Posted on April 11, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with 4 comments

Oslo

“ No. no, no it ain’t me babe

It ain’t me you’re looking for.”

Bob Dylan

Here are my observations about dogs after dog sitting for almost one week: dogs are always happy to see you… especially at meal time; they love to go for walks and sniff things; they love to be patted on the head and told how good they look, and…. they are “babe magnets.” ( I know I’ll get in trouble for saying this! ). I always wondered why guys walked their dogs. Wonder no longer. Oslo attracts the women, young and old. I wish I were so lucky!!!

I am on day 11 of my 30 day “ CNN and Donald Trump” cleanse and I’m happy to report that it is going very well. I no longer have to endure “Breaking News,” buffoons or banalities, and the endless array of talking heads.

If you love the outdoors, Victoria is as close to heaven as you can get. The climate is great most of the year. It is a city of walkers, joggers, bikers, skateboarders, and hikers. It seems like everybody is out doing something. And it is a gardener’s paradise. Unlike the Maritimes where Spring is often elusive, Victoria has a real Spring. The smell of flowers and fresh mown grass is what strikes you most coming from the East at this time of the year.

I watched A LOT of golf on the weekend! While I no longer play golf, there is nothing that I like better than watching The Masters.

This week’s “Faces in the Crowd” is about love, longevity and commitment. Check it out on Thursday.

Have a great week.

Posted on April 7, 2016 under Faces in the Crowd with no comments yet

 

“Growing up in St. John’s, making it big didn’t impress anyone. “

Meet Sean Dalton.

Shooting the breeze and being quick on your feet are the hallmarks of being a Newfoundlander. The isolation and harsh weather are buttressed by humour.  Sean’s razor sharp wit was honed in an environment where taking yourself too seriously was done at your own peril.

After completing high school, he decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps and headed to St. F. X. , enrolling in the Jazz Studies program.  “I was the shittiest drummer in the program.  I got my ass handed to me by musicians who had been reared on jazz.”  The one saving grace from his freshman year was the French course he took from Edward Langille.  He gave Sean the most important gift: self -confidence.

In the summer of 1999, he took the Bursary program at Université Sainte Anne. He continued his studies for two years until the day he got a call from one of his cousins, wondering if he’d like to join their band.

The next 14 years were a giant blur as the Trews became one of the busiest touring bands in the country. Sean shared the stage with many legendary musicians and, while the experience was exhilarating, it took its toll.

In 2015 he packed up his drum kit and his chocolate lab dog, his only worldly possessions at the time, and headed to Nova Scotia to smell the ocean breezes and clear his head.

He contemplated cooking school but opted for something completely different: commercial fishing. His romantic notion of life on the sea lasted exactly one day, as he quickly came to understand the physical demands of the work.  But it was exactly what he needed at the time, and he spent the next six months immersed in the life of a fisher.

During his current hiatus (he plans to fish again in the spring), he has pursued a new passion of teaching others to play the drums. Dalton’s Drum Academy  has quickly developed a reputation as the go-to place to learn from one of the best.

And to keep the creative juices flowing, Sean is dabbling in the film business.

He practices Jiu Jitsu, which is good for the body and the soul. “Everybody is equal.  Once you put on the gi, you are just one of the family.  Egos are left at the door and no one is judgmental.  “The discipline is what Sean appreciates the most.  “I have learned more about life through Jiu Jitsu than anything else I’ve done.”

According to Sean, his dog, Sonny Boy, saved his life. “When I was struggling, he was my best friend.  Even when I wasn’t looking after myself, I had to look after him.”  The two are inseparable.

Sean admits that the East Coast lifestyle suits him to a tee. “Around Antigonish, I’m just Sean.  People don’t care what you did or what you are doing.  They care about who you are.”

… and the beat goes on.

 

Posted on April 4, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

Len, Tom, Catherine and Oslo 2015

Peter MacDonald photo

 

One no Trump.

On April Fools Day, I saw a post on Facebook encouraging all of us political junkies to have a “Donald Trump Free Day.” I thought that this was an excellent idea and refused to turn on CNN or even watch the CBC National News that evening. And then I did the same thing yesterday. I realize that I have been sucked into the vortex of sensationalism and negativity and I want no part of this. So, for at least the month of April, I’m going cold turkey on CNN and Trump. Only bridge players will get the significance of my opening words!

I’m humming Willie again as I’m “ Back on The Road Again.” I’m heading to Victoria tomorrow for a month. My brother and his wife are going away for a month and I am going to “dog sit” for them. Oslo is a beautiful Golden Retriever and the two of us will walk many miles through the flower dappled neighborhoods of Oak Bay. I might even get a dog story out of this experience. I will get my first taste ( a bad choice of words! ) of poop scooping.

And speaking of dogs, a chocolate lab is featured in this week’s “Faces in the Crowd.” ( FITC ) The subject of this story will be recognizable to many and you will see a side of him that most people will find quite interesting.

What are the odds of staying married for 50 years? I’m not sure but first of all, a couple has to have the good fortune to live that long. They have to have patience and understanding ( toilet seat up… toilet seat down! ) . And they probably need to have a good sense of humour. I have a story coming up that will make your jaw drop. I spent a wonderful afternoon recently in a country kitchen chatting with a lovely lady and her niece. She was born into a family with 12 other siblings. Of the thirteen, 12 have celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary! And the thirteenth passed away just a few months shy of his 50^th. Keep your eye out for this piece in the coming weeks in FITC.

Have a great week.