FRIDAY APRIL 5TH, 2013

Once again it's TGIF day drinking in a 5th of Spring.  An overcast morning with a temperature of about minus 3 at Orr Lake although most of the weather sites have us at zero or above.  Most of the first half of the 80's were not much above zero, with 81 and 82 kind of cold.  30 years ago the high was plus 4 and a low of plus one with some sunshine. I saw a couple of people walking on the ice of Kempenfelt Bay and a couple of snowmobiles as well.  Maybe the ice is still thick but I think they are thick to be doing it. The Ice Out Car Plunged through the ice in 1980 on April 7th, and April 6th in 1985.


"THE MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR"

In 1614, Native Indian Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe. (not to be confused with musician Lawrence Welk when he asked TV producers many years later, "will the polka haunt us".
In 1621 The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth on it's return trip to England.
1772 saw the discovery of Easter Island by Jacob Roggeveen.
The year was 1806 Apple cider was patented by Isaac Quintard.
In 1842 The first public Museum was opened in Saint John, New Brunswick.
1889 the Sherlock Holmes tales started with "Adventure of  Copper Beeches,"
Firestone put their inflatable tires into production on this date in  1923.  That softened up the old car ride quite a bit.
On this day in 1936, Tupelo Mississippi was virtually annihilated by a Tornado, with 216 deaths.  That of course is Elvis's hometown where he was born 16 months earlier, on January 8th, of 1935 and his life was a WHIRLWIND starting with his first single "That's All Right" which was recorded in 1954 on this very date,  one source says but another says it was on July 5th instead. It was officially released on July 19th and sold around 20,000 copies which was not enough to get it on the charts.



The Louisiana Hayride was first Broadcast this week in 1948.  It came out of radios tuned to KWKH in Shreveport and was a very popular venue to play for acts like Elvis, Jim Reeves, Hank Williams, George Jones and many others.
In 1965, Lava Lamp Day was celebrated for the first time.
Frances Phipps became the first woman to reach the North Pole.  She was the wife of Canadian pilot Weldy Phipps.
In 1974 A.Y. Jackson died at the ripe old age of 91.  Alexander Young was a leading member of the Group of 7.
Apropos the the Elvis story, construction started on  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. April 18th Heart (based in Vancouver for a number of years) Randy Newman (yes, "Short People" will be allowed in) Public Enemy, and of course Canadian Super Group RUSH will be inducted among others.  Geddy Lee threw out the baseball to open the Jays 2013 season and the Jays lost, but he'll still get into the Hall of Fame although not the baseball Hall of Fame. The show will be shown April 18th on HBO.

BIRTHDAYS "WHO'S WHO" FOR TODAY....

In 1858, Atlee Burpee (yes that was his name) was born on this date in New Brunswick. He died in 1889 and built the largest Mail Order Seed Company in the world.
Gregory Peck (1916-2003) of Movie Fame such as Moby Dick and of course the Mexican Drinking Movie "Tequila Mockingbird"
Bette Davis was born on this date (1908-1989) immortalized by the great Kim Carnes tune "Bette Davis Eyes", Spencer Tracy was born as well (1990-1967) and remember Gale Storm (1922-2009).

Also born on todays date: Eric Burdon of the Animals (House of the Rising Sun) in 1941, Agnetha Faltskog of Abba is 63, Vince Gill is 56 (He was with the Pure Prairie League back in 1980 and was the lead singer on "Let me Love you Tonight" 



AND FINALLY.....

REMEMBER THE FAMOUS WORDS.....Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

mornin' everybody mornin'