Iconic Winter Canadiana

My uncle (my Dad's brother) died a few weeks ago and my Mom was given some old photos, photocopies of old photos, newspaper clippings, etc by my uncle's wife. I was at my Mom's the other day and she was showing me a few old photos I had never seen before.

This one just leaped right up at me, 'Wow! I love this! What a great photo!"

Click to enlarge.

And it is, dontcha think? I just love it; happy looking kids, the old hockey equipment, the old woolen sweaters all jumbled together on a frozen pond. Too bad the photo was not in better shape... I'm not sure what that spotted blob is in the sky!

My Dad's the dark fella in the middle of the top row, pulling a funny face. He was about 15 there, so I guess the photo was taken in 1943ish. Cool, eh?

Happy Birthday Handsome

Is this dude dreamy or what?

Check out that dark wavy hair with the Elvis styling at the front and those turned-up-hem trousers.

This is a photo of my late Dad probably in his mid-twenties... so 1950s, I guess. Waaaay before my time (my Dad was in his forties when I appeared) but it's one of my favourite photos of him. I can see why my Mom, after years of his pestering, finally went out with him.

He'd be 82 today.

I miss you, Pa and Happy Birthday. Sending you a big hug, an eye brow tug and a huge slice of banana cream pie (like your Mom made). x.

The photo above is from a team photo of some sort - my Dad played football (North American football) in the CFL and other leagues. I'm not sure which particular team or league photo this is. But I bet the dudes in the back row were a bit unimpressed with this particular photo. ;-)

Man in the Moon

I made this slide show a year ago on the first anniversary of my Dad's death. I had also been kicked to the curb by someone just days before... it was a difficult time. Today, it's not as difficult nor as painful as last year. Last year almost killed me, so things are indeed looking up. ;-)

I still miss my Dad though...



The song is 'Man in the Moon' (Nick Cave/Grinderman) and I just today added the captions for my hard of hearing friends. The pictures are just pictures I had and ones I found on the internet. I turned them all sepia-ish and put them to the tune. I didn't think to reference where I got them all, I was all fucked up at the time. Apologies to the copyright gods. Go ahead and sue me... I'll just get my dad to haunt you, he'd like that. ;-)

Father's Day

My Dad loved music. One of his favourite groups was The Ink Spots. Whenever he would put on one of their records or hear a song of theirs on the radio his whole face would light up and he'd be singing away. Once in a while he'd get up and dance as well. This was like watching a gorilla have a go at tap dancing and I always ended up in stitches.

This song, Java Jive, was one of his favs and I can't hear it without thinking of him. The video is nothing, I've put it here for the song.




Java Jive

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (Boy!)

I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops Mr. Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug just snug in a jug
A sliced up onion and a raw one
Draw one -
Waiter, waiter, percolator

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Boston bean (soy beans)
Green bean (cabbage and greens)
I'm not keen about a bean
Unless it is a chili chili bean (boy!)

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

I love java sweet and hot
Whoops Mr. Moto I'm a coffee pot (yeah)
Shoot me the pot and I'll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup (yeah)

Slip me a slug of the wonderful mug
'An I'll cut a rug just as snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in the pot Joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter, percolator

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy!

--- Milton Drake and Ben Oakland