The Essential Message Blog

The Joy of Cooking

For those of us in Canada, Thanksgiving weekend is just around the corner, and rather than try to suck every last remaining minute of the lingering summer, I'm already relishing the delight of planning the autumnal menu that I will be preparing this year.

Along with my sister's boyfriend who, like me, takes advantage of any opportunity to cook, I'm taking on the challenge of preparing the feast this year - turkey and all.

(My husband and sister will no doubt be enlisted as sous-chefs now and then, and of course, if anything goes wrong, there's always Mom.)

Big Kids in Business Suits

During our workshop last week, I handed out coloured markers to the participants for a specific exercise. Rather than just doling out the markers, I offered the package to each guest and let them pick their own colours.

Secretly, I delighted in the fact that most participants made their choice with childlike gravity - carefully weighing their choices and picking the colour they liked the best.

In some cases, they simply couldn't limit themselves to just one and selected two.

What Have You Done Today To Make You Feel Proud?

It's been almost a week since the Gay Pride parade in Toronto, and after a whole week of celebrations and one big, beautiful parade, I'm still seeing rainbows.

For me, Pride not only represents the importance of LGBT rights, but the importance freedom and acceptance for every one of us, in all our unique and eccentric glory.

On the Road...or Rollercoaster

Travel is like a ride at an amusement park. The wait is long. There are usually crowds. If you're like me, your feelings are a mix of anticipation, apprehension, enthusiasm, and anxiety. Occasionally, on more daring, more rickety rides, there is also a dash of "what the hell am I doing?"

Then the ride takes off and you're half loving it, half feeling sick to your stomach. I won't even bother with the obvious highs and lows metaphor.

And then suddenly, the ride is over. And the moment you stop feeling queasy, one inevitable question arises:

"Can we go again?"

Go Crazy for the Holidays!

Well, loyal readers, the next time you'll hear from me will be 2007.

What changes will come with the new year? I'm hoping in the next two weeks, they'll reverse global warming, eliminate all war and poverty, and finally get us those monkey-butlers we've been waiting for, for so long!

(Hey, what are the holidays for, if not for a few egg-nog induced fantasies!)

Seriously, enjoy a safe and happy holiday with your friends and family!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Essential Message team!

Eight Crazy Nights

Happy Hanukkah from The Essential Message Team!

May the next eight days of burning candles, fried potatoes and chocolate gelt -- and of course, quality time with family and friends -- be all the inspiration you need for a joyous and prosperous new year!

Four Hot Trends for 2006

Some thoughts I had the other night about hot trends for this year...Geocaching, Relationship Marketing Breakup, Post-Modernism in Free Fall, and 'Stuff' Rises to the Top.

The Management Effect and Celebrity Strangeness

Madonna put on a fake English accent.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their children "Capone" and "Apple."

Michael Jackson...well, he's done a few things.

Celebrities are weird. They do strange things that the rest of us generally don't. Is there a celebrity gene that tells them to run amok?