This picture is one of many taken for the January edition of Post City Magazines.  Once they've played with the backdrop, the pics and article should be in your mailbox a day or two into the new year/month, so we hope you'll look for it.  Our contribution is a fun piece on funky flannels and sultry silk jammies!  And goodness knows, we know our sleep attire.  Not that we get to spend enough time in it, but you know what I mean.

Welcome in, friend.  As we prepare to say "that's a wrap" for 2009, I'm taking a break from the journal and the radio for a little bit.  But don't miss the live New Year's Eve broadcast from the Old Mill, starring Mike Cooper and Wise Guys Gord Rennie & Ian MacArthur!  It's the best party on the radio.

I'm just enjoying some R & R - rest and Rob - and of course Lauren, too.  I'm sure you understand and hope you're having some much-needed down time, too.

So, I thought I'd leave you with something a little different this year.  It was inspired by one of those year-end family letters that some people send out with their Christmas cards.  Enjoy this, and we'll talk to you again on Monday, January 4th.  Happy New Year and may all of your wishes come to fruition in 2010.

Oh, and thank you to everyone who sent me the "George Clooney with a champagne glass" greeting this year.  Very sweet of you!  Hugs,

Erin
 
 

This picture is one of many taken for the January edition of Post City Magazines.  Once they've played with the backdrop, the pics and article should be in your mailbox a day or two into the new year/month, so we hope you'll look for it.  Our contribution is a fun piece on funky flannels and sultry silk jammies!  And goodness knows, we know our sleep attire.  Not that we get to spend enough time in it, but you know what I mean.

Welcome in, friend.  As we prepare to say "that's a wrap" for 2009, I'm taking a break from the journal and the radio for a little bit.  With the exception of a show this Thursday, of course.  The Christmas Eve at Erin's show begins at 6 pm on the 24th and goes until midnight.  I hope you'll join us for this CHFI tradition!  And don't miss the live New Year's Eve broadcast from the Old Mill, starring Mike Cooper and Wise Guys Gord Rennie & Ian MacArthur!  It's the best party on the radio.

I'm just enjoying some R & R - rest and Rob - and of course Lauren, too, who's home until the 27th.  I'm sure you understand and hope you're having some much-needed down time, too.

So, I thought I'd leave you with something a little different this year.  It was inspired by one of those year-end family letters that some people send out with their Christmas cards.  Enjoy this, and we'll talk to you again on Monday, January 4th.  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and may all of your wishes come to fruition in 2010.

Oh, and thank you to everyone who sent me the "George Clooney with a champagne glass" greeting this Christmas.  Very sweet of you!  Hugs,

Erin
 
 

Also: the sense of being 3 feet small when others would view you in high stature if they realized all you do to make the holidays happen.  [from www.urbandictionary.com]

Welcome in.  I was dropping in on a few of my favourite websites yesterday and came across a cute definition to share with you.  Hope you're not suffering from "elf-esteem" issues these days.  Hope, too, that you're managing to keep up, stay sane and take a few moments to breathe and enjoy this special time of year.

People simply are different during the holiday season.  More doors are held open, we see more smiles; there's a kindness that is often buried beneath the layers of our everyday crustiness, that breaks through and makes the world a happier place.  We go out expecting lineups, crowds, congestion and chaos and we either weather them better when they hit or we are delighted when they don't.  At any rate, as Andy Williams sings, it is truly "the most wonderful time of the year."

Summer vacation ranks second.

Hey - does it bug you at all that a Christmas favourite like Williams' kind of makes you think of "back to school" ads when you hear it?  I don't really care either way, but wondered if you do.

Reminds me of a lament that our producer and friend Gord had.  Apparently, he resented Etta James' "At Last" being hijacked for a cat food commercial, in that to him it had had a special wedding association.  At least now when we hear it, we can think of Beyoncé's lovely rendition for the Obama Inaugural Ball.  Thanks for the memory, B!

I wanted to tell you that I have a journal here on Monday for you (last one for a while), if you wish to come by.  Kind of a "family letter" sort of thing, on which to end the year.  But today, my friend, today is like Christmas Eve for me!  And not just 'cause it's our last studio show of 2009.

Lauren's plane arrived yesterday at the Island at 10 am.  Actually, an uncharacteristic 10:46 am.  De-icing in Ottawa and an aborted landing (followed by a successful one) in Toronto made for a delay.  Still, I was able to take the ferry over and wait for her at the island terminal, which was nice.  Then we had all afternoon to hit the mall, wander around, grab a bite and do some shopping.

Went to see Up In the Air with George Clooney last night.  Not sure how I feel about it, but I'd describe it as sad, sweet, light, deep, thought-provoking and verrrrrry easy on the eyes.  Clooney, as I'm sure you've heard, plays a hired gun who flies across America firing people for companies whose bosses don't choose to do it themselves.  He is very happy to be without any ties and his main goal is to hit a 10 million airmiles mark with his favourite carrier.  Then, this proponent of a commitment-free life, encounters some emotional turbulence.

What ensues is not neat or trite but touching.  It makes one appreciate the mundane, everyday ordinariness of a relationship - or what Dr. Phil calls "a soft place to fall".  Jason Reitman has a lovely touch as a director.  From the way the film is shot to its carefully chosen (mostly) acoustic soundtrack, it's a gentle reminder to us of how important connection is in this world in which we live.

Today, Lauren joins me for the trip to work to sit in and observe the morning show - a crazy one when it's the finale of the year.  Now, she has watched before (and even did a few weathers, etc. on "Take Our Kids to Work Day" in 2005) but now she has a completely different "take" and understanding of the process, since she's studying it in college.

Not sure if a nap's in the works, but we're spending the day together again with special plans for tonight, too.  I just can't wait.  The weather looks pretty good for tomorrow's trip to London to visit Mom Whitehead, then we meet up with a family friend Sunday, and have a long overdue reunion with Lauren's first cousin from BC on Monday.  See - lots to do, and tons to look forward to.

I hope you're managing to enjoy this time of year and haven't just gotten swept up in the busy-ness that accompanies it.  Boxing Day will be here before you know it, we'll all go into Christmas song withdrawal and soon we'll be stocking up for New Year's Eve.  Making resolutions.  Thinking about the year gone by and what lies ahead.

Just remember the Ralph Waldo Emerson saying: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."  Taking time to look within will do us much more good than fretting about the future and the past combined!

Take care, my friend.  As I say, I'll be back with a journal here on Monday and then we'll talk to you on December 24th beginning at 6 pm.  In the meantime, enjoy this hustling, hassling, crazy season.  It'll be over before you know it - for better and for worse.

Lauren arrives today!  Wheeeeeee!  Girl time with my favourite girl of all time.  This morning as I got out of bed it felt as though the calendar read December 25th, not the 17th.

I was saddened yesterday to hear of the passing of Roy E. Disney at the age of 79.

Mike and I had the pleasure of running into the businessman and philanthropist (and nephew of Walt) at Disney World in Orlando a few years ago.  We were returning to our home resort, the Animal Kingdom, after dinner one evening.  As we walked to the hotel from the parking lot, I saw the unmistakably Walt-like Roy Disney standing outside, awaiting his ride home.  We later learned that Mr. Disney often enjoyed the fine dining that that particular resort offers.

Now, I'm usually highly reticent even to be caught looking at celebrities when they're around (yeah, I'm weird that way) but in this case, I think I figured, "Heck, it's a Disney!  He's just got to be nice!" so I walked up and said, "Hi!  We're from Canada!" and put out my hand in greeting.

The billionaire Mr. Disney and his wife were very friendly and shook my hand, and even posed for a picture with Mike and me.  I don't know who has that picture, but I looked for it last night and couldn't find it.  Hope it turns up.

Anyway, it was just a brief brush with a kind old man in a red sweater who made an indelible impression on me, just for smiling, being nice and welcoming a Canadian who was thrilled to meet someone who'd been part of bringing magic to so many, including me.

By the way, we have a ton of Disney magic up our wizards' sleeves for 2010, so don't miss your chances to listen and collect points throughout the holidays.  You'll be glad you got on board, I promise you that!

Take care, and we'll be back with you here tomorrow.  Thanks for coming by.

Erin

Wednesday.  We're getting there.  Are you off next week, too?  Schools wrap up the year this Friday as do we - although Tish Iceton will keep you company every morning next week as we lead up to Christmas Day.

Don't forget next Thursday night, it's Christmas Eve at Erin's.  We're really excited about this year 'cause The General, Ian MacArthur, has been tuning up his guitar, printing off lyrics and is going to lead us in some carols (and not the Wise Guys' usual versions).  Should be fun.

Lauren's going to join us, of course, but we'll also have visits with Mike (along with his wife Debbie), Ian, Gord, Darren, our newest CHFI family member Julie James, Tammy Cole and...who knows who else?  I've got a request in for some special guests but I don't even want to jinx it by saying who they might be.  You'll just have to listen to find out.

So, with the holidays approaching, you may be planning a little getaway as well.  I was trying to pare my inbox down to something approaching double digits (instead of triples) and found this e-mail from my sister, which contained a video from metacafe.com.  I'd put it aside to share with you and never did, although our web whiz Jay may well have put it at chfi.com some time this year. 

I don't usually post stuff that's too alarming or scary - I leave that for the forwarded emails (true and not-so-true!).  But this one...although I haven't tried this with my suitcase, it looks extremely plausible, unfortunately, depending on your zippers.   

At any rate, it's a timely reminder of why we never, ever put anything of real value in our suitcases when we travel.  It's why we put cameras, jewellery, gifts, etc. in carry-on.  And you may want to, also, after seeing this video.

Come on back here tomorrow and we'll share some time together.  And thanks for all of your visits during 2009.  It's been a great year - and I love that you've found me at www.twitter.com, too.  (CHFIErin, in case you haven't).

Now, to watch that video, click here to go to my video gallery, then click on the picture of the suitcase.

Erin

Okay - so it's Tuesday and you're wondering just how you're going to get all of your work/shopping/baking/panicking done before this week ends and people start heading out on vacation.  I've got just the thing to see you through with a smile.

You may have heard Mike and me talking about the "Carol of the Chins" yesterday morning.  Well, I wanted to share it with you again - just to make sure you get to giggle a bit today.  It's flat-out silly, and sometimes we need a little of that.

These two guys are the Chins.  Now, when you see the site, you'll recognize that their faces are upside down; you're just seeing their mouths, while the rest is either just drawn or stuck on.  It's ridiculous.

You type in a Christmas or holiday fave, and they either sing it or tell you they don't know it.  For example, if you put in "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", you'll find out they don't know it.  But if you put in "Jingle Bell Rock", you'll learn that they only know part of it.  And if you're naughty, say, like my partner Mike, and put in a bad word, you'll get an earful.  As I say, it's cute, it's silly and it may just be what you need to get through the week.

You'll find them at www.sundog.net/index.php/chins/carol/.

Er, um, you're welcome?

ps - the kids will love both parts of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".

Welcome to Monday and the final full work week of 2009.  That's pretty hard to imagine on the 14th of the month, but there it is.

I can't tell you how excited we are about Lauren's arrival this Thursday.  We've gotten her a plane ticket instead of worrying about roads between here and Ottawa over the holidays, so she flies in on Thursday morning.

I've already got a full schedule for her: some shopping, a manicure (she gets one about once a year), a visit with a BC cousin who's just moved to Etobicoke, a trip to London to see her Grandma and lots more.  Of course, we do have to share her with her boyfriend's family, but that's all going to work out just fine this year.  Lauren seems to be most excited about sitting in to watch the morning show on Friday.  Now that she's learning how it all works, actually seeing us do what we do has a whole different meaning for her.  I'm hoping this week flies by.

Part of the reason I'm feeling more elation than panic this year is that I've done so much shopping online.  Packages have arrived on time, and gift cards I've ordered have done likewise.  Yes, I'm giving a lot of gift cards this year, and I really feel at peace with the whole idea.

Mind you, it's taken a few years.  In the past it's felt a bit like a cop out, as though I was either finding an easy way to avoid shopping or just not bothering to put thought into someone's gift.  But honestly, as the recipient of those little bits of plastic currency, I've had a change of heart.  Add to that the fact that Ontario has outlawed expiry dates on them, and it just seems like a great solution to the whole "what do I get them?" question.

Take Lauren, for example.  I know where she likes to buy clothes, but wouldn't presume to choose what she might wear.  For someone like Mike, he's a man of admittedly simple pleasures.  I know what restaurant he likes and if I was to get him a card, I'd get one from there.  (Although this year we've vowed not to exchange gifts - and I'm trying hard to stick to that!)  I even found a Facebook site last night that lets you exchange gift cards, in case Aunt Edna got you one for The Gap and you're more a Tabi kind of gal, you know?  Very cool.  It's at www.giftcardswap.ca.  I haven't tried it.

Now, there are a lot of pluses to the gift card experience but a few minuses as well.  To be honest, I miss the impulse buys that accompany a visit to the store.  Those last minute "he'll love this!" ideas that come only when you see an item right before you.  Of course, that can eliminate the chance of buying those dreaded battery-operated musical whatchamacallits that seem to sell only at this time of year!  I miss friendly interaction with store employees, and the chance to shop at stores that don't have gift cards or sophisticated websites.  I still want to patronize favourite stores but I have to go out of my way to do that.

What don't I miss?  Terse and perfunctory exchanges with employees who are, often completely understandably, at the end of their rope.  I don't miss standing in long lineups and then being bumped by people who phone and occupy a clerk's time and attention just as I get to the counter.  Yes, that still happens - did happen to me three weeks ago at a large department store.  Most of all, I do not miss the hassle of trying in vain to find a parking spot - even at 11 am on a Monday.  And of braving the elements that require boots and a coat in the parking lot that you'll then have to clomp around in once you get inside a mall.

That being said, after a visit to the gym today I plan to grab a few shopping bags and head along Bloor Street just to see what I find.  'Cause although gift cards can take off a lot of the pressure, there's still much to be said for being part of the shared experience of Christmas and holiday shopping.  A pinch of panic, a frisson of frustration, aching arms and a beleaguered back, all culminating, hopefully, in a sense of satisfaction.  Knowing that whatever you purchased - whether a gift or a gift card - you're making someone else happy.

(Don't forget, there are lots of ways to make charitable donations in someone's name, too.)

Have a great day and we'll be back here with you tomorrow.

Is your company having a party this year?  Ours isn't.  I mean, we had a smallish gathering after work yesterday, but it's not a holiday or Christmas party, per se.  And to be totally honest, I have to say that, deep down, I just don't miss the big annual event.

We were talking about this on the show yesterday.  One of us - Ian, I think it was - said that not having a party means a free weekend around the holidays.  For someone like Ian, who has three family birthdays within about 2 weeks in December, that is a gift in itself.

There were a lot of positive aspects to the annual holiday bash, don't get us wrong!  Sure, it was nice to catch up with the partners and spouses that we only saw once or twice a year.  And what a treat to see our casually-clad co-workers all decked out in their formal finery.  While we women would often glam it up, some of the men would even wear a tux (Robbie loved an excuse to haul out the old monkey suit) and to me, nothing looks as nice as a guy in a tux, cummerbund and tie - bow, long, whatever.

This is just a guess, but last year's party cancellation was a combination wise fiscal decision and, I suspect, overall sadness.  It seemed to make little sense to party it up when the cost could have meant the annual salary of one laid-off employee (and like many companies, there were plenty in 2008 and 2009).  But the party's planning coincided with the serious illness of our company founder and leader, Ted Rogers.  He passed away December 2, and to say that we didn't exactly feel celebratory would be a serious understatement.

So, this year, there's no big shindig and no one I've talked to seems to mind.  While I'll miss seeing everyone with a few errant sparkles in their hair and a relaxed smile on their face, it would seem to be the way of the future for many companies.

Oh, and according to an e-mail I got this week from the Creative Group, conduct at the party (if you're still going to one) can be the difference between employment and having to send out a résumé in the new year.  Read this!
 

By the way, Hannukah begins at sundown today.  Whatever you're doing, be sure to have a lovely weekend.

So, Lauren tweets last night: "Note-to-self for next snowfall: wear adequate footwear."

You see?  This is what happens when you move out and are no longer within earshot of your mother!  I used to be able to remind her gently (and in a way that most listeners probably thought was for them, too, I hope) that it wasn't going to be a sneaker kind of day.  And I suppose yesterday, in passing along the fact that "waterproof" was the fashion in footwear for the day, it was a hangover from being a mom.  I don't guess that the urge to help you have an easier start to the day, in any way we can, is entirely a mom thing, but I'm sure that's part of it.

Like the old saying goes, "Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly."  That's probably truer than most of us would like to admit!

I miss knowing she is listening in the morning.  Now, she could tune in online, as so many do around the world, but she has to keep up with Ottawa radio for her radio course and I get that.

Still...it was nice to do a little mothering over the airwaves now and then.  Now, my only "subliminal" messages are reminders to Rob to set the PVR!  And even then, it's only for shows I think everybody might want to remember.  After all, our program is about you.  Speaking of which, I hope you get a chance to hear Jersey Boys when they visit just after 8:45 am or so this morning!

This week is flying by.  That's what happens when you try to cram in a day job, some extra work at home, a workout, a meeting or two, some Christmas shopping, and a little bit of socializing.

Tomorrow - the company party.  If you're going, a few last-minute tips that could make Monday - and 2010 - a lot easier at work.  But first, let's get through Thursday!  Have a good one.

Welcome to Wednesday - what was shaping up to be, at least at the time of this writing, a wintry Wednesday at that.  Oh, we've been spoiled this year.  While other parts of Canada have already shivered, shoveled and shivered some more, we've been wearing light coats and no snow gear.  That, it would seem, might be about to change.

Of course, there's never a guarantee that we're going to be hit by snow (unless it's a system so big you could see it from space).  More often than not, when we're warned of ten centimetres of snow, we get three; when we're told to brace for five, we get none.  So we'll see just what Mother Nature has in her bags of tricks today in terms of what falls, what stays and what melts with temperatures heading into positive territory.

Speaking of bags of tricks - did you hear what Hubert did yesterday on Santa's Big Bag of Cash?  He went the distance and opened 11 presents - for a total of $10,000.  I would have stopped about eight times before he did, but he just seemed to be calm and cool, with a terrific attitude about just going for it.  He knew he would end up with $98 (a Loyalty Club perk) even if the Grinch showed up, so his whole thing was, "I started out with nothing, so let's go for it!"

I've heard from several folks who had a blast just listening in on Hubert's adventure.  Our hearts were pounding, too, I'll tell you - 'cause we're as much in the dark as you are as to what's coming next.  It's a fun contest.  We're lucky to be able to spread so much cheer (not to mention cash) at this time of year.

Hope your day isn't too hairy, and that the elements are kind to us today.  I'll be back with you here tomorrow - thanks for coming by.  Take care of yourself.

Erin

Welcome in.  I'm thinking of John Lennon and, of course, where we were on this day in 1980 when word started coming in (during an evening football game broadcast) that the former Beatle had been shot.

I was in first year of radio at Loyalist College...exactly where Lauren is now (except she's further east in Ottawa).  I wonder now if she'd be surprised to learn that a couple of my professors let me put off writing exams that week because I was in such a state over Lennon's death.  Flat out shock and mourning.

I'd missed the Beatles during the time of their explosive popularity, and a high school boyfriend had turned me on to them.  John was my favourite.  I was devastated to lose this artist that I was just getting to know and who was on the cusp of a long-awaited return to creative power.

I also remember that Colonel Sanders (yep - the chicken guy) died a few days later.  One memorable doofus of a classmate asked if I was gonna wear a black armband for him, too.  That line's gotten funnier as time's gone on.

So...how much time until the Tiger Woods story gets funny?  Maybe never.

I'm a big fan of Seth Myers, head writer and "news" anchor on Saturday Night Live.  He had a pretty good line last weekend (one that writing down won't translate perfectly but gives you an idea): "Last Friday Tiger Woods hit a tree and a bunch of ladies fell out."

Whether or not you find that witty, at least it's brief - and brevity, they say, is the soul of wit.  However, the skit that preceded the SNL Weekend Update was - at least from where I sat - neither witty nor brief.  In it, Keenan Thompson played a battered, bruised and apologetic Tiger.  The premise of the skit was Tiger and Elin were holding a news conference.  He'd keep slipping up about his infidelity, they'd cut back to Wolf Blitzer at CNN, and when they returned to Tiger, he'd be more battered and frightened.

I'm sure somebody thought it was funny.  Most respondents to a poll about the skit told NBC it wasn't.

I'd have to agree with the majority on this one; the jokes were flaccid, their punchlines sticking about as well as the oversized Band-Aid on Keenan's chin.

I won't go so far as to call the sketch offensive.  I don't have a huge amount of time for people who scream, "I'm offended!" as though we're all supposed to make retractions and apologies or compensate them because they hold a certain opinion brought about by their own experiences, filters and preconceived beliefs.  But I will say that it was in questionable taste.

Is it my place to say "poor" taste?  Don't think so.  Comedy is hugely subjective - and extremely personal.  What I think is funny, you might just hate.  That's why there are long lineups for both the "redneck" guy Jeff Foxworthy and for angry comic Lewis Black.  It's why Minnie Pearl had as big a following as Lenny Bruce - there's something for everyone.

Some people will look down their noses and profess not to having watched Saturday Night Live for decades; they say it hasn't been funny since the "Not Ready for Primetime Players".  To each his own.  I've been watching SNL faithfully since I was old enough to stay up late.  It hasn't always been funny, but it's almost always tried.  Last Saturday's skit was just lame.

Underlining that point was the fact that it was unfortunately (and uncomfortably) placed in a show that happened to feature the 2009 face of domestic abuse, Rihanna, as musical guest.  Unless you've been hermetically sealed inside a safe for most of this year, you know that she was the victim of abuse at the hands of boyfriend - and fellow recording artist - Chris Brown.

We all know that a lot of comedy is based on physical pain.  If it weren't for unfortunate accidents, there would never have been the Three Stooges, and America's Funniest Home Videos wouldn't have lasted one season.  But spousal abuse - no matter who's on the receiving end - just ain't funny.

It's said that comedy = tragedy + time.

So, using that as a formula, the words, "too soon?" came to mind when I found myself cringing at the Tiger skit.  Then two others: "not funny".

Erin

Do you ever get to a Monday and wonder just how you managed to fit so much into a few days?  That's how Rob and I are feeling this morning.  Wow.  How comatose was I heading to bed at 7:00 pm last night?  I didn't set either of my two alarms;  thank goodness Rob set his.  That one going off at 2:50 am saved my bacon.

So...what were we up to?  Well, Friday night's Voices 2009 was everything we could have hoped for and more.  A lively, well-attended and incredibly professional showcase of six young vocalists (and an awesome band behind them), it was a pleasure to emcee and witness such enthusiastic talent.

We got back to the condo around 11:00 pm, packed up the pups, the cooler and a garment bag and headed to the cottage.  Lights out around 1:45 am.

Spent Saturday catching up on a few PVRed dramas from last week, then got ourselves cleaned up, made up (er, just me) and pointed the car back to the city for not one, but two surprise birthday parties!

Our dear, dear friend Helen Moase yesterday turned the big 8-0.  She's one of the most lively, funny, healthy and vibrant people you'll meet at any age.  After all, how many people do YOU know who can bowl a 215 in 10-pin (did that 2 weeks ago) or ace their written driver's test - no errors?  Know a lot of 80-year-olds who volunteer to help much younger folks recover from heart (and other) ailments?  Can't think of a ton of octogenarians who do yoga, either.  But that's Helen.

We celebrated Helen's birthday with a wonderful dinner at the School in Markham.  Gathered in the festively lit dining room were her son Don, who came up from Atlanta, daughter Karen and husband Ken and two grown children, plus Rob and me.  We laughed a lot, clinked glasses and toasted our Woman of Honour.  And I can tell you what a great honour it was for Rob and me to have been invited to such a special family gathering.  Our Lauren, who calls Helen her "surrogate Grandmother" for all the events she and Carl attended when Lauren's real grandparents couldn't, sent along a letter and was there in spirit.

After we saw the family head off safely towards Pickering, Rob and I set the GPS for the Crosby Arena in Unionville where another birthday party was being held.  When we arrived, it was already well in progress, the band was rocking and the wine was flowing.

Still, we got to dance, sing one with the band and share lots of big hugs and kisses with Allan Bell, a friend about whom you've read lots in this blog.  It was a surprise party for Allan's XXth (you're gonna have to guess - but it rhymes with phflifffteee) and his friends got together to send him and his mum to the UK for the holidays.  Allan's birthday is Christmas Day, and no one wanted to miss a chance to mark this milestone with him.

We headed home on clear roads to the cottage;  thank goodness the weather cooperated for all of our travels. Got to bed at nearly 2 am again, but awoke at 8 to about a centimetre of snow with lots more coming down.  Like the events of the weekend, the snowfall was magical.

And also, like those events, those fluffy, lovely flakes made me very grateful for a couch, a fire, and a place to rest my weary self for the entire day of Sunday.  We Skyped Lauren in Ottawa, got to "meet" her dwarf bunny Rosie, and also caught up on plans for the holidays.  I can't wait 'til she comes home next Friday.  Now, if only we could find her stocking!  Honestly - for two years now, Rob's and Lauren's Christmas stockings have gone AWOL.  Perhaps it's time to replace them, but I sewed them together (and painted on names, stitched bells, etc.) for Lauren's first Christmas.  We just can't lose them now!

Today, we're back into the swing of Santa's Big Bag of Cash at around 8:15 am, plus more sunshine on your way with Sunwing.ca.  Have a great day, thanks for coming by to share a few stories and I hope we'll do this again tomorrow.

Hey there - it's Friday.  Thanks for the e-mails yesterday.  There were a lot of them, all both understanding and supportive.  Some days I just need to vent.  We all do, I suppose.  At least a weekend lies ahead and that's, as Ms Stewart would say, "a good thing"!

Look at the calendar - Christmas is three weeks from today.  How's your shopping coming?  Rob and I were hoping to tuck in a few hours' worth today, but we still have some scripting and work to do as I prep for the Voices 2009 event tonight, so there may not be enough hours in this day.

By the way, if you want to join us for an incredible showcase of young talent tonight at the Manulife Centre's Isabel Bader Theatre - or are curious about the event - go to Wed.'s journal HERE.  The prices are really reasonable and the talent promises to be exceptional.

It was a great fun romp at the theatre last night as Ross Petty's 14th production - yes, another musical/comedy/ad lib laugh-a-thon "panto" - took to the stage at the storied Elgin Theatre on Yonge Street.

This year's production, Robin Hood, features the considerable talents of Canadian Idol's Eva Avila, We Will Rock You star Yvan Pednault, Air Farce alum Jessica Holmes (who trots out her hilarious Celine Dion to start the show), plus Jeff Irving from The Sound of Music and the endearing, funny and sweetly charming Dan Chameroy, who steals the show (or tries to wrestle it from Ross) as Plumbum, the cross-dressing nurse to Maid Marion.

Oh, you just have to see it for it to make sense (sort of) but the musical numbers are brilliant, with a heavy accent on rock and pop standards like "We're Not Gonna Take It", "Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down)", "Tax Man", "Revolution", "Almost Paradise", "My Generation" and "Thriller".  The dance numbers are fabulous, the story line (or squiggle) entertaining, and it's a show you and your family have to see.

You just have until January 3, so get to Robin Hood.  It's perfect for kids 3 and up - and adults get some great laughs too - and you can get tickets at www.rosspetty.com.  (Please note: there's instant audio at his site.)

Enjoy the Christmas music this weekend, and Mike and I will be back with you tomorrow morning for our Weekend Edition at 9, and Sunday evening at 6.

Take care and thank you for coming by this week.  Have a terrific weekend and we'll be back here with you Monday.

My goodness, it was a busy day yesterday.  Yes, parts of it were filled with enjoyable events like attending the dedication of Ted Rogers Way, a stretch of Jarvis between Charles and Bloor Streets.  I also got a bit of Christmas shopping done over at the Manulife Centre.  So it was productive, but it was also maddening.  Why?

Because part of it was spent thinking about and writing e-mails.  I usually don't mind that part of my job.  But I might have known to expect it, with a lethal combination of full moon, fast fingers and a disturbing, sordid story about a hero who appears to be falling rapidly from a lofty place of idyllic grace.

And given that the number of e-mails totalled fewer than three dozen, I really shouldn't have gotten worked up.  But I thought you might appreciate a glimpse into what goes into our show.  We don't just run with things - including our mouths - and we take responsibility for our decisions.  Here goes.

Like everyone else, we're talking Tiger here.  To those who wrote to our web guy or to us and were upset or "disappointed" (that word carries so much guilty, parental weight) because we aired the audio of Tiger Woods from USmagazine.com that became public yesterday, I have this response: we sat on the whole Tiger story for much of the week - nearly three entire shows.

As you are probably aware, the story broke last Saturday.  We chose to let it sit - with very veiled and careful references to it - until there were no spousal abuse charges laid, more facts emerged and time had eased a bit of the shock and pain of this story for those to whom Tiger Woods is a hero.

Then the tape came out.  And rumour and innuendo began to look an awful lot more like evidence, fact and guilt.

I want to tell you that the decision to air the tape of Tiger's phone message yesterday was one we weighed carefully.  And there was no way we could not.  Not without blowing our responsibility to our valued listeners.

Could people hear it anywhere else?  Absolutely.  But we know people listen to us to hear what's going on.

So then, if people could hear it on everything from morning radio to last night's suppertime news on TV, why not be above it all, keep playing "Jingle Bell Rock" and pretend that one of the biggest stories of 2009 was not unfolding with lightning speed in front of our eyes and ears?

Let's not even debate that it's a huge story. Whether we like it or not, the story of a hero's weakness was big in the days of Achilles of Greek mythology or Samson of the Old Testament, and it's big today.  It just gets around faster.

I'll tell you why we wouldn't just ignore the story: because our job is to reflect and discuss what our listeners are talking about.  As distasteful and disappointing as this whole affair - or affairs - may be, the world's highest paid athlete did something very publicly at 2:30 am on Friday: he tore out of his house (shoeless, no less) and backed his SUV into a tree and a fire hydrant.  He wouldn't talk with police, speculation rose to a fever pitch and then the whole lid blew off the pressure cooker yesterday.

Is a couple going through marital problems entitled to privacy?  Absolutely.  Unless you drive your car on to a public street and are on the ground when a stunned neighbour phones 911.

Unless your name is Tiger Woods.

If you're going to buy into the whole fame thing - billboards, endorsements and hundreds of millions of dollars that came not from golf but through it - there is a price to pay.  If you're willing to be up on that pedestal, there will be people who will do anything they can to find a chink in your armour.  Up until now, Tiger Woods was every fan's dream: with few exceptions, he conducted himself honourably, played like a champion and lived, to all outsiders, an exemplary life.

He missed opportunities this week to step up and put the media witch hunt on "pause".  But he chose to keep quiet.  Perhaps fear of losing $100 million in endorsements (a figure that MSNBC was bandying about yesterday) had something to do with it.  But does the name Michael Vick ring a bell?  The NFL star went to jail after torturing dogs.  And he got his endorsements and his job back, thank you very much.

We know Tiger will be okay.  He's hit safely out of the rough before.  Right now, though, the reverberations are all about his falling from an impossibly high pedestal and disappointing legions of loyal fans who simply adore him.

Are people sad that he's not the perfect person we all thought he was?  Likely.  Are they angry that an LA hostess (and perhaps the New York event planner, and more) has outed Tiger as someone whose noteworthy play was not limited to the golf course?  Maybe.

But for people to shoot the messenger - us - is ridiculous.  Being on top of things - especially if they're developing while we're on the air - is part of our job description.  Go ahead and be "disappointed" over a man who has the world by the tail and has seemingly conducted himself in a way that shames his legend and his wife.

And if blame has to be laid - and goodness knows we're a society that loves to judge as much as we love to idolize - put it where it belongs.  If the stories turn out to be true (no one is disputing it) then we have to grow up and admit that no one made him step out of the bounds of his marital vows.  No one did this to him.

Trust me, I would have been just as happy not to talk about the story from the day it broke to this very moment.  And I'm truly sorry to be the bearer of such awful news.  We took no glee in it yesterday, I assure you.

The world has too few heroes as it is.

Hope you're well - glad it's Wednesday.  I get a break from the gym, Rob's on his way to help his mom with some business stuff in London and I might just get a bit of Christmas shopping done today.  Time to start chipping away at the list of gifts.  The big family shopping (the western relatives) is done, but now we have Lauren, Rob and the smaller gifts of appreciation that I love to give at this time of year.

Now, to some gifted folks of a whole different kind...are you interested in basking in some of Canada's amazing young talent?  There's an event this Friday that's big and intriguing enough to keep us from the cottage on a cold fall evening, and Rob and I thought you might want to come and be part of it, too.

This Friday evening, I'm hosting a professional-grade talent showcase at the Isabel Bader Theatre called Voices 2009 and it's designed as a way to spotlight the vocal talents of six outstanding young people.  It's not a competition, but rather Voices 2009 just gives these performers a chance to sing.  The evening is raising funds for music education for all children, through MusiCounts.

I met yesterday with the people behind this event and it sounds as if it's really going to be a blast.  It's being held at the Isabel Bader Theatre at 93 Charles Street West.  Doors open at 7:00, show starts at 8:00.  Why come early?  You'll have the chance to do a little Christmas shopping at the silent auction table both beforehand and during intermission.  I'm supposed to be taking part in the big finale, and as usual, I'm just a little nervous about that.  They've suggested I sing another number, but I think I'll let the kids do the performing!

The organizers are Inspired Productions, two high-octane, big-dreaming women whose own children are incredibly talented vocalists.  Nella and Elizabeth have offered to give away two pairs of tickets to Voices 2009.  All you have to do to enter the draw is go to their website, click 'Contact' and send them an e-mail.  Tell them you'd like to win a pair of tickets to Friday's show.  The deadline is noon tomorrow (Thursday).

If you can't stand the suspense and you'd just like to go ahead and buy tickets, you can do so at the St. Lawrence Centre's website.  Tickets are priced from $25 to $50 - very reasonable - you can even buy them at the door.  As I say, this ambitious show (which should have you out by 10 pm or so) is to help put and keep music in schools, and to support musical arts among our youth.  Join us on Friday for the very first Voices 2009!

From looking to the future, to honouring a man whose gaze was always fixed in that direction: it's a special day for those of us who count Ted Rogers among those we've admired.

Today, December 2nd, marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of Ted Rogers.

In honour of Ted’s terrific contribution to the city of Toronto as both an entrepreneur and philanthropist, a portion of Jarvis Street (between Charles Street and Bloor Street) will be renamed Ted Rogers Way.

A naming ceremony will take place at 10:00 am today at the northeast corner of the Jarvis Street and Charles Street intersection.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on Rogers TV in Toronto (channel 10/63), starting at 10:00 am, just in case you're interested.

Although to many - probably you - Ted Rogers is a name on phone or cable bills, a sports venue or a DVD rental outlet, to me, he was a man to whom Rob and I owe an awful lot, for making this life of ours, this dream, a reality.  I'll be there and I hope to take a few pictures to share with you here tomorrow.

Be well.  And thanks for coming by today.

A few bits and bites as we hang the Advent calendar today and start the official countdown to Christmas, to some vacation time (I hope) and to what is undoubtedly, for many, not just the most wonderful, but also the busiest time of year!  A courier deadline calendar is at the end of today's journal.  But first...

I got a note this week from a woman who has a seminar going tomorrow night, and I decided I'd pass it on to you.  If 2010 is the year you're going to get that business of yours off the ground, or perhaps move it to the next level, then The Genius Inside workshops may be just for you.  The next one is tomorrow evening right downtown at the fabulous Verity Club.  It's just $30 to attend and you might want to read more about it here.  I have great respect for the work and products of Robin Lee Kennedy (read her CV in the righthand column of the page I've linked).  If this resonates with you, you might just want to take a leap and attend.  What have you got to lose?

I need to ask you something kind of important.  A CHFI listener and journal visitor is doing an early Christmas for a special little girl this year, a child with whom she can't spend December 24th or 25th because of a family split.  She's written to ask if I have any tapes of last year's Christmas Eve at Erin's show that she could have (for a charitable donation, no less).  She's hoping that by playing the six-hour show, their early Christmas will seem more like the real thing.

Well, let me tell you how touching that is - on so many levels.  Families come apart for all sorts of reasons (believe me, I know what I'm talking about) and this time of year can be the hardest to take, especially if it's the first time without someone special.  For our annual Christmas Eve special to have been woven into your family's traditions means the world to me.

Now, here's where you come in.  See, we don't have any tapes of recent CE@E's shows.  We just do them and, as they go to air, they disappear, like every other radio show.  At least, that's how it happens now; somewhere around I am hoping we have some dusty old cassettes of us with a very little Lauren, that a friend of ours taped as it aired.  We'd better have kept those, as she's the reason we began this tradition in 1991!

Anyway, if you know of anyone who has - for whatever reason - recorded our Christmas Eve show last year or the year before, could you please, please contact me?  You know the email: erin@erindavis.com.  It would mean so much to this woman as she tries to cobble together a "normal" Christmas for her granddaughter.

Thank you - and Happy December.  Already.  For most folks it's fewer than three weeks of work ahead, and we're already getting warnings about deadlines for mailing.  By the way, Purolator has announced its destination deadlines and since I had them in my inbox, I thought I'd share them.  Here's the lowdown - just as a helpful reminder (and other couriers are likely on similar timelines):
 

So there you are - no excuse now for missing deadlines.  Take care and get packin'!