Return of the Fat Bastard - Mental masturbation without the "Happy ending!"

October 27th 2016

At the Fireball Lounge

      I don't know if anyone reads the date at the top of the page or if they do, do (I said dodo tehe) they notice when I put up the wrong date? or do they care is probably a better question. An even better question is why am I writing about this? Let me tell you. It's like when your telling a story and everyone is listening as you weave a tapestry of intrigue. Pulling them along like a Pied Piper only to reach the climax of the story without a punch line! " Yeah so then nothing happened and I went home." That's what this was. I really thought this was going somewhere. Mental masturbation without the "Happy ending!" Oh yeah, my mind went there when I noticed yesterdays blog had todays date. That's because it was 2 am when I finished it. I looked at my watch and even changed the date from the 25th.
     I spent the day in a stupor. It was one of those days when you just can't wake up. I stumbled around the house pretending to do things finally giving up about noon and sat in front of the TV watching Chillary and Trumpelstiltskin call each other names for an hour. I made my way into the bedroom with some laundry turned on the TV lifted the Ratdogs onto the bed and promptly had a nap. I didn't get out of bed till the lovely Lisa called with my Ho warning. She calls to let me know she's on her way home so I can get rid of the Ho's. We had an Aussie rules dinner. That's when everyone is on their own eating everything that chef Boy R Lisa put in the fridge over the last three days. Pork, chicken and taco beef on a Squatch salad. It was really good. I'm back hard on the low carb routine. No more bread! With the help of the fantabulous Thanksgiving dinner and several days of hot turkey sandwiches which led into two weeks of dietary abuse. I couldn't find enough crap to shove in my face. I crossed the 290 barrier at warp factor five and slid to a stop at 295. It's so easy to put it on and so  Hard to take it off again. Here I go riding the YoYo again. I was in bed by midnight and slept till 10:00 waking up to a leak in the copper pipes running through the green room. Two little brown spots on the spackled ceiling. I started cutting. Over the spots I found a pin hole. I had next door Gord come by and take a look. we put a rubber patch on it and hoped for the best. I didn't get it. The added pressure of putting on the patch caused several more pinholes to start leaking. Tomorrow I'll have to take down the rest of the ceiling and replace twenty feet of 3/4 copper pipe. I also need to replace the kitchen faucet but it's a Moen so they will give me a new one.

Richard, Devin on drums, Chris and Dirk

      Tonight was the first night of the Open Mic at the Fireball Lounge in New Westminster. Dirk Henke, formerly of the Sunday afternoon open mic at the Rocky Point Taphouse runs this Open Mic with his band, Chris, Devin. and Richard. I've never been in this room before. It's been a Cabaret for years and has operated under several different names by several different owners. It's a great looking room. It has an amazing stage and incredible sound. It was also full of so many talented people. It starts at 7:00 so if you want to get out of the house and enjoy some good music in a variety of styles you should give the Fireball Lounge a shot. After dirk and the Band played a couple of songs he started the Open Mic.

Bill Frew I should have taken a pic when he was on stage

My buddy Bill Frew started the show doing three original tunes. Including Waiting on the Rain my favourite Frew Tune. He has the most fantastic baritone voice. He's on facebook at Bill Frew Music. You should check it out.

Maxine and Sue

The Ukeleladies, Sue and Maxine did a set. So did Linda who did a duet with Bill Frew. Pam D played a set on guitar that was amazing. She has a great voice. Later in the night she was on stage playing bass. When it was my turn I played with myself for the first song Paris. Then Richard, Chris and Maureen on drums joined me for Can't you see and Love Monkey. Luc Picard got up on stage with Trish to play some lead guitar on her original tunes. She was great and Luc always blows me away. Luc has some issues but making music is not one of them. He plays bass, drums and guitar and all of them incredibly well. Tonight he rocked out big time.

Luc playing with the band

He is a great kid who loves his Special Olympics and loves his music. I've watched him come out of his shell over the last couple of years to become a big part of the Coquitlam open mic scene. His Dad, Guy and his Mom, whom I've met a half dozen times and don't remember her name, get him around. So many talented musicians came out tonight I hung around for a while thinking I might get to play again but they just kept coming in. I was on my way out when Chris suggested I might want to go around the corner to Judge Begbies where a good friend of his was running a songwriters open mic. It wasn't even 9:00 so, what the hell!
      I'm glad I went around the corner. There were only three of us there. It's the first one. Ranj the host, George who plays in a band that is playing at the Heritage Grill tomorrow night. I'm giving him a plug because I can't remember the name of his band, and myself. There was also an audience of about fifteen. It was a good set up. Ranj opened the show with two songs then George went up and did four really good songs. I have to say I was feeling a little bit intimidated. These guys are really good musicians. I'm a story teller. For me it's all about the words. I don't have any funky breaks or mind numbing solos. I strum the rhythm and try to stay in tune! I did five of my originals and people seemed to like my stuff. I was invited to come back next week so that's good.
      I had gotten a phone call from Christian, Gramma Sharon had to be taken to the hospital with respiratory issues.so I pick up the kids from school tomorrow. Send some good vibes and positive energy Sharon's way.

That's all I've got
Till next time
Peace out Y'all