Photo Galleries

Christmas 2023 scores: Arkells CD collection complete!

Thanks to Jen, Dr. K, my parents and my Aunt Lynda for a wonderful Christmas haul this year.

Music:

  • Arkells – Blink Twice, completing my Arkells CD collection!
  • Black Sabbath – Live Evil super deluxe box set
  • Deep Purple – Tokyo, Japan 2001/03/24-25

Jen spoiled me with junk food and treats.  Canadians of a certain age remember a drink called Tahiti Treat that doesn’t exist anymore.  Jen found something called Tahitian Treat fruit punch that I hope will be similar.  This was quite a nice batch of sugary snacks.

There were other assorted cool things too, such as comic books, funky socks, a hat with a light, and sardines!  I also received Moby-Dick and look forward to the reading challenge.

For those curious, yes I did sabotage my mom’s Christmas village one more time.

Unfortunately, we also received the call this morning that Grandma has Covid again, which means we won’t be seeing her tonight.  She’s none too happy but we will see when she’s well again.  This is round two for her.

This Christmas I want to express gratitude to everyone who is in my life.  This was a great Christmas.  I even got a toilet light!

#1086: Seven Tales for Seven Photos

RECORD STORE TALES #1086: Seven Tales for Seven Photos

Instead of one new Record Store Tale, today I present seven mini-stories!  With photo accompaniment.

#1087 A:  Canadian Redneck

Found this guy on my Facebook one morning.  No idea who he is.  Looks kind of familiar.  “Hey ya’ll!” he said, apparently on his vacation.  “Take a vacation from yourselves once in a while!” he said.  Should I be taking advice from this guy?  Something tells me no, but something also tells me yes….

I’ll give this guy credit for one thing, whoever he is:  great hair.  That’s a classic style he’s sporting there.

#1087 B:  A Couple Turkeys

Fall has arrived and it’s turkey season.  I snapped this selfie up at The Beef Way, north of Kincardine Ontario.

Regular readers here know we take food very seriously.  We had some bad luck earlier at a Kitchener store called Robert’s Boxed Meats.  I am here to tell you that we will never shop at Robert’s Boxed Meats ever again.  Twice he sold us spoiled beef, and the last time was an expensive tomahawk steak.

The Beef Way sold us three freshly butchered tomahawks this summer, not to mention some T-bones, porterhouses and ribeyes.  He also sold us the best bacon I’ve ever had in my life, some amazing “fry-pies”, and condiments & jams.  It is a shame the Beef Way is so far from home, but we won’t be wasting any more dollars at Robert’s Boxed Meats.  Which is a shame, since Robert’s is the only place within 100 kilometers that sells A5 Waygu steaks.  Just not worth the risk.  Don’t be a turkey; don’t buy from Robert’s.  One pack of spoiled meat is an isolated incident.  Two is a problem.  You have been warned.

#1087 C:  Jen is Joining Tee Bone Man!

Harrison has created a prototype Jen figure for the Adventures of Tee Bone Man!  But this is not her final form, and we have her own Jen In Space spinoff planned.  I have purchased a number of different hair pieces and hats for Jen as she ventures into space on board the Galaxy Explorer.

You will just have to keep reading Tee Bone Man to see how she fits into the story.  Though she has been mentioned in the past, a few people asked me “Why is Jen not in the Tee Bone Man stories?”  The truth is there isn’t a good reason, aside from the fact that we don’t write together very well.  We never have.  We tried to write our own Trailer Park Boys fan fiction when we first met, and we immediately realized we do not collaborate well with the written word.  At all.  We’re better off creatively with me writing and her knitting!

However, this winter we’re going to start integrating her character into the story — wish us luck!

#1087 D:  If It’s Too Loud Then You’re Too Old

The porch is my happy place.  Music sounds better out there in the great green open!  And I play it loud.  It’s easy to forget how easily sounds carry at the lake.  You’d think the trees would act as a sound baffle, preventing the music from carrying.  You’d be wrong!

Maybe it’s the lack of city background noise, but if I am cranking it really loud, you can hear the tunes almost all the way down at the beach.  At normal volume, passers by can hear it from the road.

And they know I’m playing music way cooler than they are!

A few weeks ago, a couple kids were biking down the road with some kind of speaker on their bikes.  They were blasting “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue.

“GOOD SONG!” said one kid to the other.

I just laughed, and remembered being told to turn that song down when I was their age, about 34 years ago!

 

1087 E:  Green Lamborghini

Driving home from the cottage on October 1, I snapped a photo at a stoplight.  I know, I know.  You’re not supposed to handle your phone at any time in a car, even a stoplight.  But I could not resist this beauty.  Two kids crossing the road filmed this car as it sat low to the ground, ready to rip.

He did not “rip” though; he drove the speed limit the whole way, even on Highway 8, which surprised us.

It was a pleasant drive home, with only one guy zipping in and out of passing cars, and it wasn’t this guy.  It was some guy whose car sounded like a weedwhacker when he gunned it.  Lambo Man just kept going the speed limit.

Good going, Lambo Man!

1087 F:  A Penny For Your Thoughts

I just found these coins in my music room:  one of each major denomination of Canadian coinage.

#1087 G:  The Face of Terror

Ah, childhood photos.  Always good for a laugh…or pure horror!

My parents took me to meet “celebrities” a couple times.  Once was David Prowse, dressed as Darth Vader.   He even signed his autograph as “Darth Vader”.  That terrified me…but just look at Bert and Ernie here!

I may be smiling, but I was terrified and did not want to be there.  Bert was tickling me.  I was not amused!  I wanted the hell out of there!

Somewhere out there is a guy who used to dress as Bert and tickle kids to get them to smile.

Parents, never do this to your kids!  They will only post the photo to shame you down the road!

 

 

 

GALLERY: Nine 8-tracks from Tim, a Guess Who book from Robert, and a bunch of stickers!

On Friday night, I unboxed some parcels, but didn’t take a super close look at the contents.  Today, we are!

From TeePublic, some stickers supporting some friends:

From author Robert Lawson, a harcopy of his acclaimed Guess Who book Wheatfield Soul:

And from the Durling Foundation, a huge box full of 8-track tapes.  Not a bad haul here!  In order, they are:

 

  1. ZZ Top – Tejas
  2. Kansas – Point of Know Return
  3. Eagles – The Long Run
  4. MECO – Star Wars Galactic Funk (yes, the legendary disco album!)
  5. Journey – Departure
  6. The Cars – The Cars
  7. Alice Cooper – Lace and Whiskey
  8. Bad Company – Bad Company
  9. Foreigner – Head Games

I never thought I would have an 8-track collection, but here we are.

Thank you, friends!

August in Paradise

I have not had time to put together a new cottage video yet, due to the insane amount of photos and footage I’ve accumulated.

It was another very busy five day weekend!  I did two shows (one Grab A Stack of Rock, and one Tim’s Vinyl Confessions).  We listened to a lot of music – Arkells, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Y&T, Night Ranger, and more.

In this photo set you can see:

  • My recording location for Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, by fireside.
  • Jen and I jamming some acoustic bass on the porch.
  • The Iron Sheik!
  • The beach at sunset.
  • A 400,000,000 year old rock!

 

#1077: Lunch With Aaron & Son

RECORD STORE TALES #1077: Lunch With Aaron & Son

In the last five years, my world has changed drastically.  We lost Jen’s mom, we’ve lost friends, but on the positive side, we’ve also lost weight!  The world has gone through a transformative pandemic, but one constant is Aaron KMA, a man I have not seen since 2018.  I am happy to report that Aaron is still out there being Aaron – bearing gifts and warmth as always!

We met halfway, at the Elk & Finch in Southampton Ontario.  He brought his son, who I’ve never met before, but has good taste in hamburgers.  We sat down to some amazing food, including the best smoked salmon I’ve ever tasted in my life.  This is it: as good as it gets.

Food aside, I knew Aaron would arrive bearing gifts, and as usual, he did:  Books, CDs, and more.  Let’s have a gander, shall we?  Let’s go through the contents of Aaron’s gift bag bit by bit.

Not pictured, there were four bottle of Iron Maiden’s Trooper beer!  Not pictured because I didn’t think I should pull out liquor of my own at a restaurant.  You understand of course!  You are probably familiar with this acclaimed brew already.  That made up a lot of the weight of the gift bag.  Much of the rest of the weight was taken up by books.  One book specifically.

The big one is The Art of Classic Rock by Paul Brushkin, with foreward by Alice Cooper.  Aaron has showed this off on my show before.  We also have rock magazines (with CDs)!  Other reading:  Gods of the Hammer by Geoff Pevere, the story of Teenage Head.  The “Hammer” in this case is Hamilton Ontario.  Keeping a punk vibe, Aaron also gave me Perfect Youth: The Birth of Canadian Punk by Sam Sutherland.  Finally, it’s The Story of Tommy which is really gorgeous!

I’m very excited about the music.  I actually didn’t own a copy of Garbage’s self titled debut, until now.  This one is signed by all four members, and lo and behold, it’s dedicated to Mike!  Just a coincidence I assure you but how cool is that?  I now also owned Backwaxed by Anvil, which I was missing until now, and now I also own the Hip side project Stripper’s Union.

I get more and more excited the further we go!

These Hot Wheels are really cool.  I think I need to open them.  The Yellow Submarine (Beatles) is groovy.  The USS Enterprise though…I just enjoy swooshing those ships around.  This Enterprise is NCC-1701 from the 2009 film Star Trek, directed by JJ Abrams and starring Chris Pine as Captain Kirk.  (I have to be honest, I prefer Paul Wesley’s Kirk from Strange New Worlds, which I am trying to get Aaron to watch!)  I enjoy these very much, and this is not the first time Aaron has found an appropriate Hot Wheels to gift me.

Onto the shirt, which was actually the first item in the bag.  Jeff Woods is legendary in my circles – he is THE Legend of Classic Rock.  Jeff Woods even contributed to the Sausagefest countdowns a number of times.  Aaron, however, isn’t a radio listener and isn’t intimate with the works of Mr. Woods as I am.   Yet Aaron found this shirt, thought of me, and put it in the bag.  I am thrilled.  This is a shirt I would have bought myself anyway!

Finally…

I just loved the Sheik.  I have always loved the Sheik.  He was one of the greatest villains in WWF history.  We talked to Spenny about the Iron Sheik back in May on Grab A Stack of Rock.  And now I have a little loveable stuffed Sheik of my own.   I couldn’t be more happy.  This is the kind of gift that just screams “Mike”.

 

Aaron, it was a delight to hook up again and finally meet your son.  I hope we do something like this again soon.  I could go for some salmon again.  And the coffee was great too.

Three cheers for Aaron!

 

 

Gallery: Have you ever seen the moon set?

July 21, 2023, 11:10 PM, Kincardine Ontario.  Total coincidence but “Moon Voices” by Max Webster was actually playing.

REVIEW: Lego Ideas Jazz Quartet 21334 Toy Building Kit (1606 Pieces)

LEGO Ideas Jazz Quartet 21334 Toy Building Kit (2022)

$130 Canadian (18+)

It took me two leisurely days to assemble this kit.   I must be getting better at this, or this kit isn’t as hard as some of the Speed Champions car kits (9+).   It consists of four classic era jazz musicians, assembled in four stages from smallest to largest.

Each musician is built in conjunction with his or her base.  The bases were fun in their own right, recalling classic childhood Lego building experiences of the 70’s.  The trumpet player was first, a splindly and fragile figure that you’ll want to pose correctly and leave alone.  His red tie, slightly askew between his suspenders, is really cool.  Each of the three male musicians has a unique tie.

The upright bassist is second.  His deep brown instrument has a real Lego string piece for added effect.  The bass itself looks really cool, while the player is skinny and delicate.  His bowtie is made from a Lego video game controller.

The drum kit was one of the most fun steps.  The bass drum building technique features studs on five sides.  There are no stickers, only printed graphics on the sides.  The snare drum, two toms, and floor tom are all slightly unique from each other.  Likewise the crash, hi-hat and ride cymbals.   They come in a shimmery golden colour, but if you like gold, you’ll love the pianist!   Meanwhile, the drummer has a beard and hat, and an undone bowtie.  His stool is actually built upside down.  Very cool design.

Check out the drum kit below, as it is assembled.

The piano player has a lovely orange dress that was fun to build.  Her gold earrings are old-fashioned chromed design, the same as the One Ring from the recent Rivendell set.  Her piano was one of the most complex sections.  It is very curvy, with shapes that would have been impossible without these newer rounded Lego plates.  For authenticity, inside there are 31 little pieces assembled in a row that resemble that piano’s hammers.  The keys themselves are very nice prints.  There are pedals, and the top can be opened up for you to admire the details inside.

The full stage (including stylin’ looking front steps) measure almost three feet in width.  It’s huge, but fits exactly the space of our old VCR in the entertainment stand.  Fear not though — each musician’s stand / stage section is removable, and you can display them any way you like, even on separate shelves.  They certainly look best all together in the order designed.  My bassist’s head is slightly tilted towards the drums so he can hear them clearly.  The pianist is gesturing to her band, conducting their jam session.  The little posability you get is often limited to shoulders and elbows when you get any at all.  All four musicians have ball-jointed necks.

This is a fragile set and not for play.  Be careful dusting!  But have fun building.

4.5/5 stars