Category Archives: Uncategorized

CLOSET ZAPPA FANS: That’s probably where my folks wanted to hide when Eddie was playing his records. Doing some math this morning I realized I am exactly the same age my late father Tom was when I was 14. That’s the year my new friend Rick Hummel and I rode a Greyhound Bus from ourContinue reading “Surely to goodness, someday, my dad will understand”

WHEN THEY MAKE PARALLEL PARKING AN OLYMPIC SPORT: I’ll be ready. Some days, I think God called his only son Jesus Christ because every once in a while, depending on the circumstances, that’s the first name that springs to my mind when I see what my only son Michel has gotten up to. Like thisContinue reading “#11. Thou Shalt Not Take Thy Son's Name in Vain”

ALL MAKEWORKS AND NO PLAY make Jack a pretty cool guy, actually. Three weeks ago I started renting writing space in a place called MakeWorks; an open-concept shared office that’s a 15-minute walk from my home in Toronto. And now, 21 and a half days in, I’m thinking of changing my name to “Leon”. AsContinue reading “10-grand square feet of brainpower and fun”

SITTING IN THE CHEAT SEATS: A prickly pear indeed I would hate to have to learn language from, like, scratch.  Here’s why. Last Tuesday, I was riding what we in Toronto call a streetcar, which is an electric bus that runs on rails. I was doing the Toronto Star crossword and got stuck on the veryContinue reading “Where a couple seated together cheated together”

BIG-HEARTED BIAFRAN: The Nigeria-Biafra conflict was the first to bring pictures of starving Africans into our living rooms. In case you missed it, this past Tuesday, May 30, 2017, marked the 50th anniversary of the day the African nation of Biafra declared its independence from Nigeria. It was a declaration that never actually “took” mindContinue reading “Spell it however you want, he's ok by me.”

NATHAN’S FLAME-EMBOLDENED PETE: I told you he could draw.  Something happened earlier this week and it made my day. Life rather. I’m currently in the middle of researching a story for a business magazine I used to be editor of, Today’s Trucking.  I sometimes refer to Today’s Trucking as my  “alma pater”. Get it? Pater? Mater meansContinue reading “Where you never know who you'll run into”

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME Your grandma didn’t keep a copy of this handy? I’ve been paid to attend a couple of funerals recently because my daughter Ria, who is a licensed funeral director, put me in touch with an organization that is sort of like a supply-teacher company for the funeral business. It worksContinue reading “Where we put the fun into funeral”

We were in grade eight.  UNCLE ALEX & His nurse sister: My mom It was afternoon recess at St. Albert’s School in Sudbury, and a softball game was underway. I can’t remember whether Joey MacPherson was batting and Paul Uguccioni pitching or vice versa but I know I was catcher.  And the other detail thatContinue reading “Where we don't nurse grudges or begrudge nurses”

I just found a bunch of really really important notions I tweeted over the past couple of years and realized I’m not using them anymore so you can have’em! (p.s. I’m @petesbandg) My wife of several decades says we should get a banner for the back of our car that reads “Just Married” cuz “Just”Continue reading “Where We Twitter Away Our Time”

A pretty alarming notion goosestepped across my alleged mind yesterday morning. I’ll explain later but first I’ll tell you my way of thinking. First of all, I love watching TV. (Which reminds me of the famous movie Being There, starring Peter Sellers, in which an extremely challenged TV addict gets elected president. I recommend itContinue reading “Jokers can be wild but can they be trump too?”