Tuesday Musings (#4)

Happy anniversary to the Smyth clan. Thirty nine years ago, the nine of us boarded a plane and left Ireland to come to Canada. I remember almost everything of that day. I remember leaving Ireland with tears streaming down my face and I remember the smoke filled cabin of the airplane and I remember the ride from the airport in Toronto to my aunts house in St. Catharines. Back in those days, there was a roundabout at the Niagara side of the Burlington skyway. I remember watching all the lights and seeing the immense size of Canada and being scared.

I am so thankful that my parents made the decision for us to come here. Canada has provided all of us with the opportunity to live different lives than we might have had in Ireland. I am proud to be a Canadian, I love Canada and all that she stands for. On the other hand (there's always another hand), I am so proud to be Irish, many claim to be Irish, but few are really Irish by birth. I can find the house that I was born in on Google maps and as in a previous post I talked about my significant longing to "go home". My sister Margaret (I have three other sisters, although they are not named Margaret) and I are planning a trip together to "go home" next year in the fall. I can't wait.

On another note, I was watching the pre-game stuff for the Monday night football game last night and was appalled that they would give air time to the middle linebacker of the Ravens as he tried to get his players "up" prior to the start of the game. During his rant to a few of his teammates he exhorted them to take a player out. This is just a day after another NFL player was seriously injured and the network has the gall to play video of a player saying those things. Does anyone else remember Darryl Stingley? He was paralyzed by a hit by Jack Tatum (They call me Assasin) and he eventually died of complications in 2007 from the paralysis? I am all for forgiveness, if you know me well, you know exactly where I stand on that matter. I just don't understand why anyone would trumpet the rantings of a player with such a checkered history.

The network was at the least inconsiderate to those who have been injured on the field of play. But (there I said it), these are the days when a lot of people watch full contact fighting (whatever it is called) and call it a sport. We are treading so close the days of the real Gladiators again and we need another person who will stand up and say that this is not right.

Happy Tuesday everyone...............Slainte

Obscure Musical Lyric for the week of Sept.29/08

Good morning music fans, I trust you had a wonderful weekend. I did what I was told and rested. I read, I listened, I drank numerous cups of tea and "I took it easy" to paraphrase the Eagles. I also attended the 50th birthday party of a friend and met some folks who know some old friends from high school days. They even lived down the street from one of my best friends from high school and went to Lakeport High around the same time that I did. What a small world.

On to the song, I think you will like this one. This is the last week of my month of Canadian artists. I'm sure I will use Canadian artists again, but not a whole months worth for a while. I did a lot of research on this song. In fact the writer sent the song to Lynyrd Skynyd for them to record it and unfortunately several members of the band were killed in a plane crash and they never recorded it, so the writer recorded it.

Think of me

as one you'd never figured

would fade away so young

with so much left undone

remember me to my love

I know I'll miss her

The song was released on an album in 1979 and the tile of the album was suggested by a member of Devo. The album was ranked #350 of 500 by Rolling Stone magazine, in 2003. The song is found on side two, track one (that's for you Chief).

I would like to know the following:

The artist:

The name of the song:

The name of the original album:

Have a great week, looks like there are some chilly nights a comin'. The mornings will be a little frosty, thankfully I have a garage. I hope you enjoyed my little foray into Canadian music, I certainly had some fun researching. I got a lot of my material from the "Chief's Big Red Book". If you are fan of Canadian music of all genres, feel free to borrow the book and have a read. I do want it back though.

New gadget added (feedback please)

I've added a new gadget to my blog. I'd like to know who and how many people are reading the blog. So, feel free to click on the "followers" gadget and let me know if you are following and what you think.  

I'd really like some feedback to see what you think of the blog and my thoughts. I have also added a comment control feature, so you will find that when you make comments, they have to be pre-approved by me prior to being published. It's a simple way to ensure that spam and other stuff like that is managed well.

Happy reading.

Reading, resting, listening and remembering.

I'm listening to my many advice contributors and doing what I'm told(for a change) today. I'm resting, drinking a lovely cup of Irish tea, listening to some of my favourite tunes and doing some reading.

Currently, Lilywhite Lilith  and the rest of "The Lamb lies down on Broadway" is playing. Amazing singing by Gabriel and musicianship by the rest of the lads. I remember the first time I heard this album, I was sitting in my kitchen in 1975 listening to a barely perceptible FM radio station as they played the entire album for the first time. I wasn't that impressed at first, it takes time to warm up to this album(and most of the music of Genesis to be honest). When I finally heard it clearly, I was duly impressed. This is a live version and even with the overdubs that were added in production, I love it.

As to my reading material, I am currently reading "The Shack", by William P. Young. It's a story about "Mack"  who is in the midst of the "Great Sadness" a period that was brought on by the loss of his daughter. The jacket notes speak of of the timeless question, "where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?"

Those of you who know us will know that we have experienced life changing tragedy just under six months ago and there are many of us who have rightfully asked the question that the book poses about the whereabouts of God. Some, more deep in their faith than I, have already come to the realization that God was there and will be here as he has promised, "the same yesterday, today and tomorrow" as well as the promise to "never leave us or forsake us".

I'll keep the blog posted on my progress, be aware that I may share some details of the book that might be considered as "spoilers", so I will put that in the title.

Have a great Saturday, particularly if it is your Shabbat.  Interesting that Genesis and Shabbat have come together in the blog, since Shabbat was instituted by God in the book of Genesis after the Creation. 

Kinda makes you want to go......hmm.  

The big reveal for the week of Sept.22/08

Good morning music fans, I know this one was also tough. It wouldn't be obscure if it wasn't tough, now would it? The next week will be the last in the Canadian series of obscure songs for a while and I'm going to have a familiar artist next week, I haven't decided on a song from that artist yet.

The artist: Joni Mitchell
The song: Coyote

Joni sang back up vocals for Neil Young at The last Waltz, which was a fabulous event at least from the video. It really wasn't a last waltz for anyone, but I'm quite confident they had a good time that evening.

The weekend is almost upon us and I for one am glad it's here. This has been a tough week, I have probably done too much and my physiotherapist would agree. I'm glad that she prescribed rest for the weekend, so I'm going to do that as soon as I get out of here today.

I still have several books that are either started or need to be started again as when I was reading them last I was not in a good mindset for comprehending the comics, never mind Cussler or anyone else.

I digress, have an awesome weekend. Enjoy the sun while it lasts and enjoy the rain too. Without the rain, we would not appreciate the sun so much. Enjoy a sip of something familiar, gather with some friends and break bread(unless you are a sufferer of celiac) and of course listen to some music.

"Music is the only language that you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing"

Three months to Christmas

I love Christmas, I love everything about Christmas, even the snow, which can leave on Dec.26 if I have my way. I am really looking forward to Christmas, I'm taking some time off, Josh will be home and I'm already starting to think about the menu.

We have loads of fun as a family and have begun to add new traditions. One that we started last year is that when Josh comes home we have a family dinner at Casa Rugantino in Kitchener. if you've never been there, you are missing a significant gastronomical treat. If you have had the pleasure, then you know what I'm talking about. It was great to sit in the dimly lit, tiny restaurant and enjoy the glow of an absolutely fabulous meal with Jo-Anne and the kids.

I have the opportunity to go there once in a while for lunch (their puffs are amazing, have the meat sauce on the side), it is much more special when it is the four of us. The service is awesome and the food is wonderful.

I don't like to wish my life away. You will never hear me hoping for the weekend, just to get past Monday or whatever day it is. I want to get everything possible out of today and (you know I almost said but) I am looking forward and anticipating Christmas and all that brings.

If you happen by my desk, you may even start to hear some Christmas music soon. Happy Christmas to all and to all a good "day".

Tuesday musings (#3)

Well it's time to start planning the parade. The Leafs won their first game of the season. Yes, I do know that it was pre-season and that Buffalo had mostly AHL quality players, so did the Leafs and they looked pretty good for being just 2 days into training camp. The Leaf players, mostly from their AHL squad at least worked harder than I've seen a Leaf team work in years. I was impressed with their fore checking and speed.

That's not what I wanted to muse about this morning, it just came out. I struggle with people who can't be joyful in the happy moments of other people's lives. There is way too much petty jealousy in the world. What's wrong with enjoying someone else's success? I find it disturbing when someone has something good to share and others (read lots of people in all walks of life) can only think of themselves and not celebrate with the one who has the pleasure of some good event.

I think that "we" have become inherently selfish and cannot for some reason accept when another (and not us) has a windfall or is blessed in some way that "we" are not. What childishness is this that "we" act like children on someone else's birthday and don't get presents. Something has got to give here and it will take a cultural change of immense proportions.

Think about your own situation the next time someone else gets that promotion or has some area of success. Take the time to evaluate your attitudes to them and yourself. We only have to look at the news to see how really blessed we are and to see how difficult most of the rest of the world has it. Take a look in the mirror once in a while and see what kind of person you really are. That's a difficult challenge, I know, and the results can be amazing if you want them to be.

You see, it's really a choice, do you wish to have joy in the circumstances of others or do you silently wish that it was you who received whatever they got. Do you also wish for their trials to be placed on your shoulders? I think not.

Well, I've got to go plan that parade, Happy Tuesday everyone.

Obscure Musical Lyric for the week of Sept.22/08

Good morning music fans. I trust you had a good weekend. Mine was restful and we enjoyed the sunshine and absence of children.

I hope you like this week's selection. Once again, the artist is Canadian, born in Fort Macleod, Alberta on November 7, 1943. This person is considered one of the pillars of Canadian folk music, but has also been know for their pop and jazz music as well. This person sang background vocals for Neil Young at "The Last Waltz". This person sang this song during "The Last Waltz". This song was from an album released in 1976 and the title of the album means "journey".

There's no comprehending
just how close to the bone and the skin and the eyes
and the lips you can get
and still feel so alone

I would like to know:

The name of the artist:
The name of the song:

Have a great week, enjoy the sunshine and celebrate today's special birthday. I'll try to have a few additional hints on Wednesday.

Happy Birthday, Bilbo and Frodo

If you are a Tolkien fan, then you already know that today is Bilbo and Frodo's birthday. If you are not a fan, you can stop reading now.

I'm a big fan of Tolkiens work, his hero's are unusual types. They are the ones who would be picked last for the baseball game (I'm not sure they had baseball games). He took (pun intended) the smallest and used them to bring down the big and mighty.

There's a lot to be said for the work of Tolkien, for me it is always an opportunity to "lose myself" in the story and be transported to different lands on a quest to rid the world of evil.

That's really what we all want isn't it? To get rid of that which threatens our very existence. In the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, that which seemed so beautiful was ultimately evil and controlling. Much like our lives today, the things that seem beautiful may lead to death and destruction, the choice is ours.

I seem to have lost my birthday celebrations in thoughts about good and evil. There is only good to be considered on a birthday. I'm not sure how old either of them are on this day, it doesn't really matter. I'll get to the "Prancing Pony" or some other establishment and raise a glass in their honour.

Happy Birthday indeed!

The big reveal for the week of Sept.15/08

Good morning music fans, either this weeks lyric was a tough one, or you all have had a very busy week. I did not receive one guess the entire week. I knew it would be tough, but I didn't think it would be that tough.

I've picked something much more familiar for next week. I even watched the song being played on youtube last night.

Here are the answers:

The singer: Loreena McKennit.
The song: The Mystic's Dream.
The album: The Mask and The Mirror.
Where she lives: near Stratford.

Have an awesome weekend, the weather looks great. Take some time to savour the sights and sounds of your surrounding area. Go to a market instead of a grocery store and purchase some locally grown foods and then cook a dinner for that someone special (or maybe the dog). Fill your days with familiar music and may introduce yourself to some new songs.

"Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them"