Posts by mheff

Decisions Gord Lightfoot had an interesting but not unsurprising take on when it’s appropriate to “call it a day” career-wise.  I’m paraphrasing here, but the gist was, “You don’t retire in this business; you just keep going until no one wants to hear you anymore.” Another way of putting it is: ”I can’t quit; I’m…

Hello everyone. What can I say? It’s the end of an era? That a huge cultural icon has passed away? That a brilliant songwriter who touched the hearts of millions is with us no more? These tributes and accolades echo through the media, are discussed at the water coolers, passed on in the busses and…

I haven’t had a good rant in a while. However, most of us can relate to my topic today, so give it a chance.First, I’ll brag a little. I’ve been working with sophisticated computer software since the early eighties. I taught myself to play the piano. I’m pretty good at solving the New York Times…

Early in 2004, a few months after my fiftieth birthday (November 2003), I was going through some middle-age angst, and I decided to find a band to play with on weekends. For thirty or more years, I’d worked with at least a dozen “wanna be a star” groups and artists between tours with Gord. They…

Hey everyone, I wish you all the best in 2023.  Every New Year’s Eve I’m sure most of us think about how the next year could be better. That’s what resolutions are all about. For me, the bar isn’t very high. Simply not getting Covid twice would put ’23 way ahead of ’22.  I shouldn’t…

It’s Christmas Hi everyone.  I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating. This is my favourite time of the year. I enjoy the music, the lights, and the decorations, I even like the sappy sentimentalism.  I’m not immune to the stress that goes with it, just so you don’t think my development stopped at age…

An interesting week Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. The three most significant cities of my life and career. I could do a lengthy post on any one of them. We played all three of them in four days last week.The one in Toronto was at the Canadian National Exhibition, or the EX, as it’s commonly known,…

Hey everyone! If you’ve been following my blog, you know I have a wonderful girlfriend. Her name is Jeanette Lynes. I call her Genie. Why I call her Genie is a “gag me with a spoon” story, so I’ll spare you.  You might also be aware that as well as being a university professor, she…

Is It Just Me 0r….? I have two nieces that I think the world of, Francie and Cassie. At the risk of sounding like one of those “funny” uncles, they are both very attractive, articulate and personable. That’s where the similarities end.   While Francie wears a pleasant air of diffident sincerity, Cassie presents an…