New Job, New Perspective

Hi, friends!

First of all, I apologize for the state of my website. I have no books out there at present, so the domain is sitting there like my great uncle's deserted farmhouse, with old furniture barely being held up by rotting floorboards, and a colony of bees taking up residence.

I realize my latest surviving book, Bad Ice, now out of print, is still on the front page, but I haven't figured out how to change it. My son (who is a tech wizard) said, "Here's a program, just do this and this and this and this." Of course, all of it went way over my head. I'll figure it out if I ever get another book accepted by SOMEBODY.

In the meantime, I got a new job. You might remember that after 23 years in the newspaper industry, I found myself with a lot of free time in the last couple of years. Yes, I wrote. Yes, I queried. Yes, I networked. I powered through a brief stint in retail, but realized it wasn't for me.

Later, a friend recommended a company that supplies charity events with silent auction items. They set everything up, schmooze with the patrons, and take the money at the end. The company approached me in September, and I was in!

I get to choose how often I wish to work, and although the shifts are long and sometimes physically draining, I find it very rewarding. I've dropped a few pounds since I started, so that's good.

The best thing: I get to meet fascinating people! This past week, I was fortunate to work at the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and met such legends as Sandy Hawley (jockey), Ron Ellis (Toronto Maple Leafs legend), Chris Schultz (football), Tony Fernandez (Blue Jays World Series Champion), and the family of Frank Selke Sr. and Jr. (part of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty).

Johnny Bower had a rest at our cashier table.
He had photos all ready to sign in his pocket.
Always be prepared!

Me and Sandy Hawley. We are the same height.
I told him I had a crush on him when I was twelve.
Some guy is giving us the side eye, or photobombing us. I can't tell which.

There were others whom I admired from a distance, but I remained professional and didn't bug them.

Maybe this new gig will give me inspiration to keep writing. I hope so.