Just the other day....

I mentioned something that happened to me that was earth shattering. It has born fruit in the creation of another blog. I am quite disgusted with myself, to tell you the truth.You can find it under my links, MY OTHER ACTIVE BLOG. The inactive blog is NickedatNite.

A VANESSA MAE A DAY, KEEPS THE BLUES AWAY #1

Wow, can this girl ever play. I thought it was fitting, after the Buffalo Sabres rallied from three goals down to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, that I begin with the Sabre dance. Enjoy!

ADS I SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED TO

Click on these pictures - they pump up really big!

AN AWAKENING

I had an awakening of sorts today about something really bothering me in my life. When these things happen I have to sit back and ascertain if it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me, or just a thought that popped into my head. Of course, the thought that popped into my head may have been God's prodding. I don't even know if I am up to much socializing until I get a handle on this situation. It was that earth shattering.

SMILING FACES - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH

I immediately thought of this song yesterday during Christmas dinner. It was mentioned that a former "friend" of mine had said to one of my children, "Hey, be sure to say hi to your Dad." I get this a lot from people. I wonder why they can't just pick up the phone themselves and call me. I also have a cousin who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. She also always drops the "Hey, be sure to say hi to your Dad for me." Well, if you can chat online or talk on the phone with one of my kids,then it can be just as easy to give me a call. "Tell her she can look me up,I'm not that hard to find." I had a good Christmas except for near the end. My parents always try to stir up trouble and pit my wife and I against our daughters. I'm so tired of it, I wish I could just fly away sometimes and never come back to this town. I momentarily lost my composure last night, and briefly this afternoon, emotionally wise, but constantly reminded myself that my God is bigger than these problems, and I have to take the high road and keep my cool.Anyhow, The Temptations did a cover of this song, but the original is by the Undisputed Truth, and this goes out to all you two-faced, smiling trouble makers out there. You know who you are.

WORST CHRISTMAS ALBUMS

These just might be the worst Christmas albums I have ever heard of.

CHRISTMAS IN THE 50'S

MY BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER

My best present probably wasn't the most expensive one or the most valuable one I ever received. But it was a present that blew away all the kids in the neighborhood and made them the most jealous. I was probably around 10 years old or so, and at the time, a big fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was even a proud card-carrying member of the Eddie Shack fan club. Well, when the Sears Christmas catalogue came to our mailbox in September, I was practically salivating over the white "away" Maple Leaf jersey that was for sale. Up until that time, only blue "home" jerseys were up for sale. The other big thing about Christmas was waiting for the big box of gifts that came from my beloved Oma and Opa in Holland. We got neat candies and Dutch games that were lots of fun. I even got a chocolate record, that you would play once and then eat. The one I got was of an organ grinder playing some kind of waltz or polka. Anyhow, the big day arrived and I got the sweater. I was so happy. The next day Carl Shepler and his brothers Billy, Darby and Terry and Gary Snyder and I went through a field to our little skating pond. I tried to get out to that pond a few years ago but it was impossible with all the brush that has now grown in. When I took my coat off no one could believe it when they saw my new Leaf sweater. However, my joy was short-lived when Owen Held came by, took off his coat and he was sporting a white Montreal Canadiens jersey. He then proceeded to punch the living crap out of me. It wasn't good, I kid you not. I wonder if Owen remembers that. He is now a plumber/preacher. I guess I have to forgive him. Merry Christmas, everyone.

THE WOMEN ARE SMARTER IN EVERY WAY

Sorry guys, I love this song, also covered by the Grateful Dead. This is a calypso style by the afore mentioned Robert Mitchum. I like to listen to warm weather songs on cold days.

DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #4

The Cranberries. Not the kind we'll be enjoying in a few days at Christmas dinner, but the Irish rock band. This song has great imagery and has a strong anti-war message.

EDNA LOUISE - CAN YOU FIND THIS FOR ME? #1

If Edna Louise can't find this record for me, nobody can. Oh, btw, I got this neat little program that hooks an LP turntable up to a PC computer, and it rips the tracks onto a hard drive in an mp3 format. So now I am out shopping for some hard to find rarities. I also want to tell Edna Louise if she ever sees a record that interests her, I'll convert it to a CD, au gratis!

CHRIS TRAPPER - KEG ON MY COFFIN

I saw this man perform a while ago at the Tralf in Buffalo. The only other time I had been there was to see a jazz man by the name of Jimmy McGriff. The Tralf is sort of a hard place to find. I knew it was by Shea's and the Buffalo Christian Center but we drove by it becasue they isn't even any signs for it. I went around the block and a couple of damsels came to me in my distress, and told us where to park and where the entrance was. It was really a good concert, opened up by the Corrections, and if you ever get a chance to see either, go for it. Trapper is very talented, and writes very clever songs. I'm going to get more into his stuff this winter, when there is nothing to do but sit around the fire and get lazy.

SONGS - JOHNNY CASH - "RUSTY CAGE"

A cover of a song by Soundgarden. Johnny was like all of us eventually - a young man trapped in an old, decaying body. Well, don't ever pin us old-timers up against the wall, we ain't dead and useless yet. There's a guy at church I just love - George is his name. Just turned 96. Fought a number of years in WW2, chasing Rommell if I am not mistaken. Or maybe he was in Italy. Doesn't matter, he served his country well. This morning when I saw him the twinkle in his eye and the smile on his face tells me that George is young at heart. This one is for you, Happy Birthday!

DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #3

This song is by Garland Jeffreys. Great songwriter and performer - I wonder why he never made it big. I have followed his career for years and hope to see him sometime. This song talks about pure ignorance. Ignorance that compels small people to use racial slurs and it makes me sick. Last year, before the Presidential election, I was delivering mail and thought I would try to catch up with a former customer, on another route, who's wife had passed away. I drove my postal truck by his house and he was out front raking leaves. I stopped and asked how he was doing, expressing my condolences, just small talk, then he got all red in the face and asked me what I thought of the election. Before I could even answer the question he said, "There is no way America will ever elect a nigger president. They'll shoot that black bastard before he ever gets into the White House." Well, I got out of there asap. And what makes this even sadder, if that is possible at all, is that if you don't know I am Canadian, so why would a Canadian get so worked up and hateful over another country's election. Just goes to show you, racism is based on stupidity, lack of reason, and pure hatred from the depths of hell. This song is called "Don't Call Me Buckwheat". There are very few videos avaiable of Garland Jeffreys.

SONGS - JOHNNY CASH - "DRIVE ON"

Whenever I get unsettled inside, whenever I feel like things I strive for are unravelling, whenever I feel like I am going backwards instead of forwards, I do 2 things. I read the Bible, it connects quickly to my spirit and I settle down. And I turn to music. Music is my language, music has made me who I am today, for the good and bad. One man I turn to often is Johnny Cash, especially his latter work released by American Recordings. This song, Drive On, is a tribute to the men and women who fought, who fought courageously, in Vietnam. A friend of mine lost a brother in Vietnam. I looked him up, online on the wall in washington, and I cried when I saw my friend's brother on there. I had another friend who fought in Vietnam with the Americal Division. Billy survived that, never talked too much about it, and died a few months after he got home when his car hit some black ice and smashed into a tree. It was Christmas Eve, 1971. Almost 40 years later, and I still get a lump in my throat and my eyes get watery when I think of Billy. It's funny how I remember the Mohawk haircut he had, and how he loved Terry Sawchuck, the hockey goalie. Though this song is of Vietnam, it reminds me of spiritual battles that we are all in. Drive On.

RIP Gary Wade

A friend of mine passed away a couple of days ago. His name was Gary Wade.He worked for over 40 years at Fleet Industries in Fort Erie. He was an avid fisherman and in my books was a real straight shooter. Most people you can't ever get a handle on. You just never know if they are being straight or playing you for a fool. He told you, sometimes very bluntly, what was on his mind and you grow to appreciate that in a person, though sometimes a little more tact would be nice! We went on a fishing trip once and I was to bring the beer. Someone mentioned that I should try Brava, which is similiar to Corona, but made in Canada. So I bought a couple 24's and Gary let me know after a sampling what he thought of the "no good simulated Mexican beer." His wife Brenda, whenever I see her, always asks me, "Hey, are you still drinking that cheap simulated Mexican beer?" Gary was also very tight-fisted with the almighty dollar. His sister told me a story today that was all Gary. He had a bottom feeder fish that died, and the warranty had expired by 2 days. So he stuck the fish in a freezer bag and froze it. He went to the store and bought another fish, waited a few days, thawed out the dead one and went back to the store for a refund. This is a picture in happier times, I think in a motel room in Orillia, before he tasted the Brava. Gary, may you rest in peace.

DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #2

I had two opportunities to see Bob Marley way back when. The first time was in the early 70's and my friend Richard was bugging me to see Marley at Buff State. I hadn't heard too much of Marley at the time, and was too wrapped up in Dylan and Zappa (how is that for a combination) to bother exploring Marley. The other time was in the latter 70s, and I had purchased tickets for Bob Marley at Maple Leaf Gardens, but the show was cancelled due to his illness, and I never was able to get a refund. Their are two versions of this song I enjoy the most - this live one by Marley and the other was by Sinead O'Connor. That was at the BobFest concert where everyone booed the snot out of her (for saying the Pope was the real enemy on SNL) and she retaliated by singing War.I thought that was pretty ballsy.

DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #1

There are many videos asociated with this song, but I think this captures the spirit best of Happy Xmas (War is Over).

WORKING CLASS HERO

JOHN LENNON

The day after John was murdered, a friend of mine left a note for me on his mailbox while I delivered his mail."The Dream is Over". As a Christian I can't say that I am extremely pleased about the lyrics of "Imagine" and "God". But I cannot deny that the music of John Lennon has made a personal impact on my life. The Plastic Ono album is unlike any piece of music I have ever heard before. The song "Mother" evokes a lot of emotion in me - a hurt, an anger, a frustration and indignation over my own personal situation. "Hold On" - I had no relationship back then to sustain me, but I longed for one. "I Found Out" - shortly after this album came out I did find out about the evils of society, the danger and wickedness potentially lurking behind every corner. I live my life very carefully. "Working Class Hero" - the education I received in Ontario was useless to me. Only as an adult have I found a hunger and thirst for knowledge. My career as a postal worker was a total waste of time, with stupid management making stupid rules, forever entrapped in this cat and mouse game. How humiliating. This song seems to go on forever with the recent cover by Green Day."Isolation" - alone with no one to blame, because they are victims too. "Remember" - sort of like what the Apostle Paul said in our living for today and forgetting about what hurts and failures lurk in the past. "Love" - the need to love and to be recepients of love. The song sung in such a beautiful melody, I often think of the opening piano notes. It slowly builds up until it washes over all me. "Well, Well. Well" is a song talking about the sheer lust and lunacy and togetherness that a couple experiences in their relationship. The joy of 2 becoming 1. "Look at Me' to me is a song about how the world looks at us, and what they see may not be reality, only we and our Creator know the real "me". "God" certainly impacted me as a song that triggered a spirtual search. Some faiths just seemed ridiculous to me, I always said I didn't become rastafari because I would look terrible in dreadlocks. But even as an unbeliever at the time, I would cringe when John would sing "I don't believe in Jesus." I can almost recall the times throughout my life when I used the name of Jesus in vain, sometimes before I came to Him, and even sometimes after. Whenever I have, I feel miserable for days and continually pray for forgiveness. How could I curse someone who loves me so? "My Mummy's Dead" - The intermingling of bitter/sweet and wondering how it could have all gone so freaking wrong?

PEARL HARBOR DAY - DECEMBER 7, 1941 "A DAY OF INFAMY"

The surprise attack resulted in 2402 American deaths and 1282 wounded. I would be insulting their memory if I wrote of the loss of ships.

ZHANG ZIYI - GOTTA LOVE HER!

I COULD NEVER DRINK FROM THIS FOUNTAIN

I don't care what anyone says, that sucker is a converted urinal!