Tonight I am finishing packing for my first drive out east since I was 13. I have flown the route many times but tomorrow I will get to SEE Canada!! NOA is going to be a national show in 2005. It is going to be my biggest challenge yet but 2004 proved that there is definitely a way when there is a will. I knew that NOA would not benefit anyone in the group if I simply remained idle in one location. We needed to get across the country so the people that are involved truly get some advantages. I am going away for a month and I plan on relaxing and at the same time expanding my horizons. It should be a memorable trip no matter what. I leave behind my prayers for Debbie and her family who i pray continue to be strong and I know if there is someone who can beat cancer it will be Debbie.

So- off I go with a little bag of dreams and the hopes of opening more doors. I am even going to Flin Flon Manitoba. NOA loves the north no matter what province we are in!

So I finish the last show and I think its time to relax....HA!!!
Off I go again as we continue to showcase the mural pieces and look at creating another one.
On top of that I am preparing to head to Ottawa for a month while I focus on my own artwork for a while.
I am currently marketing my own jazz pieces and at the same time I am beginning a new series based on Leaonrd Cohen's music to be unveiled in September.

I am looking forward to going to Ottawa and seeing what new opportunities await. I will also get to spend some Quality time with Sue and relive my childhood as Ottawa was where I spent three memorable years back when I was 11-13.

NOA continues to grow and we are now begiining the new plans for 2005. Submissions will be coming in soon.

I am sitting in Vancouver 4 days before the show and the sun is shining as a great day comes along. The last NOA show of 2005 and it looks like it will be a GRANDE FINALE!!

Everything is falling into place nicely. I am having mixed emotions as of late though because as great as NOA has been this year we have had many sad moments and another one is currently being faced. We expereinced Holly Crictons son being seriously injured in a head on car collision. Then Bernadette McCromacks father passed away. Then Patrick Doyle's Mother passed away and now we are facing the serious situation of Debbie Boodram- a dear friend of mine and also the first person at CBC to notice Night of Artists and really get us connected across the country- who has just been diagnosed with cancer at the very young age of 38. She has been so instrumental in the growth of NOA in the past 2 years and has also been a wonderful performer in our show.

I love NOA and what it does for the arts and who we have had join us along the way. Debbie is one of those incredibly special people that have been such a builder of our show. Keep her in your prayers. She and her family need our support as Debbie fights against the cancer that has challenged her.

This week will be an amazing week for NOA but my thoughts will be with Debbie and her family.