Michael's 40th Birthday Celebration - May 24th

Sunday evening, we joined the Ganges at the Star House Restaurant to celebrate Michael's 40th Birthday.  We all chose the Chinese Buffet, which was followed by a delicious Birthday cake provided by Shirley.   Howard and Shirley presented Michael with a history photo book created by submissions to Apple online who published the book.

Twyla and Michael gave me a belated birthday card along with a Sudoku Book and a Golf Trivia Book.  I had to leave early to get ready for my concert.

Without A Song Concert Sunday Evening May 24th

The Weather was perfect.  There was a good turnout of our faithful patrons and many new ones.

This Train, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, Brighten My Soul with Sunshine, Keep in the Middle of the Road.

Guest Artist: Gabrielle Paul-McKenzie - Piano

Beat Mortui, Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace, Bless the Lord O my Soul, Steal Away.

Guest Artists: Emily Davis -  Tenor Trombone, Gabrielle Paul-McKenzie - Horn, Kathy Davis - Accompanist

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Frobisher Bay, The Two Roses, Summertime.

Guest Artist: Kathy Davis - piano.

The Policeman's Song, Java Jive, Bye Bye Blackbird, Without a Song.

The concert from our perspective went very well.  I have chatted with several people at the CO-OP Store today that said they really enjoyed it.

The Male Chorus performs a variety of musical styles from classical to contemporary.  The members of the Chorus boast a wide variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds and all share the love of music.  Chorus director Bob Gibson provides a wide variety of musical styles and levels of vocal challenges that accentuates the unique quality of blended male voice harmony.

Although Charles Dent has been struggling with health issues recently, we still included his name on the program and we were pleased to see that he and Irene were able to sit at the entrance table and receive the free will donations.  We wish him a speedy recovery.

May 19th - More Winter

It started to snow in the afternoon.  I noticed it when I went to crush boxes at the CO-OP.  When I got off work it was a steady rain and still about +3c.  Sometime before 6:00pm it was snowing big flakes, wet ice pellets.  Downright depressing.  I shot this picture with my phone from the back step.   The one good thing is there should be lots of moisture for the fertilizer I sprinkled on the lawn.  

Sunday, May 17th - Supper at Ed's Inn

We phoned my brother Arnold just after 3:30 pm to see if he had any supper plans.  He said he had a large lunch at Johnny Boy's after church, but could eat again.  We picked him up just before 4:00 pm and headed out to Ed' Inn.  Call it a belated birthday gathering for both of us.  The weather was unsuitable on the 13th & 14th  to consider a golf game and we were both committed to other projects.  Golf will have to wait, but having a good meal is easy to accommodate.

May 14th, 2009 - Now 61 years old

I spent so much time last evening thanking everyone for wishing me a Happy Birthday that I had no time to write anything on my blog.
Most of the day was spent running around doing errands, such as delivering Posters for the PA Men's Chorus Concert. I did drop off my dress shoes for heel repairs to the Shoe Guy - Guy Shannon's new business venture. I had a short visit and checked out his accessories. Good choice, good prices. As I said elsewhere. I will be a regular patron of his new business.
My day took a turn for the worst when I went to Roberta's to look after her dogs. I let her dogs out and then went to work checking the light on her stove. I found a burnt out bulb. I went to the CO-OP to and found a replacement, went back and replaced it. Then I went to chat with her birds. I found them both dead in the bottom of their filthy cage, obviously deprived of water for sometime. The water container was bone-dry.
Diane treated me to supper at Johnny Boy Restaurant, but we could not talk about anything else but Roberta and her dead birds.
Roberta phoned me later before she had even walked through the house and I had to tell her about her birds. After I told her she had not left them water, and that she could never have anymore birds, I hung up on her.
Not a great way to end a birthday :(

Prince Albert Men's Chorus Spring Concert

Without a Song

W ithout a song, the day would never end.

Without a song the road would never bend.

When things go wrong, a man ain't got a friend - without a song.

Prince Albert Men's Chorus

Spring Concert

24th May 2009 7:30 PM

Calvary United Church

114 25th Street East, Prince Albert

Free Will Offering

In Concert! Anna Bekolay, Riane LaPaire, Diane Bestvater

Tonight I attended this Concert featuring Anna Bekolay, soprano, violin

                                                                         Riane LaPaire, soprano, violin

                                                                         Diane Bestvater, piano

The Benefit concert for the Honey Bee Music and Dance Camp was held at Mahon Auditorium, John M. Cuelenaere library, Prince Albert, Sk.

I have known Anna for many years and her mother for many more than that.  I went to hear her play her violin, but was also treated to her superb soprano singing as well.  Normally, I am not an opera fan, but listening to her mature, clear, voice with an incredible range of dynamics was refreshing.  I also enjoyed listening and watching her play her violin.    

I purchased her CD (Bare Bones) of mostly her own compositions and one song composed by her mother on the mandolin.  I will be listening to the CD in my Jimmy for quite some time.  I have fond memories of playing my baritone ukelele and singing in a Praise Group many years ago with her mother Diane floating around with her flute in what ever key we were playing in.  

It was not a large crowd, but definitely an appreciative crowd for all 3 musicians.  I am sure that whatever moneys were raised will be put to good use at the Music/Dance Camp this summer.

Thank you, Anna for coming and performing for us in Prince Albert.  I will continue to follow your music career with special interest.

Turned out to be a nice day

I took advantage of the nice weather to spend the morning and afternoon to finish the raking of the yard.  I tossed all the bags including Sylvia's (next door) bags into my utility trailer and tied a tarp over them to haul off later next week to the dump.

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

I worked at the till at CO-OP Hardware on Wednesday.  It was raining when I came on at 10:00 am.  Before noon, all the customers going past me or making purchases were commenting about the snowfall.  When I got off work, I drove home to -1c and wet pavement (Thank God!) with a layer of white stuff covering everything else.  I had planned to finish raking the yard Wednesday evening, but that was impossible.  The picture of our house and front yard was taken soon after I came home after work.  Depressing :(