VSO at Orpheum, Chopin and Elgan

Another spectacular night at the elegant Orpheum listening to the truly amazing VSO.  Here we are so fortunate to have the world class musicians performing the greatest music of all time.  Not only that but we  have visiting guest talent of genius as well.

Alpesh Chauhan from Britain where he was awarded the OBE for his extraordinary accomplishments was captivating. .  I thoroughly enjoy Otto Tausk, the incredible Music Director of the VSO.  His conducting and originality encouraged me to attend more VSO concerts. I don’t think I’ve seen him ‘jump’ though while conducting but Alpesh Chauhan did jump while directing Elgan. Perhaps Elgans requires that.

Edward Elgan (1857 to 1934)  is the British composer from the height of the Empire, spanning the Victorian and Edwardian periods. I told Laura that I felt a desire to fix bayonet and charge the enemy while she’d better be prepared to lie back and think of England as we listened to this rousing symphony. I suspect the Starwars.theme and many other Hollywood classics have been inspired Elgan.

Argentinian solo pianist Ingrid Fliter however was more to my musical taste. I’ve never heard the piano sound so beautiful. After tonight’s performance I will forever love Chopin (1810-1849) the polish composer who loved Paris.  Fliter made his music come alive with her truly gifted piano performance weaving in and out of the accompanying sounds of VSO ,Alpesh Chauhan delicately conducting the two.  Fliter had such a standing ovation that she returned and played solo piece that touched my very heart and soul. 

What a night!. 

Laura and I felt blessed and thankful for another great evening with VSO.

March Spring Rains

Spring rains persist. Regular downpours and cloudy days. I am missing the sun and dessert but actually rather content to be home

The Merry Maids came today. They did a fabulous job despite Madigan supervising them with barks and growers. I took him to Macdonald’s for a burger. It allowed them into my garage office. I’d spent this weekend cleaning it up and surprisingly it just needed sorting rather than a storage locker run. I did get rid of another bag for the Diabetes foundation. Returning I was delighted by the order and cleanliness of the place.

I’ve been looking at Thor Class A motorhomes.  Ernest and Nicolina showed me there’s and I’m so impressed. It’s not as big at Peter and Larry’s Tiffany.  It about 32 feet I think, Thor Hurricane with one slide. That’s had me looking at motorhomess.  I’m seeing lots of second hand range I could afford and am sure I ‘need’ one this year.  This fifth wheel is really terrific but big and I don’t want to learn the driving skills to haul it. I’ve used tow trucks but the costs have increased.  Besides after a couple of months down south with my camper I’ve decided I’d like to be mobile. If I can’t haul this because back up into things with trailers I can get a bus and haul my mini.  I will have to find a way to put the Vespa on board though an electric bicycle will do fine.

I have an ophthalmology apt so will know if I’m likely to be driving for the next decade or so to justify getting another vehicle. I’m reminded how sad Dad was when his eyes tight went. I’m already going dreaf and am getting by in situations where I couldn’t before with the expensive hearing aids. I’m hoping this cyborg tendency will continue with the eyes and maybe better glasses will solve the problem Though it may be cataracts and more anxiety. I ‘m such a wooz when it comes to myself.  I muddle through with no choice but all I do is pray. Prayer is all I can do.

Madigan is being pretty good.  Growls at me with wagging tail.  Ripped up my new linen sheet when Laura came but really was a gentleman in church.  He was wearing his new rain coat but doesn’t like me putting it on.  

I can’t get over how much I’m liking my home again.  I’ve completely cleaned out the mouse dropping problem. It wasn’t as bad this year as when I’ve returned previous years. I got rid of any invitations and put out mouse replellants and traps though I caught none.

There’s an election in April. I’ve given money to the Federal Conservative Party, Pierre Poilevre and our local Burnaby PC candidate.  

I contacted the CMDA and asked to pay my annual dues. When they contacted me I was away so now I’ve money in the bank and time to address this. The only outstanding membership I think now is the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. My ISAM membership is on automatic pay. All the other memberships I believe are paid. I just seem to have been deluged since returning March 1.

It’s hard to believe how much I’ve done in 3 weeks.  A whole lot of patient calls, getting my home back, taking my camper in, and all the forms for Anil to do taxes and a weekend with Laura and Madigan getting groomed.  It’s been exhausting but now that it’s letting up I’m really pleased. This is the second Merry Maid visit and it’s just a joy to have the clean place and great smell of incense. I’ve also organized my clothing though I have more to take away.  I’ve been paid too so it’s been good to have the steady flow of work and money to maintain this all.

Also I’m really thankful for the upcoming election.  I’ve been so disheartened by Trudeau and then Carney was worse, elite communist globalist taxaholics.  I don’t like the Sharia innvsaion and the anti Christian anti Jewish attacks.  I’m concerned about aging. 

I really enjoyed Bruce Coburn.  This week, Friday, after the ophthalmologist , we have tickets to the VSO and Chopin. 

Thank you God for all your blessings. Thank you for the rain that so helps the plants and trees and flowers. Thanks you for cleaning ladies. Thanks you for Kevin who will fix the camper with the insurance folk.  Thank for Kelvin who keeps this unit function and will replace the toilet in the camper before I take it to Nappeanee after the first week of May. It’s only a month and some away.  Amazing. I’ve a tight schedule with the IDAA  Spokane conference in July and international AA convention here in July.

I enjoyed going to St. Barnabus Church with Madigan who was a perfect gentleman

I loved getting steaks and pork chops and sausages for Laura and me for her visit .  When she’s here next time I’ll have to order chinese or me and Ed’s’ pizza.  

I bought a bread maker and had to make three loaves before I got it right. The yeast was the issue.  All three tasted great but the third one rose and looked like a good loaf.

I’ve made a couple of pounds of roast Ethiopian beans in the roaster. I had a lot of green beans so great to get them roasted. I’ve really enjoyed the taste.  

I’ve written a couple of chapters on my Addiction book. Must continue.

I’ve walked Madigan three or four times a day. Away I was able to make 10,000 steps but back I’ve been doing 4000 steps. On the weekend we had a River walked.  Great blue heron sighting. One by the little river rapids and another standing on a blank overlooking the river. I ‘ve fasted a couple of days since return. I am overweight and must lose weight if only to ease the back pain.

I am reading King Authro series , Bernard Cornwell. Enemy of God. Last year I enjoyed his Stonehenge book. I completed the Oxford course , Archeology Prehistory, Ritual and Religion.  I actually got 10 CAT points thanks to Adell and Aim.  I was overwhelmed with court work in the course despite my trying to clear the scheduled . I plan to do another course next year on mysticism and spirituality.  I’ve no time this year but I love the learning. I’ve got the course load for the CME with IDAA and I want to do the Pacific psychopharmacology course that’s held in November. I’ve a CME Doctors of BC speciality meeting and with my mentoring I’m definitely sufficiently active despite my age. I’m doing elational work for George with the Wednesday group so not isolateing. 

I really am blessed and thankful. God is good all the time. Thank you Jesus. 

 

Bruce Coburn at International Centre for the Performing Arts, Vancouver

It was a glorious night.  A spectacular performance. A quintessential Canadian experience.  A lifetime of achievement.  We were there.  In the Centre for the Performing Arts. Bruce Coburn .

It was a drizzly dark night and finding parking was a bit challenging. But waiting in line with the others excited as we were to be there was worth it. When the doors opened we filed in early. We had time to stand in the mirrored foyer and look about us at the others of our tribe.  Mostly older. Grey hair.  Successful  Conservative but definitely with a past.  No doubt parents and grand parents about us.  We smiled and were polite. Canadians. The excitement building till they let us in to our seats.

The stage backdrop was sun and moon.  In the centre were guitars and a place for the master to sit.  He came out to standing ovation.  I was even a bit teary eyed. This great man, Gandalf like, a bit stooped with age and arthritis walking spiritedly onto the stage. taking his seat to open with a bit of blues.  How simple and yet profound.  Something like the blues has the world by the balls.  He never shied from the profane in the power of his message.  A fellow near us wore a t shirt.  I wish I had a rocket launcher.  Bruce Coburn’s  brother served in the Canadian military. Bruce visited him in Afghanistan, the place where too many Canadian hero’s died. .A bit of a different take on Lennon’s ‘give peace a chance.’ I was a hippy once.   

And this was the man who’d written of his Christian conversion experience, the gentle agnostic, instilled with the passion. A mystic and philosopher.

I heard his music first in the 70’s touched by the sound of his guitar. I’d been drawn to John Mayer years later in the same way. The virtuosity.  Bruce Coburn is the master of guitar, like Ravi Shankar and the sitar.  

We think of Lightfoot as our national poet coming out of the country folk tradition. Bruce Coburn came out of Ottawa with that laurentian urban suburban canadian sound.. I loved his Al Purdy song the poet I read in high school in Winnipeg where  Guess Who gained fame. Joni Mitchell  out of Saskatchewan with her unique guitar sounds as distinctive as Ry Cooder music to the southern US.A uniqueness of sound .  I don’t even remember what Coburn song it was that guitar I heard that resonated with my own Canadian conscious and spoke of the genius of strings that I associate with symphony.

Tonight I thought often that his guitar had that multiple personality disorder thing going.  I have no idea how he does it but the sounds were singing out of that instrument like a choir. Truly a master musician who coupled words and music  with his gift for  guitar. I imagined his guitars are very happy. Joyful even.

His own distinctive voice and lyrics were mesmerizing. I was just thankful to be there. Thankful to be back in the Centre for the performing arts where I’d heard ‘Driving my Indian Car’ and  ‘I scare myself awake ‘songs by native folk singer so many years ago. 

 Laura was happy this night. I’d look over at her face and see her smiling.  We’re growing old together and enjoy the wisdom in the words of this man who was so observant in his songs commenting on people and places, singing memories of eras past.

Some kind of ecstasy has a hold on me.   Wondering where the lions are. Wondering where the lions are.  That was the song so many years ago that lifted me out of some moment of despair.  There after when it came on the radio .and it did so often. my soul like a child within, danced.  I felt the joy again. That one song worth the night drive in the dark and rain.  I’d known he’d sing it. That or Lovers in a Desperate Time.  Those were always my favourites.  And it was worth it.  Some kind of ecstasy has a hold on me.

Well we sang along. Wondering where the lions are. Wondering lions are. We all stood and applauded long and hard for an encore.  He came out and played again. A trooper. Serving the packed hall.  We applauded long after he’d gone.

Holding Laura close we moved with the crowd to the dark and drizzling night.  I found the car and drove home to our waiting dog.  I’ve been listening to Bruce Coburn 50 years or more and finally got to see him in person. It was worth the wait . Just to hear him play guitar.  His style and the sounds it made were quite impossible but truly spiritual. We’d been in the presence of grace and majesty. An unmistakable moment with the divine.  Faces glowed in the foyer. I felt closer to Laura and closer to God coming home.  It was going to be okay. 

Thank you Bruce Coburn for your talent skill genius  hard work and discipline.  Thank you for your calling.  Thank you for an unforgettable evening.

Home, Burnaby, BC

The whirlwind continues but the end is in sight.  I arrived back from the US last Friday. I stayed in my camper until Saturday morning when my Fusion returned. I’m very thankful.  Paul of CW Towing did a great job of delivery.  My sailboat had been 40 feet and my Fusion is  40 feet but twice width and slicing space. My camper is only 20 feet and half the living space.  

I’m now considering a 30 foot Motorhome but obviously can’t afford it.  I tend to trade though . And while this was bought new I’d consider a second hand less than 5 year old and 20,000 km unit.  

I like two bathrooms on this unit but it’s really more a consideration from my hunting days.  I was also planning on leaving to be with my brother when he became ill.  I’ve been in limbo since and covid struck. Besides I’m aging and friends are dying.  I also keep working and enjoying virtual work especially.  I’ve owned three houses all lost with divorces and rent other houses and apartments.  I’m ambivalent about Vancouver but my work is here. I’ve almost gone to Calgary because Alberta has so much to offer.  But I stay.  The clinics I work with and our College now is all just fine.  I’m content.  

I know I’m supposed to be writing books and have several in the works but that’s a lonely pursuit. I’m enjoying participating in the present world. I love my meetings on line and in person.  It’s all a challenge to consider.

Once the home was back I had to get Kelvin from Travco over to fix the furnace and sewage.  Everything needs work and maintenance. I loved hearing the guy say even God needed Adam to tend the garden. I’m god’s hands and so are others. I only have a problem when I lack gratitude and begin to question the process.  

I’m downsizing.  I’ve taken three green garbage bags today to the Diabetes Bin.  I’ve a storage locker with intent to halve the size if I can find someone to supervise me. I get all naostalgi and nothing progresses when I’m there alone.  

I took the Camper and truck out to John’s. He figured the damage would benefit from an insurance assessment and Kevin of Adventure could do it. The trouble is time. I wanted to drive the camper and truck down to Napanee to see my brothers home on HayBay. My sister in law has put it up for sale so she can return to Ottawa where she had two grand children and a third on the way. She’s been a brick driving all that distance to visit and help.  I like that I can pick up my s boat and outboard and bring those back. That’s the candy. I could just fly down and visit but I like the idea of having my own place and the Vespa and the means to bring the boat back. I imagine hunting with the boat and fishing.  

This summer is an IDAA international conference for a week in Spokane and the International AA conference in Vancouver in the summer.  It’s quite the series of events and I’m looking forward to that.  

I bought tickets to Bruce Cobuirn while I was away loving his music and loving especially his song Wondering where the lions are .  It’s next weekend but it also gave me a time to aim for return.  Having the tickets I resisted staying south longer.  2 months was sufficient.  

I’ve an eye exam. I catastrophes so the thought of driving RV’s and motorcycles about depends upon an eye exam.  All my friends have cataracts but here I am with diminished hearing, diminished eye sight, dismissed physical functioning and dismissed sexual performance.  Since I fell in Edinburgh on Arthur’s Seat I have had limiting back pain. I will make a chiropractor appointment this week as week.  I temporize.  

The Merry Maids are coming tomorrow.

I had the same problems last year with mice in storage. I had a mouse problem in the fall.  I want a cat.  It was an occasional pest with Madigan barking at it in the mice. I learned that if I left a loaf of bread out there’d be dibble mark.  I put out eight traps , the sticky kind, and a lot of mice deterrent when I put it in storage. I also made sure there was no food.   I cleaned everything.  That’s the superficial cleaning as the girls will do the deep dive.  

I took 8 bags of laundry to the Tikipoo Launderers. This was the stuff from the camper and the blankets from here.  The mice had got into one bag of clothing but just left a pee smell.  I took off all the pillow cases. I also used the time to cull clothing and sheets .  Three garbage bags to the Diabtes Canada. All clean.  I was pleased the mouse didn’t get into cupboards like they had that first year.  

With Covid I was in survival mode and had a whole lot of cans and bags of food and extras in case of society breakdown. As the first year completed and life continued as normal I’ve been eating up the cans and food stuffs .  At least I don’t have all the toilet paper Laura still has :)  

I still want to go to Berlin, Vienna and Venice.  I think that can be a journey.  In winter I still want to go south. I’m afraid of Covid and pneumonia .  I’d really like to return to Ireland and sometimes think of Thailand.  I mostly think of touring the US in a motorhome..

Having a dog makes all the difference. He wouldn’t like a high rise apartment like I had in the past.  I’d really like a yard and even chickens and a burro.  The desires and dereams. Buddh said desire is the root of suffering.

I’m actually very content and grateful. I’ve had a really busy return. I like the expeditions and appreciate what I have here now. I was growing sedentary before leaving and now I’m restored .I love the sun.  Right now I’m roasting Ethiopian green coffee beans.  I’m looking forward to the best of coffee. I’d like to return to Africa too.  I did the Oxford course and am thinking of doing another on the mystics.  

Spirituality is all.  God is great all of the time.  

It’s lent and I’m fasting today.  I have steaks I could barbecue in the fridge but if all goes well I’ll fast till tomorrow morning.  I’m tempted to break my fast though with the steak .  

I picke up a couple of plants that do well in low light. The snake plant is like the one Laura gave me before. It and the bonsai didn’t do well with me but Laura resurrected both while I was away. I discussed this at the garden store and figure I overwatered the snake plant.  The other plant likes low light but likes water too. So I’ve got a new start.  Laura wanted to return the plants but I think that would be unkind to the Bonzai that she really did resurrect. I think that plant will like being with her with her apartment and lots of light and lother plants.  The snake plant might return but it could stay with her too.  

Madigan has been anxious with all the change and bugging me. Very needy and cuddling and following me about even more than normal. I think he’s settling a bit and certainly likes being here. He loves walks in the neighbours hood.  His rain coats from Bosleys are working well.  

Thank you God for all the help returning. Thank you for my homes and friends and possessions.  Thank you for the efficiency and planning and the success so far of these endeavours .Help me to prepare for the next excursion.  

Burnaby return, missed another wet and cold winter!

What a whirlwind of activity since I returned to Canada last Friday night.  I’ve missed another Canadian Vancouver Winter with the coughs and flu and rain and snow. Instead I was in Arizona, Mexico and Southern California at the Fountain of Youth RV Spa enjoying the sun, desert air and mineral hot springs.  It was hard to return but I surely enjoyed the green of Oregon and the forests of Washington. I enjoyed seeing the ocean in Seatlle too. I dreamed of sailing last night and saw a Macgregor up for sale yesterday.  My eyes have been a staring driving 6-8 hours a day and night driving is even more challenging.  I find it hard to read the small letters of the signs at night going at 70 miles an hour.

It was great to see the friends and folk I know in Burnaby.  Just terrific to see Dave and Helena, Mac and Kim.  Having travelled for months among strangers it’s good to be where people know your name and faces are familiar. 

I continued to work virtually with a deluge of phone calls and text requests. It always reminds me of my medical colleagues who stopped leaving their practices because the amount of work before and on return obviated any vacation benefit. I’ve beers able to keep the flow going working the whole time I’ve been way. The joy has been the three day weekends when I’ve been able to ride my Vespa about touring and exploring. The lawn chair also got its fair use.

Seeing Laura again on the weekend was a thrill.  We had a terrific day at her place. She served me a ham sandwich and coffee.  I tell people I miss the grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup Mom made for me when I came home from lunch.  Dozens have commented that their mom’s did the same and we’d gone blurry eyed with nostalgia.  Laura’s ham sandwich was that little bit of love. Madigan was ecstatic to see her demonstrating kangaroo genes with his jumping up and down.  He humped his bed which I think Laura’s sister’s dog Molly must also use because he becomes like a frat guy with stolen panties around the dog bed.  At least he was entertained and distracted so Laura and I could visit. We text most days and send photos but there’s nothing like a real hug.  

I enjoyed seeing Kevin too and passing on the tolled leathers scabbards that I’d bought him and Anna in Mexico.  I’d brought them in the back seat of the truck and declared them at customs.  

Most of what I was doing with any spare time was collecting the files from banks and credit card servers for Anil my accountant.  

I’d also had to get a photo with an application and credit card info for the renewal of my gun license. 

It doesn’t rain but it pours.  The Canadian Post office in Lougheed mall had kept mail for me as had Laura so that despite trying to keep up with the deluge of demands and information I had more paperwork and obligations.  The phone never stopped ringing with constant messages but each night I’d shut down after walking Madigan three times in the day. I’d watch Landman on my iPad and have dinner.

Madigan had needed grooming because his poop was getting caught in his bum hair so that was a huge event. He then had diarrhea for two days after being at the Vets for sedation and getting his hair cut and nails trimmed. Dr. Biernacki on North Road does a wonderful job. Best vet and staff ever.  I only had the Vespa and the day I took him in and picked him up it was raining off and on. I was fortunate to have his Cowichan sweater but we immediately went to Bosley’s to get a lined rain coat. I’m sure I have one or two in storage but not here and now when I need it.

A trip to Full Basket Butchers in New Westminster had me stocked with sausages and steak to barbecue as well as sandwich meat.  

I was so thankful to make it to my men’s meeting and see George who has bought himself a new beautiful Buick with ambient lighting and the best map display. I could have used that in LA.  He’s definitely a car fan and we all love his red thunderbird. Now this car makes him look like a CEO  for sure.

It’s been a whirlwind.P

I’m waiting for Paul to bring my RV in from John’s Storage in Chilliwack so I can transfer what I need from this camper to the bigger home. Kelvin of Travco is coming this afternoon to fit a bit we’d noticed i needed when we put the big rig away.  I’m hoping for help transferring stuff like my refrigerator goods and clothing.  It’s really not much but it seems like it. I’m going to be back in the camper May June to go to Ontario and pick up my boat and outboard and see my brothers home now up for sale, one last time. I sure do miss him and family. I take everything and everyone for granted then they’re gone and I am left with the Swiss Cheese heart.  Mom and Dad, Aunt Sally, the grandparents, my brother, my friends. Carl, Hank, Archie, George, Vivian, Phillip . so many more. The death collect.  I’m over the hump and the past is pushing out of the boxes like the storage locker I must cull. 

It’s a good life.

I was glad to get to St. Barnabus.  I’ve been blessed so much. I’m really grateful for all the people and love in my life and the opportunities to serve.  I’m growing still as a person and might yet get out of adolescences. I’m surprised at what I know.  It’s shocking given all the study.  It’s there and I’m still reading. Loved listening to audio books the way home . I liked watching the Reacher series and reading the history of the Canadian forces invading Scicily.  I’m right now reading Louise Penny the truly remarkable Canadian novelist.  

Thank you Jesus. Thank you God. Thank you God of Gods.