Canadian Buffoon's Back to Front Vacation - Update! 05/18 - Falling Down

[pkondz]

Saw the video. Flip it!

And...
The reason the picture didn't
turn out, was because it's a
video.
I did some digging and found it.

Funny... I just saw that a few days ago.

 

[Steppesister]

Most (some?... one?)
of you know that I
like Japanese gardens.

Yes, you've mentioned that before.

Normally, Japanese dai-dōrō
are used to line paths.
So this one was curiously placed
within a thicket of bushes and trees.

I didn't know that. I always thought they were just put in random places for decoration.

Apparently... the bridge is
designed that way...
because it's pretty.
Or technically Feng Shui.

It's also designed that way
to focus attention to the
place and moment.
If you don't... you'll walk off
and into the water.

I wonder.... maybe it's also that way, or just a happy consequence, that it also causes one to see various views from the bridge by forcing the crosser to turn as they navigate it. Certainly one must slow a bit to guard their steps, and as they do, they may pause looking this way then that and see a different perspective with each section. ?? Just a theory.

Gorgeous! The bronze patina is perfect.

I must post a couple of our famous Japanese Maple here in the Portland Japanese Garden here. Hundreds of local photogs flock there in the Autumn to see it/capture it. It's pretty big and although I've not seen in Fall, it's on my list to do someday.

Both restrooms were out of order.

Poop.


Uh... I mean...

Perhaps a sashay was not in order either. Rather a brisk trot...

er....

It was built in eighteen
months and consists of

18 months?!

How..... ?!

No. Words.

I couldn't show you, as there
were signs indicating no
photography was allowed.

While I do respect their customs, this does sadden me some. I guess in some ways though, it does force one to truly be in the moment and maybe the memories of its beauty would be better kept?

I didn't enter the temple,
not knowing the proper
protocols and not wanting
to offend.

Nah, just ask. A lot of places have a docent of sorts or regular worshippers who are often very willing and eager to be a "culture broker" for newcomers. When I was at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul they briefed guests and gave them tips as well as head scarves before they went in.

I parked my car, sashayed up
to the front door,
nodded to the woman who
opened the door and walked
in right behind her.

So, I guess you found a place to take care of "pressing business" since you're back to inferior modes of locomotion.

I'd borrow it (take when she
wasn't home)
and play it on dad's Hi Fi.

I have vivid memories (there aren't many of those left as I approach geriatric status) of my dad and his purchase of his 6' tall speakers with subwoofers. They literally took up the space of a wall in our "rec room". I would put on vinyl of Ravel's Bolero or some Fleetwood Mac and let 'er rip. LOUD! So much beautiful sound. The days of high quality sound is gone- you just can't replicate it with digital medium.

And the entire crowd sang:


"La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la!"


And it was perfect.
And it was magic.
And it was just right.

Whoa! I'm sure that was almost tear evoking.

 

[Steppesister]

sorry to clog up your thread, but when I find the time to be on, I take advantage of it.

Considering how busy you are
I'm surprised it's only 5 pages.

Well, considering how fast your thread moves....

shhhh...
Don't tell anyone, but...

I still would've picked
the ratatouille.

Your secret's safe with me.

Oh, I guess that makes sense.
I've only been the one time
and didn't see any.
But maybe because I was on
the more major thoroughfares.

But, one of them IS on THE major throughfare- I-5. On the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon. But they try to time those lifts NOT during either rush hour.

Really!?!?!

Yep. My very favorite flavor as a kid, and even into my adulthood, was B&R's Burgundy Cherry. MMmm!

Where do you think chickens come from?

Well, duh. They that's why they crossed the road. Chicken babies.

What are you going to see??

First we started off here at home on Prime watching Fantastic Beasts, then went to the theater to see Pt. 2. Which wasn't as good as the first. Ah well, most sequels aren't.

Funny... I just saw that a few days ago.

Cracks me up! What a classy guy he was.

 

[pkondz]

I didn't know that. I always thought they were just put in random places for decoration.

Usually they are, I've found.
But they're were designed
to cast light on paths.

But this was almost hidden.

I wonder.... maybe it's also that way, or just a happy consequence, that it also causes one to see various views from the bridge by forcing the crosser to turn as they navigate it. Certainly one must slow a bit to guard their steps, and as they do, they may pause looking this way then that and see a different perspective with each section. ?? Just a theory.

Exactly.
Live in the now.
See things from different perspectives.

Gorgeous! The bronze patina is perfect.

Love those.
Love the sound.

I must post a couple of our famous Japanese Maple here in the Portland Japanese Garden here. Hundreds of local photogs flock there in the Autumn to see it/capture it. It's pretty big and although I've not seen in Fall, it's on my list to do someday.

Gorgeous!
And it did not look like that
when I saw it!

Perhaps a sashay was not in order either. Rather a brisk trot...

er....

"Brisk"... now there's a word!

18 months?!

How..... ?!

Kinda my thought too!

No. Words.

Stunning.
How's that for a word?

While I do respect their customs, this does sadden me some. I guess in some ways though, it does force one to truly be in the moment and maybe the memories of its beauty would be better kept?

Perhaps?
But it did make me
less inclined to go in.

Nah, just ask. A lot of places have a docent of sorts or regular worshippers who are often very willing and eager to be a "culture broker" for newcomers. When I was at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul they briefed guests and gave them tips as well as head scarves before they went in.

Probably.
But... maybe I was a bit
shy to ask. Or see.

So, I guess you found a place to take care of "pressing business" since you're back to inferior modes of locomotion.

When you have to go,
neither sauntering nor
sashaying will suffice.

I have vivid memories (there aren't many of those left as I approach geriatric status) of my dad and his purchase of his 6' tall speakers with subwoofers. They literally took up the space of a wall in our "rec room". I would put on vinyl of Ravel's Bolero or some Fleetwood Mac and let 'er rip. LOUD! So much beautiful sound. The days of high quality sound is gone- you just can't replicate it with digital medium.

I also love how you use
Bolero and Fleetwood Mac
in the same sentence.

Whoa! I'm sure that was almost tear evoking.

 

[pkondz]

sorry to clog up your thread, but when I find the time to be on, I take advantage of it.

You're absolutely not.
The more the merrier.
Whether people or posts.

Well, considering how fast your thread moves....

Your secret's safe with me.

Phew! Thanks.
Don't spread it around.

But, one of them IS on THE major throughfare- I-5. On the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon. But they try to time those lifts NOT during either rush hour.

Huh.
Well, it definitely wasn't up when... wait...

Yep. My very favorite flavor as a kid, and even into my adulthood, was B&R's Burgundy Cherry. MMmm!

Huh!
Well, I'll be...

Well, duh. They that's why they crossed the road. Chicken babies.

First we started off here at home on Prime watching Fantastic Beasts, then went to the theater to see Pt. 2. Which wasn't as good as the first. Ah well, most sequels aren't.

Get out!
I just did the exact same thing!
Except I watched Fantastic Beasts
on Netflix, not Prime.

Cracks me up! What a classy guy he was.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Really!?!?
I'm surprised you haven't
taken the clan.
It's not even that far from you!

Just one of those corners of the continent we haven't visited yet. We had actually started making plans to get up that way a few years ago, but then suddenly the opportunity opened to go to Hawaii that year. So the plans for Niagara were shelved.

I passed on that one.
It might be interesting, but...
I'm not a huge hockey fan.

I know.
It's anti-Canadian.
But there ya go.

We can't all be fans of everything. There's just too many things.

Someone did not get lucky
that evening.

Not in the least!

It just... worked there.
But...
Um....

I was singing along
all night long.

Sing away! Like I said, I know I'm the grump here. So I don't go, I'm happy, and the people at the concert are happy. Win-win.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Niagara Falls is actually
three separate falls
Horseshoe, American
and Bridal Veil falls.

I don't think I ever realized the American falls was divided like that - called Bridal Veil. I've been there a few times.

Also on the list of things to do are:
CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
St. Lawrence Market
Casa Loma (Gothic revival mansion)
Kensington Market
The Distillery District
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Toronto Island...

I've seen everything on this list...except the markets.

I did smile at this foot bridge:

Seems like a well designed bridge for sashaying though.

It's also designed that way
to focus attention to the
place and moment.
If you don't... you'll walk off
and into the water.

I wonder if any teenagers with their phones have walked off the edge.

I also visited the
BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir
(Hindu temple)

I had no idea this existed in Toronto.

The details carved into
the wood are insane.

Incredible. I can't imagine the talent nor the time required to accomplish that.

(on vinyl... when it wasn't
just hip, but the only medium)
that came out in 1974.

One good thing about getting old. Eventually, old stuff is cool again.

He also talked about how
Toronto was the home
of his husband David Furnish
and that his kids were Canadian.

Interesting. I didn't realize that.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

The end.

Well...
I did see a couple things

Wait, what?
There’s more.

Oh good, I can use some distractions.
(and I wasn’t in the mood for roast Minstrel, just now either)

Carry on.

I like the path less taken
from time to time.

If you have time, it’s usually more interesting.

Unless you figure out along the way, that there’s a good reason for it to be less taken.
(but even then, you’ll have a good story)

I did smile at this foot bridge:

Don’t know that it’d phase a spirit much but it may be a potentiall comical deturant for the habitually Cell-Phone dependent among us (and it is more visually appealing then a streight walkway).

Where’s the goose?

How many times did you ring it?
(pretty sure someone would have to drag me away)

Both restrooms were out of order.

Poop.

Or not…

People ask me for directions.
And always when I'm on vacation.

Must be that look of constipation.
Makes you seem like you’ve been studying up on things.

Say that fast five times!

That
That
That
That
That

Almost too much for the eye to take in.
The intricacy is stunning.

The details carved into
the wood are insane.

And that’s almost an understatement.

My sister owned his first
Greatest Hits album
(on vinyl... when it wasn't
just hip, but the only medium)

You’re forgetting about 8-Tracks

I'd borrow it

Borrow?
Siblings don’t “borrow” things from each other…

(take when she
wasn't home)

There it is…
Welcome to the normal family dynamic.

(Not WiFi... Hi Fi.
Google it, kids.)

You lost me…
I looked, but “wifi” isn’t listed in my good hardbound 1500 page 1977 dictionary.
Guess I’ll have bust out the cross index and look that up in the Britannica (along with that there “Google” thingy you mentioned) once I get home this evening.

I hopped on the subway
(first time in Toronto!)
and made my way downtown
where my sister works.

Had to sneak past the security infrastructure to get in there too, didn’t ya’?

I find it sad that we live
in an era where precautions
have to be taken against
people who can drive and
are certifiably insane.

Agreed, but…
I ain’t so sure that hiring the certifiably insane to participate in the attempted thwarting of the certifiably insane is necessarily the most appropriate method of implementing a solution.

Soon, they opened the doors
and we made our way inside.

Translation: Ran willy-nilly like a seven-year-old whilst screaming nonsensically at the top of ones lungs

Just before we did, the doorman
turned away a man and his date.

I wonder if he was trying to sneak in
or had been scammed with a fake ticket.

Gott’a watch for the ticket-scam thing.
You won’t know that they’re bogus until you get to the door.
And in truth, I can’t say with certainty that the ones I purchased are bona fide.
There’s no way to check that I know of.

And while I’ve never had a problem with such (nor worried about it before), when we go in March, it will be the first concert I’ve ever attended where I believe that it could be a distinct possibility.

And then...
The lights dimmed
and went dark.

Go into the light!

Spotlights centered on the piano.
Elton John sat quietly and...



...brought his hands down.

On one chord.

Gmaj7 to be exact.
(of course the voicing of it is also quite specific)

The arena erupted.

Thus recreating the GYBR recording.
Nice.

"Bernie would write the lyrics in one room
and then I would go in another room
to do the melody.

I need me a Bernie…
The music I can do, but I hate trying to write lyrics.

We never wrote a single song
in the same room together.
Maybe that's why we've stayed
together for fifty years."

It likely wasn’t a hindrance, to be sure.

"I cut out the part that explains
what the whole song is about."

Didn’t know that one.
Interesting story.

Then again, it’s hardly the only tune written that makes no real sense.

Suddenly, the entire band stopped playing
and the only sound was the percussionist
smacking out a beat.

And the entire crowd sang:


"La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la!"

It’s a good trope for those few acts and those few songs where this just happens naturally.
(and sometimes uncontrollably)

Soon after, the final song
was sung and Elton left the stage.
The crowd cheered

And waved their cell phones around in the air
(all of which were displaying videos of a either a Bic or a Zippo)…

And with that, Elton glided up
a ramp and through a door
that had opened in the screen.

Don’t go into the light!!!!

I don't like how my idols and heroes
are getting older.

Tell me about it…

Time should just stand still.

And for a little while, that night.


It did.

Nice summation, there.

Did you see it in this chapter?

It was as if I were looking at myself in a mirror…




.

 

[pkondz]

Just one of those corners of the continent we haven't visited yet. We had actually started making plans to get up that way a few years ago, but then suddenly the opportunity opened to go to Hawaii that year. So the plans for Niagara were shelved.

I'll always take Hawaii
over Niagara Falls!

We can't all be fans of everything. There's just too many things.

Too many things.

Soooo many things...

Sing away! Like I said, I know I'm the grump here. So I don't go, I'm happy, and the people at the concert are happy. Win-win.

Okay.

 

[pkondz]

I don't think I ever realized the American falls was divided like that - called Bridal Veil. I've been there a few times.

Yep. But your eye is inexorably
drawn to the Horseshoe falls, so...
Easy to miss.

I've seen everything on this list...except the markets.

Take the time to visit them.
I found Wanda's Pie in the Sky
at Kensington and St. Lawrence
is just... awesome.

Seems like a well designed bridge for sashaying though.

I wonder if any teenagers with their phones have walked off the edge.

Probably not.
I can't imagine any
teenagers visiting.

I had no idea this existed in Toronto.

Me neither, until I stumbled
upon it in a Google search
earlier this year.

Incredible. I can't imagine the talent nor the time required to accomplish that.

I found it pretty humbling.

One good thing about getting old. Eventually, old stuff is cool again.

Except of course... old people.

Interesting. I didn't realize that.

 

[pkondz]

And... There it is.

Wait, what?
There’s more.

Oh good, I can use some distractions.
(and I wasn’t in the mood for roast Minstrel, just now either)

Carry on.

But roast minstrel is so good!
Especially with a little mint.

If you have time, it’s usually more interesting.

Unless you figure out along the way, that there’s a good reason for it to be less taken.
(but even then, you’ll have a good story)

Don’t know that it’d phase a spirit much but it may be a potentiall comical deturant for the habitually Cell-Phone dependent among us (and it is more visually appealing then a streight walkway).

Where’s the goose?

Duck... duck... er… um...

How many times did you ring it?
(pretty sure someone would have to drag me away)

Well, actually...
While I usually do ring them
and indeed you are normally
invited to do so...
For some reason, I neglected
to do so this time.
Not really sure why.
I strongly suspect
the disarrayed sand garden
had something to do with it.

Must be that look of constipation.
Makes you seem like you’ve been studying up on things.

Face all pinched up...

Yeah! That'd do it!

That
That
That
That
That

See? Toldja it was easy.

Almost too much for the eye to take in.
The intricacy is stunning.

It really was.
The more you look
the more you see.

And that’s almost an understatement.

I actually struggled to
come up with an adequate
adjective.

Failed.

You’re forgetting about 8-Tracks

You're right!
For some reason, I thought
they came a little later than that,
but the were around from
1964-1988. (Thanks Google.)

Borrow?
Siblings don’t “borrow” things from each other…

Well... um...

There it is…
Welcome to the normal family dynamic.

Ta dah.

You lost me…
I looked, but “wifi” isn’t listed in my good hardbound 1500 page 1977 dictionary.
Guess I’ll have bust out the cross index and look that up in the Britannica (along with that there “Google” thingy you mentioned) once I get home this evening.

There's an 8 track with
a full explanation.

But you have to wait for
the right track to come along.

Had to sneak past the security infrastructure to get in there too, didn’t ya’?

Well... yeah.
Do you think any place would
willingly allow me in?

Agreed, but…
I ain’t so sure that hiring the certifiably insane to participate in the attempted thwarting of the certifiably insane is necessarily the most appropriate method of implementing a solution.

And yet...

Translation: Ran willy-nilly like a seven-year-old whilst screaming nonsensically at the top of ones lungs

And your point being?...

Gott’a watch for the ticket-scam thing.
You won’t know that they’re bogus until you get to the door.
And in truth, I can’t say with certainty that the ones I purchased are bona fide.
There’s no way to check that I know of.

And while I’ve never had a problem with such (nor worried about it before), when we go in March, it will be the first concert I’ve ever attended where I believe that it could be a distinct possibility.

Did you get them from a third party?

Gmaj7 to be exact.
(of course the voicing of it is also quite specific)

Huh! Had no idea.

Thus recreating the GYBR recording.
Nice.

GYBR?

Is that an acronym for the fact that
Bennie was recorded in a studio
with no live audience?
And it was added in from a different
concert that Elton John did?

I need me a Bernie…
The music I can do, but I hate trying to write lyrics.

Lemme know what you want
and I'll give it a shot.

Didn’t know that one.
Interesting story.

Then again, it’s hardly the only tune written that makes no real sense.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
comes to mind.

It’s a good trope for those few acts and those few songs where this just happens naturally.
(and sometimes uncontrollably)

And waved their cell phones around in the air
(all of which were displaying videos of a either a Bic or a Zippo)…

Nah. Just turn the flashlight on.

Um...

I did that too.

Don’t go into the light!!!!

He just about did.
He looked a little wobbly there.

He's getting old.

Tell me about it…

I think I just did.

Nice summation, there.

Thanks.

It was as if I were looking at myself in a mirror…

 

[franandaj]

I've got to the point where I am just saying that I have read and caught up. Sorry but I've been so busy I can't even I eeo up with my own report.

 

[pkondz]

I've got to the point where I am just saying that I have read and caught up. Sorry but I've been so busy I can't even I eeo up with my own report.

No worries Alison.
Come on back when you have the time.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

And... There it is.

You love it and you know it…

But roast minstrel is so good!
Especially with a little mint.

Better bring a bucket…

Have seen that one.
And all I’ve got to say on the matter is…

Duck... duck... er… um...

You’re still It.

Not really sure why.
I strongly suspect
the disarrayed sand garden
had something to do with it.

That was distracting and does make one wonder what was up.
Too bad they didn’t leave a rake setting out; you could’a tried you hand at creating serenity.

Face all pinched up...

Yeah! That'd do it!

Mystery solved.

See? Toldja it was easy.

Just a matter of paying attention to what is actually being asked.
(and being a smarta$$ helps as well).

You're right!
For some reason, I thought
they came a little later than that,
but the were around from
1964-1988. (Thanks Google.)

What can I say; I R Old…

(..er then 8-tracks)

There's an 8 track with
a full explanation.

Dang, now I’ll have to upgrade my gear just to hear it.
Don’t you have a 78 of it that I can load up on the Victrola I already have?

But you have to wait for
the right track to come along.

And then there’s the part where it will fade out in the middle of the explanation, switch tracks, and then fade back in.

Seriously, I have memories of some tunes always fading out and then back in mid-song.
Don’t remember what compilation “album” it was, but the Beatles tune: Rain vividly comes to my mind for doing this back in the day.

Well... yeah.
Do you think any place would
willingly allow me in?

Well, apparently our boarders are fairly porous so you have that going for you.

And yet...

Yeah…
When I wrote that, it did occur to me that it wasn’t so much a witticism as it was a description of current events.

I think I need a drink…

And your point being?...

Point?

Since when have I ever had a point?

Did you get them from a third party?

There’s the problem.
It was already sold out, so I went through a reseller.
The reviews for the site were mixed but not all negative so I took a bit of a gamble on it.
The transaction went through no problem and I got the down load of what for all intents and purposes appear to be perfectly legit tickets. But there’s no way to actually know until you get there and the bar-codes either work or they don’t.

Like I said, this is the first time I’ve actually been just a smidge worried about it.

GYBR?

Is that an acronym for the fact that
Bennie was recorded in a studio
with no live audience?
And it was added in from a different
concert that Elton John did?

Nope…
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”

The album the tune came from.

I know that the crowd sounds are mere overdub, but it’s part of the overall sound of the tune. As such, I think it’s cool that it allows an opportunity to easily recreate what was a studio track even more effectively on the road then how it comes off on radio.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
comes to mind.

Naaaa…
That one makes perfect sense.

Think I’ll have another drink.

Mirrors don’t tell lies.



we just wish they did.

.

 

[buzzrelly]

@pkondz , is that you?

 

[pkondz]

You love it and you know it…

Better bring a bucket…

It's wafer thin!

Have seen that one.
And all I’ve got to say on the matter is…

I'm betting it happens,
in one form or another,
all too often.

You’re still It.

Poop.

That was distracting and does make one wonder what was up.
Too bad they didn’t leave a rake setting out; you could’a tried you hand at creating serenity.

Probably still wouldn't have.
"Hey you! You're not qualified!"

Just a matter of paying attention to what is actually being asked.
(and being a smarta$$ helps as well).

Never hurts.

What can I say; I R Old…

(..er then 8-tracks)

Dang, now I’ll have to upgrade my gear just to hear it.
Don’t you have a 78 of it that I can load up on the Victrola I already have?

I've seen 78s...
But not for a very long time.

And then there’s the part where it will fade out in the middle of the explanation, switch tracks, and then fade back in.

Seriously, I have memories of some tunes always fading out and then back in mid-song.
Don’t remember what compilation “album” it was, but the Beatles tune: Rain vividly comes to my mind for doing this back in the day.

But! You can play randomly!
What are the odds of a
particular song coming up???


uh... one in eight.

Well, apparently our boarders are fairly porous so you have that going for you.

You should put up a wall!
What could go wrong???

Point?

Since when have I ever had a point?

There’s the problem.
It was already sold out, so I went through a reseller.
The reviews for the site were mixed but not all negative so I took a bit of a gamble on it.
The transaction went through no problem and I got the down load of what for all intents and purposes appear to be perfectly legit tickets. But there’s no way to actually know until you get there and the bar-codes either work or they don’t.

Like I said, this is the first time I’ve actually been just a smidge worried about it.

I'm sure it'll be fine.
Sounds like a legit site.
Still...
I'm sure you won't rest easy
until your fannies are in
your seats.

Nope…
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”

The album the tune came from.

I know that the crowd sounds are mere overdub, but it’s part of the overall sound of the tune. As such, I think it’s cool that it allows an opportunity to easily recreate what was a studio track even more effectively on the road then how it comes off on radio.

Ah.

And...

Mirrors don’t tell lies.



we just wish they did.

 

[pkondz]

@pkondz , is that you?

Of course it is.
Who else could it possibly be????

 

[buzzrelly]

Of course it is.
Who else could it possibly be????

Of course! If there were two of you, well, I just wouldn't know what to think!

 

[pkondz]

Of course! If there were two of you, well, I just wouldn't know what to think!

The very idea!

 

[pkondz]

Folks?

I have a very specific way of
writing my updates.
I upload all my photos
to Photobucket
and then I download them
to the DIS... and write.

I haven't been able to log
in to my Photobucket account
for several days now.

So looks like I'll be switching
to Smugmug.
(Thanks @Steppesister for the
suggestion.)

Having said that, and with
Christmas right around the corner...
Tomorrow!
(I have so much to do still!)
You can anticipate a chapter
hopefully by the end of the week.

Meanwhile...