...

Too busy to BLog, gave a few prompts to chatGPt

The past couple of weeks have been a lively blend of music, celebration, creativity, and a healthy dose of sunshine. Things kicked off with a bang on July 1st, when I joined the Mocha Shrine Trumpet Band for the Canada Day parade in Stratford. The energy of the crowd was contagious, and it felt great to be part of such a joyful tradition. That evening, I celebrated close to home with fireworks in Byron—always a perfect way to mark the day.

Earlier, I had the pleasure of performing with the Sounds of Swing Big Band for our 20th Anniversary Concert at Wolf Performance Hall. It was a milestone moment, and the concert was filled with nostalgia, swing, and a deep appreciation for the community we’ve built over the years. I also made a special trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake to celebrate Jamin’s bridal shower—such a lovely occasion in a beautiful setting.

When I haven’t been playing trumpet or traveling for events, I’ve been soaking up summer at home. There’s been a bit of gardening here and there, but the real treat has been those glorious pool days—floating in the backyard, enjoying the warmth, and letting time slow down for a while. I’ve also been trying to walk more and sneak in a bit of extra exercise to stay balanced.

On the work side, I’ve been deep in my digital humanities projects, supporting others as they explore tools like Neocities and Zonelets for simple, creative web publishing. I’ve also been preparing for an upcoming STEAM Camp workshop where I’ll be teaching kids how to gild illuminated capital letters—channeling some medieval flair into a fun hands-on learning activity. It’s been a busy and fulfilling stretch, with just the right mix of action and ease.