It’s the season for giving, as I mentioned in an earlier post. While you’re shopping for gifts for friends and family, why not toss a few charitable donations into the mix? I’m giving a little to Grace Rwanda, an organization my wife volunteers for that funds literary programs and libraries for Rwandan youth. I also support the local hospitals, as I think everyone should. But those aren’t your only choices, of course. Here’s a quick reminder of all the places you can give for just a few dollars a month:

– food banks

– hospices

– women’s shelters

– homeless shelters and agencies

– cancer agencies and other support groups for life-changing illnesses

– school programs

I’m sure there are many, many others, but this is just to get you thinking about all those in need who could use a little help. We’ve all either been on the receiving end of such charity at one point or another — or we will be. Let’s keep that in mind during this festive orgy of capitalism.

I drive past this scene almost every day. I figured it was time I finally took a photo of it.

It’s the time of year when people suddenly get charitable. I’m not sure if it’s seasonal Stockholm Syndrome or something more genuine. I know my charitable impulses often take the form of book purchases (no, not for myself). This year I was able to combine that with helping kids, thanks to A Good Book Drive, a book-donation program in Vancouver and Brooklyn. I wrote a piece about it for The Province and then donated a copy of The Gruffalo, a book that really helped me bond with my son through reading. That grimace on his face is a Gruffalo growl….

It’s November and you know what that means! Christmas displays in the malls and holiday-themed drinks at Starbucks. Christmas trees in your neighbours’ windows. And a growing sense of panic at your annual failure to finish your Christmas shopping by July. Now you’re going to have to fight the holiday mobs! It’s like The Walking Dead out there — what were you thinking?

Or you could just order some books online. I’ve even put together a handy list for you over at Corey Redekop’s site. Merry Bookmas to all, and to all a good lit!

My head is so full of words….

It’s Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, and I have much to be thankful for this year. Baby Ronan was born on Friday and is resting well. As for his mother and me, we are not getting quite as much rest.

I used to love playing video games. Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Call of Duty, Killzone, Starcraft — I spent many a night lost in these virtual worlds. Sometimes I just wanted an action fix — hello, CoD and Killzone — while other times I wanted a mental workout akin to solving a puzzle — Starcraft for me was always about figuring out the correct approach to a problem. The tanks and zerg rushes and so forth were just pieces of the puzzle.

Sometimes I played games for social reasons — my wife would join me for sessions of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, which were the equivalent of scary movies for us. I still have memories of being creeped out by those Silent Hill games. We played Diablo together, although that was usually an exercise in frustration — she spent time in town looking for the perfect item to equip when I wanted to be out in the wastelands killing demented birds and their kin with my rusting sword.

Then World of Warcraft changed everything. Not only for me but for the entire gaming industry. And that’s what eventually drove me away from games.

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