It Sucks Being on a "Fixed" Income

My friends here are well aware that I "retired" a year ago and moved to Canada. By retiring and accepting my standard Social Security, that means that I will receive a monthly check that is about 1/4 what I got from employment a year ago.

Most North Americans haven't a clue how many cultural events happen north of the Canadian border, but recently I have gotten notifications of two events that I REALLY WANT TO ATTEND!!!

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be performing in Hamilton, Ontario, on December 29th. That's a little over 100km from here. Leah's never heard them before, but they are an absolutely fantastic Russian group that combines electrical instruments to traditional orchestral instrumentation. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of their concerts, DO!!! Their Christmas program is absolutely fantastic. We would have to take a Greyhound to get there.

This morning, I got the following notice: Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall & Larry The Cable Guy visit Scotiabank Place on January 7
Marketwire Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:33 AM PDT
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 19, 2009) - JEFF FOXWORHTY, BILL ENGVALL & LARRY THE CABLE GUY THURSDAY, JAN. 7 SCOTIABANK PLACE - OTTAWA Doors: 6:30 p.m. Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Tickets on sale Friday, Oct. 23 @ noon. Order online at www.capitaltickets.ca Tickets can be purchased by phone at...

This is in Ottawa in January (a couple of hundred kilometres from here). I met Jeff briefly at a Kroger's when I lived in Atlanta. Yesterday Leah woke up to my hysterical laughter when Jeff appeared at a Montreal Comedy session that was aired (at 6 a.m.) on the Comedy Network.

Not being able to drive (I could, but Leah wouldn't get in a car with me), this makes attending these concerts a lot more expensive than I would be used to. With any luck, there will be the $250 COLA substitute before the end of the year.

Comments: 8

Princess Spanky Pants ~ The Real, Original, Heather T Oct 20, 2009, 7:58am EDT

Trans Siberian is a fantastic group, but it isn't Russian. It's actually a rock orchestra that was formed in 1996 in New York City. I love them. My parents took Nick and I to see them live a few years ago. They put on a fantastic show.

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joseph k. Oct 20, 2009, 8:10am EDT

nice

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Donald H. Oct 20, 2009, 8:50am EDT

Walker....you are SO WRONG! The Trans-Siberian orchestra IS NOT made up of Russians...! It is made up of a group of predominantly Floridian musicians...was founded in the Tampa area.....not 1 Russian amongst the members...! Below is a snippet from their web site:
" Trans-Siberian Orchestra was formed in 1996 by Paul O'Neill who immediately approached long time friends and collaborators Robert Kinkel and Jon Oliva to form the core of the writing team. "
http://www.trans-siberian.com/about/biography.shtml

Walker....my daughter went to school with several of the members, a good friend's son, Jon Oliva, is one of the founders...I really do know what I am talking about with this group!

Princess Spanky Pants ~ The Real, Original, Heather T Oct 20, 2009, 9:01am EDT

It was actually formed while paul O'Neill was living in New York City, not Tampa. The

Donald H. Oct 20, 2009, 9:23am EDT

The actual formation was conceived in Tampa at meeting at Jon Oliva's home....with Paul being there & it was originally his idea. it was put together formally in NYC.

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Trish T. Oct 20, 2009, 9:07am EDT

TSO is the best! they are in Cincinnati every year but the last few years we haven't been able to go due to either money or time. I hope to get to go next year. this year with the new baby just arriving I doubt we will have time or money again. but they are one I would love to go see. I hope you get the chance to see them. I hear their shows are amazing!

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