We Are A Mile High

The Husband and I have been talking about this trip for so long, that it seems almost surreal that it has a finally begun. We left muggy and humid Toronto early this morning, only to land in muggy and tres humid Denver in the middle of mountain time morning. This is the first airport experience in dog's years that has gone smoothly. I didn't get stopped by US customs believing me to be a suspected terrorist smuggling contraband throat lozenges, nor did I get an unwanted hand-job from a truly hard up security worker. We came, we scanned, we flew! How novel? We managed in the system as it is actually supposed to run.

Denver International puts Pearson to shame. I cannot fathom how we will ever be considered a world class city with an airport right out of the twentieth century. Denver has done it right. A myriad of restaurants, shops, information kiosks, and helpful staff. They even handed us a link so that we can rate them after our trip. Pearson's staff runs screaming from passengers as if lit afire. Our bags were waiting for us and there was a prerecorded message from the mayor personally welcoming us to The Mile High City. Hands up if you think that Toronto's mayor would be a great opening site for tourists to behold?

We are only staying in Denver for a very short time before we begin our trek southward towards Colorado Springs. We spent the day in the beautiful downtown core. We passed right by Coors Field and I experienced a pang of remorse when I realized that we couldn't see a Rockies game because they are on the road. Gorgeous looking digs, though. The 16th street mall is what Yonge Street wishes it were. Several miles of closed-to-traffic pedestrian malls filled with shops and restaurants. We meandered over to the Capitol building and were struck by the fact that all of the flags on government buildings are still flying at half-staff to honor those murdered by a madman. 

I was fascinated by the stunning 19th century architecture on Pennsylvania Street and was enthralled by the Molly Brown house and museum. Not so enthralled to wait in the heat for two hours for the tour. From her photos Molly looked more like Kathy Bates than Debbie Reynolds. That musical just wouldn't have worked at all had she played herself. 

We stumbled upon a food truck festival in front of the US mint. 20-30 of the finest cuisine one has ever tasted. It was incredible. Not a tube steak in the bunch. 

I had been warned by many about altitude sickness, but I must admit that I feel just fine. It is probably because I am totally hungover from my motion sickness meds taken for the plane, so I am basically kicking the altitude's ass. 

We are psyched and excited, but also a bit worn out by the heat and the time difference. A light dinner and a good night's sleep and onward we go.

10 Days in A Rented Ford Focus

This is how The Husband and I plan on spending the next 10 days. I will attempt to chronicle the experience here in this space, and hopefully we will both return to The Great White North to tell great tales and with our marriage still firmly intact. If any of you hear wild screams invading your peaceful August afternoons, it is probably just us reacting to some road trip malady. Keep you all posted!

1962: It Was a Very Good Year

A great deal happened in 1962.

-John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth

-Johnny Carson took over hosting duties on the Tonight Show

-Pete Best was dumped by the Beatles and Ringo Starr came aboard the Fab Four

-JFK played chicken with Khruschev in Cuba

-Marilyn Monroe died at the tender age of 36

-The Maple Leafs were on a roll and once again took home Lord Stanley's hardware

-One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was published

-Lawrence of Arabia hit theatres

-Matthew Broderick, Rosie O'Donnell, Tom Cruise, Steve Carell, Roger Clemens, and Demi Moore were all born

And...some of my all-time favourite people came into the world. The closest friends of my youth. I wasn't around for most of it considering that I was born on the third last day of that year, making me the baby of the group, but...1962 was still a very good year. (BTW-I used to hate my December birthday. I always was the last to do everything. Now, in the throes of middle-age...It's not so bad!)

When talking with a few of those friends earlier this year about our upcoming dates with destiny and the impending half a century that we were all due to mark, we hit upon this idea of a mass birthday party. Given that our birthdays were obviously spread out across the twelve months of 2012, the idea of holding a get together as close to the middle of the summer seemed only logical. Our resident organizer took it upon herself to contact the group and a brainstorm was born. After much haggling over the calendar, (so many schedules to sync) the seven of us, our spouses, and a few offspring gathered last evening to celebrate 50 years together. It seemed only fitting. We were all so close-knit growing up, that ringing in this milestone was a natural. Yes, it is true that we all have our own lives now. Careers, families, and travels have all interceded. But it was amazing how easy it all seemed. Old patterns. Old jokes. Old stories. Like time and distance had never separated us.

There was more grey and less hair. A few more lines and a few more pounds. But none of that mattered. It was like we had never left each other for lives that demanded to be lived.

We had party favours. CDs with our favourite songs from another generation and retro candy came in personalized loot bags. Old photos provided some frightening reality checks on fashion faux pas and 70s hairstyles. And laughs. Lots and lots of laughs.

Many people have inquired about my feelings on this upcoming birthday. I have decided to embrace it for all its glory. And, why not? What's not to embrace. I look at 50 as a presentation of opportunities. Opportunities to try new things, to see new places, and to meet new people. But I refuse to dismiss the ones that got me here. Last night we celebrated it all! Happy Birthday 1962. You were indeed a very good year.

Just One Minute

I have vivid recollections of the horrors that occurred at the Twentieth Olympiad in Munich Germany. I was nine. Just old enough to understand the excitement that the games generated around the world. Just old enough to bear eternal scars from a terrorist attack broadcast live around the globe to millions, if not billions of witnesses. I recall with acute clarity the catch in ABC sports anchor Jim McKay's voice when he announced the failed rescue attempt and reported the murders of the eleven Israeli athletes and one brave German police officer. And I will never forget being rendered forever mute by the extreme lack of sensitivity and compassion displayed by then IOC President Avery Brundage when he declared that "the games must go on."

Much has been written by authors far more eloquent than I about the intransigence of the IOC and the lack of a moment of silence at tonight's opening ceremonies to commemorate the murders that occurred forty years ago today. The feeble excuses and shallow explanations made by the incredibly insular Lords of the Rings of not wanting to politicize games that are political by their very nature, ring tremendously hollow. A moment of silence was held in Atlanta after the bombings at the 1996 Games. When a member of the Georgian luge team was tragically killed in Vancouver, a moment of silence was held. Following the horrors of 9/11, a moment of silence was held at the 2002 Games. Only the Israeli athletes have not been formally recognized.

NBC's Olympic host Bob Costas has already signalled his intention to hold a moment of silence during tonight's Opening Ceremonies. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and US President Barack Obama have implored the IOC to change its collective narrow mind. This past Saturday IOC President Jacques Rogges observed a "spontaneous moment" without first informing or inviting the athletes' families. His gesture has been dismissed as inadequate and disappointing.

We have sadly become immune to random acts of terror. While other horrible acts of violence preceded those Games, the summer of 1972 marked the beginning of the nightmares still to come for my generation. We lost our innocence that summer. I cannot even pretend to comprehend how the victims of Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora et al ad nauseum might feel if they were so easily dismissed and continually ignored by those we hold to a higher standard. Many around the world will be taking a moment of silence today regardless of whether or not the IOC deems it "appropriate". We can..... and we must..... take a moment in our communities today to remember those who came to Munich only wishing to compete in peace, but instead died in terror.  Zichronam Livracha.....May the memories of

David Berger

Ze’ev Friedman

Yossef Gutfreund

Eliezer Halfin

Yossef Romano 

Amitzur Shapira

Kehat Shorr

Mark Slavin

Andre Spitzer

Yakov Springer

Moshe Weinberg

and German police officer Anton Fliegerbauer forever be a blessing. 

We Are All Woody's Children

Today marks Woody Guthrie's 100th Birthday. Woody's influence on American music cannot be overstated and his imprint on the legions of musicians that followed is legendary. This Land is Your Land has become an unofficial national anthem. Doug Mishkin was correct in his song, we are all indeed Woody's children.

A Few Words and Phrases I have Come to Hate

An old friend used to post a list of words that she hates. The words were mostly onomatopoetic in nature and she did it for laughs, which she received in spades. She has updated it sporadically over the years and it never fails to elicit tremendous guffaws around here from both The Husband and me. Lately I have come to realize that there are a myriad of words and expressions that I too have come to detest. They may not have the lyrical cache of my friend's list, but they are a constant raspberry seed in my molar.

1. Job Creators. This is a bullshit creation by bullshit creators-politicians.
2. Taxpayers. It seems to me that we are all citizens who share in the common good, regardless of the amount of taxes we pay, and we deserve the same protection and consideration by our elected officials. Stop reducing me to the lowest common denominator. 
3. Talking Points. How about trying honesty for a change.
4. Talking Heads. As opposed to those heads that don't talk? 
5. Political Strategists. If ever there was an oxymoronic expression, this one is it!
6. Stump Speech. Did you know that candidates actually used to cut down a tree and stand on a stump to deliver these oratorical nightmares? Today, the reporters who cover these bland regurgitations positively drool if the politicos change even a comma.
7. Transit Plan. Torontonians know just what I am talking about. Just build the f*#@ing thing already and stop with the plans and studies.
8. Left Wing Socialist/Right Wing Fascist. Can't we disagree on policy without all of the ridiculous labels. Consensus is hard enough to achieve without dealing with the name calling.
9. Autotune. This technology should be banned outright. 
10. Arm Problems. My beloved Blue Jays currently have 7 (yes, lucky number 7) pitchers on the DL with major arm problems. One has to wonder if they have a contract to build Dr. Andrews' summer home.

This is a preliminary list. Feel free to add your own.

Happy 145 Canuckistan!!

In honour (notice the "U") of Canada's 145th, I thought it fitting to regale you with some of the Northern Territories finest musicians. Please enjoy my little Canuck gift, and may all of you celebrate this great land of ours today and every day.