"What if I changed my name to Zimbu the Love Chimp?"

That was the question that Mr.Q had for me as we were walking home from the bus yesterday afternoon. I suspect I looked a little like a fish out of water, my mouth opening and closing soundlessly as my addled brain tried to compose some kind of answer. My brain failed utterly. Sometimes, the mysteries of life just cannot be solved. Sometimes, you just have to accept that you will never know the answer, and you must move on, trusting that the cosmos is unfolding as it should. And also, that you shouldn't encourage certain people by responding. So instead of an answer to that particular question, I'm going to tell you about my weekend.

A week and a half or so ago, my mother called me. Not so unusual, we talk pretty regularly. She wanted to know what I was doing on the 26th. "Not so much," I said. "Why?" Well, she was organizing this women's conference, and needed some entertainment for the Friday evening. Could I come out and do a few songs?

Let's leave aside, for the moment, the fact that I have done just about zero performing in the last few years. And the fact that there would be almost zero time to practice with my partners-in-crime before the event. Since I would be arriving about 2 hours before I had to perform. No, these weren't the big problems. There was the minor little detail of living about 800 km away, and plane tickets into wee towns being ridiculously expensive (I could fly to Manchester cheaper than another town in the same province!)

Well, my mama's a bit on the stubborn side. A flurry of phone tag followed, and the next day she called and said they'd discovered a credit with the local airline that needed to be used, and so my ticket was covered. By this time in my life, I try to be smart enough to accept that when some things fall into place just so, it's meant to be. So I said yes.

Then promptly panicked (see "facts put aside" above!) I found myself on the bus to and from work, practicing a couple of Meryn Cadell pieces under my breath. Though I think there may have been some actual out-loudness going on. Whoops! Evenings were spent frantically emailing set- lists back and forth with my musical buddies, and digging out CDs and trying to re-learn music I haven't touched in 4 or 5 years.

Needless to say, the week flew by. And I was rather a little nervous! Also, the cab driver to the airport was completely psycho, which did nothing to help my delicate state of mind. As luck would have it, though, I got into town just in time to practice the tunes once or twice, before we rushed over to the venue.

There was time for a quick warm-up in the bathroom. (Which turned out not to be empty. She did say she'd never enjoyed a serenade in such an unusual place.) As well, my Dear Darling Baby Sister, besides arranging for the sound system and agreeing to sing a couple of songs, handled the really important detail: the traditional mickey of Fireball Whiskey. Even Mom thought it was a great idea:

The whiskey helped with the warm-up, and the performance went even better than I'd hoped. "The Kitchenettes" - my pal Anie and I - sang a few songs, and were joined by Sis for a couple at the end. Then we went for a drink with Mom and a few other crazy chicas. And then went to bed rather earlier than expected. Not that I was complaining!

A restful sleep at my sister's was necessary to prepare myself for some serious cuddle time with The Niblings. Here we are all practicing our pouty faces:

Also, they drew me some fridge art to take home...of Mr.Q and I being "stunk by a skunk." In the picture, we do not have happy faces.

Saturday night, I stayed with Mom and her friend, and we had a bit of a slumber party - lots of ridiculously good food, tequila, and Festival Express (a great documentary, I highly recommend it!) It was a girls' night, since Dad was in Toronto visiting family...and we were in bed by 10:00. I don't remember being that much of a party pooper when I went to slumber parties in school!

Sunday, Dad managed to get back from Calgary in time to see him for about an hour and 22 minutes...but it was an hour and 22 minutes more than I'd expected, so it was good...his mother sent some of Granddad's old hats back for the kids. They are so very, very cool - too cool for this old auntie!

It was great to have a weekend away - to sing with good people - to see the mountains and the sunshine - to have some good estrogen-bonding time - to get a few cuddles from the kidlets - I could have used another week! Still, it was nice to head home to my own space and my own bed...Contemplative airplane photo:

And of course, I missed the cats. I'm still deciding about Zimbu the Love Chimp.

(I wrote "Zimbu the Love Chimp" on his lunch bag. I would love to have seen the faces of the other guys on the construction site at lunch time!)