A New Day and Age

Australia banned the incandescent lightbulb today! Wow. When you consider the impact of this invention just over a century ago (thereabouts) it's pretty amazing to think that this will and should shortly be a thing of the past. New lightbulbs are far more efficient and last much longer. Good on ya', Aussie, for taking the first step.

The strangest part is that I didn't know that the Light Bulb was originally patented by two Canadians (Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans) in 1875 and then sold to Thomas Edison at a later date for $50,000.00. I always learn this type of valuable information about things when they are on their way out! Late bloomer, eh!

It's nice to think that we are moving in the right direction as saving energy for the next generation is of vital importance!

"I can see the light, I can see the light, shinin' on my face" Jeff Healey

Not for Non Parents

Yep its finally time to talk about how amazing it has been watching my son grow over the last 2 months. Nolan is growing quickly and smiled for the first time today. There have been half smiles and kinda smiles but today was the first day where he smiled for an extended period of time. It was awesome! It seems like such a tiny inconsequential thing but it made me realize how rare and special a moment it was. It's the moment, in fact, that I would like to never see end. If all else is trouble and strife, as long has he has that smile, I will too. It was more infectious than a yawn.

It also begs the thought about how long the smiles will last? Where do they go? Will someone else take it away? How come certain people never stop smiling? Why depression?

I obviously don't have the answers but I have to say that the pursuit of happiness has been a common thread in both my life and my wife's... and I hope it is in yours as well. Just try and remember that things are never as bad as they seem and if they are, then they can only get better!

I wouldn't say that I am the eternal optimist (I complain about a lot of things in fact) however it pays to keep it in perspective. Have a great day!

St. Valentine's Day - Nothing for my wife

I didn't get, or do anything special for my wife today... which I have to say is out of the ordinary as I used to be a sucker for the holidays. I guess the fact that I got up early and drove 20 minutes to get her a Venti Non-Fat Latte, one pump this, one pump that, no whip, extra hot, in the middle of the largest storm of the winter might be construed as a Valentines Day gesture but my wife actually didn't want any of it! And that my friends is why I truly love her!

She honestly said to me the other day, "Mike, don't get me any Valentine's cards or crap. I have been watching these commercials on TV and they make me sick." WELL, I guess that does it! I knew I loved her before that, but talk about an epiphany and moment of truth all rolled into one!

I had to love her before that because she is legendary at putting up with all the dumb things I do and always manages to somehow do it with a smile. She often picks up after me, sometimes with out even mentioning that I had left things there. She takes care of our wonderful and beautiful son while I sit in the den and plug away at my daily work, and having seen it first hand I know that she works WAYYYYY harder then I do. But most importantly she is happy and rarely complains.

She is vibrant, enjoys other peoples company, knows in detail about everything in the world that I do not (i.e. why he's crying and what to do about it, what those nutrional charts on the sides of boxes of food mean, what vitamins I am not but should be taking, taxes, when the garbage goes out and why I still haven't taken it, how much money I spend on frivolous technology that I will only ever use a portion of, why marketing matters, etc.) likes working out, talking about how we can get better at things, but mostly she is caring. And I guess in the end that is why I didn't get her a Valentine's Day card and instead wrote her this.

I hope she likes it, cause I really like her. Happy V-Day and 5 years Anniversary E.

Love Mike

Decisions, Decisions

It's not every day that an epic band like the Police decide to rekindle what was clearly a tumultous yet unparalleled band however, it's also not every day that Serena Ryder comes to play a sold out club in Toronto. This is clearly only a battle that the older generation (X for example) would have to wage. But think about it Copeland, Summers and Sting on the same stage together... and if the Grammy's were any sign of things to come they might actually have come to realize that playing music together is NOT the worst thing in the world... although they did appear to be very wary of each other's "personal space" on stage. Regardless of all that has passed amongst them over the years, this is set to be a show of Epic proportions. These guys are by no means over the hill, in fact they are most likely just getting to the top of their respective games! They have been playing independently of one another for years, producing, doing studio work and solo projects. Think about the magic that could happen on that stage if they can, and all signs point to age helping people better manage their younger egotistical selves, bow to one another's talents! "Giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon."

And yet as a new parent I am somewhat torn. I have a new "limited" budget, not solely imposed by myself (add wife's name here) but I also have to recognize that $250 for a ticket is not what I believe to be fair pricing for concert ticket. Serena Ryder is in town and the show is sold out. She is new. Hot! A fantastic song writer, "the next Janis Joplin" to some. Apparently a wizard with a guitar and magic in front of an audience. So what do you do?

I know some of the hard core rock fans are saying you may not ever be able to see the Police again... but you also may not ever be able to see Serena Ryder in a small club again! (I'll never forget the smirk on my Mother-in-law's face when she told me that she had seen the Beatles in a night club in Manchester; place whatever the sound of really jealous individual sounds like here) I love and respect the music of the Police, but truthfully, they don't need the support or the money! And the fact that I can buy two scalped tickets to see Serena at the Mod Club and still have a few beers and put $50 into my son's RESP. DING! Sold!

Just one man's choice. Either way, enjoy the show!

Music Buffs

If you are into music, I have to say that George Strombolopolous was right (as he often is about music), Serena Ryder is an unbelievable talent. I downloaded a couple of her songs and they are fantastic. It's amazing what some people can do with an acoustic guitar and the gifts they have been given. Check out Weak in the Knees, Brand New Love, Hiding Place or This Song is About You. Interestingly, from the little bit that I have heard over a short period of time, her live stuff seems to be equally good if not better then her studio albums. She is playing the Mod Club on February 24th and the show is Sold Out.

In the same realm of acoustic talents, check out Soulsucker by Amos Lee or anything by Colin Hay, the ex-lead singer of Men at Work. He released a solo acoustic album in 2000 called Going Somewhere, which has some great tunes on it as well; Maggie, Beautiful World and Waiting For My Real Life To Be.

Happy Listening!