This and That

Well after being awake at an abnormally early time for me of either 536am or 636am depending on whether or not the instrument of time-keeping had been sprung forward; I managed to catch a few more zzzzs a little later in the morning.

I now know officially that I am up and at 'em as I am drinking my first of many coffees that I will be having today. In my world, having that first cup of coffee is a simple joy. It is just right. I am not sure how to describe it in any other way except to say that it is just so. I've noticed especially since I moved down here over 10 years ago how many people do not drink coffee in the morning. They'll go for sweet tea or coke or mountain dew or maybe just water. I can't see joy in that. LOL. Somehow I don't think that would be bring me a small moment of joy in the morning as that first coffee does for me. I may be wrong for the others but I don't think I am.

Anyways last night for a bit Harrison aka H was with his friend Eean aka E down at E's uncle place in Anderson. They had been there since late Friday night so I had the house to myself for almost 24 hours which was nice. Well not quite by myself as Jynx Jinx made her presence felt on several occasions. She did this my plopping her big body right on my chest as I was watching MLB TV yesterday afternoon or as I was napping on the couch. Or by going on one of her sneezing jags where she will sneeeze and sneeze and sniff and sniff until whatever it is that caused the major event in her life has stopped bugging her. Or by meowing to let me know that this poor cat is starving. If you have ever seen Jynx Jinx you would be quick to realize and assert the fact that this cat has never been short on food. LOL. I need to set up my scanner and get a picture of her as proof. Anyways suffice to say that she is rather well-fed. I think she is just paranoid!

So eventually I decided to make some pasta for myself and for H & E if they were going to make it back from Anderson. You know I've never been to Anderson. I've been to the Jockey Lot down there on I85 but I am not sure if that qualifies as being in Anderson. If it does, it therefore means that I have been to Anderson. Let the pigeons loose! If not, the next time I head south on I85 I will stop in somewhere in Anderson grab a coffee or a bite to eat and then knock that item off my bucket list. LOL!

Back to making pasta. Stay on track Schlewing! So I made a small batch of sauce. It isn't exactly homemade but I do add ingredients to whatever bottle of sauce I am using to make it seem homemade. Typically I am adding a combination of ground beef, hot italian sausage, red chili peppers (the spice not the band), bay leaves, garlic, onion salt or powder and whatever else catches my eye in the kitchen. None of the quantities are ever measured so sometimes the sauce is meatier than other times or sometimes it is spicier than other times. All in all though it is pretty good I think. H concurs as he tells me that this is one of my better meals per his not so sophisticated palate. LOL. I made it with fusilli pasta. I actually had to look up the name. I have always thought of it as a corkscrew pasta. I guess one can see where H gets his food sophistication. The acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree. :o)

So anyways as I was preparing this sauce and pasta I finally started on a small project that I have put off for over a year. I am terribly disorganized at home and at the office. The manner in which I keep things sorted is truly atrocious. This could be paperwork. This could be pictures and mementos. It could be bills to pay or ignore until they have to be paid. It could be tax papers. It could be investment documents. It could be clean clothes or dirty clothes for that matter. It could be books and magazines. It could be CDs and cassette tapes. Geezus I just realized how much more disorganized I am than I thought I was as I started listing these things. I need help! LOL. Hmmmm perhaps I should refer to this as a large project. I have lots of them to do in my life and home. Lots of 'em.

So as the fusilli pasta was cooking on the stovetop I started putting all of my pictures in one container of sorts. These pictures have been loosely placed in different boxes since my move into my home in September 2009 and kept in my garage or bedroom. Or they were placed in different shoeboxes also kept in my garage and my bedroom. Two months ago, maybe three months ago I bought a plastic container to put all these pictures in a central place. Well I finally started to do this last night.

Cue the smiles! Cue the tears!

In between smiling and laughing at some of these pictures especially at various stages of Harrison's life; there were moments of intense sadness when I saw pictures of my parents or more specifically my Mom. She was by no means a saint or the perfect parent but she was my Mom and last night I missed her terribly.

One of the pictures that caused the waterworks to flow was one that was taken at Mom and Blaine's apartment on July 31, 1999. The picture was taken the day before I moved down here on August 1st,1999. I am sitting down in a chair having a bad hair day. LOL. I had some hair back then. My Mom is standing behind me giving me a hug of sorts. Looking at the picture transported me back instantly to that morning when it was taken. On one hand it was a day that I was "leaving" home for good (more on that perhaps in later blog) and on the other hand it was the day that my life became a bit more simple (more on that another time perhaps). Either way I started to cry looking at the picture and I am sniffling away as I write this down now. It's sad but at the same time remembering Mom is good. Putting it out here feels good as well.

I forget sometimes how much like I writing. How much I like expressing things in this format. Anyways it is time for my 3rd mug of coffee. It has taken 2 mugs to write this. It is a lot easier to read the finished product than to write them that's for sure. :o)

Triumph - Magic Power

Well 16 hours later since my last little bit of writing and I am back on YouTube listening to songs that I have down as favorites and then this wonderfully inspiring song by Triumph starts loading. The track is "Magic Power" released way back in 1981. It's funny that so many of the songs that I love, that touch me, that make me happy, that make me sad are over 20 years old. It seems to be statement against what is being produced and marketed out there these days. Anyways I am rambling off the point once again. LOL. Back to Triumph and "Magic Power".

"Then you hear the music and it all comes crystal clear. The music does the talking, says the things you want to hear." Isn't that what a song is supposed to do? It is supposed to touch you in a way that you can probably not express in such a way on your own. It's amazing that some songwriter out there knows your thoughts, knows your feelings, knows your humanity.

"The world is full of compromise, the infinite red tape...But the music's got the magic, it's your one chance to escape". That is exactly what I need a song to do for me sometimes. It allows me to feel the magic and allows me to escape the compromise and the infinite red tape (aka BS).

I'm so grateful for so many people that write and perform these three to ten minute pieces of music that help me on a daily basis. They help me smile. They help me cry. They help me feel. They have the "magic power".

Bob Seger "Turn The Page" 2004

I woke up an hour or so ago after falling asleep on the couch and decided to surf the net for awhile before calling it a night for a second time. As is usually the case I have to be listening to music while surfing and I decided to check out some videos on YouTube. You find some absolute gems on this site. This morning's nugget is a version of "Turn The Page" from Bob Seger's long overdue induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

The song is instantly recognizable from that opening wail from the saxophone segueing into "on the long and lonesome highway east of Omaha". I think that a sign that a song is a true classic is when it touches not just my generation or even the one before mine but the one that follows. If you happen to check Harrison's Ipod you will find the version from Live Bullet on it. I remember him telling me that the Metallica version didn't come close and that they should have just left it alone. I agree with the sentiment but at the same time Metallica released "Garage Inc." as a tribute to the songs and music that heavily influenced them. You have to give 'em props for that.

What is it about this song that makes it so memorable besides the understated musicality? The lyrics are about being on the road night after night. It isn't something that I can really identify with but going a little bit further you realize as you sing along or "playing the star again" that for about 5 minutes you become Bob Seger, you become a tired rock'n'roller, you become the lyrics. That is the true beauty of this song. You're driving down the highway, the song is playing full blast on the stereo and "echoes from the amplifiers are ringing in your ears".

I heard that Bob Seger is touring this summer. Sounds like a plan.

BLUE RODEO - Hasn't Hit Me Yet

So growing up in Canada, more specifically in Montreal you get exposed to tons of Canadian music. A lot of this is due to the Canadian content rules that have been in place for a few decades to promote Canadian music and musicians. One of the bands that I think I was exposed to because of this "rule" was Blue Rodeo.

They didn't get tons of airplay on CHOM as they are more country than rock but some of their cuts did get some decent airplay especially those that rocked out somewhat. Having always been a purchaser of music ever since I was in my early teens I have bought tons of music after hearing a cut or two on the radio just because I like the artists' sound. It could be the lyrics, the groove or it could be something that just connects with me.

One of those songs is "Hasn't Hit Me Yet". The lyrics are sad when you really listen to them even though the music seems somewhat uplifting. You listen to Greg Keelor singing lead with Jim Cuddy on backing vocals and then you realize that this song is about being oblivious somewhat. LOL. At least that is what I think it is about.

Give it a listen it is a great song!

Christmas is Coming

So here we're on the eve of the holidays starting with it being the 17th and I have just dropped off my son Harrison with my buddy Lou so that my young man can spend time with his Mom this holiday season up in Montreal. Lou and his family are heading up to Montreal for Christmas. I'm spending the week here for the first time in 10 years to spend it with Jackie and her family. This will be the first one that I spend with Jackie and her family and I think we are about to embark on a new tradition. I smiled as I typed this!

The reason for the blog though is that this will be one of the first ever Christmases that Harrison won't be nearby for Christmas Day. It is definitely the first time since I lost my Mom back in July 2002 so it will be weird. Ever since that day, Christmas has been spent with my sister Chantal and the rest of the family up in Laval. It won't be like that this year. That saddens me! Cue the tears. LOL. Seriously I am misty-eyed.

Anyways back to dropping Harrison off. Just before leaving him I gave him a hug and told him I love him and that started getting me misty-eyed. I don't do that often enough. Hug and tell him I love him. Is it some misplaced male machismo that does not allow me to do that? Is it my hoping that my actions on a day to day basis absolve me from vocalising these thoughts? I don't know.

All I do know right now is that I will miss Harrison over the next 10 days or so. I will have fun with Jackie and her children but at the same time a very important piece of me will be missing.

Off Days

Do you ever notice that we have off days every once in a while? By this I mean that sometimes things just don't seem to work right. It is almost like the left foot doesn't know what the right foot is doing. A case in point is that I just woke up from a nap 10-15 minutes ago. I caught a cold at the start of the weekend and my energy level is non-existent. I was watching the Biography channel and fell asleep on my couch for a couple of hours. I woke up in a dire need of kleenex for my the one side of my nose that seems to be working properly and I gingerly extracted myself from the couch and nearly wiped out. It was like I took two steps with my left foot as opposed to the more normal left right combination that would have been more effective. LOL. I think I need a really hot shower to get me ungroggy.

What has become of civility?

So before I go off on my latest rant about something that I see as wrong about today's world I should perhaps preface this by saying that I'm not perfect. I know that is a bit surprising but I have come to grips with it as I rapidly middle age-dom. LOL. Is that a word? Sounds like one. Agedom! LOL.Doesn't look right though.

If people could sometimes read my thoughts; they would think that I am not too civil. I need to work on that I think.

Anyways the reason for the title of this blog is about an event I found about last night at "trivia night" at the Zone in Mauldin.

Here's the event. Jackie and I and my good friend Lou (most times) have been frequenting the Zone on Wednesdays for the last 3-4 months for their trivia night. They offer bar tabs for the top three places and the beer is cheap and the food isn't too bad. DJ Quiz (Chris) runs the trivia "show" and he tries pretty hard to make interesting for all of us. He takes over the music playing which is slanted to 80s stuff which I happen to like and he even takes requests. Where else can you get to hear within minutes of each other Garth Brooks, Buckcherry, Rick Springfield and Matt May? Pretty cool and eclectic.

Sadly last night one of the people that has attracted many of us to the Zone was fired. This lady was and is bubbly, smiley, pretty, fun to be around and a great barmaid/waitress. She would see us walk in and before we even had a chance to take our seats we would have our pitcher of Yuengling with 2 cold glasses and Lou's vodka cranberry at our booth. All of us felt good about this little gesture. It made us feel special and important that someone who serves hundreds of people a week knew exactly what we wanted. She just wasn't only a barmaid or waitress. She was our friend Casey!

So Jackie and I walked in last night at 7pm and Casey was there but not serving people. She was dressed just like the clientele. Casual like. Whenever we walk into the Zone, Jackie gives DJ Quiz the obligatory hug and I do the handshake thing. Jackie more often does the hug thing with Casey and I do my usual "hey". LOL.

At this moment we found out that Casey was fired because supposedly there were some shortages. I've seen Casey on her own and by herself handle a full bar of people ordering drinks and food own. Running from table to table, from stool to stool and giving us absolutely wonderful service. I really don't think that she was "stealing" from the Zone.

Regardless of this so called reason; she was fired by text message last night after showing up to work. Yes that's right text message. Uneffing real. Some gutless worthless uncouth a-hole fired a great person via a text message. Where is the civility in this action? How does such a person look at himself in a mirror? What an effing something or another. I really want to go to 4 letter word territory to describe this spineless amoeba but am refraining from doing so.

Most of last night I was frustrated beyond words. I've never heard of this happening. I'm sure that it does but I never thought this would happen in my little world. I'm sad. I'm discouraged. I'm disappointed. I am trying to think of what I can do to "protest" this. I am pretty much a black and white guy. I can almost see what my next step will be. A man, a woman, a human being must have some tenets, some beliefs, some line in the sand that one just can't cross without a repercussion. We shall see. I will miss the professionalism of Casey. I know that I won't be getting the same service from the supposed eye candy that are now working there.

JACK-fm

So lately I've been listening to different JACK-fm format stations out of the Great White North and the really cool thing is the amount of CanCon on these stations. CanCon being Canadian Content. The JACK stations I've been listening to have been out of Vancouver, Smith Falls and lately the Regina station.

If I had to rank them it would go Regina, Vancouver then Smith Falls. Smith Falls loses out because of the schmaltz factor. Too many drippy songs.

I love the JACK format as they go from decade to decade and from genre to genre with a very healthy dose of CanCon and I will espouse at greater length at a later time on my love of CanCon.

So far tonight I heard the following songs after watching SC take care of Clemson. Go Cocks!

...Bitch...Meredith Brooks
...Light My Fire...The Doors...
...Black Velvet...Allanah Myles (CC)...
...You Spin Me Round...Dead or Alive...
...Make Up Your Mind...Theory of a Deadman (CC)...
...Centerfield...John Fogerty...
...Teenland...Northern Pikes (CC)...
...Only The Good Die Young...Billy Joel...
...Don't It Make Ya Feel...Headpins (CC)...
...You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth...Meat Loaf...
...Where The Streets Have No Name...U2...
...Undun...Guess Who (CC)...
...Mr. Jones...Counting Crows...
...We Run...Strange Advance (CC)...
...Sweet Home Alabama...Lynyrd Skynyrd...
...Wild Horses...Gino Vannelli (CC)...
..."Dirty Laundry...Don Henley...

A pretty eclectic bumch of songs but lots of sing-alongs in my world!!!

There She Goes Again...

So the helicopter-riding, wolf-hunting, fence building Mama of all mama grizzlies decided to once again express her "thoughts". LOL. This time it was on another like-minded limited thinking talk show host's program earlier today. It wasn't on Calamity's show this time; it was on Ingranite's show. It seems that Mama of the mama grizzlies has an issue with our 1st lady's ideas on childhood obesity. She thinks that it is wrong that our 1st lady backs programs that are trying to tackle the child obesity problem. You know I'm thinking that this may all be solved if we build 14ft high fences across our southern and northern borders including blocking all radio and tv signals then we can stare at our navels and problem solve with that plumbing guy. You betcha!

Geez Louise Original Thinking Not Required

So the issue troubling the nation at this time per the GOP is the funding of National Public Radio (NPR) and the funding of Planned Parenthood. This seems to be the case for the rising star of the GOP Mike Pence. You would think that having an unemployment rate of 9.9% as of October 2010 in the state of Indiana which he happens to supposedly represent would be a little more important.

According to the Planned Parenthood website this organization has been around more than 90 years and part of their mission is to help inform us about things like "vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide."

So this is money wasted supporting this kind of organization. After all the dreaded abortion word shows up on the Planned Parenthood website. I haven't checked but maybe the dreaded homosexual word shows up there as well. LOL. What a joke!

Does the thinking of a typical GOP member ever evolve or take into account that we are now in the 21st century and that maybe the viewpoint of a 40+ white male hasn't exactly brought us exactly to that ideal place?

I think not! Then again I am one of those dang liberals.