TwoBlog

I’ve been adding (slowly) to my blog page about songs that invoke vivid memories of my past. While I was scrolling through the Nazareth part of my brain, I remembered a couple of funny things that I just have to repeat here:

“You’d think that these memories should come out of high school or even earlier, but they are more about my 2A to 3B terms at UW, most of that time living at Batavia place. The ‘Nazareth Anthology’ came out the term I was in 2A. But it all started in 1A, when I received one of their cassette tapes in the big first purchase from Columbia House (do they still exist?). Yes, cassette tapes. I would listen to this during my walks to class in the dead of winter (1B). “Heart’s Grown Cold” is a big memory maker. It was during this period of purchasing albums from Columbia House that I made the transition to CDs. Wow. My Nazareth Anthology box set was eventually stolen while living on 3rd Street (near Lansdowne) in Ottawa during my third workterm. One day Scott Murphy and I bought a couple of these keg contraptions holding 36 beer equivalent that Labatt’s was trying out for their Genuine Draft product. All day in the backyard we were sitting around listening to old vinyl Metallica albums that the neighbour was ‘introducing us to’. I don’t know how it happened but for some reason 2 absolute strangers joined us in the fun. These guys were shady at best (think mullets, cut off jeans and wife-beater shirts). After drinking a lot of beer with us, they eventually left. They seemed like nice guys. Later that day Scott and I went out to shoot some pool and when we got back, my bedroom window had been broken into and these guys (obviously) were the culprits. But they only took 2 things: my jar of change and my Nazareth Anthology. Now, I say obvious because we had left the keg contraptions in the back yard but not the taps. The kegs were also damaged….as if somebody were trying really hard to get some more of that wonderful Duff they had been drinking earlier that day. True story!”

Oh, and something I’m also proud of: I once went to see Nazareth when they came to the Flying Dog. But it wasn’t called the Flying Dog back then. Does anybody remember what it was called back in the early 90’s?

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This year’s garden:

2 rows of onions
1 row of lettuce 1 row of spinach. Note: next time plant another row each 2 weeks after first planting
1 row of french beans - best yield to date
1 row of yellow beans
16 pepper plants
16 tomatoe plants
2 rows of potatoes, 5 or 6 seeds per row
cucumbers - too much space

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Well, for better or for worse, Olivia now likes Joy Division. Especially the “Laser Song” which is more famously known as “Insight”.

It would be amusing to hear her sing some of these songs…..

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I just bought 14 tickets to any Blue Jay game. Price about 420 total = $30 a ticket. The retail price for the seats are $49 so if I do use them up I guess it’s worth the up front transaction. We already have 4 tickets going towards the Cubs/Jays game on June 14. Not a big fan of interleague play but the Cubs are a very good team worth seeing in person.

Anyway, I’m back! Should start to see more regular blogs coming up. I’ve been busy with spring clean, garden, etc. along with work. Have lots to talk about including my sudden surge in my yearly fantasy pool and the NEW H2H pool that I signed up for. Let’s just say that it’ll be a lot more interesting if I can get the guys to buy into a dynasty H2H or even (alas) Rotisserie format. Keepers add way more interest and even keep the bottom dwellers interested in the season from start to finish.

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When asked what very special treat Olivia would like for accumulating 10 potty stickers, she promptly responded that she wanted a ham. So we went out and bought a 5lb, partially cooked, bone-in ham. She learns fast that the best treats of all come from the magical beast known as “The Pig”.

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I was thinking of a ‘problem’ that might come up if we go on trip away from home for more than a day or two. How will we feed Chewie? I thought of a simple solution and was wondering if other ‘creative’ Dads have come up with the same plan: ‘free’ Chewie to the pipes below and then buy a replacement when we come back. Is this ethically an ‘improper’ decision? Oh, and just so we’re clear: Chewie is a ‘Betta’ fish, not a puppy.

A sidebar: I’ve had this bird stuck in the radiator grill of the CRV for about 3 years. It has been reduced to to skeletal remains for quite some time now but finally it has gone to its resting place. I just thought I’d mention this because some of you have noticed it in the past.

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I’ve been playing ‘Yes’ in the car now for about 4 straight months. Partly because I’m so lazy I can’t even update my memory sticks. But mostly because they are just that good they deserve about 1/2 a year of my car driving attention. The collateral damage is that OG also has been listening to ‘Yes’ in the car for about 4 months.

The good news is that she can’t get enough of that wonderful stuff. Above and beyond Abilene and Run With The Fox, OG now can sing bits and pieces of many songs and, more importantly for a band like ‘Yes’, she likes to emulate the instruments that are being played since most songs are about 70% instruments alone. Her favourite hum-along is ‘Roundabout’. The first 35 seconds where the quiet acoustic guitar overlayed by the laser-like ‘zing’ sound. She is bang on with following along to the tune, including the ‘zing’.

So, where’s the payback? OG has become INFATUATED with anything that has a maple leaf on it. Bottles, boxes, cars, my leg, whatever has a maple leaf on it, she needs to point it out. ESPECIALLY the Canada Flag. I know for a fact that there are 12 Canada Flags on the road between home and daycare. And I know where each and every one of them are. Especially the flurry of them near the Farmer’s Market. There are 2 at the driving range and 2 across the road at the antique shop. “Do you see the Canada Flag?” “There’s 2 over there and 2 over there”. This addiction is non-stop and must be acknowledged where-ever we go.

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This winter has been a killer on the roads. We’ve been experiencing the extremes: One day it is -20 and snowing like mad. The next day, literally within 2 to 3 hrs it’s +8 or even higher. There have been a couple of times when the temperature has swung both ways by about 30C. That is unbelievable and would think doesn’t happen in very many places on this planet. Another interesting behaviour this winter is that we haven’t been getting the consistent ‘average’ snowfalls distributed over the winter. Either we get dumped on or we get nothing at all for days. Which makes it SOOOO nice that I have a snowblower this year. Shovelling is not a problem when we get bits and pieces at a time. But this year its been 15-20 cm at a time which leads to back-breaking.

And the weather has destroyed the roads in town. I have never seen so many potholes on so many roads (including newly paved ones) and the severity of them are tailbone wrenching. The cars are taking a serious toll. I am alarmed at the amount of $$ that will need to go into the roads this year and the level of inconvenience I’m going to have to be put through. I’m partially blaming those people that put on winter tires and chew up our roads with their fancy treads. It’s irrational of me naturally but it justifies why I don’t want to contribute to the wealth of the tire industry and buy into the hype. My ‘no’-season tires work just fine. Even though the treads are worn down to the nubs. I love it!!

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When I was a wee lad, there were many things my Dad would do that puzzled and baffled me at the time. Yelling at the TV when the Expos were losing. Scoring the baseball game on paper. Or how about organizing and usually losing the annual NHL Playoff pool. There’s also the comments he would make about the behaviour of celebraties and how he would scoff and scorn the idiotic self-absorbing prima-donna actions they would exhibit. And this was before E! TV et al. ran 24hr dedicated broadcasts committed to adoring and worshipping the decrapitude that is Hollywood.

But the thing that I remember most beyond the sageness, wisdom, profoundness, was his constant musical ambience. There was never a moment, literally, when my Dad wasn’t humming, whistling or singing a tune (especially when on a walk). Usually folk music but everyone does have their faults. He would often sing/whistle/hum the accompanyment (sp?) portions of the song (as Sonia calls ‘the backup’ parts) but would be also known to sing the lead. In fact, with his acoustic guitar in hand (he never really did like the Rock’n'Roll but sometimes I caught him humming to a Robyn Hitchcock dirge) Dad would play at church, in bands, and back home in Lafontaine when the brothers would get together for a good time (Note: I was sure to be tip-toeing around Memere’s house the next morning).

So, what brings back these memories? Well, on the way home from swimming lessons with OG, while singing ‘back-up’ to a some Boney M Christmas songs (in February) it dawned on me: I’m my Old Man! (Sidebar: BoneyM was one of the rare ‘new stuff’ my Dad enjoyed along with Neil Diamond, John Denver and Roger Whitaker). I was doing the ‘low-baritone’ stuff when it hit me like a brick. When I think about it, well, I believe I am more often than not singing, whistling, humming, improvising about 24 hrs a day at the sacrifice of Sonia and OG’s well-tuned ears. Yes, I am a toneless singer no doubt but I am always caught doing the ‘backup’ sounds to any and all songs. Admittedly my tastes are most definitely better than Dad’s: I listen to Neil Diamond, John Denver, Robyn Hitchcock AND Echo & the Bunnymen. But life has come full circle and here I am singing to OG constantly until she tells me to stop (often).

So let’s review the other stuff: the Expos are no more but I can sure get a serious debate going with the ole boob tube when a call doesn’t go my way. I discreetly scratch down the plays on the scorecard when at the Jays game, and contrary yet akin to the Old Guy I am a superstar at Fantasy Bball/Fball,etc. (boy would he have been into that stuff had it evolved into what it is now during his day). And man o man do I hate Hollywood.

And here I am now about to bring in that very same acoustic guitar to get it fixed up and tuned. I have classical piano experience but it’s time to follow those footsteps and learn some good ole’ pumpin folk music.

I often get teary thinking what an injustice it is that OG was unable to meet her Poppy. But what a crock that is. She sees her every day. Now if only I can convey a fraction of the wisdom and intelligence that set him apart from the rest.

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• 2 day complete thaw of all snow. 10+ weather for 4-5 days started Jan 3rd
• Jan 22 - snow is back again. 4th time using the snowblower (remember my computer programmer = laziness?)
• Christmas #3 with OG. Lots of excitement. Typical perschooler exuberance. Major gift items: Black and Decker workbench (from sister), kitchen (pre-christmas from us), little people stuff (brother), wooden cradle for dolls (mom), old fashioned sled (grandma/nonno), hockey nets (Joey/Angel), and endless amounts of toys and books and puzzles. For me: books, wallet, tickets to the fateful Bills/Dolphins game, and a kitchen digital scale
• annual repainting of room in house. This time it’s a redo of the kitchen and living room which was done when we first moved in. It’s not as satisfying redoing your own work as it makes the previous efforts ’seem’ like a waste of time (although that’s not true)
• discussions over if/when/where to go for a winter getaway. with friends to Dominican? visit brother in Bermuda? Somewhere else?
• starting the next swimming session with OG. Is this session #5 or #6. Hardly have to hold her now. Won’t be long until she’s swimming on own with/without water wings. Loves to jump into water, float on back and do ‘dunk dunk’s.
• preparing for Wonderboy It’s a tough conditioning regimen
• debating whether should spend $20/hr to hit golf balls in the new dome (that was the old SPortsworld Dome) at closest driving range. Will the urge to golf outweigh the madness to pay $20?
• contemplation: new irons this year?
• Will the Wii invade my home? Looks possible but will never supplant the classic MAME. I would now consider myself the master of Robotron: 2084 and would challenge ANYONE on this earth to supplant my claim for dominance
• OG started ‘Yabba Dabba Dance’ with Grandma. Can’t wait for the dance recital in March.
• Pre-school transition went smoothly but can’t wait for summer: what an additional effort to suit up OG for outdoor play.
  Hindsight 20/20 - would have won the NFL pool if only had went with gut instinct. Lesson learned and am pleased about how soon I was able to recover and shake off the funk.
• Oh yeah, last thing: OG has a ‘Betta’ fish (a.k.a siamese fighting fish). Feed it every morning together. Swims in the tank, don’t have to regularly change the water. Nice and cheap. And in my opinion, just as good as a dog without the ‘joy’ of having to care for it.
• Sonia starts Yoga class. Ohm. Ohm. Ohm.
• 2008 - the year of the Democrats, $2.00 gas, power shortages in the summer, and time to renew the mortgage - should I opt out now or wait until the fall?

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