August 2014

Hot Dogs in Hot Cars

Did you enjoy our one day of summer on Tuesday? I went back and checked and at 29.6C in London it was our hottest day of the season. We did top 30C twice in June but it was officially spring then, not summer yet. I’ve been gloating a little bit because I love the cooler weather and it gives me a sliver of revenge on those who go on and on about wanting it steamy and hot.   …

Suicide is Painless

That’s the title of the theme from M*A*S*H and I always wondered why it was appropriate for a TV show about a war, but that’s a topic for another day. Now that we’ve had time to absorb what Robin Williams has done, I’m really hoping the dialogue around suicide and mental health will change a bit. I hope Williams’ universal appeal is enough to make some people learn more about depression and how it differs from ordinary feelings of being down or sad.   …

Hating on the Haters

It’s so COOL to be negative about something everybody loves. We saw it with Robin Williams. In every stream expressing understandable surprise and sadness about Williams’ death, there was at least one fly in the ointment. My favourite? The guy who wrote, “my uncle killed himself last year. Where was the worldwide outpouring for him?” That’s what the social media BLOCK feature is for.

The Ice Bucket Challenge

Bill Gates has done it.  So have Oprah, Ricky Gervais, Martha Stewart and a host of other internationally famous people. Finally, ALS – Lou Gehrig’s Disease – is getting some much-deserved attention and donations.  And it’s all through a bucket of cold, icy water that has gone viral, quickly.  …

Robin Williams RIP

Where to begin. Anyone born in the 70s hasn’t known a world without Robin Williams. I vividly remember his first appearance on Happy Days, as Mork from Ork.  When he “sat” on the couch with his head on the cushion and his butt in the air, I was transfixed. I followed him wherever he went after that: to his own sitcom Mork and Mindy, to stand-up specials and a list of movies longer than your arm.  …

A Little Getaway

I had a great week off. I went to Paris…Ontario… and met my oldest (as in goes the furthest back in time) friend for lunch. I did what I wanted when I wanted and even snagged a couple of easy-peasy voice jobs that didn’t even feel like work.  And a trip north to Kearney turned into a retirement party for a friend of 25 years who was just let go from her radio job. It’s not always a bad thing. She’s so happy it actually makes me a little bit envious!   …

Vacation!

I am officially off duty this week and as such, I leave you with a gallery of photos from Rock the Park. Nothing will match the 2013 version when I met and had a lovely chat with Tommy Shaw of Styx, but it was big  fun nonetheless.  …