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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
If you saw the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, you’ll remember Mary, Freddie Mercury’s soulmate and lifelong friend. When Freddie died in 1991, he left his home and all its contents to her. Now, she’s selling it all.
…It’s Only Words, But They Make or Break the Song Read More »
A few years ago, I bought a colander at a vintage market out of pure nostalgia. It’s the same as the one my mom had while I was growing up. And it looked none the worse for wear. That’s because it was Tupperware.
…Indestructible, Practical Tupperware Read More »
As a news anchor (and previously an occasional reporter), I always tried to keep in mind that the subjects of news stories were real people. They were only human, and might be living their worst day as their name – or the name of a loved one – made the news.
…Book Review – The Trauma Beat by Tamara Cherry Read More »
Recently, the couple at the center of this story told it, and I was there. I’m retelling it here, albeit without some specific, identifying details, because it isn’t my story. But I have two reasons for wanting to share it. 1. I think it’s awesome. 2. It shows once again that, in the words of my former KOOL-FM colleague Brian Bourke, “criminals are stupid”.
…Pride – In the Name of Love Read More »
A dear friend of mine is always running late. At first, I thought it was just a one-off thing. But more than a decade later, I’ve come to expect her to show up 15-20 minutes late. I’m the type of person who’s usually early.
…Finding Kindness for Those with Time Blindness Read More »
It began when a pal posted a Facebook event. And down the rabbit hole I went. I discovered that I share my fondness for a 1970’s TV icon with thousands of other people.
…Come and Knock on Her Door Read More »
At age 24, our friend Jason Kloss became the youngest person to swim the 65 km crossing of Lake Huron. His grandfather had completed that swim three decades earlier. Jason raised $22,000 for cancer research and his life changed forever. He met a beautiful reporter, my former colleague Avery, who was covering the event. They just celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary, and they have a five-year-old daughter. And now he’s set his sights on Lake Ontario.
…Kloss 2 Cross Another Great Lake for Mental HealthRead More »
Kloss 2 Cross Another Great Lake for Mental Health Read More »
We like to watch old reruns of Shark Tank. For me, it’s not about seeing people become rich. It’s about people who need it getting a hand up from someone who has already been there, trying to make a dream come true. As we watch, I Google the company name and find out whether they are still in business, or what happened to them. But there’s an aspect of the show that I despise.
…Billionaires Owe the World That Made Them Read More »