Through the "Fire" of Life: September 2006

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Keep Chooglin'!

Just got back from band practice. If you want an update on the band, go to the "Windfall Band" blog. One neat thing is that after practice, Rod, Wayne and I go to Tim Horton's for a coffee and gab session. This makes for more of a social element than other bands I have been in for the most part.

If you wish to hear me play the pedal steel guitar, I will be doing several holiday songs at the Wesleyan Church during the Christmas season. You may hear tunes such as "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", "Silent Night", "White Christmas", and "O Holy Night". I will post the date(s). The steel guitar will also be used in several songs with the band "Windfall".
I am enjoying these musical challenges - certainly keeping me busy.
That is all for now - you folks just keep on chooglin!!

posted by Fireguy @ 12:56 AM 5 comments

Monday, September 25, 2006

Run for Fun!

Well, the YMCA biathlon is over for another year, and I can report that I managed to finish, maybe a couple of minutes longer than last year. The first run is the most challenging - especially the climb up on the New Road from the fruitstand. I will need to train on hills more for next time. The pavement was wet, so we had to be cautious of that on the cycling leg. Coming down Session Hill is a blast!
And I must thank Lovesjazzlovescoffee (LJLC) for making those signs - that was sweet - thanks.

Have you ever intentionally placed a live leech on your eyeball? Well, this guy did! That was just one of the moronic stunts done in the movie "Jackass 2". I went last night to that movie and laughed really hard at some things, but was grossed out by most of it. Not for the faint of heart!

posted by Fireguy @ 7:54 PM 7 comments

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Run!

Once again I put on my running shoes and hit the pavement in preparation for this Sunday's YMCA duathlon. When I first started running a while back to prepare, my legs did not seem to hold up as long as they do now. Last night and tonight, I have felt much better - must be the training. Cycling is low impact, but running can sure tense up those legs if you don't prepare. I am happy with how I've felt after the last couple of runs, so am looking forward to the challenge this Sunday.
Cheer us on!

posted by Fireguy @ 9:45 PM 3 comments

Monday, September 18, 2006

Steel


Meet Al Brisco. He's the chap I purchased my pedal steel guitar from a number of years ago now. He has a store and shop in Colborne Ontario, called Steel Guitars of Canada, and has been playing steel guitar professionally for over 40 years now. Traveling Man and I heard him play with Carol Baker a few years ago at the opening of the Hank Snow museum in Liverpool. It was so hot that day a fellow near to us wore a rhubarb leaf over his head to keep cool. Perhaps Traveling Man has that photo and will post it on his blog.

Speaking of pedal steel, I made my debut with the instrument at a church concert last night (Sunday) at the Wesleyan Church. People in this area don't get to hear a steel guitar played live around here that often, and seemed to really enjoy it. The main song featured was "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" played as an instrumental on pedal steel. I suspect it may be back by popular demand! Perhaps a couple of Christmas instrumentals will be in order. It was fun playing with a full band - even a harmonica player!
Bye for now!

posted by Fireguy @ 8:40 PM 3 comments

Friday, September 15, 2006

In Training

I have entered the 2006 version of the YMCA duathlon. Click on the previous link for all the information on this event. This is my third year participating. I went for a little run tonight in preparation, and will be doing so in coming days to train. Thankfully for me there is no swimming involved.
It takes place on Sunday morning, September 24th, 2006, starting at the Burridge Campus right here in my back yard.
Any and all support / encouragement along the route will be greatly appreciated. The bike route goes right by some bloggers houses I know.

On another note, Fire Department training last night consisted of vehicle extrication practice. Myself and most of the others therefore had a chance to practice using what we call the "Jaws of Life" or hydraulic spreaders. Cutters were also used. Training was held in a vehicle junkyard at the end of the Hardscratch Road.
And what about that school burning down in Caledonia? Arson is suspected according to reports I have heard on the news, and if that's the case, it's a sad commentary on the person(s) involved.

That's all for now - chow!!!

posted by Fireguy @ 7:53 PM 2 comments

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Sorry Travis!

This man's last name is not "Twit", as mistakenly posted in my previous blog. My finger slipped as I typed - I wish to emphatically declare that this man's last name is "Tritt", not "Twit". You know when you are really tired and can hardly keep your eyes open and it's really time to go bed, but you do a blog anyway and spell one of your favorite singer's name "Twit"? I HATE when that happens! As you will notice, I went in and edited that profound blunder, so if you go back and read my previous blog now, it will be correctly spelled.
My oh my, I'm eating crow today. What would happen if my dear niece Mikki hadn't noticed that snaffu? Many thanks to her!
By the way, check out the "Windfall" blog to see the latest song updates!
And Travis, if you see this blog - you "Rock"!

posted by Fireguy @ 1:09 PM 4 comments

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

What a "steel"!!!

Last night I thought it was time to re-string my steel guitar, a process that takes about an hour by the time the strings are properly stretched and tuned. There are 10 strings on each neck, but I only re-strung the E-9th neck since I do not use the C6th neck at this point. There is a special service at the Wesleyan Church this coming Sunday involving "Gaither" style music, and I was asked to provide some steel accompaniment. I have played steel in the old Brunswick Street church in the past for Country Sunday Singing, and have played some steel in bands in the past. I am hoping to incorporate some steel in the "Windfall" band - we'll see how that goes. A person must be "ambidexterous" (word for the day) in order to play this instrument. Both hands, both feet, and both knees are involved in playing this thing.
A pedal steel guitar in the right hands is a versatile instrument that can be played in any genre of music. Case in point - steel guitarist Paul Franklin has toured with the rock group "Dire Straits".
To listen to some good Nashville country style steel, listen to artists such as Alan Jackson, Mark Chestnut, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, or any similar artist. One of my favorite steel guitar intros and breaks is on Vince Gill's song "Look at Us". Also check out the intro and break to Mark Chestnut's song "Too Cold at Home".
Good stuff indeed!!!!

posted by Fireguy @ 9:21 AM 4 comments

Monday, September 04, 2006

Concert

The CCR concert in Antigonish made for a long day, since 4 bands played before them. The weather turned out very nice - but it did turn very cool in the evening. CCR - Revisited was a treat, having grown up a huge fan of CCR. They did all the classics like Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Born on the Bayou, Down on the Corner, Lodi, Lookin' Out My Back Door, Fortunate Son, Green River, Hey Tonight, Run Through the Jungle, the list goes on...


The one thing I did notice was a bit of fatique on the part of some of the members. This is to be expected since they are doing upwards of 300 shows a year and the original players are "getting up there" so to speak! Playing the same high energy songs and travelling those distances day after day would drain the best of us. But the show was good - the musicianship was great.

Why no pictures you ask? Cameras were not allowed, so I had to make a beeline back to my truck with the camera. And oh yes - I must rant about the fries at the concession!!!! Whatever happened to good ol plain french fries? Why must they serve up those yucky coated fries that to me should be outlawed!!! Oh well, the music was good. :o)

posted by Fireguy @ 9:40 PM 7 comments

Friday, September 01, 2006

Trip News & "Lyra"



I am currently sitting at Tuffysmom's computer - all is quiet. I took my time, stopping in New Minas and Halifax to browse around the Musicstop stores - more on that in a later blog. But I will say that if you like Chinese food, there are 2 Chinese restaurants almost next door on the main drag in New Minas. I usually eat at the "KAO" one - the first one you hit if you are heading to Halifax. It's on the right side of the road, and they serve up a fantastic buffet both at lunch and for supper. Try it out if you're in New Minas.

And as I type this blog - I am enjoying "Lyra". She is an MP3 player. What song am I enthralled with? A new song by Garth Brooks called "That Girl is a Cowboy" - what a great country ballad. Travelling Man will love the fiddle work in it. Lyra will hold over 200 songs for me in MP3 or .wma format, or 1 GB. A great program for downloading songs and other files is "Limewire". There is a free version - Google it and download it, then download all the tunes your computer can hold. Wanna take the songs with you? Then a "Lyra" will do just fine!

Adios - CCR here I come on Sunday!!!

posted by Fireguy @ 11:01 PM 6 comments

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