A QUICK SUBARU TRIP TO STRATFORD ONTARIO AND BACK AGAIN TODAY

 HEADING EAST UNDER A HEAVY GRAY CLOUD COVER EARLIER TODAY

It was just me in the Subaru heading to the Stratford Subaru dealer this morning.  Subie was overdue for an oil change and they managed fit me in this morning at 10:30.  I rolled out of the driveway under a heavy cloud cover but at least it wasn't raining and Tuesday's gusting winds had stopped overnight.  And, once again you can tell that the majority of today's photos were taken through Subie's windshield or side windows while on the move.  I think of every 100 photos I take, two-thirds of them are taken right from the driver's seat of either the Jeep or the Subaru.  I guess you could call them 'Al's drive-by shootings'.

 I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS FELLOW IS CUTTING BUT NOTICE THE BIG TRACKS ON THE MACHINE INSTEAD OF TIRES....OBLIVIOUSLY BETTER TRACTION FOR MUDDY FIELDS

 ALL THAT STEAM IS EMANATING FROM CORN DRIYERS WEST OF MITCHELL ONTARIO

 I GOT ANOTHER WINDMILL FOR YA MIKE  (IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIEND,  ARIZONA'S MIKE McFALL)

 GRAIN WAGONS LINED UP FOR THE CORN HARVEST

There are 3 routes between our place and Stratford.  The northern route, the center route, and the southern route.  The center route is most direct but has a number of small towns along the way plus all of Stratford to go through to reach Subaru so I never go that way.  This morning, after gassing up in Clinton I took the northern route to Stratford's north end then around the city east to the Subaru dealership.  I came home the southern route two hours later which followed Stratford's Lorne Avenue west out Stratford.  

I GOT ANOTHER WINDMILL FOR YA MIKE....(IN MEMORY OF  OUR ARIZONA RV FRIEND  MIKE McFALL)

Kelly had noticed the Subaru pulling to the right a few days ago and I noticed it doing that on my way to Stratford this morning as well.  So, while at the Subaru dealer for an oil change I mentioned it to them and they determined Subie needed a front-end wheel alignment.  So, they did that and they were right because later on the way home there was no more pulling to the right.  I prefer having my oil changes done there because they automatically check out and go over a number of things on the car, plus top up all the fluids, check tire pressures, and when it's all done they wash the car as well.  Yes, it may cost a little more at the Subaru dealer than other places doing the oil change but I always leave there feeling confident that everything is in order and working fine.  Thanks David:))

 A NEW SUBARU FORESTER SPORT IN THE SHOWROOM

 I LIKE THE RED STITCHING IN THE SEATS AND THE ORANGE HIGHLIGHTS

 SITTING IN SUBARU'S WAITING ROOM WITH MY KINDLE READER

After departing the Subaru dealership I made a stop at Wendy's for a 'Dave's Double Burger'. Wisening up this time, I made sure my lap was covered up and protected from the usual mustard, ketchup, onions, cheese, tomatoes, butterscotch sauce, ice cream, lettuce, pickles, and burger grease.  And, by golly it worked, and I didn't muck my pants up for a change.  However, had they been clean pants this morning there is no doubt a gust of wind would have come in through my open window and blown my protective splash cover right off my pants.  A split second later there would have been a ker-splat and, well you know...........

 I GOT MY PANTS WELL PROTECTED THIS TIME

A nice drive home on dry roads kept the car clean for our drive to London Thursday morning.  Isn't it amazing how a clean vehicle always seems to run so much better than a dirty one.  Quieter, smoother, and more zip.  So, there you are.  If you want your vehicle to run better, just go out and wash it eh:))  And, it's another early start for us again in the morning.  We are both looking forward to Friday morning when we can wake up with absolutely no particular place to go...........     

 HEADING HOME I NOTICED THIS FELLOW OUT DOING SOME PLOWING

Al's Music Box:)) The Sloop John B by the Beachboys.  The Kingston Trio's 1958 recording of "The John B. Sails" was recorded under the title "The Wreck of the John B." It was the direct influence on the Beach Boys' version. The Beach Boys' Al Jardine was a keen folk music fan, and he suggested to Brian Wilson that the Beach Boys should record the song. As Jardine explains:  Brian was at the piano. I asked him if I could sit down and show him something. I laid out the chord pattern for 'Sloop John B.' I said, 'Remember this song?' I played it. He said, 'I'm not a big fan of the Kingston Trio.' He wasn't into folk music. But I didn't give up on the idea. So what I did was to sit down and play it for him in the Beach Boys idiom. I figured if I gave it to him in the right light, he might end up believing in it. So I modified the chord changes so it would be a little more interesting. The original song is basically a three-chord song, and I knew that wouldn't fly.  So I put some minor changes in there, and it stretched out the possibilities from a vocal point of view. Anyway, I played it, walked away from the piano and we went back to work. The very next day, I got a phone call to come down to the studio. Brian played the song for me, and I was blown away. The idea stage to the completed track took less than 24 hours.  Wilson elected to change some lyrics: "this is the worst trip since I've been born" to "this is the worst trip I've ever been on", "I feel so break up" to "I feel so broke up", and "broke up the people's trunk" to "broke in the captain's trunk". The first lyric change has been suggested by some to be a subtle nod to the 1960s psychedelia subculture.  The instrumental section of the song was recorded on July 12, 1965, at United Western Recorders, Hollywood, California, the session being engineered by Chuck Britz and produced by Brian Wilson. The master take of the instrumental backing took fourteen takes to achieve. Wilson's arrangement blended rock and marching band instrumentation with the use of flutes, glockenspiel, baritone saxophone, bass, guitar, and drums.  The vocal tracks were recorded over two sessions. The first was recorded on December 22, 1965, at Western Recorders, produced by Wilson. The second, on December 29, added a new lead vocal and Billy Strange's 12-string electric guitar part. Jardine explained that Wilson "lined us up one at a time to try out for the lead vocal. I had naturally assumed I would sing the lead since I had brought in the arrangement. It was like interviewing for a job. Pretty funny. He didn't like any of us. My vocal had a much more mellow approach because I was bringing it from the folk idiom. For the radio, we needed a more rock approach. Wilson and Mike Love ended up singing it."  On the final recording, Brian Wilson sang the first and third verses and Mike Love sang the second.  Kent Hartman, in his book The Wrecking Crew, described Billy Strange's contribution to the song. Brian Wilson called Strange into the studio one Sunday, played him the rough recording, and told him he needed an electric twelve-string guitar solo in the middle of the track. When Strange replied that he did not own a twelve string, Wilson responded by calling Glenn Wallichs, the head of Capitol Records and owner of Wallichs Music City.  A Fender Electric XII and Twin Reverb amplifier were quickly delivered (despite the shop they were ordered from being closed on Sundays), and Strange recorded the guitar part in one take. Wilson then gave Strange $2,000 to cover the cost of the equipment.

 ON MY WAY TO STRATFORD THIS MORNING I NOTICED THIS LITTLE FELLOW NORTHWEST OF SEAFORTH ONTARIO

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Once upon a time Dracula decided to carry out some sort of a competition to see which is the finest bat to stand on his side. So all the bats were honored to take part. The rules were simple. Whichever bat drinks more blood, will be the winner? So the first bat goes and comes back after 10 minutes. Her mouth was full of blood. Dracula says: "Congratulations, how did you do that?" The bat said: "Do you see that tower? Behind it there is a house. I went in and sucked the blood of all the family". "Very good" said Dracula. The second bat goes and comes back after 5 minutes all her face covered in blood. Dracula astonished says, "How did you do that?" The bat replies " Do you see that tower? Behind it there is a school. I went in and drunk the blood of all the children". "Impressive," said Dracula. Now the third bat goes and comes back after three minutes literally covered in blood from top to toe and looking battered. Dracula is stunned. "How on earth did you do that????" he asked. And the bat replies. "Do you see that tower?" Dracula replies with a yes. And the bat says "Well, I didn't".

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You might be a redneck if...

You don't know what a redneck is.

You're still upset that they canceled "The Dukes of Hazzard".

You thought ER was ET's cousin.

You think a strip joint is where they disassemble cars.

You are in 6th grade and the only one in your family that can write your name.

You've ever been stuck in your own driveway.

You refer to your dog as the dishwasher.

Your car is made out of 17 others and each part is a different color.

You repair your car in the Autoparts store parking lot.

You can name all the characters from the "Dukes of Hazzard".

You recite lines from "The Dukes of Hazzard".

You keep track of all the belt holders in all the wrestling leagues.

You got married in the family car, in a drive-thru chapel.

You search your computer monitor for the dial that changes channels.

You just bought your family their first Atari game system.

You and your wife celebrate your anniversary at the K-mart cafeteria.

You think the only tools "real men" need are duck tape and caulk, and you have successful repair projects to prove it.

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