First Post in Nearly Four Years01/31/2012 02:20 PMWow! It has been nearly four years since I last posted anything here. A lot has changed in my life since that time.
The biggest change in my life was my marriage to Misha. We got married on October 17, 2009 at the Clerk's Quarters in Fort Edmonton Park. It was a beautiful ceremony, featuring music by Keri Lynn Zwicker (harp) and Caleb & Crystal Harder Nelson (vocals and guitar). Misha and I then honeymooned at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. That had been my first trip to Moose Jaw, and I was very pleasantly surprised. The city has a cute Main Street, and an amazing history, including the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. Some of these tunnels were used by Al Capone during the American Prohibition, and other tunnels were used as an underground laundry where Chinese men lived and worked. We enjoyed Moose Jaw so much that we have returned two more times since then.
Another big change for me was the beginning of a new hobby. Last summer I began driving streetcars at Fort Edmonton Park as part of the Edmonton Radial Railway Society. I joined for a few reasons. Growing up, I always had a keen interest in everything to do with rail, especially historical rail vehicles. In addition, Fort Edmonton has always had a special place in my heart (as I mentioned earlier, I was even married there). As such, in Fall of 2010, I joined the Edmonton Radial Railway Society, and then in early Summer of 2011 I trained as a Motorman. The ERRS actually runs two services: a service at Fort Edmonton Park, and a service over the High Level Bridge (which is the highest streetcar crossing in the world). I am currently licensed to drive two cars at the fort (Edmonton #42 and Toronto Suburban #24). I am hoping to be trained on two more cars this year at the fort (Edmonton #80 and Toronto #4612). This new hobby has brought a lot of fun to me.
Another big part of my life is my involvement with the Edmonton Metropolitan Chorus. I sing baritone in the choir, plus I am the secretary of the board that runs the choir. This group, under the Artistic Direction of David Garber, performs a wide-variety of music, ranging from Celtic to South American to African to Classical. The chorus currently has 120 members, including section leaders Janet Smith, Marion McFall, Caleb Harder Nelson, and Kyle Carter.
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The details for Edmonton Metropolitan Chorus' next performance are:
