Nature's Own Little Boy

2002-09-23T16:06:00.000-04:00

An Evening at the Top O' the Senator

A year ago we spent a week taking in the sights, but especially the sounds, of New Orleans - we particularly enjoyed "The Funky Butt." Great jazz. Good food. Wonderful atmosphere. So it seemed only appropriate to mark our first year anniversary with an evening of jazz, and the Top O' the Senator seemed just the place.

Neither of us have actually been to the Top O' the Senator, but I've often seen it featured on TV Ontario's "Studio 2" and "In Coversation with Allan Gregg."

I had always pictured it to be a suave club at the top of one of Toronto's mammoth office towers. Actually, The Top O' the Senator rises all the way to the 2nd floor atop the Torch Bistro, which was probably quite the place in it's time, but has lost much of its lustre. Still, the club itself is rather suave in appearance and atmosphere. We weren't disappointed.

The scheduled act for the evening was the Yoon Choi Quartet - which actually turned out to be a QUINtet. They failed to warn us about the trombone player (what is it, some secret union of Trombonists asserting their will over the will of the people?). This is what happens when 5 graduates of a university jazz programme are set loose on the world. It's like newly ordained pastors who actually believe they should put into practise everything they learned in seminary. Sounds great in theory!

Like parishoners hearing a new pastor's sermon for the first time, the music wasn't what I expected to hear - Diana Krall it was not. And I'm actually quite glad for that. Here were 5 young musicians stretching their experipental jazz wings, and doing a fine job of it. Especially appealing for me was the piano player's incredibly soft touch in contrast to the drummers heavy hands. The tunes were a mix of originals and pop standards - everything from The Beatles to Howard Jones to Bjork - all done will expeme creativity. Purists would be appalled, but appreciated the new take on the familiar tunes.

I'm not sure the clientelle at The Funky Butt would approve, but everyone at the Top O' the Senator had a marvelous time. It was a great way to mark the first year.

2002-09-20T09:19:00.000-04:00

Education Matters

I had a lovely time at Christopher and Nicholas' school last evening. Classrooms are far more colourful and stimulating than when I was in grade 1 and the only thing of interest to distract me from the distractions out the window were: 1) the alphabet strung along the top of the blackboard; 2) a photograph of a very young Queen Elizabeth II; 3) Patty Tweddle in the row next to me.

It was good to meet the boy's teachers and see their work on display. The evidence from their workbooks suggests that they are both doing well, grasping the concepts that are being taught, and (gasp!) maybe even enjoying it.

I was particularly proud of Christopher's creative writing. He's a good story-teller, choosing not only words, but themes and images well. I hope he is encouraged to keep it up.

2002-09-18T14:10:00.000-04:00

"O Superman"

I've never been a big Laurie Anderson fan. I dunno, I guess I just don't get it. Today I read a review of her latest release Live at Town Hall: New York City, September 19 - 20, 2001 in the latest edition of New Internationalist. The reviewer writes, "No one could have guessed how exact, how poignant and humane - her work would become in the wake of 11 September. One cannot listen to those lines in 'O Superman' - 'Here come the planes / they're American planes / Made in America' - and remain unmoved by the strange admixture of calm and despair, the frightful foresight...one is struck by the recurrence of airplane and travel images, where flight becomes a symbol of magic, modernity and retribution."

The review then informs us about a letter Ms. Anderson wrote to President Bush which was signed by "scores of leading US radicals, artists and intellectuals." The letter said: 'We refuse to allow you to speak for all the American people. We will not give up our right to question. We will not hand over our consciences in return for a hollow promise of safety... We refuse to be party to these wars and we repudiate any inference that they are being waged in our name or for our welfare. We extend a hand to those around the world suffering from these policies; we will show our solidarity in word and deed.'

I think I should get it.

p.s. - the 2 CD recording was given 5 stars out of 5

2002-09-13T10:12:00.000-04:00

Credit Where Credit's Due

In a CBC interview aired September 11 my Prime Minister, Jean Cretien (a leader to whom I rarely look for wisdom) got himself in trouble for suggesting, "You cannot exercise your powers to the point of humiliation for the others, and that is what the Western world – not only the Americans, the Western world – has to realize. Because they are human beings, too." The CBC also quotes Cretien as saying that if the gap between rich and poor continues to grow, there will be "long-term consequences" within a few decades. "And necessarily, we're looked upon as being arrogant, self-satisfied, greedy and with no limits. And the 11th of September is an occasion for me to realize it even more."

Well said and bravo.

Thumbs us, also, to Svend Robinson (NDP) and Joe Clark (PC) for the courage to see beyond partisan politics.

As for Mr. Harper (Canadian Alliance) - your comments reveal you to be an embarrassingly and offensively, simplistic man.

2002-09-12T15:41:00.000-04:00

Tomatoes 'N Cheese

Our garden has graciously offered Barb and I, not only an amazing volume of tomatoes, but with a feast of succulent, meaty (in the best sense of that word), glorious, luscious red tomatoes! Each tomatoe is thick. Each is filled with vibrant flavour. Each is a gift from the gods of decadence.

Barb and I have already committed hours blanching, peeling, cooking, and freezing many of them for future use. But some of these beauties are kept on the counter in their natural state for a more holy purpose. The best part of these delightful gems is when they are thickly sliced and married with globs of mayo along with chunks of tangy cheddar cheese all delicately laid between two slices of fresh seven grain bread. It's like a moan and a sigh all rolled into one heavenly food.

Anyone care for a bite?

2002-09-11T23:02:00.000-04:00

Marking 9/11 One Year Later

I made a deliberate and concerted effort to avoid all forms of mass media today. Why? I felt the best way that I could mark this day was by living freely and filling my day with meaningful, satisfying work (and believe me, in my profession that is often a real challenge).

So here was my day.

1) After dropping off Barb at the bus terminal so she could visit her neice, nephew, and other grown-up relatives (good for her; boo-hoo for me), I went to work early to work on a way to help our people reach out to our disenfranshised membership. That took up most of the morning.

2) For lunch-hour, I joined an inter-denominational group of clergy to discuss Sunday's lectionary readings. Naturally, the conversation soon turned to the 9/11 anniversary, but the conversation was good. That is, it was personal, direct and honest, and (best of all) it was not mediated by someone else's idea of what we needed to witness, experience, or talk about.

3) Later I was honoured to have one of the parishoners proudly show her new home to me. It was such a simple thing to do, but it so obviously made her happy.

4) The rest of the day was committed to preparing the opening worship for a seminary class being held at our church this semester. This meant combining two things I really like about my job - leading worship and biblical studies. Ours is the only example in our Synod of the seminary stepping out to meet people where they live, exposing them to solid theological study without turning them into Masters of Theology students. Out of twenty people in that class (about twice as many who would sign up for the same course offered on the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary campus) 19 are auditing the course for their own interest! That ought to tell the seminary something! Anyway, it was good to finish my day participating in a New Testament Studies class.

Today I felt good about my life and my job. I write this evening happy with what I do, and thankful that I am able to do it without fear. I'm not sure I'd be feeling this way tonight if media reports of the 9/11 anniversary were the biggest part of my day.

I like to think of it as my own private dig at both terrorism and the simplistic, vengeful war against it.

I used this prayer after the Communion service tonight. I hope I am correct in attributing the words to the Rev. Ray Niebergall.

We leave this table, O God,
mindful of our world that has so much human pain
and where creation groans for liberation.
We leave this table,
with love and inner peace for change in our ways,
for healing of pain,
for freedom,
for life.
Amen

2002-09-06T09:38:00.000-04:00

Sleeping Beauty

On Tuesday I was officially diagnosed with sleep apnea. Last month, under advice from my GP, I spent a night at a sleep clinic attached to diodes, cathodes, and all kinds of other 'odes.' This, along with my personal testimony of sleepy days and Barb's testimony of scarey nights when I'd stop breathing, determined the diagnoses. Next month I'll go for another sleep-over which will determine how much air pressure needs to be forced down my throat so that I might finally get a good night's sleep.

Here's the thing. It seems that, from the moment the doctor pronounced the diagnosis, I've been more sleepy than ever. I've had a nap each and every day. I've been groggy. And I feel like I could stay in bed all day.

Am I just attributing laziness to illness?

2002-09-05T00:40:00.000-04:00

Was I In Walkerton or New Orleans?!

I've seen Supertramp 5 times now. The first in '83 at Exhibition Stadium was the most special - who can forget their first time? That was the last tour with Roger Hodgson. I'm glad I saw that show, even if I was about 150 m from the stage. I have always regreted not seeing them on the Breakfast In America tour at the Kitchener Aud in '79 - that was the last time it was just the 5 guys as they sounded on the Paris album.

The next was the Brother Where You Bound tour which is completely unmemorable, then the Free As A Bird tour at MapleLeaf Gardens in '88 - that was the one we went to together, wasn't it Trev.?

Then there was the Some Things Never Change tour at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto in '97 memorable for the crowds displeasure with the new material, their intense appreciation for the old hits, and the odd Adult Contemporary mix of the band.

Which brings us to Saturday evening at a ball-park in small town Walkerton Ontario. As soon as we knew that Barb's schedule would allow it, we made plans with Dave and Bonnie to see the show. August was a very busy month for me so I wasn't really able to enjoy the anticipation until that very day - then I packed a whole month of anticipation into 12 hours!

We met Dave and Bonnie in Teviotdale (he thought I'd need a map to find it - huh!) and they transported us to Walkerton in air conditioned comfort. We got out to get the bags and sweaters out of the trunk when it happened - Dave pulled out his wallet to pay me for the tickets. Oh, oh. I thought we had agreed to purchase our tickets separately! Barb was not amused, and I felt like dirt. Fortunately, tickets were still available at the gate - actually, it was more like a picnic table under a tarp with two women, a tin box to hold the money, and a couple hundred tickets just sitting there! And without the service charges, Dave and Bonnie's tickets cost less than ours (and about $35 each less than the Molson Amphitheatre show the night before).

Big relief - time for dinner.

Ok, no time for dinner because Walkerton is only used to feeding out of town media types who have nothing but time on their hands. After an hour of waiting, we paid for the beer and headed off to the park - fortunately there was a fry wagon which also served perogies on the way. The evening would only get better and better from then on.

As we entered the park and scanned the field for a good spot to claim I noticed some people looking at me funny - not the usual way people look at me, something different. Oh yeah, it's the Roger Hodgson t-shirt! That explains why some guy named Jamie walked up to me earlier asking if I was a member of the the Yahoo Roger Hodgson/Supertramp group. I'm not, but maybe I'll check it out - what a geek, eh (me, not him)?

The stage was on home plate. We sat in very shallow right field. Even the roadie music was cool - sixties progressive rock and jazz.

At 8:19 (Bonnie had called 8:20) the lights went down and everyone rushed the stage. Suddenly Barb and I were promoted from Right Field to 1st Base covering well off the line. When Rick put the harmonica to his lips to begin the oh so familar haunting strains of School, we were about 30 feet from the stage!!

You have probably heard that the current Supertramp line-up is much different from the hit-factory line-up of the 70s. Only Rick (vocals and keyboards), Bob (drums), and John (woodwinds and backing vocals) remain. It's hard to believe that three of the other musicians have been playing with Supertramp for something like 12 years, including Mark Hart of Crowded House fame who covers the Hodgson lead vocals (more about that later). Finally there is Jesse, Bob's son, on percussion and guitar.

This was the tightest, most talented Supertramp line-up I have ever seen and heard. They played with soul. They played with technical perfection. And they played with class. This is no Supertramp kareoke band! The old hits sounded fresh. The new jazz and R&B tunes were innovative. The pop songs were fun and note-perfect. Nothing can replace the magic of the Supertramp who gave us Crime of the Century and Breakfast in America. That was a wonderful time, but that band is gone. And that's ok, because if you're in it for the music and not the nostalgia then you have to admit, this is a great band!

From the beginning of his career, Rick Davies has been searching for a band as comfortable in a New Orleans club as on a stage in front of 50,000. He must be very, very happy, because after 35 years, this band is it.

What about the Roger Hodgson penned tunes? They played three: Take the Long Way Home, Logical Song, and Give A Little Bit. The highlight for me was definately Give A Little Bit, sung - not by Hart - but by Jessie Siebenburg leading into it on the 12-string. What a pleasant surprise. His voice is nothing like Roger's, which may be why it works. Hart has been singing Rogers songs now since '88. Sure, he can hit (as few could) those high notes, but he seems to be trying too hard; perhaps imitating Roger. Jesse does no such thing. Well done, Jessie.

The only other small picky thing I'll point out was the use of the big screen for the animated bits to a number of songs. It was mostly distracting since the bits only lasted about 30 seconds. The big exception was the classic film piece for Rudy. I've seen the image of the train speeding along the tracks as the song picks up momentum now a few times. This time it was different. The film was the same, it was the performance of the music that made it different. This time I was lost in it. It wasn't a performance so much as it was a piece of living art. For that 6 minute song, it really felt like it was Barb and I all alone with this experience of sight and sound. It's how I always imagined a rock concert should be performed.

The surprise ending to the animation for Crime was quite fun.

Can you tell I enjoyed the show?

Can't wait to see Roger Hodgson at Casino Rama on September 27!

2002-06-24T11:19:00.000-04:00

Anyone Care To Comment?

I'm experimenting with this 'comment' feature from Enetation in the UK. Let me know what you think.

2002-06-24T10:44:00.000-04:00

Nowhere to Here

About 25 years ago a few local ministers had an idea and called it the Agincourt Community Services Association (ACSA). ACSA then had an idea which would help people grow their own food and called it The Community Garden. Christ Lutheran Church liked the idea and gave them the land on which to grow the food. Someone liked the idea and planted a garden on one of the plots before moving on last year. Barb and I liked the idea and asked ACSA if we could plant on that vacant plot. ACSA said yes. Last year's gardener left behind for us two plantings of Swiss Chard. Today Barbara and I claimed our first harvest from our garden - leaves from those Swiss Chard plants.

Free food thanks to a few people with some good ideas. Thank you.

New Comments Section:

2002-06-19T06:35:00.000-04:00

Now I Understand

Once again the sunlight streamed into my room waking me from a dream which ended with Barbara sniffing the shirt-sleave of an old flame. I think it was punishment for my sin of neglect in not recognizing who or what the Google searcher was seeking.

To the searcher of "Wilker-Frey Moment," what you seek can be found at "In This Moment."

2002-06-18T22:32:00.000-04:00

"This Wilker-Frey Moment Has Been Brought To You By..."

It's the oddest thing. Somebody, somewhere accessed Gathered Into One by doing a Google search for "Wilker-Frey, Moment." What possible relationship is there between our last name and the word 'moment?'

Who are you? Why have you searched thus?

I suppose I'll never know.

What other interesting search-engine queries have led to your blogs?

2002-06-18T10:40:00.000-04:00

A Good Morning

The sun shone brightly through the boys room, across the hall, and into my room waking me from a deep sleep. I just assumed it had to be 8:30 AM or later. I wondered if I had allowed myself enough time to do the things that 'should' be done this morning and still have enough time to play a little music or do some reading. Rolling over, I was quite astounded to read '6:07' on the clock. I must have been mistaken. With the clock sitting a foot lower than the bed, sometimes a line on the digital display can be hidden. An 8 can appear to be 3. At a quick glance, a 5 can be mistaken for a 6, and so on. I forced my body to lean over a little more, but I was not mistaken; it was indeed 6:07 - and yet, I was clearly wide awake.

"What would a real morning person do," I wondered, "with a couple of extra hours to spend." And then the bright sunshine gave me a clue; the garden!

We've had pretty steady rain and cool temperatures for the better part of a week now. There hasn't been much gardening happening. But this morning was my chance and, for some reason, I took it.

The walk to the church where our community-garden plot is situated was cool but invigorating. I quite enjoyed getting my hands dirty in the moist soil as I pulled out any plant that didn't seem to have been sown in a straight line. (Does anyone know what spinach seedlings look like?) I weeded and dug for two hours until our garden resembled a miniature version of Rabbit's (of Winie-the-Pooh fame) cherished beds.

The walk home included a stop at the home of a parishoner who is recovering from some surgergy. She didn't even seem to mind my torn and muddied blue jeans or the dirt caked under my fingernails.

It's been a good morning. Now, how might I become a 'real' morning person everyday?

2002-06-05T21:35:00.000-04:00

How'd Ya Like Me Now, Mr. Timms?

Mr. Timms was the principal of Elora Senior Public School and my grade 7 math teacher. He didn't care much for my smart-ass attitude and I'm sure he never thought I'd amount to much.

I'm not offering anything to prove him wrong, but someone did like a piece I wrote!

The Canada Lutheran published a 500 word article of mine titled "Hooked On...Church." In short, I said that, in the same way Classical Music had more to offer than its poorer, more popular 'hooked on' cousin of the 80s revealed, so to does the Church have a richness and mystery greater than 'community church' populist piety suggests.

And sure, only a handful of Canadian, ELCIC Lutherans will read it. Still, for the first time ever in my life, I Got Published!!

I'll enjoy it now before I'm lambasted in next month's 'letters to the editor' section. Maybe Mr. Timms will write to correct my grammar.

2002-06-05T18:36:00.000-04:00

Ought We Pray "God Save the Queen?"

Festivities around the Commonwealth these past few days have served, not only to honour the monarchy and the 50 year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but to raise questions about the value of the institution she represents. My brother has offered one point of view. I offer another.

On the one hand, the monarchy portrays the best of British culture and tradition: civility, grace, the respect of democratic values and individual freedom, and loyalty to tradition and history. I would even hold up the Sovereign's role as head of the Church of England as symbolic of our culture's awareness of something 'wholey other' - that is, the best of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

On the other hand, the British Monarchy also represents the worst of the West: political, cultural, and economic imperialism; classism; and patriarchy - remember, she's only the Sovereign because her father had no boys!

Individually any of these characteristics out weigh the good that she might do, but put them together and add the pomposity inherent in the position and we (Canadians) should have sufficient reason to oust the institution from our midst.

Still, I could live with the institution and its flaws if it weren't for what I see as its greatest flaw - racism.

As it stands now, the Sovereign will always be a person of caucasian race from Europe. Because the position is determined through blood-lines, there can never be accomodation for the Sovereign to come from any other Commonwealth nation other than England. An African may be as loyal to the crown as any Brit, but neither they nor their children can ever hope to wear it. Why? Simply because of race. And that is why I cannot respect the institution.

Let's elect the Sovereign of the Commonwealth.

I am happy to change nothing in the figure-head status of the monarchy except for this one thing. Let's do away with the racist and backward notion of setting up rulers on the throne based on the accident of their birth, and elect our figure-head. Every citizen of the Commonwealth gets a vote - and everyone is eligable. Let them sit there for 12 - 15 years to give the position some measure of significance. Give them Buckingham Palace, the personel, the gold-plated carriages. And let's save England some money - each Commonwealth nation could contribute to the cost of the monarchy according to their population and resources.

Then, let's give them a voice that speaks something other than platitudes - one that speaks out for things like peace and justice and all those good things mentioned above (although we need to re-think the whole C of E thing). And let's get them on the road, visiting and talking to people outside of England. Let's really make them representative of the best of the Commonwealth.

Then I might be willing to pray, "God save the Queen."

What About Canada?

Trevor makes a good point when he asks, "How would an elected official be better than a hereditary-royal at being head-of-state of Canada? Do I want my Prime Minister being the sole head of the county as well (like the Americans)? I don't really want another politically minded person in that position."

Neither do I want the Prime Minister to be the sole head of state. In fact, I'd wouldn't mind seeing the power of the Prime Minister's Office and that of the House of Commons taken down a peg or two.

While I don't really expect to see the Commonwealth electing its Sovereign in the near future, Canadians could at least elect it's Govenor General and Senate.

How about this model?
It seems to me that one of the problems with the Prime Minister's Office and the House of Commons is that they are so short-sighted, they can't see past the next election. Therefore, let's elect senators to sit for a nine year period (so they can think a little more long-term) and hold elections every three years to replace 1/3 of the house. To remove some of the partisan nature of the Senate, allow members only one term in office.

As for the Govenor General, elect them to a 10 - 12 year single term in office. I don't see them having the same powers as the American President - for example, I don't think the Govenor General should have a veto. But it wouldn't be such a bad thing to have bills returned to Commons a little (a lot) more often. Take away the rubber stamp, but don't replace it with the power of the military.

Sounds a lot like the Alliance Triple E Senate, doesn't it? I guess I have some sympathy with their position, but I think my suggestions might take some of the politics out of the picture - or at least water it down a little.

So, God save the House of Commons, the Senate, the Govenor General and (what the heck) the Queen too.

2002-05-01T20:51:00.000-04:00

On the Menu tonight for Barbara's birthday:

For the appetizer: Creame of Spinach soup. A delicate blend of onion, potatoe, spinach and a light creame sauce.

For the entree: Fusilli With Asparagus, White Beans, and Lemon. The asparagus sauteed with onion, lemon zest, and rosemary makes for a lovely topping on the fusilli pasta. Unfortunately our local Dominion was fresh out of cannellini beans, but chick peas made a fine substitute.

Accompanying all of this is Grandpa Baker's homemade white wine.

A joy to prepare for my love. Happy Birthday Barbara!

2002-04-26T11:35:00.000-04:00

A typical scene in our household -

Brian: Hi, Honey. I'm home!

Barbara: How was your day?

Brian: Oh, fine.

Barbara: Thanks for sharing.

Some people have the gall to suggest that I'm not good at sharing my thoughts and feelings. Can you imagine!? Which leads me to wonder, Why do I have a blog site? Barb thinks I should write about my political views. Of course, I'm terrified of church people finding out what my political views are!

So, I'm not sure exactly what I'll write about. None-the-less, here I am. I can't wait to see what I have to say!

2002-01-14T06:49:00.000-05:00

Am I a writer?