Piece & Harmony

2003-10-13T00:28:00.000-03:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a beautiful day here on Cape Breton Island. The sun was shining, lots of people we out walking in shorts and tee's on this very warm October day. It's very suiting this is Thanksgiving Day weekend. Looking back over this past year I have so much to be thankful for. Here's a quick list of only some of the things for which I am thankful:

- Callista and Aliyah - these two girls have brought me happiness that is intangible to most people. Never a day will come when I take for granted the beautiful things in my life.

- My Family - as mentioned in the previous entry, I don't know what I would/could do without them.

- My Friends - David, Roger, Tub, Steve, Bob, Shawn, Terry, Meghan, Morgan and anybody with whom I've ever associated, Thank You. Many good days are to come to all of us.

- My Job - Although we all knock it sometimes, I'm so thankful for the job that I have found in Cape Breton. Unlike so many of my friends who were forced to vacate the Island to find work, I've been so lucky, and that means more than most people will ever realize because without, 'the job' all the previous things I am thankful for would be negatively effected in my case.

- Although we sometimes abuse our bodies and neglect it, I am thankful for my health. I think it's something that most people could be found guilty of neglecting, but I promised myself that I would change my lifestyle so my baby girl will always have a daddy to come home to.

- TROOPER - Thank you for providing me with one of the coolest and most memorable things to ever happen to me. (refer to: My Pictures section to the left of the page for Trooper Pictures)

- We live in Canda, the best country in the World. I'm thankful for our peaceful ties with our neighbours to the south, and all of our neighbours in the worldwide community.

- Music - has been, and always will be connected to the core of my consciousness, I am thankful for my God given talents to play guitar and sing in a way pleasing to most people at the parties I play. This will always be a developing talent for me and I hope that one day it may play a more central role in my life.

- I am thankful for all the lessons I have learned in live. I am also thankful for all those people who have taught me these lessons. Whether they have been positive or negative for me, I am glad to have learned from my mistakes.

- I am happy to have walked away from my accident, with the opportunity to develop and re-build my life and with the intelligence, capacity and judgement to do so.

I want to thank everybody who stops by to read this blog, thank you for being interested in what I have to say. May the following year find you all in good health, happiness and peace.

"The very fact that a man is thankful implies Someone to be thankful to." John Baillie

2003-10-11T17:51:00.000-03:00

***All This and More...***

I know it has been another long while since my last post. I don't know if at any other point in my life I've grown so much in such a short time. Since Callista and Aliyah have graced me with their presence. Since our beautiful daughter Aliyah has arrived, I have learned so many things, things that may be common sense to others, but weren't to me. I'll start with a short list on some of the things I've learned:

- I now have super sonic hearing, I can hear Aliyah fart from our living room downstairs, and if she even moves 1/8 of an inch, I am awaken from my sleep.

- don't ever start feeding the baby without first having a Receiving Blanket close by.

- never forget the Zincofax

- I now have 2 more people in my life, that need all of my attention and i try to share, even if it hurts...

- "Good Morning Beautiful", by Steve Holly is an excellent song to sing to Aliyah during her morning feeding.

- I never thought I would 'baby talk', boy was I wrong. When Aliyah looks into my eyes and smiles, nothing else matters.

- Mothers have been, and always will be the best at changing diapers, I'm not even joking...

- Sing, "I Want To Hold Your Hand", by The Beatles to babies, they really enjoy it.

- I would do anything in the world so as to bring a smile to the face of my child.

- "You Are My Sunshine", has brought tears to my eyes numerously over these last few months.

There is so much love all around! A new baby changes everybodies lives. I can't wait for my brother to get home in early December so he can hold his Niece for the first time. My sister can now pronounce Aliyah's name, this is a very beautiful thing. My parents, what can I say about my parents. They have been my backbone and my undying support through both the good and the bad times. Words can't really describe the profound effect they have had on my life. I love you both so much. I may not say it as often as I should, but I would like to think you both know its always implicit. Everybody go and tell your parents you love them! Who could forget about my friends? True colors shine through when a baby is born. My friends are no exception, and I look forward to many years of peace and fun times to be had.

Aliyah has brought us all closer together. It's as though all of my sensitive emotions have all been magnified over these last few months. Love is not only something you give, but something you feel. No ray of sunshine could ever match the warmth you feel when both are happening at the same time. Although I may never say it enough I love all my family and friends and my new love Aliyah. To everybody who reads this page, may many years of peace, happiness and love be with every single one of you.

"Rock-a-bye, baby
In the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall
And down comes A-liyah
Cradle and all."

2003-10-07T02:57:00.000-03:00

***UPDATED: My Pictures...***

At the request of a few friends who read this blog, I've updated the My Pictures section with more pictures of Aliyah. I love the pictures! I've also added a section for pictures of the Development taking place on the Commercial Street section of Glace Bay. It will indeed be lovely whenever it is completed, (ETA = December 21, 2005).

" Don't set compensation as a goal. Find work you like, and the compensation will follow. "- Harding Lawrence

2003-08-02T22:34:00.000-03:00

***RING***RING***RING*** "Uhh Hello?"

That's how I was awaken this morning. A Saturday morning like so many others. Its a really great feeling to know that we have the freedom to do the same things week in, week out by our own free will. As per my regular routine, picked up my friends and we went to the 'Mayflower Mall' and then picked up some groceries. Something different happened this time though, before I dropped them off, it was requested that I stop at a flower shop as he had some business to attend to. Hmmm...

I dropped my friends off and proceeded home to put groceries away and clean the house. This house has been through many changes since we moved in back in 1987. The interior was completely torn out, rebuilt then changed. The kitchen was totally re-orgainzed, re-wired, new windows, doors, roof, chimney removal, addition of a propane fireplace, paved driveway, siding, the addition of a 'granny' suite to the rear, a pool, a garage...so many things that most people will never notice but makes me so proud to live in this home.

I grab my helmet and gloves and hop on the Honda 450 Foreman to hit the trails in Glace Bay and surrounding areas. Time has changed many things in my life, but revisiting the dirtbike trails helps me to remember my childhood. You see when I was 12, I would daily gather with a few friends who were lucky like me and their parents bought them a dirtbike. At that time, it was all about having freedom, no rules, no parents, no stop signs, and of course no police to enforce the rules.

A few moments after being out riding, I passed by my old house. Some details on the outside have changed, but its still the place i grew up in. The house is clearly visible from the trail I was driving on, so I grabbed my camera and took a few photos. There is one thing that I noticed and it really stood out in my mind. When I was a child, my dad planted an Evergreen tree in our front yard and nursed it to life. Well when we moved from that home, as I recall, the tree stood about 2 feet in height. As I looked at my old home where I spend much of my pre-teen years, it was a pretty amazing thing to see, something that on any other day I probably wouldn't have noticed but, that Evergreen tree now stands approximately 25 feet in height and is very full and very healthy. I know that's the natural progression of things but it helped me realize a few things.

- Things may change for us as individuals, but the effects on the things we touch will go on for a long, long time.

- Sometimes we may need to give extra attention in the beginning, given time, nature will take its course.

- We can all whether any storm and come out healthier and stronger than before.

- We should all go out and buy a rose for someone we care about.... hahaha no really...

- We really need to help clean up the environment, seriously, everybody who reads this, go out and plant a tree!

I spent a few hours driving around the trails, down to the beach where many other people go to enjoy natures pleasures. This is the same location we took Canada's Greatest Pary Band, "TROOPER" to introduce Frankie to the Atlantic Ocean. I think they enjoyed it, and I look very forward to hearing them August 8 - Sydney, NS @ the Rock the Dock Music Festival. I have some of the pictures posted on the My Pictures link on the left hand side of this page.

"We're here for a good time, not a long time, so have a good time, the sun can't shine everyday..." TROOPER

2003-07-22T13:35:00.000-03:00

The sun was shining and it was hot on this mid-summer day. Myself and two friends were on our way to the recording studio for a jam session and decided to stop before the long drive and pick up some fast food. As we got out of the car, we can hear someone playing guitar and singing. Being a singer/guitar player I find myself always wanting to listen to other musicians. Every musician is unique and presents the music in his/her own style. I spend a lot of my time watching musicians, live, on television, concerts and reading many biographies trying to get to know the people behind the music. I love VH1 Storytellers where some of the greatest singers and songwriters play their music and tell the stories behind their songs.

On this day, the artist was playing outside of a fast food restraunt. There were many people passing by, but nobody was stopping to listen . This is Cape Breton and wherever there is a guitar and a person to play it, and at least two people to listen, there's potential for a party. We got out of the car and opened the trunk and I grabbed my guitar and we found our way over to where he was playing.

He was very surprised with us approaching him, guitar in hand. We were greeted with a, "How's she goin' boys?". We stopped and talked about a lot of things, motivation, inspiration, and all of the things that made him continue to play after so many years in Cape Breton. He was very open, and explained the he just loves music, he loved performing, and loved being able to make people laugh and smile. I admit, before this day I had never really stopped to listen but I'm so glad I took the time. He sang some of the most heartfelt renditions of old country classic Hank Williams, Johnny Cash tunes as well as some other old standards I had never heard before.

I picked up the guitar and joined him in a version of the Johnny Cash song, "Long Black Veil". He began the song following me, then after a verse he just stopped to listen. For those not familiar with the song, its about a woman who is cheating on her husband with his best friend. At the time they were indulging themselves, there was a murder in the town and husbands friend was a suspect. The only problem is he couldn't possibly have committed the murder, he was with his best friends wife at the time. A very haunting ballad to say the least.

While I was singing this song, tears started to stream down this mans weathered face as he stood there watching as I played. His eyes opened up in a way that was not characteristic of him, as if everything was clear to him now. His mouth was open but no words were coming out, and he looked truely content with the world. I know that I touched his soul on that day with music, and that is a very amazing thing. As we left, we said our goodbyes, helped him tune up that old guitar he's been playing for a long, long time, then we bought him a good meal. We wished him well and we were on our way, little did we know that he would die a few short months later and we'd never get the chance to jam with him again. I will never be able to forget that day and the feelings that came associated with it. Too many other people live their lives and have no consideration for others, we are all guilty of it, but for me, that moment certainly will be in my heart forever.

Close friends of mine will know who this post was written about...

The man's name is Charlie, may he rest in peace.

"Oh, she walks these hills in a Long Black Veil,
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me,
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me..."by Johnny Cash

2003-07-16T22:12:00.000-03:00

Its a fairly warm spring day, I have no classes today so I'm going to stay home and practice. I've been playing with an acoustic guitar I borrowed from my cousin Darrell. I have a huge amount of respect for Darrell because when I was 10 years old, he showed up at my house with a tape and he said, "Listen to this, tell me what you think?" Of Course I said sure and popped the tape to listen to what I thought was a few amazing original songs that he wrote.

I didn't even know he played guitar. Then he told me that he wrote and sang the songs on the demo and recorded them witha few friends in a recording studio. At that age youngsters are always looking for role models, someone to look up to, someone to think was cool, that was when I found my role model. Although I never really told Darrell the impact hearing that tape had on me, he now knows that I've grown up trying to follow in his footsteps by learning guitar (with the help of my friend David) singing, writing and recording some of my own songs, as well as songs with other friends.

So I'm trying to play a song by Blues Traveller called Runaround, it's one of those 4 chord songs that everybody learning to play guitar should definitely practice to. I'm in my room, my door is closed so my family doesn't really hear me sing and I'm whaling away to what I thought was Van Halen like 4 chord strumming, I'm singing Runaround in some state of trepidation over someone hearing me.

I always close my eyes when I sing and try to feel the music. I don't know why? It somehow helps me feel 'connected' to the song and I feel I focus all my attention on the music and lyrics and nothing else. So as it turns out, my friend David has opened the door and is listening to me belt out this song, but I was singing so nobody could hear me. I had no idea he was there, so at the end of the song when I opened my eyes to see him standing there looking at me with this intent grin on his face, I sat there in aghast of what he was about to say.

David, "Holy fuck bye, we're having a party on Minto Street this Friday night, you should bring the guitar over and play us some tunes!"

Lawson, "Are you kidding me man? That's like the furthest thing from my mind!!"

At the age of 21, I thought my days of being embarrassed to the point that I wanted to bury my head in the sand were over, but my face, I'm pretty sure was the most beautiful ruby red. Music to me represents all the things I always thought I could do, but was afraid to try. When I'm singing and playing, I feel free, unique and to someone who was always shy, its an awesome feeling.

To anybody who knows me, they'll say I'm not shy and may even say I'm somewhat cocky. I guess that's just how someone looks when they are having the time of their life doing what they do.

2003-07-14T08:55:00.000-03:00

The sun is shining theres not a cloud in sight. There's anticipation in the air about an impending battle. The summer months have rolled on day after day. Of course nothing comes easy in a town like this, especially when you feel so alone. I sit down and lift my ball cap before I take another drink. There are always tourists yeilding cameras at this time of year. I don't remember a time when I've been more excited, or so afraid.

More people are starting to show up now. Some people are looking at me like its my fault this still has to go on. What am I supposed to say to them? Is there anything that I can say? It has only been a week since my grandmother died and no matter what happens I just need her to know that I'm doing my best.

I wonder who is going to come watch today? I wish the butterflies in my stomach would stop. I’m starting to sweat, but that’s usual for me in times like these. Today’s opponent is the former two time Canadian champion. Oh God, what am I doing here? Maybe I should just go home?

Finally a friendly face, we’ve been friends for what seems like forever. We go way back to elementary school where we shared all the same teachers, friends and even enemies. He just doesn’t seem nervous at all. He was nervous at that party though, the night before, she told him that she wanted to go for a walk with him and he glanced over at me before he left. He was scared on that night.

Too many times because of nerves, confidence what have you, I didn’t think I could give it my 110%. I think today will be the beginning of a marked change for me. Why does that dog keep barking so loud? My heart is thumping in my chest and I’m starting to feel numb. The grass is so green now and everything is in order and looks just so. I’m very proud because I know my dad played a major role in infrastructure here.

Everybody who wants to watch is here now. Last chance for leaving has passed. It will all be over soon. As he gets ready to fire his first shot he looks me in the eyes. In the seconds that seem to last for hours, I think back to all the other times in my life that I felt I’d failed or felt that I was about to……

“STRIKE ONE!!!!”

It's only a ball game. Maybe things just aren’t as big as I thought…but it sure felt earth moving to me at the time.

Have a wonderful Day!

“Glace Bay Little League 1988 - Jays Orioles Town Champs”

2003-04-07T23:19:00.000-03:00

Piece & Harmony

Piece - A thing considered as a unit or an element of a larger thing, quantity, or class; a portion: a piece of string.

Harmony - A pleasing combination of elements in a whole.

It has definitely been a while, but I will be adding posts regularly from now on. I'll be changing the structure of the page as well.

2003-04-07T13:43:00.000-03:00

How's It Goin' Eh??

Have you ever wondered where our thoughts and beliefs originated? What kind of person do you want to be? Do I want to lead a good life and take the high road, or live my life regretting decisions living vicariously in the life that could have been? It’s apparent that many people have nostalgic views in their current life. Have you ever reminisced about high school, and old job, an old group of friends you once mingled with, and miss those times? Or are you happy with the here and now? Everything is in your control, there’s no right or wrong answer.

Everything IS as you perceive it, this is MY perception, how it effects YOU is dependant upon your relevant experience in the world.

Perhaps the greatest philosophical personality in history was Socrates, who lived from 469 to 399 BC. Socrates left no written work and is known through the writings of his students, especially those of his most famous pupil, Plato. Socrates maintained a philosophical dialogue with his students until he was condemned to death and took his own life. Unlike the Sophists, Socrates refused to accept payment for his teachings, maintaining that he had no positive knowledge to offer except the awareness of the need for more knowledge. He concluded that, in matters of morality, it is best to seek out genuine knowledge by exposing false pretensions. Ignorance is the only source of evil, he argued, so it is improper to act out of ignorance or to accept moral instruction from those who have not proven their own wisdom. Instead of relying blindly on authority, we should increasingly question our own beliefs and the beliefs of others in order to seek out genuine wisdom.

'If I should be found to be wiser than the multitude, it would be in this, that having no adequate knowledge of the Beyond, I do not presume that I have it. But one thing I do know, and that is that to do injustice or turn my back on the better is alike an evil and a disgrace. And never shall I fear a possible good, rather than avoid a certain evil...'

2003-04-07T01:50:00.000-03:00

Brain Circuitry Involved in Language Reveals Differences in Man, Non-Human Primates...

A defining difference between man and non-human primates has been found in the circuitry of brain cells involved in language, according to researchers at the Medical College of *****.
Their findings belie the notion that the primary difference between man, monkey and chimpanzee is the size of the brain and opens up a new area of study that may explain man's capacity for complex communication, they say.
For example, the chimpanzee is man's closest evolutionary relative; the two have about 99 percent of their DNA in common, but the human brain is about three and one-half times larger. "The question has been, what else changed besides size," the doctor said. The researchers are expanding their studies by including other species, including non-primates such as dolphins, mammals which have large, highly developed brains.

When given a choice between two visual stimuli (plain fields of light of different colour, photographs, cine films, etc.) monkeys show strong and consistent preferences. The strength and direction of the preferences is determined by two independent factors: the monkey's relative 'interest' in the stimuli (determined largely by their information content) and his relative 'pleasure' . With an unchanging stimulus 'interest' rapidly fades but 'pleasure' (or 'unpleasure')remains stable.

*Observational learning occurs when animals copy the behavior of other animals around them without having experienced positive reinforcement prior to the behavior. Japanese monkeys usually remove sand from a potato by brushing it away with their hands. One monkey discovered it was easier to remove the sand if the potato was held in water. Through observational learning, nearly all of the other monkeys in the troop learned the behavior.

After reading through this information I've come to these conclusions:

- Size does matter
- Humans and Animals alike are driven by pleasure, even after interest has faded
- I'm pretty sure that if i purchased a Chimpanzee, I could train it to perform many of the same tasks I perform daily.

Other Interesting Facts:

- Certain monkeys know how to lie. Male vervet monkeys have been observed attracting femals by uttering the vervet word for food, when in fact, they have nothing to offer except a twig or leaf
- Chimpanzees are the only animals, aside from humans, that can recognise themselves in mirrors.
- Scientists who have successfully taught pigs to play video games have concluded that pigs may be as smart as chimpanzees and other non-human primates.

Material found on this page is for informational purposes only, not medical advice. We regret that we cannot respond to personal or general health questions. If information presented here seems pertinent to your situation, please seek help from a qualified health care professional near you.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Laozi

2003-04-01T12:52:00.000-04:00

A little bit about me...

Over the last few years, i have:

- lived with a severe brain injury (actually since January 14th, 1994)
- made many new friends
- maintained a job at a huge corporation
- almost quit 1000 times
- started singing and playing guitar, my true passion

Each of these things without the other may never have been possible. Am I glad that I lived through a near fatal car accident left with many ill effects? Hell yea. Do I think I have even scratched the surface of the reason for my existance? Nope.

When you work in a job that you don't seem to be advancing, or at least feel your not being used to your full capacity and do not feel challenged, its very difficult to stay motivated and to keep giving 110% all the time. Its times like these that I try to look back on my history and realize how far I've come. I have a decent paying job, lots of excellent friends and co-workers, a loving family, and living in the greatest place on earth, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I believe everybody goes through similar situations in their lives, and everybody has their own styles to deal with them.

This page will be going through many changes in the coming days, I'm going to try to make it as user friendly as possible. I'll be updating pictures and such in the near future. Have an Excellent Day! Until then...

"Without exception the experience and behaviour that gets labelled schizophrenic is a special strategy that a person invents in order to live in an unliveable situation. R. D. Laing (1927 - 1989)

2003-03-31T23:59:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the wonderful world of Blogging!!!

My friends Steve and Robert have been encouraging me to start my own blog for a while. I have never really considered it previously but I have spent the past few weeks reading different types of blogs from people all around the world in many different topics. I frequent CNN for all the latest news on the war in Iraq. For those of you who visit Steves blog, you may know that we are pretty close friends and a lot of his entries are about our everyday lives

I work in the same building as Steve though we have different job titles. This of course gives me the opportunity to tell you about myself, I'm a laid back - computer savvy - musician who likes to sing and write music/songs. You can check out my web page HERE check out some songs and please fill out the Comments & Reviews section. This is my first blog so I will try to keep it brief, I look forward to sharing my thoughts and views with you in the future. Until then...

"But worse than any loss of limb is the failing mind, which forgets names places and things, and cannot recognize the face of the old friend who dined with him last night, not those of the children whom he has begotten and brought up." Juvenal (65? - 128?) Roman poet