tim’s thought property

Ah, this evening was such a delight.
It was sunny and warm, a real cherished spring sort of day. The sun set after eight o’clock, another bonus; but the real treat was seeing Sarah Harmer perform. Her tour took her from Thunder Bay yesterday, to the heart of Winnipeg this evening.
Chars and I had planned on walking, but due to a late supper, we drove the two minute distance, to find most of Westminster Ave. full of cars, and a long line of concert-goers standing outside the church. Yes, this particular tour has Ms. Harmer playing in churches all across this country. So as Chars and I drove down to Canora St. to find a spot, we had walked back to the end of the line, to wait our turns to get in the door.
About a third of the way to the front doors, as we waited in line, Sarah Harmer herself walked out of the church, and to her tour bus, a scant few feet from where Chars and I stood. It was close enough to say hi, but I figured it was probably important business that called her to the bus, since other band members were heading there too.
As it turned out, a fire alarm was tripped in the church, and the WFD had come by to sort things out. At the same time, the line was being given access to the building, so apparently there was no fire. Either that, or we were to all help put out said fire, and were given buckets and directions indoors.

Once inside, we decided to see if there was room in the balcony, since it was real crowded on the main level. After ascending the dark stairwells, we found a decent corner spot, with good sight lines. So good in fact, I spied my friend Rachelle in the front row, to stage left. I tried to wave her attention upwards, but to no avail. Since Chars couldn’t see them to assist in my waving, she suggested that I go and find out if there indeed was room on their bench. It turned out there was.
I also ran into Kira, another old acquaintance from CMU, sitting on the bench. There was a stack of speakers right in front of my spot, however, making the bench almost idyllic rather than ideal. But I asked if there was room for two, and Kira gave me a doubtful look, since I had approached the bench solo. I assured Kira that my friend was with me, probably stopping off at the washroom or something. Chars, as it happened, was in the lobby chatting away with an old friend, I had found out. I also found out that Jon K. Sampson of the Weakerthans was in the audience, for I passed him on the way to get Chars. I had returned with her, and my honesty was proven to Kira.

As the sun set, the band took the stage, and there was a lot of clapping and cheering. They opened with I am aglow, with the wonderful sound of the mandolin leading the tune. I really enjoy the sound of Sarah Harmer’s voice, and she sung each song with the appearance of ease. She made it look so easy! Julie Fader was playing keys most of the night, and adding wonderful harmonies to Sarah’s leads.
The backing band, including the likes of Jason Euringer doing backing vocals and stand-up bass; Spencer Evans playing the clarinet and the accordion; Joey Wright on mandolin, guitar, and the banjo; along with Chris Bartos on the fiddle; performed quite well together. It was a real up-beat atmosphere. When the band got to the song Oleander, Sarah asked for the lights to be dimmed. But they were connected to the washroom lights, so she had to ask permission from the audience if they would concede their sight in the washrooms for ambience in the sanctuary.
She performed a few covers throughout the night, Luther’s got the Blues, by Luther Wright, and Dolly Parton’s Will he be Waiting?. They were given a nice personalized touch, as was The Weakerthan’s Left and Leaving (which was performed with Sarah on guitar and Julie harmonizing). The accordion was taken up for the French Salamandre. I must say that the backers, each had some wonderful skills with their instruments. The clarinet was wielded a few times in a very masterful way, as was the mandolin and violin. Seeing the players so wrapped up in their music made it all the more of an experience. When the band loves what they are doing, and where they are playing, it really makes the audience feel appreciated. I’ve been to many shows where the feel was that the audience was there for the band (as is natural), but the band keeps it and presents the feeling of hierarchy. This show felt much intimate (you know with 500 people), almost like she was playing for us in a personal way.
Well, Sarah played Greeting Card Aisle, and I felt like the night was complete. It’s one of my favourites, her lyrics are so well crafted. Hmm…I also really enjoy Dandelions and Bullet Holes, there is such beautiful imagery in that one too… Needless to say, I enjoyed the selection.
By the time the band had finished playing, and had returned for their encore, they had a bit of a change up. There was a drum set that was left conspicuously vacant the entire performance, and only at the end, did Sarah doff her guitar, and pick up the sticks, and play out Lodestar while singing and keeping the beat. Ending off the entire evening was a mic-less singing of How Deep the Valley, with everyone standing. I felt that we should all be singing along, it felt like the benediction at the end of a service.
As we waited for the crowd to file out of the sanctuary, I took from the keyboard, the set list used by Julie and Jason. It was a souvenir from a great show.

I saw it.
1:02:03AM, April 5th, 2006.
(01:02:03,04,05,06)

And now I will never see it again.

It has been raining for the entire day.
I went out this evening for a movie with some co-worker friends and on the drive home it was lonely streets and massive puddles. Now, if I’m not mistaken, anyone as a child has taken joy in jumping into, over, or splashing someone by means of puddles. As I got older, I had taken less time to enjoy collections of rain until driving allowed a new dimension to it all.
With bigger puddles, faster speeds and higher splashes, the experience of driving through puddles is something all the more enjoyable, with that same innocence at heart.
There is something that I love about the rain. It may be the feeling. It may be the look, or how things look by it. It might be what it brings, or what it symbolizes. I know that it even has nostalgic tones. No, today perhaps it was all these things that made tonight’s late ride more of an experience than a necessity. As the mounting of things to do gets ever larger, I find that times of just being and appreciation are all the more important.

To relate Saturday’s ambitious event, the oft talked about Lord-of-the-Rings-a-thon; I will talk about it in three installments, not unlike the books and films themselves. I had intended to take notes and blog it like the Election post, but this was a much more involved situation, and lets face it - I lost the energy to take notes. So, from the notes I do have, I will relate some interesting points and observations from the day.

The Fellowship of the Ring
________________________
When Marc picked me up, we had to get Adam from the dentist, and then get Rhea. We had some groceries to buy before stepping in to Chars’ place, and then we had began to discuss the subtleties of Nerds vs. Geeks. Now to me, I view a Nerd as someone who excels in areas of Math, Physics, Computer Engineering and the like. A Geek is one who has keen interest in the un-real, such as comic books, novels, and may be passionate about movies. Now, neither quality is not bad, it is just a focused energy into a particular area. Now, whereas I deem myself a Geek, or someone who has “Geeky tendencies” others may consider nerdy. I have an interest in the Star Wars films (original trilogy, at least), and the LOTR series (books over film) and other movies, too. I love Lego (the Pirates and Castle sets being my favourites) and can quote more Simpson’s episodes than is normal. I have no like for Math or Physics outside of where they cross my path in day to day life. But I digress.
Just after noon, 12:06pm, we put in the first disc.
Early on, we establish that wizards are cool, especially Gandalf; what with his smoke tricks, knowing gazes and gentle discipline and all. It’s a small excitement to see these characters again, for the first time in a long time. Seeing the four hobbits in the Shire, all young and innocent, it’s remarkable at the journey they take, that transforms them. “It’s a dangerous business…Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Due to the crowd watching the movies, we had many moments of tomfoolery and detraction. After seeing Saruman reveal his true colours, I threw out the phrase “Quitters never win and Winners never quit.” That one came up over and over again, with various scenes it fit like a sports training slogan. Marc made the comment that “Eating eggs and watching Orcs [Uruk-Hai being born] is disgusting.”
At our peak, attendance was nine, with different people coming and going. We noticed Peter Jackson appear in the scene in the town of Bree, he had a cameo as a drunk townsman, just passing in front of the camera. It was mildly exciting, and we found him in the other two films as well. During the Council of Elrond (of whom many Agent Smith references were made), we noticed that Aragorn’s accent was strange. I wondered if Viggo tried an English accent a la Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
At 2:03, we put in the second disc. There are some interesting thoughts of Boromir at this time. His intent for the ring, and how his character is portrayed makes him appear all the sinister. The tragedy is in that from his view, the view of Minas Tirith, Men have had no advantage over Mordor for so long. He has fought and his people died at the front lines of evil, and the potential to put an end to Sauron by his own means is such an enticing thought. And therein lies the tragedy: The road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions. Boromir was short-sighted to the corruptible nature of the Ring, even though he’d ever touched it firsthand.
Gandalf, too, is shown in a different light. Through his own shortcomings, we see him portrayed as an old man, more than a wizard. His inability to get over the mountain pass; forgetfulness of direction in the mines of Moria; to a lesser extent, his lack of initial ability to flee Moria. Yet it was key (as is revealed later) that Gandalf had to battle the Balrog, and overcome those shortcomings.
Frodo: It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill him when he had the chance!
Gandalf: Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?
Some of the best lines were exchanged at this scene, where Gandalf is stuck, pondering the way to go in the Mines.
Gandalf: Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise can not see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.
Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.
It was such an involved moment when Pippin knocked the skeleton down the well, alerting the Goblins and Orcs to the Fellowship. Chars remarked that every time she sees that part, she hopes that Pippin won’t knock it over. And everyone cringed along with Pippin as it happened again.
Another point of growth is marked with Gimli on the stairs. He states “Nobody tosses a Dwarf.” in his dwarfly defiance. By the time the Fellowship reaches the bridge, with the Balrog behind them, Gandalf has to take the stand for the sake of their goal. And it is tragic. I have been lost in that scene many times, even tearing up, as the hobbits are shown crying for Gandalf.
Later in the film, when Boromir is later confronted with Frodo and the Ring, he lets its power take hold of him, and he tries to take the Ring forcibly. As Frodo flees, sense returns to Boromir, and you see in his humility and fear that he realized his twisted action. And when all madness ensues, and the Fellowship is attacked Boromir’s last stand is in some ways reflecting that of Gandalf. The nobility of Boromir killing the Orcs to defend Merry and Pippin was not lost, and even thought it did not prevent his death or their capture, it was a redemption. Right before Aragorn comes in to the scene, a long shot shows all the corpses of the Uruk-Hai, slain by Boromir. In his own right, and in his own land, he was a triumphant and valiant warrior, and just before he dies, it is proven to those in the Fellowship that his heart was not lost.
Finally, there is the devoted friendship of Sam and Frodo. Right from the beginning, there is a noted stubbornness to Sam, he takes his charge very seriously. And as it manifests itself in the near-drowning of himself, one sees the heart of his character, too. Nothing will stop Sam from keeping Frodo as safe as he can.
The story written by Tolkien has become one of the greatest tales of Good and Evil. And Jackson’s films will no doubt be untouched as the most involved re-tellings. Although part of what was written has been lost in translation, and parts of it embellished and re-worked by the creative nature of a director, there is something wonderful about seeing such powerful archetypes on the screen. When so many examples of Good and Evil are contrived, [and admittedly, many of these characters have been literary pioneers for those following] there is something satisfying to see that nobility, duty, trust, loyalty and love are regarded and portrayed in such a way. Regardless of what the films reveal to subsequent generations, the books will always be the strongest of foundations for a modern legend.

Wow.
I am in shock.

There was a buzz humming from the talk of customers, employees and friends all weekend, waiting for this morning. In fact, there were a great many people who came out so early on a Sunday morning, even my good friend Mike Friesen from Springstien had called at 6:30, from one of the crowds to try to find us.
Fast on the heels of Saturday night, the beep of my alarm clock came. With Adam on the couch, and Marc and I sharing a single mattress on the floor, I woke up from not sleeping, to realize that it was morning, and I should be getting ready to get out to Empress to witness what I had hoped to be an enjoyable explosion. And I did, in a way.
We had parked the car in the FutureShop parking lot, thinking that we’d take a short jaunt to get to the Arena. However, there were police barricades to block off the specific un-safe blast radii. We had to walk up to St. Matthew’s Ave to get to the Home Depot parking lot instead. There was a steady stream of onlookers milling around the creek bed, in the lot and making their way to get a good view. As Marc and I ran on, we made our way to a decent site on the Home Depot property. With a secret sigh I glanced at the Chapters building, not more than a hundred meters away. To be on the roof would have been the most ideal, but it was in the first radius, the dangerous one, and the police kept it vacant.

__________
As we picked our way to the snowbanks, we were in a fairly large crowd of all ages. Families awake at the burgeoning dawn, elderly pairs, all touqed up. And littered throughout the crowd were various photographers, with their tripods and zoom lenses. People were set up all over, the lucky ones had spots on the display sheds, with their tripods all set up.

Chars, Rhea and Adam had found us after about ten minutes, and we were all still early for the blast.
Many other pockets of people were muttering about the time, and about the arena, each group sharing their own comedy among themselves. The sirens went off, and the camera men all became more alert. The various technicians on quads raced down Empress, and after a minute or two, the second siren went off.

There was a little pause then-
KRACK-KA-BOOM!!!

Although it wasn’t pictured, the bright yellow of the dynamite lit up the poles to which it was fastened to, and all of a sudden, the smoke and dust billowed outwards. I had slipped on the snowbank with perfect timing, for it looked like I was knocked over by the sound. Using Marc’s shoulder as a makeshift crutch, I stood again, and snapped. With a slow fall inwards, the frame gave way, and the north and south sides of the building had dropped. A couple of pigeons had taken flight before the blast and had circled round to roost once again on the rafters. As the crowd waited and stood, expecting to see the centre fall inwards, the dust slowly moved off westwards, towards the airport, I suppose. And as the dust gradually vanished, the frame centre still stood. The crowd, ever-faithful stood as well; but confused. Many of us thought there would be a second blast, to finish it off.

Sirens went off a second time, but something was wrong.
There was to be no second blast, and soon the police left their posts, and the crowd dispersed. Everyone trudged away, many muttering, many disappointed. The stubborn nature of it all made me chuckle. It was a definite Prairie attitude: to hang on, against all opposition. And that Arena held on. Near 10:30am, the remaining frame was wrapped with cable and pulled down by loaders and construction machines. The finale is by all means anti-climactic, and few were around to witness the demise.

___________
So as the crowd made its was back to parked cars, waiting beds and eventual breakfasts, I found myself wondering what I had really expected. The arena wasn’t a very large structure, the paper had said that the collapse would take three seconds (theoretically), and then all would have walked off in the same manner. Did I build up the significance of this in my mind too much? It was something different to do, and the first dawn I had seen for a while.
As we drove off, Marc put on Radiohead’s “Let Down”, which seemed to articulate the event.
Let down and hanging around/
crushed like a bug in the ground/
Let down and hanging around…

Oh, it turns out I’d rather the pun from the last post not be intended. It was not a blast. Not really.