August 14, 2026

Today's short ride was a practical one; running a few errands around town.

This past Monday, we had our first read-through with the cast of Lawrence Station: The Flagship Erie's Final Flight. It was great to have everyone meet each other and then hear their voices bring the script to life.

Hearing a play read aloud makes all the difference in the world compared to simply reading it on the page. That's why, when developing a play, it's so important to have opportunities to hear the words spoken out loud. You discover things you simply can't hear in your head while reading.

When Lawrence Station was first staged in 2023, without music, one of the more fascinating parts of the experience was meeting people who had a direct connection to the characters and the story.

The nephew of the flight attendant travelled all the way from Austin, Texas, to see the play, combining the trip with a family vacation to Canada. Two women who are characterized in one of the full scenes in the play attended from Buffalo, New York. They had discovered that their grandfather was one of those killed in the crash after finding information in a trunk in their mother's attic. That discovery eventually led them to cousins they never knew they had.

Those are the kinds of stories that became part of the story behind the play. Real people, real connections and families whose lives were changed forever by the tragedy.

This new production adds another dimension. Fynn has composed the music and will be leading the musicians live during the performances this October, marking the 85th anniversary of the crash.

The American Airlines Flight 1 crash happened at Lawrence Station, just 20 minutes from my home. Eighty-five years later, we're bringing the story back to the community where it happened.

Learn more at www.OnStageLive.ca

PHOTO: An American Airlines DC-3 at Buffalo Airport in 1941. Used by permission.

August 13, 2026

After dropping Rebecca off at the train station in Glencoe this morning, my brother Mike and I made the 100 km drive to Monkton, ON to ride a section of the G2G (Goderich to Guelph) Trail from Monkton to Linwood. It's a 30 km ride each way, and I'd been hoping to fit in a G2G ride during this year's Great Cycle Challenge. Today turned out to be the perfect day for it.

For more than a year, Rebecca and I had been planning a two-week vacation to Ireland. Unfortunately, we were only able to complete one week when her dad entered hospice, and not long after, passed away.

During the first week of the trip, I had one of the more memorable driving experiences of my life. I was sitting in the right-hand seat, driving on the left side of the road, and shifting a stick transmission with my left hand. The back roads were narrow, with no shoulders, high grass growing right to the edge of the pavement, and speed limits of 80 to 100 km/h. This was definitely an immediate learning curve!

What amazed me was seeing cyclists riding on those same roads. I have a lot of respect for them, but it's one place I would never want to ride.

Despite the unexpected end to our trip, Ireland was beautiful. The views along the Atlantic coast were spectacular, and the small towns we explored were full of character. We're grateful for the time we had there.

Today's ride on the G2G Trail couldn't have been more different from cycling in Ireland. Wide, flat path, made for bikes. It was a great way to add another 60 km to this year's Great Cycle Challenge.

August 11, 2026

Today's ride was a one-way trip to pick up the car at the shop in Delaware.

I mentioned the collection of eight short comedy plays I'm putting together. The idea for one of them, Cease and Desist, came when I saw Toronto Blue Jays player, Dylan Cease, on TV. I saw his name on the back of his jersey and thought, “Wouldn't it be interesting if another player had the last name Desist?”

That simple thought became a play about two lawyers who have named their practice Desist and Cease, because they're not bright enough to realize they were handed the perfect names. They arrive at a prison to deliver a Cease and Desist letter to an inmate, who quickly recognizes their stupidity and uses it to turn the tables on them.

In June, the script was selected from all the entries to be one of ten plays presented at a play festival in Petaluma, California, in September. It's a little too far away for me to attend, but it's still pretty exciting to have the play selected and performed in front of an audience.

August 10, 2026

When I was on Toronto Island, the first trip I made was 30 minutes on foot to the south side of the airport. Access to the terminal side requires leaving the island and taking the tunnel or ferry back.

I worked on the Island for a couple of years as an aircraft mechanic for a small commuter airline, and the airport has changed considerably since then. The original terminal has been replaced by a new one, while the old building was salvaged and relocated to the opposite side of the field, where it remains while they decide what to do with it.

The terminal opened in 1939 and served the airport until it was replaced in 2010. A virtually identical twin, complete with the distinctive control tower on top, was also built at Malton (now Pearson) Airport. Unfortunately, that building was demolished in the 1960s.

I spent plenty of time in this terminal during my breaks, and also as a passenger. Rebecca and I used to take advantage of free flights to Newark.

It's in pretty rough shape now, so I hope they restore it soon and find a good use for it. It would be too bad to lose such an important piece of Toronto's aviation history.

August 9, 2026

On June 29, I began a one-week self-directed writing residency at the Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts on Toronto Island. I had planned to do the residency in 2025, but had to cancel because of illness, so I was thrilled to finally make it happen this year.

The isolation and surroundings were perfect for my writing style. During the week, I researched material for a longer play and wrote three short comedies that became part of Short Fuse, an eight-play collection I’ve been developing over the past year.

And, of course, I couldn’t spend a week on Toronto Island without exploring it. I rented a bike and rode to both ends of the island several times, taking in spectacular views of the Toronto skyline, the harbour and Lake Ontario. I explored the island homes, historical sites and the airport. It was a great combination of writing, cycling, exploring and getting away from the usual distractions.