one last time...

Here's our final instalment of magic's biggest reveals. We have another new video series coming soon.

 

ORIGINALLY POSTED IN 2017  |  PHOTOS & TEXT: JIM STEEL | LAYOUT: SCRIBBLES

They're Grrrrrrr-reat!

Before you pour your love into someone else, fill yourself up first

classic scribbles comic...

SCRIBBLES ORIGINAL COMIC | CIRCA MID 80'S

editorial... What a Difference a Month Makes

Hello Friends,  Just over a month ago I presented a group of new Scribbles posts. That feels like a lifetime ago now that our world has been turned upside down and inside out. It’s hard to compare this pandemic to another era from our past because (thankfully) there hasn’t been a time quite like this before.

But within all the abrupt changes, hysteria and anxiety regarding what happens next, we have also seen incredible acts of strength, kindness and creativity.

Doctors, nurses and others in the medical field have faced the enemy with bravery and determination. Federal, provincial and local governments have put their differences aside to work together with our best interests in mind.

Businesses have come up with new ways to serve their clientele online, via drive-thru's and with curbside pickups. Grocery stores have gone above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of their devoted employees and customers. Factories have been retrofitted to produce much-needed supplies including ventilators, masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.

The entertainment industry had come up with creative ways for self isolating fans to listen to live music with living room concerts. Online there’s virtual visits available to tour museums, zoos and amusement parks from around the world.

And individuals have stepped up to ensure family, friends and neighbours are safe and have food to eat, all while keeping within a safe distance from one another.

Last week, we presented a series of encores with the goal of making you feel happy. Today we offer over 20 all new posts to continue making you smile. I figured y'all have lots of time so why not give you lots of posts to enjoy.

Love Ken

It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it

– Lou Holtz

The Glad Hatter

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself

– George Bernard Shaw

Green Outshines Blue

Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be

– Sonia Ricotti

meow...

We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope

-Martin Luther King

Petite Puppy Power

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again 

― Gautama Buddha

Tanya Tucker Brings Her Tour to Niagara & We Were There!

PHOTO COURTESY TANYA TUCKER WEBSITE

Before I dive in to my review, let me give you a brief back story. Ever since I was in my late teens, I have loved Tanya Tucker. Her bad girl reputation and scandalous romances, which the tabloids loved to exploit, always intrigued me. When I was in my 30’s, I played Tanya’s song ‘Nobody Dies From a Broken Heart’ repeatedly after a nasty breakup. Its lyrics expressed exactly what I was feeling and listening to her words felt kinda like a warm, comfie blanket on a bitter cold night.

Fast forward to this past January. Glancing through the local weekly newspaper I saw an ad that made me nearly fall off my chair. The one and only Tanya Tucker was coming to St. Catharines on March 5th. I was in a state of disbelief.

My mother’s birthday is in February. “I bet she’d enjoy seeing Tanya Tucker too”, I immediately thought. I went online and discovered there were limited tickets still available. Although they were reasonably priced, as far as concerts go, they were still quite a bit more than I had budgeted for mom’s birthday gift. I stepped away from my laptop and put the idea out of my head.....well, at least that’s what I tried to do. That night I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, second guessing my decision. “How often will Tanya Tucker be in St. Catharines?” I pondered, “Mom will be so surprised,” and the one that sealed the deal...“You will be kicking your ass on show night if you don’t get tickets.” That's all it took.

TANYA'S DOG STELLA JOINED THE SHOW
PHOTO COURTESY TANYA TUCKER FACEBOOK PAGE

I leaped out of bed, grabbed my Mastercard, went to venue’s website and ordered two tickets. Now quite happy and relieved, I was able to finally get some sleep.

As expected, mom was indeed surprised to open her birthday card from me and see two tickets to Tucker’s show. I knew mom hadn’t been to the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) before, but I didn’t know until she got my gift, that she had also never ever been to a concert before. This added yet another layer of excitement to the event.

I made sure we arrived early the night of the show. There was limited Tanya Tucker swag for sale inside the PAC lobby, but I still managed to get an autographed photo and cowboy boot shaped beer koozie with Tanya’s logo embossed on it.

The entertainment started promptly at 7:30 pm with opening act Madison Kozak. The 22 year old is originally from Ontario, but she’s called Nashville home since she was 14. It was just Madison and her guitar for an approximately 40 minute set. An intermission followed, which some restless concert-goers felt was a bit long. I however didn’t mind, as it gave me more time to get even more pumped up.

And then it began. Tanya’s band members took to the stage first. There was a drummer, 3 acoustic guitar players, a keyboard player and two backup vocalists, one of whom was Tanya’s 30 year old daughter Presley Tanita Tucker.

The band began to play, I recognized the tune immediately. It was an extended intro to the hit ‘Trouble’ and a minute or so later, out strutted the country legend herself, looking fabulous dressed in leather, topped off with a stylish black cowboy hat. “WOO HOO!!!” I exclaimed loudly.

Tucker, 61, recorded her first number one hit ‘Delta Dawn’ at the tender age of 14. With a catalog of music that spans almost 5 decades, there was no shortage of chart toppers in the lineup, including several selections from her recent Grammy winning album While I’m Livin’.

The extremely personable Tucker shared stories of her life and music with the audience between songs. At one point they brought out her bulldog Stella. Tanya spoke of her love for the spotlight stealing dog, who didn’t want to return backstage. As a result, Stella amused us all, tagging along behind Tanya throughout the next song. It was very endearing.

After performing her current hit ‘Bring My Flowers Now’, several people in the crowd did precisely that, bringing bouquets to the front of the stage. Tanya was very grateful.

The show concluded around 10:15 pm. There was no encore, however after the final song, the band resumed playing while Tucker signed autographs and posed for pix, before blowing us all a big kiss and leaving the stage.

It was a show I will always remember with much fondness and one that would have been cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic, had it been slated to happen a week or so later. WHEW! Now that would have indeed been ‘Some Kind of Trouble’.

She Loves Her Timmies

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail

– Benjamin Franklin

joe friday...

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again

 ― Gautama Buddha

You just can’t beat the person who never gives up

 – Babe Ruth

No Lights. No Camera. No Action...

I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination

~ Jimmy Dean

Dog's Best Friend!

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones

– Confucius

your words.... Rich Hunt Tells His Story

Lordy. Lordy, Look Who's Forty (Times Two)

Pursue what catches your heart, not what catches your eyes 

– Roy T. Bennett

documentary... The Secret Life of Cats

Did you know almost every known Scribbles friend has a pet? Dog are big on the list -both figuratively and literally- but it's the cat that rules this Nature of Things documentary. Narrated by David Suzuki The Secret Life of Cats is informative and a purrfect way to spend the next 45 minutes.