It's dusk in Niagara on the Lake. Five days before Christmas. Warmish but windy, an ex-sunny day. I wish the snow was here.



The guys are back at The Shaw in the new white tent, ready to turn on the ice making machine and roll out the first 'real' ice since we got here. Here's 'The Don' wrestling with the new copper piping -- this element is the newest addition to his design.



I just read the website of Winter City Fest (http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/cavalcade_lights/events.htm) (click under Amex Ice Gallery). I'm pumped. They did a great job! Here, Debi's press release goes out tomorrow, can't wait to see the rack card.

I'm alone in the lobby of the Pillar and Post; it seems more like a room at Santa's Workshop. It's easy to imagine that around the corner, the chatter I hear comes from elves and Mrs. Claus. I'm practically suffocated here by boughs of red and evergreen, wreaths with ribbons and white lights, gold stars, shiny ornaments, poinsettias, even the smell of cinnamon and cloves -- in every nook and cranny.



Do you hear what I hear? "Pretty Paper, pretty ribbons . . ."

I've got to complain, but I'll be quick and you'll relate: Today Rogers Wireless kept me on hold for twenty minutes, only to hang up on me - twice, and after the 4th call over the same thing: my phone still doesn't work. RRRrrrrrrrgggggh! No one offers any discounts, but the worst part is -- they know my phone isn't working, why do I have to call them four times and ride herd while they try to fix it? I've got work to do!! Why can't they just #$%^^&& fix it? NOT a good use of cell phone! "Have a holly, jolly Christmas . . . ." right, Rogers!



Good news: the place we're staying is not haunted. It's a heritage house, red brick on the outside, spacious with lots of common areas, renovated floors in kitchen and bathrooms. Beautiful Chinese porcelain lamps in every room. Last night Jaz worked on the invitation into ten-ish hours, and we all gathered around the dining room table, helping him tweak.

NO HOCKEY TODAY! Gord pulled his back out and had to lie down. SO! disappointed!



And to balance that complaint, I want to say a big 'THANK YOU' to some people back home who have helped us. First, Roger Handling. World class designer and artist whom we've known since before we moved to the Sunshine Coast -- he's been consulting on the design of the catalogue for the Pitture Sotto Zero installation at the Cultural Olympiad of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. And we get the proofs tomorrow!! Also Kera McHugh, who owns Wild Bistro & Bakery in Gibsons -- she's agreed to dust the flour off her hands to help me add a Who's Who on this blog. She's been a key player for me in all my web dreams, so I want to give Roger and Kera -- from all of us -- a big hug!!



Now it's Karen Carpenter, "in my dreams, I'm Christmasing with you . . . "

I've got to share a note we received from Alessandra -- remember our Italian 'Principessa'? What I love about it is: it sounds just like her, in her lovely accent! That's her in purple in the front:



HI CAITLIN!!!!!HOW ARE YOU? DO YOU REMEMBER OF ME?
I'M VERY WELL AND FROM 02 OCTOBER I WORK IN TORINO TO "REGIONE PIEMONTE" I LIKE IT.
I LOOK THE PICTURES IN YOUR BLOG ABOUT "PAINTING BELOW ZERO IN ONTARIO" AND SOMETIMES I READ YOUR DIARY (IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME).
CHRISTMAS IS NEAR AND I MUST BUY ALL PRESENTS FOR MY FRIENDS BAT I HAVEM'T NOT IDEA WHAT TO BUY......IT'S TOO EXPASIVE AND NOT USEFUL.
I SEE JAZ AND ERIC TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I HOPE YOU ARE FINE AND NOW I BACK TO MY WORK!!!!!!!!!!!

CIAO UN ABBRACCIO TO JAZ, MR.GORDON, ERIC AND ALL YOUR TEAM.

GOOD LUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALESSANDRA