Man, this Blogger/Google business has obviously been screwing with Blogger, because the last three times I tried to update this journal, what they're calling "Old Blogger" has been down for maintenance. I would really hate to have to close this journal after six years because the new site owners are twats.

At any rate, I promise to return with a full holiday update, but for tonight, I'm going to talk about more recent things.

I've just come back from picking up Kid Koala (one of the world's finest turntablists) at the Airport. I went with Matt and I made a sign that said Mr. Koala with a happy koala on it. Eric, the Artistic Director was also there and he told me to put the sign away because the Yukon Arts Centre doesn't do signs. I told him it would be an exception because it was a fancy homemade sign. Kid Koala came through and was clearly looking for a sign, saw it, smiled and I got to say to Eric, "hah." Yes, I'm that small.

While I was waiting for Matt to pick me up, around 11:45pm, the aurora borealis was just magnificent. Three stripes of bright green with waves of varying intensity moving down them like the "file loading" bar on a computer. Heh, I live in the future, don't I? Anyway, they were quite extraordinary and I was sorry when Matt arrived. When we reached the airport, they had quieted down somewhat. Naturally, when we left half an hour later with Kid Koala, they had stopped completely. By the time Matt dropped me back home, they were back. Subtler, but arrayed in rays and swirls that filled a quarter of the sky, mainly in the northeast. Taking out my garbage has never been so beautiful.

Anyway, in other news, but still related to the Arts Centre, the Curator has accepted a position as the inaugural Executive Director of the new Nanaimo Art Gallery, which means, of course, that he'll be leaving Whitehorse. While I'm sorry that he'll be leaving, particularly now that I've met his wife and I like her very much, I'm very pleased for him. This is a great step in his career. I attended the Board of Directors' meeting with him on Monday for his announcement. At that time he also stated to the Board that the same procedures ought to be followed for the next Curator's hiring as were used for his. A committee made of members of the Board and the community, preferably with the outgoing Curator on it as well, should be struck and the candidate search should be national in scope. Simply put, there is no one in the Yukon who is qualified for the job. There are rumours that someone no more qualified than me has already been approached, but we shall see. If that is the case and the Board chooses not to heed the Curator's advice, I might have something to say, but as it stands, I'll see how it goes. I might be pleasantly surprised.

Those are the big news items as of this week. I have a sink full of dishes I am resolutely ignoring, a pair of vocal and very bouncy cats, a fantastic car, and am currently on a break from school. The next semester starts in February... right when my life at the Arts Centre starts getting ridiculously busy again. C'est la vie.