Friday, September 2, 2011

I'm off to see the Wizard!

from my iPhone -- Ellie thinking about sleeping on my bed while I'm away!
I am off on an adventure today. Off to The Haven on Gabriola Island for a song-writing workshop.

It is a stretch for me. and one I anticipate with much joy -- and trepidation.

I am not a songwriter. I am not a singer (just ask my daughters) and I am not a musician.

A whole bunch of nots in one whole sentence that don't add up to not doing, but yes doing!

What I am is an adventurer. Songwriting is an opportunity to stretch my writer's muscle in ways I never have before imagined.

And.... I believe in songwriting one must be very very sparse with words. Paint a picture, cut away extraneous prose and pare it down to the essentials.

I'm looking forward to that! Being a 'long' writer, cutting out the extras is a great exercise for me.

From The Haven, I'll journey back to Vancouver next Friday to spend the weekend with C.C. and my eldest daughter, Alexis, who is living once again in that magical city by the sea. And then, after four days with Alexis, I'll get back into my car and drive eastward for a few days, wandering by myself through verdant valleys, maybe visiting a winery or two in the Okanogan Valley, back over the Rockies and home.

My car is loaded. And I mean loaded, with Alexis' boxes and bags she left behind when she moved out west in June. Hmmm. Her idea of leaving everything packed and ready to go is very different than my idea of leaving everything packed and ready to go. Go figure!

Her email listing the items she desperately needs me to bring included Ellie, our wonder pooch.

Sorry hon. No room! (I've posted a photo instead).

I'm not even sure where I'm going to put my suitcase!

Which brings me to the other point of this post today.

I'm not sure how much time/access I will have to post. I'm obviously taking my laptop -- but once in the flow, I may refrain from posting for a few days.

Which is just to say.... if I'm not online it's because I'm having too much fun by the sea! Letting the muse seep me in the salty fresh aura of coastal shores and lapping waves and seagulls cawing and windswept vistas spreading out before me.

I will take my camera -- maybe even something other than my iPhone camera :)!

Gabriola, like all the Gulf Islands, is one of those mystical, wondrous, beautiful places in the world kind of place to be.

and I am sooooo excited to be spending the next week there!

Have a great one everyone!

Namaste.

Louise

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

LG,

may the music be in you

Mark

p.s. and may the force be with you

Maureen said...

Your adventure sounds like great fun! Have a wonderful time. Safe travels, too.

Louise Gallagher said...

Thanks Mark and Maureen -- I'm especially excited because the course is lead by Eric Bibb -- and I get to have dinner with him -- one on one!

:)

Unknown said...

Can I come too? This sounds like an amazing week of challenges, fun and relaxation.

Enjoy yourself

Hugs x

CZBZ said...

Have a great time, Louise!


Hugs,
CZ

S. Etole said...

What a fun adventure awaits you! Poor Ellie looks a bit sad however.

Glynn said...

Enjoy it - and be inspired.

Ruth said...

I admire the challenge you've set before yourself. Yes, songwriting is another ballgame entirely, and one I think I'd like too.

Your daughter's moving style reminds me of my daughter's.

Enjoy the road trip and the time by the sea. I envy you.

Joyce Wycoff said...

What a fun adventure ... one that will take away all those "nots."

The security word for this comment is "hotorgh" which looks like hot orgy ... and this workshop sounds like a hot orgy of creativity and inspiration. Wish I could be there.

Louise Gallagher said...

Thx Mark!

I'm sitting at breakfast looking out at the view Bach playing on my iPad and life is bliss!

Louise Gallagher said...

I shall travel safe Maureen! Thx

Louise Gallagher said...

Wouldn't that be fun Fi! A convention of bloggers linked rough their sharings

Louise Gallagher said...

I shall Cz

Louise Gallagher said...

Lol. Believe me Susan. She is at this moment sleeping on my bed I'm sure!

Louise Gallagher said...

I find time by the ocan to give me that space to be inspired Glynn Maybe more poetry to come...

Louise Gallagher said...

I seem tp recall doing a similar thing to my parents Ruth when I moved back to Canada. Lol. The sins of the child return to haunt me :)

Louise Gallagher said...

Next time Joyce. I'll make it your way!

sharmishtha said...

hope you had loads of fun. i too am your type, adventurer, i love to taste all types of thing. :)