National Banana Split Day!

The Symphony Sessions

There is absolutely nothing better than rediscovering an amazing album by a fabulous composer. There are few things that come to mind that could match the feeling music gives me. The highs and lows, the adventure and quiet, the stories that one can see evolving through a piece. Beginning to end, there always seems to be a story whether it is from a movie soundtrack or it simply allows you to envision your own.

I bought The Symphony Sessions by David Foster the same year the Olympics came to Calgary. This was a must have cassette tape (hilarious!) because it has the theme from the '88 Winter Games. I was 9 or 10 years old. Who would have thought I'd already be forming a much loved collection at that age? Years later the collection has grown significantly, but for obvious reasons, I no longer had the tape or the ability to play it. I was able to find the album and after waiting months for them to track it down, and then ship to me, I am now the proud owner once again.

It's been a great reunion. I remembering conducting so many of these songs in my bedroom and singing along to the one song that has a short chorus. Water Fountain, Firedance, Time Passing, all of them really...crazy as this may sound, but they are old friends with so many memories.

Celebration of the Bow River

"500 illuminated spheres released by local volunteers along the Bow River, beginning at Edworthy Park downstream to Prince’s Island, emphasizing and celebrating the purity, flow and sanctity of the Bow River.

Traveling downstream to create a large-scale dynamic lighting installation, the spheres will float into the lagoon, joining a week-long spectacular light matrix that responds in color, motion and light to environmental data collected from the Bow River.

Sources and the River of Light is a narrative lighting installation exploring the idiosyncratic nature of the Bow River in response to the subject of water. Vital information about the environment and the Bow’s make-up, flow and usage is communicated through the light patterns of the spheres, while people take a moment to pause and reflect on the Bow and the installation’s beauty created through light.

The artist of this installation is U.K-based Creatmosphere, founded by artist Laurent Louder. They are using geographic, geological and environmental observation, public participation and technology to achieve a spectacular and memorable experience on the Bow River."

Source: City of Calgary

A very unique installation, and a lot of fun to attend with thousands of other onlookers participating.

Photos: jbrandick

Sounds of my neighborhood

I've been sitting on my balcony today enjoying the warm, and very sunny day. While sitting here I've noticed many different sounds in my neighborhood. For a fairly quiet area, there is quite the mix on a Saturday afternoon. :)

• Birds, lots of birds
• A quiet hum of traffic from Macleod
• LRT
• Church bells
• Ice cream truck
• Lawnmower
• Airplanes flying over
• Hammering
• Children laughing and screaming
• People talking
• One dog barking a couple times
• Wind in the trees
• Fire trucks leaving the station
• Vehicles coming and going, up and down my street
• Helicopter flying over

I really do love my neighborhood! :)

Photos: jbrandick