Gravenhurst Needs Town Hall Action; Fabulous Knockouts Were "Fabulous"

CHEATED TODAY AND IT FELT REAL GOOD - WHO SAYS CHEATERS NEVER PROSPER

FABULOUS KNOCK-OUTS WERE……FABULOUS

     WE STOLE A DAY OF WORK TO GO TO WORK. THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE LIVING THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION. WE DECIDED WE COULD MAKE MORE HEADWAY WITH OUR BUSINESS, BY CLOSING THE SHOP TODAY AND TRAVELING OFF TO OUR ANTIQUE HAUNTS AROUND THE REGION. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS PAN OUT, BUT TODAY IT DID, THANKFULLY, AND WE NOW HAVE SOME EXCITING NEW FINDS TO OFFER OUR CUSTOMERS…..THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE IF WE'D STAYED ANCHORED TO THE SHOP. STILL, WE DIDN'T LAY ON A BEACH, OR SLEEP IN UNTIL AFTERNOON. WE WERE ON THE ROAD EARLY, AND THE FOUR OF US, INCLUDING ROBERT AND ANDREW, PICKED UP SOME AMAZING DEALS IN PLACES WE DIDN'T EXPECT SUCH REMARKABLE FINDS. I'LL WRITE MORE ABOUT OUR WEEKEND FINDS, WHICH WERE OUTSTANDING (INCLUDING A WOOD CARVING OF A RATTLESNAKE THAT IS TOO LIFE-LIKE FOR SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS), THIS WEEK, INCLUDING A RARE PIECE OF GRAPHIC AMERICANA FROM THE AMERICAN YACHT CLUB, PRINTED BACK IN THE 1880'S, CRAFTED BY AN OUTSTANDING WATERCOLOR ARTIST, KNOWN FOR HIS DEPICTION OF SAIL BOATS AND YACHTS. THIS WAS ONE OF THE PIECES WE CALL "SLEEPERS," AND THE ESTIMATED VALUE, IS ABOUT $1,700. SUZANNE THOUGHT I WAS NUTS FOR BUYING IT……AT A VERY GOOD PRICE, SO I'M FEELING RATHER COCKY THIS WEEKEND, AS THE "PICKER" OF THE WEEK. IN THIS CASE, "PICKER" IS A GOOD THING, AND DOESN'T INVOLVE THE NOSTRILS WHATSOVER.

     WE CAME HOME WITH NEAT STUFF, FOR ONE AND ALL, WITH OUR ECLECTIC TASTE, INCLUDING A UNIQUE LAMP MADE OUT OF MARINE NAVIGATIONAL LIGHTS, WHICH ROBERT PLANS TO USE IN HIS STUDIO…..TO INDICATE TO PEOPLE WHEN RECORDING IS TAKING PLACE. HE DOES TEND TO HAVE FOLKS WALK IN, DURING THESE RECORDING SESSIONS…..WHICH KIND OF SCREWS THINGS UP. SO THIS NAVIGATIONAL LIGHT FOR THE WATER, MIGHT WORK WONDERS IN THE STUDIO. LOOKS NEAT TOO. WITH LOTS OF VINTAGE VINYL, SOME OLD MICROPHONES, COLLECTABLE COOKBOOKS, AND A COPPER BAKING PAN FROM THE 1860'S TO 70'S, WE THEN UNCEREMONIOUSLY DUMPED THEM AT THE SHOP, BECAUSE WE HAD A DATE WITH MUSIC ON THE BARGE, AT ROTARY GULL LAKE PARK. THE BOYS WERE WORKING IT, AND SUZANNE AND I WERE WORKING THE SHORE WITH TWO COMFORTABLE LAWN CHAIRS AND A PICNIC LUNCH. BUT I WAS WRITING THIS BLOG IN MY MIND, AND SUZANNE WAS READING A BOOK ON VINTAGE COOKERY COLLECTABLES. WE NEVER GET TOO FAR FROM WORK, AND EVEN PLAY SOMETIMES, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, HAS SOMETHING OR OTHER TO DO WITH OUR PROFESSION. IS IT MADNESS? SOMETIMES I WONDER, BUT YOU GET OVER THE FACT YOU'RE EXHAUSTED, BY CELEBRATING THE BIG TREASURES, FOUND ALONG THE DUSTY TRAILS OF OUR AMAZING ADVENTURES.

     TONIGHT, WITH GUEST PERFORMERS, "THE FABULOUS KNOCKOUTS," BACK FOR THEIR THIRD VISIT TO MUSIC ON THE BARGE, WE HUNKERED DOWN, WITH A COUPLE OF PUFFY SWEATERS TO STAVE OFF THE GULL LAKE WIND, AND ATE AND ATE AND ATE TREATS (SOME THAT FRED SCHULZ KINDLY OFFERED US BEFORE THE SHOW); SO THAT NOW I FEEL BLOATED YET HAPPILY ENTERTAINED. WE WERE TIRED TONIGHT, AND DECIDED TO GO DOWN TO THE PARK A LITTLE BIT EARLY, TO ENJOY THE REALLY SPARKLING AUGUST ATMOSPHERE. WOW, WHAT A NOSTALGIC, SENSORY-POIGNANT NIGHT IT WAS. NOT ONLY WAS IT BEAUTIFULLY FALL-LIKE, NICE AND COOL BUT NOT COLD, BUT THE AUGUST LIGHT, SOUNDS, SCENTS, AND STRANGE MELANCHOLY, INSPIRED MEMORIES OF MANY SUMMER NIGHTS FROM THE FAMILY CHRONICLE. THE KNOCK-OUTS, WELL SIR, THEY PLAYED FABULOUS. THEY TOOK US BACK TO THE 1960'S AND 70'S, AND WE WERE REMINDED OF OUR LOST MATES, WE LEFT IN THE MUCK AT WOODSTOCK, AND SAW, IN THESE ACTIVATED REMINISCENCES, OUR OWN GHOSTS OF YOUTH, WANDERING ABOUT THE OLD HAUNTS WE USED TO KNOW……PLACES WE USED TO GO. ALL OF A SUDDEN, IF WE'D HAD THE CHANCE, BY GOLLY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO SEE THE OLD GANG AGAIN; THE ONES WE USED TO BLAME FOR ALL OUR BAD HABITS, LIKE DRINKING TOO MUCH AND STAYING UP TO LATE…..AND DISAPPEARING FOR WEEKS AT A TIME, WHEN WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE JOINED A COMMUNE, OR BEEN ON PEACE SIT-IN, HUDDLED BENEATH PLACARDS, ON SOME EMBASSY LAWN. WE REMEMBER PRECISELY BUT PREFER IT TO BE A LITTLE FOGGY, IN VERBAL RECOLLECTION, IN CASE THE FUZZ IS STILL LOOKING FOR US. I JOINED A LOT OF GROUPS WHILE NOT THINKING STRAIGHT, WAY BACK, SO I MEASURE MY PUBLIC REVELATIONS CAREFULLY. WHAT WE DID REMEMBER, IS WE LIKED THIS MUSIC, BECAUSE IT EMPOWERED US…..CHALLENGED US, AND MADE US WILD AND HUMANE AT THE SAME TIME. THE FABULOUS KNOCK-OUTS REMINDED US OF THOSE HALCYON DAYS THAT WE PLAYED HARD AND LIVED EACH HOUR AS IF IT WAS OUR LAST.

     TONIGHT, GULL LAKE PARK WAS FULL TO OVERFLOWING, WITH RICH, VIBRANT SENSORY STIMULATION….. BESIDES THE GREAT AND WELL EXECUTED MUSIC. IT WAS AN ALMOST EXOTIC ATMOSPHERE, THE WAY THE SCENT OF COOKING CURRY, (NOT ME) FROM SOMEWHERE, MINGLED WITH THE FAMILIAR AROMA OF SUNTAN LOTION BEING USED BY THE BEACH CROWD; A WHITE OWL CIGAR, AND A PIPE WITH SWEET AMPHORA SMOKING IN THE BOWL, MERGING WITH SOMEONE'S PERFUME, AND THEN THE TANTALIZING, PERMEATING SCENT OF VINEGAR VAPORIZING ON STEAMING FRENCH FRIES…..MERGING WITH THE MUSKOKA SMELLS OF PINE AND WATER. IT WAS A SORT OF CARNIVAL PLETHORA OF INTERESTING STIMULI, THAT WAS STRANGELY INTOXICATING, TO THE DAYDREAMER PREVIOUSLY ON HIATUS. THERE WAS MUCH TO TAKE IN, AND MANY PARALLELS TO DRAW FROM, AND YET, IT WAS THAT WEEKLY MASSAGE OF THE SENSES WE ADORE, AT FRED SCHULZ'S, (ALSO KNOWN AS THE "SUNDAY NIGHT ENCHANTER") MUSIC ON THE BARGE PROGRAM…….NOW WITH ONLY TWO CONCERT NIGHTS LEFT. GADS! I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE SEASON. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE. WELL FOLKS, FOR THE CURRIE FAMILY, AND MANY OTHERS WHO ATTEND THESE CONCERTS, THE SENSORY STIMULATION PART, IS OUR ADDICTION. WE LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF OTHER TIMES, OTHER FOLKS, OTHER PLACES…….BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME, AS WE RECALL OTHER SPECIAL TIMES IN OUR LIVES, WE ARE ALSO ADDING THE PRESENT NIGHT'S CONCERT TO THE SCRAPBOOK OF WONDERFUL TIMES SPENT IN MUSKOKA. ADMITTEDLY, THERE ARE TIMES, WHEN WE LOOK OVER TO SEE FRIENDS WE REMEMBER FROM PREVIOUS SUMMERS, AND THEN, SADLY, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE GOOD FOLKS HAVE NOW PASSED…..AND THERE IS A NEW GROUP WHERE THEY USED TO SIT. THERE ARE CHANGES. SO MANY CHANGES. YET TONIGHT, IT WAS ALL ABOUT FAMILIARITY WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE GENTLE EASE OF A NICE SPOT, ON A BEAUTIFUL LAKE, MAKING THIS CHRONICLE AN AFFECTIONATE HISTORY

     I WISH THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST WOULD FEEL ABOUT ROTARY GULL LAKE PARK AS WE DO…….AND MAINTAIN IT PROPERLY. FIX THE PARK LIGHTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN FALTERING THROUGH THE ENTIRE SUMMER SEASON SO FAR; AND THEN ARRANGE TO HAVE THE DEBRIS STILL ON THE GROUND, FROM THE STORM A FEW WEEKS BACK, PICKED UP, AND EITHER PILED NEATLY, OR HAULED AWAY. I WISH COUNCILLORS HAD THIS MUCH PRIDE IN THEIR HOMETOWN, THAT THEY WOULD RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS LITTLE URBAN PARK IS……..TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH WEEK. I'M JUST ONE OF MANY CITIZENS, DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE OF OUR TOWN GOVERNANCE, TO SEE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED. MAYBE WE'LL SEE A CHANGE OF HEART FOR THE NEXT TWO SHOWS, AS I UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE SEVERAL SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS UPCOMING. FIXING THE LIGHTS WOULD BE SUPER, BECAUSE DARKNESS IS SETTING IN EARLIER, AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE BACK TO THE PARKING AREA, IN THE LOW LIGHT. IF WE HAVE PARK LIGHTS, THEY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. IF WE CAN AFFORD TO BRING SUMMER THEATRE TO THE OPERA HOUSE, THEN WE CAN AFFORD TO FIX THE LIGHTS IN GULL LAKE PARK. AND A FEW HOURS OF RAKING. WHAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT, IS IF TOWN COUNCILLORS COULD READ A CRITIQUE AND JUDGE, FOR ONCE, THAT THERE'S SOME MERIT TO THE WRITER'S POINT OF VIEW…….AND DISCUSS IT WITH OTHER COUNCILLORS, AND POSSIBLY, STEP AWAY FROM THE MANTRA OF "IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY," AND VOW TO CHANGE THE "CAN'T DO" ATTITUDE IN THIS TOWN…..TO ONE THAT IS TRULY PROGRESSIVE AND WELL, NON-POLITICAL. IT'S JUST A COMMON SENSE SORT OF THING YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AFTER YOUR ASSETS…..OUR ASSETS; BY KEEPING THEM IN GOOD REPAIR. POINT IS, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR INACTION. GULL LAKE PARK WARRANTS A HIGHER PLACEMENT ON THE WORK AGENDA, DUE TO ITS HIGH USE. BUT THEN, DOES ANY COUNCILLOR KNOW WHAT GOES ON AT GULL LAKE PARK ANYWAY? HOW MANY TURN UP FOR MUSIC ON THE BARGE SUNDAYS? HERE'S THE PROBLEM. BUT IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE AMENDS. FIX THE LIGHTS, PICK UP THE STORM DEBRIS, AND COME OUT AN ENJOY THE LAST TWO CONCERTS OF THE 2014 MUSIC ON THE BARGE SEASON. SHOW US HOW PROUD YOU ARE OF THE TOWN YOU REPRESENT. HONESTLY, MOST OF US HAVE GIVEN UP ON TOWN HALL. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD TO ADMIT. AFTER ALL, IT IS ALSO OUR FAILURE AS CONSTITUENTS, TO HAVE ALLOWED OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THIS MUCH LATITUDE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE HAVE RIGHTS, BUT AS HISTORY SHOWS, WE USUALLY ONLY EXERCISE THEM PROPERLY AT ELECTION TIME.

     I WANT TO SEE THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST SHOW SOME RESPECT TO "MUSIC ON THE BARGE," AND ITS MANAGER, BY FOLLOWING THROUGH ON A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD OF PARK MAINTENANCE, WE ALL DESERVE AS SITE USERS…..AND TO SHOW OUR BEST, TO THE THOUSANDS OF TOURIST FRIENDS WHO SWIM AND PICNIC THERE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. THIS ISN'T ASKING A LOT. IT'S ASKING THE TOWN TO DO ITS JOB AS OUR RESOURCE STEWARDS. OR EXPLAIN WHY THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE, SO WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ARE GAPING SHORTFALLS.