Pat Blythe – Blue Moon…..creative dining….snow…..and music

It’s Monday. I’m writing for Tuesday. When I realized my diatribe would appear post-election, I contacted our esteemed editor and suggested that it may make a modicum of sense for our local politico, Roxanne Tellier, to proffer her analysis and observations regarding the election, and “the morning after” effect. So I swapped days. I have my views but not nearly the insight our Mrs. Parker brings to bear on politics and the entire “goings on” south of the 49^th parallel. I can just imagine the spirited discussions Chris (nicknamed The Professor) and Rox would have had regarding the spectacle of this latest presidency over the past four years. Both had/have the ability to read between the lines and proffer observations many of us don’t “see”. Research junkies the two of them…..although I’m not far behind down that rabbit hole….. Mrs. Parker and The Professor would fill a room. Chris would have fit right in at the Algonquin Round Table.

Pat Blythe – London Music Week, Canadian Musician Celebrates 40 Years …and Music!

I’m in London, Ontario attending Forest City London Music Week and the awards gala. Hanging my hat at home with my mom. Music was a huge part of my life growing up whether it was inside or outside the home. In the 1970s London was filled with clubs and bars covering everything from punk, rock, jazz, blues, folk to disco. Venues included The Cedar Lounge, The Diamond Club, Fryfogles Tavern (I celebrated my 18^th birthday there), Old City Hall, Kelly’s, Mingles, The Noodle Factory, The West End, Smales Pace, Ridout Tavern…..just to name a few. There was something for literally everyone. Major concert venues included Wonderland Gardens (my favourite spot), Centennial Hall and Treasure Island Gardens…..the latter located way out of town near Highway 401.

Pat Blythe – It’s March, it’s Music, it’s Mayhem…..

What in tarnation is going on with the world?! Just which planet is in retrograde this month??? We have Orange Man spewing idiocies south of the 49th; supposed Russian collusion in the White House; Samsung (one of South Korea’s largest companies and Apple’s biggest competition) working the PR (and denial) machine as their chief-cook-and-bottle-washer Lee Jae-yong is about to be indicted for bribery, embezzlement and corruption along with four more Samsung executives; a right cock-up at the Oscars; an extremely temperamental and indecisive Mother Nature here in Ontario (shorts and sandals one day, snow the next); friends falling like bowling pins to a rather nasty flu/cold bug creeping around, (and this one comes back to haunt you if you’re not careful); an accused abuser wins a Best Actor Oscar.

Pat Blythe: PFT

Well……….. I’m about to head to the wilds of Vancouver Island with NO computer! Nope, not bringing either of the two laptops. No siree Bob. (no pun intended) Just my “not so smart” phone. Well, maybe the tablet…maybe. I’ll be attending a couple of music festivals on opposite ends of the Island.