Tres Amigos do Europe 2011

The countdown to Tres Amigos do Europe 2011 is officially on.

The packing is underway (or in Brians case 2 months ago) - Gary Peruzinni is allready there touring London, Paris and Prague, and Brian Norrie and I depart on Sunday, September 25th to Frankfurt, Germany.

We're joining 22 others from Taiwan, Brazil, the United States, and Canada on a 9-day tour of Germany, France, Switzerland, Leitchenstein, and Austria on BMW motorcycles.

Of those 9-days seven are with the group and two days are on your own.

We're going over a few days early to get 'un-jet-lagged' (if there is such a thing) by touring through some of the legendary car museums of German built cars - including Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes.

Then we hook up with the group in Erding, Germany. Each day we are given a choice of two separate routes, each with their own attractions. We'll average about 125 to 150 miles per day and go through some of the most stunning topography known to mankind.

We're staying in 'boutique' type hotels and each morning bring down our luggage, where it will be loaded on to a truck and shipped to our next stop where it awaits us at the end of the ride.

Each day we'll start with a group breakfast, get our co-ordinates and maps, and head out through these beautiful countries.

In Germany we start on the legendary Autobahn where there is 'no recommended speed limit.'

There'll be castles to tour; churches about a 1,000 years old; historical statues and landmarks that we studied in school several years ago; great food; and interesting people at each and every stop we make.

On the two open days we're in the Black Forest in Germany, where famous cuckoo clocks are made and, of course, Black Forest Cake. As well it's Oktoberfest in Germany so the entire country will be in celebration mode.

The part I'm looking forward to the most is the Alpine riding in both Switzerland and Austria. I've watched 'every' Rick Steeves PBS special on these two areas, and I can safely say the visuals will be 'overwhelming.'

My daughter Lauren spent three weeks 'studying' in Switzerland a few years back and tells me the lake areas are simply overwhelming.

My two partners are both highly experienced riders, and each have owned several types of bikes over the years. Currently we all have Gold Wings in Arizona, and I ride a Yamaha FJR 1300 that is kept in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

It's the first time over for both Gary and Brian, and it's now my fourth visit to Europe.

Without 'over hyping' them we've been talking for about a year about this 'bucket list' trip and I'm looking forward to their impressions of almost 'everything' being different from our normal North American lifestyle on the other side of the world.

**the pin was 'designed' by Brian Norrie and will be 'exchanged' with others in the group and friends we meet on the trip! Great idea!**

The title of this blog is also our Facebook site where each of us will be feeding the site with pictures, blogs, and thoughts on the trip. Feel free to 'like' our page and join us. Also, I'm chronicling the trip for the Edmonton and Calgary Sun newspapers.

When we wrap up the motorcycle portion of the trip Brian and I head to London, England for a few more days of r + r. London, arguably, is the most dynamic city that I've ever visited in the world.

There simply is no way to describe the history, culture, people, and sites of this amazing city.

Sincere thanks to our very understanding ladies (Kathy and the two Kim's) who each said "go ahead....enjoy...it's a boys bucket list trip...we get it." (You can imagine the nice gifts they'll be getting though eh?)


And as I say to my friends "yes - I'm the luckiest guy in the world to SEE the rest of the world."

More to follow...in a few short weeks.

Memorable Moments Series - Piece #1

Many times since I 'almost' retired from radio about three years ago several pals have suggested I write a book to chronicle the 'halcyon' days of the broadcasting business.

I've thought about it often but it would be difficult as I likely couldn't use real names for threat of legal action from the 'guilty' parties nor has the statute of limitations expired from some of those little indiscretions that some may constitute as 'crimes' today.

I do have some fun times that I'd be happy to chronicle though and I can do that with snippets from time to time through this blog....like my 'worst interview ever' in the business.

In the mid 1970's England's Monty Python were huge and they were doing a world tour performing and promoting The Holy Grail when they arrived at the station that I was working at as a writer and weekend swing.

It was at CKXL Calgary which was a powerhouse Top 40 station then, owned by Moffat Broadcasting,

Who could forget "bring out your dead - the Black Knight fighting with no arms/no legs and calling his adversary a chicken - or skits like the Lumberjack song! (Most are on YouTube now)

I was lucky enough to be chosen to interview the lads and as one of their biggest fans (along with my roomie Myke Thomas) we would often 'over imbibe' on liquids and other distractions at home and listen to Monty Pythons Long Play albums over and over again until we could literally do each skit word for word.

The station was buzzing that day as Eric Idle, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin arrived and we paraded them through the building and finally got them settled in to the main production room for the interview.

I was like a kid in a candy shop excited to be interviewing these guys.

Back then the station had one giant 'boom' mic in the production room that would be situated in front of the announcer, or guest, to do his/her voice work.

With the entire troupe in the room we situated them around the table with the instruction to please put up your hand if you wished to answer that particular question that I posed.

So away I went.

As I finish my first question a hand goes up (sorry, too many years ago to remember from whom) and the mic was carefully guided over the heads of the other guys for the answer....and then in true Monty Python style I became the brunt of a great bit.

The question gets answered at the exact opposite end of the table...so I fall for it.

We move the mic over to that cast member and at the exact moment the mic is in place for him the original guy answers the question.

So we swing it back!

Nobody broke a smile...and I, like an idiot, continue on for three or four more questions as each wrong guy answered my various questions. Never once did the mic get anywhere near the guy who answered the question.

So finally I break into laughter realizing that this joke had no end, and these guys were having their way with me so I politely say "I guess I'm not going to get my interview eh guys?"

With a grin on each of their faces it was evident that weren't going to break cast for me so I said "thanks for your time" and they headed out the door leaving me high and dry, other than autographing my album for me.

I got nothing.

Zip.

Not a word from the most legendary comedy troupe in the world that we could use on the air.

So when people ask who was my best ever interview while in radio I say..."Monty Python - sort of!"

My second worse interview was with The Eagles, again in Calgary. They were so wired on 'something' we only got about 20 seconds of useable verbal.

Next blog...Radio 'pranks'!

PS: CKXL had some amazing talent back then including Donnie Burns, Robert G Lowe who later became Rob Christie, Tom Tompkins, Jim Davies, Hal Gardiner, Bill Powers, Dieter Stachow, Dr. Dan to name just a few.

Random thoughts at the end of summer '11

If you ever want to see why they call it the 'world wide web' just write a blog. Other than readers in Canada, which I expect, my number two - three - and four readership comes from the United States; Russia; Australia; and Germany. Simply amazes me. Going to have to learn a little Russian to throw in to the mix soon.

I love how each season we qualify our weather with "we had a bad winter - so we'll have a good summer" - then "we had a bad summer so we'll have a good winter." So in the bad summer/bad winter/bad summer streak we're currently enjoying in Northern Alberta so far your prediction for winter...is.....

Howard Shultz, the CEO of Starbucks was on Piers Morgan recently and stated that "US business has more than 3 TRILLION dollars sitting on the ledger right now...HIRE people!" Howard has an iconic brand and does his part to spread the wealth. It seems clear to me that if we 'ever' rebuild the middle class again that spending and stability should return to the world of economics. We live in a time where so many have 'too much' and even more have 'too little.'

And big corporations you're scaring the daylights out of the next generation. You're headed for a big surprize over the next ten years as people refuse to support you and your products simply because you report insane profits at about the same time you 'downsize' large numbers of staff out of your industries. I'm now in a 'boutique' shopping mode trying to help Ma and Pa shops evolve back to that way it used to be.

As for the aforementioned sports still doesn't get it. In watching the NFL lockout/strike or whatever it was called the Billionaires couldn't figure out how to share with the Millionaires. Not weeks after the scenario was resolved one clown player decides to "sit out" because he wants to be the highest player in his position....somewhere in the neighborhood of $14 million a year or just under a million dollars a game to carry a ball about 15 times. I'm guessing he failed math - and social studies! Don't sign him.

For my Snowbird friends it appears the US is having a change of heart. As most of you know Canadians are only allowed in to the States for 181 days a year (complicated system if you come/go throughout the year too) and US Customs were quizzing us quite heavily over the past two years. The Snowbird Association of Canada is currently in discussion to get an 'excemption' for the 55 Plus club. You will have to state that you won't do business while in the US; have to prove that you can afford your house down south; prove that your Canadian residence is the primary residence; and a few other small promises. This comes after the economic crunch of the past two years across the line. In Arizona alone there are 90,000 perminant Canucks and more than 'half a million' visitors annually. By allowing us to stay over the 181 mark 'surely' the sunshine states should know they will enjoy a large uptick of dollars back into their neighborhoods.

I'm doing a lot of work with QR codes lately, with a brilliant group of people in Vancouver at Mobio. If you ever want to see 'dynamic' applications start following the progress in Scan codes. Progressive and innovative companies are 'building' exciting new applications and the usage of these codes is breaking through 'big time' these days. Our group is working on both E-commerce and the rapidly evolving M-commerce field. The obvious billion dollar aquisitions of mobile phone companies should be enough evidence to know these companies recognize where the consumer is heading - and it's researching and buying on their 'smart phones.' It's also nice to be back into a mood of 'building' creatively instead of operating on old school advertising and commerce platforms that are in a slow decline. Check out www.getmobio.com or like them on Facebook; follow them on Twitter.

The gift of travel is my greatest pleasure in this new phase of my life. I've counted that I've been on approximately 68 airplanes since I 'almost' retired from radio 2 1/2 years ago. My next adventure is at the top of the Bucket List that my family and friends hear me talk about often - and I'm truly thrilled to be travelling to Europe with two very good friends who will be going overseas for the first time. Our Tres Amigos do Europe 2011 trip has a Facebook site, and I will be doing special columns from Europe in the Edmonton Sun while we are on the road Sept 25th to October 12th. The other side of the world is 'truly' amazing and seeing how people live in different countries around the globe is not only enjoyable but very educational in understanding the crazy world we live in.

Our City of Edmonton should be 'so proud' of the Festivals that we put on. Each and every one of them is spectacular and attracts a ton of world class talent. The organizers and 'supporters' of these should all take a bow themselves - and we should 'thank them' as much as possible personally because these festivals are the 'banner' on which we hang our tourism hat on these days. So guys "THANK YOU" for bringing all this amazing performing talent to our fair city!

Finally, as the Baby Boomers head into retirement the number one reference I'd like to pass along to them is "volunteer." I'm working on some absolutely great projects that will benefit people for several decades to come and the upside is that the people who you meet in these projects are some of the smartest, wisest, and most rounded people you can ever meet. I learn something from them every day when I'm in the planning sessions for these events and projects. It's amazing how much of the'dollar' value of work is when you sit down and count it up too. I've proud to say I've been part of projects raising more than $22 million dollars over the last couple of years alone - and our new $20 million dollar Jerry Forbes Centre (Dad!) is closing in on the 'shovel hitting the dirt' phase shortly too. Children's Hospitals; Edmonton Public School Board Foundation; Stollery; The Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree; Santa's Anonymous - all 'touch' people in a very positive way and I'm totally 'honoured' to be involved in each and every one of these fabulous projects.

Just my random thoughts.

Calling out the BAD GUYS

Page Six isn’t going to win any investigative reporting awards with my written words, however reflecting what is going on Edmonton streets certainly is a priority of mine.

As such I’m ‘really pissed off’ at the current Edmonton murder rate.

Now my brother Gerry in Calgary and I are proud to have the “Battle of Alberta” on everything from CFL and NHL to ping pong but winning the whacking rate by such a huge margin certainly isn’t pretty for me/us.

My condo in Arizona is under the jurisdiction of a gent by the name of Sherrif Joe Arpaoi – and he is known as the ‘toughest lawman in all of North America.” He’s 83 years old and has no plans to retire in the near future.

He has many claims to fame including putting the prisoners in “pink underwear.” When asked Why his answer is succinct. “Cuz they don’t steal ‘em!”

When people claim he’s racist for arresting a large Mexican population he quickly states – “I understand the concern so lets go to the actual facts. A full 85% of the criminals ‘convicted’ in Arizona are here illegally, and from the border just south of here. So I guess that makes ‘me’ a racist!”

Prisoners are often put on ‘chain gangs’ and go around the county cleaning up along the roads and highways and if you’ve ever been to Phoenix I’m sure you’ll note how incredibly clean it is. These prisoners live mostly in ‘tent city’ – which has ‘no’ air conditioning when it’s plus 100f degrees outside. I doubt if they have room service!

He gives them 'ice' to sit on during these summer heat waves.


My point is “we’re just too damn nice to our criminals here.”

When I hear the people in power in our city say it’s a ‘safe’ city and that their plan to make it even safer is to ‘ban knives’ – I cringe. Do that right after you ban speeding or texting would you?

Next, the young offender act needs some major “go to your room” time. I suggest that “IF your son or daughter does the crime that DAD or MOM does the time.”

Maybe then Pop’s and Mom’s will pay a little more attention to the gang their kids are hanging around with and when they do bed checks at midnight the intent is to see that the little punkin’s are safely at home or playing XBox where they belong instead of breaking into the neighbours home or car.


If Little Johnnie is 23 years old and driving a brand new hopped up Caddy Escalade with “Little Wayne” playing on the sound system so loud that you can hear it 3 blocks away I can pretty well guess that he didn’t make his cash delivering the Sun or working at McDonalds.


C’mon parents – if I hear one more “he’s such a good kid – he just started to hang out with the wrong crowd” I’ll throw up.

And one word for 18 year olds with 3 kids – “condom.”

As Crosby, Stills and Young wrote ‘back when music was good’ – TEACH YOUR CHILDREN!

And ‘half way houses” – close ‘em.

You're either IN the slammer or OUT - not 'half way' in or out - or 'gone.'

If you do your full time in the BIG HOUSE then you get out to go to YOUR house – not a nice comfy spot with a big screen tv, three squares, and a bunch of other ‘really nice fellows’ that you can walk away with because there’s not adequate supervision.

And to our civic leaders who say ‘don’t worry - it’s a safe city' - when there’s a gun battle happening in the parking lot while I’m chowing down on an Earl’s bigger better burger in broad daylight then I’m sorry but I just don’t buy it.

I understand we’re arming up with more Detectives but until we get harder on ALL crime in Edmonton - in Alberta - and in Canada then I think we’ll continue to see the totals gaining at this unprecidented rate.

In Florence, Arizona, just down the road there’s a shop at the end of the property where arts and crafts that are made by the inmates are sold. There’s actually some really nice stuff there. When the prisoner gets out he/she gets the profit from the sale of their stuff to have some money to live on instead of reoffending because you’re broke from being behind bars.

Plus it's a way better use of a knife to carve out a nice statue instead of your 'cell mate.'

There – I feel better. And as you read this I’m in Arizona – buying some famous pink underwear to help support Sherriff Joe!

My Old gig is open! Congrat’s to Astral Media’s Stewart Meyers who is heading back to Calgary to run CJAY - Classic Country - and Virgin Radio there after replacing me a few years back here at The Bear - Virgin - and Team 1260. They are currently hunting for a replacement.

Guest appearance

Here's a quick update on my daughters health situation and a new site she has started to "help others." She's a strong kid and I'm damn proud she continues to focus on helping people understand the magnitude of this strange and debilitating disease!

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What do rapper Missy Elliot, 41st president George H. W. Bush, famous Italian mobster Sammy Gravano & Rayanne Forbes all have in common?

They were all struck by the cruel “Graves Disease”.

Haven’t heard of it?

Neither did I until 2:07am July 19th of 2010.

My name is Rayanne Forbes & that morning was the beginning of the worst year of my life. After spending a night in the hospital with breathing difficulties, heart palpitations & giving blood; I was diagnosed with Graves Disease.  

It strikes the young, the old, the rich, the poor & the unsuspecting. You may have it and not even know it. This disease takes charge of almost every aspect of your body and because there are so many symptoms it is easily confused with other health problems.

The popular "Work It" hit-maker Missy Elliot has recently made public her battle with the Disease saying; "You live with it the rest of your life. I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad. I couldn't even use a pen."

Elliot was diagnosed with the disease in 2008 and has been receiving radiation treatment to help alleviate symptoms like dizzy spells, lumps in her throat, mood swings, hair loss, and bulging eyes.

Graves Disease is an autoimmune disease where the thyroid is overactive, producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones. Symptoms of Graves Disease can cause a dramatic neuropsychological and physical signs and symptoms.

Graves Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents, and usually presents itself during early adolescence.

It has a powerful hereditary component, affecting up to 2% of the female population, and is between five and ten times as common in females as in males. Symptoms include- but are not limited to- a rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors of your hands or fingers, anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, protruding eyes, an increase in perspiration, sensitivity to heat, weight loss & brittle hair.

Although managed through medicine, radioactive iodine treatment or surgery; once diagnosed, you have Graves Disease forever. If you think you may have this Disease ask your doctor to send you for simple blood work to rule out the possibility.

With such little information available online for newly diagnosed people like me I began blogging about the trials and tribulations I went through for other people to look to for inspiration during this seemingly endless fight.

Countless hospital visits later, 8 months off work, daily handfuls of pills & one thyroid removal surgery later I was feeling overwhelmingly alone in my experience so I recently created the "Edmonton Graves Disease Support Group on Facebook" for other sufferers to meet with each other & discuss their stories.

If you are looking for more information or would like to contribute; please do as I am always updating the page!