ODE TO THE SUN

PLEASE, IF YOU ARE ON THIS PAGE, PUT ON YOUR SUNGLASSES. IF YOU CAN FIND THEM, ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU'VE NEEDED THEM. BUT PLEASE PUT THEM ON FOR SAFETY'S SAKE, AS THE ABOVE IMAGE IS, IN FACT, THE SUN.

IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SUN, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. ONCE UPON A TIME THIS SOURCE OF HEAT AND LIGHT WOULD SHINE ON AN OTTAWA SUMMER, WHICH IN TURN ENCOURAGED US TO GO ON OUR BIKES, SIT ON BENCHES, AND LIE ON A TOWEL ON THE SAND.

YOUNG CHILDREN MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SUN AND IT'S RUMOURED VISITS TO THE OTTAWA AREA. THE DINNER TABLE IS THE PERFECT SETTING FOR PARENTS TO EXPLAIN THE PHENOMENON OF THE SUN TO THEIR CHILDREN. YOUNGSTERS WILL DELIGHT IN THE STORIES ABOUT HOW THE SUN WOULD REGULARLY SHINE OVERHEAD. IT WAS MOSTLY FRIENDLY, KEEPING US WARM AND DRY. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD MELT OUR ICE CREAM CONES, BUT WE JUST LEARNED TO EAT THEM FASTER.

THE ABOVE IMAGE OF THE SUN MAY BE ENLARGED. CUT IT OUT AND PLACE IT ON A SKYLIGHT, ON THE INSIDE CEILING OF YOUR CAR, AND ON THE WINDOWS OF YOUR WORKPLACE. LET US NEVER FORGET THOSE WONDERFUL YEARS WE HAD TOGETHER.

I THINK ITS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO QUOTE THAT FAMOUS EARLY 70'S POSTER WITH THE DOVE FLYING IN THE AIR:

"IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING, SET IT FREE. IF IT COMES BACK, ITS YOURS. IF IT DOESN'T, IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE'

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THE SUN WAS EVER OURS. IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL LEAVE THE PATIO TABLE, THE PLASTIC CHAIRS, AND THE BADMINTON NET RIGHT WHERE IT IS. BECAUSE WE ARE OTTAWANS. AND WE BELIEVE IN A FUTURE THAT SEES THE RETURN OF THE SUN. WE JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE.

Bluesfest in Ottawa: BEST FESTIVAL EVER!!!

Good2Go rocks the Hard Rock stage (below) Mallory Giles from Politique

Ken Workman and the Union on the Black

Sheep stage (below)

As I write this, I am getting ready to head out for the final day of Bluesfest. I would have been at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest for each of the 12 days and nights, but I made a quick side-trip to Halifax last weekend to see Paul McCartney. ( Quite possibly one of the only concerts that could sway me from my beloved Bluesfest). So, despite my 3 day sojourn to see a Beatle, I all but set up camp at Bluesfest, and the smile never left my face. From stage to stage we bopped, me and my music-crazed husband Rob, catching some of the finest live acts out there today. This year, the theme for Bluesfest was 'Summer Vacation', and I met so many people on the grounds of LeBreton Flats who took the advice. My non-scientific poll concluded that a large percentage of Bluesfest-goers did not go to work this week. They booked it off months ago, when the full schedule came out. Music lovers of all age groups: youngsters, teens, 20-somethings, thousands in their 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's. Toddlers with faces painted, rarin' and ready to see Kiss. Older generations with beer in hand taking in Jeff Beck, Spencer Davis and the Yardbirds. Rockin' out to the Stone Temple Pilots and spending a magical evening in Ottawa's biggest backyard to sing along with Blue Rodeo and their impeccable harmonies. Bluesfest is also about broadening musical horizons, catching acts that ring no bells when you read their names on the schedule, but enjoying every moment on the smaller stages; the Black Sheep Stage, the Hard Rock stage, host to blistering blues and gospel and reggae. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Oumou Sangare, Toots & the Maytals, just to name a few. And for locals bands, there is no better gig than Bluesfest. Here, they get the stage, the lighting, the video screens, the same respect as the 'big name acts' and rightfully so. Bands like Good2Go, MonkeyJunk, Politique, Ken Workman and the Union, these were performances that signalled great things ahead. The opportunity to play for rabid music loving crowds will never be under-estimated. Last night, while jockeying for position at the Drive By Truckers show, I ran into an old acquaintance of mine named Rick. I first met Rick in 1985, he had sold me a pair of tickets for a Bruce Springsteen 'Born in the USA' concert in Syracuse. We talked about the hundreds of concerts we have seen over the years, the miles we have travelled, the money we have spent, all to feed our passion for live music. I asked him if he was enjoying Bluesfest this year. He said, 'Its the best thing about Ottawa'. I couldn't agree more. To the brain-child behind Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Mark Monahan, thank you for another spectacular festival. Kudos to the Black Sheep's Paul Symes, AJ Sauve, Joe Reilly, and the countless volunteers who make it happen. Only 360-something days until next Bluesfest.......

Animalfest for Big Sky

The Big Sky Animal Sanctuary in Kemptville is a truly magical place created by Andy Parent to be a safe haven for animals of all shapes and sizes, furry, feathered, tiny souls to big loveable beasts. They all come to this place with a story, most of them unwanted, no where else to go. For years Big Sky has continued to provide these animals with dignity and respect and a loving home to live out their years, thanks to the generosity of animal lovers everywhere. Big Sky founder Andy Parent is battling cancer. But each day at the Big Sky Animal Sanctuary the sun comes up, and Andy makes his rounds, making sure all the creatures big and small are taken care of. We need to help him out now more than ever. This weekend is the 5th 'Animalfest' for Big Sky, a wonderful fundraiser thats filled with fun and animals, non-stop live bands, prizes, BBQ, all kinds of surprises. Bring the whole family out. Its only $5.00 admission, all proceeds to the dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats, all the animals at Big Sky. This year Animalfest will be located next to the Canadian Tire in Kemptville. For details go to www.bigskyranch.ca . p.s. thanks to Steve Gregory and his wife Diane (along with countless volunteerss) for making this happen