Posted on November 30, 2015 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Santa looks like he’s been into the Christmas spirits already.

 

 

You can feel the pace accelerating. It’s November 30^th. but with Christmas Eve only 24 days away, there’s definitely something in the air. The first dead giveaway is the omnipresent Christmas music. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas carols and Christmas hymns… in moderation,  but by Christmas day, I’ve had about enough. Part of this is my own doing. I usually visit a few of the senior’s residences during December for a singalong and sing at several masses… and at various and sundry parties. And of course, our Vince Gill Christmas CD will get its usual workout. I am NOT “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.” I just suffer a bit from the feast/famine syndrome.

I think the tree lighting ceremony that was held on the weekend is one of my favorite functions of the holiday season. It brings large crowds of families and extended families together for the unofficial kickoff of Christmas in the community. The parade is always a big hit and “The Festival of Trees” at People’s Place is a wonderful fundraiser for our friends at CACL. Try and get down to see the trees and maybe  buy some tickets. You’re supporting a worthy cause and you might win a prize.

Despite incredibly stiff competition from Santa ( the Christmas parade ), the Grey Cup and the March for Climate Change, we managed to get a very nice crowd at the Schwartz Auditorium yesterday for the fundraiser for “A Partnership in Caring.” If you ever get a chance to see The Park Bench Players, please go! They are an amazing group of men and women who suffer from mental illness and tell their story in a thoughtful, poignant and humorous manner. They were definitely the show stoppers. We raised quite a bit of money. Take that, Santa!!!

Tomorrow, I will be posting the story “Snake Bitten.” As mentioned in previous posts, Peter and I were driving through endless miles of potato fields in Idaho when we inadvertently came upon the Snake River Canyon, made famous by Evel Knievel. For sheer surprise factor, this topped the list on our trip. If you’re ever traveling through Idaho, take the exit to Twin Falls. The Snake River Canyon is simply breathtaking.

I’m putting the finishing touches on the story about my amazing brother Tom and his talented ( and patient! ) wife Catherine. They are not your typical retirees Coming soon, “ A Case of Incurable Optimism.”

Have a great week.

 

Posted on November 23, 2015 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

An awesome mango salad at a Thai restaurant in Washington State

 

 

Well, after nearly three weeks on the road, I’m back to the real world of work and Nova Scotia weather. I don’t mind work. Actually, I love it. The piece I wrote last week called “A Seismic Shift” paid tribute to my new colleagues at the hospital where I now spend working a few days a week. I have a much deeper appreciation for the work that nurses do and the strains of shift work.

Those of you who have been frequent visitors to my site over the years know that I am pretty much a “glass half full” kind of person. I feel very blessed and grateful with my lot in life and try to keep the whining to a minimum. Let’s face it. We all whine from time to time. It’s human nature. I am not going to complain about the weather but I must confess that last winter was a killer and has caused me to ponder future winters. I think that I could easily adapt to a climate that doesn’t require shovelling snow . I lived in Victoria back in the 1970’s and after my recent travels to that city, I am now pondering spending some of the winter there. Victoria is a wonderful place especially if you like the outdoors. Their spring typically starts in January but you can walk , bike or hike 365 days of the year without risk of falling on the ice! It may not happen this winter but I’m definitely thinking about it.

Yes, I know, I promised that I wouldn’t talk about my own journey of discovery with good nutrition ever again. But remember back in the school yard as a kid, when you made a promise but had your fingers crossed behind your back, rendering the promise meaningless? The following is not boastful. It is simply the facts. As we all know, being on the road, it’s very difficult to maintain any semblance of balance when it comes to eating, especially in the United States where restaurant meals are… well, gargantuan! After working extremely hard all fall to eat sensibly, I thought that it would be impossible to sustain my regime while on the road. Wrong! I realized that I just had to look at different pages of the menus. I am more than happy to report that despite spending 10 hour days in the car, I didn’t gain an ounce on the trip. I still managed to walk an hour every day of the trip but the fuel we consume is absolutely the key to keeping the weight off.

Coming up this week, I will be publishing my story about my trip to Dallas to see the place where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It will appear here and in The Casket on Wednesday. The story has a bit of historical information but it is mostly about how that event shaped a generation of people like myself. The story is called, “My Dallas Addiction: How I Became a News Junkie.” And later in the week, I will be publishing the story “Snake Bitten” which is about our surprising detour off the beaten path in Idaho and finding the most amazing place.

Some of you know that I have a brother who lives in Victoria. Tom and his long suffering wife (!) Catherine, are two of the most amazing people that I know. They raised their own family, all the while taking in foreign students. They have been lifelong volunteers and have taken this to a new level in retirement. They are fantastic cooks and routinely host friends… and anyone else who happens to be within shouting distance. If there is such a thing as “model retirees” then they have my vote. Even their dog, Oslo, volunteers at the Cancer Clinic. I am going to do a story about them in the next few weeks. Even if you don’t know them, I think you will be very inspired by how they live their lives. Stay tuned for “An Incurable Case of Optimism.

This coming Sunday, grab a friend and come to the fundraiser that I’m hosting on Sunday the 29^th. at the Schwartz Auditorium at 2:00 p.m. Story telling ( Len and Phil ) plus music ( Betsy and Jamie ), the Park Bench Players and much more. All proceeds go to “A Partnership in Caring.” A fun afternoon for a great cause.

And don’t forget my book launch coming Saturday, December 5^th. at 2:00 p.m. at People’s Place.

Have a great week.

 

Posted on November 16, 2015 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

Mt. Douglas, Victoria. A beautiful place to walk with friends

 

 

After  24 states, 3 provinces and 9785 kilometers, Peter and I touched down in Victoria on Saturday. Like our two  previous trips, we saw a lot, ate a lot, laughed a lot and had a plenty of time to ponder our good fortune as we rolled on down the Interstates. There is nothing quite like travel and to be able to do it with one of your children is special.

There were many highlights and no low lights. Well, maybe the 30 minute raging snowstorm in Flagstaff, Arizona which caused some momentary angst but we drove out of it quickly. The week of sun and sand in Florida was very therapeutic and a pleasant ( and necessary ! ) respite from all the driving.  The Grand Canyon was spectacular as advertised. As you get older, you don’t succumb to the hype so I was pleasantly surprised when the G.C exceeded my expectations. It only seemed fitting that I would write a piece about the experience but it was definitely not the story that I thought I would be writing. You can’t really describe the Grand Canyon. It has to be seen. But when I got disoriented ( lost! ) trying to find our accommodations on a very dark, cold and blustery night, I had to take a stab at one of my favorite targets and favorite subjects… me and the perils of growing old. I mean, I can understand getting lost in the Grand Canyon but on the property? Stay tuned for “A Grand Illusion” coming up later this week.

As mentioned in an earlier post, spending time in Dealey Plaza in Dallas was a profound and somewhat surreal experience. A whole generation of us were witness to the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Every year , on November 22, I think about this event and the memories of that day come rushing back. It is hard to put into words my feelings as I stood in the exact spot that JFK died. As a family member mentioned to me in an e-mail, “ America’s first and only Catholic President died. And with him, died a lot of hopes and dreams of a generation, however fanciful they may have been.” Peter took an amazing picture which captured the entire scene including the spot of the assassination, the “grassy knoll” and the Texas School Book Depository.” I’m still trying to find a suitable title but right now I’m going with this: “ My Dallas Addiction: How I Became a News Junkie.”  Coming soon at Week45.

So, we’re driving through hundreds of miles of potato fields in Idaho. Endless fields of potatoes. After the stunning landscape of Utah, this was a bit of a comedown. We were low on gas and it was lunch time. Anyone who has driven in the U.S. knows that there are oodles of rest stops where travellers can quickly and easily exit the Interstate, grab some fuel for the body and the car and be on your way in no time at all. We were passing through Twin Falls, Idaho and decided to do something we never do: exit the highway and drive 4 miles into a town. It is not an efficient use of time. As we were approaching the town, we came to a bridge and below us was a canyon and river hundreds of feet below… and the view was simply stunning. It turned out to be the best pit stop of the entire trip and spawned a story. The river is the Snake River made famous years ago when Evel Knievel tried to cross the canyon on a rocket powered motorcycle. How did that go, Evel?! The story “Snake Bitten” is really a story about “the road not taken.” Sometimes you can get some pleasant surprise when you go off the beaten path.

And finally this little gem.  KFC has reported that they will start delivering buckets of the Colonel’s best in selected cities in the U.S. Yes, you will be able to get artery clogging chicken delivered right to your door. You might even be able to get them to bring it right to your Lazyboy so that you don’t miss a single minute of the football game. Hell, you could get the delivery boy to grab a beer for you from the fridge while he’s there.

Have a great week.