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May 17, 2013

Today I turned 55. Actually at 5AM.

Before 9AM I had already received at least a dozen birthday greetings, thanks to modern technology: phones, emails, and Facebook.

Like most people having a major birthday I’ve been contemplating my life the last few days. I have some random thoughts about it.

I recently competed in a number of Toastmasters International Speech contests with this piece. Enjoy!

Madam Chair, Fellow Toastmasters, Honoured Guests

I love modern technology.  I'm no expert but I did convince my gen-x children to ditch Blackberry for Apple, fruit for fruit! (continued in read more)

I am at a Toastmasters convention this weekend. I thought I would share this speech I delivered at Toastmasters several months ago.

We all have embarrassing stories, although most of us choose not to tell them to anyone but our closest confidants.

But embarrassing stories are some of the most important stories we can tell.  (continued in read more)

Last week I alluded to my Toastmasters speech project on the oil sands. A reader suggested I post it for all to see, so here it is. (continued in read more)

I'm not doing anything special for Earth Day.

Before you judge me consider this: to me every day is Earth Day. (continued in read more)

Have you ever met someone and made an instant, almost "feels like family" connection?

I met with one of these “new old friends” this week.

I met J_____ a few weeks ago at a rubber chicken luncheon where I was speaking. She introduced herself as a fellow writer after I spoke and we exchanged business cards 

We agreed to meet for "pho". (continued in read more)

Ironically on the very weekend that the world celebrates the resurrection of one King, we mark the passing of another beloved/maligned king, King Ralph.

Ralph Klein was Alberta's premier for 14 years. King Ralph, a 1991 movie, starring John Goodman provided a suitable moniker to the man once described as a rumpled bowling ball.

Ralph was not a perfect man. But we loved him for it, mostly because we imperfect beings could identify with a flawed leader. I particularly admired Ralph because he was not afraid to admit his shortcomings. (continued in read more)

If you could see the flash of disappointment in her eye when she realizes Daddy isn’t keeping his promise to attend her school “reading theatre” play, you would never break another promise. (continued in read more)