A touch of dryness
Prohibition was, in many ways, the culmination of a temperance movement that encouraged laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol as far back as the early 1800s. In fact, the first recorded accounts of Prohibition date back to the founder of the Xia Dynasty, who banned alcohol throughout his Chinese empire. Upon his death, his son, […]
Artefacts and Horses
I’m not sure why the image of the piano comes to mind. Sure, the rhythm of snow on the windshield is conjuring; the distant shoreline of Adolphustown in the grey of 5 p.m. plays like the Goldberg Variations; the ceiling of cloud, the amber glow from the deck lights of the Glenora ferry? Time to […]
Clinging to yellow paper
I was not particularly surprised when I read a headline in the print edition of my daily newspaper that stated, “Yellow Pages looks to the next chapter.” I was so certain the article was going to tell me the iconic directory was moving to an all-digital offering that I almost didn’t read it. But when […]
Heart of my heart
It’s February. Actually, it’s almost half-past February. I barely got used to saying 2015 and now we’re sliding— quite literally—into spring. If you know me, and a couple of you might, February is the month I mention hearts. I have been known to talk about heart health and the love of my life. Sometimes I […]
Still lacing up the skates
More than 20 years ago, in 1993, 14-year-old Daniel Cleary left Newfoundland to pursue a hockey career. His first stop was Kingston. He played for the Voyageurs in the old Metro Junior Hockey League and amassed 46 points in 43 games that season. Belleville Bulls owner Dr. Bob Vaughan and coach Larry Mavety liked what […]
Louisiana Purchase
If California produces almost 86 per cent of the wine in the United States, where does the other 14 per cent come from? On the off chance early French and Spanish settlers would have needed wine for personal consumption and sacramental purposes, I recently went hunting for some local wine in Louisiana. I found great […]
Will the soap opera continue?
The will-there-be-a-gas-station- in-Wellington soap opera has lurched closer to what might be its final episode. An advertisement soliciting potential operators of the new station has appeared in our paper for the past few weeks, so someone is prepared to bet the cost of a display ad on the chance it will happen. MacEwen Petroleum is […]
Rest in peace, Jesse Tait
I didn’t know Jesse Tait. I had never met him. Jesse Tait was posted to Canadian Forces Base in Shilo Manitoba, where our girls are living. The girls have lived there since their posting in July, 2014. They met Jesse Tait two or three times. CFB Shilo is a fairly compact community. A cook and […]
Super Bowl XLIX
It is a busy sports week in Arizona. They will play golf, and expect enormous crowds on Saturday. The Arizona Coyotes will be on the road, playing the Leafs, Senators, and Canadiens. The Phoenix Suns entertain the Washington Wizards, and the Chicago Bulls. The football teams will arrive in time to practice a little, […]
Winter warmer
On a cold winter night, there is nothing better than a book, a crackling fire and a hot beverage. The hot toddy is one simple way to warm the body and drive away the winter chills. All you need is a glass or mug of boiling water, a shot of whisky, brandy or rum, a […]