Slide show

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Aka Al Capone

this morning as I waited in line to go through security

I overheard a conversation that Al and I have been having for 35 years the words were 
"It's a astronomical measurement of time not distance"   The words of a nameless stranger but some how a direct quote from you dad almost like Sheldon from the Big Bang theory TV show but I have always referred to them as Alisms
Of course you all know he was referring to the speed of light.
These Alisms always came at random in the middle of other conversations.
For example our last conversation which happened Thursday July 16 started as always following the same pattern how are the kids, then on to the weather an Alism the river is low this year and did you know that sunlight takes 8 minutes to reach us from the sun. Yes dad I know know that. We chatted a couple more minutes then he signed off like always with an I love you and thanks for calling. 

On the drive to Edmonton I turned off the radio and had  9 hour conversation with dad filled with giggles and tears. When I giggled I could hear dad laughing with me and when tears came I heard the same old words " come on now" really meaning cowboy up. You wus.

The people passing me on the highway I am sure thought I was crazy as when they looked over they all seemed to press harder on their gas peddles and speed away. I think the police did too when they pulled me over to have chat. Al was a self proclaimed and self taught musician, poet, sculptor, story teller, trapper, miner, trucker driver, welder, cat skinner and several others I can't say in mixed company. Not bad for some one who never completed grade 8.

He always had an opinion about some thing or some one and would share it with whom ever would listen. That being said he had  special place  in his heart  for the coopers, McLeod's, or Brokers whom he respect above all others. As I drove I was thinking of. Some of the things he taught me including how to lay a bead, cheat at cards, measure twice but cut once, make tomato soup with hot water and catchup, be honest which I always thought was a contradiction to cheating at cards and above all loyalty and respect. 

Dad was and is a practical spiritual nonbeliever with a very crass sense of humor. He always said he never believed in a god but he did believe in a higher been. I heard a quote from  a CBC program about the essence of everything in our universe comes from our sun so we are all star dust and that every adam and molecule are just different combination of the same star dust. With that they also say one is never truly forgotten till the last person that knew you passes and can no longer say your name.
With that in mind I ask you to join me where every you are in a toast: Al was born on November 22 1931 and passed away on July 22 2015 life coming full circle so I ask you to join me on Nov 22 or July 22 this year and every year at 8 pm in a silent toast to my dad. He liked his stout and his crown. I don't drink but this November 22 I will have one in his memory. I remember the first and last time I tried stout...that stuff made me barf it made Al laugh. 

For any educators in the crowed please forgive the mixed teases in the above as I have to get my head around now and yesterday 

Thursday, July 16, 2015

craving good old country



Carving that good old country
Rubber boots and bikinis
Dancing in the mud and the rain
Country never looked so fine
Cowboys and cowgirls
Let go and unwind
Drinking beer and singing
About the good times
Country girls wear
Their hair long and proud
Working their bikini tans
Country music chic
Craving that good old country
Rubber boots and bikinis
Dancing in the mud and the rain
Country never looked so good
Cowboys line up at the car wash
So the can wash last night away
Grab another beer and do it all over again
Dancing in the mud and the dirt
Carving that good old country
Rubber boots and bikinis
Dancing in the mud and the rain
Country never looked so fine
That’s country chic y’all
Ginger snap stands out amongst the crowd
Wearing those gold mini-shorts
Going to give her folks a hard time
Her hair so long and wild red
Cowboys line up to take a shot
All full down drunk on their back
Carving that good old country
Rubber boots and bikinis
Dancing in the mud and the rain
Country never looked so good
Ginger snap comes up to ask
Why you not taking your shot
I am waiting for you to start having fun
She asks one more question
Should I wear glasses or not
Let the world see those baby blues
Now sing along with me
Carving that good old country
Rubber boots and bikinis
Dancing in the mud and the rain
Country never looked so fine

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

walk of shame



The walk of shame
Sin on one shoulder
Maybe on the other
Karma redemption
Going to get throat punched
Sometime soon
Deeds paid forward
A world on fire
Let it burn
All the good times
With minimal regrets
Not voiced not heard
In the morning
in the summer time
cause its good
to have that feel-good hook
hello morning
I am surprised too
Didn’t think I would see you
Last night is not done yet
On the walk of shame
A voice asks
are you lost
are you missing those
all the good time girls
you look somber
have you been bad
all asked with that smile
just putting on some miles
not going to look back
some roads are worth doing again
some are just a diversion
looks like bad road ahead
sin on one shoulder
hope on the other
on the walk of shame

Saturday, July 4, 2015

fire fog



Sunday in paradise
Heaven is a paradox
Seventy two hail Mary’s
All is forgiven
What will next week bring
Fire haze rolls in
You can’t buy the future
It will be what it decides to be
Leave yesterday alone
The fire fog is thick
Burning Benjamin’s
Feeling the burn in my eyes
Hangs heavy in the air
Whispers to the soul
Fate waits for no man
Voices in the fog
Just another in paradise
Can’t walk two steps
Someone’s heart breaks
Fire fog hangs over the city
Foreshadowing prophecy
Rain settles the haze
Tine to cash rain cheques