Personal

As many of you may already be aware, I am a single mom. Gord and I have been separated for the past 5 years, living apart for 4.

This was very amicable and we chose not to make a big deal out of it, drawing attention to us and away from the cause would have been foolish and insensitive. The girls remain happy and balanced, never deprived of seeing both parents together at any occasion, no drama, no issues.

We are taking this to the next step and have just completed a "Parenting after Separation" course. We went together and both left feeling good about the way the situation has been consistently handled over these years.

Our biggest concern ironically was not how our family or girls would handle it (as we knew it was going to be ok), it was the perception of the people involved with the event and general public.

4 years later, I think its safe to say that all is well with the reputation of the event. Folks have seen that we still manage this together as a family, and run it with it's unique quirky grass roots flavour. Gord stays in the loop with development and is present for all events.

As to what the future holds for both of us, we are unconcerned. Much like this event, we will go where we are meant to be.

Earnst and Young - nomination for Entrepreneur of the Year

Today I was invited to present our story to the VP and CEO of Earnst and Young. It was a very casual environment and I felt very relaxed as ongoing questions were fired over the course of 2 hours.

I had received a phone call a little while back from Darcy (the VP), he had expressed his interest in the event and our story and requested that I come in to share details. I was in shock for a bit, as I walked around West Edmonton Mall looking for a stimulant like chocolate or bubble tea.

I also felt funny about dropping his call 4 times, not sure if it was poor signal or my chin, but regardless he hung in there with me.

Lunch was brought in, perhaps attempting a wrap was not the best decision as mine dumped half of its contents on the glass desk. Considering white as my colour of choice for summer meetings does not often work out for me.

I often wonder if some of the things I have experienced (both good and bad) are dreams. Hard to wrap a head around the good stuff when one is accustomed to the adversities in life.

If the judges choose me, I will become Entrepreneur of the year in the community category. Last year "Little Warriers" won. I will meet the developer of this great program in a couple of weeks at a nominees reception. I wont eat any wraps or chocolate dipped strawberries, AND not wearing white.

Whether I place or not, this is still huge opportunity for the event. I want Hair Massacure to grow (and it's scary at the same time). I want driven, passionate folks (like Darcy in Red Deer) to come forward and take on the fulfilling challenge of running a satellite event in another location. It's crazy, BUT changes a community.

Calgary and BC - here's hoping your'e next!

Keep you all updated...

Women of Distinction

On June 3rd, the YWCA will be hosting its annual Women of Distinction Gala.

I am proud to announce 3 people who have been chosen as finalists:

-My 13 year old daughter Kyrsti (in the category 18 and under).

-Jaime Caza (my corporate sponsor from McDonald's) and dear friend.

-Deborah McKinnon (my colleague from Stollery - now Toronto's Sick Kids and dear friend).

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of attending the nominees dessert reception. That is reason alone to nominate someone, the desserts there are to die for. I attended with my nominee Jaime Caza, Kyrsti attended with hers (Jaime Caza) and to spice up that situation, Christie Peters (not the flat version) came as the entertainment.

Last year I attended with my daughter Megs (as I was nominated as well) and recalled the pressure of be forced on best behaviour. That was a bust shortly after I arrived, and I wont repeat some of the things I said (innocently) to my fellow candidates or my daughter will kill me all over again. In my defence I eventually had a few of them chuckling... except maybe the nun.

The topper was when my chocolate covered strawberry leaped off my plate, gained air speed and beaned another candidate on the top of where the crown would go.

Speaking of crowns - I will soon have to relinquish mine, as it has been one year since I was awarded Woman of Distinction (sounds funny to put myself in that same sentence - with the distinction part...). Jaime, heads up. I may not be ready for this, dont take it personally if there are explosives in your crown. Good ol' Miss Congeniality.

So back to the dessert reception for this year. Jaime tripped over Kyrsti's puff pastry and cheesecake, but that's ok. - trappers daughter - I told her it was still ok (5 second rule).

Christie was up to her typical shenanigans and I was of utmost sophistication. Sat by the young lady playing the harp and didn't use my business card even once to pick the lemon zest out of my teeth. It was a lovely evening and I am most excited to attend this upcoming Gala.

I hope my peeps win! Kyrsti has written her speech already. I offered to help, but I guess she felt that my colourful speech from last year was cause to say "no thank you". I wrote a lovely one too last year, but wavered a little bit with my story about feeding roadkill to my ex in-laws. Kyrsti will stay on topic, I'm sure. She's a great kid. They are all great.... in fact I am very blessed with great people in my life.

Good luck Deb (who is travelling back from Toronto for this occasion), Jaime and Kyrsti.

Love you guys!

School concert with Doc Walker

I am ECSTATIC that our school concert at Neil M Ross was a huge success! Pfew!!! THANK YOU CISN Country, DOC WALKER for this amazing gift! And thanks to our wonderful volunteers, and mother nature for supporting this incredible day!! Snow started to fly at the tail end of their last song, BUT at least we got through the day without umbrellas or frostbite and no glitches (unlike the last 2 weeks....).

Over 700 kids and staff from Neil M Ross, G.H. Primeau and Leo Nickerson enjoyed a free lunch - thanks again to my friends Collin Parker and who invited Johnsonville, Sobeys, Old Dutch, and Select rentals to provide free product for us.

The performance was outstanding, the kids were WILD with excitement - an all around fantastic experience. They were sure a appreciative audience!!

The boys (Doc Walker) were very personable with the kids, giving all 700 high fives, a few pictures, autographs. With our family - they were wonderfully warm and genuine, so happy to be a part of our cause.

As you may already be aware, Neil M Ross is an elementary school in St.Albert. They raised 74,000 for the event this year! Crazy!! They were gracious enough to share their winnings with the 2 running up schools (that ties for 2nd place) so they followed the trend that Gibbons School started and invited Leo Nickerson and G.H Primeau (Morinville). Each of those schools raised over 35,000 and ignited over 100 of their children to participate. WOW!! Really was "the more the merrier today!"

Now .... let me tell you about Weazie.... I have mentioned her in previous blogs.

She is our "human mascot" (along with Mel, Christie and Ginger). Weazie comes out with her sister Nadine to help Collin cook and serve Johnsonville Brats. Every year Weazie pulls her traditional striptease act with the band and gives away a Hair Massacure shirt she's wearing. What I have to ensure is that she has a shirt under the one she is giving away, so I keep extra in my van and then run like H when she is ready to do so.

My good friend Christie P came out too (both of her) - I have a "flat Christie" version that I haul around in a banner (she's such a poser..), and the real version who is delightfully entertaining (much like her fellow mascots). Think she might have nabbed the St.ALbert Fire Dept for next year, not that this surprises me. This woman understands leadership and so I need to give her more work for next year (so look out Missy... - I know you're reading this).

I wont get into the lengthy list of glitches that accompanied this concert, I'll just say that perhaps I can finally put the Pepto Bismal away. Overall, today things fell into place with the exception of the unexpected rental of the stage and tent that will be costly to us.

A few rescues from some kind hearted folks and thank God for the sponsorships that came through and supported. Kelly from Axe Productions - thank you!

I should sleep tonight ... perhaps... I hope....when I get home from the Sleep-A-Thon (at my girls school).

All I know is that today was a great day, I am relieved, feeling very blessed for these gifts and experiences in our lives.

Thanks again to all that supported us to make this day happen. My friend Chris Sheetz- especially you.

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School concert

April showers bring May blizzards. :(

I am careful not to express what I am really feeling right now about this blizzard just 3 days away from our outdoor school concert on Friday with Doc Walker.

I may consider tweezing a bit more between the eyebrows as the last 2 weeks they have been growing closer together. I looked a lot like Bert (sesame street) this morning when I woke to a white backyard and the worst blizzard of 2010. I don't even think Botox could touch this "look" I've got going on.

I'm not sure what it is about my life and glitches. On the scale of ease and difficulty, I seem to live on the difficult side where everything seems to involve jumping through many hoops before things get accomplished. I am having myself a pit party today as I feel entitled.

This particular school concert has been worrisome from the day it was planned with Chris Sheetz back in November.

Chris is the working force behind this as he has to scoop the entertainer that will agree to do this for us, arrange the performance and pass on the band requirements and I was to cover the rest.

This year, everything that could have potentially been problematic was, and so folks have to scramble to work through all of the glitches (from food orders to location, tents, stage, generators, weather, schedule, attendance, band requirements, sound system and so forth).

Not part of the original plan.... but then it rarely is.

Thank God that the school is getting involved, and Chris Sheetz has again gone above and beyond to make this a success. Now if Mother Nature would cooperate by Friday (for our OUTDOOR performance), perhaps this may be a great success!

In the end, it will likely work out as I also seem to have that track record, but not before I down another bottle of Pepto Bismal.

Hair Massacure 2010.dv

Red Deer Pinking

Today was the official kick off to Red Deers Massacure campaign. Marvel College, Green Apple Hair, Chatters, Abby Road, Katz Meow, Academy of professional Hair in Red Deer welcomed proud victims into their doors for pinking.

Kyrsti, Kali and I visited Marvel College for a bit, met up with Carolyn (from Stollery), and watched Darcy (our enthusiastic leader) work his magic. The staff and students at Marvel were very excited and supportive about the pinking, and the participants (first timers) -realized that their pink heads were going to generate a LOT of curiosity out in Red Deer)... except for one boy....from the infamous Gibbons School. He moved to Red Deer last year, had participated twice before and was very happy to know the Massacure had followed him. Penhold school - 109 out of 130 PINK!! We met some of them today.

We met 17 pinkees from Costco - not including the meat dept who is scheduled to pink later in the week. Costco is backing our event 100% with employee support, ongoing video promotion (playing on a television at the front of the tills), and hosting the event itself on May 29 in the parking lot during their "Show 'N' Shine.

I'm not quite sure what the future holds for our little family run event. Just at the point when I get a twinge that we may have a life span, another new breath hits us.

I get a sense of the possibility that we may expand more, systems in place to ensure it's integrity, and above all - a clever way to ensure Tammy's sanity.

Who knows - all in God's plan.