Thanks, Q!

I'll start with the big news: I've finally tricked those cheese-eating librarians at the Banff Public Library to fork over a library card. I know it's been months since I last talked about them and, honestly, I haven't been trying either. However, I recently learned that the Banff Centre has a fully-functional music library on campus, and that they allow you to check out CDs. That catch? You need a library card at the Banff Public Library first.

This new intelligence gave me no option but to launch an "Ocean's Eleven" type masterplan to break into the Fort Knox that is the BPL. And it's done!! I know have 1000s of scores and CDs at my fingertips again!

And not a moment too soon, either, because I'm teaching music history in Calgary this fall, and will add in theory to that come winter. Huzzah!!!! You'd be surprised how difficult it is to teach people about music history without....music. NO longer a problem! I can search their catalogue online and go 'up the hill' (ahahahah UWO joke that is still relevant, if opposite) and pick up the CDs/scores when Bonnie and I go up there anyway to climb.

At least twice a week, Bonnie and I are going up to the climbing gym at the Banff centre as part of a workout. We've each made up some pretty elaborate routines and are sticking to them pretty well. The climbing gym is a phenomenal place to go for workouts because it doesn't feel like a workout - it feels like goal-oriented fun. Only at some point you eventually go "holy crap-on-a-stick i can't possibly hold on to one more hold". We're starting to get pretty darn good at it too, i think.

Finally, the 'getting back into music' bit goes a little farther: Bonnie and I joined a choir in Canmore. They're a community choir and at a significantly lower level than we're used to, but everybody is just there to have a good time and it's just fun to be there. Definitely not breaking any records. And hey! I got a solo on my 2nd day (that should tell you something).

I'm still anxiously awaiting trip plans :p

Today, October 3rd...

...it looked like this outside my door.



Note: Those white dots all over are snowflakes

So let's see...what's up?

Hey! We get carpet this week!! Won't that be amazing!? Will be so nice to not be living on sheets and towels anymore and to finally be able to actually finish unpacking everything.

Also, we've gone through our 3 days of fall out here. Those 3 days are as follows:

Day 1: The day when all the leaves change
Day 2: Fall
Day 3: The windy day that knocks all the leaves off


It's quick, sure, but that 1 day was REALLY pretty. Now it's on to highs of 4 and 5 (about 40 Farenheit) and lows in the night of -5, -6. Looks like the mountains are set to have snow until next summer now too - crazy.

I've also realized that exactly 1 year ago, Bob and I were driving out here. Time flies! We're 36 days from Ski seaons too. Huzzah!!! (btw, it appears to be snowing/raining outside right now)

So in other news...

ONTARIO PEOPLE!! You've got an election on the 10th and in that election is a referendum about electoral reform. Read up on it at

http://www.yourbigdecision.ca/en_ca/default.aspx

It's a big change to how elections are done currently, and I think a great one. What's the biggest way it will affect you? How many times have you gone to vote and had to vote for somebody you didn't like because you supported his/her party? Or the other way around: like the guy but didn't support his party? The system promises to get you out of that Catch-22 and a lot more. Ok /politics off

I hope everybody is doing well. I'll repeat the shout out for people to come and visit and/or a high-definition TV for Christmas :p