Life and Random Thinking

My Top Listens of 2019

Posted on December 27, 2019 by dfolstad58

Spotify lists your top listens for the year and not sure if I agree but for certain some of my favorites are definitely in the list. A few links in this post, I hope you like them.

By the way, this post was inspired by a blogger in NYC who writes under LA, check her out here. She would love it if you say “Hi!”

This is the order that Spotify came up with, so I’ll go with it.

Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles

As you can imagine, this song sounds easygoing. The steel guitar has you tap toeing within a minute. Click here

‘Cause I got a peaceful easy feelin’
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standin’
On the ground

toasty toes at Sunoka beach

Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson

I first heard Elvis sing this song and liked it, but even better is Willie’s version, but that shouldn’t be surprising as he wrote it.

It’s kind of a sad song, but sweet. Definitely country, and not positive but I think Hopalong Cassidy sang it to his horse. Buttercup was always on his mind I guess.

And maybe I didn’t hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
I guess I never told you
I am so happy that you’re mine
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

In Turkey with my Susan, super memorable

Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits

I think this song came out around 1979, loved it right away.

Check out the guitar twang here.

You check out guitar George, he knows-all the chords
Mind, it’s strictly rhythm he doesn’t want to make it cry or sing
They said an old guitar is all, he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

And Harry doesn’t mind, if he doesn’t, make the scene
He’s got a daytime job, he’s doing alright

Hooked On A Feeling – Blue Swede

This is an old song, and I think I heard it back in 1974 !

It’s fun to sing along with, and sometime I would love to do this song in karaoke with a group! Ooga chaka Ooga chaka

I can’t stop this feeling
Deep inside of me
Girl, you just don’t realize
What you do to me

When you hold me
In your arms so tight
You let me know
Everything’s all right

Band On The Run – Paul McCartney, Wings

Not too many albums are fantastic, good from beginning to end, but when this one came out in 1974 it was absolutely amazing. Remember Jet and Bluebird?

I loved it and another song I would sneak in by PC from another album would be Silly Love Songs.

You know what they say ……

Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs
And what’s wrong with that
I’d like to know

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra (or Diana Krall)

When it’s a classic, you don’t have to say hardly anything, it’s a classic ! So many songs from Diana Krall that I could add.

Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like,
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, darling, kiss me

In other words,Hold my hand

I’m In A Hurry (And Don’t Know Why) – Alabama

Country covers such a broad spectrum of sounds, and some of it I really enjoy like this song, and I could easily add some other country songs like Neon Moon (Brooks & Dunn) or My Maria (Brooks & Dunn)

Oh I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why

Can’t be late
I leave plenty of time
Shaking hands with the clock
I can’t stop
I’m on a roll and I’m ready to rock

Breezin – George Benson

An instrumental song, this song was responsible for me buying a new stereo when I moved out on my own, before I bought a bed. If you can’t remember how it sounds, click here

Kodachrome – Paul Simon

Another song that brings back memories. I used to walk to school with Blaine, an amazing friend in high school. I remember Blaine and I one sunny morning in East Vancouver singing this song on the morning walk. For a happy sound from the 1970’s try here.

When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah

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I know everyone likes their own music, but I thought this would be fun as a post.

I hope you enjoyed, and maybe remember these songs.

I had fun finding those links and listening.

Have a wonderful topnotch day. – Dave

Posted in Just being creative, music related | Tagged Alabama, Blue Swede, Diana krall, Eagles, frank Sinatra, George Benson, listens, Music, old songs, Paul McCartney, paul simon, spotify, Willie Nelson, Wings | 18 Comments

I remember moments

Posted on December 25, 2019 by dfolstad58

The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No no they can’t take that away from me

The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No no they can’t take that away from me –

They Can’t Take Away From Me

Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald

I remember moments.

I have many Christmas moments, one of them was when I was a tyke living in Quesnel, BC and the winters there were outstanding if you were a little boy who loved being outside. I did, cold and wet didn’t seem to bother me much.

My Dad even build a skating rink in the front yard one winter, I am sure that then I didn’t realize all the work that went into that gift, but I do now. Lots of work, not done quickly. It was pretty big and Dad kept it cleared off, and I careened around in my hockey skates which he also tied for me.

Winters in Quesnel included snow, snow and lots of snow.

The snow was often deep enough beside the house that I could tunnel through it, and just poke up my head up here and there,(imagine a squirrel popping out of a hole) 🙂

A hill right behind my home was short and steep, and a slide down it would take a boy on a toboggan out of control down the hill and sliding way out on the side road we lived on. So I would do it again and again, oh if I only could have had a rope tow back then. 🙂

I love this moment also

Ah yes, that wooden toboggan, beautiful shiny 4 feet long, impossible to steer, curled front to deflect the flicks of snow as you careen barely balanced down a virtual cliff.

It was a gift from Santa, and Santa hid it behind the stereo in the living room and Mom and Dad found it for me.

How did I walk past it every day in the living room and miss it there?

That moment Dad lifted it out on Christmas Eve with a red bow on it…….. that’s a moment this little boy (albeit at heart) won’t forget.

A priceless moment of a surprised, happy little boy.

Thanks for reading, I hope your heart is filled with special moments, special experiences that are yours forever.

Posted in family | Tagged hockey skates, memories, moments, special times, toboggan, winter | 19 Comments

How to wake up without caffeine

Posted on December 21, 2019 by dfolstad58

Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colors from our sight
Red is gray and yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion

The Day Begins – The Moody Blues

Mornings are peaceful, and

the last couple of mornings I have enjoyed the blue sky of predawn as I rode from home to Okanagan Lake, silently pedalling along.

Mornings are peaceful especially on the side streets, few people need to commute just after 6 a.m. in Penticton.

I am bundled up, full face fleece toque so only my eyes are exposed to the wind, gloves on my hands, warm shoes, and windproof jacket and pants.

My bike is lit up, lights back and front and reflective tape all help to keep me noticeable.

I saw an owl,

as I rode along this morning, my bike lights were extremely noticeable on the path which has no lights; to my delight an owl passed over my head and it whirled as it was silhouetted against the city lights. You can be certain I was very pleased to spot this shy hunter.

SS Sicamous – the paddlewheeler landmark on Okanagan Lake

Silence is a blanket as I wind along,

and often the wind is pushing me and that makes it especially silent.

It’s a perfect time for me to talk out loud without anyone fitting me for a long jacket with sleeves that buckle behind my back.

Arriving home in slightly longer than an hour,

I look forward to warming up by the fireplace and I am definitely wide awake, as it usually only 1 degree outside not including any windchill effect.

Wide awake without caffeine! It’s a great way for me to begin my day.

Some people are out at 6:30 a.m. but mostly it is still, and peaceful

As long as the weather and road conditions allow I will try to awaken early to enjoy the fresh air with a rendezvous with my bike.

It’s a treat I don’t usually have this time of year.

Just a short post, December 21 is the first day of winter – in a few days the daylight hours will begin to grow fractionally. But first I know there will be days of snow, and wind. That’s part of living where you experience all four seasons. As my wife would say, you got to have snow, if you want to snowshoe. 🙂

Posted in Thinking Out loud | Tagged blue, ebike, fresh air, morning, owl, peaceful | 14 Comments

Everyone is a Teacher and Everyone is a Student

Posted on December 20, 2019 by dfolstad58

I am a Student

As I think of my family, and my close friends, I realize how much I have been a student and influenced by them especially. Life in general is teaching me also in an unceasing manner because none of us live in isolation.

I observe examples of kindness and consideration, smart decisions about planning, thoughtfulness for others, actions of character and I consciously, or unconsciously try to emulate them.

There are times also when I learn from the less positive behaviors of others.

I am also a teacher

and that thought is more than a tad scary and I say that without guile. If I accept that role as a teacher, then I am obliged to be more aware both in the present and in the future, and more aware what it is that I am teaching.

Everyone around you is a teacher. They are teaching either by example or by warning. The key is to distinguish which. – Darren Hardy

I am an average kind of guy, if I am a student and a teacher, then I conclude my readers are also. Daily, and inevitably as we rub shoulders with family, friends, associates and the public, we teach and learn and those lessons that we gain and share are helpful on both sides of the coin.

Everyone is a Teacher and Everyone is a Student.

As we interact in society, and not just with family and friends – we are shaped by the people we come in contact with, similar to river rocks rounded by the river current.

That is the nature of interactions I think, that we copy the positive characteristics of others we observe and those behaviors we don’t abide with, we inspect ourselves to detach those aspects, metaphorically learning about hot stoves without burning ourselves.

I guess I just know I have a lot to learn and need to be aware of whether I am an example or a warning!

Just sharing a thought today, thanks for visiting and reading. Thank you for reading my blog in 2019 and in the past. – Dave

Posted in FAVORITE POSTS - A Few of them ♥, Thinking Out loud, Uncategorized | Tagged example, growing, influence, Learning, river, rocks, shaping, student, teacher, thoughts | 20 Comments

Life Saving Gift Suggestion for Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2019 by dfolstad58

My post today is a little different from my regular posts. My post will include some statistics that are applicable in Canada, and I hope you will check and see what they are in your country (they may be similar – I would like to know).

30 Second Video – that’s all

This post is about giving saving lives by donating blood once-a-year.

Cancer patients, transplant recipients, accident victims. For these people and so many more, a timely transfusion of blood can be the lifesaving difference.

Donating blood is a selfless act, and I would suggest to you that an annual tradition to donate annually like now in December would be a wonderful tradition. The person you save could be your neighbour or a family member.

Imagine if someone you love needed surgery but the blood components just weren’t there? Once a year is a small sacrifice, invite a friend to go with you.

It costs nothing to do except a few minutes and your body replenishes itself amazingly quickly. Find out about the ONE hour process and book an appointment HERE.

It’s something you can do today to ensure someone else is waking up healthy tomorrow.

My father has a rare blood type, and he told me that if all the eligible people gave blood, then everyone would only need to donate once every TEN YEARS.

Most eligible people for donating blood don’t.

Only a fraction of Canadians are registered donors. Depending on where you live, there are different ways to register and decide what you want to donate. Learn here.

Half of all Canadians are fit to donate blood, but only 1 in 60 Canadians gave blood last year. Our organ donation rates are also lower than many countries, including the United States.

Quick link to check your eligibility – click here

The need for donors in Canada

In Canada, 52% of people say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products at some point in their lives. Our country also needs organ and tissue donors, but not enough Canadians have made plans to donate – 4500 people are waiting.

The need for blood donation

It takes many donors to help save a hospital patient. For example, it takes up to:

5 donors to save someone who needs heart surgery
50 donors to help save just 1 person seriously hurt in a car crash
8 donors a week to help someone going through treatment for leukemia

Some blood types are rare and powerful ! Understanding your blood type – learn more by clicking here

What happens to your donation? See summary below or Click here

Canadian Blood Services collects blood donations to be used to treat patients. Whole blood is separated into two main components:

Red blood cells carry oxygen to the organs and tissues, removing carbon dioxide through the lungs. It is used during emergencies, surgeries, and cancer treatments.
Plasma is a liquid containing many of the body’s proteins that help fight infection and help clotting. Plasma may be transfused directly to patients or may be further processed to purify the antibodies and albumin it contains. The antibodies (also known as immune globulins) are used to treat patients with weak immune systems. Albumin is mostly used in emergency care to treat trauma or burn victims who have lost large amounts of blood.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blood, donating blood, tradittion | 21 Comments

The Best Day

Posted on December 16, 2019 by dfolstad58

Nothing beats a heart warming story to put a smile on my face – better than hot chocolate on a winter morning ! Enjoy!
I remember the craziness of toboggans – it was an illusion that anyone could steer them LOL.
In Quesnel we would careen down a hill, bounce off a path and get air as we headed to a stand of trees ! And we loved it!

Storyshucker

The wind was brisk as friends and I plodded through crunchy snow to the top of the hill. Heavy snowfall during the night ended and now in the morning light it appeared as though someone sprinkled glitter across the accumulation. We blew into cupped hands to warm them as we surveyed the glistening slope.

Snow doesn’t fall often in Richmond and if it does it’s rarely deep. Today a good snow had finally come, so we had headed to Forest Hill Park with sleds in tow. We hoped to get in several early rides before crowds reduced the snow to slush, but already we heard muffled voices approaching from across the park.

A group of excited kids, probably half our ages, led two men and a woman in our direction. The children dragged sleds and pulled eagerly at the adults who were stepping through the fresh snow at a painfully…

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Posted in Just being creative | 7 Comments

Life and Random Thinking