Please meet our friend Kendra. She and her husband Tim live in Arkansas and we’ve been to see them exactly once. (Derek’s been there a few times on motorcycle trips with buddies.) I won’t share her life story here, because it’s not mine to tell. But let me assure you that she has overcome a lot of major obstacles in her life. So has Tim, for that matter.
…A Late-Runner Embraces the Early Side of Life Read More »
Derek has a weekly breakfast with a bunch of guys he’s known since high school. One of them just had a pacemaker installed. Another, an emergency appendectomy. Still another will have to lie face down for weeks – WEEKS – after eye surgery to repair a detached retina. Four people we know have COVID-19. And all of this happened within the last week.
…Old Friends Acting Our Age Read More »
I will never share the name of the one of the most important people in my life.
…Henry Winkler and I Have Something in Common (Besides Affection for The Fonz)Read More »
Henry Winkler and I Have Something in Common (Besides Affection for The Fonz) Read More »
Long ago and far away at a point in my radio career, I transitioned away from being a music host into newscaster and reporter.
…Professional Pivoting is What All the Cool Kids are DoingRead More »
Professional Pivoting is What All the Cool Kids are Doing Read More »
You’ve probably read a funny post or watched a viral video by Brittlestar, aka Stewart Reynolds. He’s all over social media as Canada’s Dad, nailing Canadianisms and other isms including polarizing subjects with wit, humour, and just the right tone. His comedy hits a narrow sweet spot between “if you do this, you’re stupid” and, “stupid doesn’t mean worthless – let me give you a hug!”
…Review: Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse – Survival Tips for the DumbageddonRead More »
Review: Welcome to the Stupidpocalypse – Survival Tips for the Dumbageddon Read More »
It could be weeks before there’s a conclusion about the cause of Matthew Perry’s death on the weekend. Toxicology test results, whether there were any chemicals in his blood, take time. He had prescriptions for medications. But he clearly hadn’t relapsed into the waiting arms of his cruel addiction.
…The One About A Bunch of Things Read More »
So many comedy and comedy-adjacent people have released books in recent weeks. It’s been paradise for me, a voracious reader of memoirs who would rather watch stand-up than any other form of live performance. If I had my career to do all over again…but I digress!
…Review: Foolish – Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation, by Sarah CooperRead More »
To me, part of the fun of traveling is figuring some things out as you go. But there are other things it’s best to learn ahead of time.
…European Travel Tips or What I Learned on My Fall VacationRead More »
European Travel Tips or What I Learned on My Fall Vacation Read More »
My first bite of Italian pasta, in Italy, made by Italian hands, was everything I hoped it would be.
…How We Spent 22 Days in Italy Read More »
We are leaving for Italy next week. This is a bucket list, once-in-a-lifetime trip that’s been in loose planning stages for years.
…Arrivederci or Pasta La Vista, Baby! Read More »
I almost didn’t post a blog today. I had several ideas, all of them bad. And it’s the idea that’s the most difficult part of being a writer. Once an experienced writer gets a great idea, the words spill out like too much water overflowing a cup.
…Life Got Lifey This Week Read More »
This is the story of a helpful friend, sleep-deprivation that became a little desperate, and my huge mistake in judgment. I can laugh about it now, a little. But it sure wasn’t funny at the time.
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The horrors of the Holocaust are well known to most of us. The statistics, anyway. Six million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis. One-quarter of them, children. Many more were also killed, including disabled people, gays, Polish people, and prisoners of war.
…Review: Kiss the Red Stairs by Marsha Lederman Read More »
Zoos, aquatic theme parks, and even the circus were fun attractions when we were kids. A visit from family members wasn’t complete without a trip to Marineland. I used to say the animals there and I were on a first name basis.
…Ruben the Resilient Lion Returns to His Home Read More »
Fake news doesn’t just sprout from national politics and pandemics. It happens in a small, lakeside town, too. Here in Port Stanley we have a mystery in the harbour. And you won’t find the truth from the Internet.
…Small Town Journalists Report the News in Person Read More »
Have you ever had something in your life that felt so big and overwhelming, that the thought of talking about it made you feel like you might explode? Of course you have. We all have. And that’s what this post is about. It’s the reason why I haven’t broached the subject here, or on our Gracefully and Frankly podcast, or with anyone except those closest to me, and one nice woman I recently met.
…Sleeping Like a Baby…with Colic and a Full DiaperRead More »
Sleeping Like a Baby…with Colic and a Full Diaper Read More »
For flat-earth believers. If the earth is flat, why are all of the other planets round? And why doesn’t earth ever flip over like a coin? And if it did, what would be on the other side?
…So Many (Rhetorical) Questions Read More »
Derek will confirm that I get excited when someone walks toward me with a dog. The animal’s tail begins to wag and my grin widens to match that energy. I always wait to find out whether it’s okay to visit with the dog, but I’m definitely ready for it. The human? It depends. The dog? Always.
…Other People’s (friendly) Dogs Read More »