Today, the CBC reported yet another shooting in Calgary. 2 dead and 2 injured. Just people in a restaurant, having dinner. What the hell is going on?

I was born and raised in the city of Calgary, and we never had to deal with this kind of shit. Cold blooded murders were few and far between. It was a relatively peaceful city. You could wait for a bus at 1:00am without any fear. You could walk down the street and complete strangers would smile at you and say good morning. It was a really nice city to live in. Now it's all changed.

I suppose it's the price you pay for progress and growth. Once a city becomes a huge economic center, it inevitably attracts the criminal element. The more money there is, the more criminals there are. I guess it's true what they say, that the love of money is the root of all evil. It's a big city now, and that's all there is to it.

I suppose I'm just being nostalgic. Remembering a time long past, when Calgary was just a cow town, and people live without fear. It just seems a shame when you can't even go to a restaurant without the fear of finding yourself in the middle of a shooting. In the immortal words of the Kinks, "Where have all the good times gone?".

Farewell, My Beloved Tygress

Recently, I parted company with a dear old friend. Tygress. My electric guitar. An Ibanez Roadstar Custom, with a beautiful metallic red glossy finish and three of the most superb sounding pickups that you've ever heard.

She was my pride and joy, for so many years. So many times when I was down she would pick me up. To me she was more than a guitar, she was a beautiful lady. Almost a lover. So many ecstatic hours she spent in my loving embrace.

But then, for some reason that I still don't understand, I just kind of lost the desire to play. I would take her out only on rare occasions for nostalgia's sake, but for months at a time she would just sit there collecting dust. What a terrible waste for such a beautiful instrument.

One night, after a few too many glasses of red wine, I sat there looking at her and decided that she deserved better. She should be played all the time. The thought of selling her was unthinkable, but I know someone who'll take wonderful care of her and give her all the attention that she deserves. My nephew Mike.

As long as I live, I will never forget the look on Mike's face when I asked him: " Mike, do you want Tygress?". It was a look of sheer longing and disbelief. When I was in the hospital, he looked after her for me, and I think he fell in love with her. For anyone who love's guitar, it's hard not to.

I'm very proud of my nephew Micheal, and I'm glad to know that Tygress is his now. She's going to be well taken care of. Spoiled even. I hope that she brings him as much pleasure as she brought me.

Farewell, old friend, and take care.