Kingfest ~ Prairie Oyster comes home

Linda and I attended the 3rd annual Kingfest Music Festival, which was held June 21-22-23 at the King Campus of Seneca College with headliners, Prairie Oyster, Bruce Cockburn, Jim Cuddy and Sarah Harmer. Russell deCarle of Prairie Oyster is seen above with Keiran Kane and Susan Werner, closing their workshop session with a rendition of 'Georgia'. It was a homecoming of sorts for King City 'old boys' Keith Glass and Russell, who have have performed in King City before - before not on this scale. My brother, Bob, was a band-mate of Russ and Keith when they performed as the King City Slickers. It was a great festival, good weather and a super venue. We hope Kingfest continues in this expanded form and location, especially since its only 5 minutes from our front door.

Ndidi Onukwulu and Madagasgar Slim, on the KingFest Main Stage, warmed up festival-goers with a blues set, prior to Sarah Harmer and Bruce Cockburn. The highlight of Sarah Harmer's set occured when she invited folks to dance, while she was performing a romantic waltz number called "Oleander". A couple down in front stood up to dance but the guy dropped to one knee, held out a ring box and proposed to his lady. They got one of the biggest ovations of the evening.

Father's Day 2007 ~ BarrytheBirder, Will & Rob

Laparoscopic hernia surgery - whoopee!

I went in for my third hernia surgery this week. I can't seem to get it through my head that I now have the body of a 65-year-old and not a 19-year-old. I think this last time, it was lifting two 20 kg. bags of water-softener salt (one under each arm and flanking each side of my own 20 kg. belly) that did me in. I just had a hernia repair done in the same spot 11 months. Last year, it was moving fallen trees from the trails at Cold Creek Wildlife and Nature Area that sent me hobbling to the good Doctor Lee. This year, he decided I couldn't be trusted to take care of myself so he stuck a hunk of mesh (the size of a catcher's mitt) in my belly to hold everything together...sort of like a super-hero shield protecting my innards. One again, I'm fearless and formidable, or I will be once the clutching at my tummy every time a cough, sneeze or burp, and the wimpering that follows, subsides. Sadly, one can't show-off or brag about eight puncture marks in one's abdomen the way one can about a fencing scar across the cheek. 'Tis a humbling experience and I look forward to venturing back out into the world soon, a gentler soul. There was a birth in the family this week and I have a new grand-nephew. His name is Jaxon. Now there is a name for you. 9 lbs. 11 ozs. and doing well.
BtheB