If pressed we can all list a few ways we’ve had a perfectly good day ruined. It may be a flat tire, an extra long lineup at Tim Horton’s, car trouble, power outage, or other such nuisance. Most of us quickly bounce back from these petty irritants. So, let me tell you about my Monday…. Read more »
This just in: Jerry Seinfeld was spotted carrying Suri’s diaper bag. Suri is, of course, TomKat’s daughter. (And if you don’t know who TomKat is, sorry, I just can’t help you.) John Travolta is sporting a new short haircut. Rumours had been swirling all week that Brad and Angelina would show up at the Super… Read more »
The current bone-shattering cold snap takes me back. Back to my youth when, answering the prayers of children everywhere, schools were closed and buses didn’t run. Later, even when we moved to town, I wouldn’t dream of going to school under those conditions: drifted roads, high wind chills. I always thought it foolish to expect… Read more »
Futurists predicted that through the miracle of technology we’d all be working at home. Bypassing the often-brutal commute, upping productivity, and bringing back a semblance of home life were the promises. Brian Basset’s Adam@Home cartoon strip has been chronicling the highs and lows of this work-from-home dad since his own layoff from a job as… Read more »
The biggest distraction I face when I’m home alone is the TV. Most days It’s on for hours, providing background noise while I read, write, do paperwork, housework, or exercise. At its worst it splits my focus and makes everything else take longer. At its best it provides me with information and inspiration for story… Read more »
It’s been nearly a year since I wrote about Nintendo’s new software directed at helping us hang onto our mental faculties a little longer. At that time I suggested that if we lead sufficiently challenging lives, perhaps we don’t need external aids. Either way, we do need to keep those brain cells humming. After a… Read more »
Hazel’s sage and refreshing viewpoint has been a favourite of Voice readers since 2003. In this article originally published January 5, 2007 (issue 1501), she shares some unique gift ideas designed to make a meaningful difference. Enclosed in a plastic bag with last November’s issue of Style At Home magazine was a copy of the… Read more »
List makers unite! It’s that time of year again. As we eat and drink our way through the holidays the reality of another year drawing to a close hits hard. It’s inventory time. It’s time to add up the wins and losses of the year. Are we better off than we were this time last… Read more »
Since I opened a blank Word document to write my weekly column I’ve trawled through my library looking for inspiration, put a roast in the oven, put a load of clothes into the washer, checked a dictionary to ensure correct usage of a particular word, putzed with a vanilla candle on my desk, and had… Read more »
This morning I spent too long cleaning up my email. There were 14 messages to read. Well, not messages exactly; more like forwarded jokes, video clips, and links to YouTube or other sites. There weren’t any real pieces of genuine communication. You know, the whole reason email was supposed to exist: to offer a cheap,… Read more »