Summer is HERE!!!

Well what a month June has been eh? (<-- yep telltale sign that I am truly Canadian). The Month started off in high spirits on many fronts.(yes, including Mom's Birthday as spoken about in my last Blog as every moment of remembering my Mother brings a mixture of sadness and loss as well as a feeling of love and happiness that I had her in my life for as long as I did - I do wish I had more but... and that she was MY Mother, therefore what better way to usher in each Summer that then celebration of my Mom's Life on her B'day, right?) I did two field trips this month with my kids. Madison's class had a field trip to Lynn Canyon up in North Vancouver and WOW, what an amazingly beautiful place, I cannot believe I have lived here my entire life and never been there. I need to get out more often, well I can assure you I will be visiting there again. At first I expected it to be a picnic kinda outing with her class, instead it turned into a 6 hour death march (yes a little exaggeration there) It was actually totally invigorating even the staircase that never seemed to end going up the side of a mountain. ouch. We all had a great time that day and I am very glad I had begun my excercise regime about a month or so ago or I would probably have never made it through the entire hike, phew. The second field trip was with Jarod's class to Locarno beach with 3 other grade 2 classes and over 100 kids bolting for the ocean once we got there. Jarod pretty much lived in the water that day and LOVED it, he also found a pretty cool crystal which is now in its place of honour amongst the others we have here. The day there ended on a high note as well, when a cameraman & reporter from CTV came by looking for some footage for a "First day of Summer" report they were doing (Yes this was on the first day of Summer, good guess kind reader) I started chatting with them, gave them my "Doktor Strange Experience" biz card, showed them an illusion and after more laughter and discussion said I would probably hear from them... I will keep you posted on that. I was also happy to find a comment on here from the first and original "Miss Direction" who was my wonderful and beautiful assistant in both my Magic Shows and in Wicked Bingo but have alas since lost her to her career as a registered Nurse and to her Fiancee ( a truly great guy) as she now resides down in Portland and she is missed very much by this Magician, but YAY I get to be the MC at her wedding and that is a HUGE honour for me. You can learn more about Miss Direction and her Fiancee through the "Miss Direction is Getting Married" link on the home page of Wicked Bingo.
This month also found me performing close-up magic and co-hosting an auction for the "Adoptive Families Association of BC" with none other than former Vancouver Mayor turned Senator the honourable Larry Campbell. Pictures of us there can be seen at the Laugh Thru Lunch site. The event titled "Jazz in the park" which was held in the Stanley Park roundhouse raised well over $160,000 surpassing there goal that evening by over $20,000, I had an awesome time there!!
Then there is the Bingo related developments that have happened this month, but those I will await a future blog to tell you about as they are pretty hard to believe how incredible they could become, too excited to do them Justice at this time, but you will know about them soon enough, keep your fingers crossed.
Of course the most exciting news this month is (drumroll please) My Brother Terry's Wedding of which I am the Best Man (Wahooooooo!!!!) The Wedding is this coming Wednesday June 28th, 2006 where he will Marry the Love of his Life: Tanya!! We had the rehearsel last Friday and like many of our family occasions was chalk full of laughter and fun for everyone, then Terry and Tanya presented all of us in the wedding party with some pretty awesome gifts, including the one I got which was a - are you ready for this- an Ipod Nano WOW!!! Love those two!!! This has also got to be a very proud moment for our Father too as it is the first wedding for one of his kids, EVER... Finally eh? Congratulations Tanya and Terry I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and then some and I really do Love you both very much!!!! Terry has an awesome blog too read it by clicking here !

There is also one more exciting potential happening in my life but that too I will await to tell you about as it is still somewhat unknown as to the outcome of it. I am very very hopeful about it, it excites me very very much but I am remaining somewhat cautious till I know for sure, it affects a personal part of my life, not professional so we will see...

I certainly hope all who read this have an Amazing Summer and that all you wish for happens in your life.

See You Next time and please keep Smiling!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday, June 9, was my Mom's birthday, she would have been 76. Last year we lost her to Non-hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer. I miss my Mother very much and a day does not go by without me thinking about her (and what her reactions would be to some of my cochamamie schemes) and each day I hope for an occasional visit in my dreams.

I remember almost everyday without fail I would hear from her asking how things were going and asking what if anything she could do to help. She was my strongest support ever. I used to dread the call, not unlike how many sitcoms portray a character's wincing at a call from mom, but in a good hearted way, honest! But now that I no longer recieve the calls I cannot believe how much I wish I had them back!

I loved my Mother very much as did all who knew her, she was a vibrant amazing woman who I know is watching over me, my sisters, my children and my nephew with even more love than ever and it is that comfort we all feel and cherish.

I miss you Mom, I hope you had an awesome Birthday up their with everyone you know and have met so far... we celebrated with you (as you well know) at the Old Spaghetti Factory and had a great evening!!

Well I am more than confident she has super high speed internet up there and is seeing this message and smiling enjoying this little note from her "wonderson" and probably calling everyone over to read it too!!

Happy Birthday Mom, I love you very much!!

Pic: Mom and my son Jarod

I am loving the Magic

I am so excited over the new Magic I am doing now. I have done magic for over 30 years and in the mid 90's when I got involved with Game design I kind of put it on the back burner. However about 3 years ago I found myself going back to it at the same time I launched Wicked Bingo.

I love what Magicians David Blaine and Criss Angel have done for the world of Magic, they have re-ignited this timeless craft with their abilities and presentations of Magic both new and classic and I love watching their styles. Criss Angel is even the rock n roll Magician I had once tried to be (way back when) I even had a show called "Rock N Roll Hocus Pocus", but as i am seeing it is never to late to pursue your dreams, Never!

Watching what they did inspired me to delve into Magic in a way I never had done before, developing new skills and increasing abilities that are taking me into a world of such wonder and fun that I literally vibrate with the energy it gives me!! (excercising helps too).

Yesterday I had the great priviledge of doing some magic for all the presenters and volunteers and people behind the scenes at the "Childrens' Hospital Miracle Weekend Telethon" and I had a fantastic time!! Lots of great people, and such a good feeling of community coming together for such an amazing cause! It also gave me the opportunity to try out some of the new types of magic I am learning/developing and the reactions were WONDERFUL!! I also noticed a nice comment on here from one of the kids there, Stephanie. Thank you and about teaching you a trick.. if you are truly interested in learning Magic or even to have a cool effect to show people I would suggest visiting the Magic Shop at the Granville Island kids Market Magic shop on the 2nd floor there. Or for anyone out of town reading this with that interest then please visit a Magic shop near you, they have great books, and dvds and magic for everyone from novice to expert.

I am considering a tour/vacation (bringing my kids too wheee!)for the summer and performing around the Okanagon here in BC, who knows, it all depends on how things with "Laugh Thru Lunch" continue to progress.

In the meantime the Bingo world is starting to look interesting and I am getting kind of excited over the positive reaction to The Bingo Game, so stay tuned there.

Hope everything in your world is magical and this Blog finds you smiling!