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Posted by on Dec 5, 2022 in House cleaning, Humor, humour, Retirement humor, Retirement Humour, Retirement Living, Uncategorized |

Living Retired –‘Broom Brouhaha’

Living Retired –‘Broom Brouhaha’

Living Retired — ‘Broom Brouhaha’

By Gary Chalk

This past week was typical. I misplaced my iPhone, the key fob for my Jeep, my glasses, the television remote, my wallet, even the grocery list that I swear I had in my hand two minutes ago! What was different though is this all happened on Wednesday. Before lunch.

It gets worse, way worse. I couldn’t find the broom we use to sweep the kitchen floor.

I can hear you now, “Come on Gary, how on earth can you lose a friggin’ broom?”

That is a good question. The simple answer, okay the only answer is, I don’t know.

There is the idiom ‘the new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom cleans all the corners.’ Since we misplaced our broom — and because Jan says I cook wall to wall — walking on our kitchen floor was, well, not pretty.

To make matters even worse, Jan has been complaining that I have become forgetful the past few years, so I was apprehensive to tell her I couldn’t find our broom. It is one thing to say you can’t find your iPhone, but another to have to admit to losing the broom. … Read the rest here

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Posted by on Nov 28, 2022 in Gary Chalk, Humor, humour, Retirement humor, Retirement Humour, Retirement Living |

Living Retired –‘Broom Brouhaha’

Living Retired — ‘In The Studio Audience’

Living Retired – ‘In The Studio Audience’

By Gary Chalk.

As a kid The Ed Sullivan Show was must-watch television. Every Sunday night at 8 o’clock my parents, my sister Dianne, and I were entertained by buxom Charo (the ‘Cuchi-cuchi’ lady), a stuffed mouse called Topo Gigio, and some guy in a tuxedo running like a madman across the stage spinning China plates on sticks. Now that was show business!

I enjoyed when Ed introduced people in the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra from the World Series Champion New York Yankees. Gentlemen, please stand and take a bow.”

That was the type of studio audience that impressed me; but it is different these days…

Ron Popeil the infomercial guru made a fortune with his rotisserie chicken invention. But I couldn’t get over the nitwits in the studio audience screaming “SET IT AND FORGET IT!” Every time the camera panned over to the bleachers these simpletons were rapidly clapping their hands together staring in awe at each other like the Toronto Maple Leafs had won the Stanley Cup! Instead of “GO LEAFS GO! “they chanted “SET IT AND FORGET IT! SET IT AND … Read the rest here

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Posted by on Nov 20, 2022 in Gary Chalk, Humor, humour, Needles, Retirement humor, Retirement Humour, Retirement Living, Uncategorized |

Living Retired –‘Broom Brouhaha’

Living Retired — ‘Fearing Needles Is Needless’

Living Retired — ‘Fearing Needles Is Needless’

By Gary Chalk.

I never enjoy getting needles. There I said it.

And I am not alone. Researchers at the University of Michigan cite that approximately 30% of adults say they are concerned when it comes to having needles — everything from mild anxiety to a phobia that even prevent them from seeking out medical care.

Over the past few years having had all my Covid vaccinations, Covid boosters, flu shots, and blood work for my annual physical I have endured having my share of jabs in my arm.

I did my own research and discovered a 2-step strategy to help relieve the anxiety people have when they have a needle, which may help you.

The first step is to avoid unnecessary eye contact with the person who is about to jab you in your arm. Look in the opposite direction — down at your feet, outside a window, even close your eyes. The nurse holding the needle may think you are being rude but what the heck.

The second step is to start a friendly conversation with the needle-giver. Chatting, while avoiding looking at them, can create a sense of calmness. Hopefully, … Read the rest here

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Posted by on Nov 6, 2022 in Gary Chalk, Humor, humour, Retirement humor, Retirement Humour, Retirement Living, Uncategorized |

Living Retired –‘Broom Brouhaha’

Living Retired — ‘Livestock Emission Tax Stinks’

Retired Living — ‘Livestock Emission Tax Stinks’

By Gary Chalk

I usually do not write about politics. However, a ‘too good to be true opportunity’ presented itself last week. I read a report by the Associated Press that outlined a tax being proposed in New Zealand. I concluded that this tax is nothing to sneeze at, ahh, err, fart about! Let me explain…

The tax being discussed is on New Zealand’s farmers, ahh, rather, their livestock. As part of the government’s greenhouse gas reduction plan, the elected officials are honing in on the country’s 10 million beef and dairy cattle and 26 million sheep. Collectively these 36 million animals account for — get this — close to 50% of New Zealand’s methane gas emissions. But the way I see it, the number is even higher…

The population of New Zealand is approximately 5 million people. They are fervent rugby fans. Thousands meet up in stadiums all over the country to cheer wildly for their team, and drink lots of beer. The outcome is you guessed it: farting! So the number is actually 10 million beef and dairy cattle, 26 million sheep, and 5 million drunken rugby fans. So now we … Read the rest here

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Posted by on Oct 30, 2022 in Do It Yourself home repair, fixing a toilet, Gary Chalk, Humor, humour, Retirement humor, Retirement Humour, Retirement Living |

Living Retired –‘Broom Brouhaha’

Living Retired — ‘Bum Toilet’

By Gary Chalk.

I am not a home handyman, a fixer upper kind of guy. Never have been. I don’t have many work tools — although I still have all ten of my fingers. Perhaps this is because I don’t fix things. Sort of a chicken and egg thing, or a nail and hammer thing. This is what I mean…

If a light bulb needs to be replaced, I go to my seldom-visited workshop. On my little-used workbench I have a yellow plastic Toys ‘R Us ‘On the Go’ toy toolbox. Inside, I grab the red hammer with the fat bright blue handle. I like when the batteries are working and it makes a sound every time I smack something.

So when anything in our home needs to be repaired Jan insists that I call our friend Rick. She says flat out, “Gary, it is non-negotiable. Call Rick.”

“Gary, don’t you remember our wedding vows? You said when it came to home repairs ‘Through better or worse until death do us part to call Rick.’”

Over the years Rick has bailed me out with our home fix-it issues. One time it was dire! He dropped … Read the rest here

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Posted by on Oct 30, 2022 in Gary Chalk, Humor, humour, Retirement humor, Retirement Humour, Retirement Living, Uncategorized |

Living Retired –‘Broom Brouhaha’

Living Retired –‘The Name Game’

Living Retired — ‘The Name Game’

By Gary Chalk

Whenever my iPhone rings the first thing I do is check call display to see who is calling — if the name doesn’t ring a bell, I let the call go into my voicemail. So, the other day when call display identified the caller as Patrick Leaffilter in Toronto I thought to myself I don’t know Patrick Leaffilter and thought nothing more — other than what it must be like to be stuck with the name Patrick Leaffilter!

Later that night I checked call display again. This time it provided me my answer. It turned out it wasn’t Patrick Leaffilter calling me, it was Patrick at Leaf Filter gutter protection — call display neglected to add a space between Leaf and Filter. By the time I listened to Patrick at Leaf Filters’ voicemail about fixing my leaky gutters it was water under the bridge.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been caught off guard by a person’s name. One name that stands out goes back to my radio career. Here is what happened…

I began as an announcer at a small radio station. One day the program director called all the … Read the rest here

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