It’s a tough thing to make suggestions about Christmas gifts that other folks might read. Do you sound arrogant if you suggest something that is too expensive, or are you insensitive if you don’t include a humanity based project for a gift? The issue is, I have no idea what your tolerance level is for those kinds of things, so I will just go ahead and make some suggestions, and trust you not to judge.
1. Unlike Tim and Ryan, I am not a techno-geek. So for me to suggest a techno thing is way out on a ledge for me. But here goes. I really like the MiC by Apogee. I plug it into my computer wherever I am in the world, prop a pillow behind it and voila an instant voice studio. I have done radio commercials and voice work that has aired across North America with this little beauty. You can even plug it into an iPad or an iPhone, and you can also use it to significantly improve the sound on any SKYPE call.
2. One thing I do reasonably well is golf. I’m not the best golfer around, but I love it endlessly. A very cool little techno gizmo for golf is the Garmin Approach watch. There are a variety of levels. I have the basic level S1, which tells me the distance to the front, middle and back of the green for about 42,000 courses in North America. It saves lots of time pacing off yardage and can really improve your game.
3. How about a golf holiday? I have been very fortunate to have played golf in many of the world’s top golf destinations. My wife Carolyn says the only reason she plays is because we get to go on great golf holidays. (Not really true. She’s actually a very good golfer.) One of North America’s top golf destinations is Bandon Dunes. It just happens to be in Oregon where Tim and I have a wonderful client of long standing. The three of us had an awesome visit to Bandon two years ago and we are itching for a return visit. For you golfers there are 5 seaside links style courses that may be as close to golf heaven on earth as you can get. And it’s a little remote, but worth the effort to get there. Look for Tim, Carolyn and me there sometime in early June next year. Tim, you have told Dee haven’t you?
4. Full disclosure here. I am on the organizing committee of this thing I am about to tell you about. In June of 2016, the World Festival Of Children’s Theatre is being held in my hometown of Stratford, Ontario. 350-500 children belonging to 20-22 theatre companies around the world will converge on Stratford for ten days to perform theatre for each other. They will come from at least five continents, a third will be from developing countries and besides the theatre performances and workshops, the children will build friendships and learn about International cooperation. In place of gifts to many of our family and friends we are making donations to this organization. If it has any interest to you, you can find out more here: http://worldfestivalofchildrenstheatre.com/get-involved/donate/
The main reason for highlighting number 4 as one of my favourite things is not solely to promote the festival but also to acknowledge our incredible blessings to be living in North America. We can talk about techno gear and cool vacations and hosting awesome festivals. We don’t have to walk three miles every day just to get clean water, and we generally don’t go to bed hungry. I’m writing this on an airplane flying from Florida to be home in Canada for Christmas, an inconceivable luxury to billions of people on our planet.
So, if you have anything to give or to share, I urge you to find something that moves you and do so.
And enjoy your blessings.
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