Homemadedad
People looked at me like I was nuts when I told them what we were doing for our summer vacation. “Driving from Toronto back to Edmonton. Just me and my twin 9 year olds in the back seat.” As crazy as it may sound, it was a trip to remember. The trip We left Toronto …
I write, but I am not a writer. That’s what I’ve always told myself anyway. The difference to me is this: a writer writes as an end in itself, striving to craft the best prose he can. But, that’s not what I do. I write to communicate a thought or an emotion or some information. …
My family loves watching Modern Family. We all enjoy the show and we enjoy watching it as a family activity. Now before you judge me (and, trust me, I judge myself) for citing television watching as a meaningful family activity, let me explain why I feel this way. If you haven’t seen it, Modern Family …
It always takes me the first few days of a beach vacation just to get comfortable in the attire, or lack thereof. The wardrobe of the cold wintry north is much more forgiving when it comes to those of us with body image issues. Bulky layers make everyone look a bit bigger and rounder. But …
I was in Berlin in the early 1990s – only a few years after the wall came down – and I found myself in a jazz club one night. It was there I first saw this poster – it was hanging on the wall – called “Highlights of the Jazz Story in USA” produced by …
Music for me is and has always been escapist. I listen and let the sweet melodies carry me away to a good place. Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of satellite radio in my new vehicle – particularly, the Coffeehouse station XM. I love the vibe, but wish there was a more diverse mix …
In my early 20s, I worked in a lot of restaurants for summer employment. During those summers, the days were short and the nights long. Dinner restaurant shifts would begin between 4:30 and 5:30 pm and end anywhere 10:00 pm and 1:00 am, depending on the shift and the traffic. Shifts would start with coffee …
During these days of sunshine and warmth in the Californian desert, I have opportunities to do things that I don’t do at home. Like, read things other than blogs. And drink a bit more than usual. And write. First things first. What’s my favourite cocktail poolside? A tall glass filled with ice, 4 ounces of …
Renting a house with a games room that features an original 1982 Galaga console and scoring over 140,000 on the first day. Turning your kids on to a video game made in 1982. Finding a grapefruit tree in your backyard loaded with heavy, ripe fruit. Wireless access, poolside on the new MacBook Pro. Coming from …
I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert in vacations, but it seems to me there are a few simple rules that will serve you well and help you enjoy them more. For me, the whole point of vacations is relaxing. If I don’t relax and get downtime, then what’s the point of spending all …