John's Blog

2011-09-15T11:52:00.001-04:00

I just shook the hand of the great Mario Andretti. He's a real nice guy. He
was happy to see the number of Italians in Windsor.

2011-09-09T21:28:00.001-04:00

"Dance like the photo's not being tagged, Love like you've never been unfriended, Tweet like nobody's following" - @bythebrooks

2011-09-09T14:11:00.001-04:00

The Snowbirds flew over downtown Windsor today, in formation. Very cool. I'm
really looking forward to the airshows this weekend.

2011-08-29T17:11:00.001-04:00

Sad loss. Sports radio guy @TomKowalski36. A "best friend I never met".
Integrity, humour, respect, hard work. RIP Killer #TomKowalski

2011-08-26T22:39:00.001-04:00

Discovered India Palace on Ottawa Street tonight. Why didn't anybody tell me
this place was here? It's Good!!

2011-08-23T18:08:00.001-04:00

Kayaking on River Canard with Cath & Colleen. Perfect day for it!

Long time no blog

2011-08-14T18:04:00.002-04:00

Not much to say lately. Life is good, and I just keep bumping along. Cathey's watching Brokeback Mountain. I'm trying to keep an eye on it but it's so slow. I haven't seen anything about it that's worth my time. I wonder what all the fuss is/was about. It reminds me of Out Of Africa, and others, where there's fantastic cinematography, big John Ford-type vistas, etc but no real story worth telling. It's a movie version of a coffee table book.

Maybe I'll go for a walk now. Or go find out how the Detroit Lions did in their first pre-season game. There's always something... Like I said, Life is good.

Recent Reading

2009-02-22T13:00:00.003-05:00

I've done a lot of reading lately. Some of it not bad, some of it excellent.

The 'not bad' was a couple of typical offerings by John Grisham and Clive Cussler. I love this stuff. I guess 'the best surprise is no surprise'. I'm always reading these authors, as well as Stephen King, P.D. James and, of course, Tom Clancey

A couple of 'very good' books were The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, both by a guy name Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner was written first and has been described as "An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present". A Thousand Splendid Suns came next and is "another searing epic of Afghanistan in turmoil", this time from the perspective of different generations of women. Both books are a little 'artsy' but well worth reading. Women will cry while reading these. Men will leave the room occasionally.

And now, the 'excellent' book, is Shadows of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Follow the link to read reviews, and then go get a copy of this book. It's excellent. If I had to choose only 5 books to ever read again, I'd include this one. I don't want to say anything more here that might dissuade you from reading it.

And right now I'm reading SOA Adoption for Dummies so I can get in tune with changes to how we're doing things at work. It's really good stuff, taking IT to the next level. New processes and new philosophies = more reading. :)

First Snow

2008-12-16T20:07:00.003-05:00

One of the real joys of being a Canadian is that first cold morning each year when you look out and see Snow. It doesn't matter where you live in this great country... white snow, blowing snow, drifting snow, flaky snow... it's all good. As much as it means shoveling, slippery driving, uncomfortable clothing... you know it will all be worth it because Today is the day. Today is the day you've been planning for. Today you get to prove yourself over Mother Nature. Today is payoff day for all the conditioning and training you've done over the past few months. Yes, today is the day you're going to open the door, face the world, and make that noise that tells your pet that the door is open and it's okay to run straight outside without looking for dangers or distractions. Today's the day when you get to remind your critter that you are the greater in your relationship. Today is the day that your pet, who you've humbled yourself to by spending money and feeding and cleaning and brushing and walking and sometimes flossing! - is now dependent on you in a most frantic way, to get them safely back to the door, IF you choose to let them in. I'm sure everyone has their own special celebration at this moment. Mine is to look the critter in the eye and say "TOP of the food chain, HA!"... ... before heading off to refill their bowl and put down fresh water for them.

Poison Ivy

2008-08-12T16:59:00.003-04:00

Well, well, well... Cathey did a bunch of ruthless gardening last week, just before we headed off for vacation. She tore out all kinds of old growth stuff... stuff that had been there since Tecumseh & Pontiac camped in our yard. This seemed like a great accomplishment, until 3 or 4 days later. ITCHY does not begin to describe the next few days. Toxicodendron radicans... Poison Ivy... acchh! We're now doing Prednisone, prescription-strength Benadryl and goops of Polysporin. If you look really closely at the pic from our trip, you'll see small red spots on Cathey's arm. Imagine 8,000 of them. Arrrrrggg!!

Niagara Trip

2008-08-08T18:45:00.006-04:00

Off we went to Niagara Region. No reservations, no plans. It was better than staying home but it wasn't the best trip ever. The road trip itself was great. The geography of Highway 3, along Lake Erie, varies a lot from place to place. Some spots look arid & dusty (like Osoyoos, BC), many spots look green, lush and forested (like almost anywhere in Canada) and lots of it look like mature, rich, small-to-medium farming (like you can only see in southwestern Ontario).

One special memory was when we chanced on Holland House Restaurant in Iona Station, ON. If you're ever near there, drop in. We had an excellent lunch, in the company of hundreds of old books and antiques. It's just 5 minutes off the 401, exit 157... a little dusty, but cool.

Once in Niagara Region, it turns out that there's lots of beautiful places to see, but no where that really made us feel welcome. The beach at Crystal Beach is fenced & gated... with Pay & Display parking! The drive from Fort Erie to St Catharines is really nice, with lots of historical stops. We shopped for antiques, shopped in downtown Niagara on-the-Lake, etc.

But then we opted for something different, and went to Stratford and St Jacobs. That was cool, but after seeing Music Man and Love's Labour's Lost we just booked it for home. It's GOOD here!

Taste a little of the Summer

2008-07-29T11:43:00.003-04:00

It's summer time folks. Time to get out and lie on a lawn, or find a sprinkler to play with, or go get some locally-grown fruits & veggies.

Greg Brown has a song called Canned Goods...

Peaches on the shelf
Potatoes in the bin
Supper's ready, everybody come on in, now
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
My grandma put it all in jars.

I'm looking forward to some hot buttered corn, myself. Check out Harvest Canada. See you in the fields!

March Break in New York City

2008-04-03T21:54:00.005-04:00

We went to New York City.

We saw Newark NJ, the Holland Tunnel, Times Square, Herald Square, Macy's, Grand Central Station, the Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park, Staten Island Ferry, Statue of Liberty, Empire State building, FOA Schwarz, World Trade Center/Ground Zero site, Alexander Hamilton's grave, Grant's Tomb, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, The Dakota, Central Park, a Broadway Show (Spamalot), Greewich Village, "Little" everything, Rockefeller Plaza, United Nations, lot's o' museums, a pigeon on a statue of Teddy Roosevelt, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and a Bull.

We saw lots of skyscrapers, some cops, lots of other tourists, cabbies, food cart vendors and lots of New Yorkers.

I think I did them a favour. The guy on the tour bus said that New York was "the city that never sleeps". I showed them how...

Jonathon Zgoralski

2008-03-23T22:35:00.003-04:00

Jay was a talented, intelligent, handsome guy. He had parents who loved him, and a lot of misfortune in his life. His passing brings terrible sadness, frustration, anger and love. Good bye Jay. We'll think of you every time we hear or sing a Beatles tune.

Peggy Simpson

2007-11-29T11:03:00.000-05:00

Was born August 12, 1937, in Windsor, Ontario, and passed away peacefully on November 24th, 2007 at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, in Vernon, B.C., with her daughters at her side. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, John (Cathey), Peggy (Alan), Mark, and Mary (Martin). Her grandchildren, Spencer, Taylor, Derek, Janet, and Nichol will also miss Grandma Peg’s humour and generosity, as will her family and friends in Windsor, Ontario, Burns Lake and Vernon, B.C.

Peg was the youngest of seven children, and took delight in boasting that because of her small size as an infant, the maternity staff did not think Peg would survive. She proved them wrong, by living 70 full years, enduring life’s challenges and embracing life’s joys until the end. She was a library teacher, a mother, a Windsor city councilor, a grandmother and a friend. She loved games, jazz music, Christmas baking, CBC Comedy, reading and gravy.

I miss you Mom.

Canada has a Desert !!

2007-08-15T02:49:00.000-04:00

No, not dessert. A real, honest desert with sagebrush, cacti, etc. It's very near Osoyoos, BC. You can learn more at the web site for the preservation society. I was really glad I made the long trip to see it and to learn a little more.

Keeping Busy

2007-06-15T16:12:00.000-04:00

I dropped by Dave and Sharon's new place on Wednesday evening to help paint. A MOST enjoyable evening, being useful, singing along with well-chosen Cd's and enjoying a fine burger. The plumber-guys came to remove the old tub from the bathroom being renovated. It was a 1949 vintage unit that weighed 3,123,232E+ pounds. (I may be exaggerating, but it took three very sweaty guys to get it downstairs and outside). ... It was the least I could do, to observe and criticize. :)

The evening was capped with a glass of scotch, and a bicycle ride home along the lake. (i.e. Through the fish flies). Boy did I sleep well Wednesday night!

Art in the Park, and more!

2007-06-03T23:12:00.000-04:00

What a great, full weekend. It started out Friday night with a Roast the Rector event. Fr. Kevin was dealt many blows by our fellow parishioners, but came away smiling and looking like he could have taken more. :)

On Saturday Janet, Cathey and I went to Art In The Park, to participate in presentations being done throughout Willistead Park by the Windsor Folk Society. The heat & sun really took it's toll afterwards, but I really had a great time, as always, singing with Dave Light.

After an afternoon nap, my cousin Peggy came for a visit Saturday evening. We talked for a couple of really enjoyable hours. She'll soon be moving soon, and I'm really going to miss our infrequent but invaluable get-togethers.

At coffee hour after church today I got the guitars out with Christian and Bob and we played most of our East Coast repertoire for the folks having cookies. That was followed by a great brunch with Jane Cornett and her Mom, and Fr. Kevin and his wife Catherinanne.

The rest of the afternoon/evening is a blurr...
- I talked with my sister Mary, planning our vacation to B.C. this summer,
- Janet's boyfriend Keith came for a visit (and wouldn't get out of the pool even though he was chattering from the cold),
- Ami brought Sage over for an overnight visit, because Ami has to work at 5:00 a.m!! - Cath's Uncle Andy called from Dallas, TX. He made me commit to updating my blog... Here it is!!! :)
- Derek came home around 9:00 p.m. for the first time in 3 days. He was exhausted after three sun-filled days with his girlfriend, going to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio one day, helping her through a midnight to 8:00 a.m. shift at Tim Horton's, and enjoying family visiting from Quebec.

So now I'm trying to type quietly, and reflect on a full, wonderful weekend and some of the good people in it. Especially Cathey. I don't deserve her, and she surely does not deserve me!

And now I think it's time for a good night's sleep.

An Update

2007-03-15T00:06:00.000-04:00

Hi there. Long time no blog. Life's been in the way. Some recent highlights...

- volleyball on Tuesday nights

- choir on Thursday nights & Sunday mornings

- updated the laundry room with new flooring and painted the walls

- after 14 years in this house I finally insulated the crawl space (well it's mostly done)

- a day trip with Dave Light to Elderly music over in Lansing, MI. A very nice break from the norm.

- multi-church open mic night at Church of the Ascension. Cathey's parents showed up! Janet and I joined Jeff, Keith and Leah Wilkinson for a couple of songs, including Leonard Cohen's Halleluia. Janet blew us all away with a last-minute, solo, a cappella version of a spiritual piece. She is stunning.

- on Sunday we helped Peg and John move from their home in Riverside to a farm house near Amherstburg. It was a fun time, and it's great to see them have this new next step in their lives. Right on!

- yesterday we went for a day trip to Point Pelee National Park. Just by chance we stopped at Acambaro Mexican Restaurant in Leamington. GO THERE.

- we had lunch with my niece Nichol today. It doesn't sound like a big deal here, but I really enjoyed it.

That's it for now. I'll post about any more March Break activities later, and I'll get the camera downloaded soon too!

Epiphany

2007-01-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

January 6 is the Christian feast known as Epiphany. As always, the good folks at St. Marks by-the-Lake used this excuse to have a meal and a party.

We even got Derek to come along! He's in black at the far left of the outdoor pic. Cathey's right in front of him, and I'm to his right, in the choir gown.

The only pic of Janet is of her elbow, in the pic where I'm playing the washboard.

Derek's at the far right in the pic with the tree... helping kids put up their decorated stars.

'Twas the Season

2006-12-28T12:14:00.000-05:00

This time between Christmas and the New Year is a great time to look back and reflect, and then to look forward and plan.

Looking back, I'm thankful that dumb luck and all the good people around me got me through to the end of another year. I'm thankful for health, family and friends. Music and humour are pretty good too!

Looking forward, I don't know that there's much to change, except to improve on my health, and to say Thanks and give back to others more often.

A great Lug-A-Mug

2006-10-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

The October Lug-A-Mug wasn't even a little bit spooky. There was a wonderful variety of songs and vigour in singing them. A real fun event of simple appreciation for music, songs and singing.

In addition to the few guitars, there were people playing a fiddle, a ukelele, a mandolin, an acoustic bass, a harmonica and even a kazoo. Many thanks to the Lights for starting Lug-A-Mug in the first place, and for hosting it again this month. All that and cookies too!!

Valdy

2006-10-16T21:55:00.000-04:00

This is going to sound over-the-top, but I shook the hand of a legend on Saturday night. I went to see Valdy, at the Glass Onion Folk Club in Wallaceburg. And I had the good fortune to be in the very good company of Cathey, and Robert Hubbard. An enjoyable drive and a most excellent concert.

Valdy was in great voice and great form. I was really eager to see him for the first time, and I wasn't disappointed. He sang, he danced and he played with an amazing, strong, natural grace.

We sang along to "Yes I Can", "Sonny's Dream" and "Play Me a Rock and Roll Song". Very nice.

Some people don't know or care about this piece of the Canadian fabric, but I do and I think it's an important piece. I was awestruck to be there.

If you don't know who the heck I'm talking about, Google him, or check out West Shore Chamber of Commerce or Live Tour Artists. Valdy.com isn't bad either.

Thanksgiving

2006-10-10T10:56:00.000-04:00

I had a good long weekend. Time well spent with good people, and way too much excellent food. Friday night was Windsor Folk's Open Mic night. Saturday, Cath & I went to Dave & Anne's for dinner & cards. That was really enjoyable. Calm and quiet except for watching the Tigers beat the Yankees! Sunday was Thanksgiving celebration at church, including the anthem we've practiced. And then off to Marg's for a big family dinner. Really great.

Monday became a free day (once the pool was closed), so we headed out for a county drive. We contemplated the past & future, stopped for a visit with Bob Cooper at his place on Lake St. Clair, and then south to Lake Erie, we bought tomatos and squash at a roadside stand in Kingsville and walked Cedar Beach.

All in all a nice long weekend.

It seems so long ago...

Janet's 14th Birthday

2006-10-02T11:36:00.000-04:00

Janet, my (smart, beautiful, talented, wonderful) daughter turned 14 last week. There were cakes, singing, gifts, messages from leaders of various countries around the world, and a bowling party. Laser light Rock and Bowl. My vision and hearing have restored enough to post this blog. My pride in Janet never fades. She just keeps on truckin...

Kitchen Party

2006-10-02T10:59:00.000-04:00

On Friday night there was a kitchen party to celebrate Fr. Kevin George's dad's birthday. He turned 90 the day before. It was a pot luck dinner and a hodge podge of entertainment. Much fun.

First photo (L-R) is Kevin George, Andrea Morosin (why did we hide the only pretty one?!), Christian Paulton, Bob Cooper and me. Note the Newfoundland flag hanging over Kevin. You can take the boy from the Rock...

Second photo is Janet, Bob, Christian, Madhu Athavale and me.

It's our Anniversary!

2006-09-22T14:20:00.000-04:00

Cathey and I were married 22 years ago today. I can't imagine life without her and I wouldn't want to. Man did I luck out or what?!

She's the beautiful one in this picture, smiling with pride and enjoying quality time with 'her babies'.

Here's to 22 more. At least!!

Great Picture

2006-09-17T23:08:00.000-04:00

Dave Lamarsh had a birthday baseball gathering this weekend. Much fun. Thanks to Anne for arranging the event and putting up with us.

The big pic is a Mouldy Oldie from a few years ago when we had a 25th reunion of high school graduation. It was a great time, for sure. It included a volleyball get-together in the school gym in the afternoon of. From left to right are Dave Garlick, me, Graham White and Dave Lamarsh.

John's Blog is now available as a news feed

2006-09-12T13:50:00.001-04:00

Depending on how savvy you are with the Internet you may have heard about News Readers, also known as 'RSS readers', 'Atom readers' or aggregators.

Many web sites also make their information available in XML format, which allows you to use News Reader software to subscribe to their site and receive the content as a news feed. You can subscribe to multiple sites and eventually you'll have your own electronic newspaper that only contains content you chose. This isn't the easiest thing on the Internet but it's not impossible and it is pretty neat. It also allows for feeds to hand-held devices like PDA's and cell phones.

Anyway, John's Blog now offers an XML feed. If you have a news reader and you want to subscribe, the link is http://ojpager.blogspot.com/atom.xml.

Passings

2006-09-09T18:07:00.000-04:00

Bob Vandervaart passed away this past week after years of illness. Bob taught me French in high school in '75 & '77. He always had a smile and interesting, engaging conversation... and he made learning fun. I remember one year that he had a map of France on the wall and would bring in cheese from a different region of the country on Fridays for us to experience. I also remember once making too much noise while building a set for the school play just outside his classroom. To this day I try to hammer one nail in only 3 strikes, as he challenged me to do. My kids have both been taught in the French system, partly motivated by who Bob was. I wish for my children the kind of happiness, worldliness and fulfillment that Bob exhibited. I had the chance to introduce them to him on a bicycle outing a few years ago. I was happy to run into him occasionally over the past couple of years at the Windsor Folk Society. The sadness of his passing is offset by the positive memories and impact he leaves behind.

Back to School

2006-09-07T19:02:00.000-04:00

After 3 years apart Derek and Janet are attending the same school again. Derek's in Gr. 12 and Janet's just starting high school, in Gr. 9.

The slates are cleaned for a new year. (In 2006 we don't clean slates, we "empty cache" but it's roughly the same).

Here's to a productive, educational year filled with challenges, opportunities and satisfaction! I think they're going to have a little fun this year too.

A great memory

2006-08-30T11:20:00.000-04:00

Hi there,

Long time no post. I haven't had much blog-worthy content to offer lately, unless you want to hear about going to work, the last night of sand volleyball and some casual singing and guitar playing.
What I DO have is a blast from my past. A memory of a family vacation to BC. It was 1975. Mom, Dad, all four kids and Frisky the dog, packed in a 1974 Chevy Bel Air station wagon. What were my parents thinking??! Mary was only 2½! Some great memories came from that trip. Fresh-picked Penticton cherries, starfish, a forest fire, a bear in Revelstoke National Park, sleeping on the beach at Pacific Rim National Park with cousin Peggy, cousin Daryl's new grammar (StaBOP, StaBOP!) and the camper trailer whipping left and right behind us as we crossed the Prairies. Yet another Trip of a Lifetime.

My parents must have been out of their minds taking on this adventure, but I am very, very thankful for it.

A perfect summer vacation

2006-08-12T17:03:00.000-04:00

After a wonderful few days with Mary and Martin, we packed the van and headed up to Port Elgin for a week's vacation. It was wonderful. Perfect weather, perfect beach, day trips (Owen Sound for the Inglis Falls and lunch on the bay, Tobermory for the glass-bottom boat tour of Fathom Five National Park, and Sauble Beach for "Ontario's nicest beach"). We got a lot of sun, read some books, had a blast in the waves, napped, played guitar and ukulele. All those things and more made it a total getaway.

It's a shame to get back to reality, but at least we can share some of it with you. Here's something I've realized... I have NEVER regretted spending time or money on travel. You won't either.
Take a vacation!

Lug-A-Mug get-together

2006-08-02T12:32:00.000-04:00

Not only were my sister Mary and her husband Martin in town over the past few days, but the mid-summer song circle get-together was held this past Saturday. Perfect weather, good food, good music and great people. It was also great to hang around the pool during the hot couple of days that followed. Here are some pics of the mid-summer Lug-A-Mug.

Working vacation

2006-07-17T22:17:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in a while because I've been out being useful. The week after Canada Day was a stay-at-home vacation week. Apart from mostly doing nothing, I got quite a bit accomplished. I replaced the fence on one side of the yard last year, so this year was the time for the remaining side. The yard & pool area look better now, with outdoor speakers, mulched gardens, power-washed deck, etc, etc, etc. A total break from the usual, spent almost nothing on gas, meals and accomodation... and got something useful out of it too. I did spend money on some new lawn furniture. So you know where find me... bring your suit.

Janet is a high school student

2006-07-07T14:24:00.000-04:00

Another milestone for this proud father... On June 26, Janet graduated from Grade 8. She's now on her way to high school. Oh my. I could go on and on about how hard she worked, how much she deserves high praises and all that, but as a parent I have other comments to make. First, grade school often seemed like a steady sequence of P.A. days and substitute teachers showing videos. Next, the last days of a school year a interesting because of the stream of information and work being brought home that had been hidden at the bottom of a locker all year. Finally, the fact is that there was much learning and growing going on. She's an amazing, smart, beautiful, talented daughter! Look out high school!!

Time flies...

2006-06-22T22:30:00.000-04:00

Hi there,

It's been a while since I blogged. I was going to put something here simply to say 'Hi', and that I'm still around, and that there hasn't been much to blog about lately. But then I stop and think about the things I've been doing instead of blogging and I suddenly have blog-worthy tidbits. Depending on who you are.

1. End of the kid's school years - Derek's slugging through Grade 11 exams right now, with no real plans for the summer except to get away from school for a while. Janet's graduating Grade 8 on Monday. There's a whole blog to be done on the excess related to celebrating Grade 8 Graduations but I'll leave that blog for others. Suffice it to say we've spent the $8 trillion on the outfit and other gear necessary to be allowed out of grade school. She'll look fantastic. Pics in a future blog, I promise.

2. New vehicle - The Windstar just rolled past 250,000 kms and is showing signs of wear. We want to go away (somewhere, sometime) this summer, so a new van is in order. Voila, a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan with 33,000 kms.

3. Work - I don't want to spend my blog time & space on this subject, but it must be said that both Cath & I spend 8 hours a day there, and more emotion than we really should.

4. Summer!! - Mowing, weeding, pool cleaning, bicycling, house fix-ups, etc, etc, etc. I don't know where it all goes, but it sure seems to trickle away.

5. Volleyball - Every Tuesday night. Sand ball. Mostly with the same team of people as throughout the rest of the year. Excellent!

6. Music - Church choir, practices, and the final Lug-A-Mug of the 05-06 season. (This pic must be from late in the evening. I need a good night's sleep!) It seems like there's a lot of music in my life, but it also seems like it's never enough.

So I think that's about it since the last post. Stay tuned. Hopefully the next one will be more satisfying for both of us.

Marc Gourde

2006-06-02T17:45:00.000-04:00

It was a tremendously sad shock to hear that Marc had had a heart attack on Sunday. Marc was just 40 years old, had been married to Ami (Cathey's niece) less than a year and had a beautiful baby daughter, Sage. I blogged about Sages' baptism just three weeks ago.

Marc was a fun-loving, construction worker guy. He was always 'in the moment', and always looked you right in the eye, usually with something interesting to say. It's just stunning that he's gone.

Ami and Sage now have very different roads ahead of them than what had been first thought. I really feel for them, but I know that Ami has an amazing strength within her. She'll need our help and our hopes while she shifts gears to the new reality. I know that she can walk her new road with strength. Eventually. One day at a time will get us all there.

One photo here is of Marc with Sage just after her birth. The other is at the baptism... the proud parents Marc and Ami are at the font with godparents Janet, Tom and Jody (L-R).

Carpe Diem people.

Some emotional ranting...

2006-05-31T11:15:00.000-04:00

I've only had a few reactions to my blogs so far. Most are saying nice things like "It's personal. It's more like NPR, and less like CNN". But a few have asked for more emotion and ranting. ...

I really don't have much to rant about right now, but if pushed, I'd rant about people who cause trouble for other people. Like the asshole in Armstrong, BC and the 18 year old punks who shot the police officer in Windsor.

Why do so many people have nothing better to do than to get in trouble?

Mostly I'd rant about all the people similar to these assholes, but who are living just below the surface. What can be done to preempt their crimes, protect their future victims and maybe get their lives in order? Better social programs, so all kids experience unconditional love and frequent hot breakfasts before school? Tougher young offender rules? And what am I supposed to do as a society member? I know about green living for the planet, but what should I do to make things right for the people living ON the planet? I personally know the childhoods of people who subsequently "went bad" and I can't remember anything that might have caused it to happen. My contemplation so far is leading me to believe that we're just too flippin affluent. Very few of us have to worry about getting eaten to death, or where our next meal is coming from, or whether we'll survive the winter. It's all about which button we CHOOSE to push to provide the instant gratification that has become our highest form of self-esteem. And don't even get me started on the sense of entitlement that's running amok in society. Everyone feels that they are entitled to sit at the front of the publicly-funded bus, and they're miffed if they have to walk the last 50 feet to their destination.
AAAARRRGG!!!!

Weddings and Funerals. And Baptisms

2006-05-14T21:37:00.000-04:00

I attended two baptisms in two days this weekend. In addition to the very cute babies, it was good to see all the familes together. All dressed up and a little uncomfortable. Some hadn't seen each other since the wedding reception, others hadn't seen each other since the incident that drove them apart. But for the most part all were there with a common association, focused on the future of the child. Some were thinking about the eternal future of the child.

We were all reminded to contemplate our own eternal future. Remember that interesting part in a baptism when all present are asked to repeat their own commitment to God? "Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?". I'll have to get back to you on that, but I do believe in the power of family. The immediate family of mom, dad and child(ren)... the extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc... and the 'community' family of neighbours, class mates and church mates. It's better to belong. We all need, and we all want to be needed. Family fits that bill nicely. An example of that strength is when folks say how nice it would have been if others could have attended also, but couldn't because they're in Dallas TX, Vernon BC or only in our hearts and memories.

The beautiful baby in this pic is Sage Marie with parents Ami and Marc. The two ladies in the foreground are Sage's grandmother, Debbie, and great-grandmother, Eileen. On the far left is Sage's grandfather Tom. On the far right in white is one of Sage's godmothers, Janet.

Music

2006-05-10T13:11:00.000-04:00

I found this picture of the original I-pod. It was just called a Pod in those days. (Children, this is a joke. Ha ha). Anyway, the picture got me thinking about Music.

This past weekend was full of music for me. Friday night was Windsor Folk's monthly Acoustic Stage night. Live, local, quality talent. And it's free! (Okay, donation). Saturday night I was fortunate enough to be part of a house concert with Dave & Sharon Light. I really enjoyed preparing and rehearsing with Dave & Sharon. It was great to finally share it with an audience. Sunday was the usual church choir activity. Most excellent.

I inherited an appreciation of music from both of my parents. Thank goodness for that! The world would be a much poorer place without music and humour. I was just thinking about 'memorable musical moments' I've experienced. It includes live concerts by Jose Feliciano, Anne Murray, Chicago, Jimmy Rankin, Sting, Annie Lennox, Phil Nimmons, Christine Lavin, Phil Collins and John Cougar/Mellencamp. It also includes church choirs, Lug-a-Mug song circle and two Windor Light Opera productions. (The Music Man in '70 and A Christmas Carol in '71).

Many great radio stations are streaming to the Internet now. Check out CKUA from Alberta, WDET from Detroit and CFIM from the Magdalen Islands.

Enjoy!

Derek got his Drivers Licence

2006-05-04T22:33:00.000-04:00

Derek passed his road test yesterday, so he's got his G2 licence. Which means he can drive alone, and he can drive on 100 km/h highways. Yikes! We knew he'd have no problems passing because he's a very good driver. He was just a little nervous because of all the urban myths spread around at school. Anyway, he's already got about 20 kilometers of solo driving experience. Now all he needs to do is get a job so he can pay for his gas! One of his first solo outings was to drop off an application at Home Hardware. Smart kid, eh?

Peggy's Birthday

2006-05-02T11:12:00.000-04:00

Today is Peggy's birthday. She and I are the first of 4 kids, and little more than a year apart, so it's not surprising that there's a special bond between us. Maybe the bond is stronger because we've lived 1000's of kilometers apart for so many years. I don't know that. But I do know that the special bond between us has little to do with me. Everyone I know who knows Peggy also feels a special bond with her. She's just naturally a friendly and personable person who cares about people and lives in the moment. It sounds simple but it's more than I can keep up. This picture has us together with my Mom, my brother Mark and our baby sister Mary. It was taken in the Fall of '04, (before we drove through the Rockies to see Sting and Annie Lennox at the Calgary Saddledome!)

I'm still going to be 1000's of kilometers away from Peggy today. If you see her in your travels please give her a hug from me. She's the beautiful one in the centre of the photo.

Birthdays

2006-04-20T16:26:00.000-04:00

Interesting how a birthday can have such a strong good impact on you, or a strong negative impact on you. This past birthday had almost no impact on me. In fact I'm feeling uneasy about not feeling something. There were heartfelt well wishes and cards. A wonderful dinner (at Spagos!) in the company of really good people. But it turned out to feel more like "just another day". Maybe the timing clash with Easter activities. Oh well. I learned a new song out of it. It's called People My Age, by John Gorka. Check out his songs. I don't want to sound unappreciative. I've got MUCH to be thankful for generally, and I got more birthday recognition than might be reasonable. Some days are just days. Better to have them than not. Eternity will happen eventually. For now, I'm glad to be here breathing.

Easter

2006-04-17T11:16:00.000-04:00

I attended Maundy Thursday service for the first time ever this year. Washing of the feet, sombre hymns, quiet readings, stripping of the altar and silent departure by candlelight. It brought home the point of the Jesus dying for our sins, and the commandment to respect each other.

And then Easter Sunday... colours, lights, banners, power-hymns. Celebration and smiles. And a balloon launch afterwards. Cool.

My thoughts on religion and church are: a) they are two separate things, b) they are different for each person, and c) a little bit is good prevention and a lot is a good cure, all depending on whatever ails you.

My thoughts on Easter are that we all need to be reminded that we can be forgiven, even forgiving ourselves... and we can all 'start over'. Each morning, each hour, each year. Review your situation and get on with things, embracing whatever changes you decide need to be made in your life.

If you're looking, I'm in a choir gown.

So for some of you, see you at the next blog post. For others, see you at church at Christmas.

Okay, NOW I'm a Canadian

2006-04-03T19:20:00.000-04:00

I've visited all 10 provinces. I've seen whales on both coasts. I've been to Ottawa for Canada Day celebrations, and I've skated on the Rideau Canal. (Different trips to Ottawa of course). And I'm very proud of my bilingual (smart, beautiful, enjoyable) children. But yesterday I really affirmed my citizenship, because I went curling. It was great. Such fun just throwing rocks at each other on the ice. If you get the chance, go curling. Much Thanks to Ian, Mark, Walter and the others at St. Marks by-the-Lake church who arranged such a fun time. I also got to learn a whole new vocabulary, as well as find a whole bunch of muscles that I didn't know I had.

Spring Fever

2006-03-29T15:52:00.000-05:00

Man, is it ever nice outside! Sunny and 12 degrees C. Beautiful. Time to get a new pair of running shoes, make sure all the bicycles are ready to go, and time to think about yard chores. The smell of fresh-mown lawn is just around the corner. Of course I'm forgetting about insects, sweating excessively, mowing and pool maintenance. I'm also choosing to ignore the fact that we usually get measurable snow in the first week of April. Ignorance is bliss.

Anyway, don't forget to Spring Ahead 1 hour this weekend, and if you're in downtown Windsor at around 1:00 p.m. on April 10, look up for the fly-by of fighter jets heading to Comerica Park in time for the first pitch at the Tiger's home opener!

March Break

2006-03-20T11:40:00.000-05:00

Back from a March Break getaway. First we visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. Both the Hall and city were better than I expected. I recommend both. Then a couple of days in Hershey, PA. A longer drive than expected, but an interesting place to visit. Just the smell at the corner of Chocolate St. and Cocoa Ave. was worth the drive. As always "Take the trolley tour first". We learned a lot about the town, the history, the factory, etc just by sitting on a bus and being escorted around. It put the rest of the visit in perspective. Finally, Niagara Falls, ON. If you've ever been there you'll be glad to know that nothing's changed except that there's a huge casino, more monster hotels and everything costs about 10 times what you'd pay anywhere else. I can't imagine ever going back there again. Oh by the way, the Falls are lovely.

Blog Post Number 1

2006-02-27T19:19:00.000-05:00

And so it begins. John's Blog. "I rant therefore I am" is the title of a Dennis Miller book. It describes several people I know, including myself some days.

Today, I have nothing to rant about but something to marvel at... the Internet and the millions of folks doing their own little bit to inhabit and affect it. The most recent example is how simple it was to get John's Blog up and running. I just Googled "blog host" and discovered blogger.com. A few choices and keystrokes later and here we all are. Slick. You'll see many rants later about things that the people of the world should be addressing (overpopulation, cancer, etc). In the mean time I'm very pleased that the Internet is here and has so many features that serve us as well as they do. My thanks to all those who claim to have invented the Internet!

Later!
John