Now I Pod

Just a month ago I got the I-Pod. And I have noticed my world has changed.

Actually a few years ago, the fine people at the TD Bank offered an I Pod as an incentive to move my money. I did. But it was a strange little machine with very little space to store my Guess Who album - which I listened to during my hip resurfacing surgery.

Anyone wanting more detail on that proceduce can request it as a blog entry - and I will document the month torture which included cellulitis, shingles and a return of my gout...

My first I Pod was wonderful during the procedure until it stopped and I spent the last hour of the replacement bantering with the team doctoring my hip - thank goodness for the drug twilight...

When planning began for the trip to the Red Mountain Spa in Utah, the acquisition of a I Pod became an important element. And because West Jet decided to retool its inflight entertainment equipment it became an essential necessity.

Since my return I have had my little I pod (3G) accompany me on transit trips and noticed really for the first time, how many people are into their own little world while commuting.

My usual public transit trip practice included reading the paper, doing the Jumble and crossword people watching and chivalrius behavoir. And yes I had noticed a lot of ear buds and ear phones. But since unconnected myself from the sounds of the city, I realized how cut off everyone is when they travel.

I now understand why so many people jostle or bump into me while transfering from subway to subway because now I am one of those culprits as well.

Maybe I will stop the practise of I poding in the subway and on buses although I will miss listening to Taking Care of Business each day.

the Fantastic Fourth

Okay I will stop counting the blogier and get on to blogging...but thanks you to the latest member of the followers...

Spent an hour with an old friend who I have known two-thirds of my life (please do not try to calculate that number) Steve Witkin (two of you know him quite well)

He got our rendez-vous at the coffee shop/bakery a little early and was seated when I crossed to meet him and accidently unplugged the computer of two York Univerity students (female) sitting at the table across from him.

The witty banter and repartee continued with him - and then me - commenting on our age differences. (Yes one was quite attractive). Once replugged we let them get with to their business of talking about a project they were working on as we caught up and compared aches and pains. But the theme kept returning to youth and age (and the attractive woman which even he remarked on).

Two days ago I met with a noted tv/film producer who I did some work for (which never saw the light of the screen) on the soon-to-be-released film Gunless. I impressed him enough with my work and/or work ethic to get a sit down (and glass of wine) to pitch some ideas.

Unfortunately what he (and others) are looking for are stories that relate to the YOUTH market - even though his youthfulness is long gone. He didn't want to make movies for grannies anymore so I put my ideas back in the folder and finished my wine.

So here I sit and - yes I admit it - I must be middle age because I don't see me living past 107.

And I really don't want that numerical figure of age put on my body (and mind).

Because there is an age bias.

I was lucky that pretty early in life I was allowed to do a lot of things (like gopher for tv shows, while I was in high school) and trust me I don't want to hold on to jobs to the exclusion of the next generation.

I just want to be able to challenge for any opportunity on an even keel with the young folk and not be disqualified because some of the hair is turning gray (at least it is all still there). Maybe that is why it is illegal to ask you age in a job interview.

I am only as old as I feel - and now that my hip has been resurfaced, both eyes have become cataract free and my prostate has been nuked, I don't feel a day over 39 (thank you Jack Benny) except those days I feel like I need an afternoon nap (most of the days).

But I am still game for anything (except skydiving or bungee jumping or going on roller coasters that go upside down... or...

How many posts is too many

First thanks to those friends who have trippled the number of blogiers. It is humbling to think that the numbers could have gronw after just one pleading message.

Question - how many blogs does one blog in any given day? The Tweet generation seems to tell the world almost everything - and I was a Twiterer for a while but felt guilty because i was not updating enough - and the use of all those abbreviations can drive u crazy lol...

So I will make this short and hope one of the myriads of readers will respond and let me know what they think is a good number - and I will try to fulfill my obligation.

Also many of the spelling mistakes I make are just that - and not typos - although I do throw in a few of those for good measure.

The day after

A big thank you to the one person who has followed my blog. So far she is the only who is eligible for the gift that I mentioned in blog one.... whatever that will be...

I don't know what I was expecting - maybe a few more readers but so far I have quality not quatity when it comes to readership....

Coming up very soon the "blog" that I just submitted to my teacher for the travel writing assignment of the on-line course I am taking - I know all of you (or at least the one of you) can't wait - right?

In the next little while I will try to figure out how I can widen my "fan base" and get other people to log on to my blog - but do not worry I am not saving the good stuff for that time (not saying that this here is "the good stuff" - it will get better).

New in Town

As part of an "assignment" for a travel writing course that I am taking, I have to learn all about blogging and I felt that there would be no better way to do that than to actually blog - or get the Dummies Guide to Blogging. This will be cheaper.

Many years ago I was a freelance writer for a part of the Canadian Magazine in the Toronto Star called "Cityspan" and wrote articles ranging from a guide to the Best Hospital Cafeterias in Toronto (you want you visitors to eat well) to reviews of various churches based on their sermons (some people believed I would rot in hell for those).

So as you see, I am a trained professional - or was.

I took up twittering for a while - then stopped - but found out that every few weeks people would sign up to read my short bursts of excitement - unfortunately I didn't have many - so I hope that no one expects much from this blog.

And so far I have fulfilled that mandate.