Little this...Little that

" You're a party with the lights down low..
You're my Friday night movie show...
"Love Me Tender" on the radio - just hold me tight and don't let go..

It's the smile on your face - it's your style and your grace -
and that's why - that's why - I love you."

Could be my favorite pop lyrics - thank you Andrew Gold...
So many good pop songs out there although I must admit my
familiarity with those less than say 30 years old - is somewhat,
and shamefully lacking.
I was tinkering on the guitar the other morning..not paying much
attention when I marvelled at how far guitar manufacuring has
come since I first picked one up forty some years ago.
I was playing my Martin - the one that got smashed up on an
American Airlines flight several weeks ago. What a lovely guitar
to play...sound so pure and sweet, the action so perfect...
It's not an expensive guitar by Martin standards - and certainly
most manufacturers produce an instrument in the same price
range...whether they compare to the entry level Martin is pure
personal preference but when you look at the investment in
today's dollars compared with what was available when I first
started to play - well....guitar players have much to be thankful
for....
I mentioned that American Airlines did a job on my guitar
when we flew to Chile the end of January...it was a very
sad moment when I spied my guitar in Santiago airport with
the lower, back end of the case demolished....crushed...
obliterated. I was afraid to look inside to see what damage
the guitar had suffered.
I won't go into much detail here...you'd be bored to tears unless
you've had a similar experience...I will say the story has a happy
ending. Without a whole lot of hassle or inconvenience, certainly
much less than I expected, American Airlines replaced both the
guitar and case and then were very reasonable when I asked
to purchase the damaged instrument and case to see if they
could be salvaged. A few hours at the workbench, and the guitar
though still cosmetically challenged is structurally sound and
infinitely playable. At son Matt's suggestion in rebuilding the
guitar case , I reinforced the top, sides and bottom with
fibreglass and then covered the whole thing in denim. In it's
current state I think it'll even stand up to airline abuse...we'll
see in a few weeks.
So, American Airlines came through - and that's two for two.
I'm always willing to share my horror stories involving Air
Canada...( see my blog 36 hours in the evil clutches ) but
even that story ended satisfactorily. A couple of emails and
phone conversations with Air Canada Customer Service and
they too came across like a corporation with a conscience
and compensated us fairly for our inconvenience and discomfort.
I frankly was surprised at the understanding they exhibited.
Hats off to Air Canada - and that's not something I ever imagined
you hear from me.
Took a walk around the golf course today..God it was nice..won't
be long now.
The Leafs are playing New Jersey tonight. This should be step
one in the end of the dream that many are allowing themselves
the luxury to enjoy. The Leafs will not make the playoffs.
Sundin, despite playing the best hockey of his career, can't do it
alone. The rest of the no-trade five don't have the nuts to play
consistently well enough to make the playoffs. Tucker's act is
really tired...McCabe and Kaberle still disappear at too many
inopportune times...and Kubina is just a mistake made by
John Ferguson for which he paid with his job. Even with Toskala
playing at his heroic best - the country club that is the Leafs, needs
to be flushed. ( Gawd I dislike Ryan Seacrest ..American Idol is on
while I write and Ryan Seacrest is to Idol what Ron MacLean is to
Hockey Night in Canada...too much Ron and not enough HNIC )
Back to the Leafs...sadly anyone who plays in Toronto more than a
couple of seasons too soon comes to understand that in Leaf Land
the difference between winning and losing is minimal. You're
a hero either way, idolized by a far too forgiving public, and
too many Leafs have realized when the paycheque doesn't change,
why exert yourself.
Have I mentioned golf ? I am so looking forward to the season
ahead..if you are not registered to receive my weekly Golf ENewsletter
go to the website - atlanticgolfradio.com - tips , tricks and all
kinds of golf news...including which clubs in Nova Scotia are
opening earliest and when.
Talk soon...til next time..or should I say just, next time - hittem
long and hittem straight.