Sooo...It's Like I Was Saying...or....

I will not make the mistake of promising to be more diligent
about more frequent posts. Not that much of significance happens
on a regular basis that is of interest...or...not that
much happens that is of interest - that I feel it's appropriate
for me to share - in this particular media.
Having said that - I am once again excited. And once again -
I have someone unexpected to thank. I am going to resist the
temptation to name names. Those involved if they read this will
know and recognize any part they had to play. And while it may seem
a contradiction - the only true villain in the whole event
receives my most sincere gratitude.
It all started about 16-18 months ago, when starved for others
with whom to share my love of music, I joined in a Monday
evening gathering of older, never-were-serious musicians.
That was incredibly attractive because I was not in a place
where I needed more stress or needed to feel even less sure of
myself. It had been more than a couple of years since I'd played
with a longtime friend and since he'd moved away I'd spent my
time recording - working on developing harmonies - working on
sculpting a style of harmony that I could use in singing with
others - no matter what kind of music we were playing. And while
the experimentation was fun - it wasn't like sharing music with
others. So...the Monday night group happened and from an
unshapely, scattered, multi-directional, humble beast, there
began to emerge a rather, large, awkward, shy, group.
The group appeared at a Community Seniors Dinner just a couple of
months after starting and four guitars, three fiddles, a harmonica,
an accordion, four singers and a keyboard player got their first
taste of performing...and you know what ? It was fun. Three of us
had been there before.In a couple of cases 30 years ago and I'm not
sure how long it had been since the third had been on stage.
For everyone else it was the high-water mark and a thirst was
born. Organization was required. A plan needed to be developped.
And "Good Company" needed more material. Quite by accident, by
nature of the material we were learning the group came to have a
fairly distinctive sound ( it helps that we were the only group
with ten active members none of which really had a clue what was
going on .)There were discussions about whether we should ever
actually perform as a full group - or whether we should function
as three or four - smaller acts part of a travelling circus.
It became apparent as the curtain to my involvement descended
where that particular concept was formed - and why. One self-
professed "lazy bastard", didn't want to be bothered learning
music that anyone else was performing. He only wanted to play
and sing material he chose, in which he needed do nothing but
sing ( badly) the lead, and play ( just as badly ) his guitar.
He wanted his hand-picked bandmembers to back him up to help
hide his inconsistencies and musical blemishes - but he nearly
had to be forced to be of assistance to or for others.
This all came to a head when at his own suggestion of having
a consistent look to all of our lyrics and chord sheets, he
was asked to contribute one song of ten for a rehearsal.
It was too much for him to do...Yes, he is retired and yes, he
could do it...but, it was his experience that if he waited
long enough, someone would do it for him. It is interesting.
I have played music with two retired Halifax based university
professors and in both cases - they play music for one reason.
Because no one listens when they talk anymore. And the reason
that no one listens when they talk anymore, is that niether one
of them has anything of much interest to say - and no one has to
listen to them ! and they desperately miss that captive, have - to
audience. It's really quite sad, financially they are both set
for life. But deep inside they are both nerds trying desperately
to be cool. It's really a shame...but..that's just my take on
things. I thank them both. The first one had nothing to do with
Good Company. I decided after the first time we played together
that if it never happened again it would be fine. It did happen
again - and then I decided it never would again. So then I met
up with his counterpart - who dragged me along to Good Company.
Ninety percent of Good Company is really fine people. Unfortunately
when you get that number of people involved with a project you
are going to get differing ideas on direction, activity levels,
and presentation. Having decided that I would no longer stomach
the idea of propping up my friend the Professor, as difficult a
decision as it was to leave so many people for whom I have true
affection, the lure of finding three or four like-minded
individuals to do nothing but perform harmony and melody driven
music was strong...but I needed a shove and it
was provided by one misguided individuals' self indulgence and
utter laziness. And for that I thank him - scum - sucking toad that
he and all the others like him - are. So I've started a new band.
Publicized the need for some musicians/vocalists and the emails
started coming in with a day. It's going to happen..and it's gonna
be good.
So..I'm wondering how good we should feel that our beloved
Federal Finance Minister - with our best interests in his heart -
is bringing forward the idea of a Canada Pension Plan that would
allow the aged to afford both shelter and lodging - at the same time !
Please sir...more ? I know , I know...I'm growing cynical. Five
plus decades of being lied to and ripped off by three levels of
government in this country and I'm suspicious when a Cabinet Minister
suggests he wants to do something good for the people of the country.
Watch how much of the increased CPP employee and company contributions
ever actually get returned to our citizens.If my increased contribution
goes to fund "Gun Control" and/or expensive lunches and dinners for civil
servants I'm not sure what I will do.
At least in some countries you know you have no rights, you know if you
step out of line you're screwed, and you know all along that your life
is of no consequence to anyone but immediate family. I'm beginning to
think that's preferable to watching these lying, cheating, stealing
politicians in government houses in the provinces and in Ottawa
acting like criminals at double-time and a half...with the taxes collected
from working Canadians we should have unparalleled education, health,
and elder care that is free to anyone whose done his or her part.
I can't stomach what our Federal government does to our returning veterans,
the injured, or the families left behind by those who've died serving
in our unholiest of wars. My own father in a battle he'd lose, on more
than one occasion, spent hours in a hospital corridor, scarcely able to
breath, racked with pain, unable to even ask for the help he so richly
deserved. My father spent his career, proudly as a member of the Canadian
Armed Forces. His thanks..."yea Pal - the lineup starts back there - take
a number." If there were an honest politician they would quit - too ashamed
to serve. Something has got to change - and it's going to - I can feel it.
Oh My...must go...must go watch the Leafs over-perform....
You see...that's funny. I couldn't leave on a negative note.
Happy Trials...