One Lame Birthday

So for Jane's birthday.....I bought her a cane. We were spending the weekend hanging out at the Caesar's casino in Windsor, seeing shows and visiting with family and friends. Jane's leg was a little stiff after sitting a few times.....then suddenly she couldn't put weight on it at all.

Needless to say, we found how scarce a casino wheelchair can be on a busy weekend - and we had to find the best combination of ramps and elevators to get to and from the venue, our room, and the parking garage. Overall their accessibility is actually pretty good - it's not their fault oblivious patrons blocks aisles and loaf along three or four wide down hallways!

It also often meant three trips for me, per trip - one down from the room to get a wheelchair, one to take Jane wherever she needed to go, and one to return the wheelchair to a security desk.

John and Julie came down for a visit, and the four of us saw the insanely talented Walk Off The Earth whip up the crowd with their high-energy antics. Sure, the opening act used some pretty vulgar language given the large percentage of kids in attendance....but WOTE did not disappoint.

At one point, they started their famous Gotye cover with five band members playing ONE guitar - at the same time - and turned it into a multi-song medley which included the Beatles!

We also went to see Hollywood Medium Tyler Henry, who explained his background and process, and life lessons he has learned from those who have passed. Jane could totally connect with his empathy and spirit.

Jane had a craft show all day at Colasanti's on Saturday, which she managed to pull off from a stationary position. She wasn't much help with setup and teardown, of course, but overall the show was worthwhile. Once I got her set up for the morning and brought coffee and breakfast, I ran out to the closest pharmacy and bought her a cane - Happy Birthday indeed!

We now know where all the ramps are in the casino.....

Beard Guy tickles the ivories....and our hearts!

A rather unique cover of Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You"

Rule the World!

What medium Tyler Henry has learned from The Dead 

Noel Gallagher in Detroit

For my second High Flying Bird experience of the week, Keith made the wintry trek down for a Noel Gallagher show at the massive Masonic Temple in Detroit. In the midst of a huge winter storm slamming the area, we continued to check for road closures and show cancellations before heading out for the sketchy drive to the border.

After dinner at Bubi's in Windsor, we made our way a few slushy blocks to the Tunnel, and were quickly through U.S. Customs and following a snowy I-75 around the downtown and out to the Masonic Temple.

Confusion reigned as two lines waited in the snow at two ends of a very large building. It turned out that one end was the Noel Gallagher show, while the other end (and separate theatre) was hosting the "Love Jam" involving a number of popular R&B artists. Needless to say, once security clarified things, the two lines were very quickly separated along visible lines.

Noel and the band hit the stage, with Detroit as the very first gig touring the new "Who Built the Moon?" album, imploring the snowbound audience, "why the fook do you live here? Haven't you heard of California?".

At one point, a fan in the front row yelled out for a selfie between songs, to which Noel calmly replied "this next song is dedicated to your selfie - it's called Dream On".

A lucky boy named Wyatt was celebrating his 7th birthday by attending his first concert, and Noel took some time to chat with him between songs, before eventually having security bring him up on stage to sign his vinyl copy of the new album.

Beyond material from his three solo albums, the band played several classic Oasis covers to the delight of the crowd, before returning for a several song encore which ended on "All You need Is Love".

View Setlist!

Quiet night in the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel

Detroit Masonic Temple on a snowy Friday night

Enter if you dare!

Scottish Rite Cathedral before the show

Noel and his High Flying Birds from Balcony Centre

Charlotte Marionneau makes a phone call during "It's a Beautiful World"

Some acoustic gems

Noel makes Wyatt's 7th birthday and first concert a memorable one!

Dashing to Ottawa

I recently had the opportunity to fly to Ottawa for some meetings, rather than make the long drive in winter weather. Windsor Airport is closest, but required a layover in Toronto, making the direct flight from London Airport much preferable.

Given the early start, John and Julie generously offered me a warm bed much closer to my morning departure.....not to mention a handy new Tim Horton's right on the way!

I was at the airport by 6am, after plowing my way into a parking spot. The lanes were well plowed, but clearly the spots themselves are never empty long enough to clean them out.

By 730am, I was aloft in a Dash 8 turboprop with about 30 other people, cruising eastward at 10,000 feet. Arriving in Ottawa less than an hour and a half later, a co-worker was waiting to whisk me away to a day of meetings.

By late afternoon, I was back at Ottawa Airport and waiting for my flight home, departing at 540pm. By 7:30pm I was on the ground back in London, and setting off for a two-hour drive home. Thankfully the roads were bare and dry, and the final leg was uneventful!

My chariot awaits at London International Airport

Turning east just north of London

"Props" for the sunshine....above the clouds!

Welcome to YOW, airport to the Nation's Capital

Awaiting the flight home from Ottawa Airport

Superbowl Sunday!

As per our usual Superbowl tradition of late, we opted for lunch at Renny's Village  Smokehouse, before settling in back at home for the big game - Superbowl LII coming live from Minneapolis, the coldest final on record. But for the new indoor stadium, I'm sure they would have chosen a much warmer locale!

As usual, the New England Patriots made the final - everyone may hate them (or at least are sick of them), but you gotta respect them. Having said that, we were firmly rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles in an upset, if only for some new blood to hoist the trophy.

In the end, the Eagles won a 41-33 nailbiter, which came down to the very last play and a Hail Mary from Tom Brady which could have gone either way.

Congrats to the Eagles - DILLY DILLY!

We also took advantage of a few mild days lately to assemble and stain as many canvasses as possible, and hung some finished product in the studio, in preparation for a spring opening.

We also snuck in some Mansions of Madness - completing our mission Cycles of Eternity (just barely) before things were about to get extremely ugly.

Beer and Chili Fries at Renny's!

Philly (no) Cheesesteak - go Eagles!

Better finish reversing that summoning ritual.....FAST!

The Open Door studio nearing completion

Taking advantage of a mild winter weekend