O Connie, O Connie, I miss you so

Hey all my loyal readers. Yes once again back is the incredible, the one, the only, the . . .





BEARDED BACKPACKER

I wish to send a very Happy Halloween to everyone out there in internet land. May your partying and candy eating be grand. This year I am dressing up as the Backpacker as I bring more goodwill and joy to people everywhere. Isn't that scary. Me the grumpiest guy this side of the 100th meridian planning to bring joy to the world on the most scary of days. Whooo hoo hoo hoo hoo.

So you may have thought I should have included the lyrics of the monster mash as the title to my post here today, but Connie reminded me that I have been lazy in my duties as the Backpacker so I wanted to give her a shout out. I do miss Connie though and her unhealthy allegiance to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Canadiens. What is with that. I hope things continue to go well for you this year.

Hey I wanted to say congrats to Nic on his new eyes. I'm glad because he and glasses just didn't belong together. Will this make him a better hockey player or lead him into police work, we will have to wait and see. I say good luck.

I also want to pay tribute to one of the wackiest and best dogs I have ever known. He always had bad breath and some wild and crazy hair and in a lot of ways reminded me of myself some days. He wouldn't shut up, but we loved him for it. I want to say so long to our dear friend Pepsi, he passed away last month. I really do miss his cute little face and his arthritic walk and his inability to jump on the bed because he was too short. He made me smile every time I saw him. I'll miss him even more now that he's gone.

So as you may have heard I have started to work on video presentation of interior shots of me and Calgary. I hope to make it available in the next month or so so keep an eye out for that.

Alright well I'll leave it at that for now.

Have a Happy Halloween

I was working in the lab late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my monster from his slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise
He did the mash
He did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
He did the mash
It caught on in a flash
He did the mash
He did the monster mash
From my laboratory in the castle east
To the master bedroom where the vampires feast
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes
They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They did the mash
It caught on in a flash
They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolf Man
Dracula and his son
The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds
The coffin-bangers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, "The Crypt-Kicker Five"
They played the mash
They played the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They played the mash
It caught on in a flash
They played the mash
They played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring
Seems he was troubled by just one thing
He opened the lid and shook his fist
And said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?"


It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash
The monster mash
And it's a graveyard smash
It's now the mash
It's caught on in a flash
It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash
Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band
And my monster mash is the hit of the land
For you, the living, this mash was meant too
When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you
Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash
The monster mash
And do my graveyard smash
Then you can mash
You'll catch on in a flash
Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash

Na, na, na, Gonna have a good time

I don't know about you, but I thought this may have actually been a monumental moment in my Blog. The last post was the 25th post I have put on this fabulous page and I think it deserves some sort of recognition if not a celebration.

Hi am the author of this blog, the internet's Litton Wickenheiser. I started this blog as way to share the experiences I am enjoying in Calgary with my good friends back in the O-town, my parents and of course those who know me everywhere else in the world.

So to all you playas I want say to say Thanks, Merci, Kiitos, Gracias etc etc . . . for giving me the inspiration to come here once a week or so and belt out a few lines of the crazy thoughts going on in my head.

I think I will celebrate this momentous occasion by reflecting on some of the highlights of this journey, the Bearded Backpacker retro.

Well the adventures began after I attended the Erin Mills stampede stomp and was the master of the Sumo Pit. I declared my dominance that day pushing and hurting anyone who dared get in my way. I HAVE THE POWER!!!!!!!!!!!

The stampede brought some early highlights to the blog as I took in free breakfasts and rodeo fun.

Following that it was the adventures with my parents as they came to visit their beloved son in the New West. We had a lot of fun, what with the Rocky Mountains, West Edmonton Mall and promiscuous zoo animals. All good times.

After that I kind of disappeared and reappeared celebrating the wedding of my Brother in Christ, the one the only Jimmy James E. It was a blast and I had tonnes of fun. Plus I got to check back in with a lot of the great people I left back in Ottawa. You guys still mean a lot. Never let anyone tell you different.


After that I just kind of went off the rails and my mind took over the blogging without me having any control. Where does this mean we're going, I don't know.

I think I will just try and keep it light with a few biting commentaries if possible.

An update on my reality show audition is that I don't believe this one is meant to be, but that's okay. I think there will be other opportunities. I need to be on TV.

I want to leave you here with the lyrics of another song. It was from one of my favourite shows growing up, The Electric Company.
Morgan Freeman was one of the regulars of the cast. It rocked and taught me a lot and I believe is a very appropriate celebration song. So read the lyrics here and hit the link at the bottom. Hopefully it will bring you to an actual video of the opening credits for the show.

HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!
Moving out in a new way
Moving out in a new way
We're gonna turn it on (turn it on)
We're gonna bring you the power (you can do it)
We're gonna light the dark of night like the brightest day in a whole new way
We're Gonna Turn it On (do do do)
We're Gonna Bring you the Power (do do do do)
We're gonna tell you the truest words that you heard anybody say
Moving out in a new way
Moving out in a new way
We're gonna turn it on
We're gonna bring you the power
It's coming down the lines, strong as they can be through the courtesy of the Electric Company

That's right the Electric Company.
Give it a chance to load up.

Alright friends. I gots to go. Have a great day and look forward to the next 25 posts, This was number 1

Later

And i think it's gonna be a long long time

I don't know about you, but I'm finding the start of this NHL season to be the most scrutinized and most intensly analyzed hockey season in my hockey watching life. It does not seem to matter what I am watching or reading, but you'd swear it was at least mid season with the way 'pundits' like Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun are getting all worked up.
I'd bet you that Mr. Garrioch would love to have half the Ottawa Senators team traded just because they started 1 and 2. Why are guys who look like they can't skate or even hold a hockey stick allowed to make so many outrageous claims about this sport.

Here are more examples of early season wackiness. You should know I'm no fan of the Maple Leafs, but after their loss to the Sens they were getting written off. IT WAS ONE GAME PEOPLE!! The Buffalo Sabres win two games, one in a shoot out and another in the last minute and their going to the cup. Everyone is so quick to be a bandwagon jumper its embarrassing. I know we can look back on the last two cup winners and both the Lightning and Hurricanes had awesome starts to the season, but both were almost beaten by teams who people had written off halfway through the season.

I guess I'm just sick of these half wits who figure Calgary Flames goalie Mikka Kiprusoff is done because he has a bad pre-season game. Or the Sens can never overcome the absence of Chara. There is more than Chara not being on the team. Yeah he was a presence, but the defensive problems the team has have more to do with the fact the team is missing new team member Joe Corvo to injury and everyone else is playing with a different partner or the opposite side. Give them time to get it together before having a panic attack.

Anyway I truly believe that people are taking hockey way too seriously now. I don't like losing to the leafs, but in reality it doesn't really matter for the Sens anymore. Teams are going to lose games during the season. Last year the Sens may have started the season 3 and 0, but two of the wins were in shootout and once they had to come from behind and the other they blew a big lead before winning in the penalty shots.

Anyway I had to rant because I have this sense that too many people are pinning what happens in the first week of the season on their team's chances of winning the cup.

Come on.

We all need to take a breath people

Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of dakota

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian fans. As it is the time to be thankful I guess there is a number of things I can say thanks to. I guess the return of the NHL was one thing that I was really happy to have back after the one year lockout. I had a lot of fun last season going to the Corel Centre slash Scotiabank Place to watch the Senators play. I guess it will suck a bit this year that I won't have a chance to see my favourite team in person, but I got in a lot of games last year to hold me over.

Another thing I'm very thankful for is the series of events that led to me moving to Calgary. I'm really glad that I actually did take that chance and moved across the country. I'm thankful for all the support I received from my friends and family during a pretty stressful time.

I have to give a lot of thanks to the support and place to stay the Double B's, C and Two D provided me with when I first arrived in Cowtown.

I'm also thankful for the great people I have met in my short time in Calgary.

Anyway to summarize, Thanks

Well I will leave it that. I want y'all to enjoy your turkey or tofurkey and remember to give thanks.

Oh before I leave I'd like to share the lyrics to a classic Yes tune

Ive seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied Im on my way.
Ive seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied Im on my way.

Take a straight and stronger course to the corner of your life.
Make the white queen run so fast
She hasnt got time to make you a wife.

cause its time, its time in time
With your time and its news is captured
For the queen to use.
Move me on to any black square,
Use me any time you want,
Just remember that the gold
sfor us to capture all we want, anywhere,
Yea, yea, yea.

Dont surround yourself with yourself,
Move on back two squares,
Send an instant karma to me,
Initial it with loving care
Dont surround
Yourself.

cause its time, its time in time
With your time and its news is captured
For the queen to use.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit dont surround
Didda. - yourself with yourself.
Dont surround yourself with yourself, dont surround yourself.
Move on back two squares,
Send an instant karma to me, send an instant
Initial it with loving care karma to me. dont surround yourself.

cause its time, its time in time
With your time and its news is captured
For the queen to use.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda.

cause its time, its time in time
With your time and its news is captured.

Ii. all good people

Ive seen all good people turn their heads
Each day so satisfied Im on my way.
Yea, yea.
Ive seen all good people turn their heads
Each day so satisfied Im on my way.

Were's moving on up

I'm a big fan of television and the movies, anyone who knows me knows this. That is why I was really excited this week when I had the opportunity to audition for a reality type television show. The show is called Letters, or something like that, and it will pit 10 men in a free for all of love.

The contestants will attempt to win the affection of a women solely through their talents with the written word. Being on the show would allow me to reach my goal of being on television. Sure I was on TV back when I was 13 and my class took part in The Thunder Bay Televison Young Producers. Still I didn't appreciate the experience. I played the chef in the sketch, 'Mr Roger's Solar System.' The theme of the show was space I think, it was such a long time ago.

To the East Side

Anyway let me set the scene. I happened to be cooking something when Mr. Rogers walks in and asks me what I'm doing? My line was 'I'm cooking Mr. Rogers.' Shortly after the kitchen explodes and the laughter begins. I remember watching the episode as a kid and laughing at myself so hard that it hurt. I unfortunately do not have a copy of the show. It is one of the regrets of my life.

A side note of that production is that Kevin Durand, who has appeared in such films as 'Walking Tall' and 'The Butterfly Effect', was the host of our little production. Its awesome baby.

Yeah so I don't know if anything will come from this little audition, but it has made me think about whether or not I should consider getting involved in some other types of productions, maybe some type of one man show or the shakespeare in the park, I dunno. We will have to see where the wind guides me as a float atop a giant leaf, breaking free in the autumn from the mighty oak and drifting slowly, but surely to the earth. I am holding tight on this botany fueled adventure and so far I like it.

Anyway if my fans out there can think positive thoughts about this opportunity that would be great.

To a deluxe apartment in the sky

Before I go, there was something else I was wondering about. Did the Road Runner and Speedy Gonzales ever race one another? I don't seem to recall. I know the Hanna Barbera characters always had some sort of Olympic type event, but not the Warner Bros.In any case I'm thinking that Road Runner would have to win just because of his longer legs. I mean I'm not taking anything away from Speedy, the dude is quick, but he has to expend so much more energy to cover the same area. Of course he does deal with a lot less wind resistence because of his smaller body and his closeness to the ground. It is a debate that will rage on until these two champions of speed, race. If it has already happen, let me know. I GOTS TO KNOW,


Alrighty then Dudes and Dudettes. That's it for me tonight and I hope you can stay tuned for a new episode of Golden Girls. Tonight, Blanche and Dorothy fight over the same younger man. Let the laughter ensue.

We finally got a piece of the pie!