Posted on January 16, 2014 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

Music has always been a big part of my life. My earliest memories were of house parties at my parents home. Young and old would gather in the living room around the piano and sing. Occasionally a fiddle player would show up but it was mostly piano and voices and as time went on, guitars were added to the mix. I still play a bit of guitar but am pretty average.

I say this things as a lead in to a story I am working on and I must warn you that it is pure nostalgia. We Baby Boomers think that were grew up in the golden age of everything, including music. Back in the ’60’s, there were quite a few local bands and if you were a musician, you could actually make money doing it. Isn’t that a novel idea! I see so many fantastic musicians plying their trade these days and other than a few of them, the rest struggle to make a living.

Back in the late ’60’s there were two bands, The Strangers and The Escorts who pretty well had the local market cornered. This was the era when there was a dance at the local Parish Centre virtually every weekend. Some people came to the dance… to dance, some to drink and others to fight.

The story is about these two bands. I can speak with some authority on this one as I was a member of The Escorts. I was eighteen,  playing on stage, making quite a bit of money and believing I was cool. Everything in the last sentence is accurate except for the last part. The story is called “Escort Service.” If nothing else, the title might get some of you to read it. Hope you’re not too disappointed when you find out that it doesn’t involve a brothel!

Heard some people complaining about the January thaw today…not enough snow for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skiing. Last week the other half of the population was complaining about too much snow. Maybe there will come a day when each of us will be able to completely control the climate to suit our liking!

So, after weeks and week of backbreaking shovelling you’ve had enough and you order a snow blower. The day it arrives there is not a lick of snow on the ground and you can all but be assured there won’t be another snow fall of any consequence for the rest of the winter. I can think of several other things along these lines, sort of a “Born Loser” theme. Have to write a story about this…my weekend homework.

Have a great weekend and stay tuned for “Driven to Distraction” on Saturday.

 

 

Posted on January 9, 2014 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

Yeah. I know. I’ve posted this picture before and by the end of the year you’ll see it a few more times. Every day so far this year, I have found at least one thing to be grateful about.  And every day, I have made note of this and deposited a small piece of paper with the date and the reason to be grateful. For example, here is what I wrote yesterday: ” During this bitterly cold, snowy winter with massive power outages across the country, I am grateful to have a warm home.” Hopefully I’m not sounding too preachy but if more people stayed in tune with gratefulness, I think they would be much happier.

As you know, one of my goals at the beginning of this year was to be able to find a way to acquire the resources to provide a hot meal for those who need it , every week of the year. I am doing my homework and have been in touch with the good folks at St. James United Church who already provide this service. No point in re-inventing the wheel. I will be meeting with some of them soon but the goal is to do a second day of the week at the church. What they need more than anything is teams of volunteers to take responsibility for the meal ( the cooking and serving – not the financial part ). Currently they have six “teams” who do the Tuesday meal on a rotational basis so someone volunteering needs to only commit every sixth week. I may be casting my net out  for help. I know most of you work, but there are lots who are retired too. Without making a formal commitment, how many of you are interested?  Show of hands? Just as I thought. We’ll get this done.

BIG response to the story about mass. ( “Mass Appeal” ) Sorry to you youngsters who couldn’t possibly understand some of the nuances of this story. Some time when you’re at loose ends, go and Google Second Vatican Council. It was a very big deal back in the early ’60’s. A lot of old timers to this day lament the day that the Catholic Church abandoned Latin for English.

I have lots of stories on the go. Will keep you posted.

If you missed the Len and Phil show last fall and if you’re not working ( rhymes with twerking! ) on Feb. 5th. at 2:00 p.m., drop down to People’s Place library. We’re going to do an hour long mini show. That does not mean we will be wearing mini skirts. While it’s called the “Senior’s Café” I am quite certain that all are welcome.

Have a great weekend.

Posted on January 2, 2014 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

The 365 Day Challenge

Those of you who read my articles regularly know that I am a big fan of 30 day challenges. You can turn bad habits into good habits in 30 days if you chart your activities on a daily basis. I am embarking on a 365 day challenge thanks to the inspiration from K.G. Every time something positive happens to her, she makes a note of it and deposits it in her “gratitude jar.” At the end of the year, she empties the contents and reviews all the good things that happened to her, her family and friends. It’s one of those little things to keep us aware of how good we have it. And when tragedy strikes, as it did recently, put out a helping hand to those who badly need your support.

I swear I wasn’t smoking or drinking anything when I bolted upright in bed a few nights ago. And what was rattling through my head at 3:00 a.m. you might ask? Latin. Specifically Latin responses to the parts of the mass from my days as an altar boy. I took this as a sign and wrote a story that morning called “Mass Appeal.”. If you are under the age of 60 and were not brought up Catholic, I will forgive you for not reading this. It’s not so much about religion as it is about traditions growing up in a Catholic household.

The response to the purse story was terrific. I did not know that a woman’s purse could be used as a safe haven for a wounded sparrow. There were all kinds of interesting comments and observations.

What is the longest day of the year? If you said June 21st. you are mistaken. It is actually January 2nd. and if you need proof, check out the Highland Heart magazine this Friday or here on my website on Saturday.

I hope the year ahead is a great one for all of you. Try something new.