“Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the biggest Foo Fighters show in Canada...”

As the Foo Fighters took the stage Friday night the peeps in my section were texting friends for Oilers updates from Colorado...The Oilers game didn't go our way but HOLY CRAP can the Foo Fighters pull the lid off Rexall!!!

My favorite bit? My Hero. It was brilliant, all acoustic from the 2nd stage. And Everlong. Is there anything better than singing along at the top of your lungs with your fellow Edmontonians? (Except for maybe a trianlge solo?) When My Hero ended we were all on our feet with a standing 'O' and after about a minute Dave Grohl yelled for us to "Shut the f*** up!" He was fall down funny and this counts as the most entertainingly funny concert I have attended. I didn't know it at the time but apparently this was the only Foo concert to sell out in Canada. I hope we showed them a good time, I know I was amazed, although I had one too many of those giant "heroin" beers they serve at Rexall. And a special thanks to Sonic 102.9 for saving me with the bottle of water they handed out after the concert!
I had my "man voice" on Saturday...but it was well worth it.
The Oil also pulled out the win over Calgary too on Saturday! Let's hope they beat them again, shall we?
On Sunday OTC and I went kite flying. It's amazing the amount of fun you can have for $1.88.

Oasis is coming too! Another Friday night concert! I'm a big fan!
11 more sleeps to U23D!

Song du Jour: Monster Hospital by Metric

"And you can dream so dream out loud..."

I have an U2 3D update!!!

Mark Katz from National Geographic just emailed me and he is happy to report the following news:


They will launch U23D in digital 3D theatres on April 11th in Edmonton and Calgary.!!

I just want to thank all of you for your help! Our hard work and my er..um..."gentle pestering" paid off big time!! Please don't contact the theatres (2 in Calgary and 2 in Edmonton) just yet, they will certainly announce it very soon, check your local listings and I will even post them here once they are announced officially!

I think I need to send Mark Katz a big bottle of booze-ahol or some flowers or something to show him how grateful I am to him for following through for us!! And a big shout out to Cineplex who listened and re-arranged to accomodate this event!!

Hope to see you there!!

"If everything could feel this real forever, If anything could ever be this good again..."

I was pretty happy to wake up this morning to see that the forecast for snow was greatly exaggerated! Still had to scrape the frost off the ole car...I'm getting pretty good at it. I still have not mastered the fine art of the windshield squeegee though. It must be comical to watch. There I am at 'Safeways' gas bar trying to avoid the giant streaks and splashes to no avail...it's an art, I am convinced.
Sadly, I am so bad at it, I'd rather just take her to the car wash than use the dreaded squeegee.

It just came to my attention that Tom Petty avec his heartbreakers are coming to town. How could that just totally slip past me? I am S.O.L because tickets went on sale months ago....actually the price is pretty steep anyhoo..but frick he'd be great to see live. Love Tom Petty! Get your air keyboards out cause he's bringing Steve Winwood to open.
I will win tickets. Yes, clearly that is what I'll do.

Song du Jour - Everlong by Foo Fighters
The concert reviews are coming in from the 306 and apparently it's a "phenomenal" concert...I have to admit I love the Foo because of the all the memories their songs represent to me. And because they make the best videos!

"In too deep and lost in time, why'd you have to go and let it die?" - Foo's

It's going to snow tonight. Cripes.

I guess I have nothing to complain about considering we haven't really been hit with snow like Ontario has this year, but when I heard it was going to snow tonight something inside me broke a little bit. I'd just like to go to work without having to scrape the mess off my car every morning. ugh.

You're right, suck it up, I know...I know.

On a more positive note I'll be at Rexall tomorrow night getting my hair blown back the Foo Fighters with opening bands Against Me! and Hifi Handgrenades. I am so glad I have something to look forward to...er...other than digging my car out with my hockey stick, like I had to the last time it snowed....grr.

Song du Jour: Let it die by Foo Fighters

"Love must be forgotten, life can always start up anew...."

More live music!

Have you checked out the Pemberton Festival? It may take massive amounts of organization (not to mention some sort of fundraiser) but I really want to go! Tickets on sale Friday, peeps! Going to the Foo Fighters Friday too!

Here are just a few of the reasons why I'm contemplating a 15 hour drive to BC this summer....

COLDPLAY

TOM PETTY and The Heartbreakers

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

SAM ROBERTS BAND

MGMT

VAMPIRE WEEKEND

THE TRAGICALLY HIP

WINTERSLEEP

Song du Jour - Time to Pretend by MGMT

"One thing I will say: Human suffering should preempt commercial interest." ~ President Bush

Time has published a frank article by Bob Geldof regarding his recent sit down and walk about Africa with George W. Bush. (photo by Jason Reed / Reuters)

"...he (Bush) doesn't ever have to justify his Africa policy. This is the person who has quadrupled aid to the poorest people on the planet. I was more comfortable with that. But his expression asked for agreement and sympathy, and I couldn't provide either. "Mr. President, please. There are things you've done I could never possibly agree with and there are things I've done in my life that you would disapprove of, too. And that would make your hospitality awkward. The cost has been too much. History will play itself out." "I think history will prove me right," he shoots back. "Who knows," I say.

It wasn't awkward. It wasn't uncomfortable. He is convinced, like Tony Blair, that he made the right decision. "I'm comfortable with that decision," he says. But he can't be. The laws of unintended consequences would determine that. At one point I suggest that he will never be given credit for good policies, like those here in Africa, because many people view him "as a walking crime against humanity." He looks very hurt by that. And I'm sorry I said it, because he's a very likable fellow. "

I always find it interesting when two people with seemingly nothing in common sit down to talk. It shows me that common ground can be found in very unlikely places. We are more alike than we are different. I'm curious to know what other people think of that article, I hope you will comment on your reaction to it.

Song du Jour: She's Crafty by The Beastie Boys

Clearly, there can never be too much cow bell in a song...

“In a society where the rights and potential of women are constrained, no man can be truly free. He may have power, but he will not have freedom.”

The stars are aligning nicely for me because a woman I have admired for years will be speaking at one of my favorite events! You should come too.

U of A Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights Presents:
Mary Robinson
Wednesday, April 2
7:30 pm
Citadel Theatre
Tickets: $10

Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will deliver the 10th Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights.

Devoted to addressing issues of injustice and inequality, Mary Robinson founded and currently leads Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. Realizing Rights is tackling three critical issues: the imbalance in global trade and development, the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa and the barriers to facilitating more humane international migration. Her lecture, as part of the University of Alberta’s Centennial celebrations, will reflect on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, health as a human right and will highlight current efforts to address critical human rights issues in the world today.

“I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system.”

It'll be a ginger kid convention for sure...

Song Du Jour - Kite by U2
it's been a rough one and this song is perfect for me today....

"You're the last guy to feel the optimism of improvement.." ~ Coach MacTavish

I'm taking a lot of heat for being an Oilers fan and being excited when they win lately...this is new to me. Because the Coilers need a miracle to make the playoffs it seems fans have written the team off. Even the hardcore Oilers fans seem more cynical and jaded and some are not even watching them anymore.

Can't I be excited about a win regardless of the post season?

"Who cares...they won't make the playoffs" was the pat answer when I brought up that "left arm tingling" show the Oil put on last night. Around the water cooler they looked at me with pity in their eyes, as if to say, poor, poor Heather the misguided Oilers fan. Personally, I feel that some fans are missing out on some great hockey or they are so critical of the players they miss the game.

Let me be clear, I am well aware of their (lack of) playoff chances. I am not hopeful they will get that miracle and make the playoffs. I am fine with watching this team rebuild. In fact, I am thoroughly enjoying it.

I am super excited about Cog's record setting OT goals even if it doesn't propell them out of 11th place. How about that no look pass from Gag-ner to Cog's setting up the OT goal? Beautiful.

How about Grebeshkov (Gruba) with the block in front of Garon to shut down Kariya in the third? And Goggles Pisano and his shorthanded break away, Smid had one too, and Hemsky...I'm still surprised Legace came out unscathed after "Maim the Goalie" night at Rexall.

Glengarry Glencross has my vote, he adds a lot to his line....Matt Greene makes me nervous. Still.

Are we so spoiled that we can't be proud of a team that is on fire with rookie potential? Frick they are so fun to watch! Why am I the only one who'll admit that Oilers games are super entertaining? Sure they shit the bed (even last night they did) but that's not new, hence the "Coilers" moniker...but that game was highly entertaining.

Go on -- admit it, don't be afraid.

Song Du Jour - Nine in The Afternoon by Panic at the Disco

"In every aspect of life, there has to be a void, so you can look back and see what you need to do to get better and become successful again." ~ Coach

Your Panda's Hockey Team didn't fair so well at Nationals. Super Sad....

They came in 4th with a loss yesterday to the Manitoba Bisons. At the end of February your Panda's beat the Bisons for Canada West Supremacy in a controversial game that took double overtime periods to decide a winner. The Bisons coach ended up pitching a water bottle at the ref after the Panda's scored the game winner, on the powerplay, after some 98 minutes of play. Seems like Manitoba had something to prove at Nationals....

I watched the games from Ottawa via webcast...which was awesome this year, not hurky-jerky like years before. I'm so proud of our ladies! From watching them this season I could see them forming a great bond and, although they lose a couple of graduating players, I can see this team building together next season and performing well at Nationals in 2009.

Next year watch forwards Cabana and Miller because their play since the Christmas break has been stellar. On the D, Rayanne Reeve, has really come in to her own.

Song Du Jour: Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"When all is said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be sure." ~Alice Hoffman

Why do we find the words, "I don't know" so difficult to say? I mean honestly, how will you ever learn if you don't put yourself out there?

It's okay to ask for clarification. It's okay to admit that you don't have all the answers, and for the love of all things holy, just admit it so we can move forward.

That is all. Oh except for this photo of the frozen tundra for your viewing pleasure....purdy.

Song Du Jour - Shadowplay - The Killers

"Look outside at the raincoats coming..."

I've been talking a lot about music here, eh? Blame my local radio station Sonic. They have this great little show called Farm Fresh which is all new music...I've got a little crush forming for Al Ford, I'll admit it. Coldplay is also working on new songs! And the new U2 Album should drop in the fall so you'll be hearing about that over the next few months, ad nauseam.

Anyhoo....I heard this new (to me) band from New York called Vampire Weekend on The Letterman show and to my glee, they are going to be on SNL on March 8th. Click on the link up there to watch their catchy little ditty on You Tube. It's stuck in my head today....

Soooohooo...it's election day, don't forget to vote peeps! Oh and thanks in advance Alberta voters...it'll be more of the same ole bullshit I am sure. I will cast my ballot after work and then watch the 'exciting' news coverage. The election nerd in me watches every year with great hope of change...I don't want to sound cynical and jaded, but I am so..... why won't you won't vote for a change? Why? I've become tired of party politics, friends...and I feel powerless to change it because nobody realizes that you have to vote to get change. Moreover, why can't I get my friends to vote? They have so much invested...my friend's G'ma spent 4 days in emergency at the Grey Nun's on a bed in the corridor, with no care because the nurses won't do anything until the patient is in a room. How much is your dignity worth? And still --my friend doesn't equate that with our election process. How can I make the connection?

I think voter turnout in Edmonton was 50% last election...I'll hazard a guess that it will be 42% this election. I really hope I am wrong. Prove me wrong...please.

Song du Jour - A Punk - Vampire Weekend