I don't care who you are... you can't take away my sense of humor freedom creativity and mission! No matter what you do ...

Freedomfightingrhythmnationterrorhatingroovemasterinfellowgroovemakin'peacelovingroovemeistersunite!!!!!!!!!!

This is my Newf tour Dutch Robinson/Mike Sereny. Here's the itinerary:

09/28/01 Halifax/St. John's
09/29/01 Gooseberry
09/30/01 Travel to Labrador
Mon. 10/01/01 To Halifax/Stephen'sville
Tue. 10/02/01 Stehphenville
Wed. 10/03/01 Cornerbrook
Thurs. 10/04/01 to Grandfall's
Fri.10/05/01 Gander
Sat.10/06/01 to St John's
Sun. 10/07/01 St. John's
Mon. 10/08/01 Perform in St. John's
Tue. 10/09/01 To Boston
Wed. 10/10/01 Teach! :-)

09/28/01

I finally finished my all night preparation of school stuff I and went to the airport without showering. Oh yeah I literally threw socks and underwear in my suitcase first. :-)

I almost cried when I got to the airport because of how empty it was. I cried in mourning for the victims of the Terrorism in America, and I mourned the loss of America's innocence and naiveté. Why should we as Americans have to look over our shoulders now because of terrorism? Well whatever the reason (and based on the law of cause and effect, I'm sure there are reasons) it is a stark reality. How sad. But I feel it is positive that we are now more vigilant against evil.

The flight was 65% full. I was thinking "Good will and freedom" Those are hallmarks of Americans in my ideal view.

The attacks were based on ill will and destruction of freedom.
My empathy is activated and I feel strongly the joy of having no ill will for anyone. Only the best will and intention. Bingo : I had the following wonderful event occur... When I arrived in Halifax, I was greeted by an airport employee who knew me from my previous trip to Halifax. What a nice greeting. She and I have a mutual friend : Ed Levicke who is managing this Newfoundland tour I'm on.

She offered me a massage from the professional masseuse at the airport which I happily accepted. (I tipped the masseuse despite her protesting) It was great! This computer bag is heavy... lol
It was one of those seated chair massages.

MMMmmmmmmmm

Fantastic. It was the first time I completely relaxed in a long time. The previous three days had been packed with activities in preparation for Canada.

My airport friend and her co-worker were both encouraged towards happiness. One expressed interest in spiritual practice and she enthusiastically encouraged her friend on the spot saying that her friend needed some kind of spiritual practice...

I expressed to her the view that I embrace which is that the quality of our lives is based on "cause and effect". We take responsibility for creating a happy life in the present based on causes we make. That in turn determines what our lives will be like in the future.

So I said that influencing her friend who she obviously cares for and loves is best done by example, not by telling her what to do. :-) She agreed. What a nice dialogue !!!!! yaaaaay!

I thanked them both profusely for their kindness and good will. We smiled and by the time I subsequently boarded the aircraft there were 3 or 4 people total waving bye bye! :-)
Very friendly. :-)

I was greeted at the airport in St. Johns by Ed Levicke and then Dutch Robinson and Dave Sereny and Mike Sereny and Luis Cito. Nice guys all.

The landscape on the way to the hotel is fascinating. There are so many nooks and crannies of land and water and land and more water.

I was in near the ultimate Easternmost part of the entire North America. It's called Cape Spear. :-)

Then we made our way to dinner that night. Ah I had a stir fry chicken dish ... well ... I gotta remind myself : when in Rome, eat pasta. In other words when I'm travelling I'm determined to choose things from the menu I think will be strong and typical of the area.

For dessert I had a weird figgyduff cake with raspberry sauce. Strange but true. But the people are all very friendly.

Here I am in the air safely and sound enroute to Stephenville. We land in deer lake then Stephenville then we play in cornerbrook on Wednesday .

Mike , Ed's friend wants to throw a party. He invited us for dinner. Cool. I can't believe how friendly the people here are. They remind me a little of people from down south in Mississippi and Georgia etc. :-0.

Last nite was incredible.
I saw something I've never seen before in my life.
Mike and Dave and Luis "Suave" Cito went to an amphibious military aircraft landing site and chanted prayed for world peace under the bright moonlight. This was an ironic setting for a prayer for peace, but I think it wound up being totally apropos. :-) We had a meaningful dialogue, and the initial feelings of trepidation in this unknown area gave way to peace and joy and laughter. :-)

I recalled The time I prayed for peace by Lake Geneva and a ship sounded a bell as if to support the beautiful mood! :-)

Well this time there was no bell, but I felt an atmosphere of protection and safety. I was happy we went out of our way to sustain our intention and determination for human happiness. I find such an attitude to be a wonderful protection against apathy and cynicism. :-)

So we headed back to our wonderful cabin "The Goose River Lodge" in Goosebay, Labrador Newfoundland.
I fell asleep peacefully with a smile on my face.
All of the sudden Mike Sereny Bursts in the room and says "you gotta come check this out right away". He takes me out into the chilly air and we look up in the sky and I see...
THE FRIGGING NORTHERN LIGHTS!!!!!! WHOO HOO...
Wow! What a beautiful sight. :-)
I've never seen such a massive sight in the sky in my life. It was a veritable celestial panorama.

The subtle changes of color and variation of shape were amazing. What a beautiful metarhythm. I had predicted aloud that something beautiful would happen after we visited the float planes sea planes. yaaay. The local people probably see the Northern Lights constantly. But this was my first time. Beautiful. :-)

The next day enroute to Stephenville:

• Ate Poutine... "Originally from the Bois Francs area back in the 1950's. Poutine was created in the kitchen of a restaurant named Lutin qui Rit by Fernard Lachance who used in his recipe real Cheddar Cheese Curds, fries and a specially seasoned sauce. Now from the kitchen of Chatter's Cafe we would like to present to you our version of this world famous dish. Take some [of] our homemade fries, real imported Cheddar cheese curds smothered in our special sauce and we are sure that our version will be approved by Mr. LaChance but more important is your approval."
• I tasted a dish called loose meat. It's the Stephenville equivalent of a hamburger.
  -tastes like hamburger meat-
• I learned of another popular dish called "mess".
  The singer on our tour, Charlie calls this one the Heart attack platter. It's the same as "loose meat", plus mozzarella, cheddar, peppers, basil, oregano and other spices. In the Spring Hill region the restaurants serve that dish. Plus there is a very popular version of mess that includes VANILLA ice cream... to be blunt I uhh well I have not developed an appreciation for these dishes. Charlie A'Course assures me, though, that mess is magically delicious. lol

  "You have it once in a blue moon but it's worth having." He says "Cause if you have it too often you might have a heart attack.

  After this I'll be good for the rest of the day. I won't eat anything else :)" (I think this dish is especially a Nova Scotia maritime thing.)

10/01/01

Great party in Stephenville... met Earl Flo, Esther, Maggie, Tom, Mike/Jack (Graphic artist on computer), Jacinto (a wonderful singer and Clavinova player). Nice company and light dinner. Dutch Robinson of the Ohio Players sang his *ss off at the basement jam session we had.

Terranova National Park

The birch turn yellow and the maple trees turn red. All in all it's a gorgeous site when all is done and said.

Arrow Crash Incident

On June 24th, 1990, a dedication ceremony was held in memory of the 101st Airborne Division. This memorial depicts an unarmed American Soldier standing atop a massive rock holding the hands of two civilian children. The children, a boy and a girl, each hold an olive branch, indicative of the peace keeping mission of the 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" on the Sinai peninsula. Behind them rise three tall staffs each bearing a flag, Canadian, American and Newfoundland. As the trio stands looking into the future, they are surrounded by the trees, hills, and rocks of the actual Arrow Air Crash site, overlooking Gander Lake in the direction of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. These natural surroundings are the "Silent Witnesses" of the precise moment when 256 dreams ended and the hearts and imaginations of an entire world were captured.

The memorial was designed by Lorne Rostotski of St. John's, Newfoundland and sculpted by Stephen Shields of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA.
In June 1990, the statue was dedicated with several hundred people in attendance including American family members and friends, local dignitaries as well as representatives of the Canadian and American Governments and military.

The aircraft came to a final rest in what was once a heavily wooded area- now a peaceful grassy field. On December 12, 1995 ten years after the disaster- a memorial service was held with representatives of the Canadian and American military present, as well as local provincial, and federal officials. At that time a cross was dedicated to the memory of the lives lost ten years earlier.

CROSS OF SACRIFICE
Twenty two feet in height stands the "Cross of Sacrifice" paid for with donations by those who have visited the site.
The inscription "Rendezvous with Destiny" -the motto of the 101st Airborne Division was crafted from the remains of the emergency exit door of the ill -fated DC 8. Surrounding the cross are planted 256 native trees- a tribute to each of the crash victims.

ARROW AIR DISASTER:

On December 11,1985, Arrow Air flight mf1285r, a Douglas dc-8-63, US registration n950jw departed Cairo, Egypt on an international charter flight to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA,via Cologne, Germany, and Gander, Newfoundland. On board were 8 crew members and 248 passengers. The flight was the return portion of the second in a series of three planned troop rotation flights originating at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, USA and terminating in Fort Campbell. The flight had been chartered by the Multinational Force Observers (MFO) to transport troops, their personal effects and some military equipment to and from peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert. All 248 passengers who departed Cairo in the 11th of December 1985, were members of the 101st Airborne Division (UNITED STATES ARMY) based in Fort Campbell.
The flight departed Cairo and arrived at Cologne on 12/11/0985 for a planned technical stop.
A complete crew change took place following which the flight departed Cologne for Gander at 11:20PM Gander time.

The flight arrived at Gander at 5:34AM where passengers were de-planed and the aircraft was refueled and serviced. The fight departed Gander on runway 22 from the intersection of runway 13 at 6:45AM. The aircraft gained little altitude after rotation and began to descend crossing the Trans Canada Highway approximately 900ft beyond the departure end of runway 22. The aircraft continued to descend until it struck downsloping terrain approximately 3000 ft beyond the departure end of the runway.

The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and severe fuel-fed fire. All 256 passengers on board sustained fatal injuries.

The accident occurred at 6:46AM during the hours of darkness at latitude 480 54' 40: N, long 54o 34 35" W at an elevation of 279 feet above sea level. The Arrow Air Crash was the worst air disaster ever on Canadian soil.

10/06/01

My frigging jaw is on the floor. I can't get it off the floor.
Oscar Peterson
and Michele LeGrand
duet
Niels Orsted Pedersen "Watch What Happens"

Live video
Martin Drew on drums.

Oscar Peterson is a native of Montreal. The Canadian people are very proud of him. :-)
It's great seeing him here in his native Canada.

Oscar swings so hard it's incredible.

He's like a drummer

Michele Le Grand is respectful and interesting in his own right. Wow. I am proud to have studied theory with Michele's teacher; Nadia Boulanger.

Thematic development on the part of Oscar
is incredible
facility incredible
double stops executed with genius.

This video I saw is from a concert in 1984 at the Montreal Salle Wilford Pelltier in the Place des arts. :-) I played at the Place Des Arts with Manhattan Transfer and with Harry Belafonte in 1982 and 1984 respectively. :-)

This cbc productions concert was incredible. Peace y'all.