The big reveal for the week of May 11, 2009

Good morning music fans and welcome to the long weekend. How about those 'canes, I love it when a skating team and not a group of behemoths gets to play for the biggest prize in hockey. Back to music, if you read my previous post, you will know my memories from Lakeside Park and Rush and my days of yore in St. Catharines. Those were the days I could tell you stories, but I won't here.

I had several guessers this week, including one directly on the comments section from someone who found the blog looking for something else, pretty cool. Peter McM. and his sidekick Steve B. got all the answers corrects:

Here are the answers from this weeks trivia:

The singer: Don Henley
The writer: Bruce Hornsby
The name of the song: The end of the Innocence
The name of the band (trick question, I was asking for the band that the singer drums for): The Eagles

Here are three versions of the song by both Don Henley and Bruce Hornsby, enjoy. One even has an introduction from a Japanese broadcaster from the Grammys

Have an awesome weekend, I know I will. It's a long one and while I am not travelling to a cottage with millions of other Ontarians, I am travelling to my deck to plant my herb garden. That along with my beloved and some fine music and maybe a drop of Forty Creek every now and then will make for a great rest from the toils of the daily grind.

give a stranger one of your smiles, It might be the only sunshine they see all day

Lakeside Park

With the Mat 2-4 weekend nearly upon us, I am drawn as always to that great Rush song, "Lakeside Park". Why, I spent many hours just:

"sitting in the sand to watch the fireworks display"

I have so many memories of my high school years spending time in "Port" and hanging around and just enjoying the great park with friends. I arrived there for the first time early in the winter of 1969-1970 and remember walking in the park with my Dad seeing the old carnival building falling more and more into disrepair. The merry go round was falling apart and it wasn't repaired for several years after that, sometime before 1975 I think. In the spring my Dad and I would drive golf balls from one end to the other.

In high school, we spent innumerable hours there and at friends houses doing what teenagers do, no descriptions needed I am sure. We discovered the joy of Frisbee and spending time with friends and making new ones (usually girls from the Collegiate or Grantham and even D.M.). It was our place and our time to live and learn most of life's adventures. The port was great and Murphy's hadn't been rebuilt yet, at times it was pretty decrepit, but it was our place to be.

Just as Peart enjoyed the memories of his time at Lakeside Park, so did I and so many former members of Lakeport High School and others. It's not the same though and memories are best left that way, as memories. Nothing can bring back the life that it was, but the memories will last forever.

"though it's just a memory, some memories last forever"

Enjoy the May 2-4 weekend wherever you are. I know that at sometime during the weekend, I will sit and listen to "Lakeside Park" and reminisce of those times gone by. Maybe this is the weekend to start calling some old friends and begin a mini reunion?

All Home

Finally, we are a complete family again. Josh returned home last night after a long semester and equally long 12 hour drive from school. It was so nice for the four of us to just sit and chat, laugh, reminisce, plan and giggle at our own silliness last night.

What an amazing blessing it is being part of this family. We are all so different and yet so similar. It is great to retreat behind the curtains, turn off the tv and just sit and chat. It's going to be a great summer with the four of us as busy as we will be, just being there.

I love the simple stuff, eating together, working around the house and hanging out. The only proble is that August is not that far away and Josh will be gone again until December. Oh well, makes for great entertainment in planning a family road trip to go visit.

Tuesday Musings # 35

I have been thinking about mediocrity lately. What an amazing word that is, just the sound of it make me think about its origins. I have been unable to accurately determine where the word came from, but when I find out I will post it. If you know the history and the basis for it either Latin or Greek please feel free to help me out.

When I think of mediocrity, I think of just getting by, of doing what is barely necessary to accomplish a task. I really would like to see myself and others driven to the point that mediocre is not acceptable. Whatever happened to striving for excellence? When did we begin to accept just passing. Please do not misunderstand me, I am not looking for perfection and I know I will never get to that point. Neither do I or have I ever placed an expectation on my children to accomplish perfection.

I have always challenged them to "do their best" and if they accomplished that, then whatever result they received was accepted. In numerous arenas that I travel, I see mediocrity and I am appalled by it. Charles Swindoll wrote a book entitled "Living above the level of Mediocrity" and that should be the goal for all persons. If we accepted that challenge, would things be better? I wonder what would happen if we agreed what is the the best and we strove towards it?

Happy Tuesday everyone

Obscure Lyric for the week of May 11/09

Good morning music fans and welcome to Monday, already. I hope that you and yours had a great mothers day to celebrate or remember those who raised us and appreciate the time energy and love that was expended on our behalf.

This weeks lyric is from a solo artist who also has a gig with another band. The other band has been around for quite some time, I remember hearing one of their earlier hits on the radio years ago when I was picking fruit down in the Niagara region as a teenager. They still tour and you will know who they are, everyone does.

The song was released in 1989 and was on the third solo album by this artist. The song was not written by the artist, but the writer also performs the song in concert.

They're beating ploughshares into swords
for this tired old man that we elected king
armchair warriors often fail
and we've been poisoned by these fairy tales

I would like to know:

the name of the song:
the writer:
the singer:
the name of the band:

Have a great week, enjoy the sun and you can tell we are moving towards a long weekend, the gas prices are already going up.

Surprise visits and other things

I love surprise visits.

I love just doing it, seeing someone and then inviting them to a meal and enjoying the time together. Just this morning, two members of our small group were out checking out the garage sales and then dropped in to visit with me.

How cool is that, we just sat and chatted and then they were gone. I love my small group. I love that we all have grown in our relationship with God and each other over these past few years. The members have come and gone but the core has remained and we get along well and we challenge and encourage each other without restraint.

This is what church is supposed to be as far as I am concerned. Church is a group of people who spend time together learning about and from God, worshipping Him and then looking for opportunities to serve others so that they too will experience the love that we have received. As much of a traditionalist that I am, church is not about traditions, special clothes(like dressing up for church), special music, money or any of the other sacred cows that need to be slaughtered on the altar of sacrifice.   

Sometimes I just want to scream at the things that distract us from our true calling, worshipping and serving God. There are several ways that I experience closeness with God, when I sing and when I am silent. The silence of the monastery is such a passionate time for me. I discover what is pressing to me and more importantly, I listen. 

When was the last time you prayed and didn't speak or even consider your own needs and listened in your heart for what that "still small voice" had to say? Lately I have been spending my prayer time in complete silence and just observing my surroundings. Usually, I ramble on and acknowledge, confess, thank, and supplicate(ACTS), but I have seen the need for me to be silent. An old chorus based on Habakkuk 2:20 went like this,

 "the lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence"  

I have been silent and have heard His voice and I have tried to listen and follow His direction. 

Saturday (but not in the park)

Good morning, it's looking crummy already out there. Is this going to be one of those years where it is sunny all week and rainy all weekend? I truly hope not! Today is garage sale day in Elmira and we have lots of treasure for sale. My beloved loves these things, I, on the other hand would rather go to the dentist. I feel the same way on this day as when I used to be in sales, not sure why, that's just the way it is. We try to support each other in our individual endeavours and this is my turn to support her.

I listened to a radio program where Chuck Swindoll was speaking yesterday. I really like his speaking, writing and preaching. He was speaking on marriage and since our small group is working our way through a book about marriage, I was instantly drawn to his words. Once again, I was challenged by his speaking and God's word to love my wife. Those are empty words without the actions and behaviours that are needed to show love. And so, I am here helping with the garage sale, that's just one way to show my wife that I love her. It's all about placing her interests before mine.

That is not a popular thought and hasn't been for some time. I remember the 70's and reading "Looking out for #1" before we were married and my beloved having some concerns about the "theology" of the book. I now see that it is completely contrary to what I believe and try to strive towards when I say I love her. Looking out for her first is more important than what I want(unless of course it's looking out for her that I want).

the big reveal for the week of May 4/09

Good morning and welcome to Friday. Oh man what a week it has been. For the most part the weather has been terrific, I have had very little time to enjoy it unfortunately. The weekend is coming and so apparently is the rain.

I received no guesses this week, someone thought it might be Carole King and I suggested that they were in the correct ball park.

Here are your answers:

Song name: One who is touched by the Sun
Writer: Carly Simon
Album: Letters never sent
Son of a famous artist: Ben Taylor (son of James Taylor and also her son)

Here is a nice live version of the song

Have a great weekend in spite of the rain. Enjoy those moments when you can rest and enjoy the peace that the rest brings.

I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.

Obscure lyric for the week of May 4/09

Good Monday morning music fans. I trust you had a wonderful weekend. I think that with the continual sunshine that spring is finally here. We finally got the snow tires off the car, so that should be a true harbinger of spring. My apologies to those of you from the north who may still have snow falling in June.

I searched through my music library and found this song. It is on a compilation album that I have and was purchased for me by my beloved as a gift as I really only liked one song from the artist. From that comment you can extrapolate that I have never purchased any of this artists music. I have, however, begun to appreciate the skills and poetry of this persons work since listening to their "greatest hits".

This person grew up in the U.S. and was raised in a family where music was a constant. The artist even started out in a short lived duo with a family member. This person has been around for some time and their professional work began with in 1971 when a self titled album was released. The song I have chosen was released on an album in 1994 and the basis for the album was information that was never completed for its purpose, I suppose to compare it to blogging it would be like keeping a blog for editing but never posting it. Apparently, this song was written about the artists mother and Jackie Onassis both of whom dies in 1994.

here is this weeks lyric

Often I want to walk

the safe side of the street

and lull myself to sleep

and dull my pain

I would like to know the following:

The name of the song:

The name of the artist:

The name of the album:

Trick question: name the son of another famous artist who plays on the album:

Have a great week, enjoy the sun and all the signs of life that are early spring.

The big reveal for the week of April 27/09

Welcome to May y'all. April was great and I'm glad it's over, I am really looking forward to some nice warm (not summer hot) days and watching things grow. I'm planning on planting an herb garden on an old table on my deck this spring and plan on using fresh herbs in my cooking.  I love to cook so that will make the adventures so much more fun.

Several of you had the right idea this week, but only one submitted a guess online. So props to Peter M for getting all the answers correct  and even challenging me with some obscure lyrics. You got me by the way, oops

Here are your answers:

The name of the song(and the introduction): Love lies bleeding (funeral for a friend)

The writer of the music: Reginald Kenneth Dwight(Sir Elton John)

The writer of the words: Bernie Taupin(what an amazing talent he is)

The name of the album: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

The following song is written about: Candle in the Wing written about Marilyn Monroe originally

Enjoy this version from Central Park in 1980.

and how about this one from 2002 from Japan

Have an awesome weekend, enjoy the warmer weather and the company of friends, family and other loved ones. May the warmth of their friendship bring you to the place of peace and rest. 

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent"