Cam Tait's Comedy Comeback!

I had the pleasure of seeing Cam Tait speak many years ago about his life and career, and he was awesome. A few years after that, he was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to offer me some much needed guidance when I was a very wet behind the ears college student at Grant MacEwan just starting to think about pursuing a writing career. I have always appreciated that. I had always heard that Cam was the originator of sit-down comedy, to quote Rob Christie. Now I’ll get to see for myself. Looking very much forward to seeing you take the stage sir!

Show is Tuesday, January 22, at The Filipino Centre, 7447 Roper Road

Start time : 7:30 PM

Cost: FREE for this show only!

Dinner available for a cost

Let’s fill the room!

UPDATE 1/21: I am still looking very much forward to the show tomorrow. However, due to the current vagaries of DATS scheduling, I am supposed to arrive in the early afternoon. For a show that starts at 7:30, this doesn't make much sense, although certainly Cam and all the others would certainly be well worth the wait lol. We will see how I do with my Tuesday morning Wheel Of DATS round...

Wheel...Of...DATS!

Well hello there folks!

Are you disabled?

Have you ever had a burning desire to be on a game show?

It turns out that the City of Edmonton can accommodate you!

They have a new one!

It's called...

Wheel....

Of....

DATS!!!!

The endurance tests start right away!

There's the Call Center Wait.

Can you survive the full 15-to-30 minute wait?

Congratulations to you...on to the next round!

Where you spin the Wheel Of DATS!

So you have a doctor's appointment at 9 AM?

Let's spin the wheel now...how does 6:50 sound for a pickup?

Happened to me last Thursday folks!

Now let's spin again to get you a ride home!

Oh, we're so SORRY! We don't have one!

Try to get one again tomorrow...with the Wheel of DATS!

Now potentially missing appointments is bad enough.

(I did not miss mine, because I took the early time and hung out in the Circle K for about 90 minutes.)

But if you are working and consistently can't show up on time due to transportation issues, you are probably spending a good portion of what you make just to arrive on time.

Kind of a self-defeating situation, if you ask me.

And even if you travel just to get out of the house two or three days a week to meet friends at a mall, all this bother might inspire you to cut down your trips to one a week.

Or none.

Not a good thing either.

Of course, there are a few logical reasons for what seems to be illogical.

About ten drivers retiring all at the same time

Thank you all for your years of service providing this essential and much appreciated service!

Very tight schedules handed to the drivers who are left, causing them stress and sickness.

And a rapidly aging bus fleet.

There is hope for change on the horizon.

New drivers have been hired to fill the gap.

New buses are reportedly in the works too.

But here's the potential problem.

As is the nature of any level of government, all of this could take months.

Personally, if not for the weather, I would be doing most of my travelling on accessible ETS, to lighten the load.

And I haven't yet, but I will be signing up for the online I-Book program, to free up the DATS phone system.

For seniors and others without access to the Internet, that may be a helpful gesture.

I know a few hardy and enterprising souls who are undertaking DATS/ETS combo trips to make things work. Even with the weather,

So I was thinking, if all of us...

...that is drivers, riders, and management...

...work together the best we can...

...perhaps we can encourage the big wheels of government...

...to progress at something close to normal speed.

And then the game show wheels can stay on TV!

Your Partner In Life           

All Hail Sir Ralph!

I haven't seen my good friend Ralph in quite some time.

He has been laying low lately, facing challenges as we all do in the disabled community.

But Ralph has always been infused with a desire to move forward and never dwell.

And I have truthfully never met an individual who is better at connecting with people and sharing his infectious energy with them.

And on a personal note, Ralph has always encouraged me and believed in my writing and other life efforts.

I jokingly call him my agent.

Thank you Ralph. Appreciate it always.

And the secret to his largely positive outlook? "Always be happy, no matter what the situation".

That can seem like a tall order sometimes.

But true to his endless reading and thirst for knowledge, he is reading a book on that topic right now.

So take care, Ralph my friend. You are an inspiration!



Your Partner In Life

Ballerina Mikaela!

Hi Mikaela!

You look beautiful and ready to brighten up the world with your ballet dancing!

Wow!  If you find something that you love to do in life, you are going to do great!

Auntie Shawna and I are so proud of you!

Here's a song you can dance to at home!

We love you! See you soon!

Uncle Mike

Happy Summer Girls!

Hello Penelope and Mikaela!

Your mom told me that Penelope graduated from Grade 1 and Mikaela graduated from Daycare!

Congratulations to you both!

Because I have a feeling that you have too much energy for daycare right Mikaela?

And Penelope, once you graduate from Grade 1, you're off to bigger and better things!

Auntie Shawna and I can't wait to see you next week!

We love you both so very very much!

We love summer just as much as you guys do!

And we know that you guys and your mom and dad have been travelling a lot.

And you probably missed any fireworks for Canada Day.

We did too!

So how about we watch some now?

Mississauga fireworks and Edmonton fireworks?

Here we go!

See you soon!

Uncle Mike

Marin's Story

As we begin a new year in Alberta, our government is telling us that "things are looking up."

But the sad fact is that things don't look up for everyone.

I just happened upon this video as part of my nightly surfing.

And it hit me like a freight train.

You may say that Ohio isn't Alberta, so why worry?

There are two reasons why that point of view really sucks.

First, the video makes clear that Marin was a very loved and loving person who had a lot going for her, as well as parents who loved her to bits.

Her parents are obviously heartbroken. Hopefully they will realize after a while that they did their very best, and that Marin's death is in no way their fault

As evidenced by the "letter to heroin" she wrote while trying to beat her addiction, Marin clearly did not want to die.

But she did.

And that is tragic.

The other thing is that I am sure that if we all sit down and think about it, we all know someone who has battled addiction in some form right here in Alberta.

Over the last couple of years, we have had a fentanyl overdose issue in this province.

So we know it can happen here too.

This has definitely inspired me to do some research into signs of overdose in case I may be of help if needed.

Your Partner In Life

Tree Fun With Penelope and Mikaela!

Hi Penelope and Mikaela!

Sorry it has been a while since my last letter!

Are you guys ready for Christmas?

I am too! So is Auntie Shawna!

Boy that is sure a nice tree!

Your mom and I used to help out with the tree when we were younger too.

Grandma Annie and Grandpa Paul would actually put up the tree.

But it would be up to your mom and me to say where the ornaments, lights, and shiny stuff went.

We each had a side of the tree.

And to be honest, her side usually looked better than mine.

And that is OK.

Because it is all about the fun. I'm pretty sure you guys know that.

And I'm also pretty sure that your mom and dad told you that what is under the tree on Christmas morning is not as important as the love you share with each other during the Christmas season and the rest of the year.

Right?

I love you Penelope and Mikaela!

Uncle Mike