Can You Hear Me Now?

I got home last night from the most fabulous weekend in Medicine Hat! My friend Kim lives there and since the Polyjesters were doing a show for the Medicine Hat Folk Club on Friday night, I took that as the perfect opportunity to see them along with Kim and hang out with her for a couple days. When Kim and I were discussing the show and my coming out there a few weeks ago, she told me she’d cook if the guys wanted to come for dinner. Score! It was perfect, because it was also Jason’s birthday on Saturday so I billed it as his pre-birthday dinner, tempted them with talk of homemade lasagna, caesar salad, garlic bread and red wine, and made some birthday brownies.

Kim’s husband Rob actually picked me up in Calgary Friday afternoon because he was in town for business anyway, so during the 3 hour drive to the Hat I filled his ears with PJ’s music and gave him the low-down on them and every song ha ha! He was to be a fan by the time we pulled into the driveway or my job was not done. Anyway, it was my first time meeting Rob and he’s a great guy. Even bought me a Tim Hortons iced capp! Whatta catch!

I arrived at their home and met their daughter Madi who spent most of her time hanging out with her numerous girlfriends that were always popping over (Kim and Rob are the cool parents, that goes without saying), and was given the grand tour… what a gorgeous house!! Kim is an interior designer and you can TELL. Wow, does she ever have great taste!!! Everything from the colour schemes to the furniture, candles, window treatments, wall hangings, every little detail was perfect. Kim, you rock.

Dinner was set for six because last I’d heard, Rob (PJ’s drummer) was driving in separately and wouldn’t be joining us for dinner. Jason called a few minutes before they were to arrive and asked if there was room for one more, because Rob’s wife was there. I said “oh, Rob IS coming?” So yeah, mad rush for two more place settings and all was good. The guys (and Nada) arrived, we ate, drank and were VERY merry. I gave Jason a little birthday present and teased him about being IN his 30’s now (he’s 31). I took a few pictures, hopefully they work out. We had so much fun at dinner… best lasagna I’ve ever had, and non stop laughter. We had so much fun. Oh, I said that already. Heh.

Then it was off to the Moose Lodge for the show, which was fantastic of course, and Kim and Rob by this point were officially taken under the PJ’s spell and have been converted to huge fans (and the feeling is mutual, everyone loved Kim and Rob too). After the show it was off to a dive-y bar for a few cheap drinks with Jason, Sheldon and some of their other friends. We got home about 2:00 a.m.

Saturday we drank coffee in the morning, went for Vietnamese at lunch (mmmm!), bra shopping (they’ve got a great store there that I had either heard about or also visited about 13 years ago, and it’s still there, so I bought two! Love a good bra), popped into Kim’s work so she could grab her daytimer and I could see where she chats on MSN from the store, went to a trendy coffee spot and had the tastiest lemon torte/flan sort of dessert, roasted smokies over the fire for dinner, and then went to see Hitch. Best comedy I have seen in ages… laugh out LOUD hilarious. I highly recommend it!! It was a full day, lots of fun.

Sunday we (mostly I) finished off the lasagna before I packed up (Kim also cleaned out her closet and gave me a bunch of clothes, so I left with an extra bag!) and caught the 2:00 bus home. I was home just in time to watch Desperate Housewives and the Junos, which I ended up wandering away from often because I just don’t know who anyone is anymore and found I wasn’t very interested! Although, when Brent Butt came out dressed as Kiss wailing on a guitar wearing those big boots, and stopped to walk down the stairs slowly, sideways and two-footed, I HOWLED.

Anyway, I had a great weekend and now the PJ’s are off to Saskatchewan for the next few weeks. They’ll be back playing in Calgary June 10th opening for the Calgary Fiddlers at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, and Kalan Porter is apparently going to be there too, so get your tickets early!

Thanks again to Kim and Rob for your great hospitality, all the food, wine, laughs, clothes… the bestest hosts anyone could ever hope for. You guys RAWK!!

Now I am home and the April work is piling in!!! Woah, I’ve got tons to do. See you May 1st. Heh.