November 16, 2024
Gentlemen.
“♫When the gales of November came early♫” Well, they certainly did this week. Gordon Lightfoot may have been referring to the weather that felled the Edmund Fitzgerald, but he could very well have been talking about Dartmouth this week. Crazy! Anyway, all the leaves are now conveniently piled in the corner of the yard waiting to be raked into over-sized lunch bags. Let’s get to the Club happenings.
We're gonna need a bigger boat!
TGIF DRAW
The name selected in this week’s TGIF draw was Garth Burns. Unfortunately for Garth, and fortunately for the rest of the members, he was not present, nor signed in. I believe Garth may be getting some body repair, so we’ll not hold it against him. Besides, I’m pretty sure Garth won a decent amount back in September, so don’t feel too bad for him. Next week will be a carryover. Great news regarding the draw money. There were 36 members signed in and $72 in the calico. However, the peppermint laden dime remains stuck to the bottom of the draw box.
From the recent archives of the Weekly Roundup.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, November 19th.
Birthday Boys. Mike is still battling health issues, but the birthday party is still a go. Come support the band, the brothers, and the band of brothers.
Saturday, November 23rd.
The six-handed Club cribbage is set to go and there are already eight teams registered. The fun gets underway with tournament rules and tournament draw at 10:30 am with play starting at 11:00 am. My memory is suspect, but I believe Fred Dobson, John Hilchey, and Shane Carson are the defending champs, something not said about the Toronto Maple Leafs since 1967.
Hey Auston, that's the Cup.
Sunday, December 1st.
The first annual Owls Club Christmas party gets underway at 1:00 pm and, get this, like Brazzers this month, it’s free! There is a sign-in sheet at the members bar, or you can respond through the online invitation. Food donations can be made to the Food Bank, while cash donations can be made to Margaret’s House. Santa will be making an appearance, but don’t spoil it for believers like Bill Greatorex, Jake Risk, and Guy LeBlanc.
Great news! We've secured Santa for the Christmas party.
Thursday, December 5th.
The monthly meeting will be starting at 7:00 pm. As the November meeting was pre-empted for a turkey dinner, there is a lot of business to discuss. Decorum is expected, but a quorum is required. So, bag those plans to shop with the wife, and get to the Club.
Looks like a couple Club members got to Walmart.
Sunday, December 8th.
Yabba Dubba Doo! No Abu Dhabi doo. The doo being the final Formula One race this year where Joe, Chris and the gang serve up a scrumptious brunch. And, like Brazzers this month, it’s free! The fun gets underway at 8:00 am with the start of the race set for 9:00 am. Coffee and Bailey’s will be available for the affordable price of $5.00.
The original Formula One Car.
Tuesday, December 17th.
December Birthday Boys. We’re hoping Mike will be back for this event.
Wednesday, December 18th.
The Presidents Reception. This is one of the premier events of the year and the fun gets underway at 6:00 pm. Hor’s d’oeuvres will be served, and fun will be had. The dress is, at a minimum, smart casual, though the members are encouraged to don a tasteful sportscoat, tie, form-fitting frock, pleated skirt, or soiled lederhosen from the Oktoberfest celebration. And like Brazzers this month, it’s free!
Friday, December 20th.
The ambulance is on standby. Dr’s Chester and John have come out of retirement for one night only. The AED has a new battery. Wills have been updated. Yes – it can be that bad. As a matter of fact, the premise of the movie Saving Private Ryan has been implemented into the Club where only one Ellis, Driscoll, or Zareski brother is allowed to attend, lest they all fall into the abyss.
"Captain's log, star date 20-12-2024. There is no intelligent life at the Owls Club."
Wednesday, January 1st.
“♫Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry♫” Well, the Club levee won’t be dry, so don’t drive your Chevy! Details to follow.
CLUB NEWS
A big thanks to Kim Conrad who celebrated a chilly day with chili for the boys at yesterday’s TGIF. Kim is all man and half beast.
Kim Conrad heats up the evening with some chili.
Gentleman Tom Bateman scored a 28-hand at yesterday’s cribbage matches proving once again that luck is more important in life than skill.
A reasonable facsimile of Tom's 28 hand.
SPOTTED OWLS
Rumour has it that Doug Marshall will be in town this week. I have no idea why anyone would want to come to Nova Scotia in the dead of November, but hey, we’re talking Dougie. Perhaps Lorraine just wants him out of the house so she can wrap-up his Big Jim Sports Camper, Spirograph, and Tiny Mighty Mo.
On Doug Marshall's Christmas wish list.
THEY’RE OFF THE LIST
Tom Forrestall, the celebrated artist from the Annapolis Valley passed away yesterday at age 88. Tom was an understudy of Alex Colville who was perhaps Canada’s most famous painter. His passing is especially hard on the Club because he was in the running to repaint the Lakeview Room in January. I guess we’ll just get Guy, Gus, Gary, and Graham to guise the walls.
A famous Tom Forrestall painting titled Spooning.
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT GUS
Je commandais le bar comme Napoléon commandait les troupes. Mon expertise en barman n'a d'égal que celle de Roger Doucette qui chante l'hymne national lors des matchs des Canadiens.
A Canadien's legend.
HEALTH & WELNESS
Mike Thomson is still in the hospital, and we wish him well. Jim, Butch, and Howard are all on the mend and are feeling much better. It was good to see Butch with his son at the Club yesterday.
CLUB BANTER
Steve Piggott is in serious trouble to continue his title as “Mane Man”. Sean Clancey had the membership in collective awe with his 2020’s rendition of a 1970’s mashup of Kenny Rogers, Dan Haggerty, Merlin Olsen, and Sasquatch.
Sophistication, sass, pizzazz, and class. Sean Clancey sports vies for the title. And, apparently Tulsi Gabbard is a Russian Asset.
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
A flawless essay last week.
REFERENCES
· The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest freighter on the Great Lakes when it when down in a storm in November of 1975 along with its 29 crew. It likely would have been just a footnote in history had Gordon Lightfoot not written a song about it that was meant to simply be a tribute to the crew that was lost. Yet, hit number 2 of the Billboard chart in 1976.
· Saving Private Ryan was a movie loosely based on the Sullivan brothers who were all killed while serving together on the USS Juneau in the Second World War. After that that incident, the Navy policy forbidding brothers from serving together on ships in war zones was strictly enforced.
Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan.
· Brazzers is an online adult website that Mike Currie told me about – just kidding. Dr. Chester Wyman told me! Ironically the top movies on its site this month are Saving Ryan’s Privates and When the Gails of November Came Early.
Unknown actors in Saving Ryan's Privates.
· “♫Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry♫” is a line from Don McLean’s classic American Pie (the song, not the movie).
· “Yabba Dabba Doo!” was the catchphrase for Fred Flintstone. Interestingly, The Flintstones was sponsored by a company that specialized in a hair product of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s called Brylcreem and their motto was “A Little Dab’ll Do ya.”
Jack Leedham pitching Brylcreem in 1966.
All for now.
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