Queen's Park, Stratford (2)

It was cool, wet and windy this morning, but i had to make a trek downtown. I waited until the rain ended, and decided to take the scenic route, through the park. (Unfathomably, there is no public transit here on Sundays 'n' holidays.) Took a few pics -- it was scenes like these that i had hoped to photograph when i was there a fortnight ago (see previous post) -- this stuff looks even better on a sunny day!

Such a gorgeous spot.

And then the rain began again and i was not exactly drenched, but, say, 50% drenched. The rest of me was just wet.

Today's Playlist

The Allman Brothers Band -- Eat A Peach (deluxe edition) (1972)
Gary Burton -- Throb (1969)
Van der Graaf Generator -- Still Life (1976)
Jane Siberry -- The Speckless Sky (1985)
Mott The Hoople -- Mott (1973)

No, i'm not living in the past....

Tonight's Playlist

Listened to Procol Harum's very first album (from -- what? 1066?) (No, i mean 1966). Then a couple of bootlegged Beatles songs i'd never heard before, and then a Sam Cooke "Greatest Hits" compilation i just downloaded yesterday.

No suggestion whatever that i am living in the past!

Queen's Park, Stratford

One of my favourite parts of town is the vast Queen's Park, with the gorgeous Avon River and Lake Victoria and its swans, and last Sunday (it was a beautiful, hot day) i took a stroll down there with the intention of trying to photograph some of the more exotic birds that inhabit the area.

Well, i didn't.

There was an open-air concert in progress and the music was both painfully loud and gruesome.

I only took a few pictures (and then fled to somewhere quieter).

Here are the best two.

I get so frustrated with my camera, though: i like to think that i have a good eye, but i am sorely lacking in technical skills. I just bought Digital Photography For Dummies -- now if only i can find the time to read it!

Cate

Here's a new picture. Now really, though: what kind of an idiot would buy a cat a chair with a "101 Dalmatians" motif? Besides me, that is....

Rory Gallagher

https://download.yousendit.com/MnFpT213cG85bEJFQlE9PQ

And that's the link to a download of Rory performing "Jacknife Beat."

Enjoy!

Joni Mitchell

Here's a little treat for you. https://download.yousendit.com/MnFpT205OW5TSUN4dnc9PQ

That's the download link for the song "Judgement Of The Moon And Stars (Ludwig's Tune)" from Joni Mitchell's great but under-rated 1972 album "For The Roses." ("Under-rated," presumably means that there were no hit singles or something, i dunno.)

The link will only remain valid for seven days, so you have til next Saturday. Enjoy!

Spriggsblog Goes To The Movies (Again)

Watched this last night. Terence Stamp is brilliant.

I think i shall get drunk now, i had a miserable day at the shop, i'm surrounded by idiots.

Music

Like most people, i don't buy CDs very often any more.

As i age, of course, "popular" music interests me less and less, but that's not the primary reason i don't buy CDs. (At one time i would buy at least a hundred a year, and usually more.)

No, it's because the record industry has shot itself in the foot. (The music industry is thriving, it's the major record labels who are going head-first into the toilet.) I have a shopping list or wish list or whatever you want to call it, but i simply can't get the CDs here (in Canada).

Example: Five months ago, i ordered a CD by Jack Bruce at my friendly local dealer. After four months i gave up and downloaded it (yes, for free, i did).

Having said all that, here are some great albums i actually bought, in real silver disc format recently.

HTML Help Request

I've been trying to add this to the page template, but i only seem to be able to add it to a post. Any ideas, anyone?

P.S. I don't know HTML

Spriggsblog Goes To The Movies

Actually, we go to the DVD player, and that's what we've watched recently -- every one a winner, too. (That last one there -- it isn't obvious -- is Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto."

My Morning At Work (A Funny)

I rarely write about my work, but Roxanne (the general manager) was funny this morning. The office is right next to the table i work at in the mornings, so i can see and hear everything when the door is open. She arrived, went in, and within five seconds Stinky the prep girl bopped in and spent about 15 minutes regaling her with mindless gossip (oblivious to the fact that Roxanne's eyes glazed over the moment Stinky entered).

When Stinky finally decided to go and do some work, Alan (Mr 50%, so called because that's the amount of effort he puts in on a good day) wandered in and ... poor Roxanne had to suffer another fifteen minutes of blather. When Alan finally left (he went off to have a pleasant chat with someone else, which of course is far more productive than working) Roxanne looked at me (i'd been toiling away all this time), stuck her tongue out of the side of her mouth and pretended to stab herself in the neck with a fork. ROFL.

Well, maybe you had to be there....

Cate's First Photo

What a beauty!

Alas, i can't take the credit for the picture -- the O.S.P.C.A. (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) e-mailed it to me with some helpful hints -- it must be their file photograph.

When i start photographing her, i will open a new file on Flickr. And i'll let you know.