Insider Outlook

Hanging out with magicians is always an adventure, and conventions are no exception. I attended the Midwest Magic Jubilee this year, mainly because it was accessible by train, and I like visiting St Louis. Joel could not go with me because of a show conflict. Needless to say, i made some friends immediately, and had a great time.

I must admit that some parts of the convention were better than others, but I can confidently say that it was an experience I will likely repeat. If I had to travel by airplane and stay in an expensive hotel for several days, I don’t think it would be worth it. The crowds were fairly manageable, the lectures were great, and the shows had some great magicians scattered throughout. The competitions were what you would expect, and the winners clearly deserved the honor. The dealers in the “magicians french market” were fun and had some good stuff.

I got to meet Eric Jones in the dealer room, and see his incredible coin work. Right next to him was Tony Miller from Channel One fame (or infamy). He and I hit it off, mainly because we have the same sense of humor, which is a dangerous thing. I managed to keep my mouth shut and did not add any fuel, which I would typically do. Several other dealers caught my attention; Mark Mason, the Columbinis, and Andy Greget. Admittedly, there were several others, but I just focus on card stuff. Anyway, I got some good things from Tony and Andy. I have already worked three ideas from Tony’s Parking Space, and have been through Jim Swain’s Miracles With Cards twice. I read a manuscript on Hand Mucking in the hotel room during a break. All of it is fantastic.

Friends were easy to come by as well. I met some cool locals, and there were a few people that came in from Chicago. I am not known for my constant besiegement of card tricks on everyone around me, but I did enjoy watching some cool and funny stunts by people around me, and feeling a little twinge of discomfort when a magical pirate showed up in the bar to the horror of the bartenders and a hapless but hot waitress. That was entertainment enough. Fortunately, lectures from Regal, Mendoza, Columbini, and many others tore me out of the bar fcequently enough that I did not blow my book budget on booze.

Anyway, it was fun, educational, and I will be back.

Happy Birthday Mackenzie! She stares at me with unnerving focus. I know she doesn’t understand the words, but she really looks like she is trying to figure me out. I look away sheepishly. I love infants, and a birthday party for a one year old is just too good to pass up. They have such a nonchalant way of enjoying themselves. A handful of cake frosting feels smooth and silky, tastes sweet and sticky, and is a great hair mousse.

We flew up to Ottawa this past weekend to see Mackenzie’s first birthday, and visit with a dear friend we miss terribly. Judith is not technically family, but we consider her our “ma.” We have only seen her grand-daughter and Lani in Little Rock, and we had been meaning to get to Canada for a while. When the opportunity came up to knock out three things on our wish-list, we couldn’t resist.

The first night was just Joel and I, so we took some advice from the concierge to head toward the fashionable Byward Market for dinner. We had asked about indian or mediterranean food, so we were whisked off in a cab to a really nice place. Yea, we wanted a buffet. We walked around a little more, finally coming to a cute japanese place. We sat down and ate our fill of sushi rolls, and then walked all around the market area. It is a really quaint part of town that reminded me of the Little Rock River Market all grown up. There were restaurants lined up, with produce stands hawking spices and goods from all corners of the globe. Most were closed, though. We crashed early and barely wanted to move the next day. The only thing that got us moving was the prospect of a day with Judith.

We met Judith for an official tourist day. We walked up and down the river, seeing the parliment buildings, peace tower, and ending up at the art museum. It was the perfect day for it, and we left echoes of laughter and recounted stories all allong the way. We bought little stuff all along the way, and those small trinkets will remind us of the great time we had together every time they catch our eye.

Then, it was dinnertime with the family. Mark’s parents were in for the festivities, so it was one big family dinner. We listened to childhood stories, drank some wine, and watched Mackenzie play in the yellow icing. She doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth, so that was pretty anti-climatic. However, the frosted hair was worth the wait. Then there was Mark and his daughter’s antics. He would snort and strain, and Mackenzie would follow right along with her little puckered lips and wrinkled nose. Too cute not to laugh at.

The next day was all about getting ready for the party. Judith took us to a local icon, Tim Horton’s, for breakfast. It is the Krispy Kreme of Canada, and well worth the wait at the door. Then, off to their place for a quick present exchange, and birthday party setup. Friends arrived right on time, with a few people delayed because their baby was still asleep. That was a day of men in the dining room talking about American sports, and wives and children playing in the living room with the new toys. It was a blur of toddlers, youngsters, cats, and potato chips.

We were the last to leave, but we were leaving for another country. It was so much fun to be there to help out, hear the Canadian accent, and enjoy the local customs that we will certainly want to come back. Just shopping in their grocery stores was too much fun. Mackenzie, maybe we will help you celebrate your 18 month milestone!