Author Archives: Peter Carter

GIMME A C! GIMME A A! GIMMEANOTHER A! WADDYA GOT? Rescue! Got a flat on my motorbike yesterday.  I was southbound on highway 400 near Barrie, Ont., and seconds after I passed a big sign that said “Staples,” I ran over one. Or a nail. Or something.  I had often wondered what it would beContinue reading “Gripping adventures in Rainbow Country”

Somebody: “Peter how do you like working from home?” Me: “It’s okay I guess but I do miss my commute.” YOUNG DESIGNATED DRIVERS OF CANADA:My big brother Tom teaching me to drive him Somebody: “You aren’t being sarcastic are you?” Me: “Nope.” I honestly enjoy driving to and from work, whether it’s in my 2011Continue reading “Partridges, schools, families, buses,”

It just took me almost nine and a half minutes to drive our black VW Beetle from the Toronto train station to our house, located in the southwest corner of Toronto. YES THAT’S A FLUGELHORN: Don’t let me hear you say you don’t learn stuff here at Pete’s Blog&Grille. I know how long the tripContinue reading “Feels soooo good.”

I don’t get radishes. “YOU WILL EAT WHAT IS ON YOUR PLATE,” said my mom, never. I know lots of people do and that’s okay, and sliced ever so carefully radishes can make lovely little decorative additions to a table; but of all the things that are available to eat, I rank the taste ofContinue reading “Parsing Huena's pickles with relish”

NOT SURE WHY THIS JUST OCCURRED TO ME: But does anybody know what English fried potatoes might be like? When I was a teenager, I thought it would be cool to be a writer for a big magazine. And when I got older, I was fortunate enough to find myself on staff at Canada’s most recognizable publication,Continue reading “You say potato; I say we're good to go”

I just made, from scratch–really–a blank Excel spreadsheet and a bunch of  bad puns–this Canada Day crossword puzzle. When I was younger, the devil found work for my idle hands? These days? Not so much. The crossword puzzle clues are in the story. Happy Canada Day everybody! A few years ago, I visited my nieceContinue reading “Pete's Acme Canada Day Crossword Puzzle Story”

Around 1:30 p.m., yesterday. SURVIVAL OF THE KLUTZIEST: My cool daughter with her dusty old man Our front porch. I was sitting cross-legged (my left knee over my right) in a wooden Muskoka chair that my son Michel built in high-school shop class. I was wearing jeans, sandals and my second favourite hoodie; it saysContinue reading “Spectacles on the porch”

Yesterday, one of my sisters called wondering about the well-being of our cat Iris. She was worried because she hadn’t seen any Iris in the window messages recently. TINY TALON TIME: Most of the summer; Iris is the missing lynx. I happily told her Iris is indeed healthy but there’s been precious little Iris-sign actionContinue reading “A Public Service Message. From a Cat.”

I just phoned my sister Norma to ask if she remembered when our older brother Tom introduced the Carter household to marshmallow wine. She didn’t but added she wasn’t surprised to hear it. SISTERS KNOW EVERYTHING Huena with her brother Alex. (I’m pretty sure) In the house that Norma, me, and the rest of theContinue reading “The Curious Case of Marshmallow Wine”

I’m pretty sure I’ve never lived in a house that didn’t make a lot of noise.  SQUEAK FOR YOURSELF: Ikea wood is silent because it’s pining for the fjords. Some people, I’ve heard, spend their lives in quiet buildings.  In fact a few years ago, I was in a new house in Mississauga; the ownersContinue reading “Welcome to Pete's house of noise”