Part of the fun of riding a bicycle is getting lost and learning about a new neighbourhood. I rely more than I should on the mnemonic phrase “Never Eat Shredded Wheat.” Second Best: “Never Eat Soggy Worms.” I ask for directions, and I am a man. Impossible? I have learned to distrust my instincts. If…
Ten things I've learned from playing in a band
NOTE: I used to play in a band called Broken Falls Community Hall Band. We played a bunch of gigs in Vancouver, made a CD, never made much money…and loved every minute of it. This is a page with a song on it (right-hand side): http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Broken-Falls-Community-Hall-Band. Here’s us playing on a ridiculously small stage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHxyiT5omYU Try…
Ten things I've learned from event planning
I hate event planning. There is a special type of person who understands how to tie a bow just right, where a doily goes, and what kind of plastic snowflakes make the best table decorations. I am not that type of person. Always bring more than you need. Almost all events probably require: scissors, masking…
Guestpost #59: Jessica Mican – Ten things I've learned from teaching nursery after-school
Bio: Jessica is a temp, a baker, and a nerd. She is still trying to find her way in this world; teaching was just one step in the journey, one that she loved but discovered she is not cut out for. 25 years and she is still trying to figure it all out. She blogs,…
Ten things I've learned from not drinking alcohol
Note: I’m taking a hiatus from drinking alcohol. My previous hiatus was in university and lasted pretty much two years. Drinking is expensive, especially at bars. Having extra disposable income is a nice reward. Being sober when everybody around you is drunk at a party is like trying to make sense of a dream while…
Ten things I've learned from people who make donations to charity
People like giving, and often feel awkward about being thanked for it. But secretly, they appreciate it. How a donor responds to direct mail is often different from what they say they want. Why do you think so many charities use frills (like mailing labels)? They make a lot more money than they cost. I…
Guestpost #58: Kevin Newman – Ten things I've learned from trying to get published
Newman is a storyman: author of Fey Girl and All Night by the Rose, in addition to being an eclectic blogger on his website www.voxnewman.com. Publishers and agents think that your work is a subjective experience, which is a fair assessment. They also think that way about your query letter. Not so sure that’s the…
Guestpost #56: Tiersa Buckley – Ten things I’ve learned from utilizing online dating sites
Tiersa is the owner and writer for datingsite.org where they post articles, tips and features humurous and quirky stories about dating. I don’t know Tiersa personally, but because I find online dating intriguing, funny, and confusing, I wanted to feature this guestpost. So here it is: Your potential matches always include a Tom, Dick or…
Ten things I've learned from hosting stuffed animal parades with my sister as a child
Stuffed animals love being in parades. Many stuffed animals are named after the type of animal that they are. For instance: “bear” “owl” “big mouse” “fluffy bunny”. Other animals are named “Mr. Soldier” or “Sally”. The parades we held always had a trio of bad guys trying to stop the parades from happening. Those bad…
Ten things I've learned from being neurotic
I always need to “check in” with people when I get “weird vibes”. Are things ok? Are we cool? The thing is, my instincts are often right. Worrying leads to more worrying. No matter how many times I go back to check if I packed everything, I still always forget something. It’s amazing how deeply…
Ten things I will do on my vacation next week
Note: I am on a vacation next week, in the wilds of Ontario. Please excuse the unusual formatting of this list, but I have yet to learn anything from the trip. Maybe when I get back, my experience will necessitate an additional post. Canoe Kayak Drink beer Sit on a dock Swim in a lake…
Guestpost #55: Mr. Who-ver – Ten things I’ve learned from being a custodial single father
I’m Jason, and I’ve been raising my kids by myself for going on two years now. In these past two years I’ve learned a little, and I’ve learned a lot. I started a blog about my experience a month and a half ago, mrwhover.wordpress.com. The point of this blog is to help other single parents…
Ten things I've learned from meddling in other people's relationships
Don’t. Seriously…if at all possible, don’t. The problem is, the thing people most like to talk about to their friends is their relationship. So it’s tricky. Here’s a good response when asked what you think about somebody’s romantic partner: “she/he seems cool, but I don’t know her/him very well, so it’s hard to say.” Here’s…
Ten things I've learned from running sound for my dad's jazz band
Everybody wants something different, which makes it impossible to keep everybody happy. With live sound, it’s not always a question of volume. You can often do more to highlight and clarify an instrument or vocals with EQ than with volume. You can have perfect levels, but once the musicians start playing and singing, they are…
Ten things I've learned from singing karaoke
Make sure that the song title is “Ignition (remix)”. Ignition is a different song. Know at least most of the lyrics. It might be cute and funny for you, but it’s brutal to watch somebody standing and giggling for 4 minutes because they chose a song they do not know at all. “Just a Friend”…
Guestpost #54: thenakedlistener – Ten things I've learned from clubbing in Hong Kong
I stumbled on The Naked Listener’s blog recently, and it’s great: http://thenakedlistener.wordpress.com This is The Naked Listener’s bio. Note: I USE THE WORD ’clubbing’ as in clubbing + the act of going to gigs + a night out. It isn’t right, but then again, most things aren’t in this town. Clubbing in Hong Kong is way, way more…