Photographer: Tim Matheson

The Opera itself is Madama Butterfly, which promises to be a tear jerker. A tale of a broken heart and unrequainted love. Sort of sounds a little like my past week at the Yorkton Film Festival.  Although, maybe that’s more of one of star crossed lovers, kept apart by circumstance, or in my case geography. Rather hoping its the later, and not simply that in Yorkton I am just a love of convenience (or am I the young naval officer, from Madama Butterfly, that leaves, as I was the one that left after all?). Really all very circumspect and silly as NOTHING happened in Yorkton (aside from spending quality time with a number of folks whom I love and admire).

As for tonight’s Opera, here are a few Opening Night Reviews:

… and the voice of the absolutely scrumptious male lead:

More after the show. For now, packing my kleenex and off to grab my cheap parking spot before they are all gone.

And don’t worry, if you miss tonight’s ticket deal, you can still catch Madama Butterfly at the Vancouver Opera and Queen Elizabeth Theatre June 5th, 8th and 10th.

In honour of the festival kicking off today and one of my favorite film festival goers and gin lover, Richard Gustin, I am raising a rather delectable glass of Sapphire Barcelona. A very lavish and luxurious tasting gin drink, made for kicking off film festivals in exotic locals, like Yorkton, Saskatchewan. So that you too can toast the launch of the film festival, here is Merlin Griffiths and Vancouver darling, Lorraine Murphy, concocting this delectable bevie:

It’s not too late to join me.  Early Bird Rate is still on for one more day!

Thanks Andrea!  And thank you Saskatchewan Pavilion for the Saskatchewan hospitality.  The only thing that would have made the visit better would have been an actual Saskatchewan beer in my hand.

Don’t miss Andrea!

• Tonight at the  Saskatchewan Pavilion from 5:30 – 7 pm
• Friday for the Athletes at the Whistler Athletes Village

Andrea takes the stage at Saskatchewan Pavilion tonight (February 15) and tomorrow night (Febraury 16) from 5:30 – 7 pm.

See you there!

Looking forward to seeing her on stage (for free, no less) at the Saskatchewan Pavilion on February 15th and 16th!

No pics of me (Erica squirted lobster juice all over me), but yes, I was wielding a firearm too!!!!  And I fully nailed two skeet!!  Yeehaw!!!

Oh and fyi, watch out for Tris.  Have discovered that not only did he use to compete in axe throwing contest, but he’s also a damn good shot.  Must be something about his American heritage. (Keeping one eye open)

Photo by Tris Hussey

So tonight’s party hotline:

• 5 pm  Kickoff BBQ in beautiful downton Yorkton (sponsored by Yorkton Business Improvement District) .  So hurry up and put on your jeans, t’s and cowboy boots, it starts shortly and yes I will likely be fashionably late and no, I am not sure where in downtown Yorkton, but just follow the sound of the hoot’in and holler’in. (PS You need a BBQ pass for this one)
• 7 pm Screening of 45 RPM at the Painted Hand Casino (no idea what it’s about, but I understand it is a feature length film and is free for all)
• Post Screening Reception (hoping and guessing there will be drinks)
• Stay tuned for post, post screening festivities in the comments (and feel free to post the fyi on events for this evening that you know about there)

Bright-eyed and bushy tailed this AM (despite ugly rumors from Mr Hussey suggesting I was over imbibing – really people, who are you going to believe) and excited to be getting on the Yorkton Party Train (bus) in a few short hours.

Cast & Crew of 'Corner Gas' Whooping it up in Yorkton (Photo by Richard Gustin)

At any rate, wanted to drop a quick note, mentioning that I am going to endeavor to publish the evenings parties here each day (hopefully before the evening – I should be up by then). I am guessing that like at the Banff Television Festival, there are a slew of parties that happen that are not in the ‘official festival schedule’, so I need your help, especially since I am a ‘Yorkton Vigin’.  Know of a Yorkton Film Festival Party?  Drop me a note on it with details here or on twitter and I will post it in my daily Yorkton Party Hotline Manifesto.

Prairie Horizon Kisses,

Emme  xoxo

Teddy

Meet Teddy – one of my grandest friends in the world!  He’s the most lovable, huggable Canadian Toon Town bear that there ever was.  He and his cat, Beams, are two of Fuzzywiggle Furrypants and my best friends.  Fuzzy’s and I generally make a point of stopping in for a Toon Town visit once or twice a year.

Teddy and I at Fox & Hounds

So how did I meet Teddy?  In the most glamorous of fashions, of course.  Hobnobbing at the Banff Television Festival.  Guessing most of you are picturing us dressed up all fancy at some well to do function (I’m calling it a ‘function’ as thats more hoity toity than a ‘party’) in the Rockies – you know, him in a top hat and tails with an eye monocle, of course, and me looking like I just walked off a runway in Paris.  The reality?  I think it included (although I must note here that it is a little fuzzy – altitude you know) late night, drunken revelry at the St James Gate with my favourite Canadian film folk, the Saskatchewan boys (and girl).

At any rate, somehow dear Teddy won his way into my heart despite frequent ploys to get me in my swimsuit and lounging  in the hot springs (my downfall in this was the words ‘hot springs’ – clearly another weakness of mine along with Teddy’s hugs).  And so the downwards spiral begins with regular Toon Town visits and adventures with Teddy that can only be described as our very own Griswold Family Vacations.

A few highlights from the latest Griswold Family Vacation:

• Teddy announcing to me that, “It’s a good thing were not a couple, as our sex life would suck.”

I would like to note here to all future suitors:  This is not because I suck in bed (or in Teddy’s defense that he sucks in bed).  We’ve never really taken our relationship into the bedroom (we’ll thats a lie cause we have – okay, now I sound like a tramp. To clarify here:  our relationship has gone into the bedroom, but fully clothed – okay I was wearing the towel the one time – wow this sounds bad to my virtue.  OK heres how it is, our relationship has gone into the bedroom in a bath towel, but in the most platonic of fashions – we were doing a photo shoot – and NO not those kind of photos, I’m not that girl. IE TEDDDY AND I HAVE NEVER HAD SEX).  So to make a long story short, we don’t know how each other is in bed.  Teddy just has a habit of being sick whenever I visit and I always seem to have my period when I visit.

Bath Towel Photo Shoot

• Our first ever hotel room together with a view of (no joke) the indoor children’s water amusement park.

Darn good thing the two of us weren’t looking for a little ‘rendezvous’.  The sounds of children screaming might have broken the mood.

A Room with a View

• Teddy loosing all hearing to a head cold and shouting everywhere we went.

My favourite was his conversation with his Mom into his cell phone at the top of his lungs in public about diarrhea.  It was a very proud moment for me to be on his arm.

Friday Night at the Doctor's

• Teddy telling his dear Mom that he was thinking of moving in with me in Van City.

No wonder she thinks were dating. TEDDY!!!!!

• Teddy’s response to the suggestion that a personal coach might help him follow a healthier lifestyle, “Oh I’ll see a personal coach if she’s hot and cute.  Better yet, you could be my personal coach.”  Once again, he did this in front of his 78 year old mother!!!

Teddy – take note, a proper personal coach needs to be accredited. Me giving you advice whilst wearing a skimpy towel generally isn’t as effective.  Please see my conversation with @cognoscento Try Jennifer Priest.  She’s hot, cute and a professional.

• The incorrigible Teddy at his Mom’s and my discussion on how he needed to eat healthier and get more exercise, “Bed wrestling is a good full body workout and not at all stressful on the joints.”

Honestly!!!!  And he told me that I’d have to be the one to break it to his parents that we aren’t dating!  I wonder where they ever got that idea!?!

Love you Teddy! (and you too Beams)

Emme xoxo