Good day - and thank you for coming by.  As Rob and I prepare to return home to TO today to quietly mark Canada Day at the cottage (OFF and umbrellas, here we come!), I thought I'd share with you a journal I wrote for you here last year on this date.  With a few small revisions, it's as appropriate today as it was then and I hope you'll consider some of the spots on the list as you plan your summer days.  "Staycation" having become part of the lexicon with this spongy economy, there might be a few things here that make sticking around worthwhile!  Enjoy - and I'll be back on the air with Mike, Gord and Ian on Thursday.  And Happy Canada Day.

So, here we are, last day of the first half of 2009.  And, of course, we're all looking forward to summer and the sweet, sweet months of July and August (sweeter, we hope, than June was).

I was sorting through the mountains of paper and detritus that has collected in my little corner of the studio, and found something that The General printed off for us months ago from www.toronto.com, on 25 things you HAVE to do in Toronto.  Undoubtedly your list will differ.  But as we sit here on this eve of Canada Day in what is truly if not THE best, then among the top cities in the country, I couldn't resist sharing their list with you here today.

So here it is, from Toronto.com: 25 Things You Must Do While in Toronto

1.  Lie face down on the glass floor at the CN Tower.
2.  Sit upstairs at UNION STATION during rush hour.
3.  Skate at NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE (*note: this is one of the few weeks in 2009 we can't actually do that...!)
4.  Tour the STEAM WHISTLE BREWERY
5.  Have a hot chocolate at SOMA in the Distillery District
6.  Do a bike tour of TORONTO ISLAND (when the strike ends, of course)
7.  Go shopping at HONEST ED'S
8.  Walk the boardwalk at THE BEACH
9.  Go to DUNDAS SQUARE
10. Dine at a famous chef's place (such as one owned by JAMIE KENNEDY or Iron Chef America star SUSUR LEE)
11. Take a city walking tour
12. Get out of the downtown core
13. Ride the Queen streetcar
14. Go shopping in CHINATOWN
15. Have a coffee in KENSINGTON MARKET
16. Window shop in YORKVILLE
17. Eat corn on the sidewalk in LITTLE INDIA in summer (Gerrard Street India Bazaar)
18. Take a train ride through High Park
19. Walk the entire PATH
20. Check out a local band (Rob suggests Whiskey Jack - the bluegrass acoustic country band he plays with around town!)
21. Sample honey at the ST. LAWRENCE MARKET
22. Tour the CBC BUILDING
23. Eat Souvlaki on THE DANFORTH
24. Have dinner in LITTLE ITALY
25. Read in the garden at CASA LOMA

What a wonderful list!  I'm delighted to have found that just in time to share it with you here - on this Canada Day Eve.  Having moved to Toronto in 1984 and lived in and around this city all that time, I can't believe that I've only shared in ten of those 25 experiences.  How about you?

Maybe this list will be a catalyst for you to reacquaint yourself with your Toronto this summer!  I know it's certain to be for me.

Whatever you're doing, have a good Tuesday and a wonderful Canada Day.  All you have to do is go to a news website, skim the world's headlines and you'll quickly be reminded that we are so very, very fortunate to call this wonderful land our own.  We all won a lottery to have been born here, or to be able - no matter how you got here - to call Canada HOME.

Happy Canada Day - Mike and I will be back with you on Thursday.  The beautiful image that began this journal is a maple leaf art print by Deborah Schenck, found at allposters.com.

Oh boy.  I'd forgotten just what a heinous task moving really is, and that's with a move that went well!  I'm writing you today from Ottawa, a little sore and very tired.  Rob and I will be coming home tomorrow and I'll be returning to you and Mike & the boys on Thursday morning on CHFI.

My sister Leslie says that if I was a scrapper (that's a slang term for those who scrapbook), I'd have been taking pictures all the way.  Honestly, I had my camera with me, but there was just no Kodak moment during the entire ordeal - or at least not that I stopped to recognize.

Moving is like childbirth: you look forward to the day with excitement and trepidation, it all goes slowly, painfully and when it's over, in a state of total exhaustion you swear, very loudly, that you will never, ever do it again!

But here we are.  On Friday morning we loaded up the U-Haul truck with Lauren's possessions (and many of ours) from the condo.  We arrived up north in Bolsover by about 1 pm, and then proceeded to really fill the truck; when we were done, there was not even room for the mosquitoes who were with us through that second stage.  Two beds, a piano, couch, love seat, dressers - you name it.  When I say that truck was full, I'm not kidding.  Now I wish I had taken a picture!

We slept soundly on Friday night, arose early Saturday and headed off to the Nation's Capital - Rob in the truck, us in Lauren's car.  Highway 7 was friendly, the early summer skies and views were lovely and, after a stop in Madoc and another in Perth, we pulled into Lauren's new neighbourhood in Nepean at about 3:30 pm.

Here's where some angels come in.  Friends of friends knew we were coming and came by to make sure all was well.  Well, both he and she were tremendous help in carrying, carting, rolling and shoving all of that truck's contents into Lauren's new place - including, in some instances, up three flights of stairs.  They worked as hard as we did and these two fun, lovely people that we'd never even met made sure that our move in took just under two hours.  I cannot imagine what it might have taken, had it just been us.

I would never ask a friend to help me move - to me, that's going above and beyond any friendship there is - but this couple just dove right in and helped us.  And to top it all off, they invited us over to their house later for burgers, great company, plus a much-needed dip in the hot tub!  I tell you, if you have to move, you couldn't ask for a more wonderful set of circumstances.  And although we didn't ask friends to help us move, the couple that helped us are our friends now.  Thanks, Kirk and Annette!!!

Since we got here Saturday afternoon, we've been unpacking and setting up, but also making sure the place is fully functioning and that there's nothing Lauren will need.  That's meant spending a lot of time (and logging a lot of mileage on the old Visa card) at Home Depot, Zellers, Metro and Costco, but we're hoping that when we head back to TO tomorrow, she'll be all set.  If we can't be with her, at least we can try to make sure she's all right.  Which, of course, she will be.

Take care and I hope you had a good morning with Tish, Darren, Ian and Gord.  I'll write again here tomorrow and, as usual, I thank you for coming by.

I had lots of things to write to you about today - most of them having to do with our home, changes here, your kind letters and so on.  I'll include those in days to come.  I will write here next week although Mike and I are off Monday and Tuesday, as well as Canada Day.  You will find journals here.

Today though, most everyone's thoughts are on one man and one woman.  Two stars, both distinguished, both extinguished on June 25, 2009.

I guess it's more apt to describe Michael Jackson as someone who viewed himself as more of a Peter Pan, the fictional boy who would never grow up.

Now, he'll never grow old.  At the age of 50, a story that was part fairy tale, part horror story, part musical theatre and all drama came to an abrupt and tragic end.

During the supper hour last night, our hearts froze and minds raced as word emerged that Jackson had been rushed to an L.A. hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.  Then word that he was in a coma.  And finally, that the self-proclaimed King of Pop was dead.  CNN confirmed this at 7:30 pm through a coroner's interview, waiting to be absolutely sure of what had been rumoured, by then, for at least an hour.  Crowds gathered in L.A. outside the hospital where he'd been taken.  People cried in the incongruous sunshine as word of Jackson's death spread.

Then there was the internet.  Twitter virtually vibrated with people's thoughts and feelings, as well as constant news blurts.  Entertainment websites raced to post, confirm, inform.  When TMZ first said that Michael Jackson was dead, I refused to believe it; the numerous "death bed" reports about Farrah Fawcett over the past several months were a reminder that just because it's written does not mean it's true.

It is true.  An icon, a figure larger than life in every way, whose music is a soundtrack to a huge part of so many of our own lives is gone. For all of his problems, there's no denying that he was so immensely talented, so incredibly gifted, that what made him exceptional - his sensitive, gentle soul - also made him vulnerable.  Billions of words about Michael Jackson's behaviour have been written, and I won't add to them there.  Because today we are remembering what Michael Jackson gave us: the gifts, the songs and dance (the Moonwalk!), the images and the countless ways in which he changed our music, our lives and our world.

Michael Jackson the person is gone, but Michael Jackson The Legend will never fade.  Elvis Presley.  Marilyn Monroe.  Michael Jackson.  In term of stardom, a 60 million album-selling artist, a huge star whose face was known around the world, completely belongs in the company of that troubled stratosphere.

Another celebrity death yesterday made us pause and remember, but this passing was one that had been somewhat expected.  After a two year battle with anal cancer, the pre-eminent pin-up girl of our generation had lost her valiant and very public battle with the disease.  Word emerged yesterday just after 5 am that Farrah Fawcett had been given last rites.  Again, we refused to say that it had been 100% confirmed.  (If you're not familiar with last rites, it's a sacrament in many Christian faiths that is given just before death.)  In the usual ridiculous media race to be first, we chose to wait and be right.  A few hours later, the sad news was confirmed: Farrah was gone at the age of 62.

Leslie wrote to me last night:

"How sad we all are about the news of Farrah Fawcett.  What a brave and courageous woman right to the end.  Yes Michael Jackson's passing is sad, shocking but Farrah's death, although anticipated has more of an impact."

1976 - what a year.  Her poster, her contract with Charlie's Angels, a show on which she starred for only one year.  Like Halleys' Comet, she flashed across the sky with blinding beauty (those teeth! that hair!) but fought to establish a name for herself in terms of being an actor as well.  Today, she's remembered for many things, but courage is certainly at the top of a long list.

What a day - June 25, 2009.

There's a showbiz superstition that celebrity deaths usually come in threes.  Whether or not it's true, many believe it.  When we heard of Farrah's imminent passing yesterday on the heels of that of Ed McMahon, I wondered who would be the third celebrity to pass away.  If I sat and pondered for a week, the name Michael Jackson wouldn't have come up.

It may not take that long for the reality of this pair of passings to sink in, but it's going to take a while.

Have a gentle weekend.  The truck is loaded and we're heading to the cottage to add to the bounty, and then tomorrow to Ottawa to unload our daughter's belongings for her new life there.  I'll share more with you next week and thank you again for your letters, your kindness and as always, for coming by.

Erin

Random Post-It notes for a Thursday - as we get set to move Lauren out tomorrow to Ottawa.  More about that, and a few of your notes tomorrow.  But today, a few of mine...
  

Welcome to Wednesday.  Day Three of the Toronto civic workers' strike and garbage is piling up, even in the fountain at City Hall.  How lovely for tourism.  At least the Pride Parade will still go on; they'll pay for the event's clean up themselves.  But as for Canada Day next Wednesday, it appears you're going to have to go outside the 416 area if you want to enjoy fireworks and celebrations in a park atmosphere.

There is a lot in this world I don't understand.  And you can add to my column of "what the what?", the immense interest in an American family of two parents and eight children.  You've undoubtedly heard by now that the TV show Jon and Kate Plus Eight had a big (record rating setting) announcement Monday night on TLC: after ten years of marriage, the Gosselins are splitting up.

An Entertainment Weekly article I read a few weeks back entitled, aptly enough, "The Best and Worst of Reality TV", quoted Jon as saying that the scrutiny was not what he signed up for.

Well, Jon, you're absolutely wrong.  Because when you and your wife agreed to let your children star in a reality TV show that would intrude upon and monitor your carefully constructed lives, you literally signed up for the scrutiny, the interest, the rumours and innuendo that accompany celebrity - especially in the US and Britain.

It's your children who did not sign up for this.  And now your children will suffer.  Their pain may not be as a direct result of the constant glare of cameras and the probing public eye, but you'd have to be in some serious denial if you think the accompanying pressure didn't play a role in the breakdown of your marriage and family.

On Monday night I watched 20 minutes of the show out of a sense of obligation to our radio audience with regard to the impending announcement.  See, part of my job is to be up on pop culture and what our audience cares about, and there's no denying J&K+8 fits those criteria.

In that time, I was struck by how, in solo interviews, Kate kept referring to her eight offspring as "my children".  She said "my" again and again.  Regardless of what the couple's decision was, that's a strange take on marriage and parenting.  She talks of her children's father as if  he was just a sperm donor.  The terminology was discomfiting, to say the least.  And then they went back to shilling a house building company in Maine, and my interest waned.

I can tell you in all honestly that the goings on in the Gosselin household really don't amount to a hill of beans to me. I'm also astounded that the show is as big an attention-getter as it is.  Whatever people want to watch is completely up to them.  After all, somebody made Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Perez Hilton household names - just not in mine.  But if people are really shaken up about how this whole family story is going, they should stop watching, force TLC and the Gosselins to send the production crew packing, and try to deal with these extraordinary circumstances with a modicum of normalcy and grace.

I'm sure that in our million channel universe, there's some TV show out there that they could watch, to learn how to do that.  Or maybe there's something in another time slot on their so-called Learning Channel that could help them out?

Good morning, friend.  Another beautiful summer day stretches out ahead of us and I'd like to think that we spent parts of the first full day of summer in the best ways yesterday.

After work and a workout I came home and met up with Lauren who was all dressed and ready to head out for some road time.  Tomorrow she puts all of her Young Drivers of Canada knowledge to the test and goes for her G2 license - that's the one that lets her drive alone.  The biggie.  After all, that '96 car she bought with her own earnings a few weeks ago won't look very good in our driveway at the cottage all summer if she is without her G2.

So we spent a few hours going over the trickier parts of driving: parallel parking, backing into spots, three point turns, all that fun stuff.  When she gets that precious piece of paper tomorrow, we'll go out and spend some time teaching her to merge and merge and merge again on to the Parkway, on to the 401, in every possible scenario.  Merging is by far the toughest element of driving (at least to me) and so many people do it poorly.  She's not going to be one of them, if we have our way.

After our driving lesson, we met up with Lauren's dad.  The three of us walked along the noisy, dirty, torn up strip of the city known as Bloor Street, and deked off the main drag to find a spot to have lunch.  We settled on an Italian restaurant with an outdoor patio and enjoyed some salad and pasta in the sunshine.  Then, at Lauren's request (and who can say "no" to ice cream on a sunny summer's day?) we stopped in at Summer's in Yorkville for a scoop of handmade sorbet.  Heavenly.

These days, it's not just about savouring as many summer moments and flavours as we can, but it's about making those moments linger and last.

You see, this Friday we pack up a rented truck and move Lauren's (and some of our) belongings out of the condo and head north to the cottage.  Then we finish loading up furniture and on Saturday we drive to Ottawa and move her into a place we've found for her there.  Yes, she's moving out - it's really happening and it's now just days away.

School ended for Lauren and her boyfriend Nathan last week and their Senior Prom was held on Friday night.  Because you've been along for so much of the ride - many times you've come up to me over the past 18 years and told me how you were there with me when Lauren arrived or when I did my part of our CHFI morning show from home for three months in 1991 - I thought you might want to share in this latest chapter.

These photos leave me with a combined sadness and joy that I can't even begin to describe.  But something tells me, I don't have to.  You've probably been there already.  And if you haven't, you likely will.  It's all part of the process.  We give them roots and then we give them wings.  But nobody said it was going to be easy.  Enjoy these pictures...it's finally sinking in that she's really going and I had the first of what's going to be many "good cries" looking at these for today's journal.  Where did it all go?

Oh my, this is going to take a lot of ice cream.

Erin

Good morning and welcome to Monday - and summer!  Now that we've all wrung ourselves dry after Saturday's deluge, we can get on with enjoying this most anticipated of seasons.  Oh, I know the other seasons have their beauty and their high points, but all you have to do is count up how many songs have been sung about summer and you know which season truly has our hearts.

So, we're in the midst of a strike here in Toronto.  You can get all the details today at www.chfi.com - the link is right on the home page.  Of course, we'll be there to walk - and talk - you through it, no matter how long this lasts.  One city official last week, in anticipation (dread?) of the strike, had some advice you might find handy and that is to double bag garbage and not to bother separating compost from waste. Yard and recycling materials are to be accumulated until the strike is over.

From ctv.ca:

The first thing Toronto residents will notice in the strike is there will be no garbage pickup --- just as a heat wave is about to hit, creating what could be a pungent situation.

The only place where home garbage, recycling and green-bin pickup will continue is in the former city of Etobicoke, where the service is contracted out. Yellow-bag collection won't be available there.

In addition, the following will be closed or canceled:
 

• all community centres and fitness centres
• all City-operated indoor/outdoor swimming pools, community centres, arenas and golf courses
• all greenhouses and conservatories
• outdoor wading pools 
• all child care centres operated directly by Toronto Children's Services
• five library branches in facilities shared with city services
• daily monitoring of water quality at beaches. "Swim at own risk."
• routine inspection of public swimming pools

*Essential services such as police, fire and the TTC will not be affected by the strike.

Let's hope for a speedy resolution to this strike.  Last time we were put in this position, Mayor Mel Lastman asked the province to legislate the striking employees back to work.  But David Miller is a whole different ball of wax - would anyone ever expect him to go to Queen's Park to end a strike?

The two major unions on strike here have been without a contract since the end of 2008.  We're halfway through the year and still no deal, so here we are.  And who knows how long this could go on?

We'll cross our fingers, hold our noses and hope for the best.  And remember that today is the first full day of summer.  Nothing - no one - can take that away.

We'll be back with you here tomorrow.

Friday.  Last one of spring and the second last full day of this season which usually holds so much promise but seems to have been packed with disappointment again this year.  Oh yes, the gardens look great, but the patios are empty.  There's plenty of green in front yards - just not in restaurateurs' pockets.  Let's hope that all changes with the arrival of the summer solstice in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

We have company coming to the cottage this weekend: Rob's brother from Montreal and sister from Kingston stop in for their annual visit.  Although we're optimistic (as everyone is for this weekend) I've taken the weather right out of the equation for tomorrow and we're going to roast a turkey.  Yep, a turkey.  We'll hope to barbecue on Sunday for Father's Day but I won't let rain or the threat thereof dampen our weekend.

Speaking of Father's Day, I just wanted to share a story with you.  We were talking in the studio yesterday about an old radio and television guy who'd passed on.  Many friends and family members gathered at his funeral to say their good-byes.  As old pals and co-workers stood to relate stories of the dearly departed, the congregation remembered this man through laughter and tears.  Between speakers, the person officiating at the ceremony directed a question toward the family, asking at least twice if there was anyone who wanted to talk about the deceased.  And every time the question was answered by bowed heads shaking "no".

After yet one more friend had told a touching story, the family was asked again if there was anything anyone wanted to say.  Finally, perhaps out of embarrassment or a sense of obligation, a young woman made her way to the podium.  The message she had was simple: "I wish I'd known my father the way you all did."

It's a true story.  And it's one that serves as a reminder to us of a lot of things, but mostly to take a moment and consider how our children see us.  How would they remember us if they had to stand and speak - as they one day might have to do - and what would they say?  Do they know us as well as they should?

I know it's a different window to look through on this Friday before
Father's Day, but I couldn't stop thinking about what that man's daughter said.  That one line spoke volumes about their relationship and the miles that stood between them, miles that could never be made up now that he'd passed on.

We may only ever have one chance to make a good first impression, but if we're lucky, it's not too late to make a good final one.  Maybe there's still time to bridge those miles.

To my own Dad, I say thank you for making sure that all four of us have good stories - most of them wrapped in laughter - to tell about you.  Keep adding chapters for a good long time, will you?

Have a good weekend.  Happy Father's Day.  And here's to summer!

Erin

Some Post-It thoughts for a Thursday.  Here we go....
 

Welcome to Wednesday.  A wet Wednesday - or so the forecast says.  Here we go again.

Met some pretty awesome women yesterday at a gathering at which I spoke in Oakville during the lunch hour.  They included the owner of Hockley Valley Resort, who lamented about weather forecasters who predict a rainy weekend on Monday morning.  She reminded me that people plan their weekends in advance and if the forecast is even partly gloomy, they might just say "never mind" and cancel any intentions of heading up to golf, enjoy nature, whatever.

Reminded me of just how many businesses rely on the weather.  And how important it is that forecasters don't just close their eyes, toss a dart and throw it at the Wild Wheel of Weather.  It's frustrating to us, as broadcasters, to impart information that turns out to be inaccurate.  We know that you listen and make your plans according to forecasts.  One day last week, our boss was wondering how it came to be that the forecast called for warm temperatures and she sent her little boys to school without sweaters.  They froze.  I wish I had an answer for her.

I have learned over the years that a long range forecast on Monday or Tuesday for the coming weekend is about as likely to be accurate as inaccurate.  So unless we're at least 75% sure, we should just stick to today, tomorrow and maybe the day after.  Just don't believe the last two.  At least, that's how it looks from where I sit.

You ever wonder what makes John Tory tick?  I sure do.  Having met John through his visits to CHFI, a gathering with would-be constituents up north before the ill-fated provincial by-election, and his former employment with Rogers, I can tell you first hand that he is one of the nicest guys you'll meet (particularly in politics).  But John Tory just can't win.  At least, that's been the case up until now.

There is a movement afoot to get him to run against Mayor Miller in 2010, a subject about which Royson James wrote an interesting column in the Saturday Star.  Perhaps coyly, Tory suggests he's not sure if he'd run.  But would this wave of interest even be starting without his approval?

I have to admire someone whose desire to serve the public is so strong that he'd risk his skin again.  How many "No" votes can one man and one family take?  If he's so hell bent on making a difference, then reducing or reversing taxes in this besieged city would be a pretty strong platform on which to start making noise.  So we'll see what happens there.

It's a similar story for Research In Motion founder Jim Balsillie.  This guy, who brought the world the Blackberry device, is just not giving up in his efforts to bring the Phoenix Coyotes to southern Ontario.  Why would someone want so badly to be in a club that just flat-out does not want him as a member?  And at what point does one say "uncle", anyway?

I guess it's naïve of me to wish Balsilllie - another really nice guy - would perhaps just turn his considerable funds and energy to vaccinating people in a Third World country (as fellow techno-billionaire Bill Gates has done) but he's a man with a mission that he simply cannot give up, despite the league's most strenuous efforts to put him and his NHL aspirations on ice.  So to speak.

Here's to the dreamers.  Crazy, inspired or both, where would we be without them?

Have a good day and we'll look forward to talking to you here tomorrow.  And thank you for coming by, once again.

Welcome to Tuesday.  I look forward to talking to you today if you've bought one of the sold out tickets to the Company of Women event, Journey To Success, taking place in Oakville.  I do love to share my story, the lessons and laughs that make up the presentation we call "Living Out Loud".  See you after today's radio show, ladies.

Now, when was the last time you sat around a dinner table and enjoyed not just wonderful food (in this case, Chinese) but conversation that kept you there for nearly four hours?  Such was the case Sunday night as Rob, Lauren, her "surrogate Grandma" Helen Moase and I were guests of our friend Betty and another friend, esteemed writer Wayson Choy.

The latest in a veritable treasure chest of literary works including Jade Peony and All That Matters, Wayson's book Not Yet - about his brush with death and the revelations, hallucinations and tribulations that accompanied the experience - has received great reviews worldwide. 

Between his busy schedule and ours, it's been years since we've sat down to enjoy his company, and thank goodness Betty, Wayson and Rob were able to co-ordinate a time for us all to enjoy each other's company.

At times during dinner I was afraid it might seem as if I was interviewing Wayson (old habits die hard), but I find his journey, his successes and his near-death experience to be simply fascinating.  Wouldn't you have a lot of questions if you were given a few hours in the company of an author whose work you've enjoyed?

I have to say I anticipated dinner not just for the awesome and warm company, but because Wayson promised he would order for us.  What a wonderful thing to do!  Just as, if I was in New Delhi, I would ask someone who lives there to show me around, we were delighted to bow to Wayson's expertise both with the cuisine and the restaurant itself.  As you can see, the spread of food was something to behold, as warm and inviting as the smile of our host.

It was all almost as delicious as the opportunity to spend hours with interesting people, good friends and family.  And I would have taken more pictures, but my fingers got so coated in sauces that I barely dared pick up my chopsticks, never mind our camera!

One of the things we did, as we opened the fortune cookies that signaled the end of the feast, was ask what fortune each of us would write.  For me, it was one of my favourite sayings: "Early to bed, Early to rise, Work like hell and Advertise".  Helen shared the wisdom of a parent and a grandparent: "Raise your kids right and cross your fingers."  I couldn't agree more.  I remember that Rob's was "Don't confuse thoughtlessness with malice" (something he himself coined a few years back) while Lauren recited the passage she wrote for her school yearbook thanking her 25 teachers over the time she was in high school, her boyfriend and fellow grads.

Our hosts Betty and Wayson came next.  Betty, who is never at a loss for wise words, shared her favourite: "And this above all unto thine own self be true" (some guy named Shakespeare), and this from Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right."

Then we turned our attention to Wayson.  He couched his favourite words by saying that they predate Christianity - the words will be familiar to you - but have a twist.  They go like this: "Do not do unto others what you would not want done to yourself."

Of course, it's similar to the Golden Rule, which implores us to do unto others as we'd have them do unto us.  But in this case, rather than foist our own wishes and desires upon others, this version basically says, "Look.  You know what you don't like, so don't do it to others, all right?"

Sounds good to me.  On that note, I'll leave you today.  As I said off the top, I look forward to being in the Company of Women today in Oakville and if you are among those in attendance today, we're in for a good time!  If not, well, take care and we'll talk to you here tomorrow.

Erin

Welcome to Monday - hope your weekend was good.  Our was spent both here in Toronto and up north.  We mixed relaxation with work and a little socializing too, so all in all, it felt like there was a good balance.  And isn't balance about all we can hope for in our lives?

It's nearly impossible to believe, but the school year is winding down.  Children's classes seem to consist more of culminating projects and parties than anything (save those souls writing exams - I remember those days!) as everyone counts down the days to summer vacation.  Our Lauren just finished her final shift at the coffee shop yesterday and has only two days of school remaining.  Then it's prom, packing and off to Ottawa.  Can June's midpoint be here already?

Thank you to Cathy who responded to our conversations on CHFI and perhaps to the journal here Friday with a great web link for us all.  Here's her note:

Erin....I liked your journal today about taking kids to movies...and trying to find out if it is appropriate. My husband and I use this site: http://www.kids-in-mind.com/

It gives each movie a three part rating on Sex, Violence and Profanity and then explains what it found that justified the rating. This is really helpful with PG movies. We can take their rating and then compare it to the rating of another movie we were OK with the kids seeing and then make a decision. Land of the Lost? It rated 6.5.5 (sex.violence.profanity).   Cathy.

For that matter, I might suggest my Mom and Dad use that chart, too.  I will never forget the ear-piercing "WHAT?!" I emitted a few years back when, in the course of an otherwise normal phone conversation, they told me what movie they'd just seen.  My parents were feeling pretty blue about my mom's upcoming heart surgery, so they decided to go and see a comedy.  Which one did they choose?  Borat!!!  Surgery?  She almost needed a transplant after that!  But they did find themselves laughing (mostly at the absurdity of them being in a theatre seeing that film) so I guess in some strange way they got their money's worth.

That reminds me: better warn 'em about Bruno.

I'll sign off for now, but when was the last time you sat around a table and enjoyed not only a wonderful dinner, but nearly four hours of lively conversation (that wasn't fueled by copious glasses of wine)?  For us, it was last night, and I'll share more with you here tomorrow.

Have a gentle Monday, take care and thank you for coming by.

Talking movies on a Friday...

Have you ever gone to a movie that had in it distinctly adult content, only to see someone who'd brought their kids?  I have.  I mean, er, the part about seeing the kids there, although I think that, on at least one occasion, Rob and I were guilty of bringing Lauren to one that we all wanted to see but were embarrassed to be seeing (together) once the content became evident.

It was a little flick called Love, Actually, which starred Hugh Grant and featured multiple story lines about couples falling in love, including a pair of porn stars.  In fairness, though, for reasons I don't recall, we had no idea of the film's content before we went.  We actually covered Lauren's eyes during one scene...which, of course, mortified her, 'cause we were such dweebs.

At any rate, it just makes for a big old squirmfest, no matter if you're the parent or the one who's sitting near those underage kids.  I stumbled upon some words of wisdom by a parent who's been there, done that, and totally blames himself for taking an 11-year-old to see Land of the Lost.  Hope you'll take a moment to read it here.

Stories like that remind Mike, Gord, Ian, movie guy (and web whiz) Jay and me to do the extra legwork to determine just what ages are appropriate when a new movie opens.  It's not enough for us simply to say that funny man (er, uh...) Will Ferrell goes back in time and battles monsters and dinosaurs.  Kids love dinosaurs.  What they - and you, as a parent - won't expect is the "F bomb" dropped in the first few minutes, sexual situations, fondling, etc..  Whatever you do, do your homework.

Last thing you want is to drop $80 on tickets and popcorn, then have to leave 'cause your kid is freaking out...or you are because you're so mad at yourself for bringing them.  Take a moment to click on that link and read the blog, will you?  I think you'll find it interesting, to say the least.

While at Star Trek on Wednesday, we saw a trailer for The Proposal starring Ryan Reynolds and one of Rob's two favourite actresses, Sandra Bullock.  (The other is Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: SVU).  Very cute, the trailer was produced from outtakes from the movie shoot.  Maybe that tack has been taken before, but I thought it was fun and unique.  Gives, I think, some insight into chemistry between the stars, a bit of behind-the-scenes stuff and just some honest laughs.  Of course, a cynic could always say that the outtakes are actually set up, too, in many cases, but what the heck?  I liked the idea.  Might even see the movie, if critics I respect like it enough.

Whatever your weekend holds, have a great one, enjoy this final full weekend of spring - bring on summer! - and we'll be back with you here on Monday, plus here and there on Twitter.

Thank you for coming in!  What a crazy busy day yesterday: hosting a lunch for 900 business people, then to the endodontist, the optometrist, a movie, and home to bed.  Six short hours of sleep and here we are on the air again.  Whew!  Is it Friday yet?

We started the day as usual at 5 am with the show, then a get-together with the boss, and home to shower, change, put on face and clothes and add a few lines to my emceeing notes.  Grabbed a cab to the Metro Convention Centre (here's an honest-to-goodness first: the taxi driver got out and opened my door when we arrived!) and met the VIP guests for Women of Influence lunch speaker Bonnie Brooks.

The speech by the CEO and President of The Bay was enlightening, inspiring and really very...zen.  Actually, I was encouraged to hear that this incredible woman shares a lot of the messages that I'll be imparting when I speak to the Company of Women in Oakville next Tuesday.  You know them: be thankful, believe in the power of intentioning, and so on.  Ms Brooks readily acknowledged that she's going to need a lot of luck to make The Bay the success it can be in the 21st century.  And having heard her, I know that if anyone can do it, it'll be Bonnie Brooks.  (By the way, the next Deloitte Women of Influence lunch is being held Sept. 29th and it's the founder of Lululemon.  Should be great - hope you'll join us.)

Then it was off to the endodontist (big day July 2nd - getting not one or two, but three root canals!) and then the optometrist.  Timed out perfectly so that Rob and I could walk over to the Varsity at Bay and Bloor for the 6:20 pm showing of Star Trek.  Popcorn for dinner.  Yay!

While Star Trek is definitely not my usual kind of movie (I'm not the space adventure type; give me subtitles and angst, thanks), it was a fun ride.  But I'm sure anyone who might have seen us coming out of the theatre wondered why that woman looked like she'd been crying.  So here's the story.

As the credits rolled, I saw the name Randy Pausch.  I racked my brain...Randy Pausch Randy Pausch Randy Pausch...running his name through my mind until about five seconds later I exclaimed to Rob, "Oh my God.  Randy Pausch!"

While he's going, "What?  What?", trying to figure out why I'm sitting there with my mouth hanging open, I was remembering a touching moment in the brief but utterly unforgettable book The Last Lecture by...yes, Randy Pausch.  Diagnosed with a fast-moving and incurable cancer at age 46 in 2006, one of Pausch's loves had been space and yes, Star Trek.  So it came to be that in the final months of his life, he was invited by the film's director, J.J. Abrams (of Lost fame) to be a part of the movie.

In the final cut, you can see Pausch as he delivers the line, "Captain, we have visual".  He made it into the movie.  A childhood dream came true - and that was the main theme of his famous Last Lecture.  If you haven't seen that speech, it's worth your time.; it's on YouTube.  The book is amazing, too.  Last year, the day I read it, I went inside to my computer to see how Pausch was doing.  I turned on my laptop and learned, to my shock and sadness, that he had died that very day. Just seeing his name in the credits last night brought all of that back.  What a wonderful, sad, incredible story!  And such a post script.

I'll sign off now...but on my To Do list today is definitely a phone call to Kelowna.  My dad turns 76 and he's only one week younger than Joan Rivers!  But Dad still has all of his original parts (except for a pesky prostate) plus plenty of spark and joie de vivre.  He sings, plays clarinet and sax with the city band and does all he can to help make Kelowna a happier and more musical place to live in - something we could all aspire to, I'm sure.

Hope your day is a good one - and that you take just a moment to be thankful that you're here.  I know Randy Pausch would...and my Dad will!

Welcome to Wednesday.  Thank you so much if you've written your note to Bob Magee at www.chfi.com.  I was quite moved reading some of the notes there yesterday - Rhonda W., yours was exceptional - and I'm sure Bob is equally moved.  Thank you again.

Speaking of moving - but in a different sense altogether - as you know, we're getting ready for a major lifestyle change in our household, as daughter Lauren prepares to move to Ottawa for college in the fall.  (Yes, as a visitor to our home said yesterday, we've finally stopped cooking with cheese!)

We've actually encouraged her to get a head start in the job hunt by offering to volunteer at a radio station for the summer so, with that in mind, moving day is now just over two weeks away.  We can't believe it, either.  I had tears rolling down my cheeks and into my spinach salad at Moxie's Monday night as it started to sink in.  She, of course, was suitably mortified.  Anyway....

There've been lots of things to think about, not the least among them is transportation.  The place she'll be living is smack dab in the middle of suburban Ottawa - fairly near Algonquin College, but nowhere near any radio stations.

OC Transpo, the city's public transit system, has a marvelous website which allows you to input your starting point, destination and desired time of arrival, so it can calculate the best way for you to get there.  We found that her commute from home to one of the potential radio stations would be at least two buses and about 75 minutes of travel time.  Not too bad, but if she lands a position helping out, say, one of the morning shows, then transit becomes a non-starter.  The system simply doesn't begin early enough.

So, what to do?  Well, we've spent the last couple of weeks looking for a good used car for her, thinking that transportation really shouldn't be an impediment to her job search - especially in this economy and even more so in the turbulent business of radio.

Last Friday, I happened to hear an Automotive Minute on our sister station 680 News which seemed to be speaking directly to us.  Host (and senior publisher of Canadian Automotive Review) Tim Dimopoulos talked about what to do if you find a used car on eBay motors or elsewhere.  Part of the advice included a visit to CarProof.com, which can tell you, among other things, whether the car's ever been in an accident, or stolen, or imported illegally - and it checks both Canada and the U.S..

Once we identified the car we were interested in, we plugged the vehicle identification number into this website and - I'm not exaggerating here - within a minute, learned pretty much everything there was to know.  We found out that there was one insurance claim, in the car's second year, for a "minor incident" which cost $287.  Our guess is a windshield replacement, but we're not exactly sure.  The point is, it's never been involved in a major accident and has a perfectly clean ownership record.

The cost of this service was a mere $35 plus tax (a bit more if you want to check on liens, which we didn't need because we bought from a licensed dealer) and worth every penny.  It's a Canadian company and I think it's well worth paying them an e-visit if you're considering a used car purchase yourself.  I'm just so grateful that I heard that report (we'd not even considered eBay, and it provided a good lead for us) and followed up with the information that the Automotive Minute supplied.  Yay for radio!

As for the car itself, we lucked into a great 1996 vehicle and a brand that Rob and I had driven and trusted before we found ourselves in the  relationship we now have with Don Valley North, where we do our business.  We're going to pay DVN to do a thorough safety check, so we know our baby's in good hands with the all-wheel drive car she bought herself with her Starbucks earnings over the past few years.  Of course, she'll also be covering insurance and gas and all of that fun now, but at least we can rest somewhat more assured that she's safe and we've done all we can to see to that.

Have a good Wednesday - I'm hosting Women of Influence with the President and CEO of The Bay, Bonnie Brooks.  Should be a really fascinating luncheon; I can't wait to hear what she has to say about retailing in Canada today and her plans to turn The Bay into a shopping "destination".  A lunch about shopping.  Does it get better than that?

Take care,

Hey there - thanks for coming in.  I want to invite you to pull some thoughts together and write to a very good friend of mine, and of yours, Bob Magee.

This Friday, after nearly 10 years full-time with CHFI and years before that as a fill-in when Don Daynard was off, a very good man and a dear friend, Bob Magee is heading off to pursue other pleasures.  While he'll still be around our hallways at 777 Jarvis Street to do some voice work for another Rogers station outside of Toronto, Bob's giving up his afternoon drive show duties.  We're going to miss him like crazy, but Bob has a lot of interesting irons in various fires that will make this anything but retirement.

CHFI is inviting you to write your thoughts on (and to) Bob Magee at our Blog for Bob spot on the CHFI website.  I'll share my entry with you here today and ask you to respond not to me, but with your own thoughts and words to Bob himself, at chfi.com:

Twitter asks us to sum things up in 140 characters.  Today I can sum up Bob Magee (and his character) in one single WORD: “Class”.  This week, Bob wraps up 10 years with us at CHFI.  In our four years as co-hosts on the CHFI Morning Show (which officially began on his birthday, Dec. 13, 1999), I’ve gotten to know some of the many facets of this warm and wonderful man.  In addition to being a radio veteran, Bob has many talents: he’s a documentary maker, he’s written film scripts, he’s an avid musician, a helluva ball player and a lover of good wines, great women and soft rock songs!  (Okay, I may be exaggerating - but only a bit!)

Now, to the part about class.  When I took my leave of CHFI six years ago, Bob offered support and love, not just to me, but to CHFI listeners.  He handled the whole situation with grace and patience and truly helped the station, its listeners and me through a time of transition.  I will always be grateful for his kindness and compassion, but most of all for his friendship.

Please join me in wishing Bob smooth waters, vast and exciting horizons and many quiet nights at his heart home in Muskoka.  To Bob - thank you for being a friend.  Thank you for being there with me for so many mornings, and with your listeners for so many afternoons.  Please know that we will always be there for you, too.

I’m so lucky to have shared even one chapter in your amazing life.  Good luck in the next one, Bob.

Love,

Good morning - welcome in to a brand new week.  Our 98 Days of Summer giveaways continue at 7:30 am.  Today we begin a week of lovely Wine Country getaways (beautiful inns, gourmet dining and, of course, the best that the vineyards of the Niagara region have to offer) for CHFI listeners who hear their names, then have ten minutes to call and win.  Simple as that.

It's that time of year: whether you're in a chair getting your hair cut or a different chair to get your teeth cleaned, a common point of conversation is, "Got any plans this summer?"  It was at the dentist's last week that Rob chatted with a woman who, like so many, isn't making plans for summer vacation this year.  Her daughter is off to camp for a month, while her son is taking an organized trip through Alberta and BC.  Both sound like incredible experiences, but they've left her and her husband without enough money to plan their own summer getaway.  It's a common theme, especially this year and that's where these little mini vacations CHFI has put together are coming in.  All we ask is that people enter at chfi.com for a chance to win.  Pretty sweet deal.

As for us, our plans for the two weeks we get off this summer have felt as if they've been in limbo the past little bit.  While we've budgeted this year for a driving vacation, it's a matter now of whether Mother Nature is going to cooperate.  See, our plans are to drive to the Maritimes then hop one of the two ferries to Newfoundland.  Yes, after seeing every other province (plus the Yukon), we figured it's high time we heeded the call of those breathtakingly beautiful ads and experience Newfoundland.

Their tourism office is helping us put together an itinerary (as they will for you) and right now we're just hoping that this slow start to the summery weather is not a precursor to the kind of season we had last year - one that had us fleeing to the sun.  I guess we're going to have to bite the bullet and commit one way or another, regardless of the weather.  And I get the feeling that no matter how warm and sunny it is (or isn't) here, Newfoundland is in a weather world all its own so we might as well just do it, right?

As usual, we'll have regular journal updates and lots of pictures as we go, as I know you enjoy coming along.  I never really mentally leave my job anyway, so we might as well stay in touch, right?  And in the meantime, if you haven't yet signed up to the CHFI Loyalty Club, you're really missing out on a great opportunity to make your own memories in the weeks and months ahead.  After all, isn't that what summer is really for?

Take care and have a gentle Monday.  We'll be back with you here tomorrow.

Welcome in, and welcome to Friday.  Enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures, because the forecast high for Sunday as of this writing - and I hope to heaven Environment Canada is wrong - is just 13 degrees.  Are they kidding us?!?

Rob, Lauren and I were on the Danforth on Tuesday night and the only souls eating outside were pigeons.  It occurred to me that with just ten or fifteen more degrees' warmth, the street would be bustling, as it should be in June.  Business has been hard enough for people this year; I sure hope the weather doesn't provide the final nail for some of them.

Then there's Bloor Street.  We walked along Bloor to get from Jarvis to Bay and the Varsity Theatres last evening and, honestly, it looks like the aftermath of a tornado or an explosion.  Traffic is down to one lane each way, pedestrians are being redirected all over the place - it's just a disaster.  And as we made our way earlier in the day from the Gardiner up to Bloor on Jarvis, Rob and I talked about just how ludicrous the idea is to eliminate even one lane of this vital north-south artery in our overcrowded city.

Yes, it's a great city in so many ways (and sometimes you have to leave it to remember that) but Toronto has so many problems - not the least of which is gridlock.  Blocking a street that actually moves (some of the time) to plant flowers and put in bicycle lanes that'll be used only part of the year isn't going to help at all.  Has everyone gone nuts - or are we all hell bent on driving each other there?

Oh, it's exasperating living downtown.  Yes, there are lots of advantages - the extremely short commute at 5 am each day is chief among them - but you get to see close up just how bad things are, day after day.  And now the threat of a garbage strike looms large.  At least, at this rate, the garbage won't be cooking in 30 degree heat.  Gotta look at the bright side....

I'll lighten up now.  Saw the Disney Pixar flick Up with Rob, Lauren, Nathan and a packed theatre last evening.  It was about 90 minutes of delightful, touching, funny and sweet entertainment.  Although we all agreed that we wish we'd seen it in 3D (the Varsity just offered it in 2D, something we hadn't twigged to until we'd gotten in line), we didn't miss what we didn't see, you know?  It's a wonderful movie and one that's sure to give you a smile, no matter what's on your nerves these days: traffic, weather, me - whatever!

Enjoy today's sunshine and the weekend ahead.  Don't forget that the DVP closes at 2 am Sunday and reopens around 2 pm.  The Jays are at home, so if baseball's among your Sunday plans, be sure to take transit.  And a toque.

Welcome to Thursday.  Oh, we had fun yesterday at the Tim Hortons Camp Day at the Dundas store just west of Kipling in Etobicoke.  Last year, some nine million dollars was raised, simply from the proceeds of every single coffee (and every penny that they cost) going to help underprivileged kids go to camp.  It was the 19th annual event, and showed all signs of being a huge success.

Here we are just before the broadcast began.

And as the morning went on, we met a lot of great listeners who stopped by, said "hi" and placed their orders.

We got a chance to pose with some of the Tim Hortons folks who made the event possible, including store owner Joe, who once again made our whole team feel like family.  That's Joe in the middle.

Despite a chilly morning, numb fingers and runny noses, we had a great time.  None of us could get over the number of dogs people had riding in their cars during the early morning hours!  Some were on their way to dog parks, others - well, I have no idea.  But we met some great pups.  Had a few drive-by cuddles!

I made friends with a Schnoodle...

While Mike got some kisses from a lovely part Border Collie.  (Please, no one tell Koda, Pepper or Molly about our dalliances!)

A nice couple came by with their little Maltese.  I prefer to think that rather than sticking out her tongue, she was getting warmed up for some kisses, too.

Mike got a warm welcome from Simon, the Schnauser.

Of course not all of the furry visitors were dogs...this was either a baby duck...

...or we'd had too much Baby Duck and were seeing things!

We were visited by a lot of CHFI winners of both cash and trips.  The first man down at every broadcast of the CHFI Trip a Day Giveaway last fall made sure he came to this broadcast too.  Sandals St. Lucia winner Walter Drozdowsky and his gorgeous daughter Julia came by to say "Hi".

Best truck signage from Kingswood Tire Service, which lets potential customers know its hours.

When I asked what they do with the other quarter hour, the driver said, "I get coffee!" - which was a good answer.

Today we're back to the friendly confines of the studio, joining you in looking forward to the weekend.  Don't forget that this Sunday the DVP is closed from 2 am 'til 2 pm for the Ride for Heart.

Have a great day and we'll be back tomorrow to wrap up the week together.

Brrrrr...I am so glad we have our CHFI jackets!  Mike and I (along with The General, and our magical Promo team) are at Tim Hortons at Kipling & Dundas this morning 'til 9, doing our show, staying warm with some great coffee and helping raise money for Timmy's annual Camp Day.  Today every penny from every coffee helps kids who wouldn't ordinarily have a chance get to camp.

So, are you used to the 5¢ per bag at the grocery store yet?  As The General (aka Señor Producer Ian) said, "Look, you're dropping $200 on groceries anyway, so what's an added fifty cents for shopping bags?"  Now, he's probably right.  That's the big picture.  But it still rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

As for us, we've gotten used to hauling about 12 cloth bags of all different varieties - some insulated, some with zippers, some canvas - wherever we go.  But yesterday, hubby found a rather nasty little side effect to toting those totes.

Seems at one time or another, we went shopping and left a bag in the car.  We've all done it.  Yesterday, as he was tidying up, Rob spotted a bag in the back, partially covered by a dog blanket.  He pulled out the bag.  Noticed it was heavy.  Really heavy.  He looked inside and what he found could have been a lot worse: he could have found two pork chops and a bunch of bananas.  He could have found some soft cheese and a bottle of organic milk.  He could have...well, you get the picture.

What he found was a jug of orange juice and a carton of apple juice.  Both had expired the first week of May.

Being the intrepid fella he is - plus, have you priced juice lately? - he brought them up to the condo, then taste tested both and they were (at least to his palate) just fine!  Yay!  So, they're in the fridge and are fitting in well with the rest of its barely-fresh contents.  We're not people who throw things away when the expiry date has passed; I figure that's just a gentle warning.  A suggestion, as it were.

Nope, it takes fuzz on the lid (which is what I found after I'd emptied the contents of a sauce jar on to a big bowl of spaghetti on Monday night) before I get serious about throwing stuff out.  Incidentally, we rinsed the spaghetti in hot water and tried another open jar of sauce instead.  It worked, we're fine.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'd better head to the bathroom.  12 times in three hours - is that a lot?

Kidding.  Have a great day and we'll see you at Tim Hortons!

Welcome to Tuesday - and thank you for coming by.  We're watching the weather forecast and hoping for a warmer day for our outdoor show tomorrow.  But I know you're keeping an eye on the temperatures too; we just deserve some June weather.  Bring it on.

Kept thinking yesterday, not only about those pour souls on the Air France flight that went down between Brazil and Paris, but about a woman we met on that same airline just three weeks ago.  The plane itself had a decidedly tired decor and we weren't wowed by the airline in any way.  But the flight attendant who took care of Rob and of me was friendly, didn't laugh at our high school French and really couldn't have been kinder or more attentive.

The odds are that she wasn't on that doomed flight.  But there were plenty of other good women and men (one of them Canadian-raised in Guelph) who were.  And children.  It's all so sad.

I followed the few developments and details as they trickled in while at the dentist yesterday.  I'm thankful for news channels that scroll; when you can't have volume - or it's just not appropriate - you still get the info you need.  I'm also digging the ceiling TV at the dentist's office.  Not sure I knew it was necessary, but it's a pretty cool idea.

As it happens, Lauren had a dental cleaning scheduled for yesterday and occupied the same seat I had warmed a few hours earlier.  She told me a TV story I thought might make you smile.

It seems that, at least at our dentist's, the Food Network is a channel they'd rather avoid.  See, as you can probably imagine, watching that channel makes viewers salivate.  That little sucky thing they use to keep the mouth dry has to vacuum overtime and hygienists find themselves dealing with pesky and frequent salivary squirts when something that looks delicious comes on screen!

Speaking of which, I caught a great recipe on the Food Network last week.  I never have it on - makes me too hungry - but Lauren loves it.  So last week I happened to catch Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis (granddaughter of director Dino).  One of the dishes looked delicious and reminded us of the wonderful tastes of Italy, so I gave it a try on Saturday.  It was simply perfect - and perfectly simple!

It's grilled asparagus topped with a mixture of soft mozzarella cheese, canteloupe and crispy prosciutto.  It's as easy as pie (easier, actually) and here's the link to the recipe.  You don't need to barbecue the asparagus; you could grill it indoors too.  Just in case the weather stays chilly!

Take care and have a good Tuesday - and please join Mike and me for our live broadcast tomorrow at the Tim Horton's Camp Day at Dundas & Kipling.  Show starts at 5 am, we'll be all set up to greet you by 6 am.  We're raising money so that underprivileged kids can go to camp and every coffee you buy tomorrow will help make a lot of dreams come true.  Hope to see you then!

Erin

Good morning and welcome to June.  Now, if someone will just tell the "weather specialist" that it should be 22 degrees and not the 5 celcius it is as I write this (coming down the highway from Beaverton), we'll be a lot happier.

What a brutal storm Saturday night!  Lightning, high winds, heavy rain...the whole nine yards.  Up just east of Lake Simcoe where our place is, we got off lightly with gusty winds and heavy rain; seems nature was saving her best tricks for us for Sunday.  Rob's dog walk around noon coincided with the arrival of wind-driven sheets of icy snow.  Yes, snow.  We were just a few orange leaves away from a cold autumn day.  Please, please weather gods, don't let this be another cruddy summer!

Meantime, a weekend phone call to my folks had the usual topics: Blue Jays, everybody's health and welfare and...weather.  Funny to hear my Dad, who went Celcius before Celcius was cool, tell me that in Kelowna, B.C. on Saturday it was 91 degrees.  Yes, it seems that when it's really warm out there, he suddenly flips over to Fahrenheit.  Oh, I know he's just rubbing it in, cause 30 wouldn't sound nearly as perfect and hot.  I am on to you, Dad!

We're promised warmer weather Wednesday as Mike, The General, our amazing promo team and I all gather at Tim Hortons at Dundas and Kipling for our annual Camp Day broadcast.  We start at 5 am as always and we hope you can stop by for a coffee during the course of the show.  Or just listen in, as usual.  We like that, too. :)

In the meantime, let's get through Monday first, shall we?  The Toronto Star's Rita Zekas was kind enough to include me in an article today, which I thought you might enjoy.  Click here.

Take care and we'll be back here with you tomorrow.