Posted on July 11, 2013 under Thursday Tidbits with no comments yet

That whooshing sound you hear is July moving into fast forward. I realize fully that this is one of the signs of aging but everyone I talk to seems to think that time is speeding up.

I have several new stories just about ready for publication. I was “walking the Main” yesterday during the annual street fair. It was a perfect day for this event and people were out in throngs. One of the largest crowds I have seen in a long time was assembled on the lawn of Aphrodite. You couldn’t get anywhere near the centre of the action. At first, I thought that maybe someone was offering free beer until I realized that it was an all ages event. And then I saw the sign: ” 1:00 p.m. Doggie Dressup Show”. After work, I hastened to my computer and penned a story called ” Barking Up The Wrong Tree”.

I have also finished my story about golf and once it is edited I will throw it on my website. It’s called ” A Bag of Dreams”. And speaking of golf, I suspect that there the usual number of casualties today following Wednesday’s Kilted golf tournament. It’s a good thing that they don’t measure the “productivity index” in Antigonish during Highland Games week!

Other stories in the final edit stage include “Open Sesame”, a story about the impossible to open plastic packaging on some goods we buy and “No Bull”, a story from down on the farm about ” bulls gone wild”. And, as promised awhile ago, I have done a more serious piece on the problems with the lobster fishery from  the vantage point of a consumer. It’s called ” Into a Pot of Boiling Water”.

If you happened to miss this on Facebook yesterday, I updated a few things on my website yesterday. In particular, I draw your attention to the “Motivational Speaking” tab.

Wherever you are in the world, please stay safe and have a great day and a wonderful weekend.

Posted on July 9, 2013 under Storytelling with one comment

Can you imagine a piece of the universe more fit for princes and kings …” – from Song for the Mira by “Allister MacGillivray

It is only a short stroll from “The Main” to arrive on the doorstep of paradise. Cross the railroad tracks, turn right, park your car and take a deep breath. It is hard to believe that something so wonderful is so close to town and easily accessible. Welcome to the Antigonish Landing.
Tidal waters from the ocean backfill into the confluence of the West River, Brierly Brook and Wright’s River. I believe they call this an estuary. We used to call it a place to drink on weekend nights. It is much, much more than a walking trail. Yes, it is a place to get your heart rate up but it is also a place to get your mind to slow down.
You see a lot of people at The Landing. There’s an early morning crew that enjoy the crispness and chill of that time of the day. Many people spend their lunch hours there. And many like to go there and shake off the woes and frustrations of a day at work. When the university is in session, it is not uncommon to watch romance unfold under the watchful eyes of the eagles that nest in the area.
If you are a naturalist there’s plenty to see, hear and smell. Local birders are often seen wielding their binoculars. On any given day you might encounter turtles, snakes or beavers. If you are moving slowly enough, you might spot butterflies in all their magnificence and notice the many varieties of wild flowers.
Besides the walkers there are bikers and lots and lots of runners. And canoeists. And, apparently, this is canine heaven as well for the many dog owners who frequent the trail. In all my years, I have never once encountered dog poop at The Landing. These animals are either very well trained … or their owners are. And speaking of fecal matter, the main reason that we can even spend time at the Landing is the foresight of former Mayor, Collie Herman, whose vision created the sewage treatment plant on the doorstep of this sanctuary. My kids affectionately refer to it as the Poop Plant.
There are times of the year that the Landing just won’t let you in. In early spring, the combination of rain and thawing ice creates lakes where the trail should be. In winter the path becomes a rough and rutted skating rink.
The Highland Games 5 miler wends its way through the Landing every July. It is always unbearably hot but Scots are a robust lot. I guess the promise of the beer tent at the conclusion of the race is all it takes to get 300 or more hearty “soles” to toe the mark.
When I walk or run through this trail I’m often found humming that old Eagles classic “Peaceful Easy Feeling”. I’m not the most spiritual guy in the world but whenever I need a soft landing from life’s trials and tribulations, I know just where to go.

Posted on July 8, 2013 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

What a spectacular weekend! It is very uplifting when everybody is in good cheer and getting out doing things. It seemed like everyone took advantage of the fabulous weather and attended music festivals, barbeques or went to the beach. We took our granddaughter to Arisaig, looked for fossils, had a great swim and went over to the lighthouse for an ice cream. Well, two of us did. I just completed a 30 day challenge to go without sweets and am happy to report that I am well on the way to kicking the sugar habit.

It is Highland Games week and there will be lots to do. I went to the mass for the opening of Games yesterday at the cathedral. I took a video of a lone piper standing outside the church piping people in. He gave me permission to post the video, which I will do later.

I will also re-post a short video about my upcoming story on the Antigonish Landing. I have also added a new video that I took at 6:30 yesterday morning at the golf club. I hope to write a story about golf in the days to come.

The book project is coming along nicely. The stories are undergoing final editing and if all goes well, the book will be ready by mid September.

Your comments are always appreciated and some of you have given me some excellent ideas for stories. The best part of story writing is receiving the feedback. It is interesting to hear your take on my stories because we all see things differently. And don’t forget, if you happen to enjoy these stories, there are tons of them in the archives on my website.

Coming up next, ” A Soft Landing”. The Antigonish Landing remains one of my favorite places on earth. I never get tired of walking, running or biking the trail. You see something different every day. It will be the scene of the Highland Games 5 miler on Friday. If you haven’t been down there lately, may I suggest that you go.

Have a wonderful week!