What happened on December 29th?

Happy New Year - Welcome to 2007

My Neighbours House on Christmas Eve 2006

Not much else to say, all the best in the New Year to you and your family! Off at noon today and have a lot of work to get done. See you in 2007!

What happened on December 22nd?

MERRY CHRISTMAS



Not going to write a lot, just want to wish anyone who hits this page a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Winter Solstice, or any winter festival that you might celebrate.

Special holiday wishes to Paul, Running 42K, Emma, Joe, whoever is always stopping by from San Leandro,California (who are you? leave a note sometime)and Reston, Virginia (again ..who are you? leave a note sometime)and finally anyone from the UK who is looking for info on Bedouin SoundClash (the song is titled ... "When The Night Feels My Song".)



Little Drummer Boy: Lyrics

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

The words and music to the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy was composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958. The lyrics of Little Drummer Boy consist of no less than 21 rum pum pum pum' - a major part of the song and therefore presenting an apparently easy task for the lyricist! However, Little Drummer Boy has been a huge hit for several artists. The most notable rendition was created by the most unlikely combination of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. This version of Little Drummer Boy was a massive hit for the artists and was in fact Bing Crosby's most successful recording since the legendary White Christmas.

What happened on December 15th?

I don't rant very often, but today just seems to be the day that I need to let go on a wide range of subjects.

1) Justice Cohan has decided (she can because she is the administrator) to ban a Christmas Tree from the front lobby of the Jarvis Street Courthouse.
Hey I know sometimes Christmas can be a over powering season for people of other faiths. Yes we are celebrating a religious event, yes it gets shoved down their throats with Christmas TV shows (my favourite it still "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby), with stores decked out with Christmas decorations, Christmas music and Christmas Trees everywhere you turn . Yes it is overpowering, but this is a country where over 70% of the population is Christian. That means that over 50% of the work population at that courthouse or going to that Courthouse is going to be celebrating Christmas. Why shouldn't we celebrate a important event, hell most people don't even go to church on Christmas Eve. So you can't even call it a religious holiday, it more about the emotional symbol then religion, people are just nicer at Christmas.
Look I don't complain about the Hanukkah menorah at Downsview Park, I don't complain about one of my neighbours putting up lights for Diwali. Everyone has a right to celebrate a festival that is important to them. On the 27th we are going to a Christmas dinner party hosted by a Jewish couple the attendees are Muslim/Catholic couple, a Catholic/Anglican couple and us Catholic/Presbyterian(Anglican/agnostic - ME!). Everyone at this time of year needs to celebrate a Festival of Lights.

2) Another creature has possibly disappeared forever. The Yangtze River Dolphin has been pronounced extinct. They think there may be a few left but not enough for a sustainable population. This is just sad.

3) Some asshole finally admits to killing a baby he was babysitting, 10 years after he did it. Get this he being charged as minor because he committed the crime when he was a juvenile. WTF? Sentencing is to be some time in the early spring, does this mean the guy will only get a few years in jail for murder? What is wrong with our justice system when a murder or rapist only serves a couple of years. This wrong. I don't agree with the death penalty, but I do agree with harsh punishment for crimes. I lean to the left in my politics, but I think our country has gone to far in prisoner rights.

4) Why are we still in Afghanistan .. do they as a people really want us there. 44 Canadians have died there, just don't let their deaths be in vain!

5) Some idiot is killing prostitutes in Ipswich, England .. It's great that the community and the police force are moving so quickly on this .. Here in Canada the RCMP got Pickton, but what is happening with the multiple murders in Edmonton?.

On a happier note, Hockey Canada has released the name of this years World Junior team .. great Christmas hockey.

I just want it to snow.

White Christmas - Irving Berlin 1942

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.

---

What happened on December 8th?

This is the start of one of the best seasons of the year. Christmas. I know, I know, not all of you celebrate this holiday, but for me it's a time of happiness, great memories and a time when my kids eyes shine. Let's avoid the religious celebration, the crass commercialism and let's just work with the idea of what this time is supposed to represent. Rememberance, Peace on earth and good will to men.

But when you think about it, this season contains some of the worst tragedies that affect all of us. Maybe not directly, but we are continuously reminded of them.

1) The bombing of Pearl Harbour, Dec. 7/41
2) the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Nov. 22/63
3) the murder of John Lennon Dec, 8/81
4) Ecole Polytechnic Massacre, Dec. 6/89
5) the Indian Ocean earthquake and resulting Tsunami Dec. 26/04

Why am I pointing these out, instead of starting to celebrate. Well, I think these events need to be remembered so that the people who suffered won't be forgotten. When I was scanning the Wiki list of disasters, I saw events where thousands of people died. Is it right that these people are written off and forgotten, I don't feel that they should be. I think this time of year is the most important time to remember them, this is when we should think of the simple lines of "but for (insert god, fate, karma, etc) grace that could be me and mine" Be thankful for what you get.



Lyrics for: Starting Over By: John Lennon

Our life together
Is so precious together,
We have grown
We have grown

Although our love
Is still special,
Let's take our chance
And fly away
Somewhere alone

It's been so long
Since we took the time,
No one's to blame
I know time flies
So quickly
But when
I see you
Darling
It's like we both are
Falling in love again

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over

Everyday
We used to make it love
Why can't we be
Making love nice and easy

It's time to spread
Our wings and fly
Don't let another
Day go by
My love

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over

Why don't we
Take off alone,
Take a trip somewhere
Far, far away

We'll be together
On our own again
Like we used to
In the early days

Well
Well
Well
Darling

It's been so long
Since we took the time,
No one's to blame
I know time flies
So quikly
But when
I see you
Darling
It's like we both are
Falling in love again

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over,

Everyday
We used to make it love
Why can't we be
Making love nice and easy

It's time to spread
Our wings and fly
Don't let another
Day go by
My love

It'll be just like
Starting over
Starting over

Our life together
Is so precious together,
We have grown
We have grown
Although our love
Is still special,
Let's take our chance
And fly away
Somewhere
Alone.

What happened on December 5th?

African Violet Macro


I saw a Guitar God last night .. no Heroes update and I forgot to set the VCR to record it .. but it was worth it .. Wife, Eldest and I saw The Who last night at the ACC.

Wow!!! .. can Pete Townshend still play guitar, the guy was incredible (what's even more surprising as he is 61 not that I'm a agist) and Roger Daltrey has the most incredible voice. For a guy who claimed to be sick at the start of the show he belted/screamed/sang like a twenty year old not a 62 year old. Eldest thought he was trying to be like the screamo bands that he likes, it was kind of cool to tell him that Daltry has always sounded like this. I wish I had photos to share but I'm just to honest that I wouldn't bring my camera with me, but man were the cell phones clicking away last night so there has to be some online at Flickr.

Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders opened for them last night .. they were awesome .. and she is still so hot (Wife can't understand why, but she just is). Eldest really liked them, the thing that bugs me is that in the car everytime a song by the Pretenders comes on he complains (at least now he won't), he also asked me how old they were, had to tell him that Chrissie was older then his mom and me. Eldest (he takes drums lessons and plays percussion in the school band) really got into seeing live drummers and since we were about a 100 feet and to the right of the stage, you really got to see the drummers play. Great seats.

The Who covered over forty years of music, the opening three songs were all pre 1969. They played most of the songs from the new album "Endless Wire" (they covered the mini opera that Townshend had written for this album) (by the way, I really like the album, I was kind of pissed during this part of the show because you could hear a number of assholes calling out for older songs.). I think Townshend can still write a awesome song, take a listen sometime to "A Man in a Purple Dress". They then covered a lot of older material form the 70's and 80's, at the end they did a encore of a melody of songs from Tommy and ended with a soft piece from the new album.

The audience was a mix bag .. I would say at least half were over 50 .. you saw whole families (like us).. when the Who did "Baba O'Riley", all I could think of was "Geriatric Wasteland" I swear there were 80 year old guys rocking out. Great concert and well worth every cent. Though I didn't buy any of the $40 tee shirts.



Baba O'Riley by The Who
Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals
I get my back into my livin'
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Don't cry, don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland...yeah...

Sally take my hand, we'll travel south cross land
Put out the fire, and don't look past my shoulder
The exodus is here, the happy ones are near
Let's get together, before we get much older

Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland
Oh, yeah
Teenage wasteland
They're all wasted!


My only complaint with the concert was the drunks, there has to be a way to control the drinking at concerts. "Back in our day" you had to sneak you bozze in so you just brought pot. There was a group in the same row as us, ejected even before the Pretenders came on stage, for drunkenness. Here they were clean cut business looking types and they could barely walk. I had to switch seats with Eldest because he was getting uncomfortable sitting beside the guy beside him. The man was probably on his 10th beer before he stopped drinking. I would rather sit beside someone smoking pot than a drunk.

***Addendum Wedneday December 6/06***
Other Toronto Bloggers who attended the Who Concert on the fourth.

Ianism .... CherrySuede .... Behind Brown Eyes .... Lannio's World online

What happened on December 1st?

I have a question for you.


I know that a wide range of people have hit this site, I get about 30 visiters a day. Everyone of you pass through very quickly, but I want you to take the time to answer one question for me.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Some of you might be doing exactly what you always thought you would (your grown up), some of you are learning you new trade and trying to decide if this is what you want to do (your still young), some of you might hate your jobs (your still a grown up), and some of you might be just like me and coasting from day to day (we haven't grown up yet).

I'm 43 now (44 in 3 mths). I know I will still have to be working well into my sixties (Youngest will have only just graduated from University when I turn sixty.) and I know I don't want to be doing what I do right now. Can you see yourself doing phone sales at sixty, lord help me.

So what do I want to do when I grow up? I don't know yet.

What are your plans?

The Who, with Eddie Cochran's "Summer Time Blues"