WOW moment!

Just imagine the ability to render solid stone transparent!

I've often heard the complaint, "I'm no good at art" over the many years in the classrooms I've been charged with. While I haven't often practiced in the visual arts like drawing, painting, or sculpting, I've spent a sizeable amount of time behind the camera learning how to manipulate light in all manner of crazy things, so feel strongly that I can recognize artistic genius. I remember reading at one time that when queried about his masterpiece David, Michelangelo shooed away praise (paraphrasing), the piece was captured inside the block of marble and all I had to do was chip away the outside to reveal it.

Seriously??

The incredible mind of Giovanni Strazza, the artist responsible for the Veiled Virgin pictured above, possessed this incredibly rare artistic talent. His masterpiece was carved from a flawless piece of Carrara marble, and stands as one of the most astounding achievements in the history of sculpture.

According to some research, 

Strazza's mastery of the "wet drapery" technique carried on the tradition of other Italian sculptors like Giuseppe Sanmartino, who, a century earlier, had crafted mesmerizing marble veils, exemplified by the renowned "Veiled Christ" (pictured right). This artistic tradition can be traced back to earlier sculptors, including renowned Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, as well as the ancient masters from Greece's Hellenistic era, who were celebrated for their intricate depictions of fabric folds.

However, in the mid-19th century, Strazza pushed this technique to its limits. The delicate, layered effect he achieved allows the observer to distinctly perceive Mary's facial features through the translucent veil while simultaneously creating the illusion of weightlessness.

The brilliance of how Strazza transformed solid stone into something so seemingly transparent, using only basic hand tools, remains a profound mystery according to the Fine Arts community ... and to ME! Acknowledging my bias, Strazza's Veiled Virgin bests Sanmartino's Veiled Christ by the narrowest of margins, the transparency of the veil slightly more refined and realistic. Either way, that an artist could transform solid rock into something that appears to flow like silk is flabbergasting, to say the least.

This Arts moment brought to you today by the blown mind of an appreciative old fart who finds himself with more time to stop and appreciate the beauty of the world.

Peace out.

The TRADES!

Regular readers of these posts might recall that my son works in the trades as a heavy machinery mechanic for a huge construction machine rental company in Guelph. As additional information, he decided on the trades fairly early in his school life, thanks largely to the influence of a great man and good friend, Craig Shaw, Barrie Central's long time auto mechanics teacher. After working in the automotive repair part of the industry for a couple of years, he made the move sideways into heavy machinery a few years back, and will tell anyone who asks, he hasn't regretted the switch for a single second. 

Is it a tough job?

Yep!

Is it a dirty job?

Yep!

Is it challenging, rewarding, and interesting?

Yep, Yep, and Yep!

Is it a career that is presently in a crisis due to a lack of youngsters entering?

YEEEEP!

Is it something that anyone can do?

NOPE!!

If you don't already know, you should be aware that gone are the days of 'grease monkeys', the stereotypic high school drop out who spends a lifetime on the end of a wrench. Even though I definitively believe that was never the case because those students were simply tremendously smart in ways not measured by the traditional school system, that stereotype couldn't be further from the truth these days as all manner of machinery is now computer assisted, Uber engineered, finely manufactured wondrous creations that require a keen intellect, 'out-of-the-box' thinking, and deep technical understanding to keep the contraptions of the world whirring. 

Even the most inept 'Bungalo Bill' has to admit that without those working in the trades, our stuff would be in a dismal state of disrepair because Joe Public generally doesn't have the knowledge, skill, or tools to deal with our stuff when it stops working properly. We need folks like my son to bail us out when the bump in the road is daunting!

A friend from my days in an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) classroom posted the following little snippet the other day, and it immediately grabbed a hold of my heart, prompting an intense desire to share. 

CLIENT – How much will it cost to do this job?
CONTRACTOR - $2,800 dollars.

CLIENT – That’s too expensive for this job!
CONTRACTOR – How much do you think it should cost?

CLIENT – $800 max! It’s a simple job!
CONTRACTOR – I can’t do the job for so little.

CLIENT – People in your line of work wants to make a huge profit!
CONTRACTOR – I’m sorry you feel this way. Why don’t you do the job?

CLIENT – But, but, I don’t know how to do any of that.
CONTRACTOR – For $900, I can teach you everything you need to know to do the job. You can then use $800 to do the job, and you’re still saving $1,100. Also, you will obtain all the knowledge and the experience for the next time you need to do this job.

CLIENT – Deal!
CONTRACTOR – Great! To start, you need to buy tools. You will need a chipping hammer, a nail gun, a laser, a drill, a mixer machine, PPE, and some other things.

CLIENT – But, I don’t have any of those tools and I can’t buy all that for just one job!
CONTRACTOR – Ok. I can rent you my tools for another $300. You’re still saving $800.

CLIENT – That’s cutting my savings, but I will rent your tools.
CONTRACTOR – Perfect! I’ll be back Saturday and we can start.

CLIENT – Wait! I can’t Saturday. I only have time today.
CONTRACTOR – I’m sorry, I only teach others on Saturdays. I have to prioritize my time and my tools needs to be on other jobs I have during the week.

CLIENT – Ok then. I will sacrifice my family’s plans on Saturday.
CONTRACTOR – Right, me too! Oh, I forgot. If you’re going to do the job yourself, you need to buy the materials. There’s a high demand nowadays, so your best bet is to get a truck and be at the hardware store by 6am before other contractors get there.

CLIENT – AT SIX IN THE MORNING? On Saturday? That’s too early for me. I don’t even have a truck!
CONTRACTOR – I guess you’ll have to rent one. By the way, do you have some helpers to help you load the truck?

CLIENT – You know what? I’ve been thinking. Probably is better for you to do the job. It’s better to pay you to do the job right and not having to go through all that hassle.
CONTRACTOR – Good thinking. Sign here and let me get to work.

This is the truth! People are not just paying for a job, they are paying for knowledge, experience, tools, time, family sacrifices, and other things you bring to the table.

~Unknown Author

Hey, I like to hold onto my money as much as the next guy! 

The reality of our society is that we need talented, smart, dedicated youngsters to embrace the Trades as a viable career lest we relegate the industry to imported talent from other parts of the world, the common practice right now. From my soapbox, we old farts need to change our perspective to embrace Tradespeople as vital cogs in the gears of society, and divest ourselves of the opinion that they are somehow 'less' than other careers. What many don't realize, those in the Trades can make a healthy living, often times above six figures, especially if they venture out on their own as an entrepreneur.

Every family should have a guy (or gal) ... or guys (gals)! 

Every family should promote the Trades so that their guy (or gal) is a part of their family!

Spread your arms wide and give 'em all a hug!

My bud Jeff

Update: Jet is finally free of the ravages that beset his body. Heaven just got another of our band and his passing will sadden a multitude of those he impacted. We’ll raise a glass and remember his amazing presence!
He’s forever our brother!
RIP Jeff!

I got some sad news the other day, the kind that makes you step back from Life and re-evaluate where you are, where you're headed, and what's the top 5 most important things in your world.

One of my Queen's FB team mates Ross arranged to visit our buddy Jeff Kyle, the friend I wrote about a while back who is dealing with a Glioblastoma. The resulting email from Ross was upsetting because Jeff has gone into palliative care since the cancer is causing a host of issues and not responding well to the treatments Jeff and his family have had to endure.

In case you missed my piece about Jeff's story, here's the pertinent parts:

While I can use up all of my fingers and toes counting off the close friends and acquaintances that have affected by cancer, one of the more recent ones is an old Queen's Football team mate Jeff Kyle. Although he's a couple of years older than me, we forged a tight friendship through our escapades both on and off Richardson Field, a bond that has endured some 40 years since we parted ways to sow our Life's oats after graduation. Over a year ago, Jeff and his family got the shocking news of a Glioblastoma tumour growth that resulted in some impairments prompting medical advice. Two brain surgeries, a host of both radiation and chemo treatments, and a lot of heartache later, and Jeff has become the epitome of his adopted mantra #getbusyliving with a steeled determination and 'never say quit' attitude. 

Senators' Jeff Kyle Night

A small group of our band of brothers were able to support Jeff as he was recognized by the Ottawa Senators at a recent home game for the 20+ years he invested as VP of Marketing on their #hockeyfightscancer night. Click the link for the Twitter feed and video about Jeff. To say that I am in awe of Jeff's courage in the face of a tremendously difficult journey would be the grossest understatement of the decade! 

https://twitter.com/senators/status/1729305701778850096?s=12&t=vZRbBBFn7hjx9JXet3nTaA. 

In case you can't get the link to work, or you just don't do Twitter, you'll simply have to take my word that Jeff is one seriously amazing guy, and our entire team is sending as much positive energy his way as we can muster. I am continually astonished by the love, support, and camaraderie that our group shows each other as we collectively navigate the bumps in Life's road.
We lost a few of our mates along the way.
We've been there for the UPs and the DOWNs of carving out a place in this world, and we make a concerted effort to get together regularly and recharge our friendship's batteries.

When you're young and strong, like we were when we were the "Big Yellow Guys" of Queen's FB, you don't give a moment's notice to how that can change in the blink of an eye. You're likely in the best shape of your life, you're used to the daily physical battles of practices, you readily invite the "Go Hard or Go Home" tests each Saturday as you compete with everything you have, and you carouse with your mates eating and drinking things you know you shouldn't with a sense of immortality like a Greek God.

Some of the lads during the 2013 reunion
L to R: Larry, Rick, Myself, George, Peter, Jeff, Dave, and Sam 

Fast forward 40 years, and we've embraced a far different attitude toward each other as we shed the "I'm gonna kick your ass" for "I'm gonna hug you until the pain goes away". 

Jeff is an all around great human being! Dashingly handsome, thousand watt smile, sharp as a tack, always ready to drop everything to help a buddy. It was our turn to help Jeff, and try as we may, we couldn't swing the Universe's plan for him, and that simply tears our hearts to shreds. 

I honestly don't know how many of my Queen's buddies believe in Heaven, an afterlife, what's next, but I feel strongly that Bobby, Chris, and John will have a cold one ready at the Pearly Gates for when the transition happens. 

God will bless you Jet, you can be sure of that!

DAGG-gummed great!

Coming up in the not so far future, there'll be a celebration that will moisten the eyes of more than a few in attendance, thanks to the impact that the focus of the celebration has had over a lengthy, consistent, honoured, and medalled career. There are many in Canada who have heard of the game of rugby, but it's a much smaller number who have actually watched a game, and an even smaller number who have actually played, meaning it could be considered a fringe sport with a very tight community of supporters. Chances are, if you spent any time in Simcoe County, and you were a part of the fringe, John Daggett's brilliance has illuminated your darkness in some way, shape, or form.

John Daggett is retiring from coaching and I couldn't be happier for him.

Coach Daggett, or Dagg as many refer to him, has been a stalwart influence on the game in this area for a lengthy amount of time, changing attitudes toward the game first with the Orillia Dingos RFC and then with the Barrie RFC, but it's the lives of young men he has changed thanks to his storied tenure as Head Coach of the Men's Rugby at Georgian College that is the impetus for the aforementioned celebration. GC State is saying its goodbyes to their beloved Head Coach, a personification of their Grizzly mascot if there ever was one, who officially retired from coaching after notching his belt for the 13th time, this one an OCAA Championship Gold Medal last fall. 

The college is losing a DAGG-gummed great one!

Those in the know are already astutely aware that Coach Daggett is a rare breed. He's a unique mixture of affable positivism, undying loyalty, unbridled enthusiasm, and dogged determination that sows the seeds of elite performance in his underlings. Ever the stickler for details, those players who have ever bared the brunt of a Dagg-ism, a gravelly, no-holds-barred dressing down thanks to some error of judgment on their part, they'll be keenly aware that the guy cares ... A LOT! His passion knows no boundaries, his knowledge knows no ceiling, his drive to make his charges the best they can be knows no limits. Possessor of a dry, cutting sense of humour, Dagg-isms make the bearer astutely aware of their mistakes while raising the corners of the mouths of onlookers thanks to his acerbic wit. Perhaps one of his greatest strengths goes largely unnoticed by GC faithful, but Dagg is humble enough to ask for help despite to prolific prowess when he sees the need, like gathering an All Star management team that augments his own abilities, and he'll be the first to tell you that the GC success has been a team affair.

It's all of those qualities blended together, spiced with a healthy handful of grandfatherly wisdom, and dusted with a profound sense commitment, that makes him the stuff of legends.

I've already bragged about Coach Daggett in a couple of previous pieces, the most recent being The Gold Standard, so I won't rehash his rarely matched accolades, but suffice it to say that he is resoundingly respected, far and wide in provincial and national rugby circles. If GC State is not the most decorated rugby program in OCAAA history, there can't be more than one other school that has the resume that GC State does, especially in the last 13 years, success that is largely due to John's leadership. 

How can I be so certain?
Let's just say I've drank the Kool Aid as one of his assistant coaches!

Oh, by the way, When not patrolling the touchlines of JC Massie Field in all kinds of Canadian weather, he also has a "Day Job" as Co-Op manager for Georgian College, a role that embodies all of those same characteristics, endearing him to hundreds of GC students during his tenure. His effect on them is quickly recognizable thanks to their wide smiles and gleaming sparkle in their eyes. A note to all of those GC students, DON'T FRET, he'll only be stepping away from the coaching side of things and will continue to illuminate your lives as he helps make Georgian College one of the most successful and proficient Co-Op colleges in Ontario.

While there will be a sizeable number who will feel sad that the Daggett years are over, there will be an even larger number of us who will feel forever grateful that we had time with him in our lives. 

Like Dr Seuss famously wrote, "Don't cry because it's over; Smile because it happened!"

I, for one, will be smiling wider than a Cheshire Cat on March 22 at Georgian's Last Class pub, and can't wait for next season when he might grace me with a visit to my personal viewing platform at the back of the in-goal.

In my best Scottish baroque, "That'll do, Dagg, that'll do."

Monkey Law

I read this little gem on a recent trip down the social media wormhole and while I have no idea whose wonderfully inventive mind it originally percolated out of, I found it provoking enough to share it here. There's no particular issue or concern that stirred me to associate with the theme, just an overwhelming sense of Deja Vu, like I've been a part of a tribe that toed the line on something for no other reason than that's what was always done. I really enjoyed the mental cattle prod it provided, pushing me down the chute toward independent analysis, lest I fall back into the cue like some lemming charging toward the cliff.

By providing this reminder, I'm in no way, shape, or form looking to incite a social uprising against established practices, legal mainstays, or moral obligations. I'm simply implying that we take a step back to examine the things we have instinctively veered toward without consciously deciding the course is the best action. As an athlete and coach for most of my life, I'm astutely aware that muscle memory is a powerful tool in the skill set for success, but when our those habits include behavioural automation that might require a change of tactics as this crazy world around us changes, it might be prudent to take a wider scope of the situation.

A little browse around the Interwebs and I found a reference to a published behavioural experiment by Gordon R Stephenson that dealt with Rhesus monkeys and learned responses. Stephenson, G. R. (1967). Cultural acquisition of a specific learned response among rhesus monkeys. In: Starek, D., Schneider, R., and Kuhn, H. J. (eds.), Progress in Primatology, Stuttgart: Fischer, pp. 279-288. The reference to the story below is infamously used to debate about following the established norms without knowing why,

In the end, after reading the parable below, you might think, "Stevie, you're full of shite!", and I want you to know that I'm perfectly fine with that assessment, PROVIDED that you thought for a couple or three minutes about WHY you feel that way.

Hey! We could do it the way we used to so many years ago ... we could have an argument! 

You might remember those times, don't you? When we could actively discuss polar opposite views with point - counter point animated discussions and no one felt the need to run to the Cyber-verse of social media to garner support to sooth their anxieties because they were offended by an oppositional stance. 

Ahhhh, but that's a topic for another day.
Enjoy the cattle prod!

A group of researchers locked 5 monkeys in a cage. They put a ladder in the middle and then a banana on top.

When one monkey climbed the ladder to get the banana, the researchers threw a bucket of water into the necks on the other four monkeys. Every time a monkey tried to climb the ladder, the others were poured in cold water.

The monkeys soon learned that anyone who dares to climb the ladder must be hampered and beaten down, because if not, a cold shower will come from the sky. It didn't take long for any monkeys to try climbing the ladder.

Afterwards, scientists replaced one monkey with a new one. Of course, the new monkey started immediately on the ladder, but the other monkeys knocked him down, even though they didn’t even get a cold shower. The new monkey of course did not understand why he was getting beaten, but after a few occasions he learned that we do not go up the ladder.

Then they replaced another monkey and the same thing happened. He started on the ladder and got admonished immediately. What is strange is that the previous new monkey also participated in the beating, although he didn't know why, because he never got water in his neck.

The same story was repeated with the third, fourth and finally fifth monkey. Now there are none left from the original 5.

None of them knows why you can't climb that ladder. None understands why you can't go for a banana, and yet they won't climb up for it.

Why?

If we asked them and they could talk, they would probably answer, "I don't know. That's just how it works around here, because it's always been like that, and that's how it should be done."

We may be asking ourselves the question ... Why do we keep doing what we usually do, when there are other ways, other solutions. In what direction do we progress, if we always follow the old, broken path? 

Who said it was good this way? 

Who made the decision? 

Is there another world outside our little world that could be better or prettier? 

We'll never know. 

Why? 

Because we dare not ask why we can’t climb the ladder for that tempting banana.

We just sit under the ladder and for no real reason attack anyone who dares to question “the law.”

And we're still sitting under the ladder.

We're just sitting there, under a ladder.

How 'bout dem Jags?

I've written recently about March Madness, that annual fanaticism surrounding the sport of basketball, but something happened that begs a piece of my mind be thrust out into the cyber-verse, and it happened to three guys that I happen to be very proud to call friends. Even if you're not a basketball fan, you have to acknowledge that when local folks do something special, it makes for a great story.

Some say that high school sport is just 'fun' or 'exercise', its place in education is on the fringe because it really doesn't matter all that much, but go ask the Senior Basketball team at St Joseph's HS if they feel that way! You'll have to shield your eyes, though, because that gleaming gold medal around their neck competing with a thousand watt smile will light up your conversation like a super nova!

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2024 AA OFSAA Champions, the St Joseph's Jaguars!

While success on the hardcourt is not a sometimes thing at STJ's, 2024 will forever be remembered as something special. The Jaguars have won A LOT of basketball games over the years that I've been paying attention, but this year's side had something just a little more special. Call it destiny, or the dice rolling the right way, or the luck of the draw, but you can't erase the fact that other than families or close friends, the #7 seeded Jags were a pre-tournament long shot to hoist the trophy, but hoist they did thanks to a double digit victory over Ottawa's Ashbury College. Watching the game from the comfort of my own couch thanks to today's streaming technology, I marvelled at the poise, skill, passion, and performance the Jags were applying in their hunt for the win. With the final whistle, the medals hung around their necks, the coveted OFSAA banner hoisted, the 2024 Jags became the first boy's basketball OFSAA champions in school history ... at least I think that's true. 

As a local BDABO referee, I was blessed to have worked a few of this team's games this season, steeling an already healthy appreciation for their abilities and their coaches. These kids can play the game at a very high level, but what really made them different was their belief in each other and their coaches, a belief that shone through the mists like some majestic lighthouse. Like all championship teams, the sum of their parts was greater than the whole, evident in the fact the playing rotation went 10 deep, their engine barely sputtering as new personalities took to the task. Don't misunderstand me, they have elite players who were the crux of their success, but in this old fart's view at least, it was the support players who made the difference. 

Coaches Drew Taylor, Pat Dooley, and Paul Zyla have accomplished something special, deserving of any and all accolades for the job they did this season. Of course, it's been a long time coming, and certainly isn't a fluke.

From the years when my BCC teams and Harold Regan's STJ teams regularly clashed, I've known Drew Taylor and Paul first as an opponents, then as members of my Barrie Royals teams, but it's their tireless work as leaders of basketball programs in Barrie that begs attention; Drew at STJ and Paul at St Peter's. When Paul made the jump to admin, becoming a VP at STJ, their formidable talents joined, a union that goes a long way to explain this team's success. Both young men have my deepest respect, my undying kinship, and my extreme pride for the coaches they've become. 

Pat Dooley and I have known each other for over 20 years, having coached against each other in GBSSA play when he was the life-blood of the program at St Thomas Aquinas. Forged in the fire of both our Uber-competitiveness, a friendship emerged born out of mutual respect for the passion and commitment we bestowed upon our schools. Following his retirement, 'Dools' offered his sizeable abilities to STJ and quickly made an impact on their program. Leading the way with the Jr team, and supporting/mentoring Drew with the Sr's, he can claim a healthy portion of this championship. 

Of course, even with coaching talent as profuse as STJ's, it's the players that are largely responsible for wins, and this team was laden with talent! I readily recognize the key players, but I don't know them much, other than to say hi or give a high five, but they have earned my respect for the way they play the game, compete, and conduct themselves. I would venture a guess that more than a couple will earn spots on post-secondary rosters as they continue to chase their hoop dreams. 

In a neat twist of fate, the starting PG, Ryan Harris, is the son of Jeff Harris, the Varsity Coordinator at GC State who has become a good friend through my time with the men's basketball and rugby programs. The starting SF is Logan Forsyth, son of Drew and Ali Forsyth, who are dear friends from my BCC days.

In the end, what's done is dusted, and nobody can take away anything from their OFSAA Championship. While I truly hope that's not the end of their winning ways, the fact remains that owning an OFSAA Gold medal is a VERY exclusive club, and to coin a Bruce Springsteen ditty, they'll be reliving their "Glory Days" for years to come.

As a former coach, teacher, GBSSA exec, and longtime hoops fan, it's a warm fuzzy moment when local kids do well, and I'm forever grateful that I was able to have a front row seat to watch it unfold.

Congratulations again St Joe's!
I couldn't be happier for you all!