Sci-Fi Geeks - the Photos

This one was posed. L. was quite amused by this guy's antics, and asked him if he'd pose for a photo with her. This "lovely" costumed character was waiting just around a corner, sort of "sneaking" up on hapless concert-goers as they came around the corner to enter the building.

In this case, L. was so amused by the costumes that she pulled the "take a photo of me when you're really taking one of them" trick. So, notice L., but mostly, notice the costumed symphony goers in the background.

Sci-Fi Geeks

Can I just say that I always forget just exactly how into a theme some sci-fi geeks can get?

I attended the "Lord of the Rings Symphony" with my brother, roommate and a friend tonight.

There were people - audience members - in costume. To attend a symphony. And not just one or two in costume, but dozens.

We took pictures - the sneaky kind where you stand in front and off to the side of what you're actually trying to photograph. My roommate even asked one particularly elaborately costumed person to pose with her. He obliged, in between skulking around corners to startle people arrived to attend the symphony.

I'll upload the pictures when I get a chance. But for the moment, I'm finding infinite amusement in remembering the rather goofy looking people scattered amidst those dressed up to attend the symphony.

Articles Catching My Attention

Emily Stauffer's Faith Remembered

And CBC presents "On This Day"... I don't think I'll ever forget sitting in a social studies classroom, with the memorial for Pierre Elliot Trudeau playing quietly as we studied. I won't forget the moment when his son, Justin Trudeau stepped to the microphone to deliver a eulogy to his father, and I'll forget the moment etched in my memory, as he ended his eulogy with a simple and poignant "je'taime papa."

This is the day (the prayers of my heart)

As I was opening the blinds in my bedroom this morning, I glanced out the window and saw the faintest beginnings of the sunrise, and slowly, like a mantra, these words began repeating themselves across my heart.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and give thanks in it.

I am not, by nature an easily optimistic or joyful person. And yet, this morning, my heart is seeking to find joy, to speak with my Abba, in the midst of many things. I am being drawn unwittingly into deep places, and am so thankful for a dear friend who has often reminded me that a heart can pray with or without words.

As I drove to work this morning, and watched the sunrise, and then, the spattering of raindrops across my windshield, my heart was drawn deeper and began to pray.

Today (among other things) I am praying for:

• a friend who recently visited our home from New Zealand, and is currently undiagnosed and not responding to treatment, in an induced coma in a New Zealand hospital.
• two precious little girls
• dear friends interconnected, and scattered across four provinces
• some people I love who are grieving
• the family and friends who will gather today in Edson to both mourn and celebrate the life of a young woman who was killed late last week
• other friends scattered across the globe - in Europe and Asia, and other parts abroad
• deep and difficult lessons being learned by a friend who finds herself quite isolated in a foreign part of the world, filling roles that are foreign and less than satisfying
• the healing and restoration of some I love deeply
• two friends recently engaged, and two more enjoying the first days of married life
• restoration of relationships that have borne much strain
• airplane flights scheduled

And so, as I turn my attention to the days' work, I will let my heart continue to pray. I am seeking to rest, to give thanks, to live in a space occupied by peace and joy.

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and give thanks in it.

Weekend Coming

Tomorrow is Friday. 8 hours of work to go (and one of those is lunch!).

Then the weekend.

Here's a sampling of what's on my agenda for this weekend:

• tickets to the "Lord of the Rings" symphony with my baby brother, my roommate, and one of T's friends.
• a visit to AMA to pick up maps for an upcoming trip
• the bank, to pay a couple of bills and deposit a couple of cheques
  
• uploading pictures from last weekend
• updating my ipod, which is finally back from being repaired (8.5 weeks seems a bit excessive, no?)
• wedding dress shopping with my recently engaged roommate
• baking cookies
• some girly time painting my toe and finger nails
• I'm going to attempt to finish reading at least one book, and start another
• I'm going to make time to go to my favorite park for a walk and enjoy warm autumn weather (I may also go to the zoo... but it's hard to say)
• I'm going to write a nice long email to my best friend who is currently in Pakistan
• I'm going to take a long bath
• I may make time to sit in a coffee shop, or to visit my favorite tea shop, and do some reading and writing