A mild case of Halloweenitis

That's me with my brother Sean when we were kids. Our father carved this pumpkin.
He's gotten more creative with his pumpkin carving these days.

There are people in this world with what I call Halloweenitis. Symptoms include decorating their 'haunted' houses, dressing up in costumes and scaring little children when they come trick or treating.

I don't suffer from complete Halloweenitis but I do exhibit some its symptoms. Don't ask me why but I get uncontrollable urges at this time of year to carve. I've never come across a pumpkin I didn't want to transform into a jack o' lantern.

To curb these urges I've hosted pumpkin carving parties for the kids. This year we're having our party on Oct. 30. I've got the garage prepped and 25 pumpkins ready to go.

My parents have wondered aloud how I could have come to enjoy pumpkin carving so much given the limited exposure I had to it growing up. My brother Sean and I would help Mom and Dad out but the bulk of the carving was left to our parents. I guess a 'seed' was planted back then and it's grown into a full fledged tradition now that I've grown up and have kids of my own.

Rebekah, Tavish and Bronwyn haven't known Halloween without the carving party. It's looked forward to by everyone and I hope it continues for a long, long time to come. I realize one day my kids will leave home and I'll lose my excuse to host a 'kids' pumpkin carving party. Only then will I have to admit I've been suffering from symptoms of  Halloweenitis for decades.

Like most viruses that travel through the house though I'm hoping one, if not all three kids catch it. Misery likes company and maybe one day the party will  continue at one of their homes. Or 'grandpa' will continue the tradition giving us all an excuse to get together to carve up a dozen or so jack o' lanterns. I can think of no better tradition to carry on.

Big chicken at Bowmanville's Fright Night

Halloween, you either love it or hate it. I know people who hate it. They're not very fun. Last night I met a lot of fun people who share my affection for spooky stuff at the Firehouse Youth Centre's fourth annual Fright Night in Bowmanville.

Paul Dobbs and a crew of volunteers put together this much anticipated event that had people lined right up Church Street in the rain. I got there with my kids Rebekah and Tavish and my daughter's friend Hannah and we waited for two hours to get in. But the wait was worth it.

We were told that at any time we could yell the safe word "chicken" and all the creatures would cease their scary antics. I thought my son would be the first one to scream and shout the safe word when we started our tour of the two floors of the Firehouse Youth Centre. It had been transformed into 13 scary Halloween scenes including Screecher, Hannibal's Lecture, The Mummy, and That's Gross to name a few.

This creature of the night came
out to frighten everyone in line.
Rebekah thought he looked 'chik'.
 Her words, not mine.

But I was the one who uttered the first panicked 'ahhhhhh' as a severed hand reached out and grabbed my leg in the dark. That said, I remained tough and refused to shout "chicken". It wasn't easy though!

Each tour was supposed to take 18 minutes but when you're constantly being chased through the dark by creatures that should be dead and buried you tend to hustle. I'm sure we we made it through Fright Night in under 18 minutes.

The event was a lot of fun and I'm sure it was an immense amount of work by all the volunteers who put it together. The fact it was a fundraiser for the United Way was the least frightening part of the whole evening.

With a week to go before Halloween, Fright Night was a good primer for the main event. I can't wait for next Sunday.

Simple suggestions for leading a happy life

Every day each of us wakes up, gets dressed and we make our ways in this great big wonderful world. If you're like me it's go, go, go until your head hits the pillow at bedtime. Then we do it all over again the next day.

Well today was different for me and my wife. Today we slowed down to pause and reflect with a great man, the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama was in Toronto at the Rogers Centre speaking about Human Approaches to World Peace. I really had no idea what to expect from this discussion. But there was something special about being in the presence of the Dalai Lama, a cute, unassuming Tibetan monk with a contagious giggle.

"We all want to live a happy life," he said.

Agreed.

Then he told the 15,000 people assembled how to achieve happy lives. The formula's simple -- compassion for other human beings, truth and dialogue. There's no problem or conflict in this world that could not be overcome if the parties involved just sat down together and talked it out, he said.

He wasn't saying anything profound or what we didn't already know. But sometimes egos, stress and agendas cloud our vision. This could happen on the world stage and also in all of our daily lives.

I sat there in awe as the Dalai Lama spoke. When he was finished he answered questions from people who had submitted them online. One question was whether a future reincarnated Dalai Lama could be female. He said the world would be a better place if more women aspired to leadership roles because one, they are generally more compassionate than men and two, they're more attractive.

 I couldn't have agreed more.

When the Dalai Lama was done he wrapped up the discussion in his own unique way.

"There, I'm done, that's all. Goodbye."

Then he put his hands in front of his head in a prayer pose, bowed and walked off the stage to a standing ovation.

Such simple ideas for living a happy life. It's time to put them into practise.

Up close and personal with Chantal Kreviazuk

My wife Heather has always been a huge Chantal Kreviazuk fan and through her I also came to know and love her music. This shared appreciation has taken us to see her in concert many times over the years but last night we got up close and personal with Kreviazuk at the Imagine Film Festival at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Services.

Kreviazuk was the festival's special guest and she shared her family's connection with mental health, namely bipolar disorder with about 250 people in the small lecture theatre at Ontario Shores. It was a powerful, raw discussion meant to address the stigma attached to mental health issues and for me it was a real eye opener.

For years I've enjoyed Kreviazuk's music but I had no idea where the inspiration came from for her songs. She talked about her connection with bipolar disorder and how she's been able to incorporate that into the lyrics of many of her songs. It has given me a greater appreciation for the singer-songwriter. When she performed Surrounded it was like hearing the song for the first time again but enjoying it even more.

 Afterwards there was a reception for the guests assembled and Kreviazuk came out and spoke to us. I've seen her on stage, I've seen her on TV but seeing her standing right in front of me was a first. She was completely relaxed and at ease with everyone. To her this must have been just another event like so many before where she's been the special guest but for those assembled it was a chance to meet a Canadian celebrity. Kreviazuk connected so well with everyone. I think it had a lot to do with the common interest we all shared in mental health issues. Kudos to Ontario Shores for making it happen.

Like I said before, I've been a fan of her now for many years but I only knew Kreviazuk as the beautiful singer I've seen on stage with the amazing voice. I now have a completely new appreciation for her and her music.

What's on your bucket list?

My wife Heather is very cautious with her credit card. She rarely uses it without asking me the same question -- "can we afford it?"

But a few months ago Heather used the card without hesitation to buy tickets to see the Dalai Lama at the Air Canada Centre. He's going to be in Toronto on Oct. 22. Tickets purchased online she called me with the good news.

"I got us tickets to the Dalai Lama," she said.

"You got us tickets to who?" I asked.

"The Dalai Lama," she repeated excitedly. "He's on my bucket list."

Heather studied philosophy and religion in university and is probably the only person I know who has a Bible that looks like a well worn textbook. Using a highlighter on the pages of the Good Book just doesn't look right to me! She knows her religion and likewise she knows way more than I'll ever know about the Dalai Lama.

What caught me off guard though about her mention of the Dalai Lama was her bucket list reference. I had no idea seeing him speak was on Heather's list of things to do before she dies. A visit to Israel, I knew about, but not the Dalai Lama.

It got me to thinking, what's on my bucket list? To be honest, I've never really considered a bucket list but if there was one thing I'd like to see happen it would be to have one of my completed books published before I die. Right now the finished stuff is children's material. Seeing it published would be a rush. But the novel I'm working on would be the absolute topper. The trick at this point is finishing it in the limited time I have while juggling career and kids.

I'm going to give this bucket list thing more thought because most people have  more than one thing on their 'to do' list before they die. See the Leafs win a Stanley Cup? That would be nice but I have no control over whether this current four-game winning streak they're on ever turns into a playoff run.

If anyone who reads this has any bucket list suggestions I'd like to hear them. In the meantime I'm getting ready to see the Dalai. Lama next Friday. It should be interesting.

What's so big about Big Blue?

Big Blue is here or so read the pamphlet that came with my new recycling bin.

The Regional Municipality of Durham's Works Department has been dropping off these giant blue bins for the past two weeks. They're being distributed to approximately 184,000 households across Durham Region.

For those who know me it's no secret I'm a fan of recycling. My garage is full of blue boxes and a green bin, my backyard sports two composters. So when I heard residents were getting these Big Blue bins I thought the recycling program was expanding. According to the pamphlet that came with Big Blue that's not the case.

Rather than expand the program to include more items such as clam shells and take out containers, these newer, larger recycling boxes are simply to put your plastic containers and bottles into, items we currently put into 'Little Blue'. Paper and cardboard products will continue to be put into the same blue boxes they've always been put in.

So what's so big about Big Blue? As far as I can tell nothing. We're just being asked to put our bottles and plastic containers into it. Now, half the blue boxes I've purchased on my own will more than likely go unused.

Am I the only one who really doesn't need Big Blue? Maybe. By looking around my neighbourhood  enough of my neighbours already have plenty of little blue boxes to accommodate their bottles and plastics. Big Blue to most of us is just a big waste of money.

That said, I will use Big Blue. I've never met a recycling container I didn't like. I just question the necessity for it now. These containers should have been around 15 or 20 years ago when recycling programs started.

Keeping my hoops dreams alive

About a million years ago I walked out onto the basketball court, all 5-feet, 7-inches of me, and began my very own hoops dream.

For a few years the dream was alive and well because at my height I was about a foot taller than most of my friends. But I was an early bloomer, you know, the guy who shoots up in height past his friends in grade school. I felt like a giant. Then I stopped growing and by high school even the shortest kids were taller than me.

Yes, the hoops dream died an early death but I still enjoyed the game and continued to play at my old high school, Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute. ECVI beware!  Okay, Eastdale wasn't known for its powerhouse basketball teams back in the 1980s but we tried hard. And as I recall a lot of us still had hair, big 80s hair.

I wasn't a starter but third off the bench at least kept me in the game. Just being on the court, making plays and scoring the occasional basket was a rush. My coach, Dave Cutler, taught me a lot. He also yelled a lot and scared the hell out of me on occasion. But he commanded respect and knew the game.

I'm older now but I still enjoy the rush of hitting the hard court every Tuesday night at a local high school with a great group of guys. Tonight was our first night back after the summer break. It wasn't a pretty night but that's what pre-season is all about.

I still have hoops dreams but these days they're slightly different from when I was a teenager. I dream these days of being able to get out of bed the morning after basketball without being in agony!

I am the Furnace Nazi

Everyone has a season they love and for me fall is that season. It's the time of year when heat and humidity no longer dictate whether you go outside, a season where you can breathe easy, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma (something that runs in my family).



I welcome Sept. 21 with open arms and once October hits I'm one of the happiest guys around. I love this month.

Despite my affection for fall my family has a slightly different view of the season. The cooler nighttime temperatures bring with them an unhealthy urge to touch the thermostat. I do not have that urge but every other member of the McMillan clan does. To them I say, "No heat for you!"



Yes, I admit it, I am the 'Furnace Nazi'.

For those of you familiar with the television show Seinfeld, you'll remember the Soup Nazi. He made the best soup in New York but if you didn't ask for it just right he'd deny you the soup. It was a hilarious episode and it made actor Larry Thomas a household name. "No soup for you!"


Ian McMillan is the Furnace Nazi



While the Soup Nazi denies soup, the Furnace Nazi denies heat. If you're cold in my house put on a sweater and throw another blanket on your bed. I firmly believe no furnace should be turned on until November just like I do not believe Christmas merchandise should be displayed in stores until after Remembrance Day. It's just not right.

Am I the most popular person in my household right now? No. But I am who I am and who I am is the guy who pays the heating bill. And if I stop paying that bill it will certainly get a bit chillier in here than it is right now.



Strategic voting gets you nowhere

In 2006 Buzz Hargrove put his arm around federal Liberal leader Paul Martin and embraced strategic voting. In doing so he turned his back on the NDP, a party he had previously embraced and had been a card carrying member.

Why?

Hargrove felt that by embracing the Liberal party he could persuade CAW members to switch their allegiances from the NDP and in doing so stave off the Conservatives led  by Stephen Harper. We all know how that turned out. The Conservatives formed a minority government and have been in that position ever since.

Hargrove had no confidence in the NDP and in a desperate move felt strategic voting would save the day. What Hargrove didn't understand then but probably does now is that strategic voting is for losers and it's seen as weakness by most people who bother to get out and cast their ballots.

The spectre of strategic voting has again reared its ugly head in the Toronto mayoral campaign as Councillor Joe Mihevc, a traditional NDP backer, has turned his back on mayoral hopeful Joe Pantalone, also a NDPer, to back George Smitherman. He believes Smitherman is the only candidate who can defeat Rob Ford who is way ahead in the polls. Again, this is a move of desperation that will fail.

I've always believed that you should vote with your conscience for the candidate who you think will best serve your city. If I lived in Toronto I would only vote for Smitherman if I felt he was the best person for the job. There's no way I could hold my nose and vote for somebody I didn't believe in but felt had a better shot at beating the frontrunner. That's like giving up your vote.

Call me crazy but I believe in voting for someone. Back your candidate, support him/her and live with the consequences. I don't take this responsibility lightly and could never be convinced into marking my ballot in a way that would prevent someone from winning. Vote for your candidate not against another candidate.

Theoretically strategic voting sounds good but in practise it doesn't work. Those who consider it have given up and should just stay home on election day.

Political daydreaming

Twenty years ago today Bob Rae did the unthinkable -- he became Ontario's first NDP premier.

I remember watching the television that night and seeing the stunned looks on everyone's faces as the ballots were counted. The Rae government was elected with just 37 per cent of the popular vote but they won a majority of the swing ridings.

Liberal arrogance lost Premier David Peterson the election that year, not brilliant NDP strategy. He arrogantly called the election just three years into the Liberal-NDP coalition government much to the dismay of voters who didn't want an election.
Peterson didn't think he could lose the 1990 election. After all, the Conservatives had just made Mike Harris their leader and the party was nowhere near ready for an election. And the NDP had never formed government in Ontario before so who was going to vote for them? Well Peterson was right about the Conservatives but wrong about the NDP.

Fast-forward to 2010 and what do we have? Another self assured Liberal premier in Dalton McGuinty who's banking on Ontario voters being afraid to vote for Conservative leader Tim Hudak in fear of another 'Common Sense Revolution'. Andrea Howarth and the NDP, who will ever vote for them again anyway?

Ontario voters are ready for change. A recent Toronto Star-Angus Reid survey showed 76 per cent of the electorate want a new government at Queen's Park.

Granted, McGuinty has taken a beating over the summer with the HST and hydro rate increases. Any poll now would show the Liberals in a free fall. The party's numbers are bound to improve before election day in October, 2011.

The Liberals are bound to go on the offensive any day and give Conservative leader Tim Hudak a taste of his own medicine. Every day I get two or three media releases from him attacking the McGuinty Liberals. It will actually be refreshing to see McGuinty fight back because there's nothing I like more than seeing Conservatives under attack.

I expect the Liberals will attack Hudak for all his failings -- translation, they'll tie this Conservative government to the previous administrations of Harris and Ernie Eves. Could it work? I can't wait to find out.

If it does and voters go to the polls in October, 2011 who will they vote for? A Conservative party they're afraid of or a Liberal party they want to turf out? Or will they protest and mark their ballots for a party that has no hope of forming a government? Will history repeat itself 20 years later?

Howarth better be prepared for the unthinkable if that's what happens.