My boss inspired people. He genuinely thought the people around him could come up with good ideas. He expected us to step up. It was not an option. I remember the day he told me to think of four ideas that could be made into Kokanee Beer radio commercials. He gave me the weekend to […]
It was a year ago today. I sat at my desk and wondered what the hell I would do now. For two years I had chased after a dream and that had ended in failure. I lost out and wasn’t picked for a board position I’d coveted for a very long time. Sitting at my […]
It’s been months since I’ve posted a blog… Lately I’ve been thinking about legacies. This might be because I heard a great deal about political legacies during the latest civic election. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been reading Harry Leslie Smith’s twitter feed. Harry’s son wrote about his father’s last days and is now carrying […]
Dad would be turning 90 today, so it seemed like a good time to get back to writing my blog. We would have had lunch together. I would tell him all about my running in the civic election and he would be proud. Dad had a strong sense of right and wrong and wasn’t afraid […]
The trick is to say yes. When given an opportunity, even if it scares the crap out of you, say yes. So, on Sunday night, when David Sedaris asked if I would join him on stage to say a few words during his event at the Vogue Theatre, I said yes. Then I panicked. Stepping […]
The more things change, the more they stay the same. On my last blog, I explained that I was going back to Scotland to celebrate turning 60 because I did the trip to mark my 50th birthday. For months I’ve also been remembering what and who I was when I turned 40. Funny how big […]
They laughed. And not just a little giggle, but a full belly laugh. Then others laughed. I don’t think I’ve ever done something so simple to make so many people laugh. How could I not do it again and again? And just like that @VanCityPenguin was born. It started as a little joke to do […]
Ten years ago I made the decision to walk Scotland’s West Highland Way and Great Glen Way to celebrate my 50th birthday. The half-century celebration was a 297km solo trek through the Highlands. Starting near Glasgow, and ending in Inverness. The walk took 13 days, then I headed to Aberdeen to meet some very distant […]
Recent Comments