The Massive Catch-up Post

[przed]

I keep meaning to post, about MediaWest and other things, but life has kept me constantly on the hop. So this is my attempt to catch up with the state of things.

MediaWest
The last two days of MW had more Pros content, including:

Two AU panels, where we talked about AUs we love, hate and would like to see (I made myself a note to try a steampunk AU at some point)

The Pros party, with krisserci5's brilliant Pros bingo game, and screening of a couple of episodes

A panel on how the lads tumbled together which was lots of fun

A highlight for me was hanging out on Saturday evening with krisserci5, Snow, FJBryan, and m. butterfly and just sharing our varied experiences with fandom in general and Pros in particular. It's that sort of thing that makes cons so much fun to go to.

Another highlight was getting to monopolize Kath Moonshine and Glo for dinner on Sunday night. I was sad I didn't get much time with artconserv, though. Lorraine, we have to have a good chat next year!

The dealer's room was in a drastically smaller space than at the old hotel, and there was much less I found I wanted to buy, but I did get a lovely Kate Nurenberg print of Ned Stark from Game of Thrones, complete with an etched glass frame. And since the current fandom of my heart had absolutely no presence, I had a jeweller make me this bracelet:



The Talent Show and School Festival
The week after MW was the community festival at Rosalind's school. The one where she was performing in the talent show. I ran home from work to drop stuff and change, and then rushed over to the school, but ended up arriving a minute after Ros finished her dance. Fortunately, the Sweetie captured her performance in a (dodgy) video. Here's a screen cap.


The one thing I did catch was her performance in the three-legged race with one of her best friends. They were doing really well. Right until Ros fell. Which she thought was hilarious.


Then her partner-in-crime decided that since Ros kept falling down she'd just drag her down the field by her ankle. Which Ros also found hilarious. And somehow they managed to come in second!



The Book of Mormon
Last week we indulged in a babysitter and went to see The Book of Mormon. (The play. Not a copy of the actual Book of Mormon. Though there were actual Mormons outside the theatre handing out Mormon propaganda.) It was funny and profane and had great singing and dancing numbers. And though it was treading some dangerous waters with African stereotypes, it had turned them all on their head by the end.


A Work Visit
This week, since Ros had a dentist appointment on Wednesday morning, I told her I'd take the morning off so she could visit my office and we could go for lunch. She's always keen to visit, but then gets way shy when she's there. But she did decide to take over a corner of my project whiteboard:


I love the "Do not erase Mom" order in the middle of it all.


Jackie Chan
Wednesday night, we got another babysitter, and went to see Jackie Chan introduce two of his best films, Drunken Master and Drunken Master 2, at the Lightbox. (Lightbox has a summer-long Chinese cinema program running. If I wasn't a parent I'd be there every day.) Jackie was charming and funny and told some hilarious and frightening anecdotes about his films. (Apparently he managed a slide across burning coals in Drunken Master 2 by loading his costume up with ice. And still got wickedly burned in the process.)

My one attempt at a photo of Jackie ended up looking like a UFO picture (bright lights and Jackie's white suit blew out the sensor of my trusty iPhone camera), so have a pic of my ticket:


As we were walking home, we passed the headquarters of MuchMusic (Canada's MTV) where they were setting up for the MM Video Awards. It was a pretty otherworldly sight:



Tomorrow there will be a play that's part of Toronto's Luminato arts festival, The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic. It's directed by Robert Wilson, who is generally amazing, but the chief attraction for me is that it co-stars Willem Dafoe, who I adore past reason. (This will be our third babysitting night in two weeks. After which it will no doubt be months before we manage it again.)

Comments

[jennicide.livejournal.com]

I saw Book of Mormon last Saturday too! I felt uneasy about the African stereotypes at first as well but I loved what the show actually had to say about them.

[przed.livejournal.com]

The Sweetie had the most serious issues with the first half, but even he felt they'd pulled it together by the end.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

You're having an incredibly busy and exciting time! Thanks for sharing it! I think my favourite moment was Ros and the ankle-drag...

[przed.livejournal.com]

It's incredibly busy, and also exciting. And the Frankfurt trip is just around to corner, so AIIIEEEE!

At the time, the ankle-drag was both hilarious and horrifying, but as soon as I realized she was laughing it was just hilarious. (I rush to the finish line at the end and asked if she was okay, and she looked at me like I was a mental person. *g*)

[halotolerant.livejournal.com]

Love the 'Thatter' bracelet *g* Markie soon, yes? I've discovered I'm totally in love with Robbie's latest song, which is actually him featuring on Dizzee Rascal (of whom I am also fond):



This has a certain steampunk + mobility scooter quality! Inspiring? *g*

I *loved* three-legged races when I was small, I'm glad Ros could see the funny side of it too. And her instructions on the whiteboard are hilarious! *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

Markie a week tomorrow! And also meeting soundofthesurf and rangerke in person! AIIIEEEE!

I hadn't listened to Goin' Crazy yet, but I have now, and it's fun.

It was Ros' first three-legged race, and she definitely enjoyed it. I was hoping they'd do wheelbarrow races. Her favourite thing is to have me wheelbarrow her around the house. (Me, I would find that torture, but wee thing though she is, she's all bone and muscle so she loves it.) The whiteboard instructions cracked me up. *g*

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Ros looked like she was having so much fun - and that was wonderful to see. Too busy enjoying herself to care overly about winning.

[przed.livejournal.com]

She had so much fun that they went back to the beginning and ran in another race! (There was no falling and dragging that time. *g*)

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Do not erase Mom Hee, that's a classic!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm leaving that on my whiteboard until I absolutely need the room because it makes me smile. *g*

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Enough of this "having an interesting life" nonsense, we need posts. *g*

Actually, it's putting a big grin on my face to see Ros enjoying the little things so much, something it would be great if we could keep in adulthood more than we do, and it looks like you've been having a fun time too.

[przed.livejournal.com]

This having a busy life thing certainly cuts into one's online life. *g*

One of the best things about having kids is how they teach you the value of slowing down and enjoying the little moments. Though, of course the irony is that they also fill up your time so that you don't have much time to actually slow down. ::sigh::

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's some catch-up. I love the board, and am particularly taken by the idea of a rhythm tulip (what do you mean, they are supposed to be read separately?) And thanks for the MW information. It sounds steadily more enticing.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the idea of a rhythm tulip! ( Ros had just learned how to spell rhythm. Can you tell? *g*

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Way Back When (in the mid-eighties?), I remember there were plastic flowers with faces, holding guitars in their leafy hands, and when you pressed a switch on the pot, they started moving. Definitely rhythm tulips in action.

I did notice the beautiful spelling and wondered :)

[przed.livejournal.com]

OMG, I had one of those flowers! (I was in high school, and my mom gave it to me as a joke Xmas gift.) Rhythm tulip it is!

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Wow, I feel tired just reading all this.. I especially loved Ros's order to you on the whiteboard:))

[przed.livejournal.com]

You can imagine how I feel. *g*

Ros' order was the best.

[dawnebeth.livejournal.com]

Yay for fun times at Mediawest. Someday I will get there!

:-( that you missed your daughter's performance, so yay that she gave you a command show, and had fun at her three legged race.

If I weren't already jealous that you went to MW, now I am truly about Book of Mormon. I literally just emailed a friend telling her that it was coming to SF.

[przed.livejournal.com]

MW is well worth the effort . Even smaller than it used to be and with organizers who are, ahem, challenging, I still always have a great time there.

You should definitely try to see Book of Mormon. It's got a surprising heart along with its biting satire.

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Wow, busy times! MW sounds like it was fun (especially when they make such nice bracelets!), and what brilliant pics of Ros!

I wanted to get tickets for Book of Mormon, but they were ridiculously expensive. :(

Enjoy Frankfurt next week, I went on Thursday (with bonus Howard), it was fantastic!

[przed.livejournal.com]

That bracelet was the best five bucks I've ever spent.

I saw there was bonus Howard at the London show. I think I would have swooned with my two fave TT members both there. *G* And Kim Gavin! I'm getting really excited for the Frankfurt show.

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

And Kim Gavin!
Oh, totally missed him! But Jason Flemyng was sitting in front of us, which was cool! *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

In the pictures I've seen from the gig, Kim is sitting right in front of Howard. (I'm sort of a Kim Gavin fangirl.)

Seeing Jason Flemyng there is also cool!

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you are having a brilliant time luv.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Definitely!

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, what a lot of fun you've been having! And your trip is coming up soon, I see. I love fandom-inspired travel. I am looking forward to hearing all about it, even if I have no clue about your fandom. *g*

If I am not in England next May, I'd really like to try for MW. I miss meeting with fans! And it sounds like you all have such a lovely time.

I still can't get over how big Ros has grown. What a joy she is. The three-legged race was fabulous, and so is that note on your whiteboard. Heh.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Lots of fun, but it's all a bit exhausting. And the trip is fast approaching. One week to the concert! (If you're ever feeling the need to listen to a British manband, I can totally hook you up. *g*)

It would be lovely to see you at MW. And FJBryan and I have started seriously considering arranging a Pros relaxacon for next year, possibly in August.

I sometimes look at Ros and can't believe how grown up she looks. She's a definite joy.

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

MW was fun, and that night in our room is the best time. And the reason I return. I was so happy that we got to spend more time talking both Pros and Other real life stuff, fandom and beyond. . .

Steampunk Pros. . . .just rolls off the tongue. . . . what a nice sound

Please. . . . .{not too bold a hint is it?}

[przed.livejournal.com]

It's always a pleasure to hang out with you, Kris. I just wish we could do it more often.

Steampunk Pros does sound promising, doesn't it?