Christmas Holidays And New Years

December 27th, 2009

Hello everyone!! Hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year coming up. The Colly Shaw Band will be playing at the Sexsmith Hotel at the Alamo Pub for New Years!!!!! Can’t wait. We will be dressing up to the nines and coming out to have fun with everyone that will be attending. The tickets are going fast @ $15.00 for pre-paid tickets and $20.00 @ the door but don’t wait till the very last minute to be buying your tickets!! They are going extremely fast! The tickets will give you your first drink free, party favors at midnight and a midnight snack supplied by The Mid-Town Cafe.
Christmas was extremely fun with doing a one night Christmas dance in Spirit River. Thanks to Bonnie and all of her crew for making the dance a huge success!! The midnight food was extremely good also!!
We also did a Christmas town dance in Sexsmith, Alberta, where we live now organized by the Chamber of Commerce (Thank you Ron Starr and crew). It was also amazing and decorated by Cindy Starr and her friend ( I’m sorry I don’t know her name). The dance went well also and the midnight food was also great!
The weather was not really cooperating as it was around -40 degrees. We had to plug in our vehicles all week.
Looking forward to ringing in the New Year with all of you that can make it!!
Your hosts of the night will be Terry and Dana Thoreson and the band will be “The Colly Shaw Band”
I just got a call the other day that UNCLE LARRY will be in town. He is always good for a dance or two if the ladys show up without a date. There will be a good time had by all. Also, our friends Corey O and his lovely fiance Jaymee will be coming out to help celebrate! Corey O is from The Buck Five band from Grande Prairie. This will be the first year that he will not be working with his own band for New years and we are honored to be hanging out with him and Jaymee. We love you guys!!
Happy New Year 2010 to everyone and all the other bands that are going to be out that night.
Please remember that there will be safe rides home provided by the Sexsmith Hotel. Terry and Dana Thoreson will make sure that you will get home safe even if you are living out of town (Even as far as |Grande Prairie)
Looking forward to seeing you all!!!!

Tuesday, I think it is Tuesday.

October 20th, 2009

Hello out there in blogville.  LOL.  We played last weekend at the Alamo Pub at the Sexsmith hotel.  It was Joellas B-day so we celebrated with her and her friends.  Everyone danced up a storm and had a blast!!  There were so many people there I knew  by name but I can not mention them all for fear that I will leave someone out.

My back is doing better I think since the operation on September 3rd.  I have started some stretching with an excersize ball but am taking it extremely easy.  The video that came with it is an extreme beginner 20 min workout.  Not a drop of sweat was produced during my performance. LOL.  I will work my way up to using weights and doing all those weird things that people do with that darn ball.  There are so many options.

Mid-Town café that we opened on September first of 2009 is going over better than we expected and our friend Martin Muise is doing all the renovations that really really needed to be done.  Man that guy is a worker!!  And no, we dont just pay him in food!! LOL.  Although he does like the specials of the day.  Thank you Martin so much for being so dedicated to this project.  It looks awesome!!  I will have to get a picture of Martin and I and post it here on the blog.

That is all for now, I will try and keep you more updated as the days go on.

Friday night at the Alamo in Sexsmith

September 19th, 2009

Well hello my fellow blog readers.  I am sitting here eating a very crunchy apple and hope that the neighbors don’t wake up LOL. Tonight was the first night that I went back to work since my surgery.  All went well.  I barely had any pain and we took enough breaks to help me out. I will see tomorrow how much pain I will have.   I worked at the restaurant for a couple of hours just handling the till and giving people menus and drinks.  No biggie.  I got some flowers today from the Lappenbush family.  Laura came into the cafe and handed me some flowers.  I almost started to cry.  That was just what the day called for, a dozen roses.  I didn’t have anything to put them in so Billy got a beer jug and I trimmed them down and put them in there.  It amazes me how people just pop into my life and actually take the time to think of me throughout their busy day and their busy schedule.  I am so lucky to have these people in my life!  I consider myself so blessed. Michael tried out a new song tonight. Thunderstruck by AC/DC.  People were so thrilled that we had a new song to add to our song list.  Tomorrow we are going to go through “Walkin’ on Sunshine” By Katrina and the Waves, a song from the 80’s of course my favorite years of music.  I think I am going to start on my new album pretty soon.  It will be a simple CD with mostly dance friendly songs.  I am actually pretty excited about it.  I may even throw a country kinda dance mix one in there.  I just gotta get writing and into it.  Well, I am beat, I am going to head off to bed now.  Tomorrow is another day.

Hugs!

Colly Shaw

September 13th, 2009

Hello from the bed of Colly Shaw!!

Hi there everyone!  Today is a beautiful day.  I opened my window at 7:36 a.m. and am watching the suns reflection off the houses behind mine.  Billy had to rush to the cafe this morning because his alarm didnt go off.  He is usually up and at em at around 5:30 am but he must’ve needed the sleep.  He has been working many hours in the cafe but still has time to come home and play some crib with Milan and check his ebay.  I went to the cafe last night to wrap some muffins and to z off the till so we can start over today with fresh till tape.  We bought a florescent open sign for the window last night at it works wonderful.

I am thinking that I am up to going back on stage in a week.  I will let Billy know on Monday or Tuesday if I am up for the challenge.  I will be sitting on a stool of course and will be taking pain killers for the event. LOL.  I really miss singing and playing guitar.  We are learning 3 new songs, Drivin my life away, walking on sunshine and thunderstruck.  Cant wait to see how those turn out.  I have to learn my guitar parts this week. NOT a Problem.

I think I am going to Grande Prairie with Brooklyn and her Besty Jordan today so they can get some school clothes.  I think I will drop them at the mall and then go get some groceries for the house as we only have food at the cafe and the kids are getting sick of restaurant food.  I made hollandaise sauce the other day for eggs benny and it turned out really well.

Michael has finished our video for This Deep This Wide and has finished the sequences for those three songs, oh yeah… and THE CHICKEN DANCE.  I dont know why but it is popular here in Sexsmith.  I guess with all the weddings going on and such. May as well learn it.  It is a fun song with all the actions in it and when people are tipping back a few, well, there are no inhibitions about doing the actions to this song. LOL.

I will keep you posted on what is going on.  Thanks for reading my blog.  Huge huggeroonies!

Colly Shaw

Back Surgery

September 11th, 2009

Hey everyone!!

I’m sure you are all wondering…where the heck did Colly go?  Well, I’m still here!! I just had a discectomy done on my back where the herniated parts of my discs were taken off.  Terry and Dana from The Sexsmith Hotel drove me all the way to Kelowna for this operation.  They spared as my Auntie Dana and Uncle Terry as far as the hospital knew, we WERE relatives. LOL.  This way Dana could get and give information to Billy when he phoned for an update on my status.

We woke up pretty early on Sept. 2nd and headed off to the Kelowna General for blood work. Then we went for Breakfast at The Haven Restaurant which is always great!  Good food and good staff.  A great breakfast!

I realized I had only packed one shirt for the trip so Terry dropped Dana and I off at Winners while he went for coffee at the A & W close by.  I found a “Fall Out Boy” t-shirt which I know one of my kids will steal once I got home. Once we were done winners I was pooped so we went back to the hotel.  I had my own room so I rested for most of the day and then we went for a chinese buffet at about 6:00p.m. This was my last meal for the night as I was not allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight. I didnt mind as long as I had my pain killers, everything would be ok.

On Sept 3rd we woke up pretty early to be at the hospital by 7:00 a.m. we were supposed to be there by 7:30 but Dana wanted to make sure that we were there and in the right place at the right time.  When we got there we waited for about 10 minutes and then a nurse came by and called Aunty Dana and I into another little waiting room.  Here is where I lost all of my dignity and had to put on the silly assless night gown.  The nurse asked Dana to scrub my back down with disinfectant for about 3 minutes.  I warned Dana that she was about to see my ass crack and she just laughed and got to work on scrubbin me down. LOL.  After all was said and done, I had to do more paper work with the nurse and make sure they had emergency numbers and cell numbers and had me tagged ( I felt like I was cattle getting ready for the slaughter) They put me up on a bed and I said my goodbyes and they wheeled me off to another wing of the hospital.  The nurse that wheeled me sang me a tune all the way down to the wing.  He knew that I sang for a living and asked if I needed any back ups.  Who knew it was going to be an audition.  He said his goodbyes and left me in the hallway all by myself and I think this is where I thought I could make a clean break for it if I really didn’t want to get this operation done.  But I was too scared to think of what security would do to me.  I toughed it out. I only spent a few minutes in the hallway by myself, then I was wheeled into the O.R. where the nice man inserted a needle into my vein and the next thing i know, I was done surgery.  I thought to myself, my my that was quick.  It was only an hour long procedure so it wasn’t actually that long.  My scar has 17 staples and had a drainage tube in which fell out because I was moving around too much.  It leaked all over my bed but the nurses came and changed the sheets right away.  I know.. EWWWW!  I was not in much pain as every hour the nurses came by and gave me a shot of morphine.  It was delightful. LOL. I stayed in there for 2 nights and I thought I was only staying in for one.  I wasnt allowed to eat the first day, but I wasnt told that until after  I had finished an awesome milkshake from FATBURGER (lol) Terry and Dana brought it for me plus a cheese burger.  I finished the milkshake in 30 seconds and then asked the nurse if i was supposed to eat anything.  She said, absolutely not because i will be throwing up all over the place if I ate anything.  Well, I certainly proved their theory wrong because the milkshake did not come up.  I never told the nurses I drank that though. LOL.

Through out the day I talked to my room mates Sharon and Fraser and they were just awesome people.  They told me why they were in the hospital and what kinds of surgery they had.  It was strange having a man in the recovery room, but I think he was a great ol guy! We got to talking about what  did for a living and I told them I was a singer in a band so they asked me if I could sing them a tune so I sang bring it on home to me by sam cooke and it brought them both to tears.  Fraser was quite the religious fella so he got his wife Joan to bring in a hymn text book for me to look through.  He asked me to sing morning has broken, but I couldnt remember how that one went.  So I chose a few other hymns that I remembered singing in church when I was a kid.  I think I sang three songs for Fraser and his friend that was visiting.  They were thrilled, but believe me, I was nervous. LOL.  Ive always said that I would rather sing to 20,000 people than to one or two because there is more pressure with one or two.  More focus directly on me.

On Sept 5th I think was the day that I got to go home.  Dana had made a comfy bed to travel in lying down while Terry drove.  I think I slept the whole way.  I dont remember much of the ride home at all.  I think we stopped and ate?  I seriously can’t remember.

All in all I had a wonderful time with wonderful company that looked after me like family.  We had a few laughs that is for sure!!

Now that I am layed up in bed for about 4 weeks, I’m sure there will be lots of time for me to BLOG.   I will try and get a picture of my incision and put it on here. Anyone with weak stomachs do not need to look at the photo.  :O)  I just have to try and find my camera battery charger.  I havent been able to find it since I got home and I need it!

Take care and Be bloggin soon

Your friend,

Colly Shaw

To Get To The Video

August 19th, 2009

To get to the “This Deep This Wide” video go to YouTube.com and then type in collyshawband then click on the video.

Wednesday

August 19th, 2009

Woke up this morning in a great mood and got a call from my friend Shirley telling me she had rhubarb for me.  I am going to use it for pies in the restaurant that we are opening on September 1st.  Ive already baked a saskatoon pie and a rhubarb pie.  I have to work on a cheese cake next. I have misplaced my recipe for my secret cheese cake so now I have to make one from scratch and see if I can remember how to do it.  I mopped the floor today and threw some dishes in the dishwasher.  I don’t play again till friday then we are in the Sexsmith Hotel, Just for Friday and Saturday.  I need to get into the storage compartment soon!! There is stuff in there I need!  My friggen leg is killing me today so now, i’ve opted to lay in bed till my medication kicks in.  Either it will put me to sleep or it will make me feel like flying around the house.  I’ll know when it happens.  OH YES one more important thing.  My New video is out for “This Deep This Wide” a song off my album.  This one is my favorite song and is getting rave reviews from people all over the world.  Some as far as Austrailia.  Keep on listening!! Keep it crazy!!

Brooklyn’s Birthday July 29th

July 29th, 2009

Billy and I are married if anyone doesnt know that, he is also the drummer in the Colly Shaw Band.  We’ve been together for 17 years this year and have two kids.  Brooklyn and Bryston.  Brooklyn just turned 12 today and we had a rockin party for her.  It was also a goodbye to her friends since we are moving to Sexsmith.  I think we ended up having 12 kids here.  A far cry from the 18-20 that I thought were going to show up.  We had a pool party, ate hot dogs, and Dairy Queen ice cream cake and opened presents and popped about a million balloons.  I think Billy had the best time because he found himself a fork and was right in there with the kids popping the balloon with the fork.  After, the kids and Billy and Brad Kozak went outside and played with “Wilson” the volleyball, throwing it way up in the air and the kids would jump off the top diving platform into the pool.  I will add a couple of pictures to this blog so you can understand what I am talking about.  I’m sure that I will find balloon pieces all over the house but the kids had a friggen blast.  I just uploaded all the pics of the party to my laptop and the kids got to laugh at all the poses in the air while they were catching the ball.  Something to truly remember.  Man those hot dogs were good!! LOL.

Like Mother Like Son

Like Mother Like Son

Brooklyn the b-day girl catching "Wilson"

Brooklyn the b-day girl catching "Wilson"

Brooklyn, like her Father...always on the phone.

Brooklyn, like her Father...always on the phone.

Brooklyn and Bryston getting along on this beautiful day!

Brooklyn and Bryston getting along on this beautiful day.

L-to-R: Nicky, Billy and Brad.  Thanks boys for helping me soooo much!!

L-to-R: Nicky, Billy and Brad. Thanks boys for helping me soooo much!!

Me, Colly, cleaning up the millions of balloon pieces!

Me, Colly, cleaning up the millions of balloon pieces!

OH LOOK KIDS!!! It's Captain Morgan!!!!

OH LOOK KIDS!!! It's Captain Morgan!!!!

Billy Shaw with the ball and Brad Kozak supervising. Thanks again guys!!

Billy Shaw, Brad Kozak and "Wilson."

Bryston with the grace of a Gazelle.

Bryston with the grace of a Gazelle.

MONDAY FUNDAY

July 27th, 2009

I have successfully sold my Cichlids so I dont have to move them to Sexsmith.  I just got back and cooked shrimp and corn for supper.  I took pictures of our house for the realter today to update the pics since the Kozaks and us painted a room in about 2 hours.  Thanks very much you guys!  I couldn’t believe Lesley came over after a long hot day of doggie grooming to help paint.  She is a saint I tell ya!  The boys were a big help too and it was Nicky’s first time painting something that big.  Brad Drove Billy downtown to get more rollers and brushes to speed up the process which helped a ton. Thanks to all of you.

The Colly Shaw Band is playing this weekend @ the Sexsmith Hotel in Sexsmith , Alberta.  We forgot it was a long weekend and hopefully everyone will still stick around town to party with us and not go camping… I’m not hoping for bad weather but RAIN is okay.

Michael Rooney says he is about 2 weeks away from having “This Deep This Wide” video finished and on YouTube.

Our house is on the market for anyone interested please call Barry Seitz @ barryseitz@cranbrookagencies.com

I am going to straighten up the kitchen and wishing that people would send me messages on facebook because I really have nothing else to do in my house.  As I said we are selling it, so the house is pretty much empty.  I’m gonna miss everyone in Cranbrook, but Im looking forward to the new venture!! AYAYAYAYAY

Blue Lake Day

July 25th, 2009

Just got back from getting the kids from Blue Lake Camp. 26kms from Canal Flats. Canal Flats is where I blew my tire out. Just when I was going to give up changing my tire the cavalry came along and saved the day. Thanks to the town workers for helping me with that. It sure was a scary thing to happen, but I am okay and since then Billy got me two new tires. Well it’s cloudy outside so no chance of me getting any more sun today. I have nothing in my house to do. Everything is in Sexsmith. Billy wants me to stop clicking on the computer so he can go to sleep, so ciao for now.

Friday Afternoon

July 24th, 2009

Hello everyone,

Just letting you know that we are in the process of selling our house in Cranbrook and moving to Sexsmith, Alberta.  We are still playing in the process.  We will be in Sexsmith next week to play at the Sexsmith Hotel our new stomping grounds.  We are very excited and friends and fans in our new town are really thrilled that we are going to be permanent residence.  Going to the pool for a swim now and try and sun tan.  Man I’m pastey white.  I gotta catch up to Billy, he looks like he’s been in Hawaii for 2 weeks.  Geesh!

Michael Rooney, (guitar player in my band) is busy working on video number two and is probably thankful that he has a week on his own without any interruptions.  Good luck Mike.  Learn lots!

The Ride Home

July 19th, 2009

Hey everyone!! Just got home from Sexsmith, Alberta a 10 hour drive.  Well, I did not do the driving, Billy did and I did all the sleeping.  We went the Jasper way.  We saw some mountain goats and their little babies. I have a sweet set up in the back of the Nitro.  Because I have 2 herniated discs for 10 months now, so I have to travel with a mattress in the back and a bunch of blankets.  Now that is riding in style.  If I could only fly that way. Im off to bed now because I have a long day ahead of me.  Chat soon!

Saturday Afternoon Jam @ The Mad Trapper Pub, Inuvik N.W.T. April 2009

April 26th, 2009
Michael L. Rooney getting ready for the Sat. Afternoon Jam @ Mad Trapper Pub in Inuvik N.W.T. April 2009

Michael L. Rooney getting ready for the Sat. Afternoon Jam @ Mad Trapper Pub in Inuvik N.W.T. April 2009

April 26th, 2009
Billy Moore being funny by Kissing Billy Shaw's Cheek. LOL

Billy Moore being funny by Kissing Billy Shaw's Cheek. LOL

April 26th, 2009
My friend Verna. She handmade me a ring out of Walrus Tusk. VERY COOL.

My friend Verna. She handmade me a ring out of Walrus Tusk. VERY COOL.

April 26th, 2009
Where the fun is....you'll find Ivan!

Where the fun is....you'll find Ivan!

April 26th, 2009

Stephan brightened up my day by jumping in and jammin with the boys!

Stephan brightened up my day by jumping in and jammin with the boys!

April 26th, 2009
Me N' My Megs!! You can't ask for a better friend, unless you are ordering chinese food that is. LOL

Me N' My Megs!! You can't ask for a better friend, unless you are ordering chinese food that is. LOL

April 26th, 2009
Our favorite Elvis impersonator....or is it really Elvis? Nope It's our friend Billy Moore.

Our favorite Elvis impersonator....or is it really Elvis? Nope It's our friend Billy Moore.

April 26th, 2009
Ivan is our resident East Coast talent and our great friend.  He works as hard as he plays.  He is going to bring his keyboard next week to jam out some tunes. A very talented guy!

Ivan is our resident East Coast talent and our great friend. He works as hard as he plays. He is going to bring his keyboard next week to jam out some tunes. A very talented guy!

April 26th, 2009
We be Jammin' man!

Brian Turner was our hired bass player for the jams during the six week stint we are doing in The Mad Trapper Pub. On acoustic guitar, JO-JO has a passion for Saturday Jams and knows a million songs.

April 26th, 2009
Phillip Gordon

Phillip Gordon is a very good friend of ours and we love to jam with him. Notice the T-shirt he is wearing!!

Farewell to Shotgun Willy’s

February 12th, 2009

It finally happened, I’ve done my last show at Shotgun Willy’s, at The York Hotel, Cranbrook, B.C.
I have been the semi-house band for the last 8 years. Due to budget cut backs and B.C.’s crappy economy, it was announced to me last week, all bands have been canceled for 2009. I thank bar manager Brad Kozak for hanging in there with me through thick and thin. I knew it was just a matter of time for this change. I wish Brad and all his great staff success and happiness. We are going to miss you guys!!
Love The Colly Shaw Band
Colly, Billy and Michael
P.S. Please watch our website www.collyshaw.com to see our schedule for a venue near you.

COLLY’S B-DAY

January 23rd, 2009

Yes, today was Collys’ (My B-day) I was sooo surprised to see balloons on the stage and cards and people come out of the wood work for my celebration!! WOW Thank you sooo much to everyone! Brad you out did yourself on the surprise!! I received hilarious cards and a bottle of Jack Daniels, a set of glasses with my name and birthday etched on them ( HOLY CRAP!! From Shotgun Willy’s) and a huge chocolate B-day cake that I shared with everyone! Lesley, I am coming to your house tomorrow to give you some! I also got a card signed by everyone known to mankind. I was totally shocked and I even had tears in my eyes. You people are crazy!! I can’t thank you enough for thinking of me on this special day that I turned 38 :O) keep them B-day’s comming!!!
Huge huggers!

Kitty has had too many kitty candies... Happy B-day Colly

Kitty has had too many kitty candies... Happy B-day Colly

Happy B-day Colly!! This was a surprise!

Happy B-day Colly!! This was a surprise!

The girls came all the way from Kimberley to celebrate with me!! Thank you sooo much!!

The girls came all the way from Kimberley to celebrate with me!! Thank you sooo much!!

My unexpected beautiful B-day cake!! Thank you everyone!! WOW!

My unexpected beautiful B-day cake!! Thank you everyone!! WOW!

Shotgun Willy’s 80’s night Friday

January 17th, 2009

We had just a blast with everyone and the staff at Shotguns tonight. It was 80’s night and it was a blast from the past for sure!! here are some pics from the night! :O)

Brad and Billy 80`s night Shotgun Willy`s

Brad and Billy 80`s night Shotgun Willy`s

Colly n Brad 80`s night Shotgun Willy`s

Colly n Brad 80`s night Shotgun Willy`s

Kelly and Colly Shotguns Friday night 80s night

Kelly and Colly Shotguns Friday night 80s night

Crazy Cats!!! 80s night shotgunt willys

Crazy Cats!!! 80s night shotgunt willys