BIST (Brain Injury Society of Toronto) was founded in 2004 and has grown to 469 members, as of this week’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). I looked around at the 50? 40? 70? or so members in attendance and was rather surprised. But as the AGM progressed I thought about those growing numbers and BIST’s new…
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She in First Chapter Plus E-Catalogue
My novel She is listed in First Chapter Plus for September. First Chapter Plus is an e-catalogue that provides convenient links to the first chapters and Amazon pages of creative and cutting edge books. They write: “Just as film previews help you decide whether to pay to watch a movie, each month our e-catalog will…
Baked Good Deliciousness at the Vegetarian Food Fair: A Few Reviews
The Vegetarian Food Fair down at Toronto’s Harbourfront this year was a cornucopia of good food, good-looking food, fake grass, and lots and lots of sunshine and people, unlike previous years I’ve been. I grazed my way from booth to booth, filling myself up on free samples and emptying my wallet on specials and baked…
Review: Blood and Groom
Blood and Groom by Jill Edmondson My rating: 3 of 5 stars As a writer, I’ve discovered it’s difficult for me to review books of authors I’ve met or have had some communication with. Because of the ebook SNAFU with Blood and Groom, Jill Edmondson kindly sent me paperback copies of this book and her…
Value of Rest and Staycations to a Person with Brain Injury
One of the most frustrating things about a brain injury is the energy loss. The words “tired,” “exhausted,” “fatigued” don’t really convey the experience and frustration of this state, for it isn’t anything like one feels after a long day at the office, a hard-drinking night at the frat, an all-night study session for one…
Review: A User’s Guide to the Universe: Surviving the Perils of Black Holes, Time Paradoxes, and Quantum Uncertainty
A User’s Guide to the Universe: Surviving the Perils of Black Holes, Time Paradoxes, and Quantum Uncertainty by Dave Goldberg My rating: 3 of 5 stars I’m pacmanning my way through theoretical physics books these days as background reading for my next novel. I think if you want to learn complicated concepts, talking to different…
Thoughts on the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11
“I had finished breakfast, I was near the kitchen table, facing out I think, listening to 92.5 FM, Kiss 92, when Billy [sic], the female half of the morning crew, announced that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. I thought what are they joking about now, but when they continued to…
Identity
Identity. What is that? With the 9/11 anniversary imminent, Muslim identity is one of the hot topics on talk shows. With school starting again, African or Caribbean identity in our education system is on some minds although not as dominant as last year. And in cyclical fashion, First Nations identity is discussed amongst some Canadians.…
Review: On Eagles’ Wings: A Memoir about Faith, Courage, and Patriotism
On eagles’ wings: A memoir about faith, courage, and patriotism by William C Ryan My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a signed copy direct from the author. The problem with brain injury is you meet these fascinating people, and you can’t remember how or why. This was several years ago, and I do…