Monday, May 05, 2008

58 Days and Counting

ONLINE by Brad Paisley gave me a good laugh. Shatner is priceless. Check it out!

Speaking of things to check out, there's another review for WHAT BURNS WITHIN at Australian Crime Fiction, if you're interested.

Now, before I return to packing madness, I must confess that yesterday, I got my hair cut. And while I held captive, I heard something on the radio that actually made me a bit sad I won't be here for Stampede this year. We know there are many reasons cited for attending Stampede... the cowboys, the cowgirls, the parade. And so, I bring you, the top reasons to attend the Calgary Stampede this July:

#11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 Nashville North
Free concerts every night of Stampede. This year, the line-up includes:
Charlie Major, Aaron Lines, Aaron Pritchett, Emerson Drive, Gord Bamford, Johnny Reid, Kim Mitchell, Mark Chestnutt

I confess, I own music by almost everyone on this list, and now I'm listening to the beautiful Thank You by Johnny Reid, which... if I had a song for Bunny... this would be the one.
.
If I only had, two words left to say to you.
With my last breath I'd confess the truth to you.
You've never left my side, even when I fell behind.
Thank you, Thank you for the life you've given me.
Thank you for sharing all your love and all your dreams.
Thank you for every tear of happiness I've cried.
Thank you for laying down beside me here tonight.
When I close my eyes, I say a prayer for one more day with you.
And when I wake, I embrace the one who pulls me though.
Who pulls me through the storm when I can't go on.
Thank you, thank-you for the life you've given me.
Thank you for sharin' all your love and your dreams.
Thank you, for every tear of happiness I've cried.
Thank you for layin' down beside me here tonight.


(Defying that whole stereotype about country music and depression. Maybe it's the Scottish influence of Glasgow-born, Canadian-raised Reid?)

#3 Free Food! Stampede is unlike anything I've experienced anywhere. Every morning there are dozens of free pancake breakfasts, some places have free barbecue lunches, and others fire up the grill for dinner... but the biggie are the breakfasts. You can't forget to check out the annual Chinook pancake breakfast, which usually features free country music performances (and it's something of a tradition for Paul Brandt to take the stage).



#2 Friday July 11
Natasha Bedingfield brings A POCKET FULL OF SUNSHINE to the Coca Cola Stage, and you know what that means - it's free with Stampede gate admission! You can't go wrong with concerts at Nashville North or the Coca Cola stage.



And, #1 Saturday July 12
A double-header at the Coca Cola Stage - free! - with Deric Ruttan opening up for Dierks Bentley! It's almost a certainty the two will take the stage together for their duet, Good Time...



... and chances are good they'll team up for at least one of the many award-winning songs they've co-written. My money is on this one:



And for those of you willing to fork out the money for a Saddledome show, don't forget The Judds are coming. But that's probably sold out already.

6 comments:

Randy Johnson said...

Mom's right. Shatner can't sing. If you ever listened to those recordings he made way back when, you'd know. They were a little before your time, Sandra.

Sandra Ruttan said...

Yeah, Shatner can't sing, but he's funny in the video.

In fact, I don't know if any of the old Star Trek guys could sing. Didn't George Takei ruin some show recently?

Anonymous said...

Hi - I am probably an imbecile, but I could not find an email address, and I apologize for leaving this comment here. I'm searching for some information and feedback about your literary agency (Plain Smart) - could you email me please? auragone@gmail.com

Sandra Ruttan said...

Hi anonymous,

There's an e-mail address on my website, but you aren't an imbecile. After someone used my author e-mail to sign me up for a dating site I changed all my e-mail addresses and have one I primarily use that's not public.

I'll send you an e-mail.

James Goodman said...

Oh, I so want to attend a Calgary Stampede. It just sounds like a blast. :D

John McFetridge said...

Wow, Stampede has changed a lot since I first attended in 1977. Looks good, it's a great event.

There's a really good story in the "first" stampede - when Guy Weadick took over and changed it from an agricultural exhibit into a "Wild West Show" - and Tom Three Persons, who won the saddle bronc championship. His wife's name was Native Woman.

Someday you'll be on a book tour Sandra, and it'll take you through Calgary at the beginning of July.