h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*sigh* Well obviously you haven't got time...don't take that the wrong way, just kidding! Anyway, I can explain what I was doing - no, nothing to do with fireworks! I volunteer at a Jazz & Blues club in the neighbourhood ( http://www.yardbirdsuite.com ), & had comitted to being there Thurs. night, in fact I was looking forward to it. (Actually their 03-04 season's over, but they have 5 shows-as you'll see on the site, in conjunction with the city's Jazz fest - http://www.jazzcity.ca ) But somehow I totally forgot! Anyway shortly after I realized, I said some quick goodbyes, showered & threw on some clothes...& was there for what I considered the main attraction - local drummer Sandro Dominelli.

I had to go to bed, it was very late (for me anyway). Did you have a good day?

That sounds totally cool. I don't know alot about jazz and blues except I like what I've heard. I sort of have to have a go at this computer at bits and starts when I get time in between the kids. How long have you been into jazz? I have sort of eclectic taste in music, I like a little bit of everything.

I'm feeling better after my little hissy fit yesterday. I think I just have to take it easy. It's hard to meet people in a small town, and this is the first time in 3 years that I've even felt like it. I guess I must have expected it to be easier than its been. When I lived in Vancouver, there was always people to meet. Of course I was 15 years younger as well.

The day was very quiet lazy one, too lazy in fact - otherwise I would'v been there just over 3 hours earlier. Our volunteer shifts start at 7 (but I Totally missed that!), the doors open to the public at 8, & the live music doesn't start until 9 or shortly after 9.

One of the people I've struck up a friendship with is a young Aussie & of course Thurs. evening here is Fri. morning there. So between the heat in my apartment, the "holiday-state-of-mind", & 2 different conversations (not to mention happy Canada Day wishes exchanged with a couple Canucks now living in Spain & Japan, etc)...*sigh*.

Fortunately being Canada Day (& with all sorts of other entertainment-the Jazz festival on) it was quite a quiet night, very good though & of course they always need help cleaning up afterwards. Actually I really didn't know that much about Jazz when I started there, but it really helped being exposed to the various types & some suprisingly good local talent!

I've conciously been into Jazz for about 8 years now, but I guess it was kind of in the genes all along - my Dad played a bit years ago when it was the popular music of the day, Dixieland Jazz (late 20's & 30's). Nothing major, just farm boys getting together to make some extra money. Of course with the computer I've found some great online radio stations. Probably the best in terms of variety is theiceberg, http://www.icebergradio.com They've got all kinds of of stuff, from classical music, country, old acoustic blues, classic rock ( some of the more modern varieties), etc. Even some environmental stuff; waves on the beach, thunderstorm, etc. Registration is free too! Another Canadian one, although it's just jazz & limited to 1 hour programs(?), is SkyJazz http://www.skyjazz.com (Hadn't even thought to ask if you've got speakers, idiote moi!)

mais oui, je havez moi speakers avec le computer. ( I can mangle many different languages)

I don't use them much as I share this computer with two kids, my parents, assorted dogs, cats, rats, elephants...you know, but I will give those sites a listen when I have a moment. I bought the new Dianna Krawl for my mother for her birthday, and I have a Billie Holliday cd that I really like.

A number of years ago, I saw Jeff Healey in concert in Montreal. I very much enjoyed that.

I'm living with my parents here in the Okanagan, I had my own place in Creston, but left about a year ago. No family there, had been split up for a couple of years, I wanted my family around me. As a result, there isn't a lot of privacy but mostly for my parents who are very good about it. We all get along pretty well, and the kids really like living with their granparents especially my son, so we are going to stay for a while. I help pay the way etc., etc.,. But that's why I'm so sporatic on the computer.
Oops, got to go again. Talk later.

Ah, ok luv, I assumed it was something like that! You were certainly justified in wanting family around...I certainly appreciate having mine closeby. Sounds like a nice, comfortable situation you've got there.

Its pretty good here. Certainly different than the Kootenays.

I have a granny still in Edmonton. They lived in Bonniedoon I believe. (does that sound right) I havent been there for about 20 years.

What do you do besides volunteering for the Jazz thingmy (to use the technical term)? Do you have kids? I really am happy that I have kids, when I was younger, I wasn't going to have any, but that changed once I saw my daughter.

Yeah, Bonnie Doon sounds right - it's the next neighbourhood east of mine, so I'm somewhat familiar with it. Aside from the HUB mall on the UofA campus, Bonnie Doon mall is the only enclosed shopping mall in the immediate area...if you've experienced Alberta winters you can identify with that!

Actually I'm unemployed right now & kind of considering a career change (although it certainly wouldn't be a drastic change.) But I do keep reasonably busy, my other volunteer commitment-at Edmonton's Fringe festival http://www.fringetheatreadventures.ca (been with them for Years!)-is coming up in August. No kids...which yeah*sigh* is kind of a regret...my younger brother has 3 really great girls that I certainly enjoy being an uncle to.

Hi there. Going to the highland games today. I hope you have a good day. Talk to you later.

Aye, great lassie! I'll be doin' that.

Kilts and bagpipes as far as the eye can see. Zippidy doo daH. We had a good toe tappin time. I like watching the athletic events. I wonder why the scots like to fling things around? Hmmm I wonder. Anyway hope you had a good day. What did you get up to?

"...scots like to fling things around?" D'y'suppose Billy Connolly'd have a mite to say on that topic?

Didn't get up to too much...not even the local farmer's market, though I believe in July they're open Tues. mornings too.

Glad you enjoyed yourself luv! I'm just on my way out to the club...catch you tomorrow?

ya, mo be here.Be jazzy for me too okay?

Sure thing! It was some pretty funky stuff tonight - a quintet named Crash from Vancouver with special guest (& Hammond B-3 legend) Dr. Lonnie Smith...I've loved that B-3 sound ever since hearing Booker T & The MGs' Green Onionsin the late 60's! In fact as it nears 3am, I'm listening to the CD I bought(quietly)...it's a live recording called The Doctor Is In featuring the same musicians but recorded@The Cellar in Vancouver in Sept. of last year. Great recording too!

Good morning, good muffin to you! trusting you slept well. Well my son is with his dad for a week and my daughter is going to a sleepover, so I am childless today! I'm going to go into Penticton and see if I can get into trouble.

I was considering going to Princeton cause they are having a concert there with Doug and the Slugs, Randy Bachman and such, but I couldn't find out who was playing today. That and I really don't trust myself to remain the reliable mommy type that I am these days. I find that I can only repress the wild side for so long and then it starts slipping out. Better to not be too tempted. I don't think the kids need to see me on the 11:00 news, under arrest for starting a party in the local lock up. (as well, my breasts aren't what they used to be, so whipping off my shirt as a distraction technique is no longer an option)

Anyways, have a good day. Talk to you later

Hello Maureen! Yes I did sleep well (could've uesd a couple more hours after my generous dose of live music - both actual & recorded, but c'est la vie!*shrugs*)

Coincidence you should mention Randy Bachman, we just has him@the club May 14th, doing his "Jazz Thing". While he was still in his teeens learning the guitar he'd struck up a friendship with Lenny Breau (name'll probably mean nothin'), who was a virtual genius of Jazz guitar -aside from not being in school as he played in his families' country&western band. Like any teen (& eager to further his guitar skills) Randy skipped numerous classes to hang out with Lenny, polishing his guitar technique in the process. That influence comes out in songs like BTO's Blue Collar &Looking Out For #1 (as well as The Guess Who'sShe's Come Undun).

But *sigh* I know - more or less - what you mean, parenthood does require (from what I've been led to believe) that we make certain compromises. As I understand it though, they're a pretty small price to pay... And you needn't be too worried about the breasts luv, believe me at my age s-o-o many things "aren't what they used to be"!

Yeah, the day's off to a quiet start, hope yours goes well too...however you spend it! Talk later, ok.

Well, I didn't go crazy. Just bought some stuff because my daughter and I are going to take a trip to vancouver. It should be pretty good. It will be nice to get away.

So what do you do when you are volunteering at the club. Sounds pretty neat. I wish we had one here. Course you probably wouldn't be able to get me out of it.

What kind of work did you used to do? I don't really know what the job market is like in Edmonton. I hear Calgary is really hopping, but its expensive to live there. Have you lived anywhere else besides Edmonton?

Third degree heh? I hope you have a lovely day.

Yeah, it's been a good day Maureen...a quiet day, which is nice! A trip to Vancouver sounds great I've been there a few times over the years. Oh, on the subject of Vancouver(you might've seen this but...) http://www.vancouverscenes.com

Anyway, I essentially fix snacks & help keep things going in their limited little kitchen. Very basic snacks, just rudimentary nacho plates (salsa & sour cream on the side) & microwave popcorn...just something to augment their; , , (white too), , s, pop, water, & juice. But these last 5 shows they had were in conjunction with the city's Jazz festival, they're closed now until the 2nd half of Sept. sometime

Had (apart from some*sigh, yes* telephone sales) done library work which wasn't all that bad...but some mental stimulation, a fair bit of legwork, not much else. And of course now there's probably every bit as much if not much more, on the'net/web. So definitely a change called for. And oh yeah, apart from a year or so in smalltown Alberta (vacations & all), a lifelong Edmonton resident.

The day's goin' good here, turning gradually into another relaxed Sun. evening. Hope your day's going well too.

Yep, I'm looking forward to going to Vancouver. I'm off of work myself due to health reasons. I look healthy enough, but I can't work. Fortunately, I had health insurance so I still have an income. However I'm still floundering around trying to figure out what to do with myself. The kids are getting older and I can't use them to keep me busy forever.

That's one problem with a small town. A little limited. In fall, I'm going to find some small volunteer work to do and maybe take a class. We'll see how I do. I worked in a library when I was in college. I didn't mind it. Also worked for a few years in a Veterinarian's office. I really liked that. Past 18 years I worked for the feds, most recently as an Immigration Officer. Cant choke down people anymore, so....actually it was the shiftwork that compounded my health problems. I'm actually glad I'm not doing it anymore, I didn't like enforcement. Well that's enough for now.

Yeah, I may just need to take a class or 2 as well...which I'm not too sure about, I'm not all that crazy about 'structured education', but I suppose it's necessary sometimes. I could certainly learn more about the computer!

So the shiftwork aggravated a pre-existing condition is what it sounds like you're saying. Seems like it worked out for...essentially the best, I mean more time with the kids & getting closer to you parents, right? (like too?)