As a rock radio-obsessed teen, I must have spent hundreds of hours analyzing song lyrics. Back then, what we now call classic rock was new music, and my friends and I would pore over the album liner notes for everything from Aerosmith’s Dream On to Come Sail Away by Styx to Supertramp’s Even in the Quietest Moments. Those songs had more depth and meaning to us than the required reading that teachers assigned us in English lit. …
Five years ago, most of my family, hubby and I returned to my Dad’s hometown area of Picton ON for a community pancake breakfast. …
This may seem weird. It feels weird. It feels even weirder to admit it. But I prefer texting over the telephone. Talking to my Mom and Dad is the only exception. …
When you run your own small business, you’re sometimes asked to work for free. Musicians say it happens to them all the time. I’m not sure if it’s as much of a problem if you’re in the trades. I don’t see how someone can possibly think you’ll replace a toilet or wiring or put up drywall for free. But maybe they try. …
A study claims first-born children are smarter than their younger siblings. According to the research, in a family of ten children, the first one would be smart and by the time you get to number ten, they’re basically a turnip. …
It’s a buzz-phrase in broadcasting. “Listener engagement” is where it’s at! Everyone wants listeners to respond and become involved in what’s going on, on air and in the community. Well, in news/talk radio we have it like crazy. They call, text, tweet and email. And it’s not always sweetness and light! But I think it’s hilarious. …
Oh, Mike Holmes. Now he’s a mainstay on the television landscape but during my time on 680 News he was an up-and-coming phenomenon. …
When I read the story last weekend that TD Canada Trust was letting hundreds of people go to reduce costs, I saw red. …
When I edit bits of audio, from the Prime Minister to a person on the street, I wonder how often a listener considers what’s left out of a sound-bite. As a journalist, they are supposed to be able to trust me to keep things in context, and I do. Unlike the major political parties who isolate three words of a sentence and claim it’s their opponent’s point of view. But I digress. …
The radio station I work for, News/Talk 1290 CJBK, is breaking with tradition tonight. Instead of presenting wall-to-wall election coverage, like we’re expected to do, we’re going to air the Blue Jays/Royals game. …
Derek got me the entire WKRP in Cincinnati DVD collection for my birthday and we’ve been watching a couple of episodes at a time, when we can. …
In my formative years, Styx was huge. So were Aerosmith, Boston, Supertramp and all of those bands that now form the backbone of the classic rock music genre. …
For her birthday, my brother gave our Mom a flat-screen TV. Unfortunately, it didn’t work with her old TV stand and the size of stand she wanted wasn’t easily found unless you had an unlimited budget. Derek said, no worries Ma, we’ll make you one! …
Spice, the 14-year-old wondercat, has been restless. When he was surrendered for adoption, he was part of a pair. Animal Aide in St. Thomas apparently tried to adopt them together but no one wanted two senior cats. They were both 11 at the time. So Chloe was adopted separately and we came to learn about Spice once he became a solo act. …
No matter how many years removed I am from paying my dues, and working every stat holiday, I’ll never stop being grateful that someone else has to do that now. …
Since I last spoke of my Military Neck issue, my Osteopath Melissa has made great progress in giving me flexibility and taking away pain. It’s two-steps-forward and one-step-back, sometimes, as I’ve had a couple of weeks when my head has constantly felt like 50 lbs. of wet cement in a 5 lb. sack, but recently it feels like we’ve turned a corner. …
When I worked at MIX 999 it wasn’t unusual to run into a celebrity you didn’t even know was in the building. Movie-star magnet Brian Linehan was working at CFRB down the hall so you might bump into Lauren Bacall in the coffee room or pass Michael J. Fox on his way to the men’s room. Loads of rock stars came in for interviews with those of us at the MIX, mainly Maureen Holloway, who hosted an evening interview show. …
My sister-in-law Barb started a monthly magazine for the part of London we call home: Byron. …