The Bookless Club

Woodfibre. Remember that? It was a small pulp mill just Howe Sound and, even standing under the Birks clock at the corner of Georgia and Granville, when the wind whistled down the sound you’d be… Read More »VANISHING VANCOUVER

It’s a little bit of backyard magic. A little bit of alchemy and thrift. And it’s one of the most responsible things you can do. I’m talking about compost. Turning what soil transformed into plants… Read More »THE ALCHEMY OF COMPOST

It wasn’t so much a ‘down tools’ moment as it was a slow realization that she didn’t like the direction things were going. What brought it to a head was the weather. It had rained… Read More »MOTHER’S DAY OFF

The phone rings. I recognize the name. I pick it up and announce: “I’m having chocolates for breakfast.” “And so you should!” is the ecstatic response. I’m on the phone with James McCormack. James knows… Read More »FOOD FIGHT

If you had to look for some sign that someone was conscientious, some indicator that they were dependable, what would you look for? Well maintained shoes, you say? Good choice, good choice. Clean fingernails, perhaps?… Read More »WATCH ME NOW

I love sweeping statements. Statements that take no prisoners. Black. White. Absolutes. Here’s one for you: The guest becomes the host. That’s the law of reciprocation. Tit for tat without the negative connotations. Reciprocation is… Read More »RECIPROCATION

If you like words, you like to have a big collection of them. You need that big collection because a lot of words – most of ‘em – have a very specific purpose. Some words… Read More »POST PANDEMIC VOCABULARY

Gary Reitmayer is a good guy. People tell him that all the time. And when they do, he gives them what he calls his “spiel”, telling them it’s easy; they, too,   could be a good… Read More »LITTER, THE UNFORTUNATE RENEWABLE

FLINGINGMINGOES! Every family has a secret language, most of it devised by the little lexicographers known as toddlers. In my house, the tall pink bird that stands on one foot was called a flingingmingo. The… Read More »CHILDHOOD WORDS

This revelation came to me in a blinding flash one day when I was desperately turning coat pockets inside out, upending handbags onto countertops, and pointing accusatory fingers at anyone within earshot. You know what… Read More »KEYLESS ENTRY