as it is both relaxing and good for balance and muscle coordination. A nice way to start a day.

If you don’t know anything about Tai Chi, here are some resources you can check out!

Yang style Tai Chi (the one I taught)

The Health Benefits of Tai Chi

What is Tai Chi?

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter T.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, S is for Saskatchewan sunsets.

Sunsets over the ocean where I live now are pretty nice, but there is nothing, nothing, like a Saskatchewan sunset.

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter S.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, R is for the Regina Symphony (and donuts).

As I mentioned in B is for Bass (or should have mentioned), I played in the Regina Symphony Orchestra for many years. I first played in it 9 months after I started playing the bass, and continued for three years until I graduated with my Bachelor of Music degree and moved to Ottawa. When I returned from Ottawa, I took a hiatus from classical bass, playing instead in jazz bands around the city. At some point though I was talked into going back and played for several more years until I left Regina and moved to Victoria.

The Regina Symphony is the longest continuously running orchestra in Canada, well over 100 years old. When I played in the orchestra, there were, I think, 11 full-time musicians (known as “the core”) and any number of per-service players, so called because we were paid per service (rehearsal and concerts are services) instead of a salary. Any musician regularly playing with the orchestra has to audition, although sometimes players are brought in as needed, usually from other locations. Everyone is paid – that’s important. It is a professional orchestra even though most of the players are not full time. And many of those not-full-time orchestral players are full-time musicians, playing gigs around the city and province, teaching privately or at the university, etc.

So concerts typically had 4-5 rehearsals and a concert. We would begin rehearsing as a full orchestra the week before the concert. The understanding was that you would have practiced your parts for the pieces being performed ahead of time, and we usually had our music several weeks in advance. Rehearsals were in the evenings as we all had lives and jobs or were students during the day. Made for some long days and weeks man. Then on the day of the concert, typically a Saturday, we would have the dress rehearsal in the morning and then the concert that evening.

And that dress rehearsal is the memory I wanted to recount here.

Donuts. The bass section had a tradition of donuts during the dress rehearsal. One of us would be tasked with going to Robin’s Donuts and getting a dozen assorted deliciousness to bring to the dress rehearsal. There was always coffee served at break, so the donuts were the icing on the top. We were known for our donut breaks and sometimes very special people were allowed to join us by invitation.

But the best dress rehearsal was the last one of the season (a season running from September until May usually). At that dress rehearsal I decided to go all out. I would bring cheese and crackers and other yummy goodies and sometimes sparkling drinks, a table cloth, and a candelabra, plates and cutlery. And we would do it up big time. I loved those breaks and wonder if they continued after I left. I think some of the other sections (violas maybe) decided to imitate us – I like to think I created a tradition of some kind.

And that is the story of my time in the Regina Symphony and donuts.

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter R.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, P is for Photography.

I’m running late today, and of course while I had planned initially to stay a day ahead of time with posting, all best laid plans….yada yada yada.

 Anyway, if you follow the Zombie Flamingos, you know I love photography. I have been actively taking pictures for many years, but really only since I moved out to Victoria. I took the odd photo back when I was younger, and sometimes I regret not taking up photography years ago, but at the same time I am lazy and prefer the digital opportunities the new world of photography offers.

While I have a really nice big girl camera, I need to spend time with it and never seem to make that time. But I carry my iPhone with me everywhere and drive Kevin nuts taking pictures on all our outings, most notably from the passenger seat of our car. And since I discovered the Slow Shutter app, well the fun is immense!!

I take photos every day, sometimes only one or two, sometimes more than I want to tell you. I take lots of pictures of kitties, as you may know, and flowers, and then whatever strikes my fancy. The possibilities are endless!

Here is a selection from my latest fancy. Oh what fun!

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter P.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…