Ah, Friday...as we welcome in the weekend, Hallowe'en and clocks going back one hour at bedtime tomorrow night/Sunday morning.  Love, love, love that extra hour of sleep.  For some reason, it seems to fuel me for a day or two into the next work week.  Or maybe it's just in my head...either way, I'll take it.

Do you know, I just realized Wednesday during the Ontario Association of Broadcasters lunch that I have been doing mornings now for 25 years?  Okay, 24 if you don't count that year that I was off the radio from summer of '03 to summer '04, but if they offered me a silver platter for years of getting up before the sun, The Sun, The Star and before the birds...I'd take it.  I won't let a short hiatus get in the way of a good story!  (Although that hiatus is a pretty good story in itself, I guess.)

25 years.  That's more than half of my life, and really surprising,  'cause in my head, I'm about 36 years old.  I used to say I was 28, but I think 36 fits now, and it seems that those in the know say that's all right.  I was reading some neat information at www.mercola.com about ways to live to 100 - or signs that you're going to.  Do any of these tips from Dr. Mercola ring a bell?

If you’re outgoing – life of the party – your stress levels are likely lower, which helps your brain to fire on more cylinders.  If you run for 40 minutes a day you’ll get less heart disease, and fewer cancers, neurological diseases and infections.  That’s all right.

Do you like raspberries?  Their high fibre helps you reduce your LDL or bad cholesterol.

If you feel about 13 years younger than you are, that optimism and motivation to overcome challenges helps reduce your stress and boosts your immune system. That in turn will lower your risk of disease.

Dr. Mercola also recommends you embrace new technology.  Skype to keep brain cells young and healthy,  Tweet, go on Facebook.  Stay connected to family, friends and current events and that’ll keep you feeling vital and relevant.  (By the way, if you want to follow me on Twitter, you're sure welcome to.  You'll get tips, news, some laughs and reminders about things coming up on CHFI that other listeners don't get.  Go to my home page at www.erindavis.com and you can get more info there.)

If you make every calorie count, you’ll be literally younger at heart, with your ticker functioning like those of people 15 years younger.   Speaking of your heart, it should beat once per second, or 60 times a minute when you’re at rest.  Get more info at www.mercola.com.  I get his newsletter regularly and enjoy the information it contains.

Speaking of websites, I neglected to include a link to Dennis Leclair's site.  He's the man I told you about yesterday with the "Our Canadian Troops" song.  Check it out HERE.  And just so you know, the song plays automatically, so have your volume control handy. 

Have a good weekend and thank you for taking time to come by.  On tonight's final Erin Davis in the Evening at 9 on CHFI, we'll look at phobias and fears, why people enjoy getting scared (well, some people do!), favourite Hallowe'en costumes for all age groups and lots more info and food for thought, all nestled in with tons of your Lite Favourites.  Kick back and share some time with me tonight on 98.1 CHFI and I'll be with you tomorrow at 9 am for the Weekend Edition of Erin & Mike in the Morning, with a second, different show on Sunday evening at 6.

Take care, Happy Hallowe'en, Happy Extra Hour of Sleep and don't forget those batteries.  Recharge yours, change the other ones!

Erin

Mike and I were out yesterday, as we had the honour of emceeing an event for the Ontario Association of Broadcasters and were met at the entry to the Boulevard Club by a box of poppies, being given for donations by the Royal Canadian Legion.  Yes, it's that time of year already.

But I've had Remembrance Day 2009 in my heart and on my mind for months now.

One evening last year, a Kelowna singer/songwriter named Dennis Leclair watched his television in silence as the faces and names of our heroes who had fallen in Afghanistan were shown, one by one.  The series of images touched him in an extraordinary way and he was compelled to write "To Our Canadian Troops".  With hard work and determination, the song began to take on its own story.

He recorded it with Canada's West Coast Navy Band in Victoria, BC and it has received nothing but support and praise.  Defense Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of the Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk have contributed recorded and written messages that will be included on the "To Our Canadian Troops" commemorative CD.

As word spread about this song and its message, so did interest.  "To Our Canadian Troops" will be performed live by Dennis Leclair himself, on Nov. 10 at The True Patriot Love Gala in Toronto. The event will be hosted by Senator Pamela Wallin, and among those in attendance will be Don Cherry, to whom I passed on a CD of Dennis's song this week.  Read more bout the gala and how you can get tickets, here.  Like the gala in less than two weeks, "To Our Canadian Troops" will raise, not just awareness, but funds for Canadian military and their families.

So, what does this song have to do with me, or CHFI?  Well, that Navy Band that Dennis recorded with was conducted by my big sister Heather Davis, a retired officer in the Armed Forces who wrote the band arrangement, too, and sings backup for Dennis on the single.  It's a touching and stirring collaboration and you'll hear it on Remembrance Day on CHFI, and watch for a version of it at chfi.com put together by our web whiz Jay Kennedy, replete with very moving images supplied to us by the Department of National Defence.  It will make you by turns proud and sad.

Especially today, as our thoughts go with the family of Lt. Justin Garrett Boyes, 26, a Saskatchewan man who leaves behind a wife and three-year-old son and who also has a brother serving in the military.

I just wanted to take a moment today to share with you a special story of one man trying hard to make a difference in the lives of others.  I think, when it comes right down to it, that's something we all strive to do - or should, anyway.

Have a gentle day.  We'll share a Friday here tomorrow.

Erin

I've made a decision about the H1N1 shot.  After weighing both sides very carefully, being as informed as I can be (as any lay person can, I suppose) three things yesterday tipped the scales for me.

A 13-year-old boy with no previous health problems was hit by the flu on the weekend.  Within 48 hours, the boy was dead.

After an extremely active morning that included the usual busy-ness on our four-hour radio show, a workout with trainer, a cardio workout, shower, and clothes fitting at a store for two upcoming events, I became ill at lunch.  Doubled over, "We've gotta leave" ill.  I went home, chewed on a few Gravol ginger pastilles (which are awesome, by the way) and slept.  Woke up feeling kicked in the stomach.  No yoga.

Today, Mike and I emcee an awards event for the Ontario Association of Broadcasters.  If I was really sick and couldn't go, he'd be there alone.  And while Mike can go solo, no worries, would he want to?  Probably no more than he'd want to do the radio show without me - or I without him.  No, thanks.

After a scare that the last 24 hours brought me - and usually it would only be an annoyance, but with Evan Frustaglio's death, it's a scare - I've decided that it would be irresponsible for me to choose not to take precautions above and beyond the ones I'm already taking.

I've corresponded with many people who are not getting the shot, and who've expressed their reasons.  Many of them I agree with, and I will respect anyone who decides not to.  It's your right.  But for me, right now, as I face my busy life and what getting hit with any kind of flu, never mind H1N1, would do to it, I can only make what I think for me is the right decision.

My naturopath will not try to talk me out of it at our appointment tomorrow; he says that he completely supports any decision that I make.  That's the right kind of health-giver: one who is not an either/or kind of person.  That's the sort of doctor I wish for us all when it comes to natural versus (or more accurately, in conjunction with) western medicine.

I don't know when I'll get that shot, as I'm certainly not high-risk.  I'll wait my turn like everyone else.  But I know I will get it.  Just as I know you'll make the choice that's right for you - whatever that is.

In the meantime, some kids with cancer need your help. Please give the following a read, won't you?  And have a gentle day.
 

Erin

Good day, and welcome to Tuesday.  Today on the show we're joined by Suzanne Somers for a half hour or so, beginning at around 8:20 am - squeezing in lots of music too, of course - and talking about her latest book entitled Knockout: Interviews with Doctors who are Curing Cancer (and how to prevent getting it in the first place).  She will be joining us for what promises to be a very interesting chat.  Her beliefs about chemotherapy and western medicine are polarizing, to say the least, and we're going to explore each side of the argument.

It began with her being diagnosed with "full body cancer" last November.  The diagnosis was wrong, but it left her with a lot of questions and - it would seem - a mission.  She believes that many people are in the same situation in which she found herself - with a misdiagnosis - and wants to right that situation.

I am a believer in the best of both worlds.  I have lucked into some amazing health care here in Toronto - from ob/gyns (and GPs) Dr. Alvin Pettle (who's listed in Somers' book under "anti-Aging doctors, specialists, clinics and institutes" and can be found at www.drpettle.com) and Dr. Sonia Kustka, both of whom treat patients with a truly open methodology combining allopathic, homeopathic and traditional medicines, and a compassionate and astute naturopath (you heard him on the show last week), Dr. John Dempster.

I am a believer in preventing illness in every way that I can - including monthly IV sessions with mixtures of immune boosting vitamins and minerals - and then if I do become ill, I avail myself of all possible treatments.  To me, that's the way of the future: marrying both medical worlds for everyone's betterment.  No more egos and investment, just whatever makes us all healthy.

Wouldn't you agree?

Take care, have a good day and I'll be back here with you tomorrow.  Hope you catch today's interview and if you miss it, we're hoping it'll be available by noon at www.chfi.com.

Erin

Welcome in - and I hope you had a great weekend.  For me, it was a combination of rest, lots of cooking and, yes, writing for this week's Erin Davis in the Evening programs.  Join me tonight at 9 for another week of two-hour evening shows.  I'm looking forward to spending that extra bit of time with you.  Lots of great information, little bits of stuff to make you go "Hmm..." and, of course, your favourite lite music.  Always!

If you've been on the road the last little while, you've undoubtedly seen the electronic signs warning us that, as of today, it's hands-free, baby.  From here on out, drivers are only allowed to use approved, hands-free devices while behind the wheel, except for calls to 911.

(Can you imagine if that was on a sign even ten years ago?  We'd have thought the MTO was testing its keyboards.  "Texting"?  What the heck is that?  And e-mailing from your car?  As if!)

Today's new hands-free law means no hand-held GPS and (go figure) no laptops or DVD players for drivers.  Really?  DVDs while you drive?  Honestly.

Of course, it bans texting and e-mailing from our Blackberries and iPhones, and there'll be no more updating Facebook status or Tweeting while we twavel.  So much of this is just flat-out common sense (which, as we all know, is just not that common).  The fact that people were actually texting or e-mailing while at the wheel of a potentially lethal two-ton machine kind of proves that.

There will be a three-month period in which those caught breaking the new law will be given warnings (although OPP spokesperson Dave Woodford says sometimes a ticket is the best way to learn, so they may handing them out, too).

A fascinating article you may have seen in the Toronto Star indicates that if the lesson the province learned from enforcing seat belt use holds true, it may take demerit points - not just a $500 fine - to really make drivers put away their gadgets while they're behind the wheel.

In case you don't read it, here are a few paragraphs from the article that I found fascinating:

University of Toronto psychology professor Steve Joordens is skeptical that the distracted-driving law will have much impact because most people simply won't get caught. "Humans are very good at learning the difference between the law as written and the law as enforced," he said, pointing to the fact that most drivers routinely speed on highways with no expectation they'll be pulled over for exceeding the limit by 10 or 20 kilometres an hour.

That could change – as it did with seat belts, where it got to the point people thought anyone who didn't wear one was an idiot, he said.

"The effective shaper is more the immediate environment, your friends and family," he said.

By the way, at CHFI we're going to remind listeners gently not to play with us on Ticket Blitz, Wise Guys or even the CHFI Trip-a-Day Giveaway, unless you can do it hands-free.  We'll do our part in hopes that our contest players do theirs.

One thing you can be sure of: this will be a day that we look back upon and ask, "What took them so long?"  As someone who's almost gotten taken out a few times by distracted drivers talking on their cells at Bloor and Jarvis while I tried to cross on foot - on my light - I say "Amen".

Yippee - Friday!  If October 23rd rings a bell for you – it should – this is the day in 1993 that our Toronto Blue Jays beat the Phillies in Game 6 to take our second consecutive World Series championship.  Do you remember where you were?

I don't remember that day as clearly as I do our first World Series, the previous year but a day later...October 24, 1992.

Cue the fog and harp gliss, as we slip back to those golden days of Toronto baseball....

Ah yes, I remember it well: I was emceeing an event for Famous People Players - a fundraiser.  Rob was in the audience with Lauren on his lap; that was the night he learned you should never diaper a child while she's standing.  He'd done just that during the show's intermission and let's just say that every time lights flashed or beautiful colours were displayed on stage, she showed her delight in the, um, warmest of ways.  He learned a valuable diaper lesson that night, as I say.

We tore home to Richmond Hill as soon as the event was over, and made it in time to see the game's final outs.  What a wonderful memory of a great time for Toronto sports fans!

You know, they say that it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, but now that we know how winning feels, doesn’t it make losing – and not even making it into the playoffs – just that much harder?

I mean, look at Toronto.  Great city – known around the world for so many wonderful attributes like our multiculturalism, our open arms (as opposed to our open streets and roads, which we most definitely are NOT known for) . We have amazing theatre with some of the biggest shows on Broadway or London’s West End either coming here or in some cases, starting here.  We've even just been awarded an event that will bring visitors and party fans from around the world with the 2014 World Pride celebrations.

But we just can’t get a championship team.  Those hockey fans who can still remember 1967 must feel the way I do about baseball.  Longing for the days when we cared.  Longing for the days when October meant playoffs for US, and not just the Yankees and somebody else.

I was surprised to read that the NYY haven't been to the Fall Classic since 2003, and hadn't won since 2000.  That year marked the fourth win in five years for the Bronx Bombers; I guess it just feels like they're there every year.

For Blue Jays fans, it's a case of "maybe next year".  I was encouraged to hear Rogers boss Tony Viner saying that our company has no plans to sell the team and wants to build a winner as soon as possible.  We'll do our part, Tony.  Just give us a team we can love again, and we'll be there.

Have a great weekend, hope you enjoy tonight's show from 9 pm to 11 pm about breakups - how to survive them, how to thrive after them.  Take care, and we'll talk to you here on Monday.

Erin

Hope your week is going smoothly - we're just about there.  Just about to Friday.  I'd be deceiving both of us if I said this new evening show hasn't required a lot of juggling of my schedule but it's been worth it.  Tonight's show at 9 pm on CHFI is based on a great list from Entertainment Weekly's website about 20 movies that were made for children but can still make us cry as grown-ups.  I'll give you a few starters: an elephant, two pigs (one with a spider friend), a deer, two lions, and lots of kids with big dreams. Listen for the stories, the memories and the music.

Today at around 8:20 am we're taking a look at the H1N1 vaccine story and whether we should get a shot, when we visit with Dr. Mehmet Oz.  Yesterday it was Dr. John Dempster, ND with the naturopathic take on it, and today Dr. Oz.  I watched his interview with Campbell Brown on CNN and came away pretty sure that he's as much on the fence as the rest of us; he has to have the shot because of his hospital's policy, but his wife and children are not getting it.  He did urge everyone - especially highest risk groups like pregnant women and young children (or, rather, the children's parents) - to look at the fact that health givers are getting the shots themselves.  In case you missed yesterday's interview, you can find it - along with the Dr. Oz chat once we've done it - at www.chfi.com.  We're also planning to rerun them during Saturday's Weekend Edition of Erin & Mike between 9 and 10 am.

So, what else is new?  Not a whole lot.  I finally got myself in to the dentist yesterday to get a replacement for the night guard that Molly decided to take a bite out of.  (Dr. Singer tells me that that happens more often than you can imagine.)  For a while there, I think that Molly's bark was the same as my bite!

I still can't believe she snatched it from my bedside, but I have to say that it was one of the few times that I didn't have it propped up way out of her reach.  Serves me right.  So did finding only one of my earplugs yesterday.  The other one will show up...in the end....

Pepper's usually the one who likes to eat earplugs.  I guess I'm lucky they're not into wrist watches or the small alarm clock that graces my bedside table.  Of course, it would give a whole different meaning to the phrase "time for a walk"!

Take care, have a gentle Thursday and we'll be back here tomorrow to wrap up the week and usher in the weekend.  By the way, speaking of clocks, if you're wondering when we set them back, that happens after Trick or Treating, during the wee small hours of Sunday November 1st.

Hey - welcome to Wednesday!  Thanks for your kind notes about the 9 pm to 11 pm shows this week, and in that vein, tonight we're talking about tips in the first hour, and gratitude in the second.  A regular journal reader (and listener), whose initial I will use at her request, wrote me some great questions about the whole tipping thing after we spoke about it on air last week.  And I'll be sharing G's e-mail in the first hour tonight.

The whole tipping subject came up last Thursday when Mike Cooper and I were talking about when to tip - especially at takeout.  See, we both go to this Japanese takeout spot and there’s that space on the bill where a tip would go – if you were to leave one.  Even Miley Cyrus got caught up in this when, two weeks ago, she picked up an order at a steak house, gave a $100 bill, and took back all of her change.  Her spokesperson had to tell inquiring minds that Miley didn’t mean to stiff anyone; she didn’t know you tipped at take out.

We asked, "Did you know?  Do you tip at takeout?" and we were flooded with calls.  Once we’d tallied them up, it was almost evenly divided down the middle – yes, tip at takeout – no, don’t tip at takeout.  And I’ll tell you what, almost all of those who said “yes” had come from the service industry.  In some cases, they have to share their tips with the kitchen, or perhaps they have given up waiting tables that night, so yes, they are really relying on those tips.

Bet you didn’t know that, did you?  I didn’t.  But boy, we learned some other things that morning.

Did you know that tipping goes UP when the weather’s good, and down when it’s not?  It’s true.  And one more thing I learned researching tonight's show: women tend to tip men more, and men tip women more.

You've gotten a head start on tonight's show already, but you'll have to listen in to hear G's very valid questions about where to draw the line.  In the meantime, this week and next, I'll be sharing some content from each night's show with you here. Hope you enjoy what you read - and hear.  Take care.

Thanks for stopping by, both here and, of course, at 98.1 CHFI.  I hope you got a chance to listen in to last night's show on delightful surprises.  Tonight we're dipping into one of my favourite books - has been for years - The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  Wonderful, simple wisdom and we've got great music to go along with it - all from 9 'til 11pm on Erin Davis in the Evening, on CHFI.  I'll have a little less caffeine tonight, for sure.

Isn't trying something new fun - and exciting?  I mean, there I was sitting at the board, hitting the CDs for background music, tentatively tapping the computer screen to fire off each new element (songs, commercials, and so on) - and thinking all the while this is so cool!

I was also thinking of Lauren.  I mean, there she is, 5 hours down the highway in Ottawa, basically on much the same learning curve as I am.  She does her own radio show on the Algonquin College campus radio station, she's running the board herself, making her mistakes in public (as I have done and will probably continue to do) and learning all the while.  It struck me that we were probably on the same page yesterday: one hand on the button you're going to hit next as you talk, read, and try not to trip up on your words, while doing all of those things simultaneously.

It's been a while since I did something that scared and challenged me.  And since I survived last night, I'm going to do it again tonight (and for the next few weeks).  It's a ton of work but an equal amount of fun - and I hope you're sharing in the enjoyment, too.

One more note before I sign off today.  I had a moment yesterday that I think every parent yearns for, in which your child kind of sees you in a different light.  They've always perceived you in pretty much one role: the parent.  No matter what you do, whether airline pilot, nurse, teacher or stay-at-home mom or dad, that's the way your child has seen you, right?  Even for the child of someone who's in a very public position, as I have lucked into, you're still simply "mom".  You just happen to work weird hours and have lots of people who are very kind to you when they meet you.

Here's what I'm getting at: Lauren was working on a project for one of the courses in her radio broadcasting course at college.  It involved Canadian content regulations and how they altered the fate of one of this country's one-time radio giants, AM 800 CKLW in Windsor.  As it happens, I worked there from 1982 to 1984 during a time that the station was struggling to win back the mammoth audience it once enjoyed.

I got an email, sent at 2:57 am yesterday and here's what it said:

"I urge you not to look at the time.  I just wanted you to know that, while conducting research for my paper on CKLW, your name came up in a few of the articles I was reading.  I was all, 'That's my mom!  Freaking cool.'

"Anyway, that's all.  I was entertained.  I feel like I'm learning about your career.

"Night!  Lauren"

Even if I did stop and take notice of the ungodly hour at which she sent it.  (Well, it's not like she always did as she was told!)

Take care and have a great day.

Welcome in.  Not just to a Monday, but to a new project that I've embarked on with CHFI.  I told you about it here on Friday, but briefly: from 9 to 11 each night for the next couple of weeks, a new show called Erin Davis in the Evening will air on 98.1 CHFI.  Along with all of your favourite lite music, I'll tell a few stories, share some neat facts and just (hopefully) provide you with an interesting way to spend a few hours each night.  I'd love if you'd stop by and listen in for a bit.  And, of course, I'll be sharing mornings with you as well.  Tonight's show: Surprises.

I hope you had a good weekend; the weather was certainly conducive to whatever fall activities you might have planned.  I was taking pictures of the mist on the water (again) yesterday morning, and noticed that it was so quiet that I could hear the falling leaves actually landing on the crispy frost-covered grass.  It was a magical moment, but in keeping with the tone of the entire weekend.

I found myself feeling kind of blissful from Friday to Sunday, but as so often happens with me, that feeling of lightheartedness was accompanied by a tinge of guilt.  See, Rob spent the weekend with the "boys" (Mike, Ian and Gord from our morning show) at Mike's cottage.  And I liked it.  No, I loved it.

Not that I don't enjoy having Rob around - goodness knows that after nearly 23 years together we're usually pretty much joined at the hip - but there's something special about the peace that comes with aloneness.

Now, again, I have to qualify this: he and I do what we want all weekend as a rule, but we just tend to do it together.  I love all that he does with me and for me, but to have a few days to sit and work all I wanted, or read 'til my eyes fell shut or watch a 7-part miniseries about an American vice president (HBO's John Adams) was just a little bit nice.  And he's all right with that.  When he comes home to a happy wife, dinner in the crock pot and a fire in the hearth, he's pretty serene too.

As for his weekend?  Well, there was a lot of laughter, live music, food and Crown Royal and, by all accounts, everybody had a great time.  It makes me happy to know that Rob fits in with my work family so well.  And while I'm sure there are things that went on that I'll never hear about (and that's okay; that's what boys' weekends are for) we both came out of our two nights apart contented, connected and better for it.

And the reunions are nice, too.

Have a great day and be sure to spend a little time with us on CHFI tonight, too (or more, if you like what you hear) and thank you for coming along for the ride.

Ah, the weekend.  For some reason, even though the work week was 20% shorter, it felt about 20% longer.  I do so love a chance to recharge, relax and just remember who I am, what I'm supposed to be doing and why I'm here.

And if all that fails, just to sleep...

This all leads to a little bit of news I have for you.  As of now, it's only for two weeks, but starting Monday from 9 pm until 11 pm in addition to sharing mornings with you, we're putting on a little evening show on 98.1 CHFI.  We're hoping it will be a comfortable combo of music, inspiration and a chance to recharge.  I'll have a thread that winds through the entire two hours and, of course, you'll hear all of your "lite favourites".

I'm guessing word's out there already, as I got this concerned e-mail yesterday from listener Cindy:

 

Hi Erin, I just saw that you are going to be doing an evening show at 9:00 pm Monday night until Hallowe'en. My dear, you are running yourself ragged! I'm concerned for your health.  I am assuming you will not be doing the morning show with Mike, while you are doing an evening show as well? What made you decide to do this?  I'm not criticizing, as I am sure the evening show will be popular as well. I'm just very surprised.  Kind regards, Cindy

I'm really excited about this opportunity (and don't forget, it's just for two weeks) to branch out a little bit.  I do love and will continue working with Mike - but this is just something that came up and made me go, "Hmmm....interesting...."  So we're giving it a try.  I love a challenge and a project, the kid's moved out and I'm between books (reading, not writing), so why not, right?

I promise I'm taking care of myself.  I'm learning to say, "Sorry, I just can't," when asked to take part in or attend many of the events to which we're invited.  I have an excellent naturopath and I am constantly monitoring everything that needs watching when you get up before dawn for your entire adult life.  In fact, it's little things about keeping your body and soul running as best they can, that I hope to impart.  This is a labour of love.

So join me on Monday evening, won't you?  I'm hoping we'll both enjoy the time we spend together.  And in the meantime, if you're celebrating the Festival of Lights Saturday, Happy Diwali.  Please light one for me - for peace, within us and without us.

Blessings and have a gentle weekend.  Now...I have some work to do!

I know you're thinking "enough, already!" but I found it to be quite a coincidence that after Tuesday's on-air discussion about Yorkshire pudding disasters, and yesterday's subsequent journal and tips (with still more on the way to my inbox, I'm promised), Wednesday's Globe and Mail had an article in it about - you guessed it - Yorkshire pudding.  Great minds thinking alike?

Speaking of minds, it's occurred to me in the past few weeks how comforting it is to know I'm not losing mine.  Or at least not fearing it as often as I used to.

Now that Lauren's all settled into her place in Ottawa, she's no longer purloining everything from mascara and earrings to shoes and jackets.  It's not that the kid was a thief.  She'd just either borrow them and forget to return them, or whatever she took simply got lost in the black hole that was her bedroom closet floor.

You know what this means?  Now, when I can't find a pair of shoes, I've lost them.  When that eye makeup remover is missing?  I've used the last of it, thrown out the bottle and forgotten to replace it.  It's all my fault now!

And it's a blame I'm more than willing to shoulder.

Of course, it's karma, too.  My dad used to joke that all of us kids should have been patted down after our visits home, to see what the "big ripoff" had yielded during that trip.  Truthfully, other than the odd pie plate heaped with leftovers, about the only things I ever liberated were a few pair of my mom's little sports socks - you know, the ones will the pom poms?

Sorry, Mom.  You probably looked for those for days.  I know now how you felt when you were sure you'd had 'em, but couldn't find 'em.

Ah, that's better.  Seems that in the case of sock theft, confession truly is good for the soul.  And sole.

Have a great day, and we'll greet the weekend here together tomorrow.

Welcome to Wednesday!

I was inundated with e-mails yesterday about my Yorkshire Pancake debacle on the weekend.  Look, it wasn't all bad; I have a tasty set of coasters.

I'm not hugely brave in the kitchen, but Lauren loves the side dish that, as a kid, she'd mistakenly (but adorably) call London Pie.  So I thought I'd make her some.  At least the apple pie wasn't a flop, but only cause I was smart enough to buy one of those!

Mike, Gord, Ian and I got chatting about my little adventure (among other kitchen stories) yesterday morning and the number of calls that came in with tips and suggestions showed me we were on to something.  So, in hopes I can save you the embarrassment or laughter that accompanied mine (on the up side, my gravy was awesome!) - some tips from you.  Thank you, and here we go!

We'll start with John, who was short, sweet and to the point:
 

Thank you, John - and I'm betting that came from an iPhone or Blackberry.  Seriously though - 16 eggs?  I'd be heartbroken to put that many of anything into something that ended up looking like a flat of hockey pucks.  Here's Martina's helpful recipe.
 

Listening to your show this morning, I can't help but send you this recipe for Yorkshire Pudding.  The trick is mix it up early & let stand for several hours at room temp. Preheat Oven to 450F 1/4 cup HOT fat from roast (or you can use oil) 1 egg, well beaten 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup sifted, all purpose flour 1/4 tsp salt Combine well-beaten egg and milk; beat till light.  Gradually beat in sifted flour and salt; beat with dover beater until smooth.  Add small amount of fat to each muffin tin, put in oven; remove when HOT; divide batter equally amongst muffin tins.  Bake for 10-20 minutes.  (Makes 6, recipe can be doubled).

Martina, I've never heard of a dover beater.  So I looked it up and here's what I found:

Okay, now I totally know what a dover beater is.  I used to use one when we visited my grandmother and she bought cream (fresh from a farm).  I would whip it 'til it was just this side of butter.  Oh, God, it was good...wait - where was I?

Ah, yes!  Yorkshire Pudding!  Vicki from Brampton sent a family favourite:
  

Thank you to Suzanne for sending her recipe as well, and to Carol for sending this last evening.
 

I think she pretty much covered what I didn't do, and I'll blame multi-tasking and trying to do it in a hurry for the way they turned out.  Nobody's saying to use the packaged mix (which I did) - but these look totally doable.  So next time I make a roast, I'll be doing theYP's with YOUR help.  Thank you!

One final note from Jane, who seems to know me so well!

Jane, thank you, and I have tried them (a brand that Metro sells).  I just thought I'd be a little brave.  Serves me right!  Thanks to everyone from dropping me a line and trying to help.

Erin

Good morning - welcome in to a nice, short work week and, of course, the second half of October.

It was as perfect a Thanksgiving weekend as we could have hoped for in our household: good food, family and just a lot of rest, relaxation and reading.

By the time Rob and I had left the city Friday he'd talked me into turkey.  We weren't going to have it - Lauren had requested "anything but" in that she was having it at boyfriend Nathan's gathering on Saturday.  So we decided to have roast beef instead.

But with all of the turkey talk, we decided we could pick up a frozen, stuffed turkey, enjoy it on Friday with leftovers Saturday and then have beef with Lauren on Sunday.  The plan worked pretty well, except that the six hours the bird's packaging promised it would take to cook stretched out to more like 7 1/2.  By the time we got to the cottage and put it in the oven, it was 1:00 pm.  Dinner was at close to 9.  But it was worth it.

Saturday morning's sunshine made me jump out of bed, grab the camera, put on my bathrobe and slippers and head outside.  The air was cooler than the water and it made for some pretty neat shots including this one, which I think is going to be my new screen saver!

We walked the dogs, then took the boat out for the winter.  Turns out that so unfriendly was the summer that the longest trips we made were to and from the marina for storage!  Ah, well.

On Sunday, Lauren and Nathan arrived to a warm cozy house, two excited pups and the smell of a roast in the oven.  We got caught up for an hour or so, then sat down to dinner, complete with Yorkshire pancakes.  Yes, I said pancakes.

Not sure how someone screws up a mix, but I managed.  Thought I followed the directions, but things did get pretty busy at the end there....

It was a wonderful weekend.  The kids left mid-afternoon yesterday and got home safe and sound, Rob and I just turned on some soft music and read for about three hours (both of us into Dan Brown books right now) and, just as daylight was fading, I grabbed that camera one more time.

Hope your weekend was soft and sweet and I thank you for coming by today to share in a bit of mine.

And for heaven's sake, make sure you're in our CHFI Loyalty Club and up for our daily trips to Sandals in Jamaica with Air Canada Vacations.  It makes the prospect of the cooler weather (and the months ahead) definitely less dreadable.  If "dreadable" isn't a word, I'll make it one - rather like edible.

So perhaps "Dredible"?  Perfect word for my Yorkshire pancakes!

Ah...Friday.  As I tweeted yesterday, I was starting to wonder when this week would actually end.  Working Saturday night (a highly successful $80G fundraiser, the Royal LePage Shelter Gala), MC'ing and taking part in Sunday's Run for the Cure, then a week's worth of radio shows plus a night with Michael Bublé, all add up.  This weekend, my pajamas are going to get a workout the likes of which they've never seen.  And Lauren & Nathan arrive Sunday for a night before heading back to Ottawa, so that's going to be the highlight, no doubt.

There aren't many stars who are as humble, funny, talented and downright amazing as Michael Bublé.  I wonder if we tend to take him for granted because, well, he's Canadian.  But you just watch how the all-American audience on Oprah reacts to him today when his visit coincides with the release of his brand new CD, Crazy Love.  That audience can't be any more thrilled or satisfied than our intimate gathering at the CHFI Theatre was on Wednesday night.

Starting at around 6:00 pm, Mike and I (and our spouses) met up with CHFI Loyalty Club members who'd won tickets to Wednesday's Up Close & Personal evening with Bublé.  We had some refreshments, shook hands, took pictures and then we all headed into the theatre.  There, we welcomed and interviewed Michael for what had to be a solid hour, and we listened to stories, joked back and forth and just enjoyed one of the best interviews Mike and I have ever been a part of.  There was a lot of interaction with our listeners, and you can enjoy more pictures than what we shot here, as well as video by going to www.chfi.com.

We shot a new video for our CHFI Loyalty Club Members' birthday cards (hope you've signed up - you'll get one!)...

And then we just settled in for a long, comfy chat.

When it was done, we gathered for a shot together.

And this last one, which I'm sad to say is a bit blurry, is still a favourite.

All in all, quite a week.  Don't miss our special with Bublé, called "Up Close and Personal", which airs tomorrow morning at 10 and Sunday evening at 7, after our "Weekend Edition of Erin & Mike" programs on 98.1 CHFI.  As a matter of fact, we had so much to try to fit into that special (along with no fewer than eight songs!) that we'll have a bit of Bublé in our "Weekend Edition" too.  We could have done a three-hour special, honestly.  It was that good.  He was that good.

Now, I've been doing this since 1981 when I got my first job while in college.  So, let's say 28 years (and yes, I really was 18 when I started).  There are people who come and go in the music business - or any facet of showbiz, really - and we've gotten to meet our share of princes and of pri --  well, let's just say people who really have far too high a sense of self worth, given their talent.  Michael Bublé has grown into not only an incredibly gifted performer, but he's emerged as someone who's more grounded and centred than ever, someone who really seems comfortable in his own skin and is not shy about digging deep to find the meaning in his songs (whether they're covers or originals) and is willing to share that with the world.

He truly is a proud Canadian, he's one of a kind and we are very, very fortunate to call him, not just one of ours, but a good friend.  I can't wait for him to tour and come to Toronto.  I'll stay up late, I'll have the time of my life.  I am going to make a point of seeing Michael Bublé when he plays live.

Enjoy the radio specials, have a relaxing weekend and don't forget to take time in all of the cooking and cleaning, eating and visiting to remember - this holiday is all about being thankful.

And we have so very much.

I am thankful to you - every day - for coming by here and for listening to us at 98.1 CHFI.  I suppose if we had to, we could do it without you, but really...why would we want to?

Hugs,

Good morning - one step closer to the long weekend - and we can't wait.  Last night gave us plenty more to be thankful for, as we had a fabulous, fun, laugh-filled time talking with Michael Bublé, whose new album Crazy Love comes out tomorrow to coincide with this week's appearance on Oprah.  It's going to be huge - he's already sold 22 million CDs worldwide and has had five #1 hits (two of which he wrote himself) - and while I'll have photos for you tomorrow here, be sure to listen in at 6:40 and 8:20 am today for some bits from last night's show.

The entire "Up Close and Personal" with Michael Bublé, Mike Cooper and me will air on Saturday morning at 10 and Sunday evening at 7, in both cases following the Weekend Editions of Erin & Mike.  Write down those times and don't miss the shows - you'll hear lots of songs from the new CD and we'll get the stories behind them in Michael's own words - and voice.

We laughed until we gasped, then we gasped again when Michael was his naughty self, and we just had a really terrific time.  I know we went way long and trying to fit the interview and a whole bunch of songs into a one-hour show is going to be a real feat.  But we'll get 'er done by the time Saturday morning rolls around.

In the meantime, I'd love for you to click this link and enjoy a video trailer for the album.  It gives you a taste of what it's about, shows Michael having a lot of fun and yes, whets your appetite for what promises to be a huge seller.  If you're watching at work, don't forget the volume control, and if you're not - then crank it and enjoy this great trailer!

Have a terrific Thursday and we'll be back here tomorrow with lots of pictures, as we kick off the final long weekend of 2009 together.  Take care, and we'll be back then.

Oh, and one more thing: for many people, Thankgiving weekend is about getting together with family, but next weekend, for a group in Mississauga, it's getting together for family.  Give this a read, won't you?
 

Hey there, welcome to Wednesday!  This week seems to be going by quickly, although not fast enough when there's a three-day weekend awaiting us.

It was 10:18 last night when I was about to shut down my computer, having put the final touches on script, etc. for tonight's Up Close & Personal in the CHFI Theatre with Michael Bublé.  Mike and I have listened to all the cuts on the new Crazy Love cd and you're going to love it.  It features covers, originals and all of them woven together with the emotions of breakups and the optimism that one has to dig deep to find, in order to go on.  We can't wait for tonight.

Anyway, between that, Skyping Lauren for 25 minutes and keeping track of the Twins/Tigers 5 hour marathon (which the Tigers, unfortunately, lost) I was about to climb into bed and realized I hadn't written my journal!  Yikes!

Fortunately, I had one already in mind.

Weeks ago when we saw a TV ad touting their return to the big screen, Rob and I made a date - no, a commitment - to see Toy Story and Toy Story 2 when they came out.  That is what we did on Monday, catching a 2:15 show at the Silver City Yonge and Eglinton.  Now, I should tell you that 3D movies do cost more (by about $4) than regular films - and that's something I didn't expect.  But given that we were seeing some extra treats and it was a double-feature (when's the last time you went to one of those?) we felt it was worth it.

Giant popcorn between us, diet pops, M&Ms and Twizzlers at the ready, we settled in for a much-anticipated movie event.  The only thing missing was a kid; we were the only ones of about a dozen patrons in that matinée who didn't have one.  But while those parents or caregivers were accompanied by children under school age, we could say "been there, done that" and know that we'd already shared that same wonderful experience of being able to see both movies through a child's eyes.

But the 3D glasses!  Gone are the cheesy and flimsy red and green lensed cheapies we used to don.  In their place, very Risky Business, Ray Ban-ish shades that were comfortable and effective.

The movies were every bit as charming as we'd remembered.  (We did just see the original Toy Story on DVD at Lauren's in September.)  Between 1 and 2, there was a ten minute intermission with trivia and Pixar treats on the screen.  It was totally engaging and a great idea for keeping the attention of little people, as well as bigger people with shorter spans of...where was I?

We laughed where we always did, were choked up in the same spots too, and were completely charmed at being able to see these two wonders - first released in 1995 and 1999 respectively - on the glorious big screen.

But why, we wondered, weren't we more blown away by the 3D technology?

Then we remembered: the movies were so jaw-droppingly astounding when they first came out, and Pixar was still so very new, that there wasn't much else they could do - even bringing in the 3D tricks - that could impress us further.

At least the two Toy Storys didn't lose any of their heart or soul while being tarted up for 3D.  Was it an improvement?  Sort of.  When you're perfect to start with, as these two movies are, there's not a lot of room for growth.

If you love these flicks, don't miss this chance during the next week to enjoy them on a big screen with other people - the way God and Walt Disney meant movies to be seen.

I give it four stars and a big "Hey Howdy Hey"!  (see TS 2 to get that one).  Have a great day and I'll talk to you here tomorrow.

I had to include that photo again today - it just chokes me up.  It's from the end of Sunday's Run for the Cure and that's Mike Cooper and me.  Says it all.  So does this letter I got yesterday from a listener named Linda:

"Just wanted to say thank you for another inspiring walk on Sunday. I've been walking for 5 years with family and friends and every year it brings tears to my eyes to see the sea of people on the streets of Toronto coming together for one great cause.

"I would also like to tell you that on the way downtown on the subway we were approached by 2 women who had breast cancer, couldn't do the walk and thanked us for doing it for them. What a feeling!!! Congratulations to all of us!!!"

You know what?  I hate to sound like a mom, but they were polite, made eye contact, had firm handshakes and were all we could have hoped they would be.  Just so sweet.  If these are the boys your kids idolize right now, you're doing all right.

By the way, a photo of Nick and Joe made it into gossip blogger Perez Hilton's site yesterday - and who's in the background but our own Mike Cooper?!

I also promised you a picture from our moment of receiving the Corporate Spirit Award.  Don't know if you can tell from this shot, but I'd been crying.  It meant so much to all of Team CHFI (and that includes you) to win this award this year.  And congratulations again to the Fairmont Royal York and all of the other teams that worked so hard towards winning this award.

I love this action shot - I was running around, doing warmups and of course walking the route and running 1 km of it.  But the best part of all was carrying that CHFI banner.  I can't wait to do it again next year.

I'll keep this short today and tomorrow I'll share our thoughts on our first 3D movie!  Rob and I went to see the double bill of Toy Story I and II yesterday afternoon and was it worth carving out three hours to see?  I'll tell you tomorrow.

Have a great day and we'll see you here then.

Some members of Team CHFI about to embark on yesterday's CIBC Run for the Cure!

CHFIErin: YOU DID IT! WE DID IT! Team CHFI won Corporate Spirit Awd with over $40,000 in donations. Thank you a million times. And who was there?

And next Tweet...

CHFIErin:...Nick and Joe JONAS of the Jonas Bros. presented the school earners' award!!!  Nice, sweet guys - very kind & real. What a day. THANKYOU!!!

After having been out hosting galas the night before, Mike & Debbie and Rob & I arrived at the square around 8:30 am.  We finalized our scripts and met lots of runners, listeners and Team CHFI members and also pinned on our "I'm Running For..." signs.

For me there were two special groups: CHFI Listeners and the Bell Family.  My dearest friend Allan - one of Canada's biggest fundraisers for breast cancer - couldn't join us because of an accident in Markham on Friday night (Thank God he's going to be all right), and his mum Betty, of course, needed to stay by his side while he recovered from his concussion and sore knee.  But they were in my heart, along with Allan's late sister Lesley.

The sun decided to shine as Mike and I took the stage at 9:30 to officially kick off the 18th Annual CIBC Run for the Cure.

We were thrilled to be on stage before such an excited and high-spirited crowd of people!

City TV helped us get the message out, too - hope you caught it on the news!

Then it was time for warmups with trainer Al Greene.  It was so much fun that I took a second at the end to get a crowd shot.  Some 28,000 people shakin' to the beat.  Imagine.

In a sea of pink that flowed up University Avenue, you can see the blue banner that Mike and I held high with so much pride.

It's my favourite day of the year - carrying that banner for a station that's been such a big part of my life makes my heart soar - but the walk goes too quickly!  Mike and I had to hand off the banner at the 1 km mark and rush back to the square so we could emcee the closing ceremonies.

But oh, so many proud moments.  And you know, some days you just feel the need to dress up.  Witness this Great Dane that Rob captured during the walk...

...and these two fine specimens: Wise Guys Ian MacArthur (left) and Gord Rennie (right) who were supplying the tunes along the route!  Thanks guys - and nice outfits.

Their viewpoint, as they pose for our web whiz and movie dude, Jay Kennedy...smile!

"CHFI.  EVERYWHERE!"  Hi Jay!

And when all was said and done, before a square awash in pink and hope, here was our view from the stage.

Now, what you don't see in my journal today are pictures of us welcoming Joe and Nick Jonas to the stage - something we learned was taking place about just minutes before it happened.  And also the Jersey Boys' live performance and our elated acceptance of the Corporate Spirit Award.  You see, the camera that took all of these pictures was around Rob's neck and he was still walking the route.  So I'll have some of those for you here tomorrow.  You can always check www.chfi.com for photos and video too.

Here's the final tally:

Amazing. To close, the award that truly belongs to YOU, if you helped us raise $40,000 for this year's run - the Corporate Spirit Award.  This is our fifth straight year of earning this distinction - and as you know, we had to work even harder for it this year.  So it means twice as much - it really does.

The young woman with us is truly the dymano who made this happen for Team CHFI 2009.  Jacqueline Gilgannon added to her already enormous pile of daily duties in our CHFI promotions department and made this whole event happen for our team as you witnessed it both on the streets and on the air.

Her tireless devotion to her job, to CHFI listeners and to the Run for the Cure make this award as much about her efforts as everyone else's.  Thank you, Jackie - and to you, a sincere hug of appreciation for making October 4, 2009 a day we will never forget.  I know you join me in giving her this huge hug.

Have a wonderful Monday.  Mike and I are a little hoarse (as you might have heard today) but it's only from shouting with joy yesterday, again and again.  Oh, what a feeling!

The end.  (Well, we can dream, can't we?)  Never give up.

Erin

What an extraordinary week!  I would like to start today's journal with two e-mails I received yesterday.  First, this one from Joan:

"10 years ago I had not been near a doctor for years. I was thinking of changing jobs and thought a medical check-up was a good idea. After the check-up I had a mammogram and within 2 hours the doctor was calling me to say I had breast cancer. It was situated deep within the breast with no external lump. It was removed about 3 weeks later and here I am 10 years later.

"To put the icing on the cake, my daughter was scheduled for a c-section any day and I was to look after my grand-daughter so I would not tell anyone in the family for fear of compromising her health.

"Moral of the story - get a mammogram regularly even when you and your doctor can't find any lumps."

Another note, this one from Heather:

"Erin, I have just also donated $100.00 for the Run for the Cure.  I am a 2-year breast cancer survivor.  I know how important it is to speed up the screening process on breast cancer.  I thank you and Mike for the time you are spending to do this.  The hardest thing to live with is the fact that you may get breast cacner again and hope that you can get the speedy help you received the first time.  Thanks so much.  God bless the staff at CHFI for doing this.  Any amounts you receive help our cause.  Love to all of you, Heather."

I got home from a fundraiser for the Breast Health Centre at Markham Stouffville hospital last night, got into my beloved bed and began to write.

As I typed, I was wrapped in a warm, fuzzy blanket of emotions. They're about the generosity and kindness of listeners and friends (often one and the same), of family and co-workers, all of whom teamed up yesterday.  They joined force either physically or online and brought our donation tally - just in the past 24 hours or so - to $9,000 and (hopefully) rising.  That doesn't count the run participants' totals.

Our special radio show was a gratifying and emotional experience yesterday and, once again, I bow to the incredible efforts of Mike Cooper, Gord Rennie, Ian MacArthur and the amazing Jacqueline Gilgannon.  Jackie put Team CHFI together and will continue to work until she's blue - no, pink - in the face on Sunday evening, raising money and awareness for our part in the fight against breast cancer.  Jordan Lavin was on hand from 6 am onwards with us in the studio along with Jackie, taking calls and furiously scribbling donation information!  Tammy Cole helped us add just the right musical touches and all of this was aided and blessed by our boss, Julie Adam.  As anything of merit is, it was a total team effort, and Sunday's Run for the Cure will be, too.

As I told you here yesterday, our totals have not met the levels donated last year.  There are a lot of reasons for that, but I'm not ready to give up on our hopes of once again standing proudly and accepting, on your behalf, the thanks of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for having been the top corporate fundraiser.

It's not why we do this, for sure, but it's a goal.  I love goals.  I love meeting and surpassing them.  And I'm hoping that, if for any reason at all you weren't able to donate yesterday and still want to, you'll click HERE.

I'm elated to say that, as of yesterday, the forecast for Sunday has been improving!  We're looking at sunshine and 15, and although we can't always believe a forecast, in this case I choose to, dammit!

After this morning's show, Rob and I will head north for about 24 hours of quiet.  Then it's back to the city for a fundraiser tomorrow night put on by Royal LePage to provide money for shelters for abused women and their children.

I first met up with this big-hearted bunch a few years ago through CHFI's Shelter From the Storm radiothon and, if past galas have been any indication, tomorrow night promises to be both fun and inspiring.  I have the honour of hosting that...and then it's home to bed and up bright and early Sunday for the Run for the Cure!

Mike and I will be emceeing the start and finish and carrying the CHFI banner from Nathan Phillips Square along Queen Street, up University, around Queens Park, across Bloor and...wait, am I thinking of the Santa Claus Parade?  Anyway, I'll just follow the throng and we'll get back to the square in time for the Jersey Boys' performance at 11:15 or so.  Darren Osborne is on hand to emcee while we're off walking, Ian MacArthur and Gord Rennie are going to be deejaying and it promises to be an awesome morning of up-tempo and heart-pounding tunes as we all march towards the ultimate finish line - a future without breast cancer.

Thank you for helping us to make that dream a reality.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Erin