Ten Years After

So sad to hear of the death of Alvin Lee, Ten Years After's great  guitarist and singer.
They were a highlight of the Woodstock movie. He blazed his way through solos that were the equal of Hendricks & Clapton.
When I emigrated to Canada 40+ years ago and was living in a small bachelor apartment in Toronto, I could not afford a TV, nor a record player. For 3 years my trusty little Sony tape player was my music provider of choice.
I bought TYA's "Watt" from Sam the Tape Man on Yonge Street and played it again and again.
(Yes, Sam had a tape store separate from "The Record Man" store on Yonge in those days; right by his Chinese food shop!)
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end...

or so the song said.

Oscars & Movies

Just watched the 2005 winner of best foreign language film -- Tsoti. A South African film about 6 days in the life of a young thug.
It was terrific. Yes, the message about redemption and how a baby can alter your perspective of the world -- regardless of the limitations of that world, are not unique to this movie..... in fact, those themes are common in movies, but the actors kept you linked to  the unfolding of the events and I was definitely anxious to keep watching. I was never bored, nor did I feel any scenes were unnecessary or too long.
It is based on a novel by Athol Fuggard, so I am not actually surprised that it had a good narrative. He is an acclaimed S. African writer decades before this movie was made.

annoying phone calls

I am sure that there are many other people/households who are being taunted by annoying phone calls. What I would like to know, is how can a company get away with using # s such as 000 000 0000? And more annoyingly, today 613-704-0070 called me, of course it was a scam and I was not willing to listen all the way through -- yet, I could not hang up the phone, nor disconnect from that number. I pressed Off. Then, talk again, and the female voice was still rabbiting on !! Three  attempts to disconnect did not work.

How can they get away with this?
I have blocked the number now... but it still disturbs me that the phone company permits some business to have a number that is a permanent link.

Valentines Day

Luckily, my wife knows my sentiments (or lack thereof,) concerning the celebrations on February 14th.
The whole event is a sham; dreamt up to make singles feel bad, and go to a bar/restaurant to cheer up & not feel "lonely" in their flats and apartments... while "couples" crowd most of the good tables in the bar/restaurant and talk about "their special night".

Long ago, I had a good friend who actually wanted to get married on Fe. 14th for the two spurious reasons -- 1) that future hubby would always remember the anniversary, and; 2) it was romantic...

Well, we were young then, but close, and she listened to me when I said, hubby was a nice guy and I'd make sure he remembered their anniversary (!), and how could it be romantic when you end up sharing your really special day with a billion or so others...
They got married in May, and are still together 30+ years later.

We do not live in the same province any more, but we remain in touch; and I miss them, a lot.

Thankfully, I have a lovely wife who I appreciate 365(6) days a year....

but
yes,
I have a surprise for her tomorrow..
I have finally done something special she has been asking me to do for over a year! I know it will make her happy... and that is the point of the occasion, I suppose.

Music + Valentines Day

January is almost over and we will soon be inundated with Valentine's "stuff". My suggestion for anyone wanting to be more creative than a Hallmark card or Disney character one, would be to simply get a photo of your loved one and write the words to the most beautiful love song in the Pop universe -- "Let it Be Me" on the back and put it in an envelop, then deliver it on the appointed day.

There are many versions, but I enjoy the Everley Brothers' one best. Hauntingly beautiful.

         "I bless the day I found you
          I want to stay around you
         And so I beg you, let it be me"

(words & music by Curtis - Delanoe - Becaud)

Subway + Footlongs

Really people, as if the courts are not already jammed up with too many procedural bottlenecks, some people think it an appropriate act to sue Subway for 11" footlongs. (Best excuse I've heard for a long time to make America convert to the Metric system, or more properly, System International {SI} !)

However, Subway missed a great opportunity to de-fuse  this nonsense by stating that the filling is the same  regardless of the bread around it; And shouldn't all  those other people who received a 12 & 1/2" sub be charged extra? Where is this all heading? Wasteful time on the news about inconsequential matters when the real "news" - Britain wanting to leave the EU, trouble in North Africa, China + Japan, you name it, is ignored.

Just as an aside, what about the fact that no hamburger you EVER receive from MacDonalds or Wendys, or whatever looks like the stuff they advertise. Isn't  that misleading advertising too?

I am just saying...

day 2 me & Obama

Not too sure about my ability to spur interest or responses, yet, but was staggered to discover two people have viewed my introduction.
I guess I had better find out how  I can read others' musings...

Yesterday was Obama's second inauguration and I confess I did not watch it; although, politics is another of my interests - specifically, American, Canadian, British and European political activity..  I do try to follow world events in general because, as this piece of writing attests, we are increasingly interconnected in the world around us.. big world of course, not my small world surrounding me.

The BBC homepage is one of  my regular daily reads, but I do also have bookmarked other sources, Libyan, Australian, Indian newspapers.
Back to Obama, it was not any dislike of the man, quite the contrary, I like him, it is the tedious commentaries by the tv  announcers that get to me.
Decades ago, as a bachelor, I'd leave the tv on all day - more for company, so that the apartment was "artificially filled" with activity as I did other things. I have finally reached a stage where I can remain in my home without background material.
What does that say about me...
more ramblings soon.

introduction

here I am world... cyber world? Don't know what to say for openers: Hello?
Ok, but hello to whom?
I wanted to do something different in 2013, so I thought, why not start a blog.
mik is my nickname, hence the title.
I am old, sort of, but not past beginning anew.
My interests are varied, but that is not very helpful, really, is it...
I love -  music, especially early rock and roll, blues, R 'n' B, (old style, C20th stuff... not current stuff much.)
Cars.
Films.