Fishing Lessons

I have new business cards. They list my job titles as “Program Facilitator” and “Support Worker”. I work mostly with at-risk youth. I do my best to help clients with the resources that I have access to, and do what I can for clients going through hard times. I work in a system, and can … Continue reading →

Bright Lights and Plastic Bricks

I just got home from “The Lego Movie” and, if this article wasn’t past due, I’d be digging out my blocks immediately and zooming some Lego guys around the room in fantastical vehicles. Also, I’d probably be on Amazon already, hitting the checkout button on more sets. If I could do both of those things … Continue reading →

The Best TV Ever

This is not a list of my favorite TV shows. This is a list of my favorite TV episodes. The determining factors were quite simple. First, could I remember the episode, right now, without browsing through lists of TV shows or episodes? Second, if somebody watched this one episode, would they likely be hooked on … Continue reading →

Judging a Book, Part 2: The Inside Words

I just finished reading “Raptor Red” by Robert Bakker. I chose it based on the ultra-cool holographic dinosaur on the cover. In my last post, I judged the book by the cover and hypothesised that it was going to be a murderous rampage of a raptor through a present-day setting. I suspected that it might be a … Continue reading →

Judging a Book, Part 1: By the Cover

One of life’s most-repeated warnings is “don’t judge a book by its cover”. When I see a cover like that of “Raptor Red” by Robert T. Bakker, of course I’m going to throw that advice right out the window. It is hard to ignore a holographic dinosaur staring at you from amidst the pile of … Continue reading →

#15

“Kill your babies.” It’s a rule of storytelling. About the editing process, specifically. The idea is that, to present the best possible narrative, there are times when the creator will have to cut out their favorite parts. A joke, here. A touchingly dramatic scene, there. If the elements don’t propel the story or characters forward, … Continue reading →

Writing It Down

The Set-Up Last year, I set a goal for myself of writing a short story every day for at least 365 days on my blog, Around Gray Publishes. Last month, I finished my 365th story. It took a little longer than a year, but it was close enough to my target that I consider that … Continue reading →

Mostly Filler

Goodbye, three weeks to write an article. Hello, deadline. Usually, I have at least some idea about what I could write about long before the due date. For this particular issue, I had nothing. Or, nothing decent, anyways. I considered a post about cancelled TV shows, a short story about a town named “Hello”, tips … Continue reading →

Based on a True Story

Many years ago, a friend of mine, not me—a friend named, um, Bryan—needed to get across town to meet his friends to watch the fireworks. The problem began when Bryan’s clock betrayed him, having somehow drifted twenty-or-so minutes from true. The situation was exacerbated by a subway delay. In these days before mobile phones, the … Continue reading →

Stealing from Uncle Pennybags

If you have never been punched during a game of Monopoly then you may be a better person than I am. Or, more likely, you’re just better at getting away with the cheating. I don’t believe there is anybody alive who has never cheated at Monopoly. Or Life. Or cards. That’s right. I’m on to … Continue reading →

Forks Over Knives

Somebody close to me recommended that I watch the documentary “Forks Over Knives”. I am usually dubious about watching these kinds of documentaries, ever since somebody else told me to watch “Supersize Me”.  I find that most “persuasive” films about “issues” are extremely biased, whereas I feel that you have to show both sides of … Continue reading →

Morning Skate

At the risk of not sounding Canadian enough, before recently, I had never skated outdoors. Perhaps living in China for most of my formative years contributed. I’d only ever played hockey in arenas and shopping malls. A few weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, several friends and I met for breakfast. After fueling our bellies … Continue reading →

BOOM! Goes the Big Picture

Unlike some of my Checkerboard comrades, I watch movies, not films. Where are the best-of lists that cater to somebody like me? When I choose a movie, I generally base my selection on two questions: 1. Are there explosions? And, 2. If so, how many? I used to watch films. Art films. Foreign films. Award-winning … Continue reading →

Fox!

Twice in the past week, I have been lucky enough to see a wild fox. I had heard that there was a population of them in the area, but I had never expected to actually encounter one. Foxes had seemed like one of those animals that one only reads about, or sees on nature shows … Continue reading →

Life on the Small Screen

Sir David Attenborough’s infectious enthusiasm for animals has, for more than 60 years, made him the face and voice of the natural world on television. His Wikipedia page records his impressive history and body of work, but it doesn’t quite capture what it is about him that draws us in. What is it that compels … Continue reading →

The Moose

Chartreuse is a shade of green. I learned that recently. For some reason, I had always assumed that it was purple. As I’ve mentioned before, I live in Tiny Town. One of the things that make this tolerable is the local coffee shop, The Chartreuse Moose. I probably should have figured out the whole green/purple … Continue reading →

State of the Universe

Just over a year ago, DC Comics re-launched their entire lineup during an event known as The New 52. Character lore and all previous stories were abandoned, and 52 “new” books were launched as #1 issues. I don’t buy as many comics as I used to, but I like to drop in from time to … Continue reading →

30 and 30

I’ve often asked others, “What does the future feel like?” And now it’s my turn to answer. I’ll get back to that. First, let me set the scene. It’s currently a few days away from October 22, 2012 and the Checkerboard Collective’s posting of their 30th issue.  For this, my third contribution, I was told … Continue reading →

Why a Good Library is Bad

Like most avid readers I’ve met, I buy books. It’s a compulsion. If I can imagine myself reading the book tomorrow, and I have the funds, I’m likely to bring it home. It’s to the point where I have seven IKEA bookcases full of books I’ve read. It’s a number that represents only about half … Continue reading →

100 Miles From Anywhere

I recently moved with my wife from the city of Surrey, British Columbia, to the small town of 100 Mile House, BC. One of the responsibilities of living on this side of the beaten track is periodically driving the four, or six, or ten hours each way to keep up with various pockets of family … Continue reading →