Author Archives: Peter Carter

Photo by Peter Parker. The late comedian George Carlin had a shtick about how confusing things should be when a judge instructs a witness to describe what happened “using your own words.” Really.  Who besides tiny babies use their own words?   What good would answering “in your own words” be if nobody else understands?” FridayContinue reading “How to not park your car”

Mary Leona Carter is the sister I never met because she died when she was a baby, years before I was born. She remains very much a part of our family–anybody who has lost a child knows this–but as you might expect I’ve spent countless hours wondering what Mary Leona would have gotten up toContinue reading “The Tale of the Dragon”

Check out this black-and-white treasure that I found online about three hours ago. It’s from the May, 1966 issue of The Inco Triangle, the monthly staff publication, published by the biggest mining company in my hometown of Sudbury.   Second from the left is my older brother Tom. All cleaned up in jacket and tie, “TallContinue reading “Singalong With Tom”

The cops waved us over to the side of the road, walked to the back of our station wagon, opened the tailgate, loaded in I believe two cases of beer, and sent us on our way. You read that correctly. The policemen gave us back beer that they had confiscated less than an hour earlierContinue reading “Fishing with Tom II: Miracle of the loafers and fishes”

My brother Eddie glanced over from the passenger seat. “You think I’m going to buy a stinking licence so I can fish for, what? 15 minutes once a year? Hah.” FISHING WITH ED: Everything we learned about the sport, we learned from Tom. He and I were two hours south of the cabin where weContinue reading “Fishing With Tom”

You might have noticed that when motorcyclists pass each other going in opposite directions, the riders often wave. A tiny flick of the left wrist.  NO COUNTRY FOR OLD NERDS: Cool-running Pete, biking to accordion school You’ve also probably asked yourself, “Why do they do that? What’s it mean?” I am not allowed to tellContinue reading “Bike Club”

My cousin’s kid just won Master Chef Canada. Jennifer Crawford is Canada’s coolest and smartest REFLECTING ON FAMILY: Jenn’s so brilliant you need shades. cook. Here’s 9 things about this kitchen wizard you won’t find anywhere else. 1)      Jenn’s mom is Joan. I know. Joan Crawford. As in Mommie Dearest. It’s a cliché everybody knowsContinue reading “9 Master Chef Canada Secrets Revealed!!!”

INSERT: Spittin’-image pun here Had my teeth cleaned yesterday at my local, Pacific Dental. I always look forward to those visits. Everybody at Pacific Dental is talkative and interesting; they have very comfortable dental chairs and piped-in classical music. The only downside is, at the dentist’s — for long moments at a time — IContinue reading “Why having fun at the dentist is as easy as pulling teeth.”

YOURS, MINE AND HOURS AND HOURS: Good Friday meant serving serious time at St. Clement’s, up the street from our house . All year long, in my various capacities as husband, father, editor and nice guy, I write a lot of emails. And typically, I sign off with versions of “Have a fun Thursday” orContinue reading “Holy Week Batman!”

CLEVELAND ROCKS: But at least one joint was a real eye-roller. This short blog has a surprise ending. I already know that because I told my friend Richard the story you’re about (I hope) to read, and when I got to the end, he literally took a half a step backwards and said, “Man youContinue reading “Finally! "The Full Comaneci!"”