Wayde Lever: Vertically Challenged Comedian

I am not the Vertically Challenged Comedian.

I am just comfortable making friends and family laugh.

Once in a while somebody will go, "Gee Mike, you're so funny! You should be on TV".

And I just smile and that's it.

But my good friend Wayde Lever, the Vertically Challenged Comedian, made his friends and family laugh, and got the same encouragement.

He took it to heart. Eventually it became a dream.

He filed it away for a bit, and finished his education.  Found success in the nonprofit sector.

Even tried his hand in the political arena.

What a life to draw laughs from, you may be thinking. And I agree.

But Wayde's overriding passion, other than doing everything he can to make you laugh, is to build a bridge of understanding between the disabled and the community at large.

Because we are all people after all.

He may push a few buttons to make a point.

But you will laugh in the end.

Want to heckle him? The Vertically Challenged Comedian will look you straight in the face, hear what you have to say.

He will thank you.

And he will move on.

So vote now for my friend Wayde Lever The Vertically Challenged Comedian to be the Social Media Wildcard in the Jokers In Training event from Jokers Gone Wild at Casino Yellowhead.


He thanks you in advance, as do I.

You will be amazed.

Your Partner In Life

Happy Birthday Dad! I Love You

Just felt like sharing this today, in part because I have always been partial to the band Bread.

And to be honest I love the look, feel, and fuller and richer sound of vinyl spinning. Always have, since childhood.

For years my parents put up with me just grabbing the record wherever, plopping it onto the turntable, and attempting (not always successfully) to have the needle land at the beginning, particularly if it was on my kiddie record player with the needle that weighed a ton.

But more important than all that is the song itself. For years I assumed that the idea behind Everything I Own represented singer-songwriter David Gates's intense feelings for a ladylove, or perhaps regretting her loss.

Not so.

It is in fact a song about his love for and relationship with his father.

So as my own father Paul turns 70 today I want to say Happy Birthday Dad. I love you very much.

This song's for you.

Your son,

Mike

For Orlando

No, this isn't an Orlando sunset.

It's one that I captured here in Edmonton a couple of weeks ago after a storm.

And since I do not have anything to offer survivors or victim's families in terms of aid, I offer these words and this picture.

Hopefully, the sun will soon set on the anger and hate behind this horrific crime.

Because no matter what anyone does in this world to have a good time as they express themselves in the time-honored form of dance...

...and no matter who they choose to do it with...

...absolutely no one should have to consider the possibility of sudden death at the hands of a madman while doing so. Not in this day and age.

I love you Orlando.


Mike, Your Partner In Life

Hey, What's In The Box?

Quick, anybody still know what this item is?

Sadly, we are reaching a time in pop culture when that may soon not be the case.

There was a time when cassettes were considered the highest in high fidelity.

And if you are lucky enough to find (or still have) some tapes and a player, if they are in good
shape, they can still sound pretty good.

And those who have seen my room know that I do not have room for tapes or a player. I borrowed the Rovers tape from my good buddy Don so I could look cool for a few seconds.

In any case, when my wonderful nieces Penelope and Mikaela ask me in a few years what cassettes are, I'm gonna be ready!

In the meantime, a cute video:

Your Partner In Life

Photo credit:  Kyra, 96.3 Capital FM via Facebook

Ralph Leibo: Survivor

I caught up with my old buddy Ralph Leibo on Super Bowl Sunday as we watched the Denver Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers at his place with a few friends. As you can tell from the above picture, Ralph was in great spirits, despite having spent almost two weeks in hospital this past October. While there, he learned that he would have to make adjustments to his fiercely independent lifestyle upon his return home, mainly through the use of a wheelchair (for years, Ralph has at various times used a cane and then a walker to get around).

But in the 25 plus years I have known Ralph, there are two things I have noticed about him: his constant ability to rise above whatever challenges he may face, and also his absolutely uncanny ability to gather people around him for a helping hand. He mentioned that a support worker named Nardos looked in on him a few times after he got home. "She had a great professionalism and attitude, and her smile was always something I looked forward to seeing," Ralph told me. So good to hear, my friend. As I know from my own life, everything in the healthcare industry is now so mechanized, overscheduled, and computerized that it is now very rare to find anyone with the time to go the extra mile, let alone the desire.

So a big thank you goes out to Nardos. Ralph appreciates you, and so do all his friends!

All the best Ralph. And keep on smiling!

Your Partner In Life

Goodbye Grandma Annie

Hello my angels Penelope and Mikaela.

Remember that time I told you to tell somebody if you were sad?

Well, today I am writing you because I am sad.

I was hoping not to have to write this letter to you guys for a while. Like at least twenty years, when you could maybe understand all this a little better.

My sweet girls, your Grandma Annie had to leave.

She got very sick very fast, and went to the hospital, that place with the doctors and nurses that do lots of good work with not enough sleep and not enough people saying thank you.

But I thanked the doctors and nurses at the Grey Nuns Hospital, and I think of them every day. Because I was there when Grandma Annie told the doctors and nurses she wanted them to do everything to help her get better. And I promise you, my girls. They tried. They really tried. And for a while it looked like they might be succeeding. Because your Grandma Annie had incredible drive and gumption, and when she set her mind to something, she usually did it, whether it was doing research on her ancestors or helping out family or friends. When the doctors were wheeling her away to try and fix her, she wanted to make sure they knew how much she appreciated what they were trying to do to help her, by making gestures and writing on a pad.

But it is a sad fact of life that Grandma Annie's gumption and drive, that thing that made her the wonderful person she was, was inside something called a body, which is a machine that allows people to run, jump, talk, dance and do all kinds of things. And sometimes, no matter how well we take care of our bodies, they start to break down before we want them to. And that is what happened to Grandma Annie, even though she was very good at taking care of her body. If you can't understand that right now, that's all right. Because to be honest, I can't either.

But there is some hope, my girls. Just like the memory balls in Inside Out, you will always have your memories of Grandma Annie to make you feel better. Your memories might be a little fuzzy, but here's the good news. You have a ton of pictures and videos to help you remember, and lots of family to ask for stories. Whether it's your mom, dad, me, Auntie Shawna, Grandpa Jim, Grandpa Paul or any number of aunts, uncles, or cousins in any side of our family, we will do our best to keep Grandma Annie's memory alive for you. Penelope, I know you will always remember this:

There you are at the Bay of Fundy a few years ago. Your grandma was so proud to take that trip with you as she discovered where her ancestors came from.

And who's that on Grandma's shoulder? That's right, it's you Mikaela!

It will continue to be a tough time for a while, Penelope and Mikaela. But we will all get through it together, with the help of family, and friends. Boy, did you guys luck out with the group you were born into! There will always be someone to share a laugh or hug with, or to just be there for you

I want to thank you in advance for reading this letter, and I want you to know that writing it has helped me be a little less sad. Because Grandma Annie was to me and your mom what your mom is to you guys. And as you both grow up, if you want to have an argument about some little thing, consider not doing it. Because you'll want to remember the good times, and both your parents love you so much, as do Auntie Shawna and me. And I know that your Grandma Annie was extremely proud of you both! She told me so. And as long as you both remember her, she'll never really be gone.


I love you Penelope and Mikaela!


Uncle Mike

Prima Ballerina Penelope

 

 

 

Hi Penelope!

 

 

 

You sure do look like you are having fun in this picture!

 

And the video I saw of you at your ballet recital sure looked awesome!

 

I am sure you don't need me to tell you this by now, but it is very beneficial and important as you grow up to keep active and busy with lots of activities. You will feel great, and knowing you as I do, I have a feeling you will make lots and lots of lifelong friends. Your mom sure did, when she used to dance. She wasn't a ballerina like you. It was a kind of dance that celebrated your French heritage.

 

Since describing it to you in words probably wouldn't do it justice, here is a picture:

 

 

 

 

 

It looks better when the people are actually moving, but you get the idea. I am sure your mom has a video she can show you.

 

Whatever activities you decide to do to keep busy and happy, I am sure they will be wonderful. And whatever it is that you choose for your career or calling, I hope that it brings you joy, and also that those around you understand how important it is to you.

 

I know I can't wait to find out what it is!

 

Have a great day Penelope! I love you, and I can't wait to see you and Mikaela later on this summer!

We have almost similar birthdays!

 

Uncle Mike