Fruit Fly Be-Gone

Does anyone else have a fruit fly problem?  It’s not as if we have decomposing fruit on our counter.  I don’t know what keeps them looking for non-existent food sources but there they are, three of them, annoying us from the kitchen window.  And then suddenly there’s one in the bathroom in a – ahem – fruitless search for something to eat.  …

Lighten Up – House Proud, Sun Media

I recently asked for ideas for my House Proud newspaper column and reader and commenter Allan came up with a few.  My Editor is a tough cookie – which is what I love and respect about her – and she is picky about offering something new and fresh in her publication.  But one of Allan’s ideas made the cut!  So read on for what I did with it.  It was published in this weekend’s Homes Extra in Sun Media. Thanks Allan!  …

Beautiful, Wise Betty

I just finished reading Betty White’s autobiography, Here We Go Again.  It was first published in 1995 but because of the recent resurgence in interest in the actress, it has been updated with a colour photo section and a new introduction. …

The New Ann Landers

Ozzy Osbourne is a lot of things but a health advice columnist probably isn’t one that immediately leaps to mind. Rolling Stone Magazine has hired him to do just that and I have a couple of samples of the wizened old rocker’s wisdom.  …

Behind the Vote

Every so often voters want to shake the snoglobe of their city and have everything float around the glass and land in a different place.  When I was at 680 News in Toronto and Rob Ford wasn’t much more than a bloated buffoon on council who was having to apologize for drunken outbursts at sports events, never ever would I have thought he would become that city’s Mayor one day. …

Crowded House

I would never make it in a crowded land.  I avoid department stores on Saturday afternoons and plan my mall and festival visits to avoid crushes of people.  So when I found myself in a sea of shoppers on Sunday my only thought was of escape. …

Artery Clogging and Heart Starting

KFC’s Double Down sandwich arrived in Canada yesterday.   Fast food lovers have been drooling at the border, hoping that this monolithic bread-free bunwich-without-the-bun would make it to our KFC’s soon.   They delivered a bagful yesterday and I took in a big sniff and then sent mine away while my colleagues sated their curiosity.   …