BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)

Subject: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: CarolC
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:04 AM

This is not my first trip to Canada. I spent a bit of time here on several trips in the 1970s. But it's my first time traveling alone, and my first time here as a guest of Canadians. So it's a new experience for me.

At the border, we waited in the train as the border guards processed us. I had to give up my pepper spray. I explained that it was for the trip back when I would be in the U.S. She probably would have let me keep it if it hadn't been such a big honker. I told her it was nice to be traveling in a country where pepper spray wasn't needed. In a broad, mid-western accent (like the ones in the movie "Fargo"), she said, "Yaa, soo faar."

On the train from Hammond, Indiana to the Canadian border, the man one seat up and across the isle from me ate the entire time I was on that particular train. It was non-stop munching. He really got my attention because he never stopped eating the whole time. The border guard asked him of what country he was a citizen. He said "Pakistan". The border guard asked him what he intended to do in Canada. He said "I'm going to ask for political asylum". That held the train up for about an hour and a half. Somebody said they were going to hold him over-night. He didn't come back. Maybe he got lucky.

flattop wanted me to observe the cows along the way and to write my observations about them and all of their pretty colours. I went through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and part of Ohio in the dark. But in the daylight, travelling through most of Ohio, and through Indiana and Michigan, I did not see any cows. In Ohio and Indiana, mostly all I saw were smoke stacks and industry. That surprised me. (Spaw, second to New Jersey, Ohio is the smelliest state I've ever been in... and I don't think it's entirely because of you... )

More later...

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: flattop
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 08:44 AM

I'd ask for asylum too if I lived in a country without cows.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 09:21 AM

IS ONTARIO REALLY A PART OF CANADA..OR IS CANADA A PART OF ONTARIO..ENJOY, WHATEVER THE CASE

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 09:30 AM

To those of us in Ontario it is an open question. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 10:27 AM

Glad you had a safe trip Carol. On my first gig in New Orleans, I found out the Louisiana equivalent to carrying your own pepper spray. EVERYONE keeps those little mini-bottles of Tabasco sauce on them. Don't know if they use 'em for self-defence though.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: GUEST,Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 02:56 PM

Carol. Im Canada the mentality is "die if you must but dont fight back you might hurt a criminal" I share your spirit. (buy a can of easy off oven cleaner and swear it just happened to be in your pocket) *BG*

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 04:35 PM

I don't care how big or small it was... I know border guards and they are not gonna let ya carry that stuff over here... Mind you, I know places you can buy it again once yer here!

LOL!!

Have fun eh!

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 05:59 PM

Oh, don't be silly, Dave. Nothing will ever make life perfect, but I feel little need for either a gun or a can of pepper spray when walking Canadian streets.

This thing about "coddling" criminals is just a handy cliche that gets trotted out to push the interests of various people with a chip on their shoulder. Why not go out and commit a few crimes yourself and then see how much "fun" it is dealing with the cops, your neighbours, and the judicial system, and the penal system, and the other convicts? See how "easy" it is getting a job and returning into normal society afterward. Then come back and tell me how criminals are being coddled. It's an often repeated myth. Being in trouble with the law is hell...doesn't matter what country you live in. Karla Homolka is not the rule when it comes to experience in prisons. She's sort of famous, you see, kind of like O.J. Simpson in a way, you might say...that's a whole different story. The Toronto Sun loves belly-aching about stuff like that.

This is a pretty safe country, and people's attitudes reflect that. The attitude in the USA is more like a fortress mentality. God knows, I felt a lot safer in Cuba, that's for sure, than I do in most American cities.

If you're arguing that people should have the RIGHT to carry pepper spray, however...well, I'd have no objection to that, I guess. If they want to. After all, Chretien's guards got to use some awhile back, didn't they. Fair's fair. And it doesn't kill people, at least.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:33 PM

you obviously aint been around the docks much mate Nuf Said each to their own...

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: CarolC
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 03:37 PM

It was dark by the time I was finished with the border crossing. I was a little disappointed because I wanted to see the part of Canada I was traveling through. The first thing I saw was a great big Tim Horton's billboard. I started counting firsts... first Canadian beer store (called "The Beer Store"), first Canadian dairy store (called "The Milk Store"). I think the U.S. could learn a lot from Canada about being succinct and to the point.

On the way to Orillia from the train station, we stopped at a Tim Horton's. It was not a proper Tim Horton's. I guess it was a sort of bastard Tim Horton's. I had a croissant, and flattop had something that looked like a scone. He called it something else, but I don't remember what.

Orillia has many great sights to see. We checked most of them out at about 2:00 in the morning. flattop said I could probably get a dancing gig at the Atherley Arms while I was in town. We saw maybe four out of the six or eight Tim Horton's in town. Rhombo's was a sight to behold. The McGill man was very friendly. We spent fifteen minutes or so waving back and forth to each other, he and I. He didn't say much. Strong silent type, I guess...

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 06:28 PM

Have fun, Carol. Glad you made it up thar okay....and it is interesting to hear about the scenery etc....thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 10:30 PM

I misread the title on this thread and thought it said Canadian Dairy. Thought it was about madcow disease. Have a lovely trip Carol. And pass on the hamburgers.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 10:44 PM

Canada has no mad cow disease... we stopped importing from europe a long time ago...

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: flattop
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 10:49 PM

Anyone who mentions cows instead of pepper spray gets a point. Thanks SINSULL and Clinton.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: GUEST,lost john
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:12 PM

Cows. one point for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:13 PM

Mmmmm... pepper steak...

;-P~~~~~~~~

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:14 PM

Mmmmm... pepper steak...

;-P~~~~~~~~

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:21 PM

Chili, with thick chunks of hamburger (--- wait! Why am I playing? It wasn't Carol who set the points here.... and it should be, since it's her thread!)

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: poor lonesome boy
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:29 PM

enjoy Orilia. Say hi to my folks.... and Gord if you see him

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: flattop
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:35 PM

Is mufferaw your maiden name, Joe? I can't find it in the phone book.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: poor lonesome boy
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:52 PM

look under marshall... we own Orilia.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: flattop
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 12:02 AM

You can't even spell it!

Canada 411 (www.canada411.sympatico.ca) lists a bunch of Marshalls in Orillia. Take your pick:

MARSHALL, A 263 MILLARD ST ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, ANDREW 406 MARY ST ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, ART 24 SHANNON ST ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, BOULTON S 96 BRANT ST E ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, BRENDA&PAUL 18 COURTNEY CR ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, C 210 NOTTAWASAGA ST ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, C L 3 ESTHER ANNE DR ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, CLYDE L 57 FITTONS RD W ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, DON K 434 TALLWOOD DR ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, E W 421 WEST ST N ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, G M RR 2 STN MAIN ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, I 12 FERGUSHILL RD ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, J 23 GRACE AVE ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, J G 57 FOURTH ST ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, JACK RR 3 STN MAIN ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, JAMES A 3474 BRENNAN LINE ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, JEFFREY 2067 MILLWOOD RD ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, KEN 22 ALEXANDER DR ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, KENNETH A 14 KING'S CRT ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, L 65 FITTONS RD W ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, L 173 JULIA CR ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, LESLIE 4 EDNA ST ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, M 349 WEST ST N ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, MURRAY S 305 PARK ST ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, P 13 SKYLINE DR ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, R 44 BARRIE RD ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, R 44 BARRIE RD ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, R C 2555 13TH LINE ORILLIA ON [phone] MARSHALL, S D E 73 LAHAY AVE ORILLIA ON [phone]

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: flattop
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 12:28 AM

The Jersey's a nice little cow. Beautiful brown hair. High butterfat content in its milk.

Annamill lives down in Jersey. Years ago, we were drinking tea on the sunporch at my Aunt Kate's house in Port Morris New Jersey when Kate turned to my grandfather and said, "When I go to Hell, I hope I get a job keeping a fire under you."

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 01:12 AM

LOL!!!! Flattop-- Like I said last week, "They better not turn up in heaven or I'll have to kick their ass!" (It was not a religious condemnation, just a fit of temper over personal biz.)

CarolC, I'm so envious I could spit! (Not joking.)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 02:20 AM

So have you had time to start your own toenail collection yet?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 07:48 AM

Whole toenails or just the clippings? (Do I really want to know?)

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: flattop
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 09:56 AM

Well Susan, you've given me another reason to avoid heaven.

And Spaw, it's good to see you pulling for Carol this morning. For a while I thought you might be jealous. If Carol is awarded a gold-plated McGill at the Atherly Arms this year we should be most proud.

You see, Carol is the first mudcatter and the second musician to be in the running for Ms McGill. The only other musician to win the award was Farley McPherson who was Miss McGill 1998 and also Ms McGill 1999.

Back before 1998, Farley liked to play Charlie Mingus riffs on his double bass while he ice fished. One day in 1998 he was a little hung over from ice fishing the day before when he mistook the McGill that had been polished up to transport Miss McGill in the Christmas parade for a fish hut.

McGills are luxurious toilets, about the size of economy fish huts. If he'd been an accordion player, Farley would have been ok. He would have had a pleasant place to sit and room to move his arms while playing basses against counter-basses with chords and scrumptious melodies. However, being an ample human himself and since his double bass was bigger than a short neck banjo, he got quite stuck. He was able to turn around enough to sit comfortably but he couldn't get out.

Before he could hook live minnows on his spreader and drop it down the hole, Farley discovered that he couldn't budge. This was late in the year and Orillia's Christmas parade was bearing down on us. The parade is one of the many important events that happen in Orillia each year. Orillians line the streets for the parade from Couchiching park, up Mississauga Street, around by Soldiers Memorial Hospital, and back down Coldwater Road, past the McGill attached to the back of Rombo's Restaurant.

Multitudes of women were in the running for Miss McGill that year. Miss McGill was almost as popular as Santa Claus and Farley was stuck in the toilet threatening to sue McGill Environmental for big money. In the spirit of Christmas and in a desperate effort to save the parade for all the children who believe in Santa Claus and all their fathers who believe in Miss McGill, someone suggested making Farley Miss McGill 1998.

Farley enjoyed the parade and he was one of the most popular Miss McGills that we've ever had in Orillia. Seems to have been something to do with the water here and vivid imaginations.

The problem was that they couldn't pry Farley out until several months after the parade. By then he was threatening to sue again. He'd grown tired of being called Miss McGill and didn't feel that it was politically correct. By the time he's lost enough weight to be extricated from the blue plastic toilet, he talked McGill Environmental into changing the title to Ms McGill and making him Ms McGill 1999.

Farley McPherson's had numerous great ideas while he sat those many months on the toilet. Unfortunately, his luck had changed by the time he escaped. His idea of selling McGills and double basses to folks who wanted to lose weight didn't catch on at all even though the acoustics in McGills are superb.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 12:15 PM

The atmosphere in the Church was warm and relaxed. There were fifty to one hundred people seated on stacking chairs and standing around the room. The band at the front was playing beautifully, and the audience watched and listened attentively.

The announcer and band leader turned to a slender, thoughtful looking man with a thick mop of hair, and began asking questions about music and about Cuba. The thoughtful looking man told stories and sang songs, and held the audience in rapt attention for at least a half hour.

Seated in the audience was a beautiful young woman with dark hair and and a vibrant expression on her face, obviously enjoying the moment and the company of those present.

After the performance, I was warmly greeted with a big hug from the young woman who was, indeed, hesperis. She introduced me to the thoughtful looking man... you guessed it, Little Hawk.

What a great way to meet face to face for the first time with my first two buddies in the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 12:56 PM

Awww, warm fuzzies!

(Oh, and the announcer and band leader is one of the two very capable Ministers for that Church. He took music at Uni before deciding to become a Minister. Just so people know.)

And everybody who hasn't yet looked at my hamsters, there are pictures here! (The new one is named after Carol, actually. So look!)

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 02:07 PM

One of the hamsters decided to make a break for freedom last night! Either I left the cage door open or the little beast pried it open, I'm not sure. Anyway, we heard this "THUMP!" at around 2:00 AM (I think) and wondered what the heck it was...

It was the hamster doing a swan dive from the open cage door down about 3 feet or more down to its landing spot, which fortunately wasn't too hard...or we might have an Ex-hamster to dispose of here.

We couldn't figure out what it was and went back to sleep. Around 6 AM (I think) I felt a rapid succession of tiny footsteps run down the bedcovers over my body. Akkk! What a weird feeling. The hamster had found the mattress, conveniently located on the floor, and may have been trying to wake us, because she was by then extremely THIRSTY! Or maybe she just got lucky. Who knows?

She is back in the cage now, sleeping it off.

flattop - Interesting story about Ms McGill. Don't be so sure that you can avoid your assigned spot in heaven. It's already been set aside for you. They're remarkably tolerant up there, what can I say? There's probably even a McGill close at hand.

Thanks for the kind words, Carol. St. Paul's United in Orillia is one of the few churches I've ever felt truly comfortable in, cos they have open minds there, so I play music for them now and then. Their minister, Paul Browning, is probably the most radical free thinker in any church in Canada...and that's saying a lot.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 04:49 PM

If your hamster is in fact a she, watch her. We had one who used to seduce the local field mice. A real hussy. Even figured out how to open her cage door to let them in.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 04:52 PM

Yikes! Did any progeny result from these nocturnal assignations? If so, what did you call them? "Heisters", perhaps?

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 05:03 PM

LOL! They're both a "she", due to the pet store people not knowing what they were doing! (Or me either. But now I know how to tell a female hamster!) Hopefully next time, I can get a male.

It was definitely Sweetie who escaped. Selkie isn't that big yet. And it was around 1 am when we heard that soft-plasticky-sliding thud. She'd been wandering around for about 5 hours before deciding to check out the other room. I guess she was getting thirsty by then, because she was quite pleased even to be picked up that suddenly. I put her back in her cage at around 6 am, and couldn't get back to sleep, of course. When you have a hamster crawl over your feet at 6 am, when you know both the hamsters are supposed to be in safe areas, well, it gives one quite a bit of an adrenalin jolt.

I've just finished a couple hours of intensive napping, so that we can go out to flattop's this evening for dinner. Carol's cooking it, too. I am really looking forward to it, as because of the allergy treatment yesterday, I've only been allowed to eat cooked veggies. So I've had nothing but broccoli for the past 24 hours. *sigh* I really want sweet stuff right now!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 05:59 PM

We are about to leave.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 06:09 PM

The gently rolling landscape is covered with a thick blanket of snow. More snow is falling. In more southern climates, snow looks and feels like a bit of an aberration. Here, it looks like an essential part of the landscape.

Earlier in the day, the sun was shining. There is ice on the branches of the trees that glints and sparkles when the sun shines on it. The snow and ice aren't really weather. They're just part of life.

Went to the bank yesterday to get some Canadian money. In the U.S., bank lobbies are usually decorated like hotel lobbies. The lobby of the Bank of Nova Scotia (in Orillia)is a serious looking place. Not much decor to speak of. The money was pretty, though.

When I wanted to cross the street to get to the bank, I stepped down from a snow drift onto the road surface. I thought I would wait there at the roadside for a break in the traffic and then cross. The car that was approaching came to a stop and the driver waved me across. That placed me in the middle of the road in between the two lanes of opposing traffic. Again, I figured I would wait for an opening, and finish crossing. The first car coming the other way stopped, and the driver waved me across. Although I was warmed by the kindness of the drivers, I felt a little bad that I had disrupted the flow of traffic by just stepping down off of the snow drift.

It's interesting how assumptions can be called into question when we travel in new places. My automatic assumption is that cars drive past people standing by the side of the road. Now I know that even subtle actions like stepping onto a road surface can have a very different effect here than they do where I live. flattop said that in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, cars will stop for you if you just look across the road.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 07:15 PM

Yeah. Someone once said that I wasn't beautiful, (because I'm "not blonde" -her words- and because I was really sick that day. If you're sick as a dog, you're not exactly going to be impressive, even if you're an internationally acclaimed model.) I was really insulted. So I told her that I am beautiful, and I've even stopped traffic.

She kinda stared at me, and I said: "yeah, you know, step out in the street, and start crossing the road, and the traffic'll stop."

The thing is, if you are beautiful, people don't swear at you if you just start crossing the road and they have to stop. They may even gesture for you to continue. That's probably what happened to you, Carol...

(I really have stopped traffic in the normal "guy drops jaw and screetches to a halt" way, too.)

BTW, Carol, what's the recipe for that stir-fry thing you made? It was good.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 07:31 PM

So I've been blaming my Siamese all these years, for getting the hamsters out of their cage and all along the hamsters had brains enough to do it themselves??!! Oy, as Little Neo would say!

Thanks for keeping us updated on your travels and the scenery, Carol. Great story flattop!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 07:58 PM

Oh, hamsters are amazingly smart for their small size... If they were human sized, they'd have taken over the planet by now!

Hmmm........... actually........ they might have already!

(You know, like the rats in HGttG?)

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: flattop
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 11:34 PM

That stir fry thing was rabbit turd with melted cheddar, hessy. Ask Little Hawk for the recipe.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 11:51 PM

Glad you're enjoying your trip Carol.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:08 AM

Sounds better all the time Carol........and I think the feelings must be mutual all-round! Keep us posted.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 01:21 AM

Thanks guys!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: CarolC
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 02:44 PM

Music is a thread that runs through all of life. When I remember the people who have helped to create the tapestry of my life, music is always there, creating a background of sound and feeling.

Musical instruments were scattered around the sparsely furnished living/dining room. The remains of the mostly eaten ratatouille were sitting on the table. Bellies were full. The subdued lighting set a relaxed mood. Minds were starting to turn to music. Little Hawk played a bluesy but energetic song about life. A departure from the usual folky sound that is his hallmark, the song sparkled, and got the music off to a good start. Little Hawk has an apparently inexhaustible repertoire of songs, many of them his own compositions. They are very good. (Better than Dylan, in my opinion.) flattop requested several of his favorites, and Little Hawk graciously played them all.

Out of its box for the first time, the electronic keyboard was a great fascination for all of us, but especially for hesperis. The one light in the room was dimmed. hesperis stood at the keyboard, moving gracefully like the dancer she is, swaying with the rhythm of her music. She played her original composition, Night Garden. This is a piece that has the ability to transport the listener to other realms. For me, it evoked the ethereal beauty of a moonlit garden with strangely compelling statuary and night-blooming flowers. A poignant sadness blanketed the image of the garden and of wispy, not-quite-seen presences moving about in it. When projected, hesperis' voice has a clear bell-like tone that added an even more haunting feel to the piece.

The Corner Coffee House in Newmarket is a friendly little place with couches and plants scattered amongst the tables and the trays of coffee and coffee fixings. At the music end of the coffehouse, Little Hawk sang several songs. flattop provided harmony on some of them. Little Hawk has a good folk-singer's voice. It is expressive, and it beautifully conveys the mood of each song he sings. flattop has a soft voice. Expressive in its own, way, it has the ability to blend in beautiful harmony with any voice. And flattop understands harmony. flattop's harmonies add richness and texture to whatever is being sung. flattop sang three songs while Little Hawk harmonized, and I accompanied them with basses and chords on my accordion. That was a rollicking good time.

Mudcatter JohnB and his wife Tina were a special treat. They sang traditional songs from their native England. Both are from Manchester, and their singing is flavored with the style and accent of their homeland. JohnB has a good strong voice. He sings masterfully and with the confidence of one who has spent many years steeped in the genre. Tina's voice is beautiful and melodic. Her singing added sweetness and beauty to the earthy tones of JohnB's voice. With voices intertwining beautifully throughout each song, they brought their music vibrantly to life for us in the cozy warmth of the little coffeehouse.

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 04:52 PM

Boy, Carol, that was such a good description that it was almost better than being there! :-)

You have quite a way with words. Maybe you oughta start writing songs...

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Feb 01 - 06:04 PM

That was beautiful Carol....really!

Not to take anything away from it, but Hawk......maybe you weren't there. Ya' gotta' lay off that narcotic man........the shit will make you null and void! I've suspected this for a long time starting with Major Tom and culminating with that symbobizarro interpretation of Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts.

Seriously, the times are sounded better all the time!

Enjoy!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 07:36 PM

This diary entry is for Mike Latter. I've only met Mike one time, and very briefly. I know very little about him. But he extended a kindness to a stranger that stands out in my mind as being worthy of mention here.

Mike attends the weekly song circle in Orillia. His voice is deep and growly, with a slight nasal twang. It reminds me a little bit of Leon Redbone. His guitar playing is gentle, with a bouncy little lilt, and a feeling of light hearted optimism. This is paricularly interesting because of the subject matter of his songs.

Mike sings his own songs. They touch, very deeply, the heart of human experience. He sings about loss, and about love. He sings about the people who live invisible lives in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the world of the "normals".

Mike's songs ache with compassion and empathy... but softly, barely stirring the air. They pass through the mind like a fragrant little breeze that plays equally amongst beautiful flowers and brown dead leaves. Joy and pain intermingle throughout the songs, not oppressively or darkly, but expressively, evoking the richness of the experience of life.

At song circle on Monday, Mike approached me and said he had something he wanted to give me. He handed me a CD called Louisiana Moon, by Michael E. Latter. I was told later that he had brought it to song circle just to give to me, someone he'd never even met.

It's a beautiful CD. Mike sounds like a beautiful person.

"I laugh because... there isn't any reason
I laugh because... I love you as you are."

--Michael E. Latter

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 08:00 PM

Yes, Mike was the first real friend I made in Orillia, and he is a man full of compassion. He has written hundreds of songs, poems, and longer works, and is a pretty amazing guy.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 10:05 PM

Mike is an awesome guy. He writes about "invisibility" because he's been there, and love and darkness as well.

LH and I went to his birthday party. I love Rice Dream, it's really good to drink, even if you can have milk. Mike was always bugging LH about liking it, though, calling it "Rice Nightmare", so I decided that I'd get him some Rice Dream Ice Cream for his birthday.

We arrived at the house where the party was being held, and I hurried to hide the gift in the freezer.

When dessert was brought out, I gave Mike a bowl of Cherry Vanilla Rice Dream, and told him that it was a special gourmet Ice Cream.

He loved it!

A couple of days later, at La Mezzaluna, LH and I told Mike what it was. He admitted that he actually loved Rice Dream, and he was only bugging LH when he said he hated it. He was very happy about the gift, because he only knew about the drink, and he didn't know about the frozen dessert!

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: JohnB
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 08:31 AM

Thanks Carol, boy do you write goodly, not as me. You also ave a grate memory if you remember all those miniscule details as well. Shheesh it took me all my time to remember your second name. Yeah the C part. JohnB

Subject: RE: BS: Canadian Diary (CarolC)
From: hesperis
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 07:23 PM

How many songs have you written, Carol?