Category Family
Poopy Talk
When my children were younger I wrote a weekly column, “Modern Parenting” for The Pembroke Observer newspaper. Being a stay-at-home dad was rare in our small town in 1991; people wanted to hear about my adventures. When I started this blog I promised to republish some of those old pieces, then I got sidetracked. Over […]
Precious Memories
My father, if he were still alive, would be celebrating his 90th birthday today. He died on this date, five years ago, mere minutes after I left his hospital bed. It is as if he waited for me to leave. He wasn’t famous. When I Google his name there are seven results, only one of […]
The Parable of the Two Daughters – III
I almost missed the news, probably because it didn’t get the publicity of the original court decision. Funny how that happens sometimes. Not that news media would ever show a particular bias… Last year I commented on a court overturning a father’s will. He had disinherited one of his daughters because he disapproved of […]
Mer Bleue Once Again
We were there Christmas Eve when it was unseasonably warm – two months later than our usual last visit for the year. Yesterday was Easter, and it was also unseasonably warm, so we headed back to Mer Bleue. We avoided the wooded trails, which were certain to be all mud, and stuck to the boardwalk. […]
Irish Musings
Today is St. Patrick’s Day. He is the patron saint of Ireland, and in his honour people will drink themselves into a stupor, consuming vast amounts of beer that has been dyed green. A friend suggested we go out this evening, then we remembered what day it is. Social event postponed. I have no desire […]
Bric a Brac III – The Cowboy Hat
They call it the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” which may be marketing hyperbole, but I suppose there’s an element of truth to it. But the Calgary Stampede hat on my desk didn’t come from Calgary, I got it in Toronto. I have been to the Stampede, and if you like small-town country fairs it […]
Bric A Brac I – The Zamboni
As a recovering pack rat I know I shouldn’t be buying more junque. There is enough useless stuff in my house. But from time to time logic needs to go out the window. On my desk and shelves, in my home office and in my office on Parliament Hill are some objects that have a […]
Ghost At The Door
Families frequently have secrets. Sometimes not even deliberate ones. Once upon a time of my mother’s “secrets” scared me. Or should that be scarred me? In the summer of 1967, when I was 11 years old, my family lived in Montreal. It was Canada’s centennial year and the centrepiece of the celebrations was Expo ’67, […]
The Truth About Cats
To say I have a love/hate relationship with my daughter’s cats would be an overstatement. It’s not really that extreme most of the time, though I do think they would be very tasty if barbecued. The black and white one might as well be brain dead, he is too stupid to come inside out of […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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