Today is my sister’s birthday. Miss her more than ever.
Anna
2021 – a year so much better!
Well, here we are; almost the end of 2021. Where the heck did this year go? It seemed to have flown by and, thankfully, it was a year that was a lot less dramatic than 2020.
So, here is a brief recap of 2021 – a year so much better!
January – It was month three of working at home and renovations on the house continue
February – Give my husband a project or an idea for a project and away he runs. February is also a month for quiet reflection. My dad passed away on February 1, 2003. Then, my mom’s birthday on February 12. Finally, to cap off a crappy month, February 20, is the date my amazing sister passed away.
March started off quietly but quickly devolved into “days of our lives” in the aquarium and then it developed a plot twist
April came in quickly and with it came more ambivalence. The gardens that Alex has so tenderly cared for started erupting in new life EVERYWHERE.
May brought in a new purchase – one that I felt we had to have.
June – Not too much happened but, it was on June 8, 1949 that my parents were married. Alex’s green thumb grew to an entire green hand.
July of this year saw a heat dome the likes has never been seen in the Lower Mainland. During this horrific heat wave, over 800 British Columbians lost their lives including our dear sweet neighbour, Maggie. July also saw a brief hint that this pandemic was starting to show signs of weakening. Live Theatre was showing some signs of coming back.
On the work front, I discovered that I suddenly had over a month’s worth of holidays that I needed to take. Due to travel restrictions, it was obvious, we weren’t going anywhere. So, projects that we had been discussing took shape. The first project was our new pond. This project took a week.
August – project number two – our greenhouse. This took another week’s worth of vacation.
September brought in a return of one of my favourite gigs: Stage Managing the Dragon Boat Festival. But, before the festival took place, we were able to secure another week to go and visit Kitimat, BC. Home of our good friends: Chad and Jenn.
October – Home Renovations continue – as they are wont to do.
November – And yet another Stage Managing Project – Whoop! Whoop!
Which brings us to December – I have nothing to report because, as of this writing, December hasn’t happened yet. I suspect that December will be as hectic as the rest of the year. I do know that it will be busy with visiting people in our bubble. Christmas Eve dinner will be me, Alex and the boys. Christmas Day will be spent at friends. Boxing Day will be spent at home where we will have friends coming over for a social. New Year’s Eve will be spent at friends.
So, on behalf of Alex and myself, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe 2022.
Happy Anniversary Babycakes
Happy 18th Anniversary
18 years ago today, I married my soulmate. He is warm, kind, generous, compassionate, occasionally a bit grouchy. I am so glad that we are walking this path together.
Happy Anniversary, Babycakes. I love you more than words can ever say.
Then & Now Project – Save on tickets!!!!!!
THEN & NOW, Pandemic Life Stories – a devised-theatre project tracing the highs and the lows of lockdown life over the past 18 months.
Sat. Nov. 13 @ 7:30 pm and Sun. Nov. 14 @ 2:00 pmOrder tickets online at deltastageworks.ca
Ticket Prices have dropped!!!
Sat. Nov. 13 – click on this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/185127851387
Sun. Nov. 14 – click on this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/187386617417
ABOUT THE SHOW
THEN & NOW, Pandemic Life Stories – A Staged Reading at Genesis Theatre, in Ladner, BC. A devised-theatre project created over the course of a year by the Delta Stageworks artist collective; featuring a cast of both professional artists and community members. From community interviews, local news events and the exploration of our own lived experiences of living through the monumental changes of this last year and a half, comes a multimedia theatrical evening of stories that follow the ups and downs, the laughs and the lows of the lockdown life we’ve all been experiencing since March 2020.
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLY ONLINE BY GENERAL ADMISSION
Directed by Cory Haas
Featuring: Cameron Bancroft, Renee Iaci, Eric Keenleyside, Peg Keenleyside, Marilyn Norry, Sandra Patterson and (on Zoom) Vera Mayor, Lorne Patterson, Nick Keenleyside and Sam Bob
Stage Management by Al Zylstra
Videography by Cliff Caprani
Produced by The Delta Stageworks Artist Collective
Local Theatre Makes A Triumphant Comeback!!!!
Introducing my newest gig:
THEN & NOW: Pandemic Life Stories
Over the past year Delta Stageworks has been developing a collaborative theatre project Then & Now, Pandemic Life Stories. Through interviews we’ve gathered with people in our community, from news events and the exploration our own lived experiences of what it’s been like to live through the monumental challenges of this last year, we’ve arrived at a multi-media theatrical evening of stories to share with you – Delta audiences – at the Genesis Theatre in Ladner. Come see a cast of 10 community and professional theatre-makers for a LIVE and LOCAL theatre experience that traces the ups and downs, the lows and the laughs of the lockdown life we’ve all been experiencing since March 2020.
Tickets will be available on Eventbrite. Currently, only the Saturday performance is up but we will be offering a Sunday Matinee, too.
Show times are Saturday, November 13 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 14 at 1:30 pm at the Genesis Theatre in Delta ( 5005 45 Ave, Delta, BC V4K 1K4).
*Note* Due to Codie-19 restrictions and regulations, there will be no intermission.
Live Stage Reading will be $21 and $15 will be for streaming the show in Mid-November.
I am very proud of this project and hope that everyone who is in the area can come and check it out or stream the show.
Home Reno- part 646413
Alex is amazing! He keeps finding projects to do around the house to make this place comfortable for us. He is sometimes like a man possessed.
Here is a brief history of our kitchen
Dragon Boat Festival 2021
As quickly as the Dragon Boat Festival arrived, it left even faster! What a truly amazing day. This year’s Dragon Boat Festival was only one day and we managed to cram in so many amazing acts, my head is spinning still. It was a 16 hour day and my body is definitely paying the price today. But, it was worth every ache and pain.
The Festival has undergone major changes in the past 2 years and with the changes, a new, invigorated, enthusiastic and joyful management team has taken over. With the changes, a new focus on the other aspects of the Dragon Boat Festival: Arts, Entertainment, Heritage, History and Education have all taken a giant leap forward.
Judy, my partner in crime. Couldn’t have done my job without her.
Just with the music, we have seen a real focus on incredibly talented, passionate and driven performers from the vibrant Vancouver music scene.
Kitimat or BUST!
This year, I have managed to take two weeks of vacation. Both weeks were spent at home. The first week was spent building our pond
The second week was spent building our greenhouse.
I was officially pooped and needed to recharge my batteries. So, I booked another week off and contacted former neighbours – Chad and Jenn about going to visit them in Kitimat.
So, off we went. We drove about halfway and stopped in Quesnel the first night.
Quesnel is a lovely community with very picturesque scenery.
Me and the boys even saw our first deer. They were suitably nonplussed by it.
The next day, we were on our way for the final leg of the trip – Kitimat. We got there at a reasonable hour and Phantom and Beau got to meet Kevin. Chad and Jenn’s new fur baby. What a sweetheart. Phantom and Beau were totally freaked out by his enthusiasm and desire to make friends. We spent the entire visit making sure that everyone kept their distance and for the most part, we were successful.
Meet Kevin and Kevin’s Grandma 
Kevin being TOTALLY adorable
I am sad that Phantom and Beau were not as tolerant of Kevin as I would have liked. The sad part is, our boys are grumpy old men (even though they are only 6 years old). Kudos to Chad and Jenn for being gracious enough to help us keep everyone apart.
Kitimat is a small community and there is not much to do but we made the most of it. The boys and I did a lot of walking – that is until I realized we were in BEAR country and this time of year is when they are getting ready to hibernate. Bears are everywhere looking for food. I did not want me or the boys to be on the menu, so we kept our walks shorter than I wanted.
Regardless, we got to take a lot of pictures of the area. Enjoy
The above image made me sad. The number of children’s shoes was numbing.
And even more
Then, we have our hosts – Chad and Jenn – two of the most adorable people on the planet. They are so cute, it makes me wanna hug the stuffing out of both of them. I am stealing some of Jenn’s pictures from her Instagram account because she is not only adorable but a great photographer. Not that these two need any help with photos – both so photogenic it is annoying….
Alas, all good things must come to an end, so on Friday, it was time to head home.
It was a quick trip back to Quesnel and then the next day back home. Somehow, I messed up and we wound up coming out by Kamloops and taking the Coquihalla drive home but, it worked. The sad part was we got a rock chip in the windshield which has resulted in a nasty crack. Windshield needs to be replaced now (sob!)
Happier times – before the cracked windshield
And the minute we got home, both boys went directly to their favourite spots in the house.
My newest project! Dragon Boat Festival is BACK!
After almost 2 years of waiting (not very) patiently, the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival is making its triumphant return!
It is going to be a truncated event but is running from September 18 – 26 with a huge slate of events and attractions – from Cultural Heritage and Exploration to artistic creations to a Mid Autumn Festival at the Dr. Sun Yet Sen Classical Chinese Garden
I have been working at this event since 2005 and it is by far and away, one of my favourite events to Stage Manage. I get to listen to some of the best music produced by local and international talents.
This year, the music, the music will be at the 102.7 The Peak Main Stage. Sadly, it will be just one day – Saturday, September 25 but will be going from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and probably later (fingers crossed)
Slated to perform:
Jasper Sloan Yip – 11:00 am
Children of Takaya – 12:30 PM
Ludic – 1:30 PM
Desiree Dawson – 2:30 pm
Missy D – 4:00 pm
Matthew V – 5:00 pm
Hotel Mira – 6:00 pm
In between performances by this slate of incredibly talented groups and performers will be performances by Indigenous Performers from local First Nations.
There are some serious Covid-19 safety protocol measures in place to assure everyone’s safety as well as enjoyment.
I hope that everyone who has a chance (and is fully vaccinated) comes down to check it out.
Al Zylstra 