"Some Kind of Wonderful"

Arriving late Sunday afternoon September 16th in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Pat took me on the last day of the Hamilton Crawl. 

Pat and I both like live music.  We were in luck. John Ellison, the composer of the song "Some Kind of Wonderful" was performing right in the center of Hamilton. 

The only live music event I ever attended in my life was Brasil 66 performing at the Philadelphia Academy of Music in 1966.  I had one of the cheap nosebleed seats way at the top of the Academy of Music auditorium.  I got to see the tops of the heads of Sergio Mendez and his group. Sound was great but visual, not so much.

This time was different.  Here I was going to see the man who wrote the song "Some Kind of Wonderful", John Ellison.  Prior to today I didn't know who wrote the song. 

Before performing his hit song, Mr. Ellison explained how he came to write the song.  That I didn't tape, too long.  Let's just say he was besotted with a lady he happened to meet by chance and wrote a song for her.

I was very impressed with Mr. Ellison, who happens to be the same age as me.  Don't I wish I had his energy and talent.  

So without further ado, here is my video of Mr. Ellison's performance of his song "Some Kind of Wonderful".  And I will say, my one week stay in Hamilton with my host Mr. Patrick Flynn was "Some Kind of Wonderful".

Now here is Grand Funk Railroad which made this song a hit. What do you think? I prefer John's version? What version do you like?

Arrived in Canada!

Day three of my week long stay in Canada visiting my friend Pat.

Pat picked me up at the Buffalo airport Sunday. My flight was delayed for almost an hour out of Philadelphia because of "mechanical problems."  Not a good sign.  But once we were in the air, there was no problem. A beautiful day for a flight.

I arrived in Hamilton with Pat to catch the tail end of the annual Crawl.  Pat said the streets weren't as jammed as they were earlier in the week but it was still pretty crowded.  A special treat was witnessing a live performance of "Some Kind of Wonderful" by the man who wrote that song, John Ellison.  I videotaped that performance and will post it in a future post. I hope I don't have copyright issues with You Tube.

I'm typing this blog post from my Macbook which isn't quite as flexible as when I type my blog from my iMac at home. I won't be able to post as many photos and videos from this source. Rest assured I will catch up when I get home.  You know me and my photos and videos.

Yesterday Pat took me on a tour of Hamilton. So many changes in this former steel town of five hundred thousand so so souls that is undergoing a renovation to a millennial destination. Pat moved here from overcrowded Toronto as many others have done. He loves Hamilton!

I brought along the first season of "Game of Thrones", which Pat can't get on his Canadian version of Netflix. We watched the first show last night. We're not binge watching yet but I think once I get Pat hooked, we probably will. I know I am enjoying watching the show again, now I understand a lot more that passed by me when I first watched this show.

Pat is at yoga now.  I'm catching up on my e-mail, blog posting and the latest news on the Kavanaugh nomination to the Supreme Court. You didn't think I would miss the news did you?  

The weather has been almost a perfect low 70's an sun since I've arrived in Canada. 

Life is good folks.

Have a great day!

More Hamilton Ontario Canada Dancing Guy

Whenever I want to feel good, I just look at one of these videos that my Canadian pal Pat sends to me of the Hamilton Dancing Guy.  This is the latest.  Man, what talent this guy has. Here he dances to country music. Always makes me smile and feel good all over when I see this guy just enjoy life with total abandon. 

Enjoy!

      

More Dancing Man of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Pat sent me a couple more videos he took of the dancing in Gore Park, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Gore Park is located directly outside the renovated Royal Connaught Hotel, where Pat has his luxurious condo on the fourteenth floor.  

Several days each week a band and/or singer performs for free at Gore Park for the entertainment of the locals and visitors, like I will be in two weeks.  

Pat was so impressed with one gentleman dancer that he sent me a couple of short videos last week.  I too was impressed and made a short movie of this gentleman dancer, who I think dances like Fred Astaire.  I posted that video to You Tube and also on my blog. If you saw it, you'll notice that I had an intro to that video.  Looking at that video now, I realize my intro was too long and actually unnecessary.  Thus I have made another movie without the intro.  When you look at the video you'll see that no intro is necessary.  I love this guy free spirit!

I will be in Hamilton visiting Pat from September 16th through September 23rd.  I hope to meet this gentleman dancer.  I am curious if he was a professional dancer sometime in his life.  I find him vastly more entertaining that any of those showboats on Dancing With The Stars. 

I hope you enjoy this movie as much as I did making it.

Have a great day!

The Dancing Man of Hamilton Ontario Canada

This morning I put together these video clips that my Canadian friend and travel buddy Pat sent to me of the Dancing Man of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Pat lives in downtown Hamilton, in an old historic hotel which converted to condominiums.  Right outside his hotel is Gore Park. During the summer there are free concerts. Hamiltonians gather at the tables to enjoy the music and balmy summer weather.  Occasionally some get up and dance to the music (shades of Sly and the Family Stone).  This short movie I made of the video clips Pat sent to me over his iPhone is of one gentleman who has some real Fred Astaire dancing moves. 

I hope you get as much pleasure as I do from seeing this gentleman dancing. 

Pat's New Home

Pat relaxing in his living room

This is what retirement looks like folks. This is my friend Pat's new home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Pat purchased a condo on the 10th floor of the former Royal Connaught Hotel in Hamilton. 

Royal Connaught Hotel Condos, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The total square feet is 548 (I think) which consists of an open "great" room which consists of a kitchen and living room and a dining area. 

Pat his his kitchen

 He has one bedroom and one bathroom.  All amenities are top of the line. Pat is the only one tenant on his floor at this time.

Pat and me in front of his new home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Pat now has a big flat screen TV in his living room. No more streaming movies from his tiny iPhone.




When I visited Pat in September, his air conditioning unit wasn't working properly. Because one whole wall is all windows, and the unusual heat in Hamilton during September, his condo was too hot for my fragile body temperature.  I had to book a hotel room at the nearby Sheraton for most of my stay. I went back to Pat's condo the last two days, after he had blinds installed which cut down on the heat.  




I have to say, after seeing the convenience and efficiency of Pat's condo, I am tempted to toss all my "things" and go condo like Pat.  I may do this eventually anyway as I get older.  

Below is a mini tour of Pat's mini condo. This is living!