A nice, simple feel-good post today. My toddler was playing with a bunch of stuff that aren’t his toys, as kids are want to do, when he sat cross-legged in a cake dish borrowed from his grandmother. I thought it was a cute representation of a meditating Buddha. Enjoy!
As the title says, kids say the darnedest things…. I may have heard that a time or two, especially from my parents when I was a child. Considering some of the things that have come out of my children’s mouths over the years, I can believe that they come by it honestly.
What’s important to remember when raising children is that even when you think they AREN’T listening, they’re absorbing every damn word you utter…. And they use it in their own special, unique way. Kind of like the time that Nathan was playing with some action figures while we were taking a drive and he says, “Take that, juice-bag…”. It dawned on me that he meant “douche bag” but heard it as something else. It makes for some unique comedy…
It gets all the more entertaining if you find yourself in an environment where you can observe and listen to many children at once. It’s almost as thought they feed off each other and come up with the funniest shit. On Saturday morning, I decided to bring Nathan to a public park. It was a pretty large one, with multiple play structures and climbing surfaces. Several dozen children and their parents had the same idea as we did.
And since I was able to just sit there and watch Nathan playing, I was able to focus my attention on some of the funnier things I heard and document them. These are all from our outing last Saturday, and some are also from the parents. Without further ado, here are the top 10 funniest things I overheard at the park:
1. “It’s important to love yourself as you are, but you’re a little TOO big, mom…”. This one gave me a kick because the young girl in question seemed to be balancing body positivity with the reality that obesity is a serious issue. Or maybe she was just being subtle about the fact her mom wouldn’t make a good partner on the see-saw…. I don’t know, I was listening but not looking;
2. “Why are you always telling me to take a drink, but always telling mommy to STOP drinking?” I’ll admit that this one made me laugh out loud, despite the potential context. I don’t know what the guy’s backstory is, but I can’t help but feel this little girl has overheard things the dad likely didn’t want her to;
3. “I had one of those things…. You know, a fart you can grab onto!” I groaned inwardly at this one, despite the laugh I had. Considering Nathan has “gifted” me with a number of fecal-based little surprises at the worst times over the years, I can certainly relate to the emotions the parent was no doubt holding in;
4. “Yes, I hurt myself. But I’m still awake and I remember my name so I’ll just keep on playing…”. Honestly, this one impressed me. This kid knows where it’s at and recognizes the signs of serious injury. Hopefully, the parent will explain that these aren’t the only symptoms of serious injury, but this seems like a smart kid, nonetheless;
5. “This is like a really bad night club, except with less drugs and alcohol…”. This was actually one parent talking to another, while trying to find her child. HER comment elicited a laugh, but the other parent’s comment made me take pause. The other parent said, “Speak for yourself!”
6. “If you’d pull your own weight around here, this park would be way more fun…” I think this kid was talking to another kid. Maybe the second one wasn’t playing as enthusiastically as the first one wanted. At least I HOPE it was another kid. Light help Nathan, if he ever hit me up with a comment like this;
7. “Try it and I’ll drop you…”. This one actually involved Nathan, so I had to step in. Nathan was playing on a strange sort of spinning structure, where you push it and it spins. Nathan was pushing it for another boy who was sprawled on the spinning part and Nathan teased that he would “smack his butt.” Setting aside the fact my 6-year old son seems inclined to touch another kid’s posterior for a moment, I was somewhat taken aback at the ferocity behind the other kid’s response. Luckily, I was able to explain to Nathan WHY it isn’t a good idea to offer to “smack” someone else’s butt;
8. “We’ve been playing for a while and it’s quite warm out. The last thing I need is your butt in my face…”. Another one that made me laugh out loud. Truthfully, kids always seem to think butts are funny. That’s nothing new. But this seemed to be two girls who were climbing a play structure and the one at the rear (pun fully intended) seemed to know the score as it relates to her friend who was ahead of her;
9. “Why are we leaving? I don’t remember saying I was hungry…”. This came out of Nathan when I mentioned it was time to go. Little bastard. It was almost 1 p.m. and I was starving. He had eaten a bear claw about an hour prior and he had access to water and a public washroom, so his world was good; and
10. “I hates this place! Peoples are bullshit!!!” This kid was melting down and crying loud, being carried out of the park as we left. And no, those aren’t typos; he was pronouncing those words exactly as I wrote them. It was a combination of hilarious and cute. This one was definitely my favourite, which is why I saved it for last. Peoples are bullshit. Classic.
There you have it; the top 10 funniest things I overheard at the park. Not exactly the educational or philosophical post I would usually put out. But once in a while, you need to just stop and smell the roses and acknowledge that life is funny. Especially if you stop and take time to listen. Kids can be a handful, but in the right context, those little drunken midgets are also hilarious. ☯️
The day started out pretty nicely; waking up in a cozy hotel room with “Just For Laughs Gags” playing in the background on the television. The day is especially chilled, with a combination of smoke hanging in the air and a light rain falling. We had the choice of a complimentary breakfast or $8 off a full breakfast. Considering the size of me and the fact I’m on vacation, which do YOU think I chose? If you think I would be satisfied with a muffin for breakfast, you haven’t been paying attention…
I had a work commitment that I couldn’t skip, despite being on vacation, but as soon as it was done we were off to do some light shopping. We had a watch belonging to my mother-in-law to repair and a couple of clothing items I needed, as well. (And wanted). After those few shops, we opted for an easy snack-based lunch of a soft-baked pretzel. Yes, it’s high carb but this is a vacation, damn it! And I have a fresh infusion set in.
Our afternoon turned out to be a tribute to the level of relaxation that should come with being on vacation: we took a 2-hour nap. And it was glorious. Now, if you’ve read some of my posts from way back, you know that I’m a huge fan of naps and consider them to be integral to good health. And this one was no exception. I woke myself from the occasional snore, but slept pretty solidly before my wife’s alarm went off.
We had supper with my wife’s sister and her new husband. And in keeping with my personal policy on not photographing or naming people without asking first (for various reasons), I’ll limit this paragraph to saying we had a fantastic meal and some good conversation and were all carb-loaded and exhausted by the time we left the restaurant.
Then, we capped off our night with some cable television in the hotel room, coupled with some gaming on our devices and reading. Wild couple, right? To be honest, a vacation is only as fun as the company you keep. And I think I can speak for both of us when I say that my wife and I have had a great few days. Tomorrow, we head back to Kindersley to see how much of grandma’s house our boys destroyed. We’ve missed them, but it was definitely good to get away for a few days and recharge our batteries.
We still have a few days of vacation left, which will be used to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday and kick back a bit before travelling back to Regina. I promise that the days that follow will go back to some regular content. But it was nice to have a few days to relax and to chronicle those few days. Everyone needs a bit of time to rest and recharge. ☯️
The morning started the way one would expect when not sleeping in ones own bed; with children waking in a strange environment and seeking out mom and dad. My wife and the baby shared a bed in one room, while I used another. Nathan has his own room at grandma’s. The baby woke early but might have almost gone back to sleep, if not for Nathan’s insistence to come “help” the baby off the big bed and off they went.
After a much-needed infusion of caffeine, my wife and I hit the road for the almost three-hour trip to reach Saskatoon where I would be getting my bimonthly eye injections. Not exactly the ideal couples getaway, but we got to do a fair bit of stuff when we hit the city. The ride up was uneventful, with some good conversation and the mandatory road trip stop at Tim Hortons for coffee. The Smokey air was a bit of a grim reminder of the wildfires burning in the north.
We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant before walking the central area of the city prior to my eye appointment. It was a welcome change with only silence and calm guiding our actions. A far cry from the usual “I’m hungry” and “I need a potty” that usually accompanies our two little rug rats. Although we missed them, we were quite certain they were having fun with grandma and grandpa on the farm. Plus, my wife’s mother hadn’t texted or called in a panic yet, so that was a good sign.
My eye appointment went as well as one could expect it. You know, for having steel needles jammed into ones eyes. My wife took advantage of my appointment to enjoy a brief nap. Then we had supper at my favourite watering hole: Finn’s Irish Pub. We shared an appetizer platter and some fried and I had my customary burger and pint (I may or may not have enjoyed a highball as well, since they were on special).
We capped off the evening with a soak in the hotels whirlpool, where we met some interesting people and got hear their story. Every once in a while, some random person feels compelled to chat with me. It’s kind of neat. Then we curled up in the room for some Big Bang Theory and a horror movie. This is actually starting to feel like an actual vacation…☯️
Vacations take on a significantly different tone, once children are in the mix. And of course they do; as opposed to laying on white sand with a cocktail, you need to see to the enjoyment of little ones as opposed to focusing on rest. Granted, I’ve never really had much of a vacation that didn’t involve training or working.
It didn’t take long after we arrived at grandma’s house to want to rush out the door and go to the park. There happens to be one located about 30 seconds down the sidewalk from my mother-in-law’s house. After over three hours cooped up in a car seat, he needed to blow off some steam.
Yes, the boys need to be entertained, but hopefully we get a bit of respite over the next couple of days. Despite the bimonthly requirement for eye injections, my wife and I will be enjoying a couple of nights away while grandma looks after the boys. She may need more of a rest than we do, by the time we get back. ☯️
I started this blog a couple of years ago as a way of sharing knowledge and information about the small variety of topics that I cover. Considering I was home from work and the pandemic kicked into high gear, it was also an easy way to keep my sanity. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and speak with an interesting variety of people, from fellow bloggers to folks who have found my blog by accident and have chosen to follow it. It’s also been an important tool for developing and maintaining my writing skills.
Like many others skills and talents, writing is a kept skill; one that you begin to lose if you don’t use it frequently. In that light, my previous job involved the drafting of reports and required a certain level of writing skill that I wanted to maintain. This was also part of my motivation behind starting a blog. On some occasions, I’ve found myself drawing a blank on what to write about. That’s bound to happen, right? Even though I have a number of great topics to cover and decades of dealing with those topics, there are only so many original posts one can come up with. This is why I’ve occasionally found myself reaching out to friends and associates, asking their opinions on what I should write about.
And that’s an open invitation, to anyone reading this post. If you have questions, comments or ideas related to Buddhism, Martial Arts or Diabetes, throw me a comment. Hell, I’d love to HOST a couple of writers and post on their behalf. But sometimes, the ideas just don’t flow quite as easily as they should. At time of writing this, I’m quickly rounding the corner on almost 900 posts that I’ve published in two years. Not too shabby, from a thought-sharing standpoint. I’ve been having a running contest with myself as to how long I can maintain daily posts without missing a day. This post marks 484 consecutive days of publishing material without missing a day. I don’t NEED to do this, it’s mostly just a bit of fun to see how long I can maintain daily posts.
This has led to a question that has been asked of me on more than one occasion: “Why don’t you write a book?” Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind almost as often as the question has been asked. And don’t think for a second that I don’t have notes and materials compiled that could eventually lead to such a project. The problem is that there is a significant difference between authoring a daily blog and undertaking a such a large-scale project as publishing a book. And large-scale it would be.
Publishing a daily blog is reasonably simple. So long as you have topics that you have some in-depth knowledge of, you can usually manage to put out a post that can be read at people’s convenience. Maybe some will read it, maybe some won’t. A blog isn’t exactly a means of getting rich, although I’ve found some bloggers who try and make their monthly financial commitments through the advertisement revenue of their blogs. If they have the number of followers that allow it, good for them. But my point is that writing and posting a daily blurb about certain aspects of one’s life is a basically simple thing.
Writing an actual book takes years. I know some people who are convinced that if you can sit in front of a keyboard and type for 8 hours a day, they could knock out their life story within a couple of months. Although this holds SOME truth, there are a lot of aspects to publishing a book that most people don’t consider. First, you need to find a publishing company willing to take you on. This usually involves providing sample materials along with an overview synopsis of the book you’re trying to publish. If you’re lucky enough to get past all the rejections and find a publisher willing to help you get your book out, the real work begins.
As you write, you’ll likely be doing so without pay. Unless you’re freakin’ Stephen King, you won’t get a full year’s salary to sit at home and write. You may get a small commission to cover the start of your work, but payment is due upon completion of the work. Much like any other job. And since you’re not getting paid as you go, it can be a lean number of months until you see some green. Then you get to spend months debating, arguing and compromising with an individual who ISN’T writing your book but is put in place to ensure the book has a readable and sellable quality for its intended audience. This is called an editor.
Getting beyond all of those hurdles to get your book out is only the beginning. once your book is ready for release, you need to worry about advertising it, how well it sells and how well it’s received. That can make or break your ability to write as a career. Unless your ultimate goal is to write one book then call it quits. But my limited experience with most publishers is that they’re usually looking at the long-term and want writers to commit to released two or three books. That can be fine, but if your first book flops you may be looking at being cut out and never getting to those subsequent projects.
Last but not least, I guess it’s the overall format. I think we can all agree that my posts have potential to not only be informative but witty and comedic at the same time. I have the benefit of letting my sarcasm and attitude ooze out in certain respects, which can make for some pretty entertaining posts. this is something I may not necessarily be able to pull off, if I wrote an actual book. I’ve been through enough in my life to date that I’m sure there would be enough for me to compile it all in a book. But this begs the important question: Who would really want to read the story of some random Diabetic martial artist’s life? Better to receive it in small, daily doses. I’m easier to digest, this way. ☯
We’ve likely all been there at some point in our lives…. Young, energetic and full of piss & vinegar. Most teenagers are filled with energy levels that adults are envious of, despite the fact that they have a tendency to somehow hide that energy while sleeping in a classroom. But I digress…. When I was in my teens, my biggest problem was my uncontrolled blood sugars. THAT aspect will perhaps be a topic for tomorrow’s post. But like most teenagers, I was filled with repressed energy, angst and a competitive drive. Typically, this energy is expended through various means, such as playing in team sports. Since I was never a team sports “guy,” I didn’t have this outlet. No, no… instead, I was the karate guy. And when two “karate guys” get together to expend some of that pent-up aggression, no good can come of it. Today’s post is a few short stories of just such occasions.
The 1990’s were a strange time for me. I was growing as a martial artist and as a person. I was a bit of a black sheep among my peers, since I wasn’t into cars or sports. I spoke to the majority of my time in the dojo or on my bike. When I wasn’t doing that, I was indulging in a guilty pleasure that I still enjoy today: action movies. You all know my opinion on the so-called action heroes who use martial arts on the big screen. It looks good, it evokes those happy-happy-joy-joy “I like seeing shit blow up” feelings, but they rarely represent a realistic portrayal of martial arts. But they’re no less fun to watch, despite that fact.
In 1997, I was bouncing between living at home and in an apartment in the neighbouring town for college classes. During a particular weekend at home, my friend (I’ll call him “Guy”) and I went to see Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, which had just recently come to theatres. This was the follow-up sequel to Mortal Kombat, which had come out in theatres a couple of years prior to that. As a fan of the video game (who wasn’t?) I was excited to see the original. The sequel fell short. In case my sarcasm isn’t clear enough, it sucked. It definitely wasn’t up to par with the original, but it still involved a number of fight scenes that left Guy and I loaded with adrenaline on the way home.
Interesting side note about Guy: he’s my Sensei’s son. And he’s been training in Okinawan karate for longer than I have. Can anyone guess where THIS is going? We pulled into Guy’s driveway, where my vehicle was parked. We both stepped out of the vehicle and came around to the rear bumper, where we stood about ten feet apart and looked at each other with a grin. It was almost like one of those traditional Kung fu movies…. There was silence in the air, a light powdering of snow was falling and we squared off against each other with fists clenched and smiles on our faces. In an instant twitch of reflex, we closed the gap and the fight was on! We both threw attacks and blocks simultaneously and fought semi-contact, until we fell to the ground in a match of grappling that would have been suitable for inside the dojo, albeit not for the bare asphalt of the street.
Now, Guy used to live on a pretty secluded side street of our home town. Secluded enough that traffic was rare and one could sit there for hours without seeing another person or vehicle. But Murphy’s Law, right? As we’re rolling around on the ground, laughing and punching each other, we hear the telltale whine of brake pads, right next to our heads. We look up to see the head of a buffalo, staring right at us. A police officer, specifically RCMP, had rolled up next to us and came to a stop. We both jumped to our feet, dusted ourselves off and smiled at the officer. He looked at both of us and asked, “Is there a problem here, guys?” We calmly explained that Guy lived on the house behind us, the red car was mine and we had just come from watching Mortal Kombat. We were both karate students and just blowing off some steam. The officer smiled, shook his head and slowly pulled away while mumbling, “Teenage hormones…”
This would only be the first of many instances that Guy and I would “play” with our martial arts training. There was a time in the early 2000’s, when I traveled to Quebec City with the girl I was dating. She had never met Guy, but he lived in Montreal at the time. When he heard I was coming to Quebec, he convinced me to meet him in a diner off the highway, just prior to crossing the bridge into the city. We collected the girl’s sister, and the four of us had breakfast at this diner, where Guy was able to exude his usual charm as they got to know him. It went reasonably well, with guy and I telling stories about how we met, how we grew up and some of the shenanigans we’d gotten into. One would think that what was coming could be guessed…
As we all walked towards our respective vehicles, Guy was walking slightly ahead of us. As he walked, he let out a small sigh, started removing his watch and putting it into his coat pocket. I knew what was coming, so I took off my watch as well, and handed it as well as my insulin pen, to the girl I was dating and whispered, “Hold this!” Guy removed his coat and tossed it towards the rear fin of his car (he drove a Saturn coupe). All eyes besides mine were drawn to the coat and as soon as it touched the rear of the vehicle, Guy spun around with a roundhouse kick that would have removed my head, had I not known it was coming. The girls screeched and backed away, visibly confused by the sudden and unexpected combat situation that was playing out before them. It only took a moment for them to realize that Guy and I were both laughing as we sparred, despite some of our techniques actually connecting. The people passing on the highway didn’t have the benefit of hearing us laugh, and we drew quite a few stares from passing motorists. No cops, this time.
The next two incidents took place in the early 2000’s as well. Yes, the next two…. Keep reading, these are hilarious! I was renting a house in the City of Moncton and Guy was ironically living there as well while he pursued his college diploma. This meant that we had the opportunity to hang out a fair bit. One evening, we were all hanging out in my backyard, having a few drinks and chatting. Remember reading a previous post where I explained why I never drink to get intoxicated? And the story about how I could have injured someone? With Guy in the picture, times that by a factor of ten. We got called out by some of the people who were there, asking us to demonstrate our karate. Although neither of us were interested in doing so, we reluctantly got up and squared off on the back lawn. We both had a few drinks in us, and I thought I would have a clear advantage. I was wrong.
As soon as the match started, Guy threw a flurry of kicks at me that staggered me easily. After a few moments, I got tired of his damn legs reaching me so easily so, in my drunken haze, did the only thing I could think of: I dove for his knees. It seemed like a good idea, right up until the moment that his fist connected with the back of my skull. The next clear memory is being inside my house, sprawled on my bed. I remember thinking that I hadn’t drank enough to have passed out. Then, I remembered the punch. I got up and walked to the bathroom and was faced with an image I didn’t recognize as my face. My head was pounding, I was covered in dirt and mud and I had a welt on my left cheek accompanied by a dried trickle of blood at the corner of my mouth.
To provide some context, my back yard had a lawn, but it was also a bit muddy. A later recounting of the story by an observer provided that when I dove for Guy’s knees, he swung down towards my head, thinking I would block or dodge. I did NOT block or dodge. The strike basically face-planted me in the mud, which caused the welt and bloody mouth. Since everyone was having a “good” time, they brought me into the house and put me in my bed. Idiots. Lucky I didn’t have a concussion. Of course, it was my fault for agreeing to it in the first place, I guess.
The last instance took place only a short while later, while we both still lived in Moncton. Yes, I promise this is the last one. Guy and I were watching a movie at his apartment. And you guessed it: it was an action movie. When the movie was done, he walked towards the back door of the apartment I would be leaving from. I already anticipated what would be coming, but I had been suffering from a pretty bad cold at the time and was in no mood to fight. I explained this fact to Guy, who responded by removing his watch and bringing his fists up to a fighting position. I sighed and positioned myself accordingly.
Just to set the scene, this was a small apartment that had a walk-in kitchen with countertops lining both sides. At the far end was Guy’s dining table, which Guy was standing in front of. Still with me? Good. I m uttered all my speed and strength, hoping to make this quick. Oh, it was quick all right. Guy not only blocked my punch but spun around behind me and delivered the sole of his foot to the back of my head. The kick, combined with my own forward momentum, sent me rolling right under his kitchen table. He grabbed his watch, strapped it back on and said, “Great movie, thanks for coming over,” and went back to the couch as I groaned, unceremoniously collected myself off the floor and walked out. Brotherly love, am I right?
The interesting part is that we did grow up as brothers. Sensei essentially raised me, with all the time I spent in the dojo when I wasn’t in school. And it’s no secret that siblings will often wrestle or fight when given the chance. It just hits a whole other level when it involves two black belts. Although this post was merely intended as a feel good story to share some memories, something I’ve been doing in spades lately, I think it also illustrates a few important points. We always had fun with our karate. Our skills were sharp, we trained hard. But we also played hard. And we loved it. Some of you are probably thinking, “Your skills don’t SOUND all that sharp,” considering I always seemed to be on the receiving end of a beating when sparring with Guy. hey, what do you expect from the first-born son of a Sensei?
But the next important point is that no matter how hard you train and develop yourself, there’s always the potential for someone else to be more skilled than you. This can be important, especially in the mindset of defending yourself or someone else. It’s important to continue with one’s training and development. This isn’t something that ever stops. But it doesn’t mean you can’t have a bit fun along the way. Food for thought…. I hoped you enjoyed the stories as much as I enjoyed walking down a painful memory lane. ☯️
Louis Armstrong once said, “Music is life itself.” I don’t know if I would go THAT far, especially since if I had to choose between music and karate, I’d still go with karate. That being said, music has always played a big role in my life. I’m one of those folks who can be influenced by a song simply by hearing it. An upbeat song will have me bopping along and singing at the top of my voice while passing drivers look on in awe at the crazy guy in the suit whose cheese appears to be sliding off his cracker. On the other hand, hearing certain ballads will remind me of sad memories, make me maudlin or even tear up, if the song is right.
I’ve owned at least one guitar since I was sixteen (at one point, I had four) but I’ve never put the amount of effort into it that I could have or should have. Once again, this came down to a choice between focusing on music or karate. Since karate was keeping me healthy and well… alive, I opted for karate. But believe it or not, there was a time when music was a pivotal part of my daily life, where I would listen to music, try to strum along and singing became common place for me. In high school, I tried doing the whole “band” thing, but the able participants weren’t willing ones and we never really got it off the ground.
When I went away to college, I actually had the opportunity to sing for a few guys that played at college events and a few venues. I actually performed in front of several hundred people, making the introvert inside scream in fear, but it definitely contributed to why I can speak in public with relative ease and comfort. I currently own two guitars; an acoustic that my late aunt left me, which she autographed for me before her passing and an electric Les Paul style guitar that my wife bought me as an engagement gift.
“Music And Rhythm Find Their Way Into The Secret Places Of The Soul…”
– Plato
I bring up the subject of music because, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I had the opportunity to have a Zoom meeting with the group of friends I hung out with during my formative years. It was an amazing feeling but I was reminded of some amazing music, as well. That’s why I’ve decided to share the playlist we came up with in this post. This will seem like a long post, but it relatively short in terms of reading. Whether or not you watch the YouTube videos is up to you. Let’s take a nostalgic journey…
Who doesn’t recognize and appreciate the incredible vocals of Freddy Mercury? I only discovered Queen by virtue of having watched “Wayne’s World,” which came out in 1992. But this song holds a special place in my heart as, after purchasing the cassette tape (yes, you read that right, it was on tape) my friend Leon and I crooned along to that one song to the point that we basically burned out the tape. We even recorded ourselves singing it, using the lyrics sheet inside the cassette case. We didn’t have Google to supply us with such things, back then.
I owe the discovery of this song to my friend Leon. This was a tape of his that he brought along and slapped into my shitty car’s tape deck. I always felt the opening riffs stirred something in the soul. My Sensei’s son and I actually tried learning this on the guitar, back when we were young and stupid. Moving on…
Where do I even start with this group? April Wine holds a special place in my heart, for a variety of reasons. Other than the fact that they’re from the Maritimes like I am, I was introduced to their music as a child by my father. I grew up listening to them in every iteration; on the radio, on 8-tracks, cassette tapes and later on CD’s. I’ve even seen them perform in concert on three separate occasions. Although none of their songs are bad, this one has been singled out as reminding some of my high school friends of me.
Ahh, Ace of Base… If this doesn’t scream 90’s teen years, I don’t know what does. They have a pretty pure and simple sound and although many of their songs start to sound the same after a few listens, you can’t help but nod your head and croon along. This song, along with “It’s A Beautiful Life,” definitely graced the inside of my Toyota Tercel on more occasions than I can recall.
This one is particular because I actually learned how to play this one on the guitar. I had a fellow blogger suggest that I film myself playing and upload it on The Blogging Buddhist’s YouTube page, but the amount of rust on my fingers could put a derelict ship to shame. But I may get there.
I have no shame in admitting that this one was a guilty pleasure that was often indulged in, especially on the weekends when there was nothing to do but cruise up and down the main drag in my shitty car with the windows down, waving at all the girls that somehow knew from a distance that I simply wasn’t cool. Que sera… It’s catchy, it’s feel-good and it holds up. I regret nothing!
Anyone who doesn’t understand why this song is on here is lying to themselves. Fight me! Seriously though, I drove a 1987 Toyota Tercel hatchback that struck an eery resemblance to Garth’s hatchback in Wayne’s World (except in color). Ergo, we nicknamed my Tercel “The Mirth Mobile.” And what would a cruise in the Mirth mobile be, without a batch of people head banging the way they did in the movie.
This album came out while I was in high school and I grew to have an appreciation for Meatloaf’s theatrical efforts for his videos. The song was quite popular, but I was already into Meatloaf, thanks to “Bat Out Of Hell.” I remember thinking how foolish everyone was to “suddenly” discover this artist, but as I look back, I don’t think there’s ever really a bad time to discover great music. Same on teenage me…
Oasis is a great band with a great sound to them, some of which are feel-good tracks and some kinda have you reflecting on life. I drove some of my friends crazy with this one, because the opening strum is what I originally tried learning the guitar with. And I. Was. Not. Good. I improved with time, and the song totally stands up. Which leads to the next one…
From the same album, this one is a direct reminder of my childhood and teen years and the tone makes me a little sad, despite being a fantastic song. The old gang didn’t include this one in our exchanges, I simply love it.
Alanis Morissette’s album “Jagged Little Pill” pretty much oozes 1990’s teen years. I always found that people always either really enjoyed her music or absolutely hated it. I had the album on CD and still have it now as part of my iTunes library/
This is an absolutely wonderful song, and is only a few simple chords, making it fun and easy to strum along to. Although I can’t quite hit the high notes of the artist, I’ve played it on couple of occasions recently. Even my son Nathan croons along with it when it comes on in the car, proving that it totally stands up, even decades later.
If someone can tell me what the hell the term “Tubthumping” is supposed to mean, I’d greatly appreciate it. My autocorrect is losing it’s shit, right now. On the flip side, the band calls itself Chumbawumba, so what am I expecting? this song is pure, unadulterated joy. That is all. Simple, repetitive lyrics, I’ve yet to meet a person who’s able to resist singing along at the top of their lungs to this tune, and I’m no exception.
I know that not everyone is a Jim Carey fan, but I loved “Dumb and Dumber” and can still get a laugh from watching it. this song was part of its soundtrack and still totally stands up. I know I’m saying that about a lot of these songs, but I’m pretty biased. It’s upbeat and fun, and usually results in my using the gas peddle a little more than I should.
Everyone in the world knows this song. Prove me wrong. And you can’t, because if you didn’t recognize it and played the video, now you know it! See what I did, there? Bryan Adams was a household name all throughout my childhood, teens and into my adulthood. This song always elicited happy feelings and had me purchase every Bryan Adams album I could get my hands on. I’ve learned some of his songs on the guitar. I had my first real slow dance to one of his songs. He’s timeless.
Last but certainly not in any way least, is this song. Featured as part of the soundtrack for the movie “City of Angels,” (one of Nicholas Cage’s only good movies) Goo Goo Dolls have a very unique sound, especially with the fact that their songs always have some strange tunings that i can never seem to match. But most of their songs are equally as good. I currently own their greatest hits album, and listen to it often.
There you have it! The soundtrack of my youth. There’s plenty more, but I can only spend so much time linking YouTube videos in a single post. As I said in the beginning, this post seems long, but if you’ve just read the paragraphs because you already know the songs, it’s no longer than any of my usual posts. Hopefully, this will have helped remind some of you of a simpler time in your youth, as well. ☯
July 1st starts out nicely; a quiet breakfast of hash and bacon at he table, kids are watching some froo-froo nonsensical bullshit on Netflix and my wife and I are getting some caffeine into our systems before making any attempt at dealing with the day. After a brief round of dishes and cleaning up, everyone dons their Canada Day t-shirts and steps outside to enjoy some of the sunshine before temperatures reach an unsafe and/or intolerable level.
That doesn’t take long… Temperatures are already on the high 20’s and climbing with a completely clear sky offering no respite from the direct light of the Sun. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not the type to complain about summer weather. Especially since I hate the freezing cold and especially the snow. Winter wonderland, my ass! But the summer, although enjoyable, brings it own set of difficulties as it relates to proper health and fitness. Especially if you’re part of a family primarily composed of people with the redheaded gene, fair skin and all.
I could spout the usual rhetoric about needing to cover up, wear a proper amount of sunscreen and stay hydrated. You know, the stuff all of you have had shoved down your throats since childhood. This is a good reminder though, as the summer heat can catch up to you quickly. Even SPF30 will do, even if it means slathering some on more often. Keep a reusable water bottle around and sip from it consistently. And no, beer or other alcoholic beverages don’t count towards your hydration (as much as I occasionally like to think so.
If you have Type-1 Diabetes, you should be aware that the summer heat will cause unexpected increases in blood sugars. If “A” leads to “B” and “B” leads to “C,” then by the transitive property, “A” eventually leads to “C.” What this means is, the extreme heat will cause dehydration. Dehydration leads to higher blood sugars. Ergo, extreme summer heat leads to higher blood sugars. Did I just make that way more complicated than it needed to be? Meinh, who cares! I understand myself, which is what’s important. Not everyone can say as much…
The summer rays will cause all sorts of other issues, such as affecting blood pressure, flushing, dizziness and the potential for heat stroke. Anything and everything affects a Type-1 Diabetic’s blood sugar levels, so it’s important to be prepared for summer conditions. If you’re travelling, camping or performing outdoor sports or exercise, be sure to keep your testing equipment nearby, drink/have plenty of fluids available (including electrolytes) and keep in mind that your Diabetes equipment won’t like extreme temperatures, so you may deal with malfunctioning equipment.
If you’ve Diabetes for any length of time measured in years, you’ll have survived through some summers and will likely already be aware of all this stuff. The important thing to remember is that having Diabetes doesn’t prevent you from enjoying the summer. One need only be prepared and deal with the potential issues that will accompany your condition. Our Canada Day was pretty quiet. We had mushroom burgers, spend a short period of time outside and did some work. The boys lost their minds over the plethora of bubbles created by their bubble machine, followed by naps and watching Spiderman: Into The Spider-verse. Definitely worse ways to spend a day off…☯
I’m a firm believer in karma and its effect on the world in general. That being said, I don’t know if this was karma in action, but it’s sure worth a laugh. This story comes from last week, when I was having lunch at work. My office sits on the fifth floor of one of the taller buildings in Regina, and it overlooks the eastern side of the city. It’s a nice view, albeit hotter than Hades during the early hours of the morning when the Sun blasts its rays directly into my space.
Anyway, I was sitting in my office enjoying a quiet lunch and doing some light reading. I get an hour for lunch but I rarely sit for more than thirty minutes. I’m quirky like that. Actually, I just have a hard time sitting still so I usually don’t take the full hour. The point is that on this particular day, I was reading a chapter and munching away when a loud thump against my window snapped me out of it. I looked up to see a pigeon sitting on the window sill, shaking its head. I laughed a bit, realizing the poor bastard must have flown across from the parkade and dove into my window.
I was busy laughing and decided to snap the photo you see above. Apparently, my little avian friend took offence to my laughter and photographing his misfortune. He slowly turned his backside against my window and proceeded to eject a thin stream of pigeon crap onto my window. All the while, maintaining eye contact with me… I kid you not. My laughter stopped abruptly as I saw it happen, which was followed by the pigeon turning himself fully towards my window and affording me a final glance before drifting off into the skies.
My office windows aren’t clean on the best of days (summer has just kicked in and window cleaning on the office buildings is only just beginning) but this liquid hell just added to the rustic “unclean” look of my windows. So the important questions is this: was it coincidence? Or did this bird dispense some smelly, karmic justice against me for laughing at its misfortune? You be the judge. I just thought it was funny how it all went down. What can I say? It can’t all be deep and metaphysical! Sometimes, you just gotta take the laugh when you can get it. ☯
The Blogging Buddhist 