A tale of half a year
The other day I did a mini inventory of all the bad things that have happened during a year that’s only half over. It’s scary stuff. The Australian bushfire crisis carried over into the new year and offered us the prospect of an environmental Armageddon. Then Donald Trump just about started World War III with […]
Canada days
Years ago, when I was a student at University of Waterloo, a professor asked us to write an essay about 10 things we’d put into a time capsule which would define us as Canadians. He said, “No printed materials, please.” As a student in the Canadian Studies Programme, I thought printed materials would be an […]
Marketing a lukewarm product“Catching the virus: It’s better at home.”
The County is of two minds about tourists. There are those who are grateful that income is at last flowing in, and who are prepared to accept the risk of vast numbers of people from the coronavirus hotbeds of Toronto and Montreal infecting County residents. And there are those who deem the risk too great, […]
How do I look in profile?
In 2012, LOML and I were driving in Mississauga on a quiet, residential road. Suddenly, the ominous flashing lights of a police cruiser approached from the rear. LOML was driving and pulled over, wondering aloud “What the heck did we do.” As it turned out, we didn’t do anything wrong. We were the prey. And […]
Home at work: The next big thing
All the talk during this pandemic has been about working from home. It’s here to stay, so they say. Hold on a minute. There is an alternative arrangement that trend spotters say could outstrip the work from home movement once the COVID-19 workplace restrictions have been lifted. Call it the “home at work” movement. Toronto […]
Pandemic pen pals
Some mornings when I wake up, even if the sun is shining and the breezes a-blowing, I wonder, “Will it really make any difference if I just stay in bed all day?” I think a lot of people must feel the same way, these days. It often takes about 30 minutes for my mind to […]
Price check in aisle three
My current place of observation is tethered to a parttime role facilitating the flow of people and shopping gear—grocery buggies and baskets —at the front entrance of a large local supermarket. Sorta like training to be a traffic light armed with a disinfectant spray bottle. While the setting is known ground for chance meet ups, […]
A hug, a beer and a bag of chips
How are you doing, today? As I write this it’s Sunday, May 31st. Today is our eldest son’s birthday. I remember the day he was born in Humber Memorial Hospital in Weston/Toronto. It was a shocking reality for both LOML and I. Pregnancy was one thing, but suddenly we weren’t a young, hip couple anymore. […]
In praise of Dr. Donald Trump
Good morning Dr. Trump I won’t shake hands Your practice must involve some great demands Your every word just moves us and inspires us And will rid us of this new corona virus You said you had a feel about a drug I’ll take it ’cause you’re giving it a plug Though it makes the […]
Rosy blue
This morning, aside from the “good morning” pictures from our daughter, I received a message from a two-streets-away neighbour. She said she’d been thinking of me and how I was doing “this morning”. To be honest, on the Queen’s Birthday I woke up a little bit down-in-the-dumps. My neighbour and I are somehow connected during […]