An Icy January Day in Victoria
reblogged by Mel Z from January 5, 2017, 12:01pm. PST
Before this rare westcoast cold snap lets up and melts away, I headed to the BC Legislature grounds to grab some photos of this icy January day in Victoria. It’s the first time I’ve seen the fountains frozen, they were stunning on a clear cold day.
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
Both of the fountains on the BC Leg. grounds have a spectacular build-up of ice on them.
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
The fountain in the back wasn’t as frozen, since it sees a bit more sun maybe? But it was full of icicles.
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
Icy January Day 2017 – Mel Z / Rogers
My hands were frozen after about 30 min taking photos, but it was worth it.
Mel Z
Pond Hockey and Frozen Ponds….This is Victoria? (Photos)
Panama Flats hosts a rare Pond Hockey games ~ Mel Z
reblog from Mel Z on January 9, 2017
It’s not often that a westcoast cold snap lasts long enough for Victoria to freeze over, but the early days of January 2017 hit the nail on the head with sub-zero temperatures for weeks.
Pond skating at Panama Flats! ~ Mel Z
Saturday, we headed to Panama Flats with our kids and friends to take in the winter scenes
The ice was solid, but there were a few sections that you could easily see were to be avoided
Panama Flats hosts a rare Pond Hockey games ~ Mel Z
Panama Flats hosts a rare Pond Hockey games ~ Mel Z
Kids skating, hockey games everywhere, families exploring the ice, dogs running around in glee and relative confusion over this “ice stuff” kept Panama Flats busy and Carey Road full of cars parked in every available spot.
Panama Flats hosts a rare Pond Hockey games ~ Mel Z
Family fun at Panama Flats during rate cold snap January 2017 – Mel Z
Panama Flats hosts a rare skaters and Pond Hockey games on a Saturday in January ~ Mel Z
Panama Flats hosts a rare Pond Hockey games ~ Mel Z
Well that was fun. Goodbye cold snap.
Reminder from Municipality of Saanich to keep safety top of mind on frozen lakes and ponds in temperate Victoria weather
Mel Z
The Weekend We Met Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift & My Girl backstage meet & greet in “Loft ’89”
re-blog from August 4, 2015
This weekend, the Blue Moon made an appearance and somehow collided with the stars in our vicinity.
My 10-year old daughter and I found out a few days before the show that we would have the opportunity to attend the Taylor Swift concert in Vancouver! It was totally unexpected, but one of those things that can happen when you work with record labels in the world of radio. I was told there would be a “Meet and Greet”. Ooooh. Tears popped into my eyes, because that’s all it takes. To think of my girl having the experience of meeting a pop culture icon, talented singing sensation, role model, actor and philanthropist, Taylor Swift.
Once at BC Place, we got directions to find our Meet & Greet and connected with friends and co-workers. It was a bit of a treasure hunt to pass through all of the gates to find “Loft ’89” — where we would meet Taylor Swift!! They told us to make ourselves at home and have a bite to eat. EAT!? All of a sudden, this 40-something mom melted. We waited, took a couple of photos around the room and pinched ourselves. It was fancy. And totally rockstar — there was no question that something memorable was about to happen.
After what seemed like hours, but more like 20 minutes went by…In sails a very tall, smiling, absolutely glowing…Taylor Swift. Our Universal record rep Liz, introduced the genuine 25-year-old popstar to each of the eight groups that were waiting to meet her. Taylor greeted everyone with a hug, had a little chat, signed a poster and an official photographer took our photos with her (no cameras allowed). My daughter, Jade and I were last in the cue, and it was worth the wait. I said nothing interesting, haha. I had lost it. My girl smiled vividly and chatted with Taylor Swift. She handed her a letter from her cousin who is a major “Swifty” and we had our photos taken. Wow.
Taylor thanked everyone for supporting her, the 1989 album, playing her songs on the radio and for coming to see her show. Then she surprised us by sending us off for a backstage tour with her Mom (Andrea Swift). No camera’s allowed backstage either, but I was itching to capture the rows of guitars, video control board, dressing rooms and the essence of the 1989 World Tour from behind the scenes.
Her mom — was clearly her mom. She knew everything about what her daughter lives and breathes…the tour, the music, the passion for connecting with her fans. It was surreal to be standing backstage hearing about how this mother had wanted her daughter to ride horses when she was a kid. But her daughter wanted to sing and make music. So, there we all were. Standing in a gigantic arena with hundreds of people working around the clock to put on a massive show that will span 31 cities before it wraps up — All because a 12-year old girl named Taylor visited Nashville with her parents 13 years ago and became inspired to create music she loved.
The evening got more and more surreal as we spent the show in a luxury suite, where we were treated to a surprise visit from Shawn Mendes. He’s all of 16-years old (his 17th birthday is Aug 8th) and so talented. After some selfies, we went back to enjoy the rest of the 2-hour show with Taylor Swift holding 45-thousand fans in the palm of her hand, sharing some inspirational words between songs, dazzling us with incredible costumes, lights, fireworks and powerful music that you loved before — but became endeared to in a whole new way.
Besides Vance Joy singing some of my favourite songs, guess who else was there? My 12-year old self. I almost forgot about that girl who wanted to be a “rockstar”, live in New York City, put on big high heels (haha) and to inspire with music.
To inspire with music….Taylor Swift has achieved it — for all of us — and shares it with us on her tours, through social media and in her music. Now that’s unforgettable.
Mel Z
Check out Mel Z’s Instagram for more videos and photos from this incredible night:
Blue Rodeo Circle 1,000 Arms Back to Victoria – Photos
Blue Rodeo’s yearly tradition of playing Victoria has come full circle with their 1,000 Arms tour arriving at Save-On-FoodsMemorial Centre Thursday Jan. 26th, 2017.
The stage, stacked with enough talent and years in the music biz to staff 5 bands, was beautifully set with the perfect props: mandolin, accordion, fiddle, keyboards and an assortment of guitars. The Blue Rodeo tour is a well-oiled machine, yet still full of warmth and genuine emotion that resonates from the songs that the band has played countless times and the new tracks too.
The audience was a mixed crowd from twenty-somethings to 60-somethings, all determined to have a good time on a Thursday night. The hoot and hollerers were there along with the two-steppers and those just happy to sit in their seats and sing along.
Just like last year’s Blue Rodeo show, the 1,000 Arms tour was easy on the eyes with a good-looking yet simply set stage. Oh and incredible lighting — not just for the photographers either (thank you!). Greg Keelor’s powerful vocals on the eerie Diamond Mine were accompanied by a spectacular light show. With just lighting during Palace of Gold, the stage resembled the Grand Ole Opry stage.
The songs ranged from the beautiful title track for the new album, 1,000 Arms to favourites like 5 Days in May, Bad Timing and Lost Together. 1,000 Arms has a neat story behind it, Jim Cuddy shared it with the crowd, then touchingly dedicated the song to Gord Downie from the Tragically Hip and John Mann of Spirit of the West who’ve both been dealing with serious health crisis’s.
Setlist:
Heart Like Mine
Fools Like You
Head Over Heels
Disappear
1000 Arms
Hard to Remember
Superstar
This Town
Western Skies
Bad Timing
Diamond Mine
Acoustic Set
One Light Left in Heaven
Over Me
Palace of Gold
I Can’t Hide This Anymore
Cynthia
You’re Everywhere
Dark Angel
Electric Set
What Am I Doing Here
Til I Am Myself Again
5 Days in May
Hasn’t Hit Me Yet
Encore:
Try
Little Ole Wine Drinker Me
(Dean Martin cover)
Lost Together
Interview with Blue Rodeo bassist, Bazil Donovan:
Mel Z – Reblogged from Jan. 26, 2017
Brand New Key 