It's odd, isn't it? Music can evoke so many vivid memories. Music can evoke so many emotions. I can still, very very clearly holding my handheld Realistic (thanks radio shack) AM/FM radio "late" at night in my room listening surreptitiously to the music played by CKQR radio well after bed time. I can very clearly remember the slight crackle of the AM channel and the sound of Billy Joel singing "It's still rock and roll to me". I thought he was cool. I still love that song. FM was for the CBC.
My musical tastes swing throughout the spectrum, and having been exposed to everything as a child, a teenager and as an "adult" I still listen to it all. I have a digital copy of the cassette tape (if you don't know what a cassette tape is, read somewhere else please. No offence, just go.....away.) my dad had made of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, that just like my dad, I play with great relish on Saturday Mornings and frequently on long drives. It reminds me of him. And Saturday's. the smell of old books from "the den" and oddly an "ancient"set of Encyclopedia Britannica's which provided dated, yet usable information for many essays, as did the rest of the largest collection of books I had seen as a child. I think I lost that tape on my father...I shall have to take him the CD...exactly the same version. Just.....harder to lose. Sunday's of course used to be reserved (and some days now too, but usually when it's raining)for the thunder of the Red Army Chorus. 'dem ruskies can sing!!!
Funny, but perhaps I'm a late catcher-oner, but I don't think I ever really started listening, actually listening to lyrics until my late teens. They can be pretty deep. Granted, the bubble-gum pop ,which was never really my scene tends not to be. But some can.
Road Trips home remind me of folk music. The Brother's Four. The Kingston Trio. Pete Seeger .It tended to be the only music you could play without headphones at any level a reasonable kid wanted. It's good to be the driver. Although I do play some going home, I tend to play and little more rock and roll now than when I was a backseat fixture (passenger side, behind my mother).
Punk music has it's charms. It is perfect for the teenager. Just the loud, assertive, angst of the music is an apt description for teenager itself. I hate symbolism, and yet it can very appropriate. I hate Ernest Hemingway's writing. I refused to read it in school....still had to do all the tests. Still passed. Symbolism can be so predictable. Anyway...not sure how that snuck in here.
Sometimes, nothing quite brings back the teenage years than I good dose of Bobby Darrin. No. I am not that old, but I did spend an inordinate amount of time in a Ford Thunderbird (TAUPE Ford Thunderbird!!! It was taupe and don't you forget it!!!) cruising the West Kootenay's. It had an ample supply of radio recorded cassettes featuring Danny Finkleman and Finkleman's 45's.. It also had a rogue copy, that somehow never seemed to find it's way home of Joan Jett. (Thanks Sally!).
I don't know why...but bagpipes remind me of my grandparents. No particular reason. I don't even remember them playing any music at all. Oh, except my grandmother on my father's side. She liked Roger Whittaker. I have none. I don't think I'm missing out. I have some Dean Martin and some Sinatra...nevermind, not even close.
Rock Music. Brings up memories of a LOT of booze, girls and the inevitable result of the combination of the two. 'nuf said.I still listen...over and over and over.
Of course, living in Canada's Cowboy Country, there is the country music. NOT the tear-in-my-beer stuff. I'm not struck on whasisname and his burning ring of fire. More the she's-hot-and-now-we-are-not-but geez-will ya-get-a-look-at her kind of country....it's entertaining and some of it is, despite being perhaps a tad melancholy at times, insightful.
I have no idea why I wrote this....I'm kinda lost. I'm gonna go spin some tunes and see if I can get more inspiration. It's still rock and roll to me.
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Sunday, 17 June 2012
There are perfect roads....there are perfect days for driving
I own a Jeep.
It's not because I settled. I did 4 months of research, comparing the whole spectrum of vehicles, from Toyota Prius (not freaking likely) to SUV's. I looked at cars I have no business looking at, and I fought off potentially what was (or is) a mid-life crisis.
My criteria was: Warranty, flexibility, ALL weather driving, and cruise control. Not in that order.
My jeep is pretty bare bones. It's dead sexy with the top down. That's right! Sexy.....(enter midlife crisis). Having said it's sexy, I fully understand while I may feel like Brad you-know-who behind the wheel, I fully understand it would look more like Rowan Atkinson from the outside looking in.
Jeep owners, are, I am beginning to discover an odd bunch. I have been waved at going down the highway for no particular reason, stopped in parking lots by strange people wanting to share their life stories on their Jeep they owned, own or will own. People commenting on the colour (yep, it's orange, or copper depending on the sun.) Officially its Mango Tango according to Chrysler, but that doesn't fit on the registration entry at the MVR.
I recently came outside to find a note tucked under my wiper blade. Apparently, Jeep owners patrol the back alley's of Drayton Valley. I initially thought someone had magically run into it and had left a "sorry about your luck chuck note". Alas, it was a invitation to the Drayton Valley Jeep Club. Oy vay.
Non Jeep owners are all fascinated with "so, what are you gonna do to it. Lift it? Put on bigger tires? Check Plate? ". Lets see. No. Why would I? I'm not compensating annnnnnnnd it's brand new. I like my Jeep the way it is. It does need "rock runners" or "running boards" but not at the moment. It does need better Tires it's got the same deal of the week tires Chrysler supplies, but they're okay for now.
The most rampant concern I find is everyone raises an eyebrow when I say it's only a soft top. It's like a I have contracted SARS or something. "But what about the winter?". It comes with a heater these days, actually more like an easy-bake oven even in -30 or more. I am only one guy. Where (seeing as how I live on a second floor am I supposed to put a hard top. How likely am I to want to try to take a Hard Top off by myself. What if I'm streaking down the highway (and it does streak quite nicely) and decide to go topless. Do I just toss it in the ditch and come back later? Uhhh...no. So the soft top comes down in about 10 minutes and goes back up in the same time. It comes with handy storage bags for the windows and a cool boot for the top so it looks sexy.
I'll be honest, I was pissed the first time I went to take it down. Jeep's instruction are quite frankly shit. The DVD video is shit. I looked it up on YOUtube. Life is good. We won't talk about the Boot instructions. Thanks for the Internet and Jeep forums. Now it's all old hat....and I love it.
It does not have air conditioning. It's a convertible. at 100+ km/h, it isn't hot out even at +25. It's nice.
It doesn't have four doors, it has two. Why would I need four doors? Someone countered with, so I can get people in the back easier. That's why the passenger seat pops forward quite easily.
It has a six speed, 6th obviously being overdrive and easily stays at whatever speed I want. It goes like an assaulted ape when I need to pass. It's not a rally car, its not a pro-stock, it's not a sports car. It's a jeep.
Concerns have been raised about people breaking in. Well, I don't keep anything worth while inside anyways and I hope that they just unzip the windows.
Noisy? Well, I just turn the stereo up with the top down and it isn't any noisier than my 96 ford 1/2ton with the top up.
It's the funniest vehicle I have owned and opening the hood, it is completely owner serviceable. A surprise for a new vehicle. NO shield or protectors on top, you can access all the components a person needs too.
I think I'll go for a drive and put in a little Right Said Fred in the CD....no satellite, I have 8GB of music so what do I care.
It's not because I settled. I did 4 months of research, comparing the whole spectrum of vehicles, from Toyota Prius (not freaking likely) to SUV's. I looked at cars I have no business looking at, and I fought off potentially what was (or is) a mid-life crisis.
My criteria was: Warranty, flexibility, ALL weather driving, and cruise control. Not in that order.
My jeep is pretty bare bones. It's dead sexy with the top down. That's right! Sexy.....(enter midlife crisis). Having said it's sexy, I fully understand while I may feel like Brad you-know-who behind the wheel, I fully understand it would look more like Rowan Atkinson from the outside looking in.
Jeep owners, are, I am beginning to discover an odd bunch. I have been waved at going down the highway for no particular reason, stopped in parking lots by strange people wanting to share their life stories on their Jeep they owned, own or will own. People commenting on the colour (yep, it's orange, or copper depending on the sun.) Officially its Mango Tango according to Chrysler, but that doesn't fit on the registration entry at the MVR.
I recently came outside to find a note tucked under my wiper blade. Apparently, Jeep owners patrol the back alley's of Drayton Valley. I initially thought someone had magically run into it and had left a "sorry about your luck chuck note". Alas, it was a invitation to the Drayton Valley Jeep Club. Oy vay.
Non Jeep owners are all fascinated with "so, what are you gonna do to it. Lift it? Put on bigger tires? Check Plate? ". Lets see. No. Why would I? I'm not compensating annnnnnnnd it's brand new. I like my Jeep the way it is. It does need "rock runners" or "running boards" but not at the moment. It does need better Tires it's got the same deal of the week tires Chrysler supplies, but they're okay for now.
The most rampant concern I find is everyone raises an eyebrow when I say it's only a soft top. It's like a I have contracted SARS or something. "But what about the winter?". It comes with a heater these days, actually more like an easy-bake oven even in -30 or more. I am only one guy. Where (seeing as how I live on a second floor am I supposed to put a hard top. How likely am I to want to try to take a Hard Top off by myself. What if I'm streaking down the highway (and it does streak quite nicely) and decide to go topless. Do I just toss it in the ditch and come back later? Uhhh...no. So the soft top comes down in about 10 minutes and goes back up in the same time. It comes with handy storage bags for the windows and a cool boot for the top so it looks sexy.
I'll be honest, I was pissed the first time I went to take it down. Jeep's instruction are quite frankly shit. The DVD video is shit. I looked it up on YOUtube. Life is good. We won't talk about the Boot instructions. Thanks for the Internet and Jeep forums. Now it's all old hat....and I love it.
It does not have air conditioning. It's a convertible. at 100+ km/h, it isn't hot out even at +25. It's nice.
It doesn't have four doors, it has two. Why would I need four doors? Someone countered with, so I can get people in the back easier. That's why the passenger seat pops forward quite easily.
It has a six speed, 6th obviously being overdrive and easily stays at whatever speed I want. It goes like an assaulted ape when I need to pass. It's not a rally car, its not a pro-stock, it's not a sports car. It's a jeep.
Concerns have been raised about people breaking in. Well, I don't keep anything worth while inside anyways and I hope that they just unzip the windows.
Noisy? Well, I just turn the stereo up with the top down and it isn't any noisier than my 96 ford 1/2ton with the top up.
It's the funniest vehicle I have owned and opening the hood, it is completely owner serviceable. A surprise for a new vehicle. NO shield or protectors on top, you can access all the components a person needs too.
I think I'll go for a drive and put in a little Right Said Fred in the CD....no satellite, I have 8GB of music so what do I care.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Just to clarify...
I have had (fortunately?unfortunatelyy?) the opportunity to participate in several topics of conversation lately. So I'll clear up a few things.
Aliens and the accompanied abductions
Ahem. Really? Little green (or gray or whatever your favourite colour) lifeforms have arrived consistently over the years to probe, tag, experiment and generally harass humans? I think not. If an intelligent being has stumbled across our little swirly marble on an interstellar journey and if said being has abducted at least one man and one woman, then I'm reasonably certain they should be thoroughly discouraged.
If the alien life form has the technology to get here undetected, "borrow" farmer Bob and maiden Mary, probe, dissect, reassemble, tag and release the subjects on some sort of intergalactic catch and release program I'm thinking there isn't anything to see here now. The idea is ludicrous.Move along citizens, Go about your business. Move along.... "It's obvious they have something to gain". I don't think they do. Allegedly, they have technology beyond ours, they must. They flit about the galaxy hither and thither unseen except by the chosen few on some sort of "fact gathering sponsored tour". If they wanted to colonize the planet that shouldn't be a stretch for them. We aren't that complicated nor that smart to prevent it. I think people have wacky imaginations. I don't think we are the only intelligent life out there, but what if we were? What if we are "it". That's dull isn't it.
Then of course that segways (and not the little two wheeled thingy either) into my next topic:
Conspiracies and Government Secrets
Who cares? Governments have had secrets for centuries. They had secrets yesterday, will have them tomorrow and so on. They had them before I was born and will have them after I am dead. I don't care, they're entitled to their secrets, unfortunately people are nosey....and bunch of Pinocchio's that want to know everybody's business. "But there keeping something from us". Yep. That's why it's a secret.
"but they have secret bases that claim not to exist". Yes and NO. I don't think they deny those things, they can't exactly fire up the klingon cloaking device can they (Klingons don't exist either but that would be kinda cool). They just don't talk about it nor acknowledge them because...wait for it....it's a secret! They don't deny Area 51, nor Cheyenne mountain nor the myriad of other bases exist. You can go right up to them (don't recommend touching the fence), they're there. Your just not on the guest list. The Government does stuff there. What kind? Who cares. You woke up this morning and assuming your not a insomniac you will go to sleep tonight. The bases will still be there and you still won't know what's going on. Status quo. What's your neighbour doing? I bet he doesn't want you to know either.
"but they can track you and know what your doing". OK. Riveting life I lead isn't it. Track me, Watch me. See where I am, what I spending. I'm not doing anything wrong. Wait, A blog on Aliens and Secrets and Governments....you do know the blog has been flagged? You accessed it. they going to come and kick your door in right now, Maybe mine, I don't care. I'll serve them tea. My next blog entry will be on spaghetti sauce. That certainly is noteworthy isn't it. I think somebody has a better job than me. Government pension, regular hours...to do what? Watch other people. Well, watch away. You may get a laugh.
Vampires
Vampires don't exist. It's preposterous. The very notion that an immortal rises at night to feed of the blood of people is...absurd. The very notion of an immortal is stupid.Did you catch your reflection in the mirror? No? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Good one. Nothing turns into a bat or sprouts wings at an "abracadabra I am a bat" except of course Bugs Bunny. They don't exist. If they did, I'd just ask the Pope to bless the oceans. One good rainstorm and it's goodnight gracey. Vlad the impaler was real, folks stories to keep to children on their toes pass on as great stories. "Fear will keep the local systems in line".....just sayin'.
Aliens and the accompanied abductions
Ahem. Really? Little green (or gray or whatever your favourite colour) lifeforms have arrived consistently over the years to probe, tag, experiment and generally harass humans? I think not. If an intelligent being has stumbled across our little swirly marble on an interstellar journey and if said being has abducted at least one man and one woman, then I'm reasonably certain they should be thoroughly discouraged.
If the alien life form has the technology to get here undetected, "borrow" farmer Bob and maiden Mary, probe, dissect, reassemble, tag and release the subjects on some sort of intergalactic catch and release program I'm thinking there isn't anything to see here now. The idea is ludicrous.Move along citizens, Go about your business. Move along.... "It's obvious they have something to gain". I don't think they do. Allegedly, they have technology beyond ours, they must. They flit about the galaxy hither and thither unseen except by the chosen few on some sort of "fact gathering sponsored tour". If they wanted to colonize the planet that shouldn't be a stretch for them. We aren't that complicated nor that smart to prevent it. I think people have wacky imaginations. I don't think we are the only intelligent life out there, but what if we were? What if we are "it". That's dull isn't it.
Then of course that segways (and not the little two wheeled thingy either) into my next topic:
Conspiracies and Government Secrets
Who cares? Governments have had secrets for centuries. They had secrets yesterday, will have them tomorrow and so on. They had them before I was born and will have them after I am dead. I don't care, they're entitled to their secrets, unfortunately people are nosey....and bunch of Pinocchio's that want to know everybody's business. "But there keeping something from us". Yep. That's why it's a secret.
"but they have secret bases that claim not to exist". Yes and NO. I don't think they deny those things, they can't exactly fire up the klingon cloaking device can they (Klingons don't exist either but that would be kinda cool). They just don't talk about it nor acknowledge them because...wait for it....it's a secret! They don't deny Area 51, nor Cheyenne mountain nor the myriad of other bases exist. You can go right up to them (don't recommend touching the fence), they're there. Your just not on the guest list. The Government does stuff there. What kind? Who cares. You woke up this morning and assuming your not a insomniac you will go to sleep tonight. The bases will still be there and you still won't know what's going on. Status quo. What's your neighbour doing? I bet he doesn't want you to know either.
"but they can track you and know what your doing". OK. Riveting life I lead isn't it. Track me, Watch me. See where I am, what I spending. I'm not doing anything wrong. Wait, A blog on Aliens and Secrets and Governments....you do know the blog has been flagged? You accessed it. they going to come and kick your door in right now, Maybe mine, I don't care. I'll serve them tea. My next blog entry will be on spaghetti sauce. That certainly is noteworthy isn't it. I think somebody has a better job than me. Government pension, regular hours...to do what? Watch other people. Well, watch away. You may get a laugh.
Vampires
Vampires don't exist. It's preposterous. The very notion that an immortal rises at night to feed of the blood of people is...absurd. The very notion of an immortal is stupid.Did you catch your reflection in the mirror? No? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Good one. Nothing turns into a bat or sprouts wings at an "abracadabra I am a bat" except of course Bugs Bunny. They don't exist. If they did, I'd just ask the Pope to bless the oceans. One good rainstorm and it's goodnight gracey. Vlad the impaler was real, folks stories to keep to children on their toes pass on as great stories. "Fear will keep the local systems in line".....just sayin'.
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