In defence of snuff I don’t live a crazy life. I watch what I eat, I’m in bed by 9:30 most nights, and a wild night out is five pints instead of four. I’m on the road running five days a week, and I’d rather feel my lungs burn
The rise of the corporate mercenary Corporate mercenaries exploit a loophole that many corporate workers are aware of: it doesn’t take 8 hours to complete most tasks asked of a corporate employee. Of course, there are exceptions. Many corporate jobs require more than 8 hours of intense engagement every day, but most do not.
my cherry tree and its summer memories In my backyard, there is a large Rainier cherry tree that casts a good amount of shade over a flat, bright green section of my lawn. Now that July has arrived and the tree’s fruit is turning a deep, shiny red under the summer sun, I like to set
A fall coho, from the beach It’s Thanksgiving Monday in Canada, a holiday. It’s been raining for three days straight, but I can no longer hear the rain hammering against my roof and bedroom window. The storm has finally blown through Saanich. I reach for my phone, which is stuck to the magnetic charging
No wasted river days We choose difficulty on purpose to get something more out of our days on the water. What that more is, exactly, I’m still examining. Every hour spent on the river and out in the field, even when you don’t touch a fish, is never wasted.
The rotting bonsai ficus For several years, Wendy travelled around with me to every apartment I lived in, faithfully adapting to each new environment that I subjected her to. Some places were dim, others bright, but it didn’t matter; Wendy thrived.
In defence of thanksgiving day labour It was Thanksgiving Day this past Monday in Canada, and I decided my son was ready to learn how to make pumpkin pie from scratch. No pre-bought pie shells, filling, or shortcuts; just lard, flour, pumpkin, and spices from my wife’s very well-organized spice cabinet. “Baking is a lot