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!