The Kingston Trio

January 16, 2023

“Where have all the flowers gone” by The Kingston Trio was for me a revolution. Yes I know Pete Seeger wrote it but back then I never hear of him. To me The Kingston Trio was a revolution. Growing up in the Northern Midwest I was weaned on Lawerence Welk and the big band music from the top floor of the Hotel Blackhawk. Then The Kingston Trio came along with a couple guitars and lyrics with issues other than “teen anguish” – like “Tom Dooley” and “The MTA”

They were an early folk group I suppose although the they pre-Dated the folk music surge. From Hawaii and California they were also the first wave of alternative music from the west coast.

This is one of my songs on my “Peace” playlist which I listen to when the world gets me down (more on that in the next post)

To be fair another wind of change was blowing though our community at that time. My older brother, Jim, was into a different genre with artists like Bo Diddley and James Brown.

On the Pop stations yet another style was gaining popularity – pop music with songs like “A thousand stars in the sky” by Linda Scott and “Sherry Baby” by The Four Seasons. We called it “Pretty Rock” with a look of disgust.

This was al Pre-Bob-Dylan who totally, totally overturned the apple cart. He appeared at the perfect time in the sixties along with rioting in the streets, Vietnam protests, equal opportunity, cancer warnings on cigarettes, the pill, the Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King assassinations, and the list goes on and on

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Our 2022

January 5, 2023

Seems like 2022 just started and now we are in 2023. All in all 2022 was a good year for us.  Gwen’s PSP is progressing slowly. There were things she could do last January she can’t do now but the specialist tells us her progression is much slower than normal for people with PSP.

On a happier note we were able to travel some this year after several years hunkered down at home because of the COVID pandemic. However, we had to postpone our major trip of the year which was a Baltic Cruise on Viking because we contracted COVID just before the trip was scheduled. We have rescheduled it for this year and looking forward to the cruise.

We had no major medical problems other than Gwen’s PSP of which there is no cure. I did contract an infection in my leg which caused the leg to swell up below the knee quite noticeably. I’ve no idea how the leg became infected. It’s the leg I burned severely when I was four and has been a problem off and on my whole life. 

That’s about it for the highlights. A summary of our year ordered by date is below:

  • 02/02: Purchased a Mac Air M1 to replace my 10 year old laptop – My this baby can fly
  • 02/09: Started the implant process on 2 teeth. Pulled the teeth and did a bone graft
  • 02/17-20: San Diego with the Neustadt’s. We stayed at a house right on Mission Beach. The highlights were the beach, Sea World, and an evening picnic on the beach watching the sunset
  • 03/29: Lowered our bed because Gwen cannot climb in and get our of the bed without my help
  • 04/19-22: Las Vegas holiday just Gwen and myself. We saw Mystere, a show good for children, which we liked very much. Our most memorable meal was at Carmine’s in Caesar’s forum shops
  • 05/16: Replaced two motors in the attic that opened and closed vents
  • 06/10: Canceled our Viking Baltic cruise because we both had COVID
  • 07/07-10: Erin Olson’s wedding in Troy Ohio. Sara and Paxson traveled with us. A good time was had by all. The highlight besides visiting with family and the wedding was the day we spent at the Air Force Museum 
  • 07/13: Posts for the implants installed in my mouth – not fun
  • 08/12: Married to Gwen 50 years – seems like yesterday
  • 08/17-22: Steamboat Springs holiday
  • 08/25: I have hearing aids now
  • 09/08: Queen Elizabeth passed away – the longest reigning English monarch
  • 09/21-26: Sedona and Scottsdale holiday
  • 09/28: The doctor says I have two broken toes, an infection in my leg, and massive swelling in my foot and leg – way too much to be caused by the broken toes. Turns out the infection caused the swelling. After the antibiotics cured the infection the leg and foot returned to normal. The process took three weeks.
  • 10/14: Replaced the HP Ink Jet printer with an Epson Tank printer. The HP still worked but I was tired of spending $100 for new ink cartridges
  • 11/08: Replaced Gwen’s iPad – the old one would not hold a charge anymore and the home button worked intermittently 
  • 12/10: Bought a new backpack after all these years with the old one. This backpack is a Tom Bihn that cost way too much $$$ but it is so cool.

Now, time to forget the past and forge into 2023 with both eyes wide open. Themes for this year are fighting Gwen’s PSP and travel.

Motto for the year: “Live everyday like this is your last day and learn like you will live forever”

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Posted by molson46