…the harder they fall! I guess. Anyway, in light of this new video that’s surfaced of Rob Ford threatening someone while he’s stinking drunk…um… forget what I said about voting for him again. The guy’s a loose cannon, and taking the metaphor to it’s limit–he’s rolling all over the poop deck with a lit fuse […]

I simply love hearing and learning about other artists’ and authors’ creative process! When Christiane contacted me after she’d finished the artwork for my new book King for a Day, I called her up and we talked on the phone and as we were talking I thought, hey, this would make a fantastic blog post or page on my […]

I have a theory. You can go and go and go and go and then eventually your body starts acting up in the hopes of getting your attention. I’m at that point right now. In the past it was always my neck and shoulders and then eventually my back. The pain would start with a […]

Received a bit of an education today. Ever since I heard that the term ‘eskimo’ is a derogatory term I’ve been mostly using the word ‘inuit’ to describe the first nations people up here in the Arctic. And I just found out today that ‘inuit’ just means ‘the people’ in the Inupiat language. And oh, […]

Got nothing better to do, so why not? Funny how I get more time to blog when I’m traveling than any other time. I feel so darn frustrated with Obama. I had such high hopes. And yet I kind of get why he had to sell out. He once said something like the Palestinian people […]

*different* it is down here! Completely different mindset! The people are very friendly! They say ‘Good Morning!’ like they really mean it. And one lady admired the color of my suit. Told me I looked lovely! Heard a fascinating story from the Muslim cab driver who drove me here. And he said something interesting. He […]

On a trip like Iran and Qatar! But all the experiences have been digested, thought through, replayed when necessary, and conclusions have been arrived at, in time for the next trip. In about forty minutes I leave for Dallas, just for one night, to visit an Islamic school who put together the funds to invite […]

Waiting for the flight home, and deep down grateful to be back in Canada. Used to be I’d cross the border into the States and I’d feel ‘different’. Man, that was a while ago! Most trips don’t generate this kind of relief in getting back into Canada. I guess it’s because I was wondering if […]

It’s winter so they keep the heat inside the cars and buildings REALLY high! And there never seems to be a thermostat available that can turn it down. So I’ve often resorted to opening a window so I don’t feel stifled. Which means the air is so dry my lips have been chapped no matter how […]

Before I started this trip, and any trip, I always make dua that Allah makes it easy for me. This trip has had its challenges. Lost my luggage on the way to Doha, and a few other bumps along the road, but my time here in Iran has been fabulous! The Iranian people are warm […]