Happy Birthday, Doug!

So I've taken on a bit too much, not unusual, but I really mean it this time! I guess I didn't notice that the deadlines for EVERYTHING I'm involved in all fall within the same week! Mind you, I couldn't choose one thing to give up if I had to.

1. The kids' school yearbook is due for submission in a couple of weeks...2 other Moms, me and the grade 7&8 yearbook club are working like crazy to get it done in time. We took on the task late in the year when the teacher who usually runs the yearbook club left on a leave of absence suddenly. Turns out no yearbook club had started yet when she left and the new company taking the class photos has an on-line yearbook design concept that is incredible...so we go for it! We're learning right along with the students and at a rushed rate which kind of spells trouble, but with a few more yearbook meetings and maybe some tweaking from home, hopefully we'll make our deadline!

2. The 2nd Annual Shania's Sunflower of Hope Fun Fair is coming up in under a month. Being the second year, the task of finding a couple of hundred volunteers is way less daunting than last year when they had to be pulled out of thin air. Scheduling everyone and letting them know their assignments however may prove to be time consuming!

3. Being on that darn preschool executive has proven to be a bit of a time sucker! I'm about to arrange the 5th fundraiser with all the major work having to be done in ...yup, a few weeks from now! Anyone want to buy some frozen muffin dough/cookie batter?!

4. Toronto in May hosts a huge photo exhibit called Contact. Every gallery, coffee shop, restaurant, you-name-it has someone's photography on display. I decided to be a part of a group show with some of the other photographers at the studio where I work. This year's theme for Contact is "Between Memory & History". I decided to shoot new work for the show. I am really excited about it, but again, the submission deadline is in a couple of weeks...that's printed, framed work! I've shot interesting still lifes of some glass-lantern slides belonging to my great-grandfather from his time spent in China & Japan in the early 1900's. My images are how I would represent a memory in 2-dimensions. The subject matter represents a piece of my family history and my great-grandfather's images are stunning, but I've used my own techniques to create original pieces of art that layer unrecognizable objects slightly obscuring his images, representing the layers that unfold in our minds as we remember. It's better to look at than to talk about it...I'll have to post a picture!

5. Ok, maybe I would give this one up if I had the choice, but for Hannah to be in the Ice Show, parents have to participate. Her show is next weekend and I've volunteered for dressing room duties which means I will spend 3 days helping girls into their costumes and skates. It's a HUGE production with a couple of famous skaters making appearances at the beginning and end. I think the whole show runs about 2 and a half hours!! Hannah's part is probably 15 minutes! She's a Lady of the Court and skates with some knights...should be fun!

So, I'm glad to be feeling better cuz I think I've got my work cut out for me!

Looks like we may be ordering pizza for dinner for a few nights in there!

Dana