Peter’s Exciting Dates with Models

One of the delicious ironies of retirement is the fact that my hobbies are more structured than my day is. It’s not that I’m complaining mind you, I worked directly with the public for most of my 40 years with the Canadian government, dealing with people during some of their worst times, as they faced crises both financial and of self confidence in many cases. Too often I had to face the unpalatable fact that I had done all that I possibly could for some deserving person. Although I developed the necessary ability to “leave my day” at the office, there were rare occasions when I just couldn’t get a situation out of my mind. While alcohol was always available as a crutch, I found it marginally more socially acceptable to immerse myself in plastic aircraft modelling.

Roxanne Tellier: Cats, Cabin Fever, and Coping

We’re deep into it now, we Canadians, the meat and potatoes of winter. There’s snow everywhere, the winds are howling, and you risk frostbite every time you peep outside the door to see if the stalactites hanging from the eaves have killed the postman yet. Or if the sidewalk ice got to him first.

Nadia Elkharadly: Unconventional Love Songs

Happy upcoming Valentine’s Day!  But more importantly, it’s my dad’s birthday!  So happy birthday Daddy (hey, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t’ be here to write these words for all of you!

I first got the idea for this column while listening to CBC Radio 2 one morning on the way to work.  The always entertaining Tom Power was introducing this song, and said that a guy could request this song for his girlfriend on Valentine’s day, but only if that girl  was very, very cool.  That was because this song isn’t a traditional love song, but it’s still sweet and romantic.

Nadia Elkharadly: Valentine’s Day – Post Grammy Edition

How ironic that Saint Valentine’s Day should fall on a Tuesday this year, on the very day that my Don’t Believe a Word I Say column is put out there for all the world to see.  I’ve never been a Vday kinda girl.  Maybe it’s because I’ve never been very romantic.  Maybe it’s because the colour red looks terrible on me.  Or maybe because my father’s birthday falls on February 14^th, so the idea of people being schmoopy and amorous on the day my dad was born is just kind of….icky.  Whatever the reason, I’ve never been a fan.

Segarini: 30 Great Well Crafted Love Songs for Valentine’s Day

I’ll admit it. I am a big softy. In my idea of a perfect world, we would all be with our soul mates, life would be good, the air would be clean, and the ills we currently suffer through would all be cured and part of the past. Valentine’s Day may be a Hallmark Holiday, but it reminds us of the importance of being connected to someone special, and gives us a chance to show our appreciation if we are.

JAIMIE VERNON: LIFE’S A CANADIAN…LOVE SONG (20 OF THEM)

Tuesday is Valentine’s Day and Sir Paul McCartney has cleverly positioned his new album of old standards, ‘Kisses on the Bottom’, to coincide with the Hallmark holiday. The lead off single is one of the few original tunes on the album called “My Valentine” and there’s even a contest running to offer some lucky sap the chance to propose to his true heart during McCartney’s live gig that night. Fans were debating on Facebook this week about whether this is all just too cheesy. My response to that was pointing out that this was the man who wrote the greatest satirical love song of all time: “Silly Love Songs”.