As I’ve mentioned, I have friends in Ontario, mostly in and around Toronto, Canada’s largest and, if you ask me, one of its most beautiful cities. I’m spending the winter in Owen Sound, Ontario, which lies about 190 km/118 mi northwest of the city. Not dissimilar to the distance between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. [click to continue…]

Hi, my name’s Chuck, and apparently, according to conventional wisdom on both sides of the US–Canadian border, I’m stark raving bonkers.

Ordinarily I am a year-round resident of Palm Springs, California, best known for its desert oasis-like setting of swaying palm trees, plethora of world class golf courses, resorts, and warm balmy winters, all of which make this modest arid corner of paradise one of the west’s liveliest destinations for snowbirds from both the northern tier of states as well as nearly every Canadian province. [click to continue…]