Turkey Time

Thanksgiving is one of my favourite weekends. The leaves turning, warm days and crisp nights, plenty of yummy food and time with family & friends. Does it get better than that?

I enjoyed all of the above during my Thanksgiving weekend.

Kids Table!

family dinner

The Pie Lady

Look at those adorable faces!

Classic moment: Scrabble with Mom

Country roads, take me home.

Junior Foodie

I recently spent the day with Liam for his 6th birthday. As a junior foodie and future chef, I decided to focus our day on the culinary arts. What a blast! 

Our first stop was the Western Fair Farmers Market. I knew Liam would love wandering and exploring the sights and smells that it had to offer. Of course, his left arm in a cast really added to the cute factor when he was chatting up the vendors!

He was thrilled to sample all kinds of yummy food and decided on True Taco for lunch. (smart kid!) We ordered a papusa and three different tacos. Mr. Taste Bud gave them all an enthusiastic thumbs up. He even discerned there was pineapple mixed in with the pork one. I was impressed.

After lunch we were on a mission to pick up some veggies for mom, a bag of apples and a treat for later. Liam picked out two red peppers and a big cauliflower (his favourite vegetable). The vendor was quite impressed when he handed her the money and figured out how much change he should get.

After cruising the market, he had his eye on a giant chocolate eclair for his treat. He seemed to be quite pleased with himself that he got the last one in the display. When it was safely nestled in a take-home box, we were off to our cooking class.

We joined about 10 other kids his age for a class at the grocery store. On the menu: blueberry pancakes and chocolate dipped strawberries. With his chef's hat on, Liam was in his element. He just loved the class and was the teacher's special helper at the stove and serving the drinks.

When we got home, we did a little more work in the kitchen by making an apple upside-down cake. We had a lot of fun while exploring the many aspects of food and this little chef went home happy to share his cake with the family!

Good Bye Mr. Dressup

Twelve years ago today, I was working in the newsroom. I had finished the morning show and was preparing our noon show. It was one week after 9-11 and things were still surreal. There were so many stories coming out of NYC and all over the US. Stories of tragedy. Horrific images that I never expected to see.

I'll never forget when I heard the little "alert" notification go off on the computer and our producer Chris say "Mr. Dressup is gravely ill." Before I had time to process what she said, I heard her say "Mr. Dressup has died."

Mr. Dressup was my absolute favourite childhood TV show. His show was full of a great cast of characters, music, crafts and imagination. Even as I got older, I would still enjoy an episode if I happened to turn on CBC at the right moment.

My mom had taken me to see him at Petrolia Playhouse when I was six and it was beyond my comprehension that I could say hello and get an autograph from my hero. I nearly wore out that cassette tape Wake Up Mr. Dressup (and could probably still sing all the words to all the songs!)

In my college years, I was fortunate enough to score an interview with him when he retired. What a highlight!

And yet, here I was, in the middle of a working newsroom when I heard of his death. A newsroom that really could care less about the passing of a Canadian icon, given the situation happening around us.

During the days that followed 9-11 my emotions were on alert. Swinging from panic and fear to sadness and disbelief. It was a traumatic event for everyone. When I heard about Mr. Dressup, my eyes welled up. I had to get out of the newsroom before anyone saw me. So, I went to the staff lounge and called my mom. (really, who else would you call in such a time?) I had a little cry and it felt good to release some emotion.

What really surprised me was the reaction from my coworkers when I went back to the newsroom. Everyone knew of my fondness for Ernie Coombs and expressed such kind words. Even when I got home that day, I had several messages on my answering machine. Everyone had thought of me when they heard the news.

As I realized today was the anniversary of this event, I wanted to share my thoughts on a man that inspired so many children. A Canadian legend that taught us songs, talked about feelings and asked advice from an owl hanging on the wall :) A time when children's television didn't have to be loud and obnoxious and last 2 minute intervals. A time when the tickle trunk opened a world of possibility. Thanks Mr. Dressup.

Matters of the Heart

Matters of the heart can be a complex thing. You see, when you give your heart to someone, a little piece of it will always stay with them.

While it is true there is always more love to go around, sometimes, long after the fact, that little piece causes you to wince. Maybe not an overwhelming pain, but a twinge of melancholy and thoughts of what was.

Giving your heart to someone leaves you wide open and vulnerable. And while the payoff of love can be huge and well-worth the risk, the hurt can sometimes pop up when you least expect it.

Homeward Bound

I'm sittin' in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination.

Anyone who knows anything about Simon and Garfunkel will recognize those words as the opening of Homeward Bound. (Quite possibly my favourite S&G song)

And, anyone who knows anything about Janice Mills will know that Paul Simon and his partnership with Art Garfunkel rank at the top of my favourite music.

So, imagine, if you will...

The year is 2000. I've just completed a three week tour of Europe and am now in England meeting up with my Grammie in Manchester who is serendipitously also in England. I've decided to take the train to Liverpool to see the birthplace of the Beatles.


The train inexplicably stops. There is a garbled message on the loudspeaker and everyone starts disembarking. I wasn't sure what was going on, but another passenger informed me we had to switch trains. I gathered my belongings and stepped off with the others. We had to wait a good 20 minutes to half an hour for the next train to arrive.

In the meantime, we all waited. There was not a lot to this train station, just a platform for waiting. Actually, there was supposed to be something else at this train station that would have caught my attention, had I seen it. But, it was missing. Literally...it had been stolen recently. (I didn't realize this until I returned to Canada and heard about it in the news) The commemorative plaque claiming that Paul Simon wrote Homeward Bound at this very train station. Can you believe it? I sure couldn't!

It was while we were waiting that I discovered this amazing tidbit. The gentleman next to me commented "Of all the stations to be stuck at, of course it would be Widnes. There's not even a toilet here. No wonder Paul Simon wrote Homeward Bound here." [insert record scratch sound effect here] I was astounded at his casual comments and immediately demanded more information. Unfortunately, it was just as the train was pulling in and my camera was packed away in my bag.

Some stories just deserve retelling and this is certainly one of them. Hope you've enjoyed my tale.

The Power of Power Washing

This summer my big project is re-doing my porch. As part of the process, my dear ole Dad came with his pressure washer and spent the day with me. This might not seem like the most exciting thing, but it was quality time spent together that meant all the world to me.

We worked the better part of the day scrubbing my eavestroughs and power washing my porch in preparation for painting. It was hard work and at the end of the day I was tired, sweaty and satisfied. There's just something about a little hard work :)

My favourite part of the day, however, was the snippets of conversation we had as we worked and over lunch. A day spent with Dad = priceless.

1000 Dixie Cups

There's nothing quite like a family wedding to hold a mirror up to your singleness. This very thing happened to me recently. Watching the bride walk down the aisle, I wondered if I might do something similar. I long for the day that my Dad can share in that special moment with me.

It is in situations like this that I find myself reflecting on the life I thought I would have and examining the one that is my reality. It has always been my intention to get married and have a family. However, I find myself unintentionally single. I wish I knew why. If I did, I could change the situation or fix whatever is wrong. But, I don't know if there is an answer to that question.

Just when I feel like the pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together and it all makes so much sense, I realize that in fact, I was mistaken. What I briefly thought could be mine is once again snatched away.

I no longer feel like going out every weekend. Yet, I feel society's pressure that I should be out there every weekend. I have grown tired of this. What I long for is someone to "do life" with.

I recently heard it summarized this way and thought it was so accurate to how I feel. You thirst to drink from a deep well (that one meaningful relationship) but instead you are forced to satisfy that thirst with 1000 dixie cups.

I have some really amazing friends and people in my life and I am truly thankful for those awesome relationships. But, they are like dixie cups. I am waiting to settle in to my life with a husband and stop the temporary fixes. By this, I mean meeting someone for coffee here, dinner there, a movie this night or a concert that night. These are all great things and I treasure my time spent with my friends but it just does not fulfill what my heart aches for.

You may be reading this and you have been married so long you forget what it's like to be single. If that is you, please let me give you some advice. Asking a single person why they are not dating someone or not married is not only not helpful, but it's hurtful. (I can imagine this is similar to asking someone when they are going to have a baby) You cannot know what is happening below the surface and unless you have been brought into that inner trust circle, you really shouldn't have much to say about the matter.

And so, I carry on. I have a pretty great life and as mentioned above, have some fabulous friends and family. I have a lot to be grateful for. But, sometimes there are moments when the thoughts expressed here wash over me. It's good to write them down and get them out. Thanks for reading.

Fields of Gold

No, not the Sting song.

For as along as I can remember, I have had a poetic fascination with wheat fields. Once the wheat ripens and turns golden brown, the way it sways in the breeze just seems so beautiful to me. I always preferred the years that Dad planted wheat in the front field rather than the back so it was right behind/beside the house.

It makes a great backdrop for photos.

Dad - circa: 1995

Abby - circa: 2002

Janice - circa: 2013

The wheat harvest was one of my favourite times on the farm. When helping dad move wagons or just being on hand for helping with whatever, I loved watching the combine make its way across the field, taking in the grain and spitting out the chaff. I can still smell that smell and even taste what it was like to pop some kernals into my mouth as they were moving from the wagon into the auger boot.

Even now, I love to see all the combines making their way through the fields. When they are done, everything looks so neat and tidy and sometimes you'll even see bales of straw dotting the fields. A few trips to the farm in recent weeks produced some great photo opportunities for capturing these moments.

Reunited

The last time I saw her, we were parting ways in Paris at Christmas. But last week, my cousin Carol Ann made a brief stop in London on her whirlwind tour of SW Ontario this summer!

We did a couple of road trips last summer, which were fun, but she had never been to my place in London! It was just 38 hours but we sure squeezed a lot into those hours!

She joined me for my Wednesday night yoga class (which, because it's outside, was stinkin' hot yoga) and then we went to music trivia night at Morrissey House. Olga's Yogis did not fare so well with this hipster crowd but we had a great time.

After much discussion about our respective Early Bird Cafes, we lunched there and relaxed with manis and pedis at Tetherwood. A movie, and ice cream rounded out the night with plenty of catching up, stories, laughing and reminiscing.

So good to see this girl. Can't wait for next summer :)

Questing

It's hard to believe, but 14 years have passed since Abigail Elizabeth made her way into the world and I became an aunt. I have always loved that title and loved spending time with this little bundle of joy. We've done some pretty cool stuff over the years (including seeing the Wiggles - a first time for both of us!) and this weekend we continued that tradition.

To celebrate Abby's 14th birthday we did an Urban Quest around London. Urban Quests are kinda like a scavenger hunt/amazing race-type deal. It's a really fun way to explore a new city or the one you live in. It took us about 2 hours to make our way around downtown, solving puzzles and searching for answers hidden in the architecture. Along the way I got to hear stories about what's happening with this recent grade 8 grad.

What a fun afternoon! We finished off with a late lunch on a patio and frozen yogurt on the way home.

I love these special days, set aside for celebrating my favourite kids. It gives me a great chance to spend one-on-one time with them and make some great memories too.

Abby, you have become such an amazing teenager! Don't change, my dear. Love you!

Beetle Beatles

So, this just happened:

I'm not sure what is cooler, the Beetle Beatles? Or the fact that VW tweeted to me. Ya, pretty freaking cool I'd say.

I'm thinking I should really print/hang this up. The only way it could be better is if the yellow one was "Paul" and if they were classic bugs.

Photo 101

For the past 5 years, I've had a digital SLR camera that I've been meaning to get acquainted with. This summer, I decided to do it. My friend Jackie & I signed up for an intro to photography class through the city's Spectrum program. I've been really looking forward to it and last night was our first class.

I stopped at Starbucks on my way and picked up an iced chai latte. I had been wanting to try one and I had a free drink reward for being a loyal customer. Why not? Well, it was pouring rain for starters. But a little rain never hurt anyone, so I carried on.

Hmmm, well I kinda had to go pee. You see, I had just purchased my first watermelon of the season and that is all I had for dinner. Watermelon. A lot of watermelon. So, I thought I'd use the washroom at Starbucks and be on my way. That is, until I walked towards it. Eek. There was a man just coming out and the stench nearly knocked me over. I decided to wait until I got to the community centre.

I arrived at the same time as Jackie and we ran in together to avoid as many raindrops as possible. We were chatting on our way up to the classroom and I did not make a pit stop. Drat. Now I was in the classroom with a colourful cast of characters and feeling a little trapped. How could I leave after arriving and introducing myself? I would wait. Oh dear. I sat through the first hour of introduction to how the camera works and just as we were getting to ISO speed, I decided I could not wait any longer. I missed the bit on ISO so Jackie will have to catch me up. :)

Now, back to that colourful cast of characters. I know this is going to be an interesting six weeks. We have hobbyists like Jackie & I, travelers, a dad that wants to take better pictures of his daughter ...and the annoying lady. You know the kind. There's one in every class. She interrupts all the time to ask questions specific to her camera. Should be fun to watch her "develop" her skills.

However, I have saved the best part of the evening until the end. I honestly thought I might be on Candid Camera or was being Punk'd. We went around the table and introduced ourselves, including what our favourite picture is that we've taken and what our worst picture was.

Enter Crazy Cat Lady. Her intro went something like this: "My name is _____ and I have three cats. I just love taking pictures of them." The teacher asked if she used Mac or PC at home and she let us know that she does not have a computer. Hmm, ok. That's interesting when you're taking digital photos.

The piece de resistance was when she told us about her favourite photo that she's taken. That sounded like this:

"Well, I had crocheted a gingerbread house and I took some pictures of it. I'm not sure what I did, but the way the light hit the colours was just beautiful."

WHAT!?!?! She sounded like she was describing a sunset in Istanbul. Yet she was actually describing a crocheted gingerbread house. Why would you crochet a gingerbread house in the first place? It was a really surreal moment that I just had to capture and share here.

Perhaps she's going to crochet herself a computer to use with her camera throughout the course. I'll keep you posted.

Country Roads, Take Me Home

This weekend I made a spontaneous trip to my parents farm. That old Joni Mitchell song came to mind "you don't know what you've got til it's gone". Now, while it's true that it's not really gone, I no longer live on the farm. And that got me thinking...

When I return, I always realize how much I miss it! The wide open spaces, the stars that come out at night, the waving fields of wheat...it's all very nostalgic for me.

After dinner with the folks and a game of Racko, I hitched a ride on the three wheeler with Dad to take a look at the crops. As I climbed on the back of the tattered and spattered "Big Red" I felt like I was 12 again.

We took a spin back to the wheat field and splashed through some mud while we were at it. I have always loved the wheat fields in July when they are ripe and golden. It's just so beautiful!

After washing the mud off with the hose, I took a walk down memory lane. I found my name scratched in the cement from 1990. Dad was putting his grain bins on hoppers and when the cement pad was being poured, he told me to go out and write my name in it.

I always loved our mailbox. It was a bit of a landmarker before the 911 number system. Mom & Dad would always tell people "it's the house with the pig on the mailbox". This, of course, was because Dad used to be a hog farmer.

I think it's important to remember where you came from and appreciate your roots.

Last night reminded me of this and I drove home with a smile on my face. My parents are 2 of my favourite people and I loved my evening on the farm.

Oh Canada.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am proud to be Canadian! So, when July 1st rolls around, I like to bask in patriotism for this great country and celebrate all that is "Canadian".

This year I hosted a backyard BBQ to celebrate, complete with Canadiana Trivia. Apparently my questions were a little tough, but there were prizes up for grabs. This was no cake walk!

My guests were good sports and played along. Matt (Mr. Trivia) swooped in a took the grand prize. Runners up were Jodi, Kim and Josh. Way to go guys!


Thanks to all my friends that helped me celebrate!

Want to test your knowledge of all things Canuck?

History

When did O, Canada officially become the national anthem? 

Which province’s entry into Confederation had to be moved up a day because of concerns that the original date, April 1, 1949, was April Fool’s Day? 

In what year was the first commercial oil well established in Oil Springs, Ontario?

Geography

Which Canadian province has the largest land size? 

Which mountain is Canada’s highest? 

Canada has the longest covered bridge in the world (1,282 feet long). Where is it located? 

Science

In response to the temperance movement, Toronto pharmacist John J. McLaughlin invented this drink in 1907 as a popular alternative to alcohol. 

What university developed the world's first anti-gravity suit? 

ISS Commander Chris Hadfield collaborated with Barenaked Ladies to release a song while he was in space. What was the name of the song? 

Arts & Literature

What Canadian author said "A true Canadian is one who can make love in a canoe without tipping it." 

Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner, was based on a Canadian author’s book. Name the book and the author.

Entertainment

Name 3 puppets that appeared on Mr. Dressup

Where is Ashley MacIsaac from? 

What CBC radio host had a former career in a 90s indie band? 

BONUS POINTS: Name the band, name the CBC program

Sports

How many points did Wayne Gretzky score in his career? 

What Canadian figure skater was first in the world to land a quadruple jump in a world competition? 

On Aug. 31, 1976, Carallyn Bowes became the first woman to accomplish this, a feat that took 133 days to complete. 

Monsters University

I love the movie Monsters Inc., so when I heard there was a prequel coming out, I was super pumped. I knew it would be on my list of movies to see this summer. Fortunately it was also on my niece Madison's list :)

So, we planned a day around it to celebrate her birthday. After a trip to the Petrolia Library (wow, nostalgia!) we headed to the brand new theatre in Sarnia to see Sully, Mike and Friends. As a bonus, we saw the movie in 3D. Fun!! It was a great movie, telling the back-story on how Sully & Mike met and became friends. Very cute.

Speaking of very cute, Madison read her library book to me all the way to Sarnia. She is a great reader, rarely stumbling over words and putting expression into the characters. It was great!

We had dinner at Montana's, ice cream under the bridge and headed home for a rousing game of Sorry! I love my special days with the nieces & nephews. It's time set aside for me to spend enjoying the character of who they have become.

Happy birthday Madison. Love you loads.

S'mores and Salsa

This weekend I had the privilege of hosting my Colombian friends for a campfire. Marcela and I work together but have quickly become much more than just coworkers. Instant friends and, dare I say, kindred spirits.

I have gotten to know her adorable family and invited them over to my patio on Saturday night. I didn't realize until they arrived that this would be their first time having s'mores! Yes, it's true.

Martina was a little scared of the fire at first, but, after a while she was right up there with the roasting stick. Matias preferred the marshmallows raw. When Marcelo tried to get him to try a toasted one, he just kept saying "caliente" (hot).

Before long we were having a salsa dance lesson. It was so cute seeing the two little ones dancing. Matias just liked to kick his right leg - his signature move! Ha ha.

We capped the night off with some sparklers, another first for the kids. Again, a little scary at first but pretty fun after they realized it was ok.

This is exactly why I love having a house. Having a backyard. We had such a great night just hanging out on the patio. Thanks Marcela & co.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Things I love about my dad:

• the quiet way he sizes up a situation
• his years of experience spoken as advice
• he knows how to do most things I need help with :)
• he's a farmer
• the love of country music he instilled in me
• when he plays a practical joke
• his sentimental side
• the values that shape who I am
• when I was little and I could "style" his comb-over LOL
• teaching me to appreciate a good steak
• touring us around the countryside when we were kids, giving me the travel bug
• my big head (inherited)
• the way he does things like clean out rain gutters, just because he loves me

06/06

Today is June 6. Each year on June 6, I can't help but remember that it was on that date I lost my Grandma Mills. I was only 6 years old when she passed away, and I'm now realizing the impact that had on my young life.

At the time, I don't think I could emotionally process losing someone that played such a huge part in my life. She lived with us and I spent much of my pre-school years with her. I would put on puppet shows for her, play outside while she sat under the car port, we would colour or play hide and go seek (I had an advantage as she was in a wheel chair). Speaking of that wheel chair, I loved hanging on to the handles at the back and catching a ride.

To me, she was exactly what grandmas are supposed to be. She had long white hair that she kept wrapped up in a bun, hands that showed years of hard work and lots of stories from when she was a girl. She was born in 1902 so those stories were almost like fiction to me!

During a recent trip to Petrolia hospital, I had an overwhelmingly emotional moment as I walked past one of the rooms. I remember being in that room when my mom told me that Grandma had died. Thirty years later, it unexpectedly brought tears to my eyes. The same thing happens when I hear the hymn "The Old Rugged Cross". We sang that song at Grandma's funeral and it always stirs up emotions tied to that event.

Emotions can be so powerful. So can memories. I'm thankful to have the ones that I do.

Canada's Real Country Gentleman

What a difference a week can make! Last week I was rockin' out to Dave Matthews. Last night I was singing along with Paul Brandt. The settings were as vastly different as the crowds. DMB played to a huge outdoor crowd, filled with dedicated fans wearing rain gear. Paul Brandt played to an intimate gathering of people in a church. I have been to a lot of concerts in my day, but this one was one of my favourites.

The "Just As I Am" tour is making its way across Canada and is made up of songs from Paul's recent CD of the same name. This album is filled with classic hymns that I grew up listening to/singing since I was a wee girl. Songs like When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder and It Is Well With My Soul.

This concert combined my love of country music and Paul Brandt with the sentimental feelings stirred with such old classics. It was awesome.

What really impressed me was the way Paul interacted with his fans at intermission. He signed autographs and took pictures with everyone that wanted them! He supplied his own sharpie and had someone there to take the picture for you. He asked your name and what you did and really made each person feel like he made a connection with them.

Most people with the success that Paul has had would not have embarked on such a tour. His faith is really important to him and he laid it out there for everyone to see. I already had a lot of respect for this artist, but this just proved to me he's a real gem. Forget about Tommy Hunter, this is Canada's Country Gentleman.

Dave Matthews Band

Someone once told me that the music you love in your teen years will be the music you love forever. I have found this to be true.

I discovered Dave Matthew Band while still in high school. They were the musical guests on Saturday Night Live and when they played "Ants Marching" I was smitten. Since then I have always loved their sound: an eclectic blend of horns and fiddle combined with Dave's distinct voice. Awesome.

So, when my friend Laura asked me if I'd be interested in seeing DMB this summer, I thought it was a great idea. Initially we thought about lawn tickets at Molson Amphitheatre, but opted for seats instead. Unfortunately, we missed the seats that were under the cover. Fortunately, Laura is a smart girl and when she saw the weather that morning, she called TicketMaster and was able to switch them for tickets UNDER the covered part of the amphitheatre.

Despite the rain and chilly temperature, we had a great afternoon wandering downtown. Because it was pouring rain, we lingered a bit at dinner, opting for dessert instead of the opening band. I think this was the best option, really. Who wants to get caught in a downpour and be soaked for the rest of the evening?

We found our seats just as they started to play Tripping Billies. I was happy to hear an old song, as I haven't been keeping up on studio albums for a few years. As we made our way down our row, I couldn't help but notice we were surrounded by some Über fans! I consider myself a fan, but I could not sing every word to every song. My concert neighbours could. In fact, I wondered if they looked at me & Laura with disdain because we were not part of their world.

My favourite part of the show was when they played Ants Marching. Afterall, it was the song that turned me on to the band so many years ago AND I have never experienced them do it live before.

It was a great show, awesome music and about time Laura and I did something like this! (interesting side note: I saw the same band with Laura's husband about 10 years ago!)

My Geo-Caching Adventure.

Last weekend I went on a geo-caching adventure with my nephew Josh. We were celebrating his 12th birthday.

My tradition is to do an experience gift with each of the kids and sometimes it is tough to come up with new ideas. However, I knew for months that geo-caching would be perfect for Josh. He is an outdoorsy kinda guy (just like his Dad) and has excellent attention to detail. Great attributes of a cacher (is that what they're called? I just made that up)

The day started out a little gray and chilly but soon warmed up when the sun peeked through the clouds. Our first stop was Purdy's Fish Market. It was the opening weekend for their riverside take out. Perfect! We enjoyed our fish & chips while sitting right beside the water. I must admit it, I had my hood up...but the fish was still yummy!

We parked the car at Canatara Park and set out for our first hunt. After orienting ourselves with the app on my phone and the compass, we located it! Success! In case you're wondering, geo-caching is like a treasure hunt with GPS coordinates. Most of the ones we found were just a log book that you sign and date and check "complete" on the app.

It was a lot of fun, as our adventure took us all over the park: down by the beach, near the animal farm and even climbing over/through trees in the wooded areas! We finished off the day with some ice cream in Point Edward.

I really enjoyed my day with Josh. He is such a neat kid. He doesn't say a lot, but takes in everything. He notices the smallest detail and more than once pointed out a small turtle in the distance or a certain type of duck swimming in the water. I was amazed at how knowledgeable he is about such things. I'm sure it comes from countless hours spent with his dad.

Happy birthday Josh! Love ya loads.

If you live in southwestern Ontario, you have probably heard about the disappearance of Tim Bosma last week.

The story has gripped me. A 32 year old husband and father was just trying to sell his truck online. His wife watched him leave with 2 men for a test drive and never come back.

Since then his cell phone has been recovered, a suspect arrested and charged and his truck has been located. But Tim has not.

I have listened to the pleas of his family and my heart aches for them. What a senseless nightmare they are currently living. The police believe the target was his truck, not him.

A truck.

Just some metal welded together and fueled by gasoline.

Tim is a man. Made of flesh and blood. He is someone's son, brother, husband, friend and most importantly, a father.

Sometimes I wonder what this world is coming to. My hope and prayer is that Tim is found and returned to his family. Make it your prayer too.

Evening Perks

For so long, I pined for working "normal" hours. I wanted to get off the dreaded evening shift so I could have a "normal" life. Well, it finally happened and I must admit, I'm loving the new job and the hours that go with it.

However, once in a while, there are moments when I actually miss that afternoon shift.

Things I miss:

• driving to and from work with virtually zero traffic
• sleeping in
• grocery shopping during a weekday
• listening to Q on CBC radio
• leisurely lunch with friends

Of course, I also miss my friends from TV land and the excitement that goes with working in a newsroom, but I can always stop in as an observer!