Discovering The World of Flavors Part Two

 This part is about more exotic foods that have been discovered, but also more concern for weight, health, the environment and justice.  A lot of odds and ends in random order.

 As I age and read about  nutrition I have become more interested in veganism.  The benefits include guilt free regarding cruelty to animals.  More than that you cut down on cholesterol and chemicals.  It also has environmental benefits which means also economic benefits as we try to feed a hungry growing planet.  

 One documentary film that is hard to dismiss is "The Game Changers" (2019) which you can learn a bit more about at http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/12/the-game-changers.html   Suggested by friend Bob Stone. Balancing that is natural reality that is our history:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/05/the-hunt-is-what-life-is-all-about.html

 What animals we choose to eat is subject to social concerns.  Cows and chickens are normal. Pigs are forbidden to Jews and Muslims.  Sheep and lambs are too cuddly for some.   In Tarpon Springs, Florida I decided to try frog legs which tasted fine, but I read their eyes remind people of themselves and so that was the only time.  The idea of horse meat is repulsive to many of us and I worked for a horse publication. Veal is very tasty, but raised cruelly with cows packed tightly.

Talking to a Muslim friend he pointed that Halal meat is healthier as blood is drained from the body.  Also effectively argues that it is less cruel (but some think it is crueler).

A friend from Sharon's work had an emu farm which offer meat with less cholesterol.  It tasted ok, but somehow never caught on.  Goat cheese was discovered and I was told it was healthier.  As it became more popular trending, but there are a lot of surplus male goats, but little Canadian interest except for Caribbeans.

A restaurant was giving out samples and my curiosity gave in to temptation and I found kangaroo tasty.  On another occasion perhaps trying to show my sophistication had more kangaroo meat that had been barbequed.  I was told that kangaroo is low on cholesterol.  The problem is it is difficult to shake the idea of a playful toy.

Calamari was an exotic food I acquired a taste for until I learned that the octopus is a unique sentient being.  Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/09/for-me-this-is-year-of-octopus.html The idea of eating Ox tongue was repulsive, but was persuaded to try at a Korean restaurant and realized they are tasty.

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/11/vb6-vegan-before-6.html   This has been my plan for several years--it partially relieves my conscience and cuts down on meat/fat consumption.

What happens if we all do become vegans?  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/01/what-happens-to-farm-animals-when.html

Weight is a social and health issue.   A battle I am familiar with.  One of the most successful diets I have had  was the F Plan, with the F standing for fibre.  Chopsticks have one good advantage in that they slow me down.  Other strategies have involved mindfulness.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/03/the-joy-of-half-cookie.html 

We ate Mexican at the suggestion of a brother in law, first in London, (Ontario) then Etobicoke.  Our children loved it.  A few years later Hamilton developed a nearby Mexican restaurant.  Awhile later we learned their menu was gluten free and that turned out to be a key factor for one visitor.  We were surprised that another nearby Mexican restaurant had a Muslim chef which meant their menu was also halal which turned out to a positive for a sister of mine.

The Burlington Library declared, "Beauty of Humanity Movement"  their Burlington Reads selection.  A big feature was a Vietnamese Soup called pho which I sampled and have continued to do so.  Other Vietnamese items I have taken a fancy to include sandwiches with cilantro and spring rolls.   From a newspaper review we drove to Toronto to checkout chocolate covered bananas which indicated a French colonial influence http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/07/beauty-of-humanity-movement-book-review.html

Perhaps the best value in a snack is a red bean sesame ball.  Cheaper than a chocolate bar with a mix of sweet red bean and a bread sort of wrapping and sesame seeds.  Have bought at Chinese or Vietnamese bakeries.

Thai restaurants offer my favorite foods.  They have a lot of spices and combinations of other Asian foods.  One combination was lychees in a curry.  They were the first for me to offer peanut sauce.

New Zealand is noted for meat pies and we did indeed agree they did have better than at home.  A flavor available fresh for only a short growing season was feijoa, which I absorbed in a sorbet, wine  and with hokey pokey cereal  Driving around the North Island we were struck by the large numbers of sheep eating on mountain sides.  We ate more than usual of lamb items .  Back home it was admitted that lamb fed on grass tastes better than Canadian lamb fed on feed.  My Grandmother Coakwell introduced me and Sharon to lamb with mint as she knew my parents didn't eat it.  We attended a Maori show that included an underground cooking hangi.  Still another treat was at an underground parking lot at major shopping mall where I had a Malaysian item.  On other occasions we had visited Japanese, Turkish, Mongolian restaurants.  On another occasion at a Chinese restaurant I was able to try chicken feet that two friends had been discussing and I could appreciate their interest.  At another Chinese restaurant we ordered a few hours ahead of time and got a Beijing Duck which was more elaborate than anticipated.

The French cuisine is supposed to be top of the food tower.  I love croissants, crepes, onion soup, chicken cordon bleu, escargot and Vichyssoise.   I would like to explore more, but they have the reputation of being expensive and complicated.

One of my jobs took me to health food shows.  There is an emphasis on organic foods which I usually prefer.  New things I discovered included hummus, tahini and tofu. I learned a recipe for tuna curry that was supposed to be healthy for its omega oil.  One of the few things I am allowed to cook for others.

Michael was in Korea and was able to impress us at a local Korean restaurant ordering food in the Korean language.  They let you cook yourself at your table.  Noted for beef dishes.  My latest taste discovery has come from watching Korean tv series.   I started to notice dating couples and wealthy business men often ordered Tteokbokki to impress one another.  The real capper was a spoiled brat in a hospital with parents anxious to placate asked him what he wanted and he replied Tteokbokki and it has proved to be a new favorite.  I didn't catch on to kimchi.

For awhile I lived and worked in Waterloo country and became fascinated by the Mennonites.  Someone recommended the Stonecrock Restaurant in St. Jacob's  and one special treat was shoofly pie (so named because flies were attracted to its sweetness.  Our one year old daughter, Heather  loved it.   One location I visited frequently was Wellesley that was the headquarters for an apple butter factory.  I approached a local grocery store that was embarrassed they didn't have any on their shelves, but a manager sent me to the factory a few yards away.  They showed me a new product called pumpkin butter which was really apple butter that was enhanced by pumpkin.  That became a regular visit, until I no longer had an excuse to  visit the town and was unable to find it anywhere.  A few years later, my son, Michael on a visit from New Zealand for  a computer conference in Philadelphia.  I had learned that some of my Mennonite ancestors had lived in Pennsylvania and sure enough in a downtown market I was able to find both pumpkin butter and shoofly pie.

As I got older I found caffeine stopped me drinking coffee and soon after much soda pop.  I understood chocolate also included caffeine, but fortunately it not elicit uncomfortable reactions that other caffeine sources did.  I read that carobs had no caffeine while tasting pretty close to chocolate.  Over time I learned that carobs are more nutritious in comparison. Even more, carobs help keep one more regular.

At first awareness Sushi seemed both unhealthy and not tasty.  However I developed a taste for it.  I read that Steve Jobs who liked to pretend he was a vegan really liked sushi with eels.  I investigated and that became a favorite.  Eels fascinated me when visiting Western Park in Auckland where I noticed people feeding them.

Ethiopian food had some appeal with some unique spices. and vegetable combinations.  Ingera bread was served with most options and I think was intended as a wrap around, but I cut it up and mixed in and loved it.  It is supposed to be a grain that is especially healthy  A local restaurant that served it went out of business as I have been writing this.

Going to Quebec City I looked for advice, but finally concluded there are no wrong moves.  We once stayed at a bed and breakfast on Ile d'Orleans with a fabulous breakfast each day.  We learned that much of the food for the Quebec restaurants is grown on Ile d'Orleans.

Visiting our daughter Heather in Nova Scotia we learned to like Donaires and later found a shop in Burlington.  Rappie pie is an Acadian dish that my sister in law, Jean likes.  Surprisingly Heather does not care for seafood, but we got out to a restaurant in Dartmouth famed for seafood.

My sister Rebecca married a Moroccan.  I was offered Coucous which tasted pretty good as a communal meal.  It is often eaten by hand.  An artichoke was on my plate and it was a great mystery to me, but my niece Leila couldn't help laughing as she had me eat it by peeling the layers.

Kelly Bowers a co-worker re-introduced me to pomegranates and this second time I appreciated them more than the first.  Frozen pomegranates are eaten a couple of times each week.

In Cuba Raphael, our breakfast cook convinced me to try jalapenos in an omelette.  For one outdoor dinner we had barbecued fish that was delicious.  Each day we had something different.

 

 

In Victoria we were entranced by idea of gelato, but felt it was a luxury.  But it seemed we tried small portions almost daily and eventually got addicted.  I also remember ordering a Baba ganoush at a chain fast food outlet and felt there was something I could not identify that made it special--literally years later I figured it was eggplant.  We went to a number of cafes in Victoria and while others had coffee which gives me a nervous reaction I chose tea and was actually quite annoyed with a flavor that seemed to be my only choice--rooiboos.  Later back at home I developed a craving for it and was able to find it at the Farmer's Market through a tea and soap merchant that we befriended.  Our favorite restaurant anywhere is Paggliacci.  The service is personal and excellent.   On particular nights the rearrange tables for entertainment.  Lineups are usual, but they often bring out wine for those waiting.    

I had tried baklava at the CNE and loved the sweetness.   My wife's step father had a daughter in law with  a Greek connection and found Greek local restaurants.  We enjoyed the food including moussaka and a Cypriot version at a different restaurant.

My encounter with Persian food was almost by accident.  I was supposed to sell coupons and a Persian restaurant got no response, so I felt obligated to check it out.  My wife and I quite enjoyed it.  My daughter ordered some Persian food including some delicate pastries and it was delicious.  Planning to have more.

Feel free to tell me your taste adventures.  If you haven't already read part one you can check it out here;  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/03/discovering-world-of-flavours-part-one.html

Bitter-Sweet

Bias in book selections and even book reviews hits home with this author.  We all identify with those most like us.  Susan Cain lays out much of her personal psyche and it resonates with me.  A previous book, "Quiet" was about introverts and I was pleased to read that I wasn't alone, nor as unimportant as I sometimes felt.

 With "Bitter-sweet" a few references to cellos hit home.  Until my son took violin lessons I had no particular interest in cello music, but a concert changed that.  Not an accident if one believes Susan.  Some of us (more than suspected) actually feel joy in sad music.

I apologize for all the use of "I" in the beginning, but this is really a confession.  Like you, I feel most comfortable with the familiar.  I maintain that it is in my best interest if more people can better understand people like me.  I do believe whatever side of the spectrum you land on, you will find merit in her book.

Of course I am not exactly like Susan Cain, in fact none of us are exactly like anyone else.  Still, we categorize people which can lead to misunderstandings, but sometimes we can understand ourselves better when another human describes the similarities.  If we look hard enough there are similarities with everyone and the search would make for a better world.

The title Bitter-sweet indicates that there is often a connection between sadness and joy.  She recounts the story of "Inside Out" (2015) which was planned as an animated drama of the importance of emotions.  As Peter Docter got into the topic he realized that humans need a balance of emotions after first rejecting sadness , but late in production discovered it was necessary.  The film was actually re scripted to reflect this new insight.  My daughter Heather had recommended this film often enough that we finally succumbed and watched it. 

Our mortality and suffering provide a source for sadness.  It isn't just our mortality and suffering, but that of others that results in much bereavement and regrets.  Everyone and everything has to die, but the author suggests that maybe living forever isn't ideal either using references to "Gilgamesh" and "The Flying Dutchman" to make her point.  Both Hinduism and Buddhism advocate the goal of life is to be free of rebirth.  

Charles Darwin is quoted:  "We are impelled to relieve the suffering of another in order that our own painful feelings may at the same time be relieved."

Susan  believes "...sorrow, longing and even mortality itself a unifying force, a pathway to love and that our greatest and most difficult task is learning how to walk it."

One of the sources of sadness is disappointment.  Alain de Botton points out that none of us are perfect and neither are our partners.  It is easy to focus on the faults of others, but we need to accept them for who they are and fix what is wrong with us and that is a life long project. 

Susan argues that as we all die, we all have something in common and pretending otherwise detracts from our ability to enjoy life.  Marcus Aurelius:  "You could leave life right now.  Let that determine what you do and say and think."

Finding meaning in life is what helps us to deal with suffering.  Dr. William Breitbart works with dying cancer patients to build a sense of meaning.  He quotes Friedrich Nietzsche:  "We who have a why to live can bear almost any how."

For many readers the contrast between sadness and joy is strange while for others it seems very natural.  Susan discusses many contrasting views as presented by philosophers, psychologists and others.  Readers will find views they have shared, but many will find new perspectives.  Well worth the effort.

An earlier blog is about her book on introverts which is worth reading whether you think you are one or not:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/05/quiet-power-of-introverts-in-world-that.html

Another book reminded of by a Steve Paikin interview.

If you check out her website you can take a Bitter-sweet quiz,  listen to her TED talk and among other things get a playlist of Bitter-sweet music:  www.susancain.net

My Life and Adventures with cars PART TWO

 My career took me to different companies that all involved driving in some cases involving commutes of over 40 minutes and others that involved fair size sales territories.  Working with my brother in law who was a partner in an ad agency I ended up doing a lot of freelance sales work for a personal client Orange aPEEL  I helped set up wholesalers and then the strategy was to convince some of their retail clients to stock our product.  Fortunately the wholesalers were expanding from a small base in Ontario to a bigger base.  One factor I noticed was that sales declined in the summer and felt one reason was that many of our pet owner  consumers left for cottages.  One of our wholesalers was expanding to cottage country and beyond.  I went on longer and longer trips and eventually overnight.  I went as far north as Kapuskasing, west as far as Sault Ste. Marie and Windsor and as far east as Gananoque and even Ottawa.  Vet clinics were added on expanding the calls I could make.  Read more more on my Ontario expanded driving.

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/06/travels-of-salesman-part-1-ontario.html 

 My daughter, Heather insisted that she wanted to go to King's College in Halifax.  Nobody in our families had ever been to Halifax, but in fact it enriched us all.  It was agreed that Heather and her mother would fly, but that someone would have to cart some furniture and other supplies.  I asked the boss at Orange aPEEL if he would help pay hotel expenses if I sold in the Maritimes.  Some of our existing wholesalers (mostly ones I had set up) had a toehold in the Maritimes.  It was agreeable to us all.  Heather ended up there for five years and I made two two way trips each year.

An important step in the process was staying in my sister's home in Brossard, on the  south shore of Montreal.  I learned two routes through New Brunswick and looped around Nova Scotia covering most of the vet clinics and pet stores in those two provinces and Prince Edward Island.  A conversation with my brother in law, Ali while in Brossard suggested I would as an anglophone do better in Quebec than a francophone would do in Ontario.  I got some help from a French speaking co-worker, Jacques Major who helped me with an introductory speech and later with a special story aimed at receptionists.  Beyond that my French was pretty pathetic, but could struggle with a helpful francophone who proved to be the majority.  But the bonus was that many clinics hired bilingual receptionists or even better they called in their bilingual boss so I was able to talk directly to the decision maker.  I was able to add in two more wholesalers and one of our Ontario wholesalers expanded in both Quebec and the Maritimes.  One co-worker joked that I was really on a vacation, but in fact I was very busy.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/07/travels-of-salesman-part-3-quebec.html

On my first trip studying maps I found a shortcut to a stop in Windsor, Nova Scotia.  It reminded of where I learned to drive, with hills and curvy roads.  Ironically Windsor was home to Thomas Halliburton whose name was taken for the county where I learned to drive.  Most of the places I called in Nova Scotia were on the ocean and I wondered what was in the middle.  I discovered with one single call that cut across the middle and it turns out the answer is trees.

Read about expanding to the Maritimes.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/07/travels-of-salesman-part-two-maritimes.html

At the beginning my trips to the Maritimes were ignoring the bigger audience in francophone Quebec but that too entered my life.  

Car rentals weren't part of my life until one vacation where I had won a trip to Florida.  My father in law advised us to rent a car from Rent A Wreck which we did from the Tampa airport.  Unknown to me the condo manager had not been told of my visit, but even though the car didn't look like a trustworthy person was driving he believed my story, my wife and four year old daughter were grateful.  We visited Disney World, Busch Gardens, Cape Canaveral and lots of other sites.  On my only other trip to Florida we used them again, but my brother in law had to have his towed away.

 On vacations we often flew to a site and rented a car.  From Montreal I rented a Prius, my first experience with an environmentally friendly car.  All I can remember is after returning from Quebec City I had a lot of trouble turning off a loud alarm at my sister's.  Other vacations were to British Columbia.  One time we flew to Vancouver, took a ferry over to Victoria and the next day took another ferry ride to and from Vancouver so my son could compete in a track meet..  Then again we took the ferry back to the airport.  The next time we flew directly to Victoria.  One memorable trip was after we picked up my friend, Bob Stone at the ferry depot in Nanaimo we headed to Tofino, but Bob steered us to the old route that took us by Coombs for a unique retail experience where you could see goats eating grass on top of a store..  We hit Tofino in the off season, but an interesting place.

The most interesting rental experience came after my car was called to garage and I was told they needed it for a few days.  This happened at the start of the Easter weekend when I was supposed to leave for Halifax.  I had well over 100 sales stops planned.  We couldn't get hold of any rental cars that had any available.  Someone suggested try an airport and we were able to rent one from the Toronto Airport and with not that many choices I ended up with a high performance car.  My son was thrilled when I brought it home and the next day I left.  I soon found it could accelerate much faster than my car and I found myself passing other cars, even long streams on two lane highways.  When I met my daughter she was disappointed that wouldn't let her drive it because of rental rules.  When I returned it they at first tried to charge me for all the extra mileage (about $800 as I recall), but they reverted to original agreement considerably cheaper.

Backtrack a little.  On my previous trip to Halifax my daughter had a beginners permit and had taken driver education.  The lens on my glasses came out about 8 in the morning.  Anxious to get going I had my daughter drive to the next town,  Truro where I got my glasses fixed and I realized if I let my daughter drive I could make my sales calls a little bit better prepared.  I made lots of calls and finally decided around 5 pm or so in Edmonston I would take over as it would soon get dark.  Reaching my sister's I remembered my brother-in-law's original instructions and although I was too confused to use them, this time coming from the opposite direction I did remember.  The next day we got early and left as the Montreal rush hour was in full swing and Heather drove through that.  Again I made lots of calls and when we reached Toronto we again hit very heavy traffic.  Heather handled it very well.  Shortly after our trip when Heather went for her license test the tester pressed for time asked her if she had any highway experience and after she explained she had driven most of the way from Halifax, including three rush hours he let her get the license on her first effort. 

My career has wound down.  Towards the end I found myself once a month delivering newspapers (The Rider, a horse lover publications) over a wide area.  It was my idea to set up a number of librairies spread over four counties.  Another thing happened when one of the partners' mother needed a ride to visit her husband each day in a retirement home.  We had an interesting conversations and I learned to play a game she was fond of.  The game was trying to figure out what vanity plates meant. I got to the point where I could sometimes ask a driver.  Read more:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/driving-with-miss-jane.html

Some of you may have duplicated some of my favorite drives and others looking for something interesting.  Here is a list of some of my favorites.

When I decided to make a few sales calls to Sydney, Nova Scotia I saw two routes so I took them both.  One was the old highway with lots of winding and lake views.  Rita McNeil had a stop along the way.  The other way was a modern highway that wasn't at all boring. At one point I stopped at Baddeck which overlooks Bras d'or Lake where Alexander Graham Bell flew the first airplane in Canada. 

The normal route to Halifax had been done a few times and I needed to expand my sales efforts so looking at a map discovered the Atlantic side of New Brunswick which meant driving a little further through Quebec past Rimouski one could head down to Campbellton, New Brunswick through Matapedia country that was another hilly, curvy road with lots of trees.  Very entrancing.

Switching coasts and under the guidance of Bob Stone, we decided to seek out Tofino.  Bob suggested we take the old road that included Coombs with a most interesting retail store.  Along the way we passed Port Alberni (earlier I had interviewed Bill Robinson, a famous basketball player from there) where a tsunami had once reached.  Tofino is a backpacker's ideal.   The three of us stayed overnight.

In Ontario I became attached to Picton in Prince Edward County.  Mostly I approached it through Belleville, but on one occasion curious about a different route out of Kingston I discovered there was a ferry boat ride to the town of Picton.  Just my idea of a quaint village with lots of pleasant landscape in an out.

Another pleasant drive was from the town of New Liskeard which sits on Lake Temiskaming lead to Hailebury with the lake on my left the whole way.  Only one time I approached New Liskeard through Quebec on the other side.  Also scenic.

In case you missed it link to Part One:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/02/my-life-and-adventures-with-cars-part.html

In Praise of Water Polo

A confession to start this blog.  I haven't seen a live water polo game in years and only occasionally watch during the Olympics and Pan Am tv coverage.  My daughter, Heather who got me started on blogging is also the one who did get me interested in water polo.  Today I was reminded by a front page photo of the Hamilton Spectator that included my daughter's high school team, Westdale High.

No one was more surprised than me when my daughter picked up an interest in competitive swimming.  I didn't swim and although I did watch it at the Olympic level I didn't picture my life revolving around it as much as it turned out.  Swim meets tended to be out of town, sometimes requiring an overnight visit meaning sometimes the whole family took a vacation.  But the real time commitment came with practice which often meant getting up at 5 am and then later going to another practice in the evening.  I would hear about hockey parents going to a lot of practices and out of town games, but on the practice end I think the swimmers take the prize.  One of the bonuses is they are more fit.

Both my wife and I got involved in volunteer activities.  One of mine was getting results to the local paper and one pleasant memory was talking to Joanne Malar who once held a world record.  More concretely I got involved in officiating and worked myself up the ladder a bit.  Instead of being one of the cheering crowd I felt I was part of the action.  One of our club members actually made it to the Olympics as a starter for swim events.  More on my sports volunteering:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/06/my-career-as-sports-volunteer.html

Swimming is very demanding.  All that sacrifice is necessary because to get to the top is extremely competitive.  Along the way it is not always fun. They go up and down lanes continuously with the only variation being stroke and pace and occasional breaks.  One coach explained it to me that there are countless practices in relation to an actual competition meet unlike in team sports where it seems there might be one to three practices for every game.  At one point my daughter got involved with water polo at the high school level and my wife and I started attending games which admittedly were more fun.

In my adopted city of Hamilton water polo is in almost every high school and my daughter's school, Westdale had a long tradition.  They like to recruit swimmers because they have endurance and speed, both in demand for water polo.  It didn't seem very ladylike and later my daughter confirmed it really wasn't for delicate people.

What do sports junkies get out of watching sports?  Although fictional drama works very cleverly to make one be pleasantly (sometimes otherwise) surprised at the ending it can't always match the unpredictability of a sports event.  Sports gives an opportunity to display character.  Overcoming difficulties and working as a team.  Skill, strength, speed and endurance. can be appreciated  It is all relative at one level.  If you haven't played a sport you can't really appreciate the skill, but the more you watch the more you can understand the skills required to win.

As in other sports a close game is more exciting.  With Water Polo we have seen come from behind and hold on to a slight lead, overtime tension and winning and losing.  My first sports love is basketball and I remember someone referring to it as a game of deception and let's be honest we all love to see one player fake out another or a defender calmly handle a fake.  The same holds true in water polo where faking is a key to getting around a defender or setting up a goalie for a shot.  My daughter assures me water polo is fun and it is easy to notice on the players' faces.

The first year Heather played for Westdale she was on the city championship team.  The last year she was the team captain and definitely one of the reasons they won another city championship.  The games were by no means a wipeout and winning required keeping your cool under pressure.  Of course it is always nice to be on the winning side, but as I get older I appreciate it is the opponent that brings out the best in you.  Learning to accept losing is always a character builder.

She went on to play for a non school team, but eventually she went to King's College in Halifax where interest was not as high.  Water polo is one of the sports I look for in the Olympics and other international events.  Water polo was one of the first team sports to be added to the Olympics back in 1900.  Modern day water polo came from England and Scotland in the late 19th century.

To be played properly water polo requires a deep pool.  Switching ends with one end being shallow takes away from skills involved.  A lot of the action is beneath the surface as players jockey for position.  It can be spectacular to see a player rise above the surface and if the defense can sometimes counter that.

All sports have merit.  As parents we want our kids to be fit and healthy and to take on challenges and to work as a team.  Water polo is something that should be encouraged and is certainly enjoyable to watch.  No need to anticipate boredom, if you get to know the game it will get you excited.

Driving and Freedom

My father was a truck driver and a champion car rally driver, but it made it difficult for me to learn to drive.   I was very intimidated by his expectations.  Never learned to drive a stick shift, but did finally get my licence at age 18 thanks to high school driver ed at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School.  More on my father at http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/06/remembering-my-father.html

After graduating from university the job market didn't click for me.  In some ways I was very naive and thought prospective employers would jump at the opportunity to channel my brains and my charm, but for a very long time nothing clicked.  My parents were in despair, but finally I hit on the idea of being a social worker.

Somehow my qualifications did send the right message.  The one obstacle was that a car was required.  My parents saw that as an opportunity to get me to fly out of the nest and arranged for me to get a car and the necessary insurance.  Elsewhere I have recounted that the job only lasted six months and that I learned about how a car's value can depreciate more than the principle declines.  One of the more valuable lessons learned.  Another was driving to Wasaga Beach and Midland, places that I dragged my future wife and later my family to.

Here I was stuck with a car and payments and no job.  But the car it turned out was an asset.  Six months later I landed my second full time job and a car was a necessity.  I ended up living in Burlington with a sister and traveling on the job all over the Niagara Peninsula

Met my wife due to a series of weird chances.  Came home early on my birthday with the intention of watching my alma mater, University of Guelph play basketball on tv game of the week.  Tv didn't work and on impulse (actually thought birthday a big disappointment) drove to Guelph, about 40 minutes away and leanred game had been played the nite before.  Making the best of bad luck I called on some old friends and eventually ended going on a blind date with my future wife.  How I met my wife:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/08/how-i-met-my-wife.html

At least two fascinating things got my attention on the job.  One was the Welland Canal tunnel and the other was Niagara-on-the Lake.  I felt compelled to take my future wife and surprisingly she hadn't seen either.   Doing a little bit of calculation I managed to work in the Fort Erie area and drive over to Buffalo to watch a basketball game.  This escalated my interest in basketball which led to further escalations described in another blog.  Basketball led me on some interesting adventures:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/02/my-basketball-projects-part-one.html

I learned of a job from one of the people I investigated that sounded ideal--I was a big newspaper reader and had enjoyed working with young people--circulation.  My car again was an asset--supervising youngsters and collecting their money spent years doing it--taking a car load out canvassing (borrowed wife's bigger older car to win prize).  A bit more on how I won a contest with family help:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2011/02/memorable-vacation.html

I worked for several newspapers and eventually ended up as a traveling salesmen selling a variety of things described elsewhere.    This meant even more driving and more opportunities.  At this time I was enjoying the best of big cities (Toronto, later Montreal), middle sized cities, small towns and rural areas.  My personality had got the best results in rural areas but big cities had a variety of things I became mesmerized with.

My daughter, Heather decided to focus on journalism in King's College in Halifax--with my newspaper circulation background I tried to talk her out of it, but in the end respected her choice.  neither of us had ever been to the Maritimes so it seemed unnecessarily far away. I had been pretty much centred on where I lived (Oshawa, Haliburton) and Guelph, but was pleased my daughter could expand her horizons. At this time I was selling a product that was pretty much out of someone's garage, but I had the freedom to sell it anywhere in Canada.  This opened up new doors and I ended up selling in the Maritimes and Quebec.  I fell in love with Ile d'Orleans and my wife and I vacationed there and different parts of Nova Scotia where we also vacationed, Oak Island, Yarmouth, Wolfeville.  Before cars most of us lived relatively provincial lives.  People are the same everywhere, but they are also unique.  Always found new pastures fascinating.

On one Easter weekend I had planned to travel to Halifax to pick up Heather and make some sales calls   My car stalled and was going to require major repairs.  I was encouraged to rent a car, everything seemed closed, except the airport.  The most powerful car to date and it gave me a another level of freedom (or feeling powerful)

Another Maritime pickup my glasses broke--Heather ended up driving through rush hour Halifax, Montreal and Toronto on a learner's permit--helped her get her licence--worked out good for me--while she drove I could map out where to go and get rested  (she was already a capable driver)

I remember driving to the Maritimes and meeting people I had met at trade shows back in Ontario. Why would they do that?  Ironically they wanted to meet sales people to learn and didn't meet enough at their remote location.  I found I was appreciated a lot more in such areas.

Lately not drive so much--one delivery run for The Rider as one way to alleviate cash flow, but also to seek out new prospects and speed up advertiser response  plus also a little private shopping

At my father's funeral I was struck with my sister Rebecca's eulogy.  Amongst many other details she mentioned that my father loved visiting different places and taking different routes.  It seems that gene was inherited.  Furthermore my son Michael has taken it a step further and has been in several countries in Europe, Asia and Africa and now resides in New Zealand.  On a recent visit I was struck how at home he is driving on the left hand side of the road.

Freedom is a big topic and driving is only one factor.  Our ancestors were very limited in where they could go and how fast.   If you were rich you had less restrictions, but even they could go no further than a horse could take them.  So in one sense anyone with a car has more freedom than the richest person two hundred years ago.

What's to like?--no supervisor over your shoulder--listening to radio I learned where I could hit a CBC or NPR station almost anywhere.  I also listened to a variety of  tapes, some self improvement, bu also entertainment and then moving with the times to  CD.  Seeing interesting places (all places are interesting partly inversely to how familiar you are with them)--open up opportunities (wholesalers in Maritimes, Quebec)--interesting challenges such as when I decided I could make sales calls on francophones although my French skills were pathetic.  Some travel adventures can be read at: http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/07/travels-of-salesman-part-3-quebec.html to Quebec; in the Maritimes http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/07/travels-of-salesman-part-two-maritimes.html ands in Ontario, http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/06/travels-of-salesman-part-1-ontario.html

What's not to like?--Although access to a car got my career started I often wondered if I gave up opportunities that might have paid more, but did not have the advantages of driving. Driving can be expensive, unless you have a company car or a generous expense account.   For a brief time I did have a company car and have had reasonable expenses most of the time supplemented by Revenue Canada deductions.  Garage time at one stage was disruptive and time consuming.  I normally spent 10+ hours away from home or between motels, often longer.  I considered driving a perk of the job--there always seemed to be somebody willing to let me drive at my expense while they paid a commission.

Despite the current situation it seems likely the price of gas and other operating costs are going to increase to the point where fewer traveling sales jobs can be justified.  Email and the internet have given many a more practical alternative.  The future is probably more mass transit, more electronic communication, maybe more air travel for vacations.  Climate change was not a concern for most of my career and I feel a bit guilty that I was able to take advantage of the lesser awareness.

Photo story:  The Bridge to Ile D'Orleans.  I had overshot a sales call which resulted in my first view of Ile d'Orleans which in turn led to two enjoyable vacations illustrating to me the freedom of driving.

ABSOLUTE VALUE

Marketing people are always trying to figure out what we consumers are thinking so they can develop products and services that they can steer us to profitably.  Until recently they have been developing strategies based on the fact that buyers have had limited information and choices.  What happens when regular buyers have easy access to much more information?  Is the decision process different?

Many studies of consumer behavior have been made under controlled conditions so that the critical factors can be isolated.  But consumers don't live in a laboratory, and in the real world have easy access to more useful information than ever.

One of the biggest assumptions in marketing is that brand is king.   Branding is the mark of quality, assuring many that they can now determine value.  It can take a long time and a lot of money to develop a brand, but what happens when a consumer has easy access to information on alternatives?  Is branding just a short cut to evaluate quality or maybe just one of a few tools available.

The authors, Itamar Simonson and Emanuel Rosen develop the concept of relative and absolute information.  Relative information is more limited, sometimes consisting of a few choices in front of you or what you might have gleaned from advertisements.  Absolute information is used in the sense that there is a lot more information currently easily accessible through the inter-net.  Not every product has extensive information and not every prospect cares to investigate.

It is increasingly common for those about to buy something to check it out on the internet often with a smart phone.  Many products or services have generated dozens, even thousands of reviews.  For some it might be  overwhelming but reviews can be sorted in various ways to closely match preferences of the viewer.  As smart phones become more popular many buyers can even study reviews right in the store.

One traditional strategy is to seek out and develop early adopters of new products.  In the past most consumers have been reluctant to be among the first adopters, but it turns out that was largely because they weren't comfortable with the available information.  Nowadays they can gain information much more quickly and are more apt to accept new products that are appropriate to their preferences.

Social media is perceived as a modern marketing tool and many users see company information as just another marketing "tool" and not sufficient.  Companies can recruit honest opinions from experts or consumers who have used their product or service.  Surprisingly negative reviews can help drive sales: by creating credibility, but also one person's negative can be another person's positive.   Another strategy is to develop community interest.

One personal experience illustrates the power of social media.  Recently I was with about 16 relatives for a restaurant outing where the management was unable to get our meals out in a timely manner and were evasive.  My daughter Heather first posted a panorama photo and then later commented that we had been seated at 5 and were still waiting for service well after 6.  Her friends and others are unlikely to think of that restaurant in positive terms. and I, for one am glad we were able to warn off others.

The authors take their time to make the case, but concede that traditional marketing strategies are not all useless.  They effectively establish the trend and overcome many objections.  To survive, the role of the marketer has to adjust.  The first step is to assess how vulnerable specific products and their categories are to the new information technology.  Some may not be at the moment, but you also need to keep looking for game changers.  Also some segments of the target group might not be vulnerable, but as time goes by this is also likely to change.

There are many useful insights covering a wide view of the topic. If you need more inducement to read the book (it really is a game changer itself) check out their website: where you can also find links referred to in the text http://www.absolutevaluebook.com/

My short, but educational political adventure

This is another post that gives away my age.  When I was 20 and not eligible to vote I was swept up with Trudeaumania.  Pierre Trudeau had just been declared party leader and called a national election for the summer of 1968.  I was in university and my room mate amongst others was very excited.

Looking back after many years I would reassess one factor. Trudeau was noted as always having a quick answer.  Robert Stanfield, the Conservative candidate was noted for not having the quick answer, but would take some time before responding.  I now think a quick response is a poor way to evaluate anyone.  However I still thought Trudeau was the deeper thinker.

I was between semesters without a job and got my parents to accept that I would look for a job in Oshawa (we lived in Haliburton about a two hour drive away) and live with my Grandmother Coakwell.  Really I just wanted to be with my friends.  I volunteered for the local Liberal association and at first they had me stuffing envelopes.  Then they paired me up with another fellow and we put up lawn signs.

There were three main candidates.  Michael Starr was the incumbent Conservative who had been the first Ukrainian cabinet minister and was well regarded.  Our Liberal candidate was Des Newman who was the mayor of Whitby and president of the Canadian Mayor Association.  The third candidate was Ed Broadbent for the NDP who had a lot of union support.

After a week or so of this my father decided if I didn't have a paying job I should come home.  I explained this to the organizers and shortly they offered to pay me.  Well this was welcome news; making some money and enjoying myself.  I put in several hours each day helping with signs and at night often attended rallies.

My work partner was about two or three years older than me and we had a lot of interesting conversations.  One project he came up with was to use campaign signs on a hillside between Oshawa and Whitby that drew a lot of traffic.  We spelled out TRUDEAU in big letters.  Apparently it made television news.  My partner then realized that voters in our riding were not going to vote for Trudeau so we re-configured the signs to spell out NEWMAN.

I often talked about the election to my Grandmother as well as her sister, my Aunt Flo.  They had probably voted Conservative all their lives and greatly admired Michael Starr.  At one point she said she had never heard of Desmond Newman.  I had been reading a newspaper from Edmonton and had noticed one of their campaign ads that said  "You should know this man."  That hit a nerve.  Whitby was only a small fraction of the Oshawa population, so naturally people in Oshawa felt little awareness or loyalty to the Whitby mayor.  I went to the campaign manager, Ted Curl who used to host a tv show I had watched aimed at teenagers.  He dismissed my idea at first, but later came to use the idea which probably helped close the gap in awareness.

I thought as an intelligent university student I could reason with voters, but there was a limit to that.  This was the beginning of my disillusionment with voters.  Very seldom could one engage in serious discussion of the issues.  Some women thought Ed Broadbent was handsome, others voted along ethnic lines with Michael Starr getting the Ukrainian vote, and some elderly women at a picnic said they were disgusted that Trudeau had invited a young woman to swim with him in a hotel pool.  At another time the local Liberals decided to hold a three riding rally at the Oshawa Shopping Centre with Trudeau making a campaign speech.  This was so popular that it created traffic problems which was given as another reason for rejecting Trudeau.

My work partner was experienced with campaigns and explained to me the effects of signs.  In one sense it was just like the soap ad effect.  When people see a lot of signs they want to hop on the bandwagon of the winner and their thinking is swayed.  On the actual voting day it is beneficial for voters to see the signs as they work their way to the ballot box.  We not only put signs up by request, but looked for public spots to boost our candidate's awareness.  Many people feel obligated to vote, but don't have the time or interest to study the issues.

The local paper had a column where readers could send in questions for the candidates who would all answer the same question.  The answers almost always fell along party lines and were careful not to offend anyone.  On one occasion our campaign manager got upset at the amount of time Des Newman took to answer a question of an elderly lady who complained she didn't have enough income to live on.  Des did a lot of research and found that there were several programs in existence to help extend her income.  The problem was that the research time cut into the hand shaking time that wins a few votes each run through.

February 24, 2022:  Responding to a current Ontario Liberal promise to institute ranked balloting I recall a conversation between the Liberal campaign manager with a close friend.  The close friend said he couldn't bring himself to vote Liberal and the campaign manager said in that case to avoid NDP taking over he should vote Conservative.  Strategic voting.  In fact the Liberals are the second choice of both Conservatives and NDP.  Very self serving, but not really giving people more choice as it would still not represent the views of all the voters.

We don't really have endless election campaigns in Canada and election day arrived.  I was not eligible to vote and asked what I could do to help.  I was told about scrutineering, for the first time.  I asked to be taken to a place where the Liberals were out numbered and they found one in what might be described as a union neighborhood.  The rules have changed, but as I recall we were able to see the names checked off for those who voted.  The vote is anonymous which afterwards I reflected on--you really couldn't tell who voted for who, except when a driver obviously affiliated with a particular party brought in some voters.  At least you thought you knew the connection. Tallying up the votes was a lengthy process, with several minor problems resolved with a consensus of opinions involving the polling staff and all of us scrutineers.

It was a momentous election.  Pierre Trudeau won a majority government with breakthroughs all over the country.  I was disappointed that Des Newman who I had come to admire personally finished third.  I didn't appreciate the significance for several years.  Ed Broadbent became the first NDP candidate to win the riding, but beat Michael Starr by only 15 votes (there was a recount).  My impact was not all that great, but I did get both my grandmother and aunt to switch their vote away from the Conservatives to the Liberals.  I would like to think all the sign work, my ad idea and the few serious discussions I had helped make the difference between the top two candidates.  Ed Broadbent went on to become the head of the Canadian federal NDP party and had a lot of illustrious accomplishments many of which I admired.  Des Newman finished about 310 votes further behind making this the closest 3 way race in Canada.  He made a gracious speech.

I attended the party afterwards and it was a downer.  I didn't feel as bad as some; after all Trudeau did get in and I didn't live in this riding. The next day I helped take down the signs.

Back at university I received a letter inviting me to join the youth wing of the Liberals and to some event.  My decision was not to get involved in a political party.  Although I was pleased the Liberals were in power I did not want to tie myself to a long list of policies that I wouldn't necessarily agree with.  My thinking was shaped by my sociology and philosophy professors at the University of Guelph and I don't regret that at all.

That was over 45 years ago and I look back at it as an educational experience.  I have retained an interest in politics, but have tried to separate myself from the mechanical aspects of getting elected to actual government policies.  Politics is a dirty business--getting elected and re-elected.

I now live in a riding that includes Hamilton downtown.  From my municipal ward we have sent the current head of the Ontario NDP party, Andrea Horvath to Queen's Park and the current mayor of Hamilton, Bob Bratina.  My daughter, Heather years ago persuaded us to support one councilor candidate with a lawn sign and we quite willingly voted for her.  On another municipal election we supported the winning mayoral candidate with another sign.  Since then we have decided not to display political signs.

I have volunteered as a poll clerk for a few elections.  The money was significant and I can appreciate the job is important for our country.  I was very impressed at how the Ontario government was trying to make it easier to vote.  They advised us volunteers how to deal with language problems, physical handicaps and even mental/emotional handicaps.  Quite a contrast to the attempts of Republican governments to restrict voting.  When voting is restricted it diminishes the credibility of the government.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/06/a-few-thoughts-on-recent-ontario.html

Lately my preference is for the Green Party after some discussions with my son Michael.  One of their problems is that under our current system they don't have much opportunity to make an impact.  I remember at one time the NDP was considered the conscience of our Parliament and from that platform accomplished lots of good things including our current health care system.  The federal Liberals had a system where each party would get $2.50 per vote after an election.  It wasn't much, but it gave the less powerful (really all) parties some independence.  The Conservatives took that away which is one of their many decisions I deplore.

My biggest concern is over the election process.  The biggest underlying problem is the uneducated voter.  None of us can understand the complexities of issues that affect our lives and so we end up trusting a big part of our lives to people we really don't know.  The education starts in school and should be strictly factual as far as how our government works.  Logic is often abused in campaigns so needs to be understood better.  Science and history are also important.  Beyond school I think the media has a responsibility which has been subverted.   The press (all media) needs to be free, but it also needs to be factual or at least transparent.

Another part of my concern is the first past the post system.  I attended one general meeting when Ontario was considering offering a proportional system to be voted upon.  One fellow got up and said that we only wanted to change the system because "our guy" didn't get in.  For myself he is at least partly right, but more than that the whole process is tainted.  Many people wrestle with their vote and end up voting for their second choice, because they fear a third party might win.  Others are so discouraged by their prospects they don't bother.  And of course many don't bother to study the issues.

Proportional voting has a few variations, but the basic idea is that every vote counts.  Under the present system there are only a very few votes that actually count--the one that puts one candidate into the leader spot.  The others might have psychological impact.  If you voted for the winner and they won by more than one vote, your vote wasn't needed.  If you voted for the loser, well you lost.  It is a  complicated issue, but basically everyone should realize their vote does make a difference and take the time to study the issues.  When the voter has real power the politicians will listen more carefully.  Dalton McGuinty mocked the results of the proportional option, during one election while he personally got something less than 40% of actual votes (and even less of eligible voters).  It only shows how ignorance can be manipulated.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/12/your-guy-didnt-get-in.html

Over the years I have voted for at least three different parties at the provincial and federal elections and have admired politicians from different parties.  I follow American and international politics with great interest.  I accept that nobody gets into power without a lot of effort and not all that effort is completely ideal. 

OVERBOOKED and thoughts on tourism

In a world where robots and low income workers are sucking up jobs, tourism is a growth industry.  It creates jobs, cash flow and meaning to a lot of people.  But and a big BUT, author Elizabeth Becker points out there are some serious concerns.

A lot of what I read was about exploitation of workers and environmental and cultural problems.  In the United States cruise business, the owners have exempted themselves from American laws so they can hire foreign workers at greatly reduced wages.  Some tourist destinations are so popular that the masses of people cause serious environmental damage as well as diluting their cultural uniqueness.  Tourists at Angkor Wat area have lowered the water levels so much that foundations have weakened.

Many nations have caught onto the idea that attracting tourists is a great way to provide jobs and tax revenues as well as helping foreigners to appreciate their country better.  Voluntary transfers of money from rich nations to poor nations does tend towards greater international equality. Unfortunately too much of a good thing creates stress.

To the author the two most ideal examples were France and Costa Rica.

France, is the number one international tourist destination.  Way back in 1936 France was the first nation to have a two week paid vacation.  More than most nations France invests money into culture and a lot of tourists have come to respect their homage to artists and writers.  They have developed a reputation for one of the best cuisines and vinicultures in the world and it is supported by boosting agriculture which also makes the countryside more pleasant for rail and motor rides.  Tourism support is important even in tough economic times.

Costa Rica is a small country without an army.  They have taken an approach that emphasizes nature. Many of their rivals try to cram as many people into a cruise ship or tour bus hiring cheap foreign labour.  Costa Rica uses its natural parks and encourages small tourist groups with local trained guides and staff.  Eco-tourism is important to other countries such as in Africa.

United States was a major tourist destination, but is now trying to catch up.  The Republicans under Newt Gingrich used their power in the 1990's to downgrade tourism as they felt it was not proper for the government to involve itself.  It had been planned to emphasize the tourism opportunity offered by the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but even though Newt Gingrich represented Georgia he and others forced budgets to be reduced as much as possible at this time.  Not long into the George W Bush tenure, 9-11 shifted everything and the biggest concern became security with tens of thousands of security staff being inserted into the tourist process.  Barrack Obama was criticized for flying to Europe to support an Olympic bid for his home town of Chicago.  He and many others were shocked that Chicago was the first city to be eliminated from the finals.   An investigation uncovered that foreigners were very reluctant to visit the United States as there was too much awareness of humiliating treatment of incoming tourists at entry points.  America has a lot to offer and the situation is slowly turning around as the Democrats feel the government has a strong role to play.

A basic problem is cramming too many people into limited facilities.  One of advantage is that such efforts make it more affordable, but too many people bundled together make the travel experience more superficial and harmful.  Placing restrictions on vacation enjoyment for environmental reasons is seen by some as elitist.  A partial solution might be education--both for those guiding us and for tourists. Elizabeth Becker likes the idea of locally more thoroughly trained guides who can give more value and deserve more compensation.  We have all heard of the ugly American and the author now says the problem is more exemplified as the ugly Chinese tourist.  Traveling is an opportunity that we can all appreciate better when we understand cultural differences should be celebrated not diminished.

One fact that surprised me was that travel agents are making a bit of a comeback.  Most people search the inter net and are able to make all sorts of arrangements that seem to save money.  Like anything else important, an expert travel agent can help make your travel time more enjoyable and respect financial restraints.  Specialization is one key strategy for agents.

Traveling has played a strong role in my understanding of the world and my own country.  When my best friend, Bob Stone moved to Vancouver I got a chance to see a distant part of Canada I had vague ideas about.  Many things were enjoyable, but one thing that struck me was the ferry boats.  I didn't realize how big they were or how critical for linking the largest city with the provincial capital. When my son, Michael decided to go to school in Victoria that widened my understanding of Vancouver Island when I ventured outside Victoria and my friend Bob joined my wife and I to enjoy Tofino and Coombs.   What I remember of Coombs was goats eating grass on top of a store.

While visiting Victoria I learned that advertisements don't always guide you to the best experience.  I learned about my favorite restaurant, Pagliacci from a guide book with no ads and later was directed to another favorite one, Ferris Oyster Bar by locals we encountered on a walk.  My daughter Heather decided to go to school on the other coast, in Halifax.  Discovered another great city and learned other great places like Cape Breton and Yarmouth.  On a sales trip I discovered Ile d'Orleans just off Quebec City with a very lovely culture.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/07/travels-of-salesman-part-3-quebec.html

I have also visited United States and pretty much always enjoyed myself including New York City, Florida and Las Vegas.  I was surprised to read in Elizabeth Becker's book that most of the tourist workers in Las Vegas are unionized proving you can be fair to workers and make money.

Living most of my life near the Great Lakes (Oshawa, Hamilton) I actually lived in Haliburton, a popular cottage area and learned to appreciate its good points.  Later I spent short time in Port Dover, Port Stanley and Wasaga Beach, enjoying them.  Local vacations are usually easier on your budget and time table, but they offer relaxation and learning opportunities too.

On an international scale I have visited Cuba four times, all at the same resort and each time expanding a little bit beyond to include Havana (fascinating in many ways), Veradero downtown, a cave and sailing for the first time.   Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/03/my-silver-wrist-band-visit-to-cuba.html

 

 More recently went to New Zealand which had me out of my time zone and hemisphere more completely than ever.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/07/new-zealand-part-1.html

Money is the big limitation for traveling, but it is one of those opportunities that make one want to extend their resources.  My son, Michael has been to many countries in Europe, Asia and Africa and has a much better idea of how other people think, what they live with and has seen many beautiful things.

Many of these vacations were important enough to my psyche I have written blog posts on them.

A few summary thoughts.  Tourism is a wonderful thing.  You don't have to go far to to learn something new or to enjoy yourself.  Ideally you are looking for two way conversations with people who have a different perspective or view something beautiful.  Tourism is a logical way to spread money, giving many people a meaningful job. Tourism cannot be easily outsourced, but too much can be duplicated as when shopping malls and theme parks seem too much alike.

2013 A YEAR TO REMEMBER

For a change I did not wait for the new year to begin sorting out what I remember of the previous year.  You can skim through it, even just look at the photos or you can link up to get more details of whatever strikes your fancy.  As usual there is a mix of good and bad.  I will not dwell too much on the bad.  While you read through the obituaries you can look to the left for my favorite highlight.  Starting off with our losses might seem depressing, but we can then better appreciate how much we can be grateful for.

It is sad to think of the people who affected our lives who died.  We lost a number of people important to us.  I would like to remember how they added to our lives.

Ellen "Nel" Drake, mother to good friends Barb and Josie.  I am reminded of her when washing dishes as she knitted some unique dish cloths, but she left much more than that.  At a memorial ceremony where relatives came up from South Carolina I learned a few more things.

Audrey Linke, mother of good friend Debbie and hostess to a few events I remember

Ron Graham, married to Judy Graham (maid of honour at our wedding) and father to two terrific women.

Steve Skerrett, married to Debbie, both of whom were friends since elementary grades of Sharon

                                                   

Eugene Fedak, a retired judge married to Grace, the sister of my late father in law, Boris Olynyk. He was host to a number of Ukrainian Christmases and family functions I enjoyed.  Also very importantly was father to Mark and Catherine.  One other thing I remember is that with some of his brothers in law he was a versatile musician.

Peter Worthington at one time was a hero of mine.  As a newspaper carrier for the Toronto Telegram I often read headline stories following him around the world.    http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/05/peter-worthington-was-boyhood-idol-of.html

Film critic,  Roger Ebert was someone I read every week and valued his judgments.  You can read more at  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/04/a-few-thoughts-on-roger-ebert.html

 

Nelson Mandela, definitely one of the greatest leaders of the past century and a model for all of us.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/12/nelson-mandela.html

 

If you have never had a pet you might not appreciate what a blow it can be to lose one.  You develop an intimate relationship that outsiders can never really appreciate.  Maggie gave us joy every day.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/12/maggie.html

These are all losses, but also occasions to reflect on what is most important in life and what some people and animals have given us.  It is not possible to do full justice to every person or event and my failings can be at least partially attributed to my poor memory.

Early in the year I discovered the Human Library.  We go to the library to learn things and to be entertained, but really most of it is second hand.  With the Human Library you get a first hand experience meeting with real people who are illuminating role models.  The Hamilton Public Library was one of the participants.  I met a famous author (a Canada Reads winner) and a woman who helped found a horse rehabilitation association.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/01/the-human-library-and-human-carnivore.html

Cuba had provided us with an enjoyable holiday experiences three times previous and although we are always looking for new experiences we went for a 4th time.   We were surprised to be given silver wristbands in recognition of our loyalty.  There are always new experiences.  I discovered some caves with a guided tour.  Hop on buses made going into town a lot easier.  I went sailing for the first time.  Visited Josone Park for the second time, but discovered a few new features.  We had a small problem and ended up with a credit that led to our 2nd vacation http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/03/my-silver-wrist-band-visit-to-cuba.html would recommend Cuba to anyone and although the beaches are great, get out of the resorts to see the real Cuba--Havana is a very positive experience.

Can-Am in new location Orangeville.  They actually underestimated the crowds and had problems the first day providing food and other services.  Most visitors were impressed with the seminars, shows and even us exhibitors.  Met some of my advertisers and a few new prospects.

In March enjoyed Burlington Eagles Gala where they show their appreciation for volunteers and sponsors.  I am pleased to have played a small role in another of their record setting (273,000 pounds) food drive, they call the Gift of Giving Back.

Through my daughter I was aware of Moxie Fruvous and later as a regular CBC listener I was aware of Jian Ghomeshi.   The Hamilton Public Library was able invite Jian for a book promotion.   A wonderful nite out for my wife and me.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/04/a-jian-ghomeshi-encounter.htmlone of my most popular blog posts.

Doors Open Hamilton has become an annual tradition.  This year just walked, but saw a lot of buildings with interesting histories.

David, a nephew married Krista who we had met a few years prior.   The bride and her mother are both wedding planners, so you expect a good time and it was delivered--met a few relatives not seen for awhile.   David surprised Krista with a song--he doesn't have a musical background, but did have a friend who agreed to help him do a particular song.  I work only a few doors away so got to hear the secret rehearsals.  From crude beginnings I could hear it shape up better and better all the time.  His ushers took part in the  presentation.

 

New Zealand was not a place I ever fantasized about, but my son Michael had a fascination with it and when between teaching jobs really took a chance and without knowing anyone he traveled there and applied for a job.  I can now appreciate that he made a very good choice.  For Sharon and I it was literally a trip of a lifetime, not just because of what we saw, but because of the family nature of it.  It has been many years since we dragged Michael and his sister Heather on our idea of a vacation, but this time we shared in Michael's idea.  Not that we didn't have a lot of freedom to pursue our own fancies, but that once he understood our interests he helped direct us and very often took us.  We met Laura his girl friend and she was very supportive of our vacation, driving us on her own to several locations while Michael worked.  On our second week, the four of us took a 1600 kilometer trip around the North Island that has left a lot of memories.

I have written a lot about many aspects of the trip and would like to point to my blogs for those who like reading about far away places and how they connect to what they are familiar with.  Our time in Auckland at http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/07/new-zealand-part-1.html  our 1600 kilometer trip around the North Island http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/07/new-zealand-part-2.html and for my most popular blog of the year, with a summary and comparisons with Canada http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/07/new-zealand-odds-ends.html

Peter married my mother in law, Florence some 15 years ago and has really added something to the family.  We celebrated his 90th birthday with friends and relatives.  More about Peter:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/06/peter-is-still-kicking-at-90.html

I was familiar with the Fringe Festival, but had never attended one. This year Heather got involved with her friend Stephanie Lampman.  For me a weird topic -Zombies.  When we handed in our tickets we bought a plastic rain coat.  We had been warned that blood would be spurting into the audience.  The play actually won an award.  --after this I became aware I had met with Heather's friend, Stephanie years ago at a networking meeting.

The Art Crawl held the second Friday of each month is an event I managed to attend most months.  It is expanding in exhibitors, music and restaurants.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/08/james-st-north-art-crawl-is-progressing.html

The Supercrawl has been getting better and better every year.  Within easy walking distance.  --each year progresses in one way or another  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/09/hamiltons-fifth-supercrawl.html

I spend a lot of time reading.  This year I shifted to a greater emphasis on fiction books  I love finding a book that really engages me.  That is a very personal process, but you might enjoy going over my list of favorites to explore some possibilities.  Many of my choices came from investigating various lists and listening to suggestions by others. http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/12/books-that-impacted-me-in-2013.html

Movies are condensed stories with special effects.  We are all a little different in what we enjoy, but often are limited by what we are aware of.  Again I have benefited from the ideas of others and offer my experience for you to consider for your own pursuit of enjoyment.  From over 246 movies here is my year end review, http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/12/movies-worth-sharing-from-2013.html

As I get older I appreciate the arts more and consider food as art.  Some satisfying and memoroable restaurant visits were to Sokratis, 2 picks by Heather,  Rapscallion and Memphis Fire BBQ, Wild Orchid, Acclamation, Jack and Lois, Culantro Peruvian Cookery, Ben Thanh.   In New Zealand Beijing Duck and Delicious in Auckland, Thai Restaurant in Rotorua, Kristi's Cafe in Whanganui, in Shannon.  In Cuba restaurants, a few of the fixed menu restaurants were noteworthy, Natura and La Galena.  A few new discoveries were Kiwi meat pies, Turkish, Maylaysian,  and lamb on our trip to New Zealand.

Christmas holidays were special as Michael came from New Zealand.  Went to a Raptor game and they won scoring over 100 points (i.e. free pizza slice).  We went to Wayne Gretzky's restaurant, one of the few restaurants where you can order perogies and curried lamb burger (both were delicious).

OKD had another good year.   The Rider made progress and appears to be getting set for the inter net future.

I finished my high school education in Haliburton, a cottage area. Heather discovered cottages as did Lexie.

I posted 70 blogs, got a few comments from all over the world.  Plan to do better this year.

All in all lots of wonderful memories.  Looking forward to 2014.

going back to 2012 with a spectacular photo at the top:
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/01/2012-in-hindsight.html