I turned 50 last week --- now what

This old guy turned 50 the week before last (on February 11, to be precise).  No question, it is a milestone date.  As I reflect, I am exactly where I want to be in life.  Exactly.

That said, tomorrow I plan to do something a little different - perhaps.  I do a weekly spin class at the local gym.  There are about 25 of us die-hard souls to who it.  The teacher is Fern.  She's excellent - focuses on drills, technique and fun.  Of course, the music is the most important part (at least for me) and it's kick-ass, far as I'm concerned.  It's retro one week, Bowie the next, Donna Summer the next and AC/DC the following.  It's a melange (ohh, I love that word).

No matter the music, it's good karma, and that's what keeps me coming back.

I'm going to surprise each person tomorrow.  I am going to spread more good karma.

Attached to each person's bicycle, will be a five dollar bill with a note attached to do a good deed. Any deed.  That's all.  And we will see what happens.

You know, I think the Beatles said it best, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."  And I want to make a lot of love.

Le Chaim!

Bowie And The Week That Was

Last week was not a good week for me. I hope this one's better.

7:01am Monday 10 January 2016:  Q-107 wakes me every day at 7:01am.  "The music world is in mourning.  Rock legend David Bowie has died of throat cancer at age 69 at his home in Brixton," says Rick Derringer, Q's morning man.

Huh?  Really?  I think I'm dreaming.  I turn over, mumble something to my wife, Karen.  It's true though.  David Bowie had died --- and the world is in mourning.  

I think it was Darwin who said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change."

And Bowie was the most adaptable there was - no matter what his persona, he was always recognizable.  His voice, and message, was always his own.  And I love that.

His last offering, Blackstar,both enigmatic and exploratory was released on his 69th birthday.  Only the Thin White Duke could have the chutzpah to do that, as he lay dying.  I know he knew his days were numbered.   He was Major Tom, afterall.   The only Major Tom that ever was. 

His innumerable songs were about being an outsider, a misfit, an alien, an astronaut, a crazy man - the list goes on.  His music was rock, jazz, punk and even cabaret.  His music was all his own. Completely adaptable, he continually morphed his persona, inspiring Madonna and Lady Gaga.  He was as influential in Japanese Fashion as he was in Philadelphia Funk and German Electronica.  He also collaborated with classical composer Philip Glass, who based two symphonies on David's albums, Low and Heroes.  

His anthem, (in my opinion) was Changes from his 1971 (I was 5 at the time) offering, Hunky Dory,  ... "Turn and face the strange/ Ch-ch-changes/ Oh, look out you rock and rollers/ Pretty soon now, you're gonna get older."

He was a major influence on Nirvana who chose to sing The Man Who Sold The World in its brief set for the 1993 MTV Unplugged in New York set.  His Under Pressure collaboration with glam-rock icon-band Queen supplied the deadly base line for the 1990 Vanilla Ice hit, Ice Ice Baby. 

He spent several years in Berlin, creating.  Hanging.  And befriending Mott The Hoople, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop.   He was relentless in his own re-invention. He was married for more than 20 years to supermodel, Iman.  In the 70's he succumbed to drug issues, mostly cocaine and in 1973, he suddenly announced his retirement - though it was the retirement of Ziggy Stardust, not of Mr. Bowie.  Whew!

It was the mythical album Ziggy Stardust, who made David into a major rock star.  It was also a blow to his head in the late 60's that caused David's left pupil to be permanently dilated.  

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996,  he did not attend the ceremony, asking Madonna to accept the award on his behalf.  She recounted the Bowie concert that she once went to that changed her life. David Byrne, who inducted Bowie said "Like all rock and roll, it was visionary, it was tasteless, it was glamorous, it was perverse, it was fun, it was crass, it was sexy and it was confusing".  

Byrne's correct and this is exactly what made The Thin White Duke the Thin White Duke.

Listen so some excellent remixes of Bowie's hits here https://soundcloud.com/djmarc7/sets/r-i-p-ziggy

Chris Hadfield performed Space Oddity on the International Space Station in 2013, said it best in a tweet last week, "Ashes to ashes,, dust to stardust, Your brilliance inspired us all.  Goodbye Starman."

Goodbye David.  The end. 

It's All About How You Play The Game

I'm proud of the role sport's plays in my life, and as I approach 50, so sports' role becomes increasingly important.  More importantly for me though is the spirit sport embodies. 

I'm at the gym 4 times a week.  Do I love working out?  Sometimes yes.  Mostly no.  In other words, I'm likely the average middle-aged (but in good-shape) garden-variety kind of guy.  I hustle to get to the gym, hustle while I work out (mostly classes) and then I shuffle to my car and then home.  It's my routine four times a week.

My favorite class is Fern's 8:30am spin class. I rarely oversleep, however today I did.  Jumped out of bed at 8:18am, threw on my ratty shorts and shirt, jumped in the car and was at the class at 8:34, (I even skipped my coffee-in-the-car ritual to make the class).

Alas, every bicycle was taken, (I was late ...DUH). I shrugged my shoulders and headed out the door thinking I would have been better off staying in bed a while longer. Fern noticed my shrugged shoulders, jumped off her bicycle and insisted I take hers.  Huh?

Figuring that I'd busted my derriere to get there, I took Fern's bicycle and enjoyed her awesome class.  Pretty normal!  But there's a few things on my mind

1.  Yeah, I made a lot of effort to get to the class --- Fern made way (an order of magnitude) more effort in surrendering her bicycle for my benefit.  I call it teamwork.

2.  In seconds, Fern turned my disappointment into happiness.  No words were spoken.  It's what good spirited sports people do.  This is what sport is about.

3.  At the classes' end, I could see Fern's happiness knowing she'd enabled me to participate.  Again - It's what good spirited sports people do.  This is what sport is about.

You know, every 2 years I watch the Olympic Games (summer and winter). 

Today's Games are more and more circus-like. They're not as much about sporting excellence or sportsmanship as much as they're about politics, money, religion and holly-wooding, and I can't help but think Olympians of old would be turning in their graves in disgust at the charade the games have become.

Make no error, Fern's spinning class is no Olympiad, (and I'm no Olympian either.  Just sayin').  By Fern having surrendered her bicycle is a huge deal. Again - It's what good spirited sports people do.  This is what sport is about.

And I can't help but think the Olympians of old are sagely smiling down on Fern today thanking her for respecting what sport is all about.  I just hope the Fern's of this world will be in Rio next year for the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

Fern - Thank You

It's All About The Service

Something’s on my mind that I need to talk about.

Without question the cab business as we know it, is under attack from companies like Uber and Lyft. It’s new versus old school, disruptors versus traditionalists – you get the picture.  Just read any newspaper or online forum and you’ll see the tremendous battle being waged globally (and in Toronto), daily.

So, you’d think, the cab business would spruce itself up, do something different or just simply provide a better service.  Not!

You see, I needed a cab this morning.  Called the local cab company.  Now I know that being a cab dispatcher may not be exactly the most stimulating job in the world, but at least fake a bit of interest in the caller’s needs.  Dispatcher seemed bored out of his mind, grunted hello, told me my address (guess it’s linked to my phone number), and before I could say something, he said the cab would be here in 5 minutes.  He hung up. Click.  Duration of call – 8 seconds.  Service zero.

Five minutes later, cab arrives.  I get in, say hi.  No response from the cabbie.  Not even an acknowledgement that I’m in his car.  Not even a grunt.

Six long-feeling minutes later, I’m at my destination.  Fare $8.00.  Tip $2.00. I thank him (I’m not sure why). Total paid $10.00.  I shut the door and I’m on my way.  Then it occurred to me that in the 6 minutes I was in the car, the cabbie did not say a single word.  Not a hello. Not a thanks.  And not a good-bye. Now maybe he was having a crappy day.  I get that.  We’re only human.  But then tell me. 

 

Or better yet, take the day off.

Am I missing something?

I speak to a lot of people who use Uber … they love it.  I hear Uber’s drivers seem genuinely happy.  They’re grateful to be doing what they’re doing. Cheaper fares to boot with a far nicer overall experience. 

I’m in the service business too.  There are thousands of John Sackes in my business.  There’s two on every corner.   Do I have a crappy day from time-to-time?  Of course yet.  That said, I try to make every client feel special.  I listen a lot. I smile a lot.  I engage a lot.  And most of all, I’m grateful that my clients have selected me --- unlike the cab dispatcher and cabbie who both were disinterested, disengaged and ungrateful that I had selected them.  Both were bordering on rude!

Seems like a no-brainer to me, but again, I may be missing something.  If I am, please let me know.  And if I’m not, please let me know too.

  

Jason Goes To University - A New Chapter

The last couple of weeks have been a little emotional. I get that way before each summer end.  The fall is a time to reset – the mind, the body and the psyche.  Despite the heat in Toronto (and trust me, I’m not complaining), the summer’s end signifies a chapter’s end.  And the chapter just ended is a huge one for me.

Our son, Jason (almost 18) is off to university in London, Ontario where he’ll be staying for the next 4-6 years.  In other words, although he’ll be back for summers and holidays, I cannot count him as a full time resident in our home.  And for me – this is huge!

As I was saying to my wife, (Karen) who’s far less emotional than me – it’s a time to realize that for the past almost-eighteen years, he’s been for the most part accountable to us.  From tomorrow, he for the most part is no longer accountable to us.  He’s accountable to himself. 

Now – to be clear – this is what growing up is. It’s about being responsible for one’s self and accountable too.  And I just hope that Jason has been well groomed, schooled and trained for this very exciting chapter.

Jason’s a great kid.  He looks after himself.  He’s on time for everything.  He knows the value of a buck.  He treats people like he expects to be treated.   He’s got tremendous qualities.  Not only has he learned a lot from Karen and I, but he’s also been fortunate to have benefited from the wisdom of great grandparents, uncles and aunts as well as nieces and nephews.  Jason’s been raised in a harmonious home as well, with abundances of everything.  In other words Jason’s had a great childhood and has tremendous potential.  Now he has to harness the opportunity ahead - and I have every belief he will. 

I penned Jason a letter today that he will read tomorrow after he’s settled in.  Without getting into too much detail, it laid out expectations and was also laced with some man-to-man advice that only a father could give to a son.

So, it’s a sombre time for me – now that Jason’s smiling face will no longer be around every night.  I can’t slap him on the back and shoot the breeze face-to-face (as we’ve done for so long).   Yeah, we can do phone or skype, but it’s simply not the same – and besides, which kid uses the phone now to talk?  Certainly not Jason.  LOL LOL.

Jason, my awesome son – the world’s at your feet.  You have the ingredients of success.  Carpe diem.

And before I get even more emotional, I’ll end this posting.

Happy Labour Day Weekend.

I'm confused - Canada Eh???

I’m a proud father.  I’m honored to be a Canadian citizen (been a citizen since 1991) and I love this country.  It’s given me opportunity, a safe haven to raise two teenaged-kids and a very high standard of life.  I have no complaints about this country --- well maybe the weather.  Having travelled to some 41 countries, I must say that Canada ranks very high, if not being number one.

Tonight was Jason’s, our oldest child’s high-school graduation ceremony.  Yup, he’s off to Uni in the fall.  He’s just finished 4 very happy years at Westmount Collegiate.  The school has given him a great education, great values and great life-lessons and for that as a parent – I am grateful.

The ceremony was tasteful, sweet, appropriate and I think appreciated by the about 1,000 people (students and their parents) that attended at a lovely banquet centre in Vaughan.

I’m confused.  I am bothered.  

I need to vent – and here’s why?

• No Canadian flag on the nicely adorned stage?
• No Canadian anthem at any point in the 2 hour ceremony?
• No evidence of the fact that our children should be proud of our Canadian values, or even be vaguely knowledgeable as to what these values may even be?

Like WTF?

Now personally, and in full disclosure I believe …

• Most (if not all politicians) will do anything to get the vote (it’s their ticket to employment, after all) – so in other words, I am not very trusting of the sector
• We’ve taken political correctness way too far and we’re now at the point of being so politically correct that we’ll disregard our respect for Canada for fear of offending some/ any fringe minority that may get offended

Putting my political beliefs as well as my love and respect for our great country aside, I’m perplexed why there was no flag and no anthem at tonight’s lovely ceremony.

I’ll try find out why … watch this space for more details.  Meanwhile if anyone can enlighten me, please feel free to do so … even if you think I am being an over-sensitive jack-ass.

Canada – Eh!

Always read the small print and watch what you're paying for ...

Mobile technology is so cool. We take it for granted that pretty much wherever we are, we’re tethered and therefore reachable … amazing!  Now, to be fair, amazing things generally cost money.  And I have no problem with that.  Where I have a problem, is where one fails to disclose the true nature of the deal.  Now, a lawyer I am not.  But what I know is this.  Failure to disclose a material fact is tantamount to telling a lie.  And that’s not cool. 

Just a few weeks ago, I had occasion to visit Vegas.  I was to be gone for 4 days.  Called Rogers, my long-time wireless provider and asked about roaming packages.  They have one that was to have fitted my needs perfectly.  $40 for 50 minutes of talk time, boatloads of data etc.  I signed up having spoken to a very helpful Rogers rep on the phone.  All good? … well no - not so much.

Got back.  Opened the bill yesterday to see I exceeded my 50 minutes (using 80 minutes).  Hmm … huh?  I know I was frugal.  I know that when using the phone, I would let it ring twice (and if my wife or kid/s back home didn’t pick up), I’d hang up … so therefore, no connection at all.  But huh --- what are all these one minute charges about?

Called Rogers.  CSR said the charge only started when the call is picked up --- ie human to human/ voicemail contact.  “So why all the one minute charges, when I specifically hung up before human/ voicemail contact,” I asked. 

“One minute,” said the now-a-little-nervous CSR. 

She tried to counter-argue the point, claiming the charges were indeed charges by AT &T (the Las Vegas network) and not those made by Rogers.  Umm … hello my bill is paid to Rogers, (my relationship is with Rogers). I was told one thing by Rogers --- and its ability to negotiate with other carriers is neither my issue nor problem.

Well, several supervisors and several sheepish admissions later, I’d gotten to the bottom of it.  The minute starts as soon as the phone rings on the other side, whether or not it is answered.  And that’s preying on unsuspecting customers, whom would logically think the charge would begin only, and only if, the call is picked up on the other side.

Now to be fair and in full disclosure, Rogers did reverse the overage changes and I am grateful.  But I do wonder how many others have been caught in this nifty little trap

Write your comments below …