Do you love barbecue? For me, southern barbecue is an experience, not just a meal. Every time I go south I seek out the saucy, smoky flavours of barbecue in order to satisfy my carnivorous cravings. It was thanks to proximity and TripAdvisor.com that I found my new favourite barbecue restaurant while on a trip to Evansville, Indiana. Lucky for …
Expect more, praise less in class
Across Ontario, the academic prowess of schools is being compared and contrasted based on provincial tests in certain subjects. Only one school in Northern Ontario cracked the top 100 of 725 secondary schools across Ontario. In Algoma there was one school ranked in the 200s, and the rest in the 500s. Two schools in Toronto have been noted for their …
B&Bs not always so homey
We live in an age of inclusion where we’re supposed to focus on similarities and not differences, but my recent travels have caused a new division in my mind: Bed & Breakfast people and not Bed & Breakfast people. I will state upfront that I have discovered that I am in the latter category, and this will likely astonish those …
Readsdropping a good travel game
When you are in a cramped space like a full airplane or an airport waiting lounge, you really can’t have an expectation of privacy. Whether you’re having a conversation with someone you know or a stranger you’ve just met, your words are not safe. Eavesdroppers are everywhere. I’m sure there are those using eavesdropping for dark purposes like corporate espionage, …
Mental health a balancing act
Bell Let’s Talk Day was held recently. That’s where we were asked to join in the conversation about mental health with friends, family, and co-workers, to start breaking down the stigma around mental health issues. I’m all about anti-stigma, but I’d like to address the symptoms and not throw a band-aid on it. It is nearly impossible to have solid …
Think outside the boxes
When Boxing Day started last week; I wasn’t ready for it. I’m not talking about the sales of Christmas leftover stock that happens on the 26th of December, I’m referring to my move to a new house. Boxing day started in the middle of December and is still ongoing for me. I have done nothing but pack boxes and unpack …
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Enough is enough: the gun laws have to change
When a child dies, we all grieve. It’s not just their parents, teachers, friends, and family that have been trespassed upon emotionally; we all hurt. As a society, we sigh deeply, and ache somewhere deep inside because we know that the natural order has been broken. Parents aren’t supposed to outlive their children. Children aren’t supposed to be slaughtered. Innocence …
Mantracking book launch goes well thanks to many local friends
If you’ve planned an event before, you know that it can be quite stressful. You wonder: will the word get out fast enough? Will people come? Will it run smoothly? Will the result be what you’d anticipated? One event takes a lot of time and energy, so hosting four events in 30 hours is foolhardy, unless you’re in the Sault …
Someone asked me recently what advice I’d have for them towards becoming a writer. I really didn’t know what to offer. After all, I’d only just figured out that I was a writer in the last four years. Now that we’ve launched a book at www.mantracking.ca , I’ve been reflecting on my career path, and laughing at how I ignored …
It’s easy to believe the millions of small ‘lies’ on the Internet
I have two recent examples for you relating to famous quotes. Granted, misattribution has gone on for years, but there seems to be an exponential increase now with the Internet. My favourite Marianne Williamson quote is from her work Return to Love. For years I have been saying that although it was indeed her quote, it was made notable by …