A Ray in the Life

Sugarloaf Pond In November

2012-11-22T11:55:00.001-05:00

Georges and I spent another wonderful weekend with friends in the Townships.
Couldn't have asked for better weather in November.

I hope you enjoy these photos.

November road

Reflected late fall colours

"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows."

Walking the dogs

Ruby foraging in forest

"With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate."

"The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."

- Elizabeth Coatsworth

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made.

The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air."

- Eric Sloane

Mirror pond

Don't Forget to Remember

2011-11-10T20:32:00.001-05:00

Sacrificing two minutes of our time is the least we can do in remembrance of so many that have sacrificed so much.

Dad, Alex Meunier on upper left ,1939

(The following is a repost from November, 2010)

The fact that Remembrance Day isn't recognized as a statutory day of observance in Ontario, Manitoba and Québec is outrageous.

If we can take a day off to celebrate Queen Victoria with a 2-4; we can certainly take a day off to remember and observe the sacrifice of generations of Canadians who paid dearly for the country we have today.
How we feel about the politics and ideologies that precipitated these global conflicts is irrelevant.

Whether we are peace-niks or raving warmongers, Remembrance Day is about saluting our veterans not the wars they fought in.

My Grandfather and Father served in both WWI and WW2 respectively. They rarely spoke of their experiences. If I did hear of anything of what happened overseas, it was from a family friend and usually after a few beers ( and by few, I mean cases). There was only one time that I asked my father the proverbial: “What did you do in the war, Dad?”

The reply was quick and short: " I drove a motorcycle through the fucking mud in Sicily.

He was a bike courier in Italy with the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) and served in France and Holland as well.

November the 11th was a big deal growing up. During the late fifties and middle sixties in Moncton, we all took 11/11/11 very seriously. My parent's social life revolved around the local Legion. In school, we prepared for the day in class by making poppy cut-outs and drawing white crosses with the words "Lest We Forget" on faux parchment paper. We stood in class and recited "In Flanders Field" then kept a two minute silence which was effectively policed by Nuns with rulers.

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Later, as I entered the Beatles generation, the whole sixties anti-war movement was in full form. We were anti-war, anti-authority, anti-establishment. We perversely viewed veterans as the honour guard for the military machine. What we didn't see was that the universal soldier was as much victim as victor. Ironic then, that at the dawn of the enlightened age of Aquarius, life was so black and white; so good guys and bad guys.

World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars. Greed and revenge ensured that wasn't to happen. After a brief time-out for a global depression, the world blew up again.

The world will likely not change. As long as men are greedy for power and money, we will have the abomination of war. The world even more dangerous now. There are no rules of engagement, only rules of terror.

But the human spirit is resilient.

My Father and I were never close. I wasn't the tool carryin', car fixin' kind of son he could relate to. Nevertheless, with age, I have come to appreciate how difficult it must have been to have served six years of his young life in a land so far away; so strange and so dangerous.

I wonder what future my Dad must have imagined as he boarded that train in 1939 or how it might have been if he hadn't.

How will you remember?

Want to see my vacation photos?

2011-08-30T18:24:00.001-04:00

Enjoying the first of many poutine rapées.

Sometimes it's nice to hang up the keyboard and hang out with people in the real world.

We did just that this summer and not to bore you with vacation photos - well, ok, I will. It's a short compilation and takes just a few minutes.

I wrote about this trip on my post on NewRayCom so won't go on about it here.

Seeing my family after so long and visiting the countryside that was my playground left a indelible impression on me.

I can’t wait to go back.

(Oh, and Georges liked it too!).

Thank You Arthur Laurents

2011-05-06T09:44:00.000-04:00

I'm sad at the news of the death of Arthur Laurents. I understand that while he wasn't universally loved as a person; he was respected by everyone that could hum a Broadway tune.

In the fifties, with West Side Story and Gypsy, Arthur Laurents made theatrical history. Later he became famous for his lacerating tongue. At 91, both he and it made a comeback.

Arthur Laurents was famous for saying what was on his mind and doing what he thought was best. These traits made his work courageous and his personal life prickly.

Arthur Laurents met Tom Hatcher in LA in 1954. They moved to NYC, beginning an openly romantic relationship during a time when the practice was far from common, or safe.

Mr. Laurents, whose partner of 52 years,Tom Hatcher passed away in 2006, had this to say about their relationship:

"I had the most marvellous life that anybody could have with another person - that I’m proud of. That’s an achievement - ‘cause most people quit on each other, and we never did. "

In a New York Times Magazine article, Tom Hatcher was described as part enforcer, part enabler, and part keeper of Arthur's flame and of the grudges. Hatcher made Laurent's writing life possible.

Arthur Laurents, the director, playwright and screenwriter who wrote such enduring stage musicals as "West Side Story" and "Gypsy," as well as the movie classics "Rope" and "The Way We Were," died Thursday. He was 93.

This is one of my favourite sequences from the movie version of "Gypsy".

But I Don't Want to be the Black Swan!

2011-03-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

This post is inspired by the film, The Black Swan. I loved the movie; even with it's Red Shoes melodrama and totally over the top direction. I was moved by Nina's hunger for fame and cried when her obsession for perfection destroyed her. She won the role of Odette, the beautiful white swan of Swan Lake, but was destroyed when the evilness of the Black Swan, Odile possessed her.
Like many, I was very eager to fit in as a teen; especially that period of moving from elementary school to junior high.
I was the kid that other kid's moms loved; always eager to help with the dishes, polite and amusing. Yeah, you guessed it.

And if being gay wasn't enough, I was English in a Acadian Canadian household, my mother (Protestant) wasn't married to my father and we lived in a part of town that "nice" people warned their kids to stay away from.

Unlike my friends in the "Bowery" (as my dad liked to call our street), I took the other tack and choose to live a life as a saint. This engendered some martyrdom at the hands of one bully in particular, but I was sure that if I stoically suffered through it, that I would sit at the right hand of God and close to Father Kelly.

Now, being the best little boy may have worked in pre-puberty, but once hormones kicked in and my friends started swapping spit with girls instead of swapping comics with me, I realized I had to pull a "Sandy" and shake things up a bit.

So I starting sneaking smokes. But because of an unfortunate incident when Tommy and I, in a rush to get rid of the evidence, smoked a whole pack of Export A's behind the church, I couldn't look at another cigarette for at least - a year.

I tried swearing; no more grammatically correct sentences with polite "thank you's" and "you're welcome's". This, of course didn't apply to my friend's parents. How hard could it be? Swearing was the lingua franca of home.

The result was humiliating. My girl friends (platonic), would just giggle. It wasn't working. Seems I was just too good to be bad.

I was to play out the rest of my life as Sal Mineo to James Dean, as Jimmy Olsen to Clark Kent (okay, maybe not the best example).

Even today, I hesitate to let it all out – to let my evil queen reign supreme. Yes, I may lose my temper on occasion and may not always at my best, but in public, or on a public platform such as a blog; I tend to be "safe for general consumption".

This is not a way to gain a following or to be noticed.

You have to be controversial. You have to have some edge – be a bad ass.
However, I find that there are many very nice people who are huge stars in the blogosphere. Even Perez Hilton has become well, nice.

Do I have to pull a Sandy again to get noticed? Is this grade nine all over again?

No, I'll just be me. But if someone thinks they can come by and slap me around, well, this martyr can now kick some butt!

Diana Day on Oprah!

2011-02-25T09:23:00.000-05:00

My gal pal, Fanny has invited me over to her pad this afternoon to watch Diana Ross on Oprah. Knowing that I'm a huge Miss Ross fan, it was an offer I couldn't refuse.

Although Miss Ross has aged (haven't we all), she has done so well. Aside from a few unfortunate DUI incidences at airports and highways caused by that demon liquor, she has, for all her diva statue, remained remarkably sane. And I might add, after watching Cher in "Burlesque" still human.

This video from one of the Diana Ross and the Supremes host The Hollywood Palace shows a side of Diana that many people haven't seen. It's not the "Baby Love" or "I'm Coming Out" diva here. It's a very young Divette who, in a very rare moment for her, gives her total attention to her co-star on stage. You can see that she is totally in awe of Ethel Waters. As well she should be.

Ethel Waters was a legend. Her singing of Irving Berlin's "Suppertime" tears me apart every time I hear it.

Enjoy.

Is Glee Causing Homophobic Backlash?

2011-02-10T14:50:00.000-05:00

I came across this disturbing story in the Toronto Star today: Dozens in Gay Village harassed by teens…

Crossing guard Phil Ogison has had slushies thrown at his face.
Gay Village local Buddha Poitras spends many afternoons scrubbing pop off his windows.
And three weeks ago, Barbara Brown watched two teens walking down the street, loudly musing whether they should go “gay-bashing again…
In January, local florist Paul Winsor told police a group of 12 students believed to be from nearby Jarvis Collegiate Institute doused him with frozen drinks.
Days later, 30-year-old Ryan Lester, was kicked in the face and called a “faggot” at a Church St. restaurant.”

Does this sound familiar? If you’re a fan of GLEE, you may find a familiar theme here: slushing, harassment, bragging about bashing gays…

It seems from the report that a source of some of this behaviour is a high school situated nearby, Jarvis Collegiate. I don’t remember this kind of shit going on when I lived in the neighbourhood – and this was before the major advances in LGBT civil rights.

Could this be a Glee backlash? Are the meatheads in school proudly associating themselves with the football team and head bully (and closet gay), Dave Karofsky?

Just as incidents of homophobic assaults have risen with the rise of equal rights for gays, has Glee, by being so G-A-Y, contributing to boys establishing their masculinity by over compensating like Dave?

It reminds me of how the most racist and bigoted adults I knew in the seventies would split their guts at things that Archie Bunker said. And you’d ask yourself –“Don’t they get it?” I guess they felt it didn’t apply to them. Or maybe they didn’t give a fuck because the dude’s funny and validates their own prejudices.

Maybe that’s what these punks are doing; wearing their bigotry like shields to protect them from deadly gay rays.

My Favourite Musical…Today.

2011-01-21T19:54:00.000-05:00

"Well, someone tell me, when is it my turn?

Don't I get a dream for myself?

Starting now it's gonna be my turn.

Gangway, world, get off of my runway!

Starting now I bat a thousand!

This time, boys, I'm taking the bows and

Everything's coming up Ray!

Everything's coming up Raymond!

Everything's coming up Ray!

This time for me!

For me! For me! For me!"

Think they'd ever remount an all male version of Gypsy?

Louise's story of always being second resonated with me so much when I first saw this musical classic. I was always silver, never gold; always the B student who had potential, never the A one whose potential was always very evident and celebrated.

I rooted for Louise. I shouted from my seat - "Sing out, Louise". I felt her pain when she wasn't the girl Tulsa needed. And when she morphed into Gypsy Rose Lee, me and a million other ugly ducklings strolled down that ramp right along with her and were FABULOUS!

I was thinking of about trying to decide what my favourite musical would be should anyone ask. It's an impossible question. Like anything, your favourite changes depending on the mood you're in.

I love Sondheim, love Bernstein, love Rogers. But if I really had to give one show as the one I'd take to a deserted island, it would have to be Jules Styne's fable of Miss Gypsy Rose Lee.
It's got it all: comedy, drama, song, dance and a bit of burlesque.

"You either got it, or you ain't and this show's got it!?

Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Ethel Merman Belt It Out!

2011-01-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

I love the comment left on the YouTube site:

"Streisand! Merman! Garland! My god, it's the Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt of gayness"

Streisand mentions her next project - a little something called: Funny Girl! Heard of it?
Enjoy.

A Dream is a Check–Time to Cash It!

2011-01-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

"We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.
In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time.
Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood -- it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on.
Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late." Martin Luther King Jr.

This quote was included in Seth Godin's blog this morning. As a subscriber, I read his posts every morning. I'm reposting it here in full as there is little to add or comment on other than to say - it's so true. We all have checks in our pockets that remain useless until we cash them.
(via Seth's Blog)

Cashing the check

A check in your wallet does you very little good. It represents opportunity, sure, but not action.

Most of us are carrying around a check, an opportunity to make an impact, to do the work we're capable of, to ship the art that would make a difference.

No, the world isn't fair, and most people don't get all the chances they deserve. There are barriers due to income, to race, to social standing and to education, and they are inexcusable and must fall. But the check remains, now more than ever. The opportunity to step up and to fail (and then to fail again, and to fail again) and to continue failing until we succeed is greater now than it has ever been.

That LIFE cover above is especially poignant given what happened last week in Arizona. The sixties saw visionaries and champions of civil rights cut down by a society afraid and suspicious of change; but we must change.
Today we seem to be bankrupt of leaders whose vision extends beyond their own political party's interests; whose decisions are determined not by the latest constituent poll but by principles. To take control of our leadership deficit, we've got to support visionaries and reject pragmatists; encourage idealism and urn our back on ideologues. Are politicians our holding a lot of our checks in their pockets. It's time they cash them.

Yes We Can Can - Alan Toussaint

Much Ado About Money For Nothing

2011-01-14T16:43:00.000-05:00

It looks like I maybe swimming against the current on this one, but after turning this around in my head for a couple days, I am coming out as a supporter of the recent Canadian Broadcast Standards Council CBSC decision to prohibit the word "faggot" in the song Money For Nothing, to be heard on Canadian airwaves.

The council (CBSC) is an independent, non-governmental group created to administer standards established by its members, Canada's private broadcasters. Its membership includes more than 700 private radio and TV stations across the country.

Last year, a listener to radio station CHOZ-FM in St. John's complained that the '80s rock song includes the word "faggot" in its lyrics and is discriminatory to gays.
The broadcaster argued that the song had been played countless times since its release decades ago and has won music industry awards.
A CBSC panel concluded that the word "faggot," even if once acceptable, has evolved to become unacceptable in most circumstances

"See the little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Yeah buddy that’s his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot he’s a millionaire"

Do those lyrics do make you wince? They certainly did me in 1985. But we were all mesmerized by MTV then and watched the story of this little narrative play out with totally cool computer animations. The offending words made you take notice. But they were lost in the song's wicked music hook. And, it had a great beat to dance to. - well, so does dancehall music.

We have evolved since 1985. Gays have put up with a lot of shit up until a short time ago. The hearing of that word shouted at you freezes your soul and fills you with panic. The word was and is often followed by sticks and stones. (and much worse)

Much of the defense of these lyrics lies in the context of the song. Mark Knopfler was singing in character as an appliance delivery guy bitching about rock stars and the cushy lives they have. He says he wrote down what they were saying almost verbatim. Not everyone got the irony. Go to any karaoke bar and listen to a bunch of drunks when that lyric rolls up on the monitor. It's right up there with the improvised bridge in Mony Mony.

Mark Knoefler has himself censored this song. They're not to be found on the Dire Straight's Greatest Hits compilation, nor their live concert footage. Seems times and sensitivities do change. Point is, the song isn't banned, those words are.
The song is great, with or without the offending word.

Am I being too sensitive?

Dire Straits - Money for Nothing

Words. Kill. People.

2011-01-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

We can play a little "Travis Bickle" with these words. But no matter where you put the inflection, the meaning is clear. Words do have the power to incite violence and murder.
As a result of what has happened on January 8th in Tucson AZ, there is now a very heated debate with much handwringing from the left and mudslinging from the right taking place.

Normally, I brush off Sarah Palin, the Tea Baggers and the Fox News assholes who vomit misinformation and fear mongering as extremists who couldn't possibly be taken seriously.
Well, guess what? They are - and by millions of gun-toting Americans.
Her speech today struck me as being very revealing not only because she made herself and her movement the victim but she said something so ridiculously hypocritical that I realized these people; Beck, Limbaugh, Roberts etc. are so immersed in extremism that reality is whatever they say it is.

"Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible." – Sarah Palin, Jan12, 2011

To use the term "blood libel" demonstrates an incredible amount of ignorance and insensitivity. Do you think she knows what blood libel means? Does she know how loaded those two words are with centuries of prejudice and horrific persecution? The most galling thing about her speech is that fostering a climate of fear and hate is her movement's modus operandi.

And with the collaboration of Fox News who has a loyal audience representing a third of Americans, Sarah and company have a huge bullhorn with which to broadcast their messages of hate and paranoid unabated.

I agree totally with TV critic, John Doyle who states in today's Globe and Mail:

"It has come to pass: Fox News does indeed define the U.S. political culture and the manner of debate inside that culture. It is to blame, but blame must be tempered by our understanding that Fox News is America and America is Fox News. There will be neither silence nor a change of tone until the Fox News Channel changes, or shuts up. That’s not going to happen. Look at the ratings. The ratings don’t lie."

Words do matter.
It's been a while since politicians engaged in civil discourse – on either side of the border. Fox News and the ideologues that speak from it's soapbox are reaping what they sow.
It's time to plough the crop of crap under.

Brand New Year!

2010-12-31T11:34:00.000-05:00

Another chance to get it right!

Happy New Year to all of my friends who have taken the time to check in at my little corner of the cloud.

This New Year's Eve will be spent with good friends in the quiet pastoral setting of the Eastern Townships. We'll be toasting in the New Year as the ball drops in each of Eastern Canada's time zones. Then, after giving each other double cheek kisses, retire to awaken to a new calendar and a new hope that the year will be better than the last.

"The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears."

W.H. Auden

I Believe in Christmas

2010-12-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Do you believe in Santa Claus? Do you believe in the story of the first Noël?
Watching Christmas movies is one of my most anticipated Christmas traditions. Because I'm such a sentimental marshmallow, the syrupy stories of lost then found hope resonate with me.

At the core of these movie plots is the question of believing in Santa Claus; which really translates into believing in the spirit of Christmas. Santa, like all myths, is a metaphor for those qualities that both warm our hearts and keeps humanity from annihilating itself; generosity, tolerance and hope.

As stressful as things get, I refuse to abandon my neurotic desire to relive the wonder and awe of my childhood. Christmas gives all of us the licence to that. And why wouldn't we?
Sure, Christmas is a mythological construction. But saying something is a myth isn't the same as saying that it's a lie.

Our world is held together by the power of myths. These stories explain how we exist, where we come from, who we are. They precede art, religion and politics. They infuse our lives with meaning. Is there anything more human than to ask "Why was I born?"

Just because we can scientifically prove that Santa doesn't inhabit a candy cane-stripped cottage at the North Pole doesn't mean that his story of generosity and magic doesn't glow in the hearts of millions of young and old alike. Is it even relevant that he be flesh and blood?

Mythology serves many purposes:

Myths grant continuity and stability to a culture.
Myths present guidelines for living.
Myths justify a culture's activities.
Myths give meaning to life.
Myths explain the unexplainable.
Myths offer role models.

Below is my favourite Christmas text which wasn't written as a piece of holiday prose but as a reply to a little girl's letter to the editor about the existence of Santa Claus. Are there such journalists as Francis Pharcellus Church today? (for the whole letter: Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus)

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."

Today, my social network is unplugged as I spend time with my family and think of all the things in life that I should be thankful for:

For my children who give my life so much meaning.
For my extended family, many whom I haven't seen in years and many whom I have had the pleasure to reconnect with these past months.
For my very close friends who have seen me at my worst and still love me unconditionally.
And for Georges, who keeps his emotions locked deep within a heart that when called upon, grows three sizes too big.

I love you all and wish you a very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with peace, love, health and…magic.

Yes Virginia! There is a Santa Claus

Greg Lake: I Believe in Father Christmas

Have Yourself a Very Diva Christmas

2010-12-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

We're fast approaching Ho! Ho! day and what better way than to feature a couple of Diva's to keep the Yuletide gay!
Vanessa Williams actually starred in a TV movie called "A Diva's Christmas Carol." I haven't seen it but will try to; Kathy Griffith plays the ghost of Christmas Past! I love this version of Vanessa singing "What Child is This?" as much for the amazing black & white video as for the musical arrangement. It reminds me of the sort of arrangements heard on Oscar Peterson's Christmas CD: "An Oscar Peterson Christmas" which is one of my favourites.

Although not a big "D" diva as in Judy, Maria Callas, Babs or Diana, Vanessa certainly plays one to the hilt in such shows as Ugly Betty and now, Desperate Housewives.

Vanessa Williams: What Child is This"

Cher is a big "D" Diva and she pulls out all the stops in this Phil Spector classic: "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) with some ample auto tune help from Rosie O'Donnell.

Cher & Rosie O'Donnell: Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

Enjoy. I hope that Santa or that other special Christmas elf leaves something really cool under your tree.

The Man with the Bag is Coming to Town

2010-12-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Here are two of my favourite Santa songs done in my favourite versions: Kay Starr's (Everybody's Waiting) For the Man With the Bag and Bing and the Girls with "Santa Clause is Coming to Town".

I hadn't heard "The Man With the Bag"until about 1996 when the Cocktail became cool again. We bought the Christmas Ultra-Lounge cd to play at our Toronto restaurant, Le Charolais over Christmas. Georges fell in love with the kitschy tunes and this song in particular.

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" breaks down into two camps; the rock version ushered in with Phil Spector in 1963 and interpreted by Bruce Springsteen, The Pointer Sisters and every rocker wanna be in every Karaoke bar in the world.

I do love The Crystals version and the whole album for that matter,but whenever I hear Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters tear into the old chestnut, then it really feels like Christmas. This was kid #3's favourite when he was little. I'd play it in the car and we would all sing along with it. But, should anyone forget to sing Bing's very deep bass line: "..gather round", we'd have to rewind (remember that?) and start all over again.

What's your favourite version of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'?

Kay Starr : Everybody's Waiting for The Man with the Bag

Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters: Santa Claus is Coming To Town

A Choo Choo Christmas

2010-12-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

For those of a certain generation, train sets were on the top of Santa's list.
I loved the whole imaginary world you created with an electric train set. Train culture was very predominate in my hometown. Moncton was a major hub for the CNR (Canadian National Railway) in the Maritimes.

Perhaps the attraction is that, as a kid, there is very little in the grown up world that you have any say in. In this world of tiny shops, stations, stores and landscapes, you were king.

It was like being the Friendly Giant holding the power to do whatever you wanted with your little kingdom. (Sort of like Stephen Harper, really.)
Of course each Christmas I would decorate the train village with the assorted buildings, tiny trees, but also a assorted collection of cowboys, indians and assorted animals from my toy farm.
I remember first hearing "Old Toy Trains" in the sixties when Roger -"You Can't Rollar Skate in a Buffalo Herd"- Miller released it.

I bought the book The Polar Express, complete with silver bell, for my kids when they were very young. The book is beautiful; the story now a classic. They retained much of the same graphic look in the film version, and while the humanoid appearance of the characters are a bit creepy, once you get past that, it is an enchanting and very moving experience.

The song, "Believe" written for the movie by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, and sung by Josh Groban is one of those Andrew Lloyd Weber-ish big ballads that get on my nerves. But when sung over the visuals from the movie, the lyrics come alive and the song soars like wind tossed snowflakes.

Can you hear the bell?

Deck the Halls with songs by Garland

2010-12-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

Judy wouldn't be Judy unless there was drama. And these songs are dramatic.
The first is from her 1968 appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It was her second to last appearance on TV before passing away a year later.

I haven't heard this song before and find it very compelling. It's represents a sentiment that isn't expressed all that much during the "merry" season (and probably with good reason). But with statistics that report a huge bump in the amount of break ups just before Christmas, it still seems relevant.

This performance is so poignant on so many levels. If you know anything of her life story and the history of people walking out on her, it's heartbreaking to watch how she reaches deep inside her to deliver such a performance. That she does this while simply sitting in the guest chair on the Johnny Carson Show speaks to her legendary showmanship.

"We can be happy anywhere as long as we're together."

One of the most popular Christmas songs, "Have Yourself a A Merry Little Christmas" was introduced to us in "Meet Me in St. Louis", a movie I first remember watching at Queen Street School where the Sisters would find us wholesome Christmas films to watch each year. (they were big on Bing). It was also there that I first saw "It's a Wonderful Life".

If you think the song is a downer now, check out the original lyrics that Judy and director husband, Vincent Minnelli had insisted be replaced.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last,
Next year we may all be living in the past
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, pop that champagne cork,
Next year we will all be living in New York.
No good times like the olden days, happy golden days of yore,
Faithful friends who were dear to us, will be near to us no more.
But at least we all will be together, if the Fates allow,
From now on we'll have to muddle through somehow.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now."

It was changed again when Frank Sinatra released the song changing the line:

"Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow". to "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough,"

I prefer the the "muddle" version. It best represents what I am able to accomplish each Christmas in spite of the best intentions.

Whatever your Christmas tradition, I wish you a very, very merry one.

Today's question?…Why do you suppose so many choose Christmas to break up? - Save on gifts? - Don't want to bring him/her home to meet the parents?

An Acadian Christmas in Moncton

2010-12-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Growing up in Moncton in the 60's in an Acadian home set me apart from many of my classmates at Queen Street School who for the most part, were Irish Catholics.

My paternal Grandparents who were Acadian sent me to an English school because:
a) my mother was English and in those days, we always defaulted to English and

b) Queen Street school was very close and very Catholic.

Our Christmas traditions were much the same as other French Canadian families. We had our big meal at dinner (lunch) and ate lighter fare at supper.

At Christmas, the big event was Réveillon - Christmas Eve where we'd get to stay up late, go to Midnight Mass and then come home and dive into the great food that had had taken days to prepare. I remember my Grandmother laying out a half dozen baked Duncan Hines cakes on the table in the days leading to Christmas. I was always happy to help with the frosting.

We'd get to open a present before going to bed. It didn't leave Santa with much of a window of opportunity to drop off the rest before morning.

My favourite holiday food (after ribbon candy, barley toys and chicken bones) was Poutine Râpee. Blogger and journalist Brian Cormier has a Facebook Page dedicated to this Acadian "delicacy".

It's not the most appealing of dishes. (Wet lint ball comes to mind.) Acadian cuisine isn't known for its colour palette. Think shades of gray with the occasional hint of brown if the dish happens to be gratinéed or baked. We count on summer savoury to add colour (and taste).

But it's a cultural thing; something you grow up with. If confronted with the same plate today, you would think that you landed on an episode of Amazing Race.

There are many dishes particular to the Moncton area and this version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" by Acadian musical group Les Méchants Maquereaux lists a number of them.

I've translated the items given by his "true love".
If I messed up, feel free to leave your corrections in the comments.

What's your favourite Christmas dish?

Les douze jours de noël. - Les Méchants Maquereaux

Le 1er jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Un gros messe de poutine râpée - (a whole lot more than 2)

Le 2ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Deux pec de mouques pis - (2 pecks of mussels)
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 3ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Trois six packs frettes – (3 cold six-packs "beer")
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 4ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Quatre harengs fumés – (4 smoked herrings)
Trois six packs frettes
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 5ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Cinq pets de sœurs – (like cinnomon buns made with leftover pie crust – "nun's farts")
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 6ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Six gros homards – (6 large lobsters)
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quare harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 7ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Sept râpures molles – (like poutine râpée lasagna)
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 8ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Huit morues sèques – (8 salt cod)
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 9ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Neuf dîners bouillis – (9 boiled dinners – pig's feet, anyone?)
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 10ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Dix groses coques – (10 large oysters)
Neuf dîners bouillis
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 11ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Onze poutine à trous – (11 baked apple dumplings)
Dix groses coques
Neuf dîners bouillis
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée

Le 12ème jour de Noël mon amour ma donné
Douze beaux maquereaux – (12 nice mackerels)
Onze poutine à trous
Dix groses coques
Neuf dîners bouillis
Huit morues sèques
Sept râpures molles
Six gros homards
Cinq pets de sœurs
Quatre harengs fumés
Trois six packs
Deux pec de mouques pis
Un gros messe de poutine râpée
Pis un gros messe de poutine râpée
Pis un gros messe de poutine râpée

It's Cold, It's Snowy and it's Almost Christmas.

2010-12-16T08:00:00.003-05:00

Just got back from walking Ruby (our dog, not my Aunt). It's very wintry today. Strong winds make the -12 degrees seem more like -20º. We ran a bit then on the way back I noticed that many more of my neighbours seemed to have been tapped by the Christmas Fairy.

Cascading mini lights seem to be the thing this year and big balls still hang in front of several doors. Not surprising given the cold, the majority were blue. While I love twinkle, I'm a bit of a traditionalist. My front door wouldn't look out of place on a Judy Garland Christmas Special set. And don't get me started on blue lights. While I agree with my friend, Brian that they're mesmerizing, I also find that they are depressing. I don't need "depressing" at Christmas. I barely hang on to my sanity as it is.

Today's song choice reflects the cold and snow, but with a bit of a beat to warm things up.

12 Gays of Christmas - Fosse, Fosse, Fosse!

2010-12-15T08:00:00.008-05:00

(Disclaimer - This song does not refer to my last year's stocking stuffers!)

The 12 Days of Christmas is one of those "love it/hate it" holiday tunes. It's been done to death both by interpretation and repetition.

We have the traditional versions I remember seeing on CBC each year that had live actors in Victorian costumes play out all of the gifts to the ever increasingly overwhelmed 'True Loved". And of course there were the classic Bing Crosby and "Prop 8" Tabernacle Choir versions.

In grade nine, I pantomimed the twelve days of Christmas as a solo; in a clown suit - Apologies to students and staff of King George School 1967. I am so glad it was pre video. However embarrassing, I remember it as being exhilarating and one of my earliest memories of having total uninhibited fun on stage.

And speaking of uninhibited - have you seen this first video from last year - "The 12 gays of Christmas"? Does anyone know who these dancers are? I would have loved to be part of this dance company.

Why didn't we ever think of doing this? - we had the Fosse moves. Every time I see this I think of David, my friend and stage partner who we lost in 1993 to AIDS. How he would have enjoyed it. Undoubtedly, he'd have me up on the floor recreating each hip thrust and ball change.

The second, more traditional version is performed by the King's Singers with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I'm not sure which interpretation is gayer. If they removed al the gay contribution to this extravaganza, they'd probably end up being called the Mormon Tabernacle Quartet.

Honourable mentions: Straight No Chaser and Bing Crosby with The Andrew Sisters versions.

Do you have a favourite version? Do you know the lyrics?

Merry Christmas, Mr. Bowie

2010-12-14T08:01:00.002-05:00

When I hear Karen Carpenter at Christmas I am transported to my Mom's home in Oshawa. There wasn't a crepe paper Santa or Christmas Bell that was safe from hanging.

Red and green paper streams were strung from the ceiling corners in the kitchen and crisscrossed in the middle where a huge clump of red and green accordion bells were scotch taped to the light fixture.

There were plastic holly & berries adorning anything stationary. On the porch windows were snow stencilled reindeers, snowflakes and Santa's - flying, falling and walking through the glow of multi-coloured lights. Even the bathroom was decorated with a crocheted Mrs. Claus toilet paper cover. (Was that supposed to keep the tissue warm?)

Mom enjoyed her Christmases. Even if she had survived to experience the Martha Stewart era of tasteful DIY decorations, I think she'd still haul out the crêpe paper Frosty and the canned snow each December because that's what Christmas at home was.

These songs take me back there and to her bottomless tin of Christmas cookies.

Was your Mom a Martha Stewart or a Roseanne Barr when it came to Seasonal decor?

David Bowie, Bing Crosby: Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth

Karen Carpenter: Merry Christmas Darling

Don't Get Drunk This Christmas!

2010-12-13T08:00:00.003-05:00

Well, it's another, blue Monday Christmas song day. Today's choices are songs that speak to the kinds of experiences I and many others unfortunately lived through as a kid.

I know that I told you all about the magic of being mesmerized by Christmas tree lights and music. And that is a big part of the memories that I hold on to.

The other part is hiding in my room with the pillow over my head trying to block out the noise from the fighting downstairs. Or, leaving the house altogether and walking around the mercifully silent streets looking at the beautifully decorated houses - imagining what it would be like to live in one of them.

I didn't understand what it was about Christmas that caused grownups to get so pissed (as in drunk and "off"). Maybe it was the combination of the looser inhibitions that come with booze with the sentimentality of the holidays.

It seemed that it was impossible to be happy for any length of time without it dissolving into a ugly soul baring rage. Perhaps that rage was always there and only needed the coerced joviality of Christmas to fuel it?

All I know is that despite that, I choose to remember my dream Christmases and while the "nightmare" Christmases sucked, they have long ceased to scare me.

You "Grinches" out there should enjoy this...

"Please, Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas" is best known for the John Denver version. But I prefer Alan Jackson's.

"Please Daddy don't get drunk this Christmas
I don't want to see my Momma cry
Please Daddy don't get drunk this Christmas
I don't want my Momma cry

Just last year when I was only seven
Now I'm almost eight, as you can see
You came home a quarter past eleven
And fell down underneath
our Christmas tree

Mama smiled and looked
Outside the window
She told me son
You better go upstairs Then you laughed and hollered
"Merry Christmas"

I turned around and saw
My Momma's tears"

Alan Jackson

That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!
(Sufjan Stevens)
Going outside
Shoveling snow in the driveway, driveway
Taking our shoes
Riding a sled down the hillside, hillside
Can you say what you want?

Can you say what you want to be?
Can you be what you want?
Can you be what you want?
Our father yells

Throwing gifts in the wood stove, wood stove
My sister runs away
Taking her books to the schoolyard, schoolyard
In time the snow will rise
In time the snow will rise
In time the Lord will rise
In time the Lord will rise

Silent night
Holy night
Silent night
Nothing feels right

Sufjan Stevens

Christmas Vocalise

2010-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of vocal groups. I followed The Manhattan Transfer' career since the early seventies when they were part of the 40's revival that had Bette singing "In the Mood" and the Pointer Sisters: "Steam Heat".

There are so many amazing Christmas songs done by groups small and large; acapella and accompanied that I don't know where to start selecting songs for today. So, I'll start with my favourite older group then choose one from a new group, Straight No Chaser, that I really enjoy. (Another YouTube discovery!)

Pass that pitch pipe and let's harmonize!

Noël, C'est L'Amour

2010-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Contrary to what you might believe given my last couple of posts, when it comes to Christmas music, I'm totally in the traditional camp. (but I'm traditionally camp)

I love being enveloped in strings and harmonies while basking in lights and decorations. Jackie Gleason's super slow arrangements (they make Perry Como seem like Speedy Gonzales!), are the perfect accompaniment to a glass of scotch and a couple of nuts.

Two of my favourite french songs of the holidays are "Noël, C'est L'Amour", which my BFF Fanny brought to my attention and Roch Voisine's version of Petit Papa Noël from his Christmas album, L'Abum de Noël.